I'm Back!!!

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New York, New York

Well, here I am in New York City for the Leather Leadership conference. Actually I'm a few days early. My partner Jennifer, Tim, one of my polymolecule and a Wet Spot board member and myself all arrived a few days early to see the sights and experience The Big Apple. Jennifer and Tim have never been here before and the best part of the trip has been watching them discover how amazing New York really is.

I'm not going to say much, but rather direct you to Jennifer's blog which tells a bit of our adventure so far. And it has been an adventure. In just over 24 hours we have been in 3 rooms and have gone from a tiny crackerbox to a deluxe room with a view of the Empire State Building. Between an overflowing toilet in one room, a shower that had only two temperatures in the next and several other annoying incident we got one hell of an upgrade.

Yesterday was Greenwich Village, Time Square and changing rooms. Today was another room change, Central Park, Ground Zero and an Off-Off Broadway play about Alice and Wonderland. Tomorrow the Empire State Building, China Town, MOMA, the Sex Museum and then the conference starts.

I'll post more later. I hate my keyboard on my laptop so I'm going to keep this short. I've got a lot to talk about and will start posting more, I promise (yeah, sure you say...but I will).

Seattle Erotic Art Festival

For the last four years the Seattle Sex Positive Community Center has produced the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. I've had the privilege to be the Festival Director for all four years. This year is going to be an amazing event. If you're from the greater Seattle area, it's not to be missed. If you're not from around here, make plans to visit next year.

Here's all the information you need to attend this week's event.

Allena

Seattle Erotic Art Festival 2006

The fourth annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival—held at Consolidated Works (500 Boren Ave. North) in Seattle on March 24-26, 2006—will display an expansive exhibition of contemporary fine art that celebrates the diversity of human sexual expression and the incredible creativity with which artists approach the subject of erotica. The jury and curators selected work based on quality of execution, originality of subject and depth of emotion from over 1,200 pieces submitted by 400 artists from around the world.

Doors open on Friday, March 24 at noon; Deities of the Eros Costume Gala starts at 8pm. The Festival’s many other offerings include a VIP reception, Saturday's live auction, installations, performance art (choreographed by Little Red Studio, a gallery store for small works and prints, in addition to opportunities to attend films, lectures, workshops and readings. Patrons will be able to meet the artists including special guest Charles Gatewood, “the family photographer of America's erotic underground.”

Festival Curator, Pet Silvia, co-proprietor of the high profile New York gallery Art@Large, presents work by artists: H.R. Giger, John John Jesse, Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Stephens, Barbara Nitke, Carolyn Weltman, Michael Manning, John Santerineross, Michele Serchuk, SEAF Award Winner Boris Starosta, Seattle’s own Rik Garrett and more.

SEAF 2006 is proud to feature the works of SEAF Award Winners: Hypnox, kenji signani, Andrew Caldwell, Arice, and Jim Duvall as well as local artists Demi Raven, Rebecca Raven, Ellen Forney, krysztof nemeth, Randy Wood, Christian French, Derek Nobbs, and many others.

Last year, SEAF attracted over 4,000 attendees and received significant media attention. Most importantly, a large portion of the exhibition and auction art at SEAF was sold (values ranged from $100 to $7,000). The sales of prints and small works in the Festival Store were also impressive.

SEAF was founded in 2002 by Seattle's Sex Positive Community Center (SPCC) to promote freedom of sexuality, speech and creativity through the erotic expression of fine art.

Tables and seats are still available for Saturday's live auction. Selected works will be auctioned off by the esteemed auctioneer, Laura Michalek. Food will be supplied by Hot Dish Catering (formally Feeding Frenzy). You can obtain tickets to the auction at Brown Paper Ticket.

We'd like to thank our sponsors: Art at Large, Obsidian Security, Vine St. Storage, Babeland, The Stranger, Utilikilts, The Seattle Sinner, Amadeo Design, Exotic Underground, Seattle Gay News and JUXTAPOZ magazine.

Additional festival information can be found at our website, http://www.SeattleErotic.org

Tickets can be purchased through http://www.BrownPaperTickets.com.

THIS EVENT IS OPEN ONLY TO THOSE 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

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The Blahs

I have so much to do and I just don't have any impetus to do anything today. I just wasted a couple hours watching the movie Nightwatch. A Russian Vampyre Horror movie with subtitles and the weirdest most convoluted plot I've ever seen. It was unintentionally funny. We laughed so much that the guy in front of us glared at us a few times. I love the Russian language so that part was great and there was this really cool big yellow truck that they used to get around in that was very sexy (Have I told you about my heavy machinery and big rig fetish?)

Overall, though, the movie was horrible. However, it was an excuse to spend time with one of my best friends, Porgie (he calls me Bess, I call him Porgie….you figure that out). He's one of those people who when they call, if I can I drop what I'm doing and do whatever with him. He called today at 1:11 to see if I wanted to see the "film" Nightwatch with him at 1:45. Of course I said yes. Oh, a film is any movie with subtitles. Anyway, Nightwatch is the first of a trilogy and while we both thought the movie was really bad, we'll go see the other two, just to see if the Lights beat the Darks.

Porgie, by the way, is one of my best friends and if he wasn't gay would probably be one of my partners. We are celebrating our March birthdays next week. He's a Pisces and I'm and Aries and we've been friends since I owned my café in 1995. He and I used to sit outside the café and rate guys. 1-10. Sometimes we were really bad and would play "Studs or Scuds". Remember the Scud missiles of the first Gulf War, well, if someone looked good they'd get a Stud, but sometimes as they got closer we'd realize they were a Scud, since they didn't really hit the mark. I know, not very cool, but silly and fun and we never said anything where anyone else would hear us. Rude but not insensitive.

So, that's what I do when I have the blahs…go to bad movies, waste time playing stupid games like Invadazoid (some Invader type game I got off Comcast.net) and wait for my Daddy, Jim to show up. We're going to a play and then maybe to the Spot and maybe, if I'm lucky he'll beat the Blah's right out of me.

I'll get my work done tomorrow; if I get rid of the Blahs.

Daddy just walked in the door. Yea!!!

Allena

Kissing and Touching

I had an opportunity the other day to be part of a kissing booth at a Kinky Carnival held at The School of One. What an amazing experience. Last year I was part of the kissing booth and I had quite a bit of fun, but nothing really profound happened. Well, this time was different.

I had the opportunity to kiss a few people who seemed to be totally touched and moved by the experience of kissing me. What an odd occurrence. I had chosen to be fully present while kissing each individual and giving it 150%. To see if that would make a difference in how my experience in the booth went. Well, believe me, it worked. I actually had someone in tears after a kiss. Another looked at me with a touch of wonder in his eyes and thanked me for kissing him. It was obvious that something had happened that was not intended. I had tapped into something primal and moving.

Now, I imagine that the men and women I kissed, for the most part, got turned on or aroused in some way, because I'm a great kisser and a pretty sexy old broad, if I don't say so myself. However, this was different than getting turned on. This was deeper, more at the core of what kissing and touch are all about. This was about intimacy not sexuality, per say.

It amazes me to think that something as simple as a kiss can have such a profound affect on a person. That even something simpler as a touch, caress, a cuddle can mean the difference between a life fully lived and one of just existence. This explains the popularity of Cuddle Parties (or Snuggle Parties as they are called in some parts of the country). An opportunity for people to just touch; non-sexual, non-threatening and totally life affirming.

I have to keep reminding myself that others aren't as blessed as I am. Not only do I have a poly family that nourishes me, I have others in my life who also feed my soul. I have an incredible bio family, a huge and wonderful chosen family, a beautiful home and a fabulous and rich life.

The experiences I've had over the last few weeks, the kissing booth, going to Southplains Leatherfest, enjoying the company of my boy, my close friends, my bio brothers and just living a full and rich life only serve to remind me that part of my calling in this world is to make the type of life I have accessible to others. A huge blessing and an even huger responsibility.

Here's to kissing and touching (of the physical kind) and to touching others and truly making a difference in this world.

Allena

Compersion

Compersion n: The feeling of taking joy in the joy that others you love share among themselves, especially taking joy in the knowledge that your beloveds are expressing their love for one another. Coined by the Keristan Commune in San Francisco whyich practiced Polyfideltiy.

What an amazing concept. I’ve heard compersion defined as the opposite of jealousy and that works, too.

I’m at South Plains Leatherfest this weekend presenting on two topics, BDSM and Humor and Polyamory. Yesterday my BDSM and Humor workshop we4nt over well (another posting perhaps) and today my Polyamory class was a huge hit. As usual I come away from these workshops having gained as much as I give.

Much of what I said has been said before and many of the participants were already active poly, so much of my workshop was ‘preaching to the choir’, so to speak. But when I brought up ‘compersion’ as usual it was a concept that few had heard of. I’m always amazed that a concept so profound and of such importance to those in the poly lifestyle is still so obscure.

As I talked about comparison and how it manifests in my life I was thrilled to see the participants eyes light up. I’d hit on something big. One woman who had seen my family at Leather Leadership two years ago in New Orleans shared that not only had she been impressed by Jennifer and I cuddling under a blanket during the weekend, but that she had been profoundly touched to witness my watching of Jim suspending Jennifer and how it was very obvious how much in love I was with both of them. She was obviously moved by the retelling and I was even more moved by her sharing.

As I’ve mentioned before, we never know when our lives touch others, I was thrilled that someone had witnessed me in the midst of compersion.

After the workshop I had several people come up to me just to give me a hug or to thank me and offer to me that I had already made a difference in their life.

Wow, how cool is that?

Well, I’m off to the dungeon party to play with a very cool gay Top who is an expert with singletails. Lucky me.

Allena

PS: You can read a bit more about my poly family in Mistress Matisse's column in this week's Stranger.

A Sex Positive Renaissance

The original Italian Renaissance supposedly began around the end of the 14th century and was in many was, in response to The Dark Ages and the control of the Church in all things to do with art, science and learning. The word renaissance (rinasciemento in Italian) literally means "rebirth", and the era is best known for its renewed interest in the culture of the classical antiquity. While it eventually had far reaching consequences on all areas of science, art and learning, it had little immediate influence on the majority of the population. The initial changes were concentrated in the elite and involved a relatively small number of people. However, the efforts of those few brave souls was ultimately far reaching in it's scope and the affects of the Renaissance still shape us to this day.

I truly believe that we are in the midst of a Sexual Renaissance. And like the Renaissance of the 14th century a small number of people are ultimately going to shape the way the world looks at sexuality. This is not to be confused with the Sexual Revolution of the 60's. The Sexual Renaissance is not about revolt and protest, but rather about creation and a bringing together of like-minded individuals in response to the repressiveness of our modern society. The Medieval Renaissance was in response in many ways to the repressive Byzantine era that preceded it. I wouldn't hesitate to suggest that our current Sexual Renaissance is in response to the repressive backlash to the 60's Sexual Revolution and the fear that the AIDS crises created in our world. Some of you may feel that our world (especially this country of ours and our current administration) has gotten more and more sexually repressive and while it may seem so, I believe it's a natural response to what is really happening in the world of sexuality. Sexuality is powerful and those in power want to keep the power unto themselves. It's dangerous to allow the power to belong to the masses. And we, of the Sex Positive Movement are bringing sexual power to the masses.

And it's not as hard as it would seem. Our population is ripe for change in the realms of human sexuality. One only has to look as far as the recent commercials and shows we see on Television and the abundance of cable stations that have gotten more and more sexual (and not the premium stations like HBO, either). Spike TV the "men's channel" is a prime example and another is the Comedy channel. But even the main public stations are taking more and more risks. Check out Desperate Housewives or even the majority of the Reality shows. And of course, the CSI series (especially CSI Crime) are full of kink and sex of all persuasions. And commercials! Damn, some of them are incredibly hot. The ads for Axe deodorant "how a dirty boy gets clean" are filled with kink and sex. Have you seen the one with the plumber pulling stuff from the drain, ending with a crop? And of course the Dannon Yogurt (pool boy joey and the French maid bit) commercials in the last few years have been overly suggestive. And my favorite is the new "dominate winter" advertising campaign for the MINI Cooper. These are just a few examples of the changes that are happening within the mainstream regarding sexuality.

This is an exciting time to be an activist and educator in the world of Sexuality. The Sex Positive Movement is gathering momentum and those of us at the forefront are beginning to get noticed and not always in a bad way. My friend Teri Ciacchi has been interviewed on the Today Show and recently was interviewed by a New Zealand Television show. My partner Jennifer gets press all the time up in Vancouver, BC and I'm becoming more well-known throughout the Pacific Northwest and speaking at colleges and beyond on a regular basis. I've even been able to speak several times at a local Jesuit college (Seattle University), most recently about the movie Kinsey and even got to create a diagram of the G-Spot for a bunch of University students. And we're just three of the many who are moving our world forward toward sexual freedom and exploration. What a wonderful time for all of us. We are truly blessed to be part of this New Sexual Renaissance.

Allena

Happy Endings

Sometimes I am amazed at how people end their relationships. The vitriol and acrimony is so damaging and in most cases so unnecessary. I have some friends whose short marriage is on the rocks. And while I won't allow them to say anything about the other to me, I hear from mutual friends that there the usual "he said" "she said" shit and they are both so angry when just a few short months ago they were pledging their love to each other. It's all so sad and unnecessary. What an incredible amount of energy it takes to stay angry and be unreasonable and to create the pain and agony that goes along with typical relationship endings.

It seems very illogical to expect modern relationships to be "until death do we part". When that concept became part of our marriage ceremony life expectancy was no where as long as it is now. Things happen, people change. People get married or move in together for all kinds of reasons. Not always just because they are "in love". Sometimes they even get married when they know they shouldn't be getting married, but the invites are already mailed or it would be just too embarrassing to call it off. Whatever. Relationships don't always last. Well, let me rephrase that. Many relationships that are happy, healthy and ethical (notice I didn't say monogamous), don't last, for a variety of reasons, the least is not loving each other. However, many bad relationships where people stay out of pride, because of the children, because "God" said so or just because they are to lazy, mean or ignorant to leave, last for years and sometimes for the lifetime of the participants. How sad is that?

I firmly believe that in this day and age that expecting to stay together forever, without changing the relationship in some major way is naïve and very difficult. I have been married four times (I like weddings and I like being the center of attention. . .so I keep saying yes). I can truthfully say that I ended all of the relationships on pretty good terms. And while I don't know where my first and third husbands are any more (it's been many years), nor do I see my second one often, all my interactions after we split up were more than civil. And that is because I am determined to not waste my time and energy on anger, hate and bitterness. I have better things to do with my time. Just because I can't live with someone for some reason (even a nasty reason like infidelity) doesn't mean that I quit loving someone or that I can't leave the relationship with class and style.

What about my fourth husband? Steve and I are still wonderful friends. In fact, we have a dinner and hot tub date planned in a couple weeks. He has recently hired one of my partners to do some work around his (formally our) house. One of my other partners sees him occasionally also. And while we no longer have sex or do BDSM, we still maintain a warm and loving relationship.

It didn't happen by accident. We actually planned it this way. Neither of us quit loving each other, we just didn't want to live together anymore. After 11 years of marriage our lives took different paths. It was that simple. (Well a tiny bit more complicated than that, but that's another post).

One of the things we did when we separated was to create a separation document that not only dealt with the objective issues that faced us (housing, money, etc) but with the more subjective issues that we were encountering. The following paragraph was written by my ex and was part of the separation agreement that we both signed and had notarized. Later when we divorced, we had the full agreement put into our divorce papers. We have a commitment to each other that didn't end when the marriage ended.

************

33. Steve and Allena understand that many details of this Agreement will only be possible to carry out if both parties are fully cooperative. It is the intention of Steve and Allena, as life-long friends that are deeply respectful of the other's needs and expectations, to find solutions to all problems that may arise in as a cooperative and respectful way as possible. It is our intention, no matter what happens with our house and our status as a legally married couple, that our relationship will last all our lives as a loving and caring friendship. The eleven years we have spent being married have been completely worthwhile. Steve said to Allena in their marriage ceremony on September 22, 1991 that Allena was the "best thing that ever happened" to him. Steve and Allena believe to this day that this marriage was the best thing that ever happened to both of them. Their ability to make this transition to living apart and separating certain aspects of their livelihood is testimony to the depth of their caring relationship. We love each other very much.

**************

Reading it today still brings tears to my eyes.

My plan now is to write a book, called Happy Endings. It won't be just about me and Steve, it will also be about others who also have altered and changed a relationship with style and class and in ways that are life affirmative.

To that end, I ask you, my readers (if anyone's out there) to send me your stories. Have you a Happy Ending to share?

Thanks

Allena

To Blog or Not to Blog

Well, as anyone reading this can tell, I'm not much of a blogger, yet. However, my dear Jennifer recently wrote me and basically ordered me to post a blog, so not to be one to go against my sweetheart, I'm blogging.

This is an odd thing for me. My life is an open book. If you meet me on the street, strike up a conversation and ask me the most intimate of questions, I'll answer truthfully. However, it's odd to be writing about myself and my thoughts on a computer screen that is posted to a web site that anyone could read. I ask myself; just what makes me think that I have anything to say that anyone would want to read? And then (when I have time to kill, which isn't often) I read some random blog and realize that there are a whole lot of people out there posting a lot of crap that a lot of other people read. To me that's totally amazing. That's not to say I haven't read brilliant blogs, I have. It still amazes me.

So, I guess, if I'm going to do this, I don't always have to be scintillating and fascinating and titillating and . . . (put in your other favorite –ating word here)

So, here's my pledge to Jennifer (and anyone else who cares) I promise to blog at least three times a week. That's all I can promise.

This post doesn't count. My week starts on Sunday.

For today, thaaaaaaaats all folks (in the words of my favorite pig...I'll tell you about my pig collection at another time)

Allena

Polyamory.

One of the things that defines my life the most is my polyamorous lifestyle. While the term polyamory is only 20 or so years old, I've been polyamorous almost my whole adult life. Which is way more than 20 years.

Even before I made a conscious choice to by poly, life's lessons were such that it seemed the natural state of affairs for me. An early boyfriend who I adored quit coming to see me because I "somothered" him (in the words of one of his friends). That taught me a lessen about jealousy and possessiveness that stayed with me for all these years.

My first bisexual and poly experience was when I was 18 with a young couple, Connie and Richard (I can't believe I still remember their names) who had an "open marriage" (the term of the 70's for poly). Yes, I was a hot-bi-babe. The funny thing about that encounter was that I hated it. At least I hated my experience with her and was sure I was not bisexual. That was until I met my next girlfriend three years later.

Sandy showed up at the door one day of my boyfriend's house while I was visiting. Another Richard, come to think of it. I was married to Michael at the time and we had an "agreement" so I saw Richard from time to time and knew all about Sandy and Julie (his other girlfriend. Someday I'll tell you the story of Julie). So, when Sandy showed up (cute and 17) Richard of course saw an opportunity and suggested we all crawl in the sack together and being the adventurous hippie chick that I was, I complied. The funny thing was that while we were giving him double head, we kissed and then everything changed. It was if Richard no longer existed. Just Sandy and I. I was smitten. Nothing in my life had ever been so good. Richard on the other hand was not so thrilled with the "hot bi babe action" since none of it was directed toward him. I faintly remember him saying "girls, girls, what about me?" We ignored him.

And in between Sandy and Connie there was my first two men and me escapade with Tom and Dick (no Harry, darn it). I had this boyfriend, Dick; well; actually I had a lot of boyfriends. Anyhow, Dick lived next door and we fucked and had fun from time to time. One night his friend, Tom needed a place to crash and Dick offered the couch. Tom folded his 6' 5" self onto Dick's barely 6 foot couch and Dick and I went to bed. Later, we were laying in post-coital bliss in his huge waterbed (Remember it was the 70's and waterbeds were cool) and I started feeling sorry for Tom on the couch, so I casually mentioned there was room for Tom. Dick looked at me kind of funny and then jumped out of bed and went into the living room, returning with a rather nervous looking friend in tow. They both climbed in bed, me in the middle and the three of us lay there straight, stiff and not touching. It was very uncomfortable and was beginning to look like a night of no sleep and no fun. When suddenly, Dick reached across my chest, grabbed Tom's hand and placed it on my right breast. "What's mine is yours" and then we had a night of no sleep, but lots of fun. I do remember that the two guys, who were probably 19 or so, became quite adept at not touching each other in any way if it could be avoided. It was very silly but quite exciting.

My point with sharing the above is that my life early on became one of sharing and open relationships. Of course, it was a time of free love and birth control and the only STDs we worried about could be cleared up with a shot of penicillin. It just all seemed so natural. All my marriages have been open to some degree and while I did occasionally try to have a monogamous relationship it never worked. And, since I abhor cheating, I had to create relationships that were open and honest or I had to leave.

I won't bore you with all the details leading up to the present, but needless to say it wasn't always easy and sometimes it was down right excruciating, but in the long run, it was and continues to be the most satisfying lifestyle I could imagine.

Let me tell you about my poly family. Since I'm also into BDSM, my relationships don't always have a traditional sexual nature, but that all are very intimate and close. I am the member of a triad family, with Jim and Jennifer. I have a wonderful bottom, my boy Alex. There is a married couple in my life, Brendon and JuJu who I adore so much and who make me very, very happy when we are together (who also make really wonderful canes). I have other amazing people who I either bottom to or top or just have sex with from time to time. And, although it sounds maybe a bit trite, I love them all. Most of them have partners who are part of my life in some way or another, either also sex and play partners or just great friends and many of them are connected with each other. I lovingly call this my poly molecule. The term seems to fit us all very well.

Why do poly? Lots of reasons. I used to try to explain my poly to non-poly friends by talking about my heart. It's very big and there's lots of room and one person just doesn't fill it up. I feel empty when I only have one relationship. There are more opportunities for intimacy and that's very important to me. I'm a BDSM switch, so there's another reason to be poly. Being bisexual means that not doing poly leaves a part of me wanting and I don't like that. Alex and I were talking the other day about the poly vs non-poly and one thing that we realized is that if you're not poly and single you are usually always going through life thinking "is this the one?" And when it isn't "the one" you feel cheated or that you've wasted your time. No matter how wonderful a time you had up then. Being poly means that you don't need to feel cheated when a relationship morphs into something else. It doesn't mean that you don't feel sad or have regrets, changing relationships hurts. Notice I didn't say ending but used the word changing. I truly don't feel that relationships ever truly end; they just change into something else. My ex-husband, Steve and I are no longer married, but we still love each other very much and have a commitment to each other that will always be there.

It's getting late and I'm starting to ramble so I'm going to close. I hope that this post allows you to know a little bit more about me.

Allena

My First Real Post: Are we "all One?"

I actually thought that when I got ready to write my first real post it would be about sex and what I'm all about, which is sexual transformation. It may end up being so, but right now that's not what's really on my mind.

I just got back from the movies with one of my dearest friends, Damen. Damen and I got to movies, plays, concerts, Las Vegas and do all kinds of fun things together. He's one of my best friends in the world. Anyway, I digress. The movie we went to was "One, The Movie" An amazingly complex but also simple film. It asks a lot of questions of a lot of people. Well-known enlightened people like Deepak Chopra, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hahn and Robert Thurman (to just name a few) and lesser known and unknown people that the film producers met on their journey, including one of the more profound, a young homeless boy named Chris Willis. Some of the questions they asked were: What happens to you after you die? Describe God. What is the meaning of life? What is your one wish for the world? Are we "all one"?

It's the last question that really touched and moved me. I came away from the film with a sense of sadness and grief and the realization that we are all One. You may think that realizing we are "one" would be a cause for celebration not sadness. But the reality is, if I truly believe this (and I do) then I'm not only one with those that I love and admire, but also those that I fear and despise. Those that would harm me and that hate all that I stand for as much as I hate what they stand for. The thought of being one with someone like, George Bush for example shakes me. And it means that I must deal with the world around me with love and compassion because that is how I strive to deal with those who I care for and how I want to be dealt with. Knowing that we are all one gives me a huge responsibility about how I walk in this world; how I accomplish the work that I have set out to do.

I'm a sex activist and a transformer. I am the possibility of transformation of humanity in the world of sexuality. I realize that I can't "fight" for transformation, but that I must "love" for transformation. (hey, I brought this around to sex after all). While I am not perfect and I know that I will at times be tempted to fight and argue and come from a place of self-righteousness and anger, I promise that when I get there or when someone tells me that I'm there, I'll get off it. Immediately. My stand is one of love and sex and fun and joy and pleasure. I hope that through this blog I can take you there, along with me. On my journey toward being "One".

Allena

Still futzing

We're back now from dinner and I'm still futzing around with this new blog.

First Post

Good afternoon! I'm sitting in my girlfriend Jennifer's dining room starting my blog. Something I thought I'd never do. Wish me luck.

Allena