Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sunday Funnies ~ Whoa, MacNelly!

Because I used "If the Shoe Fits" last time I featured the comic strip Shoe by Jeff McNelly.  Jeff died in 2000 and a team keeps the strip alive.  IMO, they do a great job of channeling Jeff, and it's great to see a wonderful strip like Shoe living on.











Saturday, August 30, 2014

That Darn Ralph!

It seems like crossdressing shows up occasionally in Mike Peters' Mother Goose and Grimm.  And it seems like it almost always involves Ralph.






Friday, August 29, 2014

I Was Mistaken

No t-post today.  I met a new friend, Alana, last week and have to share a bit about her here, but that won't be until next week.  And idiot that I am, I forgot to take a picture or six!  She looked great and she had on a killer dress on too!

Last Saturday my son and I flew into San Francisco.  At 3:30 we both woke up and looked at each other.  I said "earthquake" and we went back to sleep.  Well, he did.  I was waiting for the aftershocks but still had a decent night's sleep.

No damage in SF, but I'm sure you saw the pictures of Napa, only 30-40 miles north.  When we went to San Jose I asked the hotel clerk if they felt it and he said he did, but only because he was awake.

I have jet lag when we go from standard to daylight savings time, so I was amazed I just rolled into the three-hour time difference with no problems.

Coming back home didn't work as well.

I'll have some cartoons on the weekend and I'll be back on track on Labour Day (that's Monday to the rest of the world).

They let me leave Alcatraz when I wanted to this time!



Thursday, August 28, 2014

There's No Place Like Home

I had a late flight last night.  I'll be posting tomorrow though.

I came home, changed into my nightie (yay!) and Zzzzzzzz




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

The Name Game

I generally sign e-mails.  I know not everyone does ~ there is a return address, after all.

I probably send an equal number of e-mails from my male account as from a Meg account.

I noticed recently I stop Every Time and think about how I'm supposed to sign.  Most people I write to as Meg know I'm trans and would understand "oops.  That's my male name" as a response to the obvious question.  The other way... it would take more than an "oops.  That's my girl name."

By the way, I'm heading back to VA this afternoon.  It's been a no girl stuff, except for passable stuff and even that is scarce.  White cotton panties, plain girl socks, unexceptional girl pjs.  I'm wearing boy jeans because I have more pocket space, in lieu of carrying my small bag.




Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Down in the Valley

Today is supposed to be Silicon Valley day.  Marian knows what I need to see here.

We may go down as far as Monterrey.  Who knows?  I'm writing this last week and plans change so much I won't even speculate.




Monday, August 25, 2014

Um, I'm Out Today

But away out, not out out.

I'm in San Francisco today.

Actually, I'm starting the day in San Francisco and I'll be finishing the day in San Jose or somewhere in the valley.

I'm pre-posting this before the trip but if all went according to plan we visited Alcatraz and they let me leave.  We also stopped at spots on the waterfront, Coit Tower, Chinatown, maybe Berkeley.

I tried desperately to get a tour of the Tesla factory but I couldn't convince them.  I tried everything except bribery.  Hey, I'm still Jewish.  I have limits.  :)

NO dressing this week.  I won't even be able to do girl clothes shopping, alas.  I can probably get a nice Rice-a-Roni dinner though.



Sunday, August 24, 2014

Sunday Funnies ~ Arlo and Janis

This strip has been around for over 25 years.  Arlo reminds me a lot of me, except a bit less inhibited.

Here are a few of my favourites:








Saturday, August 23, 2014

The Darlings of CIDU

Back in the last millennium, I used to be a daily reader of a website called Comics I Don't Understand.  Bill Bickel is still producing the site, although now it's a blog.

He posts comics he, um, doesn't understand.  Sometimes, other people alert him to inscrutable comics; in the past, sometimes that other people was me.  Sometimes, I would explain (or try to explain) comics posted on the site.

He had a page called the "Arlo and Janis page."  He'd put comics there that he didn't understand but the explanation might not be family suitable.  A&J showed up there the most; hence the name of the page.

If this sounds familiar, I mentioned this about eight months ago, when I featured some Arlo and Janis cartoons.

For old times sake, I explained yesterday's A&J, which Bill had posted on the blog.

Here are a few cd-ish A&J cartoons.

How does he know?  Follow up, Janis!


It goes with the skirt

We can, but it's hard work

You just don't understand, Arlo.
You really don't understand!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Cami Fail

The day before the Tom Paxton show, I tried on a top and skirt I wanted to wear.  The top was a purple textured tank.  It's fitted (with a side zipper), has wide straps to cover bra straps and is very pretty.  It looked fine.

The day of the show, I put it on with my preferred bra and pads and... nope.  Definitely not.  Nope.  Not gonna work.

Fortunately I had other options and since I had shaved pretty thoroughly the previous day I had a LOT of other options.

The cami fail is below.

But... I LOVE this camisole top!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

We'll See How This Turns Out

Before the show, Video

I just liked the way that sounds.

Before the show, a woman associated with Tom Paxton was wandering through the audience with a video camera.  She was soliciting people who wanted to share their memories of Paxton ~ first show, best show, memorable incident, etc.

I thought about it.  They're mostly shallow but I had several meetings with and memories of Tom. 


Mandy, after her Beth Taylor makeover
But she's going to put this on Kickstarter.  Tom's new album is being funded there; you can go to Kickstarter and see some videos and information about the new project (and join if you're a fan).

I thought it was a bad idea, but I wasn't sure why.  So I raised my hand each time she seemed to be looking for another victim subject.  I figured, if she didn't choose me, then it would have been a bad idea.  if she did, it probably would be OK.

She never looked in my direction.  Until almost showtime, when she did.

She came over and I told her a number of stories, video camera staring at me the whole time.  I told of fixing his computer, him asking me if I was a lawyer at Newport (his song "One Million Lawyers" was just released), bringing vinyl for an autograph, how I could never sing Jimmy Newman because my voice would break and I'd tear up....  I meant to mention a couple of more obscure songs when she asked for favourites and my mind went blank so I mentioned a couple of more popular songs.  I forget to tell her that I used to sing "Annie's Gonna Sing Her Song" to my oldest when he was a baby and he'd sing back the second line of the chorus when I'd sing the first.

But I talked too long and when I let her go I said "and now I'm sure you can cut that down to two words" and she laughed and said "we'll edit it."

It hasn't shown up on the site yet.  We'll see if I get my fifteen minutes, per Andy Warhol.  I'll keep you posted (unless you all donate and get updates direct from Tom).

By the way, I "stole" Mandy's picture from her website.  If you want to see the magic Elizabeth Taylor did you can go to Mandy's blog and then on to Beth's website.




Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Simple Pleasure ~ Freecycle

This appeared recently:

OFFER: Training Bras
  10 - 15 training bras


What the heck are they training?  An army?  Or did they have quintuplets? 




Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Maybe I DO Pass

After the show, I headed for the stage, along with many in the crowd.  Tom had said that if you buy a
My friend Mandy at the park
CD it needs to be autographed "to unlock the CD."

I first met Tom at the Newport Folk Festival, where we spoke briefly while he was signing autographs.  Many years later, he was doing a show at a town event in Herndon (I think) and I was wandering around, as is my wont.  There, behind the stage, was Tom and I said hi and asked him about one of his songs.

A few years ago, I had a call from someone who said his name was "Tom Paxton" and he wanted help moving files from his old Mac to his new Mac.  I told him I could help with that, and at the end of the call I said "I have a question.  Are you THE Tom Paxton?"  He asserted that, if I meant the folk singer, yes, that was he.

When I arrived at his house, I was greeted by Tom holding his newest CD out for me.  He also offered me and my son (who came along) free tickets to his upcoming Wolf Trap performance.  It was a superb show, by the way.

But every time I was in drab, and he didn't really seem to remember previous meetings at each event.  That's understandable ~ he meets a LOT of people, I am sure.

This time was a bit different.  I went up, bought a copy of the CD re-release of his first album, thanked him for signing it, and left.

No I didn't.  I should have ~ it would have been the smart thing to do.

Instead I said "you probably don't remember me."  He agreed that he did not.  I told him I came by his house to transfer files to his new computer a few years ago but that didn't ring a bell.  I mentioned that, a couple of years prior, I brought a vinyl album for him to sign.  No recognition.

I figured those would be pretty unique events.  My guess is, either I was wrong and these sorts of things happen all the time, or I pass better than I think.

I mean, if someone transgendered came up to me and said "remember me?  We met at..." I'd try to remember where I met such a person before.  I'd think that the other events would stand out if the person talking to you stood out as well.

But maybe he was thinking "I don't remember a woman fixing my computer.  Maybe she's mistaken" and "I get so many people asking me to sign old albums, why would I remember her?"

I did everything but pull off my wig and say "I'm a man."  It was a good ending to Some Like It Hot (and Bosom Buddies (from around 14:30) but I thought it would be wrong in real life.
Sometimes, you can't come out if you WANT to!

There's one more event I haven't mentioned here.  It may take a week or two to come out (so to speak) and I want to wait until it does to post.



Monday, August 18, 2014

Concert in the Park ~ The Show

We got to the park in plenty of time to get a good seat and enjoy the sound check for the main act.
Note: "good seat" is on a hard wooden bench near the stage.  Many people brought folding chairs and set them up in front of the benches.  Others brought blankets or cushions to sit on.

As I said, I was somewhat concerned about going to this particular show for a couple of reasons:

- Last time I went to one of his shows I ran into a co-worker.  It turns out she is a fan, of the huge variety.  We ran into each other on the To Get An Album signed line.  I was considering contacting her before this show to see if she was going, but it occurred to me that I'd rather not have her looking for me in the (not very large, really) crowd so I didn't.  I didn't see her; I did send her an e-mail afterwards.  She was indeed there.

- Mr Paxton knows me.  I've been to his house (on business).  I could just hide in the crowd and disappear afterwards, but, well, I didn't.




So I had a great opportunity to out myself.  As it happened, I outed myself more than I had planned.  More on that later in the week.

In the past, I've mentioned the obvious: outing oneself is better than being outed.  Control of the situation means you've run through at least some scenarios in your head and your prepared.  Saying to someone "you know me.  I'm Jeff" is better than "Jeff?  Is that YOU Jeff?"  It's also better because you've chosen your target, not been chosen yourself.

If the co-worker was looking for me, she might be scanning the crowd and wonder if the woman near the front is really a woman and maybe decide she looks a bit familiar.  I think she'd be OK, but I also think she'd tell everyone we know which could affect future career opportunities.  Not everyone is as open as you'd wish.

Before the concert, I pointed out Penny Gross, who was on stage, to Mandy.  Ms Gross has been our district supervisor for close to three hundred years.  I think she came over on the Santa Maria.  She knows me too, but I didn't seek her out ~ she's OK but I'm not a fan.

When I mentioned Ms Gross, the man sitting to my left leaned over and said "the other women are Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer."  The names were familiar but I must have looked puzzled.  He said "do you know who they are?"  And I remembered and said "folkies.  They do a lot of kid shows."  He said "they do a lot more than just 'kid shows.'"  That was about the whole of our conversation until the show started and Tom mentioned something about the crowd being on the older side and the man said to me "we're not old!"  I said "I'm certainly not" and smiled.  Again that was the whole conversation.  A couple of times while I was singing along to a song my eyes met that guy's eyes and we smiled, but that was it.  I remember saying something else to him (age-related) during the show but forget what.

When the concert ended, a crowd started forming by the table by the side of the stage where Tom would be signing CDs.




Sunday, August 17, 2014

Sunday Funnies ~ Pirarro

I've done Bizarro comics before.  I have a page of on-line comics I get every day.  I have no idea why Dan Piraro's Bizarro is not on that page.  Here are a few to enjoy.  The panels themselves are small; zoom in your browser for better viewing.


Just silly.

I LOVE this one!

15+ year old comic

This one is great too but a match?  Really?

scanned from the Funny TImes


See ComicsIDontUnderstand


Saturday, August 16, 2014

Desperate Circus Animals

Big Top, which takes place in a fairly pathetic circus, did a series a few years ago where the animals decided to make a reality show.  The girls were played by the male characters mostly because the girls are all in the sideshow.

Pete looks pretty good, for a cartoon. :)

Sorry for the small size of the comics.  You can use the browser zoom for better viewing.



My mantra.  Or womantra.





Friday, August 15, 2014

Tom Paxton, Of Course

After several false starts, Mandy and I finally met.  She doesn't live that far away but east of the Chesapeake.  Crossing the
Click to enlarge.
Bay Bridge is a trip one doesn't take lightly, especially in the summer. 

Although she normally dresses androgynously, she doesn't "dress dress" at home.  She has a blog called "From Me to Mandy;" her take on her visit is here and I think she plans to add another post.  The title of her post, The Marvelous Weekend, is a play on the first song Tom Paxton wrote, The Marvelous Toy.

Mandy came to town to get a mani-pedi and an Elizabeth Taylor makeover.  She also wanted to visit Udvar-Hazy, one of very few aviation museums with a Space Shuttle.  It's about an hour west of DC.

I wanted to see Tom Paxton Friday evening.  Every year he gives a free concert locally and I'd been once, maybe twice before.  I talked Mandy into joining me; she was unfamiliar with Paxton, or so she thought.  She looked at some of his music and it was familiar.  I've been a fan  forever.  In fact, at his last concert I brought a vinyl album for an autograph.

At Clydes


We had dinner at Clyde's before the show.

Everyone was fine, we were addressed as "ladies" together, "ma'am" individually.  Other patrons ignored us, including the nearby table with a family with a few kids.  I don't know how many; I ignored them too.

We touched up our makeup in the car.  I know most people don't, but I think it's rude to put on lipstick at the table at a restaurant.  I should probably get over that.  I think that's an easier hurdle than spending extra time in the ladies' room standing at the mirror.  Besides, I'd be nervous doing that and nervous is Bad For Makeup*.

I was a bit apprehensive about going to the show.  I'll explain why next.






* I tried to find the makeup lady scene from Airplane! but was unsuccessful.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Who?

Does anyone know who the sitting man is? 

Really Bad Hint: he's least well-know for being a client of mine :)

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Simple Pleasure ~ Thank You

Please read the comments from yesterday's post.  I know ENDA isn't a panacea, but it's a start.  Of course, with the federal government today, it's just as likely that if they actually pass something useful they'll say "we did that.  Let's move on" no matter how anemic it is.

I learn from my readers.




Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Why We Need ENDA

I went out dressed on Friday night.  The elevator stopped on the sixth floor to let a passenger on.  He said hi; I smiled and returned the greeting.  He looked at the panel and said "going down!  Good."  I said "it works for me too."

On the fourth floor, two workmen-looking sorts came on, and pressed the button for the lowest level.

I stepped off the elevator at the lobby level (first off, of course!) and walked over to the apartment building mailboxes.  In mine, there was a few envelops and circulars.  There was also a slip that shows up when a package is too large for the mailbox.  The office is nearby and it was still open.

I didn't pick up the package.

I was fine walking through the lobby, across the front of the building to my car, saying hello to the men on the elevator.  I'm even fine with seeing the ladies in the office and saying "You don't recognise me?  I'm *** from apartment ***."  I've spoken with one woman at length (not about dressing though) and I think she'd be fine with me.

But here in the good ol' U. S. of A. it's perfectly legal for her (or her management) to break my lease by saying "we don't like transpeople here."









Monday, August 11, 2014

Minority Call Out!

On Friday, I wrote about how the fact that someone is trans and did something nasty is showing up less in headlines.  I also noted that other groups that were fingered in headlines or article leads lost that distinction as time went on and people complained.

In Saturday's Washington Post, there was a letter from someone complaining that the Virginia first lady, on trial right now, was described in the paper as someone “who still wears her bangs feathered and her hair below her shoulders.”  The writer went on, "Is there an age limit for women on hair length? Apparently, male politicians get a free pass on their fake tans and dyed hair."

Some groups still lack invisibility.  Their status is put up front-and-center, with the idea, I suppose, that pointing it out will show it's rarity, but the lesson the great unwashed might get is "what's wrong with those people?"  A recent headline showed one such group.  The headline:

PhD and his wide convicted of first-degree murder

In other news, Mandy came to town for a visit this past weekend. Her main goal was to get an Elizabeth Taylor makeover, but she made some time to meet up.  We had dinner and saw a local concert on Friday, and met again Sunday morning for breakfast. Details to follow.



Sunday, August 10, 2014

Sunday Funnies: Same Joke, Same Day

July 28th was an odd day.  Sometimes, I see the same jokes or same topics in different strips on the same day, but on the 28th I found a double and a triple!  Click to enlarge each.

Beautiful Day




News at Eleven