Sleeping with someone else is a different experience as well. Being multi partnered you learn that each of your bed mates will have their own posistion to hold you in, to keep you, a posistion as favorite etc and of course we had to leave some time before finally falling asleep to find our spot with one another in his King size bed. It worked out great and we were sound asleep by 2 in the morning, however I was awake shortly before 7 to start my day. Up, dressed and a cuddle with S and then off to meet Allena and head to the Queer Femme Conference.
I'm navigationally challenged, There, I said it out loud and put it out in the universe too, Jennifer is navigationally challenged and as such ended up making a frantic call to Allena Saturday morning half an hour before I was due to arrive to her.
frantically,"Bella, it's me! And I'm bloody lost, I don't know where I even am, and I need to know how to get to you from here!"
Allena
"well tell me where you are first (chuckle, chuckle) it'll be ok and I'll get you to me, just tell me where you are?"
"I've no god damn idea where I am Bella, but I'm next to a car dealership and this mall here and this sign blah blah blah"
In the end it turned out that when I left S I actually went the wrong direction on the I5 and even with Allena on my cell talking me through it, I still had a hard time getting un lost and back to where I should have been. Normally I'm fine driving in Seattle, but coming from S home to Allena's was a stretch for me.
Finally I make it to Allena's and we head straight to the conference after I dump all of my bags in her condo. Veronica who is Bella's cousin was also staying with us and teaching at the conference too. She is just such an amazing woman both inspiring and motivating. Beautiful with her words and as an intelligent woman. Veronica is an activist / sex educator and the one secret that I'm going to tell in today's blog update.
Veronica Monet will be flying to Vancouver to present for the Libido Events Vancouver Sexuality Empowerment Conference in October. Not only will Veronica presenting in depth sexuality workshops but also promoting her new book due out at the same. As the date draws closer for the conference more info on Veronica will be forthcoming as well as on the other presenters that I've hired. Over the course of the weekend I had the priviledge of watching Veronica teach a couple of times at the conference and let me tell you that the conference attendees loved her just as much I do. (and a standing ovation after any workshop in this realm is astounding and she deserved it)
There was so much going on at the conference that I can not begin to tell you it all. Here are some of the highlights:
1. Dossie Easton & I had the chance to spend time together this weekend both personally and professionally and this meant an awful lot to me as an educator and as someone who thinks she's really hot and an amazing author. (Dossie Easton, a San Francisco family therapist, is co-author with Janet Hardy of The Ethical Slut, a guide to infinite sexual possibilities as well as The Bottoming Book , The Topping Book and When Someone You Love is Kinky. They are currently working on a new book, Radical Ecstasy, about transcendent states of consciousness in sex and SM, to be released in the Fall. As a licensed psychotherapist she works with individuals, couples and more in her private practice, and has extensive experience over the past thirty years with a wide variety of open sexual lifestyles. Dossie has been an active sex radical since 1961, and she does not intend to quit.)
2. Minne Bruce Pratt gave a speech about the gender oppression of woman, that has me wanting to change some things in my own life.
3. 350 queer femmes in one space-damn that's awesome energy to share with others and so empowering too.
4. Seeing women from Vancouver BC that made the journey to Seattle to be a part of this ground breaking project.
5. The cabaret/spoken word show left me breathless and the woman who sat herself down next to me in a chair, put her head on my shoulder and let me stroke her soft flesh while we watched pasties twirl, performance art and one woman who sparked in me an interest of lust
6. The panel on bisexuality and femminity that I spoke at had a grand group of women in it and my panel members were all so interesting and passionate as well.
7. Annie Sprinkle was a real doll, gracious and filled with warm words, talking with her was a real priviledge
everything else from the conference was a blur and besides this, it will take me atleast a week to deal with all the business cards that have been given to me and to send mail & calls to all these people. And you know what? As fast paced as I move, even I need time to process something and this is going take awhile.
Veronica, Bella and I stayed up late talking and finally Allena and I rolled in to bed together and were asleep by 1:30. I was up before the alarm (of course) at 6:30 and out of bed by 7:15 to work on my computer which I'd brought with me. Left this morning at 9:30 for the conference and was right off the bat in a room full of femmes discussing the topic at hand "chicks with dicks" strapon sex. Learned much, yes I did.
Networked through the rest of the day till 2 when this fabulous woman masseuse gave me a very healing massage before I had to depart. At 2:30 Allena and I had to head back to The Wet Spot so I could teach my 4pm class. Private Parts: Genital Play for the Adventurous. I love teaching at The Spot as it's affectionately called and there were more class attendees than I'd even made treat bags for. Jim's coming up tomorrow and when he leaves I'll send him with the extra treat bags so those who didn't get one today. This way he can take them to Allena at The Spot when he is with her later in the week.
Workshop ended at 6, well actually 6:10 as I ran over a tad bit and then I was on the phone to Canada to check on my daughter. Her dad wanted me back by bedtime at 9:30pm and I said I'd do my best. Such a quick goodbye to Allena, Veronica & Dossie then I was off in my car and driving in a beeline straight for my daughter by 6:25pm
Hit the border at 8:30, turned my cell back on when roam charges no longer existed then was phoning Kara to check in on her, arrived to my child at 9:20pm and home finally, thank the godesses by 9:36pm this evening. My bags are on my bedroom floor and can stay there forever for all I care right now. They are filled with toys right now that all need to be cleaned. more work, yikes!!
Child is in bed sleeping and I'm in my robe almost asleep by body but my mind is just going so fast.....a massage, I could really use a massage right now.
Tomorrow night I'm presenting Tales Of An Activist: Jennifer's story of entering Vancouvers sex positive communities and there is still packing to do for this event. A little nervous to be going to talk about my own life and experiences as my own journey but elated at the chance to show others how it's all come to be.
Now before I go to bed I need to spend one more hour sending out a mailout to the mailing list about tomorrow nights presentation on Tales of an Activist.
good night
Jennifer
