Happy Birthday to Me! But you knew that. I have a facebook page. :)
I had an opportunity to go to the sort-of-monthly soirees last Saturday. Due to a time change, I though I didn't have enough time to get ready. But I really did. But I didn't know. By the time I found out I really had had enough time, I no longer had enough time.
Before I thought I was in time trouble, I took a long shower and shaved everywhere. I haven't dressed since February (wow) and I was thinking "the work is done. It's all fun from here on" but, again, I thought I didn't have time to get ready.
Background: I have two less-than-perfect knees. It's not birthday-related. I damaged them long ago, doing high school gymnastics. Mostly they behave but I've had episodes where they feel neglected and manifest that in a number of nasty ways: pain with movement, or swelling, or failing to support weight. It's always unpredictable.
Saturday night, during the time I would have been at the soiree, my right knee decided to stop doing it's job. I almost fell, then I limped around the house, swinging my weight onto my left leg because if I tried to stand on my right I'd fall and probably do a bit more damage to the weak joint.
Imagine that in heels.
Thalia's still watching over me.
Showing posts with label soiree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soiree. Show all posts
Friday, June 5, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Introducing Your Hostesses
Pamela and Christine are part of our DC trans community. A few years ago, they decided to open up their lovely home to the trans community for more-or-less monthly "soirees."
Since it was still difficult for me to get out, I missed several. But eventually I made it to my first and it was a new and wonderful experience.
I was out in a relaxed atmosphere meeting new people and enjoying it. Some of the girls already knew me, through the blog, which was cool. But three important takeaways:
* I felt like I was at an elegant party. I would have felt fine in an evening gown. It was a place to dress UP and fit in, which was special.
* Every time I went, there were girls who had never been out before. Christine and Pamela offered them a safe place to go OUT and they recognised it and ran with it. At least one went from never going out to Christine's to Freddy's (a gay club some of the girls go to after the soiree) and then out after that. That's kind of zero to sixty in five seconds.
* I never knew how diverse our community is. There were girls and SO's of every variety. There were girls in every stage and level, from casual dresser to transitioned. It was wonderful!
The soiree has since outgrown their house and moved to another venue but I will always think of Christine and Pamela as the perfect hostesses.
Since it was still difficult for me to get out, I missed several. But eventually I made it to my first and it was a new and wonderful experience.
I was out in a relaxed atmosphere meeting new people and enjoying it. Some of the girls already knew me, through the blog, which was cool. But three important takeaways:
* I felt like I was at an elegant party. I would have felt fine in an evening gown. It was a place to dress UP and fit in, which was special.
* Every time I went, there were girls who had never been out before. Christine and Pamela offered them a safe place to go OUT and they recognised it and ran with it. At least one went from never going out to Christine's to Freddy's (a gay club some of the girls go to after the soiree) and then out after that. That's kind of zero to sixty in five seconds.
* I never knew how diverse our community is. There were girls and SO's of every variety. There were girls in every stage and level, from casual dresser to transitioned. It was wonderful!
The soiree has since outgrown their house and moved to another venue but I will always think of Christine and Pamela as the perfect hostesses.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Soiree!
Christine, who has hosted several "soirees" at her house, determined that the soiree finally outgrew her house and she arranged for a quiet room in a nearby hotel. Over sixty girls said they'd attend; over forty girls showed up. Some of the girls have never been out of a "controlled" environment before. Some had never been out at all before.
Although we mostly had the area to ourselves, it was not closed nor completely private.
Civilians showed up now and again and didn't seem to be intimidated or bothered by (or even interested in) the crowd.
Here are some photos from the evening. Click to supersize.
Although we mostly had the area to ourselves, it was not closed nor completely private.
Civilians showed up now and again and didn't seem to be intimidated or bothered by (or even interested in) the crowd.
Here are some photos from the evening. Click to supersize.
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| Can anyone find Waldo? |
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| Pamala. She's a fun and funny lady. |
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| That would be me |
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| Rachel from Richmond; Bree from Colorado |
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| LOVE that dress! |
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| Bobbi and Dana |
Thursday, May 15, 2014
What Can I Say?
If someone asked me to go to a cocktail party or happy hour I'd say no thanks. If they said, you'll probably have met maybe a half of the guests before I'd still say no thanks.
Sometimes, introvert trumps.
It's actually not easy, for me, to go to a soiree. There is some history of going to soirees now, and it's all good. So it appears the urge to stay out of crowds is deeply ingrained indeed.
I always prepare myself by planning to introduce myself to the nearest person. Yes, that increased anxiety but oddly enough having a plan helps.
As I move around, I keep doing that, until I really can't. I don't know what makes me hit that limit. Fortunately, I'm not the only girl with that strategy.
It's just one more thing I don't understand about myself.
I met some new girls, and one spouse who had never gone out with her partner before, and I met Beth's partner, and I had a nice chat with Steffi. I got to spend some time with our hosts, Pamela and Chris ~ always a high point of my evening.
There were many more, including, of course, Sharon, who was nice enough to drive us there.
And there was a crowd. The picture above shows the girls who didn't mind having their picture taken (some did; some spouses didn't want to be in pictures).
Sometimes, introvert trumps.
It's actually not easy, for me, to go to a soiree. There is some history of going to soirees now, and it's all good. So it appears the urge to stay out of crowds is deeply ingrained indeed.
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| click to enlarge! |
As I move around, I keep doing that, until I really can't. I don't know what makes me hit that limit. Fortunately, I'm not the only girl with that strategy.
It's just one more thing I don't understand about myself.
I met some new girls, and one spouse who had never gone out with her partner before, and I met Beth's partner, and I had a nice chat with Steffi. I got to spend some time with our hosts, Pamela and Chris ~ always a high point of my evening.
There were many more, including, of course, Sharon, who was nice enough to drive us there.
And there was a crowd. The picture above shows the girls who didn't mind having their picture taken (some did; some spouses didn't want to be in pictures).
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| Sam, keeping Julia steady |
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| Meg and Christine, planning to take over the world |
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| Because someone said I was standing "like a dude" |
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Saturday OUT
Heads up! Friday the thirteenth falls on a Tuesday this month!
Saturday, I had an invite to game day with our t-friendly group, and to another trans soiree. I think
that would be my seventh soiree and my sixth game day with Star and friends.
I had a few options:
I could
* go to the games in drab and leave early. Then I could change and go to the soiree.
* go to the games as Meg, wearing makeup ready to go to a party and change dresses between events.
* go to the games as Meg, and update my makeup and change before the party.
* go to the games (in either mode) and stay until Star throws us out and skip the soiree.
* skip the games and just do the soiree.
* skip a Meg day.
I looked at what's in my backlog, and what's coming up and decided I would give the games a miss.
I was also having a bit of a need-to-be-alone feeling and didn't feel comfortable being around the gamers. They have all known each other for at least a half a lifetime and sometimes I feel lost among them and that introvert/lost feeling was gnawing at me. I'm not sure how much of my decision was workload and how much was a need to be alone for a bit. But I had a lot of fun at the soiree and renewed some acquaintances and met some new girls.
I love games, but I think I made the right call.
Saturday, I had an invite to game day with our t-friendly group, and to another trans soiree. I think
 |
| Meg and Sharon, before the soiree |
I had a few options:
I could
* go to the games in drab and leave early. Then I could change and go to the soiree.
* go to the games as Meg, wearing makeup ready to go to a party and change dresses between events.
* go to the games as Meg, and update my makeup and change before the party.
* go to the games (in either mode) and stay until Star throws us out and skip the soiree.
* skip the games and just do the soiree.
* skip a Meg day.
I looked at what's in my backlog, and what's coming up and decided I would give the games a miss.
I was also having a bit of a need-to-be-alone feeling and didn't feel comfortable being around the gamers. They have all known each other for at least a half a lifetime and sometimes I feel lost among them and that introvert/lost feeling was gnawing at me. I'm not sure how much of my decision was workload and how much was a need to be alone for a bit. But I had a lot of fun at the soiree and renewed some acquaintances and met some new girls.
I love games, but I think I made the right call.
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