May 28, 1998May 28, 1998Saturday, May 16
Left Sonora 9AM and after one fuel stop and nine hours later arrived in Eugene. I'll try to skip over the unimportant things and hit only the highlights. In this case its a low light. The motel is nearly in Springfield and that's where Kathy and I ended up to get some snack stuff for the evening. Springfield was just a small sleepy town that Saturday night. Even the grocery store closed at 7. And in only a few days the town was thrown into such a national spotlight from the school shooting there. When I heard the news later that week, I was shocked to think something could happen there like that. But enough of the sad and on with the trip.
Sunday, May 17
On my new GPS gadget, I totaled the distance from Eugene to Port Angeles and decided it could be made non stop in my car. Of course the GPS is for aviation and measures distances as great circles between two points on a sphere. I had put in extra waypoints of the actual towns along the route in order to more realistically approximate the highway system. And having done all this, the GPS calculated the distance as within a tank of gas in the 280Z. The thought occurred to me Saturday night to finish the drive enfemme Sunday to Port Angeles. So come Sunday morning I put on my red knit dress, black 4" heels, tiny black purse, and blonde want to be wig. I cleverly decide Kathy and I should match outfits and she agrees to the same outfit. Now the distance and mileage would be close so I even topped off the tank in drab Sunday before changing. Managed to squeeze in 75 cents more gas. In these calculations every drop is counted. But I figured I had 40 miles extra for twists in the road and so should be no problem. The drive up enfemme was relaxing and fun even with the rain I encountered every mile of the way. Everything worked as predicted along I-5 and took about 3 hours to drive from Eugene to Olympia, where you turn onto the Olympic peninsula. This is where my GPS failed me; the sign read 130 miles to Port Angeles and I only had about 80 mile range left in the tank. So it was clear either I would stop and pump gas in high heels or hitchhike in heels. I opted for gassing the car. This was my first time pumping gas enfemme. And as I found out during the next week, but only one of a number of firsts for Barbie.
Well the idea of actually pulling into a gas station enfemme had me terrified. I had Kathy get out all of her gas credit cards plus some cash, just in case. I spot a freeway sign indicating gas service at the next exit and decide to take it. Pull off the highway and no gas station at the exit. Just a long narrow road twisting off to the right. A sign indicates the town of Shelton is 2 miles down this road. Oh no. Now I will be pumping gas in a dress in the center of a town instead of the off ramp station I envisioned. My heart is beginning to race like the first time I stepped into my own backyard enfemme 9 months or so ago. I see the station sitting across the intersection from the light I'm stopped at. All the islands are full but one. I decide that one is mine. The light changes and I pull across and into the station. Now I see why the one island is empty, its the full serve. Oh great, backup, look around and find a empty pump on the other side. Drive up, not thinking the fuel lid is on the other side. Good thing I was wearing that blonde want to be wig, if my appearance was passable enough. I probably looked like some dumb blonde valley girl, not knowing diddle about cars. Anyway Kathy was dying for a soft drink, and as soon as I parked made a rapid departure for the minimart with the cash to buy a Pepsi.
So now I'm deserted; I get out, put her card into the pump and nothing happens. Try again and again nothing. The LCD display is trying to say something but is nearly unreadable. Finally it occurs to me to lower my Polaroid sunglasses to read the message. It is rejecting her card because it timed out in May. Wonderful, and she has run off with the cash to buy that Pepsi. Now what? I figure to try my gas card. But my purse is gone. I put it behind my seat and its not there. The panic is beginning to really take hold now. Kathy is always moving things; so I get halfway back into the car looking for it. The back of the 280Z is stuffed with luggage, so I just move some of the things at the top of the stack, figuring she wouldn't go to the bother of burying my purse very deep. Well its not in the back. I start looking in the front and spot it on her side in the leg tunnel. I reach over, stretch as far as I can, but can't get it. Look around and spot a ball point pen in the console that just might enable reaching the handle. It does and finally I retrieve the purse, open it and pull out the credit car. Pay at the pump is going to be my salvation in this ordeal. So I go to get out and something has hold of me. I can't get out of the car!! I can't get in the car!! I'm stuck half way in and half way out. I look around to see what the problem is and discover a carter key on the side of my seat has gotten stuck through the fabric of the knit dress.
Kathy and her Pepsi, why isn't she here to help? Another minute fitzing with that. Why oh why did I drive up here in a dress anyway? Finally I get it worked out of the dress and take the car keys and bend the thing over so it won't get me again. I get out, slide my card into the gas pump reader and it is accepted. That's when I notice the filler is on the other side. Oh well maybe the hose will reach if I lay it on the back of the car. But fighting one of those hose retractors in 4" heels isn't much fun either. I stick the nozzle in and start pumping. My heart was probably pumping faster than it by this time. I turn my back to everyone in the station and just look at the digital segments flip over, hoping to look nonchalant. Finally the tank is topped, I rehang the nozzle and wait for the receipt to be printed. I get back inside the 280Z and Kathy comes up with her Pepsi. Poor girl doesn't have a clue to why I'm so upset. But now my first gas pump experience is over, except for telling Kathy to never do that to me again. She hangs her head, but I think I detected a snicker. I drive back the road to the highway and pull on as the sign indicates towards Port Angeles. I drive along and after a mile or so start to notice I've been here before. The north ramp puts you on the highway going south. I turn around at the first light and drove back north. I looked for a north on ramp, but apparently the south maneuver and U turn is how it works. Oh well, I have a full tank of gas. Big first number one: Gassing the car enfemme.
The Olympic peninsula is beautiful and thankfully the rain has let up enough to allow some scenic views. Also I see now, why the GPS gave the answer it did. The road is full of turns around the bays and inlets. It just swings and sways its way along the sound. The views are magnificent, we even got a brief glance of the Olympic mountains. They soar to nearly 8000 feet and are still snow capped. I don't know what Esprit will be like, but it appears they chose a beautiful area for it. The ground is covered in beautiful golden rods that fill any open space between the pine trees. Little towns and fishing villages dot the side of the road. If only the weather was better it would be glorious.
The 130 mile drive takes nearly another 3 hours, but eventually I get to Port Angeles. My trusty little GPS is clicking away now that we are on the straight line approach. I drive into the hotel, but even though they know who I am and why I'm here. I was too embarrassed to get out of the car enfemme and register. I ask Kathy to register us. She jumps at this chance to make up for my gas station problem. The hotel looks to be the best in town; it is right on the breakwater. Our room turns out to be the higher price one with the view of the sound. After seeing what an extra 10 dollars a day buys, I vow I will get the better room on future visits. The room had two beds, two sinks, twice the closet space, twice the sitting, and a patio door opening onto a lawn and public walkway along the waterfront. The cheaper rooms had only one sink, one bed and no view, just the parking lot.
Karennot and Pat arrived about the same time as we did and after unloading the car, the four of us get in Karen's car for some sightseeing. First a drive into the National Park, but the weather is so bad that as I drive up to the scenic Hurricane Ridge lookout point; we just have fog and rain and no view. So we turn around and head back for another spot in the park. Beautiful area, lush and green and dripping wet from the rain. But the rain does let up and we drive along the coast towards the furthest village on the peninsula. Amazingly we gobble up 50 miles just getting to it. There's no doubt about the location being beautiful, but this El Nino thing is really getting me vexed. By the time we get back to the hotel, we sit around in our room and finish off some wine, cheese, and crackers and finalize our plans for Monday. Karennot & Pat's plan is to visit Seattle. Kathy and mine is to stay in Port Angeles and sight see with me enfemme. Big jump for a girl that couldn't pump gas or register the day before. But that is what I'm here for. To dress up and be out. One of Karen's ideas is that the three of us (Karen , Kathy & me) try doing a Supreme's number since the three of us had matching red knit dresses from the trip to the outlet store in Petaluma a month or so ago. The only bugaboo was that Kathy and I had matching gold belts and Karen didn't. We promised to get one for her at WalMart Monday, if they had it.
Monday, May 18
Thanks to my big sister Laurie, I had made Monday morning 9:30 appointments at the Hair School for acrylic nails for Kathy and me. Kathy and I were off early and had nearly half a hour before our appointment to kill. So we decide to hit WalMart and look for that gold belt for Karen. So this was my second big first: Walking into and shopping enfemme in WalMart. Recorded the big moment on film. Found a belt, went through the check out lines and walked back to the car, with Kathy at my side. Then drove back the couple blocks to the Hair School. The school had two students that know about nails, Mikela & Kirsten, so Kathy and I sat side by side getting them done. Kathy's manicurist preferred doing tips while mine was better at building up and shaping the powder. I once bought an acrylic nail kit, but after reading the instructions, decided I best wait and see how its done. The process took 2 1/2 hours of pampering, filing, shaping, and painting. First you go wash your nails with a special soap and brush. The top of the nail is completely roughed up to maximize adhesion, and the finger tips sanitized to prevent fungus infections under the acrylic. The power base of white is applied over a metal form stuck beneath the real nail for shape. The powder and solvent is then built up and out in white. A pink layer is applied over the real nail and blended over the white tip. By the time the acrylic is done the nails look good in their own right with French tips as permanent coloring. Then the painting was done; a base coat, two color coats and a clear top coat. Any excess color on the finger is removed, something I rarely do when doing my nails. Really labor intensive. I opted for nice long nails like I have fantasized about for years. Somewhere from 1/4 to 5/16" long and with an oval shape. Big first number three: Having acrylic nails. Like many things during this experience at Esprit the fantasy and real life are two different things. And the fantasy loses.
After the nails, back to the hotel and walk around out to the pier for some enfemme photos, also walked over to the ferry boat building to check on schedules to Victoria. There I am walking out in public in a dress and heels and no one seems to notice or care. Well everyone says the town of Port Angeles is TG friendly because of the money from Esprit. I doubt this myself, Esprit is only 4 days long. the year has 361 more days in it. Its afternoon by now and Kathy is ready for lunch. We walked about town a little, but decide walking very far in heels can be a pain, so we walk back to the car and drive looking for a spot to eat. We find a little Mexican restaurant (El Amigo). 
Park and walk in. Get seated and order a tostada and naturally take more pictures. So now with a couple rolls of film to be developed, we head back over to WalMart and the 1 hour photo service. But on the way is a Payless shoe store. I have to try on some heels in the store and not feel guilty about it. So we stop and walk in. Try on a few pair and decide that the size that fits best is a 10W, not the 11's I tried first. They are having a sale, second pair for 1/2 price. So Kathy gets a dress pair in black and I get the pair in white. So big first number four: Trying on heels in a dress. Then on over to WalMart and drop the film of these firsts off. The theater in town only has two showings per day. A matinee around 5 and evening show around 7, depending on the run time of the feature. They have a number of screens and I decide to watch "Deep Impact" at the matinee. I drove over to the theater to check the times and discovered the parking lot has a way in and no way out. But a little exploring revealed the round about path out of the complex. Instead of the obvious right turn to get to the highway a left turn is required and a 1 mile u turn. I later confirmed this when the movie was over. The photos should be ready, so back to WalMart. Kathy is a bit tired and stays in the car. I go in and pick up the photos. They offer me to check the prints before buying, I'm still nervous being there in a dress so I rapidly scan the contents to confirm they are mine, pay for it in cash and exit. On the way out a couple of guys follow me out and make rude comments. I keep going, but it has unnerved me and decide a nap back in the hotel until movie time sounds like a cure. Just after we get into the room a knock at the door. Its Anna, the chairperson for Esprit. She's found out we are already there and wants to talk for a while.
So a short talk and an hour nap and its time to try the movie complex. When I had been there earlier it was deserted, but now the matinees are showing and there is a line of people buying tickets. I wait in the car waiting until the line got short and then walked on over. Kathy tells me I got stares, but no one said anything. We walked on in; found the second line inside for the right show and finally were seated. The show was OK, but to me the entertainment was being in a dress in a movie. Big first number five. After the movie I wanted to go shopping in the Safeway for some snack stuff for the evening. But frankly, by this time, my limit on exposing Barbie to the public had been reached. Kathy must have sensed my thoughts, and asked if I could just drop her at the store and she would get the stuff. I eagerly agreed. But as you know just sitting in a car and doing nothing seems to attract attention from passers by. I thought of my pen pal, Gwen, and said what would she do? Makeup! Got out the compact and powdered my nose. Got out the lipstick and touched them up. This didn't take long, now what? Oh yes, still had the photos, excellent opportunity to really look them over. Kathy finally emerges with bags of groceries, what a doll she is. So back to the hotel and some wine and cold cuts for dinner. Karen & Pat are still out, so I left a message about the ferry boats and what time we had to be ready. The first boat to Victoria is at 8:20. We would need to walk over, buy the tickets; and most importantly get a good close shave. I had decided to go ahead and do Victoria enfemme. I had asked my big sister about any problems doing that and she said no. Also asked the chairperson, Anna, and she said just make certain to have real ID; but otherwise no problem.
Tuesday, May 19
Days start early in the north. Morning twilight around quarter to five. Since we have such a nice view, I have opted to leave the drapes open at night. The morning dawns and the sky is beautiful. The rain has stopped. I slip on my white jeans and top and decide a jog down the walk sounds like an excellent way to start the day. It doesn't take too much distance before the failure of exercise bikes is visible. I'm not in condition for a good jog, but continue until I'm winded and head back to the room. I promise myself; I will jog every morning if the weather is nice. So back to the room; start the in room coffee service, and into the shower for a daily body shave. I know I'm planning to wear jeans and a long sleeve turtle neck top like I jogged in. But somehow I know I will feel better about myself shaving even where these clothes will cover. I let Kathy sleep in. She doesn't have all the work to get ready that I must undergo. And besides there's only one shower and I want it! After the close face shave and light makeup, I'm trying to blend in not stand out. I get Kathy coffee and English muffin. We dress, confirm ID's and head over to the ferry building.
I'm wearing walking shoes. Even I can admit they are more comfortable than the heels I walked over in the previous day. One day I tried on my 4" black heels and stepped onto the patio deck from our room. Two steps and the deck had me. My heel was wedged down between two boards. Good thing it wasn't a strap on or I may still be there. But I slipped it off and worked the heel back and forth until getting it free. I brought 3 pair of 5" stiletto heels and 2 pair of 4" stiletto heels and 1 pair of 2" broad heels. I bought a white pair the one day and decided I liked them and needed another pair in black. In the few hundred steps I took in my 4" heels on the corridor and in the parking lot coming back; I decided 4" heels and higher are wonderful in a fantasy world of a CD'er who never goes further than the bedroom to living room. But in the real world, shorter and broader heels make much more sense. I never even put my 5" heels on during the time there.
I let Kathy handle the buying of the ferry boat tickets, I ask when we can board the vessel. At eight. Karennot and Pat are nowhere to be seen, so we head to the waiting room; thinking they may be there. Not to be seen anywhere. We have a seat and I try to look invisible, but just know everyone must be looking at me. Near eight and the line starts to cue up. By this time a class of 6-8th graders is in line for some field trip or something. My heart sinks, remembering the fun time I had in Las Vegas with the kids in the casino. But thankfully the kids are so wrapped up in themselves, that I was invisible to them. Finally the boat starts to board, I decide to wait and look for Karennot & Pat. If they are coming they must pass here. Finally we spot them in line and jump into the line with them. We board the boat and head to the top deck for the view. Nice sunny day with a few white puffy clouds, but calm and comfortable. Finally the ship's whistle blows and we are underway. The screws on the boat must be really out of whack, bad vibration compared to the Navy ships I was on. But even with out of balance propellers, the boat moves along at 15 knots. So number six: International sea cruise.
The top deck was nice, until we started moving, then the breeze starting cutting through my top and I elected to move first into the wind protected area on the top deck and then into the main indoor seating area. My plan of attack for this trip to Victoria was not to have much to drink for breakfast and not to need to go to a bathroom enfemme. So far so good. The cruise across is 95 minutes. By the time we reach Victoria the temperature has cooled, and I know one of the first things I plan to do is look for a souvenir shop and get a sweatshirt or something. Kathy had wisely brought a jacket for herself, but was cold even with it. By the time we going through customs, my teeth would chatter everytime the sun disappeared behind one of those little white puffy clouds. So number seven: Going through customs. The inspectors want to know if I have any fruits, firearms, or drugs; but seem to care less about how I'm dressed, than I do. And I had to show them my California Barbienot driver's licence.
Through customs and we head to the information headquarters, find out the times and prices to Butchart Gardens and where to change currency. Then into a shop for some warm clothes. Wow the prices are high! But the US dollarbuys 1.38 Candian dollars, so it isn't that bad. I didn't bring enough cash and have to pay with plastic. So number eight: Using plastic enfemme with Barbienot's signature. The clerk either has seen it all before or don't care. I was worried so much about having to prove I wasn't forging a name to a stolen card. But no problem. We decide to take the next bus to the gardens and then shop around at the waterfront more on returning, before the final ferry in the evening. We have some time to kill and wander around the streets and sidewalks, in and out of shops. In Port Angeles, I knew Esprit was theorized as keeping the townsfolk pleasant. But here in Victoria, they got no such reward. Yet no one seemed to stare, giggle or anything. I was amazed.
The bus arrived and we boarded, dropping the exact Canadian change into the box. Some poor American offered US cash. The driver happily took his $10 and dropped in the Canadian for 7 US bucks. Good profit from these dumb Americans. So number nine: Taking a public transit bus enfemme. A few looks, but nothing said. I was having a wonderful time and was having my eyes opened to how people seemed to react to TG's. 30-45 minutes to the garden and again pay with plastic. No one really cares how you are dressed as long as the money is good. We, by this time, are getting hungry. Kathy spots a dining room. We go in, wait to be seated, and flash a few more pictures of Barbie's time enfemme. By the time we are seated, I know my plan to not use the ladies' restroom is doomed to failure. This had been my biggest concern, but had already decided that if I could not hold it; I would use the restroom for which I was dressed. I asked Kathy to accompany me, for both moral support and to stand guard and run interference or what ever. Butchart Gardens Dining room is rather fancy and the ladies' restroom is to. Almost wished to be able to compare the men's to see if it was as nice. But ladies must not venture into the men's room. Who knows what they'd see. Number ten: Using the ladies room.
A self guided tour through the grounds. Again a few looks, but no stares, and definitely no rude comments. And these people weren't being nice because of cash; they were other tourists almost like me. After the walk through, Kathy and I took a seat to listen to the 2:30 jazz band. But by 3, we had to get going to catch a bus back. The last ferry was about 7:30, so we still had nearly four hours to wander around and see Parliament and go through the Embassy Hotel. We ended up walking down to the waterfront and a nearby Days Inn Hotel with a sidewalk lounge. They were having a special on ribs for 40 cents. We ordered a 1/2 liter of white wine and enjoyed the ribs. Kathy enjoyed it so much; we ordered another round and by the time we got on the boat for the return, she was helping propel the boat. She was seven sheets to the wind. Number eleven: a total pleasing day enfemme in public and no one cared. So back through customs. Old hat by now. The US wanted to know if we were Canadians, we were wearing those Canadian sweatshirts. We laughed and said Canada was so cold we had to buy them. Checked driver's license's and where we were born, but absolutely no problem with the attire.
Wednesday, May 20
Well this was it, what we had really come all this way for; Esprit starts. But frankly my last two days enfemme in Port Angeles and Victoria had to be better than Esprit. My eyes had been opened by the real life experience of being enfemme. One small minute of a heckler near WalMart and 48 hours of no problem. If nothing else was to be gained, my self confidence had received one heck of a boost. Five AM and another glorious sunrise. Keeping my promise, I rolled out of bed and got Kathy up for a morning jog. I knew Kathy wasn't feeling like it, but told her she could walk and I'd just jog and orbit around her on the walk. So out and down the path. With the orbiting I definitely covered more ground than the previous morning, but a few hundred yards beyond where I turned about the previous morning; we came upon a security guard who said there as a cougar lose up ahead. Well jogging for health is one thing, being breakfast for a cat is another. We turned around a jogged back. To compensate, jogged out on the public pier and up the four flights of the lookout tower.
Having already talked to my big sister about my trip to Victoria; she decided I could be cut lose and let me continue trying my wings. So went to the registration and ID shoot. Got badges to wear for the time at Esprit, plus something I didn't really think about until I saw what they really meant. A picture ID card with my Barbie photo on it. Nothing official like a driver's license, but something you could show if asked for ID in the future. And in my humble opinion, the best ID card photo I have ever had.
In the afternoon was a class on hair and makeup. Several items that I found useful. First eye make up. On guys the eyeliner should not go to the tear duct, but only from the pupil out to the edge. This has the effect of making men's narrow set eyes look wider set and more feminine. Second, using a light concealer stick to lighten the frown lines. Doesn't make them disappear, but does help hide them. Also using brown mascara for daytime use is important instead of the black I always wore. Shara, the woman who runs the Hair School in town, proceeded to get me in front of the class and start doing color analysis on me. Turns out I'm a cool color and should avoid warm colors like yellows and blondes. Before leaving for Esprit, Kathy had left the white and yellow flower lai I bought her in Hawaii out on the dresser. I picked it up and put it around my neck. Kathy saw me and said she had a surprise for me. I had bought her a yellow Frederick's dress a few years ago. She brought it out and said, it was now mine and that I could borrow the lai to go with it. I looked at the dress and thought no way would it fit me. But Kathy insisted and pulled it onto me. I was astonished, I thought it looked good to me. I took this picture of me in it. You can see how the yellow dress and blonde hair just don't look good on me. Do they?
Since Shara knows for more about these than I, I decide to follow her recommendations. My red lipstick is too hot and should be cooler with purples in it to match my nails. I decide a trip to the cosmetic counter for some new lipstick and mascara is a good idea. And then she starts working on my wig. She brushed and combed and tugged and showed where it should be cut and styled and how it should frame the face with bangs and wisps to soften non female features. Also the idea of long dangly ear rings to help soften the jaw line is mentioned. I have been too embarrassed to get my wigs done. And even with Carla's CD salon, too busy to get them done either. But after seeing what she had done to mine, I decided I better make appointments to get the four favorite ones I had brought; cut and styled, combed and brushed out. And no time like the present; after class, into the car and drove to the shop with wigs, both mine and Kathy's in our hands ready for styling. We made appointments for noon the next day for the wigs. Also there was a photographer doing glamour shots upstairs. For 99 dollars 15 shots and you get the negatives on 120 format film. I decide both Kathy and I will need to make glamour appointments for pics after the wigs are done.
While I attended one class, Kathy would often attend another. Particularly she doesn't need instruction on walking or talking like a woman. So she was off to a class by Rick Weiss. I also sat in on several of his classes, "do tell" and "family matters" . There was no hard core do or don't, but the reasons pro & con and advantages and disadvantages. Most of the classes made you think about yourself and what you were really wanting. He comes across well, and was probably learning as much from the audience as he was informing them.
That afternoon the sky was clear and the four of us Karen, Pat, Kathy & me head up to Hurricane Ridge for a enfemme photo shoot. The drive up is glorious and only takes about 1/2 an hour. The view from the top is breathtaking. But its a good thing we weren't out of the car long, the temperature up there was in the 40's. On the way back down I wanted to stop at the shoe store and see if I could find a black pair like the white pair I had bought earlier. Besides it gave Karen a chance to buy heels enfemme also. Customers and the clerk really didn't seem to care about us being there. Maybe its because the larger women's shoes are not where most GG's sizes are. I know Kathy was in a different aisle from me. After purchasing the heels, down to WalMart for the four of us. While Karen and Pat looked at hats, I decided to do some lingerie shopping. I have lots of lingerie, but in shopping in drab would always let Kathy actually pick the items from the racks. I couldn't be allowed to be seen touching fine women's underwear in the store. So over to the bras and panties. I picked out a matching set in black and similar in style to several other colors I have. Number twelve: Buying lingerie enfemme.
Thursday, May 21
Class on body movement by Dominque, most you probably already know, but to see it played out and spelled out seems to help me get the idea better. By this time I was becoming more confident in my walk. And found myself avoiding the long corridor and looking for excuses to exit the hotel and strut my stuff down the parking lot for all to see. I don't know if the planners deliberately put classes at the far ends of the hotel, but if they didn't; it is a good idea. The walk, either down the corridor, or out the steps and down the parking lot is a confidence builder. The hotel is probably 1/3 occupied by Esprit. The other 2/3's are just tourists, so being seen in the parking lot and holding my head high and looking and smiling really helped me. Also by this time, I knew I wanted some better styled sunglasses than the aviation macho ones I have. I made a trip to WalMart again and found the pair. And I learned how to store they on top of my hair indoors. I actually rather like the look they present over the old sunglasses hanging from my shirt neck in guy mode. Because our wig appointments are at noon we have to leave the plastic surgeon seminar before its totally over. The surgeon, Dr. Ousterhout, was from San Francisco and had a great presentation about the differences in the male and female skull structure. He showed before and after photos of what he has done. Foreheads, noses, checks, lips, jaw, chin. The cost for the works is around 27K, but if a guy really wanted to look fem he would find the money. The before and afters are quite dramatic in appearance.
Somewhere in here was a voice workshop, with Micelle Mordaunt. Most the time was spent going over how the voice is generated, but also hit on the important aspects of how it is perceived. The little upward inflections, the tag lines; "don't you think so?" and "isn't it?" are also important. During the drive back from Esprit, I spent the time while Kathy napped, reading billboards and highway signs aloud in my emerging Barbie voice. By the time we arrived back in Eugene; I was nearly ready to have a fem conversation with Karen. I discovered one problem with my voice though. Maybe they hit that problem before I got into the room. As my Barbie voice improved, my ability to do arithmetic dwindled!!
I brought 4 wigs and Kathy 3 wigs. Time wise the Hair School could only do two of mine and hers that day. The work required, took from 12 to 2:30, and was only $14 per wig. Quite a bargain. They want to style the wig with it in place on your head so you become a pampered wig stand for 2 1/2 hours. Little cuts and snips, brushing, wrapping, detangling. Seeing the difference from the one finished side to the raw side; made me a believer in styling and picking out the strands. It goes from looking like a wig to looking like hair. A daughter of one of the students/instructors at the Hair School came in wearing a bright red sequined dress. I asked where she got it. Answer, Fashion Bug store near KMart. Since Kathy was getting styled after me, I decided to head over. Walked in, asked about the red sequined dresses. All they had left were blue and none in my size, bummer. But looked around for a garden party dress for next Saturday. Found a cute one that should have been one size to big. Brought it over and asked to try it on. Was directed into the fitting room, where I discovered it in reality was one size too small. Oh well. A little more browsing and back over to pick up Kathy. After the two wigs were done, we headed over to Safeway to pick up a couple salads for lunch the next day. I think the picture shows how my look and confidence level has increased. Number thirteen: grocery shopping enfemme and the fitting room try on.
Our wigs and glamour shots are scheduled for the 5-9 o'clock time frame. Again several hours in the chair getting the wig cut and styled and brushed out. This fem stuff sure can be a full day of pampering. The stylist, Tina who is always wearing a silver tiara, asked about my natural hair. I told her it'd been 6 months since my last cut. I made another appointment for 8 Saturday morning for a cut and style for me. Kathy only had the one wig to get styled and then she was off upstairs to the photo studio. My turn came next after Terri applied makeup. I wanted an exotic look and hope the photos reflect it. We will need to bring the rolls of film down to Stockton tomorrow. I hope to have 5x5's printed by Saturday. The best ones of Kathy and me will be enlarged and hang next to the wood stove. I figure if anyone ever comes and asks who the two girls are. I'll say one is me. If they don't like it, they can leave. I should measure how big the wall is. Darn there I go sounding like Barbienot again.
Anyway my turn comes and I go upstairs. I had brought the black dress I planned to wear to the gala Saturday night. But had worn just a pair of cutoff blue jeans and black knit top and pantyhose and black heels and purse to get my wig styled and makeup applied. At the end of the studio was a bathroom to use in changing clothes. Personally I was glad to see the bathroom and after closing the door, proceeded to download coffee. Wearing jeans, I used it in guy style. And didn't think much about it. Then changed into the dress and different wig and came out. Didn't even occur to me to lower the toilet seat. I got razed for that by Shara, the owner of the shop. Since with the bathroom door open, the toilet is visible from the studio. I decided I better watch myself, and not do that no no any more. I brought two wigs and the yellow dress also for the shoot. Shara told me though that with my skin tone, the yellow just would not do. I reluctantly agreed, but insisted to get the pic in both wigs, even though she insisted the brunette one would be the best. I hope I haven't ruined some of the pics by insisting on the lighter wig. But time will tell. The photographer was good at his trade. My wedding ring tends to turn and face downwards. He noticed and made sure the diamond setting was pointing up. If the details in the pic are as good as noticing little details like that, they should be pretty good. Afterwards, I went over to look through the viewfinder and the next glamour girl. The photographer uses a soft focus filter that keeps a sharp focus yet diffuses the image a smidgen for the glamour look.
Friday, May 22
Another beautiful sunrise, I awake; but don't want to turn the lights on. So I fumble about in my drawer for something to wear jogging. I wanted a bra but found a swim suit. Since I haven't had the chance or desire to go swimming; I decide to wear the swim suit under my jeans and top. I get Kathy up and tell her to get ready. This time, there is no patrol guard warning of cougars, so I manage to orbit about Kathy all the way down the walk to the power plant fence. Maybe 3/4 mile or so. Coming back I'm feeling pretty good about my jog, until I look down and see my breasts are at my belly. Swim suit was not the thing to wear instead of a bra. And as luck would have it, the security patrol is now coming towards us. I try reaching down my front to pull them back up, but no way. I can only hope he thought I was red faced from the jog!
After returning to the room, I decide one of the things I must do is go grocery shopping solo. I figure the best way was to leave Kathy in the room and drive on over. Only needed two salads, and I know right where they were. So into the store, get a cart, and walk across the store to the deli section. Heels clicking the whole way. But only 2" heels. I find that they are just much better in walking with a more fem walk. The higher 4" heels make me take choppy type steps instead of the more fluid fem steps the 2" heels allow. No one says anything, and I breeze through and back to the parking lot. Would have wished I had a pic, but part of blending in is to blend in. Shoppers don't set up tripods and take their own pics.
Afterwards, decided to kill some time and go for a walk on the pier. A Coast Guard Cutter was tied up there; and I thought I'd look it over. They were going to have an open house the next two days, but my schedule would prevent going on board. They did have a booth and petty officer on the pier to answer questions, though. Decided to try my Barbie voice on him, asking a few airhead question about the ribbons on the side of the cutter. He didn't know, so I asked about his ribbons. Those he knew about. He didn't seem to be startled by either my appearance or voice. Walked on down to the end of the pier and found another girl, Karen. She took some pictures of Kathy and me, and Kathy took some of me, I took some of Karen. Well time to head back for class.
Classes that day CD101, put on by a panel of old timers, Anna, Harriet, & Elaine. Rather useful about restrooms, ID's, credit cards and such. I'd never thought about a Barbie credit card. Now I think its a good thing to have. And will explore methods of obtaining one. Anna gave a speech about the art of not passing. A rather touching speech that helped crystallize my desires in dressing and being seen in public.
We learned our friend Joannie, that we first met at Carla's was attending, so after the last class of the day stopped by her door to say hi. She was sharing a room with a friend, I believe her name was Vickie. Apologies if I got that wrong. Anyway they offered some margarittas. I had a glass before reading the label. It was a premix and was loaded with carbos. I let Kathy finish what remained. A brief chat but we had to leave to get ready for dinner.
Friday night dinner is formal. Kathy and I had brought different outfits, but decide dressing in twin mode would be fun. So we put on our matching red knit dresses and gold coin belts. Black heels and purses. Seating is interesting, either we could be seated together or pick random table numbers from a jar. I opted for random. That would allow both Kathy and me to do our own thing as it were. After dinner we headed back to the room. I was thinking 8AM the next morning would be very early, especially when needing to shave from head to toe. But somehow on the way back we ended up having a party in our room. Karen had seen the matching outfits on Kathy and me and decided it was time for the trio act. We invited some other girls in who happened to be wandering down the corridor. Marcie, a preop TS, and Veronica a shapely CD. Somehow by the time we had downed several bottles of Chardonnay, nibbled cheese and crackers and chatted; the clock was saying 1:30. So we finally called it an evening.
One word here about packing clothes, I had planned what I was going to wear day by day morning afternoon and evening. Brought clothes for twelve days. Didn't wear most, but still had it available to choose from, which is nice. But this fall, I plan to fly enfemme to Atlanta for the Southern Comfort Conference there. I hate lugging bags in guy mode, not alone in fem mode. So for Atlanta I plan to cut way back and only bring 1 or 2 changes per day. Hopefully it can all fit into one bag, not the three I brought to Esprit.
Saturday, May 23
Indeed 8AM is early I rolled out at 6:30 and just barely managed to get fixed up, dressed in black shorts and silver top and get over to the Hair Salon by 8. I had planned an hour for the cut, allowing me to attend a fem shape seminar at 9. I wish some of these classes could have been repeated so I could have had a second chance at them. But that was an error on my part. The hair cut lasted until after 11. A shampoo, cut, rollers, sit under the hair dryer, take the rollers out, then curling irons and bobby pins. Nancy, a student there, did a French twist on me with little curls down the back. I really wish my hair was thicker. It must really take lots of hair to look right. But the pampering sure was fun. Even sitting beneath the dryer and only hearing the white noise of the air rushing through the hood and reading through copies of "W" magazine. And the warm air just slowly drying and forming my hair onto those rollers. I was having a blast. But the work to put the hair into rollers, must be repeated to remove the rollers. You just get so much pampering. I doubt if I'd pass without a wig, but tossed this pic in anyway. So here comes two new firsts for me in quick succession. Number fourteen: the hair treatment. Number fifteen: being enfemme with my own hair and no wig in public.
The lunch back in the ballroom was fun and had a fashion show, but not as much fun for me as walking through the parking lot in my short black shorts, silver top, pantyhose and heels, with my French curls bobbing behind my neck. After lunch I did manage to attend a class on the Epilight hair removal system. Leslie was forth right and spelled out the faults with it. Doesn't do gray hair and wasn't predicable or consistent in results. She said they are on the cutting edge and are about to start testing a new device that may overcome these problems. Also the cost. A setup fee of $100 per session and $8 per flash. The thing isn't laser but a very bright strobe focused through an optical filter about 1/2" x 2" that can help select the properties for the face and hair combo. The hair can only be wounded in its growth phase that repeats every month or so. The hair suffers about 40-60% decrease per treatment, with 3-4 treatments required. A typical face beard requires around 20 flashes or $260 per treatment. A 1000 bucks or so and nearly no beard. I can see advantage to that. Also a little face lift couldn't hurt much but the purse.
My acrylic nails have been giving me fits, because of the length. I was unable to sleep one night and decided to shorten them by a 1/16" to 1/8". The problem is trying to put on the clasp on the back of pierced ear rings or hooking my necklace. I just could not do it. And a half hour to put on ear rings is excessive, even for me. I found after a day that they were still too long and I repeated the task the next night. So Number sixteen: Deliberately filing my beautiful long nails down, so I could use them.
The big event Saturday though, is the Gala Dinner. Its glitzy formal and some of those girls have gowns like you wouldn't believe. Others like me just were drab in comparison. Kathy and I sat together at this meal. She had prime rib, I had salmon. Somewhere in time we had a group from Seattle come on stage and sing and dance. Later during dessert we had another choral revue by a local group of gay and lesbian singers. After dinner Esprit had a graduation ceremony for the class of '98. All the first timers to Esprit, were lined up against the longest wall with their big sister to place a medallion around their neck. The Esprit symbol for years has been a seagull. So the medallion was a hand made blue glass with a white seagull in flight. The medallion had a 2 foot blue ribbon to go over the hair and around the neck. Before the medallion was placed; the girl would step forward say her name, and where she was from. Then a candle in a short glass was handed to her. It really touched me. Later in our room Kathy wanted to blow the candle out. I said no let it burn itself out. That's how I'm feeling about myself. I don't want Barbie blown out, but to burn the night away from now on. There were about 42 new girls and maybe half that in big sisters. Almost no one left in the audience to applaud each girl. And of course strobe lights from the cameras. I knew Kathy had to get one of me. The total of the Esprit population was only 142, a new record attendance. Then a photo shoot for individual pics of all the attendees for the yearbook. It should be out in a couple months. Another good idea was that at every table, was one of those throw away flash cameras. We were asked to shoot random candid shots for the yearbook. I'm looking forward to it as much as the Esprit itself. They had $1000 in jewelry that had been donated. And during registration sold 7 tickets for 5 bucks. The raffle tickets proceeds went to a local hospice. Karen's big sister Robbin won the ear rings. The other pieces went all over the room, lucky girls.
I met some other girls during dinner and the ceremony. Robyn, a Navy Commander who used to design nuke subs and is a pilot also. Roz, a really beautiful girl from Oregon, she's not on the net; but I got her snail mail address. And Brenda, who wanted a picture of Kathy and me in our matching dresses to show her wife that CD'ing can be fun.
Then came the band and dancing. They had started while Kathy and I were waiting in line for the yearbook photo. But just standing in line didn't keep me from beginning to get wound up to the music. Kathy and I stayed and danced for a number of songs. There is a real joy to be had being able to dress in a formal and heels and dance the evening away. I had brought 4" heels for the formal, but opted for the 2" ones. Must be living life as a girl, opens my eyes to pain. I was really having fun as I never could before. But after a while the music was too loud for this old gal, and then we left to continue a quiet time downstairs. Karen and Pat had invited us and another couple they met to their room for drinks and chat.
The other couple were from the town of Vancouver Canada. She was Jennifer and the wife was another Pat. Karen's big sister Robbin was there. We got chatting and someone mentioned the dignity cruise in the Caribbean. I'll have to find the URL for it and check the cost and dates. Sounds like something Barbie and Kathy would enjoy. Also as it turns out Robbin is a travel agent and if we end up wanting to go; she says she can get us discount airfares to the departure point. They seemed to think it departed NYC, but I'd bet on Miami. I'll need to check with Robbin about fares to Atlanta this fall. Karen was sporting cleavage the night also. Turns out she bought the kit from a girl on the web. I have her HP along with several hundred others. I'll have to search for her or get the URL from Karen. The kit is two V shaped pieces of leather that are glued onto the skin surrounding the nipple. Then a lace is pulled tight between them and viola, instant cleavage. And one size fits all, so I won't shrink out of it like I did the Diva. Price is only $10. It is covered completely by even a tiny bra and looks like a must for any girl.
Karen and I also talked about a get together and going to the SF opera or symphony. Karen's evening gown is just too gorgeous to keep in a closet. And a night on the town in SF; finishing with drinks atop one of the skyscraper's bars overlooking the city sounds like a must.
Sunday, May 24
Well the sad part of the trip is having to repack everything and load up the car. Esprit was having a brunch from 11 to 1:30 and check out time was 12. We called the front desk and tried to get a later checkout but the room was required that afternoon. So packing the bags had to be done first thing in the morning. Kathy and I decided to drive back in our matching red knit dresses. Only problem was Kathy didn't have a matching black purse. She had left hers home. And black seemed a better match colorwise than white with the red dresses. So I decided a quick hop over to WalMart again would solve the problem. Besides I had discovered my black bag just wasn't big enough. So I wanted a larger purse. All my purses to date have been small and pretty for pictures and as an accessory. But I was finding the functional aspects of a tiny purse lacking. So big first Number seventeen: Buying a big purse. Having bought it I wonder why it took me so long. Room for the camera, GPS, makeup, pepper spray, flashlight, keys, my new billfold. All in different pockets and compartments. Zippers, catches, and latches galore. By the time we drove over and back from the store, it was time to load the car and check out. As we were loading bags into the back of the Z, a couple guys came by and started flashing cameras at us. I thought who are these strangers, some of the non CD's in the hotel taking back pictures of the weirdos in dresses? Then I noticed one was Michelle from Stockton and the other was Robbin! They sure looked different in guy mode. We managed to finish everything just in time to walk back upstairs to the ballroom and brunch. Closing ceremonies and farewells. The Esprit seminars had an evaluation form at the close of every class. On the corner of the form was a number you tore off and saved. They were having a door price raffle using these numbers. The grand prize was a silver and gold hand made bracelet. But my numbers didn't come up. Oh well, I got the best prize anyway; the feeling of self confidence that I gained could not be given away.
The local paper, Peninsula Daily News, had a 1/3 paper article on Esprit with a large photo of Anna, Traci & Kelly. We had to stop by and pick a copy of the paper for our scrap book.
We gas up at a station a mile or so from the hotel. I was dressed identically to how I first gassed the car enfemme, except for the shorter heels. This time no problem, but I do notice the girls in the car next to me. They were from Esprit also. The drive required one more gas stop, but by now that has nearly become hohum. The motel seems to be my next hurdle. I decide to go ahead and check in myself. The young girl behind the desk has no problem with my appearance, but requires proof of ID for the room. I guess in case I steal a towel from Tom Boudette (Motel 6) or something. I show her my CA license, no problem. Needs to know the plate number on the car. I tell her. This was the only thing she questioned. What the personalized plate stood for. I told her that and it was over. Since I left the hotel a couple hours sooner than Karen and Pat, they had managed to get a later check out time, Kathy and I decided to walk over to the Denny's next to the motel and have dinner for two. A light rain was coming down, so we used those El Nino umbrellas we bought. The only question in the restaurant seemed to be from our twin appearance. Red knit dresses, gold chain belts, matching umbrellas, matching purses, even the same color hair; we were a pair all right. We both had the Denny classic burger as well, figures. But while Kathy could sink her teeth into hers like a lumberjack, I daintily cut mine all up and ate it piece by piece with a fork. My legs properly crossed beneath the table, my back straight and the napkin and one hand on my lap. The waiter was fun as well, coming down eye to eye with us and asking if the ladies wanted desert. I declined as did Kathy. Paid the bill and left a tip. Popped open the umbrellas and made our exit.
We weren't in the room long, when Karen & Pat showed up. Seems they didn't stay for the late check out. If I had known what a short wait it would have been we could have had dinner together. Pat wasn't feeling too well though, and only Karen came over to offer a bottle of Chardonnay. I did my Barbie voice, Karen decided to use the time next week at work, to work on her voice as well.
Monday, May 25
Kathy & I are finishing the drive in our matching green dresses. We head back over to Denny's for breakfast, don't seem to get many looks and hit the road by 9. Rain most the way until we approach the Oregon border. Snow at 3000 feet. By the time I pull into Redding I'm really feeling a case of numb butt. My next car will have cruise control so I can move my right leg. Also a long ways back in Washington I decided fashion foot wear while driving is crazy. I've kicked my heels off and drive in nylons. But even so I was ready to download coffee, refuel the car and get some cash. I spotted a bank from the freeway and pulled off. Of course there no connection between the off ramp and where the bank was. A five mile tour through Redding and I finally got back to it. Across from the bank was a 76 station. Their price was hi, but the gauge was on empty, besides that coffee wanted out. By the way, the restroom was unisex so no problem there. But Kathy's and my matching outfits attracted more attention than I wanted. I decided in the future we should look less like twins. Back onto the freeway and other 4 1/2 hours we were pulling up the hill of our driveway. One exciting event though. Near Williams, CA; I spot something amiss, mutter holy sh*t and start trying to avoid incoming. A tire, from where who knows, is bouncing down the freeway. And I mean bouncing it looks to be going as high as the overpass. It must be spinning since it appeared to be well stabilized. I swerve to the shoulder to miss it. No cars ahead of us seemed to be having a problem. It must have come from the other side of the freeway, or maybe someone dropped it off the overpass or fell from a plane to bounce as high as it was. I didn't have time to check if people behind me missed it. But if it smashed through a windshield, it could have killed someone. What a trip. Really rather have flown my plane, but the weather was way under my limits.
Tuesday, May 26
Well today was the real test for Barbie in Sonora. I was so happy with the time in Port Angeles and particularly in Victoria I was eager, yet a bit apprehensive about being out in my little retirement town. I had a number of things to do today, my plan was to do them enfemme until I couldn't handle it and finish the things in guy mode later or let Kathy handle them for me. I wanted the day to go as smoothly as possible and knew I'd have to dress the style of the local gals. So out of my selection of Jordache jeans I picked the faded blue jeans, white walking shoes, and a blue/green/white knit top long sleeve. The hesitation I had in going out kept me in bed longer than normal, but by nine I was dressed and on the road.
First stop, WalMart to drop the film from Esprit off for 1 hour. Parked the car and boldly walked in. Smiled at the greeter and went to the photo counter. In the most pleasant fem voice I could muster, I asked for 1 hour on the four rolls of film. The girl didn't bat an eye, just put the film in packets, wrote down the time and handed the stubs to me. I put them in my purse and walked on out with Kathy. Wow, no problem at all. So on over to Paws Inn and fetch Shadow from doggie summer camp. This time a solo trip in. Kathy remained in the car. Walked in and said I was there to pick up Shadow; the clerk looked on the computer and said I wasn't supposed to pick her up until tomorrow and that the dog hadn't received her free bath. I said Shadow wouldn't mind that loss. I pulled out my Barbienot credit card and paid for the lodging. Last time as Barbienot I got a senior discount price, this time I must have looked younger with makeup and smile. I was happy not to get it again!! I signed the credit slip and the clerk put it away. Didn't even seem to glance at the name. The girl went back and retrieved the dog. I stood there with Shadow so happy to see me, that the dog ran around my legs tying me up with her leash and my purse slipping off my shoulder. I really must have looked like a ditzy brunette with her dog. Because by this time another lady had come in with hers and just smiled at my problems with the dog. But not the slightest hint of reading me that I could tell. Finally (I'm sure in Shadow's opinion) I opened the door and walked out. Kathy was outside to greet Shadow and take a picture of the event.
The drive up and back to Washington put enough miles on the car to need an oil change. Normally in Santa Clara I would do this myself. But there, I had a nice garage, in Sonora I have a horrible garage with mud on the floor. Changing oil under these conditions didn't at all appeal to me and seemed like something a Barbie would pay to have done. So directly across the highway from the Paws Inn is a 10 minute oil change place. I have never been in one before. Drove in and again in my best fem voice said I needed the oil and filter changed. I asked if the dog could stay in the car while we waited. The man said we could to. He asked the year of the 280Z and if we had been there before and some other questions. Again he gave not the slightest hint of reading me. The rest of the crew didn't either. The sign said 10 minutes, but they must have been done in 5. Wow, this Barbie life is good. Barbienot would have spent an hour doing it, with jacking the car up, jack stands and all. And then that messy guy oil stuff. What's a girl to do with that? Hand over the credit card and sign the slip. Again not the slightest problem with my signature versus my look. These people so far are really incredibly professional or I'm passing better than I ever dreamed.
Now to the grocery store. The house is empty and last night I had only a can of Campbell's soup. I drive into the parking lot, and Kathy takes a picture of this event also. Sling the purse over my shoulder and the two of us walk in. Pull a cart out and proceed to shop. Lingered through the aisles looking and picking produce. Bagging and twisting ties, chatting with Kathy in my fem voice about what we needed. Again I seemed to get no stares or looks or even hear giggles; I was just another woman doing her shopping. By the time we were about done though, the coffee I had at home was telling on me and I had to use the restroom. I had no qualms about going to the ladies' room now. The room was empty, I suspect most grocery shoppers have planned ahead better than me. Did the when in Rome, do as Romans do thing. Washed my hands and even applied lipstick. I had arranged with Kathy that she should write the check and that I would bag the groceries. Again no problem. I must confess I was really feeling good about myself by this time.
So back over to WalMart and get the photos. WalMart is in the same shopping center as the grocery store and we didn't even bother to put on the seat belts. We picked up the pics and again paid by credit card, no problem. I mentioned to Kathy that I wanted to also go into the vision care center in WalMart and look at frames for Barbie. As my beer budget tastes would have it; the ones I liked best were the cheapest. But the look seemed to fit my mental image of Barbie. My idea was just to look, but the girl that came out and asked if we needed anything, seemed so friendly that I asked about getting a pair and the price for the eye exam. Everything seemed reasonably priced so I proceeded to fill out the questionnaire, first putting down Barbienot's name. Kathy asked if that was what I really wanted and I said no, got another form and wrote Barbie Lanai. They then seated me and did some pretests for color, peripheral vision and other things.
Its those little things that I wasn't prepared for that can get me. One test was for glaucoma and is done by a gadget that puffs air into the eye. They asked me if I ever had that test. I said no, but that my wife had. OPPS! From now on I'll try to use the term spouse.
The summation of these tests actually produce a basic prescription for the optometrist Then he asked me into the eye exam room and completed the exam. I firmly believe he was better than my previous doctor. The bottom line was completely sharp, in focus and readable by the time he was done. The price on the glasses included two pair. I decided one should be sun glasses and asked if I could get Polaroid lenses. No problem, my last glasses didn't give me that option. Is life better as a girl or is it just WalMart? It looks like Barbie will be able to fly the plane with her new glasses.
By the time I was done, Kathy showed me the pics on one roll had a problem. On old movie projectors it would have been called the framing adjustment. But the legs were above the heads. We went back over to the photo counter and showed the girl the problem. Only a few pics on one roll seemed to be effected. She said it would be ten minutes. So we went back into the ladies' wear section. I still haven't gotten a flowery dress for a garden T party this Saturday. I spotted some flowery dresses, but the price was higher than I wanted to pay on top on the glasses. And I didn't want to press my luck and ask to try them on in the ladies' fitting room. As a guy I would have just tried them on in the men's fitting room, but I wasn't dressed for that. And everything had gone so well, I didn't want to ruin the score. So we headed back to the photo counter. A mother was getting portraits of her three children taken in the adjacent photo studio. I stood there and smiled at their antics as any woman would do. Again no problem, I'm beginning to think I am passable in jeans and walking shoes. And there was no question as to what gender I was. My D's were not hidden under the knit top, nor my makeup, nor my full brunette hair, nor my fingernail polish or big black purse. The photo lab girl brought over the new pictures and said the problem was really because our camera was at the end of the roll, but that she centered the pics as best as possible to fix it.
So now over to the post office. Kathy had stopped our mail while we were gone and she went to the counter to pick it up. I didn't want to have to face the postal clerk and sign anything, especially I knew there should be a certified mail with the check for the house in it. So I volunteered to check the PO Box. I unlocked it, and found it was stuffed. Kathy brings a shopping bag to unload the thing, but since we thought the mail was at the counter; she had the bag. So I put on my helpless damsel in distress look and gathered all the mail and held it and my purse as best I could and walked over to the counter and told Kathy I had the mail. We walked over to an empty counter to sort through the junk. There had to be a yellow pickup slip in there somewhere for the certified mail. Found it and Kathy went back and got in line. I walked on back to the 280Z and waited for Kathy. And to think I was worried about going to the post office on my early morning walks. I wanted to go so early no one would see me. Here it was nearly noon, and again no one seemed to notice me or give any indication of reading me. I seriously think I'll be brave enough to try either the black, red, or white jeans next time. If that works maybe a skirt or dress, but I don't want to press my luck.
Next was to get the car gassed. The cheapest gas station in town had cars waiting at all its pumps, while across the street for a nickel more had half the pumps empty. I opted to pay extra and not wait. It was a Shell station and I have a Shell card and thought the pay at the pump would be nice. But after pulling in and getting out, found it wasn't equipped for pay at the pump. Oh well, I'll pay cash inside afterwards and see what happens. The last time I pumped gas enfemme I meekly stood there watching the dials. Not this time. The windshield was filthy with bugs. I got out the window scrubber and started cleaning, naturally wiggling and stretching across the windshield as much as possible. I hope I looked fem, if not, no one said anything. I walked inside to pay and again no problem.
Well that was the last of my chores about town today. I had some other things to do at home. One was to call Citibank and see about getting a card in Barbie's name. I called them and said I wanted a third card for Barbie Lanai. No problem, what was her social security number? Opps! I said it was really for me, and that I crossdress and wanted one to buy dresses. The guy was stumped on that and said he'd get back. A minute later he returned and said no problem, I'd get it in a week or so. Wow. But half an hour later the phone rang and it was Citibank fraud division saying they really couldn't issue cards to fictitious people. Oh well. Other that that one let down, it has been a remarkable day for Barbie Lanai.
Tomorrow I plan to drive down to my Charles Schwab office in Modesto to deposit the check for the house. I plan to wear a dress. I can't see them worrying about my clothes with that large a deposit. From there I may see my sister in law (if she's home) then to a photo processing lab in Stockton for the glamour shots of Kathy and me.
Wednesday, May 27
Drove on down to the Schwab office in Modesto. Didn't wear a dress. Instead wore a skirt and blouse; seemed a bit more informal. Besides I wasn't trying to hide my identity. I had to endorse the check, afterall. We walked in, and stood in front of the first desk we came to. The broker there was talking on the phone and indicated a moment or two. In the meantime another broker came up and asked us if he could help. I said I needed to deposit a check. He said right this way ladies and walked over to his desk. I showed him the account number and said how much I wanted to put into a mutual fund and that I would be dollar cost averaging the balance in over the next year. He mentioned the market was down and it was a good to to buy some. I smiled and agreed that I thought the same thing driving down. Kathy and I signed the check got a receipt, he thanked us and it was done.
Next to the photo processing lab in Stockton, about half an hour away on the freeway. Followed the instructions they supplied over the phone and found the place even without my GPS. Parked, walked in, stood there for an instant and proceeded to the film counter. The clerk asked what we needed, I said we had 2 rolls of 120 film for processing and 5x5 prints. Asked when they should be done and about getting frames for the format size, and enlargements. How big could they do? And if they cropped the photos for frames like 11x14 size. He filled in the info on the film pack and thanked us. We then wandered through the store, looking at picture frames and stuff. A couple minutes later and he came up holding a 5x5 frame for us. How sweet he was! I can't help but wonder if I would have gotten the same treatment in Barbienot mode.
By this time it was nearly 11, Kathy was acting like she could eat road kill. Since I never had been in the area before, I said lets drive on down the road and see what we found. Answer: not much. Eventually I got lost, but figured if I kept heading towards the hills; something would appear. Another couple miles and back to the main highway. The road from there back up to Sonora has nothing. So I told Kathy we could stop at Jamestown and try the Mexican restaurant there. Jamestown is about 3 miles from Sonora, but we have never eaten there. I figured that if I blundered, no one would know me there. Jamestown is a tourist trap now and parking is a premium. Started by driving to the restaurant and no parking in front or anywhere near. So drove on through, turned to go around and finally found a parking lot two blocks away behind main street. I say 2 blocks, the town is probably only 4-6 blocks long, so its no big deal. I was still wearing my skirt and heels; definitely over dressed for the town; but why not give it a try. I start by walking on the boardwalk, but it looks like the boardwalk only leads into one store. So I turn around and walk out in the street and around the corner. Now I really feel dumb, walking down the narrow road and I see that indeed the boardwalk goes from store to store. We continue on until an opening and steps lead from the street level to the boardwalk. We step on up and proceed into town on the boardwalk. Past an alley way and more old buildings. People are walking about, but don't seem to give me any undo notice. By this time we can see the destination ahead. Walk on up and it appears closed. Must only be open in the evening and weekends. So we walk further and see nothing more and return back to the car. All in all a favorable experience except for Kathy's belly being empty.
I tell her we can go to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Sonora. But that first I would have to drive home and put on blue jeans to blend in. Besides our home is only 3-4 blocks from the place and parking in Sonora is as bad as Jamestown. So home, change the skirt for the Jordache, the heels for the walking shoes; and we head back down the hill. I decide its nicer to walk the main street than the back road, so that's what we do. Right down the main street, slowly walking and looking into the shop windows just like a tourist would. About 5-10 minutes later we are in front of the restaurant, walk in and say table for two. The girl seats us, brings menus, chips, salsa, and water. She even pulls the chair out for me. I seat myself and cross one leg over the over and unfold my napkin and place it on my lap. Then take my sunglasses and place them atop my hair. The waitress takes our orders, and I ask Kathy to take my picture, I shoot hers as well. This flashing attracts another waitress who asks if we'd like her to shoot the two of us. I say of course, and hand her the camera. I really am being bold in my adventures. After lunch I pull out my compact and freshen my lipstick, we then walk on back up main street towards our home. One store catches my eye; the candy mill & jewelry mill. We walk on in and browse. The candy is a no no for me, but jewelry is interesting, only no prices. I figure that means I can't afford it.
Along the walk I notice a small shop that does nails. It looks so convenient; I think she will have two new clients. The nails on my fingers still look so good I don't want to mess with them. This coming Tuesday is election day, I guess I'll have to vote enfemme so I won't need to remove the color. We walk on up the hill past a young boy coming towards us. I start to remember those kids in Las Vegas, but nothing is said or stare given. I only wish the women about town would wear dresses so I could blend in that way, but pants seems to work fine so far.
Thursday, May 28
Off again to WalMart today to get the film developed. Put it in the 1 hour service, then spent the next hour pushing the cart around the store shopping. Almost bought a new pair of shoes, but in fact bought nothing. But the time spent moving around the store enfemme, with no looks or comments has convinced me that I must be passing. And even if not, no one seems to care. These days have gone so well and life is so short that I don't intend to return to Barbienot. From now on its Barbie Lanai. I plan to write a few letters to my friends with this picture of Kathy and me; that I will want to see in the future and let them know; in a week or two. If they can handle it, wonderful, if not, that's life. New friends can be found, but changing back to Barbienot isn't in the works.
So the following things were learned at Esprit: Shorter heels, bigger purses, shorter nails, some tips on make up, coloring, wig care, voice, movement, and above all-- the self confidence to use them.
Hair School 360 452 3048 or 452 4106
Dr Douglas Ousterhout 415 626 2888
Rick Weiss LCSW 503 242 0802
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