If you have noticed my newest and (most popular) hair color is an auburn toned very dark brown. It was all good until my sister in law Missy in all her glory said: "Wow! I never noticed your new hair color included silver roots!"
After a brief pause and I skipped over all the cheap shots I could have come up with, I said: "Damn Missy! Those are not silver high lights! Those are GRAY!"
I don't know where I will spend all this silver I found!
FYI, I came up with title after Liz and I watched the film "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." Tissue alert-do not watch this chick flick if you are on HRT without a box of tissues!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Master Mechanic?
It figures I ran across this article which fit right in with my recent "Mechanic" post about my basic style and how I go about it-after I wrote it. I passed along five of my "basics" and forgot an important one- being allowed access to a dressing room to try on clothes.
I will say, I have never been denied access anywhere, but years and years ago, Lane Bryant used to discreetly move me to a secluded room. I have always lived with the idea that me being green trumped me being transgender. Most stores simply wanted my money. In fact years ago, my daughter worked for "Victoria's Secret" and there was a regular customer who spent big money on the largest sized items they stocked. Of course he wasn't too sly about who the apparel was for and most of the other clerks steered clear of him. My daughter was on some sort of a commission and saw a monetary opportunity and tried to always wait on him. This was way before she had any inkling of my cross dressing or later transgender gender fluxing. Similar to so many other issues we see in our community, it takes only one misguided bigoted individual to send an old issue once again into the public eye:
Recently, a major site took on the issue with these results:
Like a lot of people, my biggest fitting room worry is that none of the jeans I picked out will make my butt look good. But for many, that’s a microscopic concern compared to the potential human rights violation they might have to endure. For transgender individuals, having a store employee humiliate, dehumanize, or turn you away for simply wanting to try on clothes in their fitting room is a constant — and sadly, legit — worry. Back in July, a transgender woman was expelled from a lingerie store in Austin, Texas. Earlier in 2011, another transgender woman was thrown out of a Macy’s dressing room for make the audacious and ludicrous attempt to just try on some clothes. To see how other mass chain stores dealt with transgender customers, Ashley Hoffman at Styleite cold called a handful of your (probably favorite) stores, inquiring on their transgender fitting room.
As my partner Liz (generic) just told me, this problem won't end until the world understands our interaction in the world is a gender deal and not a sexual one. A penis in the closed dressing room next door in a woman's clothing store is not cause for a panic.
I will say, I have never been denied access anywhere, but years and years ago, Lane Bryant used to discreetly move me to a secluded room. I have always lived with the idea that me being green trumped me being transgender. Most stores simply wanted my money. In fact years ago, my daughter worked for "Victoria's Secret" and there was a regular customer who spent big money on the largest sized items they stocked. Of course he wasn't too sly about who the apparel was for and most of the other clerks steered clear of him. My daughter was on some sort of a commission and saw a monetary opportunity and tried to always wait on him. This was way before she had any inkling of my cross dressing or later transgender gender fluxing. Similar to so many other issues we see in our community, it takes only one misguided bigoted individual to send an old issue once again into the public eye:
Recently, a major site took on the issue with these results:
Like a lot of people, my biggest fitting room worry is that none of the jeans I picked out will make my butt look good. But for many, that’s a microscopic concern compared to the potential human rights violation they might have to endure. For transgender individuals, having a store employee humiliate, dehumanize, or turn you away for simply wanting to try on clothes in their fitting room is a constant — and sadly, legit — worry. Back in July, a transgender woman was expelled from a lingerie store in Austin, Texas. Earlier in 2011, another transgender woman was thrown out of a Macy’s dressing room for make the audacious and ludicrous attempt to just try on some clothes. To see how other mass chain stores dealt with transgender customers, Ashley Hoffman at Styleite cold called a handful of your (probably favorite) stores, inquiring on their transgender fitting room.
As my partner Liz (generic) just told me, this problem won't end until the world understands our interaction in the world is a gender deal and not a sexual one. A penis in the closed dressing room next door in a woman's clothing store is not cause for a panic.
Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"
"Ker Plunk!!!" another Condo "Sunday Edition" has hit your virtual front porch! Get your hot "Cup o Joe" ready and let's get started:
Page 1.- The Week that Was-or Wasn't? The week past saw us discussing a "self professed" life long cross dresser bemoaning the fact we all are delusional fanatics who live in our mirrors and will never look like a generic woman. It was quite the rant! In sort of a reverse order only we dyslexics can embrace, I wrote an exceeding rare post on the mechanics (so to speak) on how I go about my personal feminine style and fashion. Later today, I am going to add to it a link looking at how transgender or cross dressers are faring today in four of the major women's apparel outlets.
Page 2.- The Polar Plunge and the Gender Flux? Last week in much of the country, winter tore in to us and tossed any ideas of a gentle return into the ditch. For me it meant a bit more "flux" back to my male being. I needed his help (what's left of him) to assist moving a couple heavy vintage furniture pieces out of my old house before I list it for sale. I found out quite literally how the combination of my age and HRT has robbed me of a tremendous amount of any of the male upper body strength I used to possess. It's a very simple deal-the decrease in size and definition of my biceps (which have given me the ability to wear sleeveless tops) equals a decrease in strength. DUH! The problem I have is though, under bulky flannel shirts, jeans and an old Army ball cap, the perception the public still has is I still should have at least a little strength with my bulk.
Page 3.- What's Up Doc? Coming up Tuesday, I am scheduled for my semi annual visit to my primary care physician. To prepare, I had to fast on a diet of water for 12 hours or so and visit the vampires and provide a "sampling" of my blood. One of the unfortunate traits I learned from my Mom, was the fine art of being a hypochondriac. So, when the vampire nurse asked me if I was diabetic, I said no, at least not that I knew of. Then I began to worry if I was, would it have any thing to do with my hormone replacement therapy meds? My partner Liz, knowing me too well, said no offense, they check people your age for diabetes anyhow. Gee thanks!
Page 4.- The Back Page. As Mom always said, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper-the closer to the end it gets-the faster it goes!" This past week zoomed by too and now Thanksgiving week festivities are again almost upon us. I know the holidays present a unique time (and not always a pleasant one) for many in our community. Here's hoping you are looking forward to a fun, loving and festive one! Thanks for stopping by Cyrsti's Condo.
Page 1.- The Week that Was-or Wasn't? The week past saw us discussing a "self professed" life long cross dresser bemoaning the fact we all are delusional fanatics who live in our mirrors and will never look like a generic woman. It was quite the rant! In sort of a reverse order only we dyslexics can embrace, I wrote an exceeding rare post on the mechanics (so to speak) on how I go about my personal feminine style and fashion. Later today, I am going to add to it a link looking at how transgender or cross dressers are faring today in four of the major women's apparel outlets.
Page 2.- The Polar Plunge and the Gender Flux? Last week in much of the country, winter tore in to us and tossed any ideas of a gentle return into the ditch. For me it meant a bit more "flux" back to my male being. I needed his help (what's left of him) to assist moving a couple heavy vintage furniture pieces out of my old house before I list it for sale. I found out quite literally how the combination of my age and HRT has robbed me of a tremendous amount of any of the male upper body strength I used to possess. It's a very simple deal-the decrease in size and definition of my biceps (which have given me the ability to wear sleeveless tops) equals a decrease in strength. DUH! The problem I have is though, under bulky flannel shirts, jeans and an old Army ball cap, the perception the public still has is I still should have at least a little strength with my bulk.
Page 3.- What's Up Doc? Coming up Tuesday, I am scheduled for my semi annual visit to my primary care physician. To prepare, I had to fast on a diet of water for 12 hours or so and visit the vampires and provide a "sampling" of my blood. One of the unfortunate traits I learned from my Mom, was the fine art of being a hypochondriac. So, when the vampire nurse asked me if I was diabetic, I said no, at least not that I knew of. Then I began to worry if I was, would it have any thing to do with my hormone replacement therapy meds? My partner Liz, knowing me too well, said no offense, they check people your age for diabetes anyhow. Gee thanks!
Page 4.- The Back Page. As Mom always said, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper-the closer to the end it gets-the faster it goes!" This past week zoomed by too and now Thanksgiving week festivities are again almost upon us. I know the holidays present a unique time (and not always a pleasant one) for many in our community. Here's hoping you are looking forward to a fun, loving and festive one! Thanks for stopping by Cyrsti's Condo.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
The "Mechanic's of Style?"
I'm always fascinated by the detail involved with a person's style and or fashion sense. How the smallest addition of an accessory such as a scarf, belt or jewelry can send the rest of your outfit into the dumpster-or over the top.
Earlier in the week we did have a conversation here in Cyrsti's Condo about the power of a mirror-good and bad. Face it, if you want to do the girl thing, you have to have some sort of intimate relationship with your mirror. Of course, if you let it-it will lie to you. On the other hand the mirror is a necessary and even fun part of being a cross dresser and/or transgender woman.
For what it's worth-here are my basics, before I get to the mirror.
My biggest "guilty" pleasures though are accessories such as earrings, necklaces, scarves and purses. If there is any way to get your ears pierced-I would recommend it! Somehow, I discovered I had a hidden knack for adding items to my outfits which give them a little pizzazz.
Earlier in the week we did have a conversation here in Cyrsti's Condo about the power of a mirror-good and bad. Face it, if you want to do the girl thing, you have to have some sort of intimate relationship with your mirror. Of course, if you let it-it will lie to you. On the other hand the mirror is a necessary and even fun part of being a cross dresser and/or transgender woman.
For what it's worth-here are my basics, before I get to the mirror.
- First, who are you dressing for? I dress for women and to "blend". What will the majority of generics be wearing where I am going.
- Secondly, I consider if I can afford the fashions I'm looking at. Normally no, but I have developed a very good system of "value/discount" shopping.
- Then, I have to consider if the fashion would look good on my body type at all, or if I would ever wear it. For example, I may love a pair of business professional slacks or blazer but would never wear it.
- Plus, can I find items in my size. I can't diet enough to wear many of the trends I see on pencil thin young models but I can adapt a variation. A good source for me has been the "Fabulous after 40" fashion site.
- Finally, I try to maintain a basic wardrobe of seasonal "classics" which aren't likely to change before I can wear them out from use.
My biggest "guilty" pleasures though are accessories such as earrings, necklaces, scarves and purses. If there is any way to get your ears pierced-I would recommend it! Somehow, I discovered I had a hidden knack for adding items to my outfits which give them a little pizzazz.
Let's take this outfit to the left as an example. I have a black leather jacket I bought in the spring at a deep discount price. Scarves similar to this cost 1.29 at Goodwill (discount). The top could be a "treasure" from the same store at 3.29. The leggings I bought for 8.99 at a well known "Dollar" store and my boots are from last year.
The positives for me are this look, "lengthens" me and deflects my thick upper torso as much as possible. Plus of course it keeps me warm and accentuates my legs and thighs (a positive.)
What I would not do would be to wrap the scarf like this and let it fall down the front of me. I don't want to add more upper bulk and again lengthen my look. The problem I have is finding tops which fall this far to my hips.
Finally, this is where my much maligned "too long hair" for a woman my age BS comes into play. Again, I'm tall and can wear my hair longer and when it drapes over my shoulders it helps to cover my thick and short neck.
So, there you go kids. I know I don't write much about my fashion and what I wear much. That does not mean I don't take intense pride in trying to do it right. It's just one of the "girl things" which are fun when it all comes together. You can always blame your mirror when it doesn't. I see plenty of generics who should too!
Womanless Beauty Pageant "Amateurs?"
Amateur, by my definition means a person who does not seriously pursue a certain interest, job or hobby. Ever sense Cyrsti's Condo hit the internet, the seemingly unlimited pictures we see at times of participants in womanless beauty pageants fall into a couple categories: those guys who are truly cross dressing for fun and those who just may have tried it before-or could again.
Since rarely do we ever have an answer, sweet speculation adds a bit of spice to the process!
Gender Fluxing and Other "Stuff"
Such a week! I went from leggings, boots and my fun new blue nail polish on Wednesday, to selling a couple heavy pieces of vintage furniture Thursday and back to my new green polish today. (Saturday)
The more I "flux" the harder it is of course. At times, I think the whole process comes under the "cruel and unusual" punishment. On the other hand, I know that there is little I can do about it except keep on doing what I am doing...and stop my whining! No problem I have ever occurred was solved by laying in a corner whimpering about it.
The more I "flux" the harder it is of course. At times, I think the whole process comes under the "cruel and unusual" punishment. On the other hand, I know that there is little I can do about it except keep on doing what I am doing...and stop my whining! No problem I have ever occurred was solved by laying in a corner whimpering about it.
I'm working diligently towards my transgender goals and that is all that matters- except the results from my doctor Tuesday. My health is everything of course!
Plus, there is a veritable "ton" of stuff coming up before Christmas to do, including a Laverne Cox (left) appearance at a nearby university in December.
Finally, as I think about it, what is a transgender goal anyhow? Undoubtedly, a subject for a later post!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Left Over Coffee
Yesterday here in Cyrsti's Condo I re posted a comment Stana received on her Femulate site. I can only speculate from afar on what motivated what turned out of be a very pessimistic one sided look at a cross dresser's life.
One sided from the aspect (among other things) that pure appearance is the primary and only end goal to dressing like generics.
Paula Goodwin commented on Femulate and here with one of the most classic comments I have ever read about a trans girl's relationship with her mirror:
One sided from the aspect (among other things) that pure appearance is the primary and only end goal to dressing like generics.
Paula Goodwin commented on Femulate and here with one of the most classic comments I have ever read about a trans girl's relationship with her mirror:
Cyrsti's Condo "Quote of the Day"
"Some of the best things in life-are on the other side of fear." Rusty Funk
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Mirror Mirror on the Blog
I had an OMG moment this morning when I read a comment on Stana's Femulate blog.
Here's an excerpt:
I am a life-long TV, so I feel able to comment. My advice to nearly all those who contribute to your blog is simple: Throw away the cameras and look long and hard in the mirror. Look at the women around you; you should blush with embarrassment. Cover your shoulders and knees and get rid of those “long luscious locks.” Very few women over 40 look good with long hair. None of you (and me) really look anything like women and that is a tragedy.
Stop being delusional. A mirror does not lie except at a fairground.
I think this comment is tragically misdirected on one hand but does have some socially redeeming value on the other.First the value-no you can't live in the mirror and expect to navigate the feminine world. No you can't squeeze into the short skirt and 4" heels and shop at the grocery but if you do look around at the women around you-chances are you can make it happen. I would question the writer about the generics who don't fit his "ideal of a woman?" Some of the most delightful women I know wouldn't make his cut.
I feel sorry for him that he has seemed to miss the whole point of this trip we are on. I know of course paths are somewhat different for cross dressers and transgender women but in my life, every "GSB" (Gender slur Bitch) I have encountered has been countered with five or ten wonderful people.
Sounds like he has let the mirror ruin his life. He may be surprised at what the world has to offer for him!
But!!! I have to draw the line at my "long luscious locks". I have waited 60+ years for them, so come hell or high water, they are mine to enjoy!
Here's an excerpt:
I am a life-long TV, so I feel able to comment. My advice to nearly all those who contribute to your blog is simple: Throw away the cameras and look long and hard in the mirror. Look at the women around you; you should blush with embarrassment. Cover your shoulders and knees and get rid of those “long luscious locks.” Very few women over 40 look good with long hair. None of you (and me) really look anything like women and that is a tragedy.
Stop being delusional. A mirror does not lie except at a fairground.
I think this comment is tragically misdirected on one hand but does have some socially redeeming value on the other.First the value-no you can't live in the mirror and expect to navigate the feminine world. No you can't squeeze into the short skirt and 4" heels and shop at the grocery but if you do look around at the women around you-chances are you can make it happen. I would question the writer about the generics who don't fit his "ideal of a woman?" Some of the most delightful women I know wouldn't make his cut.
I feel sorry for him that he has seemed to miss the whole point of this trip we are on. I know of course paths are somewhat different for cross dressers and transgender women but in my life, every "GSB" (Gender slur Bitch) I have encountered has been countered with five or ten wonderful people.
Sounds like he has let the mirror ruin his life. He may be surprised at what the world has to offer for him!
But!!! I have to draw the line at my "long luscious locks". I have waited 60+ years for them, so come hell or high water, they are mine to enjoy!
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What Would Mom Say
Image from Jenna Norman on UnSplash This week my question to answer on the year long bio I am writing for my daughter and family as well as ...
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Amateur, by my definition means a person who does not seriously pursue a certain interest, job or hobby. Ever sense Cyrsti's Condo ...
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I don't find many new womanless pageant pictures floating around the web anymore. I think it's primarily due to the fact that th...
There have been occasions in the past where my mirror has lied to me, the photos have told me that I got it wrong. As for the hair thing, oh if only I could."
Mandy
I have an idea (of course) from where this person was coming from in my next post.