Attack of the Tweezer Monster!

Saturday was my makeup makeover with the MaryKay makeup Guru Alisha.
First of all before I set off on my usual cynical ramble-she is good.

Today was my chance to put my face where my makeup history used to be.  To prove my point to myself and Alisha and Niki (a newer Mary Kay person) I went out the door for the first time in my life as a girl-with no makeup.  Jeans, top and sun glasses kids- that is it.

As I drove the 30 min trek to the studio, I did have a chance to reflect back to points of my life which got me here. I'm a gender contradiction in terms for more than just the obvious.  Over 50 years of tossing on a dress and heels did very little to prepare me for the last five.  Once again today I had very few ideas of what I was going to expect.  I know what you are thinking Cyrsti, how bad could it be playing with makeup experts for a couple hours?

It was wonderful EXCEPT for Alisha's penchant for the perfect eyebrow...out came the tweezers and OUCH! Sympathy? Hell no girl if you want to play with the real women hitch up your big girl panties! The scary part is she said my brows had a nice shape to them to start and I relaxed.  That's like the dentist saying you only have one cavity...but....two hours later she is still drilling away. The same happened with the tweezers.

OK, I know a little about this big girl panty stuff and I know you have to pay the price for beauty but girls when the "tweezer monster" attacks it's similar to a whole flock of itty bitty crows attacking your brows.

Awwwright- enough of the petty whining and on to the fun stuff such as someone who knows what she's doing tell me what sort of foundation I should really wear and what the hell was up with the black, goth, trampy, slut eye make up I had on in the pictures?  What the hell? Did she have to take the research on me so seriously? Did she make phone calls to several current and past makeup critics of mine whose kindest words were "heavy handed makeup or drag queen inspired" Hey, it's true but did I have to hear it- again. 

Just playing with you kids, that was exactly why I was there...naked faced for the guru to see. I'm very honest and blunt so I checked the ego when I hitched up the big girl panties and took this on. It helped knowing we transgender girls and crossdressers  have to work harder than  genetic women to put our best foot forward. This was a way to do it.

Finally, I have a giant wedgie from hitching my panties up to the girls and posting a picture from this afternoon. I desperately hate my pictures and my hair was totally trashed in this picture but I really think she exceeded my expectations. I loved the look of the foundation and how Alisha brought out blue eyes I didn't know I had after 63 years. She even worked on my Mom's non existent upper lip I inherited. AND look at those BEAUTIFUL eyebrows...dammit!

Happy is a big- mostly unobtainable word for me. Happy was never bred into me. But I'm forcing myself to be satisfied and I am more than satisfied with this makeover...no forcing.

As the immediate future with increased HRT dosages begins to exact more changes, basic skin care will be more and more important to maintain my 30 something looks! Kidding again but seriously if you are in the Dayton, Ohio area and want to get hooked up with Alisha or Niki, just contact me through the blog.

Just one more finally.  The women did an excellent job of using the correct pronoun with me. It meant a lot!

Trans Troops

As a transgender vet, one of my priorities here in Cyrsti's Condo is passing along any transgender related service news I can find.
Much of it comes from OutServe Magazine.

This story from OutServe certainly has a "been there-done it" ring to it.  But in this one Evan Young comes from the different side of the gender fence for most of us trans girls here. You see, Evan is a transgender man in the military:

"Underneath my cover, I walk a straight line, returning salutes as I pass. A sergeant salutes and says, “Good morning, Sir.” A warm glow flushes my cheeks, and I reply, “Good morning!” Closer to work a familiar face draws near and salutes; “Good morning, Ma’am.” A heavy feeling of discontent weighs on me, and I return the salute with the grudging reply, “Good morning.” I am a transgender military officer.

Outside of work, I live my life as a man. Once on post, I am female. My short hair and manly features present an androgynous and confusing appearance. I grew up in Arkansas, and knew that many outsiders perceived women there as “barefoot and pregnant” rednecks. That stereotype drove me to move out of the state and join the Army. I wanted to be on an equal footing with men. I found new confidence along the way as my drive to exceed expectations helped me rise through the ranks. Yet, I always had the feeling of being a second class soldier because of my gender. Males have confidence ingrained in them at an early age. Men are encouraged to stand up for themselves and speak their mind. When they don’t, they are often labeled effeminate or called derogatory terms such as faggot or princess. The “stereotypical male” role is enforced by men as well as women. A woman speaking to a man that seems effeminate will treat him differently."

I have several transgender veteran friends who have wondered with me what life would be like in today's military as a trans person-walking a precarious gender line.

To read more of Evan's insight,  look here.

Three Reasons Not to Go Trans Stealth

Recently I read a post by Autumn Sandeen called "Paying it forward for future generations of trans people".
You regular visitors here in Cyrsti's Condo know how I feel about transgender women or men transitioning into another closet-which is called stealth. And of course Autumn is completely correct in her assessment of  "paying forward" into the trans community.

I have three powerful reasons not to run away and hide as a transgender woman- my grand kids.This afternoon I had yet another powerful opportunity to pay forward to my grand kids. Who I'm out to. It was my first chance to talk to them about how great the Boy Scout inclusion move was. But, as I was told it was only a beginning and they couldn't wait to show me some sort of new "badges" to wear on their uniforms.

I know what you are thinking, Cyrsti got side tracked again and forgot Autumn! Relax!  Here is her beginning thoughts:


"Why should I personally go forward as a trans activist pushing for change? Why do anything for trans and LGBT community members when I have received a significant amount of pushback through the years from the religious right, LGBT community members, radical lesbian feminist separatists and even transsexual separatists? I’ve written in the past about why there is trans activism and what are the major goals of trans activism, but have never really spelled out what motivates me personally."

As always she presents a very through and cohesive look at her thoughts.(Unlike some of us!) To read it go here.

I Know You Are Out There

To all transgender veterans active or retired - alive or fallen - let me share my bit of thanks to all of you.

I know most all of you are (or were) stuck in the military closet with only two ways out...discharge or death.

The Memorial Day weekend for you international Cyrsti's Condo readers is to honor our veterans as well as police and firemen who died for our freedom to challenge what is wrong here and abroad.

Ironically though, facts and figures routinely come to light which estimate a very high percentage of transgender military troops to have served. Sadly,we will never know how many of the fallen were trans. In addition, I personally have known at least three trans firefighters and or policemen.  The very first responders to senseless violence in our country.

Regardless of all the insane discrimination against us:
ALL I want to say is:  to all of you who fought and passed for my right to write this blog and to all of you who are still serving in a camouflage closet...

Thanks to all you! I know you are out there!

It's a Drag at the Pool!

I found this humorous YouTube video for you girls on the Crysti's Condo big screen. Naturally you guys can watch it too but at points in time you all know- as we transition the "swim suit" issue becomes huge. In fact just recently  a transgender girlfriend of mine was stressing trying to get her swimsuit together for an upcoming vacation. I wish I had her "problem" with a body like hers!

Last fall my genetic girlfriend asked me if I wanted to bring along a swimsuit to swim in the hotel pool/hot tub and I balked at the idea.  Truthfully, even though I know how to swim, I have never been a huge fan of the water so a swimsuit has never been a priority even if  I could wear one.

I do think as I look at the HRT changes my body is going through, I can diet my way into a swimsuit sometime in my future. But don't look for me anytime soon on a remake of Baywatch.

Here's the video I mentioned from another person who doesn't have much of a problem in a swimsuit...or does she?

Finally!

Just in the nick of time (almost) I received my new increased estrogen dosage in the mail today!

To make sure I didn't run totally out, I started rationing my supply about a month ago. I started going down to a two thirds a day dosage and then to a one third dosage this week.

My new prescription should preclude any major interruptions in supply until at least late this fall. If you remember last summer, my whole regimen was wrecked for about 3 months while the Veteran's Administration bureaucracy took it's good old sweet time to work.

So, at least for the time being all looks clear on the HRT horizon and my endo doc has promised to really get serious with me on any breast development ideas he may have except the plastic surgeon down the hall-this fall.

In the meantime, I finding some wood to knock...not that I'm superstitious!

Doing Drag in the Hall

On Cyrsti's Condo big screen a classic episode from the television show "Kid's in the Hall. Dave Foley was known to do some great drag and in this scene he play's a hooker:  I really wanted an outfit like that for Halloween back then (or now)

Huge Step For Scouting

From ABC News:

" The Boy Scouts of America today voted to lift its longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts but will continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership roles. The vote by its 1,400 national membership came as no surprise to gay rights advocates, who hailed it as a first step to ending discriminatory practices in the 103-year-old organization.

The Boy Scouts said that it had completed its "most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history" on the issue and will change its policy Jan. 1, 2014. "The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive and unresolved societal issue," it said in a statement.

 "While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting," it said. "Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America's youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve." President of the Boy Scouts of America Wayne Perry, in a press conference following the vote, said, "This is a very difficult decision for a lot of people, but we're moving forward together. ... Our vision is to serve every kid."

I am so happy my ten year old grandson does not have to leave the Boy Scouts he loves with his Dad as he said he would if the organization continued to exclude LGBT people.!!!

The Fight Goes On!

A transgender woman has filed a human rights complaint against a Canadian bridal shop after the owner stopped her from trying on wedding dresses.

 Rohit Singh (left), in Saskatoon, was told “Sorry we don’t allow men to wear dresses here”,’ Singh said. ‘I said I’m not a man, I’m transgender.’ Singh has now filed a formal complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. ‘It’s not just my battle,’ she said. ‘It’s the battle for all the transgender community, which are discriminated day by day from all society.’

 Singh's story has a good ending as not only is she keeping the spotlight on the owner of the first shop, she also took money out of the transphobic owners pocket by purchasing a red gown at My Lynh Bridal, just a six minute drive away, where she described the service as excellent. She got married at the end of April.

 As the management of a certain large fast food chicken chain has learned, a financial slap by the gay community can be a powerful deterrent to public homophobic stances.  We just have to do the same in the transgender community. Even if you went from the home closet to the stealth closet.

 For more on the story go here.