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By Fireman Chris, May 31, 2006 10:27 AM

I added a few more blogs to my link list. Most are well established ones that I’ve just recently discovered, but one is new. Tigger, who’s commented here several times, has just started a blog called A Spanking Good Time and is starting off very nicely.

Life here is crazy and hectic as usual, and will continue to be so for awhile. Sparkle did get a spanking this morning, just for fun, and I think we both needed it.

We did buy our tickets for the Shadow Lane party in August, so that’s now a definite thing, though Sparkle did remind me I still need to reserve a room. She’s ever so helpful.

Recently, I’ve been re-reading a couple of books by Pat McManus, a humor writer who can best be described as Dave Barry with a hunting rifle and fishing pole. He writes a monthly humor column for Outdoor Life magazine and these books are primarily a collection of his column articles.

Now, I’m not a hunter or a fisherman, but I do enjoy camping and hiking and very much enjoy McManus’ writings, even on the subjects that I’m not personally interested in, because of the style of humor he uses (I’m a big Dave Barry fan as well).

A number of his columns are fictionalized anecdotes from his childhood of his adventures, and misadventures, in the great outdoors, particularly those including his buddies Retch Sweeney and “Crazy” Eddie Muldoon. As one can imagine, the subject of “the woodshed” comes up occasionally after some of the more spectacular of the misadventures, and I particularly like the wording used in “The Christmas Hatchet” from Never Sniff a Gift Fish, which centers on the ubiquitous hatchet given to kids as a Christmas present with the parental warning of “Now don’t chop anything.” McManus proceeds to recount how he and “Crazy” Eddie did, of course, proceed to chop a great many things with their hatchets, culminating with a large tamarack which just so happened to take out Eddie’s father’s new fence.

“There is an old saying that cutting firewood warms you twice: once when you chop it and once when you burn it. Well, chopping down that tamarack warmed Eddie and me three times, and one of those warmings was a good deal hotter than when the wood burned.”

I suppose I’d better get back to work now. Or make hotel reservations. Or something.

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By Fireman Chris, May 28, 2006 10:49 PM

Where do the days go? I just opened up the blog and see its been nearly a week since my last entry.

As those of you who read Sparkle’s blog know, life is gearing up to its busiest time here in our household. Her job is nearing its annual culmination of effort and activity, and unfortunately, a conference I attend most every year coincides with that.

So, just a few things to report tonight.

We went to a graduation party today for (hoping this doesn’t sound too much like a six degrees of separation thing) my sister’s boyfriend’s sister. It was a very nice party, even though we didn’t know most of the people there. One of the main events for the kids was swimming in the pool. Our daughter has a compulsive need to enter any body of water larger than (and including) a puddle, so my sister generously offered to go in with her.

Afterwards, we took the baby inside to change her in one of the bedrooms and my sister was doing the same in the adjacent bathroom. She came out and joined us and was brushing her hair. When I saw her hairbrush, my jaw just about dropped.

Every other time I’ve had a chance to see her brush her hair, she’s used one of those plastic, blow-dry-through type hairbrushes. The brush she had today was, in my considered opinion, primarily intended for something other than brushing hair. It was rectangular, about 4 inches by 5 inches, and made of a lovely dark wood. I considered asking her where she got it, but that’s just not the sort of question a brother asks his sister.

After we left, I asked Sparkle if she’d noticed the hairbrush, and she laughed and said “What was that?!?” I think we’re both again contemplating the degree of genetic predisposition in this kink of ours.

The only other item of interest is that Sparkle got spanked last night, and since it was a punishment, she’s recounted it on Punishment Book. I won’t rehash the details here, but did want to add an observation or two.

Failing to get the laundry wasn’t a serious “offense” by any means, and under most conditions, I’d not give it a second thought. As I told Sparkle afterwards, however, the reason I spanked her for it was because she’d specifically asked me to remind her to get it, which I had, and she’d still ignored/forgotten it. Her work is quite stressful right now, and will continue to be so (and even more so) for the next few weeks. I know from past experience that the more stressed and focused she gets with work, the more upset she gets when she, in her mind, neglects the routines of life. I’m perfectly willing to do more of the household chores and such when she’s busy, but she still feels a need to do certain things, to prove to herself that she’s not totally absorbed with her job.

She could have just as easily asked me to get the laundry in the first place, and I would have. Instead, she decided it was something she needed to do. Had I left the laundry for her to find in the morning, she’d likely have become even more upset at herself and then been fussy for a good portion of today (particularly if anything else had “gone wrong” today). Thus, spanking her for the laundry last night diffused the situation and prevented a minor issue from becoming anything more than that.

I want to close with two thoughts of a serious nature.

First, let us remember all of those affected by the earthquake on Java in Indonesia. We learned today at church that a member of our congregation has family members missing, and we are keeping her and everyone else in our prayers.

Second, let us all remember that Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend, and take some time to honor all of those who have fallen in military service.

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By Fireman Chris, May 22, 2006 10:42 AM

Our bed broke Saturday morning.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be), it was during a fairly mundane activity. I was sitting on the side of the bed, putting my shoes on. Sparkle came and sat next to me, and the next thing we knew, we were suddenly much closer to the floor.

After a few moments of cursing on both of our parts (and nobody gets spanked when there’s cursing due to major structural collapses) followed by removing the mattress and box spring (I believe “flinging aside” is the appropriate terminology), we discovered the source of the collapse. And it didn’t take a great deal of forensic engineering.

Our bed is a Mission-style design with a low side rail that connects the headboard and footboard. On the inside of this side rail, there is attached (and I use the term loosely) a smaller rail which is about half the height of the main rail and which only runs about 90% of the length of the main rail. This rail is the one upon which the cross-slats rest, which in turn support the box spring, mattress, sheets and pillows, Sparkle and myself and occasionally a small child. In other words, this is a critical structural element for the bed.

And some genius at a furniture company which shall remain nameless decided that 4 small wood screws were adequate to hold this piece to the main rail.

Upon our excavation into the innards of our bed, we discovered that three of these screws had entirely sheared off and that the rail was only attached at the head end of the bed. Suddenly, the odd creaking noises we’d been hearing for the prior couple of days, which I’d chalked up to a bad box spring, made sense.

Now admittedly, we’ve been known to use our bed for more than just sleeping (shocking, I know) and the baby believes it makes an excellent trampoline. But what mental giant decided that four measly one-eighth inch diameter screws are strong enough to support the box spring and mattress, let alone a burly fireman and his wife?

Since we already had plans for the day (Sparkle working, me taking the baby out so she could work), the bed remained in its less-than-useful condition until that evening. After a trip to the local hardware store, a bit of drilling and some more cursing, the bed is now nicely held together with 15 of the finest, strongest, biggest wood screws…on each side. At the slightest hint of a creak, more of their brethren will be sacrificed for the greater good. We tested the bed that night by sleeping in it, and satisfied with that, tested it with some other activities last night (purely for scientific purposes, of course). The repair appears successful.

I’d still like to meet that furniture designer, however. Preferably in a dark alley.

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By Fireman Chris, May 17, 2006 11:05 PM

I was at a lunch meeting today for a professional group I belong to (actually, I’m an officer of the group), along with my boss (I’ll call him “P”) and a couple of my co-workers. We ended up sitting at a table with two of the other officers (I’ll call them “A” and “S”) and another member.

I had to get up at one point before lunch to give something to someone else. When I returned, I heard “S” say “Oh, it hurts just remembering that.” I asked her what hurt, and she replied:

“The board of education.”

I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly, but then “P” chimes in with “With the holes drilled in it to reduce air resistance?” She responded in the affirmative, and then said she’d only gotten it once.

Yup, they were talking about paddles.

“A” (who’s several years younger than me) then said the only punishment she’d gotten was to have her desk pulled out into the hallway for talking in class. It may have been my imagination, but I think her tone was slightly disappointed.

Unfortunately, nothing more was said after that. Wish I hadn’t missed the beginning of that conversation.

Its funny…I’ve always thought “S” might be a spanko, and Sparkle thinks “P” is, but I’d never wondered about “A” until today.

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By Fireman Chris, May 15, 2006 2:02 PM

I’m somewhat echoing Sparkle’s thoughts here, but I thought I’d post my own take on The Game.

Admittedly, it was a fun experiment, but like Sparkle, I’m glad its done.

I mentioned in my last entry that I’m not a great fan of ceremony, particularly when it comes to spanking. I think I’d go crazy in a relationship where there was a daily/weekly/monthly/whatever “accounting” of misdeeds that followed the same pattern. It works for some people, including some good friends of mine, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It just doesn’t work for me.

That, I think, was my biggest problem with The Game. I’m a big fan of spontaneity when it comes to play. Admittedly, we don’t get to engage in purely spontaneous play as much as we used to, but I still prefer it to be something more or less unplanned, or if planned, only to the extent of “I’m going to spank you after the baby’s in bed.”

Also, because it was Sparkle’s “task” to do something naughty before the midnight hour, part of me felt that I shouldn’t do anything to prompt naughtiness on her part, that I’d somehow be tainting The Game if I did. Somewhat irrational, perhaps, but there. I also very much like seeing what her wicked imagination comes up with on its own.

It was a fun experiment, as I said, and I’m glad we did it. We may even do it again sometime (challenges are always fun). But for the most part, I’m glad we’re back to naughtiness as usual.

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By Fireman Chris, May 11, 2006 4:43 PM

Mija’s comment on my last entry got me thinking about the difference between punishment and play spankings in our household.

Truth be told, punishments are somewhat rare for Sparkle. As she put it in one of her recent blog entries:

“For a few days, we’ve also been pondering individually and together the complex phenomenon of a ‘very good girl’ who craves discipline. Even Chris says that he thinks I am exceptionally good.”

Even so, every so often something comes up that does prompt me to put on my disciplinarian hat. Usually, its some sort of dangerous or self-destructive behavior on Sparkle’s part. Occasionally its something that annoys me and that we’ve discussed before, but it has to be pretty blatant.

Because we do engage in so much playful spanking, a disciplinary spanking has to be different somehow. Sparkle’s mindset (or headspace, whatever you want to call it) is definitely a factor, but there has to be some sort of outward difference for me as well. This probably has to do with the fact that I’m not a disciplinarian by nature, and I need some way to separate the spanking from a playful one.

We do tend to play hard sometimes, so severity isn’t a good way to separate it. I’ve probably given “fun” spankings that are harder and longer than some of the disciplinary ones.

The easiest way, I think, has been to reserve one or two implements for punishment spankings. That’s not to say that we never use them for play, but they do tend to be primarily for punishments, or at least mock punishments. The main one is Sparkle’s mahogany hairbrush. Its a true antique, and quite effective. Its one of the few implements that truly makes Sparkle groan when she sees it.

We also have a heavy oak paddle that does get used for play occasionally, but is mostly for punishment. And I’ve been frequently told that the rubber spline flogger that our friend Randi made us will never be used for anything but punishment, and then only if I can find where Sparkle has hidden it.

Position is another way to separate the two. As I said in my last entry, the traditional OTK position is going to become a new addition to our punishment repertoire. Another position we primarily use for punishments is bent over: either bent over the end of the bed, or occasionally bent over with her hands on a low table, couch or similar surface. I think I equate this with punishment primarily due to its prevalence in the traditional school spankings/paddlings I’ve read about. It also requires the bottom to hold position more, while in OTK positions they’re more free to kick and squirm.

Beyond that, we don’t really follow any ritual for punishment the way some couples do. I’ve considered it, but I’ve never been a big fan of ritual or ceremony in any context. Maybe someday, but for now we’ll stick with the little things.

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By Fireman Chris, May 10, 2006 2:13 PM

As Sparkle pointed out in her most recent blog entry, she earned her first forfeit in The Game last night.

Around 11 PM (while I was writing last night’s blog entry, in fact), she came into my office, sat on the floor and said “Can I just have my spanking now so I can get to work?” I glanced at the clock and asked her if she was giving up on being naughty for the night, and she answered in the affirmative.

So I told her to stand up and take down her jeans, and then turned my office chair and had her lay across my lap.

The traditional OTK position like this is not one we use very often. Most of the time, OTK is done with me sitting in the middle of the couch or on the bed so that her legs and upper body are both supported. We also occasionally use a variation (also on the bed) where her feet are on the floor, but her upper body is on the bed. Bent completely across my lap with both hands and feet on the floor is a rarity though.

I proceeded to warm her up through her panties, and she began kicking and squirming before I even bared her bottom. I think I spanked her for about five minute to a nice rosy pink, and she was definitely complaining a lot more than normal. After she had slid off the lap back to the floor, I asked her if it had hurt more than normal, and she said yes. I didn’t spank any harder, so the position definitely played a part in that (mentally, physically or some combination thereof).

As I sent her off to work, I told her that this position is going to be used more often for punishment spankings from now. She didn’t seem all too thrilled about that idea, which tells me that it is an excellent idea.

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By Fireman Chris, May 9, 2006 9:22 PM

Sparkle wrote the following in a comment on her blog as an answer to the question of how she managed to convince me to let her spank me during The Game.

“He liked it before I met him, so it wasn’t too hard. It’s not a submissive thing for him – he can still tell me what do, naked and bent over and bruised. But he likes the pain.”

That’s pretty much accurate. I’m thinking out a post on why I like spanking as a top, and that will probably end up being a much more introspective and intellectual post. But the question of why I like being spanked does basically come down to enjoying the pain.

“Pain” may not be the best word for it. I’m really not into pain itself, so I prefer the word “sensation”. I enjoy the sensation of a spanking, which yes, is painful, but I don’t like most other types of pain.

Pain can certainly be an, if not enjoyable, at least tolerable side-effect of various activities. I played football in high school and had my share of pain there (some of it less tolerable than the rest). I used to lift weights and go bike riding (both the mountain and road varieties) and there was always an aspect of pain there towards the end as a reminder that I’d pushed myself hard enough. And with firefighting, pain occasionally works its way into the picture after a particularly grueling incident or training exercise (though thankfully not from injury for me yet).

The feeling of being spanked is unique to other types of pain. In some ways, it is similar to the pain one feels while forcing out that last rep while bench pressing or pushing yourself for the last mile of a long bike ride. That’s the mental part, almost like a challenge to overcome.

More than that though, I do enjoy the specific type of pain that a spanking elicits, particularly if its a long, slowly-building one. I don’t enjoy the hard, fast variety nearly as much. The slower type allows me to “get used to it” more gradually and focus on the sensation. A nice, hot burn is enjoyable. It stimulates the my nerves and makes me feel alive. It also stimulates other nerves that can lead to other enjoyable activities.

I think the best example I can come up with is that it is like eating spicy food, something else I like to indulge in. Being spanked adds a certain spice to life for me.

It is difficult to describe why I enjoy the sensation…I’m not sure I really know. Its hard to even pinpoint when I began enjoying it. I was spanked as a child (not severely, but one or two whacks with a wooden paddle) and I definitely didn’t enjoy those. Sometime during my teen years, however, after I’d begun fantasizing about giving spankings, part of me decided I wanted to see what it felt like again.

One day, while my family was swimming in our pool, I came in first (as I usually did) and went upstairs to my room. As I took off my wet trunks, I happened to glance at a wooden board I had in my room. It was actually a piece of plywood that was cut to about 8 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long with the edges taped, and I’d played with it as a kid, making bridges and such for my toy trucks. Standing there with a cold bare butt and seeing that gave me an idea. Glancing outside to make sure the rest of the family was still around the pool, I reached back and smacked my butt with the board. It stung, but suddenly, the sting was something more enjoyable than it had been a few years earlier.

I don’t even remember how many times I smacked myself with that board, but it was enough to redden my skin, sting hotly and *ahem* affect a certain other part of my body. It was then that I truly realized that a spanking could be enjoyable, and suddenly my fantasies about spanking someone else seemed more acceptable, so long as the recipient was willing and enjoying herself.

I tried it a few more times later, but it never was quite the same as that first time. I think I was embarrassed about spanking myself later when it was more premeditated, while that first time was just a spur of the moment experiment.

As an adult, I’ve had the opportunity to be spanked a few times, primarily by Sparkle but also by a couple of other women. Other than with one playmate, I think I’ve viewed being spanked in a much different context than my counterpart did when I spanked her. I know Sparkle focuses much more on the mental aspect than the sensation, and I think its been the same with a couple of the others. And even for me, giving a spanking gets into a whole different area of my head than receiving one does, and that’s what I’ll explore next time.

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By Fireman Chris, May 7, 2006 9:03 PM

Well, I got back earlier than I expected today, even though it did entail getting up at 5 AM to load our gear. Don’t really want to go into too much detail, but was an interesting weekend. And I now remember just how sore (and not in a good way) one gets sleeping on a military cot. I use the term “sleeping” loosely however, since aircraft were taxiing past our billet at 2 AM every night. Its times like this that I really appreciate what our men and women in uniform go through…and appreciate the fact that the uniform I wear doesn’t usually involve that.

I’d planned on thinking up and writing something new and exciting tomorrow, but unfortunately I’ll have a co-worker at the house with me all day, so it’ll have to wait until the evening at the earliest.

In the meantime, Sparkle posted a picture of the implements she used on me before I left on her blog, so as she suggested, I’m linking to it here.

As she pointed out, the ruler is just for scale. We don’t play with metal (except for handcuffs and bondage hardware, of course).

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By Fireman Chris, May 4, 2006 10:21 AM

I have a relatively short list of blogs that I read regularly (see the list to the right). It has become my normal morning routine to open my business and personal e-mail, check the forums I post to and read most if not all of these blogs.

One of the blogs I’ve been enjoying for awhile now is Aunty Agony. I can’t even remember for sure how I first found her blog, but it quickly got added to my bookmarks. I think what I like most about her site is the variety. One day, she’ll have a clip from a “mainstream” spanking video, the next a picture of some sorority girls playfully spanking each other and then next perhaps a hardcore BDSM-type clip. Her site pretty much covers every different aspect of our kink.

The other thing I like is the list of blogs and sites she has, and she updates this list frequently, so I check it looking for new places to haunt (she’s the one who turned me onto happytails. So, imagine my surprise today when I see that the newest blog on her list is mine.

I must say, I was very pleasantly shocked. I had to actually click on the link to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. As you know, this is a very new blog (less than a week old at this point), and so far, the other blogs that have listed me are all done by people I know in some fashion or another (or am married to). Even though I’ve read her blog for some time now, I’ve never commented there, so I was surprised that Aunty would even know who I am, let alone list my blog.

So now I really feel like I need to keep this blog going since it seems to be getting some exposure. Plus, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to get in trouble with Aunty.

That being said, there won’t be any updates until at least Monday as I have to go out of town for the weekend and will be sleeping on a cot on a military base without computer access (no, I’m not in the military).