Cyrsti's Condo "HorrorScope"

All I can write this week is, zzzzzzzzzzzz:


Libra (September 23-October 22): Sticking to what’s standard is your safest bet this week. Save those sexy acrobatic antics for another time, as even your sex life will be better as straight vanilla, rather than loaded with toppings. If you try to push yourself to achieve a higher standard now, it will only have you landing farther behind. Yes, this week will be as boring as it sounds.
**Best Day To Get Lucky: Saturday, February 8

See, I told you!  Maybe your scope is more exciting! Go here, to theFrisky to find out.

And while you are there, check out this interview with Janet Mock.

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our feature transgender woman today is Kalinda Chan

Transgender Words to Live By

On the Road to Oz

Brianna Austin, has been one of the most active transgender columnists for some time.

Today here in Cyrsti's Condo, I am passing along one of her recent posts I loved. She wrote it  after watching  the Wizard of Oz movie over the holidays.    Here's an excerpt:

"I was lounging around home this past holiday season and watched yet another classic, the Wizard of Oz, which I hadn't seen in years. I wondered, is Dorothy really so different than us? A girl lost in a far off land, yearning to find her way home. They say that home is where the heart is, so perhaps we are trying to find our internal home as well. She enlists the help of many strangers to assist her get home, only to discover that she alone was the only one that could make it happen. There is always that day when you look in the mirror and realize that regardless of whether your “girl” desires are fashion, passion, or bedroom fantasy, they don’t seem to be going away. You acknowledge – perhaps for the first time -- that this is not a phase that will pass, nor can you pretend it will never happen again. What an exciting and horrifying moment! Has the tornado just plucked you from out of your own dream and dropped you into reality? Well, you’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure! Of course you know you can’t go back the way you came, because you don’t even know how you got here in the first place. So now what? Glenda, good witch of the North, said it best, “it’s always best to start at the beginning.” 

 Go here to read the rest of the post!

Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"

Welcome in to the "Super Sunday" edition in the "Condo".  If you are passionate about either team, I hope you win!  Looking back a year, I know what I was up to during the big game-or down to.  For some crazy reason I was offered the morning after the game for a colostomy.  So I spent the evening not sampling wings and beer but drinking some brand of system "flushing" liquid and trying to make my toilet as comfortable as possible. Duh!


Section One.- The Week in Review.  Bruce Jenner's refusal to come out of the closet comes to mind as one of the memorable moments of the week.  It's Jenner's business to do as he/she pleases but why not do something positive with his transition.  If he is not transitioning MtF, then his time with the Kardashians' certainly wore off on him.  Check the latest picture of Bruce on the left.  He seems to have a nice little set of HRT induced breasts working.  The negative of course is Jenner sets himself and the transgender community up for ridicule.  Coming out would give us another example of a guy who lived under the cover of an intensely male life such as former Navy Seal Kristin Beck.  If you don't know, Jenner was once considered one of the top male athletes in the world as a decathlon competitor.  The worst case scenario is having Dr. Phil, who struggles to even say transgender, speculate on your transition Bruce, on the Inside Edition television show.  Really Bruce?

Section 2.- Breaking News:  Patricia, a former Ohio Buckeye who now lives in California, was kind enough to send me this information from Planned Parenthood:


Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (California) is offering transgender hormone services at the following health center locations: Fulton Street Health Center – Fresno Mountain View Health Center – Mountain View B Street Health Center – Sacramento Westside Health Center – Santa Cruz 

Our transgender hormone services include: Transgender Female (MTF) Hormone Therapy including estrogen and spironolactone Transgender Male (FTM) Hormone Therapy including testosterone We may be able to start or continue hormone therapy and provide referrals for gender-qualified therapy and resources if needed. 

If you are on hormone therapy, you can utilize the health center for ongoing care and monitoring. In order to receive transgender services you need to be over 18 and capable of providing consent for services. We can provide services for younger patients in Santa Cruz with a parent or guardian’s permission. There are special consents for these services.

For more info, go here.  Thanks Patricia, I have no idea if Planned Parenthood offers these services on a wider basis.  Frankly, it's the first time I've even heard of them and I am impressed!

Well, it's about time to get another hot cup of coffee and the dog is happy the weather is warm and dry enough for a walk.  Here's hoping you all have a great week!  This should be a special one here in Cyrsti's Condo as we pass the one million hits mark!  I wish I could give away a new car but it's not in the budget!

Waxing Romantic

Ever been waxed?  The bit of torture designed to make that pesky body hair go away and leave you with soft smooth skin?

Had my first waxing tonight.  Hey, what could be more fun than staying home on a Saturday night and getting waxed watching tattoo reality shows?  When in pain, watch someone in more pain, right?  Plus, some would argue I got waxed on Abita Turbo Dog Beer last night and I'm way too old to double up on party nights anymore.

If you never have been "waxed" seriously I compare it to a sunburn and I love the results.  It's safe to tell you though, I don't have much body hair anymore and I know "mo hair" equals "mo pain" - a formula I learned sleeping through high school calculus.  Kidding, I barely got through algebra, by barely staying awake.

Not to be outdone by my arms, for some reason, my girls had to get in the act tonight.  For some reason, they are very sensitive tonight.  Almost too sensitive.  Of course I have dealt with sensitivity with the girls since starting HRT but nothing like tonight.  Either, it's my time of the month or I passed some sort of hormonal level again.

All in all though, if I had a choice, Abita is my pick for a good waxing.

Drying Up and Blowing Away

You regulars here in Cyrsti's Condo, have read me whine about this winter's weather. Well, here's more:

It seems now with the effects of HRT, I'm in even a bigger battle with my skin. My standing joke is I need to take a bath in 10w-40 motor oil.  That would be the easy part.  It turns out my very short stints in the sub zero temps were a very good way to defoliate my facial skin, if I wanted it or not.  Of course I didn't and for a couple days (until the peeling stops) make up is no fun and certainly doesn't look it's best on my "transitioning" facial skin. FYI not my first rodeo with the effects of cold weather...but my first rodeo with this much damage.

Also lip balms are my "bestest" friends too.

Some how, I don't think I will dry up and blow away any time soon and brushing my hair out around my face covers my zombie skin!

Finally! A Night Out!

Seems like it's been years since we have been awarded a day or two break from our much worse than normal winter.

Last night in a rare moment of having a little extra cash and a little better weather, my partner Liz and I headed to one of our fave "watering holes" called the "Swampwater Grille" in Cincinnati.  I've written about the "Swamp" before-the home of a misplaced Western Louisiana chef and a great selection of brews far removed from the big beer company watered down near beer sold everywhere.  You know you are in a good beer bar when no Coors, Millers or Bud products are on tap.

Of course the company was as good as the food and drink and the evening went all too quick.  As far as what I wore, the usual, denim leggings, gray slouch boots and my long black sweater with a very low cut "v" neck. Unfortunately I have to say this, but an evening's success hinges on the restroom access. Plus, (if you didn't know) when you drink beer, you need to potty-frequently.  No problems last night, even going to the "room" without my partner.  She knows my paranoia and is kind enough to "run cover" for me if needed.  I don't like doing that however because, if I have a problem with someone, it is my problem, not hers.  Knock on wood, I haven't had so many problems recently.

As always, I'm careful to point out I'm not out in the world presenting as a 100% genetic woman.  Some don't read me, some don't notice me, some don't care and just as many who do read me are just fascinated.  I'm a visible, in person, poor man's Carmen Carerra or Laverne Cox. The new positive trans role models such as the women I mentioned really help me and I owe them a lot! Plus,  it helps I've learned to come out of my transgender shell.  Attitude trumps appearance all the time!

The most wonderful part of this "morning after" however, it's not like "back in the day" when I had to obsess when my "next night out would be."

Now I get many questions about when I knew the HRT transition was right for me?  The moment was a morning not unlike today.   I felt warm and at home with myself and would go back to any bit of male life only on my terms.

Now, it remains to be seen if I ever can shake the potty paranoia.

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our feature cover girl today in the "Condo" is Agus Beluchi,  from Argentina, who identifies as both a male and a female model.