First Experiences

[MeekMe]

Being new to D/s I've been reading a lot and have found a lot of overwhelming articles and blogs. Even here in this discussion board, I guess it's a little intimidating.

What I'd like to use this thread for is to just hear about first experiences or realizations. When did you know you wanted to do what you do?

For me, I'm submissive. It is a new realization, but the more I think about it, I'm sure this is just natural for me. I want only to be of use to my husband and make him very happy. Our entire relationship I've been doing my best to make him happy. For over 10 years I've called him affectionately "Mister" which when other people hear it they think "That's so cute!" Now that I think about it though, it's far different from cute. I love taking care of all his needs and have decided that this path is what I want. He's slowly easing into a more dominant position and we're learning together. Still, I'm intimidated by everything and was hoping to hear if it was the same for others.

I guess I'm not looking for a full out story (feel free to share, if you'd like) but just how you felt or why you felt it. It would be nice to know everyone didn't start off with lots of experience and that at one point it was something new and exciting.

^_^ Also, I'm sorry if this isn't a new or interesting thread. If there's a place this has already been done, I'd love a link and I'll happily let this die.

 

[spoiledchrissy7]

Hi. I am newer as well. I have played her and there but nothing overly heavy. For me right now its more about the mental aspect of submitting. I am very much in control, work, family, friends, I am that yes person that organizes and runs everything. I'm finding it liberating to relinquish that control and just be.

With that said I find myself pushing a lot. Its more about pushing within me. The control freak battling with the desire to submit.

When I think with my heart (and pussy ) all is well! Its when that pesky brain of my butts in!

I got a little rambly but the short answer is nope you are not alone!

 

[MeekMe]

What a relief ^_^;;

Thank you for replying, spoiledchrissy7. I don't have much of a hang up about submitting. I guess I'm so shy that it's difficult for me to openly express myself. I'll keep trying.

 

[KoPilot]

In high school and college I found myself reading a lot of porn about rapists breaking and entering, stories that ended with someone dead, stories about concubines, giant robots with giant dicks and bodies made out of 2 tons of sharp, grinding metal. And so forth.

One day I woke up and went "hm I think something's up" and lo, something was up.

A lot of the stories I liked were completely fantastical so I didn't really think to bring it into my real life. My tastes changed. I told my husband about it and he has a grand old time tying me up and hitting me and making me do stupid stuff now.

That's about it, really.

 

[Oubliette123]

I remember watching wacky races (showing my age!) as a child and seeing Penelope Pitstop bound in ropes to the railway tracks and feeling a weird whiz in my tummy.

My first fantasies always involved a faceless hunk and usually involved chasing, kidnap, torture and fucking while being tied up. I went on to have a very vanilla marriage. I was not afraid exactly to share my fantasies, but I was very young a bit naive and in a way I wanted to keep it my secret. It was my escapism in my head and without the internet back then I didn't realise a lifestyle like this existed. I never felt guilt at my thoughts but rather a sense of self when I would go into my world in my head.

When I met my PLY, looking back I see I naturally gravitated towards someone who is dominant in nature and has high expectations in many ways. To want to strive to meet his expectations was a huge relief, and I found my secret world didn't need to be locked away as we could explore it freely.

 

[DVS]

I've surely told this story more than a few times. This isn't the first thread of this type, here. Anyway, if you've already heard this, skip to the next post.

I've known I liked tying up women since a very early age. My first time spanking a naked behind was the age of 12. She was 10. I played little kinky games that a child of that age would think up with several of the neighborhood girls. We had no idea why we liked it, though. We just knew we did.

Thinking back, I really wish we'd had the Internet for information. Magazines weren't sold to minors and so I didn't know anything about BDSM until many years later. I was very confused and often rejected for being a pervert in those middle years, when I asked the high school girls if I could spank them.

It's not good to get a reputation like that, living in a town of 2,000, in the early '60, so I pretty much kept my urges to myself until my college years. Ah, what those high school girls missed out on.

 

[MeekMe]

Thank you, for all the replies. Turns out my own experiences are very similar, especially with KoPilot.
DVS, I probably would have let you spank me, and then agonized over why I let you do it, lol. Hadn't seen previous posts, thanks for sharing again ^_^

What brought me here to learn more was actually a chance meeting. I had invited a guy to play in a Saturday night table top RPG with me and some friends. He showed up early and I was the only one at the bar. I was going to ask him about his girlfriend and he corrected me saying she was His girl. I think I looked a little like this -> (o_0). He explained why he wasn't hiding it and then told me a little about local munches and that he had also done some mentoring. I probably chuckled nervously, and maybe he thought he made me uncomfortable. Actually I was curious.

The craziest thing (at the time I thought I was crazy) I was thinking "maybe if Mister could meet him, he could learn a little about it." I quickly trashed that idea because I figured I was crazy. I did however look into munches and found myself learning more. Now, I'm here and Mister is doing his best.

 

[SirBruin]

Seems youve warmed the waters...my advice would be to find a story here that especially turns you on and let him read it. Tell him your not sure if your ready to be treated like character x just yet but you think you might in the future....he needs to know where your parameters are so he knows how much he needs to or doesnt need to hold back.

 

[hylas_]

I'm actually also in the process of exploring BDSM in real life. I say "in real life" because it had been part of my fantasy world since I was a little child and part of my porn collection since puberty. But for the longest time, I was perfectly happy with a vanilla sex life.

When I decided to start exploring BDSM in real, I had a couple of false starts. I first opened up to a boyfriend in my early 20es. He was open to it but also inexperienced in the matter. We gave it one try, which included bondage and a dildo, and it was incredibly awkward and unfulfilling. It actually kind of scared me away for several years. Such a strong reaction seems a little silly in retrospect, but what can I say, I can be very shy sometimes.

I finally tried about six months ago again - I'm in my late 20es now - with a guy I'm seeing regularly, and with whom I have amazing sexual chemistry. He too is inexperienced, but we're having lots of fun exploring together. We looked up some easy knots and do bondage on each-other regularly.

We tried spanking once, but it was awkward and unerotic for both of us. I've read a book about BDSM since, and I think I know what we might have done wrong, and I want to try it again if he's open to it. We also used a dildo once, but he just wasn't into that.

I haven't made contact with the local BDSM community yet, so I guess that's my next step. I'm being terribly shy about it, though *:/

So obviously I'm rather inexperienced myself, but what I would advise is just to take it really slow and take babysteps... and not be embarassed if something is a little awkward sometimes.

 

[desertslave]

Looking back, there was always something there. I didn't understand it at the time, but I got hot & bothered getting tied up while playing cowboys & Indians (or variations) when I was a kid.

A boyfriend in high school started off trying to tickle me one night (I'm barely ticklish and only in a few odd spots). I squirmed and jokingly fought back. He held me down and it was like...I dunno, an electric shock ran over me. I was instantly 10x hornier than the moment before, which he appreciated immensely. Sadly, however, he never repeated it, though I tried to convince him a few times.

Then, my freshman year in college, I met an actual dominant. I have three stories posted which are pretty much how things got started with us.

 

[MeekMe]

Seems youve warmed the waters...my advice would be to find a story here that especially turns you on and let him read it. Tell him your not sure if your ready to be treated like character x just yet but you think you might in the future....he needs to know where your parameters are so he knows how much he needs to or doesnt need to hold back.

Thanks SirBruin! ^_^ That's a really good idea. I've already used a check list to show him without being too complicated what I think I'd like to try. He was really understanding and we actually laughed a lot talking about all the stuff we weren't going to do. I think finding a good story would be a great example. I should find something mild, to give him a feeling for it.

I'm already feeling a lot better about this. I'm happy everyone is being so nice and sharing their experiences.

 

[Endless_Night]

Hi. I'm also new.

I am very much in control, work, family, friends, I am that yes person that organizes and runs everything. I'm finding it liberating to relinquish that control and just be.

This. Except, unlike spoiledchrissy, I'm having difficulty relinquishing control.

My memory starts at about 3 years of age. I can remember fantasizing being tied naked to a table not much older, though what happened next was never clear! My barbies always ended up captured and naked, still with no particular outcome.

By the time I hit adolescence I'd moved on to kidnap, nonconsent (though always secretly wanting it!) fantasies. You know the ones, where the female fights madly, but ends up succumbing to the male's physical mastery and expertise!

For a long time I just thought I was a little sick in the head. I was so busy trying to suppress my desires that BDSM never crossed my mind. It wasn't until I ran across some D/s erotica that things clicked!

Even now, I'm really struggling. My partner is willing, but flipping the mental switch that says, "it's okay to submit", for me at least, is not easy.

 

[DVS]

Hi. I am newer as well. I have played her and there but nothing overly heavy. For me right now its more about the mental aspect of submitting. I am very much in control, work, family, friends, I am that yes person that organizes and runs everything. I'm finding it liberating to relinquish that control and just be.

With that said I find myself pushing a lot. Its more about pushing within me. The control freak battling with the desire to submit.

When I think with my heart (and pussy ) all is well! Its when that pesky brain of my butts in!

I got a little rambly but the short answer is nope you are not alone!

The desire to be submissive in your sexual self after being the one in charge of everything else is quite common. It's something the subconscious mind does in some people to help cope with stress as well as create a counter balance to your "in control" self. Many company executives who are in charge of major corporations by day, seek to be submissive in their sexual lives. Not everybody who lives a dominant daytime life is this way, but many are.

I'm pretty much the opposite. I can be very calm and reserved in my daily life and enjoy taking charge in my sexual life. So, I guess the reverse can also be true. If you aren't a boss, making decisions all day or otherwise controlling things in some way, you can enjoy being more aggressive in your sexual habits.

 

[DVS]

Hi. I'm also new.



This. Except, unlike spoiledchrissy, I'm having difficulty relinquishing control.

My memory starts at about 3 years of age. I can remember fantasizing being tied naked to a table not much older, though what happened next was never clear! My barbies always ended up captured and naked, still with no particular outcome.

By the time I hit adolescence I'd moved on to kidnap, nonconsent (though always secretly wanting it!) fantasies. You know the ones, where the female fights madly, but ends up succumbing to the male's physical mastery and expertise!

For a long time I just thought I was a little sick in the head. I was so busy trying to suppress my desires that BDSM never crossed my mind. It wasn't until I ran across some D/s erotica that things clicked!

Even now, I'm really struggling. My partner is willing, but flipping the mental switch that says, "it's okay to submit", for me at least, is not easy.

It's possible to allow someone to take charge, but it can take time. Especially if you've had trouble visualizing this, even in your fantasies. You need to find you a dominant man who you can really, REALLY trust. Someone who will listen when you say a safe word and understand that not doing so can not only jeopardize his relationship with you, but also damage your mental willingness to let him or any other man touch you in that way.

Trust is a very large part of BDSM and any man who you allow into your sexual realm must understand that this is a major part of his job. Yes, it can be seen as a job, but a sexy job, just the same. Unfortunately some men tend to say they will follow your rules and when the time comes, their own sexual urges take over. I really hate being a man sometimes.

But, when you find someone you can trust, you can explain your little fantasy to him and maybe work out a way in which you can experience what you haven't been able to even visualize in your mind. It's a little bit of a hurdle, even if you have someone you can trust assist you, but after some relaxing and maybe some talking, somehow let him overpower you so you can feel helpless. If you feel OK with it, maybe you can let him tie you up using knots that you can untie yourself. The first time being bound can be difficult.

Simple bondage, where you can feel totally submissive to his domination can be quite freeing for you. You don't need to engage in a rape scene or does it even need to be violent at all. Just knowing that you can't control what he does should start to overtake you.

Testing your bonds and knowing you are helpless can be a bit scary at first, but that's where the trust comes in. And once you allow yourself to experience this, I think you will understand that this is not only a hurdle to get past but also a threshold to new and exciting things. Once you cross this threshold, I think you will understand what I mean.

 

[DVS]

Thanks SirBruin! ^_^ That's a really good idea. I've already used a check list to show him without being too complicated what I think I'd like to try. He was really understanding and we actually laughed a lot talking about all the stuff we weren't going to do. I think finding a good story would be a great example. I should find something mild, to give him a feeling for it.

I'm already feeling a lot better about this. I'm happy everyone is being so nice and sharing their experiences.

You need to develop limits for yourself. Hard limits will be things you will NEVER EVER want to do and soft limits are things that you haven't done, but maybe, in the right situation, with the right person, you might be tempted to give it a try.

But, you also need to decide on a safe word system. Red, yellow and green are pretty basic and easy to understand. When asked if you are OK, saying green means what's happening is great...continue. Yellow means you are OK, but would prefer things to slow down a bit. And red means you want things to stop RIGHT NOW! You could get a cramp in your leg and saying red would allow you to get untied so you can do something about the cramp, too. It's just a good system to have for communication in a scene, as well as a safety valve, no matter what comes up.

Finding someone you can trust is very necessary, especially when you are new to everything. Also, someone who is willing to take things slow, so you can experience all of the new feelings you are going to feel, as well as allowing you to not feel overwhelmed. If you are doing things right, there's going to be overwhelming feelings, so everything else needs to be under control or slow enough that you can handle it.

Communication is necessary. Finding out what you like, by reading or watching videos, maybe together, if you want, then talking out how you want to proceed. Maybe you don't want to go as far as a video you've seen, but you want to experience a part of it. Talk this out together, and make sure he understands where you want your play to be different from the video. Make sure he understands his role in the whole thing. And if he doesn't adhere to your limits.

And when you use that safe word, he's got to be able to act on it. That's his job, controlling the scene for everybody's safety, as well as sexual satisfaction. If following your limits means he doesn't climax, too bad. Your limits come first. Then, talk it out for next time, to see if you can make it so he's satisfied, too.

But never change your limits to something less than what you really want. They are there to control the scene as well as let him know what you want and what you don't want. This is suppose to be a fun thing for the both of you. Following the rules in place should always be a part of that fun.

 

[MeekMe]

You need to develop limits for yourself. Hard limits will be things you will NEVER EVER want to do and soft limits are things that you haven't done, but maybe, in the right situation, with the right person, you might be tempted to give it a try.

But, you also need to decide on a safe word system. Red, yellow and green are pretty basic and easy to understand. When asked if you are OK, saying green means what's happening is great...continue. Yellow means you are OK, but would prefer things to slow down a bit. And red means you want things to stop RIGHT NOW! You could get a cramp in your leg and saying red would allow you to get untied so you can do something about the cramp, too. It's just a good system to have for communication in a scene, as well as a safety valve, no matter what comes up.

Finding someone you can trust is very necessary, especially when you are new to everything. Also, someone who is willing to take things slow, so you can experience all of the new feelings you are going to feel, as well as allowing you to not feel overwhelmed. If you are doing things right, there's going to be overwhelming feelings, so everything else needs to be under control or slow enough that you can handle it.

Communication is necessary. Finding out what you like, by reading or watching videos, maybe together, if you want, then talking out how you want to proceed. Maybe you don't want to go as far as a video you've seen, but you want to experience a part of it. Talk this out together, and make sure he understands where you want your play to be different from the video. Make sure he understands his role in the whole thing. And if he doesn't adhere to your limits.

And when you use that safe word, he's got to be able to act on it. That's his job, controlling the scene for everybody's safety, as well as sexual satisfaction. If following your limits means he doesn't climax, too bad. Your limits come first. Then, talk it out for next time, to see if you can make it so he's satisfied, too.

But never change your limits to something less than what you really want. They are there to control the scene as well as let him know what you want and what you don't want. This is suppose to be a fun thing for the both of you. Following the rules in place should always be a part of that fun.

^_^ Thank you, DVS. I agree with you completely. The list was really just to get the conversation started. It was also great to just go down and discuss each one individually and talk about how far to take it. There is so much to discuss that it was great in terms of being able to compare our thoughts and gauge each other.

I can't stress enough how many times I say "before we do this we both have to learn the safety precautions!" ^_^;; I'm very into safety. He's also not in this to hurt me. So far we've only used knots that I can easily untie and done simple role playing. We are taking things pretty slow so we can both properly learn and prepare.

Thanks so much for red, yellow, green! We will definitely use this.

 

[rds_muskrat]

Oh, to be 20 something again

http://www.literotica.com/s/dear-lalah

 

[Zulae]

I am also pretty new still (about 6 months into it) and I identify as a top. I also posted this on another thread already, but I still think it is an interesting story as it did not develop slowly, giving me time to get used to it, but hit me completely out the blue:

I was sexually bored (I can make myself orgasm, but still) and initially I joined Lit because I wanted to find a partner for a sexual role play via email (I had done a completely non-sexual role play with friends in real life which was great, but for obvious reasons I was hesitant to ask them for a sexual one too) which worked great. Then, one day, I learned that my uncle's lung cancer was back and I was very down. So I posted on a thread to find someone to comfort me that night. Two men replied and they were just awesome, they actually made me laugh that night. One of them was a young college student and we kept chatting the following week, still completely non-sexual. About a week after we had talked first he was in college in the library and told me as a fun fact on the side that he had forgotten to do the laundry and did not wear briefs. I asked him how it felt and then things took a turn. Before I knew I made him taste his precum in the library (which he had never done before) and then masturbate in the single person restroom, eating all his cum afterwards. He was so turned on we did the same 20 minutes later again, only that he was naked and on his knees in the restroom this time. Oh god, I was turned on beyond belief, but it took me a week (and many talks with the young man) to come to terms with it and the image I had (and still have) of myself. So, that's how I found out.

 

[MeekMe]

I am also pretty new still (about 6 months into it) and I identify as a top. I also posted this on another thread already, but I still think it is an interesting story as it did not develop slowly, giving me time to get used to it, but hit me completely out the blue:

I was sexually bored (I can make myself orgasm, but still) and initially I joined Lit because I wanted to find a partner for a sexual role play via email (I had done a completely non-sexual role play with friends in real life which was great, but for obvious reasons I was hesitant to ask them for a sexual one too) which worked great. Then, one day, I learned that my uncle's lung cancer was back and I was very down. So I posted on a thread to find someone to comfort me that night. Two men replied and they were just awesome, they actually made me laugh that night. One of them was a young college student and we kept chatting the following week, still completely non-sexual. About a week after we had talked first he was in college in the library and told me as a fun fact on the side that he had forgotten to do the laundry and did not wear briefs. I asked him how it felt and then things took a turn. Before I knew I made him taste his precum in the library (which he had never done before) and then masturbate in the single person restroom, eating all his cum afterwards. He was so turned on we did the same 20 minutes later again, only that he was naked and on his knees in the restroom this time. Oh god, I was turned on beyond belief, but it took me a week (and many talks with the young man) to come to terms with it and the image I had (and still have) of myself. So, that's how I found out.

Thanks for replying. ^_^ I wonder if I would have been more aware in a situation like this? When I think back to a lot of situations, my decisions make more sense now.

 

[unicorn64]

Tried several times to get hubby to do things. But he was a strict missionary and shoot once than go to sleep. Now with his ED and Dementia never will get that first experience. So read the erotic stories and mentally place myself in the female position. Would not want any blood or lasting marks, or any chocking or breath play (hard enough to breath as it is) and orgasm denial would be out since I am still trying to orgasm for the first time with partner. As it is can only do it once in a blue moon while masturbating. Although if I was teased for a period of time that might help. Spanking with hands, blindfolded and bound. I have several stories as fantasy but no first experience yet.

 

[MeekMe]

Tried several times to get hubby to do things. But he was a strict missionary and shoot once than go to sleep. Now with his ED and Dementia never will get that first experience. So read the erotic stories and mentally place myself in the female position. Would not want any blood or lasting marks, or any chocking or breath play (hard enough to breath as it is) and orgasm denial would be out since I am still trying to orgasm for the first time with partner. As it is can only do it once in a blue moon while masturbating. Although if I was teased for a period of time that might help. Spanking with hands, blindfolded and bound. I have several stories as fantasy but no first experience yet.

That sounds a little disheartening. For a time, I enjoyed some self bondage. It's not as fun as with another person, but it certainly made it far more exciting.

 

[Derya]

early memories like many

Well I would say I’m new or yet uninitiated even but I know I am stimulated immensely by some of the facets of the D/s and BDSM activities. I would perceive I find a submissive role in sexual activities and fantasies the most stimulating, but that is not at all my role in real life or outside of sex.

I have always known what I liked and what turned me on most in visual stimulation, imagery, literature all of it (which is the submissive side) but like some others have said did not even know there were others who automatically felt similar or a term for this kind of preference in sexual fulfillment. It was not until the internet that I explored such more readily. Now believe it or not I had a wonderfully intelligent and communicative Mom (just to share era I’m approaching middle age myself so Mom in my eyes was way ahead of her generation in this area of child rearing) who discussed and taught me when I was young and learning about sex that fantasies and what we think in our head is normal, it can be varied, it can be fun in our head but not anything to ever be acted on or real or not fun if real, etc etc etc what a gift her guidance was in my life. Also I’ve posted about this somewhere’s here before she also helped me know self pleasure was ok and normal and something to appreciate but it was private and there is appropriate times and place. AGAIN THANKS MOM!

I found very young that images in anything that had to do with restraining, controlling, forced activities just immediately got me to wanting to masturbate. I mean silly shit like Batman and Robin tied up trying to get away (yes the old Adam West show); professional wrestling (now I am a fan not just b/c of what I refer to here but it may still be a fond memory  ) when the guys were all twisted up making faces restraining or forcing/slapping each other physically I found this a turn on and I am a totally heterosexual female so the man on man action wasn’t the stimulation it was the restraint/force/submission etc, cartoons, comic books, etc. Then I also found that any sex or implied sex in tv shows that got me feeling frisky (of course as a youngster didn’t think about it too much, why feeling horny or even understand it was horny, just did it ) were things that involved control, force, restraint. Now recollect in my time of growing up tv wasn’t super blatant so sexual references that I understood as being taboo or even about sex were criminal actions like a kidnapping or rape on a cop show. I remember playing with neighborhood kids on at least a couple of occasions and playing something like cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians and getting tied up and left for a few minutes like while the cops when to get more prisoners or something anyway I can’t remember the circumstance of the games exactly but I can distinctly remember being so stimulated that I had to climax or stayed that way squeezing my legs together until I did. I can’t say I understood it just did it cause had to….that restraint is so hot and of course it wasn’t tied up that I couldn’t get out of. I also (and I have posted about this somewhere on the boards too before) had an experience in grade school where a group of cliquish girls at the time physically forced me to disrobe because they wanted to view another’s genitals and had me lay down after on a bench in the bathroom and looked and talked. Then in childish curiosity and embarrassment they ran off; of course I took a bit to pull myself together but though I did not like being forced and was humiliated at not being able to get them to stop I was also aroused by the restraint/force/exhibitionist/humiliating nature of what happened and proceeded to masturbate once I was alone. Even when I was pretty young I’d have sexual dreams that were submissive in their scenarios and I would create imagery/daydreams to aid my masturbating that were just like these non-consent/exhibitionist/BDSM stories on Lit or other erotic literature sites and they did not frighten me at all nor would I have ever been exposed to, at those ages, anything written erotica or porn of that nature to be able to have that kind of scening fuel my imagination, it is simply what I came up with. Hell I didn’t know there were stories or scenes that others enjoyed as much as I did until I was in my thirties and discovered some books at Barnes and Noble then started Internet exploration.

So which came first the chicken or the egg, did the sources of some of my sexual knowledge and experiences with sexual release/climax imprint the template of what are my sexual triggers turn-ons (learned some of this potential in a college sexual psychology class) or were these stimulant choices already part of who I am so when things in life crossed my path that were submissive in nature there you go I’m walking, talking stimulation?? I don’t know?? But do know with adult understanding and more exploration I can obviously see these were my first knowledge of these desires and I knew they were distinctly beneficial for me and my own sexuality.

 

[ntp]

Having access to the internet from a young age really broadened my horizons and I'm very thankful for it. But even before that I feel like certain kinds of things like use of restraints were exciting in a "special" way, not sexual (at first, anyway.) There's nothing I can think of in my childhood that would have precipitated that, so I'm happy to call it random. Maybe for the same reason, as an adult I've just gravitated toward having open-minded and i guess less "conventional" people in my life, and that's I guess how I was introduced to actually *doing* kinky things instead of just reading about them.

 

[marieR19]

Can I admit I love it when these type of threads pop up again? I've posted my own reply in multiple threads just like this, but the thread itself always seems a little different, maybe because new people are posting, or things are said differently, or whatever.

Personally, the first time I felt it, first time I knew I was submissive, I was in 6th grade and young enough to not even know the word yet. I just knew that what I was feeling was... well, who I was. Short story: A friend and I wrote a play together, and were determined to film it, so we would act it out over and over and over. My character was being blackmailed by her character, and there was a lot of insults and demands and a few physical altercations. Every single time we'd "practice" I'd get these weird feelings in my stomach, every single time she ordered me around in that harsh tone I *felt* something, and when we finally abandoned our "film it!" idea I couldn't get those feelings out of my mind.

 

[MeekMe]

I'm really happy I got to read all of these replies! (⌒▽⌒) I feel like I have a better understanding, thanks so much!