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Monday, February 28, 2022

Numb


One of my loyal readers commented that we are numb from the Republican attacks.  My posts were: 

Denying The Existence of Transgender People

Where Is The Outrage?

Numb - (adjective) deprived of the power of sensation
          - (
verb) deprive of feeling or responsiveness.


It is true, we are numb.
  The attacks have been furious and mean. Football players when injured have been known to take painkilling numbing agents.  When numb they can play (ignoring reality) as the injury, although not felt, became exacerbated.

Ignoring the pain that the Republican party wants to inflict upon the transgender community is not going to make it go away. The next day a “numbed-up” player has twice the pain. Perhaps, a permanent injury now. 

If no one speaks up the radical right they will continue to push hot buttons that enrage their one issue minions. Contrary to what they say, the agenda is not abortion, transgender rights, immigration, etc. It is power! They will do/say anything to achieve and hold power. E.g. denying the January 6 insurrection. 

They are cowards/bullies and will move on to another agenda once pushback becomes manifest.  

 What we can do:

  • Do not support candidates that espouse a radical agenda or tell lies.  
  • Do not support a party that wants to deny our existence.
  • Speak up to friends, colleagues and help them understand the danger the democracy faces.
  • Contribute as you can to causes and candidates that support "center" politics.
  • Volunteer to help candidates that support "center" politics. 
  • Support reforms that will dismantle the two-party system.  
  • Vote in local elections – State representatives now have the power to take political control of vote counting.
  • Be vigilant. Be visible
  • Stay calm – America is not as radical and hateful as these crazy minority candidates preach. Hate and division is their only tool.
  • VOTE!

Continuing to stay numb is not a option. 



PS: Tomorrow I will return to regularly scheduled programming.

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Friday, February 25, 2022

Denying The Existence of Transgender People


Leading Republican echoes Trump's American Carnage message for the midterms


Rick Scott (R)




By Kelsey Snell  February 22, 2022


MY Note: Yesterday's "Where Is The Outrage?" drew not one comment and minimal views.  Let's see what you think of being denied existence.  


Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has a sweeping vision for a conservative takeover in Washington that echoes the dark and fearful image of America in decline painted by former President Donald Trump during his inauguration in 2017.

Scott opens the blueprint by asking "Is this the beginning of the end of America?" and goes on to outline a vision he hopes will unite Republicans against Democrats. The plan includes major federal intervention in social policies like gender identity and racial equality, to a broad remaking of federal policies on education, taxation, immigration and crime.

...

Rejecting transgender identity 

The plan also includes positions on abortion and gender, including denying the existence of transgender people, banning gender reassignment surgeries for minors and doing away with government forms that acknowledge gender identity and sexual preference.

Those positions represent a threat to current federal anti-discrimination laws based on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.




Thursday, February 24, 2022

Where IsThe Outrage?

If those of us in the transgender community are not outraged, what is it going to take? Martin Niemöller (paraphrase) - "Thay have come for us!"


HuffPostSouth Dakota Gov. Signed Anti-Trans Bill Stumped On Why LGBTQ+ People Are Depressed 


Kristi Noem (R), who recently signed a law cracking down on transgender athletes, was stumped Thursday when asked why she thinks nearly 90% of her state’s LGBTQ+ community reported dealing with anxiety or depression.

“I don’t know,” Noem told a reporter who confronted her with the statistic at a press conference. “That makes me sad, and we should figure it out.”

South Dakota the 10th state to enact a law affecting transgender athletes and the first to do so in 2022.

Noem is also an opponent of same-sex marriage, and in 2021 she signed a bill that lets businesses deny goods and services to LGBTQ+ people on the basis of religious beliefs. 


HuffPost: Texas Governor Directs State Agency To Investigate Trans Therapy As 'Child Abuse'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wants parents to be investigated for “child abuse” if their sons or daughters are trans.

The purported small-government Republican on Tuesday instructed the state’s child welfare agency to conduct a “prompt and thorough” investigation into ”‘sex change’ procedures” for minors in the state, the latest in a right-wing frenzy about transgender children.

Abbott’s directive follows a non-binding legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, published Monday, in which Paxton argued that gender-affirming treatments, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapies, constitute child abuse.

Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society, regard both therapies as highly beneficial in the treatment of gender dysphoria, and leading pediatric groups routinely criticize anti-trans bills that block access to gender-affirming medical care as harmful to children.


NBC News: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signals support for 'Don't Say Gay' bill

The bill, which would bar the 'discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity' in primary schools, passed the Florida Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

But the measure's opponents contend the bill would be detrimental to the mental health of the state's LGBTQ children and teachers, preventing them from openly talking about themselves and their families.

"Make no mistake — this is not an isolated action. Across the country, we’re seeing Republican leaders take actions to regulate what students can or cannot read, what they can or cannot learn, and most troubling, who they can or cannot be," a White House spokesperson said in a statement. "This is politics at its worse, cynically using our students as pawns in political warfare."


HRCTENNESSEE Governor Lee (R) Signs Anti-Trans Healthcare Bill into Law

Yesterday evening, Republican Governor Bill Lee signed SB 126 (HB 1027) – a bill that unnecessarily regulates life-saving, best practice medical care for transgender youth.

SB 126 (HB 1027) is part of the 2021 “Slate of Hate” rippling through the Tennessee state legislature. This anti-transgender bill is the fifth discriminatory piece of legislation signed by Gov. Lee this session following HB 1182 (SB 1224), a business bathroom bill; SB 228, an anti-transgender sports ban; SB 1229, a sweeping anti-LGBTQ education bill; and HB 1233, an anti-transgender student bathroom bill.

These anti-equality bills are being pushed by national extremist groups and peddled by lawmakers in Tennessee in an effort to sow fear and division.


There is more!


Feminine Differential - Lug Sole Boots?

How to Wear Lug Sole Boots and Shoes 




I found interesting Deb's post at Fabulous After 40 describing a fall trend she calls, "Lug Sole Boots":  

Combat boots were the original utilitarian boot. Now lug sole combat boots are all the rage. What’s the difference? Lug sole combat boots are simply more exaggerated. They’re chunkier heavier, with platforms and big-toothed rubber soles.  Some are definitely over the top and more suited to a junior crowd. However, you will find some more refined, grown-up styles too.

 

Her fashion layout featured Tory Burch lug sole combat boots.  I always find Tory Burch products (shoes) to be excessively expensive, so looked for an alternative. Do check out Deb's fashion layout.  

Venus - Boat Neck Cable Knit Sweater

My go-to-look for years was the over-the-top feminine, heels, hose, dress and hair.  That seemed to fulfill a need to say here I am "woman"; roar optional. I have learned that civilians see feminine, especially women,  through subtle differentials.  Maybe just an ear ring, sandals, or a v-neck t-shirt top with shorter sleeves. The over-the-top look many times drew unwanted attention. The "what is wrong here?"   

Just a touch or lip-gloss, now that my lips are distinct, has triggered more "ma'am than I would get you", than two hours at the makeup mirror did previously. FYI - my makeup routine is now down to a reasonable 15 minutes when going out for the evening.  Even less when just going to work.  

I found the above Harley "Heeled" boots on Amazon for a more reasonable price than the Tory boots.  Plus an added benefit, if you are a motorcycle rider, they are advertised to be waterproof. Utilitarian with just the right mix of edginess and elegance (feminine differential) to look classy and not kooky. They have a chunky 2.75" heel which gives them a  feminine look and will look great with skinny black jeans tucked-in as Deb described. To add to the feminine differential, or confusion, wear hoop earnings and a delicate gold chain bracelet.  I love confusion! 

Pikolinos Booties
I mixed the boots with a classic vintage motorcycle jacket. However, this outfit will look super with a  chunky, oversize sweater as Deb showed in her fashion layout. 

Maybe a great travel outfit? I have worn my Pikolinos Booties (five years old) on several airline flights and they have always worked for me.  The side zip provides easy off-on for TSA checkpoints. Theses are comfortable and I have even taken nature trail walks wearing them.    

I guess the above fashion layout intrigues me as to "being who I am" and still working within a distinct feminine differential.   

Never be old to try something different?


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The Modern Way To Wear Leggings After 50

 


By Jennifer:

November 1, 2021

Jennifer from her blog
Our world has changed dramatically in the last few years and with it, the way we dress. More of us are staying close to home and living a more casual lifestyle. That doesn’t mean we’ve given up because we still want to look modern and polished, just in a more relaxed way.  How to wear leggings after fifty has been an extremely popular post so I’m updating it with some new ideas and fresh resources to help you look fabulous wearing leggings.

Leggings are hugely popular and one of the easiest garments to get wrong. We’ve been reaching for leggings since they became streetwear in the 70 and ’80s. They now have style details and shapes that resemble pants, so they don’t all look like workout gear.

Are tunics and leggings still in style? You bet. Can you wear them and still look polished? Absolutely! Can older women wear leggings? Yes!

Here are the best leggings to wear over 50 and tips for wearing them. Let’s start with the most important feature of leggings…the fabric.  Read more..


Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Musical Interlude - Live for Today

 



The Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today 1967

Monday, February 21, 2022

A Day-to-Day Look

Keep Reading - There is more to this post than a fashion layout.


 

If you had the option to just choose an outfit, any outfit, and be out, what would you wear?

My early "Escape" adventures involved, transgender conventions, (AKA competitive cross-dressing events). Later I would engineer/create dress-up trips/escapes. Once the plan was put in place many of these escapes needed hours of preparation that included, body-enhancing garments, elaborate makeup procedures. All to provide the big infusion of courage needed.

In our efforts to pretend femininity, we become a character in our own theatrical plays. Fact - This is not what being a woman is all about. Many evenings I would go to sleep wishing to be a woman of substance; attending a social gathering, shopping, and being accepted. My mantra "hose, heels, dress..."  Then it was all about the clothes. 

 What I did come to understand as my escape became more prevalent, every real-life event made my heart flutter and I knew that I had found a place of solace for my soul. 

Most all of us on the MtoF transgender spectrum want acceptance and that comes with nurturing our inner feeling of femininity. It is not the shopping for clothes. These are only the outward representation of the inner person.  Who is that inner person? Acceptance comes with letting the inner person live, be seen, and be a part of all aspects of your daily life.

I refer to the feminine differential in this blog and highlight subtleties of feminine appearance. There is nothing better than being "Ma'am"ed at Starbucks, without makeup and only jeans and a v-neck tee. Displaying a casual differential helps others see that you want to be accepted as a feminine person. At a doctor's office a few weeks ago I was asked, "what pronouns would you like?"

That was a special day, in that even though there was not a lot of feminine differential on display, my inner person was there; the person of gender integration. Maybe this is the inner peace we all seek in our gender journey. 

Transition / no-transition - the inner person remains. Accept her with all her imperfections and live for today.   



       


Saturday, February 19, 2022

Friday, February 18, 2022

Vera Wylde - Gender Fluid

More Millennials Identify as Being Gender-Fluid


From Chicago Now - Shades of Gender
By Terri Lee Ryan*, January 24, 2020 at 3:45 pm



Vera Wylde
A 2016 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of GLADD found that 1% of Millennials identify as being gender-fluid in the U.S.  The U.S. Census data in 2016 has estimated that there are 71 million Millennials living in the United States.  This would mean in 2016 that 71,000 people in 2016 identified as being gender-fluid! That’s a lot of people on a topic that is still largely ignored. 

A recent poll in a California high school was conducted and 22% of the senior class self-identified as being gender-fluid. That’s a big number compared to the study of Millennials in 2016 and was an informal poll, which may not be as accurate as the data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, yet it certainly is a term that needs to be explored. 

So what is the definition of Gender-Fluid?

A recent poll in a California high school was conducted and 22% of the senior class self-identified as being gender-fluid. That’s a big number compared to the study of Millennials in 2016 and was an informal poll, which may not be as accurate as the data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, yet it certainly is a term that needs to be explored.

So what is the definition of Gender-Fluid?

The Oxford English dictionary’s definition of gender-fluid is defined as:

Rather than committing to a single definition, those identifying with this label may fluctuate between differing gender expressions over their lifetime, or express multiple aspects of various gender markers at the same time. A gender-fluid individual may also identify as bi-gender – shifting between masculine and feminine; or as tri-gender – shifting between these and a third gender.

The term gender-fluid may appear non-committal and misunderstood as to what gender they are at any given time.  It can become even more confusing when there are those who self-identify as gender-queer, non-binary and bi-gender, all on the gender spectrum, but each with a different definition.  Yet, for each of these groups there are distinct labels that are being used.

Check out my latest interview on my Shades of Gender radio podcast on KGAY106.5, Shades of Gender, with Vera Wylde, a gender-fluid burlesque dancer and author from Vermont, as we continue to learn more about the people behind the gender labels. And, yes, Vera is one of those Millennials! She has a child from their first marriage and in an almost four year relationship with a bi-sexual woman.  Vera shares with us her gender journey and what it means to her to be gender-fluid!

______________________


*Terri Lee Ryan is an author, TV producer and speaker. She is active in the transgender community and has a popular blog, Shades of Gender, a platform on the ever-changing landscape of the transgender community. She loves the mountains and desert, where you can find her carrying around her Yorkie, Charley.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

My Holiday Retail Escape - A Shop-Girl's Observations

Working at my Mall's Soma Intimate shop for the holidays has been an unbelievably fun/enlightening experience. I have not worked retail since turning the crank on my grandfather's general store "Cash Register" in the 50's. Thus it has been "new" learning a touch-screen register/computer system.

My Store

My work involved about one third each - customer floor interactions, checking customers out and floor restocking of panties/bras/sleepwear. The restocking the floor is like mission shopping in reverse.

My favorite is helping and interaction with the customers. "How may I help you?" 

One customer made my day when she stopped and thanked me before leaving; "I know I will lover the bra you help me find. Thank you". Wow! 
     

I was pleased that I was not relegated to the stock room or unpacking boxes. That could have happened. I have the same responsibilities as all the other gals, including opening and closing.  Kudos to Soma/FAS for providing me the unbiased opportunity. 

Let there be no misconception, women in general love lingerie. Seldom is price a consideration for something worn every day. The selection and trying-on process seem to be something enjoyed. Even customers who come in dressed "uninspired" on the outside, seem to still select beautiful/sensual underwear and bras. Good for them!  

Our store is not an exceptionally large store by mall standards. However, on any given day there was a steady flow of customers and browsers.  This always helped the time pass quickly.  

Being a software GUI designer, there are function that are difficult to locate in the check out system. I am sure that some of the function are placed to make you think twice, like price adjustments. However, "gift receipts" should be on the home screen especially during the holiday season. There were times when expediently checking out my customers took extra effort and patience. This was especially true when multiple request were in play; on-line returns/orders, new loyalty customer, rewards redemption, etc. In "shop-girl" mode, I am not there to complain about their system; just learn and do my sales job.   

It is interesting how retail outlets have become defacto distribution centers. Orders placed on-line are routed to the stores for fulfillment. Many morning we would spend several hours, locating, pulling from our floor, packing and shipping orders direct to the customer's home.

One final surprising observation was the insistence of rude customers. We always want to give all the refunds/discounts deserved and provide a happy overall experience. We gain nothing by denying a return, of not providing a discount. Customers requesting to return a worn item and items without a tag / receipt are asking for a lot. However, we always try.  

Thankfully rude customers were the minority and the overall experience was wonderful. 

Would I do it again?  Absolutely! I will likely fill in "as needed" again starting in March and look forward to a full schedule next holiday season.    









   

 

     


Wednesday, February 16, 2022

How to Wear Ankle Boots with Jeans...

The Dos & Don’t




Note: I love this look and ankle boots are my first choice.  A great fall/winter look.   Plus a feminine differential that always works.  Some great suggestions, especially the "Do Nothing" one.





Straight-A-Style by Amy Ann Arnold

Cropped Denim

This is perhaps the easiest way because your jeans do all the work for you. If you are wearing a cropped pair of jeans, they are already not going to conflict with your booties.

  • Do let your denim hit above your booties
  • Don’t let there be too much skin between the bottom of your jeans and the top of your booties. This may mean (depending on how cropped your jeans are) that you need a taller ankle bootie (one that hits above your ankle bone) as opposed to a shorter pair. In both pictures below, I am wearing one of my taller booties.



                   

Tuck Your Jeans In Your Boots

This one is the trickiest of all in my opinion.

  • Do tuck your denim when it is very skinny at the ankle and will not bunch. It also has to be long enough to tuck.
  • Do tuck your denim when your boots have a wider opening at the top.
  • Don’t try to tuck your denim when your boots are very short (i.e. hit at your ankle), only when they are a bit taller.








Cuff Your Denim
  • Jeans that are 1.) too long to naturally hit above your booties 2.) not super skinny at the ankle and/or 3.) may be paired with taller booties are great candidates to be cuffed. My jeans below are a great example because they are a thick denim that is pretty long and not super skinny at the bottom. Any bootie I pair them with really means they need to be cuffed because it causes them to bunch.
  • Do cuff your jeans when they would otherwise bunch over your booties.




Do Nothing
  • Sometimes your jeans are just regular length skinny jeans and your boots are ankle length, and there is no need to cuff or tuck. Win!
  • Do nothing when your jeans are skinny/narrow at the bottom and hit just above your ankle.
  • Do nothing when your booties hit at your ankle.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

A Vintage/Classic - Best In Show

 

No, not me! However, I have been called worse. This past weekend my Mercedes Group held our annual club, "Concours d'Elegance".  It is the highlight of our club's season. Everyone looks forward to detailing  up our cars, and displaying them for all of the members and guest. This year we held it a the Jupiter Country Club.

1955 300SL Gullwing - Click for larger view. 

The reason for belonging to a car club is love for the brand and since of community.  We hear the the younger generations only sees cars as transportation.  For me it is, and always been, the freedom the road provides and the individuality of the ride. There was a time when all cars did not look the same and new model coming out in September was a dealer event.   .    

This weekend's event was special with perfect South Florida weather (tops down), and we had an outstanding turnout. Many of the members are car collectors and maintained, vintage, drive-able, Mercedes. This year we had a great collection.  

I had my photo taken by a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. This car did receive our "Best in Show Ribbon". It was actually driven to our event.  As I looked closely, I could see traces of SL DNA that shows up in my 2014 SL550 that I had on display.  

You have to love any car that came with matching luggage. According to Wikipedia:

There aren't many of Mercedes-Benz's 300 SL Gullwings around. Only 1400 rolled out of Stuttgart between 1954 and '57, making each of these icons of automotive design worth at least $1 million each – almost regardless of condition.

One of our members took a video of the cars and at the end a group photo.  A wonderful "Escape" event. 



"The South Florida Roadstar chapter did it again  On February 12, 2022 the Concours took place at the beautiful Jupiter Country Club.  Great people and some really amazing cars. Best in Show was awarded to the 1955 300SL Gullwing."


  

Monday, February 14, 2022

I Love A Success Story - Ezra Miller

Ezra Miller Is the Gender-Bending... Hollywood Star of the Future


My Note First: Rewind 50 years, (OK 55) and ask yourself how would you identify - transgender, non-binary, gender queer, bi-gender, gender-fluid... All these terms that did not exist then. Yes, any one, could have been used to describe us. Given the opportunity that youths have now, how would you self identify?  

Below is a success story of a very talented actor and how they/them self identify. What a beautiful gender spectrum that exist now.    


Ezra Miller’s pictures from Playboy cover

From Wikipedia: Ezra Matthew Miller (born September 30, 1992) is an American actor. Miller's feature film debut was in Afterschool (2008). They starred as Kevin in the drama We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) and co-starred in the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012). In 2015, Miller co-starred in the drama The Stanford Prison Experiment and the comedy Trainwreck. They played Credence Barebone in the Fantastic Beasts films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018).

Miller came out as queer in 2012 but said in 2020 that they do not use the label "queer". In 2018 they said that "Queer just means no, I don't do that. I don't identify as a man. I don't identify as a woman. I barely identify as a human"

Miller uses they/them pronouns, which GQ wrote in 2020 was "a pointed refusal to be gendered." Miller previously used all pronouns interchangeably, but in December 2021 said that they no longer did, preferring they/them, it, or ze..

Having expressed an interest in "kissing boys" at a young age, they stated, "The way I would choose to identify myself wouldn't be gay. I've been attracted mostly to 'shes' but I've been with many people and I'm open to love whatever it can be."[19] Miller also commented on having "a lot of really wonderful friends who are of very different sexes and genders. I am very much in love with no one in particular."


Miller also portrays Barry Allen's Flash in the DC Extended Universe, beginning with a role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), a cameo in Suicide Squad (2016) and later as one of the leads in Justice League (2017), and its director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and will reprise the role in the standalone film The Flash (2022). They also reprised the role of Barry Allen on television in The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover in 2020. In 2020, they also had a recurring role on the miniseries The Stand.

Miller told GQ in 2018 that his gender identity is fluid and he's "comfortable with all the pronouns."

________________________


Miller has been thinking a lot lately about his own masculinity and gender expression. He was nervous about posing for GQ Style, because he wasn't sure if he could fit the mold. But the experience turned out to be just what he wanted. "I was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed by how much room there was for my very strange and fluid expressions," he says. Miller publicly came out as queer in 2012, and today he tells me his gender identity is fluid. "I'm comfortable with all the pronouns," he says. "I let he/his/him ride, and that's fine."

Friday, February 11, 2022

My Covid/Omicron Experience


On Wednesday, February 2 I tested positive for Covid-19 through my local pharmacy’s rapid test protocol. I was reasonably sure, but needed the test to rule out just a common cold.  My only symptom was a mega-sore throat. I began quarantining that day and waited for further symptoms. None occurred other than a runny nose the next day. I did not have a fever, fatigue, or overall sick feeling.  Nothing else developed and by day 4, I was asymptomatic.

I am triple vaccinated. I attributed my mild case to that fact. Until this wave passes,  I have read that with the verilant nature of the Omicron variant, being exposed and contracting it is inevitable.   

I have a family member that is a healthcare worker in ER and has been on the front line since the pandemic started. According to her current experiences, people who are hospitalized and dying, from the Omicron virulent, are the unvaccinated.  

One of her stories was that one patient would not let her leave his bedside despite the fact her shift was long over. Both knowing that he was likely dying, he kept saying "Please stay, be with me". She did stay until he died later that day. He was unvaccinated. That one got to her. 

That was not fake news! 

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have full FDA approval. They have joined the ranks of the Polio, Smallpox, and MMR vaccines. They all have undergone the same rigorous considerations and are effective. They are safe. Common sense should rule. Be safe. 



     


Thursday, February 10, 2022

Valentino | Haute Couture Spring Summer 2022 | Full Show

'Wider idea of beauty': Valentino embraces gray-haired and average-sized models

From the moment 57-year-old supermodel Kristen McMenamy opened Valentino's latest show in Paris, it was clear the fashion house was breaking with convention.





 


Watch and enjoy - Oh would I love to wear some of those dresses!

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Danger! Danger! - Ron DeSantis


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signals support for 'Don't Say Gay' bill

 See this update: Biden tells LGBTQ children 'you are loved and accepted just as you are' after Florida advances 'Don't Say Gay' bill. 


Demagogue - a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument. Merriam-Webster 


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared Monday to voice support for a controversial state bill that would ban certain discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

According to the legislation, which opponents have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, school districts "may not encourage discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students." It is not clear what would be considered "age" or "developmentally" appropriate.

Despite fierce opposition from Democrats and LGBTQ advocates, the bill is gaining momentum in the Florida Legislature and is on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of Senate Education Committee. A House version of the bill already received a favorable vote from its Education Committee in January.

The bill would ban schools from adopting procedures that could lead to school district personnel withholding information about a child's mental, emotional or physical health. 

__________________

My Note:  Warning this is just the beginning of DeSantis' playing to an uneducated lunatic base. Those of us in Florida have been watching how this power hungry politician will say and do anything that will ingratiate himself  to the far right. He is smart and dangerous. Proposing a Mississippi abortion bill (Mississippi?) Preventing localities with run-away Covid from mandating reasonable standards.  And now relegating the LGBTQ community back to a 1950's standard.  There is more and I am sure there will be more.  

LGBTQ and especially transgender youth are being used for quick theatrical/wins by politicians. DeSantis is a demagogue.  





  


Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Wardrobe Malfunction - Stay Up Stockings.

 

Hanes Silk Reflections Thigh Highs


I almost never wear Pantyhose (stockings) or leg cover of any type. This may originate from how seldom I wear dresses and skirts (another subject).  Also shorts are the uniform of the day when over at the beach and from efforts at the pool my legs have a good tan. By contrast, there was a day when I would have not considered myself fully dressed, without pantyhose. Needless to mention is that they always provide a delightful tactile sensation, however, in today's world, utility overrides.  


Talbots A-line Wool Skirt

I had a concert to attend this past week, and Florida was experiencing one of its few winter blast; thank you Canada. This evening I was going to wear a winter wool skirt and black sweater. The concert location was at an old Palm Beach mansion now the Flagler Museum, and I had known the room to be drafty. Some type of leg cover was going to be need to accompany the skirt.  

Three attempts were made with pantyhose. My first observation was that I am not a limber as I once was.  Rip-rip and 2 new, just out of the box, hose were rendered landfill. Number three, also new, I got on, but quickly noticed that due to age, the waistband was stretched and falling apart.  How long had I had them - last century? 

Plan B - Thigh Highs.  I did have a color acceptable and there was some sticky stuff left at the top to hold them up. Pull-pull and my legs looked acceptable for an evening out. 

I was running early so stopped in at the Palm Beach Starbucks for a hot tea.  After, sill with a few minutes to spare, I walked and window shopped on Worth Avenue. When I returned to the car I noticed one of the thigh high stocking had slipped to just above the knee. I  am sure that after a few more steps it would have been sitting, like a bunched up sock, mid-ankle. Remember leg warmers? The sticky stuff had failed me. I took both off in the car and went bare legged. 

Maybe again in my lifetime there may be a need for leg cover. So the engineer in me came up with a plan - Be it ever so old-fashion.  Amazon has  Vintage Wide Straps Metal Clips Garter Belts for Stockings.  Being the good "Boy Scout", I was, I am prepared.    

Vintage Clip Garter Belts





 


  

Monday, February 7, 2022

Feminine Differential - 25 Types of High Heels


The Ultimate Guide



From Clickless:  Whether you've just started working in a shoe department and want to be able to talk the lingo, or you've recently gotten really into fashion [shoes], knowing your shoe definitions is a useful skill. When it comes to high heeled shoes, we have a special place in our hearts. So we've decided to create the ultimate list of types of heels. Some of these have gone out of style but with the cyclical fashion industry, we won't be surprised if they make a comeback soon. Without further ado, we give you 25 heel types. 


My Note:  Oh what a wonderful world of foot wear we are ensnare into. Try and guess before looking at the name.  Remember, these are just high heels and there can be combinations therein. Like "Platform Boots" or "Sling Back Wedge Espadrille".  Personally I am not even sure this is all of the basics; "Bedroom Slide Heels" are missing. 

Think you could ace the quiz? Enjoy.



  1. Kitten Heels
  2. Pumps
  3. Stilettos
  4. Ankle Strap Heels
  5. Wedge Heels
  6. Wedge Sandals
  7. Cone Heels
  8. Sling Back Heels
  9. Platform Heels
  10. High Heel Sandals
  11. Peep Toe Heels
  12. Cork High Heels
  13. High Heeled Boots
  14. Ankle Booties
  15. Spool Heels
  16. Mules
  17. Ballroom Dance Shoes
  18. Cut Out Heels
  19. Corset Heels
  20. French Heels
  21. Oxfords
  22. Chunky Heels
  23. Comma Heels
  24. Espadrille Heels
  25. Fantasy Heels (AKA Stripper Heels)