The National Lampoon cover is a great classic. I love the show kicked off and the arm ready to descend on the defenseless bare bottom.
The Art of Giving and Receiving

I look for several things when deciding if someone will spank me. Yes, unless it is a domestic discipline or master/slave relationship, I believe the spanking is the bottoms decision. It is after all a pretty intimate endeavor.
Just remember to go with your gut instinct. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.
I had been asking for a spanking for a few days, but my spanker had hurt his back so it had to wait. Yesterday I got a call when he was getting ready to come home. I was to be in the corner in the spanking room and have the new hairbrush ready and waiting when he got home. Talk about butterflies. I got everything ready and then waited until I heard him come in to hop in the corner. I know that was naughty of me, but I didn't get caught.So I got the the hand, red meanie and the old hairbrush. Yes it is a little less stingy, but also more penetrating, because it's heavier. I loved the before and after, but during the spanking was major ouch. I can still feel it this morning as I'm writing, especially in that tender sit spot!
Be careful what you ask for. If your lucky, like me, you may just get it!
When you count swats instead of sheep (yes I do, it shuts anything else out that might keep me from getting to sleep). When there is a room in the house you live in that has coat hooks with straps instead of coats on them. When you look at furniture for their ability to position a bottom, or support a spanker, for spanking then you are a spanko.
For me the best stress relief comes over the knee or over the box ( there will be a picture in the next post). A spanking for me is a way to totally focus and leave any stress behind. The more stressed I am the more severe I like my spankings. For fun, light spankings are fine, but for getting into that calm totally jelly like state a firm whipping or paddling is the only thing that does the trick.
Spanking after care is an important part of a spanking. There is the simple lotion for chaffing. For bruising Arnica gel works very well. Some people use tablets, I like the gel. Some others use a combination of the gel and tablets.