Sunday, November 30, 2014

More From the "Used to Be Funny" File

I've exhausted my Garfield trove.  I still read it daily, by the way.  You never know....












Saturday, November 29, 2014

As Long As He's Taken Over Sunday...

Here are a couple of opening panels to Sunday Garfield's (and one strip), suitable for Saturday.


Go ahead kids!  You might love it!

Included for content, not for humour

Friday, November 28, 2014

Casual Outing

On Tuesday, I mentioned that, after the TDoR, I spoke to a clergy member from a local synagogue.  I told her about the "transgender 101" session that was given to middle school students at my synagogue.  She expressed interest in doing a similar session for her students and was curious to know about the format and such.

I told her I'd get her what information I had.  I know I had a handout which I kept for a possible post (or discussion with my boys) but it disappeared.  I wrote to the instructor and asked if I could pass on his contact information.  I told him about my encounter and said it was "after the TDoR service at the UU church."

So now he knows one of three things about me: (a) I'm transgendered; (b) one of my children or another close family member is transgendered; or (c) I'm an empathetic civilian.

(c) is the least likeliest.  He might think it's (b) but I have sent an e-mail to the woman from the other synagogue with his contact information.

Their exchange will proceed something like:

"Hi.  Meg gave me your contact information.  I'd like to discuss blah blah blah."

"Hi.  I don't know 'Meg' but {male name} contacted me about that.  Is that who you mean?"

Thus removing all doubt.

A casual outing.




Thursday, November 27, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance, Program

(Have a good Thanksgiving, my American sisters, and remember those who didn't get to enjoy this day.)

It was a moving ceremony, well attended.  Here is a scan of the program and a hope that this is the last one that will ever be necessary.

Past victims on the cover

Introduction on page 2

The "stages" were moving personal stories, well done

Candles were snuffed out for "We Remember"

End of service

This year's victims.  So sad



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Best. Fortune. Ever

This was from dinner before the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  Interesting juxtaposition.

YES!  I'm smiling too!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance, Service

Truth be told, I was thinking of skipping the night out because I was so tired that day, but I expected to see a minister there who knew me and knew about Meg, although she had not met Meg.  I'll tell the story of my coming out to her soon, after I clear out a backlog of going out events and a few other bits of flotsam and jetsam.

We sat down and I saw a few people I recognised (or that Charity helped me recognise).  I said hi to Rev. Emma, the minister from the Metropolitan Community Church that hosted the event in years past.  She remembered me, had even written to me a few days earlier to inform me that the event had moved, and was sweet enough to ask for a hug.

The service was very nice, and surprisingly diverse, with respect to religion: it included:

* two pastors from the MCC,
* ministers from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax, which was the host church,
* a pastor from the United Church of Christ,
* someone (I didn't get her title) from Congregation Adat Reyim, an unaffiliated Jewish synagogue; she was standing in for a rabbi who had taken ill.

People told their stories, we remembered the eleven women who died senselessly between the last TDoR and this one, sang a bit and prayed a bit.

I'd say there were about a hundred men and women in attendance.  I'd also say women outnumbered the men by at least ten to one.  Rev. Emma mentioned that some of the people who came forward to light candles for each victim were parents of transgendered children.

After the ceremony there was an area where we could schmooze and snack.  I normally skip out on those and considering that I skipped our soiree five days earlier because I felt anxious about being around people, I might have skipped this one except I wanted to talk to a few people.

I didn't see my minister friend, the one I was hoping to see, but I saw her wife who was fortunately
Crispy Beef :)
wearing a name tag so I recognised her (they are a long-term couple who married last Valentine's Day).  She was standing a few feet away and I said something along the lines of "Barb is here."  She looked up and Charity introduced herself and she looked at me and said "and you are...?" and I responded with my male name.  She was genuinely surprised, which is definitely a positive, and I mentioned this to her.

I've mentioned this before: when out and you see someone you know there will be a range of possible reactions: not being noticed at all, being given a cursory once-over as "woman I don't know," being given a "is that a guy?" look, and "hey!  That's {your male name}!"  The last is the least likely.  I think we generally look very different when dressed, especially if a wig is involved.

I'd guessed she would recognise my being trans, just because of the venue, but I was pleased that she didn't know me.  We had met at least a dozen times in the past.

We chatted a bit (my minister friend also had a bug) and I moved on.  I saw a UU minister who had performed the first part of the service and I complimented her on her presentation.  I also asked her where I could find the Jewish woman who had run another part of the service.  She pointed her out to me and we went over to say hi.

I told her I was a member of a different congregation and said I was unfamiliar with her synagogue.  Her reaction was: "oh good.  Another Jew" which I thought was funny.  I'm sure there were several even if they didn't jump up and wave their arms.

I told her that when my youngest was 14, one Sunday school segment was devoted to "Trans 101" and she asked for details because she wanted to do something like that at her synagogue.  She gave me her card and I said I'd see what I can find for her.

We also spoke with a couple of ladies we had met before and then headed back home.




Monday, November 24, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance, Pre-Service

I'm jumping around a bit right now.  I have a few days queued up about my visit to the Renaissance Faire, the Cardmodel Convention, and some miscellaneous events.  I'll get there.  Honest.

20 November was both the Transgender Day of Remembrance and somewhat cold.  I wore the same
dress I wore few weeks ago, when I met Sharon for dinner.  It's cute, comfortable, and warm.

The service began at 7:30, which is an inconvenient time for Meg.  It means I either have to eat early and spend my normal dinner hour dressing or dress early and prepare food and eat dressed (and carefully).  So... we went for the third option and dressed earlyish and ate out.

The Northern Virginia TDoR was in Oakton, west of where I live.  It's not far ~ maybe a dozen miles ~ but it's in the direction of People Heading Home.  There are multiple ways west, and all share the virtue of being clogged at that time.  Even though I expected it to be a mess, I opted for the road with the fewest lights.  I was not disappointed.  It was indeed a mess.

We stopped at a Chinese restaurant about a mile from the event and had a nice dinner coupled with an interesting observation.

We were treated as any other women out to eat.  I've come to expect that and, again, I was not disappointed.  But when the waiter first came over he asked if we wanted something to drink and if we wanted to be on one cheque or two.

Hmmm....  I've been out in male mode with women (and t-girls) many times and have never been asked if we wanted separate cheques.  The only reason he would have to ask is, often two women (or two guys) sit down together but want to pay separately.

That's maybe better than being "ma'am'd!"

Dinner was fine although a bit rushed; traffic put us a bit behind schedule but we got to the church in plenty of time.




Saturday, November 22, 2014

Not T But Appealing

Sandra Bell-Lundy's "Between Friends" has never had any t-content.  Perhaps they get close by showing male characters uncomfortable in women's environments but that's about it.

But she does have a very female/feminine aura to her strip and I enjoy that.  I hope you all do too.  Please click to enlarge, or zoom in.


Not in my vocabulary either. 

I'd spoil my little girl, if I had one!

Right.  All the stuff I missed wearing. :(

Or the other way around

Yes YES YES!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Last night was the 2014 TDoR.  I came home from work, ate, changed, and was out late and if you're reading this I didn't have time to produce a post. 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Halloween, Second Night

Mandy was still in town.  We didn't get together, which, from reading her blog, turned out to be a great thing for her .

My good friend Sharon was available and not really loving her options for dress-up, which was a great thing for me, because we all went out to dinner together, dressed but not in costume.  Sharon, like many of us, has to work around her family in order to get a day out.  I've met her wife; she is very nice, and good about herding the kids so Sharon can see daylight regularly.
Meg & Sharon on the way out

At the restaurant, about a third of the patrons and all of the staff were in costume.

I didn't worry much about being read, although next year I think I'll wear perhaps my Renaissance dress and be out as a "woman in a costume" instead of being out as a woman.

We spoke to the waitress (who wore a sheet and was a ghost at first but later she gave up the ghost and she had an "Alice in Wonderland" dress underneath.  I asked her what was under that and she said "that's it.  It's just my birthday suit" and I said "that's what I have on under this!"

So I was still in my normal-kidding mode, even as Meg, although I sometimes worry that banter might come off as flirting which might confuse the other party.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

At the end of the evening, I was seeking out the waitress but didn't find her.  I wanted to tell her that it was so uplifting to see all of the people in costume that I was going to wear one next year.  Just to see what she says, of course.



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Simple Pleasure: Zip Me Up, Please

(Please consider attending a Transgender Day of Remembrance event tomorrow night.)

Marian made a comment about preferring bras with a "back closure."  I do too.  Other girls I've spoken to do as well.  We also like back or side zips on dresses.

I've been trying to figure out why.  The only thought I have is, it's more feminine.  Guy clothes doesn't fasten on the back or side.

But I'm wondering if there's more to it than that.  Any ideas, readers?




Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Halloween at the Apartment

Mandy was in town but I wanted to be home for any little goblins that might show up.  Since I was able to get out of work early, Meg was able to answer the door.

I changed into "Minimal Meg," as I described yesterday.  I've been wanting to do this, to see if I'm passable with minimal makeup.  Well, at least as passable as usual.

I did my close shave.  I considered only lipstick and gloss over my toner and moisturiser but instead went with powder and blush as well.  I also added mascara because, well, I like mascara.  But I skipped my cover and primer and foundation, and my other eye makeup.  I should have done something about my brows, but they were covered by my bangs and I wasn't planning on going anywhere (at that time; I had hopes of getting out later).

I put on a red Renaissance dress, black tights, black open heels, and my new bodice.  It wasn't easy to
16th century (minimal) Meg
put it on by myself, but I think I did a credible job.  It does crush "the ladies," as the saleswoman called them (that story is in the queue), so I changed to more solid breastforms instead of the liquid-filled bags I normally used.  I was afraid the pressure would ruin them.

I added earrings that looked antiquish, and a bead necklace and bracelet along with a couple of rings.  And my hair flowery thing.

Charity was expecting nail polish and kids were NOT appearing so I went downstairs to get the mail and see if a package arrived.  That's when I made a mistake I'm still kicking myself over.

I know a lot of people join in on a private conversation unbidden, but I always found that kind of rude so I do it sparingly, or veryconsciously.

One of the women who works in the office was standing by the mailboxes and talking to a male tenant when I came down.  I heard him say "it's Halloween" and she said "I have the most awesome costume.  I'm going as myself."

I ignored them.  I could have responded to the first statement "really?  I'll have to put on a costume."  Better would have been to respond to the second statement with "yeah, I'm just going to be myself for Halloween."

Funny, unexpected, and true on several levels.  It might even have started a conversation about the outfit.

But I didn't say anything.  I checked my mailbox (no mail yet so I had to go down later) and went back upstairs.

I expected to go into the office and ask for my package to see if the woman in there asks me which apartment I'm in.  I would have said something along the lines of "oh, come on.  You know by now" but there was no slip in the mailbox.

I missed opportunities but I'm sure Thalia had a reason.




Monday, November 17, 2014

Minimal Meg

(Thursday is the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  Consider finding an event near you and attending.  You'll be welcome in any mode you wish to present.)
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a picture and I captioned it "Minimal Meg."

It takes me roughly two hours to get ready.  The first half-hour or more is spent shaving.  Then prepping my face, followed by makeup, and finally getting dressed.

To recap (mostly in order):

shave VERY close, ensure all skin that might possibly show is clean.
shower
facial toner
"Minimal Meg"
moisturiser
makeup primer
cover stick
foundation
blush
powder
eye shadow(s)
eye liner
mascara
lip liner
lipstick
lip gloss
bra and breast forms
undies and hose as appropriate
cinch if needed
dress or equivalent
jewelry
wig

I've often thought that the bold items above could be considered optional, especially when I'm wearing glasses.  My skin isn't terrible and the glasses take some focus away from my eye makeup.

I had an opportunity to do this on Halloween: I expected some trick-or-treaters but I wasn't planning on leaving the apartment building.  If I was noticed, I'd be in costume and that, I'm sure, would be OK if I was just partly made up.

So that's what I did.  Although I did add mascara because I like to apply it and wear it.






Sunday, November 16, 2014

Relationship Sunday

Starting tomorrow, I'll go back to the Renaissance Festival visit.  But today...  More relationship cartoons from Mike du Jour, Shoe, Herman, The Flying McCoys, Sherman's Lagoon, and Bottomliners. 

Please click to enlarge, or just zoom in.




The ex had a box of that.

I felt like Art.

That was taken from our ceremony.



The absolute best!

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Relationship Saturday

I still have some relationship/wife/divorce cartoons I'd like to share.  Seven today, seven tomorrow.

Cartoons are from Bottomliners, Real Life Adventures,

To start, two on marriage counselors....

Two on the same topic....

...old joke, but with perfect delivery
And some more Real Life Adventures.  Why not.



Thursday, November 13, 2014

This Space Intentionally Left Blank

Friday the 13th falls on a Thursday this month.  I'm staying in bed until Saturday, just to be safe.




Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Dual Humour

During Fringe, I saw Elizabeth McCain's excellent one woman's show.  I wrote about it here.  She told her story with grace and humour.  It was about her life, growing up lesbian in the deep south.  I noticed the audience laughed at her situations in groups: southerners, gays, and civilians (in this context, that includes me) would laugh at different parts.

I have also noticed you can get laughs from different groups with the same joke.

Are you familiar with a mermaid's purse?  I've found these mysterious objects washed up on shore
"mermaid's purse"
many times before I found out both their common name and what they are: egg cases for some sharks.  I sometimes pick up items from the beach and I have one somewhere.  Hey, in the pre-interwebs days it wasn't so easy.  I think I found in the LaRousse encyclopedia of animals.

I described this to a civilian friend and said "I kept it because it goes well with a couple of my dresses" which got a laugh because, hey, why would I possibly have dresses?

I described this to a t-friend and said the same line and got a laugh because, well, it's way too small to be a useful purse.

I need to find more ways to do a double-joke. 

Hopefully, a better one than that one. :)

I am a bit backlogged right now.  Halloween has come and gone, and, before that, I had a fun day at the Renaissance Festival.  But the last few weeks of writing has taken a lot out of me, and I'm going to take a couple of days off.  Saturday and Sunday I think I will see what "relationship" cartoons I have and I'll be writing more next week.




Tuesday, November 11, 2014

No Regrets

So I'm on schedule.  I completed the story on the 11th.  Welcome back, all of you who slept for the past few weeks.

I had some valuable insights from readers, both in comments and personal e-mails.  I thank you all.

I hope y'all enjoyed reading.  Some feedback was along the lines of "I can relate" which is cool.  It's always nice to know you're not alone.

I feel like I just finished a marathon.

So as I said in the subject, No Regrets.

I'm looking forward to the future.  It'll have it's ups and downs, like everyone else's future, but I'm looking forward to it.  I have one final word on The Universe working the way it's supposed to at the end.

I'll be back with a typical light post tomorrow and back on schedule Thursday.  Meg has been OUT while my story was unfolding.

I thank you all.

And I'm hoping to have a postscript in a few days.