Laura & Rachel emerge from their stateroom

Just got back from a cruise of the caribbean with Sweet, the new lesbian travel company.  I have a love/loathe relationship with the idea of cruising- I love drinking a rum punch while playing shuffleboard on the Lido deck as much as the next girl, but hate the idea of being isolated on a huge boat and not getting to really see the countries I’m visiting, meet the people, etc. Historically, I’m more of a hostel-er. But the opportunity came up to go on the cruise and give a couple talks: Dyke Sex, and Strap-on Satisfaction, so of course I jumped on the chance.

It was awesome. The best part was that my girlfriend came too. Our son just turned five, and this was our first trip away from him. In five years we have not had one night together without him bouncing us up at 6:30 a.m. And suddenly we had seven sun-soaked, sleep-in, sex-saturated days together. OMG. Being with the lesbians on the boat was fun, showing off all the latest and greatest dildos and vibes was cool, snorkeling was magical, and I even met some locals in Belize. But getting that break from being a parent and getting to sink into being a lover and a partner? It was both thrilling and soothing.

I know how hard it is being a parent and keeping that sexual spark burning bright. My recommendation? Sex vacation. Seriously, park the kids, pack all your sex toys and get outta town.

And if you do manage to squeeze in some shuffleboard, that’s a bonus.

Here’s what I’ve been reading this week:

Did you know there was a board game called Orgy? Me neither. Thanks, BoingBoing.

Some thoughts on men, masculinity and feminism from a friend of mine at this blog, Low End Theory.

Oprah picked her favorite sex toys and porn!

A great new blog on Trade Secrets for Sex Workers

The Stupak anti-abortion amendment could end coverage for all women. All. Call your congresspeople now!

Dr. Kate at Em & Lo answers a question about whether or not to disclose HPV

Cory Silverberg at About.com discusses what’s missing in the search for female viagra

Top five reasons why today’s (11/17) Oprah episode about porn blew me away:

1. Oprah lays it out right off the bat: 30% of porn consumers are women, and 70% of those women watch it in secret.
2. Reporter Lisa Ling talks about pay inequity, but a good kind: porn is one of the only industries where women make more money than men.
3. Author Violet Blue says “erotica can be as reliable a tool as a sex toy, and should be in any woman’s sexual arsenal.”
4. Jenna Jameson says if she had it to do over again, she wouldn’t get a boob job, referring to the constant tanning, waxing, and other maintenance as the “monsterification of the body.”
5. Violet plugs Jenna’s movie the Masseuse, which is a really great movie and one you all should see.

The show really focused on why women watch it, how it enhances one’s fantasy life, and how women are increasingly running the show (as stars, directors, businesswomen). This was not your typical coverage of women and porn, which usually focuses on stereotypes and overlooks any value porn has in one’s sex life.  See clips from the show.