Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude

With all respects to all you Jimmy Buffett "Parrot Head" fans, I couldn't resist using one of his song titles as a lead to this post.

Before I get into it, I feel the need to pass along this disclaimer- none of the posts I ever write here on Cyrsti's Condo are ever intended to imply my progress with HRT or hair or anything I do makes me better than anyone else. To further that point, I provide the pictures I do...so you can make your own decisions on the beautiful critter I am.

On the other hand, there are moments of pure fun and the opposite which the premise of this blog was built on. The "good, the bad and the ugly of Mtf transitioning." In fact my "Stilettos on Thin Ice" book was written about.


So much for my book plug and disclaimer. What this post is really about it is, I have grown quite used to wearing a very loose tank top of sorts around the house since it has been so hot. It's appropriate with Liz but not her 17 year old son. One "slip up" and I have an extremely good chance of suffering a fashion "mishap." Such a difference a year on HRT did make in the magical/mystical breast department. BUT- what is good for me does not make it good for you and the process is not without medical risk.

So, I had to change my shirt and get yet another lecture about not wearing the tank top out in public without something under it.

Damn puberty!

Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"

Ker Plunk! There is actually going to be a Sunday Edition this week and here it is. The "Joe" this week is going to be of a chilled nature since literally we are "embroiled" in our first summer heat wave. Let's get started!

Page 1 - The Week  that Was-or Wasn't: For awhile it seemed, Caitlin Jenner was out and Laverne Cox was back in. Laverne was featured this week on the cover of the first Entertainment Weekly's first LGBT issue in 15 years, as she poses as the Statue of Liberty in this striking shot. (Left) Who would ever have"thunk it?" Not in my life time.



Page 2.- More "Pride than Battle": I came across a Facebook post recently and it resonated with me-so I decided  to pass it along. It comes from "Long Island, New York" who in the dark ages of 1991 who was denied the right to celebrate "gay pride" with a parade. Today though, as the gay-rights movement's fight for for equality continues to win court battles locally, statewide and in the U.S. Supreme Court-Huntington won the right to celebrate "gay pride."  However,  it's important to know now, gay pride is not just "gay" anymore. It's transgender too. Tglb!
Page 3.- The Back Page: This is going to wrap up another Sunday Edition here in Cyrsti's Condo. In the next post I am going to pass along yesterday's experience of almost getting "photo bombed" at a local Native American festival! Thanks for stopping by!

Amazon Invasion Ahead for the 'Nati"

The upcoming annual LGBT Cincinnati Pride celebration has literally grown leaps and bounds over the recent years. And, this year Erika Ervin ( transgender woman) will be the 2015 Grand Marshall and what a grand marshall she is!!! You see, Erika Ervin is also known as "Amazon Eve" and is the world's tallest model. She has been featured in 200+ newspapers and magazines and has tens of millions of hits on her websites. 

However, Erika's considerable stature or beauty combined can compare with her message of love and acceptance.

From her website:  

(Amazon) "Eve is a champion for ending child abuse & neglect, and an advocate for LGBT rights and those who suffer from AIDS. In addition, Amazon Eve is exploring the cessation of global economic and environmental skullduggery. Eve walks her talk and lives for personal fitness, maintaining a rigorous program to keep herself in top shape. “Accepting yourself at whatever shape nature has made you is the path to internal peace.”

Oh, by the way, before you start bemoaning how you are tall, Erika is 6'9"!

Tranassic Hair

Good news about hair is you can grow it, the bad news is you have to keep track of it. I have made the comment around here in Cyrsti's Condo about the biggest change from wig to hair was it was the first time in my feminine life I just couldn't swivel a wig stand and see the back of my head.

On a deeper level though, I learned how a woman's hair defines her and why some have  "bad hair" days.

Yesterday, Liz and I had to get up at an incredibly impossible hour to take her 90 year old Dad in for a medical procedure.  I will only say "back in the day" I only saw 4:30 am from the "other side"- I had never been to bed.

Last night though, it was time for my monthly shower which now includes the "shampoo" decision. Lately I have been in love with my "the mousse is loose" hair style.  Basically, I just volumize, condition, apply mousse and air dry.(Instead of a flat iron.) Normally, I think "hey I love this! But yesterday when we got to the surgery center, I went to the restroom, looked in the mirror and said damn!!!! I had a real live bad hair day going on. All this time I thought they were staring at me because I was transgender-not because of my hair!

Not to be discouraged though, today I had a chance to consider my hair decisions. With the 90 degree plus humid heat today, pulling my hair back in a loose ponytail and rock some neat earrings I don't wear much.

Putting the "mousse" away for a day or so is not a bad idea it seems.

First You Procrastinate-Then You Shave It

OK, I am an excellent procrastinator. Why work on something ahead of time until you can put it off till later? Right??? And yes, more than a little of leading this transgender woman life takes a little more upkeep, Well, a lot more.

No more procrastination- summer has hit with a passion here in Ohio, with 90 degree heat and humidity to match. I literally and figurally was not ready with my legs. I normally always wear some sort of jeans and getting rowdy for me is putting on a pair of capri's. Plus I never wear hot panty hose. So I kept procrastinating getting my legs in summer condition. Tanned and smooth-with no fuzz of course (plus, I am not going to get into foot care now!

As I was considering the heat waves ahead, I thought I had never really owned a pair of women's shorts. Since now I can wear tank tops, shorts may be a way to go this summer.

I have two big time problems: quite the coat of "fuzz" on my legs and under the fuzz, my skin resembles "Casper the Ghost." Which, presents another problem. My arms have tanned evenly and better than I ever thought possible, I have diligently used a mix of a mild tanning lotion, the sun itself and sun tan lotions.  My legs are going to have to run fast to catch up. Without the fuzz.

Damn procrastination! Feels like I am back in college pulling "all nighters" before exams!

"TransAssic" and the Trans Girl II

Yesterday I wrote a post called "TransAassic Park". I was attempting to point out the extreme differences in how the generations view the basic binaries of gender. In fact more than a few 20 somethings I met and heard from in Columbus a couple weeks ago preferred not to participate in a strict gender binary label at all.

Being one of the dinosaurs I mentioned, I wonder if a term such as transgender which appeared during my life and served a very real need for me may also become less and less relevant as I age further.

Example? Liz and I went to dinner last night.  HRT has given me just enough  precious passing privilege to help make life easier. But labels I'm sure get in someone's way. (To the consternation of many.) I have my own breasts and a semblance of a feminine figure compliments of my diet-but no one is slapping a genetic female label on me. Including me. However, I have become my own woman and she is happy to be here.

So, calling myself transgender anymore may describe may just be a "TransAassic" term of how I arrived at where I am today. Plus, it's a great label to use these days especially after the publicity binge we are going through. 

Truly though, I am not so sure it's accurate any more. Maybe it's time to put it into a closet in the museum?

"TransAssic" Park?

The more I watch and read about transgender reactions, the first thing I am beginning to look for is how old the person is. My first example comes from a reaction to the latest television series about a transgender family (actually two) which made its debut last night on the "The ABC Family Channel."  (left)



"Becoming Us"  is an unscripted story of young Ben, an Illinois teenager whose dad, Charlie, is transgender and becoming a woman before our very eyes! This reality show will run week after week to help educate our children about the normalcy of transgenderism. Add to the mix, Ben's dad divorces his mother plus his girlfriend's dad is also becoming a "woman!"

I saw the first show and thought it hit it's mark. Then, for some reason, I ended up scanning a post on the CP Opinion site by Larry Tomzack. The site is a self proclaimed "Christian" site. Predictably, good old Larry with 40 years in the "ministry" came very close to calling transgender women "perverts" (of course quoting the Bible all the way.)

Larry is a dinosaur and belongs in my Transasstic Park he has no idea of the current thoughts and needs of trans youth or the off spring of transgender parents. 

Then Connie passed along this from the venerable New York Times: "This weekend, the New York Times’ Sunday Review section featured an essay on Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover, trans identities, feminism and what “makes” a woman. Throughout most of the piece, writer Elinor Burkett refers to a “we” of cis feminists and a “they” of “trans activists.” These groups are not just distinct, according to Burkett — they are at odds.

Burkett begins with what she felt were disparate responses from feminists when Larry Summers — now professor and president emeritus of Harvard University and a veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations — and Jenner — a former Olympian speaking to Diane Sawyer on behalf of herself — suggested in different ways that gender may be hardwired."

I immediately thought -if you can't beat em with brilliance-baffle em with bull shit and more exhibits for my park. (Burkett is 68.)

Recently I saw an interview with Jane Fonda as she reminisced about the days when she thought there was no way her or anyone else would/should make it past 30. The way the future of the T's of the LGBT community is shaping up- 30 is a good number - to step back and look at the younger generation behind you.

In the meantime, I will tell you where and when my museum will open and yes, I am saving room for my very own exhibit!

Going Womanless for a Great Cause

I have mentioned here in Cyrsti's Condo many times womanless beauty pageants around where I live were almost non existent when I was growing up. Several years ago, when the local benefits for cancer began to come along, many of them added a womanless beauty pageant to raise donations. One year, I actually pushed by another guy I knew to participate. You know, on of those guy things-I will if you will.

For any number of reasons, I didn't. The primary one I was already sort of/kind of out in my town as a cross dresser. Not a good idea at the time for others to connect more dots with me.

As I was skipping through my Pinterest boards this morning-this picture of an unidentified "contestant" and his girlfriend caught my attention.

Right now I'm thinking the girlfriend is thinking how long he is going to put up with the heels he is wearing and if he does why? He is thinking "Damn" I better look like I have never dressed like a woman before.

It's Not A Choice

One of the constant wrong impressions of transgender women and men is we had any choice when we chose to live a trans life.. It is one of the points I tried to get across along with my transgender sisters and brothers during the Trans Ohio Symposium. And, as a matter of fact, to a couple of my health care providers too.

My easiest explanation it seems is, cross dressing just never "got it done." My life just didn't feel right. Let me rephrase it, my life didn't feel seriously right.

Key note speakers this year at the Symposium were a serious blend of trans youth. Four, to be exact. All completely unique in their own way. One, was getting reading to head this fall to the University of Cincinnati and identified as more of an androgynous "agender" person. She spoke of waking in the morning and knowing she wasn't necessarily a girl, but definitely not a boy. Looking back into the dark ages of gender information when I grew up, I think I would have identified the closest with "Em's" story.

Perhaps the most serious impact was made by a 13 year old transgender boy who attended with his Mother and Aunt. His story was simply one of knowing his gender path and getting Mom on board after a very rough start.

If I could go back in time, maybe I could replace many of the trial and error cross dressing public trips I made with one or more symposium visits.

After all, I never had a choice and never knew it.