Stan's Journal

Fatal Blurb

2006-04-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

On their wedding night, the young bride approached her new husband and asked for $20.00 for their first love making encounter. In his highly aroused state, her husband readily agreed.

This scenario was repeated each time they made love for more than 30 years, with him thinking that it was a cute way for her to afford new clothes and other incidentals that she needed.

Arriving home around noon one day, she was surprised to find her husband in a very drunken state. During the next few minutes, he explained that his employer was going through a process of corporate down sizing, and he had been let go. It was unlikely that, at the age of 59, he'd be able to find another position that paid anywhere near what he'd been earning, and therefore, they were financially ruined.

Calmly, his wife handed him a bank book which showed more than thirty years of steady deposits and interest totaling nearly $1 million. Then she showed him certificates of deposits issued by the bank which were worth over $2 million, and informed him that they were one of the largest depositors in the bank. She explained that for the more than three decades she had "charged" him for sex, these holdings had multiplied and these were the results of her savings and investments.

Faced with evidence of cash and investments worth over $3 million, her husband was so astounded he could barely speak, but finally he found his voice and blurted out, "If I'd had any idea what you were doing, I would have given you all my business!"

That’s when she shot him.

You know, sometimes, men just don't know when to keep their mouths shut.

-- Posted today on the Pleasure Grove Yahoo! Group site.

She is Stunning!

2006-04-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

Last December, I called Jonathan Seitz of Seitz Photography Studio, located in Norcross. I had spotted his business card and brochure in The Grove’s front office one day. Having long desired professional nude photographs of Connie, but not as yet finding the right photographer, his brochure piqued my interest. After viewing the pictures displayed in the brochure, I knew immediately that he was the right photographer for us. Clearly, he is highly skilled at capturing the beauty of the human form in a variety of erotic, but very tasteful poses.

During our conversation, I learned that he and his wife, Beth, do periodic naturalist photo shoots at both Serendipity and Caliente resorts. He is the photographer, while Beth reviews the digital pictures with clients after the photo shoot, edits the photographs and handles sales. They had never shot at The Grove, but were planning on doing so when the weather warmed in the springtime. Not wanting to wait that long, I told him I would call after the holidays for an appointment at his studio.

Next came the hard part: convincing Connie to pose in the buff. Under most circumstances, she is very comfortable with nudity. However, like most women, she is self-conscious about some aspects of her body. The notion of having these aspects permanently recorded in a digital file and displayed on the internet did not sit well with her. After broaching the subject shortly after my conversation with Jonathan and getting a negative reaction, I let it drop for several months.

However, a few weeks ago, I learned that Jonathan and Beth would be at The Grove on April 1st and 2nd. I again asked Connie if she would be willing to pose, and much to my surprise, she agreed. I believe she felt more comfortable posing at The Grove in a familiar nudist environment, rather than visiting a strange studio not knowing what to expect. I called Jonathan and made an appointment for 12 o’clock on Saturday, April 1st.

On that morning, around 10:30, I escorted Connie into the club house were we found Jonathan and Beth hard at work setting up a full studio and photo display. We introduced ourselves and took the time to look at the many photographs on display. While the pictures in the brochure were beautiful, this display was far more striking. Connie felt more at ease after visiting the location of the studio setup, meeting Jonathan and Beth and reviewing their work. We returned to our room where Connie used the time remaining before the shoot to put on her face.

I won’t go into the particulars of the photo shoot, although it was interesting to watch. I will report that while initially very stiff, Connie, with Jonathon’s help, eventually relaxed and morphed into a workable subject. And I will also report that, to me, the results are stunning. I was stunned when I first saw the pictures and I am still stunned two days later as I write this. Connie is a beautiful woman. I never take that for granted, but these pictures bring out her beauty in a way I have never seen before. There are a few shots of us as a couple; at best, I didn’t break the camera or degrade the portfolio too much. But this is all about Connie and the results, at least to my eye, are breathtaking.

Stan Comments on Lulu's Post

2006-03-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Much of our country’s current foreign policy is derived from an extreme ideology that has evolved among conservatives since the fall of the Soviet Union. The thinking goes like this: since there is no superpower left to stop us, the time is right to reform the un-democratized nations of the world, especially those that control oil. (During Clinton’s second term, conservatives said that it’s not about sex; now, they claim it’s not about oil. Yeah, right.)

I personally do not believe the veracity of the administration’s stated justification for the war. I do think our intelligence was flawed, but I don’t believe the WMD argument was ever the real issue. If so, we would have invaded Iran, not Iraq. After all, it is Iran that is governed by an Islamic theocracy; it is Iran that is known to harbor Islamic radicals; and it is Iran that has made nuclear advances. Why did we invade Iraq then? Well, because we could; and because Hussein had been a pain in the ass for a decade; and because he went after Daddy.

Now, having said all of this, I do believe there is a 50-50 chance the world will be a better place in ten years because of our actions today. Like you, I don’t hate Muslims, but I do believe Islam needs updating and that its clerics need to stop preaching hatred. This can only happen when its adherents have hope and a degree of control over their lives. Democracy works, but it can’t be force feed, at least not in the short term, and certainly not to a people who associate more closely with a tribe than a nation. No one in the administration wants to admit it, but Iraq is in the throes of a civil war and the outcome is far from certain.

Sadly, much of our country is fearful right now. Long before Bush and Iraq, family values struck an accord because of fear and chaos in the lives of many. People began comforting themselves by connecting with large, impersonal and very conservative religious congregations. These congregations place religious issues above all else, including the Constitution and common sense. If only a small percentage of the single issue abortion voters could have expanded their horizons, Gore would be president today and we would not be in Iraq. That’s how much religion shapes world events.

During the Crusades, Christians battled Muslims and the religious war continues today, hundreds of years later. Christians and Muslims have a very different vision of the world, each wanting a society, and every society, to be based on their particular religious values and beliefs. Islamic extremists are so fanatic that they are willing to fly planes into buildings, killing thousands of innocent people. Christian extremists are so fearful that they are willing to drop bombs, killing thousands of innocent people. All religious extremists justify their actions based on the belief that God is on their side.

I think the Iraqi quagmire can be attributed to a combination of oil, fear, religion and incompetent leadership. However, there are so many folks around us, especially here in the Southeast, who are disinterested in explanations or causations. They blindly and automatically assume any dissent is unpatriotic. They seem to forget that the young men and women who fight and die in Iraq and elsewhere are protecting our rights, including our right to express unpopular views.

Thanks for speaking out, Lulu.

Lulu Speaks Out

2006-03-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Lulu is a friend of mine. On her blog, she posted a rebuttal to one of many mindless pseudo-patriotic letters floating around in cyber space. The letter and the full text of her post can be found at:

http://www.geocities.com/lulupallooza/032006.html

Excerpts from her post follow:

I realize this may not be a popular opinion, but I DO CARE. I don't have it in me to hate people based on what some … people have done in their lifetimes.

I don't hate all "white" people for all but eliminating American Indians from "our" land.

I don't hate all "black" people for the crime rates that are up in some areas.

I don't hate all Germans because of Hitler and his regime.

I don't hate the people who believe in their bible and their God …, but believe people of a different race, religion or God forbid if they make love to someone of their own sex, are going to hell.

I refuse to hate the people who wear Confederate Flags proudly, even though the meaning of that flag to many people equals pure hatred for the black people of America. (Much like the swastika that Nazi's wore … it started out as a benign symbol, but became a symbol of a "superior" race, or in other words, ignorance. As someone brought up by the Jewish faith, the swastika still scares me, but when I see it, my first thought is still that the person sporting the symbol is ignorant).

I don't hate people who blindly follow our President (current or past, Republican or Democrat) without questioning his motives.

I don't hate the soldiers who did their jobs, following orders of their boss, the President, to destroy a nation that had never threatened the United Utates and yes, I mean Iraq.

And I DO NOT HATE everyone who practices Islam because a bunch of cowards who share the same religion used it as an excuse to murder thousands of people on September 11.

So yes, I care. I care that prisoners of war were mistreated, because that meant the American Soldiers involved failed to do their jobs….

I care that the Koran was desecrated, because I wouldn't desecrate your bible and wouldn't expect you to desecrate others.

I care that our tax dollars are being spent on war, but that while that is happening they are cutting back the pay that the soldiers and their families get for being out there.

More than anything, I care for the men and women who are fighting for their country (regardless of which country they are fighting for). I hope that for their sake and the sake of their families that they come home safely to the ones who love them. I hope their lives return to normal.

I hope that after this is all said and done, they and the people affected (which in my opinion is ALL of us) do some research and CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK the things they hear on TV, the radio, their neighbors and yes, even MY email/blog entry.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

2006-03-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

I think a picture is worth a thousand words. Don't you? If you doubt the truth of this ancient wisdom, check out this photo. The lovers are hot enough individually, but in sexual union, words could never fully describe the passion and beauty exhibited here.

"I'm Married!"

2006-03-14T14:00:00.001-08:00

Jack wakes up at home with a huge hangover he can't believe. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to the water, a single red rose! Jack sits down and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. Jack looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror, and notices a note on the table: "Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go shopping--Love you!"

He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. Jack asks, "Son...what happened last night?"

"Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door."

"So, why is everything in such perfect order, so clean, I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?"

His son replies, "Oh THAT!... Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and, when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, 'Leave me alone lady, I'm married!'"

Broken furniture - $85.26; Hot Breakfast - $4.20; Red Rose bud -$3.00; Two Aspirins -$.38. Saying the right thing, at the right time.........Priceless.

Trapeze Joke of the Week

Mountain Weekend

2006-03-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday morning, I slept in, eat a leisurely breakfast, read the AJC sports section and did some “honey do’s.” It was a rather typical Saturday in the Powers household. Then, around mid-day, Connie and I made a spur of the moment decision to have a family outing. So we packed our bags, ran some errands, and around mid-afternoon, found ourselves northbound on I985.

We arrived in Helen around 4:00 pm and immediately checked in at the Best Western on the main drag. Our first stop was the leather shop where I had a new belt made. Our next stop was The Best Little Shop in Helen. Connie purchased bracelets for the girls and a necklace for herself. We crossed the street in route to an ice cream store; then we sat on a bench people watching while the girls devoured their favorite ice cream treats. Next, it was off to the park where the girls played for awhile before we returned to our room to clean up for dinner. We ate at a Mexican restaurant close to the “Hooch.”

The next morning, following a Continental breakfast at the hotel, we traveled to St. Paul’s in Cleveland where we attended mass at 10:00 am. After mass, we checked out of our room and returned to the same Mexican restaurant for lunch. On our way to the restaurant, we walked the river front for a short distance. The water was swift and very clear, and the outside temperature was already quite warm. It was another beautiful day in the mountains.

After lunch, Connie and the girls visited a rock shop while I chose to spend more time enjoying the Hooch, only this time on the opposite side of town. I trespassed on hotel property and parked my rear end on a bench next to the river. Soon, I was joined by my family. The girls removed their shoes and socks and frolicked in the cold mountain water for a good part of the afternoon.

All too soon, we bid farewell to Helen. It was indeed another beautiful day in the mountains.

Connie's B-day

2006-03-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Connie! Yeah, today is the day when you are another year older …. and another year better.

Love ya, darlin’!

Nice try!

2006-03-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

John & Marsha decided that the only way to pull off a Sunday afternoon quickie with their 8 year old son in the apartment was to send him out on the balcony and tell him to report on all the neighborhood activities. He began his commentary as his parents put their plan into operation. "There's a car being towed from the parking lot,” he shouted. A few moments passed. "An ambulance just drove by." A few moments passed. "Looks like the Andersons have company," he called out. "Matt's riding a new bike. The Coopers are having sex!!"

Startled, Mother and Dad shot up in bed!!! Dad cautiously asked, "How do you know they are having sex??"

"Jimmy Cooper is standing out on his balcony too."

Trapeze Joke of the Week

Nothing more need be said ....

2006-02-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

The following editorial was published in the New York Times (April, 2005). This editorial speaks volumes about why I am no longer a Republican and why, in my opinion, every Republican should seriously question the transformation of what was once a Grand Old Party. It said:

“Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of Conservative Christians. The elements of this transformation …. are parts of a larger package, an agenda of positions common to Conservative Christians and the dominant wing of the Republican Party …. The problem is not with people or churches that are politically active. It is with a party that has gone so far in adopting a sectarian agenda that it has become the political extension of a religious movement …. As a Senator, I worried every day about the size of the federal deficit. I did not spend a single minute worrying about the effect of gays on the institution of marriage. Today it seems to be the other way around.” – John Danforth, Republican Senator from Missouri

Movies Anyone?

2006-02-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

Connie and I are old fashion. We enjoy the traditional Saturday night date consisting of dinner, a movie and sex. Here’s a rundown on the movies we have seen recently:

Annapolis – an Officer and Gentleman copy cat movie without the passion. The love interest relationship between the main characters is unconvincing. However, the movie at times goes beyond entertainment and genuinely stirs human emotion. There are no sex scenes.

Firewall – another so-so Harrison Ford action flick. This is a modern techno movie involving a bank security system designed by the main character. It is fast paced and reasonably entertaining, but far from his best movie. There are no sex scenes.

Match Point – too long and too slow, but considerably less weird than the typical Woody Allen body of work. To Allen’s credit, the violence is only implied and not shown in gory detail. The sex scenes are hot, but only tease. As much as I wanted that damn bra to come off, it unrealistically manages to survive some intense on-screen passion.

The best flick? Ask three people and you’ll get three different answers. In my opinion, all three are worth seeing, but none are great movies. A truly wonderful movie would capture the emotion of Annapolis, move at or near Firewall’s pace and exude the passion found in Match Point. Now, that would make one hell of a good flick!

Mardi Gras Aftermath

2006-02-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

Connie and I attended the AUS social last night. The theme was Mardi Gras, very much in keeping with the revelry displayed by the sexy couples in attendance. The party started slowly as most do, but the tempo really picked up after the traditional birthday celebration featuring lap dancing, nudity and …. uh ….. well …. certain erotic activities.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, a number of couples remained on the dance floor long after the birthday songs ended and continued to …. uh …. for want of a better word …. excite the birthday boy or girl. Other couples caught on quickly and, at one point, the party looked more like an after-party than a social warm up for the main event.

The after-party was relatively tame though. It seemed most folks preferred to pair-up or quad-up and retire to private rooms early on. About a half-dozen or so couples did take advantage of the play room, where they could watch or be watched. And in the hallway outside of the play room, another half dozen or more couples could be seen kissing, groping and otherwise fooling around.

As for Connie and me? We enjoyed hot sex both before and after a few hours sleep …. with each other …. and only with each other. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Ladies, don't procrastinate!

2006-02-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine will have a medical procedure soon to correct a gynecological problem. Had she not been diligent about her annual exams, her problem could have been very serious down the road. She urges women to not skip the all important annual exam and Pap smear. Excerpts from her blog entry follow:

“In mid January I had my yearly pap smear done. I had no concerns, it was just that time of year when the icky doctor visit had to get out of the way ….

”Two weeks later I got a call that something in the pap wasn't quite right ….

”…. Doc noticed two areas that were abnormal and said he was 99.99% sure it was not cancer, but that it was probably dysplasia (pre cancer). So he took a biopsy …. of the area and told me afterwards that in a week I would have the results. It could be anything from dysplasia to moderate dysplasia to severe dysplasia. All treatable, all in office with relatively short recovery time.

”…. I have moderate dysplasia, so nothing to really worry about. I will go in two weeks (March 9) to have a …. procedure done…. I'll be out the day they do the procedure and a day after that, then the weekend is here, so I'll have 3 1/2 days to recuperate before going back to any activities.

”No heavy lifting or exercise for two or three days, no intercourse for two weeks. I asked if he was sure he didn't have those two time frames backwards.

”So, I'm ok. I'm fine, but if I had waited or not had the pap it would not have been caught, there are no symptoms, and I have no family history (that I know of) of any kind of cervical cancer.

”LADIES...please go have your yearly pap. You may not think you need it for a variety of reasons. And lord knows no one LIKES having it done. But it beats the alternatives.”

Positioning for Orgasmic Bliss

2006-02-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

More words of wisdom from http://femaleorgasmsecrets.com ....

So, you’ve dimmed the lights, lit the candles, and prepared the body oil… Now what? Well, a major secret to helping a woman reach orgasm is in the positioning. Female orgasm is all about stimulating the right spots, so here are a few tips and positions that can facilitate clitoral and/or vaginal orgasm:

Although it has the reputation of being boring and amateurish, the classic missionary position can be helpful in providing clitoral stimulation: woman lies on her back with legs spread apart; man rests his weight on top of her body, allowing his pubic bone to provide gentle clitoral stimulation.

Tips: Deeper penetration can be achieved for vaginal stimulation by doing the following: woman can prop her hips up by placing a pillow under her lower back, by locking her legs around her partner’s waist, or by raising her legs above her partner’s shoulders.

The woman on top position is described as the best method for achieving female orgasm. This is mostly because the woman has more control of movement in this position. Man lies on his back while woman straddles his torso. Woman may sit straight up or lie on her partner’s chest. Position provides more clitoral stimulation, and allows for deeper penetration.

Tips: The woman can gain even greater control by sitting on top of her partner while facing the opposite direction. By having her back to him, she can use his knees as leverage to control penetration. This position also forces the penis into an uncommon angle that many women enjoy.

Rear entry positions are also quite effective in helping a woman reach vaginal orgasm. The woman has a degree of movement that is impossible in other positions. Woman can either lay on her stomach or get on her hands and knees. Man either stands or kneels behind her, grabbing on to her hips for leverage.

Tips: Intimacy can be obtained by “spooning” – the woman lies on her side, while the man lies behind her with his chest pressed firmly against her back. This method allows the couple to experience the pleasures of both rear entry stimulation and intimacy.

Female Orgasm Secrets

2006-02-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

Check out this URL: http://femaleorgasmsecrets.com/. It's full of advice and information about female sexuality, sort of an “Orgasms for Dummies” website. Some of the information may not be completely accurate and much of it is overly simplified; nonetheless, it’s worth a look. The site's commentary on erotic massage follows. (Regarding the last paragraph, why one or the other? Connie enjoys an intense yoni orgasm followed by intercourse.)

One of the secrets to female orgasm is relaxation.

If a woman is stressed, tired, or uncomfortable during sex, she will never have an orgasm. Make a woman feel calm, relaxed, and loved, and her chances of experiencing orgasm greatly increase.

Exactly how do you achieve this? Well, most women love to be pampered, so why not surprise her with an erotic massage?

This is romantic way to ensure that your partner gets the most pleasure possible from your sexual encounter.

So, light some candles, turn on some mood music, and apply the art of the erotic massage…

What is an Erotic Massage?

An erotic massage is much different from your regular back massage. During an erotic massage the subject is naked, making it easier for the massager to access all the right areas that will elicit sexual pleasure.

Erotic massage is usually used as a form of foreplay to encourage arousal and help with orgasm. But this form of massage may also be used as a way to help your female partner have an orgasm without intercourse.

How to Give an Erotic Massage

STEP 1: Set the mood. Dim the lights, light some candles, maybe even poor some wine. Make the room as romantic and stress-free as possible.

STEP 2: Have your partner lie naked, face first, on a massage table or bed.

STEP 3: With heated oil, massage her back, legs, feet, and arms. Use long, steady strokes to relax your partner. Don’t use too much force while massaging. Massage with the weight of your body rather than with the weight of your hands.

STEP 4: Have your partner lie on her back.

STEP 5: Maintain eye contact with your partner. This will help enhance her feelings of security and calmness throughout the massage.

STEP 6: With more heated oil, massage her chest, arms, and hands.

STEP 7: Glide down to her legs and inner thighs. It is time to focus on her genitals with periodic sweeps up and down the body to introduce different sensations.

STEP 8: Massage her clitoris. You can start by slowly and softly going around it with a lubricated finger. It is always a good ides to ask your partner what method of massage feels best for her.

STEP 9: Massage her G-Spot. If you want to tease her most sensitive areas, then proceed to the G-spot (the area about 2 inches up in the forward wall of the vagina.) Using one or two lubricated fingers, make rhythmic gestures inside the vagina, or find the spot and rub it in a circular fashion.

At this point you and your partner can decide whether to proceed with intercourse, or whether to continue with the erotic massage and try to achieve orgasm without intercourse.

Sexual Freedom

2006-02-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

“I maintain that achieving utmost sexual satisfaction is the only valid, genetically encoded aim in a person’s life. All other endeavors are subordinate.

“I measure the quality of a society primarily by how suitable it is for me to achieve utmost sexual satisfaction…. This is in contrast to the totalitarian democracies of Western Europe and North America where majorities of the populace may have approved of those who run the state; but these democracies are totalitarian in that they assert the implementation of publicly approved rules and morals even in matters of private conduct.” -- Serge Kreutz Version 1.0, June 2002

Let Freedom Ring

2006-02-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

“Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . . .” — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, dissenting Ginzberg v. United States, 383 U.S. 463 (1966)

“First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.” —Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Ashcroft V. Free Speech Coalition (00-795) 198 F.3d 1083, affirmed.

Beauty and the Beast

2006-02-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was rummaging through a music bargain bin at Borders. At first, I didn’t see anything that interested me; then, I noticed a CD titled “Time Space” and subtitled “The Best of Stevie Nicks.” That piqued my interested and I immediately poured over the song list to see if it was included. And it was there, THE song. Naturally, I bought the CD.

I first heard “Beauty and the Beast” many years ago, probably 20 or so years. I was deeply moved, but never acted on it. I do that sometimes; it’s as if I want to freeze a moment in time that I know can never be repeated exactly. So, I didn’t buy the song back then. But the other day, my spirit told me the time was right.

“Who is the beauty, and who is the beast….? Which one of you? Have you ever really been able to answer that? I have, it took a long time, but I did finally…. find the answer.” -- Stevie Nicks

Twenty Eight Years Later ....

2006-02-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

“A country will have authority and influence because of moral factors, not its military strength; because it can be humble and not blatant and arrogant; because our people and our country want to serve others and not dominate others. And a nation without morality will soon lose its influence around the world.”

Jimmy Carter, 1978

Now, I get it.

2006-02-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

I watched snippets of Coretta Scott King’s funeral on the news the other evening. When it was their turn to speak, both President Jimmy Carter and Rev. Joseph Lowery took the opportunity to turn the solemn occasion into a political forum by criticizing President Bush’s policies on the war in Iraq, the handling of the Katrina catastrophe and the proposed budget cuts adversely affecting the poor. And, I’m sure to the chagrin of many, the comments were made in the President’s presence. My immediate reaction was surprise and discomfort. Their comments seemed inappropriate, even disrespectful; not because of what they said, but because of where and when they said it.

Upon reflection, I now get it. Martin Luther King Jr. often made white America very uncomfortable in his relentless pursuit of nonviolent social change. Mrs. King very admirably took up the torch following her husband’s death. Their remarkable achievements were not accomplished by avoiding conflict or by trying to make us feel comfortable. I suspect Mrs. King had a broad smile on her face as she witnessed from above the President’s public spanking. She would have approved.

President Carter and Reverend Lowery made me feel uncomfortable the other evening and I applaud them for it.

Let me count the ways.

2006-02-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being an ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the Breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barret Browning

Not Like it Used to Be

2006-02-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Curious about the origins of St. Valentine’s Day, I entered this text string into Google: “St. Valentine History.” While most of the accounts about how the Valentine’s Day celebration got started had a consistent theme, many were less than forthright about the erotic nature of the Feast of Lupercalia, some euphemistically referring to the teens as "friends" or “partners.”

I thought the following, found on wilstar.com, summed it up best:

February 14 is Valentine's Day. Although it is celebrated as a lovers' holiday today, with the giving of candy, flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.

For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The celebration featured a lottery in which young men would draw the names of teenage girls from a box. The girl assigned to each young man in that manner would be his sexual companion during the remaining year.

In an effort to do away with the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius ordered a slight change in the lottery. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Both men and women were allowed to draw from the box, and the game was to emulate the ways of the saint they drew during the rest of the year. Needless to say, many of the young Roman men were not too pleased with the rule changes.

Instead of the pagan god Lupercus, the Church looked for a suitable patron saint of love to take his place. They found an appropriate choice in Valentine, who, in AD 270 had been beheaded by Emperor Claudius.

Claudius had determined that married men made poor soldiers. So he banned marriage from his empire. But Valentine would secretly marry young men that came to him. When Claudius found out about Valentine, he first tried to convert him to paganism. But Valentine reversed the strategy, trying instead to convert Claudius. When he failed, he was stoned and beheaded.

During the days that Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her, and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used on his day ever since.

Although the lottery for women had been banned by the church, the mid-February holiday in commemoration of St. Valentine was still used by Roman men to seek the affection of women. It became a tradition for the men to give the ones they admired handwritten messages of affection, containing Valentine's name.

.... just can't resist me.

2006-02-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

When I heard the weather report yesterday morning, it was a no-brainer. The weather guy said it was going to be a great day and a lousy weekend. The high temperature for Saturday would drop twenty degrees, he predicted. That’s all I needed to hear. I made a hasty decision to take Friday off and work Saturday instead. Poor Connie, she had to work.

Before long, I was northbound on I985, traveling as fast as the law would allow. Well, maybe a little faster. I was eager to take full advantage of what promised to be a beautiful day. And beautiful it was. The mountain sky was crystal clear and only a slight breeze could be felt against my bare skin.

The sun feels warmer in the mountains than in the city; there is less pollution to diffuse its rays. And often times, it is less cloudy in the mountains. This can make for a very delightful February afternoon at the Grove and yesterday was no exception. I alternated between reading in the hot tub, sunning my bare butt and socializing with friends. It was a fun and relaxing day indeed.

Anyone else feel like playing hooky? Let me know if the mood strikes. I might be able to join you for a Blue Ridge afternoon delight. Ladies, no sexual overtone intended, unless, of course, you .....

(I'm really not an egomaniac. I just lost it for a moment thinking about all of the beautiful Grove Divas.)

On Paying Taxes

2006-02-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” – Matthew 22:21

For a week now, I have worked hard getting this blog off the ground. I have posted several entries daily, building a volume of material that I hope readers will find interesting. There is now sufficient stuff in my blog to enable a new reader to form an opinion about whether or not to follow along as I journal.

My primary interests are sex, sensual touch and writing and these subjects will be the primary focus of this blog. I will also touch on other topics such as politics, religion and sports. Really, nothing is off limits. If I receive comments, I will try to respond as objectively and honestly as possible.

While writing is a labor of love, it is also time consuming. After today, you can expect fewer and less frequent entries. My commitment has not lessened and whenever I think there is something worth sharing with you, I will still do so.

What is bringing about this change? Well, you can blame it on Uncle Sam. Beginning Monday, most of my “free” time will be spent trying to figure out what to give to Caesar.

AUS celebrates Mardi Gras

2006-02-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that AUS removed the tentative status and is now actively promoting its next social. The party is scheduled for February 25, 2006, and will be held at the usual location, the Best Western in Doraville. The theme is Mardi Gras. Here’s what AUS has to say:

“Come celebrate this most erotic of Holidays with AUS! We'll have- Beads! Flashing! DJ! Flashing! Private Party Rooms! Cash Bar! Flashing! Everything you fantasize about at Mardi Gras without the drive!”

Local lifestyle folks know all about AUS parties. Great, erotic fun is always assured at these events. Connie and I look forward to seeing you there!