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Monday, January 31, 2022

Mercedes Club - Manatee Lagoon Visit


Last weekend my Mercedes Club visited Manatee Lagoon.  It is dedicated to educating the public about the Florida Manatee.  It is a beautiful facility built by Florida Power and Light (FPL) that provides lectures, a zoological exhibit, and multiple viewing areas to see the Manatees. The Manatees migrates south from cooler inland streams to the power plant’s warm-water discharge to stay warm during our cooler winter months.  

The day we were there we saw over ten up close to the dock and one adorable calve (baby). The whole area is open to the public and admission is free. 

During our visit we had an enlightening private lecture on the interesting Florida Manatee. Here is how they describe their private lectures:

Step outside the center’s back doors to join one of our educators, a 'Manatee Master', to learn some cool facts about our favorite marine mammal and other local marine life. Hear about “all things manatee,” learn what you can see from the observation deck and get answers to manatee-related questions in a Q&A session following the presentation.  




If you visit South Florida in the winter (like everyone else) it is a must see.  Manatee Lagoon 


A fun visit.      




Part of our group and for once I made the group photo.  





Saturday, January 29, 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022

Soma's Sensual Collection

 

SOMA SENSUAL 



Working at Soma has been an education in feminine intimates. What a pleasure going to "work" and making customers happy with such beautiful items. Shown above are the items from our Sensual Collection that I purchase with my employee discount.     
Soma is not VS and in my opinion has higher quality products. Our customer are more mature and tend to mission shop their intimates, especially bras. Many come in to purchaser replacement bras and know the fit / comfort of their chosen bra. It is nice to know the products are appreciated.   

Practical lingerie is not all we carry. We do feature sensual bra/panties and feminine, sleepwear. I purchased several sleep sets like the set shown below for the holidays. They are so comfortable for watching TV and sleeping.   

The above items are Lace CamiSensual Unlined Plunge BraVanishing Edge Microfiber Hipster Pantieand Satin Pajama Pants.  I watches these item on the racks in my store and they were big sellers during the holidays. I would always show these to husbands/boyfriends shopping for their partners; wink-wink.

By the time these went on sale, my store did not have all of the items in my size.  I ordered on-line and the items arrived a few day ago. The fit/feel is wonderful, feminine/sensual. In all of my years of desiring and wearing "feminine differential" lingerie, these items are the best.  

If you have a Soma Intimates store near-by, do check it out. It is so much fun to be surrounded by such beautiful feminine intimates. We are instructed to be helpful / welcome, but not hover as customers shop. I encourage my customers, after we have found a style, to browse the draws and find all the colors they like.  During this last month, I am sure that my store was visited by some of "us".

I committed to work the holidays so not sure how much long to continue. Covid is an issue now. Overall, what a fun escape experience. There will be more in a future post on my holiday "shopgirl" experience.  Stay tuned...




Cool Nights - Banded Bottom Pajama Set












       


Thursday, January 27, 2022

Exploring All of My Sides - Feminine and Masculine.

I Feel More Like a Man While Wearing a Dress Than I Ever Did in a Suit




BY PHILIP ELLIS FEB 12, 2021



Sebastiaan Vermeulen went viral after sharing photos of his homemade outfits—including skirts and dresses that fall outside what might be considered traditional menswear. Sebastiaan tells Men's Health why he started making his own clothes in the first place, and how experimenting with gender-fluid fashion has helped him express his masculinity.


 Sebastiaan Vermeulen 
Read the whole article here 


These days, I try not to think anymore in terms like feminine and masculine. I am not just 'a man', I'm Sebastiaan. I might tear up at a sad movie, and I wear dresses because I love how they look and they are unimaginably comfortable. I also love pumping iron to challenge myself and I love wood and metalworking because there is no feeling like making your own furniture. Exploring all of my sides, feminine, masculine and otherwise, is an on-going process, and it's a journey I expect to be on for the rest of my life.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Thierry Mugler, Champion of Trans Visibility, Dies at 73

 






By Krutika Surve

Manfred Thierry Mugle
Manfred Thierry Mugler passed away on January 23, 2022, at the age of 73 from natural causes. The French designer and creative director of his own brand, Mugler was a trailblazer in the fashion industry. He was known for being a pioneer in diversity, opening his runway shows to people of various backgrounds such as trans models, drag queens, and pornstars.

Mugler was one of the first in luxury fashion to truly champion the LGBTQ+ community. Club kids and trans models frequently walked his catwalks, from Connie Fleming to corsetry artist Mr Pearl. His training as a dancer before venturing into fashion informed his high-octane approach to fashion as theatre, with Mugler in 2003 going on to create Zumanity, a Cirque du Soleil show, which premiered in Las Vegas and ran until 2020.




Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Weird News


Anti-Vaxxers Are Taking Feminizing HRT to (Try to) Cure COVID



BY SAMANTHA RIEDEL January 13, 2022

For all their frothing outrage about how puberty blockers and HRT are basically the same as child abuse, it’s bitterly ironic that conservatives are now going to line up for some of that sweet medical feminization in the name of… personal freedom, or something? I don’t know, I’ve lost the plot at this point, but they have, too, so it’s fine.


We thought that guzzling horse dewormer was the most absurd thing anti-vaxxers would do in the name of COVID denial. We weren’t prepared to be so wrong.

On Sunday, Fox News aired an interview with Dr. Pierre Kory, president of an organization called the “Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance,” through which Kory has advocated for the use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19 (even after contracting the disease himself last year).

Blaming Big Pharma and the FDA’s lengthy drug approval process for the current crowding crisis in U.S. hospitals, Kory demanded that people be granted access to inexpensive drugs to battle COVID, including — checks notes — feminizing hormone replacement therapy.

That might sound like the setup for an extremely niche Onion article, but I swear it’s what Kory actually wants. At the end of the interview, Kory directed viewers to consult the Critical Care Alliance’s “MATH+ hospital protocols” for drugs they should take to prevent or treat COVID-19 — and according to those protocols, “first line” therapy for hospitalized patients should include “dual anti-androgen therapy,” specifically drugs like spironolactone and finasteride. 

Many transfeminine readers will be reading through their fingers at this point with mouth agape, because Kory’s recommendation is literally just that people Do a Medical Transition to beat COVID (instead of, you know, getting one of several safe and effective vaccines ahead of time). Finasteride and spironolactone are feminizing drugs that are commonly prescribed as part of hormone replacement therapy for trans women; both block testosterone, an androgen, from being absorbed into the bloodstream.


Hopefully, all those vaccine truthers who follow Kory’s nonsensical recommendations are ready for the unforgettable experience of sore nipples and the possibility of osme churning, ephemeral gender dysphoria! Unless, of course, the unconventional treatment unlocks something in you, in which case we’re here to help. (Then again, you can also run the risk of increased depression and anxiety after taking finasteride, so be warned.)

In the interest of being fair, because I only dunk on people in the name of Truth, there actually has been a small amount of support in medical literature indicating anti-androgens have some use in COVID treatment. A study published last year in the medical journal Viruses concluded that spironolactone’s “beneficial effect” in blocking androgen receptors merited additional study. But the study’s authors stopped far short of recommending spiro be actively taken to combat symptoms or boost recovery, pushing instead for more general research into receptor antagonism. 

If you’re interested in protecting yourself from a debilitating respiratory illness, vaccines or the newly-approved oral antiviral pill are still a much better bet than suppressing your testosterone because a doctor you saw on Fox News said so.

It’s also worth noting that directly under Kory’s “take two feminizations and call me in the morning” guidance, the protocols go on to recommend taking vitamin D and melatonin, which is tantamount to giving someone who just contracted HIV a pouch of Emergen-C and some ginger ale.


If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that if you’re a transfem person DIYing hormones while living with your transphobic family, you now have the best possible excuse if you ever get caught with your spiro. Just tell ’em you’re fighting COVID the way real Americans do: by medically transitioning.


Monday, January 24, 2022

MB Club Award


One group I  have come to enjoy is my Mercedes Club.  Since childhood, I have loved cars. I guess it started with me building Revell, Monogram, and AMT model cars (1:25). That evolved into owning grown-up quality/fun cars. 

I have been a member of my local Mercedes club (Road Star Section) for about 6 years and enjoy our events; especially the socialization. I have written here about our fun events that include our member car show, group dinners, and visiting local attractions with lunches after.

In December we had our holiday party at the beautiful Hobe Sound Golf Club with members giving donations to "Toys-4-Tots".  The gifts were amazing. This event and our annual February Member's "Concours d’Elegance" car show. are our best-attended events. There are members in our group with amazing vintage/collectible Mercedes cars.  

At this year's holiday lunch I prepared a PowerPoint slide show that highlighted photos from all of our events of the past two years.  It worked wonderfully running on two large screen TVs all during our lunch and our holiday party. Everyone enjoyed seeing their photos and cars.    

To my surprise, I was awarded officer of the year. I have served on the board for three years and as VP for two. I want to thank my friend Susan (Susan After 60 Blog) for telling me about the regional clubs.

She and her friend Mr. Mickey are members of their local MB Club. 

I enjoy this group. Always a fun "ESCAPE" adventure. Just get out and look. Maybe a MeetUp group, bowling, book club or volunteer activity - Escape adventures can be found everywhere!  

    .   


Mercedes club "Roadstar Section" Holiday Party 2021

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Rhonda's Political Week In Review 1-23-2022


 CNN:Europe's loud, rule-breaking unvaccinated minority are falling out of society

The scientific basis for anti-Covid measures is solid: Vaccines have been proven to reduce transmission, substantially slash the likelihood of serious illness and decrease the burden on healthcare systems.  And real-world data shows that impact; European countries with highly vaccinated populations, such as Spain and Portugal, have been less badly affected by more recent waves of infection and have been able to open up their economies, while those with stuttering rollouts have faced severe restrictions and spikes in hospitalizations. 




 




Friday, January 21, 2022

Inevitable

Meaning (adjective) "Sure to happen"


The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors on Wednesday (1/19/2022) voted in support of a sport-by-sport approach to transgender participation that preserves opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete. The new policy, effective immediately, aligns transgender student-athlete participation for college sports with recent policy changes (PDF) from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and International Olympic Committee.

Forbes Magazine stated:

It’s over. More than a decade after establishing a landmark policy of equality in sports as a human right, the National Collegiate Athletic Association caved under pressure to tear it all up.  

The bottom line: Depending on how it evolves, this new policy is either exactly what opponents of trans inclusion in school sports have been clamoring for, or potentially, it could be their [our] worst nightmare.

What the NCAA put in place in 2011, was broad base, through all sports, support for  transitioning athletes  One could point to NCAA guidelines that not just applied at the collage level, but served as a blueprint for even little kids plays soccer on Saturday morning. Now that support is gone and each, sport, league, or individual competition can set its own rules; with their bias well placed.   

There is no longer governing leadership. The national governing body of each particular sport will be responsible for determining the participation of transgender athletes.  Each group will be subject to regional political/liberal whims and media pressure.  

There is no putting this toothpaste back in the tube. 

A sad day and a step back for transgender inclusion. However, it was inevitable.  As I stated in, I Do Not Like This Success Story "... just because you can do something (either through legality or ability), it does not mean this is the best use of your effort."  

 ____________________

On a day when there was bad news, it gets worse: Arizona Bill Would Ban Transgender Girls, Women From Teams




Thursday, January 20, 2022

Brini Maxwell Style

A Revisit

Sander says of the inspiration behind Brini:

 


It’s that sense of midcentury graciousness, that style of entertaining that has fallen out of favor with a large portion of the population, that’s looked at with nostalgia these days,” 


 Described as the love child of Martha Stewart and 1950s sitcom star Donna Reed, Brini Maxwell is a retro-inspired domestic goddess whose YouTube channel is a library of household how-tos: how to fold a napkin, how to practice hot tub etiquette, how to finish an antique wall unit, how to make the perfect Old Fashioned. 





Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Chico's Leggings - An Experiment

 


ZENERGY SO SLIMMING Pocket Leggings


I think they will look cute with sneakers and long sweater/t-shirt.  Maybe for everyday wear?  Chico's is a sister store of Soma and a place I have shopped for several years. I receive the above Leggings a few days ago.  Oh, I  love the fit. I will keep you posted on how I wear them and how they look. An experiment in progress... 

 

From the Chico's site: Chic and sporty, our Zenergy® So Slimming® pocket leggings are a must-have for your active wardrobe. Soft and comfortable, they're designed with a built-in So Slimming® panel to give you a flattering silhouette, perfect to pair with tunics and sweaters. Convenient side pockets hold your phone and essentials while you're on the go.

  • The Fabric: Stretching fabric with exclusive Hidden Fit technology that slims and smooths the stomach.
  • Fabric Care: 78% polyester, 22% spandex. Machine wash. Imported.
  • The Fit: Skinny, fitted through the hips to leg opening; ankle length with side pockets and drawstring waist; 27" inseam.
  • Online Exclusive.
  • The Details: Paisley-print style.
  • With A Long Sweater

Here are suggestions from CafeMom on how to wear (and not wear) leggings - Leggings are one the the biggest fashion trends for fall, which means you're going to see them everywhere you look. However, leggings are also one of those tricky styles that a lot of women wear completely wrong -- and one that many other women completely avoid for the sheer fear of wearing them
wrong.

I am going to deal with the positive.

Make no mistake. Leggings are not just for women with buns of steel. If you wear them well, anyone of any body type can look great in them. Let's take a look some great legging looks. (Here is one)

  • With a shirtdress
  • With a long sweater
  • With a tunic
  • With a skirt
  • With layers
  • And if you must reveal some rear, try denim jeggings

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Palm Beach HRC Winter FĂȘte 2022

Caitlin, my friend, described my 
outfit as "Understated Chic"

 FĂȘte: A lavish outdoor festival
or celebration. 



Saturday the Palm Beach HRC organization held its 2022 Winter Fundraiser event at an amazing Palm Beach mansion. A sellout crowd attended with the city mayor, congressional delegates, and several judges in attendance. The legal and medical community was also well represented. This is the "be seen" LGBT event of the year with many interesting out of town (Palm Beach snowbirds) in town.  


I am on the board and represent the "T" side of the alphabet soup within PBCHRC. I see that the group locally does much good. One of our major role is in the pre-election interviews of candidates as to their views on issues that affect our community.  An HRC endorsement is coveted.    

The event was held around a lavish outdoor pool and the weather cooperated fully; 73 degrees and clear with an almost full moon shining. A huge sponsored open bar kept everyone entertained and Hors d'Oeuvres on platters moved through the crowd all evening. The sushi table was also a major attraction.  


There were lots of hugs from old friends and great discussions with new friends.  Palm Beach this time of the year attracts very interesting people. 


A nice "Escape" evening and as the old saying goes, "All dressed up with somewhere to go!"  And if I  may add, be seen. 


The Open Bar 




The Pool - Do you like the two angles guarding?


Stay tuned - There was a Palm Beach art gallery opening I attended before the HRC party.  




    


Monday, January 17, 2022

Why We Should Be Out



Amy Schneider

Amy Schneider:

"Seeing trans people anywhere in society that you haven’t seen them before is so valuable for the kids right now that are seeing it."

Schneider, an engineering manager who lives in Oakland, California, told San Francisco’s local ABC news station, KGO-TV, last year.


Amy Schneider Becomes First Woman To Break $1 Million On "Jeopardy".

Amy joins the ranks of Brad Rutter ($4,938,436), Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings ($4,370,700), James Holzhauer ($2,962,216) and Matt Amodio ($1,518,601) in the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame. After following her extraordinary journey, which began on November 17, and witnessing Amy reach this rare milestone, Jeopardy! fans wasted no time celebrating her all over social media.


Three cheers for bravery, intelligence and visibility.  


Saturday, January 15, 2022

Friday, January 14, 2022

Some Day My Ship Will Come In (or Sail)


I love to take cruises. There does not exist a more inclusive trip/vacation that provides so much to do.  Where else can you be "beach casual" on a private island for a picnic buffet lunch, and four hours later be in an elegant cocktail dress for dinner and show.  And, that is just one day of your seven-day adventure. If at any point you are overwhelmed by activities, just sit by the pool as the ocean moves underneath you.

Last year was a no-go as the entire cruise industry shut down under strict CDC Covid-19 restrictions. The cruise industry, which is a big part of the Florida economy has reopened. However, the CDC now with its myriad of confusion directives is allowing cruising again but states "Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status".  What?  Previous mandatory guidelines are now voluntary despite the much easier to contract coronavirus variant.  What?  

Crazy Florida is acting like there is no problem. Masks are seen rarely and discouraged by a governor that will not answer a direct question on his vaccination status.  Plus, our governor's directives run counter to CDC/OSHA/NIH commonsense recommendations.  It falls to the individual to make protective decisions.   


Update 1/15 Cruises sail into a new era of Covid self-policing

Donna Shalala, former Health and Human Services secretary and a former Democratic lawmaker from Florida, supports letting cruises continue but agreed that CDC’s messaging has been confusing.

I don’t know how to describe it other than I just don’t understand how they’re making decisions at the CDC. I’m not being critical; I’m simply saying I don’t understand. I think the cruise industry has done everything they can possibly do.”

    

I had a cruise booked for the end of January that is now delayed until early spring. Although fully vaccinated, I do not want to chance a forced extended quarantine or have ports-of-call deny/cancel excursions.      

The above two items are Venus. The Floral Bodycon Dress and Abstract Convertible Dress were purchased with the cruise in mind.  So, someday my ship will sail, and I will be ready.  Stay tuned... 


Someday Cruise Wear 




Thursday, January 13, 2022

This Success Story Keeps Getting Better


Amy Schneider's Latest 'Jeopardy!' Record



Yahoo News - Selena Barrientos
Tue, January 11, 2022,

Throughout her historic winning streak, Amy Schneider has broken record after record — but the latest one might just be the most remarkable of them all.

On January 7, the California-based engineering manager was quick on the buzzer following a nerve-wracking game the day before. Amy secured an early lead during her 28th Jeopardy! game and after starting out with a total of $977,400, she won an additional $42,200. With that, the Ohio native officially surpassed the $1 million mark ($1,019,600) and her incredible accomplishment was threefold — she is only the fifth person to do so in the quiz show’s history, the fourth person to accomplish this record in regular season play and the first woman to become part of the millionaire club.

Amy joins the ranks of Brad Rutter ($4,938,436), Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings ($4,370,700), James Holzhauer ($2,962,216) and Matt Amodio ($1,518,601) in the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame. After following her extraordinary journey, which began on November 17, and witnessing Amy reach this rare milestone, Jeopardy! fans wasted no time celebrating her all over social media.


Are you watching?


Wednesday, January 12, 2022

My 10-year-old son enjoys wearing girls’ underwear

 

 We have embraced his desire and bought or made G-strings and bra tops. We’ve taught him to keep this private, explaining that other people may not understand, while ensuring we communicate it’s OK with us.

 “Everyone is different and everyone is special,” is the message we try to convey. He tells us he enjoys it because it makes him feel good.

Initially, he tried making G-strings by cutting up his underpants. This is when we realised he needed help with making and buying the underwear he wanted. After this, when the scissors kept going missing and we found a new pair of (boys’) underpants chopped up, we were annoyed and he got upset. He said he didn’t like himself and couldn’t understand why he was doing it. We calmed him and reassured him that we loved him, but said we were cross with him for cutting up new underwear.

This was when he said he had been trying to make a bra and he’d done a pretty good job. I took him shopping so he could make a selection and my husband took him to buy fabric to make his own items. We put these, with his own pair of scissors, in a box in his room. He was happy and we thought the problem was solved. Recently, the scissors disappeared again and my husband said he’d found a onesie that had been cut up.

I’d welcome advice on how to raise a cross-dressing child, and how to approach this latest occurrence of cutting his own clothes.

There was a much longer answer given. Here is the summary:

By - Annalisa Barbieri

How do you raise a cross-dressing child? Just how you would raise any child. You listen, love, support; you help him discover who he is, what he likes, help him understand about appropriate behaviour – so it’s OK to cut up X but not Y; to wear this here but not there etc. And if he still cuts up the wrong things, you need to look at what he’s trying to communicate to you. Look at and respond to your son, not what he wears.


 


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Best Panties for Men

 

Her Room
BY Tomima

Personal Note: I love Tomima's blog. 

Although it’s not a topic that’s often discussed in the mainstream, many men prefer to wear women’s panties over traditional men’s underwear. Today, women’s panties aren’t only worn by cross dressers and transgender women, but they’re also growing in popularity among everyday heterosexual men. This is often because they find panties more comfortable than boxers, boxer briefs, trunks, and other men’s underwear styles. Many straight men are finding that they simply prefer the soft and silky fabrics, skin-hugging comfort and less bulky cuts that women’s panties offer.

Shopping for panties that support and fit the male figure properly can require some trial and error. After all, women’s panties come in a much larger variety of cuts, styles, fabrics, patterns, and colors than men’s underwear. So, finding the right pair for you can be tricky at first but when you do, you may find that you love the difference.

Whether you’re interested in trying a pair of women’s panties for the first time or want to add something new and different to your existing panty wardrobe, HerRoom has hundreds of styles for you to explore.


Tomima


Read the whole blog post with many suggestions


My personal favorite :

Hanky Panky Signature Lace French Bikini Panties

Highlights:

  • Wide stretch waistband
  • All-over signature Hanky Panky lace
  • High-rise, high-cut design
  • Full rear coverage
  • Tip: If you’re between sizes, order the smaller size




Monday, January 10, 2022

April Ashley - Transgender Pioneer (1935-2021 )

 

Personal Note: Almost exactly a year ago, I posted a "I Love A Success Story" on April Ashley.  It was an a wonderful story about Britain's First Transsexual. What an amazingly beautiful woman. Sadly, I learned for one of my loyal readers, Kelly, that she died on Dec. 27 at her home in London. She was 86.


From The NY Times
Jan. 3, 2022
By Clay Risen


Ms. Ashley was named to the Order of the
British Empire in 2012 for her
 “service to transgender equality.”

April Ashley, a model and socialite who rose from poverty in Liverpool to the heights of London society, a feat achieved as much through her striking good looks as it was through her status as one of the first Britons to undergo gender confirmation surgery, died on Dec. 27 at her home in London. She was 86.

Tim Brunsden, a friend, confirmed the death. He did not specify a cause but said she had been in failing health.

With her statuesque figure, her enrapturing doe eyes and her Zeligesque ability to rub shoulders with everyone worth knowing among the European chic set, Ms. Ashley embodied the swinging hedonism of 1960s Britain as it sloughed off decades of austerity to embrace material wealth.

She partied with John Lennon and Mick Jagger. Salvador DalĂ­ wanted to paint her (nude; she declined). Elvis Presley wooed her. Later, in a series of tell-all memoirs, she disclosed the names of some of her many lovers, including the actor Omar Sharif and the singer Michael Hutchence.

She worked, when she needed to, as a hostess and a dancer. But she also cultivated enough wealthy friends that such need was infrequent.

“If you decided to fly to Geneva in your private plane for lunch, then April was your girl,” The Sunday Observer wrote in 1982.

Scandal seemed to follow Ms. Ashley: A friend outed her as transgender to a tabloid in 1961. Her brief marriage to the son of a British baron set off a high-profile annulment fight, resulting in a landmark 1970 decision denying transgender women legal status as women — and denying Ms. Ashley any of her husband’s inheritance.

She eventually retreated from the limelight, first to the English countryside, then to California and finally to the South of France.

By the time she returned to Britain in 2005, the country’s attitudes about gender identity were starting to change. When she had left, in the early 1980s, she called herself a “freak” and said that strangers had poked and sneered at her; now she was embraced as a hero.

Read the complete obituary at the NYTimes 


Ms. Ashley in 2006. Late in life she was once again a celebrity, this time as an activist, and she adopted the identity of the upper-crust dowager.Credit...