Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Last Night in Amsterdam




This photo was taken on March 13th, 2009, the last night in Amsterdam. As you may know, I lived in Den Haag in early 2008. So a friend of mine, Mark (the tiny man in the middle poking his head out between the two Amazons) and I decided to spend a few nights in Amsterdam.


The big girl on the right is Aimee Molleman, a Dutch bodybuilder. Her next show will be in Holland around October 10th. I will be back in Europe then, so Mark and I may just try to get to her show. We decided to get into some sexier outfits, since we were both wearing black boots that night, we decided to show off a little.


Mark is great friends with the famous Amazon, Isabelle, who owned her own wrestling club, Abundance, in Amsterdam. I never got the chance to meet her, and she has since sold her home in Amsterdam and is residing in Portugal now.


At the time this photo was taken, we had just eaten at the Hotel Okura Japanese restaurant, known for Teppan style cooking. We then decided to do this impromptu photoshoot.


Perhaps if we reunite in October, you will get to see more of our get togethers, and Aimee will be in super ripped contest shape!


Hercules

This is Hercules, my last baby kitty addition to the Bengal boys family. He turned one year old April 1st, 2009. I have this game where I chase him and stalk him, and he runs away from me and thinks he is safe on top of his cat tree. My other two Bengal boys, Zeus and Cesare have accepted him, of course, and they all keep each other company while I am gone. Hercules is by far the most energetic of the three, with Cesare coming in a close second, and Zeus, well, he is not even in the race.

I want to get them a catwheel so they can get more exercise. A Bengal cat is a hybrid between an Asian Leopard Cat, and a domestic tabby. They love to leap a lot on high objects.

I sure do miss them and playing with them when I am on the road. But, we all have a great time when I get home.

I am heading into the next several days with lots of shoots lined up, so stay tuned!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

I just visited one of my best friends, Al, in San Diego the past two days. It was very hot in SD! Now, I am in Palm Desert. It's even hotter here! Then off to LA and Vegas...even hotter. I will be happy to return to Albuquerque in one week.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Big shoulders


I trained shoulders for the first time in a few weeks, and my neck, traps, shoulders and medial deltoid are in a lot of pain. Romeo spotted me on my shoulder presses, and everything felt really good during the training, but I knew I would be in pain for a few days after that training session. But, after all the pain, and lots of good protein, the result will be well worth it. As you can see in this pose for this post, I am here again, with my friend, Rebecca Swanson. We look like bookends here, don't we?

Anyway, I must pack for California for my shoots in LA and Vegas. I am looking forward to the week ahead, and accomplishing a lot of good work and producing exciting content. I have everything down to a science now when I pack, with my virtual office of a computer (sometimes two), my Canon GL2, my camera, my tripod which fits nicely in my large silver Rimowa flexible suitcase. I must pack civilian clothes and fantasy clothes along with boots and shoes. And, another suitcase gets make up and hair stuff. It's bad enough that I have a shoe fetish, but trying to fit photoshoo/videoshoot clothing, particularly fetish wear, which is not lightweight, along with all of the accoutrements of being a woman just gets to be plain exhausting. All of my friends wherever I go ask me "why do you pack so much stuff"? Which gets the animated, well rehearsed response, "This is my virtual office, that's my life in those two bags for a month. Can you fit your entire office in a a couple of suitcases and a computer bag?" And, I always tell them I leave nothing out, as I like to have all the creature comforts of home. Forget about shopping for anything. I often have to ship boxes home from wherever I am or buy additional suitcases. I do not believe in economy size anything! LOL. Then, of course, they begin to understand that I am a mobile office on two giant polycarbonate Rimowa suitcases (thank God they stretch), and my other small bags. Generally, the total weight is about 106 pounds in luggage, right on the limit (mostly a few pounds over), but the guys at Southwest Airlines always let me slide in Albuquerque, and about another 40 pounds in computer and cameras. I have figured out that since the Rimowas are like trolleys, as they have four wheels, I can stack the computer on top of one, and the camera on top of the other. It always aggravates me when someone tries to help me with my bags, because, despite my briefing them to treat them like trolleys, and stack the other two items on top, they never seem to get it and are unable to manage it. I have gotten really good at manhandling these heavy suitcases all over airports throughout the world, and as long as I don't have ramps and uneven surfaces to negotiate, it's pretty much smooth sailing. I always warn the cabbies and bus drivers to be careful lifting my bags because they are heavier than most normal bags. I always chuckle to myself as I watch them wince and strain, but have a deadpan face while they are heaving the bags. It makes me very appreciative of my hard work in the gym and athletic background to be able to manage these bags. Train stations are problematic, though and that is the only occasion I may take a real trolley cart, unless I have a travel companion. I always remind anyone that picks me up at the airport to bring their utility car and not the fancy sports car.

During this two week breather from the cybernet conferences I attended, I got a lot of work done at home, and many things accomplished. My jack-of-all trades assistant for my technologies and special projects for the website, Dave, got me on track in many ways. We have been getting my MacPro at home squared away with the right software and organized, and I just gave him the Macbook to help me with the projects. He now has all the video and photos for upcoming updates. I also just got a new Iphone, which is very cool. I transitioned from the Blackberry, and now, there is no turning back. The Iphone ruins you for all other phones. Now, I can truly interface with my fans on a regular basis via the blog and Twitter as well as other social networks. It has a decent little phone and video camera on it as well. I can upload to my site and wherever I choose. So, this is going to be a lot of fun!

It feels good to accomplish so much, as well as get on track at the gym and a normal food schedule. It will feel even better to be home for an extended period of time and actually live in my house and enjoy the beautiful late summer and fall of the most beautiful sunrises and desert, and mountains in the world, and all of the exciting cultural events in Santa Fe in Albuquerque that occur during this time.

Stay tuned!


Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Honoring my roots

When I was born in Cleveland Ohio, July 26th, 1967, I was born to an Omaha/Shoshone Bannock woman, named Lucille Levering. I did not know about my native roots or tribal background until I turned 26. I was adopted and lived with great parents, and family structure in Peninsula, Ohio. They also adopted my brother right before me, who is of Dine/Lakota descent.

After graduating from Gannon University in 1990, I moved out to New Mexico, serving in the United States Air Force at Canon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. I always knew that if I moved to the great Southwest, I would more than likely end up meeting more Indian people, and perhaps learning more about my heritage and culture.

One time, while I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Gathering of Nations powwow, the largest powwow in North America. I befriended an Acoma artist, and he encouraged me to make an announcement for my family, someone from the Omaha tribe. He said, certainly, someone would come forward and claim me. I did not want this, not because I did not want to know, but because I did not think this was the proper way to go about this kind of thing. So, very shortly thereafter, I picked up the phone and called the Omaha tribe, where my adoptive father enrolled me, even though I did not know where the blood lineage (maternal or paternal) came from. The enrollment officer told me she would look into my files and see if she could contact my mother or father. Very shortly thereafter, she called me back and told me she knew who my mother was and that we were related through my grandfather.

All of this news came so fast and unexpectedly, but that's how life is, isn't it? I went back to the Omaha tribe for the first time in 1993, met my mother and twin brothers at the airport, and drove up to Macy, Nebraska for the first time. They had a big community gathering for me, and I spoke of how I wanted to be named and blessed into the tribe. They were surprised that I knew of this ceremony.

I used to work with my mother as a baker at a Boy Scout Camp in Peninsula, Ohio, from the time I was 12 and through my teen years. The boy scouts lore and much of their philosophy is adapted after American Indian culture, particularly living in the outdoors. My mother and I worked in this old building at Camp Manatoc, and it was the dining hall that hosted hundreds of scouts. In the attic of this old wooden building, was a huge thick, green bound book about an Indian tribe in the midwest. The dining hall director gave my mother the book, so I always looked at the photos and tried to read the names. After I graduated from college and went into the military, my parents gave me the book.

Years later, little did I know, that this book was the first comprehensive ethnological study done on an Indian tribe, and it was the Omaha tribe. It's funny how the irony of life stares you in the face, and sometimes, if you are aware, you begin to understand it, and embrace it.

In this case, it was not ironic. Out of all of the Indian tribes in all of the USA, there are approximately 550 federally recognized tribes. The chances of that book finding it's way into my home, was a blessing by the Creator early on in my life. It was a message to me that one day, I would find my native roots, even though, as a young woman, I had no idea that my ancestors in this book were calling me....calling me to come home.

After that day in 1993 when I met my family, it's as if a missing link or part of a puzzle had been found. I was blessed into the tribe as "Ponca-sa", an old name that means "white or pale Ponca". The Poncas were closely related to the Omahas. From that day forward, I began to understand more fully my purpose on earth. It is difficult to explain the significance and impact this discovery had on my life. But, most importantly, I knew my native roots, and I was grateful to my adoptive family even more for always supporting me, and allowing me to discover and explore life, always encouraging me to "become" whatever I choose in life.

My relatives prayed for me, and blessed me, and it gave me inner strength and peace. I truly believe that the naming ceremony and being welcomed into the Omaha tribe laid the perfect foundation for me for the rest of my life.

This photo was taken by the world famous female physique photographer, Bill Dobbins, in 2002. Bill encouraged me to compete in bodybuilding--so I did, and the following year, I added 10 pounds of muscle to my frame and won my first show ever, the Mid USAs in Albuquerque, New Mexico.


Monday, July 13, 2009

Grrrrr! This photo was taken on Sanibel Island, Florida, August, 2007. I loved the water breaking into my hard ass and it was so cool there, and the water was perfect. There is something that is so extremely erotic and sensual about the tide breaking, ebbing and flowing, spanking my hard ass and, errr, ummmm, other things...it feels so good! You can see that white cusp of a wave, getting ready to spank my ass from behind, and it just sneaks up on me. The eroticism of the beach has always turned me on, the sensuality of the sand, getting dirty and wet, it's as if I am making love to the ocean! And nothing feels better, being in the water, it's so invigorating and refreshing.

I loved being on the North Shore in Oahu, and this feeling at Sanibel was similar.

I am preparing to leave for California this week, and I am so pumped up to go! I will reunite with many friends, and explore many opportunities.

Please stay tuned for more Amber Steel! I promise to update you in all of my travels around the world, and I will introduce you to my inner world of friends.

Cheers!
Amber

Saturday, July 11, 2009

While I have not posted in two days, this generally means I am either super busy or very tired, and more than likely, both. I am working fervently on the website, ensuring updates are timely and things are edited. I usually only have about two weeks to get everything up to speed before I am off on travel again, collecting content and exploring the world.

Fortunately, I am going to get as much content shot in the next couple of weeks here in July so I can just work on the editing and fine tuning of the website in August and September. I will be leaving for Europe in October. This really is a full time job! When I left federal service, three years ago to date this coming September, I knew the work before me was going to be a big hurdle. But, the fun certainly has been in the journey of learning (not the financial expenses, though!). But, as they say, "that's life". But, I could not think of anything I would want to be doing more right now. And that's the best feeling in life, when you wake up in the morning and feel invigorated for the day, anxious to work on new projects and learn new things.

I took two entire days off from the gym, and more than likely, today to give my body a rest. I find that as I age, I push my body much harder, and I have no mercy on myself when it comes to training. So, I find myself pretty sore, even when I am going "light". I can train shoulders and arms tomorrow.

I am off to San Diego this week, and then, Palm Desert, and finally Los Angeles to finally do a shoot with "Goddess Heather". She used to be a top middleweight bodybuilder in the early to mid 90's. Then, it will be off to the USAs, which will be jam packed busy shooting with all the girls.

I get one more week to play with my three Bengal boy cats, Zeus, Cesare, and Hercules. Stay tuned, and I will post some photos of them!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Back Day


Left, Yours truly, and right, the Strongest Woman in the World, Rebecca Swanson

Today was back day, and I trained at my favorite gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Liberty Gym, where this photo was taken with my friend, Rebecca Swanson, the strongest woman in the world. We both weighed in at 215 the day this photo was taken, January 31st, 2009. That was with platform boots and our wrestling outfits! I have met Rebecca over the past few years at the Olympia and Arnold Classic Expos, but never really got the chance to know her. My first opportunity to really hang out with her was in November of 2008, and we met in LA concidentally, and she asked me if I would join her for a workout at Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California, the mecca of bodybuilding. I was all too happy to do so, as this is analogous to a college basketball player playing with Michael Jordan, or a golfer with Tiger Woods for the day. I was in iron heaven! I told her that I always wanted to learn how to deadlift better, and asked her if she would critique my form, and she was all too happy to assist. Rebecca was the first woman to ever benchpress 600 pounds in a powerlifting meet, and total over 2,000 pounds as well (benchpress/squat/deadlift). When she was at the top of her powerlifting game, she weighed somewhere in the vicinity of 240 plus pounds. Since that time, she has decided to retire from powerlifting, and streamline her physique. Before she started powerlifting, which, amazingly enough, only about ten years ago, she did a few bodybuilding shows, and I remember her when she appeared in the magazine, Women's Physique World, because I used to collect them when they were still publishing. While at Gold's, we suited up in our gym attire, and when she came down the stairs, she could have eclipsed the sun. I asked her how much she weighed, and she told me around 210 lbs. I did not believe her, and made her jump on the scale to prove it, as her upper body was just too massive, and she appeared all of 225 lbs. So, she hopped on, and she weighed 211, and that day, I weighed 209. I told her I could not believe she only weighed a couple more pounds than me, but she was quick to point out that my legs and ass were much larger than hers, and I had to agree that was true. All the years of her heavy benching and deadlifting was quite evident in her thick barrel chest, wide back, and huge arms.

We warmed up with some light deadlifts, about 135 pounds. Rebecca then loaded the bar up to about 185 and watched me ever so closely, and then gave me pointers on foot positioning, hand positioning, and the technical merits of a proper deadlift. She told me my form was good, and that I would be a great deadlifter. My long arms helped in the deadlift. We topped out at right around 300 for a few reps, so not bad for a light training day. Rebecca and I are right about the same height, 5 ' 9". Which is very tall for a powerlifter, particularly a female, as the levers are longer and in some lifts, not conducive to huge lifts because of the distance the weight/bar must travel. But, mind over matter, it does not matter if you have the will to do it!

All in all, we had a great workout and finished up with some pulls and rows. Rebecca attracted a lot of attention in the gym, and a few fans recognized her. She has elegant composure, and decorum, and is so sweet and kind to everyone. My friend, Al and I dropped her off with some of her friends that did a documentary on her, I believe it is entitled "Strongest Ever", and they are college students form Ithaca College, New York. They followed her lifestyle as an elite world class powerflifter for about two years.

I had a great time with Rebecca at the gym, and it felt more like playful fun rather than work, and she is a very patient coach. I could tell she has a natural grace and style to coach, and she truly enjoys it. She owns her own gym and personal training business in Omaha, Nebraska.

While we were filming in Albuquerque, we were supposed to have a volunteer "victim" for size comparisons, but he bailed out early (I thought he was too intimidated). I will be certain to secure him in the future, I promise you that; he will not escape me the next time. In his place, we recruited the desk manager, and tempted him to get into the video with us. Rebecca was ever so charming to persuade him, and he agreed! I applauded her for her charm and efforts. She was definitely on her "A" game! However, when we got to the nitty gritty of size comparisons, he balked on being in the video, and I will post a photo of our "trainee" in a subsequent post. He was very gracious to volunteer his body and appear in our video as the measurer of our biceps. In between takes, Rebecca coached him on how to increase his benchpress by performing some one arm tricep extensions with a dumbbell, and I saw how she was ever so diligent in helping him, much as she was with me in coaching me on my deadlift at Gold's in Venice Beach.

So, back to the featured photo of this post. I invited Rebecca to come out to my home in Albuquerque, New Mexico so we could do a little videoshoot, and perform on webcam at www.HerBicepscam.com. So, we shot a few hours on January 31, 2009, and got some decent footage. We will more than likely do some more work in the near future, as we would like to produce some entertaining DVDs of two big strong girls doing what we do best. At the moment, Rebecca is training to become a professional wrestler, so she told me that she is in pro wrestling school, and has her nose to the grindstone, learning all the moves and bumps. I truly admire her ability and aptitude to shift gears from a huge Amazon, Worlds Strongest Woman Ever, to pro wrestler. She makes her debut in a few more days, so I am excited to hear how she will do. I am really excited to see how she will lift men overhead and throw them around like ragdolls.

So, every time I go into the gym now, I think of Big Becca, the strongest girl ever on the planet, and I envision being as strong and as big as I can be. She truly is an inspiring woman, and what's more, is the fact that she has a heart of gold.


Leg Day


Everyone from fitness competitors, to figure girls, to hardcore bodybuilders absolutely dread "leg day". Probably because it is the largest muscle group in the body (then back), and it requires lots of oxygen, pain tolerance, and guts to get through a tough leg day. It also separates the men from the boys, shall we say, OK, and the women from the girls. Nothing connotes a powerful physique more than a great pair of legs.

I decided to go light today, and focus on strict, tight form, and get out of the gym in an hour. Which is very difficult to do on leg day, but when one trains alone, like I do most of the time, it can be done. So, I did Smith Machine squats, after a three set warm up, then went on to do 3x10, super deep, ass to calves squats, staying tight. Afterwards, I could feel my thighs engorged with blood, and throbbing. They were already beginning to get stiff from lactic acid build up, so I stretched a lot in between. I trained at the New Mexico Sports and Wellness club tonight, and there are not many hardcore athletes there, so I am always amused by the stares I get, probably due to my size and the weight I am always lifting, even though it is light by my standards.

I have had a good diet of chicken, rice and fish the past couple of days, and it feels really good to eat clean food at home again, versus being on the road. The kiss of death is airport food, but sometimes you gotta eat it! If I am lucky, I can find a decent chicken salad in a restaurant, otherwise, those terrible kiosks are the worst.

Tomorrow will be back day, then shoulder day, then arm day on Friday. The soreness has already settled into my chest from yesterday, and my legs will be moderately sore tomorrow.

I am off to perform on webcam at www.Herbicepscam.com, to capture the noctural fans here in the USA, but mostly the Euros.

The updates on my website, www.GoddessofFetish.com are going well, and eventually, I will offer specialty webcam shows on the site. The website is always a "work in progress", and it can only get better. I am confident that with my new team, it will become a work of art.


Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Back in the Saddle

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Ok, so I got some good rest today, and I am at the gym to train chest. More news later!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I am going to take a much needed nap. When I awake, I will fill you in on my travels.
Just returned from my trip, had lots of fun, and met lots exciting people, playmates, and associates. It feels great to be back in the desert sun in NM.