Thoughts and Distractions

Seattle: Who's going to our Bang 4 The Buck party?

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:58:23 GMT

Who's going to our Bang 4 The Buck women's party?

What: Wild, wicked and notorious annual women's party in Seattle to benefit AIDS LifeCycle

Date: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010

Time: 6:00 FREE LESSON, 7:30 STRIP-O-RAMA, 10:00p - 2:00a PARTY

Place: Center for Sex Positive Culture “THE WET SPOT” 1630 15th Ave W., Seattle.

URL: www.Bang4TheBuck.org Details:

Cost: $20 - Strip-O-Rama ONLY

$25 – Big Bang Ticket: Strip Show AND Party
** Special VIP ticket available on line!

= = =

Midori, Kelly B, Lydia McLane and Miss Indigo Blue present

STRIP-O-RAMA & BANG FOR THE BUCK 2010!

Special Sex-Positive Womens’ Event and Fundraiser for AIDS/LifeCycle

For the sixth sold-out year, international star Midori hosts a hot steamy night for all Northwest women with proceeds benefiting AIDS/LifeCycle. Kinky women are still talking about the last five years of spectacular Seattle extravaganzas. This year’s event is primed for another sold out success on Saturday, January 30 at The Wet Spot, aka The Center for Sex Positive Culture.

First... Strip-O-Rama! The evening begins at 6 pm with a FREE striptease lesson by Burlesque Star Miss Indigo Blue. Miss Indigo teaches sexy moves for stripping success! FREE, and fun! Come prepared to take it all off!

Then, at 7:30 pm, Miss Indigo Blue and Lydia McLane join Midori to co-host an outrageous amateur strip-off! This is a no-holds barred, wild and abandoned display of women stripping for women, all competing to receive the most tips from the audience. The biggest tip-receivers win BIG prizes donated by Babeland, Twisted Monk, Pleasure Chest, ID Lube, Stockroom, Stormy Leather and Desire.

The raffle table is so full of wild goodies that nearly everyone with a raffle ticket wins an item. The Bang offers you chances to win specific items at the silent auction, and top of the line goods from our generous sponsors. Raffle tickets are $1 each or $10 for a bust or inseam.

Come to play, watch, tip and compete! Get there early and sign-up to strip-off – bring your two minutes of music on CD or dance to the DJ’s choice! All tips are donated to AIDS/Lifecycle.

Finally at 10:00 pm, the night turns downright debaucherous! For those who want to play, Hostess Midori conducts her famous “Auntie Midori’s Meat Market”! Everyone is invited to stay late into the night for the play and shag party. This is THE hottest event of the winter! Pull out your spiciest outfit, throw your toys in a bag, and come out and play for a great cause.

New for this year are VIP Advance Tickets & Bang Bucks! With Bang Bucks, you can turn your tipping and raffle tickets into a tax deduction! Just donate to AIDS/LifeCycle in advance at http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/teamursa and put BANG BUCKS in the message. Your Bang Bucks will be waiting for you at the party! Or, buy a $50 bundle of Bang Bucks directly at the party. In both cases your wholesome-looking tax deductable donation receipt will be mailed to you from AIDS/LifeCycle

A limited number of VIP Advance Tickets are available online at http://www.bang4thebuck.org/parties.php for those who wish to skip the line, get reserved seating, and 10 free raffle tickets to win more stuff! VIP Tickets are not tax deductible, but all proceeds benefit AIDS/LifeCycle and CSPC.

Center of Sex Positive Culture membership not required. Non-members are asked to RSVP to BangRSVP@sexpositiveculture.org. Please be 18+ and female identified

Details: Date: SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010 Time: 6:00 FREE LESSON, 7:30 STRIP-O-RAMA, 10:00p - 2:00a PARTY
Place: Center for Sex Positive Culture “THE WET SPOT” 1630 15th Ave W., Seattle. Cost: $20 - Strip-O-Rama ONLY

$25 – Big Bang Ticket: Strip Show AND Party

More Information: www.bang4thebuck.org

My December Newsletter (SF Rope Dojo, Bang party, etc)

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:27:04 GMT

Here's a copy of my monthly newsletter.
It's a little later than usual. My travel schedule got the better of me.
Let me know if you have any questions, ok?

MIDORI'S SENSUALIST NEWSLETTER December 3, 2009

1. Moving at Light Speed in Search of Stillness

2. Registration open for January Rope Bondage Dojo, San Francisco

3. Bang 4 The Buck Women’s Party returns to Seattle!

4. December classes/events (Ottawa, Tokyo)

5. Preview January (Oakland, San Rafael, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, LA, Seattle)

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

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

= = =

1. MOVING AT LIGHT SPEED IN THE SEARCH OF STILLNESS

I’ve been moving at light speed lately, haven’t I? Dashing from Tokyo to Toronto, Washington DC and back again, the healthy demand for classes keeps me flying about.

My doctor in Toronto is right, though. Meditative moments practiced regularly would serve me better. To grab as much life and joy that the world has to offer – that’s been a long time mode of mine. Sometimes, in the whirlwind of intensity and focus, there are brief cracks of time – as if everything stands still. When all the work and energy creates a fleeting moment of centripetal balance – and all is good. And then the whirlwind returns.

My recent trip to Tokyo gave me a clue to the origin of my crazy scheduling nature. Tokyo is a constant buzzing hive of activity. She makes New York seem a suburban matron. Usually the constant buzzing motion serves the maintenance of the hive. It must be that those of us who’ve left the hive are compelled to find some other purpose to serve and buzz about.

So I move at light speed fed by a perpetual internal energy source called foolhardy optimism. I seem to think that I can make some difference in the world.
But sometimes I get tired. Really tired. Sometimes I just sit down and cry.
Yup, I do.
The state of the world and the economy doesn’t make it easier.

Then I realize that I can ask for help.
I just hope that when I do ask for help, someone will show up.

Like the crazy fool that I am, I’m up to another one of those make-the-world-a-little-better projects.
I hope you’ll help me out this holiday season…

AIDS LifeCycle:
http://www.ToFightHIV.org/goto/Midori

(Or, if you’re a gal, just come on by to the Bang 4 The Buck party and lend support and cheer!)

Wishing you peace and pleasure,

Midori

= = =

2. REGISTER FOR JANUARY ROPE BONDAGE DOJO, SAN FRANCISCO

The next Rope Bondage Dojo ® weekend intensive is coming up fast and the registration is open on-line.

When: January 16 – 17, 2010
Where: San Francisco, CA
Reg & Info: http://www.RopeDojo.com

Pre-requisite: 18+ and ability to tie your shoe laces
Cost: Solo $350 / Pair $600
Etc: Limited to 30 students. 10 spaces remaining at the time of writing

= = =
3. BANG 4 THE BUCK WOMEN’S PARTY RETURNS TO SEATTLE!

What: A night of debauchery and glorious fun for a good cause! All profit goes to AIDS LifeCycle and Center for Sex Positive Culture

URL: http://bang4thebuck.org/parties.php

When: Saturday, January 30, 2010. 6 pm – 2 am

Where: CSPC/The Wet Spot, 1602 - 15th Ave W., Seattle WA

Tickets: $25 Big Bang Ticket, $20 Strip-o-Rama only,

New! VIP Advanced Tickets & Bank of Bang's Bang Bucks

BANG BUCKS:
Turn your dancer tipping and raffle ticket buying into a tax deduction! You've got 2 ways
1. Before the party, donate directly to AIDS LifeCycle fundraising page by Midori & Kelly. www.tofighthiv.org/goto/teamursa and put BANG BUCKS in the message. Your Bang Bucks will be waiting for you at the party with the Bank of Bang. Your wholesome looking tax deduction will be mailed to you from AIDS LifeCycle.
2. Buy Bang Bucks at the party. Buy $50 bundles of Bang Bucks at the Bank of Bang, donated directly into AIDS LifeCycle and score your tax deduction, good karma and tipping money.

VIP ADVANCED TICKETS
Skip the line, get the best seats and win more stuff!
Limited VIP access tickets available on-line only.
- Big Bang all night ticket
- Preferred entrance
- Special reserve Strip-o-Rama seating
- 10 free raffle tickets

= = =

4. UPCOMING CLASSES / EVENTS DECEMBER: (Ottawa, Tokyo)

OTTAWA, CANADA

~ Tue 12/1 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

~ Wed 12/2 “Bedroom Burlesque and Seduction for Beginners: Wiggle, Jiggle, Take It Off with Confidence!”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

TOKYO, JAPAN

~ 12/11 & 12/13 Assisting in theater piece "Doe 2.0" a bi-lingual, bi-cultural collaboration of US play write & Japanese director. Collaboration of Minneapolis based playwright, Trista Baldwin, and Shirotama Hitsujuya. (www.yubiwahotel.com), based on the play DOE, directed by Shirotama in the Tokyo International Festival.

= = =

5. PREVIEW: JANUARY CLASSES / EVENTS (Oakland, Santa Cruz, San Rafael, San Francisco, LA, Seattle)

OAKLAND, CA

~ Sun 1/10/10 “Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1”
at the Looking Glass. RSVP mail@thelookingglassarts.com

SANTA CRUZ, CA

~ Wed 1/13/10 “Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1”
at Pure Pleasure Boutique. http://www.purepleasureshop.com/

SAN FRANCISCO

~ 1/16 to 1/17/10 Rope Bondage Dojo ® Stage 1
pre-registration required. http://www.RopeDojo.com

~ 1/28/10 “Erotic Humiliation Play”
at The Citadel. http://www.sfcitadel.org. 1277 Mission Street. Doors open at 7:30

SAN RAFAEL, CA

~ Wed 1/20/10 “Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1”
at Pleasures of the Heart. http://www.pleasuresoftheheart.com/

LOS ANGELES

Three workshops at Coco De Mer. http://www.cocodemerusa.com/
Pre-registration highly encouraged.
Address: 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Telephone: 310 652 0311
~ Mon 1/25/10 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”

~ Tue 1/26/10 “Bedroom Burlesque: How to Take It Off with Confidence & Look Great”

~ Wed 1/27/10 Surprise! Topic to be determined

SEATTLE

~ Fri 1/29/10 “Intimate Evening with Midori” Enjoy uncensored reports on the sexual underground Japan, and, of course, Sushi. A special event. Contact http://www.bondagelessons.com for more info.

~ Sat 1/30/10 Bang 4 The Buck Women’s Party!
http://www.Bang4TheBuck.org

~ Sun 1/31/10 “Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1”
at Babeland. Tel. 206.328.2914. http://www.babeland.com/events/

6. NEXT FORTE FEMME WOMEN’S WEEKEND

A little heads-up… I know many of you like to plan ahead.
Forte Femme, Women’s Weekend Intensive on Sensual Dominance returns to San Francisco! This immersion weekend is limited to 10 women.

SAN FRANCISCO Forte Femme:
When: Fri 3/19 through Sun 3/21/2010
Where: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
Cost: $650/per person.
Register: Advanced registration required. Registration opens early February

= = =

6. DIGITAL GHETTOS I LURK ABOUT IN

Here are the various places I waste time at when I’m on-line… Drop on by!

Twitter @PlanetMidori
Personal Blog http://fd-midori.livejournal.com
Kink Q&A http://www.KinkWire.com
Sexuality Q&A http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divamidori
Facebook Midori ReallyMidori
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/fd_midori

(I just joined Second Life as “Midori Starship”, but I’m just figuring out the bare basics of how to function there.)

Your Sex Stories Wanted!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:49:54 GMT

forwarding this for my pal, Josey, who's fab!
= = =
Best, Josey Canadian sex columnist and author Josey Vogels wants your stories! Josey (joseyvogels.com) is looking for personal stories from couples for her next book.
If you have funny, serious or touching anecdotes or stories (under 200 words) in any of the following categories, please send them to:
letters@joseyvogels.com.

Names and identities will be changed upon request.

Most memorable:
Seduction by your partner.
Kiss from your partner.
Massage
Oral sex
Intercourse
Sexual position
Anal sex
Sexual fantasy (either acted upon or not)
Roleplay
Experimentation with sex toys
Extreme play (bondage, spanking, sensation play)
Spiritual encounter (through breathing, touch, Tantric practices,)
= = =

he was poo on top of a crap day

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:59:32 GMT

Yes, today was over all a rough day for my head and heart. I need to vent.
Presented at a convention hall titalation type event with booth after booth of sex toys of varying quality and swaying throng of the nervously giggling or the drunk - as events go, that's about as unsexy as you could make a supposed sex event.

Some things had gone wrong for me in the previous day at this event and it was just coming to light. And something valuable to me was stolen from there.
I managed to present an entertaining enough mini presentation considering that the venue was as intimate as a cattle auction in an airplane hanger.
After class, as I'm trying to make my get away, this nicely dress, attractive older couple approaches me for questions. I oblige.
Starts off well enough. They want to know how I got into this. The guy has a heavy slavic accent so a bit hard to understand. Then he asks if I want to know how to cure AIDS in 3 days.
Me: "Um you can't cure AIDS in 3 days."
Him: "ok, 10 days then."
Me: "Um you can't cure AIDS. Not yet. They're looking for it."
Him: "Why are you so closed to this?" And he proceeds to tell me that conventional medicine doesn't know anything and he knows this guy on line who teaches people how to cure AIDS in days. That medical community is keeping real information from people.
Me "Have you ever been to a World AIDS Conference. They've had that in Toronto"
Him "No"
Me "I'm not the one closed to this. You're the one closed to information and research if you're believing htis but not exchanging ideas with researchers. Sure, if you were to say that a single pharmaceutical is minimalizing inforamtion, I could understand this. But people who are sick are looking for cures and relief in all forms of curative / healing practice. My friends who are sick and the ones who've died, are and were all looking to not be sick anymore. Do you personally know HIV pos people."
Him "I do not know anyone in the AIDS community."
Me "You can't believe a person on line just because he seems to have charisma. Go look up the word Denialism on line, ok?

Then he goes on to tell me that he cannot get sick because he learned how not to get ill from the Bible and Jesus Christ.
I told him about people being carriers to STD's without a symptom. He was convinced that if he felt healthy that he couldn't possibly have anything.
And he can't get sick so why should he practice safer sex? That the condom takes away 50% of the fun of sex.
(He also shared other very self-centered quack convictions around sex and health)

I told him that "if you think that 'that' (pointing at his crotch) is what sex is, and a nano thin piece of latex reduces sexual pleasure 50%, then you're not looking at the eyes, face, skin, body and the whole woman he's making love to - and he's a victim of conventional western sexual misinformation. I know that I would NEVER have sex with a person like you as they would not want the whole me and would not respect my boundaries or direct communications."

He wanted to continue to talk. I told him I had an appointment and left. (Yeah, I had an appointment with taking a 10 deep breaths and civility.)

eeew
sigh

and to think that there are more of him around....

If you want something from Japan...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:56:06 GMT

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.

Rambling to wind down

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:53:00 GMT

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...

How to make Midori's Dildo Harness w scarves

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:13:10 GMT

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:

Take Scarf A and make a loose over-hand knot (“That Knot” if spoken in Midori) at it’s midpoint.
Take Scarf B, place through That Knot, bisecting the Scarf B. Scarf B will now be hanging with two equal length parts.
Take dildo and insert to That Knot.
Tighten Scarf A and That Knot firmly around dildo.
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.
Place dildo in desired position on the body.
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.
Repeat for remaining end of Scarf b.
Test for security of whole harness.
Shag

Enjoy!

Midori

MIDORI'S NEWSLETTER Nov 2009 Thoughts & Classes(Baltimore, DC, Tokyo, Toronto, Ottawa)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:11:00 GMT

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.

= = =

1. AGE OF COMPASSION?

Could we actually be entering a new era of compassion and reason?
As I gaze out to a beautiful autumn day, I’m hopeful.

In the last few days, two seemingly small but significant actions by the US government caught my attention. Squeezed between the endless reports on suicide bombers and the crippled economy, news came through that the Obama administration lifted the 22-year ban on HIV-positive people entering the country. Then in another quiet announcement they opened the way for battered foreign women to receive asylum.

HIV Ban: In 1987, during the Reagan administration, US established a ban on HIV-positive people from entering the country and resident HIV pos foreigners being granted legal status. In the midst of the new pandemic, this was a public health policy reaction against a new disease whose transmission mysterious, and death certain, swift and miserable. This was further enforced in 1993 by Jesse Helms’ amendment, a barely veiled bigoted law riding the tide of the culture wars and feeding on irrational fears.

Until a few days ago United States was one of a dozen frightened countries barring HIV pos folks – this includes tourists, those seeking life saving medical treatments, and medical researchers. The other nations are: Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Sudan. Not exactly a line-up of countries exemplifying human rights and social development.

Women and Asylum: For women escaping severe domestic abuse from countries that culturally and institutionally condoned such behavior, for the last 13 years the doors of the US were closed to them. Worse still, should a lower courts grant them asylum, that decision could be reversed and they be deported back to likely fatal consequences. Department of Homeland Security had deemed women as not part of any persecuted group under American law.
This may now be changing.

Underneath these previous policies lay the ugliness of sexual shame, bigotry, homophobia and sexism – all spewing forth from the cankered disease of fear and ignorance. Fear and ignorance are ancient and toxic companions of the human soul, poisoning our potential to evolve into something greater as a species. But fear and ignorance is sweet candy to those who’d like us to follow like blind sheep and control our resources. Fear and ignorance breaks us down into continual downward spiral of being less-than. To become greater-than, to find peace, fulfillment and enlightenment, we must examine our own personal fears, institutional and social fears and ward off the lazy ease of ignorance.

Compassion and reason is anything but easy, but if we’re to survive, it maybe our only option.

Wishing you peace and pleasure,

Midori

= = =

2. UPCOMING CLASSES / EVENTS NOVEMBER: (Baltimore, Washington DC, Tokyo, Toronto)

BALTIMORE

~ Tue 11/5 “Hands-on Rope Bondage”
at Sugar boutique, http://www.sugartheshop.com/

WASHINGTON DC

~ Wed 11/4 “Aural Sex: Seduction by Voice”
hosted by Whole DC. Location: Dulce Cafe and Lounge, 1123 Pennsylvania Ave, SE http://wholedc.com/

~ Thr 11/5 “Wrapped for Pleasure: Easy Sex Bondage with Scarves”
hosted by Whole DC. Location: Dulce Cafe and Lounge, 1123 Pennsylvania Ave, SE http://wholedc.com/

TOKYO, JAPAN

~ Sat 11/14 Japan Fetish Ball
by Tokyo Kink Society. Just hanging out and “researching”! http://www.tksociety.com/

TORONTO, CANADA

~ 11/20 – 11/22 Mini classes at the Everything To Do With Sex Show.
Friday, 9:30pm. Saturday, 2:30pm, Sunday 2:30pm.

~ Sat 11/21 “Bedroom burlesque and seduction for beginners: A wiggle-jiggle-take-it-all-off-with-confidence workshop”
Red Tent Sisters. http://www.redtentsisters.com/workshops.html

~ Tue 11/24 “Hands-on Rope Bondage”
Come As You Are boutique. http://www.comeasyouare.com

~ Wed 11/25 “Hands-on Rope Body Harness”
Come As You Are boutique. http://www.comeasyouare.com

~ Thr 11/26 “How to Eat a Peach: Pleasuring Her”
Red Tent Sisters. http://www.redtentsisters.com/workshops.html

~ Fri 11/27 – Sun 11/29 "Passionate Bonds: Weekend Intensive for Conscious D/s & Protocol" led by Laura Antoniou and Midori
Info: https://fire-horse-productions-inc1.ticketleap.com/PBToronto2009

= = =

3. PREVIEW: DECEMBER CLASSES / EVENTS (Ottawa)

OTTAWA, CANADA

~ Tue 12/1 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

~ Wed 12/2 “Bedroom Burlesque and Seduction for Beginners: Wiggle, Jiggle, Take It Off with Confidence!”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

= = =

4. NEXT FORTE FEMME WOMEN’S WEEKEND

A little heads-up… I know many of you like to plan ahead.
Forte Femme, Women’s Weekend Intensive on Sensual Dominance returns to San Francisco! This immersion weekend is limited to 10 women.

SAN FRANCISCO Forte Femme:
When: Fri 3/19 through Sun 3/21/2010
Where: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
Cost: $650/per person.
Register: Advanced registration required.

= = =

6. DIGITAL GHETTOS I LURK ABOUT IN

Here are the various places I waste time at when I’m on-line… Drop on by!

Twitter @PlanetMidori
Personal Blog http://fd-midori.livejournal.com
Kink Q&A http://www.KinkWire.com
Sexuality Q&A http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divamidori
Facebook Midori ReallyMidori
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/fd_midori

(I just joined Second Life as “Midori Starship”, but I’m just figuring out the bare basics of how to function there.)

= = =

Baltimore/DC classes Nov 3-5. (Any good museum exhibitions?)

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:12:44 GMT

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

Spending the morning thinking about HIV deaths in the 80's and 90's

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:19:15 GMT

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

October Newsletter: On Virginity, Classes (London, Copenhagen, Rope Dojo 2, Santa Cruz, SF, LA)

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:02:37 GMT

A labor of love - my regular newsletter's here. I spilled the beans on my pet peeve with the Virginity essay too...

MIDORI'S MUSINGS NEWSLETTER September 30, 2009

1. Why “losing your virginity” is a loser concept

2. New! “Passionate Bonds” D/s Protocol Weekend w Laura Antoniou & Midori

3. October classes/events (London, Somerset UK, Copenhagen, Rope Dojo 2, Santa Cruz CA, San Francisco, LA)

4. Preview November (Washington DC, Tokyo, Toronto, Ottawa)

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

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

= = =

1. WHY “LOSING YOUR VIRGINITY” IS A LOSER CONCEPT

Here’s a little known pet peeve of mine.
It’s the phrase “losing your virginity.”

It’s a common enough conversational topic about how we began our sexual journey. Yet the phrase is loaded with archaic and medieval notions of sexuality.

Even among many of the socially and sexually progressive you’ll hear that phrase tossed out without thought to the baggage it carries.

What messages are imbued in that phrase?

That we had something which is now and forever gone, and one is somehow lacking after sex. It implies that sex is only legitimate when it’s genitally penetrative and all other acts are, conveniently or insensitively, inconsequential. It implies that the act of penetration, despite intention and circumstances, defines a new phase of life.

An intact hymen, the vaginal membrane, proved the value of a young woman, as a marriageable property in the economics of family resources. It supposedly proved the moral value and character of a woman. In many parts of the world it still does, so much so that girls are murdered for a damaged hymen. In other parts of the world, plastic surgeons make a pretty penny off of wealthy young women seeking hymen reconstructive surgery.

Boys rarely suffer character tarnishing from the first penetrative act. Rather, they were considered to gain something, often at the cost of the girl, like some weird and tragic zero sum game.

For people whose first genital penetrative event wasn’t consensual, or wasn’t about sex or pleasure, the phrase often forces them to forever define their sexuality from that incident on.

All this just doesn’t seem right if we want to create a just and humanistic world, which recognizes sexuality as part of the whole personhood.

“When did you claim your sexuality?”

This is how I prefer to phrase the questions. How’s that for a new twist on words and implications?

Sexuality is part of one’s humanity. Sexual responsibility is part of adulthood responsibility, to be taken seriously and reverently as all other grown-up privileges. We can choose to look at sex as something that happens to our passive body, like the measles, or we can consider sex as something we participate in as active agents.

We learned to ride a bike. We weren’t taken for a ride by the bike.

Ask yourself “when and how did I claim my adult sexual rights?”

How does that feel?

Next time the topic comes up, ask, “When and how did you claim your sexuality?”

And see how the attitudes and answers shift.

Give it a try. It’s really interesting.

Wishing you peace and pleasure!

Midori

= = =

2. NEW! D/S PROTOCOL WEEKEND WITH LAURA ANTONIOU & MIDORI (Washington DC & Toronto)

WHAT: "Passionate Bonds: Weekend Intensive for Conscious D/s & Protocol"
WHERE / WHEN: 2 Locations / Dates
- November 6 – 8, Washington DC
- November 27 – 29, Toronto, Canada

COST: $450 first person in the order. $400 for each additional individual. Registration and information for both locations now open at http://www.FHP-inc.com/classes.php

Join Marketplace author Laura Antoniou and educator Midori for a special weekend intensive designed for people who enjoy authentic power dynamics and D/s, who want to consciously create quality relationships that suit their personal hungers and needs in the context of the real world.
Far beyond what you can learn from a book or a standard seminar, participants will be guided through a special curriculum designed to clearly identify their value system, behavior preferences and relationship goals.

Through the unique curriculum and its innovative tools, each individual or relationship unit will create their own customized manual of effective protocol, rules, etiquettes and codes of conducts.
Class size will be strictly limited to allow for a unique quality experience emphasizing individualized attention.

= = =

3. UPCOMING CLASSES / EVENTS OCTOBER: (London UK, Somerset UK, Copenhagen DK, Santa Cruz CA, San Francisco, Los Angeles)

LONDON:

~ Thr 10/1 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”
for Wild Women at Bordello lingerie boutique. http://wildwomen18.blogspot.com/ and http://www.bordello-london.com/ Location: 55 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HP

Series of Salons for Coco De Mer. Info & Registration: http://www.coco-de-mer.com/shop/salons

~ Wed 10/7 “Tricks to Please a Man”
South Kensington store, 108 Draycott Avenue, London SW3 2AE

~ Thr 10/8 “Rosy Cheeks”
South Kensington store, 108 Draycott Avenue, London SW3 2AE

~ Fri 10/9 “How to Eat a Peach: Pleasuring Her”
South Kensington store, 108 Draycott Avenue, London SW3 2AE

~ Mon 10/12 “Tricks to Please a Man”
Covent Garden store, 23 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DD

~ Tue 10/13 “Bedroom Burlesque & Seductions for Beginners”
Covent Garden store, 23 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DD

SOMERSET, UK

~ Tue 10/6 Private Salon for the members of SoHo House at Babington

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

~ Sat 10/10 A special performance just for the Manifest Club! http://www.manifest.eu/

SANTA CRUZ, CA

~ Wed 10/15 “Rosy Cheeks: Beginner's Guide to Love Swats, Spankings, Paddling and More”
Pure Pleasure Boutique. 204 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Tel: 831.466.9870
http://www.purepleasureshop.com/events.php

SAN FRANCISCO

~ 10/16 through 10/18. Rope Bondage Dojo ® Stage II
Pre-requisite: Successful graduation of Rope Bondage Dojo ® Stage I. Registration and information at http://www.RopeDojo.com

~ Tue 10/20 “Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1”
Good Vibrations on Polk St. 620 Polk Street (at Sacramento Street) San Francisco, CA 94109. (415) 345-0400 http://www.goodvibes.com

~ Thr 10/22 “Predicament Bondage”
Stormy Leather. 1158 Howard Street. 415.626.1672. www.stormyleather.com/

~ Sat 10/24 “Rope Dance: Dynamic Passionate Movements”
The Citadel. 1277 Mission St. (at 9th St.)
Yoga meets assisted stretching, meets contact improvisational dance, meets Tango with a touch of Fight Club! Pair tix $50, Solo tix $30. 1pm - 4pm. Register on line or tickets at door
https://fire-horse-productions-inc1.ticketleap.com/RopeDanceSF2009

LOS ANGELES

~ Tue 10/27 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”
Coco De Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Tel: 310 652 0311 http://www.cocodemerusa.com

~ Wed 10/28 “How to Eat a Peach: Pleasuring Her”
Coco De Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Tel: 310 652 0311 http://www.cocodemerusa.com

~ Thr 10/29 “Hands-on Rope Bondage”
Coco De Mer, 8618 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Tel: 310 652 0311 http://www.cocodemerusa.com

= = =

4. PREVIEW: NOVEMBER CLASSES / EVENTS (Washington DC, Tokyo, Toronto, Ottawa)

WASHINGTON DC

~ Wed 11/4 “Aural Sex: Seduction by Voice”
hosted by Whole DC. Location info soon. http://wholedc.com/

~ Thr 11/5 “Wrapped for Pleasure: Easy Sex Bondage with Scarves”
hosted by Whole DC. Location info soon. http://wholedc.com/

~ Fri 11/6 – Sun 11/8 "Passionate Bonds: Weekend Intensive for Conscious D/s & Protocol"
see info above or http://www.FHP-inc.com/classes.php

TOKYO, JAPAN

~ Sat 11/14 Japan Fetish Ball
by Tokyo Kink Society. Just hanging out and “researching”! http://www.tksociety.com/

TORONTO, CANADA

~ 11/20 – 11/22 Mini classes at the Everything To Do With Sex Show.
Friday, 9:30pm. Saturday, 2:30pm, Sunday 2:30pm.

~ Sat 11/21 “Bedroom burlesque and seduction for beginners: A wiggle-jiggle-take-it-all-off-with-confidence workshop”
Red Tent Sisters. http://www.redtentsisters.com/workshops.html

~ Tue 11/24 “Hands-on Rope Bondage”
Come As You Are boutique. http://www.comeasyouare.com

~ Wed 11/15 “Hands-on Rope Body Harness”
Come As You Are boutique. http://www.comeasyouare.com

~ Fri 11/27 – Sun 11/29 "Passionate Bonds: Weekend Intensive for Conscious D/s & Protocol"
see info above or http://www.FHP-inc.com/classes.php

OTTAWA, CANADA

~ Tue 12/1 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Thrill a Man”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

~ Wed 12/2 “Bedroom Burlesque and Seduction for Beginners: Wiggle, Jiggle, Take It Off with Confidence!”
Venus Envy. http://www.venusenvy.ca/Ottawa/index.asp

= = =

5. NEXT FORTE FEMME WOMEN’S WEEKEND

A little heads-up… I know many of you like to plan ahead.

Forte Femme, Women’s Weekend Intensive on Sensual Dominance returns to San Francisco! This immersion weekend is limited to 10 women.

SAN FRANCISCO Forte Femme:

When: Fri 3/19 through Sun 3/21/2010
Where: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport

Cost: $650/per person.
Register: Advanced registration required.

= = =

6. DIGITAL GHETTOS I LURK ABOUT IN

Here are the various places I waste time at when I’m on-line… Drop on by!

Twitter @PlanetMidori
Personal Blog http://fd-midori.livejournal.com
Kink Q&A http://www.KinkWire.com
Sexuality Q&A http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divamidori
Facebook Midori ReallyMidori
Fetlife.com Midori_SF
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/fd_midori

= = =

Today's teenagers coming out as GLB (Middle schoolers)

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:56:32 GMT

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!

Mon 9/28 need help taking donw my art show.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:46:06 GMT

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!

Introducing Ginger

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:46:23 GMT

In King David's bassinet

Which is on a file cart next to my desk. (at least I seem to remember a desk being under this pile)
I'll post a pix of Obie when I manage to get a decent shot of him.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Trophy photo from successful hunt

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:58:38 GMT

From California Coastal Cleanup Day.
Just one load of total 4 truck loads from one small park. I kept finding the big stuff hidden dump sites, giant tarp washed up on the beach, bike, costco shopping cart. I was like a trash beagel that day.

I thought the AIDS LifeCycle Sweep team shirt was appropriate.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Minneapolis / Minnesota foodways?

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:45:07 GMT

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?

It's hot today

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:30:49 GMT

King David at the screen door

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Come party w me Saturday night! Reception for my art show

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:48:31 GMT

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 writes on "PLASTIC" show

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:27:17 GMT

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.

Minneapolis: 3 classes w Midori @ Smitten Kitten

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:54:17 GMT

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)

~ ~ ~

My interview podcast on Mondo Eros

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:02:53 GMT

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

Magic in the cornfields

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:59:41 GMT

I've never been in a cornfield. There was one behind the B&B I stayed at last night.
I went in and sat for a while enjoying the sounds...

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Violet Blue comments on "Taken" show

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:12:24 GMT

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...

Rope Dojo Stage 2 registration open now

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:24:45 GMT

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

another photo - 5th piece of the PLASTICS show

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:19:40 GMT

(forgive the lousy iPhone snaps but I wanted to share this)

Here's what the wall tag reads...
= =
"Lovely”

$1500

A blow-up doll on a medical gurney. Suspended above her, close to the flesh but not touching it, are sharp objects. Some are cutting objects of domesticity, others are surgical tools used to create perfection.
A door – the exit. To pass through, to transform, what will you risk?

Note: given the sharp objects this installation, please don’t touch and interact with this piece.

[Medium: Blow-up doll, gurney, assorted sharp objects, yarn, door frame]

= = =

detail pics