Girls' Day Out - All Good Things Must End

But first a public service announcement: please consider going to a Transgender Day of Remembrance event this coming weekend.  It's everywhere.  Show your support so maybe next year no women will die because of who they are or how they dress.

The ladies, Liz and Erin

After saying goodbye to Erin and Liz, I drove back to the hotel, making a short stop at a gas station.  The other patrons ignored me and I ignored them.

Many years ago, after my first solo, I stopped at a gas station on my way home.  Since the solo was at a friend's party, this was my first real, live, on-my-own mixing with people.  No matter that it was kind of remote from actually talking to someone, as if I went into a grocery store or something ~ I was out, on my own, being a woman for the very first time.

I thought about that night and I felt like a whole lifetime was compressed into the few years since.  I was now about six years and eight months old.  I guess that makes it about eight girl years to one guy year.  I have a lot of catching up to do!

The walk back to my room was anti-climactic.  No-one was around, and I was too tired to do something silly like tell the desk clerk I left my key in the room.  And I would have had to call the clerk from the back room anyway!  And by now, I'm sure the driver told everyone "wait til you hear what I saw last night!"  I still wonder if Andrea let the driver in on her own nonstandard lifestyle.

I didn't want to change when I got back, as is the norm now.  But it was after five, and that meant it was more like eight pm to me.  I just had a drink at lunchtime, and I was a bit hungry from the walking and a bit tired from a pretty full and extremely fun day.  Plus, with my camera being recalcitrant, I couldn't get any "I'm back" pictures.  I puttered around the room a bit, moving clothes and repacking and when I got to the point that I had to pack what I was wearing, I reluctantly decided to change.

Yes, I could have gone out to dinner dressed but I think I was done for the day.  I'm not sure how I'd do if I put myself in a position where I had to be Meg for a couple of days or more.  I'm thinking of putting myself to the test next month, but I'm not sure it'll happen.

All good things must end.  Alas, all fantastic things must end as well.

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Girls' Day Out - A Day at the Museum

Liz, crashing

Erin Sets Me Straight (again)

Liz rode with me to the Pima Air Museum, since my car was a bit more comfortable than Erin's.  We caught up a bit on the ride and I had a wonderful time, chatting and people watching.

The museum is pretty good.  I was very surprised ~ it seems to be a well-kept secret.  Many of the planes are outdoors, and there are five or six hangars with indoor exhibits.  My biggest complaint was the terrain: it was kind of sandy and the heel on my mid-heel shoes sunk in sand more than once, putting me more than a little off-balance.  I thought these were the most comfortable shoes I'd ever owned, but I think the uneven paths (and no paths) tempered that a bit.  No matter ~ even after a full day the shoes felt pretty good, although I wouldn't want to try running or dancing at that point!

While Erin (the smart one) went back to her car to get a more comfortable pair of shoes, Liz and I tried the space docking simulator.  She went first and seemed intent on crashing into the Earth.  I used her effort as my lesson and docked easily (don't tell Liz if I had gone first I probably would have ended up orbiting Saturn).

Erin knows more about aircraft than anyone I've ever met.  She transitioned ten years ago, and in an earlier life she avoided a court martial by accepting a discharge ~ for being caught dressed.  I don't think even this post-DADT era would prevent that.  We've maybe moved from third-class to second-class citizens but wherever we're heading, we're not there yet.

Liz, my cute skirt, and Erin

You can read a bit about Erin here.

We spent pretty much the full day looking at aircraft and chatting endlessly.  At lunch, we decided to go to the one hangar we skipped because it didn't sound that interesting.  I'm glad we went.

That final hangar was the 390th Memorial Museum.  It's kind of a museum within the museum and it's dedicated to one squadron of B-17s based in England.  There are banners around the museum telling the fate of the planes and crews of each plane and there was one restored B-17 in the hangar.

But the best part was when an elderly docent came up to us and said "ladies, this is the best day of all of the days I've spent in this museum!"  I thought he meant meeting us, but instead he went on to explain to us "ladies" (and he included me!) that a flier from the 390th had visited and was there right now.  He had told some stories about the war to the docent and it turns out he (the flier, not the docent) was reported Killed In Action.  When informed of this, the 90+ man quoted Twain: "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."  I considered going over to him and saying "hi.  I'm what you were fighting for" but I wasn't sure his heart could take it. :)

I'm the pilot!  We're DOOMED

The docent offered to take a picture of us and I think he considered the plane to be the main attraction.  It's sharp in each picture he took, but we're fuzzy.  Ah well.

Before we got in our cars, I wanted a picture of each of us in pairs: Liz and Erin, Liz and me, Erin and me.  That's when we discovered my camera was seriously misbehaving.  No matter.  It was still a great day, and, as I said, a dream fulfilled: my first Girls' Day Out.


I hope I'm not boring anyone, but please consider going to a Transgender Day of Remembrance event this coming weekend.  It's international.  You don't even have to travel to another country!  I'll be at the Fairfax event.

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Girls' Day Out - It Starts with Breakfast

Meg at the Museum.  Ain't I cute? :D

Of course, for Meg, nothing starts with breakfast.  It starts with getting up early, showering, shaving shaving shaving, makeup, choosing an outfit....  My purse, at least, was ready from the previous night.  I didn't have to put everything away from that evening so that made my life a bit easier.  But I did have to put everything away before I left the room.  This is not an "I care" situation.  I don't leave a messy room for housekeeping.

My GPS had problems finding the restaurant.  I finally set it to the highest house number on the street and it said it would take 15 minutes.

Just before I put on my top, skirt, shoes, wig, and jewelry I checked google maps.  It found the restaurant.  It turns out the street name changes slightly as it leaves Tucson proper and it was actually about 30 minutes away.  And it was now 30 minutes before I was to meet Liz and Erin.  I packed everything up and finished getting dressed as quickly as I could.

I again walked out through an empty hall, into an empty elevator, through an empty lobby to my car.  There wasn't even anyone behind the desk!  I assume whoever is keeping an eye on me (I think she's also my muse) was keeping me out of harm.

The drive to the restaurant was uneventful and Liz and Erin were waiting outside for me.  After introductions, smiles, and hugs we went inside.

I was treated as a lady just as much as the other two were.  We chatted our way through breakfast and eventually decided we needed to move on if we were going to do anything else that day.  Erin knows way more about aircraft than any ten people I know, but she had never been to the local air museum.  I like aircraft, and I have been to several air museums: two near DC, the Intrepid in New York, Wright-Patterson (Ohio), Warner-Robbins (Georgia).  I figured this was a local museum, good for an hour or two.

As we were about to get into our cars, Erin received a phone call.  While she was yapping, I decided it might be better for me to use the ladies' room here rather than at the air museum.  Liz offered to accompany me; she knows I'm a bit worried about using the restroom.  I decided I needed to solo, so I did.

Some housekeeping: Please consider going to a Transgender Day of Remembrance event this coming weekend.  I'll be at the Fairfax event (alas, in drab, unless something amazing happens).

Also Joan who commented yesterday ~ drop me a note, OK?

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Girls' Day Out

One of my dreams is to spend an evening, or a day, with the girls.

It's rare.  I wish it was less so.  The only time I'd really consider a Girls' Day Out was when I went to lunch with my old boss and coworker on (almost) Halloween.

If I stretch it, I could call the clothing swaps Girls' Days Out, but they're really not.  I just happen to be in a room with a few dozen ladies.  I could go to the Running of the Brides and be in the same kind of group of women.  Well, there would be the added excitement of possibly getting stomped to death.

Liz, Meg, Erin

Even the lunch was not really a Girls' Day Out.  For a real Girls' Day Out it would have to be a planned event.  I was sort of sprung on my old boss.

So I'm back at zero.  There were a few times I went out with the women who did my makeup, but that was one-on-one.  Or when I went out with Kim (for shopping and nails ~ wow).  Or when I went out with Liz... it was a special day because she's a special lady, but still... one-on-one.

I finally had my Girls' Day Out.  We had a plan to spend a day together.  We did, just the three of us girls.  Or at least two girls and Meg.  But I was accepted as one of the group, and that made a great day exceptional.

Here we are at the Pima air museum.

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