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August 31, 2007

Bear Carvings

Wood Carvings
 by Katie Gilmartin

Bear Wood Carving The Queer Words Series plays with the observation that many queer words have multiple meanings. Along the way I poke a little fun at our identity categories, which we sometimes take a little too seriously -- as if any word could ever sum up the vast variety of human desires, ilks, or beings.

So what do you think of when you hear "bears?"

These limited edition prints come either framed or unframed - both are archivally matted.

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August 30, 2007

Getting Bare?

The right to bare arms and everything else

Lazy Bear Party For as long as I can remember, sweatshirts were my main staple of clothing. Being a bigger guy, I was always self conscious about showing too much skin. And the idea of taking off my shirt in public? Well, that just wasn't going to happen.

And my bear brethren have had similar concerns. When asked -
  • 29% said: Yes, anytime anywhere - "Sir, please put your shirt on this is Walmart"
  • 21% said: No, that's why God made hoodies
  • 49% said: Yes, but only at bear events or in like company
One of the joys of discovering the bear lifestyle is finally developing a sense of self acceptance. Comfortable in one's own skin - even sans the sweatshirt. Many of us still have trepidations about venturing out and exposing all our glory, but at each bear event we attend, we begin to shed those old inhibitions.

Apparently, some of you have shed them all!!

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August 29, 2007

Thwacked upside the head

This past weekend, I was at the video store in search of something mindless. Luckily, I found Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. What could be more amusing than reliving the horrors of gym class? Surely, getting thwacked upside the head with a red rubber ball during grade school PE has financed many a weekend home for a boatload of therapists. Who amongst us hasn't had their self esteem permanently scarred by being picked last and eliminated first? Yup, just a light hearted trip down painful memory lane . . .

The key storyline pits GloboGym, the huge corporate giant of a health club, against Average Joe’s Gym. The parody of the corporate gym environment made me stop and wonder about today’s fitness craze. Who hasn’t felt ----- enough (fill in the blank: buff, ripped, pretty, trim, whatever) to step into these threatening environments? Lycra clad aerobic instructors, who haven’t had a solid meal in 3 years, shake their pretty heads at our hooded sweatshirt and track short combo. It can be quite intimidating.

And don't get me started on the "gay gyms."  Isn't there a place where those who still dare to eat the occasional carb can go and sweat.  I still feel like a second class citizen. Ok, so maybe I have issues, but doesn’t this feel like remedial PE?

Maybe I am naive, but I’d like a place where we all feel comfortable and help each other out. You know, a place like “Average Joe’s.” Someplace that doesn’t cause me to flashback to second grade gym class.

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August 28, 2007

A WEEK IN REVIEW


 Greetings Bears!  This week, I thought it would nice to give you a week in review - to let you see what a typical week is like for BuzzedBeef at the gym.  I try to maintain this schedule as consistently as possible.  I'm a Virgo and order and organization appeals to me.

 MONDAY:       8:30-4:30    WORK

                      5:30-5:45     TAN (Ok, Ok, I know, but trust me, I look much better tan                                          than pasty white.)

                      6:45-7:45     BOXING (A typical boxing class consists of 10 minutes of        jumping rope, followed by stretching, then calisthenics to include jumping jacks, pushups, squats, burpies, jump squats, etc....then the gloves go on and the remainder of the class is spent throwing punching combinations on the heavy bags and with a partner...the last few            minutes of each class are dedicated to ab work)

                       8:30-9:30 GYM (personal training session--this past Monday focused on      abs)

TUESDAY:        10:15-6:15  WORK No tanning, boxing, or gym on Tuesdays

WEDNESDAY:  OFF WORK Tanning, Boxing, and Gym (This past Wednesday, I worked Shoulders and Biceps)
 

THURSDAY:     10:30-6:30  WORK No tanning, boxing, or gym on Thursdays
 

FRIDAY:         8:30-4:30   WORK Tanning, Boxing, and Gym (This past Friday, I worked Triceps and Biceps again--at my trainer's insistence)
 

SATURDAY:     8:30-4:00   WORK Tanning and Gym
 

SUNDAY:         OFF WORK No tanning, boxing, or gym.  Writing for you.

This is by no means a schedule set in stone.  Various things can affect it at any time, but I do try in earnest to maintain it as religiously as possible to make the maximum use of my time and reap the biggest benefit from all my training.  That is most important when it comes to the boxing classes.  I am enjoying the boxing a great deal, but do find it very challenging.  Anyone who thinks it is simply an act of brute force is very much mistaken.  It requires concentration and focus and extreme coordination to get your arms and body and legs moving in tandem to execute the moves properly.  I have had some difficulty with this.  It was only during last Friday's class that something finally clicked and I began to understand the chorus of movements and execute them with a bit of finesse.  Hopefully, it will just get easier and better.

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August 27, 2007

Fear of Flying

Bear travelerI read recently about a woman who was humiliated by a Southwest gate agent and is suing Southwest Airlines. I am getting ready to go on vacation and don’t know if I need to buy two seats (which, I can’t afford!). What can I do to prevent something similar happening to me?

Worried in Washington

Traveling is challenging for anyone. What to pack?, security at the airport, local customs, etc. In addition, the bear-size traveler is often faced with unique challenges. The airline problem, for instance - there does not seem to be a standard policy and often the decision to require someone to buy an extra seat is left to the gate agent.

Traveling is challenging for anyone. What to pack?, security at the airport, local customs, etc. In addition, the bear-size traveler is often faced with unique challenges. The airline problem, for instance - there does not seem to be a standard policy and often the decision to require someone to buy an extra seat is left to the gate agent.

A little pre-planning goes a long way. Call the airline 24 hours before departure to see how crowded the flight is. If your particular flight is overbooked, and you fear a seat issue, maybe they can suggest an alternative flight. Sometimes leaving an hour earlier or later can make a big difference. If a different flight is not available, perhaps exit row seating or aisle seating would be more comfortable. You’d be amazed at what asking and being nice can get you.

Airlines, like Southwest, which board on a first come first serve basis are slightly more challenging. Get there as early as possible, so that you can get on early and try to get optimal seating. If there is a problem at the gate, try a manager or customer service. If the situation has gotten heated, try to get away from the gate area. The gate agent is busy, tired, stressed and trying to get you and the plane off on time. Most airlines have customer service counters within the terminals. They tend to be better equipped with challenging situations.

Remember, Mama always said, "You attract a lot more bees with honey, than you do with vinegar . . ."

For more travel tips

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August 26, 2007

Life goes on . . .

With our crazy schedules – husbear’s travels, TCB and just life in general; a few domestic chores had fallen by the wayside. This past weekend I was not in the mood to deal with the world, so I decided to take a little time around the house to tend to some neglected houseplants. You know the ones that have keeled over due to the Death Valley watering approach I deploy.

Needless to say, a few had met their maker. One had become infested with aphids, and was tossed. My plants, or what was left of them, clearly reflected my outlook on life at the moment.

In a sunny corner of the dining room I have a dozen or so orchids, which have long since bloomed. Some deeply rooted optimistic part of my psyche believes they will bloom again. So, I water these green stalky creatures. (One actually did have one bloom this August, only to have the cat chew off the blooms.)

Having been awhile since I had gotten around to watering, I hadn't checked on the orchids in awhile. To my surprise, three were blooming. Now, some of these haven't flowered in over 2 years, and 3 were in bloom. No thanks to my special care, obviously.

Why do I mention all this? Well, because in the midst of dead leaves and aphids - there was beauty . . . Just waiting to be noticed. If I hadn't decided to stop and regroup this morning - I would have been traveling with a dark cloud all day. Instead, I have blooming orchids.

Life goes on . . .

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August 24, 2007

Bear Podcast

Bear PodcastThe Complete Bear on Bear Podcast

Last week, I did an interview with Nard of Bear Podcast.  He did a great job editing the interview.  Thank you, thank you!!  No I don't have turrets, nor did I say anything inappropriate - I hope . . .

It's just I do have a tendency to double book myself.  A few weeks back, Nard invited me onto the show and of course I was thrilled. 

Somehow, I had spaced the fact that I was driving to Seattle to meet husbear on said weekend.  So, I drive all day Thursday from SF to Eugene, OR taking all the wonderful scenery up the NW Coast.  of course, the dogs were along for the ride, so we got to frequent many rest stops.  But, not in a George Michael restroom kinda way.

Anyway, I check in the local Days Inn, and of course fire up the email.  and there it is - a reminder from Nard that we have the podcast on Monday. 

The next day, I round up the dogs and off we head to Seattle.  I arrive in time to freshen up and then head off to dinner with friends.  They are kind enough to invite the dogs along, the dogs repay said kindness by pooping in the garden.

Saturday it's off to Cristina's graduation.  She has just competed three years of studies in Chinese medicine and acupuncture.  Festivities abound, we drop the dogs off at doggy daycare and then it's off to dinner with the lesbians.

Sunday, we head to brunch at Martin's Off Madison.  FYI _ Martin is a very attractive bear kinda guy - WOOF!  We meet the lesbians later and head of to Freedom Park to go to a Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence fundraiser WOOFSTOCK - The event was a benefit for the Pet Project, a volunteer service of the Seattle/King County Humane Society that helps people with AIDS keep and care for their pets.  Yes, we do get around.

Tired, but filled with our lesbian, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Seattle pride we climb in the truck and head to SF.  Of course it's raining -naturally its Seattle!!  And then - "Oh Crap - the interview!"

So we pull into the next rest area.  I know what you're thinking - and no I am not that kind of bear.  Anyway, I I am sitting in the truck, I have kicked husbear and the dogs to the curb.  So begins the interview.  Husbear returns.  I signal I don't want to drive yet, as I might lose the signal.  He somehow interprets this as drive.  So, we head off into the Oregon hills and I lose the signal no less than three times.

Again, thank you to Nard for his patience and his editing skills.  Check out Bear Podcast 146 for the interview and some other beary interesting discussions. 

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August 23, 2007

Changes at The Complete Bear

Changes at The Complete Bear
 

We are always looking for ways to make your experience better. If you are a Skype user you can call us for free!! Of course, we are always happy to hear from you any way that suits you best.

Our new phone number - 415-287-0841

We are also on Skype - TheCompleteBear

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August 21, 2007

Comfortable Rythms

Bearded BearGreetings Bears! 

What a wonderful week and weekend it has been!  I wish everyone out there could have the weather we've been having in San Francisco the last few days--sheer bliss.  So wonderful, in fact, that last night I decided to go dancing.  My favorite DJ was spinning at a party last night and I had to go hear him.  I enjoyed the DJ playing before him, but there was a noticeable moment when my guy took over the board.  I don't know if the shift was mostly psychological or a truly tangible experience.  But I really could feel his control and I allowed his style to take over my body and I slipped into a comfortable rhythm that I haven't felt in a long time. 

That made me start thinking about the comfortable rhythms of our lives.  We all have them.  We all strive to find a comfortable balance and fit in everything we need and want to do--get the most bang for our bucks, so to speak.  It's become increasingly more important for me on my quest for health and fitness.  Let's face it:  It's easy enough to find an excuse not to go to the gym.  If your schedule is hectic and exhausting, you're not gonna go.  I know I won't. So I've had to find a comfortable rhythm for my workout schedule.  One that allows for maximum physical benefit but won't interfere with work schedules or days off.  We all need time off to rest and decompress. 

Up until last week, I was using my days off for my sessions with my trainer.  It was working, but I was feeling like I never really had a day off to just relax.  I wasn't reporting to a supervisor, but I was reporting to someone.  So I decided to change things up.  Why not go for it all at once?  As of last week, I have combined my training sessions at the gym with my boxing workouts.  I am doing both workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  I decided to add a third personal training session to my schedule each week because I need it and I want it--I'm starting to feel a hunger at the gym.  Something is driving me, compelling me to work harder.  I'm starting to see the bear I want to be and I have to work even harder to be him.

It's a double-whammy.  An hour of calisthenics and punches, followed by an hour of weight lifting.  By 9 PM, when I am finished, I am exhausted.  But it's a great exhaustion.  It's a feeling of change and accomplishment.  It's a feeling of empowerment.  It's knowing I have earned a good night's sleep to rest and help my muscles grow.  It's a shot of self-confidence.  Walking home from the gym, it puts a little swagger in my step and a little twist in my boots.  But that's ok.  Those are comfortable rhythms too.

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August 20, 2007

BEAR ALBANY presents

 A GRRRRREAT SEPTEMBER WEEKEND!

BEAR ALBANY PJ’s ‘n BJ’s Weekend September 21st to September 23rd, 2007 Woof! will be the word heard all over Albany as the bears invade the Capital City for another BEAR ALBANY weekend.    On Friday:  

Things kick off on Friday with Bear-aoke at ROCKS BAR, 77 Central Av from 10p-2a. Sing along or just come out and enjoy the fun! Drink specials, snacks, hot men and good times. NO COVER for this party!
BA Bear E Oke Sept.jpg

  

 On Saturday:  Don’t Miss the Boat! BEAR ALBANY has commandeered the Albany Aqua Ducks to be our tour guide and travel along the historic streets and waterways to view Albany’s historic treasures and fabulous skyline.  The duck boat leaves from the parking lot at Hamilton and Swan streets at 1pm sharp to take you on a tour of New York’s Capital City before plunging into the Hudson River where you can enjoy the view from the waterways. Cost is $25 per person, in advance by contacting Jim from Bear Albany via email at bearnightalbany@gmail.com  for pay pal instructions and alternate methods of payment.   Seating is limited, so don’t miss the boat! Deadline for reservations and payment is September 18th. After the cruise we will stop at Cheese Cake Machismo (cost inclusive with the duck tour) for a quick slice and then head to Oh Bar at 304 Lark Street for drinks and socializing. The rest of the afternoon you are on your own to explore and enjoy the many shops, parks, restaurants and attractions that Albany has to offer. 

BA Aqua Ducks.jpg
 

 

 

Make sure you rest up to party in your PJ’s! BEAR ALBANY is bringing back our famous PJ’s ‘n BJ’s party to Club Phoenix at 348 Central Avenue.  Grab your teddy Bear and throw on your favorite pair of PJ’s or sleep ware and join BEARALBANY for the Capital Region’s biggest pajama party!!! Those dressed to party will enjoy $1 off drinks and $1 draft specials.   Clothes check and changing rooms available at the club if you're too shy to show in your PJ's, boxers or briefs......$5 cover , 21 and older to enter – door prizes, snacks and men in their pajama’s!

PJsandBJs.jpg

 

On Sunday:   BEAR ALBANY returns to Water Works Pub at 75 Central Ave for the BIG BEAR BRUNCH.  Fill your belly and feed your hangover with our all you can eat brunch buffet $11 all you can eat.  Say goodbye to all your bear buds and enjoy David’s famous corned beef hash!

SCARFFY'S DINER (72 Central Ave - 518-462-1203) will be open all weekend for the BEARS with his famous BEAR BURGER and BIG BEAR BREAKFAST! the GREATEST FRIES IN ALBANY!!! 

HOTEL INFO

Motel 6

 I-90 at Everett Road, Exit #5
100 Watervliet Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(518)438-7447

 

PLEASE CALL THE MOTEL DIRECTLY AND ASK FOR THE BEAR RATE OF $44.99!!!!! YOU HAVE TO SAY BEAR ALBANY (Group# 228183)RATE to get the good deal!

 

CLARION HOTEL OF ALBANY
3 WATERVLIET AVE EXT
ALBANY, NY 12206 USA
Phone: 518-438-8431

ASK for the BEAR ALBANY rate of $89

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August 15, 2007

Bear Pride

                                                                                                                                                             Bear Pride

We asked "What does Bear Pride mean to you?"

Here's what you told us:

Bear pride to me is allowing myself the right to be myself -  I don't have to be thin, hairless, pretty and young, there’s a market for all of us out there, I don't have to fit in , in truth for once the world needs to fit in with me.

I think that being a bear means learning to live out of one's own resources.  Growing up gay often means trying to conform to somebody else's standards and criteria. I think bears find that after facing a lot of persecution in the straight world  they are dismayed to find that same overt hostility on the gay world when one does not live up to the demands of the Abercrombie & Fitch Crowd. I think bears develop a  "beard" a pelt able to handle the sometimes not so subtle angers of an insecure consumers market. When one chooses to step out of the beaten path and trust that there will be enough to sustain a man wherever he may be you can find a bear mentality taking root.  Bears I have known are not trying to live up to anybody else's expectations. They are comfortable in their own skins because they have trusted enough to appreciate that the world is not "Black and White" Despite so many following the Rainbow Flag there is still a tendency to conform to Clone Stereotypes. Bears explicitly do not.  I find that is why they are so refreshing.  Bears can feast on whatever is available and delight in the variety of resources they find. Even the tendency to be in open relationships often is just "when you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with". I appreciate bears for giving this ruggedness back to the communities we inhabit. When the external weathers are too inhospitable, bears can hibernate until the environment becomes more accommodating. They can live off what they have stored internally.

Being able to go out in public, walking hand in hand with my husbear...

It means being happy with who and what I am. It means embracing all of my brothers regardless of size, demeanor or orientation. It means oneness with all men ... but especially gay men.
It means being who you are and respecting everyone else around you. I have always thought of a bear as a man. A man is someone who is strong, knowledgeable, and most off all respectful of his surroundings.

LOL easy Being Hairy Big and proud of it!!!!

It means being proud of who you are, whether you're a bear, cub, otter or chaser. Enjoying the time you have with the brotherhood of bears, showing respect for the bear life, and the people in it. Always enjoy what time you have with each other and celebrating our lives and who we are together.

Bear Pride means standing up for those who cant stand up for themselves, Bear Pride is protecting all our community but mostly Bear Pride is the transition from a stereotype to an archetype.

Bear pride for me has several meanings. After all we are a subset of a bigger culture, but it is one that goes beyond just being gay and hairy, and larger in size. It has to do with a state of being - an acceptance of self, and embracing the fact that I am no longer that blond skinny twink (who thought old was everything over 30). One that remembers I still have a lot of value - if not more, than I did when younger, and being able to offer the helpful places of my journey - maybe making a difference for someone else.

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August 14, 2007

Big Boys and Bench Presses

Greetings Bears!

This week I want to talk to you about two of my favorite exercises in the gym: Bench Presses and Bent-Over Rows. It probably comes as no surprise that the Bench Press would be one of my favorites. Who, among men who lift weights, doesn't love the Bench Press? I believe weightlifting Bears especially love the Bench Press to build up our pecs. Let's face it: We're big boys and a big, powerful set of bulging, manly pecs is a true testament to our bearishness. And I love that hard pump I get in my chest after a hard chest workout, even more so the next day. This is a conceit, but I have advanced far enough in my chest development that I am just now becoming able to flex my pecs in a relaxed state and make them bounce. I've always wanted that!!

Buzzed Beer

For my chest workout, I alternate between flat and decline bench work each time I work chest. I always start with bench presses. I perform two warm-up sets of eight reps with just the bar, with some neck and chest stretching between them. With my starting weight, I perform 8 reps. Then I increase the weight and perform 6 reps...I follow this pattern through 4 reps and then 2 reps. After the two rep set, I increase the weight to a weight I have never lifted before and focus on performing one perfectly executed rep. I do this for two reasons: One, I want to make sure I grow with every workout. And two, It helps me determine my starting weight for the next chest workout. After I complete the bench presses, I move to dumbbell presses. For the dumbbell presses, my routine is a little different. I start with the heaviest weight I can lift for 20 times, then drop 5 pounds and perform 20 more presses...I follow this pattern until I get to the 10-lb dumbbells, which are my last set. To finish off my chest routine, I perform one set of dumbbell flyes with a moderate weight. This is just the exclamation point of my workout...one final polishing and rounding set.

More Bear Fitness

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August 13, 2007

A Bear's Kitchen

The Kitchen – more than any other room this is the heart of the home.  Here we gather to share meals, discuss the day, sip some wine and reconnect.  Subtle aromas and intriguing undertones hint at a meal in creation.  It’s our retreat; it’s where we gather family and friends into our home to nourish their bodies and their souls.

A Bear's Kitchen

The best parties end up in the kitchen.  So to celebrate this special place, The Complete Bear offers a full line of kitchen and dining products to warm your home and bring a little bear into every meal. 

We are pleased to offer a full line of products from Bearfoots, Brushwerks, Maskwa Ridge, and Maine Bear Salt Glazed Pottery.  We hope you enjoy these items as a wonderful addition to your home.

A Bear's Kitchen

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August 11, 2007

A Lazy Bear Weekend

A Lazy Bear Weekend
drinking beer and just being with men. But what qualifies a guy to be a bear?...Gay Muscle Bear Guernville Documentary

Bear Calendar 

 

Lazy Bear Merchandise 

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August 08, 2007

Bear Calendar

Bear Mountain River Run

 

 

Bear Invasion 2007

(Amsterdam; August 10-13)

 

Bear Frenzy 13

(Fresno, CA; Aug 17-19)

 

Zia Regional Rodeo
(Albuquerque, NM: Aug 17-19)

 

Bear Mountain River Run

(Cherokee, NC: Aug 23-26)

 

B.I.T.O. - Bear Beach Party Campout

(Kansas City, MO; Aug 24)

 

VT Bear Film Festival

(Guilford, VT: Aug 25)

 

Bears In The Sun

(Athens, Greece; Aug 27- Sep 4)

 

Southern Decadence 2007

(New Orleans, LA: Aug 29- Sep 3

 

Bearopolis 2007

(Berlin, Germany; Aug 30 - Sep 2)

 

Beardecadence

(New Orleans, LA; Aug 31 - Sep 3)

 

Lei Bear Day Luau

(Waikiki, HI; Aug 31 - Sep 3)

 

W.O.O.F. (Weekend Of Outrageous Fun)

(Pittsburgh, PA; Aug 31-Sep 2)

 

Convergence 2007

(Minneapolis, MN; Aug 31)

 More Bear Events

 

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August 07, 2007

Social Butterflies

Greetings Bears! I have entitled this week's article "Social Butterflies" for two very good reasons:

  • First, here in San Francisco, we have moved into the full swing of our social season....Gay Pride, Dore Alley, Lazy Bear, Hairrison Street Fair, Folsom Street Fair, Castro Street Fair....it's all a blur of leather, flesh, and fur. Now, more than any other time of year, fitness is foremost on our minds. Everyone hauls out their best (and in some cases, their least) and puts it all on display for thousands of locals and visitors to see.
  • Which brings me to my second reason: I'm not very good with crowds. I walk very fast (thanks to my father) and someone is always getting in my way or walking like a turtle. I get antsy and feel (usually quite unwarranted) that there are too many eyes on me. You could say that I get 'social butterflies' in my stomach.

 

Buzzed Beef

 

Did I say stomach? Yes, I did. I know how it is with us bears and our stomachs. It's either feast or famine...it's either a celebration of our bearishness or the bane of our existence. So, in honor of all things street fair, this week's article is about pure vanity with a highlight on our tummies.

I'd be a big hairy liar if I said that health and wellness were my only motivations for working out. WRONG. I want to look good in my clothes and I want to look better out of them. When I take my shirt off in public, I only want heads to turn, not entire bodies as they run away screaming in horror. To help avoid this emotional bloodletting, I engage in regular abdominal work as part of my regular workout regimen. It's true that I do get ab work in my boxing classes and I finish each of my gym workouts with roman chair crunches. But I devote at least one of my gym days entirely to my abs. My trainer reminds me that while cardio is important to help get rid of my belly, the abdominal muscles must be worked to develop their musculature. Here's what I do:


I perform three sets of each exercise with a maximum of eight reps per set. My first exercise is roman chair crunches. This is pretty straightforward. I clasp my hands as if in prayer and place them between my pecs. I tuck my chin into my chest and lay back until I am horizontal, parallel with the floor. I contract my abs and using just my abs, I slowly curl myself up, like a coil. The second exercise is lying leg raises on a bench. I sit at the very end of a bench and lie back. I place my hand on each side of the bench, at my lower back. I lie back and bend my legs and then push my legs straight up. Bending my knees ever so slightly and pointing my toes, I slowly lower my legs parallel to the floor and then raise them perpendicular to the floor, contracting hard in my abs. The third exercise is a variation on the second one. I raise my torso up to a 45-degree angle to the bench and when I lift my legs I also contract my abs and perform a crunch. The next exercise is hanging leg raises. I find a fixed bar high enough that the tips of my toes are just off the floor when I hang freely. I contract my abs and lift my legs, bending them naturally at the knees and tucking them into my chest. I slowly lower my legs and then repeat. The final exercise is standing side crunches. Standing with my feet shoulder length apart, I put my left hand on the back of my head. I reach across my torso with my right hand and place it on the side of my abs (the external obliques). I lean back slightly at the waist, breathe out, contract my obliques hard, and crunch my torso to the left. I perform eights reps and then switch hands and repeat for the other side.


This routine is working well for me. I can flex my abs and feel them hard and solid beneath the soft top layer of my belly. The lower sides of my torso are losing their hourglass appearance and becoming vertical. My posture has improved and I am less self-conscious about lifting my shirt in public. In fact, I may be brave this year and take my shirt off at the Hairrison Street Fair. Look for me if you're there...I'll be the one who looks like a bear.



Until next time,

Hugs (and licks if you want 'em)

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August 06, 2007

Sunday, Furry Sunday

Lazy Bear pool party

 

Congratulations to Harry and Allen on another successful Lazy Bear Weekend!!

 

 

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August 05, 2007

Under the Stars . . .

It’s Saturday, and Lazy Bear has kicked into full swing.  Just try to find parking in Guerneville. The bears have arrived.  The stud du jour has to be Tober Brandt – a model over at TitanMen.   Yum!!

Tober brandt 

Late afternoon I wandered over to the Legion Hall for Bingo with the Sisters.  Show some skin and get extra raffle tickets.  A cute little cub from Chelsea got paddled for not cheering when the rest of the crowd was calling for free crap!!  Some poor Aussie did quite grasp the cross bingo and yelled out bingo only to be punished in a March of the Markers.  Those sisters are tough.  A good time was had by one and all and lots of porn went to loving homes.

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 

After bingo, it was back to the Triple R for “Under the Stars” with Mark Alan Smith. Mr. Smith is quick to note that he is an impersonator, not a drag queen.  And the bitch actually sings.  No lip synching here.  Through the course of the evening, he channeled Judy, Liza, Bette (Davis doing a cover of “These Boots Were Made for Walking”) and Eartha Kitt in the bear rendition of “I Need a Man.”  Toss in a few disco classics, Cher and a little “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The audience sang along to “Hotel California” and whooped and hollered to Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces.”

The evening was topped off with a live auction MC’d by SF’s favorite officer – Lenny Broberg - Mister Leather 1992.  Tober Brandt made another appearance and proved to be quite the hunky Vanna White.  The auction netted over $3,000 for the Lazy Bear Fund.

Then it was off to Sweat to dance to the beats of DJ Blaine.  

A perfect Lazy Bear Saturday –bears, fur, house, porn stars, Sisters and Patsy Cline.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!!

WOOF!

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August 04, 2007

Calm amid the storm . . .

My life of late has been either pre or post LazyBear - Ad copy to Scott (RustySpot).  Did the socks show up? Who is watching the dogs?  Airport runs.  Out of town guests.  And the list goes on.  Once here, it’s about logistics. What needs to be where and when?  And post LazyBear, there is all the stuff that was put aside to organize for LazyBear.

But now, there is a certain tranquility.  Yes, a simple cabin in the woods is my retreat.  I opted for a place in Monte Rio, as an escape.  And when I am not setting off alarms, it can be quite peaceful.  I slept until 7 or so - the dogs have permanently rewired my internal clock- and then headed in to town (4.5 miles or so) to grab a bite.  

I opted for breakfast at The Triple R to see if there were any BOSFers lazing about.  I ran into Cody Elkin (BOSF Activities Chair) and as we looked over the menu - we compared notes about the event and various attendees.    Had I seen so and so, yet?  Was I going to the Sisters’ Bingo? – but of course!  We chatted about our dogs and how we missed them.   After breakfast, Cody headed off to volunteer duties and I made my way back to Monte Rio.

I had nothing on my calendar for the rest of the day.  Sure there were plenty of pool parties and loads of other activities, but I opted for a day in the woods. I made my way out to the back deck, which overlooks a dry creek bed.  My hosts had left behind a few years worth of old Sunset Magazines.  So, I grabbed a stack, made myself comfy on a chaise lounge and spent the better part of the afternoon getting caught up on the latest (or not so latest depending on the age of the magazine) tips for my garden and what colors would spruce up my kitchen. 

But I was not alone.  A handful of finches stopped by the mesh birdfeeder hanging from a tree a few feet from the deck.   As they swung and twirled on the feeder, they seemed to be having a playful time chasing one another.  I was just a passing visitor in their world.

The sunlight filtered through the redwoods.  The ferns swayed slightly in a gentle breeze.  And I took a deep breath and simply exhaled.  Time stood still, if just for a moment.  The gentle clinking of bamboo chimes hanging from the side of the cabin filled the silence with tropical notes.

Later, I will make my way back into town – perhaps chat with friends at the bonfire or grab a drink poolside - but for now - it’s just me and the finches. 

And everything else?  Well, it can wait. . .

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August 03, 2007

Honey, the Sherriff is here . . .

The second day at Lazy Bear started off easy enough.  I wandered into town and purchased Diet Coke and Double Stuffed Oreos for the cabin – hey, a bear could starve out here.   I then found a hot spot and checked emails and such – yes, dysfunctional cyber bear needs to be connected to the civilized world. Having gotten my cyber fix, I returned to the woods and just generally lazed about the cabin.

Late afternoon, I wandered back into town for the Twilight Party at the Inn at the Willows.  Met Wayne Schube of Club Ft. Lauderdale and reminisced about my East Coast roots and - uhm ah - bathhouses.  Stopped by The Triple R to say hello to Harry & Allen and check out the fur by the pool.  WOOF!

Tired, but happy- it was back to the cabin.  Now that I could distinguish the cabin from the woodshed, I was looking forward to a hot shower after a sweaty day with the bears.  And maybe an Oreo or two!

Mindlessly enter cabin, punch in security code - SIRENS, LIGHTS, PANIC!! Yes, I had set off the alarm, and with all the noise and confusion continued in vain to punch numbers hoping to silence my torment, but to no avail.  So, I called the security company, they no longer serviced the account the referred to another service. ALARMS BLARING.  Second company – right company – but wrong number. ALARMS STILL BLARING.  Dial third number; reset the alarm – and beautiful silence.  

Phone rings, it’s my host in SF.  The alarm company had called informing him of the intrusion.  He informed them that it was just a silly bear, and there was no need for concern.  He tries to walk me through resetting system.  I vow never to touch any more buttons for as long as I live.

Crisis resolved - I plan to shower and call it a day.  FLASHING LIGHTS - KNOCK, KNOCK – SHERRIF’S DEPARTMENT!  Had I not been completely traumatized by the alarms, this would have been a perfect faux porno moment – At the cabin door stands Mr. Stud in a Uniform asking if everything is OK. 

Well, it is now! 

He quickly determines that considering I am still here in my boxers - I am not likely breaking and entering and that yet another silly tourist has set off the alarm.  I apologize profusely, and sadly he leaves from my life, as quickly as he entered it.  Men!!

I spend the next 20 minutes or so wondering what danger I might be that would warrant calling Mr. Uniform back to the cabin.  As cute as he was - the reality of the local jail cell convinced my to abandon any further contact with Mr. Uniform.  I snuggled in for the night with visions of My Night in Shining Armor – or how about a police cruiser? - coming to my rescue.

WOOF!

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August 02, 2007

Lazy Bear - And so it begins . . .

We officially landed in Guerneville around 4pm.  I say officially because we were actually here yesterday to drop off stuff and help The Sisters and The Sacramento Bears stuff gifts bags.  Only the first 250 to show up got the goodies.  And the swag was all a bear could wish for.  Video samplers from Titan, Pantheon and CyberBears – WOOF!!  Look honey - Bag of Porn Other goodies included Colt calendars, A Bear’s Life tote bag, the new Bear Party Magazine and of course the ever popular Lazy Bear socks courtesy of The Complete Bear (OK, that was just a shameless plug, but they are cool socks).

So, if you were ever looking for woofy eye candy this is the weekend.  Also, it’s just a great place to see friends and meet new ones.  Once registered, we headed over to The West Sonoma Inn.  Our hosts Naveed and Robbie make us feel at home.  Works from the Bearfighter collection were on hand to drool over, and guests were able to chat with the photographer himself, and query as to how to meet his models.  I believe there were a few proposals.

After a very long day (two trips to Guerneville from SF) we headed to the cabin.  Our friends Ron & Ernest were kind enough to host us – unfortunately it was midnight in the woods and we are looking for a cabin in the dark.  We finally locate the property, and spend 20 minutes trying to unlock the woodshed – only to finally realize the cabin was 30 feet away. 

So, we unpacked our unmentionables and finally climbed into the loft.  We dozed off to sleep with visions of bears and cubs to keep us warm in the deep, dark woods.

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August 01, 2007

Lazy Bear Here We Come!!

We will be there along with Bearfighter.

Look for us at The Twilight Cocktail parties at West Sonoma Inn and The Inn of the Willows - August - 1&2 spectively, cocktail hour from 6-9pm.

WOOF!

Posted by SFBrawnyBear at 11:44 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)