Bella Luna at Lucy in Margate - June, 2010

BELLA LUNA OCEANFRONT DINING AT LUCY THE ELEPHANT

Very busy week

Starting with Monday night, I went to "Out at the Inn" at the Ram's Head Inn, in Absecon, NJ. It's called a mixer and everyone is invited and accepted (unless you're looking to fill your drug prescription in the rest room). It was a slow evening which is unusual.

Wednesday I was asked to be interviewed by the Press of Atlantic City "Hometown" section, but I'm not sure it will run because they ran an article about me 7 years ago. Her photographer wasn't with her during the interview but on Friday another person wanted to interview me from Stockton State collage for her Physiology course, the press photographer had arranged to be at my home for that interview.

Since I was dressed Wednesday and Friday I went out, I normally do on Friday anyway. Both nights we OK, but again very slow at the two places I went.

Saturday night I went to Brigantine with my wife, we had fun there and did some Karaoke, I must admit I pass and look much better than I sing. As my wife and I were leaving, a guy who was smoking and also made a comment to his buddy inside stopped me and asked "what's your story", I politely replied, I enjoy dressing up to go out, my wife chimed in, "we've been together MANY years and I love him for who he is. TALK ABOUT SUPPORT..

I had also done some shopping at the local thrifts Wednesday and Friday and found a nice purple "Nancy Ganz" body briefer I wore as a dress. Everyone thinks Madonna started the rave about wearing underwear as outerwear, but I taught her, I've dressed like that before she was around.

Pictures next time.

Millville Craft Show

A couple weeks ago a friend of my wife ask us to come to the Millville "Arts & Craft show".

It started out as a light rainy day so I didn't feel guilty about missing my bike race, I needed the break anyway. I was dressed by 10:30 AM and our usual venue is we go to a local restaurant for breakfast. I've been there quite a number of times as Louise, but the new cashier has never seen me. As I walked in she dropped her jaw and asked me to just stop where I was so she could check me out.

As we sat in our both one person who knows us came over and sat with us until our food came. After we were done I needed the rest room (I use the men's). Of course as I walked in I was given a few stares and as I was leaving a patron was entering with his roughly 8 year old son and had to recheck the door to make sure he was going into the men's room, I love the look on guy's faces when that happens.

As I went back to my booth there was another couple I've know for years and the lady sat with us also till her food came. As we were leaving I stopped at a table where a very old couple (very late 80's) were who also know me both ways, the older lady looked at my legs, reached over and started to rub my thigh, I was wearing shorts.

I'm curtain people were whispering.

We finally got to the craft show where I met Miss New Jersey, if I wasn't married I think I could give her a run for the money, LOL.

Louise

Ocean City, NJ Classic Auto Show

Last weekend I went to the "Classic Auto Show" on the Ocean City, NJ Boardwalk. If you're not familiar with OC, it's a very family and conservative city. I was surprised I wasn't escorted off the Boardwalk, but contrary I was greeted by at least 4 people I knew and 2 who I race bike with, one of them walked with me for about 10 blocks and we took pictures of the cars, the other one was kind enough to take a picture of my by one of the cars.

As I've realized and tried to convey to other "cross dressers" is that if you try to present properly and carry yourself with dignity you should not experience any difficulty's, contrary, people will respect you.

Two young lady's liked me so much they wanted their picture with me, do we look like an OREO cookie?

Louise

Car Show on Ocean City Bowardwalk

Last weekend I went to the "Clasic Auto Show" on the Ocean City, NJ Bowardwalk. If you're not fimilure with OC, it's a very family and conservitive city. I was surprised I wasn't excorted off the Bowardwalk, but contrary I was greated by at least 4 people I knew and 2 who I race bike with, one of them walked with me for about 10 blocks and we took pictures of the cars, the other one was kind enough to take a picture of my by one of the cars.

As I've realised and tried to convige to other "cross dressers" is that if you try to present properly and carry yourself with dignity you should not experiance any difficulty's, contray, people will respect you.

Louise

Sight seeing cruse in Atlantic City

Last Wednesday I had an opportunity to go on a 3 hour boat cruse around the Atlantic City and Brigantine inlets with my wife (Millie).

I've lived here all my life and it's the first time I ever did that trip, to say the least it was a lot of fun and I'm sure I was a hit as "Louise" in her red and white polka dot swim suit. There were about 125 passengers, unfortunately I may have to do the trip again because I was to busy posing to enjoy the trip, LOL.

My new hangout & friends

I've mentioned I started going to a new restaurant/lounge about a year ago, but only met the owner a few months ago.

A few weeks ago I had gone in for dinner alone as usual and was sitting at the corner of the bar when the waitress came over and said, Don asked me three times if you came in to bring you into the kitchen, he's working on the line. As I walk into the busy kitchen Don calls out to all his kitchen staff that he wanted to introduce Louise.

I have to admit I considered it a real honor to be recognized that way. This person probably has one the most famous establishments in our area and he took the time to want all his staff to know me.

To further the story, about 2 weeks later I went to dinner with 3 of my longest cycling colleague's. They all know Louise and have an real issue with that side of me. As I walked to the bar looking for them a few people who know me mostly as Louise, but both ways, began to great me, there were 7 or 8 people and were right where my buddy's were standing, one girl came over with a party card and invited me to her party.

One of the guys said one of them standing lookout to see if I came in as Louise, if so they were going to bolt out another door (nice guys)just goes to show you the difference in "herd mentality". The one who is a lawyer said, well you know we're manly men and don't go for that stuff, of course I must say, that I would rather deal with my issues than the issues they're dealing with.


As we were leaving Don (the owner) sees me and says, Lou, I want to to introduce you as Lou to my kitchen staff, so he pulls me away from my (questionable) friends and takes me into the kitchen. When I came out they (my friends) were waiting outside and asked, what was that all about. I conveyed the experience from a few weeks before. Hopefully it will show them how "real men" act.

Don has the yellow gloves on in the picture.

The two girls

Last night I went to a new lounge that was supposed to have Karaoke, it was canceled. As I was leaving there was a woman who said she loved the song I sang a couple weeks before, it was called "Chocolate Covered Salty Balls" she said it was very appropriate because she said she was checking my "bulge" out, I didn't think I was that big.

From there I went to Margate and stopped in a very popular place, mostly 30-60 year old patrons and upscale, the women would be considered "Trophy Wife" types.

I was wondering around the bar when two young girls (30 they told me)wanted to talk. As we conversed the one felt my leg and started to grab it, she went a little over board for a married woman and started to grind against my thigh (not that I minded).

Her friend asked if men hit on me, I said not often and she motioned an older gentleman who used the girls as an impetus to start talking with me. After about 1-2 minutes he had his arm around me, the girls were laughing. The one had asked what I do if a man hits on me previously, I said I usually shake their hand with a firm grip, so I offered my hand, but didn't over do it, just firm enough for him to know what I was, he yelped, the girl burst out laughing. I offered my good nights and left alone.

You never know (sometimes)

Last night my wife and myself were invited to a "end of summer party" by her exercise class friends, I asked my wife if I could go as Louise, they were OK with it.

We were introduced to a few people,they were mostly older but very nice and more than accepting of my Louise persona, I felt "special. I only noticed one person who looked as if he was wearing a wig but it was his natural hair and an even brown color that made it look dyed, there was also something a little strange about him other than being a "Chubby" man with soft fetcher's, but I just figured he was married to one of the women there.

As the evening wound down and I had some conversations about my "cross dressing" I went onto the porch where the conversation revolved around me again, I felt very special and exclusive. The chubby guy was there too. I needed to use the restroom and as I came out the Chubby guy starts to talk with me. I figured maybe he was attracted to Louise. He then says to me "I'm a genetic woman and I'm on HRT and have had my breasts removed" (which he opened his shirt to show me) and said he's going in for penile construction, although through the HRT he has started to develop a small one.

Needless to say I was blown away by his candor and sharing. But my question is, why was Louise the center of conversation and not this person who I feel had a more interesting story than I, his lady friend about 80 years old started the discussion about him when I said, I'm not the only one special here tonight..

One other funny event, I'm a cyclist and as you can see my legs are somewhat developed, with pantyhose on they really look great. As my wife her friends and myself we sitting on the porch one of the lady's was driven to start rubbing my legs, I gave her permission to go for it, she had to spend about 5 minutes rubbing them at different speeds, I think she finally caught herself and stopped. My wife thought it was very interesting.

You just never know.

My Class Reunion

Last Saturday night was my class reunion I went as Louise, I won't say what one (a lady never tells her age). I do think I look pretty good for my age both as Lou and Louise but never considered myself exceptionally young looking. I must say, not only was I the youngest looking, but I was the best looking woman.

This was my 3 Rd reunion as Louise so my classmates weren't quite as surprised as the first time. Also, many of my closet friends have passed on. We had a lot in common with going to Kindergarten through High School, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorer Scouts, I'm curtain they would have loved to break my chops.

The picture with the 2 gentleman are on my right in the print shirt owns a company that manufactures slot machines for casinos around the country, the one on my left in the suit owns about 70% of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, a chain of "Dollar" stores and was on the cover of Forbes magazine.

The second picture is a lady who was also my Realtor, next to her is my longest friend who lived around the corner from me. The last picture is also an old close friend who's son is a Senator.

A fun night

Fridays I've been going to a different restaurant/lounge near me for about the last 5 months, I've written about it previously.

I like the Chicken Tenders there, they must make them fresh, not the frozen stuff from Sam's. As I was watching the BB game and enjoying my snack the bar tender slaps down a shot glass and says "Don bought you a drink" I was pretty much surprised and not sure who the Don person was, I asked, not Don the owner, he said yes, the owner.

I'm very impressed by the owners manners, this is a very popular establishment, besides this person not only abiding by the common law of courtesy and also the NJ State "anti discrimination law's" he has gone out of his way to make sure I feel safe and wanted there.

As I was leaving to go to another local place I was stopped by a group of people who knew me from some where ( I have a hard time remembering everyone I meet), it was a son, his wife, his father and 2 or 3 friends, the son introduces me to his father who was 79, the father took one look at me and starts to put the make on me. The others are laughing out loud in hysteric's, the old man wanted me to go out on his boat the next day. I said to his son, who was 43 y/o, that if his father signed over his life insurance with a big cash value, I may become his Step Mother, that really sent them into hysteric's. I asked, doesn't you father know what I am, they said he thought I was a real woman. I should have gotten a picture, Oh, the old man was in the fertilizer business, maybe he was full of it.

Dinner over Looking the Ocean

I've mentioned I belong to the South Jersey Epicurean Society. It's a nice group of people and my wife and I would never have visited so many different restaurants if we weren't members. Not all the dinners are more than 3-3 1/2 stars and many have been 1-1 1/2.

Last month was at a Time Share hotel in Atlantic City (name is not important), the views were great wish the dinner was too. The girl who does the photography for the group had just bought a new Nikon D90 and was doing her first photo's with it, as you can see some of the colors are over saturated.

My wife found a seat by a window and sent me to get a drink for her. I was standing near a African American lady who started up a conversation with me, her opening remark was "I love your outfit". If you've followed my posts, I only shop thrift shops and I was wearing a white body briefer as a dress with a nice red cover-up. I started wearing my underwear as outwear before Madonna was even born, she stole my idea.

Anyway, the lady invited me to join her and her husband in their room, but I declined.

The same week we had dinner with a different group at Lucy the famous Margate elephant.

A double, double take

Fridays I like to dress early and do some errants. I needed to stop by a Radio Shack to question about battery's I had bought about a month ago that went dead without use.

The strip mall where it was located also has a beauty salon where a "pre opp" TS works. I usually bump into her at the Salvation Army as Lou. We're pretty much estranged friends, she tends to be very disinterested in me, I guess because I don't shave for 2-3 days and wear unattractive baggie street clothes and may even look like a "street person". I had shown her my pictures but again she was very distant towards me as Lou. No problem, even though she looks pretty good I'm not looking for any involvement and if I were a TS is not my direction.

I figured as long as I was a couple doors away I'd stop in and say hi as Louise, she happened to be next door at the Pizza shop but sitting on the window ledge. As I walked towards her I said hi, she looked curiously and said hi back, I said you don't recognize me, she said no, who are you? I said "the thrift shop"! It took a second and then she jumped up and said "WOW", I can't believe it, you look great. we talked for a moment but she had to get back to her shop. As I left the Pizza Shop after eating I pulled out of my parking spot and glanced over towards the beauty salon, the whole crew were standing at the window and waving at me.

The second double take was from a person I race bike with, he's a carpenter. I had asked about some work I needed done and he told me to stop by the job he was on to show me his work and discuss my job. I pulled up near him, he had his hair down with a sweat band on and looked exactly like "Rambo" same built and type hair, he usually wears a pony tail when riding. I asked if she was "Sonny", he came to my passenger window and said yes, Sonny speaking, I said your a F**k, he said I'm a what, who are you, I said you ride bike like Sh*t, he got agitated and said who are you. I siad do you want to make something out of it (I knew he had no idea and I wanted to play it up). I got out of my car and then he finally realized who I was, he opened his arms and went to hug me, he said OMG, you're beautiful.

Well it was fun for me and seeing two people who know me as Lou take "double takes" always adds reason to why I love being Louise.

Interesting call

I'm out so much I forget or most things don't really seem important anymore when I'm dressed as Louise.

I got a call from a nearby person my wife made up once, he's a very high up in one of the Trump property's. He said a lady called him to tell him she had met an attractive and very nice cross dresser at the restaurant she went to with her lady friend the other night. Obviously he's shared his interest in CDing with her, I have to ask.

So here's the story from that night.

The other night I was at the restaurant/lounge I've been going to lately, it's nice to know and feel accepted when the owner makes a point to come over and shake my hand and welcome me when ever I'm there.

It was a busy night, the Flyer's 4 th. game was on TV and they won. I was standing by the bar and two attractive middle aged lady's came in and were standing near me waiting for bar seats, a couple got up and the one lady came to me and said there was an extra seat next to her. As I sat I thanked her and was hoping for a little conversation, but I think she may have been a little unsure of my intentions or just not sure how to peruse any conversation and I didn't want to push it. I find that many times (or feel) that when women are in that type of venue they would like to possibly meet someone and by me having a conversation it could distract form some guy coming over.

I ordered some finger tenders at the same time they did, but their meal hadn't arrived so I commented they must have ordered something special, she said, no, they brought over the wrong order for them, she was nice but again didn't follow up with more conversation.

I talked with a few people, then decided to leave, I had new shoes on and they were bothering my feet so I sat on the bench on the back porch where they allow people to smoke, before walking to my car. A older very big gentleman came out, distinguished looking with a gray Van Dyke beard who lit up and asked if he could join me on the bench. As he said there we started a conversation, he was new in the area (about 6 months) and bought a home in Ocean City, he said he had asked about me and all the comments were (Louise is a good person). I commented that many people misunderstand this particular life style and think it only has to do with someones sexuality, not to be crude, but everyone has some sexual needs, but because so many Cross Dressers, Gays or other non traditional are misunderstood, traditional people feel they need to just group us into the sexual perversion category for convenience. Some what like saying all lawyers are crooks, or doctors are all rich (OK bad examples we all know they are), but I'm sure many people aren't what they look like or present.

A new Dress

A new dress is usually not new for me, but this one was brand new verses the Thrift Shop things I usually buy.

I had gone to a field trip with some members of the Photography club I belong to because it was here in Atlantic City. We went to Ocean 1. As I was leaving I noticed a really nice dark blue dress on a mannequin so I went in to see how much it cost. It was a little pricey but I was feeling in a spending mood (for a change).

I looked around and didn't see another of that color so I asked a sales girl if that was the last one, she checked and the manager took it off the mannequin for me.

I was Lou at the time and the people there were sort of animate towards me. I paid for the dress and then just had to ask if they thought it would look good on the person in the picture I showed them on my camera. They confirmed it would be stunning. When I said that was me, they wanted me to try it on right then, I declined but said I would be back some time dressed in it for them. It just so happens my Class Reunion is in August at Ocean 1 in one of the restaurants.

Impressive Birthday

I usually don't post about Lou's life, but this Saturday Millie and I were invited to a very impressive birthday party of a very popular person in the Atlantic City community.

Many of the guests were local and State politicians and law enforcement officials, also heads of local foundations, CEO's and so on, I'm not sure how or why we were invited other than he and many of the invitees do know me in both persona's.

One of the more interesting conversations was with the past Ambassador of Panama and ex Congressman Hughes. He also sits on the SJI (South Jersey Industries) board of directors, which is where I met him the first time as Louise, I had mentioned that in previous posts.

There was a food line and Ambassador Hughes happened to stand next to me in line, I offered my hand and introduced my self, he said I'm sure we've met before but he couldn't place me, I said yes, we've met at the SJI proxy meetings, but I'm usually a little blond. His face lit up and he pointed at me, smiled and shook and shook and shook my hand 5 times. I was afraid he would walk away from me as he did the last time he saw me as Louise at the proxy meeting. I would have liked my picture with him but thought it would be to presumptuous.

The Gym

A few weeks ago I wanted to share Louise with one of my gym mates, Morris, I posted about going to the restaurant/lounge he runs.

Last week while in class our instructor was encouraging me with compliments of my ability to do some of the techniques, the person (Morris) who was a Captain in the Israeli Army, said, leave Lou alone, he's mine. I guess Morris likes Louise.

Hadassah

Last week I went to a fashion show that was presented by Hadassah (meaning star of hope)an upper class Jewish woman's charity group. I was baptised Catholic, which I don't follow but have found the Jewish customs to be very interesting and based more on logic and reality, I won't get into religious doctrine because many people still fight wars over misinterpretations, so who am I to try and explain it.

The reason I went is because I was in business in Margate, NJ for 40 years and most of my clientele were Jewish and also the gym I go to is predominately patronized by the same people, I wanted them to meet Louise.

We found an empty table and before we knew it others joined us, there was only one male with his wife and daughter who were let to our table by the mother of the woman who own's the store putting on the show, the husband commented he seemed to be the token male at the show, the hostess said not exactly, this is Lou/Louise.

It was an interesting night, Millie said every time I got up the go to the buffet or do something all the women were wispering. At least I didn't have toilit paper hanging out of the back of my dress like this woman did in the posted picture. I got the picture as she was leaving, she was about 40 feet from me so it's dark.

I was very well accepted though and one lady even brougt over her friend to intrroduce me, the lady had no idea I was a male.

Something about Lou

I never post about Lou, nothing happens to him.

Sunday my wife and I went to Pet Smart, I usually wear form fitting clothes, just like Louise. As I was getting into my car the guy sitting in his car next to ours said "you know for a white guy you're really built" (he was black). I said thinks for the compliment, but you should see my twin sister (I won't tell my age). I always have my man bag and pulled out a few Louise pictures. The first thing he said was she's not your twin, she's much younger, like about 35. I said she has to be my age, she's me.

He looked again and again, then he said, Hun, if that's you I want some.