Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Quickie - post office, hair salon & skirts.

The other day,  a package needed to be mailed at the post office in town.  Normally the folks there know me as a guy, regardless of my androgynous appearance.  But that day, there was a male substitute on duty at the counter, who didn't know my birth gender.  And it was very affirming to be addressed as and treated as a lady...

At my most recent hair appointment Friday, I took along a couple of pictures from the makeover, of me in the short wig, and asked my stylist what she thought.  She liked it and noted that it really does give me a different appearance.  I asked her if she thought it could be combed into something approximating a male hairstyle, and she doubted that it could.

My next question:  "You recognized who is the model in the picture, right?"  "Sure - it's you! And it's fine with me."  "If I walked in the door looking like this, do you think the other girls would recognize who it is?" " One might, the others probably wouldn't."  Then we discussed the wig shop that didn't have any staff, and the likelihood that I can find a wig that could be combed into an approximation of a male style (slim to none.)  Bottom line is that most likely, I'll just keep presenting with my own long hair...though I'll still keep looking for that perfect wig...

Because as this was written, I was still solo (till this past Monday), it was a perfect opportunity to try on some heavier-weight tops, with the three skirts (shown) I'm planning to take on my January trip out west...   There won't be much time uninterrupted time to do it later.  That is, without risking a disaster...

After my enjoyment of wearing the shorter skirt at Beth's makeover, I decided to leave longer skirts at home in January and stick with my knee-length ones.  Here are a few skirt/top combinations that I'm considering (in addition to light weight blouses you've already seen in earlier pictures).  Some heavier ones like these will be needed, because part of my trip will include cool or cold weather.  The bright side is that they are all women's tops, and part of my everyday wardrobe.  So I only need to take 3 skirts and four short sleeve tops, from my "hidden" wardrobe.  That should make it easy...

Plus, no bare legs for this girl on this trip...I'll wear pantyhose or tights, all the time.   Though at this point I don't plan to be in skirts in Chicago, the cold and wind there are legendary, so tights will feel good, even under stirrups.  And on occasion, it can be chilly in LA in January.   (Right, Jen????)   Yes, I'll also have a heavy jacket and sweater for warmth...it probably will be necessary.    

My turtleneck's medium gray, not medium green...for some reason the color is off...way off!

Same here...medium gray, not green.

And, same here.  Plus, the red and black skirt is a bit off, too.

This turtleneck is light gray, and it came out right! (Though my skirt is blue, not gray!)

Due to lack of sufficient luggage space, in January I'll most likely stick with my flats.  Though if I find a corner somewhere to tuck them in, I probably should find room for my ankle boots, too, just in case of snow somewhere along the line.  Wet feet in cold weather are no fun, particularly with ballerina flats.  You just never know...

More later...

Cheers,

Mandy

10 comments:

  1. I like all looks but the look you had in the Beth photo with the print top, black short skirt and pumps was better. If you can find room I would try to take some heels, either your MJs or a pair of pumps. I also find that when I wear a skirt and top, especially if the skirt has an elastic waist, that wearing the top out and un-tucked gives a better line.
    Pat

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  2. Interesting observation! My turtlenecks are short enough that they can be worn untucked - or tucked - without looking funny. So that's definitely a good option.

    But my seamstress and one of the hairdressers I left behind when I moved, suggested that two of my feminine blouses should always be worn tucked in...they're too long to leave untucked. The others can all be worn either way. The ones they're thinking about are my solid dark brown blouse and the bright multi-color one with the psychedelic pattern.

    In thinking about my shoe choices...two pairs of flats (wear one and take a spare) will be appropriate for the convention I'm attending. Instead of sandals, I probably will take your suggestion to bring the MJ's along. I'm sure I'll find time to wear them...sandals, maybe not so much.

    Mandy

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  3. Are you flying or taking the train out west. When I retire I think that my wife and I will at some point do a cross country train ride.

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  4. Definitely the train...that's how I plan to get so many days en femme out of the trip! Once I escape from the people we know, Mandy can appear...and in the sleeping car I can pull the curtains for privacy. Since we most likely won't travel out west any more, it's unlikely that in the future, I'll run into any sleeping car attendants who remember me.

    Probably I'll be my androgynous self by the time I get to Chicago on the way home...we often see folks we know at the station.

    How long till you plan to retire? Depending on election results in 2016, (or maybe sooner) Amtrak's continued funding may be a problem... You could always fly west (perhaps Denver), and take the train from there to SF and LA, then thru AZ and Colorado to Chicago, the Capitol to DC and an Acela to Philly. That would cover a lot of the system, avoid backtracking, and see as much scenery as possible, fitting it into a 2 week vacation. Or fly to Denver, then train to SF & LA, then the route across Texas to New Orleans, and up through DC to Philly. That gets both the west and the south...

    Mandy

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  5. When I retire will depend on the 2016 election. Hopefully we get some relief from a do nothing Senate this November. I am 62 and hope to slow down by 65 if the finances permit.
    My wife likes the train and while she will asut say that she will not fly she has not flown in 20+ years and has a real fear of flying. I am happy driving but I am willing to try the train. I am not sure that I can work the casual androgeneous look that you have mastered. I think I either need to present as a man or use as much femme items as possible to pressent as a woman.

    I do hope to get out tonight and I plan to take the Mustang and weather permitting drive home with the top down.

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    1. Let's hope that you get to retire sooner, rather than later! We can only hope that the election this fall brings forward progress...

      Would your wife let you go on the train trip as a woman, since there is nobody who knows you? You would have a fabulous time...I don't doubt that for a minute! And it would be an ideal situation, since there is no bathroom issue whatsoever on board...they are all unisex single potties.

      I choose not to fly, and haven't since the mid-1990's. The last flight I took was on a major airline, where the 45 minute flight was delayed for three hours because they had to bring a repair part in from another city by plane. It's not often that train trips arrive four or five times later than the scheduled enroute time. Can you imagine the bad publicity if a three-day train trip arrived 12 days late? Bet the passengers would all have made other arrangements!

      It's mostly the hassle at airports nowadays, not a fear of flying, that keeps me on Amtrak. In fact, I still have my (very inactive) pilot's license (and lots of good memories) - I haven't flown a plane in 40 years. Can't afford to. And my wife is like yours - basically afraid of flying. (So if we can't get somewhere by car, or by train and rental car, we don;t go.)

      I remember thinking the hourly rental charge of $20 an hour was outrageous back then. Nowadays just the high-octane avgas alone would cost much, MUCH more than that. And back then, airplanes were almost affordable to buy - if you had a good job. Not so much, any more!

      Did you get out in the Mustang? I hope to get my antique fired up this weekend...maybe go for a ride. But I won't be wearing a dress:-(

      Mandy

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  6. Earlier in the week I went out with the Mustang. It is getting old and I am having an electrical issue with the top. It always goes down but sometimes it shorts out and I cannot get the top up. eventually the short seems to lenghten and I do get it up but it is very tempermental.

    Last night we had thunderstorms so no top down driving for this girl. I did go out but only for one beer. The LGBT club that I go to was having a combination theme last night and the music was too loud to talk and not even close to the type of music I like.

    The last time I had my wife on a plane was the one time we took the kids to Disney over 20 years ago. While she normally gets lit on a white wine spritzer I gave her about 4 fingers of bourbon in a 12 quart pail that morning and it did not dent her angst.

    Our last trip on the Autotrain was a bust. Our older son joined us to attend a May wedding. The train was over 10 hours late and we missed the rehearsal dinner. Our return trip was cancelled so we had to drive back. I am sure that we will be taking the auto train to Florida this winter and I will again hint about wanting to do it while dressed. My wife humors my quips but one of these days I do hope to give it a try. We usually get the roomette and changing in such close quarters at my size is hard. Also on the auto train we always eat dinner and breakfast with others and I think she would be embarassed. I may suggest that we get a bigger room and that I get my meal brought to my room.


    Pat

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    1. Pat,

      Years ago (when it was new) my Buick had windshield wipers that would cut off at unspecified weird times, and restart by themselves. After several trips to the dealership, they found the problem: a wire under the carpet on the driver's side was routed over a sharp seam in the floor metal, which had cut the insulation. When one's foot touched the wire, it contacted metal and went to ground, shutting down the wipers. When the foot was moved, the wire raised up and the wipers started working. Might be something that easy to fix...

      We don't like loud music, either. Don't blame you for cutting out early...be glad you can get out as often as you do! My next full dress outing will be a car show in mid-September.

      We had some friends on that same Auto Train...what happened was not a good thing. But if we had to go to FL, we'd still try the A-T. Better than driving...even if it's only one way.

      I suspect I can understand your wife's anxiety about your dressing on the A-T, since you will be back again and again. Even if my wife tolerated my dressing fully, she wouldn't on the Capitol Ltd since we use it a lot. And some of the staff recognizes us - particularly me! But your proposed suggestions might work... It's certainly worth a try.

      Mandy

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  7. Mandy, I am so glad that you have such an understanding wife. When you get to So-Cal you'll have to look up all our auto and aerospace museum's. There are too many to list, and some are not public accessible (NASA Dryden and the famous "I Dream of Jenie" building). But you'll probably not want to go that far anyway. Our T-friendly clubs may not be your thing unless you like Techno music loud and bumping, but I'm sure you'll enjoy your time out here. As for the look, I agree with Pat. But if you can't fully untuck the sweater, maybe bring it out a few inches so it folds over the elastic seam. In my day job I wear polo/golf shirt and always tuck, and get made fun of for doing it, but I don't like the overhand of untucked and the possibility for plumbers crack. If you want some personal recommendations on museums, email me and I'll let you know of some.

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    1. Hi!

      Sorry about the delay in responding...have been out of town at an antique auto event, and just got back home Saturday. Thanks for stopping by my blog and making a comment!

      I'm still not fully involved with details of my January trip planning yet...other than to be sure my transportation reservations are made. There is too much going on this fall to get fully involved with it.

      But I will - soon...and thanks for the venue ideas!

      One of my blouses is so long that I have to wear it tucked into my skirt. If I don't, it looks really funny. The others are long enough untucked that they seem to prevent the plumber's crack issue...and in addition, I'm very careful when I bend over to avoid the issue.

      I don't buy short length blouses...those are typically the 26" to 29" length ones. For me, they have to be at least 30" long. And surprisingly, that's tough to find.

      Shorter lengths can appear more feminine, but big girls like me have a lot of weight to cover - tunic lengths do it well. But I do plan to try tucking my turtlenecks and pulling them back out a bit, to cover the elastic waists. That might just work!

      Mandy

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