There Was Good News

Depending upon where you live, there was good news which came out of this years' Mid-Term Elections.

Here in Ohio, predictably the backward rednecks in the state elected a governor firmly in the pockets of the big insurance and pharmacy companies but re-elected our incumbent Democratic senator. The senator who spoke via recording two years in a row to our Trans Ohio Symposium.

In Massachusetts though:

It became the first state to uphold protections for transgender and non-binary people at the ballot box by voting to preserve the state's anti-discrimination law.

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the Question 3 ballot initiative to keep the current wording of the state’s anti-discrimination statute, according to news website MassLive. Official numbers have not yet been released.

And, in Vermont,  A candidate with Upstate New York roots made an unsuccessful run for the Vermont governor's seat Tuesday. Despite the loss, she made history as the first transgender candidate to be nominated by a major party for a gubernatorial race.

Democrat Christine Hallquist, 62, a Baldwinsville, N.Y., native, lost to Republican incumbent Phil Scott. In a race with seven candidates. Scott gathered 149,312 votes (54.56 percent), followed by Hallquist at 108,639 (39.70 percent)

I am sure too, I am missing a few historic victories in state races across the country. Overall, despite the current administration trying to erase us, we are still scoring historic gains.

Voting

Received several comments about voting from across the spectrum. Thanks to all who sent in comments including the illustrious "Yeah...Whatever" Pat Scales (I am surprised New York or any state doesn't require some sort of I.D to vote though.) Connie and others.

One thing is for sure, I won't miss all the dirty political ads on television.

Other than that, we have a busy day coming up. Liz has a couple of doctors appointments, I usually accompany her to, plus we have to go vote of course.

I am running so far behind, I haven't even figured out what I am going to wear!

VOTE!

Unless you live off the grid somewhere, or are a clueless millennial like Liz's 21 year old son, you already know tomorrow (Tuesday) is election day.

This actually will be my third election voting with my feminine drivers license. In Ohio where I live, you have to show a photo I.D. to vote. I still feel as if it is a big deal!

I don't have to lecture you on the importance of voting in this election! However, I did add this tag to my Facebook profile.

Enough said!

So Simple

Or, should I say, "Keep it simple stupid." Today when we made our weekly trip to run errands and stop at the grocery store, I basically just threw on a pair of leggings with a lightweight sweater/blouse. I completed my outfit with a quick cover of foundation, a little eye makeup and lipstick. I them brushed out my hair and was ready to go. I didn't feel particularly good or bad about the way I looked...just, I was set to blend in with most of the other cis-women I would encounter. As it turned out, I was right. Liz and I were called ladies twice and I was able to carry on quite a little conversation with our bagger at the grocery store.

The only reaction I received out of the ordinary was when I came around a corner at the grocery store and almost ran into a wide eyed teen aged boy looking straight at me. Who knows what the heck he thought?

Even still, positive feedback is always nice. As Connie said:

"Welcome to Womanhood! Most women go through those periods (I'm not referring to THOSE periods) of being unhappy in the appearance department. At least you had a new dress to wear last night!

Having lived on the other side of the gender spectrum for so many years, especially those as a husband, we should be aware of the importance of a woman needing confirmation of her looks from time to time. While I used to make the effort to give praise to my wife on her appearance often (though really not often enough), I do not get the same effort toward me and my appearance from her now. It can be tough, at times, to keep my confidence level up.

Some may get all they need from press-on nails, and some of us need to just keep pressing on (hoping to, every now and then, nail it). ;-)"

It's been a long time since anyone said "welcome to womanhood! Thanks!

Friday Night Lights...Continued

Well, not much exciting happened during our monthly outing to the venue which hosts karaoke. We had a nice supper and for once were early enough to sit with a couple we have been wanting to meet but never had a chance to. It turns out the husband identifies as a cross dresser, not transgender and is a working mechanic. He relies upon stick on nails to transform his nails for a night out. He looks good!

Other than that, many of the usual suspects were not there, including the obnoxious one who just loves my partner Liz. Can't say I missed her, another cross dresser. Every month, she seems to find something wrong to bitch about. One problem is the venue is a Mexican restaurant and she professes not to like Mexican food. So, I asked the obvious question, to my myself, why did she come at all?  Regardless of her personality, she must be very lonely. I did miss the question Liz always gets concerning when they were going Salsa dancing. If it ever happened, the place would have to have a great bar to keep my interest. While I appreciate the Salsa art form, unfortunately, I don't have the coordination to try.

As far as appearance went, it was one of those nights I wasn't really pleased with how I looked. Can't tell you why except my spectrum of how I think I look has started to swing back the other way. Oh well.

As far as the rest of the weekend goes, I hope you all have a great one!

Friday Night Lights

Tonight is the monthly karaoke night out for our cross dresser - transgender support group. These social night outs probably actually provide more support for novice members as the relatively boring sit down meetings. The reason is the social provides a safe space for a new person to pursue her feminine self. Also the monthly Friday night event is not held in a gay venue. It is interesting to note though how many of the participants get a little more edgy as the venue fills up the later it gets. I can understand where they are coming from.

I have a new dress to wear tonight. It's a relatively form fitting long green sleeved maxi dress. I just hope I didn't ruin what form I had with eating too much Halloween candy! I like the sensual feeling of my skin (no bra) so Liz gave me one of her lace vests to just give a sneak peek of the girls without being too trashy and maybe even cover up my "candy pouch." (belly)

One way or another, I expect to have a good time. For those of you who wonder if I sing, no I don't. That way, I can marvel at the great singers and maybe the bad ones too!

I am Just Dense

I don't know why I always revert back to a narcissistic outlook when I think about my public feminine perception. I suppose it goes back to all of my cross dresser days, when I was trying so hard to learn a feminine lifestyle.

After-all,  the face I see in the mirror every morning is basically the same, except for a few more wrinkles. The big changes are way behind me now under the influences of HRT. Over the years, it has really smoothed out my skin and decreased the angular look of my face. However, it has not decreased my beard growth. My age has given me a gray beard though, so it is easier to cover.

The only thing which changes is the amount of confidence I carry myself with. Now I am not so afraid to "lead" with my voice, instead of hoping my appearance would get me by. I mean, I am trying to speak to the other person first for a change.

My point is, I don't know why it has taken me so long on this transgender path to learn your attitude/confidence just could be one of your most important accessories. Every time it is pounded into my head, I seem to lose it.

Maybe this time, I won't.

FYI, Connie, the guy I mentioned in the last post may have had eye problems, but he wasn't waiting in line for an eye appointment! :) It's in another building.

Two Girls in the Hall

Yesterday was therapy day and a three hour round trip to see the same therapist I have had for the past five plus years.

The session went pretty much as planned. I discussed with her the Witches Ball and my plans to cancel my voice therapy lessons. I think I have taken them about as far as I can for the time being, plus I really can't afford to keep driving the extra distance to do them. If I keep on working on my pitch and smoothing out my voice, I don't seem to have any problems anyhow. So, my next session will be my last and I will take Thank You cards for both of my therapists.

The only matter of note yesterday came when I was walking down the hallway with my therapist after my visit. It is a long hallway and as we walked together, I noticed a man at the reception desk paying us quite a bit of attention. My therapist is a relatively attractive woman, so I just figured he was admiring her but as it turned out, he was admiring both of us.

I was so confused I screwed up my making another appointment routine!

Tragedy...Again

All to often it seems I am sending out my sympathies to a certain part of the country.

This time of course, it's Pittsburgh and the Jewish community as a whole.

The whole situation brings trepidation to my heart since my daughter converted to Judaism, and is raising her children in the Jewish faith. As we know today, crazies are everywhere. Here, even in middle America Midwest, we recently had a mass shooting as you may recall in downtown Cincinnati.

With all the recent pipe bomb threats, it seems our country can't experience anymore pain but it does. Plus, who knows what it going to happen along the Mexican border?

And I thought 1968 was a scary time! Also, just being transgender doesn't seem too bad, even with resident rump trying to erase us.