Men’s Health makes it sound easy in the How To: ”Stand holding two weight plates together, smooth sides out, close to your chest. Your fingers should point forward. Squeezing the plates, extend your arms straight out in front of you. Pause, then return to the starting position. Start with four sets of eight reps.” This little exercise works: chest, biceps, shoulders, abs, and strengthens your grip — which according to some study or other helps reduce high blood pressure (to which I’m genetically linked).

So, I tried it — alternating with sets of forearm curls (15# dumbbell). I started with 5# plates and moved to 10#. The 20# is a little light for me, but I’ll stick with it until I get the form down better. I has done some serious chest and back work already along with triceips and biceps work on the cable cross. It’s amazing to watch the pin work down the weight stack on the fly machine. Of course, it’s also interesting to watch the number of reps go up before the pin moves down. Having said that,  I’m going to have to get back to the abs routine that I’ve been slack on. Russian twists just sound kinda sexy.

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99¢ a can. That’s almost $7.00 in dog money.

Joe Weinstein

I’m honest here. I just had to use that photograph.

 

All I wanted to do was walk down the street and catch a bus. It seemed a simple enough act — one I’ve done hundreds of times in fact. Then I saw them: The Hillary Supporters. They had their signs, one rail thin guy wore boxing gloves, they were pumped. I was going to keep walking and do my best to ignore them. Then it happened.

At the corner of Fourth and Market, some one rode past and shouted for Obama. The crowd expressed their chagrin. I turned to the smiling, excited, high school graduate-type and said: “If she’s on the ticket, I’ll do what I’ve never done. I’ll vote Republican for president.” She seemed offended and asked why. I pointed out that Hillary is self-serving, devisive, and a liar. The light changed, and I moved on. I really wish Hillary wouldl do the same.

I forgot I’d written this erotic escapade as an homage to a painter from my past.

I looked up the flight of wooden steps and began my climb. The studio was on the third floor. The building had certainly seen its better days, but it was clean and seemed in decent enough repair. I’d only posed for this artist once before, but I’ve modeled for painters, sculptors, video animators; my basic form is actually part of a video game, and the character’s sword swing is mine. I keep hearth and home together with a day job, but life modeling is what I do for fun and a slight profit. Let’s face it, you either have to be desperate for some cash or a complete exhibitionist to want to get naked for a room full of people and let them reproduce you. Plus, there is pay involved. It’s a little different with an individual artist. It’s my preference. There can be a bond that forms among the artist, model, and medium.

Anyway, it’s summer, sweltering hot, humid as the rain forest, and I’m about to melt. Finally, I’m at the top of the stairs, and Jim’s there to greet me. “Come on in,” he says as he waves me through the door. He’s got the air on. Wonderful. Last time I modeled for him, I was clothed. He needed me so he could put the finishing touches on some portrait he was painting. I had to wear a tux. At least it was winter then. “Take a moment to get comfortable,” he said while he fiddled with his easel. I took off my backpack and pulled out the paisley silk robe. I know it’s a little silly, but I don’t like to be naked when I model except when the artist is working. With my back to him, I took off my shirt, kicked my sandals off, pulled on the robe and dropped my shorts. “I’d like to do some charcoal drawings of you today before I start the painting next week,” he said. “Just pose however you’re comfortable. In fact, leave the robe on for a little bit.”

I took my place on the model’s stand and struck a pose. Okay, it’s not at all like fashion modeling. This is serious. You have certain traditional poses at your disposal for warm ups or classes. Typically for gesture drawing, you hold the pose for a short time, so you can be really creative. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, so I went with something I could hold if I had to. “Great. Can you face the window and drop your robe to about mid back? Please be comfortable. I want to take a little longer here.” No problem. Okay, there was a problem.

This guy’s cute. He’s about six feet tall, dark brown hair, brown eyes, a build that isn’t really muscular but could do a hard day’s labor if it needed to. He’s kind of swarthy, but then he’s really not. I always think of him as being from the ancient courts in Persia. It’s been a couple of weeks since I connected with someone else. I can imagine him pounding away at my ass. Before I get too out of control, he’s call in me back to reality. “Not too cold in here is it?” Fuck no, I’m on fire. I mumble that I’m okay. Damn, he probably thinks I’m a complete idiot.

Now it’s time to face him and toss the robe off. I do it casually like I’ve done it a thousand times before–which I have. He looked around at me and his eyes widened. I’m not bad to look at. I’m about five feet nine inches, a little skinny, but I’m working on bulking up with the help of creatine and my personal trainer–who’s also my best friend and unfortunately hopelessly straight. I’ve got red hair–with carpet matching the drapes. In truth, my dick’s not anything to talk about. It’s cut and quite average. “Very nice” he said almost forcefully. “I like the tattoo.” I almost forget about having the tattoo. It’s a dragon just above my navel; I always think of it dancing along my happy trail. A boyfriend who was really into tattoos took me in and had me inked as a birthday gift one year–his birthday not mine. His brown eyes met my blue ones, and we didn’t need to say anymore. His paint splotched t-shirt went flying across the room, his pants were around his ankles–then he stepped out of them. He turned to get something from the stand next to him. Ah, a cockring enameled with the black and blue bondage stripes and a red heart. He slipped it on with the same ease I’d slip a ring on my finger.

Our mouths met. He grabbed my ass and left charcoal prints of his hands there. I think it was intentional. I’ve had guys do odd stuff to my body before. Remember how I got the tattoo? Anyway, before I realized what was happening, Jim was kneeling before me–not to give me a blow job. He was making out with my tattoo. Once I got over my “what the fuck” moment, it was very pleasant–very enjoyable. His mouth followed the dragon’s trail to my dick. If he could drive me to near ecstacy with his mouth on my abs, what would it be like once he started on my cock? Damn! It was far different than anything anyone has ever done. His technique was quite indescribable.

I am not a person to wait patiently. I managed to get his attention and lay us down so I could get his dick in my mouth. Damn! It was the size of a cucumber. I greedily started out with a deep throat and went from there. The next thing I knew I was having one of the strongest orgasms I’ve ever had. I nearly passed out with his dick in my mouth. I let go to be able to breath and hopefully stay conscious. When I back in my body, I turned to look at Jim. I had to kiss him and lick that lingering drop of my cum from his mouth.

ii

“You distracted my work,” he said with a scowl. “You’ve got to be punished.” My hands we tied to his easel. The cold aluminum felt good against my hot flesh. The belt met my flesh, and I took a deep breath to keep from crying out. “And look at that. You’ve gotten charcoal dust on your ass.” Again the leather met with my ass. My dick was a solid rock, and I was aching for him to fuck me. He stood before me looking almost sad. “Think you can behave?” I nodded. He untied me. “I can’t work with this hard on. Can you take care of it for me?” I knelt before him and took him again in my mouth. His nuts were as big as billiard balls, and I did my best to get one into my mouth. “I appreciate your efforts,” he said as he tussled my hair. “It’s no use though. I’m going to have to fuck you.”

He was gentle with me know. He fingered and thumbed my hole then he licked it some more. He slid into me easily as though afraid he’d hurt me. “Just fuck me,” I begged. Then I realized this slow, deliberate action was another part of his mastery over me. I was willingly becoming his slave. I tightened my sphincter to keep him inside me. He pulled out and tossed the condom aside. He pulled me to him and held his dick over my tattoo. His hand reached for his dick, but I pushed them away. I jacked him off, the cum ran over the dragon. Together we worked it in like some sticky lotion.

Now I too have an enameled cockring with black and blue stripes, but where his has a heart in red, mine has a circle of chain. I am his as surely as if my bill of sale were complete and my deed filed at the courthouse. The bondage to him is mine, but he swears he’s bound to me. Maybe his story is the mirror of mine. He just happens to wield the leather that paints my canvas.

“I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people’s civil rights. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.”

- Mildred Loving, in a 2007 interview marking the 40th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark civil rights case that overturned laws against interracial marriage in America. Mrs. Loving died this week at the age of 68.

I dare anyone to tell the Lovings that their case was political not personal. I dare anyone to say this couple married and lived together — faced jail time in Virginia — simply to make a point. Civil Marriage is, simply put, a civil right, and as Mrs. Loving pointed out, it doesn’t matter who the parties are. It saddens me when fine institutions, or their paid representatives, tell me that what a person feels and holds dear is a political, not a personal, view. I burn with righteous indignation when temporary staff censors griefs and celebrations as though they were worthless ink blots from a burst ballpoint. Then I am reminded of the quite deeds done by good people, and I rejoice.

Loving Day is celebrated on June 12th each year to commemorate the 1967 Supreme Court ruling that allowed Mildred Jeter Loving and Richard Loving to live as husband and wife in the United States. I’m listening to Thurgood Marshall’s challenge in my head as I write. I’m not looking at how far there is to go. I’m looking at how far we’ve come. I have faith that the good people of the United States will prevail, and we shall have liberty and justice for all.

I am biased in favour of boys learning English. I would let the cleaver ones learn Latin as an honour and Greek as a treat. But the only thing I would whip them for is not knowing English. I would whip them hard for that.
– Winston Churchill
 There are two things I was taught in college: to appreciate a fine gin and to wield a ruler like a scimitar. Of course like so many lessons learned, neither was part of the curriculum of the English Department. More’s the pity really.
 
 

 

Okay. I have characters who sleep in very expensive coffins. Okay, frankly I knew a guy who slept in a casket; he was very much mortal and extremely strange. Really, I enjoy Death Mints (sold in tin toe pinchers). Coffin Couches (http://coffincouches.com/index.php) are now available made of recycled 18 guage steel. The cost is about $3500 plus shipping. I’m not sure I want one — despite my Gothic sensibilities.

Cherry ripe his lips did say
as i kissed the juice away
take me now and spend me fast
make our time of passion last
through the morning into night
Cherry ripe from blossom white
eat the fruit and spit the stone
lift me up and take me home
on the kitchen table rend
show me some new ways to bend
Cherry ripe his lips did say
as i kissed the juice away

Many nights I lay Tangled in your embrace
While he holds me
He touches me for
Your hand to spark my flesh
I kiss your mouth
With his lips pressed to mine.
I drink your liquor never brewed
As he tries to fill my glass.
Are you my hawk in the hall or
My purchase at Vanity Fair?

pleasure and pain
           crack the whip
                  at me again
         instruct exactly
   how to please
                wanting only
              to appease
     flesh to latex
  rubber skin
             touch of passion
                 my head spins
                    bottle tops
      and drinks of gin
    hear passion
              escape again
      front and back
    leather lace
    thrice tonight
        i met your pace
               on the sheets
                     your love a glow 
               as i top you
                     from below