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Saturday, October 10, 2026

Friday, October 9, 2026

Holiday Working / Retail


Card Shopping
I love working during the holidays. Nothing epitomizes the season better than retail. 

Most customers are purchasing gifts, and there is far less mission shopping.  The customer, in general, seem happy and where I worked many of the purchase were self-gifts; lingerie. 

Although there would be the brave men that would drop in. We carried a few "trashy" items that when purchased by husbands, would surely be returned. "Would you like a gift receipt", was always the ask. 

I have not worked since January and got a text from a former workmate, to check out working at a mall gift/card store with her. She was always fun to work with. The store is beautiful and holiday / gift centric.

There were parts of working at the lingerie store that were difficult. You would fit a customer and arguments would pursue with them insisting they were smaller/larger. At times leaving with an ill-fitting bra.  If that is what the customer wanted...       

I have gone through orientation at the card store and this time only part-time / oncall / a few days a week. Eight hour days on my feet are not what my Doctor though best. As the holidays get close I am sure I will be busy. Busy is good thing because it makes the time go fast. 

Many stores are desperate for help. So why not give it a try. The socialization is a fun "ESCAPE".  


 My new store is directly across from previous Soma store

________________

Personal note: On the 20 million views - I would like to thank the two that acknowledged the accomplishment and effort.  

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

My Blog - 20 Million Views

 


The "Because I Love Being A Girl" was my first post. I still feel the same. It was July 16, 2015, and 11 years later, 20 million views has happened. When I first put up that post, I was not sure there would be more. Now 4,121 post later, it has been so helpful for me to express myself and maybe helpful to you, my readers.  

Most importantly, I hope you have been motivated to "ESCAPE". 

Thank you my loyal readers for the comments, support and encouragement.  





Monday, October 5, 2026

Photo From Reunion Dinner / Party

 Much more to come...

A Happy Girl 

This was from the Reunion Dinner Saturday Night.  About 120 in attendance and 88 casemates. 

I did the whole drive back in one shot; almost 13 hours on the road. I hit some really bad driving through a huge rain storm north of Jacksonville that added almost another hour.    

Over the next few day I will post more photos and relate how much fun Tommy had, "being accepted".  A girlfriend took this photo. Thank you so much MJ for sharing it.   

Stay tuned - Maybe even a ghost story...

Friday, September 25, 2026

60th High School Reunion

 I Will Not Be Invisible!



Coming up the first weekend in October is my 60th High School Reunion. We are calling it:

60 Years later, Together Again, One Last Time - Maybe...

This is not my first reunion outing as Rhonda, having attended several before. My High School was a central high school located in a rural county with a fairly large graduation class of over 200. Amazingly we have kept reunions going, now with a dwelling group with this maybe the last.  

Photo from our last 
"75th Birthday Reunion"

I, as Rhonda, "Tommy" as everyone knows me, have been treated as any other classmate; no drama, no embarrassment. Attending I see as an opportunity to be visible to a group that might not ever see or meet another transgender person. There have been good conversation and even the unexpected / appreciated hugs.   

There are several events leading up to a big party at the local country club Saturday evening. There is a cocktail reception on Thursday evening for the early arrivals, a meet-and-greet at a local restaurant Friday evening and the big party Saturday. One event I am so looking forward to is a tour of our, still there, High School (now a junior high school); memories.

What to wear is always the delima. Although casual is listed as the dress of the evening, I do have a standard now to maintain.  I am thinking the above dress with accessories. If ever a time to wear the Rolex and diamonds, now is it. I am still working on the other outfits. 

Being back in my old hometown is always a rich memory and emotional experience. One new addition in town is a Saturday, Farmers Market. I am hoping for a cool morning, sweater weather to attend. If cool, that will be a break for my Florida, still summer.    

I may post other outfits as the time gets closer and I start to pack. I am so looking forward to my time walking this memory lane.

Promise, I will post photos of the events.  If ever you have the opportunity to attend your reunion, do not hesitate. Be visible! 

Here is a blog post from my first "Rhonda" 50th reunion, 10 years ago. 

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Jeans With Heels Are Back

 I never knew they went away!



Story by Tatjana Freund
Sep 9, 2026





It’s a fact that some of the best fashion trends come from unexpected combinations, like cropped jackets and trench coats, wedges and sneakers, or acid wash jeans and 2026. But from these pairings, we’ve gotten some unexpected wins. It seems that the latest combo that we can’t get enough of comes from merging our capsule closet and black-tie favorites: jeans and heels.

It might feel unnatural to pair your favorite baggy denim with your go-to stilettos, but there are plenty of ways to style this look without feeling overdone—or, conversely, underdressed. This spring, we’re seeing a multitude of ways to put these two staples together, whether you want to just catch a glimpse of a pointed-toe emerging from beneath a hemline or you want to wear your steepest heels with your most comfortable jeans. To give you some ideas, we found five undoubtedly cool ways to style jeans and heels together.

Stilettos might feel like red carpet-only footwear, but with the right pairing, they can be your new go-to for every event. To pull off high heels without feeling overdressed, pair them with wardrobe staples like dark-wash jeans to help mellow out the look. But if you want to keep some pizazz, opt for bold accessories and prints, like jewel-toned blues and leopard, so you don’t veer too far into the “everyday” category.

Stilettos might feel like red carpet-only footwear, but with the right pairing, they can be your new go-to for every event. To pull off high heels without feeling overdressed, pair them with wardrobe staples like dark-wash jeans to help mellow out the look. But if you want to keep some pizazz, opt for bold accessories and prints, like jewel-toned blues and leopard, so you don’t veer too far into the “everyday” category.

With the resurgence of pointed-toe heels, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the tips of your shoes peep out from beneath your hem. While you won’t get the full effect of seeing your favorite pair of slingbacks, this does add a chic element to even the most standard outfits. Of course, if you do want to attract extra attention, a pair of jeans with funky detailing or a bold pair of ’70s-inspired sunglasses do the trick.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

How to...

Become An Elegant Lady


Elegance isn’t about wealth, trends, or trying to impress others—it’s about cultivating grace, refinement, and confidence in how you live, present yourself, and interact with the world. Becoming an elegant lady is a journey of self-awareness and intentional habits that influence everything from posture and wardrobe to how you speak and treat others.

Here are detailed, practical ways to embody elegance every day:

Read all 10 - I especially like #10.

10. Live with Intention

At its core, elegance is about intentional living. This means slowing down, choosing quality over quantity, and aligning your daily habits with the values you hold dear. Make time for rituals: preparing tea properly, writing in a journal, lighting a candle at dinner, or enjoying a walk in nature. These simple, intentional choices transform ordinary routines into elegant experiences.

When you live with intention, people notice your presence. You become someone who moves with purpose rather than drifting aimlessly—and that’s the essence of true elegance.

Final Thoughts

Becoming an elegant lady is not about perfection, wealth, or appearances—it’s about cultivating habits of grace, refinement, and purpose. It’s in how you carry yourself, how you speak, how you dress, and how you treat others. Elegance is a lifestyle, not a costume—it grows with practice, consistency, and mindfulness.

When you embody elegance, you not only elevate yourself but also inspire those around you. It’s a quiet power, a timeless quality, and a way of life that never goes out of style.


Monday, September 21, 2026

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Friday, September 18, 2026

A Casual Nautical Look


 This and other stripe T-shirts are everywhere.  A look that never goes out of style; season-to-season. My favorite is in a bit more of scoop neck. However, it is flattering in almost all styles.  Blue or white strip are equally a great look. 

High rise and wide leg jeans are everywher this season.  

Simular pants are Amazon's Wide Leg Pants for Women Business Casual Sailor Dress Pants. 



The jeans that I have are at least a decade old from Raplh Lauren and I have the a matching jeans skirt.  See, style do come back.

Either the nautical skirt or jeans would look great with this Lauren (this season) graphic tee.   

Can we meet you at your yatch?  

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Monday, September 14, 2026

Do men wear bras?

 

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A bra is primarily a function garment (even if the Victoria's Secret shows and ads might give the impression their main purpose is to be alluring). A Bra supports the breasts and distributes their weight to other areas such as shoulder or the neck. Each breast weighs on average 1.1 Kg so you can imagine what it feel like to have 2 blocks of a kilogram each attached to your torso 24/7! Thus the primary function of the bra is to support the breasts and prevent discomfort.

Now some men have excess fatty tissue on their chest which is very similar to breasts - it is colloquially called man-boobs and is actually a medical condition called gynecomastia. Some studies say it affects almost half the male population to some extent - it is often caused by hormonal issues. Just as in females, this excess weight can get very painful and lead to discomfort in other areas like the neck.

In such a situation it is not only ok but advisable for the guy to wear a bra. This is a physiological situation that would ask for a man to wear a bra.

In addition, there are other situations like men who who identify psychologically as females and feel locked in a male body - they often wear bras (concealed) as it allows them to connect with their real self and provide relief from the stress of not being themselves.


_________________



I am going to give this bra a try.  Like I need another bra? Amazon: COCOMARTS Jelly Bras for Women No Underwire Scalloped Wireless Push Up Bra. I like the look and will let you know how the "gel pads provide support and a "no bra" feel.  


Saturday, September 12, 2026

Thursday, September 10, 2026

They Want Us to Dissapear

 Megyn Kelly Reveals Disgusting New Strategy For Describing Trans People


By Ron Dicker
Sep 9, 2026,


The right-wing commentator made the extreme declaration on her show.

Conservative chat host Megyn Kelly said Tuesday she will no longer use the term “trans” because it’s “fiction” ― and revealed she’ll use “gender-confused” as a substitute.

Kelly spewed her regressive take in a conversation with Victor Davis Hanson on “The Megyn Kelly Show.”

By the way, I want to say I’m done using the term trans. Done,” Kelly declared. “I will say someone is gender-confused, sometimes they genuinely are, sometimes they’re faking it, but there’s no such thing as trans. That’s not a thing. You can’t transition your gender. We’ve been engaging in this fiction for too long.”

It wasn’t so long ago that Kelly appeared to support the transgender community.

Mediaite cited a 2018 episode of NBC’s “Today” when the former Fox News personality hosted a segment about support and acceptance for “transgender kids.”

“The people on stage with me are all transgender kids who want others to know it is possible to transition socially with love and support and acceptance within a family and a community,” she said.

Of course things changed.

She recently used the transphobic slur “trannies” and criticized a trans character on “The Pitt” while scoffing at a scene in which a medical worker apologizes for the misgendering on her chart.

She has also spoken out against transgender women in sports.

_______________

My Note: If we are not visable, they have succeesded in turning us invisable.  Do not let hate win!


Monday, September 7, 2026

Remembering Those Who Labored on Labor Day...

 

Sixteen Tons Song by Tennessee Ernie Ford


It not all hotdogs, hambergers. Let's honor all that built America into being what it is today. Let's work to save it for our children. 

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Thursday, September 3, 2026

I Cannot Apologize...


 So True!

I am facing a family issue that is exactly this.  After all the years of passive acceptance I am facing a life-changing issue. After encouraging you to be brave and face obstacles, I now face a passive aggressive ultimatums.

I will not be a hypocrite and say one thing and then turn and be forced to do another. The untimate cost may be massive.  

Being transgender is difficult for us to justify and more difficult for family, long term, to accept and tolerate.
 
Please be patient. I may take a few days off writing while this gets sorted out.  

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

'I just want to see the person I always saw in my head'

The Story of a Face: How a trans woman found the surgery that could restore her sense of self



By Jenny Kleeman
Nover 2020


Sophia Drake
When the children at Sophia Drake’s primary school in rural Wales used to talk about what superpower they’d like, she always told them she wanted to be a shapeshifter. “But I didn’t want to be an animal. I didn’t want to be Spider-Man or Muhammad Ali, I just wanted to change into a woman.”

Drake was born biologically male. For as long as she can remember, she felt different and uncomfortable, and experimented with whatever identities and fads she could in an effort to belong. Video games saved her. When she discovered them as a child, she found she could get lost in a world where she could embody any character she liked. “They took me to places where I didn’t have all those issues and problems; I wasn’t this confused child, I could pick who I wanted to be,” she told me.

While she was growing up, Drake didn’t really know what transgender was, aside from something everyone laughed about in the playground when Nadia was on Big Brother or Chandler’s dad was on Friends. Her experiments with makeup and cross-dressing were always secret. When she left home for university, she developed an eating disorder and lost half her body weight in a year. Controlling her food intake fed the fantasy that she could finally shapeshift, after all. “It made me feel like I had power, for the first time in my life.” In 2016, she married her girlfriend, hoping the discomfort would somehow go away. It never did.
“Outwardly I was this confused, shy, reserved young adult. But internally, the person I wanted to be was very different.” She found that internal person impossible to suppress. “That was natural, that was innate, that was me. This,” – she splayed her palms across her face – “that people saw, was the mask. I didn’t want to live as a fake person.”

After she got divorced, in early 2018, Drake, now working in the games industry, was determined to transition as quickly as she could. She devoured whatever information she could find on Reddit pages such as asktransgender, transgenderuk and transtimelines, and specialist forums for trans women such as Susan’s Place. The nearest NHS gender identity clinic told her they had a two-year waiting list for an appointment. “Some people are on the waiting list for four years,” she said. “That’s a long time to ask someone to put their life on pause. The point where you get the referral – it’s taken you years, often, to get to that point.”

The same year, she found the online, private GenderGP service, and had some consultations via Skype with doctors who prescribed her hormone replacement therapy. She pays about £50 a month for her hormone treatment, and will need to continue with it for the rest of her life.

Facial surgery was only one step in a long journey for Drake. “Things will tighten up, obviously the scar will slowly reduce over time. We won’t see the full effects until next year,” she said. But the authentic Sophia Drake she is looking for in the mirror is still several procedures away. “On my face, I’m 75% there. I still have things I want to do on my body.” She nodded. “I’m planning other surgeries.”

Monday, August 31, 2026

Renée Richards Faults Herself

Finding Renée Richards

Renée Richards


A new biography published last  week, “Finding RenĂ©e Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer,” by the trans and nonbinary sportswriter Julie Kliegman, chronicles the challenges and contradictions of Richards’s life and career. 

Richards won acceptance in part because she was seen as a “one-off,” Kliegman said in an interview.

_______________

CNN: In 1977, Dr. RenĂ©e Richards — a well-regarded ophthalmologist who’d spent most of her life as a very good amateur tennis player — sued for her right to play in the US Open.

Richards had played some competitions locally and throughout the country. She had the backing of tennis great Billie Jean King. And she had a tricky left-handed serve.

But Richards was a transgender woman, the first in the sport. Some tournaments allowed her to play, and opponents dropped out in protest. Others, like the Italian Open, accepted her at first only to change their minds days before the tournament’s start. And the US Open barred her completely.

...

Think of the fact that I was born with this problem of whether I was a boy or a girl, that I was born a transgender, and what a curse that is on the person and the population. Think of how difficult it is for somebody to be transgender. I’m asking for the country to sit back for a minute and feel sorry for this little, tiny unfortunate community. It may have led to a pretty interesting life, but I would trade in a nanosecond my existence as a transgender for one who wasn’t.

It’s very difficult, and it is almost life-ending for some.

I’m on the most fortunate side of this small group. It’s a curse. I don’t want them to look at my life — where I’m comfortable and enjoying my life even into my 90s — and say that I represent what is the norm for transgenders. I don’t. I represent the abnorm. Because I’ve been able to survive, and I’ve been relatively calm and enjoying life into my elder years. That’s not the case for the majority of transgenders.


Saturday, August 29, 2026

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Dolly Parton

 

Today does not see as bright.



Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Feminine Image 9


I see this skirt everywhere.  Amazon, Temu, LightinThebox... It is so easy to match up and wear; it is pull on. Eveything else, the jeans jacket, white tee, wide belt all make for an anytime perfect day-to-night look! Why not?



 

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Escape Trepidations


A Time-Machine Ride...

Eary in my escape days I avoided the mall on days where teen girls were most likely to be in roaving packs; weekends and holidays.

Nothing good was going to happen when one of the pack spotted an inconsistancy; heels to high, makeup overdone, overdressed. Once spotted by one, the whole pack could get involved. There would be pointing, jestering, and at worst laughing. I never had this happen, but my over cautious self saw the possibility / danger. 

At our ages (not teen) we need to be ever so careful and choose wisely for the situation. I had a Talbots return this past weekend, so did push the envelope. I wore, very trendy, wide leg jeans from Loft, a peasant blouse and ballet flats.

When I tried on the jeans at Loft a few weeks earlier, I was transported back 60 years to time where tie-dye tops and "bell bottom jeans" ruled. Remember those? I started hummping a song from 1967 - "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie.

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San FranciscoYou're gonna meet some gentle people there...

 

So my time-machine trip did not garner any unwanted attention and I ask a fellow shopper to take my photo. She wanted to know where I got the cute ballet flats - validation. 

Reddit on how to wear big jeans:  To style big jeans like a teen girl, balance the loose fit with tight or cropped tops, add cute shoes like ballet flats or sneakers, and finish the look with fun, casual accessories.

What is going-to-be your time-machine outfit? Are you ready to give up your Escape Trepidations. 






Scott Mckenzie - San Francisco (Official HD Video)






Monday, August 24, 2026

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Your Seventies...


What are you waiting for?