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The Mating Game: Bear Pride 2007
Jun. 4th, 2007 08:57 pmBear Pride was a good time but it wasn't perfect of course, what is? And since it was full of men, gays, bears there is always the risk of hi-jinks (read drama, shade and crazy) mixed in amongst the fun and frolic. I read a lot on LJ the week before and during, from folks dismayed at the shallowness of the people, the event and the sub-culture...advice was given, advice was rejected, drama ensued, etc. But I let it all pass by me as I already knew what to expect: that no plan survives initial contact intact.
I took special care to pace myself since I knew I'd be working a lot within my week of fun so I didn't want to be worn out and sleep-deprived. There was hanging out with friends in bistros, pubs, and teahouses...the Party par excellence at Richie's, Kendall's performance (I got to play roadie), the trip through IML Leather Mart, a stroll down by the lake, and of course a few milkshake deliveries.
There were of course some misfires in amongst all that, lest anyone think I had some flawless frolic-fest through the entire city. I've learned this is all par for the course at a run. A Bear run is like a box of chocolates (Fat, hairy, gossipy chocolates) - you take a bite of each and put the ones you don't like back in the box for someone else.
In short - When it comes to bear runs, don't count your cubs before they hatch. Just be open to the possibilities (and don't walk alone at night around the Howard Red Line stop. ;)
***more pics to come when I recover my files from a partitioning mishap***
I took special care to pace myself since I knew I'd be working a lot within my week of fun so I didn't want to be worn out and sleep-deprived. There was hanging out with friends in bistros, pubs, and teahouses...the Party par excellence at Richie's, Kendall's performance (I got to play roadie), the trip through IML Leather Mart, a stroll down by the lake, and of course a few milkshake deliveries.
There were of course some misfires in amongst all that, lest anyone think I had some flawless frolic-fest through the entire city. I've learned this is all par for the course at a run. A Bear run is like a box of chocolates (Fat, hairy, gossipy chocolates) - you take a bite of each and put the ones you don't like back in the box for someone else.
- I was warmly welcomed by one of my favorite Windy City pups who just got back into town after the run...and dropped like a hot potato by one who had been all hot-to-trot online just weeks beforehand (always someone hotter than you just around the corner).
- One cute cubbie I met online months back was true to his word and sweet as pie. He just wanted to grow up and be a bear and needed some daddy bear elixir to effect the transformation (in his head anyway).
- One pup who seemed to enjoy posting about how nobody wanted him and he should go eat worms but when I offered to get together seemed to be busy with other things after all, complete with lame attempt to deny it, and one daddy bear who had been all about it flaked utterly upon the realization that I was actually IN HIS CITY and talk could turn to reality. Alas, those daddy bears can be such fragile flowers....
- I had an unplanned (and long overdue) connection with a good buddy I met a couple years ago and really hit it off with, and missed a planned connection with another buddy of similar fondness and history.
In short - When it comes to bear runs, don't count your cubs before they hatch. Just be open to the possibilities (and don't walk alone at night around the Howard Red Line stop. ;)
***more pics to come when I recover my files from a partitioning mishap***
