Nothing new....

Nothing really exciting has been going on around here. 

An arborist (tree service) was in the neighborhood dealing with dead or diseased trees, and one of those trees was in our yard.   Arrangements had been made for service, though I had been out and about when they arrived, as was my wife.   So I parked the car and went to talk to the crew chief (wearing my everyday sartorial style – stirrup pants, pantyhose, turtleneck tunic, purse, etc.) and was addressed as “Ma’am.”  

When the job was finished he came to the door to say “we’re finished removing the dead tree, Ma’am – I hope the job meets with your husband’s approval.”  My comment was “Thanks, I’m sure it will.”   Obviously he didn’t clock me…

And a couple days later, I was taking care of some business in the bank branch in a nearby town.  The teller, whom I hadn’t dealt with previously, apparently noticed my nails (which were still shiny but beginning to need a fill.)  “Oh my gosh, Miss, your nails are beautiful…they put mine to shame!”  And she held out a hand to show her unpolished nails.   My comment: “Well, in this busy season who has time to have her nails done?  These look like they’ll need filled soon…”  

 
And she said: “I’m going to have to wait till mid January to get mine done…too busy now.  But if you visit here then, you’ll find I'm wearing a pretty French, with flowers on my ring fingers.  How about you?  What color will you get?”  “ I’m partial to neutral colors, hon.  Like these (and I held out my hand.)  But you never know…it might be fun to let the nail tech pick my color…she’s hinted that I might end up with bright red acrylic nails.  But  lets finish up here; no need to hold the line while we "girl talk!”  “Can do, I'm all done with your transaction.  Promise me that if she gives you pretty red nails, you’ll come back and show me?”   “No problem, dear.  I promise I will!”    Perhaps all because my wife’s name is also on the account with which I was dealing?   Or was it because I was “feminine enough” (and not afraid to engage in girl talk)?  Whichever it is, it's fine with me.

Little did I know that with my recent pedicure, to freshen up my nails and repair the big toe nail that partially came off a while back, I’d face that very situation.  I didn’t know I’d be leaving with all 10 toes done in a color the girls chose, to better hide the problems with that one nail (which the lighter color allowed to show through.)     So,  they decided I'd be wearing the following color (at least until they change their mind...LOL!):

It’s still neutral, but certainly darker.  Not chocolate brown by any means; sort of a coffee-and-cream shade.  Yes, it’s noticeable - if one looks down at my feet, but it’s pretty with sandals… which I wore home, to avoid smudging the wet polish.   After hearing the explanation about the problems with my nail, it passed muster with my wife.   

I hope that's still the case come summer, when I’m barefoot or in sandals most of the time.

More later…

Hmmmm....

I've been wearing one of my mother's necklaces (sometimes the matching bracelet as well) in androgynous mode for quite some time, and to a number of neighborhood get-togethers.    At several of the gatherings, one particular woman has expressed happiness that I honor Mom by wearing her jewelry.  (I'm not exactly confident as to whether she knows my true gender, and fortunately she hasn't asked when I will start wearing her earrings!)   But her comments fortunately have never occurred within earshot of my wife.

Until now.

At a get-together earlier last week, the lady stopped me and checked for my necklace again, to be sure I was still wearing it...and this time my wife was nearby.  She watched and listened, but said nothing.  Till on the way home.  Wifey didn't believe it was actually Mom's necklace.  I truthfully told her that not only was it Mom's necklace, but I haven't bought any necklaces to add to her collection.   She said she still prefers that I don't wear it (or its matching bracelet) around family and close friends, and she will remind me when not to (she's done that many times, but not that day.)   However, she concurred that it was a very nice gesture.

A few days after that get-together, I stopped at a nearby store to pick up some furnace filters.   (The ever-present Honey-Do list, you know.)  Dressed in my tan stirrup pants, black tights, flats, turtleneck, and with a black sweater and women's hoodie (neither shown in the below archive photo),  I was addressed as "Ma'am" the entire time I was at the store.

As I checked out, the clerk (a 20something male) reminded me: "Ms. (insert my now-exclusively-female first name here), you could save 20% by coming back to buy this at tonight's Ladies' Night.  We'd love to have you attend."   A very nice gesture, for which I thanked him.  "But we may get snow tonight, so I guess I won't worry about Ladies Night this time around..."  "No problem, Ma'am."

We didn't get snow, and I didn't attend.  Yes, I would have saved a bit more than a dollar, but would have used more gas than that for the round trip.  (Hmmm, perhaps I should have gone, simply to celebrate another first: my first official "Ladies' Night.")   But it was nice to be invited...

We had a box of books in the basement, which we wanted to donate either to to an area church for a book sale or for donation to charity.  I had emailed a church to find out if they were accepting donations.  And in their reply (to Ms. ______ of course), they assured me that they were.  So I subsequently dropped the box off.  (Before you ask, I was dressed in a color variant of the above outfit.)   Good news is that the entire time, I was treated as a female by the lady in charge.  

It's amazing how often I'm identified as female...even when not wearing a skirt!   (And it sounds good, even if they're just being "politically correct!")

Mandy