Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"

"Ker Plunk!"  Welcome to the "Dad's Day" Edition here in the Condo.

Page 1.-Father's Day.  If you reside in the United States, you know of the Sunday we set aside for the Dad's in our lives- Father's Day.  Anyway you cut it, for many of us, the day has the tendency to become a bit awkward.

Yesterday I was flattered to be asked to join in when my partner Liz, her 16 year old son and her brother took their very frail 88 year old Dad out for a Father's Day lunch- a day early to avoid the rush.  The server handled it correctly when he simply said "Happy Father's Day" to all who happened to be fathers at the table.

Personally, I don't know what else I could ever be to my daughter than her father. But, still the situation could get award I suppose if my friends said "did you have a good Father's Day Cyrsti?"  I certainly didn't give birth to my kid, really don't identify with "father" anymore and love her too much to say "sperm donor" - so identifying with the "parent" word is just fine.

All you "Pops" who read the Condo though- I hope your family's still accept you and however you identify-you have a good Father's Day.

Lee Pace as Calpernia Addams

Page 2.- Movie Review.  I am almost ashamed to say this, but I saw the Showtime movie "Soldier's Girl" in it's entirety last night It's the 2003 Canadian-American drama film produced by Showtime and based on a true story - the relationship between Barry Winchell and Calpernia Addams and the events that led up to Barry's murder by fellow soldiers  In a move that would be roundly disliked today, male actor Lee Pace starred as Calpernia Addams instead of Calpernia herself or an actual transgender woman actress.
                                                


Calpernia- shown to the right.

If you haven't seen it...it's like watching the "Titanic"-you know what is going to happen and it was not going to be pretty. But Pace, on the other hand did a terrific job as well as several others of the actors involved.

I suppose to me, much of the movie was like "well, you would have had to have been there" I was- kind of. Mainly,  Addams and Winchell met up at Ft. Campbell in Kentucky and years earlier I went through basic at Ft. Knox, also in Kentucky...so as a transgender vet I certainly knew of the mind set they faced.

Two other spots in the movie tore me up (other than the obvious one when her lover was killed.) One was the first time Winchell kissed Calpernia and almost got physically sick when he found out she was a pre opt transgender woman.  In the past I did have a guy who spit on the floor when he kissed me....and...the scene at the very end when Pace/Calpernia was interviewed by the news media and introduced as "Private Winchell's cross dressing friend."  Pace played it well with a pause and a glare and finally said - yes I am his cross dressing friend.

If you haven't seen it, grab some extra popcorn and/or a friend and sit down and watch it! Plus if you haven't seen, there are some incredible transformation video's on YouTube

The Back Page...This week's "back page" will also be a front page first look at next week's Cyrsti's Condo focuses. 
Among other issues, we will talk about TGLBQ Pride month and what it means to us, the Le Dame Footwear special and why I am being called back in after my mammogram on Friday.
In the meantime, all of you have a great week and thanks for making the Condo a place you visit!

Cyrsti's Condo "Quote of the Day"

You are LATE- Bitches!!!

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our cover feature today is androgynous male to female model Lyvona Fargo.  
I loved the caption on this picture, "playing with gender."

LeDame Footwear

I mentioned sometime ago Le Dame Footwear was sending me some "swag" to try out and yes they have!

Most you regulars around here in Cyrsti's Condo know I'm not really a "heels and hose" type girl for a couple of reasons. But that doesn't mean I couldn't be.

 On the other hand, I know most of you are - cross dressers, transgender - whatever.  Most certainly, what girl doesn't like to get really dressed up on occasion?  Plus, we all know how heels can work their magic on your legs and rear.

Starting next week, I'm going to go more in depth about my experience with the "Le Dame" footwear. Plus, since the shoes are well made and do cost a little more-we will be offering you ladies a discount!

In the meantime,  go here to check out a video- guaranteed  to capture your attention:

Cyrsti's Condo "What If?"

Dammit Honey!!! You said I could wear your new skirt tonight!!!!

Summer Legs

I found this idea on Pinterest and the guys legs reminded me of how mine used to look "back in the day" before age and HRT took over.

To make a long story short, I went through periods of time when I couldn't shave my legs and then when I did-I faced what the guy is facing in the picture.  I was known to clog a few bathtub drains.  The problem I faced also was I hated the smell of the hair removers too.



Here's this recipe:

1Tbsp of iodine 2% 1Cup of baby oil Rub your hairy area with the mixture and let set for only 5 minutes. Then gently wipe away with a damp cloth. Viola!!!! NO MORE HAIR!

As with anything else though-I would test this idea on a small part of your legs!

My problem in summer is my legs have the "snow white" look of the person above.  To give them a little color I use one of the popular tanning moisturizers. I had to really practice to use them correctly to not leave me looking orange or streaked when I go bare legged.

Mom's Gram

Well, my first mammogram has come and gone and no it's not the torture my genetic friends were harassing me with. Can you imagine that?  Bitches!!! :)

On the plus side (in this case only)  I'm still relatively smallish in breast size...so the more your add, the more uncomfortable the process can become.  Also, for some reason, I have never lost my problem with taking my shirt or top off. Although today, I was a little reticent in front of the nurse (genetic).

On the spooky side (before Friday the 13th) , the woman who signed my VA approval to pay for all of this, name is spelled exactly the same as my Mom's. (Few are.)

As I have written here in Cyrsti's Condo, although Mom was of the "greatest generation" it's safe to say, her crowd wasn't the most "diverse" in their thinking. On the other hand though she was always paranoiac about developing breast cancer as her Mom (Grandma) did in the 50's.  Perhaps I noticed the name to just feel like she approved of me doing this.

Dancin' Lessons with Pat!

Some days I think Pat should just write part of Cyrsti's Condo!!!  She is busy though-I see her popping up with comments on many blogs I follow.  Another who I think should write a post every now and then is my partner Liz. Being one of "them there" genetic women, she could add some spice into our lives from the "other half" who were "born with it."

This comment from Pat after a post about a very closeted cross dresser who was simply paranoid about being arrested for just wearing women's clothes.  The CD was about the same age as me and yes-that was a very real problem when we were growing up. Pat took it a step further when she was stopped by a cop and how the whole situation can become very crazy-quickly and she had to put on her "dancin shoes" at home:

I can understand and empathize with your closeted friend. It is scary enough for us part time closeted CDs to go out at all but the idea of an encounter with the police is really something to be avoided. A few years ago I was in a pretty coral lace dress driving home from an LGBT friendly bar where I had consumed several adult beverages when I was pulled over. Sitting in the car this dress rode up my pantyhose clad leg. I did not think that I had been speeding but the cop (young enough to be my son) wrote me a ticket for doing 41 in a 30. Had I been dressed as a guy I likely would have given him a piece of my mind. It is almost more embarassing to be ticketed for doing 41 MPH than for being out in a dress. While he asked me if I had been drinking I told him I only and one or two. I suppose I should be thankful that all I got was a speeding ticket and did not have to blow into the machine.

Of course, I did not mention this event to my wife. As soon as I could I paid the ticket along with what I thought were two surcharges. A few days after I got the ticket I got two letters from local law firms who found my name in the police blotter offering to represent me. Since I already sent in the money I did not need a lawyer but my wife was wondering why I was getting letters from law firms. Two weeks later I got a letter from the local town court sending me a check for $5.00 for overpaying the ticket. My wife wondered why I was getting money back from the town court. That entire incident had me dancing up a storm for about a month.

Of course, I too have been stopped by the police and even assisted a couple times when I needed help with my car-all of which without fail- scared me to death.  But obviously I'm still here and writing this.

 I will have to relate a couple of my experiences in another post!!!

Class

I recently found former Navy Seal and transgender veteran Kristin Beck's Facebook page and sent her a friend request.

Here was her reply:  "Thank you for the support and for your service.  Welcome home sister on two fronts."

Class!