P.S. I just thought of this. Would some of you want items like adult manga and other such interesting adult, kink, Hello Kitty or food stuff from Japan? If so I could hunt it down and buy it for you. What's a PayPal account for, after all? Cost + shipping and handling.
Drop me a note / PM / e mail, etc.

It's nearly 12:30am.  I'm just going to ramble - because it'll help me wind down and, hopefully, get to sleep soon.
It's taken much longer than needed for a supposedly simple trip. I'm not teaching so it should be easy, right?
Yeah right.

One suitcase consists of outfits for the Japan Fetish Ball. I couldn't decide between the Green Bunny or the Octopus Princess. So I brought both. With both sets of huge boots that go with each outfit.

Then the other suitcase contains the needs and comforts of every day, a few simple outfits to look sharp in Tokyo while networking with weirdly fabulous people and slumming around in the erotic underbelly of new Edo. A few books and boxes of chocolate for gifts, the portable light box, the winter fur throw from New Zealand to sleep on. I economized on the shoes. Other than the mega boots for the outfit I just have 3 pairs.

Somehow it all ended up adding up to 2 large checked bags and 2 carry-ons.

K was totally sweet and kept me company or stayed out of my hair as needed. That didn't mean that I stayed out of her hair much. LOL
The kids, especially my stripey ones, were all over me. They know I'm leaving. King David is not pleased, no one bit.

I got a lot of e mails done. Lots of booking coming in for teaching in the first quarter of next year. The pre-Valentines tour looks totally insane. I tried to patch my trips together and it's going to be a doozie. But they're all my favorite places (with fabulous foods) so I don't mind one bit!
(mmm seafood in Halifax!)

I didn't get around to finishing the e mails to the registered students of Passionate Bonds: D/s Protocols. (I'm teaching that with Laura Antoniou in Toronto later this month!) I'll need to do that on the flight. I'm really psyched that we finally get to do this in a way the two of us always wanted to.

I'm nervously excited about returning to Japan. I've been back a hand-full of times since then, but somehow I'm particularly on edge for this one. 
Or maybe I say that every single time. Yeah, I think I do.
I feel like Urashima Taro after returning from the under sea Kingdom.
I left my birth country long ago as there was no place for me.
While I was away it may have turned into a place where there is a place for me - but can I find it?

Sato gaeri - it's a funny thing.

I'm also gathering more material for my Pink Japan: Contemporary Sex Culture presentation... (None of the venues have booked me for this great presentation in the near future, but it'll happen), and I'm also on a writing assignment for Carnal Nation.

All of which means I've just found a way to justify, socially and fiscally, slumming around in the sexuality culture, both commercial and otherwise.
Which in Japan is decidedly not cheap. San Franciscans have no idea how cheap & easy (and I mean that in all the ways possible) their sexual self expression can be.

The dollar just dumped to the yen so life and exchange rate sucks - but fortunately cheap eats in Japan rocks so that won't be an issue.
It just means I can't get all the toys and nifty adult manga that I want to get.

Also: Gotta try to track my mom down and spend time with her.

The fireworks at the SF Ball Park (the new one) was gorgeous tonight. I wonder what that was for?
I love our home. I couldn't enjoy all this traveling if I didn't have such a great home and family to come back to.

on line rambling over... I'll mutter my way down the stairs to bed...

I created this totally cool DIY dildo harness design - and I'm often asked on how to make it, so I'm posting it here to share.
(Yes, I should have photos with this. Soon, my friends. Soon.)

I've encountered enough challenges with so many of the commercially made harnesses, and I know many people also have other issues (privacy, finance, etc) - thus the invention.

Features and advantages

• Fits everyone!
• Adjust to position where you want it. (no more pressing on the full bladder or rubbing on the pelvic bone.)
• Sex is messy, what with sweat, cum, lube and more.
• This is totally easy to wash. After shagging just toss in the washer and dryer. No more leather care. No more hanging on the laundry line.
• Camoflages well if children, room-mates or in-laws are a concern.
• No buckles to stab you. No Velcro to scratch you. No excess straps to adjust and tuck or extenders to add.
• Much better dildo to harness-wearer contact.
• Air-travel friendly. Goes on to carry-on or wear it as a scarf for those cold cabins.
• The bit of excess serves as a "Harder-Now" handle for the sex bottom. Or serves well as lube towels.
• People who grew their own dicks. They can wear this harness over their home-grown cock - so they can have two!
• Full access to the bits between the legs. What ever bits you have.
• Makes one's ass look fabulous! Butt lifting goodness.
•  

Equipment needed for the Midori Scarf Harness:

• 1 favorite dildo with flanged base
• 2 scarves (suggested length: multiply hip measure x 1.5. Example 40” hip x 1.5 = two 60” scarves)
• 2 or more fun people who play well together
•  

Directions for the Midori Scarf Harness:

1. Take Scarf A and make a loose over-hand knot (“That Knot” if spoken in Midori) at it’s midpoint.
2. Take Scarf B, place through That Knot, bisecting the Scarf B. Scarf B will now be hanging with two equal length parts.
3. Take dildo and insert to That Knot.
4. Tighten Scarf A and That Knot firmly around dildo.
5. Tie Scarf A snugly and low around the hip. It’s easiest to tie this in front, with the dildo at one’s back and then turn the scarf around. Very important that it be snug.
6. Place dildo in desired position on the body.
7. Take one end of Scarf B, hanging from the dildo. Move it back between the legs and under the butt cheek, ending near the hip bone. Tie onto Scarf B near hip bone.
8. Repeat for remaining end of Scarf b.
9. Test for security of whole harness.
10. Shag

Enjoy!

Midori

My monthly newsletter with November's classes and a ranting opinion bit...
Enjoy!

MIDORI'S SENSUALIST NEWSLETTER October 30, 2009

1. Age of Compassion?

2. November classes/events (Baltimore, Washington DC, Tokyo, Toronto)

4. Preview December (Ottawa)

5. Next Forte Femme. March 19 – 21, 2010 San Francisco

6. On-line Haunts: Twitter, FetLife, Yahoo, Tribe, FaceBook, etc.

= = =
( Read more... )

I'm coming to Baltimore and Washington DC to teach classes, hang out with friends and geek out at museums.
Hope to see some of you at my classes!

What are the not-to-be-missed exhibitions going on? I won't have a car so they need to be reachable by public transit.

Baltimore

* Tue Nov 3 "Hands-on Rope Bondage" at Sugar boutique
6:30pm
927 West 36th Street on the Avenue in Hampden Baltimore, MD 21211
http://www.sugartheshop.com/classes.html

Washington DC

* Wed Nov 4 "Aural Sex: Seduction by Voice" for Whole DC
Location & detail to be announced by Whole DC
Whole DC Facebook page

* Thr Nov 5 "Wrapped for Pleasure: Sex Bondage with Scarves"
Location & detail to be announced by Whole DC
Whole DC Facebook page

Recently I wrote an article about herpes - or more accurately a narrative of one person's emotional journey with a STD in the time of raging HIV deaths. I hoped it would give others who battle with the same emotions and situations some support... and talk about safer sex

Some of the replies on the article page, however, are sadly revealing of thoughtlessness around STD's and emotional of sex and unintended consequence. It also made me sigh and be sad about why HIV is not taken seriously anymore. I guess there's a whole generation and population sector of sexually active people now (both the young and the older folks re-entering the dating world after long manogomous relationships) to whom the death toll of HIV is a complete non reality that doesn't apply to them.... (of course I think maybe that some of the responses, as on-lines replies are prone to, just aren't getting the point of the article and get a kick out of flaming for the sake of flaming.)

Safer sex is really not fashionable now. There are moments when I feel stuck out of time like some old relic.
Lots of folks seem to think it doesn't apply to them.
For example... when I teach my "JoyStick Secrets" or "How to Eat a Peach", I show safer sex in really hot ways. The attendees stare back at me.
A casual survey of the room reveals that most people are shagging away without even the most basic protection of a rubber. I look across the room and see a rising tide of statistics, and the future statistic targets don't seem to care.

It's like all those people, friends and loved ones, who died from HIV related complications never existed and never died.

it's like the cervical cancers, birth complications, fertility issues, and all the other consequenses are irrelevant as well...

it just makes me sigh sometimes.
Then I go back out again and show how to shag smartly.

oh and here's the article...

http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/34509/736/how-herpes-saved-my-life

The New York Times Sunday magazine has a fantastic article out on what it's like for teenagers coming out as GLB today. (The article did not cover T or I coming outs.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html

My reactions were many

- Everyone's hard work over the years are really paying off!

- We have to keep working for humanity and respect for all. The work can't stop.

- Grown ups today really really really need comprehensive education on developmental sexuality

- If gown ups are so upset about what they see as earlier vocalized interest in sex by kids have they:
a) thought back to their own early sexual feelings?
b) thought about the effects of BGH loaded foods that we're feeding out population?

- homophobic language in middle school. UGH!

- The amazing effects, both profoundly negative and amazingly positive, that parents' reactions have on kids and the future generation

- I am grateful for my weird little clique of high school friends back in the 80's. It was unusual, I know... and grateful for my mothers matter-of-fact (if over so and ever too academic) acceptance of my self-outing interests in boy and girls.

Enjoy the article and do share it with many!

I need help de-installing my art show.

When: Mon 9/28 3pm-6pm
Where: Femina Potens, San Francisco.  on Market at Sanchez.
Anyone have a truck? I need to take this all to the storage area.

Please leave me a message through LiveJournal or e mail me midori@fhp-inc.com

Thanks!

I have a feeling that my friends here on LJ will understand what I'm looking for...

I'm a foodie who enjoys adventures local foodways. When I go to an area I like to discover the foods which are rooted in the area's history, culture, economy and people. Sometimes that means experiencing foods that are unusual or even foodstuff that locals are a bit shy about sharing with outsiders... Scrappal in Pennsilvania, grits in the south, Indian frybread in Arizona, roasted insects from the Issa people in Thailand, street foods in Japan, soups in Russia, Hangtown Fry in the Foothills of the Sierras, noodles from a 3rd generation immigrant German diner, Hot Doug's in Chicago with a dose of meat packer history, etc...

I've asked around a bit for local foods in Minneapolis and folks are being nice in telling me fancy places to eat... but that's not what I'm looking for...

Someone mentioned Walleye - this seems to be more in the direction I'm interested in. Can someone tell me more about it? Where can I find good examples?

What are some other interesting Minnesota or Minneapolis foodway items, places, histories, etc?

I'm heading there next week to teach at Smitten Kitten and might have time between work to go find these.
A gal's gotta eat, right?

I'm very excited. I hope some folks show up to squeak on sofas and play dress-up with blow up doll faces.

What: Reception and artists talk on her work

When: Sat Sep 19th.
                   6pm Artist's Talk for Press & gallery Members
                   7:30pm - when ever for everyone!  (You know, the usual cheap wine & cheese - but I might bring some better bubbly to add to the fun.)

Where: Femina Potens Art Gallery, 2199 Market St @ Sanchez, San Francisco

Who's coming?
If you're coming, I'd love it if you'd consider sharing your party pix with me to add to my documentation. It's the interaction that matters.
(I hope I can find a videographer by then. My friend can't make it so sudden change of plans on that..)

Violet Blue interviewed me about my current "PLASTICS" art exhibition at Femina Potens gallery in SF and wrote it up in her SFGate column.
I got to talk more deeply about the work so that made me happy.

Here's the article. 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

The comments are cruel to her. I think there's a whole club that gets their jollies from being nasty. It baffles me that they continue to read her (instead of switching to the Economist or Barrons or something) when they claim they hate her work.

I'm heading to Minneapolis next week!

My last visit there was for LLC and I had such a great time. I'm really looking forward to returning.

Can I get a few local's tips? What do you think the day and evening weather will be like next week? What are you wearing for an ordinary day and evening? Is it still sandals weather or is it time to put my summer shoes away? Light jacket? Dress in layers? This helps me to figure out how to pack.

What's the must-not miss local foods? Yes, I'm a foodie and delight in local fares. Any good museum exhibitions currently? I'll be pretty busy working on writing and e mails during the day and classes at night but if I can carve out some time, it would be cool to get out.

And below are the classes I'm teaching. Let me know if you have any questions.

~ ~ ~ ~

Midori's classes in Minneapolis at Smitten Kitten Boutique.

http://www.smittenkittenonline.com

Cost $30 per class or $60 for all three. All classes are open to all genders.

~ Thr 9/24 “JoyStick Secrets: How To Thrill a Man” (At the store)

~ Fri 9/25 “Hands-on Rope Bondage” (at The Ritz Theater)

~ Sat 9/26 “How to Eat a Peach: Pleasuring Her” (At the store)

~ ~ ~

I had this fab conversation with Mondo Eros the other day.
Here's the podcast. We talked about a ton of sexy stuff... but I can't bear to listen to my own voice from machines... so if you listen to it, let me know what you think.

http://sexyspirits.com/blog/podcasts/mono-eros-talkshows

Here's her SF Gate write up / interview on my performance action.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/09/10/violetblue0910.DTL


enjoy

Many folks won't get it. I hope some will.

and I can't believe how harsh some of these anonymous reader/posters are to her. My hat's usually off to her amazing productivity, but it's also off to her for putting up with all this...

Stage II of Rope Bondage Dojo registration is now on line at
http://www.RopeDojo.com

There you'll find the verification & sign-up. Once confirmed, you'll receive the
ticket purchase URL.

Pre-requisite: Graduation from Stage I

Dates:
Friday night refresher + mingle 10/16 (7pm – 10pm),
Sat 10/17 & Sun 10/18 (10am – 6pm)

Location:
Fri – Center for Sex & Culture
Sat – The Citadel

Cost: $350 / student

Let me know if you have any questions, ok?

:)

Midori