The month of August begins with the letter “A.” So does the anatomical feature that our buttocks represent: “ass” also begins with the letter “A.” Finally, August is the final full (complete) month of the summer season here in the Northern Hemisphere, so we’re publishing aquatics – another “A” designation – as our theme. So have a very happy, safe and successful bottoms-up! day!
Baring himself to commemorate the occasion!
Our man above is incorporating his lake visit into his bottoms-up! commemoration of his clothes free and very visible ass honouring the monthly occasion to celebrate!
BUD = Bottoms-Up! Diversity!
All cultures, ethnicities and races are always welcome to bottoms-up! participation as we all admire each and every pair of buttocks presented!
Bottoms-up! vintage from the early 1960s!
Bottoms-Up! appreciation and expression isn’t a relatively new idea to our community and culture. In the vintage picture above, the hairstyles reflect the early 1960s time period.
Bottoms-up! multitude!
A collection of bottoms-up! in honour of the end of the month of August, 2024!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, September 2, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Labour Day!”
Today’s post entry here on ReNude Pride is the title of the most recent novel from Virginia-native author, David Baldacci. The first edition of ACalamityofSouls was published by Grand Central Publishing in April, 2024. For more than two decades, David Baldacci has been among my favourite contemporary authors. Up until Papa’s death in 2018, whenever a new hardback by Baldacci was released, I always purchased two copies: one for me and the other for Papa. Baldacci, like Aaron and myself, still resides in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Background on ACalamityofSouls:
In my twenty years of reading David Baldacci’s books, I was aware of his Virginia birth and residency but was totally clueless that he grew up in the City of Richmond during the 1960s and 1970s. When my parents and oldest brother emigrated from Greece in the early 1970s, they purchased our family home in the Stonewall neighborhood, located in south Richmond between Semmes Avenue and the James River. The neighborhood where we grew up in was a primarily African-American area and one of the few in Richmond that accepted arriving emigrants. In ACalamityofSouls Baldacci acknowledges that with a “foreign” surname (Italian), Richmond was not a very welcoming municipality. We share that similarity. Same city. Different timeframe.
Richmond, Virginia, has the distinction of being the capital city of the failed Confederacy during the American Civil War over the future of slavery. Up until the arrival of the 21st Century, this fact was blatantly obvious. The undertones of racial inequality and and segregation based on skin colour were broadcast rather than hidden. The inability of the Virginia lawyer, Jack Lee, in ACalamityofSouls to comprehend the extent of the bigotry and hatred evident in 1968 in understood through the experienced eyes of the author, David Baldacci, and through his personal life experiences.
Synopsis:
Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially charged murder case sets a duo of Black and White lawyers against a deeply unfair legal system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama. The two are professionally joined by chance without any prior legal connection.
Jack Lee is a White attorney from Freeman County, Virginia (fictional), who has never done anything to push back against racism until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy White couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his professional skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already piling up against both himself and his client. He soon recognizes that he is far removed not only from his expertise but also from his obligation to best portray his client as innocent from the verdict in a murder trial.
Desiree DuBose is a Black attorney from Chicago, Illinois, who has dedicated her professional focus in advancing the causes of equality and justice for everyone, no matter their gender and/or race. She comes to Freeman County in rural southwest Virginia and joins with Jack Lee in a fractious and unwieldly partnership in an escalating legal conflict with the best and popular prosecutor in the Commonwealth of Virginia: the duly elected Attorney General. DuBose is cognizant of the reality that powerful archconservative alliances outside the state are uniting to counter the achievements and progress attained by the civil rights movement.
Lee and DuBose are practically exact opposites. Neither one of them alone can halt the official prosecutorial direction towards a guilty verdict and the death penalty. Yet combining together they forge forth towards a balanced and fair trial with the ultimate goal of true justice.
One of my Hellenic (Greek) comrades, a noted NewYorkTimes bestselling author himself, offered this comment on Baldacci’s ACalamityofSouls: “An instant classic. Not just a great American crime story this is a great American novel.” ~ Alex Michaelides ~
I’ve read the entire book – twice; as has Aaron, my spouse. The second reading brought forth details not captured in the initial exploration of the book. Aaron insists that I add here that the ending of the novel is absolutely not the ending anticipated or expected!
One of the aspects of Baldacci’s writing that is very impressive is his use of the interactions of the two attorneys, Jack Lee and Desiree DuBose, to illustrate the subtle use of conversation and the two different views of racism inferred from the same dialogue. Bias and racism are based upon personal experience. Thus, the situation will present different connotations and meanings to all the individuals involved.
Summary:A fitting irony
In his opening Author’s Note, Baldacci writes briefly of Richmond’s infamous Monument Avenue where Confederate celebrities were featured statues. When Richmond native international tennis legend Arthur Ashe, an African-American, died from an AIDS transfusion, a major controversy erupted when plans were announced to erect a statue in his memory along Monument Avenue. The conflict focused that Monument Avenue memorials featured White Confederate images. Ashe was Black even though he was actually born and grew up inside of the City of Richmond! Evidently, he was too “coloured” for the Confederacy!
Following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in early 2020, the City removed all the Confederate statuary. Today, Arthur Ashe’s statue is the only remaining one an all of Monument Avenue. A commitment to justice served! Obviously, the others were too White to be featured in the city!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Saturday,August31, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! August, 2024!”
PhoenixFellington, performance name of ReNude Pride’s celebrity openly gay spokes-model and acclaimed gay porn actor, gives us all a “visual treat” of his buttocks being served for admiration in a park setting on a picnic table! His birth name is TreLeronFenderson and he’s publicly proud to be not only same gender loving (SGL) but actively demonstrating and encouraging nakedness whenever and wherever possible! We’re all grateful and thrilled to have him as a part of our bare practitioner community and culture and a dynamic endorser of Team ReNude Pride!
“Some simple advice and thoughts on posing proudly as gay and naked in today’s chaotic and hectic world. Have fun and remember to smile!” ~ Phoenix Fellington ~ openly gay pornography actor and ReNudePride’s spokes-model
Surf’s up! Phoenix!
Before the departure of the Summer, 2024, season, Phoenix advocates everyone to take advantage of what remains of the comfortable weather for body and clothes freedom. Get comfortable: rid yourself of those burdensome clothes and get natural in nature! If you have friends who’ll join you, lead the way! Fun in the sun is good for everyone!
Phoenix, the leader of the hike along the Nature Trail – bottoms-up! first!
“I love being nude outside – all in the open!” ~ PhoenixFellington ~ openly gay pornography actor and ReNude Pride’s spokes-model
The former U.S. Marine is successful in his professional life because he has no “hang-ups” or reluctance to appear in his nakedness. He wants to waste as little time as possible wearing clothes or trying to cover his body. He is a firm believer that his nudity is nothing to deny or to hide. An attitude that we all, as bare practitioners, need to adopt and to follow!
Nakedness solo among his peers!
Others with him pose in gay porn industry studio attire to promote their studio. Phoenix poses naked solo in order to endorse both being gay and being naked with no concern over guilt, judgment and/or shame!
Phoenixat a clothing optional beach!
He champions posing naked as an ideal way to strengthen body self-image and to impress others with confidence and poise!
When a studio has our man under contract and is hosting a social event to encourage investors, he has no hesitation, misgivings or qualms about attending, stripping off his clothing and socializing completely and proudly nude, even if he’s the only one doing so! All of this without any of the studio executives asking him to do so! Phoenix is nothing short of being bare, bold, confident, decisive, determined and proud of being exactly what and who he is: gay and naked!
Embarrassment, guilt, modesty and shame hold nothing over our man and his nakedness and/or his sexuality!
His philosophy is that he’s already played that “game” earlier in his life and while he was a Marine. Now, leave him alone and he’ll proceed with integrity and pride while being same gender loving (SGL) and sensational in his nakedness!
PhoenixFellington, our porn-star and our friend!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 26, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “A Calamity of Souls!”
On the flight to Mama’s this past Friday, my spouse, Aaron, and I collaborated on composing this posting for today. The intent was to share for everyone a tiny aspect of our life together within the setting of my immediate family. Enjoy! Your comments and thoughts are always welcome!
The flight home to Skyros in Greece ended without Aaron and I getting arrested and/or escorted off our flight for what some refer to as “indecent exposure!” Upon the arrival, one of my brothers met us at the terminal and delivered us both, fully clothed, to my mother’s home. We both waited until after my siblings and their families left for their homes before we retired to our bedroom (while there) and restored the comfort of our nakedness!
While we were growing up, all of my brothers learned of my identical twin, Alex, and our preference for body and clothes freedom. Whenever we were in our shared bedroom, we were always nude or else in the process of becoming naked! Our mother was the only woman in our household; all brothers and my father so our being nude was never an issue as long as we wore clothing whenever we were outside our bedroom!
Comfort restored!
Concerning my immediate family (Mama and all my brothers and their families) Twin (Alex) and I and our preference for nakedness isn’t the “hot” topic of conversations and jokes anymore. Since first meeting Aaron (before our marriage), the subject of our naked life hasn’t been the centre of discussion that it once held. Life moves on and the focus is now more progressive and involved than it was “back-in-the-day.” They are all aware of our efforts here with ReNude Pride and what, if any, interest remains with our participation in body and clothes freedom concerns generally is nothing more than a casual thought.
Aaron and I have an assigned set of rooms at my parent’s home. The house was originally built for my paternal grandfather and consists of a bedroom and bathroom with a shared sitting room across the hallway from used by Alex and his partner, Dante. There is privacy in this part of the family home that Mama respects. If Alex and Dante are there when we are, our comfort for nudity isn’t an automatic “family” matter. This arrangement provides us twins with the comfortable and familiar environment of “home” even if we have two continents and the Atlantic Ocean between our actual dwellings and Mama’s house. Not a bad setting for the identical twin “middle children” (three older brothers, ourselves, and then three younger brothers!
Towering together!
Addendum:
Like most of the Northern Hemisphere, Skyros, Greece, is usually ideal for skinny-dipping (swimming naked) during the month of August. This year, thus far, is not a disappointment! This is a short notation to remind everyone here that August, 2024, is more than half over! Strip and go skinny-dip now before the summer is gone!
A Mediterranean skinny-dip!
Aaron and I are both avid fans of skinny-dipping! No surprise there! The fact that Skyros is one of the Greek islands and the Mediterranean Sea borders along a part of Mama’s property adds a special bonus to visiting my ancestral home. We’re both grateful for the opportunity to bare practice (experience nakedness) in these historic waters where countless others have done the same for centuries before our time!
Aaron sunbathing after a skinny-dip!
Our eight days here with Mama are passing too fast for us to remember where we’ve put everything! Best wishes for a happy week!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 23, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Notoriously Naked!”
The reality isn’t as it appears in the above image. Despite dreams and fantasies, it isn’t always possible for bare practitioners to actually transport themselves in the body and clothes freedom style. In a private airplane, perhaps but there are exceptions for every possibility. The pilot may not require garments but the airport probably does. So erase the myth that Aaron and I are travelling with our nakedness unimpeded!
In order to reach our destination, we have to comply with the law. Unfortunately, what we decide is best for the both of us but it doesn’t always please the remainder of the passengers. The ultimate goal of today’s post entry here is to travel from “Point A” (the Washington, D.C., USA, National Airport) to “Point B” (the landing facility near my mother’s house). Her home is located on the island of Skyros, Greece. This has been the paternal heritage of my family for centuries. The purpose of this trip? A long overdue visit to spend quality time with Mama and the remainder of my family – immediate and extended – in residence there.
My spouse, Aaron, and I depart later today and hopefully will safely arrive on Skyros and accomplish our mission. The visit is only for eight days of refreshing renewal Mama, my brothers and family. The “header” image (above) shows a fellow traveler seated on his luggage in a departure terminal. As both Aaron and I are ardent and loyal bare practitioners, allow me to assure everyone that we are not so totally foolish as to even attempt today’s journey in our nakedness. Admittedly, our dream may be to one day undergo the adventure in complete body and clothes freedom, we both understand that undertaking isn’t happening today!
Underway to terminal!
Also, the title of this posting is Flying High! Patience, please, and permit me to clarify the fact that neither one of us is under the influence of any mind-altering substance of any kind. If we’re unable to travel in our natural state then why bother to even think of trying to do so mentally altered?
More than likely, no one else made the assumption of us contemplating to take the trip nude. We confirm our fantasy of preferring to do so but reality doeto composes occasionally grasp our attention and influence our behaviour!
The absurdity and brevity of this topic reflects the anxious attitudes in preparation of departure. It is much easier and simpler to compose and publish humour than to even attempting present a serious idea and then fail miserably! Plus, the accompanying pictures were available and convenient!
Interracial bare practitioner couple representing us!
Additionally, this is the day after our actual ninth wedding anniversary! Another reason to celebrate with Mama and the rest of the family.
I’ll also go to the cemetery and spend time at Papa’s grave. Whenever I return to Skyros, I always include quiet time there – alone. We’ve had some convenient conversations together since he was interred there. While I’m there, this gives Aaron and Mama their “time” together, without me being around!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 19, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Familiar Comfort!”
Aaron, my spouse, and I live in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA. Our home is Arlington, Virginia, approximately four miles south of Washington, D.C. The both of us are employed in the city of Washington, which is also this nation’s capital. Since 6 October, 2014, marriage equality has been legal within this state when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to entertain an appeal of the decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Bostic vs. Schaefer, a lower court’s decision to overturn a state law banning same gender marriages.
On 1 July, 2024, (this year), a law went into effect that formally and officially repealed the state ban on same gender marriages within the Commonwealth. This repeal was enacted to guarantee that should a future U.S. Supreme Court decide to hear an appeal on marriage equality and reverse the legality of same gender unions (marriages), the now repealed ban could not automatically be reinstated. The need for this protection was partially caused when the current Supreme Court overturned the Roe vs. Wade decision which permitted abortion.
Marriage equality proponents – including the both of us – felt the need for this legislative repeal in order to hinder any future court action to disenfranchise our culture of our long overdue equality. We all need to be aware of all and any possibility of discrimination and restriction, especially considering the instability of politics today. The position of a justice on the Supreme Court is a political decision, determined by the party in power at the time. This action prevents any future enactment of bias and marginalization from being a simple political undertaking by fundamentalists.
A bromantic kiss!
Once marriage equality arrived here in Virginia, Aaron and I were inundated with pressure from both our pairs of parents to pursue a legal ceremony (we had lived together since 2010). Since living together, we had discussed marriage but hadn’t finalized any plans. Once our families became obsessed with the idea and the need, our hesitation rapidly proved futile. Our delay in making arrangements for matrimony was based primarily on religious considerations. Aaron and his family are Roman Catholic and my faith background is Greek Orthodox. Neither of the two churches sanction same gender marriages.
We resolved the situation by having a civil marriage. It was performed on 15 August, 2015, to the delight of parents, family and friends. We were satisfied to relieve the pressure and to finally have the freedom to be ourselves in this world. Even today, our churches fail to recognize the legitimacy and the sanctity of our lives together, however, that is a problem that belongs to the faith and doesn’t really involve us.
The both of us understand that not everyone is fortunate in living is an environment that legally recognizes the marriages of same gender loving persons. There are many that live within families that frown upon or are unsupportive of our relationships. We want to share to all our encouragement of all the challenges faced and wish to all our best. Hopefully, someday soon this world we live in will achieve equality and perfection for all of us.
Together!
This upcoming Thursday, 15 August, 2024, we celebrate our 9th Anniversary! Amazingly, we both appreciate the significance of this date in our lives as every year passes. There are no immediate plans for any special activities for this day. We depart for a visit to Greece the following day in order to spend some time with my mother and my family before settling back into my professional routine of returning to the classroom for the Autumn semester.
Do we recommend marriage? If both partners agree, yes we do!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 16, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Flying High!”
Obviously, the absence of or the presence of tan-lines is often seen as verifiable proof of our status as a bare practitioner. However, is it irrefutable as to our personal identification or merely a reflection of our access to the freedom and frequency of our nakedness? A very legitimate consideration before the rendering of a determination.
A vague tan-line!
As members of a primarily social species, can a single person be viewed as a bare practitioner based on the reality that he/she lacks the companionship of others who share the camaraderie and fellowship of nudity? Without the company of others, many may simply not possess the opportunity to express themselves clothes free and relaxed. Given the current obsession of the broader society for clothing and fashion, is this an equitable and fair criteria to use in deciding their social status?
Communally bare!
We all live in areas and regions that encompass a broad range of persons of different and varied heritages, including ethnicities and races. With these variations come our abilities to respond to the rays of sunlight exposure. Skin tones and their reaction to ultraviolet light are caused by our individual genetic traits and the amount of time that we are exposed to direct sunlight.
Another factor is the quality of sunscreen that we utilize. There is no “standard” or predetermined regulation of components for the manufacture of sunscreen that is universally recognized. The varying results of this lack of uniformity creates a spectrum of results within all humans. None of us are identical in the final analysis.
Laundry day!
My spouse, Aaron, and I have had discussions over the years of these topics (and others) regarding the frequency of tan-lines on display in photographic depictions of nudity. Admittedly, our earlier sharing of these causes focused on the absurdity of the images themselves. Why proudly allow pictures that suggest our endorsement of garments be published?
This question was almost immediately followed by others that ranged from respective comfort with nakedness to environmental and professional situations that were possible explanations for their existence. Interacting on this subject, we agreed that encompassing a post entry on this subject was worthy of publishing here on ReNude Pride.
Bare without shame!
It was while composing this brief publication on tan-lines that the idea occurred to me. Perhaps the reason for the existence of a tan-line was that the individual was exploring nudism for the very first time!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 12, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Aaron & Roger: 9!”
Typically, most “work-week” schedules begin on Monday. Over time, Mondays have earned the unfair and unpopular designation as the “back to work” day when people sluggishly return to their job site, usually ready for another weekend immediately! Return to work is dreaded but leaving the workspace is joyful and with energy! Unfortunately, this is the regular attitude and routine for the multitude.
It doesn’t always have to be that way. Monday follows a weekend which in many cases presents a respite from the usual workday regimen. The weekends, while brief, offer an opportunity for recreational and relaxing activities that restore some mental balance and allow rejuvenation. Socialization circumstances afford many the chances of idea exchanges additional renewal experiences.
Varying stages of bare comfort!
Thus, Mondays afford a significant majority of us to return to our professional environment with new experiences, ideas and possible resources for not only enhancing our personal lives but also with suggestions for our coworkers. Instead of a mundane day to return to the work routine, Mondays can also be viewed as a day to refresh our individual and social adventures and situations.
My spouse, Aaron, and I both believe that enriching and expanding the “Monday role” in our lives adds a new dimension of both expectation and pleasure for all of us. Most of us are discreet with our personal lives in the professional setting, yet this doesn’t prevent us from sharing aspects of a novel or new-found ideal or theme that others may explore or indulge.
Picnic idea!
Encouraging information exchange helps to eradicate some issues with “mediocre Mondays” and affords us a tool to utilize to improve communication. In addition, it enables us to broaden our workplace social circle that increases the resources all of us may implement. The expanded networks this creates offers all of us unimaginable benefits and rewards.
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 9, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Visually Verified!”
Personally, it feels as though this summertime has only just begun. Yesterday was the official “first day of summer,” and now here we are, the month of August is already upon us! Where did the month of July disappear? It was in the future, and now it is a memory. I readily admit to being somewhat sluggish at the end of June, but I honestly didn’t foresee taking a nap that would include the entire month of July!
A dreamland pillow!
This season has been enjoyable, exciting and productive – as most summers usually are – without the usual drama that happens when the heat affects the temper levels. Perhaps one of the reasons this season has been relatively “drama-free” is due to having restful and sufficient amounts of sleep. This may be attributed to the fact that living natural pillows, on which to lay our head, are remarkably available and many bare practitioners are taking advantage! A good night’s sleep gives amazing rewards for those who indulge!
Our couples featured above illustrate the modern marvel known as living natural pillows. They’re accommodating, flexible and are accompanied by a sincere desire to please. Of course, reciprocity is expected and that merely involves taking turns providing the headrest! Everything more than that depends on the compatibility of the couple engaged in dreamland!
Beach bedding!
Not everyone has the same sense of privacy that others hold, especially during the freedom that summer provides us. Many take to napping and slumber while in the rays from the sun. Stroll along any beach, waterfront or pool deck and countless persons will be lounging and sleeping while doing so. There’s no law against it so why not enjoy it?
It is also vitally important to ascertain that all of us understand that living natural pillows entail the use of the buttocks of one person as the living natural pillow of another person. I’ll qualify one of the requirements from my personal experience. I’ve never rested my weary head on the buttocks of anyone recently deceased. I’m not sure if I could ever bring myself to relax during an exchange such as involving a close encounter with a dead person. For that reason, “living” is an essential aspect of the human pillow!
Compliance?
An equally essential component of the living natural pillow experience is the agreement, compliance and/or understanding between the involved persons as to what specifically the participation actually includes. For some, the possibility of being a pillow for another person is repugnant. They only want to be the person with their head on someone else’s buttocks! Role-playing isn’t one of their stronger features.
My spouse, Aaron, offers that for some couples, the usual aspects of alternating roles of accommodation are determined to not be applicable. This decision is based on their personal preference and mutual consent. If this is agreeable to them, then they are free to follow whatever is satisfactory.
Comfort and tranquility!
Naked hugs and enjoy your pillow: whatever style you have!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 5, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Marvelous Monday!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 