No Pain-No Gain

Going back to the previous post, gf and I headed back towards my house on the way to Columbus from the hair salon and stopped to get my ears pierced.

Once again here I was putting myself at the mercy of a person who was going to hurt me! I hitched up my big girl panties, went into the lion's den and got two extra holes in my body. OK, I am a huge sissy and was trying my best to play any sympathy cards I could. But in the end I just had to be a big girl and withstand a little pain I equated with just getting a shot.

Of course I got no sympathy and my whimpering did no good but it turned out the ear piercing details in the fine print were the real surprise.  As I went blissfully on with my piercing less life, I just figured after the pain and suffering I could go out and buy some gypsy style big hoop earrings and get rolling! Well, not so fast girl. I found I can't do anything about having fun with different styles for at least four to six weeks. Plus I have to be very diligent about cleaning the piercings day and night and rotating the earrings to make sure the holes stay open. The only problems for me?  Waiting four to six weeks for anything and remembering to be gentle when I brush my hair off my face. Of course I found out the hard way when the next morning the first thing I did was knock the back piece off of one of the new earrings-never to be seen again. SO off we went back to the torture chamber to get the ear re pierced and a new earring put in.

Let it never be said the most effective learning process for me is getting knocked up the side of the noggin. Just as effective though is getting a hole drilled in your ear lobe!

Before I knew it, the time had come to wipe the tears from my eyes and head to Columbus for some pre Trans Ohio Symposium fun!

Will the Circle be Unbroken?

Friday I went to my fourth visit to my hair stylist at a salon called Square One in Dayton, Ohio.  (They have also expanded to Columbus) Square One certainly does not need my "plug" on their incredible expertise...they are great!  I would be remiss though if I did not mention the amazing amount of AIDS research money the owners have been instrumental in raising.

At any rate my "wonder weekend" finally was getting underway as I sat down in the chair in front of "Abby" my stylist/magician. The plan was to highlight my hair for the first time. Yes, I did have a vague idea I would be one of those women waiting around with aluminum foil in their hair hoping no thunderstorms were in the building...and I was.

As always, I'm having a difficult time coming up with a decent picture showing how the highlights came out but this is some sort of an idea on the left taken two days after the salon when I got back home Sunday.

Already, my hair was responding to a rainy fairly humid day. (Or trying to party like I was 30 again). I will have to work harder to try to show the copper highlights to you. This pic is also a fairly good representation of how I'm working harder to tone the makeup down to a bit of eyeliner, foundation and lip gloss.

My girlfriend was coming up from **Cincinnati to meet me in Dayton for a cup of coffee and hang out for a while before we headed to Columbus, but as luck and the timing Goddess would have it, she ended up meeting me at the salon.
Then, all of the sudden (since both her and Abby know of my sarcastic sense of humor) my hair highlighting experience became highlighting a harassing Cyrsti experience...Wait a minute? Wasn't I the one paying to get this abuse??? I know, the process was just a fun initiation into their sorority. You can believe me too,  I can give it out as well as I can take it!

Finally though the aluminum foil was removed and the heavenly shampoo and styling was next.  When Abby finally let me take a sneak peek in the mirror, I nearly passed out with euphoria! Well, that could be a bit dramatic but my mind was doing all these cartwheels in my noggin! I'm always so happy, I think I am probably much like a little kid and essentially it's true. I do have to remind Abby this girl stuff is still so new to me. Don't hesitate to give me her insights! Tell me things and never take for granted I have much knowledge about aluminum foil and hair!  Come on now, all this time I only thought foil was only good for cooking.  Friday I learned though what foil was really for when I looked in the mirror and how Abby used it to work her magic.

As I have mentioned, the visit to the magician was only the beginning of the weekend.  The next stop was a little more painful but just as satisfying!



** To give you a little reference on mileage and such, I live about 20 minutes outside of Dayton, 40 minutes outside of Columbus and about an hour or so from Cincinnati.

She's...Baaaack!

Hello all, I think being MIA (missing in action) from Cyrsti's Condo for two days was like leaving my daughter overnight with the parents for the first time when she was tiny.

The much anticipated Trans Ohio Symposium has come and gone and of course I have a ton of observations and info to pass along!

The biggest observation was I'm way to old to party down in Columbus two nights in a row like I used to plus get my hair done and my ears pierced the day before I went.

The second pleasant surprise to me was the trans youth who attended the symposium, specifically the number of transgender men. AT least one third of the attendees were trans guys according to my unofficial stats and I think the lead organizers were too.

Obviously, I have way more thoughts to come. I'm going to try to start at the beginning Friday with my hair appointment in the next post!

Transgender Advocate

As I begin an exciting weekend at the Trans- Ohio Symposium, I thought I would pass along this YouTube video from transgender advocate Janet Mock on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen. Side note : Janet is not scheduled to be there but her thoughts certainly will be!

Night before Christmas?

Today was a little anti climatic as my stylist called in sick and cancelled my hair appointment. Fortunately I was able to reschedule my first ever highlight color treatment tomorrow (Friday) and then go to get my ears pierced and go to the Trans-Ohio mixer at night.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

Transgender Gossip

Late Wednesday afternoon I received a surprise e mail from a marketing person from the VH-1 show "The Gossip Game".  It turns out she linked to Cyrsti's Condo and my email from Matt Kailey's well respected Tranifesto blog.

Coming up Monday the Gossip Game show will include a reasonably intense segment concerning one of the shows mother's transgender son. OK, really intense in spots.

I have to tell you I have scanned the show in the past a couple times and while it is true I just may happen to participate in some gossip from time to time- BUT - I do try to steer clear of extra drama in my life. Which is what this show obviously is built on!  The women on this estrogen charged show come in with their nails pre sharpened for the cat fight.

OK, I know what you are thinking...come on Cyrsti, get with the program out there in middle America. Ratings are everything and why not throw in a transgender son? I get all that but here is why I liked the way this was handled:

First of all the problem was set up basically with a gay slur hurled at one woman about her gay daughter. The first thing her son Kayden said emphatically I'm not gay I'm a transitioning straight male. I'm transgender.

Kayden and Vivian (right) Photo VH-1

From there Mom and son went down a few very predictable paths on his lifestyle. What wasn't so predictable about this show was I didn't see the nice "trans fluff"I have seen recently. You know the show. Family accepts trans kid. Trans kid does well at school and Dr. Marcy Bowers awaits in the future with the magic SRS surgery to seal the gender deal. An over simplification to be sure and I'm not saying the transgender culture does not desperately need all the good public relations we can get. Gossip Game though,  took the time to look at the behind the scenes anguish and tears most of us have experienced in this world.

Finally, for this post-the flat out acceptance of her child by Mom should be a model for all mothers. Certainly Mom didn't understand or even agree with her son's decisions but hell would be paid by anyone else who slammed her son.

VH-1 is sending me some images to pass along to you and as soon as they do I will post them.

Pavel Arambula

Mexican female impersonator Pavel Arambula on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen:

Fun in "C-Bus"!

"C-bus" is an abbreviation used for "Columbus, Ohio" the site of the 5th annual Trans Ohio Symposium. As you probably know by now, I'm presenting a workshop on the subject of transitioning later in life.

After I saw the lineup of other presenters, not only was I humbled to be added-I was just a little scared. I've always thought though I was better in what ever I tried if I did have a touch of fear of the unknown pushing me. We will certainly find out Saturday afternoon!

Whatever I'm able to add or not add to this transgender education effort , the chance to have some fun is definitively in the mix!

Tomorrow (Thursday) is my appointment to add highlights to my hair at the salon and Friday I'm getting my ears pierced for the first time. That's all wonderful but Friday night I'm really looking forward to the Symposium's "Meet and Greet". It's in a place called "Club Diversity" downtown which is in an old Victorian house and not in a big faceless room in the hotel where the event is. BUT  I'm normally pretty shy at interacting with a group of strangers like this.  It will be interesting to see if any of the trans "big timers" attend.  Yes, I could easily be a groupie!!!! Ironically, it's my girlfriend who really wants to meet several of these peeps!

Then there is Saturday night.  My girlfriend identifies as a femme lesbian and I have very little interest in men so we are really interested in going to this:

"Fabulously Fluid!, Ohio’s only genderbent performance showcase, brings a diverse show about the fluidity of gender, with performances ranging from trans* performance, drag, burlesque, performance art, music, and dance. The show will be hosted by the fantastic drag king extraordinaire, Cool Ethan, and Midwest GenderQueer!" This doesn't seem like one of those normal you have seen it all before drag shows.

I have to admit, I don't consider as much as I should the rapidly expanding influence of the trans male in our community. I have a lot of tunnel vision as far as the content goes here in Cyrsti's Condo but I have one trans man friend in particular who has opened my eyes to his transition.

So I'm fairly certain I will live through my presentation and do the best I can but the two "events' which are in downtown C-bus should make the whole weekend worthwhile.

RuPaulogize

Far be it for me to pass along anything which makes fun of "Rude Paul" but I really needed to turn the sound up on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen for this YouTube video by William Belli