Bella Speaks

Let me introduce myself.  I am Bella Shauna Cummins.  Most people call me “Bella.”  I have owned Bella’s Gentlemen’s Club, a legal Nevada brothel in Wells, Nevada since 1981.   Over the past 25 years, I have acquired a great sense of humor and a serous side as well. Owning a brothel has added to my human experience much knowledge, information, and insight about sex and the sex industry in the 21st century.

When asked what I do, I answer, “I am a Madame.”  Eyebrows go straight up—silence—a giggle—then the questions begin, usually timid at first, eventually the questions become honest, straightforward, even blunt at times.  I answer the questions sincerely and honestly.  I do my best to give people a deeper understanding of their humanness and their sexuality.

People can watch sex on television everyday, see it in magazines and movies and deal with it in advertising, and still, they are very uptight about the subject of sex in their personal lives.  The negativity associated with sex in our personal lives gets in the way of our enjoyment.  If we look at sex in a positive manner, this little three-letter word can bring many pleasant emotions and memories to mind or create an incredible euphoric feeling. 

How can we help people understand their own sexuality, their own humanness, and help sex earn a better reputation?  Honestly, the answer is simple:  Be willing to hold yourself accountable for sexual activities.  Be honest about your intentions with a sexual partner.  Always use protection!  Understand that sex is a natural and pleasurable part of being human.  Remember the adage “harm to none.”  Avoid manipulating your partner.  Are you with that person for a sexual encounter or something more? 

There is a need to find an appropriate outlet for our sexuality without harming anyone else.  People like to look and feel sexy; they like to know other people find them sexy.  Sex does not necessarily mean that you are after a lasting relationship.  Be honest…the other person has the same choice to enter into the same short-term relationship that you may be looking for.  Because sex is a real part of being human, there are all sorts and lengths of relationships without necessarily committing yourself for the rest of your life.

Take a look at how you feel about sex in your life.  How you feel matters.  It is important to feel positive and satisfied with your sexual encounters.

If you are a gentleman, and, at this time in your life, you are looking for safe sex, without commitment, a brothel can be a wonderful experience.   Brothels offer a “harm-to-none” environment for men.  Money is spent, however, confidentiality and a pleasant, satisfying experience is the result.

For the ladies looking for the same safe sex environment, maybe you should think about working in the industry instead of dinner, a movie, and...

Remember, life is short; and being human is supposed to be fun.

Love, Bella

Questions or comments?  bella@bellas.us

Bella speaks, June 2006:

The word SAFETY means security, protection and well-being. That sounds simple enough. However, everything has a safety factor associated with it. Obviously, some human activities are more dangerous than others. The really dangerous ones require the most safety equipment and cost more to participate in. Most of us come to bodily harm doing routine daily activities or by doing the things we know better than to do. Some times we get away with it for a really long time. Then one day something happens. Do accidents happen or did we believe it would never happen to us?

When I first learned to ride a bicycle there was no safety helmet required. Times change and now I get to wear that helmet. I wasn't necessarily graceful about wearing this helmet. This helmet and my resistance to it was the beginning of another process for me.
I am the Madame of Bella's Gentlemen's Club (BGC) a legal brothel in Wells , NV. The day arrived when the State of Nevada Department of Health told the legal brothels that condoms were mandatory for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This meant SAFETY GEAR for sexual activities. Safety and Change seem to always be in the same sentence. For us it is a law. For the rest of the world, it becomes a choice. My grandmother taught me about condoms when I was a young woman in order to prevent pregnancy. Another one of those awkward moments; I did learn about condoms and, yes, I was totally embarrassed because she did it right in front of the pharmacist. It's a cute story about a serious subject.

Condoms have undergone many changes over a short period of time. They are thinner, stronger, flavored, textured, lubricated, non-lubricated and scented just to list a few of the changes. This means safety and comfort to all of us. Condoms are important because they are so effective in preventing the spread of STDs. See your doctor or local clinic for periodic medical testing for the presence of STDs. Never take another person's word that they are STD free .This would be like playing Russian roulette with your life; HIV kills and some of the other STDs are for life!! Imagine the embarrassment of admitting you have an STD or will you keep it a secret and hope that you never give it to some one else? STDs are serious, so protect yourself with condoms and by testing.
Safe sex is always available in a legal brothel within the state of Nevada. I have actually talked with people that thought that because prostitution was legal in Nevada that they could be approached and pay for sexual favors any where in the state. Wrong! You must be in a legally licensed brothel. The ladies are checked weekly for STDs and, remember, condoms are mandatory. The State of Nevada has done their homework and has come up with a system that works. The ladies are safe because of condoms, weekly testing, and having a place to work where they choose to do it legally. The clients are safe for all the same reasons.
Obviously, Nevada has taken the approach that safe sex is possible even after the HIV scare. There are 49 states in the United States where legal sexual favors and money are never found in the same sentence. I am aware that the escort services and massage parlors are tolerated in many areas of our country. This is where sexual favors are exchanged for money with untested ladies in an illegal, unsafe environment. I have talked with ladies who have worked in escort services and massage parlors. The ladies said that "escort" is the scariest because you never know who you are meeting and it is sexual favors for money in a hotel/motel situation. I have been told by men and women that condoms are used in both of the above industries.
The antonym of safety is DANGER! Sex is a normal human activity and, like any other contact sport, all players must wear protection in order to stay healthy and ALIVE!

Love, Bella
Contact me at bella@bellas.us

Bella speaks, July 2006

We are born inquisitive. From birth we experiment minute by minute. Remember the children’s books titled Curious George? Curious George was a very inquisitive monkey. His job in these stories was to help children learn about their own curiosity in a humorous way. You know-- learn about the red-hot burner on the stove without actually touching it. What a concept! I personally have touched more red-hot burners in my life than I could ever list. We all have! Those burners are a form of experimentation and they are never
always hot.

As we grow up, and because of our encounters with the stove, we may approach new adventures with reservation. I believe a better approach is to tap into our now-educated childlike inquisitiveness. I call it standing on skinny branches. When something is new, the feeling of FEAR can apply. If we do our best to think it thru and quickly apply here, we have the opportunity to feel something good.

Now, we are a little older and blessed with something called hormones. Hormones turn up the heat on our stove. No need to fear the heat yet. Let’s talk about it. This heat is a new experiment all about our sexuality. We want to feel attractive and even sexy with someone we find attractive and sexy. Sexual attraction is human magnetism. This magnetism is an important part of our life and we need to understand how to safely experiment.

Sexual attraction can be without emotional attachment. At Bella’s Gentlemen’s Club in Wells NV., one of Nevada’s legal brothels, a person can engage in safe sexual inquisitiveness without those emotional ties. Sex is a physical encounter with another person, so a legal brothel is the place to safely satisfy the curious.

What if you live nowhere near Nevada? What if your Prince or Princess Charming is still missing from you life? Do you put your sexual life on hold? Maybe, that is your choice. I believe many people chose to experiment with their sexuality. They have been with someone else sexually before their P. Charming arrives. It is called casual dating and as long as everyone uses condoms, then it’s "harm to none."

So here is a 21st century dating strategy: Be careful of that LOVE word; you probably should be using the word LIKE. When the word love and broken heart are in the same sentence, that is red-hot burner stove stuff!  We all have a heart and there will come a day when you fall in love with some one who only likes you. Your heart will hurt. If everyone has been honest about the type of relationship, then the scar from the burn should be small.

Serious relationships should happen after you are through experimenting.  You would never want your heart broken by selfish inquisitiveness.

Always use protection, STD’s are serious.

Love, Bella
www.bellas.us 

Monday, October 09, 2006
Bella speaks: A day of observation or judgment?

I am challenged daily with either being an observer of life or one who judges everyone and everything. Even though I consciously chose the former of the two, the events of daily life can be so challenging that being an observer is more like an Olympic event. How does one remain an observer? Actually it takes minute by minute practice.

The first thing I had to realize was the difference between the two words. Well, that sounds easy enough; however, it really is more difficult than a person may realize. If I am being observant, I can watch, study and even summarize the facts. If I am being judgmental, I have an opinion and I am able to make a decision or even a verdict on anything. We are almost always judging.

Since we as people are only able to recognize in others all the qualities that we all ready have, I believe we should begin with our unconscious habit of judging one another. Let’s say I look across the room and see a person I find attractive. As an observer, my eyes can quickly pick out everything I like about that person. I can say I was able to remain an observer. If I had criticized or critiqued in any way, I would be judging. Here is another bit of information: It would make no difference if it is a thought or if the thought is spoken. A judgment will never be spoken in kind words. Sometimes it is so awkward to only observe. I know lots of people are people watchers and to be honest I am one of those people, too. I like being human and observing all the unique differences can even be comical when we learn to only observe.

We have become such a judgmental society that the person we judge the most is our self. Why would we do that if we are actually made in the image of the creator? Why would we ever think for a minute that we are imperfect? I first learned to stop judging myself and than began to work on judging no one else. The judgmental process is a hard one to undo. It begins when we are children and as adults it can become a miserable part of our life if we fail to make the growth and fix our selves. As children we were able to laugh at our silliness and be more willing to play the part of the fool.

Another area that we can become very judgmental is our occupation. Tell another person what you do for a living and watch the reaction. On all forms and documents my occupation is written like this: Madame. Oh my! My best friend in high school asked me if I still had that place (the brothel, Bella’s Hacienda Ranch, Wells NV.) I replied with a” YES” and her reply was an "I’m sorry”. I believe my friend's statement is a judgment concerning my occupation. There are two careers that I can think of that no one would ever judge and boy is everyone is glad when they show up. You may never want to be one yourself, however, we pay. How much did you say I owe you? One man is the plumber and the other man takes away your trash. You know they deal with all that smelly s… (Stuff). We always say thank you for coming so quickly and we hand them money.

The ladies that work for me are called prostitutes and very few of them willing share their choice of occupation outside of the brothel. Why? Judgment is the answer. People understand what a plumber does; however have we forgotten what being human is all about. I will remind you that everything we do, we must use some part of our body to accomplish. Prostitutes are like professional athletes because both careers are short and they must prepare for what is to become their next profession. It is to bad prostitution is so judged because we really did come here to enjoy the adventures of SEX!

So here is your homework: Can you really judge no one and love yourself just the way you are today!

November, 2006
Bella speaks: Rural Brothels - Some Live On!

The topic is actually all about Nevada's rural brothels and their locations.  Why are the brothels located in certain geographic areas of the state? Remember hearing the question about what made a business successful? The answer was, "location, location and location."

Besides location, the brothel business must have the approval of a county or an incorporated city. There are many great locations with no legal brothel business because the citizens or city government voted No! An opinion on whether to have legalized prostitution within a community is the legal right of the registered voter.

Today, the location of a rural brothel is going to be near a major Nevada highway or near the junction of an interstate and a well-traveled highway. Thousands of people travel these roads of Nevada and many curious travelers stop for a peek. Travelers that stop at a rural brothel are usually just passing through. They have a destination and maybe a return trip. For instance, a long haul trucker will pass through again and again as long as the brothel is on the scheduled route. This is how it works today; however, what about the days of yesterday? You know, the days before highways and interstate travel.

The brothels or bordellos of yesterday were located close to the center of town and reasonably close to where the train stopped. When a male traveler got off the train, he would be looking for lodging, food, a saloon and possibly the company of a woman. All these necessities must be within walking distance of one another. It was good business and good financially for the town. So, I believe the town's people got used to looking the other way when it came to prostitution. It was considered an "across-the-tracks" type of business and, as long as it stayed where it belonged, all ran smoothly.

The towns or now smaller incorporated cities were located approximately 50 miles apart for the steam driven train engines to take on water. The steam engines are long gone; however these towns are now exits on I-80. Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, Elko, and Wells are the train-water stops from the past. 

These towns went through many changes as time moved on. The steam-driven trains were replaced by the diesel locomotive and they never needed a water stop. Then the days came when fewer people traveled by train because cars and, eventually, highways appeared. However, the highway linked all these towns together and the traveler still needed lodging, food, drink and maybe a lady of the night. The towns did great until the interstate.

The interstates nearly destroyed the rural communities because no one needed a town every 50 miles. It was progress and of course people could travel faster then ever before. These communities really began to struggle and for longer than ten years the towns deteriorated. The businesses that were once the center of town closed and new businesses opened near the interstate exits. How did all this progress affect the rural brothel?

The interstate was devastating to the rural brothel. Many of these brothels are in various states of decay. There are a few that have under gone major remodels and are proudly open and worth visiting.

One of the very best locations for a rural brothel is Wells, NV.   Why? It's actually very simple. Besides being located at the crossroad of Highway 93 and Interstate 80, the Wells brothels have the luxury of being the closest to two surrounding states. That means the brothels can be a destination stop for the curious from Idaho and Utah as well as attracting the traveler that passes through town.

It is actually a very interesting story. The original Madames of yesterday are in heaven. I meet many of them and they are the reason working women are called LADIES!

Love, Bella

December 2006
Bella speaks: The rural brothel vs. the convention brothel

Nevada's rural brothels are located away from large Nevada cities and are either near major highways or the intersection of a heavily traveled highway and Interstate 80. The rural brothels rely on moving traffic such as travelers and trucking, and local industries like gold mining. There are other industries that help support the brothel industry in rural communities, however mining is number one.

The brothels in Ely or Battle Mountain are great examples of rural brothels that have gold mining near by and many large cattle ranches. Many ranches have cowboys that only get to town occasionally. When the cowboys or miners come to town they are looking for more than supplies. These men want to have fun, and hanging around other men is what they do all day. So, it is female companionship that they want. Everyone wants to flirt and laugh; A brothel is a safe place to have a great time.

The town of Fallon, Nevada had two brothels. The town has plenty of ranching and is located on Highway 50. Fallon is also the home of a Nevada Naval base. With all these navy men around, these two brothels should be two of the busiest in the state. However, they are rundown and frequently closed. How could this be? There are always many reasons. The brothels are too visible from the highway. Both are very close to the highway with just enough room to park in the front. Just like the old days, everything should be within walking distance and these two brothels are way too far apart. There is also an electrical power issue; large generators supply the power. I believe that if Fallon’s brothels were going to be successful, they would be moved away from the highway, be contiguous to one another, and they would have access to electrical power.

Bella’s Hacienda Ranch and Donna’s Ranch are located in Wells, NV. These brothels are just off the intersection of highway 93 and I-80 and are contiguous. They also have a direct route to them with plenty of parking for all large and small vehicles. And they have electric power!

Convention brothels are located near three large cities of Nevada: Reno-Sparks, Carson City and Las Vegas. They are never located in the cities proper or in the counties where these cities are located. The brothels are in neighboring counties.

Unlike the days of old in rural Nevada, these convention brothels need to be a taxi ride away, instead of within walking distance. Big convention towns are careful to keep business and extra curricular activities separated. A short cab ride and you are at a brothel.

Convention brothels are much larger than the rural ones. Some of the convention brothels have 25 to as many as 50 ladies to choose from. There is a different atmosphere in these larger brothels. It is more about the business of sex. The ladies will on average be younger and many businessmen are looking for younger ladies to party with.

Brothels have evolved as they needed to in order to provide the services people need today. Prostitution has been a legal business in Nevada for a very long time. The brothels that have been progressive have found new ways to attract business, and tourism to our doors.

A visitor will never read, "Come visit our historic Nevada brothels." So, maybe it is preferred by most that the industry keep a low profile for now. However, some day, Nevada will be proud of being to first state to ever have state-regulated legalized prostitution!

January 2007
Bella speaks: Do your best!

How many times in our life have we heard the quotation, “Do your best!”? What does that mean to you? I can tell you what it means to me and I will do my best to explain my concept of "do your best."
As you know, parents use the above phrase when we are in elementary school. We learn letters and numbers, reading and arithmetic; we participate in the class room and recess; we also begin to learn how motivated we really are. In fact, when we come home with report cards that have lesser grades than our parents expected, we learn what they believe our best is.
I learned it was very easy to do my best on everything I had a genuine interest in. Does that sound familiar? I knew about the parent thing by high school and I started with the concept that I could do my best in all my classes. Soon I found myself faced with distractions of all kinds. The biggest distraction was focusing on what I liked or enjoyed the most and slowly I would fall farther behind in those other, less-stimulating classes. Oh yes, I knew what was happening and now I was beginning to understand the pressure of being left behind in those classes. What was I going to do? I was so sure I could do my best this time. Why would my “do my best” be reserved only for the things I really liked?
Besides completing high school with the grade point average that assured me a place at all four colleges that I applied to, I suddenly realized that these two people that I called my parents were shipping me off to college. Guess what? I was faced with all the same challenges as I had in high school. I liked some classes more than others and my grades reflected it.
After college, my parents expected me to get a job. This is when things got more complicated. I went to college and majored in agriculture; never confuse that with being a veterinarian. I’m talking about a ranch with real farm animals. My family lived on one acre and I had a horse. No sign of a way to turn that into an income. Think girl, what other things do you really enjoy; and can make money doing.
I actually drew a blank. So I began a life-long journey through many different professions and actually mastered a few of them. I am sure the art of learning to focus was a gradual process. After a period of time, I realized that in order to do my best I would need to devote the same enthusiasm to all aspects of each job. Actually my level of success depended on it. Eventually, I bought a brothel and began to learn about being a business woman in a field of independent contractors. These lovely women brought new meaning to “do your best.” Most of them never really thought about what doing your best had to do with them and how it would determine their level of success.
There are many people who chose to work for someone else. How well you have learned to do your best will determine how well you are reimbursed for your efforts. It is never about climbing the corporate ladder; it is about giving it all you have every moment of every day. Everyone knows how to play hard. Can you work with the same play-hard ethic? That is the real test.
Simply put, you either cost the company money or you make the company money. The company must make money in order for your check to cash. Of course, there will be parts of the job you like the least. Those tasks keep the companies going as much as the ones you find the most enjoyable. Do your best anyway. For sure, it will matter to everyone around you; however, remember you have the most to gain.
Why would I write about this if it lacked importance? It is the most important thing you will learn in this life time. Every moment of every day you will be making the decision to either do your best or fall short of your personal best. You will know! Your decision determines how you feel about yourself.
Remember the last time you gave yourself and your employer 100% and remember how exhilarated you felt at the end of the day. Did you realize that you did your very best? Were you proud of yourself and your efforts? Of course you were.
Always remember- you have everything to gain when you choose to do your best or everything to lose if you choose to “just get by.”

Love, Bella www.bellas.us 

Bella Speaks: Got an Attitude!!!

How many of us get to work for a living? I know it may sound like a silly question; however, this is going to lead into a very serious and silly topic. I really enjoy using myself as an example. My life has been such an adventure of bobbles and successes then mix the whole thing with being the Madame of a brothel and Oh my!

Remember the little toy called a Weeble. Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down. Well, that is pretty much what my journey through life has looked like. I made good choices and bad ones and my choices seemed to determine my attitude.

We actually begin this weeble journey as very young children. Remember your parents instructing you on how to do things the correct way. You know the way that was supposed to keep you out of trouble, at least with them. Then when they weren’t looking or weren’t around, you would do something your own way, knowing there could be a problem if you were caught. Then, somehow, your parents would discover the truth. You were so sure you were in the clear and now you are in trouble. This is your first opportunity to learn the real lesson about choices and attitudes.

I was sure my parents weren’t that smart and I was too young to realize they had already kept this ball in the air long before I came along. I was doing all the same things they had already done. I am sure my material wasn’t ever original. When I was about seven and the oldest of six, I drew in my mother’s cookbook. When I was questioned about the alphabet and the other artwork, I was sure one of my siblings had done the deed. Then my parents pointed out that I was the only one that knew there was an alphabet. TROUBLE! I never did these things once. It seemed I was on a roll-- a weeble in motion.

I know it sounds like a silly thing, however the cookbook belonged to my mother and if I had asked her if I could draw in it, I am sure I would have known the answer. You know I got an attitude because I forgot to engage my brain.

It was an awakening when I realized that I only got a bad attitude when things failed to go the way I wanted them to go. I began to realize that doing things my way might have uncomfortable consequences. So I began a life-long journey of listing possibilities before I made decisions on big things. Before long, I also realized that I could get in just as much trouble and get a huge attitude even over little things that I failed to think all the way thru. How could I stub my toe so many times?

We actually learn the lesson very quickly and make a conscious choice to ignore it and that is very bad for the future of our careers. We handcuff our ability to advance in all ways. Then we get a bad attitude when we fail to get the raise and/or promotion. Why do we sabotage ourselves when we really know what we are supposed to do? We blame others for our self-made failures and then get an attitude. Why should we inflict our bad attitude on the closest person to us, when choice was ours to make?

What are the choices? Either do the whole job and go home feeling fulfilled and extremely proud or leave the work undone and deal with a bad attitude. If you make the first choice, then you are the type of person this madam would want to employ. You would make the business money and that would set you up for raises and promotions.

Companies want to hire people that can make good choices and that stay positive. These same people have follow-through and a great attitude. They are good for business.

It never matters what your occupation may be. My junior madams and my working ladies are in sales and customer service. We do our best to limit our errors and bad attitudes. Most of my extremely talented people have made their share of mistakes and suffered through a corresponding attitude. The KEY is they learned. They put on their big girl panties and dealt with it. I am proud of their growth and so are they.

Remember to do your best to keep your attitude positive. Any attitude will affect your work and home life. People want to surround themselves with positive people and your attitude will determine where you go in life and with whom.

Love.Bella