Our Sunday feature cover is the beautiful Sheila Verissimo.Sunday, March 30, 2014
Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Morning" Edition
"Ker Plunk!" Good morning all and welcome to yet another weekend edition.
Page 1.- The Week in Review. The week produced no major over riding transgender national stories. Unfortunately national and international tragedies captured the headlines and attentions of the world. My heart goes out to all of the families.
Around the Condo, we were locally focused. Our Location, Location, Location post focused on the transphobic problems our transgender sisters have in rural America.I saw a rural transgender woman speak at a TransOhio community meeting a week or so ago and came away with the feeling I was so fortunate to be in the situation I am. I was taking it for granted I even had the resources to attend the TransOhio Meetings I do. Many rural trans women live in isolated transphobic pockets and for the most part are forgotten in blogs such as mine. If you have a experiences pass them along and I promise to share them.
Page 2.- Jan Hamilton's Story. I noted the documentary detailing the life of the transgender elite British parachute regiment soldier Jan Hamilton. When the "ultra" macho guys come out and explain their stories to the world, so many ordinary peeps are exposed to what our lives are like and the torment we suffer. All of the sudden, extremely high suicide rates in the trans community don't seem so "far fetched".
Page 3.- Potpourri.- This week, I didn't feel well all week and I'm sure it showed here in the Condo. We talked briefly about subjects such as reincarnation, Regular contributor Pat commented on the Hindu religious belief in reincarnation among others. As I said, it's a concept I don't believe in-or not believe in. Removing all the facts and fictions which surround the concept of reincarnation, I used to wonder how much past lives had to do with me being a transgender person today. Unfortunately, I went from there to the "I was crazy" misconception accepted by the psychiatric community.
Page 4.- The Back Page.-After an exceptionally wet and windy day yesterday, I considered the "beating" my hair was going through but this time- from a different angle-the rear. "Oh no! What did the back of my head look like?" Then, I began to compare the back of my head to the dark side of the moon. You assume it's there but you never see it. The problem now is, I have to see it and take care of it. Yet another milestone in my trans journey. For better or worse now, I can't see all of my hair in one place in front of me and style it!
Well kids, that's it for this week! As always I take this moment to send a bit of positive energy your way and thank you all for stopping by the Condo!
Page 1.- The Week in Review. The week produced no major over riding transgender national stories. Unfortunately national and international tragedies captured the headlines and attentions of the world. My heart goes out to all of the families.
Around the Condo, we were locally focused. Our Location, Location, Location post focused on the transphobic problems our transgender sisters have in rural America.I saw a rural transgender woman speak at a TransOhio community meeting a week or so ago and came away with the feeling I was so fortunate to be in the situation I am. I was taking it for granted I even had the resources to attend the TransOhio Meetings I do. Many rural trans women live in isolated transphobic pockets and for the most part are forgotten in blogs such as mine. If you have a experiences pass them along and I promise to share them.
Page 2.- Jan Hamilton's Story. I noted the documentary detailing the life of the transgender elite British parachute regiment soldier Jan Hamilton. When the "ultra" macho guys come out and explain their stories to the world, so many ordinary peeps are exposed to what our lives are like and the torment we suffer. All of the sudden, extremely high suicide rates in the trans community don't seem so "far fetched".
Page 3.- Potpourri.- This week, I didn't feel well all week and I'm sure it showed here in the Condo. We talked briefly about subjects such as reincarnation, Regular contributor Pat commented on the Hindu religious belief in reincarnation among others. As I said, it's a concept I don't believe in-or not believe in. Removing all the facts and fictions which surround the concept of reincarnation, I used to wonder how much past lives had to do with me being a transgender person today. Unfortunately, I went from there to the "I was crazy" misconception accepted by the psychiatric community.
Page 4.- The Back Page.-After an exceptionally wet and windy day yesterday, I considered the "beating" my hair was going through but this time- from a different angle-the rear. "Oh no! What did the back of my head look like?" Then, I began to compare the back of my head to the dark side of the moon. You assume it's there but you never see it. The problem now is, I have to see it and take care of it. Yet another milestone in my trans journey. For better or worse now, I can't see all of my hair in one place in front of me and style it!
Well kids, that's it for this week! As always I take this moment to send a bit of positive energy your way and thank you all for stopping by the Condo!
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The Power of an Umbrella
I should have waited a couple of days and tied this Cyrsti's Condo post into "April Showers" but I always have had a hard time waiting. Plus who knows what the world be like in a a couple days?
Today was one of those rainy windy "Spring" days in my part of Ohio-not a good "hair" day. We had errands to run and as we rushed from car to store, I understood yet again the power of an umbrella to a woman. But, did I carry one ? Do I even own one? No!
I may soon.
It's bad enough when I think I have my hair seemingly looking it's best until five minutes later in the wind-all is lost. All is even more lost though when moisture is involved. My hair takes on a life of it's own and of course the wetter it gets-the worse it gets.
I know. No one is twisting my arm to have all this hair but all those years, someone did twist my arm to cut it. So, we are more than even. In the meantime, I am learning the nuances of simply not taking your hair off and being able to see and style it from all angles. The problem is I'm an uncoordinated dork and even a simple process of holding a mirror so I can see the back of my head (and brush it) in another mirror becomes quite the process. The back of my head is like the dark side of the moon. You know it just has to be there but what's it looking like these days? Truly, the whole process is just another of the tons of transition minutia which I tie into "muscle memory" Larger examples include posture and walk which are essential to a feminine deportment.
My problem is my brain is similar to a low power overloaded computer and any memory is called into use could be a problem. My goal now is to just stretch the system a little more and remember to buy an umbrella.
Today was one of those rainy windy "Spring" days in my part of Ohio-not a good "hair" day. We had errands to run and as we rushed from car to store, I understood yet again the power of an umbrella to a woman. But, did I carry one ? Do I even own one? No!
I may soon.
It's bad enough when I think I have my hair seemingly looking it's best until five minutes later in the wind-all is lost. All is even more lost though when moisture is involved. My hair takes on a life of it's own and of course the wetter it gets-the worse it gets.
I know. No one is twisting my arm to have all this hair but all those years, someone did twist my arm to cut it. So, we are more than even. In the meantime, I am learning the nuances of simply not taking your hair off and being able to see and style it from all angles. The problem is I'm an uncoordinated dork and even a simple process of holding a mirror so I can see the back of my head (and brush it) in another mirror becomes quite the process. The back of my head is like the dark side of the moon. You know it just has to be there but what's it looking like these days? Truly, the whole process is just another of the tons of transition minutia which I tie into "muscle memory" Larger examples include posture and walk which are essential to a feminine deportment.
My problem is my brain is similar to a low power overloaded computer and any memory is called into use could be a problem. My goal now is to just stretch the system a little more and remember to buy an umbrella.
Some Hide Better than Others
It's no secret transgender veterans occupy a much larger percentage of world wide military's than anyone has been able to measure.
After all, for the MtF trans person, the military is one of the great places to prove how macho you really aren't. Finally, as in other segments of society, transgender veterans from the most macho areas of the military are coming forward-and out. The primary example from this country is former Navy Seal Kristin Beck.
Now, there is a documentary being shown in Australia called Sex Change Soldier. It's the story of Ian - now Jan - Hamilton.(left) Hamilton was an officer in the British elite parachute regiment, serving in Northern Ireland, the first Gulf war, Bosnia, the Iraq war and Afghanistan.
After suffering near fatal injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, he decided that he wanted to live the rest of his life as a woman.
“The only emotion I was able to show in the army was aggression, and I became quite good at that,” she says. “I hated myself, hated the world, and I hated being in the world ... I was volunteering to go back in operations simply because I thought I would die.”
Jan Hamilton makes several key points which hopefully educate the general population. One was willingness to commit a form of suicide rather than accept her transgender leanings.
Another addressed the fading idea that any of us had a choice in any of this. Hamilton said:
"No sane person would do this,” she says of her upcoming facial reconstruction surgery in Thailand. “I would rather walk out of Basra palace with an unloaded rifle into the middle of a hostile crowd than put myself through this."
Go here for more.
After all, for the MtF trans person, the military is one of the great places to prove how macho you really aren't. Finally, as in other segments of society, transgender veterans from the most macho areas of the military are coming forward-and out. The primary example from this country is former Navy Seal Kristin Beck.
Now, there is a documentary being shown in Australia called Sex Change Soldier. It's the story of Ian - now Jan - Hamilton.(left) Hamilton was an officer in the British elite parachute regiment, serving in Northern Ireland, the first Gulf war, Bosnia, the Iraq war and Afghanistan.
After suffering near fatal injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, he decided that he wanted to live the rest of his life as a woman.
“The only emotion I was able to show in the army was aggression, and I became quite good at that,” she says. “I hated myself, hated the world, and I hated being in the world ... I was volunteering to go back in operations simply because I thought I would die.”Jan Hamilton makes several key points which hopefully educate the general population. One was willingness to commit a form of suicide rather than accept her transgender leanings.
Another addressed the fading idea that any of us had a choice in any of this. Hamilton said:
"No sane person would do this,” she says of her upcoming facial reconstruction surgery in Thailand. “I would rather walk out of Basra palace with an unloaded rifle into the middle of a hostile crowd than put myself through this."
Go here for more.
Cyrsti's Condo "What If" Cover Girls
It's Saturday here in the Condo kids and time to lighten up a bit and pass along a couple "what if" pictures. Here's my insight into what the genetic women with their cross dressed guys are thinking.The first one: "Ha ha! and he thinks this isn't going on my Facebook page!
The second: "You know, I don't really mind him dressing like a slut, but those yellow heels???? Really????"
Friday, March 28, 2014
Leather Bikini's and Christmas Heels
Be warned kids, this Cyrsti's Condo post is coming from several different directions in my noggin.
First of all, most of you know I'm a regular visitor to Stana's Femulate blog. Thanks to January for sending in this comment:
Stana of "Femulate" fame reports that her desk has a photo of herself en femme. If anybody asked, it is simply a photo from a past Halloween, in the office. Very clever, that Stana. I agree January, I think Stana is using the picture to get others at work around her "used" to the new person who could be there every day!
Most recently Stana asked the question :
When you’re out en femme, has another woman reacted negatively (or positively) because you looked better than her. The question didn't resonate much with me for several different reasons except to make me consider why. (Primarily because it hasn't happened to me much or at all for years.) Plus, at this stage of my tranisition, I don't consider myself out en femme but bless all that do!
But, at the very same time I was thinking about all of this, I happened to see a show on outlaw biker gangs. The show interviewed one woman who said she was attracted (like so many others) to power and danger and there was no better place to experience it than on the back of a Harley motorcycle.(Not to mention the sexual charge my genetic women friends say they experience on a bike.) By then, I'm thinking why is this intriguing me so? Finally, I connected the dots to long ago Tri-Ess cross dresser Christmas parties, which I had no desire to go to. Instead, I was admiring the long haired boots and bikini women riding on the back of bikes heading into the giant party at Sturgis. To hell with a party dress! I needed a new wig.
Here's the kick. As a guy, I owned muscle cars and sports cars but never a motorcycle of any kind. Plus, personality wise, I was pretty much too nice to attract any of the bad girls. I always resented the women who felt that way- so where the hell did all this come from? Who knows?
To be sure, the chances are very dim I will be riding into Sturgis with my D breasts (Beginning with acquiring them!) in a leather bikini top any time soon on the back of a Harley. But that's OK, I will live. In the meantime, embracing and exploring all my contradictions can be fun because fighting them can be hell.
First of all, most of you know I'm a regular visitor to Stana's Femulate blog. Thanks to January for sending in this comment:
Stana of "Femulate" fame reports that her desk has a photo of herself en femme. If anybody asked, it is simply a photo from a past Halloween, in the office. Very clever, that Stana. I agree January, I think Stana is using the picture to get others at work around her "used" to the new person who could be there every day!
Most recently Stana asked the question :
When you’re out en femme, has another woman reacted negatively (or positively) because you looked better than her. The question didn't resonate much with me for several different reasons except to make me consider why. (Primarily because it hasn't happened to me much or at all for years.) Plus, at this stage of my tranisition, I don't consider myself out en femme but bless all that do!
But, at the very same time I was thinking about all of this, I happened to see a show on outlaw biker gangs. The show interviewed one woman who said she was attracted (like so many others) to power and danger and there was no better place to experience it than on the back of a Harley motorcycle.(Not to mention the sexual charge my genetic women friends say they experience on a bike.) By then, I'm thinking why is this intriguing me so? Finally, I connected the dots to long ago Tri-Ess cross dresser Christmas parties, which I had no desire to go to. Instead, I was admiring the long haired boots and bikini women riding on the back of bikes heading into the giant party at Sturgis. To hell with a party dress! I needed a new wig.
Here's the kick. As a guy, I owned muscle cars and sports cars but never a motorcycle of any kind. Plus, personality wise, I was pretty much too nice to attract any of the bad girls. I always resented the women who felt that way- so where the hell did all this come from? Who knows?
To be sure, the chances are very dim I will be riding into Sturgis with my D breasts (Beginning with acquiring them!) in a leather bikini top any time soon on the back of a Harley. But that's OK, I will live. In the meantime, embracing and exploring all my contradictions can be fun because fighting them can be hell.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Location, Location, Location
At the Trans Ohio Community regional meeting last week, there was one attendee I have given lots of thought to. First of all she was late and all so shy and came with her sister. (Sister was not looking happy to be there.) As went we around the room, she did say she lived in one of the rural counties around Cincinnati and actually she was afraid to come to the meeting.
I for one was amazed because the meeting itself couldn't have been held in a safer place, with no loss of accepting people. Later though, I began to perhaps understand why. For the most part we all live in pockets of transgender acceptance or lack of acceptance. I live around both. For example, Columbus, Ohio is an incredibly diverse and open TGLBQ city. Cincinnati so far just isn't and Dayton for the most part is. But you can go approximately 50 miles or so south of Columbus and hit some very unforgiving areas. The trans woman in question had to first get out of the house, past her neighbors and into "safe" territory. It's no wonder she was scared.
Shelle, one of the regular visitors to Cyrsti's Condo can certainly speak to the issue of our rural trans sisters. She lives in conservative rural Indiana. Unfortunately, many of the good old strong "folk" who built American values just haven't gotten real liberal lately and want to not extend those values to others. If you are in one of the rural areas, chances are you are even more alone as a transgender person and yes, you do stick out and no, it's not easy to just pick up and move from your home.
I'm not better than anyone else and have a tendency to think if I am able to make trips to places like TransOhio or even the bigger cities around me-why can't everyone else? I know for a fact though, other huge factors for many of our rural sisters are finances and transportation. I'm far from wealthy, but I'm lucky my old car and I are fairly mobile.
It's yet another problem which is easy to sweep under the TGLBQ rug. Every once in while though, someone picks up the rug and takes a look. Here is an example called Transphobia in a Small Town. It's worth a look at how "the other side" lives. Especially if you live in a more liberal urban area.
here
I for one was amazed because the meeting itself couldn't have been held in a safer place, with no loss of accepting people. Later though, I began to perhaps understand why. For the most part we all live in pockets of transgender acceptance or lack of acceptance. I live around both. For example, Columbus, Ohio is an incredibly diverse and open TGLBQ city. Cincinnati so far just isn't and Dayton for the most part is. But you can go approximately 50 miles or so south of Columbus and hit some very unforgiving areas. The trans woman in question had to first get out of the house, past her neighbors and into "safe" territory. It's no wonder she was scared.
Shelle, one of the regular visitors to Cyrsti's Condo can certainly speak to the issue of our rural trans sisters. She lives in conservative rural Indiana. Unfortunately, many of the good old strong "folk" who built American values just haven't gotten real liberal lately and want to not extend those values to others. If you are in one of the rural areas, chances are you are even more alone as a transgender person and yes, you do stick out and no, it's not easy to just pick up and move from your home.
I'm not better than anyone else and have a tendency to think if I am able to make trips to places like TransOhio or even the bigger cities around me-why can't everyone else? I know for a fact though, other huge factors for many of our rural sisters are finances and transportation. I'm far from wealthy, but I'm lucky my old car and I are fairly mobile.
It's yet another problem which is easy to sweep under the TGLBQ rug. Every once in while though, someone picks up the rug and takes a look. Here is an example called Transphobia in a Small Town. It's worth a look at how "the other side" lives. Especially if you live in a more liberal urban area.
here
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