Friday Oct. 26 Th I went to the Photo Expo at the Javits Center in NYC En-Fem as I have for the last 6 years. I usually have one or two interesting things happen but not as interesting as I did this time.
I got the 12:00 PM bus, it was about 80% full, I like to sit alone, so I sat in the isle seat and put my bag in the window seat, then I usually switch after everyone has seated. A young girl, about 21-22 got onto the bus last and wanted to sit in the front seat next to a woman who did the same thing I did, the girl exclaimed she wanted the isle seat because she was going to use the rest room during the trip, the lady told her to sit next to the window anyway. As she sat down she reclined her seat and the guy behind her pushed it backup harshly and said I don't want your seat back on me, it seemed as this young lady with Green and Blond hair was going to be a problem. She made a choice remark and said I'll find another seat, guess what, she asked if she could sit next to me. Being the Lady/Gentleman I am and not really knowing if there were any other vacant seats I move to the window seat and let her sit.
This bus makes a stop in Toms River and it was non eventful, she talked to her mother on the phone and may have been listing to music on her phone. After the stop in TR, she started to take out some books from her back pack, she wasn't annoying me but it was hard not to notice. She wrote a note and then started to look at her book, and then asked me if I would like to look at it when she was done, it was maybe 10-15 pages long and a little like a Dr. Suss style hard cover. Turned out it was an artist book with his works, which looked interesting, I thanked her and then instead of her reading her book she started to have a conversation with me.
It turned out she's an aspiring artist going to Fashion Institute of Technology which is the same school my son and daughter in law went to. Since we had something in common we had a nice conversation, of course my Louise persona came up, and I also commented on hers, I mentioned she may be into Goth or New Age, she said she preferred the later term.
We then reached NYC and greeted each other a good bye, turned out she was very nice even though she had greenish blond hair, I hope she felt I was nice too, even though I was a male in women's clothes.
The next thing on my agenda was trying to go in the right direction from the bus terminal, it's about 4 blocks South and 3 blocks West to the Javits Center and even though I had brought women's workout sneakers to walk in, I wanted to present a little sexier so chose to walk in my 2 1/2 -3" heels. As I made my way to the escalators and out to the street no less than 3 men approached me asking if I was interested in a "date", as I walked down 41 st., 3 more men asked the same thing, "WTF" is it with people in NYC.
My first stop was the pizza joint at 40 Th. and 9 Th, 1 dollar slices 2.75 for two and a Coke. I put them on one of the 2 pedestal tables available, there was a pretty big African-American who was busy with some chicken, we didn't make any eye contact, I don't even thing he knew I was there. But I see some guy at the other table peering around the big guy standing in front of me, he catches me noticing and ducks his head back and then does it 2 more times each time ducking back. He then has to cruse by me and then back again making sure I notice him, he gives me a big grin and then walks outside but is still standing around the pizza joint. The Black guy leaves and this other guy comes back in and leans over to me and says "I do the same thing". I'm really not surprised others CD, it was just interesting how intimidated he was but also drawn to me and need to share his secret.
We had a conversation as I ate and he told me how was married and somewhat new to the lifestyle as far as wanting to express himself with others with the same needs. I told him of 2 places he would fit in and he mentioned he was going to a fairly popular woman who does make overs for other Cd's. Apparently he has met a couple other "girls" from there. I indicated I wasn't looking for any provocative encounters and I was satisfied with what I do as far as being respected in public and made comments that a lot of "girls" hurt themselves and others because of the way they may act in public or express themselves on the Internet. Let me say this, we all have our needs and interests, but those are no different that the way you would be with your Wife, GF, or SO, it's between the two of you and remains behind closed doors and no one Else's business, just my personal opinion.
I wanted to get to the Javits Center and he asked if he could walk with me, I didn't object but we only walked about half a block and then parted ways politely.
I go to the show and as usual it was packed, I only noticed a couple people even notice me, they and myself were more interested in watching some of the exhibitions and seeing the new hardware and software upgrades. As I walked around I went by a booth where to young gentlemen were autographing their picture, I asked what they did and the one fellow said I'm a builder, I took it to mean he was in carpentry, so I joked, I guess you'd like to "nail me" and to the other "you'd like to Hammer me" they laugh out loud, I guess I took them off guard. One of the sales reps for the camera company wanted a picture of the 3 of us, well I am a photo nut, so I had not problem with that. As I thanked them for the courtesy I shook their hands, they both jumped at my grip and one said WOW you hurt me, I laughed and said, just because I dress like a pussy, it doesn't make me one, there was a younger woman stand next to us and they all burst into laughter. It turns out that these to young men are the Guinness Book World Record holders of/Champion Races and Bike Builders, what special gentlemen.
The rest of the event was pretty non remarkable, I was there till 5 PM and they actually turned the lights off to make people leave. I have to admit, my feet were killing me by then and I still had to walk back to the bus terminal about 7 blocks. I got to my terminal, but had to wait about 45 minutes for the bus, if you're not there early, you may not get a seat. The rest of the trip back was non eventful until I was waiting for my wife outside the bus terminal in AC, a big African - American was trying to start a conversation with me, but I was politely disinterested. I was glad my wife finally picked me up and my feet were even more happy. The next time I won't be as vain and wear my walking shoes.
