The Day that my Leather World stood still

i promised to catch you up to date, and here is my first in a few that I will be working on.

The Day that my Leather World stood still

 It happened on August 1st, 2012.  i was working the morning shift, and everything felt fine.  On the way home,  i grabbed some dinner on the way home and drove to my apartment.  When i got there, something didn’t feel right.  i walked up the stairs, and noticed my door open.  i didn’t think I left the door like that, and on closer examination, noticed that the door jam was busted in.  Needless to say my anxiety went through the roof.  i went into my apartment, and saw that the TV was gone, a computer monitor was gone, my PS3 that i earned threw work was gone as well as the controllers, also my laptop my former Sir gave me with some Leather family pics that were only on it were gone,  and my place was ransacked.  i called the police.

When they came, they dusted for prints and could not find any good working prints since most of them were on porous surfaces.  When they left, i called maintenance to fix my door so i can lock it. They came and fixed it.  i called work to call in the next day, and called my parents…and my mom was coming out the next day to help clean up.

i was starting to calm down, and wanted to look for my Family lock.  The family lock was given to me to ware as being part of Master Chuck’s Leather Family, as well as a protection lock (i am currently mentored and protected by Master Chuck).  i value it like i would a collar, it means a lot to me.

After looking, i came to the realization:  The Family lock was stolen!!!

This was the straw the broke the camel’s back.  i broke down, and broke down hard.  i was terrified to tell Master Chuck, i felt like it was my responsibly that the Family lock was stolen.

i called Master Chuck, and threw the tears, i  told Him.  He told me that the lock was easily replaced, but was grateful that i was physically safe and sound.  i broke down HARD.  i felt  absolved from what happened and now was able to move on.

In late August 2013, i received the replacement Family Lock from Master Chuck and really happy to have it.

One thing that i learned is that despite the specialness that the Lock (or Collar) brings, what is more important was my relationship with Master Chuck.  The relationship is the reason why it works (despite my setbacks that i create :p) and the lock is only the representation of that.

Thank you for taking the time to read this part of my life.

boy matt

First Time Bootblacking in 2 years

Hello everyone,

  i hope everyone had a good holiday this past weekend!

i went to visit a Leather Couple who host Thanksgiving at their house.  Also, that Saturday was a Leather United event.  i asked if I could volunteer to bootblack, and was told that it would be great.

Before the event, my head was spinning already of that i should not do it, i am not good enough,  etc…  the typical mind games that tend to happen to me.  However, i got myself into getting ready and went to the bar.

When i got there, and got set up…. it was odd looking at my station and starting to feel the familiarity of the scene and started to feel better.  i started to sharpen the grease pencils and position myself to get ready. And soon enough, i was ready.

Waiting or the first customer is always the hardest.  There was a slave bear taking pics and wanted one of me getting ready.  Well, i figured it be better if he was on my stand and doing his boots while he took the pics….but it ended up from going from a photo op, to actually doing his boots.  It was these nice red-brown grease boots that when I was done, had this warm feeling from them.  i looked at them and astonished that i was still able to make boots look great.

Next were these over the calf, hard polish boots.  i started to work on them, and explaining what i was doing since the person wearing them was borrowing the boots, and was learning what I was doing to take care of the boots.  The brush and flannel buffing started to feel more familiar the more i kept using it and soon enough, everything started to feel familiar.

After doing those boots, my shoulders were really sore…. it HAS been a long time since public bootblacking (two years in fact) and commented to a friend that it was a while.

As the night went on, time became distilled, and the next thing I know it was 11pm (3 hours after i started).  i went into my service/sub space without realizing it, the bar disappeared, the noise disappeared, and it was me and the boots…. and yet I still had to force myself to talk, despite being happy doing the boots.

By the end of the night, i was very tired (and hungry) and was happy.  i hope i am able to bootblack again soon, i have missed doing it.