Friends Friday - Thanks

See updates below.

I want to thank all my friends who have already mentioned "Stay Safe" and "Thinking about you".  It appears that the weather may get a bit nasty over the weekend. I have experienced much in the way of storms/hurricanes, having lived in Florida for over 40 years - Never a direct hit from a "Cat 4" storm (winds 130–156 mph).  

I will be sheltering "in-place" because I do not live in an evacuation zone. My pre-Labor Day plans will be, putting up shutters and stocking supplies. My home was built in 2000 and constructed according to the Miami-Dade post Andrew building code so should be able to stand. Just how much damage is the unknown. Also the predicted 10"-15" of rain could be challenging. This has been a unusually wet summer and the ground is already saturated.   

The previous storms knocked out power for days and internet service as well. If there are lapses in my posting next week, that will be the reason. I will do my best.

For those weather nuts like myself here is a direct link to the models used by NHC and most local weather sources - Tropical Tidbits.  The GFS (American model) seems to be the model most often used although the GFS-Legacy (older) model deviates slightly. Many models are available there. South Florida Water Management also has a easy to read composite plot of many tracking models. 

  
   

Palm Beach Post - Sunday 10:00 AM:

An extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 5 storm. It is about 220 miles east of West Palm Beach, and beginning its assault on the Bahamas.

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.: Hurricane Dorian has built to a Category 5 tropical cyclone - an elite and deadly force of nature that is now descending on the northern Bahamas.

As of a special 9:30 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Dorian had sustained 175-mph winds with gusts as high as 200 mph. The threshold for a Cat 5 storm is 157 mph winds.

The storm, which has evaded forecasters’ best attempts to pin it down on an exact track and intensity, is about 25 miles east of Great Abaco Island and 210 miles east of West Palm Beach.

Why I Hate Capris

By: Megan  Kristel 

Capri Cropped Paints 

The Capri pant is the ugliest piece of clothing designed for women (and men too but I can’t even get into that) in modern history. They are the most unflattering, frumpy-dumpy pant a woman can wear. I have a strong opinion, shocking I know, but I have my reasons and can offer better alternatives for you, so hear me out.

Why Capris Never Fit Well

Capris are a notoriously challenging style to get through the approval process because their design is inherently imperfect. Technically speaking most capris are made with a leg opening that becomes too narrow as it moves down the leg, so they bunch at the knee and hug the calves.

The narrowness of the leg doesn’t allow for the material to fall correctly, so what happens is the back of the pants “collapse.” “Collapse” is the technical term used to explain there is often too much fabric and folds between your back pockets and the back of your knee.

The back of a capri should sit away from the body, off your bottom, but because their design is flawed, it was hard to pass a pair without them looking like a big mess in the back.  (You can see in the photo above how the back of the pant is collapsing onto the back of the leg.)

Why Capris Are Not Flattering 

From a proportional standpoint, they do the body no favors. In all of our style related posts I try to teach readers how to create the most flattering, proportional look, regardless of your personal style, body type, budget, etc.

The capri makes this impossible [a flattering, proportional look] because of where it cuts at the leg, usually, right through the top to middle of the calf, making legs look stumpy and cutting the line of the body at its most awkward point.

If you are trying to dress well, it’s important to make choices strategically. Every piece of clothing you wear should either support, enhance or improve the overall outfit. The capri doesn’t do that because the fit is usually off and the proportion is incorrect.

Do continue the article to review her alternative suggestion and how you can make Capris almost work. Continue Here - There is lots I left out...

_____________________

My Note:  I could not agree more.  Of all the feminine items I have in my wardrobe, there is not one pair of Crop/Capri pants, with one exception. While shopping in Talbots a few weeks back, one pair of pants was on sale and I was tempered to try it on.  Talbots  Chatham Ankle Pants. First the price was right 2/3 off regular price, second I know side zip fits me well and did I mention the price was right. 

My feminine pants are always either petite, or designated short. Ok 5'4" qualifies me as  certifiably petite. The reason I tried these crop pants: these were designates as women's misses and fell at the top of the shoes line.  Even with heels they were the perfect length.   

The popular slim-leg ankle pant you know and love, now in new trend-right colors. Crafted from our comfortable stretch fabric with a classic side-zip, this ultra-flattering silhouette moves with you for ease, and holds its shape for an extra polish. Timeless and versatile, it's the wear-with-anything staple you've been searching for. 

        
Anyone else remember when men wore Capris/Crop pants and they were called Pedal Pushers?

1956 Man in Pedal Pushers: Laguna Beach

Why Don't Men Wear High Heels?

Would You Wear It? - White Denim Skirt

I am such a sucker for denim skirts and just love this Talbots EMBROIDERED SCALLOP-HEM JEAN SKIRT.  Both of the clothing pieces are Talbots. The top is part of their new Summer Collection, and the skirt was a spring item that is now on sale. The top I got on last week's "50% off one item" promotion and and the petite skirt I purchased at the store was well ovet 50% off. Wise shopping many times involves seeing something you like - and waiting.   

The Tory Burch Miller Hobo Bag was an investment piece that will see a lot of use, long term, and is justifiable for that reason. The Tory Sandals are from several seasons ago.   

The cute pink Keds Kickstart Mini Chambray Sneakers ($29.97) were purchased on a whim from Amazon. This skirt is super cute with jeans and almost any casual outfit. They are consistently sized and once you know the correct size, there are many options available.  Keds - not just for kindergarten teachers any more. 

Would you wear it?

Congruence vs Transition

Congruence  - Agreement or harmony; compatibility.

Transition  - The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. 

My Note: Below is a portion of an article I found at Gender Spectrum. Transition is a term that has existed as long as I have have been reading and studying gender variance. I have never related one-hundred-percent to the concept of me personally "transitioning".  I have always been who/what I am, without transitioning. It is possible that as I have become more open. Yes, others now see me differently; although I am the same person; friend, professional, father... Take a read and please comment.  I found this very interesting.

__________________

Congruence 

Gender congruence is the feeling of harmony in our gender:

• experiencing comfort in our body as it relates to our gender;
• naming of our gender that adequately corresponds with our internal sense of who we are;
• expressing ourselves through clothing, mannerisms, interests and activities;
• being seen consistently by others as we see ourselves.

Finding congruence is an ongoing process throughout each of our lives as we continue to grow and gain insight into ourselves. It is most often found through exploration. For some, finding congruence is fairly simple; for others, it is a much more complex process. But the fundamental need to find gender congruence is true for us all, and any degree to which we don’t experience it can be distressing.

“Transitioning” is a term commonly used to refer to the steps a transgender, a-gender, or non-binary person takes in order to find congruence in their gender. But this term can be misleading as it implies that the person’s gender identity is changing and that there is a moment in time when this takes place. More typically, it is others’ understanding of the person’s gender that shifts. What people see as a “Transition” is actually an alignment in one or more dimensions of the individual’s gender as they seek congruence across those dimensions. A transition is taking place, but it is often other people (parents and other family members, support professionals, employers, etc.) who are transitioning in how they see the individual’s gender, and not the person themselves. For the person, these changes are often less of a transition and more of an evolution.

Instead of “transitioning,” a more apt phrase is “pursuing congruence measures.” A person can seek harmony in many ways:

• Social congruence measures: changes of social identifiers such as clothing, hairstyle, gender identity, name and/or pronouns;
• Hormonal congruence measures: the use of medical approaches such as hormone “blockers” or hormone therapy to promote physical, mental, and/or emotional alignment;
• Surgical congruence measures: the addition, removal, or modification of gender-related physical traits; and
• Legal congruence measures: changing identification documents such as one’s birth certificate, driver’s license, or passport.

It’s important to note, though, that a transition experience can be a very significant event in a person’s life. A public declaration of some kind where an individual communicates to others that aspects of themselves are different than others have assumed, and that they are now living consistently with who they know themselves to be, can be an empowering and liberating experience (and moving to those who get to share that moment with them). Oftentimes during a transition experience a person will announce a change in the name and pronouns that they use and ask that others use their new name and pronouns going forward. Honoring this request is a sign of respect and a critically important way to demonstrate support.

Political Cartoons 8-25

The Bad News About Time

The Southern Comfort Conference '19 - Followup

I want to give a good shout-out to the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference (SCTC) and the Riverside Hotel staff for an outstanding Conference. I am not sure the resources the conference staff had, however they pulled it off. Outstanding job!

Broward County Tourism (Fort Lauderdale) supported the event again and spoke about how happy they are to have us in attendance. I ask and was told about 125 were registered; a decent turnout.  Plus I saw name badges to be picked up for the Saturday only registration. That was a nice for all of the Florida locals.    

I ask several times if there would be a next year?  I was told, YES.  We shall see. I will try and stay informed as to future SCTC conferences.  If it happens -  See you next year?    

I had some very good thought-provoking comments on the blog as to the relevance of conferences like SCTC. I thank you for the comments. 

Again I want to thank all of the attendees that came up to me and mentioned they were readers of the blog.  That made my day. Enjoy the photos; Some I took and others are from the SCTC Facebook page. 

One other note: Dr. Mardirossian (FFS Surgeon) had the best-attended seminar that we have put together.  We had lots of questions and interest.

Over 60 Fashion Basics

Susan - How a blazer can elevate a simple look

I found this site with great fashion advice.  I especially enjoyed her "Fashion for Women Over 60: Mastering the Basics".  Several of  photos featured my friend Susan Street of "Susan after 60" and this post discusses the following: The perfect pair of jeans; Cardigans;  Blazer; White cotton blouse; Tunic length Tops; Dresses; Sneakers.  

Wow what a treasure trove of photos and good fashion advice.  

Here is a great fashion point in the article: "Regardless of your age, dressing stylishly is all about attitude! Even young girls who think fashion is not for them have a difficult time discovering their true style, and that’s because their mindset is pulling them down".

"So if you’re past your 60's, remind yourself that clothes should only bring out the best of you: they should make you feel comfortable, confident and reflect your personality."

Well said - We all dress for that very reason. 

MissPrettyPink is your online source to find the best tips and inspiration that will help you live your best life: from outfit ideas and makeup tutorials to product reviews and fashion trend reports. See fashion expert’s take on living a stylish and well-rounded life through style guides, beauty tips, How-to videos, and many other articles centered and inspired by real women.

Log Cabin Republicans Board Member Resigns

By Jessica Chasmar - The Washington Times - Tuesday, August 20, 2019

A board member of the pro-LGBTQ group Log Cabin Republicans has resigned in protest of their endorsement of President Trump’s reelection campaign.

Jennifer Horn

Jennifer Horn sent a letter to her group’s chair and vice chair announcing her resignation on Monday, writing that Mr. Trump’s “regular verbal assaults against women, immigrants, elected members of Congress, party members who do not agree with him on policy or principle and his willingness to stoke racial anger and unrest in order to advance his own political ambitions all subvert the founding principles of our great nation,” The Washington Post reported.

Ms. Horn told The Post she made the decision long ago that she would never endorse Mr. Trump, so she knew what she had to do after Log Cabin Republicans Chair Robert Kabel and Vice Chair Jill Homan issued an op-ed announcing the group’s support for president’s reelection. Ms. Horn said:

There is no world where I can sit down at the dining room table and explain to my children that I just endorsed Donald Trump for president. It is contrary to everything that I have ever taught them about what it means to be a good, decent, principled member of society.

In announcing their endorsement, Mr. Kabel and Ms. Homan credited the president with taking “bold actions that benefit the LGBTQ community,” including his desire “to end the spread of HIV/AIDS in 10 years,” and his international efforts to “end the criminalization of homosexuality.”

This from TheWeek Site:

Prior to joining the Log Cabin Republicans' board, Horn was chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, and she told the Post she was disappointed in 2016 when Trump did not remove language from the party's platform that advocated against equal rights for LGBTQ people. Horn remains hopeful that more Republicans will start speaking out against Trump. "People have to know, our party is dying because of the silence of those who oppose this president," she said. Catherine Garcia

CNN News Clip and interview 

Class Rejects the Church Over Anti-Gay (LGBT) Policies

An Entire Methodist Confirmation Class Rejects the Church Over Anti-Gay Policies

From: The Friendly Atheist
    April 30, 2019 
By: Sarahbeth Caplin



The kids may be all right after all.

In response to the United Methodist Church formally hardening its anti-gay stance, the entire 8-student confirmation class at First United Methodist Church (UMC) in Omaha, Nebraska announced that they will not become members of the congregation right now.

See my post on the subject here.

The 13- and 14-year-old students announced their decision in the most public of ways: right in front of the other church members, where they read a letter they had written together:

In case you needed a reason to believe that this generation will save us all, here it is. The entire confirmation class at First United Methodist Omaha decided not to join at this time in protest of the UMC’s anti lgbtq+ policies.

We have spent the year learning about our faith and clarifying our beliefs. Most of us started the confirmation year assuming that we would join the church at the end, But with the action of the general conference in February, we are disappointed about the direction the United Methodist denomination is heading. We are concerned that if we join at this time, we will be sending a message that we approve of this decision. We want to be clear that, while we love our congregation, we believe that the United Methodist policies on LGBTQ+ clergy and same sex marriage are immoral. Depending on how this church responds to the general conference action, we will decide at a later time whether or not to become officially confirmed. But until then, we will continue to stand up against the unjust actions that the denomination is taking. We are not standing just for ourselves, we are standing for every single member of the LGBTQ+ community who is hurting right now, Because we were raised in this church, we believe that if we all stand together as a whole, we can make a difference.

To the [local] church’s credit, the audience members gave them a warm reception. The eight teens received a standing ovation. As is customary following confirmation, the church treated the youth to dinner; lasagna and salad and a gift of journals for each teen.

Since the February vote at a special session of the General Conference in St. Louis, some Methodist churches across the United States have protested through newspaper ads. Others rallied in front of their church administrative offices. Still others voted to withhold their annual dues, called apportionments.

This is such an encouraging thing to see in an era where it seems like prejudice is winning.

As the kids noted, they may well join their church as members if it rejects what the parent organization will require everyone to accept by January of 2020 — even if that means disaffiliating with the UMC altogether. But even with that in mind, there are other Christian denominations that are affirming of the LGBTQ community. It’s surprising, in a way, that the UMC has chosen to go in the opposite direction, though that is attributed to the desires of UMC affiliates in other parts of the world more than those in the U.S.

But who knows — in these kids’ lifetimes, maybe the UMC will change its ways. If that happens, we can thank kids like these — the lifeblood of any church — who decide to leave because they can’t support religious bigotry. That doesn’t happen overnight. If history tells us anything, change tends to be a slow process.


_________________


See Also NBC News: "United Methodists edge toward breakup over LGBT policies"

Bra Shopping - The Soma Way

Sunday, August 11, was a great shopping day at Soma.  Soma is a brand that offers a comfortable line of bras, panties, intimates and has a local store at my go-to mall. I must admit this was my first visit to Soma and have always been hesitant to venture into such an overtly feminine establishment.  

My need to take advantage of a one-time-offering overwhelmed my trepidation.  That day, every bra $15.00 in honor of their 15th anniversary. Who could resist. Nor could many others.   

The store was a mob-scene. I was in real need of a strapless bra with my current one being many years old and way undersized. A fitting today or even trying one on was going to be out of the question. I picked one with some help finding the strapless, nudes selection and got in line which was about 6 customers deep. I have found that women waiting in line are typically chatty and we all talked about the wonderful sale. After I mentioned this was my first Soma bra, they said I would never want any other brand; "They ares so comfortable!"

Soma's Big Day 

The size I picked was my default "always size", but neglected to take into account that it was so old, and had likely stretched. Upon arriving home I was so disappointed; it was too small. So I waited a few days to return it. 

"So honey, what size are you?"  With no hesitation she grabbed a cloth tape, wrapped it around chest and declaimed my new correct size. One more quick wrap and she told me cup size. That I had guessed correct on the first attempt.  At least I was half right.  Today I did try it on and she was so correct.  

This is how Soma describes this service:

In our boutiques, our Expert Fit Stylists size you in seconds in the privacy of a fitting room — (for me at the counter) without ever requiring you to get naked. They are trained to listen to what you want and help with what you need. You stay comfortable while they bring you styles and sizes so you can find your new favorites.

Works for me.  And now I have a perfect fitting strapless bra. Thank you Soma.   


     

Summer Sales '19 - Sandals

As I mentioned the "End of Summer Sales" are a gift for those of us that shop mark-downs and enjoy beautiful clothing. I love shoes! So when I found the above sandal on sale at Macy's last week, they were a must have item. 

I have an unusually high instep and most shoes that have anything that goes over/around the top of the foot will be unconformable. Most female cut shoes are made for a low instep. In the past I have resorted to either custom made sandals or having my local shoe shop raise the straps. Both options are expensive. 

The only benefit to high arch/high instep is that actually I, "feel better with heeled shoes over flats". I just learned this at ProFoot.  Very interesting - That explains much.  

I was very pleased with the above shoes because they fits perfectly across my foot and are very comfortable. They are also super cute. I tried on the tan sandal for size but my local Macy's did not have them in white. It was available on-line at 67% off its original price. A really good price for such an attractive sandal.   

Here are the details from Macy's - Michael Kors Holly Sandals in white, acorn (tan), and black.  The price varies by color form $40.23 to $55.93.

I have since found them at the Michael Kors site, "HOLLY ROPE-TRIM SANDAL" for 29.00, also in a variety of colors including metallic - gold or silver.  

Here is a further description from the Kors site: 

Tie the knot—our Holly sandals are your new sole mates. Natural rope trim, metallic jelly straps and a smooth footbed combine to laid-back-luxe effect. This versatile style can be worn on the weekend with myriad looks.

I will get a lot of casual wear out of these cute sandals.  Enjoy!  

Political Cartoons 8-18

Just When I Thought It Couldn't Get Any Worse

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court To Legalize Firing Transgender Workers

The Trump Administration continues its all- on attack of our community. This is mean- spirited and takes away a protection that will prevent us from working, simply because we are transgender. Some businesses will see this a chance to fire a transgender person for no other cause than the person's gender identity. With e-verify and employment application questions it is already difficult to get a job and now with this in place, any transgender person's job is at risk; during transition or being outed while working.  

If you are a casual "cross dresser", do not think that makes you safe.  Already this has occurred - Oiler v. Winn-Dixie Louisiana, Inc.

It is difficult for me to understand how anyone in our community could still support Trump. This has moved me from the outspoken category to the activist state. I will do all that I can do to prevent another four years of this outright attack on our rights.   

Without Justice Department support, as we have had in the past, our best hope is that the Supreme Court will rule that our transgender rights will continues to be protected under Title VII. I.e. - I believe that there are still reasonable Supreme Court judges.  Going forward, that could be subject to change.  

_____________________ 

Here are the details from Huffpost 08/16/2019 07:33 pm:

The Supreme Court is considering three cases that look at whether LGBTQ employees are protected under federal civil rights law. 

By Antonia Blumberg 

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to set a legal precedent that would make it OK for an employer to fire a person for being transgender.

In a brief filed Friday, the Justice Department argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 only protects workers from discrimination based on their “biological sex.”       

“Title VII does not prohibit discrimination against transgender persons based on their transgender status,” the Justice Department wrote. “It simply does not speak to discrimination because of an individual’s gender identity or a disconnect between an individual’s gender identity and the individual’s sex.”

The Supreme Court agreed earlier this year to hear three cases that look at whether Title VII, the federal civil rights law that prohibits workplace discrimination, applies to LGBTQ workers.

Friday’s brief pertains to one of the lawsuits, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in which a transgender woman was fired after she transitioned.

Aimee Stephens had reportedly presented as a man when she began working at R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes in Michigan in 2007. The company’s owner, Thomas Rost, fired her six years later, when she announced her plans to transition.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that Stephens’ firing was discriminatory. 

“The unrefuted facts show that the Funeral Home fired Stephens because she refused to abide by her employer’s stereotypical conception of her sex,” the court wrote in a 49-page decision.

“Discrimination against employees, either because of their failure to conform to sex stereotypes or their transgender and transitioning status, is illegal under Title VII,” the court said. “It is analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee’s status as a transgender person without being motivated, at least in part, by the employee’s sex.”

But the Justice Department argued on Friday that “the ordinary public meaning of ‘sex’ was biological sex” when the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964.

“It did not encompass transgender status, which Stephens and the Sixth Circuit describe as a disconnect between an individual’s biological sex and gender identity,” DOJ lawyers wrote. “In the particular context of Title VII — legislation originally designed to eliminate employment discrimination against racial and other minorities — it was especially clear that the prohibition on discrimination because of ‘sex’ referred to unequal treatment of men and women in the workplace.” 

Chase Strangio, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Stephens in her suit, argued that the case has implications beyond the trans community.

“People don’t realize that the stakes are extending not just the trans and LGB communities, but every person who departs from sex stereotypes: Women who want to wear pants in the workplace, men who want more childbearing responsibilities. Those protections are also in peril with the arguments advanced by the Trump administration, presented at the Supreme Court,” Strangio told HuffPost.

He added: “There isn’t a coherent way to carve out LGBT people without changing the standard that exists under the law.”

The Supreme Court is also looking at two cases of employees fired over their sexual orientation: In Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, Long Island skydiving instructor Don Zarda was fired after he told a client he was gay. Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that Zarda’s firing was discriminatory. But the 11th Circuit, in a similar case, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, ruled that precedent suggested Title VII did not protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Friend's Friday - Are Transgender Conferences Still Relevant?

I am attending The Southern Comfort Conference (SCC) today and Saturday.  I hope to see some of my blog friend there.  I highlighted yesterday the importance these events played in my emerging feminine life. At that time they represented the ultimate “Escapes”. 

At these events I would sit for hours with fellow attendees and we would compare our “so similar” lives and how we were finally accepting ourselves. You all know who you are and I count so many of you as my closest counselors.  

I will keep today's post short but invite others to  share their convention and weekend get-away experiences. I know Stana’s favorite is “Fantasia Fair”, Provincetown, Cape Cod. My local friend Katie’s favorite is the "Keystone Conference", held in Harrisburg, PA. These have managed to defy the odds and hold on to a loyal group of attendees. Why? What do these have that the other did not? Are there others you attend?

Please share with us your most important moments while attending a transgender conference? 

As SCC holds on by a slender thread of relevance, tell us why the transgender conferences are still important to you or why they are not?  

The Southern Comfort Conference '19

An event is occurring this weekend that in the past, I would prepare for six months in advance. The anticipation would build to the point of sleepless nights. There would be four to five days of girl time and seeing friends that I considered family. They knew the real me.   

Now the event occurs with little fanfare. Yes, "The Southern Comfort Conference" (SCC). The conference was founded in 1991 and until 2014 it was held in Atlanta, Georgia. Its importance and the build-up to attending was documented in the movie of the same title. At its peak, well over a 1000 registered and many more just attended.  

SCC - Twenty Years Ago

It was a movement, an event, and bought all within the transgender community together to learn, celebrate, and party. 

I attended nearly all of the years. However, SCC is just a shadow of what it once meant to the transgender community. The reasons; the move from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale; some unfortunate legal issue caused by vendors; infighting between the Atlanta group and the new board. Its largest enemy today is relevance. 

This weekend (August 22-24) it will be held at the Riverside Hotel, 620 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. A valiant effort has been made to put on a program of speakers, seminars and events. I hope their efforts are not in vain and SCC is supported and well attend. 

Dr. Vartan Mardirossian

I will be there on Friday (3:45-4:45) presenting for Dr. Vartan Mardirossian, discussing his specialty,  Facial Feminization (FFS). Dr. Mardirossian and I will both be presenting a discussion forum on Saturday Morning (9:00-10:00) discussing FFS. He plans on being available the rest of the morning and afternoon for private consultations. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet and discuss FFS options, at no charge. You can schedule ahead for Saturday by calling Dr. Mardirossian's office at 561-692-4698.   

I hope to see my local friends there and wish SCC much success.  

Summer Sales '19

For those of us that live in the semi-tropics "End of Summer Sales" are a gift.  Even if you do not live in extended summer areas, winter is months away. There are still outdoor cafes, evening walks along the shore, and restaurants to visit. The outfits above pop and are simple, yet dressy.

This week Talbots (my new favorite feminine hangout), had final summer markdown and both of the above skirts were only $20.00 each. Selection was still good and I was able to get both in my size. 

Talbots - A-Line Skirt 

The full "PEONY-PRINT PLEATED SKIRT" even in petite, falls just below the knee and had enough waist room so it could be adjusted up-down depending on heel height - The luxury of having a top that hangs below the waist line. It is lined and has a full silhouette with on-seam pockets. With the paisley print many color tops and shoes are an option.  

The second "CLASSIC COTTON A-LINE SKIRT - FLORAL" I also purchase in petite and the 19" length, although short, is perfect. Talbots' list it as a-line although it is certainly not full and fits almost as a pencil skirt. I tried on several sizes in the store and found the just right "Goldilocks" fit. 

The tops shown are just pain vanilla, v-neck knits. Both are part of Amazon's "Lock and Love" collection. From the photo they look like they would drape beautifully. The price of these  $9.95 - $16.95 and are in dizzying array of colors.  Sizing options run from X-Small to 5X Large. 

I have plenty of tops so these are shown as suggestions. Mix and match with what you already have. Also anything in "True Blue" will be perfect with the pleated skirt.   

Keep in mind that as evenings get a little cooler a blue/red sweater would work beautifully as well; jacket optional. 

 Enjoy!

Trump Will Turn On Nation

Anthony Scaramucci Warns That Trump Will Turn On [the] Nation  According to Huffpost - POLITICS 08/11/2019:

President Donald Trump’s short-time communications director and one-time pal Anthony Scaramucci attacked him on Twitter Saturday with a chilling warning:  that the commander in chief will eventually “turn” on the “entire country.”

I discussed a republic doomsday scenario of Trump refusing to leave office a few month back and it is becoming more and more likely. It is now being discussed in polite company with the realization that it could happen. Trump even threw out the notion in June as to circumventing the Constitution by staying in office longer than two terms. Here is a well written discussion on election succession from "Salon", written by Amanda Marcotte.

_____________________

So what happens, when Donald Trump refuses to leave office?

The nightmare scenario could happen
Does anyone still believe Donald Trump will leave office voluntarily? The real question is what we do about it.

AMANDA MARCOTTE
JUNE 17, 2019

Polls currently show that all the major Democratic presidential candidates are pulling way ahead of Donald Trump, and while Democrats should take nothing for granted — Trump will run a campaign so nasty it will likely put 2016 to shame — there is at least some reason hope that Americans will turn out in large numbers and that Trump will be soundly defeated in 2020. That victory would be both exciting and an enormous relief, a moment when we all collectively begin to believe that the national nightmare is ending.

But as soon as that happens, if it happens, the next nightmare will begin. It may be minutes, hours, days or even weeks, but at some point between Election Day in November 2020 and Inauguration Day in January 2021, odds are strong that Trump will declare that the election was "fake news" and refuse to leave the White House.

This possibility has lingered in the "if" column since he was first elected, largely because Trump is a terminal narcissist whose inability to admit to his own mediocrity caused him to lie his way onto the Forbes 400 list and pretend to be his own publicist in an pathetic effort to generate tabloid coverage of his personal life. Now the prospect that Trump will simply declare the election null and void and refuse to relinquish power to the 2020 victor is better understood to be in the "when" column.

The past weekend was not a good one, in terms of Trump's signaling that he will refuse to accept the results of any election he loses. After internal polls commissioned by the Trump campaign were leaked, showing that the president is trailing badly in several battleground states, Trump angrily called the polls "fake" and fired the pollsters working for him. He also suggested on Twitter that it was possible "the people would demand that I stay longer" than two terms of office, using his joking-not-joking strategy to suggest that he's not hemmed in by laws or the Constitution when it comes to retaining power.

One principal talking point of Democrats who are reluctant to begin an impeachment inquiry is that Trump needs to be removed at the ballot box, not by impeachment. The argument is that Trump can't be removed from office through impeachment since Republicans, who control the Senate, will refuse to convict him no matter how much damning evidence there is. Depressingly, that argument has merit. With vanishingly  rare exceptions like Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, Republicans have shown that there is no level of criminality Trump could display that they are unwilling to accept, so long as it allows them to retain power.

But that's also why there's a real danger that, if and when Trump refuses to leave office after an electoral defeat, Republicans will go along with it. And why not? They haven't drawn any visible line yet when it comes to Trump cheating or breaking the law. On the contrary, Republicans were already flouting the law in their attempts to retain control over the government even though a majority of Americans have clearly rejected them at the polls. So far, there appears to be no limits to what Republicans will allow, so long as it entrenches their power.

Think about what Republicans were doing even before Trump came along. Gerrymandering and voter suppression efforts predated his candidacy, taking off in earnest after the Republican-controlled Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also flatly refused to hold a hearing for Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, violating all norms and traditions to hold the seat open so a possible Republican president could fill it. This trend goes clear back to the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision, in which the Supreme Court's conservative majority handed George W. Bush the presidency rather than allowing a fair and complete vote count in Florida.

Under Trump, Republicans have only become bolder. Robert Mueller's report documented Trump's extensive efforts to collude with a Russian criminal conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 election, as well as Trump's extensive cover-up of that conspiracy. Instead of doing anything about it, Republicans have persistently made excuses for Trump, either lying about what's actually in the Mueller report or drawing false equivalences to legal and transparent choices made by Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign.

McConnell's response to the Russian criminal conspiracy to undermine the last election, in fact, has been to reject any effort to prevent such conspiracies in the future. Congressional bills have been written to shore up election security and McConnell simply refuses to bring them for a vote. Trump made clear, in his interview last week with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, that he fully intends to cheat in 2020 the same way he cheated in 2016. McConnell's response has basically been, "Bring it on."

Again, Republicans are so complicit with Trump's criminality that it is simply a statement of fact to note there is no chance that the Senate would vote to convict Trump in an impeachment trial, no matter how serious his crimes are. (A two-thirds majority, or 67 votes, is required, which would require all the Democrats, and aligned independents, plus at least 20 Republicans.) If they refuse to throw him out for being a criminal, why on earth would they throw him out just because he lost an election?

As the saying goes, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Based on that, we must presume that Trump and the Republicans will not be hemmed in by law or custom when it comes to holding onto power they haven't earned. It would be deeply unwise for Democrats to pin their hopes on the possibility that Trump suddenly, after all this time, becomes the kind of man who would admit he lost an election — or that Republicans will finally decide that there's such thing as "going too far" when it comes to taking power in defiance of democratic will.

How do we deal with it when Trump simply declares the election null and void and Republicans back his play? The time to plan for that is right now. Being caught flat-footed and scrambling to catch up will simply make it easier for Trump to entrench the idea that his hold on the White House is immovable, just as he and Republicans have entrenched the idea that it's normal and acceptable for the Senate to refuse to convict him, no matter what.

Unless Democrats move swiftly and forcefully when Trump refuses to leave the White House — and they need to plan for "when," not "if" — Republicans will be able to make forever-Trump feel inevitable and indeed almost normal, as they've done with their other successful efforts at gutting American democracy.



The Washington Monthly asks the similar question: How Trump Could Lose the Election and Remain President?