Friday, February 28, 2014

A Review, of Sorts

A few minutes ago, I tried Nair on my arms, underarms, and upper chest.  You may recall I really liked Veet, even though I always kept it on for the maximum time or it wasn't effective.  You may also recall that my last experience wasn't particularly pleasant.

In fact, it was downright painful.  I had what looked and felt like burns for quite a while, but Veet was also effective.

I bought some Nair for sensitive skin a few weeks ago, but time and temperature kept me from trying it.  I finally had a warmish apartment and an hour to invest.

Some thoughts:
Nair is neater.  It's applied with a small smooth sponge and removed with the other (bumpy) side.  I barely got any on my palms.  Veet is applied with your hand which means if you're trying to defur the back of your hand, it's hard to keep the stuff in its place.

Nair comes off neater.  Veet gives you a pink plastic spatula to remove the goo.  I find it leaves tracks.  It's kind of like a Veet razor.

Both are slimy.  That's not the right word, but they feel very slick.

Veet works better.  Nair took off a lot of hair, but it left a lot too.  I would not use this right before going out ~ there's too much touch up.

Nair is weird.  After my shower, I found a lot of hair, including some long ones that stayed in.  But I could grab and break them off easily, like pulling a tree with no root.  Weird.

And the Nair stayed on for about six or seven minutes (they suggest three, no more than ten).  My right arm started tingling and I thought it was time.  I'm not sure yet if I'll have that burn like I did after the Veet.  I'll let y'all know soon.




Thursday, February 27, 2014

Virtual Isn't As Good As Real

There's a lingerie company called Third Love.  They seem to only manufacture and sell bras, camisoles, and panties.  If you use Firefox, the little pull-down boxes to choose product and sizes didn't work.  It was OK on other browsers.

On some bras, you can change the basic colour and the trim colour as you choose.

There's a chat with a "fit specialist" that I didn't try.

I'm not sure their styles are what I'd be comfortable in.  It's hard for me to imagine how the bras would sit with forms, and the camis look like they're moulded but I don't really think that's the case; I think it's just the picture. I can't tell how much or little padding there is in the bras.

So why am I linking to this site?  They have an iPhone app to do a "virtual bra fitting."  You put on a tank top, take a couple of pictures and it figures out your size.

Not having an iPhone, I can't tell you how well it works.  If any of you ladies would like to give it a try, I'd love to know what you think.




Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Is She or Isn't She?

Some of you may remember the ads for Clairol hair colouring, "does she or doesn't she [colour her hair].  Only her hairdresser knows for sure."

This model came from an ad for L'Oreal hair colouring.  Maybe it's her chin.  Maybe the shape of her mouth.  But I'm not sure if this pretty girl is or isn't.


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Washington DC, St Paul MN, NYU, Bridgewater MA, VA Tech, Albany, Madison WI, Grinnell IA...

...you're in luck.

(quick note: a couple of readers suggested I misspelled Ms Monk's name.  It is indeed "Mock.")

Janet Mock has been in the news, thanks to the (suddenly cancelled) Piers Morgan.  I don't know a lot
about Ms Mock but I want to learn more.  I just need some time, and a good place to start would probably be to peruse her website, read her book, and maybe go to one of her talks and book signings.


The lucky people mentioned above are in target cities of her book tour.  DC is tonight and, alas, I can't make it.

You can find her upcoming events at janetmock.com/events.  Ignore the graphic (copied here); it's out of date.  Scroll down to see her tour dates; it looks like it's quite in flux so if your city is not listed you may want to check back every few days.




Sunday, February 23, 2014

Sunday Funnies ~ Cornered

The final one is questionable and I wonder if it appeared in newspapers or if the editors said NO.



I wouldn't be caught dead in a dress and sensible shoes!



Saturday, February 22, 2014

Sometimes I Feel the Same Way

Preteena is a, um, preteen.  She mostly hangs with her friends Stick and Gordon, and mostly avoids her teenage sister Jeri, who's of the "don't be ridiculous.  You'll never be as beautiful or desirable as me.  No-one will" mould.

Like Teena and Stick, I often feel that fashion magazines are not written with me in mind.  But I keep trying.  Click for the big picture.

I'm more banana

I wanna know how she did that!

See my opening paragraph

I know I know

Jeri also fits the messy-teen stereotype

Friday, February 21, 2014

How to Catch My Eye ~ Actual Trans Content Properly Labelled

Tuesday, 18 Feb, Steven Colbert had not one but two segments about gender.

He spent some time on the new facebook gender choices, and Piers Morgan's interview with Janet Mock.  He then had Ms Mock in the studio and he held a credible interview with her about gender and What Piers Did Wrong.

You can find the entire episode here.  It's worth a watch (if Colbert isn't your style, you can safely skip the Brian Greene interview segment at the end).

I've been suddenly reading a lot about Janet Mock.  This is the first time I've seen her.

I like her.




Thursday, February 20, 2014

How to Catch My Eye ~ Gender for Gender's Sake

The Washington Post had an article with the title

Genderqueer at the Gym

I don't think I've ever seen that particular word in any newspaper before.

The article is interesting, although not personally relevant.  I was fascinated by the author's experiences and thought processes.  At the end, I was thinking "if the world didn't pigeonhole each of us into a binary behaviour, she'd be normal."  I felt she has an extreme reaction to society labels and, in a better world, would be an everyman.  Or everywoman

And pronouns fail me.  Read and see.





Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Simple Pleasure ~ Simple Confusion

Yesterday, I wrote about how Facebook is allowing new gender choices.  The Washington Post had an article giving one definition of each of the Facebook terms.  I don't think there's agreement on these; it's more like Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass:

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - - that's all.


In any event, you can see the full list of terms here and some idea of their meaning.  My problem is, you use a label for yourself and if your audience doesn't understand that label it's meaningless.  Bernie Sanders says he's a socialist, and that gives his voters certain expectations.  But the average citizen (not you guys ~ you're all way above average Lake Wobegon citizens) thinks President Obama is a socialist ~ if one said "based on what I know, I expect you to..." they'd be very wrong, either in their understanding of socialism or Obama.

So is "transwoman" or "transman" a ciswoman who transitioned to male?  What is "trans*?"  How do I address a gender fluid individual, especially an androgynous gender fluid person?  Does that even make sense?  How about "gender sloshing" instead of fluid?

Anyway, read the article "Confused by Facebook’s new gender options? Here’s what they mean", and hand out copies to your friends when they say "you're a what?"




Tuesday, February 18, 2014

How to Catch My Eye ~ Real Changes!

(please read Friday's post and take the poll.  I hope to follow-up based on your comments and e-mails.  Start your comment with "private" if you don't want it posted.)

This is probably old news now but (from AP)...

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook announced Thursday that its 159 million U.S. users now have dozens of options for completing the gender question on their profiles. The social media giant has been working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups to expand the choices beyond male and female. The result: a “custom” option that lets users pick from about 50 terms, including transsexual, androgynous and intersex.

Another AP article is here.

If you go to your Basic Information, you can select "Male," "Female," or "Custom" gender.  You can't just enter anything, although it looks as if you can't.  (So, sorry, "Fabulous" is not a gender choice.)

As you type you get a subset of possibilities.  Pick one ("gender questioning?" "transwoman?" "cis?") and you get a chance to add another.  Part-timers are limited to "trans*" or "gender fluid" perhaps; there is no "crossdressing" or "transvestite."  It seems like that's a gap, considering "androgynous" is allowed.  There is a "two spirit" (I like that) but no "pre-" or "post-op."  But they are discussing gender and calling it such.

I didn't see a way to list all choices, other than to try letters and see what shows up in the short list.  I went through several attempts before I saw "two spirit" and "neutrois."

There's also a privacy choice next to the gender selection.  You can choose who sees your label.  My first reaction was this is a direct affront to my "don't care" philosophy, but I can see people who are out or willing to be out to their friends and family but when a potential employer checks up on them they don't want to share their "non-binary" status.

If you don't like labels, there is an "Other" choice.

And can anyone explain what "neutrois" is?




Monday, February 17, 2014

How to Catch My Eye

(please read Friday's post and take the poll.  I hope to follow-up based on your comments and e-mails.  Start your comment with "private" if you don't want it posted.)

I see a lot of articles with LGBT headlines.  Almost always, the article turns out to be LGB-centric with no T-content whatsoever.  Articles about Michael Sam, gay marriage, and Russia's attitude towards gay athletes all reference T as if that's part of the story and it isn't.

If I can, I often comment or write the author or editor about how sexual orientation is not the same as gender identity.  I'm not sure who's idea it was to add T to LGB.  I do remember when it was "gay rights," even though the drag community was largely responsible for bringing gays to the headlines.

I'm not sure if LGB (L was a requested [demanded?] split to differentiate between male and female gay members) added T to "beef up" their numbers or if it was to acknowledge the drag community (where it is part of the LGB umbrella).  Or was T added at the request of the T community, because we all do face similar societal ostracisation.

Maybe I'm in the minority here.  It does bother me when I read a headline, expect to see trans-issues and only see gay community issues.

Don't get me wrong ~ I am strongly in favour of gay rights.  I am strongly in favour of all human rights.  But when I have expectations based on headlines, I would like them to be met.

Tomorrow: actual gender news!




Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sunday Funnies: Food, Glorious Food!

Please look at Friday's post and take the poll.  If you want to comment or write me, I'm hoping I can follow up with your thoughts.

On another note, did anyone see that incredible end to the USA-Russia hockey game the other day?  Wow!

A variety of cartoons today, loosely tied to food.  And no, I won't eat my snappy sticks.




Without the "Grrr" it's a fail




Saturday, February 15, 2014

What is Wrong with Mike du Jour?

(please go back to yesterday's post and take the poll.  I may have a follow-up with the comments and notes you've sent)

I think the author, Mike Lester, either knows where the skeletons are buried or he works really really cheap.  He did a horrid "Anthony Bourdame" week.  Please don't hate me, but I'm going to post another of his [sarcasm]wonderful[/sarcasm] crossdress weeks.

He really needs to spend some time with some t-folk.  His parody is awful and he could set the movement back ten years, if anyone read his strip.  (For the record, I think the "buckaroo" strip I posted was his last funny one.)

By the way, I've criticised topics in cartoons before, and once a cartoonist himself.  But I readily admit that (a) I would have loved to have been a cartoonist (b) I could never produce a fresh, truly funny idea daily and (c) the artwork in XKCD is way beyond anything I could draw.

I bring you the (groan) crossdressing crossing guard.






Friday, February 14, 2014

Ethics Issue

I'm going to offer a long read here from Grantland.  Take a look at the article and please answer the poll.  The short version: someone wants to write an article about the amazing putter this woman created.  He starts to investigate her, and finds out she's a transsexual and much of her background was falsified.  The Dr later kills herself.  Obviously there's a lot more to the story than that.

You can find more information by googling Dr V Putter.

I found a compelling argument here, but I think some of his premises are false, or at least stretches.

There's no way of knowing why Dr V made up her history but how would you reconcile the fact that you transitioned with the fact that it's nobody's business but your own?  Why did the reporter feel the need to investigate the subject's background anyway?  The article was about an invention.  The inventor requested privacy.  And once he uncovered the information, why did he feel compelled to publish it?  If the inventor was a university professor and the digging uncovered the fact that he was raised as a satanist, would that be considered relevant?

So outing the subject....  Is it taboo, OK sometimes but not here, OK here, but mostly not, or always fair game?

For the record, I'm not convinced the story is directly related to the suicide.




Thursday, February 13, 2014

Bye Bye

(update if you see a poll to the right, come back 630 EST [UTC -500] on 14 Feb for information.)

I've kept a link to a site called stopcrossdressing.com .  It was someone who managed to overcome his urge to crossdress (with slippage.  Duh.)

The site's gone.  I don't care why, but I do wonder why.




Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Add to Wishlist?

On Net-a-Porter.com, $1,685 Antonio Berardi has a Q-Bert dress.  I think I'll pass.



Monday, February 10, 2014

Off My Game

I had a good time at Shear Madness, but I felt I was doing a poor job as a woman and I'm not sure why.  Maybe I was just tired. 

When I looked at pictures afterwards, I noticed my wig wasn't on straight.  The padded panty (which I really should have removed before leaving the house) dug in and was uncomfortable to the point where I couldn't really cross my legs or even keep my knees close together, which felt really wrong.  I couldn't keep my voice where I usually do.  I seemed to be walking more unfemininely than normal and even with the awareness I couldn't get it right.

I'm not sure if it was my perception or my presentation.  I need to resolve this and make sure it doesn't happen again.




Sunday, February 9, 2014

Actual Sign

This is apparently in the restrooms in Sochi.
View image on Twitter
I think #2 is either "lift the lid" or "don't shoot bb's at the toilet."

#3 is "please barf on the floor only."

#4 is "it is dangerous to squat on the toilet because if it explodes you will be propelled into the back wall."

#5 is really "fishing is OK but catch-and-release only but they couldn't fit that in one picture.

#6 is either no playing with toy blimps in the bathroom or no injectible drugs in the toilet ~ weed and coke only.

Comments are open.  Send me your interpretations. :)







Saturday, February 8, 2014

Daddy!

Hilary Price's Rhymes with Orange.

As long as RwO is here, I'll throw in this one too:


Friday, February 7, 2014

One More Week....

A special note to all you ladies who still worry when you're buying cosmetics, unmentionables, or other girl things in the store.

You have special dispensation for a week.  Buy those cosmetics (you can have a list of colours "that I got from her bathroom" or get a set in a nice case).  Pick up stockings, a dress, a bra-and-panty set that catches your eye....  This week, it's all for your honey.  If you are sure everyone is laughing at you when you buy cute clothes in April (they're not, by the way), they're all wishing they had boyfriends like you when they assume it's all for Valentine's Day.

And some of them will wish their boyfriends would not only buy sexy things, but that they'd wear them too.




Thursday, February 6, 2014

More Madness

The drive to the Kennedy Center was uneventful, although I did what I thought the GPS was telling me to do, not what it was actually telling me to do and the drive was a little longer (past the Jefferson Memorial) and a little more annoying (crossing Rock Creek Parkway) than it should have been.  Driving alongside the Center, looking to loop around to park, I found a little lit sign that said parking was open so I turned in.  I paid the man the $22 to park and he gave me a receipt.  Nothing unusual at all.

The parking garage was fairly empty; I suspect the Super Bowl was responsible.

Up the elevator to the box office... which was closed.  We were directed to a different box office on a different level where helpful people said "what are you ladies looking for?"  I said "ticket pick up" and we were directed to a window where I gave the man my (alas, male) surname; he gave me an envelope, and we went on our way.  Nothing unusual at all.

Ugh!  My hair is trying to escape!
And that set the scene for the evening.  "Ladies" and nothing unusual at all.

I asked a helpful-looking gentleman where the theatre for Shear Madness was.  He said "you ladies should try to get there early" and explained that they have a great soundtrack and they do some amusing things on stage and it's worth getting there early.  He was so nice and polite I just listened until he stopped and I asked again where was I supposed to go?  He finally pointed the way.  I was wondering if he was going to talk until curtain time, but it's nice to interact.

It turns out they had (a great soundtrack) and they did (amusing things).  The music was a little bit of 60s, and 70s and 80s.  The setting was predominantly pink, but the clientele was male (at least tonight).  The actors came out and cut someone's hair before the show started in a mostly mime, fairly fun fashion.

Interestingly, there are six cast members: two women and four men.  They listed two understudies, one male, one female; each had responsibility for three roles.  I guess one role (say, the assistant policeman) could be a male or female role, but for a while I was intrigued.

During intermission, we stayed in our seats and the actors talked to audience members.  At one point, the actor who played the main hairdresser said "where are you ladies from?"

After the show, even though the theatre was quiet and there were out-of-the-way restrooms, I declined to use the opportunity.





Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Simple Pleasure ~ Getting Comfortable

I have the opportunity to make my own choices.  I have responsibilities to family, of course, but day-to-day I'm mostly responsible only for myself.

So when I get home from work, I leave a trail of male outer shell and put on a skirt or dress with
more appropriate underclothes as quickly as I can.  I get out my wig, and makeup and Meg comes out.  On weekends, my drab self doesn't appear at all.

Or not.

Most days, I don't change at all when I get home.  The other (minority) days, I may change my outer clothes but I do it for comfort or just because I feel like it.  Or I may try on earrings that I'm not sure about (clip-on earrings were invented during the Inquisition).  Or shoes I'm not sure about.  Or a little eye liner and mascara because I like the way it looks or because I need some practice or because I'm not sure it's still good and I want to keep or toss it.

As I was thinking about this, and writing it, I took it as an argument against going full-time.  But in reality, it could be making the opposite point: if I was full-time I wouldn't change when I got home or had a free day anyway.  I'd already be there.

The picture is from the Kennedy Center parking garage.


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Madness! Shear Madness!

Before I start, I need to apologise to the people (and groundhogs) of Punxsutawney.  I butchered the spelling of that li'l town on Sunday!

Also, of the 4 (!) readers who've seen Americathon, no-one hated it.  The others might have turned it off and wiped the memory; I'll never know.  But it's worth watching, if you can find it.  Really.

As I said, Shear Madness plays at the Kennedy Center, which is in DC, just over a bridge from VA on route 66, less than a dozen miles from my apartment.  Nothing is ever easy in DC, and you have to drive around and loop to get to the Center.  Getting back is easier, but there's often a backlog of cars.  There are several shows at the Kennedy Center, and if they get out at the same time, or if there's a popular show, leaving might take some time.  It took forever to get out after seeing a performance of Hair a few years ago.  Since the show gets out around 9, and I have to be at work early Monday, I'd prefer to not sit in traffic a long time.

The Kennedy Center is also a dressy kind of place.  Men in suits or sports jackets, women in nice dresses; sometimes even gowns (but I would expect Shear Madness to be more casual than, say, a National Symphony appearance).  Yes there are jeans and polo shirts, but the women mostly dress up and probably encourage their partners to do the same.

I had two dresses picked out.  Both are greenish.  This was the choice:
 
teal green velvet
3/4 sleeveslong sleeves
knee lengthmaxi length
high backhigh back
lowish V neck      lowish scoop neck

Shoes were limited.  My mid-heel Mary Janes, a mid-heel pump, my favourite pumps.  My boots
Meg @ Home
were uncomfortable as were other more pointed shoes ~ that broken toe, though healing nicely, doesn't need the extra pressure.

Afternoon temperatures were in the low 60s, so I figured I could skip a coat that night.  My outdoor activity would be to walk from the apartment door to the car and back.  Parking at the Kennedy is underground and cost more than the ticket to the show!

I was concerned about restrooms.  I know the theater often has long lines for restrooms, and I didn't care to stand in a line.  I want to get in and out as quickly and quietly as possible.

Oh....  I decided to go with the shorter teal dress.  The other one can probably wait until the holidays.  Or a Renaissance festival.

As you can see from the picture, I didn't go with the shorter teal dress.

I had tried on the teal dress a couple of days before and I liked the way it fit. 

I put on my makeup and got ready and changed my mind about shoes.  I had a brown pair that would go nicely with brown tights.  They have a rounded toe and higher heel.

Then I grabbed the dress and my mind was changed for me.  The teal dress which fit nicely just a few days ago barely zipped up and was incredibly tight.  I have no idea what happened between Thursday and Sunday, but that dress was OUT.

I went with my burgundy cowl neck dress that I had worn to a previous game night.  It would also be warmer than the teal and I knew it would be cool when I got home (as I said, it was over 60 when we left for the show.  Six more weeks of winter?  HA!).

I also made a bad choice: I never know whether to put on my padded panty over or under my hose.  It seems like under is the logical choice: women wear their built-in pads under their panties; hose should stretch over the pads.  But over the hose is more comfortable since this panty can dig in at the leg openings.  I went with under.

As I said, bad choice: I had strapped on my shoes and it was getting late.  My newly chosen dress has a more flared skirt and I really didn't need the padded panty.  But removing shoes, hose, panty, restoring hose, shoes was too much bother.  I left it on.



Monday, February 3, 2014

Can't Pass Up A Bargain!

I'm writing this Saturday so I'm not sure what happened on Sunday yet.

There's a show called Shear Madness that's been playing at the Kennedy Center in DC for 25 years, over 11,000 performances.  If you mention "Shear Madness" to anyone around the DC area, they've either seen it or certainly know about it.

I haven't seen any of those 11,000+ performances.  Until yesterday (Sunday).

Instead of the usual $50 a ticket, they had a $20 a ticket special (otherwise they'd have an empty theatre on Super Bowl evening).  Even though money is tight right now, I can spring for $20.

The question is whether Meg or male will go to the show.

I'll let you know tomorrow.






Sunday, February 2, 2014

Sunday Funnies: Anyone Seen Punxsutawney Phil?

How long to groundhogs live anyway?

(One day left to vote in the quickie poll)

This is last week's Brewster Rockit and a bonus Fusco Brothers at the end.












Saturday, February 1, 2014

A little flashback from Candorville....

gotta click to read this one!