July's Social was a little more laid back because of summer vacations. There were still nearly 90 people who arrived to enjoy the evening in the dungeon. The evening started out with an impromptu Q & A session for those attending to ask questions of the group and to get to know new people. The dungeon opened at 8 and the evening was spent with good friends watching some good scenes, including one single tail scene that had a bunch of people floating.

August's social/play party was Saturday, August 23. It was the last evening of the "Bondage Institute" in preparation of the upcoming visit from Midori in September. Our DM, Richard spent the HOT night session "tying up" loose ends and making sure people were comfortable for the classes set in September. Again, it was a really busy night with the equipment being used until 1 in the morning. Lots of new people who seemed to enjoy the experience.

There are not enough words to describe the fun had in September at F.L.O.G. – for the first time in the nearly 5 year history of the group we endeavored to bring in a well-known educator for a weekend seminar. And so, after nearly a year of planning and preparation, the Group hosted Fetish Diva Midori for a weekend of classes on September 19-21, 2003. What an incredible experience it was – on Friday night those people in attendance got a chance to sit and talk with Midori and were treated to a class in how to use sounds and your voice for seduction and the setting of the tone of a scene. The class allowed/demanded everyone participate and it was a great time to open lines of communication and to learn to really listen to what was going on… I know for sure I will never think of the movie “Blade” in quite the same way.

Saturday saw everyone coming back early and starting an intensive 2 day session in Rope Bondage. She taught five classes ranging from basic bondage to basic suspension with a grand class in Bondage for Sex and Predicament Bondage thrown in. In between the learning and laughter and practice, we all got a good history lesson in the lifestyle and rope bondage and all learned something, and something about ourselves, in between.

One participant had this to say:

"I just wanted to share with everyone the exciting weekend I had. I was in St Louis for an advanced rope bondage class presented by Midori. Words can not even begin to describe the absolutely wonderful time I had. Heck I don’t know even where to start. (It’s Thursday and I am STILL trying to recover lol). I hope that I am able to articulate just how much fun I had this weekend via text.

Midori, hmmm, what to say about her. I don’t know where exactly to begin. I went to the event expecting to meet a scene Prima Dona, a snob, with a better than you attitude. What I got to meet was a warm, genuine down to earth, funny, and very beautiful woman. One with a smartass sense of humor that I could really relate to. She is also an EXCELLENT teacher. This class was a hands on one and she was more than happy to go over and over something until each one of us got it right she answered any and all questions she was asked with openness charm and sometimes with wry humor. I am now a fan.

This class was for intermediate/advanced rope bondage and you had to have basic knowledge of some simple knots. Well this chick didn’t even know basic knots (except for tying my shoes) and I learned something and not just one thing. You should have seen my excitement at completing my very first two-column restraint. (laughs) You would have thought I found the cure for the common cold.

This was an experience that I will NOT be able to forget and if any one has the chance to attend anything presented by Midori, especially a hands on class. I highly recommend that you GO. It is time and money well spent."

I believe almost all of us who attended would echo those sentiments.

Saturday night, September 20, F.L.O.G., in the middle of the Midori weekend, still had its monthly social/play party. As part of that we hosted a city-wide, all-group reception to give everyone, and not just the seminar participants, a chance to meet Midori as they say “up close and personal” - Rachel made sure that the food was terrific and we all enjoyed getting a chance to meet Midori and get our copies of her book, “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” signed by the author herself. After the reception the dungeon opened and we unveiled to the group a new piece of equipment bought for the classes and then the group’s use. The equipment has been nicknamed the “Spider” and is a suspension frame strong enough to hold nearly 800 lbs safely. Everyone who got to play on the equipment pronounced it a good addition to the group’s equipment. We had over 100 people enjoying the dungeon and play went on until nearly 1 in the morning.

That made it really hard for those of us who had to be back the next morning but we were there to finish the last of the classes for the seminar – suspension and “Bondage for Sex” – it was the most incredible experience and one we hope to repeat in the future for all to enjoy. We presented Midori a gift from St. Louis and said goodbye.