Share Holders Meeting for SJI

Last Friday I went to the share holders meeting at The Mansion in Voorhees, NJ, I've gone for the last 10-12 years as Louise. The meetings used to be closer about 15 miles from me, but the new place is a good hour drive, although it  gives me a chance to go shopping in the area.

The day started at about 6 AM, I ate a small breakfast then showered shaved and did my makeup. I was on the road by 8:30 making sure I'd have time for the 10 AM meeting start. I programed the route into my Tom Tom, which is a little different from the way I usually go but it looked as if I could knock off about 10-15 minuets. I never take the Expressway, but this time I did figuring the time saved and ease driving. I went by the usually road I normally take and then started to get concerned because I wasn't sure where the new route was taking me, so I got off at the next exit. Never the less I got there with just enough time to use the MEN'S room and get a cup of coffee before the meeting started.

As usual, when I walked into the men's room, a gentleman was washing his hands and saw me in the mirror and informed me I was in the wrong room, I thanked him in my Lou voice. After the meeting they serve a buffet  lunch, so I made a sandwich and went into the dinning area. I saw a table with 6 people (10 seat tables) and asked if I could join them, they graciously approved and the one gentleman asked, haven't I seen you at a local restaurant/lounge near where we live, I acknowledged saying that's me, it also relaxed the others if they were concerned. About a minute later the ex Ambassador and Congressman Hughes came over to me to say hello, everyone at the table was very impressed that this person would actually admit to knowing a "cross dresser" and being respectful about it, I was very impressed.

After the meeting I found where a Goodwill Thrift shop was. I started in the skirt isle and happened to see an extremely well built and attractive young Afro-American girl in the same isle, she had a "Brazilian Butt" and was in shin tight leggings. As I just started to go through the rack I saw a little spandex mini dress and handed it to her, she said WOW, thank you, wee that broke the ice. We started talking and looking for clothes for each other and sharing our tastes in clothes. I asked her to try on the skirt so I could take a couple pictures she put on a little modeling show for me right outside the dressing room.

I also had to meet my investment advisor to sing a document, we went to a luncheonette, I had to use the rest room, but I did notice a guy nearby at the deli department, when we left my advisor mentioned the guy was staring at my legs as I walked into the rest room, I mentioned to him, a lot of men do.

The Paradox

A couple weeks ago, I was in the Goodwill Store near me (they're not a charity orginization, if you wern't aware). As I was browsing the womens clothes isles dressed in womans jeans and boots, I notice a very andogynous girl (looked like a boy) who was browsing the mens department.

The New Karoke Place

My wife and I are going to a different place for Karaoke since the other place was wiped out by Hurricane Sandy, it's the second time there last Saturday.

 This Saturday it was fairly busy because they were having an Hawaiian night with a free buffet. I needed to use the restroom (I do the men's). I walked to the back of the place and there were 4 guys (late 20's or so) standing like guards just in front of the two restroom doors so I had to walk around the last guy who was in front of the men's room door. As I went to open the door, he turns towards me and says politely "Honey, I think you want the other one", I looked up at him and in my deeper Lou voice said "It's OK I'm a guy". he replied "Oh, sorry".

 

I have a (CD) friend who I consider very critical, he has often told me I pass in public, I usually disagree and prefer my phrase "I present well", I've never been obnoxious or Narcissistic enough to consider myself "passable" and actually have more interesting conversations when I'm "made", but maybe he's right.

Getting gas

Last night (Saturday) was the first night in 2 months my wife was able to go out, she had spent almost 4 weeks in the hospital and about a month trying to recover, besides, the weather has been poor over the last couple weekends and not worth the effort to go out.

We were going down Shore Rd and turn on Delila to go to Brigantine and decided to buy gas at the station there, I was dressed as Louise.

A older very dark with a white beard, Indian (I guess) and looked very Tribal came to our window. I asked him to fill it up with regular, he paused and looked at me and gave me a huge smile and said "oh yes pretty lady". He was busy but came back to top off the car, as I paid him, he said "You come back again, soon" with the biggest smile he could muster. My wife looks at  me and says "OH MY GOD", I said the same thing.

Very amusing to me, but so sad

OK, this may sound a little paradoxical, but most people who have talked with me or followed my Blog posts have to know I (as Lou) have a very low self esteem, that's the reason I dress as Louise.

So the strange part of this little post is:

Last week I found a pair of like new women's riding boots at a Thrift Shop. They fit well although they were very stiff at the ankle area and I wanted to break them in, but I wasn't dressed as Louise. I usually wear women's jeans anyway and the boots have about a 2" stubby 1"x1" tapered heel (like the old Cuban heel style) and the style and shape are like women wear with Jodphors for horse back riding in a Tan color.

I stopped in at the local WAWA for a cup of coffee, the price was 1.07 for the last month and I go in with exact change, when I went to pay, the cashier said the special was over and it went up, I said no problem, I'll get the extra change. I went out to my car and an older gentleman (about 60's) comes up behind me and says, I'll pay for your coffee. He had to be just behind me in line and heard me say I had the money, I wonder why he offered to pay for me (maybe the boots)?

My confusion is, I realize everyone noticed the boots as I walked into WAWA, you have to walk the Gauntlet (so to speak) because the check out counter is where you walk in and every ones heads in unison (like 8 people in line) looked down at them. So was this person affected by the way I was dressed, it had to be, because he never met me before and we had no conversation. Would he have done the same thing if I was just dressed "normally", that is my question and what makes me sad.

The Restaurant

My wife and I go to a Greek restaurant The Windjammer, in Somers Point, NJ most weekends, I do go at times en-fem. This weekend as we were leaving, the two sisters who are owners started to talk with us. The one said, I have a funny story to tell you. One of the servers had seen me and had become attracted to me. Before we left I need to use the restroom and due to the fact I don't consider myself "Transgendered" I'm really not allowed or welcome in the Lady's room, and I don't want to insult or put the restaurant in jeopardy of losing customers, so I respectfully us the men's room. It so happened the server asked the owner why and she informed him I was a male, apparently he was very disappointed.

The other lady owner said I have a story better, one of the servers went into the restroom when I was in the stall. I came out and washed my hands next to him. When he came out he reported to her that a lady was in the men's room.

They, even though being Greek, are very open minded and got the biggest kick out of the responses of their staff and customers. I'm sure they defend me if or when it's needed. That's what I call having character.

The Senators Son

A couple weeks ago I received an Email form a lady who is married to a Senators son. She asked if I would come to her husbands 40th birthday and sing Happy Birthday, Marilyn Monroe style. To say the least I was very humbled.

She offered to pay me, but my interest is more about being accepted and respected for who I am, besides, the Senator was once a customer of mine and his sister-in-law is a customer of my wife.

I'm not sure about the impression I left on them, but I know there were a lot of pictures taken and the good think is, everyone joined in to sing with me (I'm a terrible singer).

To rotect the inocent I've pixelated the faces of the Son and Senator.

Saturday night with Joyce Brothers

Not really.

Saturday night I went out with my wife, but not to our usual haunt, which had been severely damaged by "Sandy". We've gone to this other place occasionally but it's not as much fun.

Our friends had saved us a place at their table where an older couple were sitting. It turned out the man was a retired local judge and the lady was a still practicing Physiologist and she actually looked a little like Joyce Brothers.

The Physiologist and I talked the whole evening but when she got up to dance I noticed she was wearing over the knee Dominatrix high heeled fetish style boots, I asked if she had brought her riding crop and she said she just needed a subject, I think she has a kink.

She had mentioned to me she had a few patients who also cross dressed and were dealing with issues, she mentioned (but I feel it's unprofessional) she might contact me for help, we'll see.

The Judge kept falling asleep at the table, so they had to go, I guess I know who steers the ship in that relationship.

It's always something

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.

With my dogs as Lou

My wife left Friday with a couple girl friends for the Outer Banks. I was pretty bored by Sunday so I figured I would take my two dogs to "Dog Beach", they were never there. I got them on the beach and the one was very skittish due to the wind. As we were walking there was a young couple with an English Bull Dog, the girl wanted to pet my two dogs. As I was waiting I noticed her husband/Boyfriend had flip flops on and his toe nails were painted pink, honest to goodness. He in no way looked like he was gay, contrary, I thought he was either a cop or just out of the service, he was about my size, a little taller and had one of those cop hair cuts like the troopers have. Well I had to mention them, he said he lost a bet, I decided not to push the issue, he looked like he could get nasty. They were walking back to their car and I went a couple hundred feet more out. I started back but my dogs were pulling to get back fast, so the couple and I got to our cars at the same time. I got the dogs into the car and figured I'd show a couple some of my Louise pictures to the girl and to help the guy feel more comfortable. They were very polite and thought it was neat. When I went to get back into my car, it was locked with the keys and dogs inside, obviously one of them hit to auto door locks while on the arm rest. So now I was really stuck. The couple asked if I had another key, which I knew I had one but couldn't remember if I had put it in my other car, he offered to drive me to my home (about 10 minuets from the park). I couldn't find the key but I had kept my lockout kit from my shop, so I grabbed that and we went back. Fortunately he actually got the car opened by tripping the switch through the door jamb. What a relief, there are still some good people around. BTW, they were from Philly and just down for the day.

Labor Day Party

 

My plumber

My wife tried my breast forms on

  At the Angel store at Smithville, do I fit?

This Past Sunday my wife's friend asked us to go to her brother's Labor Day pool party. He also coincidental happened to do some plumbing work for me a couple years ago and he had met me as Louise previously and was at my birthday party, so her brother and I aren't strangers, he insisted I come as "Louise" (I rarely pass up those invitations).

Believing it was a pool party, Millie and I dressed in swimsuits. When we got to his home and walked through the garage to the back of the house there was no pool, although a canal, also, their were about 20 VFW guys, mostly older men and their wives. I did feel a little uncomfortable, not for me, but I didn't want to be an embarrassment to the host.

I mixed mostly with the women, they seem to be more comfortable with me and got into a couple conversations. I find most people where ever I go, especially women tend to be very open about their lives and find me easy to share some very private information, perhaps they feel safe and that I'm more understanding and sympathetic to their issues.

We only spent a couple hours there and our friends wanted to leave, I felt I had to go around and say goodbye to the people I missed. If you know anything about most VFW types, they like to stick together in one area or table, I went over and started to say goodbye to a small group and asked when they had been in the service, they were all in 9 years after me at the end of the conflict, I went in at the beginning, they were very impressed that I looked at least 20 years younger than them and also my waist line was half theirs, they treated me with respect after learning a little about me.

We also went to the Shops at Smithville after.

Asked for a date

Last Friday night I was at one of my local haunts in Somers Point. Most of the people know me (both ways). As I was speaking to a couple I've known about 10-12 years a fellow about mid 40's comes behind me and takes hold of my shoulders, as I turn he says hi, I'm here with my brother and father, they want you to come over with us. I said OK, I'll be a few minuets. Apparently they were ready to leave and the 3 of them came over, it was an older gentleman (their father I had met a couple years ago at a different restaurant, he was recently widowed then.

I'm not sure if he knew or didn't care that I was a CD, but with his 2 son's standing there and the   couple I was talking with he said "Louise, I want to take you to dinner this week, I'm leaving Thursday and it would be an honor". I have to admit I was really taken back at how comfortable he was at asking me for a dinner date, but I was really taken by surprise. I said I'm OK with that, but understand I am a Lesbian, I just wanted everyone who was listing to the conversation that I wasn't going to be intimate with him. I asked if they know how to contact me and they didn't answer, but out of self defence I didn't offer my card with name and phone number, to be honest, I was afraid the couple I was talking with would have BLABBED all over that I went out with a man.

My Birthday

Last week my wife threw a surprise birthday party for me, she told me one day before so I could invite anyone I may have wanted to, but obviously it was very short notice for one of my "special" friends.

Never the less about 25+ people did come and to be honest it was just enough (no one for the Alternative life style). I was surprised to see my brother and his wife, also my son came down from NNJ.7

The cake was very special with (I guess) a lady in a dress who was supposed to resemble me. All in all it was a good time.

Topless

I never go out with out a top to cover my arms, but last week I took a deep breath and went for it, the first time in 16 years (other than on a boat with limited audience).

You could say, I'm built like a woman body builder. I was very surprised at the general reaction, I think it was good because all the women and many of the men had to feel.

Cellophine Man

Friday night I was sitting talking with an older man who I met about 15 years ago when I first started to go out, he was part of a (so called) clique of guys who were all friends and hung at "Bubba Mac's" restaurant lounge, as you can get from the name of the establishment, it was sort of "Red Neck" in atmosphere. Surprisingly I was almost immediately welcomed into this clique of guys, most likely out of curiosity and questioned about my "alter ego", so I tried to explain it by example.

Many people who have seen the story "Chicago" never get the drift or real meaning the author was attempting to convey, there was another movie with exactly the same story base "The gun in Mary Browns bag". Both of these story's are based about obscure persons who through unusual circumstances become extraordinary celebrities. Without going into details (see the movies), I tend to take on the character when I am Lou of "Amos" the husband of Roxy Hart in Chicago that no one knows who he is. He sings a song "Cellophane Man" the lyrical rhetorical that manifested into my feelings about myself, were "YOU CAN LOOK RIGHT AT ME, WALK RIGHT BY ME AND NEVER EVEN KNOW I'M THERE". That's the way I feel about myself as Lou, the only time I'm recognized as Lou is if someone needs to use me as a "whipping boy" as some of my cycling associates do, they can be very direct, especially this season because I took most of the year off the recover from a couple medical procedures, so I'm really struggling.

As we sat talking people, mostly women a few guys too would come over and great me, asking how I've been and just wanting me to acknowledge them, I would say no less than 40-50 people over the hour and a half I was there. The person finally says to me, "I GET IT NOW", everyone here knows you and just loves the hell out of you, now I understand why you need to dress, it's amazing, you're really a celebrity and I'm proud to know you.

What can I say other than for people to see and be there to see what I feel, I also hope others either in the "Lifestyle" or outside it will learn we all need to be recognize but to do it in a positive way so as not to hurt others.

Informational meeting at the Urologist

As men age some people develop undesirable conditions, I think mine are caused by the effect of cycling long distances over the last 30 years.

Last night I went to a informational meeting and found it very interesting, but that's not the reason for this post. As the meeting finished and the people there were talking among themselves I mentioned to a very large Irishman that he looked familiar and asked if he patronized a particular restaurant/Lounge I go to often en-fem. He confirmed he did, I said "Oh, you've seen me there, but you don't recognize me" I said "I'm the little blond", he looked and smiled and then laughed, shook my hand and said "one night I was there with my wife for dinner, you walked by me and winked, I followed you as you went by and said to my wife, that's a hot piece of ass".

I wonder what he thinks now?

Last Friday night (6/1/12) I went to a new restaurant/lounge that has recently reopened with a new name and owners in Somers Point (name intentionally not mentioned).This place has been very successful since day one and the owner is VERY accepting of me, so much so he intentionally makes a point of finding me and greeting me each time I come there, although, I don't want to encourage other Cd's to patronize the location for fear it may "label or Tag" his business as a CD/TG hangout.

As I started to cruse one of the 2 bars I ran into the Ex of a friend of mine who I still ride bicycle with, as you can see she is very attractive and accepting of "Louise", totally contrary to her Ex-husband. I have mentioned to him (or asked), if he's so straight and hetero-sexual, why is it he likes to screw me every time he sees me?

Stock Holders meeting

A couple weeks ago I went to the SJI stock holders meeting in Voorhees, NJ. It was fairly uneventful, although as I got out of my car a gentleman recognized me from the Ram's Head venue (no longer exists), he was with a friend who is a real-estate broker in Ocean City and of Dutch heritage.
We walked in together and they asked me to sit with them during the meeting. The Dutch guy seemed to become very comfortable with me (as a person). Afterwards they asked me to sit with them for lunch, I excused myself to use the rest room and when I came out went looking for them, there were two banquet rooms and I didn't know where they were.

I wound up sitting at a table of strangers to each other and it was almost like sitting at a funeral, so, I opened the conversation asking if they agreed with the reason the CEO gave about the softening of the stock price, everyone finally started to talk.

I was sitting next to an older couple (late sixties early seventies) who seemed very nice, but as the rest of our lunch partners left she had to ask me about my persona. We got into a nice conversation and she mentioned she was a Baptist and never met anyone like me. She continued that she was very happy she met me and I really impressed her with my appearance and respectability.

Bottom line is, act no differently as you would in public when cross dressed as you would in "gender accepted" clothing and you should (hopefully) be accepted by most people.

My Plumber

Last night my wife and I went to a birthday party for a friend we've known for about 10 years, a very nice and accepting couple. As we came up to the table there was a person I had install a Rinnai tank less hot water system for me about 2 years ago.
After the work was done we had gotten into a conversation about some personal situations being that we know a lot of history in this area. I felt comfortable sharing "Louise" with him, after all he was a someone I wasn't going to have a LTR with and I just like to share both sides of me with others.
It turns out he is the brother of the woman who we've been friends with and had no idea of the connection. When he saw me his comment was "you do it right".
Now I think he wants a LTR, he said I look like his old girl friend.

A Sunday outing

Sunday I was getting ready to ride my bike, when my appointment reminder popped up on my PC. There was a show at Stockton Collage I wanted to go to with my wife (Millie) "The Sound of Music" a sing-along, I felt it would be fun. Besides it would be a Louise day.

I got made-up and dressed and we headed out to Breakfast at our usual Diner. I had shown my pictures to a few of the wait-staff. Our waitress arrived and greeted us "good morning Ladies" and then asked if we wanted something to drink, we both replied and then she almost yelled, OMG it's you I had no idea. I had probably shown her my picture less than a month before but she thought (she said) I was a natural woman and couldn't get over my eye makeup.

A couple minutes later another waitress whom I had shared my pictures with walked by and recognized my wife and looked at me and mentioned my necklace, I said thanks, it's from Millie's store, she also said OMG, I had no idea it was you until you spoke. The two of them and the woman owner kept coming back to our booth just to look and compliment me, Millie by this time was getting more agitated, the one waitress said, well you're beautiful too to her, as an afterthought, she knows my wife leaves the tips.

There were some women dressed as Nuns portraying the Nuns from the Abby where Maria, so after the show I asked if they wouldn't mind having my picture with them, they want me to join their order, can you see me as a Nun?