Blinky Nightfly, coming to my rescue in regards to "training cane" terminology, says:

>>> Now, now...perhaps they didn't mean "training" as in "training wheels" but more in the sense of something that'll damn well make whoever it touches sit up and pay attention. Heh heh heh. <<<

Oh, I seee! Now why didn't I think of that before I opened my big mouth? I've also been learning a lot about "paying attention" recently. Seems I've been a little lax in obeying, and a little too, uh, imaginative in some of my complaints (big-mouth syndrome again), and my lord and master has taken it into his head to be sure that he "has my attention" each and every time we play. A couple weeks ago, the following conversation (and the corresponding sound effects) was repeated with slight variations at least a dozen times in a span of two hours:

(sound effects)

"Now do I have (sound effect) your attention (sound effect)?"

"Yes, master, oh yesiree indeed you do!"

"Hmmm...I'm not sure that I do, maybe I better make sure" (mucho sound effects)

"I wonder if I have your attention now."

"yes, Yes, YES, that's ok, that's OK, you really do have my attention now"

"You know slave, I just can't be sure of that and I really truly want to make sure that I have your attention." (even more sound effects)

>>> In "Sensusous Magic", Pat Califia said, "each cane stroke is a treasure that should be anticipated and feared, given with fervor, and treasured in its complex glory." I couldn't agree more. What a lovely, lovely image. <<<

Indeed it is, and one I'd like to hang on the wall above our bed, with the additional legend: "That means, TAKE IT SLOW MASTER." Really, my master's handling of a cane makes it sound like a machine gun on speed. No time to savor here, not much time for fear either when the pain falls like the rain in a Georgia thunderstorm. I think I've mentioned elsewhere that we've played a little with a femdom friend of ours recently. Well, this femdom uses a cane the way I love to have it used, vicious but slow, and I tried giving Donald subtle little hints throughout her session with me: Oh, Look Donald! Look at how Mistress X wields her cane! Doen't she do that well? Look at that graceful pause at the end of each stroke, cleverly designed to allow me to savor the pain as it burns into my suppliant (for you wordsmiths out there, that's a cross between succulent, supple, and supplicant--g) flesh. Look at how my tender loins quiver in pain and trepidation at the thought of the next cut! Don't you wish I did that in response to _your_ canings? What'd ya mean, "you'll just order me to?" You want me to fake it when you could, with very little trouble on your part, have the genuine erotic response to a skillfully paced caning? Yes? Oh shit... (unlike my ex-husband, my master is damnedly hard to manipulate--but that doesn't stop me from trying--g)