Entries Tagged 'Fundraising' ↓
October 28th, 2008 — Affiliate Programs, BestSexBloggers.com, Fundraising, Recommendations, Stuff and Things, Toys, Updates, Websites
Click the Heart To Help The Butterfly Temptress
Never fear! I have more toys to review and report on, in fact I was planning to write about the We-Vibe today, which has an interesting twist to it, but I postponed it until next week to talk about VibeReview.com and The Butterfly Temptress Cancer Fund.
You see, recently it came to my attention that one of my friends was about to be cut off of her cancer treatments and pain management program because of she falls into that gap of making too much for the government to help and not making enough/underinsured to pay the medical bills that are pouring in as a result of chemotherapy and radiation treatment for her stage IV cervical cancer that has spread throughout her system. The thought of denying treatment and pain medication to a human being diagnosed with cancer is so incomprehensible to me - it’s inhumane. What kind of a country do we live in?!
Her only choice is to turn to her CommUNITY, my CommUNITY, your CommUNITY for help. Times are tough though and even people who want to donate don’t have it. I’m one of them. You might be, too. You can still help, though!
I contacted my friends at VibeReview.com to see if there was any way that they could help. They are a small company, but were just as impassioned as I was to do what they could do. On top of a financial sponsorship for part of the series, Life.Love.Cancer, on BestSexBloggers.com, VibeReview has agreed to allow affiliates to join in the fight. Now VibeReview.com affiliates can choose to donate their November commissions to The Butterfly Temptress Cancer Fund. VibeReview.com has agreed to double the amount and donate it to The Butterfly Temptress Cancer Fund.
If you are already a VibeReview.com affiliate, simply check the box on the registration page and VibeReview will take care of the rest. If you are not a VibeReview.com affiliate and you’d like to help, please do sign up. It’s fast, it’s easy, making links is as simple as click, copy, paste, and heck, after the fundraiser you could earn 20% of anything someone buys as a result of clicking from your link. It’s not going to feed your family, necessarily, but it will add up and you can buy that fabulous pair of shoes you know you want but would never buy unless you had extra money.
I encourage you to get involved - in any way you can - spread the word, join up, click the box, and make a real difference. It’s something we all say we want to do - now is the time to do it. We can make a difference. If you in a position to donate money directly to the Butterfly Temptress Cancer Fund, you can do so directly through her paypal link on my page or on TheButterflyTemptress.com.
Special Thanks to VibeReview.com for choosing compassion over profit. They truly are my first choice when it comes to online toy stores. I’ve worked with them all, and while some are good, there is a reason I exclusively promote VibeReview.com and this solidifies that exclusive relationship I have with them. When I say Catalina loves VibeReview.com, I’m 100% sincere.
October 19th, 2008 — Audacia Ray, BestSexBloggers.com, Blogs, Fundraising, NYC, Press Releases, Recommendations, Shopping, Stuff and Things, Updates
Meet Me In New York City!!
Join us for the launch party and buy a copy of the NYC Sex Blogger 2009 Limited Edition Calendar on Friday, November 14, 2008 from 6:30 pm - 9:30pm at The White Rabbit (http://www.whiterabbitnyc.com).
Meet the bloggers who made it happen, and ask really nicely and you might even get your calendar signed. While admission to our party is FREE and open to the public, there will be a cash bar (with Happy Hour prices till 9PM), raffle tickets and calendars to purchase so please come prepared with some green to show your support and join in the fun.
Twelve of New York City’s most dynamic literary and sex positive women, along with photographer Stacie Joy, and the sex blogging CommUNITY have collaborated to create the New York City SexBlogger 2009 Limited Edition calendar in order to support Sex Work Awareness (http://www.sexwork101.com). Sex Work Awareness is an organization that trains sex workers in media skills and educates the public about issues that affect people who work in the sex industry. 12 of NYC’s finest writers, sex educators, film makers, and ordinary women are determined to see the stigma associated with sex work and workers removed.
Included in the calendar are Audacia Ray, Desiree, Diva, Elizabeth Wood, Jamye Waxman, Luz Alptraum, Mariella Ella, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Riese, Sinclair Sexsmith, Tess Danesi, and Twanna A. Hines. A full biography of each calendar model is available at http://sexbloggercalendar.wordpress.com/about.
The first 100 guests to arrive will receive a FREE gift bag from Babeland! Aside from amazing burlesque performers and organic orgasm-worthy cookies from FreeFoodsNYC, you can purchase your very own copy of the calendar. In addition, to supplement our fundraising efforts we will have a raffle, and we encourage you to buy a raffle tickets. $2 for 1, $5 for 3 and $10 for 10 will give you a chance to win prizes that include an Njoy Eleven, a Liberator Ramp, a Liberator Throe, a Rolling Toy Trunk from ForYourNymphomation, and a Museum Signed Print “Ally Bound” by Lochai. The list grows daily. A complete list will be posted on the calendar blog (http://www.sexbloggercalendar.wordpress.com).
If you are unable to attend the launch party, you can still buy your limited edition copy of the calendar directly through the Sex Blogger Calendar website or here on Catalina Says (look to the right).
About the NYC Sex Blogger 2009 Limited Edition Calendar:
For the latest news, a complete list of bios of each sex blogger featured in the calendar, our sponsors, and our CommUNITY of friends, please visit the Sex Blog Calendar Website.
October 18th, 2008 — Altered Aperture, BestSexBloggers.com, Blogs, Bondage, Claire Adams, Fetish, Fundraising, Madison Young, Movies, Ms Nikki Nefarious, Mz. Berlin, Photos, Recommendations, The Week In Kink
Trust Me... Does That Look Like A Girl Who Would Steer You Wrong?
Catalina’s Favorite Sex Blog Posts Of The Week! Thanks to Altered Aperture who makes me all pretty and then captures it on camera time and time again.
::psst… for more hot sex blog links go to Sugasm.com::
October 2nd, 2008 — Altered Aperture, BestSexBloggers.com, Blogs, Email, FetLife, Fetish, Fundraising, Hogtied, Lochai, Madison Young, Movies, Politics, Press Releases, Stuff and Things
Image from Postsecret.com
So here’s something interesting - a twitter from Mistress Matisse saying, “Am I really going to be unable to find even 1 BDSM person who’s voting for McCain & will go on record as to why?” So, if you’re a BDSM lifestyler in support of McCain, please get in touch. For more information, read Mistress Matisse’s LiveJournal entry. I think there must be at least one BDSM person who is a staunch Republican.
I spent most of my morning contacting BDSM and fetish event coordinators to talk about advertising their event(s) on Fetlife.com. We find more and more every day that this market really has a need for event promotion and by targeting by location (even the surrounding states) we are able to really help them get the word out and we fit into their budget. I love a good win-win situation! The same seems to apply to sex clubs (no, not strip clubs, but BDSM clubs and adult oriented play clubs). You can always email me about Fetlife advertising - my email address is Catalina@Fetlife.com.
My afternoon was spent going through email and then uploading some new pictures that I just got back from Altered Aperture to my Model Mayhem profile. I’m allowed 20 pics, so I might as well use them! There is a little bit of everything there now. I’ve actually heard from several photographers, which I found to be very odd, but it’s a big world and I suppose there’s room in it for a “mature” model. It is weird to be small enough for a photographer to put me in a size six wedding dress and take shots for his portfolio. Why not, though? I never have worn a wedding dress, I kind of want the wedding I never had pictures! Oh, it’s not that we didn’t have pictures, but we wore our pajamas and got married in our living room by our hippie friend who was an ordained minister in some hippie church. They are all black and white and I wish I had them in digital so I could post some. (No, I don’t have a scanner.)
Lochai posted today about his First Official Shoot at Hogtied.com. I’m pretty excited to see it. Lochai isn’t the only change at Kink.com - they have officially launched a new site: Public Disgrace. According to the press release, “Helmed by WiredPussy.com director and prolific star Princess Donna, the site features gorgeous women being tied up, humiliated and fucked in public, particularly on city streets throughout Europe.” Yum, public sex. I have had a chance to take a peek, and I assure you, it’s a voyeur’s wet dream.
Also in my inbox was a press release from Madison Young about an event at Femina Potens Art Gallery which, honestly I should repost in its entirety:
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - October 1, 2008 - Madison Young and Abigail Productions present “Bust Ed” artwork around breast cancer awareness and breast health. Please allow us to tease, tantalize, and captivate you with our dirty pillows. “Bust Ed” celebrates the lovely and erotic nature of the bosom, while reminding everyone of the way breast cancer affects our lives.
“I’ve watched as my friends and family members have battled breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness and early detection are a crucial issue in women’s health and effect us all. Bringing together a body of artists who are all creating art around visibility of breast cancer, survival, strength, and unity with in our community allows us to dialogue and take action around this disease.” says Madison Young, curator and founder of Femina Potens.
This exhibit allows for audience participation in everything from designing nipples for Laura Drugal’s reconstructive surgery to witnessing the live body casting of breast cancer survivors to be added to Mary Ellen Scherel’s “Mamorial”. Madison Young will have limited edition autographed posters of her Erotic Breast Self Exam available for purchase as a monthly reminder to examine and care for your breasts.
Artists Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Stephens, Madison Young, Jennifer Clary, Laura Drugal, Mary Ellen Scherel, and Talia Green all address this prevalent issue with their art. Join us to pay tribute to the mighty and healthy breast for the opening reception October 9, 2008 at 7pm – 10 pm. Show runs October 9 through October 26, 2008.
Bust Ed is sponsored by Abigail productions www.abigailproductions.com
“Bust Ed” Visual Art Exhibition
October 9 - 26, 2008
Femina Potens Art Gallery
2199 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Visit feminapotens.org for more information.
Well that pretty much covers the weird world of Catalina for the day. Oh, I did add new contributors to BestSexBloggers.com, so cruise on over there and check out some of the new writing. Now it’s time to work on The Week in Kink for tomorrow and I have to pick out a new rabbit vibe to review.
September 24th, 2008 — Advice, Blogs, Fetish, Fundraising, Mz. Berlin, Networking, Recommendations, Shopping, Stuff and Things, The Dude, The Good Things List, The Week In Kink, Weight Loss
Okay, so apparently the demands made for cleavage were met by the deadline and we were all blessed with Tess’ beautiful, soft, perfect boobs today. In fact, you all must have bought more than the 10 calendars she was holding hostage, because she even did a pic with her Njoy Eleven between her boobs (and one sucking it!) So whatever you did, do it again!
The 6 Degrees of Catalina list is being called HABO (instead of HARO), I see today in a message on Twitter, instead of Help A Reporter Out, I think it has become Help A Blogger Out. Cool. I like it. It’s nice that it’s being twittered around and people are telling other people. I have several things to put out on the list already, but I want to make it a semi-regular event rather than just sending a thousand emails a day to people. It is very cool to see graphic designers and bloggers and photographers sign up! It will be a project forever, I can’t imagine it ever being complete, but I like the way it is shaping up! Send an email to me at catalinaloves@gmail.com if you want to be added to the list. It’s really that simple. Spread the word, twitter it about - the more the merrier. Submit your requests for the first official HABO list launch! And think about the crowd on the list - nothing is really too weird.
I’m dying to see the pictures from the shoot with Nikki yesterday. It drives me nuts to know that there are pictures there and I can’t see them! It is truly a disorder of some sort. I spent part of the day cleaning my bedroom/office to get my mind off of it.
So I’m texting back and forth with The Dude trying to talk him into joining me for yoga on Friday - I want to go to the same class with the same instructor. He has to play baseball or football or something like that in the morning so he asks, “Can I come all sweaty and dirty?” and a thousand thoughts raced through my mind at once before realizing he meant to yoga class. Looks like Susan will also be going. WooHoo!
I’m going to try out a new yoga class tomorrow at 10 am. This is different than hot yoga Saturday - there is a gym near my house that I’m hoping to join. I would still go to hot yoga as a treat, the vibe there is nourishing, but it would be great to lose those last 21 lbs sooner than later! I have a new goal, size 4, 119 lbs. And no, Dude, I haven’t done my abs workout and I probably won’t unless someone is standing there making me do them. I miss your sadistic ways!
I really need to work on The Good Things list and The Week in Kink. The Good Things List I’m only doing on Catalina Says now, because it was just too much work the other way. The Week In Kink I have opened up to submissions, so if something strikes you as especially kinkworthy, please send the link to me! I’d like to mix it up a little bit.
Also, I thought I’d mention for those of you who prefer to order your intimates online, I found some amazing Cuban Stockings
on Amazon.com. It’s hard to find them in the average department store and some people just don’t feel comfortable at the local adult store. Nothing suspect about ordering from Amazon.com! If you are a little more daring, go to where Mz Berlin goes and Julie Simone go - try Magnolia Hosiery. I have an obvious fetish for stockings, so I spend a lot of time looking around for them.
Well, back to work for me. I have a lot to do in a short amount of time if I want to have sex before my poor husband, who gets up every day with the children, falls asleep at 11 pm. Thank You, Marky… I love you.
September 23rd, 2008 — Blogs, Bondage, Books, Fetish, Fundraising, Lochai, M, Madison Young, Movies, Ms Nikki Nefarious, Networking, Recommendations, Reviews, Stuff and Things, The Femme's Guide
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[Image from Postsecret.com
You play… you pay. That was what my Mom would say as she punished me as a child. Well, I’m paying in spades. Too much play means I’m way behind on work. Last night
M and I decided at the last minute to go out for drinks, which gave me an excuse to wear my new clothes. Before that I made a trip in to Charlotte for a separate errand. Saturday I went to
yoga with Susan. Basically, I got a blog post or two written and that was it. I have a bajillion emails that I starred in gmail to respond to when I have time. Now I have to devote time to responding or else they just fall off the page. I need to get my ass in gear and work!
Sometimes it’s a fine line between playing and working. Today, for example, I was totally playing, yet I could say it was a long day at work - we did two different sets of suspension bondage shots, a MILFtastic office pic, a sex nerd photo, and a few other product sets for upcoming reviews. So while I was technically working, I feel like I was away at play all day (plus I wasn’t at home). I did come home and review a Madison Young movie I watched recently. Is that work or play? A combination of both, really.
I am really excited to dive into the Better Sex Through Yoga 3 DVD Series that Garvey sent to me. I reviewed his book a few months ago. In his package he also sent fascinating documentaries and books that I will keep a mystery for now. They are completely unrelated to yoga.
I am re-watching Joseph Campbell’s DVDs, The Power of Myth. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it. If you have seen it, but it’s been a while, you should re-watch it. I’ve gained so much more from watching it this time. The timing was perfect - I came home from yoga with a sense of being connected to the collective unconscious and present in the moment and watched Joseph Campbell talking about living in the moment and following your bliss. I realize it is exactly what I’ve done. I have taken The Hero’s Journey and this makes me incredibly proud. Slaying dragons. Seriously - (re)watch it.
I’m a weirdo in that I own copies of the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Obedience Experiment and I’ve watched them both with W - it helped her to understand Abu Ghraib and other crimes against humanity. She also taught her art teacher about Fernando Botero’s art exhibit of his interpretation of the Abu Ghraib images. I thought that was kind of cool, actually.
Other things worth noting before abruptly ending this post:
My friend, Tess, is on a “Cleavage of the Day” strike. Until the terms of her demands are met, there will be no boobs. Please, people - for the good of humanity, do whatever it is she asks - we need daily cleavage shots! Tess’ boobs make the day so much easier to greet.
The 6 Degrees of Catalina list is growing each day - there are about 200 people on the mailing list and people are starting to put in calls for submissions for anthologies, etc. So I think I’ll give it a shot. If you are somehow related to the sex writing, sex blogging, podcasting, sex education, BDSM, fetish, erotic art scene (including the techies that keep us together!) and would like to be added to the list, please send me an email at catalinaloves@gmail.com and put “6 Degrees” in the subject line. I’ll add you automatically.
Alternatively, if you have a request for the list, please send it to me using that same email link. There are currently a few things in the queue including calls for submission for anthologies that sex bloggers might be interested in. It would be nice to see variety in the list - someone must need something? No?
Roxy Harte wrote a really interesting post on the Femmes Guide called “How-To Guide For Female Ejaculation” that is worth reading for all of you who are seeking out the squirting experience. Obviously, I thought it was interesting and worth mentioning.
Welcome Home to Lochai, Janice, and the Kitties! I am certain that this weekend you will feel your new CommUNITY welcome you with warm arms.
A final plea - please buy a day on the NYC Sex Bloggers 2009 Calendar. You don’t have to be a sex blogger and you don’t have to have a product to sell. You could send a special message to a special someone, you could put your anniversary there, you could write a message of peace, love, and hope to the world. Keep in mind that you are paying $10 for the day, but that day shows for 30 days! Please, I beg of you - I need the Cleavage of the Day to survive.
September 12th, 2008 — Audacia Ray, BestSexBloggers.com, Blogs, Bondage, Fetish, Fundraising, Hogtied, Live Girl Review, Lochai, Mz. Berlin, Recommendations, Satine Phoenix, The Femme's Guide, Websites
http://satinesblog.com
Sex Blog Picks For The Week! I’ve been trying to decide how to do The Week in Kink now that normally the people I would feature are almost all on BestSexBloggers.com. One thing I want to try is a call for submissions. Send your best/favorite post to me at CatalinaLoves@gmail.com and I will take a look at it. If it passes the Catalina loves… test, then I’ll use it in The Week In Kink, which is posted at TheWeekInKink.com and cross-posted all over teh internets.
::psst… for more hot sex blog links go to Sugasm.com::
September 3rd, 2008 — Bondage, Fetish, Fundraising, Lochai, Press Releases, Recommendations, Shibari, Stuff and Things
From the Penthouse Bondage Series by AlteredAperture.com
Rope Share Fundraiser
- Date/time: Sept 27th, Saturday, 1pm
- Location: 110 Greenwich St. apt 5D (btwn Rector and Carlisle; three blocks south of the WTC site)
- Donation: $25- and up/per person
- Instructors: DeLano, Andy, and Yin assistant: Michele Serchuk
The Rope Share is a bondage workshop that is structured to fit your skill levels and interests. There are three highly skilled, bondage instructors and a teaching assistant. The attendance will be limited to 12 students and divided into three groups so you will get individual attention and tutoring.
If you are a beginner, an instructor will teach you the basics of safety, negotiations, and the elemental ties needed to start your bondage exploration. If you are an intermediate player and are interested in advancing your rope skills, are curious about how to tie a certain harness or position, or want to learn more about body positions and how certain ties affect your bottom’s headspace, this is a perfect environment to ask those questions. If you are an advanced player and want to see how other rope tops tie, how different styles can enhance your own, this is a safe, non-ego space to hang out and play.
Couples are encouraged to attend together, but singles are also welcome as this will be held in a lab environment. Please be open to dance both parts for the sake of the education.
Bring Rope: 4 lengths of 25 ft. rope; 2 lengths of 50 ft.; and safety scissors. Cotton, nylon, hemp, and jute are all fine.
ALL proceeds will be donated to benefit our dear friend and rope bondage enthusiast, Vanessa, as she fights the battle of Lymphoma B cancer. We plan to continue this workshop as a monthly event for as long as it is necessary. Future workshops will include Men-only and Women-only attendance so please inquire about those dates if that is a concern.
To sign up, contact Yin at Yin.Quan@gmail.com. For the men’s-only workshop, please contact Andy at bikeguynyc@earthlink.net. Title the subject line as “Rope Share Sign Up” and include the following information in your email:
1. Your name (Scene name or legal)
2. Contact number and email address
3. Rope bondage experience and skill level (Please be brief)
4. What you are interested in learning
5. How you heard about this workshop
Sign up now as places are expected to fill quickly! Beginners to advance rope players are all welcome!! This is a safe space to share and learn rope bondage as a top or a bottom.
**I just thought it’s worth mentioning that Lochai, widely considered to be at the top of his game as a bondage artist and new director of Hogtied.com, sent this to me. I would have to say that’s a pretty reputable source! This will be a great workshop if you can be in New York.**
August 13th, 2008 — Altered Aperture, Blogs, Bondage, Books, Claire Adams, Ellie Lumpesse, Fetish, Fundraising, Graydancer, Lochai, Ms Nikki Nefarious, My Naughty Secretary, NCSF, Photos, Politics, Shibari, Shopping, Stuff and Things, Toys, Updates, Websites
I am overwhelmed with emotion and at a loss for words at the outpouring of support that people in our community have shown our family by donating prizes for the raffle, buying tickets, cross posting to spread the word, and the kind words that have gotten us through a very difficult time. We are proud to say that our personal need has been met and good (us, the sinners) triumphs over evil (them, the morally superior). To feed off of Graydancer’s post, we have proven that “a community proving that a community of pervs cares more about her education than an administration full of assholes.”
This means that instead of being my personal mission to fight for my daughter, I am on a bigger mission for the greater cause. I recognize that I am not the only person going through this battle. In fact, it’s a series of small battles that are all a part of a greater war on personal freedom, often with children in the crossfire.
This shouldn’t happen, but if you’re living an alternative lifestyle, it very well could happen to you. The only way to combat it is to put on the armor, link up arm-in-arm, and take them on as a commUNITY. That is exactly what I’ve seen in the last few days and I think we can do more!
The raffle continues, as it is scheduled to end on Sunday (8/17/08) at 10pm, but from this point forward, all proceeds will be going to the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom as a contribution from the community that has stood together and won this battle. This is our way of supporting the war that has been waged in the land of the free against personal and sexual freedom. At the end of the year, the refunded monies will also be donated on behalf of this community.
The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom is a national organization committed to creating a political, legal, and social environment in the United States that advances equal rights of consenting adults who practice forms of alternative sexual expression. NCSF is primarily focused on the rights of consenting adults in the SM-leather-fetish, swing, and polyamory communities, who often face discrimination because of their sexual expression.
My deepest gratitude to those who have supported and continue to support this cause. I have never felt such a sense of community in my entire life. So here is the current prize list for the new official National Coalition for Sexual Freedom raffle. Check back, as we seem to be adding prizes daily.
From Lochai there are three 5×7 museum signed prints from his recent exhibit at the World Erotic Art Museum, two of them are not only museum signed prints, but are also very limited editions.
Alley Bound and Curves are a limited edition of 10 museum signed prints. If you win, you will receive either 6/10 or 7/10. Beach Bound is Lochai’s iconic World’s Most Erotic Photograph winning piece, and is a signed museum print. (Sold normally at $75/print)
Ellie Lumpesse has donated three books:
The Straight Girl’s Guide to Sleeping With Chicks by Jen Sincero
Aqua Erotica by Mary Anne Mohanraj
The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio by Violet Blue
Ellie is also offering:
a 30-minute private phone session (that can include her amazingly sexy man) if you win.
Sam donated:
custom, hand made jewelry (a necklace and earring set) to a runner up. “It’s not a kinky prize, but pretty,” she said. Pretty indeed! Take a look: http://quem98.livejournal.com/306470.html
Thursday and D donated:
a signed 8×10 print of any one of their photographs
a copy of the book, The Mammoth Book of Illustrated Erotic Women.
And Thursday has also offered:
one of her sexy (orgasmic) voicemails to a lucky winner. Let me tell you, that is one hot prize.
The writer of Between My Sheets offered:
A brand new, still in the package, never been used Silver Bullet Vibe.
And just now I heard from my Naughty Secretary who offered:
Her services as a graphic designer. There are two separate prizes - each being two hours of graphic design time (normally charged at $120/hr). In addition to participating in this raffle, she is doing her own auction to raise money. She is sponsoring a silent auction of one of her paintings on her web page.
Edward, from Exjinn.net, the company that hosts all of our blogs and provides us without outstanding support and service, has offered:
A 50 gig hosting plan from Exjinn.net with 1-year of service.
Essin’ Em:
just donated a copy of the book, Wetter, with her story signed personally for you. As if that weren’t generous enough, she has also offered an 8×10 print!
Sabrina Fox - does the name ring a bell?
Sabrina Fox, as in the redhead hot as fuck bondage and fetish model, Sabrina Fox, was chatting with me today and mentioned that she has a few pairs of latex panties that she recently wore for a photoshoot that would offer as prizes. Latex panties worn by Sabrina Fox, anyone? Oh wait until I tell W about this when she is older.
Jeff Mach commented: (THANK YOU, JEFF!) [This is one of those prizes that I would like to know if you would like to be entered to win. If you're not in the area and can't use the tickets, then they would do you no good, but if you are in that area, then it's a great prize!]
I am running a New Year’s Eve fetish event in New Jersey at the end of this year (on NYE itself). I’ll offer a ticket (that is, admission for two people, including gourmet meal and champagne)
and
I run the Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire, now entering its fourth year, every February - again, in Jersey. We’re going to three days this year, and tickets for all three days would usually be at $40; I can donate two pairs of those, as well.
I feel like George from “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Graydancer, who posted a very insightful post about the society that we live in, just twittered me (it sounds dirtier than it is) and said:
I didn’t realize you were adding prizes. Throw in an audiobook version of my novel, “Nawashi“.
Rose Fox offered a very generous and naughty prize — a very good combination for this crowd!:
I used to review DVDs for AVN, and I’m still on Vivid’s mailing list, so now I have a closet full of unopened Vivid porn DVDs. I’ve been trying to figure out how to donate them someplace and would be delighted to offer them for your cause.
There are too many to catalog, so perhaps 10 “grab bags” of ten DVD’s? I’d do my best to include a varied selection so that the winner is fairly likely to get at least a few titles that suit their tastes.
(Just a note on this: because of the laws regarding the selling of pornography, the winners would need to submit a copy of their ID to Rose in order for her to be able to send them to you.)
Beautiful Rebecca has offered:
an original piece of sensual art from the artist. It was scheduled for a gallery show next year but we would much rather have it go to your cause as it hit home. It is 3×4 metal with an object representing a uterus called, “Oikos Cella”.
Alternatively, for those who win, but don’t feel that this art is right for their home, she is an interior designer and has offered to do a consultation for a room re-do. The details are kind of extensive, so I’ll discuss it with the winner personally.
Ms. Nikki Nefarious and AlteredAperture.com) has donated prints and a rope kit:
Collette for TABU Magazine 8 x 12
Jamie in Latex 8 x 12
Girl’s Best Friend 8 x 12
Scream 8 x 10
GarGirl Bound 8 x 10
The Enforcer 8 x 10
Sarah Sealed 8 x 10
Red Hood 8 x 10
and then A Starter Rope Package (4-pack of multi-colored ropes in different lengths and hemp rope cuffs)
Lily, who calls herself Lily (the rope ho) in her comment has donated
3 x 30ft hand-dyed, processed 6mm hemp kit
Radical Vixen, who most of you know as the editor of the weekly sex blog digest, Sugasm, is a very active political advocate. She has offered two books for the raffle:
She’s on Top: Erotic Stories of Female Dominance and Male Submission
Sex and Bacon: Why I Love Things That Are Very, Very Bad For Me
Thank you, so much! I cannot tell you how moved I am by the random kindness of the community. Lochai’s the one who started the commUNITY concept, but I get it better than ever now.
I’m officially re-launching the “Catalina’s Emergency Tuition Fund Raffle” as the “The Battle Is Won, But the War is Not Over” raffle with all remaining proceeds from this point forward going to NCSF.
Tickets are $10.00 each, you can buy as many as you’d like (if you’d like to donate $50.00, for example, I’ll enter your name 5 times). You are not obligated to buy a virtual ticket. You can also just donate to a very worthy cause at any amount.
I really will write down names and put them in a hat, and my daughter can pick the winners. At this point, she is well-aware of what is going on. We’ll choose the winners on August 17th at 10 pm. You will be notified by 10:30 pm by email. Heck, we’ll even try to find someone to film it and show it to you all :)
August 11th, 2008 — Altered Aperture, Bitching, Blogs, Bondage, Books, Claire Adams, Ellie Lumpesse, Fetish, Fundraising, Graydancer, Lochai, Movies, Ms Nikki Nefarious, My Naughty Secretary, Photos, Shibari, Stuff and Things, Toys, Updates
Buy A Raffle Ticket To Win A Limited, Edition, Museum Signed Print From Lochai
I’ve never discussed this on my blog before, but recent developments have prompted me to discuss the reason why I’m no longer a teacher. Being Catalina isn’t always a good thing. I separated early this year with my school as a peaceful way to avoid a public scandal that would ultimately affect my teenage daughter, who attended said school.
Part of my agreement I cannot legally discuss - specifically the reasons and terms of my separation - but use your imaginations. I can say that I agreed to leave quietly and peacefully under the condition that my (straight-a’s, honors courses, award-winning, athlete, without a discipline record) child be allowed to attend her last year of middle school just as if I had resigned at the end of the year. Let me spell this out for you. Faculty receive a substantial tuition discount. I pay 10% of the tuition. This roughly amounts to $1,100. After leaving, all faculty are offered one more year for their children at the faculty tuition discount as a way to avoid disrupting their children’s lives too much.
A few days ago the head of my former school called me to tell me that had rescinded his offer and that she was no longer welcome to attend. In the same phone conversation, he changed his mind and decided to honor our agreement. Well, kind of. I came in with the tuition and they refused to accept my payment.
Later I received an email that stated that on top of the faculty tuition, I am also expected to pay student fees, which are not covered under the faculty discount. Okay, so throw in another $900. I can come up with that, even if it means the car payment doesn’t get paid.
The straw that broke this camel’s back? The additional $1,000 expense account that is being demanded by the 18th of August to cover her lunch account (which was roughly $750 last year) and field trip expenses (which are roughly $250). I requested that she not be allowed to charge a lunch in the cafeteria and that she will bring her lunch, which is an option available to (other) parents, to have this fee waived. The field trip charges, I can’t really object to, that seems fair, so mental tab up to $2,200.
I’ve just been informed that the school is unwilling to waive the expense account fee for her lunch account and demands the entire amount be paid. If it is unused it will be refunded to me at the end of the year. Nice of them to at least offer that. This brings up my new grand total to $3,200 in 8 days.
I went from having her tuition paid to being a mile away.
I have never been as upset as I am right now. For a “Christian” educator to use a child as a pawn in a moral battle against me, and what I represent, is unethical - it’s beyond unethical - it’s reprehensible.
So I’ve played all of my cards, my hands are tied. He wins right now. Because I have been judged a whore, my child loses.
I refuse to allow that to happen. For the first time ever, I am asking my readers to help me. I’ve asked my readers to support the arts (artists, photographers, and other bloggers) but never asked for financial support on my blogs for myself or my family. Today that changes because my child is involved. Today I ask for your support for my daughter’s education and future.
Similar to the project I did for Lochai, I am asking for donations towards my daughter’s education fund. I spoke to Lochai this afternoon, and he has offered to donate three 5×7 museum signed prints from his recent exhibit at the World Erotic Art Museum, two of them are not only museum signed prints, but are also very limited editions.
Alley Bound and Curves are a limited edition of 10 museum signed prints. If you win, you will receive either 6/10 or 7/10. Beach Bound is Lochai’s iconic World’s Most Erotic Photograph winning piece, and is a signed museum print. (Sold normally at $75/print)
On top of Lochai’s unbelievably generous offer, several people have contacted me since posting this and asked to donate items to be raffled off as well. Now, from Ellie Lumpesse we have three books:
The Straight Girl’s Guide to Sleeping With Chicks by Jen Sincero
Aqua Erotica by Mary Anne Mohanraj
The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio by Violet Blue
Ellie is also offering a 30-minute private phone session (that can include her amazingly sexy man) if you win.
And one of Janice’s friends left a comment in my blog that she would donate custom, hand made jewelry (a necklace and earring set) to a runner up.
“It’s not a kinky prize, but pretty,” she said. Pretty indeed! Take a look: http://quem98.livejournal.com/306470.html
Thursday and D have also offered a signed 8×10 print of any one of their photographs and a copy of the book, The Mammoth Book of Illustrated Erotic Women. And Thursday has also offered one of her sexy (orgasmic) voicemails to a lucky winner. Let me tell you, that is one hot prize.
Then I got an email from a total stranger, the writer of Between My Sheets, who offered:
A brand new, still in the package, never been used Silver Bullet Vibe.
And just now I heard from my Naughty Secretary who offered:
Her services as a graphic designer and artist. She is looking into which painting(s) she is going to donate, but she has committed to two separate prizes - each being two hours of graphic design time (normally charged at $120/hr).
Edward, from Exjinn.net, the company that hosts all of our blogs and provides us without outstanding support and service, has offered:
A 50 gig hosting plan from Exjinn.net with 1-year of service.
Thank you, so much! I cannot tell you how moved I am by the random kindness of the community. Lochai’s the one who started the commUNITY concept, but I get it better than ever now.
Essin’ Em, the pansexual feminist sexpert on her way up, just donated a copy of the book, Wetter, with her story signed personally for you. As if that weren’t generous enough, she has also offered an 8×10 print!
Sabrina Fox - does the name ring a bell?
Sabrina Fox, as in the redhead hot as fuck bondage and fetish model, Sabrina Fox, was chatting with me today and mentioned that she has a few pairs of latex panties that she recently wore for a photoshoot that would offer as prizes. Latex panties worn by Sabrina Fox, anyone? Oh wait until I tell W about this when she is older.
Jeff Mach commented: (THANK YOU, JEFF!)
Prize donations, a few: - I am running a New Year’s Eve fetish event in New Jersey at the end of this year (on NYE itself). Tickets are probably going to be something along the lines of $250 per couple - we were actually finalizing that this week. I’ll offer a ticket (that is, admission for two people, including gourmet meal and champagne) for the raffle, if you’d like.
and
I run the Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire, now entering its fourth year, every February - again, in Jersey. We’re going to three days this year, and tickets for all three days would usually be at $40; I can donate two pairs of those, as well, if it will assist you.
I feel like George from “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Graydancer, who posted a very insightful post about the society that we live in, just twittered me (it sounds dirtier than it is) and said:
I didn’t realize you were adding prizes. Throw in an audiobook version of my novel, “Nawashi“.
Thanks, Graydancer! I appreciate it! I didn’t know I was going to add prizes either, until people started offering. The outpouring of support in the various ways people have shown it is very moving. Some people can afford to show their support by purchasing a ticket, some people are supporting us by crossposting, some are offering prizes, some are doing all of the above and then some. I even consider it supportive just to see comments from people who happened upon it and have shown emotional support.
In the comments this morning, from a total stranger, Rose Fox, was this offer, which is generous and naughty — a very good combination for this crowd!:
I’m here via the person who donated the jewelry. I used to review DVDs for AVN, and I’m still on Vivid’s mailing list, so now I have a closet full of unopened Vivid porn DVDs. I’ve been trying to figure out how to donate them someplace and would be delighted to offer them for your cause.
There are too many to catalog, so perhaps 10 “grab bags” of ten DVD’s? I’d do my best to include a varied selection so that the winner is fairly likely to get at least a few titles that suit their tastes.
Thank you, Rose — I don’t know anybody, personally, who would turn down a handful of DVD’s. And you’re really giving away 10 prizes, not just one, so thank you x 10! You’re right, there’s got to be something in there that turns that key in the lock. (Just a note on this: because of the laws regarding the selling of pornography, the winners would need to submit a copy of their ID to Rose in order for her to be able to send them to you.)
Also in the comments this morning was a message from Beautiful Rebecca offering a piece of original sensual art:
I have an original piece of sensual art from the artist I live with I would like to donate. It was scheduled for a gallery show next year but we would much rather have it go to your cause as it hit home.
The List Keeps Growing!
Please read this post on CatalinaLoves.com
to see the most recent list. Good stuff! I’m overwhelmed by the contributions people are making to make this raffle a big success.
I’m officially launching the “Catalina’s Emergency Tuition Fund Raffle”, here is the link to buy your virtual ticket. Tickets are $10.00 each, you can buy as many as you’d like (if you’d like to donate $50.00, for example, I’ll enter your name 5 times). I really will write down names and put them in a hat, and my daughter can pick the winners (of course I’ll come up with some vanilla reason why she’s doing it). We’ll choose the winners on August 17th at 10 pm. You will be notified by 10:15 pm.
