Category: humor

April Appeal: Fantasy!

Our bare practitioner hosts for the induction!

Background:

This is the final posting of the April Appeal series for this year here on ReNude Pride. The sub-title is “fantasy” but perhaps a sub-title of “initiation” is more appropriate. The two men featured in the above image are our bare practitioner “hosts” for this ritual – the welcoming of one of our textile “converts” into the world of living in the freedom of being a bare practitioner!

My friend, Jay’s partner, Raheem, volunteered to help me with today’s April Appeal installation. I am grateful for his efforts and encourage him to pursue maintaining his own blog! Some of you may remember assistance on my post “BRAT!” (click the title to link).

Unofficial and unstructured, as far as Raheem and I can determine, there are absolutely no guidelines or mandate for actually conducting an initiation ceremony into the bare practitioner community. The fantasy Order of Bare Practitioners (OBP) is an imaginary dream of both Raheem and myself (although it does have a noble connotation)! Nakedness appreciates companionship – that’s why we have “social nudity” – but an official ritual for membership? Removal of clothing is the sole qualification as per our knowledge.

Initiating the textile as a bare practitioner #1!

Initiation Into the Bare Practitioner World!

The two bare practitioner men are stripping the clothes off of a man they are preparing to “induct” into the bare practitioner culture. Our “host’s” duties are to remove the covering (clothing) from those seeking membership into OBP and to present them to all members present, completely bare!

“There is no reason to conceal and hide. Complete nudity is cause for joy and pride!” ~ Roger Poladopoulos ~ April 25, 2022

Bare Practitioner Initiation Ritual:

Initiating the textile as a bare practitioner #2!

All of the bare practitioners (the regular membership) viewing the induction ritual recall their own entrance into the OBP (the mythical society). The initiates, being totally clothed, eagerly anticipate their moment of freedom from being burdened with clothes! That’s the reason all the bare practitioners engage their nudity prior to the beginning of the ceremony!

There is most definitely no humiliation or shame in being publicly stripped of one’s textile deceit! Everyone knows that body and clothes freedom is accompanied with pride!

Initiating the textile as a bare practitioner #3!

As the discomfort of the garments are removed, the initiate is allowed to share with the membership his eagerness and willingness to become one with them in enjoying living naturally! The regular bare practitioner membership is encouraged to ask questions of those who are seeking to join us as members. This exchange helps to open the friendship between the regular members and those hoping to become affiliated with our camaraderie!

Initiating the textile as a bare practitioner #4!

Each prospective recruit is invited to come forward fully clothed and to be publicly and ritually removed of his artificial concealment. The identical process is repeated for each and every one. This allows all of us to witness our newest as they evolve from being textile to their new status as completely “bare with pride!”

Initiating the textile as a bare practitioner #5!

This evolution and induction process empowers us all as members of the Order of Bare Practitioners. We are reminded of our own membership assimilation as well as the unity that we all share with one another. It enables us to appreciate and understand that even though we may be a minority population, we are most definitely not alone in our same gender love nor in our pride in our nakedness. Together, we make a committed team!

Bare practitioner unity!

Embracing one another reinforces our dedication to our ideals of same gender love and of body and clothes freedom. We respect the responsibility of each and every one to determine the path they will follow throughout their life. Our embrace, together, reaffirms this principle!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: Please remember that this particular post is a pure fantasy publication.

The next post entry for here is planned for Saturday, April 30, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! April, 2022!”

Holy Easter, 2022!

A Paschal (Easter) Angel!

At midnight tomorrow night, the bells on Greek Orthodox churches (actually, all Orthodox churches) will begin to ring and the congregations will commence to transmit the flame of light from one paschal candle to another while chanting “Kristos anesti” (Christ is risen). The Easter liturgy for 2022 will start; continuing a tradition that began almost 2,000 years ago.

Afterwards, the congregants will exchange the greeting “Kala Pascha” (good Easter)! While sharing best wishes, they will hold red-dyed eggs in the palm of their hand tapping the eggs of others, in the attempt to crack open the shells of every egg they encounter and emerge with their own egg unscathed and intact!

The egg champion!

Everyone then hurries home for the opening of gifts, the devouring of the Easter breakfast and the mad rush to crawl into bed before sunrise! The Easter feast begins at 4:30 p.m., on Sunday afternoon! Of course, all are completely famished by the time that comes to pass!

Of course, the family gathering is sparse for us. Aaron, my spouse, and I will host Twin (Alex) and his partner Dante, and our first cousin, Michael Poladopoulos and his soon-to-be spouse, Ropati. The remainder of our families all reside in Greece so we do the best that we can to ensure that Easter is a memorable event.

All of us are bare practitioners so there is most definitely a hasty drive from St. Sophia’s Cathedral in northwest Washington, D.C., to our condominium in Arlington, Virginia. We’ll all need to remove our church attire – pronto! Aaron and I have a one bedroom unit, therefore, space is limited. Fortunately, clothing concerns are not an issue for any of us! We avoid a grooming disaster by shaving/showering as a couple and not individually.

Lambropsomo – Easter Bread!

Everyone plans on arriving this afternoon (Friday). In making the Lambropsomo (Easter Bread), we use ya-ya’s (paternal grandmother’s) recipe which both Alex and Michael (as well as myself) own. My culinary skills are nonexistent; however, I do posses the handmade wooden rising bowl that belonged to ya-ya’s mother (our great-grandmother). It is an antique. The Lambropsomo is an eighteen hour process so preparation starts tonight. Ropati has no interest in baking so the two of us plan to play backgammon (tavloo) while the remainder work in our kitchen. As my Aaron so aptly determined: “We’ll keep the R’s (Roger and Ropati) out of our space so we can handle (complete) our business (cooking)!” Rest assured, Ropati and I both intend to comply with those wishes!

Easter feast preparation!

I don’t know for certain if Ropati’s kitchen skills are as poor as mine – however, as long as the majority of our guests are content with the food preparation, I am content to accede to their every desire and need! Too many in our tiny kitchen space can only create chaos, confusion and disaster!

Our Easter Sunday plans are to be laid back and relaxed for most of the day. With the bulk of the meal preparation completed in advance, our 4:30 p.m., dinner will be followed by our guests departing for their homes. Aaron and I prefer doing our own clean-up after the meal as our time to “calm” after a condominium full of family for the entire weekend. Monday is a full day at work for the both of us!

Decorated buttocks!

And a very depressing thought: almost all of my fellow professors at university observed Western Easter the week before. Their holiday recovery is very complete! I have yet to go through the motions!

Kala Pascha to everyone!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, April 25, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “April Appeal: Fantasy!”

Surprise!

A welcoming invitation!

“Come on! Remove all your clothes so that we all can have a naked celebration today!”

Make the day fun!

Since publishing ReNude Pride, on numerous occasions I have written here that my spouse, Aaron, and I share this month because of our birthdays. In honour of our “special day,” this surprise (unannounced) post entry celebrates the event. I will note that our birthdays are not on the same day! Although we are a married couple, a joint birthdate is just too coincidental! Plus, I already share the day with Alex, my identical twin!

The uniqueness of our birth situations are cause for us to offer a treat to all of you. Please accept a serving of our birthday cake as a token of our appreciation and gratitude for your friendship and support! Help us to commemorate this date by “doing something naked today!”

A cake on his “cakes!”

Today’s bare undertaking doesn’t require any elaborate consideration. Even the simplest and slightest gesture – shrouded in nudity – provides enough happiness and joy for the remainder of the month and beyond!

“Thank you!”

Please “read” his lips! He’s mouthing the words “thank you” from the both of us directly towards each of you!

“Once I have given to you my nudity, that’s the complete gift. In all honesty, there is nothing else left to give. You have the full picture, the total me!”

Aaron: afternoon nap!

Our naked contribution for today, in addition to being born nude, is a reposting of an image of my beloved spouse clothes free (above)!

At a picnic table in the park!

And finally, one of your truly, doing what he does best: nakedness!

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry for here is planned for Friday, April 8, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “Revival!”

April Arrives!

April blooms!

Notation: I’m unsure of the names of the above flowering plants not their blooming schedule. The pictures are for illustrative purposes only!

During my primary (elementary) school years, Alex, my identical twin brother, and I always dreaded the date; April 1. It was designated April Fool’s Day which we both interpreted as implying that the entire month was committed to fools! Since our birthday is during this month, we resented the offensive implication!

Nick, our oldest brother, always playfully teases us as being his very own “April fools!” This sibling harassment persists even though we’re all older and supposedly mature. Whenever around, our remaining brothers and our mother simply sit back and laugh!

It is then that the laughter is replaced by caution. Inevitably, one of our beloved brothers manages to recall from our earlier years an incident involving either Alex or myself – if not us both – and the humour soon resumes.

The beauty of April!

Coincidentally, my spouse, Aaron’s birthday is also in April. I remember the first time he was with my family during the month (we were only dating at that time). Nick, (unaware of Aaron’s birthdate) made his usual caustic remark about his “April fools.”

Aaron immediately retorted, “You can always identify a fool by the family and friends that he has with him!”

My father (alive at that time), turned to my oldest brother and said, “Nick, you have just been usurped by one far better than you!”

For a moment, everyone was serious and silent. Then my family burst into laughter! The adage, “He who laughs last, laughs best!” was proven true once again!

April Appeal Series:

During this month, April, 2022, ReNude Pride will feature a series entitled “April Appeal.” The initial post entry for this enterprise will appear here on Monday, April 4, and is a photo-essay focused on April Appeal: Bromance concentrating on same gender love (SGL). The goal is to offer (hopefully) at least one posted entry each week of this month dealing or exploring the various “appeal” aspects of April. Other planned subjects include social nudity and followed by nakations.

An extraordinary commemoration of yet another Springtime here in the Northern Hemisphere. As it is still early in this new season, a gentle reminder to everyone that it isn’t too late to implement any Spring Resolutions for personal development, growth and improvement!

Finally, an expression of my appreciation to my spouse, Aaron, for his active collaboration and cooperation in composing and designing of this particular entry of April Appeal: Bromance. He found the photographs of the interracial bare practitioner couple this article contains because he felt they reflected us – bare together and proud! Thank you, my love!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry planned for here is Monday, April 4, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “April Appeal: Bromance!”

First Day of Spring, 2022!

Happy Day! Spring returns!

Good news! Great news! Terrific news! Springtime returns for 2022! Flowers will begin to blossom, birds will soon become active and leaves will reappear on trees. The season that brings us promises of rebirth and renewal will soon begin to show us all the colours of Mother Nature!

No matter what else happens today, the joy of the arrival of another Spring makes this day not only “special” but “exceptional!”

From our own experiences, we all know that the arrival of a new season doesn’t bring a sudden change in outdoor temperatures. The seasonal evolution is accompanied by a gradual variation in our weather patterns. This enables our bodies to adopt to the climate adjustment.

Spring foliage returns!

It also affords us the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the welcome adjustments that Spring always brings to our barren winter landscape! Nature reclaims beauty and splendour as we reclaim our natural lives!

Happy arrival of Spring, 2022!

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, March 21, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “Spring Resolutions, 2022!”

An Irish Toast!

An Irish toast!

A shot glass full of favourite Irish beverage and a bare, soaking leprechaun (Irish elf) illustrate ReNude Pride’s salute to St. Patrick’s Day! There is no St. Patrick in the Eastern Orthodox Church (in general) nor the Greek Orthodox Church (specifically) so I’m unsure if this the Irish saint’s birthday or the anniversary of his exile of all snakes from Ireland.

At the end of the rainbow!

To allow the body to be seen in its nakedness. to say nothing of being touched and embraced, is to show the soul in all its glory and complexity.” Thomas Moore, Irish poet

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Sunday, March 20, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “The First Day of Spring!”

The Naked and The Nude!

The Shoneye Twins: Is Darren (left) brave and Daniel (right) modest?

Introduction:

It has been quite a few years since we visited Robert Graves’ poem, The Naked and The Nude. The entire poem is posted here immediately following this introduction. Graves, the poet, paved the pathway that continues to divide the clothes free community today: Are you naked? Are you nude? Which label best identifies you?

Graves understood nude as being without clothes. He felt that naked, although also without clothes, as being similar to “vulnerable.”

Generations of society have interpreted “naked” as being involuntary and “nude” as being voluntary. For example, a communal shower is mandatory following a required physical education class. It is part of the class routine. As a result, while showering, the entire class is naked. It is an involuntary action as the goal is personal hygiene.

A typical Sunday afternoon activity for a group of friends is to go skinny-dipping. While swimming or lounging in the sun afterwards, everyone is nude. After all, it was a voluntary choice to go skinny-dipping with friends. The end result is to have fun and relax together.

The Shoneye Twins: Overly cautious?

The two images of the Shoneye twins above, Daniel and Darren, feature them both without a piece of clothing on their body. The determination of whether they are naked or nude depends to their intent and the interpretation of the person viewing the photograph. Both twins publicly acknowledge being bare practitioners (same gender loving and body and clothes freedom enthusiasts. I am unaware of either of them, privately or publicly, ever disclosing a preference for naked or nude in describing themselves.

The Naked and The Nude

by Robert Graves

(1895 – 1985)

For me, the naked and the nude

(By lexicographers construed

As synonyms that should express

The same deficiency of dress

Or shelter) stand as wide apart

As love from lies, or truth from art.

Lovers without reproach will gaze

On bodies naked and ablaze;

The Hippocratic eye will see

In nakedness, anatomy;

And naked shines the Goddess when

She mounts her lion among men.

The nude are bold, the nude are sly

To hold each treasonable eye.

While draping by a showman’s trick

Their dishabille in rhetoric,

They grin a mock-religious grin

Of scorn at those of naked skin.

The naked, therefore, who compete

Against the nude may know defeat;

Yet when they both together tread

The briary pastures of the dead,

By Gorgons with long whips pursued,

How naked go the sometime nude!

The Shoneye twins: who’s naked and who’s nude?

Summary

Robert Graves poem, The Naked and The Nude, presents to all of us with the reality that within our very own culture of body and clothes freedom the debate over naked and nude is all consuming for many of our people. The same applies to the conflict between those who consider themselves naturist and those who consider themselves nudist.

In the minds of many, the differing labels are practically synonymous – identical. The subtle definitions may evolve over the years but in essence the meaning of each word remains consistent. ReNude Pride utilizes “bare practitioner” as well as “body and clothes freedom” whenever possible in order to distance itself from entanglement with proponents of the different persuasions.

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry for here is planned for Sunday, March 13, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “USA Goes DST!”

March Mayhem!

Body and clothes freedom jogger!

For many of us who reside in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March, annually, often qualifies itself as the “the month of chaos and confusion!” Why? Rarely, if ever, do the days follow any natural pattern or sequence. The entire month is notorious for being breezy or windy or whatever choice word one prefers to use to describe the air velocity. It can be calm one day and then chaotic the next – all accompanied by temperature extremes: cold, hot, moderate, warm and or freezing.

Definite chaos. Confirmed confusion. Variable levels of comfort that collectively satisfy very few – if any at all! Inconsistency and instability dominate each day. Precipitation can range from rain to sleet to snow to ice and sometimes all during the same day – then arrogantly repeating itself the following day – although not necessarily in the identical order! Bottom line (basic thought): March is unpredictable!

The jogger featured here today caught my attention after I had already selected the theme for this post entry here on ReNude Pride as March Mayhem. My reasoning for choosing his images is simple: opposites attract one another.

Jogging bare practitioner!

Obviously, he’s a bare practitioner with both confidence and pride! He is also comfortable posing for a video sharing his daily routine and his full body (wearing only shoes on his feet). Absolutely oblivious as to what else is happening in the rural world around him.

No guilt or shame over any aspect of his nudity. No attempt to conceal any part of his anatomy. No embarrassment on having his nakedness broadcast to social media worldwide. A bold bare practitioner encouraging others, by setting the example, to just do the same! A man being himself: reality with no excuses or qualm!

My original title for today’s title was “March Madness.” My spouse, Aaron, upon reading the draft reminded me that this was the former name of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) university basketball tournament. He suggested the change and I’m grateful for his recommendation! He also liked the jogger’s .gif pictures.

Earlier this year (January), I published here New Year’s Resolutions. (Click the title to link to the post). I endorsed the idea of creating resolutions on the first day of spring every year as opposed to the tradition of New Year’s Day. Spring begins on March 20, 2022. Aaron joins with me in urging all of us to resolve now to become better, bolder and braver bare practitioners for at least the remainder of 2022!

“To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.” ~ John Churton Collins ~

All the while, our jogging friend continues on his task of being true to himself: a committed bare practitioner! Dedicated, dynamic and energetic! Loyally enjoying and pursuing his belief in the ideals of both body and clothes freedoms!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, March 11, 2022, and the proposed topic is: The Naked and The Nude!”

Lens Pose!

The lens capturing the subject!

While growing up in predominately textile (clothes wearing) families, the majority of us are taught of the “evils” and undesirability of being seen/viewed naked or nude. No matter that we’re all born naked. Our caregivers and parents insist this is absolutely not the way to be!

Today’s posting celebrates two sets of siblings, notorious bare practitioners: bold, brave and publicly proud celebrities!

Daniel and Darren (Junior) Shoneye:

Comfortable Daniel Shoneye (left) modest Darren Shoneye (right)!

Both of these Nigerian-born, same gender loving (SGL) identical twins live in London, UK, and model as well as serve as GLBTQ+ rights advocates throughout the British Commonwealth. Daniel is also a personal trainer.

Darren (left) loses some of his modesty while Daniel (right) remains relaxed!

Both of the Shoneye brothers are featured in some SGL adult films and are more frequently receiving modeling assignments that do not require the wearing of clothing! Way to go, guys!

Bottoms-Up! Shoneye twins!

Both keep physically toned and have no guilt over appearing in their human “natural” form! They definitely “earn” their way in our world!

*************************

Gio Dell and his half-brother, Armani:

Gio Dell (left) and his half-brother, Armani (right)!

Gio Dell and his half-brother, Armani, are from Venezuela and currently live in the U.S. They have the same mother but different fathers. Gio is the older of the duo.

Armani prepares Gio for a fresh facial shave outside!

Armani grooms Gio in the colored photo above. Below, the same image is repeated in the black/white version.

The black/white edition of the above image!

The picture below depicts Armani preparing Gio for a grooming session, inside rather than outside.

Prepping Gio only inside rather than outside!

The two half-brothers work well together and both are separately pursuing careers in the SGL film industry!

Enjoy the last weekend in February!

Take care and stay bare!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry planned for here is Monday, February 28, 2022, the proposed topic is: “Bottom’s Up! February, 2022”

Leap Year Day!

Jumping and leaping in the desert may not be for everyone – there are countless numbers of bare practitioners who are truly addicted to the beaches! However, the global phenomenon known as Leap Year only happens once every four years, so I imagine it is one occasional occurance that the overwhelming majority of us can live with! To everyone, Happy Leap Year and happy leap year day!

Continue reading Leap Year Day!