The Lesbian Lifestyle

TLL Adult Review: Iconic Bullet

Carnivalesq — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:24:59 +0000

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Thank you, Babeland, for the opportunity to review the Jimmyjane Iconic Bullet. You probably know the kind of thing I’m talking about. You know the tiny cordless bullet vibes that have been around forever? If you’ve ever set foot in a sex toy shop, there’s likely a little display of cheap ones up at the register. Usually, they’re one speed, and they always take three watch batteries. They’re waterproof, discreet, and easy to keep in a purse. I see you nodding your head. You know what I mean. Jimmyjane has done their own slightly upgraded take on the three big sex toy icons, the highly recognizable classic bullet vibe, the slimline vibe, and the rabbit vibrator, and I’m here today to talk to you about the itty bitty bullet.

Unlike many bullet vibrators, this one has three speeds, low, medium and high. The batteries are included, however you should ALWAYS take them out between uses. I did not do so (shame on me) and the batteries died after one use. I replaced them and was good the next time and took them out, and they lasted probably an hour and a half running time, give or take a bit. It’s made of ABS plastic with a shiny smooth finish, which I recently discovered is actually quite hygienic. However, the rubbery bit that makes it waterproof is likely porous, and therefore if you’re trying to play it safe, buy a spare if you think you’ll need to share. Like all Jimmyjane products, this has a one year limited warranty, which is awesome if you ask me. This did get me off, surprisingly enough, (I usually need more oomph in a vibrator) but I was watching the delectable Sasha Grey, so that may have played some small role in the matter.

Do I recommend the Iconic Bullet? Sort of. Some people don’t mind the bitty batteries and prefer their vibrators to be crazy small so they can be tucked in a purse discreetly. So for you folks who want your buzz in a tiny size, this is a very good option. However, if you’re just looking for an easy beginner vibrator, this is gonna be a pain when it comes to batteries, so I’d go with this Pocket Rocket style vibrator branded by Babeland. It takes one AA and will pack more punch than the smaller Iconic Bullet.Similar Posts:

I Want Some Stories

Guest Post — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:03:05 +0000

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I’m still in the closet. Well. Kinda. I’m out to some people. The ones who are closest to me. Three straight friends and one uber gay best friend boy know. But it’s not enough for me. I want/need more. I’d love to ease my way into the GLBT community but there isn’t one where I live. There’s one gay bar and even if I wanted to I couldn’t go. My parents are strict with what I do and where I go. Because of this I don’t really trust my parents. I know the love me and all that jazz but, we’re religious. Not in the “God hates fags” way, but for crying out loud there are three pastors in my family. I myself am spiritual. I’m also black btw. Which adds on another factor. The extended part of my family is who I’m nervous about. I just want to know if there are other people out there in this kind of situation.

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TLL Adult Review: Truth or Dare

Carnivalesq — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:55:06 +0000

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Thank you to Good Vibes for the Truth or Dare Game, which is a sexy twist on a game that is usually played without a physical game in a box. Do you remember playing Truth or Dare? Well then, by all means, tell me how that was, because I sure as hell don’t. I was not cool enough to be invited anywhere where anything like this was going down. Even if you were cool, I’ll bet this is nothing like the Truth or Dare you remember. This one comes in an adorable red criss-cross box and has little ribbon-pulls to open the box and lift the cards out. There are 50 Truth cards, 50 Dare cards, and a die that allows you to roll for “Truth,” “Dare,” and “Wild.” There are rules on the lid.

The Suggested Rules (to follow or flout as you please)

Now that you have a willing partner and you’re ready to play, decide who will go first. Be daring! Volunteer! Roll the die. If it lands on Truth or Dare, pick a card from the appropriate stack and read it aloud. Then, take a deep breath, and answer the questions on the Truth or perform the Dare.
If the die lands on Wild, take a moment to savor your power. Now, choose either a Truth or Dare card. You can perform the card’s command yourself, order your partner to perform it, or pass.
If you are uncomfortable answering a Truth, remember that a little humor goes a long way. Truth or Dare is meant to be fun as well as enlightening.
If you spent the rest of the night exploring one Dare, not to worry–there’s much more to look forward to next time!

You could put all kinds of interesting spins on it, like you can choose not to answer/do the dare, but then you have to remove an item of clothing… you know, make it Strip Truth or Dare. If you had a group, you could play in the round and pick a card and then pick a person to do/answer the card’s contents. You could even just pick up a dare randomly, every now and then when things get boring in the bedroom. The sky is the limit.

You can also decide to pitch these rules out the window and play it sort of as you normally would: ask your partner to choose truth or dare, and then draw the appropriate card and read it to them, and then they must either tell the truth or do the dare accordingly.

How creative/good/fun is it?

The questions and suggestions are really cool, actually. The Truth questions are really thought provoking and creative. Some are better than others, and people in a long term relationship may already know some of your partner’s responses, such as to this question: “Which of your bedroom techniques are you most proud of? Why is this a particular source of pride?” However, you might not know the answer, and in that case now is a good time to learn! The game does have plenty of Truth questions that are not about knowing what your partner prefers, but get you thinking creatively and are more along the lines of: “What comic book superpower would be most useful to you in pleasuring your partner? Describe how you would use it.” I approve of any game that forces me to imagine superhero sex.

The Dares are fun too. One of my favorites is: “After selecting a racy adult movie, play a random segment with the sound down. While the movie plays, create your own sound effects and impromptu dialogue, playing all the characters.” Oh hell, yeah. It’s like Who’s Line Is It Anyway, but for porn. Or look at this one: “Role Play: Cast yourself in the role of the sexy stranger. You notice each other as your pass. Carpe diem! Seize the moment and make a brave proposition.” I like this, because I have the damndest luck trying to get my partners to role play with me, and worse luck actually fucking a stranger. I think this would be an easy way to playfully introduce the idea of role playing.

Some of the Dares really annoy me, like this one: “Call a 1-800 customer service line for a mattress or bed retailer. Ask them if they can give advice to help modify a bed frame for ’special attachments.’ Become increasingly explicit as the phone conversation progresses.” Folks, think about what you’re going to do. People at work don’t generally want to be included in your sex games, so please respect that. I personally am so tired of people calling my porn store to ask if we have dildos/Real Dolls/porn films. You have no idea.

Who will like this (and who won’t)?

People who aren’t going to get a lot out of this game are people who have never had sex at all. I would not be losing my V-Card in conjunction with this game.

The game would be best suited to two individuals in a relatively new relationship who have had sex together previously and are looking for a fun way to explore kinkier, wilder things in a safe, playful way.

It would be a fun gift for a long term partner, or for a friend who has a new or long term partner. It would also be a fun thing to bring to a group gathering of people who might be inclined to be getting into the play party scene (polyamorous folks), as sexy ice breakers. I think if the poly scene was your bag, this game could be a riot.

Head on over to Good Vibes and pick up your own Truth or Dare Game (I dare you) for yourself and your partner to play now, or for a gift for someone who could use a few ideas on how to shake things up and get away from the ’same old.’Similar Posts:

In Miami

Sandra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:56:51 +0000

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There is a place in Miami where you can get American Processed Cheese Food for pennies per pre-wrapped slice. Imagine my surprise and gratitude the day I discovered this. Surprise as Abuelo casually shuffled the tepidly chilled slices in the cold food case with deft fingers, dropping slice on slice till he reached my desired 1/4 pound request. Gratitude that thankfully, I was not the first to make such a demand on his time. Time I can only imagine could be filled playing dominos while reminiscing about days that would have never left their history in my blood or dared to course through my veins. So that in the silence that hobbled together English or broken dreams bring, Abuelo handed over my parcel, taking time to stare at me through hollow semi-glazed Cuban cafecito eyes. Never seeing me nor marking my existence in this life, however brief; though his quick retreat back behind the cold case, ready to serve no other patrons at that moment but me, signaled his notion that, It is hard times for us all Mija.

Papery cast-off onion skins, dried salt fish, thawing chicken leg quarters, mottled sour orange, bagged star anise, boniato and ripe-too-long bananas lend each other their scents, shake hands fiercely, hurl common insults to one another and greet you at the door. The very same that had it belonged to a chain of stores say, would have been fully automatic and in functioning order. Instead, this door, hangs dejectedly on its hinges, while remaining propped open with a wad of old store flyers or maybe even a rock.

The first time I entered into this Saturday morning market day place, I fully expected to see free range chickens, if not a baby goat running loose. Though it is inside of doors and I am sure the air conditioner would work, if they would have just turned it on. But they didn’t. Not that day or for many of the other days I made my way through their aisles. Aisles that seemed to have no particular rhyme nor reason, order or concern that there was soap next to cereal next to canned items though the over-head aisle marker said that pet food and bug spray were supposed to be there, even though there wasn’t any that I could find.

I simultaneously loved and hated that place in the way that my last four dollars were able to buy a loaf of bread, 1/4 pound cold case sliced turkey, 1/4 pound pre-wrapped cheese slices, 2 25¢ bags of chips and a two-liter Sprite-like soda. Hated that this, was the only place left where I was able to spend those last four dollars. And I knew there would be more money to come, I knew there would be a check in the mail, on its way to me, with about a years worth of salary typed on it. My prize, my retirement come to usher me into a new Life. But that would come later. Right now?, my hope began to wane under the taunting of hunger and silence, those Devil’s Advocates and the embarrassment that I had four dollars left and that this, was how and where I would spend it.

This was also the place I remembered my Mother the most. I saw her face in the faces of those other Haitian women. The ones who wrapped their heads in dire cotton scarves and pulled a hat over it all, like no one would notice or see. Though my own Mother, never left the house without her hair at least in a ponytail. Those women who carried their purses in the crook of their arms and expertly maneuvered the shopping cart with their free hand, while eyeing the produce with suspicion. Though my own Mother, seemed to approach the produce with a vengeance, determined to make the pile of fruit or vegetables give up only their best to her. I saw my mother in the bags of finely ground cornmeal used to make la bouye, in the speckly red-brown boniato she would boil during winter and serve with warm milk and sugar. I smelled her in the busted plastic bottle of Florida water that she would use for spring cleaning; in the hurricane candles, brightly sitting in their tall glass containers, waiting on the shelf to be bought for lighting during a storm or maybe in prayer to a saint. That place haunted me with pieces of my Mother.

Upon returning home, I would always feel at a loss, like I left something behind, like I needed to go back and pick up one something more. Once more to that place and I would peer in the watercress maybe, in the carrots, in the celery, the malanga, red skinned potatoes, onions, stew beef, the Maggi seasoning, hoping maybe the sweet boniato would bring it together for me. Once home again, stirring and slicing, peeling and browning – all would bob up and down, nodding recognition like long lost neighbors in the big pot, half filled with water, a bit of salt, some tears, a pinch of regret and maybe, if I could find it, love. As the smells mingled and hurtled shouts to one another in the bubbling boiling pot, I found the history of my Haitian people in my veins, the roiling unsettled nature of a people in revolt. A revolt I managed to stage every time I left my house or opened my mouth in opposition. I saw the stories of my Mother and her growings up take shape in the fierce steam rising above the pot. Heard those unspoken words of my Mother whispering to me from the tear-salt broth.

And for the first time since leaving behind the security that my life had amassed in the past ten years, I felt okay… I was okay.

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Left Behind (Finished for Now)

Sandra — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:55:46 +0000

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Not in that same place-

the barefoot on wet shower floor space
the dry heaving, chest collapsing place
not that half sleep/stumbling pace

Not from that place

where these lips crack
from neglect and under/use
where this brow furrows
from deep incandescent
soul searching truths
where thieves take from pockets
unearned souf (breath)

not in that place

of broken-words
and broken-ness
and un-done seams
in broken dreams

not from that place…

where I laid

naked

in those wilderness parts
frail hands my only guards
against the elements
against the malcontent
within this heart…

…that I gave

under the absence of pretense
without the guise of
repentant lies

I gave

the cradle
where my soul sleeps
the moments
between my heart beats
the womb
where my children speak

in a word: all of meSimilar Posts: