1.17.06

Last night Felicity Huffman [Desparate Housewives], who starred as a pre-op MTF transsexual in TRANSAMERICA, won a Golden Globe award for best actress and Brokeback Mountain won best picture! A double whammy for gay and trans films! On Sunday [01.16.07] Felicity Huffman was on 60 Minutes. I was impressed with her honesty, forthrightness and the research she put into the role, including going to support groups and learning about SRS and it came through in her performance.

Only part of Huffmans's 60 Minutes interview was on TRANSAMERICA. At first this annoyed me, then I realized something. We are becoming mainstream enough that a 60 Minutes segment didn't focus totally on TG issues; it was just part of Ms. Huffman's acting career.

8.28.05

Spent the last five days at a ranch in Estacada, OR with hot tub, horses, three dogs, satellite TV with about a zillion channels and enough food to last through two nuclear winters. I'm not kidding. They had two large refrigerators packed with food and a walk-in food closet, about 12' x 5', jammed with more food, mostly canned, than some small grocery stores. Laurie was housesitting and invited me to come along. Living in the city, it was a needed break to get out to the country, relax, stuff myself with great food and soak in a hot tub. One night a couple friends came over, the liquor started flowing and inhibitions went out the window. At one point, I heard giggling coming from the master bedroom. My curiosity got the best of me and I went to find out what was going on and joined them . . .

3.06.05

FreeGeek is a nonprofit that recycles old computers. I'm did their Adopt-a-computer program where you volunteer 24 hrs. and they give you a refurbished puter loaded with Linux. I tested monitors, CD drives, speakers and worked in the recycling department, where they dismantle computers for recycling. It was fun getting my frustrations out tearing apart computers! They sell or recycle over 99% of everything salvaged. I think it's a great idea. Every community should have a FreeGeek!

5.31.03

I'm happy to report I continue to physically change after SRS two years ago. It's hard to pin down exactly what's changed, when I look at myself in a mirror I appear a little more feminine overall. It appears my upper body has become slightly smaller (I measured my waist and it's an inch smaller, down to 29"). I'm still savoring the feeling of having a vagina—not something dangling between my legs—the confidence it brings and clothes fitting like they're supposed to. I've resumed writing my autobiography. I'll get it done eventually!

7.1.03

I got mistaken for a hooker, again! This is the third time! I was walking on a sidewalk in broad daylight (though the street is known for hookers) and heard someone honking. I turned to see an old geezer in a car, probably in his 60s, gesturing to me to come over. Sooo, I kept on walking only to see him pull into a parking lot in front of me. I ignored him and kept on going. What was I wearing? Just an old pair of shorts and a cropped t-shirt - maybe it was my long legs.

10.1.03

I started acting lessons! The first class was free and I, expecting an introductory class, was surprised when the instructor had us cold reading* in front of a camera and lights! Apparently, I have talent and after only five classes was asked to audition in a showcase, which is like a regular audition with an audience. Boy, was I nervous! The instructor said I did well considering I'm just starting and chose a difficult monologue.

Besides the fun of learning something new and challenging, I've found my fellow actors to be some of the nicest people I've met. Though I started late in life there are still opportunities for extras, bit parts, commercials. Who knows, even a movie! If you've thought about becoming an actor then definitely try it! The younger you are the better, but actors are needed in all age ranges and the possibility of making big bucks is definitely there!

*Cold reading is being handed a script, given 10 minutes to familiarize yourself with it, then doing your lines!

10.21.03

Got my first acting gig! A haunted house. Before you laugh, this wasn't any haunted house. It was the Z100 House of a Thousand Screams, the premier haunted house in Portland! They had professional makeup artists, snacks; the haunted houses had all kinds of cool special effects and there were two huge sections each with its own admission! The makeup was a process in itself! Each night I was given a different scary face and some nights I had to wear latex. First they put some smelly glue on your face and while it's drying you mix powdered latex with warm water. When it starts to set it's put on with a popsicle stick. It's warm and gooey and felt weird! Once it's dry your face is air-brushed by the makeup artists.

I almost lost my voice the first night from screaming until I figured out how to yell without tearing up my throat! "Shower Lady" was my nickname, because one of my locations was a shower where I jumped out from behind a curtain. Some of the people's reactions were priceless, especially the children! One sweet little girl didn't even flinch and said, "I'm sorry, you were taking a shower." What a cutie!

Some nights I couldn't get all my makeup off before leaving (damn latex is hard to remove!) and got some weird looks on the bus rides home (wtf, it's Halloween!). Afterwards, we had a post-haunted house party with all the pizza and soda we could eat plus door prizes. Besides getting paid and earning free acting lessons, I won two music CD's and a cool black t-shirt!

6.24.04

You never know what will liven up your day. I was standing at a street car stop when I heard a guy yelling, "Hey, give me that back! That guy took my laptop!" Trotting to where the ruckus was coming from, I saw a dude running with a black cloth bag and the owner ten yards behind in pursuit! I watched what direction the thief was going as he disappeared from view behind the buildings a block away and paralleled him. When I reached the other end of the block he was headed right towards me! I got a good look at him and when he ran past I took off after him! I'd not gone 10 or 15 feet when he drops the laptop on the sidewalk and hightails it otta there! A few seconds later the owner comes running around and retrieves his computer. I felt like I should've been wearing a badge and gun! Bad girls . . . bad girls . . .

7.27.04

I met a pre-op MTF through this website, have been giving her help and advice and in return she's been taking me on trips! Our first one was to Dallas, TX for her round of marathon electrolysis with E-2000, where two technicians work on you for up to 8 hours! Ouch! We stayed at a nice hotel with a frig, micro, movies and we didn't hesitate calling room service! Among the sights we saw was the History of Women museum. Many of these women have been deliberately left out of history books—we know who's fault that is and it doesn't start with a W!

One morning during breakfast the hotel manager came to our table, said he'd heard about my friend's transition and if there was anything they could do to make our stay more enjoyable just ask! I was floored!! I found Texas hospitality to be genuine and true to the saying, "Everything is bigger in Texas," meals at restaurants were huge and every place we went to gave free drink refills. I was constantly stuffed!

Our second trip was back to Dallas for more electro for her. This time we saw Ripley's Wax Museum / Believe it or Not and the Dallas Aquarium, which was awesome! I also got my first taste of Krispy Kreme donuts warm out of the fryer. Then it was up to Boston where she lives to stay a week. I saw downtown Boston, the harbor and Salem, which has been turned into one big Wiccan town!

9.11.04

Oops! I did it again! I was on a bus on my way home from hot-tubbing when this black dude gets on and there's maybe five people on the bus and, of course, he heads towards me. Luckily, my wet towel was on the seat next to me, as I could tell he was planning on sitting next to me. He takes the seat in front and keeps looking back and talking to me - actually mumbling is more descriptive. I'm relaxed and hungry (heading to the store) and not in the mood to get hit on so I said, "I don't like men, I'm lesbian." Like that stops him and he keeps yappin'. Sheesh!

Then not 15 seconds after I got off the bus, as I'm crossing a street there's a car with a middle-aged Asian man waiting at the light. He honks at me. I glance over and he gestures at me to come over. Sheesh! OK, I was on Burnside street again.

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