Inaugural Survival Kit

Four hundred plus person event...check

Four inch heels...check

Rockin dress to show off the rockin body...check

Glass of Champagne glued to hand...check

Okay so not really a survival kit, but its the way I survived yesterday. The day was great millions of people lined up for miles in the freezing cold, waiving flags and witnessing history. After questioning our cities ability to keep up with all these people I am happy to say that we were more than ready. The snag of the day would have to be the metro, and that was really to be expected. I think it's nice that everyone took the metro, but am also happy that it's not like that all the time.

The week has been filled with endless parties and a constant parade of endless celebrities ::quite the show:: Catching up with local friends, I ask how everyone fared through Inauguration. Most common response, Glad the city is back.

Yes, our city is back...but never the same.

-n

Count Down to Obamanation

This will always be Martin Luther King, Jr Day and no matter what is going on it will always keep it's importance and place in my heart. Here in this city today as we take a moment to thank our lucky stars for what's been done for us and what we'll be able to do to make it even better for our kids there is a collective breath being held. All over town I hear the same comment from residents and visitors alike.

The city has never had this kind of buzz about it, feels like we're in New York.

Boy, is that the case! Tomorrow we are expecting 2 million plus people to pack on the very same grass we play kickball on. Even though this is the only story the news has covered for the last year, the vastness of what we get to witness first hand is amazing. We got a sneak peek yesterday as a Star-studded concert was preformed for a 500k plus audience and yes all survived. While I look forward to the festivities of tomorrow, I would be lying if I said I wasn't waiting for it all to be over with.

This political power house of a city has all but shut down, if you make it in by deadline today good luck getting to the ceremony. Don't make it in today? You've got until about 5am tomorrow, but if a bridge is your plan, turn around and go home because they are all shut down the list of walkable bridges is very slim to top that off. As I said the city and people are buzzing, with excitement, concern, dis-belief, hope, pride and happiness for many. People from the A-list to the Z-list role in fill every last hotel room all to freeze their keesters off and witness.

As I drive through the city hearing sirens in every directions, see police on every facet of transportation, and read license plates from all over the country I can't help but wonder. Is our great city ready for all this? Tomorrow and after we'll be changing not just us but the whole country and letting out that big breath we've all been holding since election day. I am comforted as I drive past a bus stop that has been plastered with stickers all saying the same thing

Yes we can.-n

Photo taken at the Lincoln Memorial

Parched and Craving

Opening a bottle of wine and turning on the tv for some noise, the travel channel is on. How I love the travel channel bringing me to all the places I long to visit. Awaiting a girlfriend to come over I pour a second glass of wine ::this one is better a little more open:: She catches me on the way home from work, which is my calm time after the storm and not the best time to call me. But I catch the bewildered tone in her voice and invite her over for some dinner. After being happily greeted by my two furry babies, she flops down on the couch next to me takes the glass I've extended to her and takes a look at the tv. Out of nowhere she announces

'That desert is wetter than I've been in months.'

Problem revealed and I didn't have to do any digging ::saves a lot of time:: I can't help but break into laughter, she gives me a serious look then giggles at herself. She is a classic case of Dry Spell, but what is the dry spell from? Sex, Relationships or something else. I agree that everyone needs to be intimacy. A time just comes when you want to be touched, you crave to be held, kissed...wanted. But you can have sex and not really get any of those things...which leaves a line. The people who think not having sex is a problem and people who rather wait for something more worth while, thus resulting with not having a problem with it. Back to the point of sex without intimacy and in the same breath intimacy without sex. My close friends can provide an intimacy and comfort that certain loves just can't, but I suppose the key word is comfort because perhaps what my dry spells are from is a little comfort. Back to the ball of pent up emotions on my couch... I do the math of the last time she dated one person seriously and the last time she had sex... and come up with the question, what are you missing? She looks at me eyes blank

'Sex, I'm missing sex.'

Now we know what side of the equation she falls on. What about that guy you talked about non-stop last week? 'Ugh, no he was all about himself and no one else, plus not that hot.' Well maybe you should be a little more picky. Now she gives me an are you out of your mind look, 'If I'm any more picky I won't be getting laid for the rest of my life.' Then it comes to me maybe she's being the wrong kind of picky... Just because a guy is a good sweet talker upon first meet does not mean he'll go the distance. She will frequently choose the sweet talker over an interesting guy any day ::to each her own:: I like puzzles, but most of my girlfriends don't. Anything that can keep my attention for longer than the weekend is fun for me, but if I meet you on Friday and by Saturday you've blown me up so much 'desperation' shows up on my phone instead of your name...we have a problem, take that back you have a problem. Maybe you're interested in the wrong guys. 'Of course I am, but all the so called right guys are soo boring.' I make the note that I haven't see her very often lately, she explains that she's been going on as many dates as possible. She frowns at my suggestion that she should take a break from the serial dating and figure out what she wants. She argues, and I end with a simple direction of Spend more time with friends.

There will come a time for most when you will have that person for a little while or for a long time, when there is a mutual feeling of 'Us against the world' but until then as you walk through a seemingly endless desert with not even a mirage to distract you, there is a comforting thought.

Life with great friendships is your lake complete with shady tree in the desert.

-n

Photo taken at the WWII Memorial

Spanking Should Be Spontaneous

We're not talking about at tap on the ass as we pass through the door in front of you. No, we're talking about a spanking. When asked if I like spanking, I have to pause before answering. Do I like spanking? Sure, when it's appropriate...Wait, not too hard... but not too light... Wait, do I even like spankings?! But there was that one guy... but then that one time... The list could go on and on.

When really it all comes down to a moment, the moment. Any guy who tries to spank me better be damn confident in his actions, because a half-hearted spank could completely kill the mood. Like 'put my pants back on and walk out the door' mood killer.

So over a sushi lunch I bring up spankings and the opinions fly, along with a fair share of judgement. After all spankings aren't for everyone ::maybe biting is more along your lines:: While the boldest of the group is revealed by her liking for a good ol' fashion mark on the hiney. I look at her and explain there is nothing old fashion about that! Confirmed...Some like it hard. Now I hear from the other side of the table, 'I just like squeezing!'. We all send a puzzled look, which told her we were not all on the same page as she broke into explanation. 'Ya' know, when the guy is holding on to you...grabbing really anywhere and everywhere.' A collective nod reaches the table, but that is a subject for another day. The conversation moves into a memory of the first time, 'He just smacked me! I wasn't expecting it, but it was sooo good! Now it's something I look forward.' As expected woman are all over the chart with spanking etiquette, so I move to the other half in hope of more detail opinions.

Unlike the women, the guys got quite excited at the question and stories started to pour in. 'Woman hate being spanked.'
'Not mine, they love it.'
'One spanked me back, that was weird.'
'I always choke, with my hand half way there.'
'How hard is too hard?'
But in the midst of it, one turns to me and ask if I like spanking. My answer is as long as it's done right. Don't just do it...DO IT. With a little shock and amazement across their faces, the group breaks into all kinds of tangents. The most common, all the guys would like to try it. Something I've learned is guys are collectors, they like to have one of everything, a threesome, a super kinky girl, the girl next door, an asian, a blowjob goddess. The original questionee, nods his head and almost yells.

'Do it with some damn conviction.'

Somehow the conversation spirals into, guys wishing girls gave head with conviction ::again a story for another day:: So on that note I exit the conversation with some good info. It seems that this question could not have come at a better time, that or there is a spanking spree spreading through the people I know, because I can say that I've been asked more than three times what I think about spanking. Funny you should ask...check out my blog. You can my thoughts and a few more, but to answer your question.

I think it should be spontaneous.

-n

Photo of AA in the city, can you see her?