Houston gathering...you guys missed out!

Ok, aside from the NEST's I've been to, that was the best, most friendly, most open, most relaxed gathering I've ever been to. There was tickling happening pretty much the entire time along with lots of food and casual conversation. There were also people there from The Violet Society, a very open and friendly section of HPEP (Houston People Exchanging Power). Ticklers and non-ticklers alike got along VERY well and treated each other with respect. There were tickle scenes along with bdsm scenes and many professional doms and mistresses were there. My thanks to Big Daddy for graciously letting us use his house for the event. Also, thanks to Oddjobtk, Bugman, Saeria, Ken, Nikki and Storyteller from the forum for attending. It was a blast!

Reading the names of those who attended, I am not at all surprised that it was a great party. Congrats. Congrats and may you have many more!!!!!

Thanks for starting this thread alchemy.I also want to give a shout out to Big Daddy for invinting me into his home and for the great bbq.I also met a bunch of intresting people.A personal aside to Big Daddy.Sorry i had to duck out without saying a personal thanks to you.You were rather busy at the time and i didn't want to break up your scene.I hope to see you all again soon.

anyone who gets to meet buggy is super lucky..i'm glad you all had a great time..o and oddjob also...and alchemy..heck it would have been cool to meet all of you lol

Hooray fer Hawgtyin'

I had a freakin' awesome time myself. It was a perfect event for a first timer such as myself. The people there were great, and the 'lers were blissfully evil! It was also great to meet everyone who attended too, I was very comfortable with all of you guys. Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful gathering. I don't think this will be my last appearance at a gathering, i simply had too much fun.

Cool, a tickling party, I'd like to go to one of those. I'd probably be the drunk guy running around trying to tickle every chick in sight.

Scinsor said:

I'd probably be the drunk guy running around trying to tickle every chick in sight.

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If you were too drunk, you wouldn't be tickling anyone. People having their wits about them is part of what makes these events safe as well as fun.

I'm glad you all had a great time. Knowing your wonderful host and some of those in attendance, it doesn't surprise me a bit.

I was there!

I was able to make out Friday and had a blast...lol...went home with a headache laugh.
Sadly though I missed out on the Saturday part...but next time I am so there for both days.

well...damn. damn damn damn damn damn. a Texas party and i missed it.

hope to be there...eventually.

Mighty glad to see these still going out there. That rocks! Congrats to you all!

YAY YAY YAY for Ken & Nikki! Had the pleasure last summer!
And of course for Al & Oddjob...
XOXO

Repost from Houston...happening--Texas--Gathering thread

I originally posted this 3 Sept 2007 on the above thread. DAH!!! Until reading his handle here, I had completely forgotten that our host DID tell me what it was!!! My apologies, BigDaddy! Alchemy's post was briefer and more specific on details of names--Thanks, alchemy! And, as he so aptly said it was great to meet everyone, especially the TMFers who attended! BigDaddy and Oddjob, if I got anything wrong below, please correct!

storyteller said:

As an attendee of the Houston gathering (Saturday's "main" event), I want to repeat my "thank you" to our host, John (sorry, don't know you're TMF identity!) and to Oddjob for coordinating and communicating all the various details.

Our host welcomed us into his lovely and equipped home in which ticklers and those into BDSM intermingled. Before things got started, we briefly introduced ourselves and all were reminded to be respectful of one another and to heed various other common-sense behaviors (NEST rules). Tours of the various play sites were given and explanation of various tools and equipment provided.

As a single woman and a newbie in the tickling arena, I was a little nervous about attending such an event alone and probably wouldn't have if people I had not already been in communication with on this forum and through various emails hadn't been attending. Safety is a big consideration and one our host completely understands and stressed. I was fortunate to talk with and briefly meet our host before the event and felt completely welcomed, safe, and at ease in his home and in meeting the various attendees.

I got to meet several Texans from the forum, some who I hadn't communicated with previously, and several BDSM locals. It was a party folks, albeit with specific interests, but also with conversation on a lot of usual non-fetish topics, food (including great barbecue provided by our gracious host--THANKS again!), drinks (some alcohol, lots of sodas, and even more water), jazz music playing in the background, and lots of laughter. Several of the non-TMFers participated in some tickling too--as lers and lees.

In short, I enjoyed myself and enjoyed interacting with the various attendees. The organizers of this event, as well as attendees, expressed interest in having more local gatherings because apparently there are lots of local TMFers. Well folks, we should pursue this. A local, equipped, safe site has been offered by a long-term TMF member and NEST organizer/attendee (John, our host). All NEST rules apply. And, at this event, all such rules were adhered to willingly and without incident or the need for reminders.

Hope to see more people at the next Houston gathering!!!

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I’m glad Alchemy posted this, as well as seeing Storyteller’s past post in the Gatherings section. I’ve had some time to finally sit and think back on the event, and I have to say that this was one of the best I have ever attended.

But first, I do need to apologize to Bugman and Ticklehound. Due to several things in my “real life” going on I wasn’t able to stay on top of the start time of the Saturday as I would have liked. I will of course try to be better prepared for future events and I hope that both of you will consider once again attending one of our Texas events. I’ve never helped pull an event together “from a distance” and am that much more impressed with what Jan B, Bella, Lee Allure, Jeff, DVNC, Dave & Ayla NYand so many others have done for us in the past.

Aside from that, our hosts JCaine/Big Daddy and Michael’s put so much work into this weekend party I was stunned. It was held in a private home - safe, clean, well-lit and relaxed ( and no tickling “feeding frenzy” involving our female guests! Respect and common sense reigned.) There were wonderful restraint devices for those who were interested in such, comfortable chairs and a pool for others who just wanted to socialized. And the food was plentiful and delicious! I truly don’t remember having home-cooked barbeque that good. This was an incredible experience.

The guest were fun and varied. We shared the Houston event with lovely BDSM folks from The Violet Society - people not so much into the tickling, more the “whips and chains” crowd - and we all got along well, just like Alchemy states. Everyone was aware before the event what would be going on, safety was our biggest concern for all of the guests, and anyone who wasn’t particularly comfortable with one “scene” or another had plenty of other areas within the home to relax in , as well as a multitude of attendees, to socialize with. I Didn’t see any tickling folks dabble in the BDSM side, but I did see a few leather guests ‘crossover’ into some tickling!

After years of trying to pull together Dallas events, I realize that what happened in Houston is really what I had been trying to do in Dallas. I encourage all TMF members to make it to NEST - you will never feel alone or weird in this interest again, and you’ll meet some incredible people - but these smaller events do have their place as well. This Houston party was what I always wanted the Dallas party to be but Big D just doesn’t have the resources. Being an apartment dweller didn’t help.

I’ve also noticed that, in Texas, most people into tickling (who are open about it) live more in the southern section of the state. There are certainly ticklers/ticklees in D/FW, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, but they tend more to keep to themselves I think. With this recent experience in mind, I think any future North Texas events will be put on hold and Houston should be more the focus of such gatherings. I know some Austin events have been attempted as well, but this event was incredible; I can’t praise the hosts or guests enough. For those of you here who have been to any of the Dallas events, those were armature dress rehearsals compared to what occurred this past Labor Day weekend. After every D/FW event I knew there could have been - should have been - more to it. The Labor Day weekend event was what the Texas tickling events need to be. If our past events in D/FW didn’t meet you expectations or seemed to be somewhat of a let-down, Houston will change your mind!

And speaking of the guests, I enjoyed meeting so may friends from the TMF. Storyteller was there, brave and ready to take the plunge into her first event. Saeria showed us all not only how ticklish she is but that she seems to be a woman without tickling limits. And our friend and creative soul Alchemy did his prolonged best to find those limits.

I missed Labyrinthgddss Friday since I couldn’t get off work, but as long as she had a good time that’s what mattered most. Tickler BC was there with his partner Nikki - they both plan on attending NEST next year, their first. Bugman, due to my inattention, ended up coming in too early and therefore had to leave early as well, but I hope that won’t keep him away from our next event. It really was good to see him there, but I know the next one will be better. And we’re saving a place for you, Ticklehound! All of those attending who were not from the TMF, it was a nice experience meeting them as well.

I left our hosts Jcaine and Michael’s a bit of tribute, but it was by no means enough to convey my appreciation for what they, gratis, provided for us. As one host said, it is the people that make the party; this was an unforgettable party.

We hope to do this at least every year, possibly every six months. Let's see how many locals we can get to attend. For those thinking of travelling (Lee, Spencer, Kis - even Laugher???), we here in the Lone Star State encourage you to consider attending one of our events in the future. As always, details to be posted here.