Reflections on 2011

Last Chross Day of 2011, and I made the cut. Way to end the blogging year! Congratulations to all my fellow listees today.

This has been quite a year for me, with some amazing highs. First and foremost, I published a book. Not just any book -- my autobiography. It took a year-and-a-half to write it, and after that, the process of formatting and pulling it all together for publishing began. With the help of a talented photographer and the uber-talented Zelle, I got a spectacular cover. In August, it officially went on sale.

The feedback has been beyond gratifying. To everyone who has purchased it, reviewed it, commented about it, written to me about it... thank you. So far on Amazon, I have sixteen 5-star reviews, and I have a collection of heartfelt private messages that I treasure. And shooting the promo video with Richard Windsor was great fun.

Other experiences this year: Last January, I flew to Connecticut to work with Sarah Gregory and "Tubaman" Paul for a few days. That was unforgettable; not just the shoots themselves, but hanging out with them, the house we stayed in (complete with two dogs), the snowstorm, the laughs. Such a blast!

Spanking Court came into my life this year as well. Again, it wasn't just about the shoots -- I met a group of wonderful people who were all so very kind to me, told me I was a joy to work with. I'm not the easiest person in the world to get along with, but when I'm with people I like, my hard edges soften and my fun side emerges. They have moved from Hollywood to Northern CA, which saddens me, but who knows what 2012 will bring. They have lots of plans for new content and I hope there will be a place for me in them.

This time last year, John was recovering from a strep infection in his blood that nearly killed him. He has since gained back all the weight he lost and his physique is the best it's been since I've known him. Fifteen years plus, and I still can't take my eyes off him. :-) He has been healthy all year and I am so, SO very grateful for that. Neither one of us is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems we are perfect for each other.

He still thinks I'm beautiful, no matter how old I get. Last night when he called, he said, "I'd like to speak to the cutest girl in the world, please." Of course, I had to be a smart-ass and reply, "I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number," but it still gave me a big smile and warm fuzzies.

I had a fabulous year with ST, the top formerly known as New Guy. Week after week, we've had amazing scenes, but more than that, we have a close friendship that means a great deal to me. He's a special guy and I'm very lucky to know him. Here's to 2012 and lots more fun (and maybe some more videos!).

Of course, what goes up, must come down, and there have been some spectacular lows, some hurts and losses. I'd rather not dwell on those, however. They'll just start the waterworks going again, and really, I'm so fucking sick of tears. Overall, no one died, I have no work but I have money in the bank, I have a home I love, I have friends, I have John. If I were to make any resolution for the New Year (and I avoid them, as I don't believe in changes being dictated by a date on the calendar), it would be to try to focus a little bit more on the positives. Easier said than done, given my naturally pessimistic nature, but I'd like to try.

No big plans for New Year's Eve. Last year, John's next-door neighbor had one of his huge, noisy blow-outs that went all night, so I'm hoping that won't be the case again this weekend, but if it is, it is. At least I don't have to live next door to the guy; I can put up with him for one night. We will most likely see a movie and have a nice dinner out, and he has champagne waiting in the fridge for midnight.

I hope everyone will have a safe and happy New Year's Eve. May 2012 be a good year for us all. Thank you for visiting my little corner of the spanking blogosphere and I hope you'll keep returning. ♥

Greetings in 2011

Happy New Year, everyone. As you know, January 2 is one of my favorite days, because it signifies the end of all this holiday sh...er, nonsense for another year. :-Þ  Did everyone have a nice Eve? Any resolutions? I do not make them, myself. I used to. Especially when I was in my 20s and still a virgin. I remember writing in my journal every freaking December 31: "Goal for 19XX: Get laid." Well, it seemed of utmost importance at the time.

I vaguely recall my father, back in the day, sneeringly referring to New Year's Eve as "amateur night." I guess I could see where he was coming from; the folks who used a calendar date once a year to get plastered must have looked silly to hard-partying sorts like my dad and his cronies who did that every weekend. Who would have thought his daughter would turn out to be such a lightweight! Well, at least I stayed awake until midnight, which is more than I could say for John.

As I drove up the winding canyon road to his house, I kept seeing signs tacked onto trees, with "NYE Party" and arrows drawn on them. I saw at least a half-dozen of those and thought, "Wow, someone's having a blowout." Then I reached John's... and saw that the blowout was next door. (groan) When John's neighbor has a party, it's like being next door to a rave. Oh well. So much for a peaceful evening!

We made the best of it -- went out for a nice dinner, came home and lit a fire. I'd brought a movie, but John fell asleep on the couch around 10, so I put the DVD aside and channel-surfed. I don't really like the NYE specials. I mean, how many more years are they going to resurrect poor old Dick Clark from the dead, prop him up in a chair and have him slur the countdown to midnight? So I surfed around for a while and then Eureka! Twilight Zone marathon!

Yes, folks. You know you're getting up there when you spend New Year's Eve watching a marathon of a show that's as old as you are. And extra geek points for actually being jazzed when you see an episode you've never seen before. I mean, that so rarely happens!

So anyway, after watching the kid talk to his dead grandma on a toy telephone and people in a diner accuse each other of being Martians and that poor nervous wreck of a woman running into a creepy hitchhiker everywhere she goes, it was nearly midnight, so I woke John and he went and opened our champagne. That part was quite lovely. :-) I was with the man I love more than anyone else in the world, and he was well. A bit lumpy and itchy, and not out of the woods, but very much alive.

We drank our champagne and stayed up watching TV until nearly 2:00 a.m., putting off the inevitable (trying to sleep with the racket next door). They kept it up until 4:30. But Saturday was blissfully, blessedly quiet. Not one peep from the neighbor -- even his dogs didn't bark. :-) They probably knew they'd split his head wide open if they did.

So it was a nice weekend. The only part that made me a bit sad was when I called my mother to wish her happy New Year. "Oh, I'm so glad you called," she said. "I've been so worried about the kids. Do you know what's happening with everyone, have you heard anything from Erica, from Kenneth?" "Mom, I'm Erica." "Oh, you're Erica! That's great... I'm so happy to hear that. What about the others... how is Ken?"

Ken... my brother. The one who's been dead since 1972. Oh, Mom.

"Mom, Ken's gone." "Oh, I'm all mixed up. Who else? Aren't there other children -- isn't there a baby? Who am I missing?" "No one, Mom. It's just me." "Just you? And you're OK?" "Yeah, Mom, I'm fine." "Oh well, that's wonderful then."

(sigh)

Enough of that. The year ended on a good note. On the 30th, I even got some surprise year-end residual checks from my father's work, which more than made up for having nearly no work the past couple of months.

Thanks, Dad. Still looking out for me, aren't you.

New episode of Desperate Housewives tonight, and first spanking of 2011 tomorrow! :-D  See? Contrary to popular belief, I'm really not all that hard to please.

Correspondence Hall of Shame, 12/31

Happy New Year edition! :-)

Haven't had one of these for a while, but I figured, what better way to close out 2010 than to give a few idiots a proper sendoff?

That’s one great ass you have there Erica. You look PHENOMENAL for 53!

Oh, now I'm PHENOMENAL. I suppose at 54, I'll be MIRACULOUS, and by 55, I'll be OTHER-WORLDLY. (rolling eyes)

hey sex you have a nice ass i would spank you all nite

Whatever. Mind if I sleep while you're doing that?

I could totally eat that ass!

Don't be ridiculous. What would I sit on if you did that?

that is a sweet lil’ ass. :) i’d enjoy making it red… and watching you drip from the sting.

Honey, it's not the sting that makes me drip, it's the man administering it. And in your case, I'd be the Sahara desert.

You can be my slut anytime, sweetmeat.

Wow, I can? Really? Cool! And you can go blow yourself anytime, mincemeat.

And finally, this edition's gem (and since when are subby boys so utterly filthy?):

I am 44 years old white guy want to be your slave [phone number] sex slave Xxxx I live in Hollywood zip code xxxxx with me you can do whatever I like when I was beaten and humiliated. You can piss my mouth, you can beat my eggs can have my ass hole, I suck dick and I lick pussy

OK, I'll play Domme for a few minutes. Here's your order: Go write "I will not send such unsolicited filth to a woman ever again" 100 times. And I mean write, not type. With a pen. In your toes.

Enough of this nonsense. On a serious note, another year is about to conclude. It was one of great highs and lows and everything in between. The lowest point was John's illness and all its complications and stresses. The high point? I met a wonderful new friend and play partner who provided fun, laughs and stress release. Life has a way of providing checks and balances sometimes. I only hope I've given him even half as much joy as he's given me.

And for tonight, I will be with my sweetheart. We'll have champagne and put the last few months behind us, start 2011 fresh with a kiss. I don't know what the future will bring regarding his health, but for tonight, we're putting it all aside and celebrating the moment.

To all my friends and readers, Happy New Year. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I wish you joy, health and serenity. xoxox