The Fox Den

Live Blogging MAL 2012!

So I don't think I ever announced it on here, but I'm going to MAL! As I write this, I'm currently in flight to DCA. So pumped to see everyone, it feels like its been forever!

And to make things even better and to show my leather love to the world, I'm live-blogging once again for Leatherati. Go check out Leatherati.com and click on "Leatherati Live" to see my interviews, introductions, press releases, excursions, and hook ups! (Oh, I mean, forget that last one.)

Will keep you updated as the drama unfolds.

Make a Kinky Resolution

BLUF made a statement yesterday, and it's already been published on Leatherati's and Dan Savage's blogs. I think it's absolutely perfect. It's everything I've ever fought for as a kinkster through this blog. Read their whole statement here.

Their point is to get kinksters off their computers/smartphones, put their gear on, and get out to the leather bars in their communities. So many of our favorite, most cherished of places have been closing down in recent years. The Chicago Eagle, Detroit Eagle, and now the SF Eagle are the latest of the casualties. Please, consider making the 12x12 resolution. Visit your local leather bar 12 times in the 12 months of 2012. Without patrons, these bars will close. Let's stop this downward spiral. Let's remember that leather (or rubber or whatever your kink is) is something to be celebrated, embraced, and worn proudly; it's not just something you wear at home, alone, behind closed doors while you cruise Recon or Scruff.

In Minneapolis, we make the resolution pretty easy to meet. Gear/dresscode night is once a month, every month on the 2nd Saturday at The Minneapolis Eagle, and they're always a blast. But I would encourage the regulars at MPLS Gear Night to double down on this resolution. Keep going to gear night, but gear up, and go out at least one other time during the month that it's NOT a gear night. I try to wear leather or latex whenever I go to the Eagle, which is pretty frequently. If more guys bring back that energy to the bar, just imagine - maybe dresscode night wouldn't just be once a month? Maybe it would be every day?

If you live in one of the following cities, you still have an Eagle you can, and should, support:

• Denver
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Washington D.C.
• Atlanta
• Indianapolis
• Baltimore
• New Orleans
• Minneapolis
• New York
• Portland
• Providence
• Dallas
• Seattle
• Tulsa
• Toronto
• Calgary
• Vienna
• Stuttgart
• Madrid
• London
• Manchester

But the list doesn't stop there. There are many leather bars in the US and elsewhere that don't use the name "Eagle". I'm emphasizing these only because the name "Eagle" is an iconic name for a leather bar, and it's always heartbreaking to hear of another one closing (and also because my googleing skills aren't good enough to find every leather bar in the USA). Whatever the name of your leather bar in your city is, get out there and support them! These leather business owners deserve our support. It's not easy being an entrepreneur in this economy, and being a leather entrepreneur has its own set of drama to go with it. Without these brave individuals, there would be no leather bars in the first place. And personally, I think MY life has gotten better since I started going to the MPLS Eagle....

If you DON'T live in or near a city that has a leather or other similar alternative bar, don't be discouraged. Living in Rochester, MN, Kirksville, MO, Iowa City, IA, Marquette, MI, Springfield, MO, Jackson, MI, Appleton, WI, Buffalo, NY, and other smaller, remote places can be a real challenge for leather people. We don't always get to choose where we live, but no matter where you are, you're probably not alone. If you can safely, consider being the voice for the community in your hometown. Consider starting a leather group, organization, or even just speak to your local gay bar (or the most liberal of straight bars you can find) about having a leather night once a month. These events and clubs just don't come from nowhere. If you need help or advice on these smaller communities/areas, e-mail me. I can give you a little advice on those smaller communities.

If you can find the strength inside of you to lead a community in a small town, then you will have everything you will ever need to face the world.

Check out the Facebook Page for the 12x12 campaign here. Post their badge on your blog, your website, your tumblr or your twitter. Spread the word. We can stop the closing of our most sacred of places. We can revitalize this community, and remind ourselves that leather isn't just something you wear to get off. We were first a community, a brotherhood. We can still have that. And when we find it, we won't ever have to see another Eagle or other leather bar or shop shut down again.

Stand strong, kinksters!

Last night, and Mr/s.Twin Cities Leather!

Last night was like a weird, fucked up dream. I made the last minute decision to drive up to Minneapolis to go to a nice, calm, social holiday party at Cockpit Minneapolis. Which happened. But then the following ended up happening as well:

- Had a few drinks, and went over to The Saloon (twink/vanilla gay bar) in my full leathers
- Got in a fight with a drunk, combative twink who was trying to start drama
- Found and caught up with my leather friend, BlackLeatherChazz 
- Together with PupTrigger, stood up for my leather brother, WillCo68, when said twink tried to start even MORE drama
- Got winked at by Janice Dickenson (yes, the real, celebrity Janice Dickenson was at The Saloon) in my full leathers. She was so drunk her gays were holding her up; she'll never remember anything from last night
- Went home with, and fisted WillCo68, only to wake up naked, hung over, covered in dried sweat, dirt, cum, piss, and j-lube and laying next to a similarly naked indigenous person.

So my night went from holiday party with santa hats and Christmas decorations to leathers to fighting with angry twinks to random celebrity encounters to really hot kinky sex and a glorius morning after.

Have I yet mentioned that I fucking LOVE Minneapolis?

And on that note.....Mr/s Twin Cities Leather is coming up in February! That's right. This year, Twin Cities Leather will be holding TWO contests so that we can send representation to both IML and IMsL! How sweet is that?? Last year's event was a huge success and well attended. I'm soooooo pumped for the whole thing this year!

This event in my hometown has great appeal for people who are looking for a smaller, low cost event with more of a "family" "local" community feel to it. Holiday spending keeping you from going to MAL? Well think about flying out and having a fun, action packed, yet low-key time with your leather friends and family in Minneapolis! Check out the pictures on Leatherati Live to see pics from last year's event and also search through for my live blogging to get a preview of the awesomeness to come!

And if you're from anywhere in the 5 states region (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa) you should consider being a contestant! Running for a title is a life changing experience. Don't be afraid of not having a voice before you compete; you'll probably find it along the way. Enter the contest and be our proud representative at IML or IMsL!

All the information and application is on http://www.mrtcl.org/. Events will be occuring February 15th through 20th, look at the calendar for more details! I really hope I see a lot of you there!

Kink Pride

It isn't just about being proud once per year.

There was a time when it took a lot of courage to go out and march down the street yelling, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it!"  I'm sure in some parts of the country like the deep south, and possibly even in some remote areas of the Midwest, it's still tough to do that and feel safe.  I remember walking with the "parade" at a Pridefest in my college town one summer, Kirksville MO.  Kirksville only has a population of around 16,000.  The Pridefest was really only a handful of people, probably around 15 or 20.  The picnic we had started on the downtown square, where everyone had assembled.  It was a Sunday so the downtown area was completely deserted.  No one even noticed as we walked a lap around the square, but I think that's how everyone wanted it.  Kirksville was the kind of city where people have guns in their homes to keep others off their property.  They MIGHT be okay with gay people, but none of us were willing to find out firsthand.

In larger cities, the story is different.  You can march down the street and feel completely safe, and completely accepted.  JoeMyGod wrote an incredibly well worded blog about how the point of Pride is celebration.  Pride isn't to show off to other people anymore and make our presence known; our presence is already known.  Pride is a time for us.  It's a time to celebrate.

We still have walls to break down in our communities though.  Particularly, the leather/rubber/kink/fetish communities still have a reason to have a Pride parade.  We live in a world where it's still not okay to be "out" and kinky.  Most people don't feel comfortable with their friends, family, and co-workers knowing that someone likes to squeeze into some rubber or leather and get tied up or have casual sex on the weekends.  It's just too much of a taboo subject and most "family" oriented people can't handle it.  Even within our OWN gay community, people who are into kinks are often looked down on.

For kinky boys, being proud is still an act of revolution. Some say that they don't like going to Dore Alley or to the Folsom Street Fair because they feel like they become a circus attraction.  People want to say hi, take pictures, etc. etc, and it would seem that a lot of kinky people don't wholly embrace this and keeps them from attending these events.  Why?  Personally, I wear leather and latex when I go out in Minneapolis rather frequently.  Sometimes people say something to me; most of the time they don't.  Every time someone has mentioned anything, they absolutely love it and have questions. I never mind answering questions for the curious!  I'm proud that I'm being asked, and I'm proud of them for working up the courage to do so!

Just last night I was at The Saloon.  It's one of my favorite bars in the Twin Cities.  It's not really a kink bar, but rather just a regular gay boy/twink bar.  There's a HUGE dancefloor, and if you ever want to go dancing in Minneapolis, this is definitely the place to go.  The DJs are awesome.  I was wearing a set of full dress leathers (boots, skintight leather pants, shirt, tie, Sam Browne, arm band) when I walked in the door with my other friends.  I love going to the vanilla bars in gear.  Those who were courageous enough to speak to me had nothing but good things to say about everything I was wearing.  

And then came my favorite part.  I love Gear Nights at the Eagle, but there's something inherent about leathermen and rubbermen; we don't dance.  At least, not at the Eagle we don't.  I hopped up on stage in my full leathers and danced my heart out to all my favorite songs.  Eventually I took off the shirt and gave my tie to WillCo68 to wear around his neck.  Sweat was covering every inch of my body and those skintight leather jeans felt amazing. So did the bodies I was grinding against.  I felt whole there on stage, lost in the music of my life.  I'm proud to be myself, a leatherboy, on that stage dancing my heart out and singing Katy Perry and Rihanna songs at the top of my lungs (off key though I'm sure).  

And that's what Kink Pride is all about to me.  In the words of Ke$ha, "We are who we are."

Pridefest is this coming weekend in the Twin Cities!  General info is here.

Check out the MN Leather Pride events this week.  Info is here.  I'll definitely be around in Loring Park on Saturday and Sunday, most likely in some kind of latex or leather.  Also, if you're around, consider putting something kinky on and walking in the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday morning with the LeatherPride flag.  I did it last year, and it was an amazing experience I'll never forget!  We'll be lining up to walk at 10am at the corner of 3rd and Hennepin.  ANYONE is welcome to join us, you don't have to be a member of the groups.

Let's dance!!

Reality Sucks

I just got home from Chicago.  I'm exhausted, but I need to write.  Trigger and Skoll just unloaded my car and drove off.  Partner is off playing golf.  This is the first time in six days I've been alone.  It's quiet.  It's empty in the house.

Some amazing things happened at IML.

1)I shared a two-bedroom suite with eight other guys (PupTrigger, PupSkoll, Jmat83, PecAssO, GearKidMN, VersChicagoBoy, Puck8954 and Wolfang), and it worked. I was expecting chaos, but everyone got along well, there was no drama, plenty of room, and some great eye candy (because we have standards of excellence).

2)We check in, and it turned out our room was directly next-door to my Sir's, and just two doors down from some other really hot Minnesotans. It was rediculously exciting.

3)I found the proper accessories to connect my TENS unit into a much more fun toy, along with some converters to fix my gas-masks to my rebreather bags. I didn't know they made this stuff. Yes, this might just mean I don't pay attention to details. 

4)There are mummies, and there are mummies. The one I played with was the latter. 

5)One of the most strained relationships of my life started to get glued back together. Why is this amazing? Because I probably wouldn't have spoken to him if we hadn't both been at IML. Oh yeah, and also because I stormed in to confront him during a play party like a crazed redheaded Charlie Sheen looking to cause a 'Domestic Disturbance' on Cops. Oops.

6)I went to the contest.  Shocking I know.  I was covering it for Leatherati.  It actually wasn't that bad or even boring! Perhaps a bit lengthy, but overall, quite enjoyable.  I blogged live (check out the "leatherati-live" link) and caught some really great moments.

7)I got to meet and shake hands with Chuck Renslow. *heart bubbles*

8)I had picked up my latex catsuit at the vendor market following repairs by Mr. S, only to have an EPIC latexplosion later that night.  Seriously, the bitch just laid down and died.  At least she waited until after I was done fisting someone while wearing her.

9)"Minnesota Drunk" has been defined as Canadian hockey-player levels of intoxication, yet provides the warmth of a Texan drunk.  A "Night Nurse" is a new drink: a screwdriver with two shots of peach schnapps and topped with RedBull. That shit will get you Minnesota Drunk and make sure you can enjoy the whole night; ask JMat83 if you need those details.

10)I never once in six days felt like I needed a "break" from it all.  It was an emotional rollercoaster in so many ways, but as I sit here right now at home, all I want to do is put on some latex or leather and go down to the lobby bar and get a drink and see some friends - but clearly, I can't.  I'm at home, alone.  It's over. It's a whole year before it happens again, but I can't wait to see all the friends that I now call family.

And that's the magic of IML.

MBLGTACC!

I'm here!

Today I'm off to register for the conference, and then I'll be sitting in the Student Union, in full leathers, working on my presesntations, and giving out cards/hustling people to actually drag themselve out of bed for my workshop at 8am on Sunday.  Bleh.

GO COLLEGE GAYS!!

Recent Events

This past weekend was Mr. Twin Cities Leather!  It went really well.  I covered the whole thing for Leatherati, and I don't really have anything to add.  ;)  The turnout was huge, and I can really say I've never been prouder to be a part of the leather community in this city.  Some pictures are up on Leatherati as well!

THIS weekend I'm going to be at MBLGTACC! I went to this conference for the first time back in 2007, and returned in 2008, 2009, and now I'm returning in 2011 to present two different workshops on Kink as well as coordinate a Kink-related caucus.  I only wish my workshops were at better times.  (I'm presenting a Kinky caucus on Saturday at 4:30, Justifying Kink at 5:40, and then New Guard Kink on Sunday morning *BLEH* at 8:30am).

Currently I'm in Chicago.  Thankfully, the ever so graceful and kind JohnnySwitch let me crash with him last night.  

Hope I see some of you at the conference!

MAL - I never wore any rubber

Mostly because I was working for Leatherati.  I didn't want to get silicon lube all over my phone or my notepad.  Not that I'm anti-leather.  On the contrary, I loved it.  LeatherDehners loaned me a few pieces to wear for the weekend, and they went over pretty well.  :)

I had to hit the ground running though.  As soon as I arrived, I got to drop all of my gear and lay on the bed for 15 minutes before showering and leathering up for my first press conference.  This is where the contestants for the weekend were introduced, and would be the only time we would see them publicly until Sunday afternoon for the contest.  Very hot men! 

I ran into G-Man while I was eating.  It was great to catch up with him again.  Then I mostly just hung out in the lobby and drank, and caught up with some friends that I never get to see.  Or at least, not nearly often enough.  

Saturday was awesome, as expected.  I hit the gym first, and then sorted out my game plan for the day.  I had a press conference where I learned of a very interesting issue surrounding IML.  I was pleased to get an actual interview.  I felt like a real journalist.  But that didn't last long, becuase I hit the Leathermart to shop, and to find something to do with my afternoon.  It turned out to be involving a good friend of mine, a new friend of mine, and a LOT of duct tape. Can't think of a better way to spend a few hours.

I got unwrapped just in time to shower and get ready for the Leather Cocktails event, thrown by the Centaurs.  That's the leathergroup that runs the whole MAL event.  It was catered and there was an open bar!  The ceremony of flags was pretty sweet, as well as the installation of new officers.  I really enjoy seeing these kinds of old-guard and brotherhood events. 

Saturday night I ended up in the lobby drinking, and in a few rooms visiting friends.  Sunday I got up and put on a pair of much needed sunglasses to go with the cop uniform I borrowed.  I went to leather brunch, again, hosted by the Centaurs, amazingly.  I can't imagine how much work that group must put into this.  Then the contest was that afternoon, which was surprisingly short.  Compared to MIR, I think it had really good flow, was simple, yet effective.  I liked it.  Although the mid-contest entertainment could have been improved somewhat...

Afterwards I entered a LAZY phase for a few hours.  It has been a busy, busy weekend and I decided to just crash and hang with my roomates.  We ordered some Chinese food.  Afterward I leathered back up and met everyone down in the lobby for the end of MAL...enjoyed some drinks and company, and then...well, you read my previous post.  I guess I AM an instigator. 

Hope you enjoyed the recap.  Can't wait for the next gearnight at the MPLS Eagle.  There's also a few leather contests coming up in Minneapolis.  I have to work for both of them!  So pissed.  Wish I could be there.  But you should be!  I'll get more details about them up soon.

MAL - I hate Mondays.

Monday mornings after events are never easy.  I hate traveling for hours and hours to get home, but most importantly, I hate leaving all my friends behind.  I don't see you guys nearly often enough.  

I can still taste the beer in my mouth from last night.  I only slept for 3 hours (ish).  I'm all sore and fatigued from the scenes.  I'm looking rather disheveled as I'm sitting in Dulles right now.  I love this feeling though.  :)

Something amazing happened last night.  Well, actually, it happened about 6 hours ago.  There's an inherent truth about me - I can piss on anything.  Living or dead.  A toilet, a rock, a tree.......or a human.  Especially if it's two hot rubbered up boys and I've been drinking for a couple of hours.  Long story short, the tank was full.  I invited one guy up to a room and then that turned into several guys....well.....let's just say it was a very hot ending to MAL.  I don't really get into WS much, but even I will be remembering that scene fondly.

I'm gonna run for now though....more details later.  I am in desperate need of some orange juice to replace some electrolytes...

Spirituality

I've never been much of the spiritual type.  Moreover, I've somewhat scoffed at people who claim to have or "understand" some alleged connection between kink and spirituality.

But I get it now.

I try not to let my two lives interconnect much.  I have a tendency to drop my profession from the moment I walk out of the hospital doors.  That's not to say that I don't like my job; on the contrary, I can't imagine doing anything else.  I put my heart and soul into my work, I have a true passion for my practice as an RN, but once the timeclock is punched, I go home.  I drop it all.  I move on with my life, and, more often than not, onto kinky weekend adventures.

HIPPA says I can't talk about my work.  I can understand that; I don't know that I would want my own story plastered all over the internet if I was ever in the hospital.  You'll have to excuse the lack of details I can actually write about.  Suffice it to say, I had a case from five or six months ago that was really tough.  Dealing with life and death issues with families, i.e., the decision to continue fighting or to withdrawl support and move to comfort measures only, is usually not too emotionally draining.  But never before had I seen a patient like J, so truly sad, so torn, so sorrowful that she wanted to end her life.

J wasn't getting any better.  She likely would spend the rest of her life in the hospital or a nursing home.  Her family loved her dearly - I could tell with everything they did.  But she didn't want to live this way.  And she didn't know how to tell them that.  Instead, she told ME this, at 2am, alone, while she was in tears.  All I wanted to do was hold her hand and cry with her, and let her know that it's alright, and I'd help her tell her family.  That she needs to do what she needs to do.

But when you're the nurse, you can't cry with your patients.  The moment that you shed that tear is the moment the patient, their family, and everyone they know loses faith in you, the hospital, the system, and life.  The nurse is supposed to be the confident, professional, caring, intelligent beacon of HOPE.  Patients and families look to nurses for direction, not for emotions.  Nurses are supposed to be guardians and pathfinders. 

Generally I don't get overly emotional about my work.  This particular morning, I was finding it rather hard to stuff my emotions behind that wall, but I did.  J's family was in the hospital around the clock.  I rounded them all up, and we had a talk, right then and there, among us all in my ICU at 2:30 in the morning.  I passed out kleenex like candy.  I facilitated the conversation.  And in the end of it all, I kept my shit together.  J passed away later that day.

I never let it in.  I left it all stuffed behind that wall.

Fast forward five or six months.  I'm at Inferno, the annual run of the Chicago Hellfire Club.  Due to....leathermen, I am not allowed to divludge many details about this event either.  Looking around like a kid in a candystore, I try to think of what I want done to myself.  Thoughts tumble through my head.  What I want done turns into what I need done.  Those bricks and concrete holding up that wall in my mind is getting rather heavy.

"I want to be flogged, Sir." 

I took off my shirt and climbed up onto the St. Andrew's Cross.  My Sir fitted me with wrist restraints and attached them to the top of the cross.  I leaned forward, resting my chest against the wood, exposing my back to it's ensuing punishment.   As the blindfold slipped down over my eyes, I thought to myself, "J, this one's for you."

It hurt like hell.  He flogged and flogged.  It was familiar this time, since I've had it done before.  Slowly, one by one, they started to hurt enough to make me scream.  Sir stopped for a moment and reached up to remove my restraints.  He could tell I was getting close to my limit.  "I don't want you to stop, Sir," I said.

"I don't want to break you, boy" he answered.

"I do, Sir."

He went back at it.  It didn't take much more, maybe 10 or 15 cracks at the most.  One last hard, loud thud against my back broke that wall crumbling down.  I screamed at the bottom of my lungs as that piercing fire cinged into my back.  I broke. Sir took me down from my restraints and held me.  Even though I was broken, I sobbed, "I don't want you to stop."  But stop we did.  I cried really, really hard, for J, for myself, and for my back.

I walked through those hospital doors tonight with a renewed sense of hope.  Not just for my patients, but for me. 

Maybe there IS something to be said for all this spirituality crap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My b-day pre-party and the Eagle on 9/11 were really really awesome.  Thanks to everyone of my friends who made the celebration extra special.  Inferno was an experience unlike any I've ever had.  More details to come.  It took me a while to recover from these events, so sorry for the delay.

~Tynan

Aire of Confidence

A friend of mine attended the last Gear Night at the Eagle.  He's totally vanilla, at least, for now, but probably kinky underneath.  At minimum, he's really curious about all this kinky stuff that PupTrigger and I keep talking about.  He wore the bare minimum required to get in the door (which is jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and boots).  In the end, I asked him what he thought, and he said it was amazing.  Put it another way, 

"Never before have I been around so many gay men and once and felt such an incredible aire of confidence."

I've always thought there was something special to us.  Despite all of our insecurities, there's still, in one big group of us, an aire of confidence which is unsurpassed by any other group of gay men.  And this boy's been to PLENTY of large groups of gay men, so it wasn't just that either.  But I think anyone who reads this blog who's been to one of the larger events (IML, MIR, MAL, etc.) can attest to this.

It's something about the leather, the rubber that does it to us.  I've always felt about 100 times more confident at the Saloon (a vanilla gay boy bar) if I'm wearing my chaps and a leather shirt than if I were trying to be Abercrombie and fit in.  The second the gear is pulled on, all the insecurities fly out the window.  I've got a secret.  I've got something special to me.  You think you're hot shit?  I could do things to you, vanilla boy, that would make your fucking HEAD SPIN.

And when you put us all in a hot, sweaty, underground of a bar together?  Curious, inexperienced boys are amazed, and they smell something big on the horizon.  They can feel that this is going to be huge for them, and they're dying to be a part of that confidence.

And when I see curious, inexperienced boys in the bar, I smell a paradigm shifting.

~Tynan

How to be a Stud...

...according to me.  Disagree?  Well, that's why it's according to me.

1)Be mysterious
My favorite leather cop, LeatherDehners is a prime example. He's been going to the Minneapolis Eagle for about ten years. He's an avid BDSM player and knows his craft well, and has a great playspace in his house. He often has guys over after meeting at the Eagle, and this is where the mystery comes in. You don't need to look up how to get to his house on Google Maps, becuase there's only one way to get there: tied up, gagged, and blindfolded in the back of his car. And that's how he drops you back off at the Eagle when he's done with you.

In 10 years, no one I can find at the Eagle knows where he lives, not even people who've been to his dungeon. To maintain that for 10 years!? Every good boy has a healthy sense of curiosity. That unknown about where you're going, that slight fear, that thrill, that rush....STUD. End of story.

2)Be sensual
One of the hottest scenes I have ever been in was also the most sensual. I was visiting Dakmaster's dungeon for a party, and I was finally getting to meet NixJohn. I arrived at the dungeon after him, and he happened to already be tied up in his hockey gear to a standing bondage frame in the basement/dungeon. When I arrived, Dak had me change into just my spandex shorts and boots, tied my wrists behind me, and blindfolded me. He led me downstairs, and told me to "get acquainted" with NixJohn.

Neither of us could see, but we were so nervous to finally meet one another. Breathing heavily, we spent a good amount of time exploring each other. The first thing I did was press myself up against him, which made him moan and struggle some...next, I found his neck, which I decided to kiss...

Dak kept switching the bondage positions around. We spent a good amount of time trying to "see" each other with our hands, lips, tongues...it was truly a magical, sensuous time. When we finally were allowed to see each other, we both decided to stay blindfolded for a while, like we were afraid to take them off. Amazing. And only a stud like Dak would think of doing something like that.

3)Be sexy
Let's face it; we're all a little bit shallow, no matter how much we try not to be. We all think it's wrong to judge based on appearences, but we all end up doing it anyway. That said, sexy can mean one thing to me and something very different to someone else. I'm sure that everyone in the world must be sexy to at least ONE other person out there. To me, lots of people are sexy. I have some rather varied tastes, and I think lots of guys are exceptionally sexy. But two guys were sexy enough to turn me on to something new.

BlackLeatherChazz is a stud in his leathers. I had always thought that the leather scene wasn't for me, because I was mostly into bondage. Then I met him, in person. I think the first time I saw him in leathers, my jaw hit the floor. I couldn't get over the look, the feel, the smell...My life changed drastically at that moment. Because of him, I now own a full set of leathers for myself. STUD.

Bicycler turned me on to the whole bondage scene in Minneapolis. He was one of the first guys I met when I moved up here from Missouri, for which I am ever thankful. And he's not too tough on the eyes, either. Tall, sexy voice, hairy, soft skin, athletic....and his bondage skills...well, you saw that suspension picture of me, didn't you? Need I say more?

4)Be confident
You can't show your studly self to others unless you truly feel you are such a stud. Just as important as knowing your shit is knowing when you know your shit. This is somewhere I struggle. I hold myself to standards which are likely too high; if I tie someone up in a group setting, I'm often told, "Wow. That's some amazing work." But I'm never satisfied. I always feel like it's not good enough or I could do better. I feel like my own bondage is substandard; group situation or not, I'm usually disappointed with my outcomes. Maybe I need to lower my standards of excellence and realize I DO know what I'm doing. Or maybe I just need to take a class.

I always strive to be more like YngMstrDetroit. He knows how to work over a boy. And he knows he knows how to work over a boy. His confidence shines through in every step, every scene, every slap with a flogger, every praise, every punishment, every order, every reward. He knows what's good for a boy, and what's not. It makes a boy feel safe and loved to know that Master knows best. I'm proud to call him my Sir.

5)Be humble
No one likes an asshole. There's too many of them in the world. While confidence is important, humility is equally important. It doesn't matter who you are, everyone has flaws. One who boasts their $100,000 playroom and their internally lit portable dungeon-in-a-box, or one who's goal is just to try to bang every guy on Recon is just going to turn me off. The most studly guys I know don't flaunt their work. They're quietly advertising, and they know their stuff.

MaleBndg is a perfect stud who didn't let his ego run away with him. He's very skilled, he's got the tools and the talent to make for one of the best scenes of your life (as I've experienced firsthand). I love him because he doesn't make a huge production of himself. He knows it only takes a few things to drive a boy crazy....and he does it well, without any shiny flashy lights or "look at me" advertising. Fortunately, he lets others do that for him ;)

I'm so fortunate to have met some of the most studly kinksters out there. I could have listed even more, but I can only type for so long. Thanks for the valuable life lessons you've given me, as I strive to become a stud myself.

~Tynan

Pride, MIR, and Blogs

Twin Cities Pride is this weekend.  I've been pumped about it all week.  There's something to be said for MN Leather Pride .  Plenty of kinky activities going on at the same time as regular pride.  I plan for a weekend of much debauchery, good friends, good food, and hopefully, some play.  :)  

I'm planning on doing something radical and also kinda scary - I'm planning to walk in the parade with the leatherpride flag/float, whatever it is.  I would consider it a kinky "coming out" if you will, but since I don't really live or work in MPLS, then I don't think it will really be that painful.  The more important question I have is, what do I wear!?  Leather or rubber??

I often wonder how other people show their "leather" or "kinky" pride.  Do you show it in everyday life?  Are you "out", in a kinky sense?  Do your coworkers, friends, and family know?  Do you wear that hanky in your back pocket every day?  

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MIR has launched their new website with current information on this year's upcoming contest.  I was mesmerized last year watching the contest, and after seeing all the cool stuff MIR gets to do and how big they are in enhancing the community, I'm considering entering this year for the contest.

But even so, just the thought gives me a pit in my stomach.

I'm kinda nervous in front of people - the onstage portions might just be murder.  Those of you who know me personally know that I can be somewhat shy and nervous in public.  I would definitely have to work on that.  Oh yeah, and I'd need more rubber outfits, but I never seem to have to big of a problem spending money on rubber gear. 

I plan to ponder over it for a couple days, weeks, I don't know.  Any feedback would be appreciated as to what you all think I should do!

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On one final note, about a week ago, I submitted an article to Leatherati.  To my delight, they thought my work was good enough to post.  :)  Thought you all might like to go read the article.  It subsequently got reblogged onto Mr. Kristofer's site, to whom I am ever so grateful.  :)

Happy Pride!

~Tynan

Man of Leather, Heart of Gold

There really ARE good people in the world.  At least one of them is into leather.

My favorite leather cop, LeatherDehners, is a total stud.  Why is that the case?  Because he's hot, he's a cop who knows what he wants, he's into bondage and kidnappings, and yet a really nice guy.  Just my kind of guy, right?

We've been friends for a while now.  Last week on Saturday, we decided to leather up together and hit the Eagle on Underwear night, which would have been fun enough in and of itself (there's a clothes check in the underground, so it's a bunch of gay guys drinking and dancing wearing nothing but underwear and sneakers).  We decided to take it up a notch though, going in leather.

I was actually in Minneapolis for Alter Ego at the Eagle, to which I had worn my Robin costume.  (That event went amazingly well by the way!)  I wasn't really prepared for the full meal-deal at the Eagle.  I had my leather shirt, boots, and gloves with me, but just that day I had dropped my leather pants off at The Cockpit Project to get them hemmed and repaired.  So I put all of that on and just went with a pair of jeans to go with it.  Didn't look too bad.

When I got to the Eagle though, LeatherDehners had a surprise for me.  He brought along a pair of chaps that he'd had for years but were too small for him, as well as a jacket.  In the parking lot right there, I squeezed into them.  They were TIGHT, but that's the point of leather, right?  Honestly, they were a perfect fit in both length and width.  Hugged my denim jeans like a glove.  I'd never even worn a pair of chaps before and these felt incredible.  I said thank you to him for letting me borrow them, but he answered with one of the nicest things anyone's done.

"Who said borrow?  You keep 'em."

Seriously!?!???

I know how expensive leather chaps and leather jackets are.  Especially high quality, custom fit ones like the ones I was currently wearing.  Sure, they may not fit anymore, but I know that leather has a decent resell value and that if he wanted, he could get a good amount of money for something that he never wears.  But he gave all that up, and just let a young kinky guy who's short on gear have them, for free.  I couldn't thank him enough, especially since they fit so perfect! 

We spent our night at the Eagle having a few drinks and terrorizing a few gay boys in their underwear.  SO much fun.  Unsurprisingly, some vanilla-gay boy-fashionista, who was far too overweight for the skimpy little underwear he was wearing, started talking trash about the leathermen.  I really felt the need to remind him that this was an underwear party; you're supposed leave your clothes at home, not your sense of tact.  I also really wanted to know what kind of weed-whacker he got into a fight with to get that crazy ass inside-out mullet of a haircut he was sporting that night. :)

Back in my hotel, I was completely exhausted and ready for bed, still really horny and a little tipsy.  I thought for a moment about taking everything off, but then I realized how sleep/comfortable I was wearing those leather clothes that I just went to sleep with them all on, shirt, jacket, jeans, chaps, gloves, and boots.  I'd never done anything like that, but it was the most comfortable sleep I'd had in a long time.

Any gay boy can take it off.  It takes a real kinky guy to know how to put it ON.  Thanks to leather guys with golden hearts, there's one more kinky gay boy who can do just that.

~Tynan

Gear Night!

Gear night is this Saturday, April 10th at The Minneapolis Eagle. Wear your leather, your rubber, your spandex, your sports gear and come out for drinks and a good time! I'll be in the underground sometime around 10pm.

The last few months have had an awesome turn out, and I've been inviting lots of guys and getting really good feedback - I think there will be a really good crowd this month! Since my friend Charlie never made it to the bar last week during his birthday shenanigans, I'll be wearing full leathers again this time so he can actually SEE them.

Please join us for a kinky, horny, hot time! Remember, dresscode is enforced! See you Saturday! If it's your first time or you've never been before, don't be afraid to step up and say hi to me. I don't bite! I promise!

~Tynan

February

It's been nearly a month since I've made a blog post.  It's been about that long since I've even FELT like writing anything.

February was a rather dreary month.  The cold and the wind made me really unmotivated to do anything.  That, and my personal life has been rather dramatic lately.  Perhaps so much so that even writing has seemed like more of a chore than a release.  Anyone who knows me knows that I really don't like drama.  Work has been nuts, I've been working a lot of overtime.  My personal life has been nuts for various reasons.  The emotional roller-coaster I've been on has worn me completely out in my spare time.  It's all very exhausting, and I hate it.  I'm ready to get back to a more level, even state.

Things will clear up in time.

I did find time and energy to go to the Minneapolis Bondage Club meeting for the first time.  It's basically just a play party at this guy's house.  Lots of fun though.  Nice guys.  Lots of talent there.  Finally got a chance to meet BNDGMASTER.  Let's just say his skills live up to his profile name.  :)

Enough about crappy February.  The snow is melting in my back yard.  I can *almost* see all of my walk way out to my garage.  A new, warmer, drier month is on it's way in.  Onto the future.  

Gear Night is this Saturday, March 13th at the Eagle.  As I said earlier, I'll be there in Leather this time.  :)  I will likely NOT be competing in the hot boots contest.  The only pair of boots I have are really cheap.  I need to get some REAL ones yet.  

I hope to see you there!

~Tynan

Gear Night

Was yet another success!  Thank you very much to all the people who came out.  There was an even greater turn out this time, I think the word has definitely gotten around.  There was a lot more sports gear this time - to include football and hockey players.  *drool*  Personally, I stuck with rubber.  Wore the catsuit and then layered my rubber Robin outfit over it.  It looked very 1995 (Chris O'Donnell) style of Robin.  I think it worked well - people said they liked it.  

The Best Daddy and Best Boy contest was kinda fun.  I did indeed drink enough beer to enter, and I lost to a hockey player.  I didn't cry though - I would have voted for him too.  

Special thanks to my friends GearKidMN and MNHot1 for helping to make it an awesome time, before, during, and after the Eagle.  

Still, there were others who wanted to show who didn't.  There's always a next month.  March is my friend Chazz's birthday, so I'll be wearing leather per his request, to try to make the day extra special ;)

And I'm already stoked about it!

~Tynan

Gear Night at the Minneapolis Eagle!

Saturday, Feb 13th, 2010

In response to last months great turn out and everyone's enthusiasm, this month at The Minneapolis Eagle is another gear night!  Last month all the guys that came had a great time and will be returning, and based on the invitations and guest list I've been collecting, this month's should be bigger and better yet! 

The Dress-code is ENFORCED to access "The Underground", so wear your leather, rubber, spandex, sports gear(hockey, football, etc), boots, or anything else kinky you can come up with.  This is REQUIRED for entry downstairs!  And wearing something kinky might just result in gropage, molestation, or other promiscuous activities.  Trading and trying on each other's gear is also highly encouraged.

The Eagle has been promoting two specials for the night as well:  $9 Beer Bust from 9pm-Close in the underground only, and also some kind of Best Daddy and Best Boy contest.  Don't really know what the latter entails, but if I drink enough, I'll enter ANY contest.  :)  Both of these things are only happening in the Underground so be sure you dress appropriately to get in! 

I'll be arriving likely somewhere between 9 and 10pm.  Planning on wearing something rubber, might even break out my rubber Robin outfit for you superhero fans.  If/when any of you see me there, feel free to say "hi", I promise, I don't bite!  (At least not publicly....)

~Tynan

Roots

I was listening to a great new podcast on Dart's Domain yeasterday.  The leatherman he interviewed spoke at length about what the new, younger group of kinksters is having to face in their adventures with all the swirl of technology and new and different views of what is acceptable and what is not.  (On a side note, Dart is one of my most FAVORITE bondage masters/leathermen/kinksters of all time...he's definately worth checking out to drool over.) 

Something that I love about being in the gay kink community is that we're all, in one way or another, brothers.  Bondage, although it can be very social, is a very personal activity, one which requires a lot of trust, work, and respect.  For a younger generation of growing kinksters, this immediately forms a bond of kinship among us, likely because there are so few.  The guys that I have played with are my friends, my equals, and we'd always go the extra mile for one another if one of us was in need.

I will admit that I don't know much about "old guard" leather traditions, but from what I DO understand, there is emphasis on pain/sadomasochism, leather, and heiarchical structures.  You could not command a boy without first being commanded yourself.  "Switching" during a "scene" is not allowed; you have to earn your way and work your way up the ranks.  Looking, acting, and behaving this way is viewed to be one of the most intimate displays of masculinity.  However, in a lot of ways from my understanding, there always was/is a sense of respect, friendship, and on some level, love through this play.

I don't for a single SECOND want to make anyone think that I am a "hater" or that I frown upon this scene.  I am now and always will be a firm believer in that people should really do what they love.  For those people in this scene, if you're happy, then you've probably found more happiness than most people do in their lives.  The point I do wish to make is that the younger generation of kink, at least insofar as I have encountered, does not really have this heirarchical structure.  However, the kinship and brotherhood bonds are still there.

Just last night in fact, one of my kinky friends was on a long, LONG road trip, and had been sleeping in his car for days.  I found out last minute that he was on his way through Rochester, I made him welcome.  I had to work overnight last night 7pm-7am, but even so, I gave him a key to the house so he could put his feet up for a night and take a load off from a long drive.  Welcomed him to my fridge.  Isn't this something anyone would do for their brother?

Although the activities and scenes have changed quite a bit over the years, I don't think we've lost the roots from which we came.  Not entirely, at least.

Comments and thoughts are always appreciated on this blog.  Especially from those with some more insight.

~Tynan