Phred

London was great! Hung out with my wife's family, ate lots. Now I'm in Chicago for a meeting. Have my session with mZ a week from Saturday, can't wait! Even though it is booked for 2 hours, I'm sure, like you, it will zip by in 10 minutes! Slowly getting myself prepared.

I agree - maybe more of a "secret society"???

I'm doing well, TW. I'm headed to London tomorrow night. I will definitely hit the local pub and raise a glass to you (and all my fellow subs here at the Fortress). Good to see you back in the game.

Being the nerd that I am, I happened to be searching the literature. I thought you would really like to see this abstract:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00795.x/abstract

Pretty much goes along with some of the thoughts you have posted on the forum.

Things are stable on my end. Actually heading to London in about a week for family stuff (maybe I'll run into Mistress Jung???). Having some fear and anxiety with my bench press, trying my hardest to work through it. It never ceases to amaze me how much fear can truly impede progress.

I know this won't help your losses, but when things get rough, there are two phrases that always keep me going:

1) There's a reason for everything

2) That which does not kill us makes us stronger

TTYS...

- Phred

Based on your status, I have not experienced a loss of your magnitude, but I can try and empathize with you. In February, I lost my cat of 18 years and I still have trouble with this. She went everywhere with me and slept on my pillow.

I saw your profile status - I am terribly sorry for your losses and I offer my condolences. I will definitely send some positive energy your way. I am so jealous you are sessioning with mZ soon - I won't get to see her until November.

Yes, his stories are hysterical! I'm dying up here because I can't seem to get time to get down to the Fortress - now shooting for November. Slowly killing me....

Lita Ford had a bunch of hits, but here's her cover of Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgTl_-T-hVI

Lastly, here's Kix's response to Lita and Ozzy's "Close My Eyes Forever":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcEu47mR43U

Thought you might like them...

OMG - Beautiful, intelligent, lead singer in a band and now OZZY FAN? You, Mistress Zhao, are a GOD!

DT is coming to NYC in October - are you going? Likely will either see them upstate in October or wait until they swing around again.

DUDE! I just went back to the gym after a week or two off - found out that one of our powerlifting teammates had a heart attack! Can't believe it! We were planning to enter our first contest in December together. Really sobers you up...

I do remember seeing a leggings, oversized shirts and large belts coming back a few years ago. Whoa! Pretty damn funny.

Vixen - Awesome! Maybe I should bring some Lita Ford to my next session !

GAK! First one got cut off - if this doesn't work, I'll stop trying:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQsTdmA6yiU&feature=BFa&list=PLB3B2C3A858F45750&lf=mh_lolz

Sorry, here's the second one. Love the rain in the first one!

Trying to clear my schedule for an October visit - need to feel the touch of your whip again!

Although I'm a metalhead, I still like the 80s and 90s. Showed these two videos to a coworker of mine - she got a huge laugh out of them (she used to dress the same way!). Thought you might find these funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQsTdmA6yiU&feature=mh_lolz&list=PLB3B2C3A858F45750

There's also some interesting stuff about pain, the brain and fMRI. I found some stuff, will post some soon. I think you should establish the "Fetish Fortress Institute for the Study of BDSM & Pain" - I'm sure you will have plenty of willing participants for any study you decide to put together !

I posted some stuff on the forum, not sure if you saw it (I can repost here if you want). Some really fascinating stuff with hormones that I never thought about before - there's actually some good papers on this stuff.

Glad you're feeling better! Maybe the FF is waiting for a doctor's note that you can go back to playing . Planning a trip in late October, really can't wait!

The contest was this past weekend. There were 56 teams. I came in 2nd in chicken (got a little trophy) and 24th in ribs. Did not do pork shoulder or brisket, but definitely have the BBQ fever! Can't wait to compete on the BBQ circuit next year (will do all 4 meats). Preparing for the hurricane too - good luck!

Hello Mistress Jung! I'm still looking around for some good pain stuff for you to read. Most of the books are about the psychology of chronic pain, which tends to be really boring and depressing. Haven't really found anything related to BDSM, but I'm sure it's out there if I keep looking. I will hunt this stuff down for you.

I hope you are doing well and made it to the first day of school. Hope therapy is going well for you. Have you done any smoking?

It sounds from Sean's original post that it was at the FF. It sounds like he's a bit better from his final post, but it's sucks a bit to see someone drop like that.