Girls' Night Out

Liz caught Dorothy, Meg, and Aeify

We went from the mall to the hotel to a nice Chinese restaurant.  Stopping at the hotel to freshen up meant no ladies' room challenges for me this day.  I don't know if that's good or bad.  I need to do that more, but it makes me really nervous.

We had five for dinner.  Liz asked some friends if they could join us, but no-one could.  Maybe next time.  I wanted to limit the dinner to eight.  I really would prefer to meet each person individually first ~ I can't hear well over background noise so it's hard to follow dinner party conversations unless I'm sitting right next to someone.  But if I know something about the other people I can maybe figure out what I couldn't hear and enjoy it more.  And, even though Meg isn't quite the introvert I am, she's more comfortable with fewer strangers.

So we had Liz, Dorothy, Andrea (from the hotel), Aeify, and me.  And a great time.  If you stood us in a line we were gg, tg, gg, tg, gg.  That's better than boy-girl-boy-girl any day!

The food was OK, but I didn't really care.  I had fun; I hope we all did.  Liz sat on my right hand, Aeify on my left.  I am now trying very hard not to say how hard it was to eat with someone sitting on each of my hands.

We talked abaout work, and people, and our own little kinks (Liz seemed immune), and a little of everything.

Aeify, Liz, Meg, Dorothy.  Andrea didn't want to be seen.

After dinner, we adjourned to the parking lot where we talked some more.  I finally had to break it up so I could get changed and to bed ~ Aeify and I had to get to the airport early.  Although Aeify's flight was at least an hour later than mine, I talked her into coming down with me so we could say goodbye.

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Friday Night Plans

are completely up in the air.

One thing I understand is having expectations leads to disappointment.

Right now, it seems a perfect storm to keep me in drab tonight.

I went to bed late for Arizona time.  I woke early for eastern time, so I'm running on less than five hours of sleep (and caffeine).

Candi, a new friend I just started chatting with, is busy tonight.  I haven't heard back from Dorothy.  I don't want to bother Liz ~ I feel I take up too much of her time.  I'd like to get together with Andrea again, but I think I can do that dressed or drab.  I was hoping for t-company tonight.

And work is crazy.  We're supposed to be on ten hour days, six days a week, for the next few weeks.  My responsibilities changed from getting direction for different stakeholders on up to eight different projects to getting direction from one person and leading a team of five.  It does sound easier, but I am now a chokepoint in a project I don't understand yet.

So I don't know if I'm going to get out before two, which is my target for dressing for dinner.  I did my preliminaries ~ all body hair that needs to go is gone, nails are trimmed and buffed, I checked that I brought everything with me and my contacts are still under solution.  I also spent a bit of time carefully shaping and trimming my brows.  Since it was only a few weeks since my last trip I didn't have my "pro" do it.  I think I may have overdone it ~ another reason to go out!

Even a 7:00 dinner means I need to be out by 3:30 or so.

I expect a quiet evening catching up on some reading I brought with me and early sleep for an early plane.

At least I have my nightie.  And my expectations.  I may avoid disappointment yet!

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I'm Stunned

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is stunning.  Even the drive is spectacular.  Aeify, who has never been to this part of the country, was suitably impressed.  When she came to DC, she told me about every plant in front of every house and on every street.  Here, she couldn't identify a single one and it really threw her.

Liz led us into the museum and we wandered a bit, looking at big cats and other native specimens as we walked towards the raptor free-flight which would begin at 10.

I had the same shoes I wore last time when we went to the Pima air museum.  They're amazingly comfortable, but walking over stones and such they were a bit less so.  I felt comfortable in my top and skirt, and enjoyed the tour and the company.

Aeify, Liz, and some guy in a skirt

When I was here in June, I praised the museum and it turns out I had missed the best exhibit.

(Keep in mind, when I say "exhibit" I don't mean a stuffed animal in a setting.  This is a living museum.  The big cats, the bears, the prarie dogs and so on are all live exhibits.  Believe it or not, the most fake thing about the museum is the rocks.  They make them themselves.)

(While I'm doing asides, you know how authors will say someone "squealed with delight" but no-one ever really does that?  When the prarie dog hills popped into view, Aeify literally squealed with delight.)

At 10 and 2 each day ~ Liz will correct me if it's not ~ they have a trainer talk to the crowd as they allow some of the birds of prey to fly free for a little bit.  The trainers have done their job: the birds do return.

While out, they fly back and forth practically touching the heads of the visitors.  One thing I've always found sad about zoos is, no matter how big the enclosures are the raptors can't really fly, and they need to.  Even my little cockatiel will beat his wings furiously a couple of times a day if she isn't let out of her cage.

They bill it as a raptor free-flight, but the first birds out were ravens ~ predators but not raptors.  It didn't matter.  It was spectacular, and I saw an owl in flight for the very first time.  It was worth the trip.  In fact, if you ever find yourself within a few hundred miles of Tucson, go out of your way to see this!

Liz spoke to Larisa, the trainer, after the flight was over.  She introduced us and asked if we could go and see the back room where they have some of the other birds.  She readily agreed, and we met a scarlet macaw, and several other raptors.  We each got to pet the barn owl (named Ty) and chat with some of the people working there.  Larisa and Ty are in the picture from last Friday.

We saw incredible plants, amazing animals, and chatted together all morning.  Alas, I didn't see anything jump out at me in the gift shop, but shopping without buying is nice too.

Liz would meet us for dinner later, but we let her go salvage some of her Saturday and Aeify and I went to do a little window shopping at a mall.

Just the one picture of the ladies I was with and some random stranger.  Apparently, utilikilts are big in Tucson.  Click to see the big picture.

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I Like Breakfast at Todd's

The half-hour or so drive to Todd's was unevenful and scenic.  Aeify enjoyed seeing new plants, architecture, roads.  I did too.  I wondered if one cactus evolved spikes and the other plants said "hey!  We better do that too or we're gonna get et!"

We pulled into the parking lot just ahead of Liz and we all had a nice breakfast.  The restaurant wasn't crowded.  Some small planes landed at the tiny airport right outside and the passengers and crew came in to eat.  (Pssst... order some bread so you can try the prickly pear jelly.)

The meal was totally uneventful, which is a good thing.  We were just three ladies having breakfast and I wasn't sure which made my smile broader: that the people around us treated us as three women, or that my two companions accepted me as one of them.  It doesn't matter ~ if they enjoyed breakfast, I savored every second.  Time spent with the ladies is heaven.  And Liz and Aeify are wonderful company.

My order was taken, I was served, I was asked if I wanted more coffee.  I paid the bill.  I was accepted as what I appeared, what I wanted to be that day.  It's an incomparable feeling, and readers who've been out know what I mean.  I hope the rest of you get to know it some day soon.

The drive to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Liz corrected me on the name) is pretty straight-forward.  Go down one street, turn left, go down that street.  Liz wanted to take the more scenic route so we followed her.  We followed her past rows of fifteen foot Saguaro cactus: some were straight stalks, some had two or four or more arms, looking like a Vishnu or Kali or Shiva turned to vegetation.  There were clumps of prickly pear cactus near the side of the road, and countless barrel cactus scattered among various tough-skinned desert plants.  Other than a hawk or two we didn't see any animal life, but we saw plenty of that later in the day.

It was already a great day, and it was just starting.

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Making Up

Saturday morning, I planned to take Aeify to Liz's favourite breakfast place where we'd all meet up and then head to the Sonora Desert Museum, my favourite place in Tucson.

After I showered and put on my cover stick and foundation (and clothes!), I called Aeify and asked her to come down and do my eyes.

I've had a few women do my makeup before, and there's always a problem.  The same problem.  They want to do something "subtle," like most women would like.  I need a plasterer.  Many of us do.  I'd love to learn how to do more contouring with blush and bronzer and powder.  I'd like to try to minimise my nose and change the shape of my face somewhat.  Teddy, who did my makeup twice, was a whiz at this.  I'd look in the mirror after she did my makeup and I'd see an almost-pretty stranger looking back.

Aeify has some experience with girls like me.  She had a little heavier hand, and she knew what she was doing.  She had a palette for blue eyes which she left for me as a gift.  My eyes looked great when she was done.  She used a lighter eyeliner than I do, and used less.  The shadow colours looked superb.  And, idiot that I am, I didn't think to get a closeup of my eyes.  As I said, I hardly have any pictures from Saturday.

She did my blush as well, and used a light hand because she said she usually uses too much.

Shhh....  Don't tell her, but I added a coat of mascara and a little more blush, because, well, I like a bit more colour (since I put powder over my face) and I love mascara.

I did my lips in the same combinaation of colour and gloss as the night before, put on my wig and shoes and we were off with about fifteen minutes to spare.

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I Know What You Did Last Weekend

This is just a "Oh My God! I ran out of time unpacking, running around, getting my expense report ready" preview of Tucson.

Friday night, I put on the dress I packed and went to services at a local reform synagogue. I then went back to the hotel where I went dinner with Aeify, who flew in from Memphis to get away from the place for a tiny bit.

Saturday morning, I put on a more casual top and skirt and went to breakfast with Aeify and Liz. Liz (Sonora Sage) showed us around the Sonora Desert Museum, including the raptor free flight, which was incredible, but hopefully not indescribable.

Aeify and I headed over to the Tucson mall to do a little window shopping before going to a Chinese restaurant with Liz, Andrea, and Dorothy.

All of the players were mentioned in previous posts, but I'll point you at them or remind you as I write about a wonderful weekend over the next few days.

There Will Be Pictures.

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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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