In My Yard

Nature is living in my backyard.  How do you feel about spiders?

 

 

Finding A Balance

Some of you may not realize this, but I'm new to women's clothes.  I try to improve my nascent talent by experimenting.  At times I go to extremes, but that's only so I can see what happens when you do.  I explore new territory.

To quote James Tiberius Kirk, I boldly go where no man has gone before...

I recently tried one end of the spectrum (prim schoolmarm) and then wildly swung to the opposite end (brightly-colored trollop).  There is, of course, a middle place where most of you spend your time.  I want to visit you there.

I bought an attractive, slightly-conservative wrap-dress in a nice print.  To perk it up, I searched for and found a colorful sleeveless top to wear underneath.  I like the combination of the pieces.  On my feet are some cute kitten-heels I found at Payless.  To top off the outfit, I added a ring and necklace just given to me by Lynne.  Lynne is an exceptionally-generous woman whose blog, if you haven't visited it, is a must-read.  She dresses as nice as she is.

Thoughts?

 

 

 

Abarth Ads

Here are two TV commercials for my new car.  The first is an ad which introduced the auto to America and was run during the Superbowl.  The second is on TV now.

Do you find they create an image for the car?  What is the image?

New Car!

I bought a new car!

I'm excited because it's the first time in my (long) life that I ever bought a new car for myself.  Twice I bought new cars for women in my life, but never for myself.  (I tend to treat others better than I treat myself.)

Also, it's been almost three years since I've had any automobile, new or used.  During that period, I've been riding motorcycles every day.  As much as I enjoy that, there are days in Winter when the weather sucks and you really don't want to suffer the way I have.

So... I bought a 2013 Abarth!  If you're scratching your head, let me say you've probably already seen one of these.  There is a popular TV commercial showing Charlie Sheen driving like crazy inside his mansion while under house-arrest.  It's an Abarth he's driving.  In fact, the commercial is an ad for Abarth.

Abarth is pronounced "A-Bart"; the "h" is silent.  The name of the car is a tribute to Carlo Abarth who was a famous race-car designer a half-century ago.  He took small cars and magically made them go really fast.  His emblem is a scorpion on a yellow/red badge; he chose the scorpion because astrologically he's a Scorpio.  So am I.  Is that destiny or what?

The car is manufactured by Fiat, an Italian company which is bigger than you think.  They recently bought and now own Chrysler.  A few years ago, Fiat resurrected the Abarth brand and use it for the racing version of their normal car.  The Abarth is more powerful than a standard model and is often taken by enthusiasts to the racetrack.  The suspension is stiffer which helps the car corner better.  Reviewers say the exhaust sounds better than any other car except for a Ferrari.  It's a throaty growl, as I heard today.  The car has a manual transmission so you can really rev the engine to hear it roar.

I got the car in black with red accents (stripes, mirrors and seats).  It won't be ready for a month or two; the elves are still assembling it in the factory.

I love manual transmissions 'cause you are actively engaged in operating the vehicle and can play with the engine/transmission.  You can rev much higher than an automatic before shifting and, if you're so inclined, spin the wheels until they smoke.  It's heady to explore the outer limits of a vehicle's capabilities.

What do you think of my new car?  Isn't she pretty?!

Sassy

I like to explore the full range of women's fashion and, hopefully, through it some of the experiences of being female.  After recently experimenting with the prim schoolmarm look, I'm now heading in the opposite direction.

This outfit grew from a kernel.  I was walking in the mall and noticed some incredible colored, patterned tights.  The tights alone inspired me to create an outfit.  I built around them, showcasing their sassy appeal.  I added a dress of complementary color, shoes that don't distract attention and jewelry for polish.

Do you ever build outfits around one piece?

 

 

 

Seeing The Past Anew

I was going through my storage bins today, looking for something, and discovered an album of old photos.  From my childhood.

It's interesting to look at old pictures 'cause we see new things in them.  As we mature, we catch aspects of our younger selves that we weren't conscious of at the time.  Certainly, that's true for me looking at this snapshots.

In the first picture, I'm striking a pose.  During my entire life, I've been extremely self-conscious of body-position and posture because they imply gender-identity.  My parents, always on High Alert to any sign of femaleness in me, harshly scrutinized and criticized me when I gave off any hint of that.  This picture, taken by someone else, slipped through their radar.  I remember vividly posing for this picture, wondering if I was going to get caught.

The next picture is a photo of my mom and me at a tourist attraction.  I'm wearing a mustard yellow shirt (whose bright hue appealed to me greatly), brown plaid pants, a double-holed leather belt and a matching double-holed wristband.  While normally clothes this colorful would be off-limits to a boy, it was the Sixties and the widespread relaxing of sartorial style allowed me indulge a little.

 

 

The final photo is me in front of the White House on a visit to Washington, D.C.  It was a big trip for my family since we rarely had money to go places far away.  Just before my father snapped this picture, I remember him saying, "Stand up like a man!"  I complied.

Do you see anything in these photos that I overlook?  Your perceptions are greatly appreciated as they teach me things about which I'm often blind.

Good Parenting

 

 

It's hard to have a transgendered child.  Every parent wants their offspring to be happy and most believe gender non-conformity threatens that.  In the past, parents reacted -- with the approval of the medical community -- by prohibiting and punishing "incorrect" expression of gender.  That approach, I can tell you from personal experience, neither works nor leads to happiness.

 

Recently, with new encouragement from mental health professionals, parents are being urged to allow their children freedom to explore non-conforming gender expression, especially in early youth.  Social activists support this as well.  The New York Times devoted a lengthy article to this issue, promoted on the cover of their Sunday magazine, and reported that children allowed to be themselves are happy.  Very happy.  The article mentioned a summer camp where TG children can go to explore gender variance in the company of others like them.

A little while ago, a story surfaced (here) about a German family whose young son wants to wear dresses.  The son insists on expressing himself in feminine clothing and his parents have chosen to allow it.

What sets this story apart is surprising support the boy receives from his father.  When the family lived in a city (West Berlin), the child's preference wasn't a big deal but, when the family moved to a small town, the entire community gossiped about it and made it into a huge problem.  The father, to show public support of his son in front of the small-minded villagers, started appearing in public with his son WEARING A SKIRT.  Implicitly supporting his son's choice of dresses, dad wore a skirt to show people there is nothing wrong or bad about female dress.

It's a rare man who can be so mature as to do this for his child.  Here's a picture...

What do you think?

P.S., For a terrific drama on this subject, see "Ma Vie En Rose".

P.P.S., Thanks, Michi, for alerting me to this inspiring story with your tweet.