Welcome to all of you readers that visit but prefer not to comment. This is my first year with a blog and my first LOL celebration. I like to refer to LOL as "Love Our Learners." Maybe that's because I was a teacher. Last year this time I was just like you. I was
reading and learning about ttwd and getting to know about the people out in blogland who choose to base their relationship on it.
I never commented on any blog back then. Not sure what some of you might say as to why you don't, but there were many reasons I chose not to.
- I was frightened and naive. Maybe there would be someone out there who could identify me or cause me harm somehow.
- I was still embarrassed to admit that spanking was such a strong fascination for me.
- I felt that our version of dd/ttwd wasn't as good as the way some of the bloggers I read did things. Sam and I were just not experienced, and any comments I made would sound stupid.
- I just wasn't ready. I needed to read and read and read some more. Learn and evaluate.
- I needed to find my niche. Just wasn't comfortable with so many blogs where the focus was on a strict Dom/Sub relationship. Collars and whips scare the hell out of me.
So, as far as I'm concerned, take your time. You'll make a comment when you're ready. Or maybe you never will. Just know I am glad you are reading.
Thought I would tell a quick story so you don't think ttwd is all serious rules and stuff. Sam and I have so much fun with it sometimes that it is hard to explain the joy it brings us. Last night when I got home from work, I poured myself a beer and started chopping up fruit and vegetables at the counter that opens to our dining room. Sam and I talked about our day and thought about the Thanksgiving grocery list. Finished up my kitchen duties pretty quickly and started to tidy up. Sam was in the kitchen by then, and when I bent over to load the dishwasher, Whack! he got me with a spatula he had grabbed.
Don't know what the turn on is, but Sam loves when I wear dark tights or leggings. However, they usually provide enough padding that a spanking over them is pretty mild stuff. When he didn't get the big "Ouch" he expected, I went face down over the kitchen counter, and Sam put a bit more arm into it. Still no reaction from me, and then I started laughing at his frustration. So tights and panties were down, and he started in again. This time he got a lot more noise, but I just couldn't stop laughing. It became a see-saw
of ouches and guffaws. Sam was laughing, too, and grabbing different cooking tools out of the jar on the counter. I started to get back up once, but I only got as far as the laundry area. Now I was over the washing machine and laughing so hard that there were tears in my eyes.
When we finally stopped and he took me in his arms, Sam told me that was a "Just Because" spanking. Just because he can and just because he loves me.
The most memorable Veterans Day of my life came when I was teaching 4th grade. There is a large military base in our city, and I was accustomed to having students in my class with parents in the service. It was common to see dads in uniform picking up kids at our school. A few moms in uniform, too. I never minded getting to school really early to accommodate busy parents during conference weeks, especially my military families. It was a chance to say thanks to a veteran face to face.
One such family had a special place in my heart. I only had 2 of
the 3 sons in my classes, but the year I remember had Dad (Steve) being deployed to Afghanistan just about Veteran's Day. He asked if he could do something special for his youngest boy, Aaron, before he left. He also wanted it to be a surprise. I agreed, of course, and he asked us to be ready and standing inside the playground fence about 2:00 pm one school day afternoon.
We waited and the kids were starting to get a bit antsy when we finally heard a really noisy rumble that steadily grew louder. Soon we saw the first of a convoy of huge military vehicles that came around a corner and turned into the back driveway bus exit of the school. There were 3 really large ones being led by a desert jeep. The kids were so excited and the look on Aaron's face was
amazing! Once they were parked, about 6 or 7 soldiers got out and started helping the kids climb up in the vehicles. (I wish I could tell you what types of vehicles they were, but I don't know the names.) Even their teacher got to sit in the driver's seat of something big and armored!
Aaron was the proudest little boy I have ever seen. That year we dedicated one bulletin board just to Dad's unit. We wrote to the soldiers often, and they wrote back. They even sent us a banner that had all the kids' names woven into the fabric. We talked a lot that year about thanking a veteran and what it takes to keep us free and safe. When you remember to thank a veteran, remember to thank his family, too. They serve their country in a way that the rest of us seldom think of.
For those of you that have never read my post from last July, Patty is my sister-in-law. If you care to read about the Patty and Selma debacle, start HERE. Selma is back home in Florida, which is just where she should be. But Patty lives here, and the problems I have with Patty will never go away. I may not blog about her all the time, but as far as escalating my irritation level or causing me to slip into an abyss of bad temper, she is always there. Sometimes it feels as if she thinks up things when she is not with us just to have bossy, nosy, or egotistical comments ready and available at a moment's notice.
Patty is my nemesis. My Waterloo. My undoing.
Sometime during my teaching career, I heard a funny story about how if you were the mother of 3 boys, you automatically got into heaven. There was no waiting at the Pearly Gates. Three boys was like having the American Express Gold Card at boarding time at the airport Saint Peter just lets you in over on a side door and you
bypass the A, B, and C groups completely. I knew several moms who did indeed deserve heaven to welcome them this way. I may have had all 3 boys from one family, but it was spread out over the years. I didn't have them all at once.
Sam and I have 2 grown up boys ourselves. I always said that I would agree to a third child if God, himself, would come down and guarantee in writing that I could have a daughter. When He did not make an appearance, I decided it was time to stop the baby production. Two boys was enough for me. But, I digress.
Anyway, where I was heading with this was to explain that even 26 crazy, little 9 and 10 year old children have never tested my patience as much as Patty. So if there is a way for me to get to heaven, being kind to this SIL ought to give me a head start.
Patty is a well-to-do woman who lives in a fancy retirement community. She does not want to work, shop, cook, do dishes, clean, garden or do laundry, but she is an expert at all these activities. Thank goodness, I say. I simply don't know how I made it all these years without knowing how to fold a T-shirt or scrub dirty pots or plant geraniums.
Several weeks ago when everyone was pitching in with the dishes after a big family dinner, I heard Patty say to the others in the kitchen, "Ella doesn't like me to help with the dishes." My head whipped around and my eyes narrowed. I only said, "What!?" but my tone caught Sam's attention. He just pointed at me with his finger.
In Sam's defense he often thanks me for being kind to her and knows very well how difficult she can be. And I am most grateful that lately, his HOH powers seem to be showing even with Patty, who is 11 years older than Sam! I started to wrap a birthday gift to
a little girl we know on a Sunday afternoon with Patty over. She started right in telling me how to do it. I didn't engage or look up, and I mumbled something generic about the color of the paper. Twice more she began to tell me what I was doing wrong and twice more I did not take the bait. When her mouth opened once more, Sam looked her straight in the eye and said, "Stop." And she really did shut up! Amazing.
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| Patty Actually Shuts Up |
When I know I will be seeing Patty, I talk to myself about kindness and making sure I am a good listener. Sometimes Mr. Paddle talks to me about it, too. Saturday morning Sam decided that a "Weekend Adjustment" was a good idea. This is a spanking dedicated to my keeping a positive attitude, staying focused on Who's The Boss, and the general happiness and peace of our weekend.
While Weekend Adjustments are not quite happy spankings, they usually aren't really serious either. For some reason, Sam felt this spanking needed to address my patience with Patty firmly. He chose the Paddle-Ball paddle that has, "It's Fun!" printed on one
side. (That is a stinking lie, BTW!) Sam does not really get the point of warm-ups. He's more of a "Get 'er done" kind of guy. Lordy, I just about came up off the edge of the bed. It was very intense from the get go, and tears sprang to my eyes. Believe me, I answered every question and suggestion, but finally I just pleaded, "Sam, it's just too hard!"
Wrong thing to say, I discovered. There was a flurry of strokes and that damn paddle came down even harder! "Who decides how hard?" Sam asked. "You do!" I quickly replied and then I shut up but good. In the middle of that type of spanking, I am only in the moment. The world is narrowed down to just me and the paddle. It is not like I have trouble concentrating. I have trouble staying still.
Finally it was over, and Sam pulled me into him right where I want to be. Our weekend would be happy and peaceful, and I was feeling so "Adjusted" that it was hard to sit down.
Wishing our friends across the pond a
Happy Guy Fawkes Day!
For those of us stateside, here is a little bit about why this day is commemorated. Guy Fawkes was a member of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The plan was to assassinate King James 1 and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. Fawkes was in charge of the gunpowder the
group was stockpiling under the House of Lords. A tip led authorities to search under Westminster Palace, foil the plot, and arrest Guy Fawkes.
To celebrate the fact that King James 1 had survived this attempt on his life, people built bonfires. Fawkes,
who was to be hanged, jumped from the scaffold and died in the fall. On November 5th in Britain, his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by fireworks.
The story was first told to me by a beloved Shakespeare professor. He held a huge party each year out on his property. The undergrads were given the task of creating the effigy of the doomed Fawkes. Grad students planned the feast. We did not do fireworks, but Guy Fawkes was 10 ft. tall and the bonfire was huge! That was fine with me, because it was very cold. We used that bonfire to cook sausages, too, and that was yummy.
Have Fun!
Recently, Ami Across the Pond, wrote something about how hard it is for her to understand her own response to spanking. It really made me think when she said, "It's as if I've waited for all this all my life." Wise words, I thought.
If we think of the people in our lives who we know the best and love the most, we recognize that there is such a complexity to each and every one. That is what makes them individuals. I may share stories or memories or even responses to direct questions that give you an idea about what kind of man Sam is. I am his wife and soulmate, but even I am still listening and learning more about him every day. When you lose a parent, there are thousands of remembrances that you can pull from in order to give others a picture of how that person lived their life. If you have children, you know well how different they can be, even as infants. Same parents, same house, same town, same school, same opportunities, but you will still end up with completely separate individuals.
So I started to think about myself and all the facets of my consciousness. If the people who have known me or who know me now most intimately, had to put together a huge puzzle that tells who Ella is, how many pieces of that jigsaw would be easy to fit together? How many pieces would be difficult or impossible to place? Which of the people I love would be able to arrange the most pieces? Which of those people would have the biggest challenge?
Some of my puzzle pieces might be labeled wife, lover, mother, daughter, sister, friend...... Some might say cook, teacher, reader, writer, gardener, decorator, housekeeper, traveler..... There could be lots of opposites, too - generous and selfish, patient and volatile, funny and serious, happy and sad. But each little piece has a place. For many decades of my life the Ella puzzle grew. But there was always one big piece, pretty close to the center, that was missing. This puzzle piece was not on the edge of the table, not dropped on the floor, not left in a corner of the box. Just not there. A big empty spot right in the middle.
Since the time I was a young child, I have had this strong fascination with spanking and discipline. I recognized pretty quickly that others did not have this same strong feeling. I didn't understand it, and no one else knew it existed. So this puzzle piece was parked on a dusty little corner shelf in my head. I pulled it out when it was safe. Maybe I came across it in something I read or a picture in a magazine or a conversation overheard. Maybe it was OK to indulge myself for a few minutes, but I soon hid it away.
We humans like to count birthdays and wedding anniversaries. We measure our lives by the seasons and the holidays and by our family traditions. The happiness and fulfillment that have come into my life with TTWD have given me one more joyous milestone to celebrate. It was 2 years ago that Sam and I finally put that last puzzle piece in place. Spanking is like oxygen to me. And knowing I am not here alone means a great deal. The Ella puzzle is complete, and I am so very happy. I have become who I was always meant to be and do believe I am a very lucky woman.
There is a little rule that Sam has had on the books ever since we started ttwd. Well, let me qualify. I think it is a little rule; apparently Sam thinks it is a bigger rule. On work days my schedule can be different every day of the week. I usually don't know exactly when I will get off. His rule goes something like this:
Wife needs to let Husband know
when she is getting off work and
if she is planning any errands/stops
on the way home.
This information can be communicated in an email or by phone,
but the Flight Plan needs to be filed by 4:00 pm.
In the beginning, I did forget about this fairly regularly. Mr. Paddle (the one Sam crafted in his shop) would make an appearance on the Flight Deck and (not so gently) remind me. And very soon, it just wasn't an issue any longer. I have remembered to inform him for about the last 8 months. UNTIL MONDAY!
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| ETA |
Usually I send an email with a Subject Line titled "PM Plans." I will include my Departure Time and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA). There may be errands or shopping that I plan to get done before heading home. I may just be reminding Sam of a hair
appointment or a Happy Hour with friends from work. I may say that I think I will be leaving work at a certain time but will call with any last minute responsibilities. (This happens at least twice a week!) All is well as long as I provide updates and report any Delays to the Control Tower.
Let me repeat, "UNTIL MONDAY." First day back to work after a week off. Very busy! Ninety-three emails to pore through. Phone never stopped ringing. Paperwork Stacked and Packed. I did not get my Flight Plan in by 4:00 pm. Totally forgot. I sent a note to the Cockpit very late that just said, "Crap! I forgot." As I headed out to my truck, I reasoned it all out. Sam would not hold me to this on my first day back. There hasn't been a lapse on this rule in so long; surely it will just be a verbal reminder. So I convinced myself that this was simply just a bit of Turbulence. Not to worry.
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| Uh Oh! |
Traffic kept me in a Holding Pattern for a while but soon my truck was on its Final Approach. Sam was juggling garbage and recycling bins on the driveway. He shot me a smile and a wave. The neighbor was out in her flowerbed, and I stopped to chat for a short time. Sam was still outside when I dropped my stuff on the kitchen counter. THEN I saw the dining room chair pulled out and Mr. Paddle and the wooden spatula sitting on the table. This lapse was not going to be overlooked, and there was going to be a
penalty levied by the FAA. I wanted to move the implements to the bedroom but thought better of it. Federal law prohibits Tampering with, Disabling, or Destroying a lavatory smoke detector or paddles. The only thing that was going to be smoking was my bottom.
When Sam came in the house, he commented in a matter of fact tone that I had not forgotten this rule in a very long time. He asked me to put away my things, and he sat down in the dining room, picked up the paddle and waited. I started to explain, but he just shook his head. Could tell we were ready to start Pre-Boarding as I went across his lap. Once my bottom was in the Full, Upright, and Locked Position, the spanking began.
There was no warm-up, just hard and fast; this was a Non-Stop, Direct Flight. Sam asked me to repeat the rule, which is difficult when he is whaling away. I did recite it to the best of my ability, including the cut-off time of 4:00 pm. Soon, though, he lightened up a bit and even said how much he laughed at my, "Crap! I forgot" email. He rubbed a bit then, and I was hoping it would soon be time to Deplane. Sam pulled me up to sit on his lap. My Tarmac was just a little bit sore, but all was forgiven. My Pilot hugged and kissed me, and I smiled. I was again his First Officer in good standing.
My Flight Plan for Tuesday was filed by 9:00 am sharp.
Since Sam was good enough to write a guest post for my blog, I decided to say thank you with a meme I wrote just for the guys. Have been working on these questions for quite a while.
1. Name a favorite movie of his. Do you like it, too? If he doesn't have a favorite movie, substitute a TV series.
There are several favorites, but I think my answer would have to be The Magnificent 7. Yes, I do like it, too. We just about know it by heart but still pull it out once in a while.
2. Tell us something you cook or bake that gets him so happy. Do you add something special that makes your recipe unique?
Sam gets very excited when I make a yeast recipe for English Muffin Bread. The only thing different from other yeast breads is the cornmeal. It is really yummy!
3. What does he wear to bed?
He always showers at night, so I guess it is clean underwear.
4. Does he have or has he ever grown a beard or mustache? Did you (or do you) like it or not?
He has had a beard for almost our whole marriage. It used to be a chestnut color. Now it is mostly white. I have always liked it.
5. If they were going to make a movie of your husband, what actor would you pick to play him?
Sean Connery - I think there is a slight resemblance, at least in this picture. I have had a "thing" for Sean Connery since I was 14 years old. The Scottish accent helps, too. He could sound sexy even if he was reading a grocery list.
6. Who is neater around the house, you or him? Then give us a sloppy example.
Definitely me! This is an area where I have learned to control my nagging because of ttwd. I think one of the biggest problems (from Ella's point of view) is that he does not clean up after himself in the kitchen very well.
7. If you could buy him tickets to any concert (even if it's from the past), what musician or group would be singing or playing?
It would have to be the Rolling Stones. He loved them when we were young, still loves them now that we are older, and at every age in between. He will still play their music incredibly loud sometimes.
8. Does he wear a wedding ring? Do you care?
No, he has not worn it in years. I could care less.
9. How old was he and how old were you on the day you met? What else do you remember about that day?
We were both 15 years old, and it was the first school day of our sophomore year in high school. We were together for Geometry and English that year.
10. If he is the one to choose an ethnic restaurant for dinner out, would it be Chinese, Indian, Mexican, French, Italian, Greek, or ...........?
He likes so many kinds of ethnic foods, but I would have to say Mexican.
11. Is there a photo of him as a child that you find especially endearing? Tell us about it.
Yes, I love the one of him in his Cub Scout uniform when he was 8 years old. Big resemblance to our Son #2.
12. If you were going to choose a dress in a color just to please him, what color would it be?
Either burgundy red or black - Anything that also exposes any cleavage would be quite popular with Sam, too. He also likes a waistline on a dress.
13. Do you (or did you) love his mother? Why or why not?
No, I could never love her. I was kind to her and did my duty. Sam understood completely. She was pretty much just nuts. I do think that is why Patty and Selma are also very difficult women. Thank the Lord, Sam took after his father. I loved that man as much as my own dad.
14. Name a famous person he really admires.
Hands down, the answer to this is Winston Churchill. His study shelves are filled to the brim with biographies of this man.
15. How does your husband take his coffee or tea?
Sam likes his coffee strong and black.
16. Does your man know how to dance? Is it something you both enjoy?
Unfortunately, no. I have always wanted it to be something we could do together, but I doubt that will ever happen. Once in a great while, I can get him to hold me and move his feet when I put on a special song from high school.
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| From Ella to Sam |
Can't wait to hear from all of you.
Tell us about your favorite guy in the world.
