Something of a smile

paul-newman-joanee-woodward-featured

“He’s very good looking and very sexy and all of those things, but all of that goes out the window and what is finally left is, if you can make somebody laugh … And he sure does keep me laughing” -Joanne Woodward

Paul Newman attributed their relationship success to “some combination of lust and respect and patience.
And determination.”
Paul Newman claimed that “Joanne gave birth to a sexual creature”.  dievca attributes a similar opening up experience to her Master.

Indianapolis 500 car #6 (1947 vs. 2023)

dievca is heading to Indiana this weekend for the Indianapolis 500.  she’s a neophyte when is comes to Indy Car racing “Go Fast, Turn Left”… so she is reading up on the race and trying to choose her driver.  The advancement of car technology is amazing!


Net Value

Clare V., J. Crew, Amazon, Shein, Old Navy, etc. offering a Woven Tote for Summer ($22-$145).  dievca is really shopping her closets before buying, here’s what she has:

OK, not quite the “net” look, but dievca thinks she has an olive green cotton net bag for grocery shopping in a drawer…

French Mesh bag olive


Elaborate Fantasies

what-a-way-to-say-good-morning-goodmorning-hello-sexyDon’t get all excited – dievca’s excellent fantasies have not returned…yet.  she was just pondering where they went.

Were they lost with COVID?
Or taking care of her Parents?
Did perimenopause take a toll?
The knee surgery?

All of the above?
Honestly, dievca thinks that the dressing in various items of lingerie and feeling good her body helped create the fantasies and since the perimenopause/knee – she’s been more focused on getting her body to move effectively.

That doesn’t mean that the Play with Master has diminished – the Fantasies were a separate venue.  dievca thinks they came with having some spare time.  Maybe they will come back in the future.


Friday Night Fish : Andalusia vs. US Midwest

Whelp – more fresh color on the Spanish version of “Fish for Lent”. Mayo-based coleslaw can’t compete with fresh tomatoes. dievca will argue that her Lake Perch was lightly breaded and cooked to perfection. And the experience is not something you can find in NYC. Even through she grew up in the Midwest, dievca felt like an Anthropologist watching the behaviors of a new species. 

dievca’s Dutch friend is enjoying the sun and heat of Spain.

Photos: Fish Fry in Antequera, Spain and Fish Fry in Wisconsin, USA 03/2023


Waking up at 5 am to remember you missed something.

Columbus_Morning_Sun_Hopper_Drawing_Printe

dievca had tickets scheduled to the Edward Hopper showing at the Whitney Museum, last evening.  she completely forgot. she’s just hoping that she can use them before the event closes or just use them for the museum.  she’ll be stopping by today…


A long tall drink ≠ dehydration

Tall Drink of WaterOK, dievca is not long legged – nor a “hottie”.  And Master isn’t that tall – though He is handsome.  In this case, dievca needs a long tall cool drink to replace fluids.

dievca has been running slightly dehydrated.  she thinks its because of wearing masks during Covid she got out of the habit of drinking enough fluids.  That and upping her workouts in a pool setting where she doesn’t realize that she is sweating.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend 15.5 c (3.7 L) of fluids a day for men and 11.5 c (2.7 L) for women. This includes all fluids — not just water — from anything you eat and drink all day. Everything from coffee to cucumbers to chicken contains some fluid, and it all adds up.

Research suggests that hydration status doesn’t differ much if someone drinks water, cola, or fruit juice, provided that they drink enough to stay hydrated. So there doesn’t appear to be a clear winner. Even caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, can be hydrating, as long as you limit intake to no more than 300 mg caffeine per day (about three 8-oz cups of coffee).


Happy Lunar New Year! (your forecast for 2023)

Heavenly stems and earthly branches (via CNN Travel)

Every year, a heavenly stem (one of five elements, which fall into the yin or yang category) is paired with an earthly branch (one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals).
Gui Mao is the 40th element of the Chinese sexagenary cycle — the Heavenly Stem “Gui” represents water, whereas the earthly branch “Mao” represents Rabbit. That makes 2023 the Year of the Water Rabbit.
“Gui Mao Rabbit Year is quite a special year — when all the elements in a year are yin,” says Thierry Chow, a Hong Kong-based geomancy consultant known for blending traditional Chinese geomancy with modern design elements.
“It’s also uncommon to have the combination of water and rabbit. The rabbit represents wood. Water nurtures wood (according to Chinese geomancy).”
She says industries with wood as their main element — like culture, publishing, agriculture and furniture — would benefit. Fire industries, on the other hand, including digital and technology businesses, may suffer as fire is afraid of Water.
“The Year of Water Rabbit is going to be a gentler year. We’ll have time to take a breather. We’ve been in the tunnel for the last few years, and the light is getting bigger now,” says Chow.

Rabbit

People born in the Year of the Rabbit will be facing their “Ben Ming Nian” — their own zodiac year — in 2023. Followers believe there will be more disruptions and instabilities in the year to come as a result.
“People born in the Rabbit year have to expect big changes health-wise, career-wise and relationship-wise. It could be a bit nerve-wracking, especially for those whose birth charts don’t favor Water,” says Chow.
“But do remember it never is all bad. It may mean an opportunity to grow.”
Rabbits should try to attract positive energy and join happy events when possible.
They should also travel to destinations to their south — doesn’t matter if these southern destinations are within their city or outside their country — says Chow.

Dragon

It’s set to be a pretty good year for Dragons out there. No unlucky stars are affecting their year.
“There are no outstanding concerns, except maybe health for those born in the summer and autumn. They could easily feel stressed,” says Chow.
But the geomancy expert urges Dragons not to make rash decisions at work.
“It doesn’t mean overthinking. Just let things sit longer before you make a decision,” says Chow.
Single Dragons could meet potential romantic partners this year. Their lucky colors are metallic, such as gold or silver.
As for traveling, head west for better fortunes, says Chow.

Snake

People born in Snake years will enjoy good news and abundance as the travel star, Yi Ma Xing, and the fortune star, Cai Xing, will reign over them this year.
“Opportunities, new directions and advancements will come to you at work,” says Chow. “But Snakes need to find balance in life and take a break when needed.”
Romantically, Snakes may find love while out traveling this year. Chow advises them to wear blue or gold and travel to the west or north.

Horse

“This year, Horses will have the Peach Blossom Star (Taohua Xing) shining over them. That’s always good news,” says Chow.
Professionally, they’ll find new opportunities and meet a lot of guardians who will assist them.
They’ll enjoy good relationships. She says this might be the right year for those wanting to get engaged or married.
But Chow issues one reminder for Horses: Pay attention to their family’s physical and mental health.
“They can wear colorful clothes like pink, orange and a bit of yellow. In terms of traveling, they can head to their south,” says Chow.

Goat

This year, Goats will greet Tai Sui.
It’s generally a positive influence on their luck, but at the same time, it could also mean that the year will be exhausting too. That’s why Goats need to care for themselves and rest when needed.
“Save some time to get to know yourself better. Career-wise, you need to stay humble and keep a low profile. Observe more. Opportunities will present themselves at the right moment,” says Chow.
On the relationship front, people born in Goat years will enjoy a smooth year.
“They’re more likely to meet new people, new friends, and even new loves this year,” says Chow, adding that a bit of gold and a visit to the west could add to their luck.

Monkey

Good news for Monkeys: they will be in harmonious union with Tai Sui this year.
Chow says they will be showered with admiration from those around them at work.
But that doesn’t mean they should live recklessly. Instead, the geomancer says, “they should play safe this year, especially those who love extreme sports.”
In terms of relationships, they are prone to arguments and drama, which could be avoided by improving communication this year.
Yellow and beige are the color palette for Monkeys in 2023, and they could look towards the west for travel inspiration, says Chow.

Rooster

Roosters need to brace themselves — they will be clashing with Tai Sui this year, meaning the coming months could be unstable and present plenty of changes.
Advice from Chow: Embrace the chaos and travel more.
“Muster as much positive energy as you could and be more aware that you may be easier to attract conflicts this year,” she says. “But understand that these changes are for the better.”
To alleviate the blow, they could wear more yellow and brown and visit places in the west or north.

Dog

Being in union with Tai Sui, people born under the sign of the Dog will likely enjoy a pleasant year with significant advancements in career and finance.
But Dogs must remind themselves to be humble and listen to others, especially friends and people they trust, says Chow. They’ll tell you important things that will greatly benefit you this year.
“Their lucky colors are silver and blue, and their lucky place is to their north,” says Chow.

Pig

Pigs will be greeting Tai Sui, meaning it should generally be a positive year.
But, on the flip side, greeting Tai Sui could also affect one’s health because of the extra workload.
“You have to balance your work and play time equally,” Chow says.
People born during Pig years may enjoy professional success if they are willing to focus on teamwork.
“Relationship-wise, it’ll be a very good year for you. You will meet new friends and potential new love,” says Chow.
To enhance fortune, Pigs could wear pink and purple more often and plan a trip to the south, she adds.

Rat

People born in the years of the Rat will be in conflicts with Tai Sui, also known as Xing (torturing) Tai Sui, next year.
“Generally, it means a tougher year,” says Chow. “But when there is yin, there is always yang, too. So remember, it never really is all bad.”
Rats should be more cautious about health and work. They could be prone to minor injuries and miscommunication this year.
Chow urges them to wear cheerful colors — like pink and orange — and visit warmer places.

Ox

Oxen will enjoy an exciting year with the travel star and fortune star shining over them.
“They will find new opportunities and their finances will reach a new level. They’ll probably travel more for work and personal reasons. But since they’re traveling and working more, they need to be aware of their health,” says Chow.
Those who are single and looking for love may have some good luck this year.
Meanwhile, when choosing a travel destination, they could journey to the north, says Chow.

Tiger

For those born in Tiger years, their “Ben Ming Nian” is over.
“That means, whatever tough times and instabilities they’re experiencing, it’s going to get better soon,” says Chow. “But patience is key because changes won’t be immediate.”
Tigers, especially those born in spring and summer, should take time to recover in the first half of the year and only make big decisions in the second half of the year, she says.
They should take things slowly in relationships and “save themselves some me-time.”
Wearing yellow, blue and brown could cheer them up. They could also travel to their north and west, concludes Chow.

Something of Use – Inexpensive / Right-Size Crossbody

Quince croco_1

Quince Croco Leather Crossbody Bag

dievca looked at the Clare V. Midi Sac as a crossbody bag ($375) – black is no longer an option on the website and eBay wasn’t offering anything. dievca did get a Clare V. Woven Shoulder strap on eBay for a good price, but no useful bag was forthcoming…

Clare V. Crossbody-Strap Multi

Since she couldn’t find the Clare V. bag, dievca opened up her search and was led to a bag with high reviews on the Quince website ($99.90):  

Quince W-BAG-4-CRC_0226

A beautiful Italian leather crossbody bag. Handcrafted in Florence, Italy from 100% Italian top grain leather.  Luxury quality for an approachable price.  The size and shape of the bag make it extremely useful – an easy carry on the days dievca doesn’t need a backpack.  dievca thinks its better than the Clare V. shape for her curvy body.  She’s able to use the Clare V. woven shoulder strap and the price of $99.90 is much better than $375.

Something of Use!


Well said…

“People who believe prettiness equals beauty do not understand beauty,” she continued. “Pretty is easy on the eyes, partly because it’s a little bland, inoffensive. It’s easy to take in and easy to forget. Not so beauty. Beauty can be sharp. It can wound you and leave a scar. To perceive beauty you have to be able to SEE.”

“This is why I believe we get more beautiful with age,” she added. “We have earned our beauty, we understand what it is, and we can see it so much better. There is no such thing as ugly and old. Only shortsighted and ignorant.” — Paulina Porizkova

dievca’s WaterWorks class is leaning towards geriatric…  she looks at the participants and sees her future.  The Ladies?   Amazing.  Some in their 60’s and 70’s, a couple in their 80’s — they are moving and absolutely beautiful, plus (even better) kind.  They ask about dievca’s knee, her work, talk to her about their lives.  They are engaged in the World.  All in Swimsuits.

And none of the class looks like this:

Paulina Pori

RickARoo777 is a moron. Paulina is looking amazing and, yes, better than her younger self because she has lived.


Laying low today~

black catdievca is a walking mess this morning. she went to the Chicago Cubs/New York Mets game last night and got home late. That lack of sleep has made this day slightly dangerous (almost got hit on the bike, hit a pothole, almost slammed by the elevator doors, tripped on some stairs, etc.) – so she is lying low. Taking it easy. Nothing is a rush. She will try again tomorrow.


Needed a moment (again) to regroup

vivienne-westwood Lingerie BDSM
A long weekend – a college friend has chosen not to operate on their cancer due to quality of Life and has five years. This is where you find out what speaks to you in Life and you do it.

Photo: Vivienne Westwood Lingerie BDSM

There’s name for it = Realistic Optimist

Glass water

Master and His dievca were sharing sushi on the rooftop when dievca mention that she figured out where she fits with her personal outlook (philosophy). she always thought she was just a “realist”, but realized she isn’t very cynical. Then she ran into this tidbit:

This Personality Type Is Linked to Success and Happiness
By Tia Ghose published August 23, 2013

Are you a “glass-half-full” or a “glass-half-empty” kind of person?

As it turns out, some people can be both. So-called realistic optimists combine the positive outlook of optimists with the clear-eyed perspective of pessimists, new research has found.

These realistic optimists may get the best of both worlds, using their realism to perform better at work and elsewhere, but aren’t getting bogged down by unhappiness, said Sophia Chou, an organizational psychology researcher at National Taiwan University, who presented her findings at a meeting of the American Psychological Association in Honolulu, Hawaii. [7 Things That Will Make You Happy]

Past research has shown that optimists value thoughts that make them feel good about themselves, whereas pessimists prize a more truthful vision of themselves. But a clear-eyed view can be bad for pessimists’ well-being, as they tend to be more prone to depression, Chou said.

Optimists tend to live longer and be healthier overall.

After several years working in business, Chou noticed there were some people who were both optimistic and realistic, and that they tended to be very successful. She wondered whether realism and optimism were really diametrically opposed.

So Chou administered a battery of personality surveys to about 200 college and graduate students in Taiwan. The surveys tested how many “positive illusions” the students held, as well as whether they were more motivated by self-enhancement or reality.

Realistic views

The optimists were sorted into two camps: the realists and the idealists.

“Realistic optimists tend to choose accuracy over self-enhancement; the unrealistic optimists tend to choose self-enhancement,” Chou said.

Interestingly, the realistic optimists also got better grades, on average, than their less grounded peers — probably because they didn’t delude themselves into thinking they would do well without studying or working hard, Chou said.

Traditionally, a more realistic outlook is paired with poorer well-being and greater depression, yet the realistic optimists managed to be happy. To understand why, she dug deeper into the personality assessments.

Self-control key

She found that realistic optimists believed they had more self-control and control over their interpersonal relationships.

“Every time they face an issue or a challenge or a problem, they won’t say ‘I have no choice and this is the only thing I can do.’ They will be creative, they will have a plan A, plan B and plan C,” Chou said.

That allows them to stay cheery and upbeat about the future, even if they recognize the challenges of the present.

Being a realistic optimist does have one downside, however: They are more prone to anxiety than their completely unrealistic peers. That’s likely because they recognize the possibility of failure, whereas their counterparts use positive illusions to ease their anxiety, Chou said.

The findings suggest that realistic and unrealistic optimists may actually be very different personality types, Chou said.

In order to cultivate a rosy-but-realistic outlook, people should maintain a clear-eyed view of reality, but emphasize what they can control in most situations, she said.

dievca’s Master has a different take on Himself:
“Idealistic Realism”
An idealistic realist is a realist who understands the realms of possibility but also sees his idealism as a potential reality. You work towards an Ideal knowing the Realities.

By the way – the question of the glass-half-full/empty always baffled dievca – perhaps it is her “realist” tendencies or her Science background – this is her answer:

Glass tech


Amazing

PT bumper sticker

Someone who helps me figure out which muscles are failing.

Someone who helps me fire up those muscles, again.

Someone who digs into my muscles to get the fascia to release.

Someone who assists my game plan for moving better.

SIGN ME UP!

Our dievca had her first PT session and felt the benefits immediately and almost cried with Joy.

Master voiced dievca’s thoughts that returning to a physical training process brought trust, release, and relief.


Words of Wisdom: Elderly Parents on Aging.

So, a total knee replacement is in dievca’s future. But, the chipped knee cap and the floating bone piece, and the osteoarthritis behind the kneecap are the culprits for the current swelling and ligament strains.  Physical Therapy, 1st.  If that’s not enough, removal of bone chip 2nd.  dievca is looking to get into a study for cartilage replacement – maybe? Then knee replacement 4th?

As dievca’s Mom said, “It’s hell to get old.”‘

dievca’s Dad said, “Just keep moving!”

Smile.


Spring Colds (elfje)

asian-little-child-hands-pulling-sharing-white-tissue-paper-box-128262333Sneezing
Leaky Nose
Four Years Old
She grabbed my hand
Love

Common Colds can be caused by over 200 different viruses. These viruses can enter your body when you come in contact with a person who is already sick with a virus. Since most cold viruses are spread through respiratory droplets, covering coughs and sneezes and proper hand washing are extremely important to prevent spreading your cold to others around you.

When your immune system recognizes that there is a cold virus present, it begins to attack it. Your body experiences “side effects” of this attack, like congestion and cough. When your immune system successfully fights off the virus, symptoms resolve. Most colds will last 5 to 7 days.

Allergies, unlike colds, are not contagious.  They are caused by exposure to allergens; such as dust, dander, mold, or pollen. When your immune system senses a specific allergen it is sensitive to, chemicals called histamines are released. These histamines trigger symptoms like runny nose, coughing, and sneezing. Since your immune system has no way of fighting off the allergens, symptoms caused by allergies tend to last much longer than symptoms from a common, viral cold.

Differences between a cold and allergies:

Characteristics

Cold

Allergy

Duration

3-14   days

Days to months, as long as there is continued exposure to the allergen

Time of   Year

Commonly during the winter, but possible at any time.

Any time of year, but some allergens appear seasonally.

Onset of   Symptoms

A few days after infection with a virus

Immediately after exposure to the allergen.

Symptoms

Cold

Allergy

Cough

Often

Sometimes

Aches

Sometimes

Never

Fatigue

Sometimes

Sometimes

Fever

Sometimes

Never

Itchy.  watery eyes

Rarely

Often

Sore Throat

Often

Sometimes

Runny or  stuffy nose

Often (usually thicker discharge)

Often (usually thinner discharge)

Thank you to PhysicianOne Urgent Care Website


Reflecting with Mom’s birthday and…

Marilyn Monroe Birthday Cake

doing Tedious Tidbits.

  • Organizing receipts for taxes
  • Cleaning house for the week
  • Making meals for the week
  • Switching phones
  • Switching computers
  • Switch SIM cards on tablet
  • Mailing two international packages

We all have things that need to get done – but they aren’t that important so you push them off…

The good news is dievca is starting to take care of those tedious things she let go during dealing with her Mom/ Dad. 

Next her focus moves on to selfcare: dry heels, waxing, mani/pedi, haircut, swimming, skin discoloration on cheek, cronic swollen knee, updated eye exam, hormones check, etc.

So, how are you doing with your petty chores?


take a spin with me

Into the wild World of Pop Culture, Fashion and ending up in “Memory-ville”.

Daniel Day (born August 8, 1944), known as Dapper Dan, is an American fashion designer and haberdasher from Harlem, New York. His influential store, Dapper Dan’s Boutique, operated from 1982–92 and is most associated with introducing high fashion to the hip hop world, with his clients over the years including Eric B. & Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, and Jay-Z. In 2017, he launched a fashion line with Gucci, with which he opened a second store and atelier, Dapper Dan’s of Harlem, in 2018.

Lent his creativity to the Gap for an arch logo hoodie, to be sold for $98.

The sweatshirt supposedly sold out immediately on its March 10th, 4 pm release.

It’s now on eBay for $898.88.

When dievca was looking on eBay for the Sweatshirt — this 1970 PlaysKool Dapper Dan Doll appeared:

Dapper Dan Playskool 1970

Which prompted a flashback to dievca’s own Dressy Bessy 1970 PlaysKool Doll:

dievca thought all of her Flashback moments were done when she completed clearing her Mom/ Dad’s house, but apparently there are still memories to be found in the depths. she has a sense of what the doll felt like, what the fabric was, how heavy it was and how irritating it was because the clothes didn’t come off. dievca would almost like to buy another Dressy Bessy on eBay to see if her memories are correct.  

Did anyone else have a Dapper Dan or Dressy Bessy doll?
Are dievca’s memories correct?

Is anyone willing to pay $889.88 for a Dapper Dan GAP sweatshirt?


The return of Cocktail Attire – dievca’s dilemma

Retrofete Grace Dress in Chocolate.

Does this dress work as Cocktail Attire?

Cocktail attire is meant to bridge the gap between day and night.  It is still an occasion to dress up, but a full-length gown is not necessary. This merges the silhouette of a garden party dress (shorter) with the fabric and embellishments of a formal gown. Think somewhere between a sophisticated formal occasion and office or party wear.

Still, with so much ambiguity, cocktail attire could mean different things depending on the venue, the time of day, and the season.

During the day, think natural colors and fresh styles and in the evening, feel free to utilize darker hues and embellishments such as sequins or feathers (so long as your dress doesn’t sweep the floor).  The goal is to look polished and dressy – but not takeaway from the event

Ladies: When in doubt, a LBD, a pair of sensible heels or dressy flats, some nice earrings, and a classy clutch will always work for a cocktail event, no matter the venue or time of day. In addition to a traditional cocktail dress, women can also wear dressy suits or nice jumpsuits paired with heels or formal flats.

Gentlemen: a suit and tie are required for cocktail attire. Go with darker hues in chillier months or for evening events, but feel free to wear lighter grays or blues in warmer weather or for daytime celebrations. As for shoes, keep it classy with a nice pair of dark dress shoes that match your belt.

OK – now dievca’s dilemma — does she wear the Retrofete Grace Dress in Chocolate (above photo) or not?  It’s a quieter color, but completely covered in sequins….

  • The venue is a smaller Event Space.
  • A Mixed Audience.
  • The dress fits very well.
  • It’s in the middle of March – Weather could be cold or warm…

Here’s  plan: dievca will be trying on the dress with ACNE STUDIOS snakeskin sandals if its warm and carry the brown JALDA croc clutch (her’s is darker than the photo)

Acne Studios Bastion Viper Slingbacks

Jalda Brown Crocodile "original" clutch rounded
If its cold or dievca’s legs look scary without sun… Sheer Nude or Brown stockings with Brown Heels or OTK Brown Boots.

vintage-suede-over-the-knee-boots-neiman-marcus-brown

what_katie_did_seamed_stockings.ct_nudegianvito-rossi-brown-gianvito-pumps-


A submissive re-evaluation

elegant submissiveMaster is traveling and dievca has had some open time to review her Life and changes in the past 2 years. Between COVID, deaths, aging – Master and dievca’s relationship has changed. And as body changes, social changes and family changes have eased – she’s wondering what will return or diminish.

dievca is starting her reflection process by defining the type of Relationship Master and dievca had at the beginning. Then she plans to review where she thinks they are now. Finally, she will communicate her analysis to Master and listen to His thoughts and wants for the future.

9 Types of submissives:

  • The outright non-submissive masochist or kinky sensualist
    Not into servitude, humiliation or giving up of control; just pain and/or spiced-up sensuality, on the masochist’s own terms for the masochist’s own pleasure (ie: being turned on solely or mainly by one’s own bodily sensations, rather than being turned on by being “used” to gratify one’s partner’s sadism).
  • Pseudo-submissive non-slave
    Not into even playing “slave”, but into other “submissive” role-playing, e.g.: schoolteacher scenes, infantilism, “forced” transvestism. Usually into humiliation, but NOT into servitude, even in play. Dictates the scene to a large degree.
  • Pseudo-submissive PLAY slave
    Likes to play at being slave. Likes to *feel* subservient; may in some cases like to *feel* that one is being “used” to gratify one’s partner’s sadism; and may even really serve the dominant in some ways, but only on the “slave’s” own terms. Dictates the scene to a large degree; often fetishistic (e.g. foot worshippers).
  • True submissive non-slave
    Really gives up control (though only temporarily and within agreed upon limits), but gets his/her main satisfaction from aspects of submission *other than* serving or being used by the dominant. Usually turned on by suspense, vulnerability, and/or giving up of responsibility. Doesn’t dictate the scene except in very general terms, but still seeks mainly her/his own *direct* pleasure (rather than getting one’s pleasure mainly from pleasing the dominant).
  • True submissive PLAY slave
    Really gives up control (though only temporarily; only during brief “scenes” and within limits) and gets his/her main satisfaction from serving and being used by the dominant – but only for FUN purposes, usually erotic. (May or may not be into pain, but if so, is turned on by pain *indirectly*, ie: enjoys being the objects of one’s partner’s sadism, on which the submissive places few requirements or restrictions.)
  • Uncommitted short-term but more-than-play semi-slave
    Really gives up control (though usually within limits); wants to serve and be used by the dominant; wants to provide practical/non-erotic as well as fun/ erotic services; but only when the “slave” is in the mood. May even act as a full-time slave for, say, several days at a time, but is free to quit at any time (or at the end of the agreed upon several days). May or may not have a long-term relationship with one’s Mistress/Master, but, either way, the “slave” has the final say over when he or she will serve.
  • Part-time consensual but REAL slave
    Has ongoing commitment to an owner/slave relationship, and regards oneself as the Mistress’/Master’s “property” at all times. Wants to obey and please her/him in all aspects of life – practical/non-erotic as well as fun/erotic. Devotes most of one’s time to other commitments (eg: job) but the Mistress/Master has first pick of the slave’s free time.
  • Full-time live-in consensual slave
    Within no more than a few broad limits/requirements, the slave regards herself/ himself as existing solely for the Mistress’/Master’s use, pleasure and well- being. The slave in turn expects to be regarded as a prized possession. Not much different from the situation of the traditional housewife, except that within the S/M world the slave’s position is more likely to be fully consensual, especially if the slave is male (since men certainly aren’t socially pressured into this kind of lifestyle). Within the S/M world, a full-time “slave” arrangement is entered into with an explicit awareness of the magnitude of power that is being given up, and hence is usually entered into much more carefully, with more awareness of the possible dangers, and with much clearer and more specific agreements than usually precede the traditional marriage.
  • Consensual total slave with no limits
    A common fantasy ideal which probably doesn’t exist in real life (except in authoritarian religious cults and other situations where the “consent” is induced by brainwashing and/or social or economic pressures, and hence isn’t fully consensual). A few S/M purists will insist that you aren’t really a slave unless you’re willing to do absolutely *anything* for your Mistress/ Master, with no limits at all. There are a few who claim to be no-limits slaves, but in all cases it would be reasonable to doubt the claim.

© 1984, 1988 by Mistress Diane Vera as reprinted in
Pat Califia, ed. The Lesbian S/M Safety Manual (Boston: Lace / Alyson) pp. 69-71
A Thank You to SluttyGirlProblem – Victoria Sparrow and Officer Wes for the information that made dievca start to think.
www.officerwes.com © 1997-2021 by Officer Wes


Feeling Green (as it snows in NYC)

dievca has found herself gravitating towards a lot of Green – her recent purchases have triggered an analysis of her closet…she has a LOT of green. she wears a LOT of green. she would like a LOT of green.  It’s a bit of a strange color – but its something that works with her coloring.

Here’s the recent purchases:

On top of what she owns:

Add what she would like:

Quite overwhelming, huh?


Looking at yourself with the sense of being ridiculous…

Around the age of 37, dievca starting to become obsessive about matching underwear.  The underwear itself matched and the underwear would match or contrast, in a pleasing manner, with an outfit.  

Then she was matching her bags (backpacks mostly) to her outfits. Her gloves and hats always match.

This matching process has recently gotten worse.

Hydro flask Colors

dievca is matching her coffee thermos or water bottle to her outfit.

Collina Strada Green Rhinestone Water BottleWhen did she realize that she was doing this? When she moved her coffee from a green hydroflask to a blue one before leaving for work because she was wearing blue.  And when it was commented that her green rhinestone water bottle matched her sweater and coat another day.

Is this a control issue? A statement? A way to be soothing?

Does dievca feel ugly, so she is trying to present herself in a more organized manner?

Jesus – who knows. It’s bizarre and so unimportant in the context of Life. But, she finds herself doing it.

Ridiculous.


A lovely thought, but:

Businesswoman relaxing aboard private jet

  • dievca’s flight is too short
  • The small plane probably doesn’t have Champagne on board
  • dievca will be wearing a 3M N95 mask (she’s not sure all of the caregivers are vaxxed)
  • dievca has to drive to get to her Mom

Please have a flute of bubbly 🍾 for her, ok? (dievca’s Mom or dievca)  dievca will be praying there is a bottle of wine leftover from her last visit 🍷 XO


The New Comfort: Who does it best? (Chantelle, Knix, EBY)

Back in the Day (November 17, 2013 to be exact) dievca found Lingerie Comfort with Hanky Panky – In the 8 years since – the rubber has pulled out of the lace, there are holes and many pieces of dievca’s Hanky Panky have been retired.  she hasn’t bought anymore and she’s glad that she didn’t because she’s moved on to a set of Chantelle SoftStretch in Leopard Print ($54/$20):

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A new level of comfort has been found!
A new “go to” brand for the 3 C’s: Color, Comfort and Curves!

That said, dievca bought three additional sets of comfort underwear- one from Chantelle in Forest Green ($58/$20), one from EBY (Empowered By You – a “do good” business) – in Blue Meadow ($48/$22)  and a final set from the Canadian Brand “Knix” LuxeLift in an Anna Sui collaboration pattern ModFloral ($50/$25):

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Here’s the ranking:

  1. CHANTELLE – The SuperSoft fabric is….super soft, yet the bra’s hold up the girls well.  The bra padding is not removable, but it isn’t too overwhelming either – no strange shapes.  The fabric is very smooth and very comfortable.
  2. KNIX – The knix set starts out awkward to put on, but then molds nicely to the body. dievca wore the set with the removable bra pads inserted, she’ll try the top without them next time.  The bra pads looked fine, they did add a little bit of extra when dievca does not need it. There were a couple of seamed rubbing “hotspots” that disappeared as the day went on.
  3. EBY – The EBY set was easy to put on, but the cut of the bra armholes is high.  That is where the seams on the sides of the bra rubbed dievca, all day – she had to keep adjusting the irritation point. Was it horrible? No – just there.  Maybe it will disappear with washing.  The bra cups are removable and in dievca’s case not necessary – but they didn’t look strange. she will try wihtout the pads on the next round – maybe that will stop the rubbing.  The bottoms were very comfortable.

Conclustion – all three (four sets) are nice, but the little bit extra you pay for the CHANTELLE set(s) is worth it.


female erogenous zones

sexy backBreaking down what partners might overlook.

One 2016 study found that the entire body had erogenous potential (happy news for Master and His dievca who love to touch). Note, there are frequent commonalities that are worth exploring.

One 2014 study found that the clitoris and the nipples are the most sensitive to both pressure and vibration (go figure). But, the areas found to be most sensitive to “light touch,” were the neck, forearm, and vaginal margin (the area just at the end of the vaginal opening and at the beginning of the perineum).

A study published in June 2020 used heat maps to show where men and women considered their erogenous zones, based on how aroused they became from appearance alone and then touch alone, as well as how the arousal changed whether they engaged in solo play or with a partner. Women consistently ranked the genital area, breasts, butt, and inner thighs high for touch, though the shoulders, hips, and the back of the neck were also shown consideration.

The study also examined what women consider to be men’s erogenous zones, and vice versa—and while most findings line up, it does show there are areas that might be missed for stimulation. Areas like the neck, inner thighs, and upper back, were ranked erogenous by women in the study, if slightly lower on the scale than the breasts, genitals, and butt.

According to a paper published in 2012, other areas include the mouth, ears, lower back, head and hair, and even—for some people behind the knee.

Maybe we should just take time with our partners and explore their whole bodies to determine their favorite erogenous zones – it won’t be time wasted~

Further Reading – links to related studies in order:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-016-0745-z

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jsm.12547

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-020-01756-1

Click to access Reports%20of%20intimate%20touch%20%20Erogenous%20zones%20and%20somatosensory%20cortical%20-%20Turnbull%20Erogenous%20Cortex%202013.pdf

A “Thank You” to Rebecca Decynzski from the Maudern


Santa Lingerie – a discussion

Santa lingerie has permeated our culture.  You can probably picture the garments in question: cherry-red babydoll nightie with white fur trim lining the hem, paired with matching thong, or maybe a red satin and white fur teddy.

miss-santa-dress-string

How did lingerie evoking Santa, a wholesome and kindly childhood figure whose presence signals a religious virgin birth, get so popular?

Undergarments for women have long been costume-like, and were often meant to dramatically alter female silhouettes. (Whalebone corsets, giant hoops worn under crinoline skirts, a bustle.) Bloomers and petticoats might look dowdy and utilitarian, but eroticizing lingerie isn’t a new trend. Lingerie really started becoming more decorative and luxurious in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In1898, after noting a “mania” for colourful, decorative and seductive lingerie throughout Europe, the French journalist Octave Uzanne wrote, “the last remains of feminine modesty sunk out of sight.”

But underwear as a costume is a newer phenomenon. It might be linked with the provocative “underwear as outerwear” period of the 1980s and 90s. At the end of the 20th century, seeing visible underwear became more shocking than the nude body. An example is Madonna’s “Blonde Ambition” cone bra.

That’s the culture that led up to the “fast fashion” lingerie that was so popular in the early 2000s. And the inexpensive “Halloween Slutty” and “Santa Baby” costumes multiplied.

Santa may be a wholesome concept, but he is asking people to sit on his lap, he’s keeping a naughty and nice list, there are songs about Santa kissing women when he comes to visit, people are getting cozy with fur and sitting by a fire, and let’s not forget the unknown quantity of Ms. Santa Claus.   Perhaps people who buy Santa lingerie are buying into the commercialized, sexualized lens of those forces~

sexy-santa-lingerie-ad-australia_188170-bab361a


Bondage through another’s eyes – 3 pieces of Man Ray

Man-Ray-Woman-in-Mask-and-Handcuffs-1928

Artist and photographer, Man Ray, made several sadomasochistic photos in his career in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a devotee to the works of the Marquis de Sade, and created portraits of the Marquis. Man Ray was one of many artists seeking truth through extreme mental and physical states.

Man Ray’s 1930 Gloved Figure exemplifies the relationship between sadomasochism and mysticism. The photograph features a figure clad in  suede elbow-length gloves, and a matching suede mask. The mask and gloves have been carefully constructed out of the same light-coloured suede material and appear to fit snugly over the model’s face and hands, suggesting that they were made specifically for this shoot based on the model’s exact measurements. The model’s hands are pulled above their head and are attached to a metal chain hanging from the ceiling with a pair of handcuffs. The model is clearly in the masochistic position, their sense of sight and hearing deprived by the mask and their ability to move severely, if not completely, hindered by the handcuffs and chain, which leaves them seemingly suspended from the ceiling.

Man-Ray-Woman-in-Bondage-c1930

Man Ray made a strong connection between artistic prowess and masculine prowess, specifically power over women; the bohemian machismo.

Created in 1930, the Fetishistic Mise-en-scène for William Seabrook series was considered so perverse it was only widely released to the public in 1994.  As the title suggests, the series was created by Man Ray at the request of Seabrook.  They worked together to  bring Seabrook’s fantasies to life, male voyeurism and the fetishization of lesbianism for male pleasure.

Man Ray doesn’t seem entirely comfortable with Seabrook’s world,  hence the less intimate cropping. He seems to prefer his sadism to be spontaneous outbursts of passion, not the meticulously planned, “perverse” scenarios of Seabrook.

A "Thank You" to Man Ray, Audrey Warne. Peter Tupper


Conservation of Energy

john-everard-study-of-nude-nude-lady-outdoors-photogravure-1940

The last rays of summer touch my body – casting a golden glow over my skin.
Can I carry that absorbed energy within throughout the winter?
Or will it dissipate with the first snow?

Photo: John Everard 1940

Disconnection

2-Dreamlike-underwater-photography

A day of little sleep.
A day of barely functioning.
A day of minimal production.
A day of of waste?
Or was it a day of healing?

~putting one foot in front of the other~

Photo: Lane Coder - Underwater Photography

Coming up for Air

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It was a quick trip to Mom, 4 days.  Packed a lot into the time. POA shift, moved Mom on to hospice, need a new hospital bed – motor died (made do with a log and seat cushion to change the angles for Mom), attempted to get quality WiFi (need a new router), attempted to get the gardens/yard into some semblance of order (including picking up 15 cigarette butts on the driveway from a caregiver – what is wrong with people. Are they born in a barn? We have a cigarette repository out there.), maintenance man/snow removal man is no longer working – looking for help (Note his kid moved away and they no longer need to store his classic car in the garage…hmmm? Maybe that had something to do with being unavailable…), cleaned the odd places in the house and the upstairs as best as possible.

Grocery shopped at night and saw ⇑⇑⇑ the MOON!

It’s Full this Evening.  Don’t forget to shake your wallet at the Moon!

And think of dievca flying home late tonight. XO