Sex Therapy

Sorry, it’s Thursday, and I don’t have an HNT for you today.

But for your amusement, we submit the following panel which we found to be rather diverting.

Take it, bitch!

Dev posted an interesting picture, cribbed from Male Submission Art that depicted an angel sodomizing Satan (or possibly another demon). That led to a discussion about the cultural perception that whoever is penetrated is somehow identified with submission.

The flip side of that perception, of course, is that whoever is doing the penetrating is in a position of dominance. A side issue is that nobody wants to be penetrated unless they have a reason to be submissive. Not surprisingly, these types of issues are often discussed in those groups in which people — men and women — have an interest in strap-on play, specifically, men who enjoy being penetrated by their women partners.

Take it, bi... er, cheerleader!

With that fresh in mind, I was startled by this picture from one of my new faves, Sociological Images. Apparently, fans of a Texas high school football team — that’s a high school, not college, mind you — had a small number of these shirts printed up to show their support of the home team against some long-standing rivals. Note that despite the blatant images of two stallions violating the cheerleader (because that’s what this, in context, most certainly represents), they chose not to make the shirt too offensive by abbreviating the word “Fucking” so as not to be too obvious.

We should all be proud of such sensitivity.

This picture pretty much sums up the “take it, bitch!” attitude that is so prevalent among the sexual hoi-polloi — and indeed, even among those who really should know better.

Recently I was watching some “reality” tv show (actually, Mrs. Edge was watching it while I was net surfing on the laptop), a scene with a groups of 20-something guys happened to catch my attention; they were identified as “players” and made comments about how they a) made a point to have sex with as many women as possible, and b) decided that women who gave in (i.e., decided to have sex) were no longer worthy of their respect. What kind of convoluted logic is that? More irritating is that these idiots talked about the women in terms of hunting and conquest, and not in terms of enjoyment.

But let’s take this a step farther.

Some people enjoy the subjugation aspect of BDSM play. I’ve read of women getting so wet that they actually drip their lubrication when they think about past or upcoming scenes. I’ve read about men who go weak in the knees when thinking about being forced to serve under cruel, dominating women. Some men — and some women — become sexually excited when told by their partner to “take it, bitch!” while being fucked; their turn on is their own subjugation and submission by someone more powerful.

And yes, this is fantasy, not real life. That should make it different, right?

Yeah, sure. But if you consider that fantasies play out in the context of the culture of the the partners, isn’t it possible that those of us who enjoy sexual subjugation can only do so when the concept of real subjugation is extant in society? That is, in a culture in which “Fuck you!” never had the connotation of penetrative violence, could such fantasies arise?

Tickle me …

If you live in the US, you have some great resources for buying adult products. I’m not talking about those crappy jelly things that they have at the local “Erotique Boutique” stores that are always on the outskirts of every city, usually in the manufacturing or meatpacking districts. No, I’m talking about the good toys that are engineered to give you years of pounding, pulsating pleasure. I’ve bought things from Blowfish, Extreme Restraints, and Stormy Leather, which was acquired last year by one of the best online resources for serious toy users, The Stockroom.

But if you’re on the other side of the pond, in the UK or thereabouts, you really don’t want to be bothered with the shipping costs and delays of buying from a US distributor, especially if you are a looking for chastity devices. Fortunately, I happen to know that Tickleberry specializes in chastity devices. Even better, I happen to know that Tickleberry has the hottest chastity device fetish photos in the known universe. I hate to admit this, but their galleries might even eclipse my own hawt chastity porn in terms of fetish hawtness.

No, don’t even say it.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter where you live – if you’ve got internet access, you can – should – check out the newly updated Tickleberry site. Not only is there a new line of products for the fetish consumer, but they have also added a very good series of articles on topics ranging from pegging to chastity devices to choosing a dildo.

And of course, they have an updated gallery for the chastity aficionados.

Tickleberry has distinguished themselves by using fetish models that don’t look like the typical 22 year old clones; they use models that are, well, uh, yeah, still pretty freakin’ hot, but also more real. The set features a man who is probably in his 50s, and women in their 40s. I’m looking at the site now, and I hope that I look that good when I’m 50. . . Oh, wait, I just turned 50 and I’m not quite that toned.

Damn.

Okay, maybe when I’m 51.

Tickleberry has also added what has to be the most tasteful set of advertising videos I’ve ever seen. The After Dark section has a set of videos featuring some their various products being used on the aforementioned real-looking models. They also have computer wallpaper, a photo caption contest, and a host of other great new things.

It was just a year ago that I last mentioned Tickleberry in a blog post about the introduction of the new CB-6000, and that post is still one of the more popular hits on this blog. Go check out their updated site – it’s a nice change from the typical adult product online sales model.

In case you were wondering, no, I’m not getting any consideration from Tickleberry for this. I am, however, hoping to entice Elizabeth, a.k.a. Lady Jester of Chastity-UK into doing an interview for The Edge of Vanilla.

I think I’m having a Sugasm

The best of this week’s blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #135? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.

This Week’s Picks
Tantra is work and a two way street
“Tantra is hard work and is not all light and orgasmic play.”

Nyotaimori
“She smiles wantonly, but says nothing.”

Submit
“But when you’re really attracted to someone, and part of that attraction is to their dominance, it almost gives you a second wind for pain.”

Mr. Sugasm Himself
Sugar Bank

Editor’s Choice
Discussing a lifestyle event with strangers

More Sugasm
Join the Sugasm

See also: Fleshbot’s Sex Blog Roundup each Tuesday and Friday.

Sex me

I was snagged tagged by Kimba.

This is Isabella’s Sex Meme. Anyone is welcome to steal it but you must post this rules blurb at the beginning of the meme: 1. You must include this link to Sex Talk: Sex Advice for Men 2. You must answer every question! If you don’t have a good answer, you are strongly encouraged to make up something good; we like to be entertained. 3. You must tag 3 people.

1. Sex in the Morning or Sex at Night?

Night. Mornings are nice for quickies, but I like long, slow, leisurely lovemaking in the evening.
2. Better Sex Music: Sade or Marvin Gaye?

Sade, most definitely. Gaye may be soulful, but Sade is very sensual. You know – like me!

3. Naughty Pics or Naughty Home Video?

Pics. Unless it’s video of me, of course!

4. Fabulous Sex With: Dr. Doug Ross or Dr. Greg House?

Umm, yeah. Look, how about if I go with another doctor from House? Dr. Allison Cameron.

5. Vibrator or Dildo?

Dildo. And I’m not just saying that because I’m the model for that one…

6. Bedroom Sex: Lights Off or Lights On?

On! I like to see what we’re doing, and I want to watch your face when you’re in the throes of passion.

7. Word preference: Pussy or Cunt?

Pussy when we’re having dinner. Cunt when we’re fucking our brains out.

8. Spanking Over the Knee or Spanking Only During Sex?

Why are so many questions “either/or”? Yeah, spanking during sex.

9. More Exciting: Sex in an Elevator or Sex in an Airplane?

Elevator. Look, don’t ask me to explain, okay?

10. Ron Jeremy or Peter North?

Eewwww. Can I pick Aria Giovanni, instead?

11. Word preference: Cock or Dick?

Cock, please. Dick is your ex-boyfriend, surname of “Head”.

12. Linda Lovelace or Jenna Jameson?

Jenna. Linda went all religious on us, poor thing.

13. Rope Bondage or Bondage Tape?

Damn. Rope or tape? Tape or rope? Gauurrggh! Despite to excellent fetish qualities of rope, tape just edges it out because of the techno points.

14. Give a Rim Job or Receive Anal Sex?

Depends – does she enjoy being rimmed?

15. Get Rich Stripping in a Skanky Bar or Get Rich as a Call Girl for Celebs?

Er… did I ever mention my brief stint as a male dancer? Based on that, I’d rather be a male escort, thank you very much.

16. Which threesome: Boy/Girl/Girl or Boy/Boy/Girl?

At the moment, I’d pick MFF, but I’m going to keep an open mind.

17. Flavored Oil or Tingling Oil?

Tingling. I’m not crazy about vanilla almond banana coconut mango roast beef scented oils when I’m trying to focus my senses on my partner.

18. Pearl Necklace or Swallow?

Giving or getting?

Hey, I really don’t get the whole “facial” thing. That is, I think that it’s supposed to be exciting because, you know, sex is “dirty” and all, but since I don’t consider it to be dirty, the appeal of displaying fluids doesn’t do anything for me.

19. Sex While Strangers Watch or Sex with a Stranger?

With a stranger. Preferably Aria or Allison

20. Tied to the Bed or Tied to a St. Andrew’s Cross?

Are you kidding me? Hell, I could get tied to a bed anytime. Or a futon. Or a home gym. Or a garage door. Or a Windsor chair. Or a bar stool. Or a small kitchen table. Or a waterbed. Or a sawhorse out in the garage. Or a …

Ah well. Let’s see if Gillette, Innocent Loverboy, and Marianne want to play!

Guess what I’m wearing?

Go ahead, guess.

Oh hell, this should have been a no-brainer for 90% of the regular visitors here. Yes, I’m wearing a new CB-6000. I’ve been wearing it off and on – mainly on – since Friday morning. I’ve needed to make quite a few adjustments in order to find a balance between comfort and security.

The picture here shows the CB-3000 on the left and the new CB-6000 on the right. The differences appear to be slight, but some of them are significant once you begin wearing them.

So far, I’m liking it, although I’m not totally loving it. I need a few more days to work out some issues before I post my own review on it. And after the review, I’m going to post a bit on modding the device. You know, for the gear-heads.

Rika does Vanilla!

Okay, here’s something that I rarely do – have a guest blogger here on The Edge of Vanilla.

Of course, I’ve never asked anyone before, either.

Anyway, long-time web surfers looking for femdom-related readings have no doubt stumbled across the Uniquely Rika web site, hosted by Ms. Rika, a non-pro dominatrix who runs an informational web forum and who has spent much of the last two decades counseling couples who have some interest in exploring female domination. She has a very simple, down-to-earth approach to D/s and her web site is laid out as a safe, easy-to-follow guide that reflects her own development over the last twenty years.

Believing that there was a need for a written guide that presents female domination in a safe way, and one that avoids the stereotypes commonly associated with domination – stereotypes that tend to turn women off to the idea – Ms. Rika recently published a book, “Uniquely Rika,” in order to bring the essential points of her web site to a wider audience.

From the Lulu Publishing web site:

This is NOT your typical D/s manual. Uniquely Rika provides a practical, intelligent, common-sense approach to adding / enhancing D/s in your relationship; with long-termed success. You’ll see how fulfilling the inner desire to serve or be served is within your reach – without having to mask yourself in artificial roles and games.

Ms. Rika explains why several popular approaches fail to last. She then details her approach to creating successful D/s relationships; one which has proven as effective with seasoned D/s players as with those who never thought themselves to be a ‘dominant’ or ‘submissive’.

Regardless of your experience level, Uniquely Rika will provide a new insight, a heightened awareness, and a fresh perspective on D/s that will enhance your relationships, forever. Though written from the ‘female-led’ perspective, the concepts are applicable to any loving partners.

If you’re serious about a lasting and meaningful D/s-based relationship, you’ll want to read “Uniquely Rika”.

Okay, enough with the jibber jabber. Ms. Rika agreed to be interviewed by the staff here at The Edge of Vanilla, and our diligent writers spent considerable time in researching in order to come up with questions a little more engaging than “What is your favorite color?” or “What is the average airspeed of a swallow?”

EoV: Self-styled femdom experts are all over the net. What’s your angle on this? Why listen to you, or in this case, read your book?

Ms. Rika: There is so much literature out there on D/s and BDSM, unfortunately, it’s mostly designed to sell to the male-centric fantasy of the whip-wielding, leather-clad, ego-centric bitch. As a fantasy, it’s not such a bad thing; I, too, enjoy the role-playing, dressing up, and scene-games from time time.

However, the problem arises when men who recognize an inner desire to submit mistakenly try to convert this fantasy into a full-time lifestyle, without regard to their partner’s personality. They turn to their wives or girlfriends and try to convince them to take on the role of Dominatrix. The problem is: their partners are seldomly whip-wielding, leather-clad, ego-centric bitches (if they were, the guy wouldn’t be the one initiating the lifestyle, would he?)!

Men need to identify their true inner needs. Do they want to serve a woman who recognizes her position of dominance? Or, would they rather just be ‘done’ while helpless to resist? The former serves the woman… the latter serves the man.

If a man has a true inner desire to serve – and to be subservient to – a woman who openly recognizes and accepts her position of dominance, then he needs to commit himself to learning how to submit to her unique desires and needs. He needs to be taught how to serve the unique woman who has accepted his service.

“Uniquely Rika” addresses this problem from both the male and female point of view. It discusses in depth why other approaches to D/s fail in the long run, and why they often leave the partners dissatisfied and resentful. It then takes a practical approach to creating a long-term dynamic that is layered on top of the relationship, one that works for both parties.

It works because it is rooted in the basic foundations of relationships and open communication of intent. It works because the unique needs and identities of both parties are addressed and preserved. There are no roles to play, no protocols to follow (we leave those concepts to playtime, where they still exist with all their glory!). In my perspective, D/s extends the relationship, it does not replace it.

The book provides a new and different look at D/s that I believe both experienced and novice D/s partners alike will find invaluable.

EoV: What kind of personal information would you like readers to know in order to make them feel comfortable with your style of domination? What works for you and your husband? What did not work for the both of you, and how did you resolve it?

Ms. Rika: When I first realized that I enjoyed dominating men, I was 12. It’s a long story which I’ve told online many times, but I realized having a male at my mercy excited me. I took on the roles and played the scenes. Still, I always felt a little empty. I always realized the men were getting what they wanted and I was judging my “success” on their reactions! It was all about what I did to him or made him do. It didn’t feel like I was the one being served.

Over our 20 years of marriage, my husband and I migrated from the fantasy-oriented, male-centric BDSM scenes to the more practical service-oriented, domme-centric lifestyle of D/s. Neither of us have ever been happier. Now, D/s is about what he does for me, not what I do to him. We judge the success of the D/s dynamic on how satisfied I am; and on how good a job he does in anticipating my needs and fulfilling them.

Sure, we still scene, but that’s playtime – a gift from me to him. “Uniquely Rika” spends a lot of time on gifts, and explains why playtime is so different than real time. It also addresses why gifts are different from – and better than – rewards.

EoV: You claim to be a lifestyle domme. Have you ever subbed? If so, what drew you back to the top side?

Ms Rika: I’ve not subbed for very long. I’ve done a few scenes which I didn’t enjoy. I’m defintely not submissive!

EoV: What made you decide to write a book? What’s different about your approach than we might read in some of the other books out there?

Ms. Rika: Over the past 15 years, I’ve been refining this approach. Starting back in the days of Compu$erve’s channel 12, through Yahoo Groups, and most recently my own forum (www.msrika.com) I’ve been learning what’s in and on the minds of submissive guys and dominant women around the world. I have been reshaping their minds for many, many years through common sense, irrefutable logic, and an empathy for their true inner needs. I felt the approach had matured enough to put it all together into a single reference; a reference sadly missing on today’s shelves. I wanted it to be out there, generally available!

EoV: Can you give some examples of situations in which you’ve helped others?

Ms. Rika: There are many couples who came to my forum; usually it’s the guy who tells me his wife can’t dominate him “correctly”. I just love that. It doesn’t take more than a short conversation to make him understand how what he’s asking for is for only himself; a very self-serving and selfishly motivated request hidden in mock-subservience. In most cases, we can delve into what he really needs at his core; sometimes it’s a “do me while I’m helpless” scene, but more often he really does want to submit and serve. When it’s the latter, I help them – sometimes over a period of a year or more – to learn to serve and self-discipline… and they are so much happier! It’s very rewarding for me.

The contact sometimes comes from a woman trying to become her husband’s fantasy domme. As I point out in “Uniquely Rika”, there is no way to keep up with a man’s fantasy; it’s an ever-escalating, ever-modulating, unachievable goal that will swallow up her identity and leave her very unsatisfied. I have to help her understand this, and that the key to happiness for both of them is for her to assume a truly dominant and confident role and openly accept his submission on her terms.

I go into detail on all of this in the book – there’s a lot to it.

EoV: Here’s a question that I think will be the most interesting to the male readers. What can a man do if his partner seems to be hopelessly vanilla?

Ms. Rika: Read “Uniquely Rika”! Seriously, there is nobody who is “hopelessly vanilla”. The battle for a successful D/s dynamic is not about teaching the woman to be a fantasy dominatrix, it’s about teaching the man how to serve the unique needs of his partner! Once the dynamic of service-oriented D/s is properly established, everything else falls into place. His actions towards her are based in his intent of service and she accepts them from a position of dominance.

This happens because they’ve openly communicated and accepted the intents of their actions. The roles and games of playtime become gifts for the man… gifts his partner can feel comfortable giving whenever she wants, because she knows she’s playing a game in the context of her own generosity.

And if she happens to be a closet whip-wielding, leather-clad, ego-centric bitch – he’s going to find that out very, very quickly! But the chances are that he’ll just be more satisfied than he could ever have imagined simply serving the needs of the woman he loves.

EoV: I see your site – and presumably your book- aimed at newbies or mainly-vanilla couples. Why do you believe that your book has something to offer experienced D/s players?

Ms. Rika: There are two reasons: one as it relates to the nature of service-oriented D/s and the second as it relates to the “male-centric” activities section of “Uniquely Rika”.

Firstly, the interesting thing about service-oriented D/s is that it doesn’t matter what the action is, the power exchange itself is the context in which all actions take place. Remember, the focus for the submissive guy is to learn to please his partner. If the dominant partner is most happy when torturing him, then it is his duty to learn how to suffer for her. If she is not into that, he must give her whatever else she needs and wants.

Even if it’s a seemingly non-kinky activity, the fact that it’s based in the power exchange and that he offers it with the intent to serve and that she accepts it from her position of dominance, it will be D/s-based and charged with the excitement of power-exchange activity!

Whether you’re a pure-service partner getting your clothes folded or a BDSM-aficionado enjoying the pain you’ve created for your sub, the power exchange is the same! The difference lies in the individual and unique likes and desires of the dominant partner. “Uniquely Rika” makes this clear – the concepts are suitable to all people regardless of the degree to which they are involved in traditional BDSM activities!

Secondly, “Uniquely Rika” covers gifts and playtime in depth. Topics that fall under this category tend to be more male-centric and include chastity devices, tease and denial, educational scenarios, a little bit on bondage, and a bit on post-orgasmic torture. I think that the fantasy-based players will find these topics both interesting and educational.

EoV: What is the average airspeed of a swallow?

Ms. Rika: Did you mean a European or African swallow?

Despite the fact that she considers chastity devices to be sex toys – a view which I can’t really dispute – I’ve always liked Rika’s approach. Back when Mrs. Edge took an interest in wanting to learn about the subject, Rika’s web site was one of the resources to which I pointed her. I also look in on the forums at her website, on which Ms Rika usually takes the time to reply to just about every question.

Her book is available at Lulu, and will shortly be available in the mainstream outlets (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.). Considering some of the books on female domination that have been published in the last few years, I’m sure that it will be a welcome edition addition to those who are looking for a safe and sane introduction to the lifestyle.

Ms. Rika, thank you for taking the time for this interview. The staff here at The Edge of Vanilla enjoyed working with you, and we wish you continued success.

Harnessed

My wrists strained against the velcro “luv cuffs” and the thick, cotton terry on which I was lying was warm on my back as my wife knelt between my legs and pushed the well-lubed dildo against my ass. The pain was dull, but short-lived as the large bloopy tip eased past my sphincter muscle. I winced slightly as each of the bloopy bumps passed through as she worked it back and forth, pausing once in a while to dribble more lube onto it. Finally, the muscle relaxed enough for her to edge closer to me and I drew a throaty breath as the rounded, upturned end pressed against my prostate.

This was the result of my sending my wife several emails that I had received from other chastity enthusiasts who had practiced some kind of milking. One of them struck me as being fuel for a very hot fantasy, and said, in part:

“Why remove a male’s chastity device to milk him? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to deny &/or control a male’s orgasmic pleasure by keeping his cock locked in a chastity device, while milking him? [...] My KH currently enjoys giving me my release via extended erotic strap-on sessions, and I have grown to love them. [...] There is just something extremely erotic in being totally helpless as she is sliding into me. [...] no further direct stimulation to the penis is required, the feeling of being filled by the dildo is enough. The orgasm is intense, but not like the feeling you get with direct contact.”

Her own response to me had been overwhelmingly – and surprisingly – positive; she wrote back…

“Wow, Tom this method sounds like an interesting idea to me, in fact I am
feeling aroused over this. Would we have to buy another dildo or is the one
we have ok? We will need to talk about this a bit more. I would love for
you to be able to experience another type of orgasm.”

… and tonight we were attempting it for the first time. She figured that after being denied for the last three months not only an orgasm, but even the usual involuntary release, that I would be more receptive to the enjoyment. Apparently she was right.

You lost the what?

Sooner or later, somebody is going to mention this, so I might as well be the one to comment on it.

An ER doc in the Northwest US wrote about his first experience with male chastity devices. As it happens, he had no idea that they even existed until a distraught man came into the ER and asked to have one removed.

It was made of steel and the lock was jammed. It was damned difficult to remove. Ring cutters are no good on steel, being made for soft metals. I have used rotating cutting tools before but they tend to heat up the metal too much. Bolt cutters are … imprecise and thus difficult to use in the genital region. Ultimately, though, it took our largest and strongest bolt cutters and a fair amount of lubricant to remove the offending device. The patient did not wish the device returned to him, and so after the entire staff had gazed at it in wonderment it was placed in the dirty utility room for disposal.

Knowing that the metal devices can cost upwards of $500, I was surprised that the man did not want it returned. But then, I have no idea if it was placed on there consensually.

Ah well. At least the poor doc didn’t have to remove anything weird from the guy’s rectum.

Tom Allen’s Chastity Blog

There’s a certain irony in that for the last year and a half that I’ve been blogging, the search engine hits on my blog that query for “chastity” or “orgasm denial” far outnumber the others by a wide margin, despite the fact that for the last year and a half I’ve hardly worn the chastity device for more than a few days, and any orgasm denial we’ve practiced have been incidental to the fact that we’ve hardly had any intercourse – partly as a result from several infections that I’ve gotten from trying to wear the device for more than a few days.

There’s another irony in that personally, I don’t particularly care for chastity blogs, or at least, what I’ve seen pass for chastity blogs. I mean, sure, it’s interesting – even hot – at first.

Day 1 – Mistress locked me into my CB. She’s now telling me when I’m going to be unlocked. I’m so excited!

Day 3 – I’m still locked. It’s been two days without coming. I dont’ know how long I can last!

Day 6 – Still locked. It’s been almost a week – I’ve never gone this long without coming before, I’m going crazy!

( . . . )

Day 10 – Still locked. No orgasms for me yet.

Day 16 – Still locked. I wonder if she lost the key.

( . . . )

Day 23 – Nope, didn’t get to come yet. Changed the batteries in the TV remote.

And this is not to disparage anyone’s experience in orgasm denial, certainly. After all, going without something as basic and pleasurable as an orgasm for a length of time is not easy, even for those of us with some practice. It’s just that, as with so many kinds of experiences, it is very interesting and intense only to those who are in the middle of it. Those of us watching from the sidelines are moderately interested, but at some point it just becomes boring. Hell, anyone can not have an orgasm, you know? Truth be told, a few years ago I tried keeping a journal, but after a few months it just seemed pointless.

What is more interesting, at least to me, is not the scorekeeping of how many days/ weeks/ months it’s been since being locked up or having a release or an orgasm, but what’s going on mentally, physically, and emotionally as you deal with things ranging from the mundane (how your is body adjusting to the device, how you are able to function with regard to hygiene, using toilets, wearing different types of clothing) to the more cerebral (does not coming make you think differently about sexuality, how you manage to cope with the denial) to the transformational (balancing the frustration of denial with the pleasure of pleasing one’s partner, coping with the long term effects, discovering emotional changes and reactions). I mean, the number of days can sound impressive, but at some point the numbers don’t mean anything; when Mrs. Edge and I first tried it out, we (and I say “we” because it involved the both of us) kept extending and extending the denial until it passed eight months. Much later we agreed that at some point it would become, well, pointless to treat it as a record to beat. After eight months, where do you go – a year? Two? No, at some point the numbers simply become statistics, but the stories of the emotional challenges are always different for each person.

That’s the kind of journal that I want to keep, because I think that nobody else is really interested in how many days I can wear a hunk of plastic; but I do think that some people might be interested in how I’m feeling after, say, several weeks of wearing a hunk of plastic, and then seeing how I compare those feelings after another period of time – if, indeed, there is another period of time, since the fact is that I have no idea how long it’s going to be. And that, in itself, is an interesting story, isn’t it?