Southern Comfort 1999

(Click HERE to see the photos from Southern Comfort.)

Thursday’s air arrival in Atlanta was delayed, of course, so the buses were leaving for the Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood as I hit the door of the hotel. Set a land speed record getting ready in my leather mini, fuchsia jacket, sheer black underblouse and tall heels. Cabbed it over to HRC to find about 70 girls in the midst of dinner and way ahead of me in the party arena so only one thing to do - order a couple of Bombay martinis straight up to catch up. Rendezvoused with a very dear e mail friend Michelle  (Pennsylvania) and Debbie Allen (Florida) and Monique. Four GGs sat across the aisle from us and kept sneaking peeks our way. After we sent our desserts over to them they asked if they could take pics with us - they were almost trampled in the rush to accommodate! Some of the girls started a little impromptu dancing to the HRC music and got so much attention that a GG waitress who danced on a table in the back was almost ignored! After that impressive start to the weekend it was off to the Armory, a local gay dance club where about 50-60 girls were welcomed with open arms, so to speak.. I danced for hours with Michelle and also Kathy Taylor (Ohio) - they were both so gorgeous and sexy in their leopard patterned tops and short skirts. Finally closed the hotel bar at 2 a.m. surrounded by a bevy of SCC girls partying with all their ebullient hearts.

Friday I decided to opt for my Fortune 500 professional look and wore my navy blue Jones of New York suit with navy pumps and purse, cream colored silk blouse and hose and pearl earrings and necklace and, of course, my full length nails. Visited the vendor’s area and chatted with my good friends Espy Lopez of Classic Curves and Linda Lewis of Jim Bridges' Boutique and got a picture with the patron saint of all TG girls, JoAnn Roberts. After lunch I went to a voice seminar during which I experienced an epiphany of sorts. Sitting there en femme “dressed to the nines” the most extraordinary feeling of fulfillment, contentment and satisfaction came over me and I knew in the deepest part of my heart that this is what being TV is all about and  that it is so right for me.

That night I wore my red Victoria's Secrets silk dress with red open toed shoes and gold jewelry, including my George V English gold pound pendant. During the cocktail hour I ran into Heather (Colorado) and her wife Daphne in the most incredible tight outfits imaginable and managed to get a pic between these "Gold Dust Twins." Further, you would have lamented not buying Kodak and Duracell stock based on the frenzy of flash photography before dinner of all the lovely girls to be seen. For dinner I sat with a group of girls that had taken to hanging around together - Bree (a friend from LA), Vicki (Washington), JoAnn (Missouri), Lori(Wyoming), Kim (Alabama) and, of course, my beautiful friend Michelle. We had just the very best time chatting  and enjoying each other's en femme company - they are all wonderful girls and a true delight to be with. The post dinner talent show for the 300 girls present was interesting to say the least (I mean how many time to you get to see a TV trumpet player. Surely a fresh way of doing "Come Blow My Horn!") Then it was off to The Chamber, Atlanta's leading fetish club. Many of the girls changed from their dinner garb and some of the most extraordinary leather, PVC, chain and body corset fashions were to be seen with black and red a favorite theme. (Never thought I'd feel sedate in red silk!) Some girls took pics in and around the Iron Maiden just inside the door which are something to see. Between shows I danced with Kim and Kathy and generally had a great time just being with all these wonderful girls. (Since this is a family-oriented site <g> I won’t go into the details of the fetish shows but if , for example, you like melted wax and private parts you would have loved it.)

But the night was yet young. After closing the hotel bar (again) I saw  Kathy, Chrissie (Tennesee) and Jaye (Michigan) trying to sneak out for a little late night snack so I hopped on the bandwagon and off we went. After Kathy's unplanned 45 minute scenic tour of the environs of Buckhead courtesy of our ignoramus hotel doorman, we wound up at a Denny's at 3 a.m. I can assure you that based on our experience this chain has addressed the discrimination claims previously leveled against it - at least as to TGs. We sat in a booth and enjoyed our milk shakes, bacon & eggs,  chicken fried steak etc. for over an hour with no bother from the staff or patrons - although one suspected that some of the baseball cap backwards crowd wanted to take one of us home.

Saturday was fun and work and then more fun. Instead of sleeping in I put on my black leather mini, a cute patterned blouse and new Joan & David heels and toured the vendors’ area and just talked to a number of girls, including Kelly (D.C.) and Bree. After lunch Michelle and I took pics just inside the glass wall by the pool area and then I had to join my VC sisters who volunteered to set up the tables and decorations for the big dinner that night. There were about 20 of us who pitched in setting out the centerpieces, laying out the confetti, cards and chips for the gambling accent and setting up the stage for the Southern Belles  dinner theme. For 2-3 hours we were just the best of girlfriends having a great time together - chatting, joking, etc. Thanks Kathy, Jaye, Chrissie, Betty, Heather, Vickie, Julie and all the others for making this part of the weekend so special and precious.

The event that night was surely pull out all the stops. You never saw so many (500 or so) gorgeous girls, gowns and evening dresses in your life - "more stars than there are in heaven" to steal a line from Louie Mayer of M-G-M. I wore a custom made blue satin dress with a chiffon scarf, blue shoes and silver purse, hose and jewelry. Roxy also wore blue and we got a great pic of the Bluegirls. Bree had a lovely long black gown with a slit on the leg and chiffon sleeves. An LA friend, Ashley, had gone shopping that day when she bought 4 (!) outfits and wore a long and low cut black number with the most gorgeous black feathered petite head cover in her hair. I could go on and on but space prevents me. Just before dinner we took a group VC pic and then into an elegant setting where about 20 girls had come dressed up in Southern belle attire - long, flowing off the shoulder hoop dresses, big hats and parasols. Capt. Butler where were you? The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus say Cole Porter tunes after dinner and put on  several sketches with clowns and half naked jungle dancers that were a riot. Very enjoyable. Then off to The Other Side, Atlanta's leading lesbian bar where we were welcomed by all. Our little band of T girls set up at a side area of the bar where we held court for the duration and toasted each other’s loveliness. Heather and Daphne made good use of my chiffon scarf on the dance floor <g> and Kim and I did our very best to work off a few calories on the dance floor. Afterwards it was back to the hotel for a nitecap and conversation on the patio with Kim, Michelle and a GG (who was attending with her CD brother!) under a big, full moon and a soft, cooling breeze. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

So there you have it. Three days of the very best of the en femme side. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as I did doing it. Now go check out those pics!

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