Devon Hunter

Wow, has another cycle passed already?? That must mean it’s been a great year (and it has)! There is so much I want to put here in this public space, but I just can’t yet; however, there is so much going on, and soon I can talk about it freely. In the meantime, for those of you who remember when I posted pics of my engagement ring last Yule, I want you to know that exactly a year later I now have the wedding ring that I’d always intended to match with it. AND IT’S GORGEOUS! OMG Yes, I do still plan to do the wedding to myself, and I have even chosen the theme for the event. I doubt Mom and Gramma can attend in person, so I am thinking that including them via Skype would be nice. I can record everything and put it on Youtube after the fact. At any rate, I am very excited about everything and very grateful, too.

Tomorrow I have some work to do, and then I go briefly visit family for the holidays, after which I will be going to Paris, France for a week for New Year’s. Won’t that be amazing?! OMG I love my life.

I was far more thorough and precise about recapping 2010, but I just don’t feel like doing that this time around. Suffice it to say that I exceeded all my financial goals, I have started working on the website I’ve been envisioning since the spring of 2009, and I’ve strengthened some personal bonds with some very wonderful people. I am happy. 2011 has been a magnificent year for me personally, professionally, and creatively. I hope that however 2011 treated you that 2012 will be better yet. Also, it’s Yule – the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year. This is when we celebrate the rebirth of the sun. Although the world is going to sleep, and the temperatures may drop, remember that from this point going forward the days are getting longer. If there is darkness in your life, meditate on the fact that the light is already returning. Have hope, and let this period of rest and planning be the preparation that allows you to leap forward into spring.

Happy holidays!

I haven’t been blogging much for a few months. I know that. And there’s  no reason, except that I just haven’t wanted to. Something happened a couple months ago, and I felt that I was tired of sharing. I think it was around the time of the Grabby’s. But, be that as it may, this weekend in Chicago has been very up and down, but it has ended on a very, very positive note. That is what I want to share.

To say that flakes and no-shows are discouraging/infuriating is an understatement; however, I did get to spend time with my friend J.P. Barnaby, I experienced the ENO platter at the Intercontinental Hotel, and I met Meghann. Last night was one of those nights where I felt like nothing I did was to any avail – it just wasn’t going to work out with this appointment, no matter how much I tried to be accommodating. That on top of my entire itinerary falling apart made for some frustration and self-doubt that I had to work against internalizing. I succeeded for the most part, and it’s because of the reminders that flashed up from time to time that everything is temporary. August, 2011 will shortly be in the books, and September will be so much better.

At any rate, when I finally gave up on this client it was nearly midnight. I was STARVING. We were supposed to meet at 11, he moved it to 9, then back to 11, then was an hour late, then at 11:45 said he wasn’t coming at all. I’d gotten ready at 8 pm, so four hours later I was bored, hungry, and irritated… and just about everything was closed. I was wandering around, trying to find some place that still served food, and then I saw it: TGI Friday. Oh, fuck my life… Really?? This is all there is?

Well, I’m glad I went in. TGI Friday likes to sell itself as being always in the festive Friday spirit. And, for me last night, it turned out to be exactly the encounter I needed. Meghann came over, and despite the late hour, was very kind and energetic. When she asked what I wanted to drink, I said, “Girl, it’s been a tough day.”

“Oh! Well… here is the drink list.” LOL Awesome. I selected a red wine, and the Michael Jackson song “I Wanna Be Where You Are” came on. Meghann saw how much I perked up to that. She went over to the juke box and said she had a surprise for me. I managed to find something healthy on the menu, and as I was jammin’ to Lady Gaga, Nirvana, and some other hits she peaked around the corner and said, “These next two are for you.”

OMG!!!

She set me up with “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and “Smooth Criminal.” No. She. Didn’t. YES SHE DID! LOL That was it. I was done. She came over and we had a nice time singing and laughing to the jamz. I showed her my mad skills, all while eating the broccoli that my superhero powers had transformed into chocolate (transubstantiation is just another of my mutant abilities), and we had a GOOD TIME. Just like Friday is supposed to be. And she did this specifically because she knew I needed it. That is so amazing to me.

So, if you are ever in Chicago, you simply must go to the TGI Friday in Magnificent Mile. Ask for Meghann. She is a beautiful person, and she will put some Friday in your life. Her willingness to play with me completely eradicated all that frustration and self-doubt. September will be better. Today is better. Last night was better. Thank you, Meghann!

This photo is from Fall 2008 - Sméagol is fluffy as always, but so am I! LOL I was in a weight gaining phase, and I hadn't gotten Lasik surgery yet either... Blast from the past!

Hey there, I have decided to check in quickly, because I have gotten several emails, texts, and other forms of communication all asking something along the lines of, “Are you okay? You haven’t blogged in weeks.” The short answer is that everything is absolutely great. There is nothing wrong at all. I have been quiet, because I haven’t had much of anything to say, and rather than simply put fluff on the blog I decided to wait until there was something meaningful to add. Recently there were about 70 tornadoes in one day here in North Carolina; however, they did most of their damage in the eastern part of the state, and those storms were not affecting me directly (I was in Washington, DC at the time). Yes, kitty is safe and sound. In fact, he is out on the patio watching the plants do whatever it is that plants do when only cats are around to see them do it.

With all that said, I do intend to start blogging again, and I will even be specific, so as not to cause any further concern. I have to go to Houston tomorrow for a couple days, then I have about 36 hours to myself, after which I will be in Charleston, SC for most of next week doing a 4-day appointment (and I will probably not have much access to the intrawebzes as a result). If I am out of touch next week, please do not take it personally. Once I get back from Charleston next Friday I have the evening to myself and then fly to Boston the next day for 24 hours to do one of the Overnights for Japan that I scheduled a few weeks ago. I will be back in Charlotte after that. So… I will not be blogging for the next 10 days or so; however, when I do start again on or about May 1 I have a 13-part series in mind that will be a fairly extensive handbook about practical issues in gay adult entertainment (with cross references to posts I have already published). I will address exotic dancing and video work (mostly through pre-existing links); however, the main focus will be on seeing clients in person.

Over the course of these few years I have written about 400 entries, and I am getting questions about topics I have already addressed, because the information is spread out all across the three years I have been blogging. This “online course” for gay adult entertainment will put a great deal of practical information, advice, and observations into one place and will include links to older entries where it is easier to simply provide the information that already exists. The series will be posted on the Favorites page permanently, and will also have a permanent link in the sidebar on each page. This will help keep the set readily accessible to those who want it. In the meantime, if you have questions about adult entertainment, please scroll down and click on the category link called “Career Advice.” It is unwieldy, but I will be working on facilitating accessibility when I resume writing.

Thanks very much to those of you who have voiced concern for me. I am flattered that you care enough to reach out. Please know that all is well, and I look forward to getting your messages and comments on the upcoming entries.

I have just received word from a reader in the UK who is sending in a donation through PayPal. When I receive her funds I will officially be at the $5,000 goal. I am so grateful to all of you for participating, and I think it’s wonderful that the human spirit can be so empathetic and compassionate. Bravo to you all! If you would like to see how this evolved, you can see An Overnight for Japan or An Overnight for Japan: An update. Please note that one of my donors may be able to get his company to match his own contribution, and if that happens you will all have helped me reach $7,000. Either way, I have an amazing group of people in my life, and I appreciate you all very much. xoxoxo

This brings my effort to a close.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH!!

Hello everyone! As the disaster recovery continues, I wanted to give an update as to what is happening thus far with my efforts to raise contributions to send for relief. I do this, so that I can be accountable, and so that I can perhaps encourage you to participate in the assistance effort in some way. In “An Overnight for Japan,” I set out to schedule an overnight appointment at a reduced rate, so that I could send $1,000 to the efforts in Sendai. In a short time I have decided to raise that goal to $5,000. The reasons for this are as follows:

• I have scheduled one overnight special for $1,000 which will also be matched by the client in question with another $1,000 ($2,000)
• I have received through PayPal donations from friends and clients who want to contribute, but who could not meet in person ($400 $500 $800)
• I am about to schedule a second overnight special ($1,000)
• I was just informed that a reader was 2 readers were moved to contribute on my behalf, one for $500 which was then matched with another $500 from his organization, the other 2 others for $100 each ($1,000 $1,100 $1,200)

Totaling all of these figures together gives a sum of $4,400 $4,500 $4,600 $4,700 $5,000. Please consider helping me collect the remaining $600 $500 $400 $300 $ZERO to reach this goal – you don’t have to send it to me. Just let me know if you send anything at all, and I will add it toward the tally.

I want to thank everyone who has been generous and kind enough to do this along with me, and I really do KNOW that these types of acts are rewarded (although this isn’t why they are done in the first place, and THAT makes them even more beautiful). I hope that the recovery in Japan continues, and that any further destruction can be avoided or minimized. With all gratitude, I embrace you. xoxoxo

SUCCESS!! Read about it here!