Lazy Bear Holiday will take place during Thanksgiving weekend in Palm Springs. The beauty of Lazy Bear is that there are tons of things for a bear to do – or not do. You can go to the bar or to the buffet. You can lay out by the pool or get laid. Of course, you can do nothing at all and just enjoy being lazy. Check out www.lazybearweekend.com for more information.

Men have distanced themselves from the term bear believing it refers to fat and lazy slobs who are only interested in where their next meal is coming from. When’s the last time you saw a fat and lazy bear? Bears are not fat and lazy! Fat and lazy people are fat and lazy. Any man who can’t see his dick because his belly is in the way either has a really, really small dick or needs to get off his ass!

Years ago, when I was living in San Francisco and working for BEAR Magazine there were only bears. The definition of bear on the cover of the magazine was, masculinity without the trappings. The cover and centerfold models for BEAR Magazine were often thin with no body hair! Take a look at Jack Radcliffe’s first BEAR Magazine cover. Jack is very tall and very thin. Mike B., in another issue, had no body hair and a great beard. Even Buster had some body hair and very little facial hair. Original “bears” don’t fit today’s bear image. Any man who was not “trapped” in the neat and tidy “coif-itude” gay stereotype could consider himself a bear.

We don’t need all the terms and additions of other animals to define bears. Realistically, are muscle bears any different from circuit party boys who will only give the time of day to other circuit party boys? Are daddy bears any older or wiser than other grizzly bears? Are cubs really all that cute? Do they want to be called cute? What about otters? Seriously, why do we have otters, wolves and foxes? What the hell is that about?

When we define ourselves as bears and then segment ourselves into sub-groups we take away from what it means to be a bear. Take a look at any bear Web site and you’ll see all shapes and sizes. Go to a bear event. Break out of your little bear box. Bear is a celebration of masculinity without the trappings. It’s NOT the trap!

Bears and leather folk will be out this Saturday at LLBear at Rich’s. One of you owes me a dance, and you know who you are! If you’re in town, the work of Jody Mitchell will be displayed at Pleasures & Treasures. Jody was one of our artists at the Leather Realm during Pride and is worth the trip to P&T. It’s good to remember our local businesses while you shop during this holiday season. You can always write me at inthepitsd@aol.com, but only if you have an upcoming event or you want to give me birthday sex. Otherwise, I’ll see you “In The Pit.”