Nathalie L

I'm available for fully interactive duos with Alexandra Sky.

I have a few favorite songs... 1) Ballad of Humankindness by The Dears 2) Buttons by Sia 3) Crystalized by The XX

Really interesting post WiT - I had no idea they had something like this on the market. Thanks for sharing!

Firstly, I definitely don't think you're expecting too much. It's commendable that you know and state your desires clearly... only then can someone respond to them accurately! I feel the same as Samantha. It's really nice to chat back and forth either via e-mail or chat to get to know the other person better and create chemistry. It seems, however, that you've done that! It's unfortunate you had such a negative experience. I think there is solace to be found in recognizing that this sort of things happens in a minority of cases... Good luck!

It's also really important not to generalize your past experiences onto people who had nothing to do with that situation though. As much as seeing a therapist would help, I think it's equally important to give your friends who did not betray you the benefit of the doubt. It's unfair to homogenize all of your friends, or to assume that because one betrayed you, the others will as well. Therapy is an amazing tool though. Just make sure you shop around for a therapist! They all have different approaches and it can be hard to find one that suits you, your needs, and your philosophy.

I think I would move to Italy - "Under the Tuscan Sun" style.

I think my initial reaction would be one of shock, with perhaps a hint of anxiety. As a student and young professional, the circles I tend to travel in wouldn't have a problem with me being an escort, nor seeing one. I can imagine a few situations where it would effect me negatively, or just be awkward in general. I think I would either have a conversation with them about boundaries (I obviously wouldn't want them to tell anyone because that would be disempowering for me, and would potentially have legal consequences...) and/or I would try and take it in stride and laugh it off? Nothing like saying "well holy fucking shit eh? Isn't the world a small place?" Just my two cents ;)

It was awesome to meet everyone! Thank you so much for putting this on!

Another option would be to have her rent space from another SP for the length of her appointment (some SPs charge anywhere from 20-60$ an hour for this). Or for her to ask a friend if she can work for a short period of time out of their place. However, this is somewhat risky for both parties involved if she is not careful. Not all SPs are comfortable with this, so she would have to contact someone or ask someone via the SP Only Section of the website. Good luck!

I definitely get pre-date jitters as well. I'm nervously excited, but often I'm not too worried about my safety (I trust my screening method and know that bad dates are a very small minority of the clients SPs/MAs see). I wonder about how my date will kiss, taste, how they will feel against me... I wonder if we'll get along, and how the conversation will flow (what if I don't have anything to say? what if it's awkward?) I find it exciting not to know who I'm going to open the door too. Of course I get a good impression of who they are as a person via chat, PM, or e-mail, but there's something about finally seeing them face-to-face that I find really tantalizing!

Happy birthday!!!

I recently went home to Quebec City for the week, and while eating dinner with family members, my uncle mentioned seeing a sex worker while he was in Cuba (he used the term 'prostitute', of course). The tone of the conversation was light, and many family members were teasing him because he was intoxicated when he saw her. His intoxication resulted in him penetrating her anally without her consent. The situation was 'funny' because he didn't understand why he smelled like shit until getting back to the hotel. It is small solace to know that she stole all his stuff afterward (a small act of resistance that makes me hope she's ok). I was extremely upset at the candid nature with which my family blatantly accepted this series of events. Their tacit complicity was rather revolting and yet, I'm not willing to say they're 'bad people'. There are way too many factors to take into consideration when trying to understand why something like this is 'celebrated'. There are many differences (many) between sex work in Canada, and sex tourism (although I'm not willing to hierarchasize one as 'more' emancipated than the other). People need to take into consideration things like the global political economy that enables these kinds of environments in the first place, the World Bank, and IMF (and their loaning policies), state complicity in the promotion of sex tourism, patriarchy/misogyny in 'home' states, the fetishization/eroticization of the sexual 'other', racism, a disregard for the lives of certain 'types' of people ('prostitutes' and people of colour, for example) Like I said in a different post (http://www.cerb.ca/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=219900#post219900), I'm not willing to say women have no sexual agency, even under conditions of extreme poverty and exploitation. Although I'm not expecting people to admit to engaging in sex tourism (especially after I framed it so negatively by bringing up my recent encounter with it), I wonder what people think about the differences between sex tourism and seeing an escort locally. Please comment on anything I've mentioned that peaks your interest. All of these issues are really important in my opinion.

Natalie Portman, for sure.

Like Megan, I identify as a feminist as well. To put it somewhat crudely, there are pro-sex/choice feminists (often 3rd wave feminists) and radical/cultural feminists (often 2nd wave feminists). Pro-sex/choice feminists believe that women always exercise a certain amount of agency, even under patriarchy. Radical/cultural feminists, on the other hand, believe that no woman can consent to partaking in pornography, the sex trade, or any form of labor that commodifies her body because it is happening under a patriarchal system that's 'inherently' exploitative. Even under extreme circumstances, I find it difficult to swallow that women never have a 'choice'. I think all labor under capitalism is exploitative; however, I would feel much more exploited working at McDick's then working as an escort. Just saying.

I have a really bad relationship with my biological father. But I always trust myself in the present moment to do what's best for me... so I wouldn't see them as regrets, or as opportunities lost necessarily, but more as doing what's best for us (right now). If later we want to develop a relationship and the opportunity is gone, then we can mourn that (but mourn that at a later date) and not right now... I sometimes look back, but rarely with regret, I trust the me I was 2-3 years ago, and know 'she' did what was best for her too ;) Also, thanks Boomer. Your post was beautiful, and brought an issue to the thread I once again hadn't thought about. So far, I'm really enjoying where the conversation/thread is going.

hahah! I do yoga 4-5 times a week and..well..yes ;). Most girls go commando in their yoga pants and it's pretty intense! Especially during their inversions... I can't help but stare sometimes!

That moment when you realize you would be ok living on your own is really powerful. You feel free, and suddenly, comfortable with the idea of 'alone'/'lonely' ("if your heart is bleeding make the best of it"). I had that moment about a year ago. Not in the context of a divorce, but in the context of realizing that the person I loved and cherished the most in the world wasn't worth disrespecting myself over! The greatest love is the love we have for ourselves...

Mhm... those situations make me ponder quite a bit. Texting, facebooking, IMing... it seems to stem from two things: 1) impatience and 2) an inability to be still in the present moment. Sometimes I catch myself when I'm about to text someone, and I ask myself whether they 'actually' need to know whatever I'm going to text them. "Is it vital they know this right now?" I'll ask myself. "How much of my desire to text them is stemming from impatience?" Especially when I know I'll be hanging out with them in a few hours!

I know the feeling! There's a societal expectation to be constantly connected to everyone, and when we actively avoid doing that, people get worried, think you've died, think you're weird... I think it's really important to be selfish. Ultimately, no one has your best interests at heart but yourself and you'll be more available to people if you take care of yourself first.

How do you value your a(lone) time? How do you feel about being alone and/or lonely? How do you feel about the attachment we have to our cell phones, laptops, and ipods? I feel like we're constantly connected to something that may/may not be real. I feel like this 'connection' (virtual or otherwise) might infringe on our abilities to connect with people that are right in front of us. For example, I really miss just sitting on the bus and smiling at people. Being completely and utterly receptive to the present moment. I miss the time when it was more acceptable to start a random conversation with someone, before we all started hanging out with our cell phones. This is a really cool video that might inspire the thread - have fun with your responses:

Ah...such a scary notion [a conservative majority that is]. They don't know what the youth vote will be though (if there is one). Most youths have cell phones and aren't part of the polls...

bwhahah. Hilarious. Alright... I'll exercise my free speech as well and provide random tidbits of information about myself. 1. I used to chew my nails, and then I got a really nasty nail infection and had my nail operated on... suffice it to say, I don't chew on them anymore 2. I have never experienced having a shaved pussy - the thought kind of scares me? 3. I love chocolate and eat nutella daily 4. I drink Irish Breakfast tea every morning 5. I wear glasses, but most people see me with contacts 6. I have anime posters in my room - and I'm proud of it 7. I play nintendo 8. I hate thongs That's all for now lol

Thank you so much for posting this information. Like WrinkledInTime said, this isn't an election issue and it's therefore important we seek this information ourselves. I take issue with the idea that sex workers are citizens and therefore deserving of rights, but that these rights need to be 'balanced' with "the communities where prostitution happens". The public has often heard of prostitution 'sweeps' - as if sex workers are somehow 'dirty' and/or 'unclean'. This places blame on sex workers for urban decay when, in actuality, if the government subsidized areas (so rent was affordable), took care of parks, and invested more money into public property then urban 'uncleanliness' wouldn't be a problem! This issue is entirely related to real-estate costs, and making a buck on the backs of those who are disenfranchised and marginalized in society. Also, who is the 'deserving' sex worker of rights? What's his/her race, age, nationality, citizenship? Is the deserving sex worker a private one, who works indoors and therefore isn't seen? How much of this has to do with quasi-public sex, and general angst over public sex. Oh yes, the children! Of course, the children... Why do people always bring up the children? "But what about the children" they say "It will damage the children to expose them to 'sex'" another will chime in Sounds like a bit of a moral panic to me. In order to see quasi-public sex one needs to be looking for it. I agree with the leaders who mention there needs to be a debate. Hopefully it will be a nuanced and informed one...but somehow...I doubt it.