Taking Stock

Last November, I had an idea for a post -- to make a list of major experiences I've had in life. I wrote the post for myself, to remind me of the many important events that have occurred to me. Such a reminder is valuable because it generates insight and contentment. The effect is similar to what happens when you feel gratitude for life's good bits.

I'm pleased to see one of my readers, a lovely woman named Carrie, was inspired by the post. She did the same thing on her blog (here). Her post is interesting reading. In it, we learn that Carrie is a teacher, a twin and  a black belt in the Japanese martial art of aikido. You might not have guessed that just from looking at her cute outfits.

Why don't you try doing a post like this? I enjoyed it, and so did Carrie. You will, too.

 

Michi Magic

I spent a wonderful day with Michi recently. She offered to take my picture at her studio in Brooklyn. Michi does professional photography and she suggested we get together for a fashion photoshoot.

We had a marvelous time. We discussed human behavior and psychology. We commented on social trends. We chatted ceaselessly for five hours. Michi is very bright and insightful; listening to her is an education.

Michi taught me a lot during our time together. She instructed me on how to pose like a model, how to position my body like a woman, and how to use props. Her skill with a camera is top-notch -- she went to art school and studied photography for years. Michi knows how to light a scene and capture images. Back in the days of film, she worked in a darkroom developing and printing her pictures. Now she polishes her digital work with computer programs.

Proof of Michi's talent is demonstrated below. In my opinion, these pictures make me look better than ever. Michi did my makeup and what she did with it exceeds anything I'm capable of. I'm deeply appreciative of this generous gift by a dear friend.

Here's an idea for you -- hire Michi to take your picture! She's very creative and takes high-quality photographs. You'll never look better. Michi can be reached at her studio here.

What do you think of my pictures?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuff In My Life

There's no unifying theme to this post, just a roundup of stuff that's in my head. It's a pretty scary place to visit, so put on a raincoat. :) Candidly, I consider my blog to be autobiographic so there's a purpose to these musings. For me, at least.

The pictures Michi took of me last week are SOOOO good! I'm so eager to show them to you. They are, without doubt, the best photos ever taken of me. I feel like I can die now; I achieved a major dream. The photos are in editing and we can't disturb the artist while she's working. I'll share them in a few days when they're ready.

I just planted four varieties of hot peppers in my first garden. I'm surprised at how excited I am for these little babies. Every day I water and talk to them, even though they haven't sprouted yet. Grow, babies, grow!

Have you ever gardened? Why is it so engaging? Perhaps it's because I'm a born nurturer. That's my natural instinct. To help, to support, to praise growth.

I'm heading into NYC today to see a Broadway play. If you ever visit New York, our theater is a prime attraction. We have the best of the best and their talent will stun you.

Did you see the Bruce Jenner interview? It drew a huge audience, which means the subject is gaining visibility. After decades of obscurity, the existence of transgender people like me is finally being acknowledged and, in some circles, respected. That's positive. On the other hand, raising the topic is provoking bad stuff, too -- mockery, ridicule and stupidity. Those reactions are usually borne of ignorance. A recent study shows that while 87% of Americans say they know someone who's gay, only 6% say they know a transgender person.

My experience is that prejudice can be combatted by personal interaction -- when people realize an unknown group is human like them, fears generated by ignorance melt away. There's a sudden awareness that we're more like you than different and that our difference isn't reason to hate us. So public visibility is a good way to educate those who've never confronted us before.

That said, it will be a while before many get the memo. Prompted by the interview, some "friends" of mine on Facebook have posted insulting transphobic remarks. Not everyone on that site knows I'm transgender so they felt free to spout bullshit without expecting any blowback. I plan to talk to these people privately, tell them about myself and ask if they hate me. Based on their response, I will adjust my future connection to them.

In more positive news, I bought a baton and am learning how to twirl! It's great fun. I'll incorporate the baton into future pictures as a playful prop.

How are you doing??

Combining Pleasures

What do you get when you take a nice Spring day, time off from work, a long motorcycle ride and add a blogger meetup and shopping? Fun!

Today, I rode my comfy big bike east to Sayville where I met Emily. I've known Emily for a year or two but have never met her in person. Today was the day for that. Emily announced on Facebook this morning that she has a booth at a street fair where she would be selling attractive handmade fabric crafts she creates herself. That provided incentive for me to ride east.

Ironically, even though Emily grew up on Long Island, I met her through Ashley who lives in Minnesota. Emily and Ashley were once pen-pals and they continue their friendship to the present.

Emily now lives in an apartment in Manhattan, where she works and hobnobs with celebrities, but she comes home on the weekends to see her boyfriend and family. And sell her crafts. I bought the cute animal-print clutch shown above. Inside, it's bright pink which sealed the deal.

I was pleased to discover that Emily is as sweet in person as she is online. Both she and Ashley have great senses of humor, so chatting with them is always entertaining. Seeing Emily was the highlight of my day.

Emily's well-made bags and purses are available on Etsy. Go take a look!

Grooming On The Run

Last week, I was driving Gina and pulled up to a red-light. I glanced over and, next to me, was a woman driving her car. She was about 25 years old. The woman's sun-visor was down and she was staring intently into its mirror. I watched as she applied mascara. Then I saw her use one of those medieval-looking metal devices to curl her eyelashes. Then she started the process on her other eye. She was totally engrossed in her personal grooming.

The traffic-light changed to green. I pulled away and noticed her car didn't move. Obviously it was going to take her a while to shift from grooming-mode to driving-mode. She had to put the mascara-brush back in its bottle, tighten it up, move her grooming equipment, and start driving her car.

What do you think of this? Do you ever groom while driving?

(I was tempted to take the woman's picture but didn't 'cause I didn't want to embarrass her. The photo above is snagged off the Internet, which shows how common this activity must be for the 'net to have lots of pictures of it.)

Bodysuits

Bodysuits, which have always appealed to me, are making a fashion comeback. They were very popular in the Sixties and Seventies, made a splash in high fashion during the Eighties, and were worn by tweens in the Nineties. Now, a few designers like Alix are bringing them back.

Bodysuits are usually described as leotards with snap-crotches but the new ones don't all look like leotards upstairs; some have long, fluffy sleeves and some aren't form-fitting.

Bodysuits are versatile and look great with jeans or a skirt. They can appear in both casual and formalwear.

Would you wear one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female Life: Does Our Audience Matter?

Occasionally a woman will relate an experience on her blog which stuns me. Its truth is plain and its existence startles me. As much as I study women, I haven't had many of their life-experiences so I'm not fully aware how it feels like to be female in modern society.

One blog just reported an experience I'd like to relate with the question: Do you do this?

Amber is a pleasant young woman who recently switched jobs. She used to work in an all-female environment. Now, she's the only woman among male co-workers. She blogs that her wardrobe and makeup have changed solely due to her audience at work. Here are her words:

"With my new job I am the only woman in the office. I have found that more thought and planning now goes into my outfits as a result. Even my makeup has changed - where I would normally feel free to experiment with a bright lip color or even false eye lashes, I now wear more neutral and natural tones."

How does our audience affect our presentation as women? Men often believe that women "dress up" for them, yet many women dispute that and say the opposite -- that because men don't appreciate fashion and beauty, women dress up only for other women (such as on Girls' Nights Out). Dressing for the workplace adds additional concerns 'cause ambitious women want to be taken seriously.

My first question is: When you're deciding how to dress and present yourself, does it matter whether your audience will be male or female? My follow-up question is: If it matters, how does that affect your choices?