Weekend Calender Feb 28 - March 2

Don't have anything to do this weekend. Here is a Calender of Events for this weekend. Something for everyone.

Friday Feb. 28

Flixx Presents,  Showtune Realness - Vocal Diva, Lauren Koll is back and she's bringing you some "Showtune Realness" Doors open at 9PM and the show begins at 10pm!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1386264474929490/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming&source=1 

UNO Hockey - The Mavericks take on Colorado College. Puck drops at 7:37

If you up for a road trip, The Kansas City Bear Mafia is Hosting there Mafia Cosmic Bowling Night from 10:00 - 12:30. Details right here https://www.facebook.com/events/739421486109912/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming 

Saturday March 1 

UNO Hockey - The Mavericks play another game against Colorado College. This time the Puck Drops at 7: 07

The Show Me Bears out of St. Louis are hosting Show-Me Bears Mardi Gras Bartending. Bears Serving Drinks. Woof! https://www.facebook.com/events/215281295332669/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming&source=1

Sunday March 2 

I will be a Guest on the radio show Lavender Hill to talk everything Bear. 11-noon . You can Listen on-line at http://www.kzum.org/ 
https://www.facebook.com/events/791412087555229/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming 

Don't forget that the Oscars or on ABC this Sunday. Get your Oscar Party Planned.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Don't forget to support all the Gay and Gay friendly places in Omaha this Weekend. If you have an event that you want highlighted or know of an upcoming event. please let me know. 
Have a Safe weekend and Hugs to all 

Thrifty Bear

There are plenty of thrift stores in Omaha. Everyone has a favorite one and many times you can find some weird fun things there. Some of the ones I love are: New Life Thrift, Goodwill (78th & Dodge), Goodwill (Benson Park Plaza.) and the Thrift World in South O. Sometimes its hard to find clothes for bigger guys at thrift stores, but the New Life Thrift and the Thrift World are good. The Thrift World has a big section for Tall & Big.

One thing I look for at Thrift stores is anything with a bear on it. Today I found some cool things that I would like to share with you. I found these at the Harris Center Goodwill on 2221 North 109th Street.

First off are a pair of bears plates I found. Sometimes you get crafting things at thrift stores and I don't like the bear stuff I find, but these are so cute. I got them for 99 cents a piece.

Next up is Bear Coin Bank that I found. It looks as though someone painted it and put some thought into it. It didn't really have any markings on it so I think it might be homemade. There was no price tag sticker on, so the check out girl talked me down to $3.99. Still not bad for this cutie. Check him out.

 

If you know of any good finds or want to share your thrift shopping experience, comment below. Until next time, how fun Thrifting. 

How I learned about Bears.

The story of how I learned about Bears starts in the year 1993. That was the year of my first crush. He was a short stocky kid that was on the wrestling team. I was so drawn to him and I thought I was weird. For some reason I didn't think I was weird that I was attracted to a guy, I thought it was weird I was attracted to the bigger jock kid. Hormones kicked in and thoughts invaded my brain.

 I didn't know I was a bear then, but I knew there was something different about me. So I went off to college and that opened up my eyes. My second real crush was during that time. A Lineman from the Football team that was in my 8 in the morning Math class. I didn't do that well in that class. The number of times I would sneak a peek at him was the only thing I was counting. Around that time I searched online about the feeling I was having. I found out there was something called Bears. In 1999, there wasn't a lot of resources for a young bear. Now, there are so many resources. From movies, to t.v. to Internet shows. Bears are in a brighter spotlight. I remember I found a book called Bears talk to Bears.... or something like that. I found it at Boarders in Omaha. I was so nervous checking out, but I flipped through it and found a place to call home

I have always been attracted to bigger guys. When I found out that I was a Bear, I never thought it was funny. I just thought, there is finally something that I can call myself. During that whole time in high school and college, I was so afraid that people would not understand. In a self awareness I found the blueprint of my identity. I am a Bear and I am proud of who I am.

Vlog Diary Vol. 1: Cooking for the Husbear

A Bear's Story

Robert, a gay Obituary writer, meets a group of gay men who identify themselves as "bears" big hairy men and their admirers. With the support of his straight best friend he takes the plunge into the world of self acceptance, love, happiness and the joys of napping.

2nd Coming Out?

   Many Bears say they have to come out twice in their lifetime. They say they come out once for being gay and once for saying they are a bear. At first glance, this logic seem very clear. Some people might find it easier to come out as liking men, but more difficult coming out as liking big hairy men.  Part of this might comes from the images that people put out as what a gay man is and how they should act. As said in an earlier post, a Bear will most likely not fit the mold and will accept others that don't.
    I once was a champion of the coming out twice theory, but lately I have come to understand that it is more than that. I don't think Bears come out twice, I just think that Bears might take a longer process of coming out. The time from "I'm gay" to "I'm a Bear" might take years. Even I am coming to terms with fully embracing my full Bear. Many guys that are Bears might not think they are gay because they don't fit the stereotype. This only lends itself to the long process of acceptance of who you are and were you fit. If that is the case, than in a way Bears are a fringe group. Many Bears have even been married and have children. That just means their journey just took a little bit longer to come to a destination.
    To those questioning themselves because they don't see themselves represented, the bravest thing you can do is tell yourself you are normal. Than the next step is to represent yourself and let yourself shine. You will and should always have a home with the Bears.

Bear 101

A Bear in the gay community is described as a large, hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity. Even those bears are a subculture of the gay community, there can be some subcultures in the subculture. Wikipedia describes the different groups as the following:

• Cub – a younger (or younger-looking) version of a Bear, typically, but not always, with a smaller frame. The term is sometimes used to imply the passive partner in a relationship.
• Ewok - A bear of short stature, but not younger.
• Otter – A slimmer or less hairy Bear regardless of age.
• Chaser - Somebody who is attracted to Bears and/or chubs but is not part of the Bear culture.
•  Chub - A heavy-set man who might be described as overweight or obese. These men are also a distinct subculture within the gay community, and may or may not identify with the Bear movement.
• Teddy - A fully hairy bear. Chest, back, beard, everything is hairy.
• Musclebear - A Bear whose size derives from muscle rather than body fat.
• Panda (or panda bear) - A Bear of Asian heritage.
• Polar bear - An older Bear whose facial and body hair is predominantly or entirely white or grey.
• Wolf - A slimmer Bear, with the behavioral characteristic of sexual assertiveness or aggression.

Even though these subcultures are in the bear community, this doesn't mean you need to fit in one of this categories to be a Bear. Some people believe that being a bear is a state of mind. They believe that if you are inclusive, supportive and nice to others, you are a Bear. The Bear movement started as an alternative to the stereotypes of the clean cut pretty boy look that comes with the gay community.

I believe in a combination of all the above. Most importantly, I believe in the idea of respecting people for who they are. A lot of guys that think of themselves as Bears were once ostracized from the gay community. Why would they then ostracize someone else from there group. That is not the definition of a Bear.