Trekkie Girl #3

Hello there, yes it's another new post from me tonight. I was going to include this as part of the last one but I wanted to write two separate parts rather than gel them together in a 'My Week' sort of a thing plus this is linked to something I was writing about last week which has gained a bit of momentum.

I am still thinking about it at this stage but I saw a female friend of mine at the weekend (not the one I mentioned in the first post, I may add) and thought I would mention my Star Trek dress idea to her, knowing that she normally likes it when I do this sort of thing. I have gained a certain reputation over the years going back to an incident I haven't spoken about on here yet. No-one has ever asked me outright about this which is nice but it can go two ways in that I do feel a bit put out if people just assume that I (a) will be dressing up when we have a party or are around cosplay and (b) that I will be crossdressing. I don't know, something about the assumption and my slight rebellious streak that doesn't like people thinking they've got me figured out. Sometimes it does work for the better though as some of the girls have been supportive. Of course there are the usual jokes which do get my dander up a bit but then I'm not even the biggest crossdresser in our group.

So anyway on with the story and she, as a big Trek fan, has offered to lend me her blue dress and possibly a bag to match!  I do remember this dress from a con a few years ago too. This has made me a little excited and I guess it adds a little something to it that it's someone else's clothing too. A bit like a TG caption story in the making. I have tights although a new pair may be required so all I need now is those black boots.

Might even have to make an effort to watch the show now...

Dress Size

Ok, so as I mentioned last week I was considering buying a dress and perhaps a few more things online and I...have not done that yet admittedly but I have been checking out how to measure my dress size (or as near to as I can get I guess) so I thought I would share a couple of websites that helped me. That is after all what I wanted to primarily do with this blog; help other people in a similar situation and provide something I would have liked to stumble over growing up to make me make sense of the odd feelings I was experiencing and feel like I wasn't the only one. To be honest it was more of an inkling than a full on feeling in the beginning. I never thought seriously about something being there until later.

Anyway, websites:

1. What size am I?

2. ASOS.com guide to dress sizes

These should at least work in the UK. Outside that I'm not sure but at least it's handy to know where to measure:

1. The fullest part of the bust

2. The natural waistline

3. 20cm down from the natural waistline (hips)

Exactly how good this is for us chaps remains to be seen. I appear to be a size 18 so hopefully a bit of shopping with that in mind will help. Always nice to have a guide though rather than randomly searching through clothes racks for something that may fit.

Here's also a link to the dress I was thinking of getting on Amazon:

Ladies Belted Pleated Sleeveless Skater Dress

Hope this info helps.

Gender Neutral Clothing

I read on MSN today that Selfridges (and yes, I believe that they do in fact sell fridges. Sorry, a running joke of my dad's) are to start stocking gender neutral clothes. No mens and womens departments, just one big clothing area thing.

Here's a link to the story: Selfridges to Stock Gender Neutral Clothing.

Part of this worries me a bit, like it's one step away from everyone wearing the same styles, bland jumpers and trousers and no individuality. On the other hand, it's a step in the right direction although I doubt that it would make buying a dress or skirt a bit easier. The embarrassment wouldn't get any easier and you would probably still get stares as a man trying one on but that may just be my own paranoia. This is a step forward and hopefully it will make future generations less self conscious.

On the flip side, there is something quite attractive about a woman in a suit and tie...

Trekkie Girl #2

Over on Rachel's Haven this week the subject of Star Trek clothing has come up again and it led to Felicia Hextus posting these wonderful knickers:

Starfleet Regulation Underwear

Source: www.bunnyjump.co.uk

I just love these for their bright, colourful and somewhat garish look. Something a true fangirl would wear under her uniform. So if I was ever to be, say, made to dress like a Trekkie girl then these would be included making me look like total Trek nerd. Perhaps the red pants if I get the red dress, have to stay true to my sector which I believe is engineering. Or getting killed. Or hypnotised.

Now I don't think the same thing would happen if it were to be, say, Doctor Who, which I'm a big fan of. TARDIS panties wouldn't do it. Something that brands me as a fan of something I'm not a fan of like Star Trek, Twilight or The Only Way is Essex is such a delicious idea and panties would be such a personal item to have it stamped over.

In other news, I've started thinking about a certain story idea I had, possibly for the next A Little Bit of Girl Time collection involving a boy in a bikini...

The Nineteenth Hole

Last year I had a bit of a wobble while writing this blog and at the end of the year, for some reason, I decided to have a go at getting over that hump and my solution was to write something on here every day. That was one month ago on the 19th December and I think it's been a success. 

Looking back over my posts, it may not seem that I have posted every single day according to the dates but normally I would write at the end of the day and end up pressing 'Publish' the wrong end of midnight. To my mind, it was only one day I ended up missing due to being slightly drunk coming back from a night out. 

Doing something like this does force you to be creative and I'm pleased with the amount of ideas I have had and the stuff I've covered however often I must admit my laziness has got the better of me and I simply won't start writing something because it will take me too long. This is why I've also ended up doing more actual blogging and talking about my day or my feelings towards Christmas and New Year. 

I was thinking about doing something special to blog about here today like buying some clothes. I did have a dress in my sights but I'm not too sure what size I would be and I don't seem to have a tape measure here at the moment so it will have to wait. 

I will of course still update the blog but just not every day. Hope everyone's been enjoying it so far. 

My idea for it was always to chronicle my girlier side, the things I do, the things I've done and what I noticed within that world and I stopped doing that and so it's sadly not as current as I wished but I do hope to get back on track now. 

Pink Library #5: SlutFest

The title might put you off a bit but this is one of my very favourite TG stories combining so many elements that I love and the author, Wyrdey, has become one of my favouirtes. I expect I shall be covering more of their tales in the future.

SlutFest by Wyrdey

The premise is simple: in order to make a name for themselves a frat house holds a competition to find the biggest slut on campus, the titular SlutFest. On the night of the contest, a disgruntled goth girl casts a spell (because they always know magic in TG storeis) which freezes time and makes the girls switch clothes with the guys which of course ends up with them fully changing genders.

The clothes swap is described in wonderful detail through every stage from underwear through to hats, make-up and accessories. Everything switched. One of my favourite lines describes the girls slipping their feet into sneakers while the guys cram theirs into heels and it's one I've since used variations on in my own caption work. Once it's over, time restarts and the everyone at the party slips into their new roles. It's a lot of fun to read about the guys suddenly slipping into the roles of attention seeking 'sluts'. For example, Marcus and Rod starting to snog and grope each other, making sure everyone's looking before starting wrestle in jelly. The frat becomes a sorority with a line in racy parties.

I loved this story so much I've used a similar device in a series of captions. I've also added a touch of Role Exchanger in that it's a mysterious alien entity. The Silent Swapper makes time freeze and a clock can be heard striking in the background before two characters exchange clothes. After the initial swap, they fully become the gender of the other person and take on their personality.

The below caption was created for Commentator on Rachel's Haven.

Poolside (2013)

Noticeable Styles

Just a quick one tonight (or this morning now I guess since it's coming up to 1.30am here).

A little in relation to what I was talking about yesterday there was a girl I saw on the train today. She had long blonde hair and was wearing a black cap, black top and black leggings with gold chains around the neck and pockets and some blinging trainers. I've never seen an outfit like it before and I'm not sure of the right word to use but I loved it. It was something that I would never personally wear (not all the same colour) but yet I wanted to so much; I couldn't look away. It would have been such fun to swap clothes with her there and then, it's another common fantasy for me. I also find it fascinating why people wear the things they do and when. How what's stylish and the right way to dress for one person is opposite for another. Wearing a tracksuit may be a common look for one person but another would abhor it and you could say the same about long, fancy, elegant dress.

Another style I was thinking about recently was the 1940s. I've been watching some episodes of Agent Carter. Love Hayley Atwell in her blue suit. Long pencil skirt, tights and heels, just so smart and stylish. I'm liking the show so far with a highlight being the banter between Jarvis and Peggy. There's a lovely shot of Peggy walking to work in the opening episode in her blue suit and red hat, standing out amongst a sea of men dressed in dark suits.

Hmm maybe a future cosplay, who knows.

Agent Peggy Carter surveys the office

Photograph: www.thestar.com

Girl Gang

One fantasy I've been having recently is being made to join a girl gang.

This is a variation on my usual transformation fantasy in which I'm being taught by someone how to be like them. My version is mainly about a bunch of chavettes, the clothes, the cheap jewellery, the Croydon facelift, the attitude, smoking, drinking, swearing etc.

I would be given longer hair and made to tie it back, big gold hoop earrings, a necklace with my new name on and made to shave my eyebrows off. I would have to get a fake tan, learn to smoke and wear clothes given to me like tracksuits and crop tops. Perhaps I would have to do dares like steal stuff or go clubbing in a short dress. We would just watch TV all day or hang around in the park drinking. Maybe I'll even have to get a tattoo.

Not sure why this is. Perhaps it's a case a being something so different from who I am now that appeals or just a strong archetype to have to fit into.

Here's a caption I did for Fratboy2sororitygirl on Rachels Haven illustrating it. This was a hard one to do because i had to use my own preferences and as ever it was a case of too much choice.

Kim the Chav (2012)

Fashionista #6

Ok, so...

Here are some cool winter coat styles and stuff I've been noticing.

Leather Clad Coat

Photo: shelikes.com 

First of all, leather (or pleather) sleeves on a coat, normally a green parka. This has been a growing trend over the past couple of years and looks quite nice, something a bit different. Normally I see coats a lot longer than the one in the picture. Love those shiny high leggings too! High waisted shorts and leggings are quite big at the moment or at least were in summer. 

A Case of the Pink Furries

Photo: Oasap.com 

Faux fur coats are coming back. I'm seeing a lot of pink ones out there too. They always look soooo warm and snuggly too like wearing a whole fur blanket. 

Animal Magic

Photo: ASOS.com

Fur gilets are also quite popular in various styles and colours most looking a bit odd and mottled like various cats have been skinned. I think Game of Thrones is probably to blame for this look. It's very caveperson, like you've just killed an animal and are wearing its fur. I guess many styles do come round again even if they are thousands of years old. 

Gorgeous Gilet

Photo: Houghtoncounty.co.uk

Quilted bodywarmers and gilets are also a handy way to keep warm in the winter, many wearing them under clothes or going for a full quilted jacket. I remember bodywarmers from the 1980s, I used to wear one too I think. 

That's A Wrap!

Photo: Elleryland.com

Clara Oswald wore a wrap skirt in The Time of the Doctor and now I've been seeing them quite frequently. It's an interesting style although it looks uncomfortable and like it might come undone at any moment. They have been getting shorter though and start looking more weird as they do, like a couple of shirt tails.

Anyway, that's all for now

Ciao!

Chances

I sat next to a woman on the train today. Well, she sat next to me, truth be told. Lovely red hair, nails and a wonderful pair of leggings. Usually I dread sitting next to a pretty woman as I will feel inadequate but for once I felt happy, invigorated. She actually smiled as well, most people on the train at the end of the day have a face like thunder. I should have taken the time to talk to her, I should have at least said something. I can never find the words no matter how bland they may be and I've missed my chance now.

I worry about that a lot, missing chances. One day I'll be old and looking back on my life with no power to change it. Back in the days before iplayer and DVDs when watching something on TV at the time was the only time you were likely to see it I worried that I would forgo a social occasion for the television and end up catching a repeat years later. I would have missed that chance just for the TV.

Ever since the break-up I've dreaded being in that situation again and the slowly dawning fact that I should probably try to start dating again, not that I ever did an awful lot anyway.

Sorry if I've sounded a little maudlin tonight, I don't mean to be. Actually the experience cheered me up a bit, it's been a stressful week so far.

Quantum Leap #2: Another Mother

Another Mother 

(30 September 1981)

Sam is...Linda Bruckner, multitasking mother

The Mission: Save son Kevin Bruckner from running away from home and subsequently vanishing without a trace.  

This is another favourite episode for me and one I have watched a number of times.

We are still in season two and this story comes a mere nine episodes after What Price Gloria. We've done 'single girl in the city' so 'mother' is the next logical step. As such, we are over the whole "oh no I'm a woman" thing and struggles with heels and getting into the situation at hand. Sam looks a lot better in Linda's pirate-y blouse and long skirt than he did in Samantha Stormer's revealing dresses. I noticed Al's bizarre clothes a bit more this time with his tie with bites taken out of it and flurry of buttons on the collar. 

While Linda is dressing as a pirate, all the cool kids in 1981 are dressing as cowboys and cowgirls it seems. Speaking of which, up to this point 1981 was the furthest the show had ever travelled forward for a mission. I suppose it was like a present day Doctor Who episode, saves money on period detail at least. This episode also introduced the idea that kids could see Sam and Al because they exist in a natural alpha state and could not be lied to. "That's not mommy, that's a man," repeats younger daughter Teresa at the beginning, and no doubt to several psychiatrists in the years since. She's was played by Troian Bellisario daughter of producer Donald Bellisario and this episode's writer Deborah Pratt.  

Michael Stoyanov (whom I remember mainly from the early 1990's sitcom Blossom) plays Kevin well and has some of the most pop-culture laden lines pre-Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Somehow he's involved in Demons and Dragons, an odd Dungeons and Dragons game in which ranking is based on sexual encounters for some reason. When school hottie Jackie agrees to embarrass Kevin in front of his friends he is soon sent into the night and into the clutches of two mute perverts who we have seen heading towards the town in a beaten up van in various previous scenes. Al has a wonderful line in response to one of the Kevin's so-called friends, telling him he won't lose his own virginity until 6 years time although how he has this information to hand is another mystery. Sam gets the opportunity to kick ass in a long skirt ("Watch that knife, Sam. It could be sharp," is Al's helpful advice) and it's worth it to see the stunned look on Kevin's face when he stumbles out of the van to see his mother has beaten up his kidnappers. Their motivation is never explained but perhaps they don't need one beyond being generic dirty old men and providing someone for Sam to fight which he does so while Al reels off a list of all the fighting styles Sam handily knows. 

So, it seems a bit like an 80's teen sex comedy in places but there's a lovely dynamic with the kids, Kevin and his sister Susan bicker all the time but make up and Al's scenes with Teresa are lovely as she embraces the logic of the leap. Teresa also appears in a novel sequel Angels Unaware (1997) by L. Elizabeth Storm. Not only does Sam have a schedule to keep up with but there's some interesting moments as he finds he can't have a heart to heart with Kevin as he feels he can't relate to his mum. 

This story was less about Sam being a woman and more on his role as mother and it was all the better for it, the outfits he wore for it worked better too. 

That's not quite it for season two though as we also have a snippet of the finale M.I.A (01 April 1969) in which Sam leaps into it, at first sight, a hooker standing in an alleyway. This is a wonderful little fake out which appears in the credits but our crossdressing leaper is for once actually crossdressing and the figure in the big hair, red top and orange mini skirt is actually undercover cop Jake Rawlins. After leaping twice into a woman this season, you couldn't blame Sam for thinking otherwise. It's not the first crazy costume he wears this episode too. As a newbie detective he also finds his locker filled with frillies and once again he's delighted to see a pair of jeans. That's where the CD element ends but this is a lovely bittersweet story in which Al tries to get Sam to stop his first wife remarrying while he's MIA (missing in action) in the Vietnam war. Ironically, the next story after this sees Sam try to change his own past in season three opener, The Leap Home.

Next time we enter the world of the beauty contest...

Nerdy Girl

Posting that random cap yesterday made my think about many of the others I've done on the theme of nerdy and geeky girls.

Now this is not just capping girls wearing Star Wars one piece swimsuits or rolling around in comics but full on personality changes. I seem to have done it more often than I realise. I guess the main draw is the personality change, and I'm talking strictly stereotypes here and I do not intend in any way to cause offence. The image of the nerd, girl or guy, is a shy person, bad hair, braces on teeth, big black rimmed glasses, perhaps wearing a shirt and tie or some other geeky t-shirt. A love of all things sci-fi fighting for brain space with subject such as science, maths, astronomy, physics and the like. The delicious element is when you take a popular guy or girl and turn them nerdy. Role swaps are always fun to do and there are suprisingly a lot of them out there on this subject. Perhaps nerd is a more popular archetype than I thought.

I'll have to discuss the TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch at some point because it contained many magical changes and I used to watch it as a teenager. One 1996 episode Geek Like Me saw Sabrina turn popular girl Libby (a bully and therefore sharing the brunt of the witch's magic with her boyfriend Harvey) into a geek and, by the end of the episode, most of her class in an effort to save the science club. In The Role Exchanger 3 by Morpheus, a group of popular cheerleaders and nerdy guys switch places with the cheerleaders sitting down to play Dungeons and Dragons while the guys start thinking it's lame. Funnily enough, the next Quantum Leap I cover features D&D too.

There's also something about being jacked in with a lot of new knowledge, stuff that wasn't there before and is perhaps unwanted. I discussed in an earlier post about Star Trek and suddenly knowing all about the show. Years ago I recall a game show called Swapheads in which contestants answer questions on each others specialist subjects after a quick cram session and this appealed to the role change fan in me. The modern version of Doctor Who turns 10 years old this year and it suprises me how much I know about a show I didn't really watch until then. Never watched it as a kid, perhaps I thought it would be too scary, but when I  went back into the classic series and watched it for the first time I loved it. Ten years ago I certainly didn't expect to be able to name all the Third Doctor's companions or all the stories to feature the Sontarans.

Below is one of my favourite captions that  I've done over the years which illustrates this idea well. This was created for Lyndee Mason over at Rachel's Haven. I love this picture; sexy and stylish with her red hair standing out among the blues and greens of the image.

Dalek, I Love You (2012)

 

Weekend Ramble

Hi everyone.

Sorry, not much from me tonight as I've been working on other things plus near the end of the day I've not been feeling too well either. I've been catching up on The Walking Dead though which I'm enjoying in its fifth season. Hmm, not much to say about that though unless they decide to use a transvestite zombie.

I think I've mentioned my earlier apocalyptic fantasy here too about going into malls and trying on whatever clothes I wanted. Probably still looking over my shoulder, more afraid that someone living would come in and judge me more than a zombie. It comes to something when a rotting corpse is preferable to a proper human being. A friend of mine put a picture up on Facebook today too noting that when it comes to animals we are much more prepared to say hello than other human beings. If we pass someone in the street we are less likely to make eye contact. Not sure what that says about us as a species though.

Speaking of avoiding people, I have been a little depressed over the past few days over my romantic situation. I genuinely thought I had turned a corner with it, with getting over my ex, but it still seems as bad as ever. Well, definitely not as bad as a few months ago, at least I'm not crying every day. It still seems weird writing the words 'my ex'. I think it's the sexual problems we had that stick in my craw the most. At least then I could say I had given it my all. I think I got complacent too, I relaxed too much, thinking she would always be there from here on in. I don't know how I'm going to trust another woman knowing that it could mean nothing but then again I know a lot of good couples so I guess it just finding the right person. That's my answer. I guess I want to rush into dating again just to try to get it right, make myself feel better. Not sure if that's the best attitude to have. Maybe that's just it. I always wanted to be in a relationship so perhaps this is it. My one chance.

I generally stay away from posting caps on here unless they have something to do with the subject matter but, although I've rambled on for a bit, it's all rehashed stuff so here's a little reward. This was posted from the March 2013 caption contest on Rachel's Haven which had the topic "Nerdy Girls Need Love Too."

Quick Quiz (2013) 

Quantum Leap #1: What Price Gloria?

What Price Gloria? 

(16 October 1961)

Sam is: Samantha Stormer, sixties secretary. 

The Mission: to stop Sam's flatmate Gloria from committing suicide. 

This is perhaps the episode of Quantum Leap I have seen more than any other. I bought it on video back in the mists of time. They released episodes two to a tape and this shared it's space with The Americanization of Machiko in which Sam leapt into a sailor in 1953 bringing his Japanese war bride home to his small town. I've not seen it in years but still I was mouthing along with much of it, a sign of how well I know this episode. 

Surprisingly, they didn't have the idea of leaping Sam into a woman until season two and as the first one it tackles all the things you would expect such as complaints about the clothing women have to wear and rampant sexism. I've never seen Mad Men but this feels like it could be much the same world but instead of advertising, Sam is thrust into the world of the automobile. 

Scott Bakula puts in a wonderful performance as a grumpy Sam forced into heels and all kind of female activities and hating every minute of it especially after the elation of being called by his own name on a leap. He has some wonderful moments of physical comedy too especially when he's hobbling along in heels at the start. Dean Stockwell also has fun with Al who suddenly finds his best friend so attractive although I had to wonder how on Earth Al recognises Sam when he first leaps in. Indeed, the woman who plays Sam's mirror image (LaReine Chabut) probably had more to do here than any other mirror image in the whole series. I swear that one day I want to write an out of work actor character who's main claim to fame was appearing as the mirror image one week in Quantum Leap. 

Most men in this are the stereotypical letches but then the plot requires it I suppose but then I've also no idea how rampant sexism was in the 1960s. The supporting actors do well here especially the excitable Gloria (Jean Sagal) (who does seem to go suicidal a bit quickly) and the slimy Buddy (John Calvin) who feel like they're having fun and help you believe the conceit. The dinner scene was used in the opening credits and it really made me want to see this episode, Sam's cheeky eyebrow raise was also fun. Gloria is saved (I wonder if the girls had to pay for all that falling masonry? Hope no-one was under it) and ready to change her career. It's a lovely twist that goldigger Samantha turns out to have the talent while Gloria goes on to marry Parker, the man she met on the date. Sam's final seduction of Buddy is a little odd to watch but it's shot very well. In the end, it almost feels like a public information film about gender dysphoria. A pretty woman to the rest of the world, we see her as the man she really is protesting that she's wearing the wrong body and expected to behave as such. I have to wonder what Samantha came back to when she leapt back. An assault charge? Perhaps Buddy wouldn't want to admit he was knocked out by a girl so he was more than happy to shunt her and Gloria onto the design course. 

While looking at a couple of things on the net for this I realised that this is the one show I really don't want to know a lot about or read the usual torrent of bitchy posts. I would rather just leave as this wonderful little show from back in the 1990s. Not that it looks it though, the period detail is good and having a show set in the past ensures that it never looks that old. Samantha Stormer even makes brief return in the season three finale Shock Theater which, upon leaping into a mental patient in 1954, Sam is given electro shock treatment and starts thinking he is some of his previous personas. 

I wouldn't say this is my favourite but it's certainly memorable even if it is a bit on message at times plus once they got Sam's initial discomfort with swapping sex out of the way they were able to explore the subject better. 

Quantum Leap

"Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator - and vanished. He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Doctor Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap... will be the leap home."

Quantum Leap is one of my all time favourite television shows. 

I'm a big sci-fi fan and my favourite area is time travel. Love time travel stories, they fascinate me and I first came across this show in my teens. Running for five seasons from 1989-1993 (it ended in 1994 over here though, I remember) it featured a scientist from 1999, Sam Beckett, who bounced around through time fixing things. He would leap into a body, fix something wrong which would normally involve someone going missing or dying in order to leap back out and into someone new. He would have the 'physical aura' of the person (looking just like them so no-one would notice the swap) and arrive standing in their clothes in some odd situation. It was heavy on nostalgia and love of Americana. Sam was a top scientist but also grew up on a farm in a small town, could kick ass and had a number of useful skills he would somehow be reminded off on his mission. 

Sam's time travel had a limit though and it was a lovely detail. He could only travel during his own lifetime: 1953 - 1999 although they did tweak it a little so he could visit other time periods such as leaping along his own DNA strand back to the American civil war. Part of the reason it worked so well was the chemistry between Scott Bakula (Sam) and Dean Stockwell (his holographic adviser, Al). The final episode, Mirror Image, was a headscratcher but it was an ambitious idea and one that has never left my mind. Sam leaps into a bar on the exact moment of his birth. The bar is populated by many of the show's actors with lots of references to past episodes and a God-like barman also called Al. Sam fixes a wrong for his friend Al leaps on his way at the end and we are left with one of the saddest sentences in all of science fiction: Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home. 

So, why am I going into all this? Well Sam may have predominately leapt into young white men but he leapt into a wide range of people and even a monkey so of course there were some episodes he became a woman. I think my mum used to watch it too but I was intrigued by an episode description which said that Sam leapt into the body of a young black singer, (A Song for the Soul) and even caught the last few moments of the previous episode in which we saw a snippet of the leap in, an ingenious TV hook (in more ways than one I guess). I had never seen it before but the next week I tuned in. I watched it up in my room, it felt so illicit like I was indulging in a fetishistic pleasure which I suppose I was to some extent. I loved it though. I've seen the whole series through quite a few times now and its also given me a new appreciation of the actors in supporting role who perfectly sold the idea that this thirty something hunk was really a 10 year old boy or a teenage girl or a pensioner or various other personas. Favourite epsiodes include Good Morning Peoria, All-American, The Camikazi Kid and Stand-Up. Ultimately, its a very uplifting and enjoyable show. 

I thought I would do a quick round-up of Sam's female adventures on here relying on my sketchy memory...but then I have the DVDs so I could just as well re-watch them and do them individually. Not sure how frequently this will be I think there's around 10. 

Anyway, I look forward to it. The first should be up soon. 

Knickers

Hard as it may be to believe, I've never worn female underwear.

I've never really thought about it but more and more I've been thinking (and have been encouraged) of buyimg some knickers. I would probably be too nervous to wear them to work but maybe on the weekends. A thong maybe? No, definitely not but the idea sounds so wonderful and a touch slutty.

I always get embarrassed in the lingerie department of shops, perhaps because as a man I feel out of place there and to be honest I've been more drawn towards skirts and dresses than underwear. Getting to try them on would be fun though especially a bra. Such a feminine object and of no use at all to a man which perhaps why it appeals a bit. Imagine a black bra showing up under a white shirt or maybe having your bra straps twanged by a girl. The role reversal would be just wonderful.

As I said before, I'm not one for going the full transformation with wig, make-up and breastforms. It would be lovely to do it at least once though; long dress, long gloves and matching lacy underwear under it. Swishing my way to some ball, draped in jewels, heels on my feet. Very glam.

Maybe knickers would be the thing to help me along to buying more stuff or at least a change from boxers. Maybe boyshorts would be a start.

Cool Cranberry Underwear

Photograph: Freepeople.co.uk

Tales From The Role Exchanger #4

I was re-reading one of the Role Exchanger stories recently and thought I would share possibly my favourit change with you all.

This one comes from The Role Exchanger 2 in which the blue alien entity has some fun in a suburban neighbourhood with two sisters.

It's always fun to take a straight laced business type and turn her into a bad girl.  The changes are so well done here from the purple streak appearing in Karen's hair to her constant swearing showing that she was changing. The slow realisation that her sister got piercings everywhere because they were now appearing on her body and the transfer of tattoos. The thought processes are written well as both come to the conclusion that they like their new looks. I love that Chloe is quietly relieved that her adornments have disappeared and now it was respect that mattered to her as she considered her future. Karen meanwhile despite her initial shock, loves her new badass look, seeing it through Chloe's eyes.

The next morning Karen would probably blow off work and head off to a tattoo parlour and some clothes shops while Chloe would be borrowing her old clothes, perhaps putting on a skirt suit and go around town looking for work. she would probably end up the breadwinner too with her new work ethic. I would love to read more about these two characters.

The role swap truly makes them see things from the other's point of view. Chloe admires her big sister for her style and respectability while Karen gets the appeal of tattoos, piercings and the bad girl look. It makes her feel strong. Of course with me, it's nearly always down to the clothes and it's a great style switch.

Disclaimer: I did not write this story. It is the copyright property of Morpheus and can be found in its entirety on Fictionmania here: The Role Exchanger 2. If the writer sees this and would like it removed, please contact me.

      Karen frowned slightly as she critically examined her younger sister... half
sister Chloe who had just come over for a visit.

 At 29 years old, Karen was already successful in her career, due in no
small part to her ambition and determination. She was also known at work as
something of an ice queen... Work came first. Even when she was at home
she often wore her business clothes, though she was currently and somewhat
rarely dressed in a more casual manner.

 Chloe on the other hand was almost the complete opposite of Karen. She was
17 and still in high school, though Karen thought it a miracle that she
hadn't dropped out yet. And where Karen was always conservative, Chloe had
gone Goth or punk...though Karen couldn't quite tell which. Her clothes
were mostly black, with a black leather jacket that had a few metal studs on
it. There was a streak of purple in her hair, and that didn't even touch
the tattoos that she had or that her face nearly looked like a pin-cushion
due to all of the piercings.

 "Well?" Chloe demanded, "Are you going to lend me the fucking money or
not?"

 Karen rolled her eyes slightly at Chloe's foul language, though well used
to hearing such from Chloe's mouth. She couldn't help but wonder what had
ever happened to that cute and innocent little girl she used to be. But of
course, Karen had always thought that Chloe was a brat, right since the day
that she had been born.

 "Do you have to speak like that?" Karen sighed, "You know that you aren't
going to get anywhere in life if you keep dressing and talking like you
do..."

 "What's wrong with the way I fucking talk?" Chloe demanded, just to push
Karen's buttons. "And at least I'm an individual... not some fucking
corporate sellout..."

 "Well this corporate sellout has decided against lending you any money,"
Karen responded coldly. "After all, I know that I would never see it
again..."

 Just then, both Karen and Chloe caught a glimpse of something blue from the
corner of their eyes. But when they turned to look, there was nothing
there.

 "What the fuck was that?" Karen demanded. "That nearly scared the shit out
of me."

 "How should I know?" Chloe shrugged in annoyance.

 Karen scowled, then paused as she realized that something wasn't quite
right... She looked back at Chloe and was startled to realize that her
sister no longer had the purple steak in her hair, though she didn't notice
that a matching purple streak had now appeared in her own hair.

 "Where did you get that?" Chloe gasped, "Your hair... That tattoo..."

 "What the fuck are you talking about now?" Karen demanded, then looked down
at her own arm and gasped in shock at he sight of a tattoo of roses and
thorns which encircled her upper arm, just like the tattoo that Chloe had...
"Shit! No fucking way..."

 "That looks just like mine," Chloe whispered, quickly taking off her
leather jacket and now revealing her own naked and untattooed arms.

 After glancing at Chloe's arms, Karen looked back down at her own,
surprised to see that several more tattoos had appeared in the last few
seconds. There was one on her other arm that looked like a skull and
dagger... just like Chloe's.

 "Let me see your shoulder," Chloe exclaimed, moving to look at Karen's back
and then whispering, "You have all my tattoos..."

 Karen and Chloe were both too stunned by this to even be able to say
anything. But while they just stood there, staring at Chloe's clean arms
and Karen's new tattoos, Karen felt a cold tingling rush over her.

 "What the fuck?" Karen demanded as she reached up to touch her face where
the tingling had been strongest, stunned to feel something in her nose. Her
nose was now pierced, with a small ring through one side. But that
obviously wasn't all. She could feel more of them... on her lips and above
one of her eyebrows.

 "No fucking way?" Karen gasped, "No fucking way can this be happening..."

 But when Karen looked at Chloe, who was staring at her in disbelief, she
didn't miss the fact that every single one of her little sister's piercings
was gone. Even the ones in her ears, or at least all except for one small
piercing in each ear. And those ones looked like Karen's ear rings.

 Quickly reaching to her ears, Karen realized that she now had half a dozen
piercings and rings through each ear. There was no doubt in her mind that
she had somehow gained them from Chloe, but that made no sense. And Chloe
looked just as confused by what was going on as she was.

 "Shit," Karen spat out, glaring at her sister, "Your fucking tits and cunt
weren't pierced too, were they?"

 "Well..." Chloe shrugged in embarrassment.

 "Goddamn it," Karen spat as she turned and ran to the mirror that hung on
her living room wall.

 For a moment, Karen just stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself
in disbelief. That couldn't be her in the mirror... She'd never had a
single piercing, at least not other than one on each ear, nor had she ever
had a single tattoo. But now she had multiples of both.

 But as Karen stood there, she couldn't help thinking that they looked rather
wicked. She took a deep breath, feeling rather pleased, feeling sort
of... dangerous. She looked like a real bad ass bitch. And though she
wasn't sure why, she knew that she liked the changes in her.

 Then Karen looked down at her clothes and scowled. "Shit," she muttered, "I
can't wear these fucking rags..." She was going to have to find some new
clothes... Something wicked that went with her new tattoos and piercings.
Maybe something like Chloe's leather jacket...

 At the same time, Chloe was looking down at herself, letting out a sigh of
relief, suddenly feeling glad that she'd lost her tattoos and piercings.
Who in the world would want to go through the rest of their life branded
like some sort of cow? It just wasn't respectable...

 "How would anyone take me seriously like that?" she asked herself.

 Chloe looked at her own clothes and silently winced. She couldn't believe
that she was wearing those things. They made her look like some sort of
slut or punk. And there was no way that she'd get any sort of respect
wearing such things as that. Now Karen's clothes were nice... Chloe
realized that her big sister really knew how to dress and decided that she
was going to have to start wearing those kinds of clothes herself.

 While Karen and Chloe tried making sense of what had just happened to them,
and made plans for their new images, neither of them noticed the glowing
blue ball which hovered somewhere overhead. It remained were it was, as if
watching them for a moment longer before it began moving away...

Schoolgirl

I enjoyed writing yesterdays blog on fantasies so today my mind wanders back to my schooldays and I wonder what I would have been like as a schoolgirl. I'm talking senior school, or high school, age by the way.

I reckon it would probably have been much the same, fat and geeky, perhaps with a long skirt, jumper, buttoned up shirt and tie. I know we all wonder what it would be like to go back to our teenage years and what we would do differently now. Maybe finally stand up to that bully, study harder and ace every test or just ease off a little and enjoy your freedom more but what would it be like as a different gender. That one change alone puts you in with a different group of people and even though you may essentially be the same person, your surroundings and what is expected of you differ.

I always remember my year got three new students at the beginning of one year. The girls flocked around the only girl there, the guys were talking to the thin, athletic dude and then there was this other guy sitting in the corner. I went over and talked to him and he became one of my best friends for many years. We still keep in contact, by the way, but don't see each other as much as we used to. Oddly enough it was him who introduced me to the gang of friends I hung around with for the rest of my time there, people who had been in my year for the last two or three years.

Perhaps I would like to think I would be more outgoing as a girl but I would probably be the same same shy geek although I would have different friends. Some may have been the same as me but who knows I may have fallen in with the more popular girls who would teach me about make-up and wearing my skirt short. Maybe I would have had a bigger gang of friends and done more things. Sounds a bit like Mean Girls but you never know what might have happened. Of course we had people who were more popular than others, held in higher respect, but it wasn't like a clique or anything. Perhaps I've just watched too much American TV but that's probably a stereotypical view of high school. Never had cheerleaders and I doubt I would have tried out anyway but I did kind of covert the girls sports skirts and tops. They used to play a lot of netball at my school. I used to steal my sister's school skirt when she was otherwise occupied and dress up.

I used to have an odd little fantasy as well. I used to imagine I was I woke up in an alternate universe (but I was aware of it) and was now the equivalent of one of the more popular girls, who I remember used to have a great dress sense. In fact I chronicled it in a caption. The below cap was made for Rachel's Haven caption competition in March 2011 which had 'Everything is Wrong Day' as its topic. The picture is a promo from the 2009 film Tormented 

The New Lisa (2011)

Another fantasy I had was for one of the girls to teach me how to be like her. How to dress, do make-up, behave in class, what to put in my bag etc.I would love to write this up as a story one day and its been a constant fantasy through my life for a woman (she could be a goth, chav, bimbo etc) to teach me how to be like her, personality quirks and all.

Maybe my fantasies owe more to my school days than I first thought.

Secretary

Back to work today... but now I can't help thinking what it would be like to be sexy secretary.

Dressed in a white blouse, perhaps buttoned up to the top or maybe with a pixie collar. Long black pencil skirt, black tights and black heels. Perhaps a bob cut or my brown hair all tied back in bun but just dribbling down the sides of my face. Bright red nails and lipstick to match. Answering the phone with poise, style and an ice cool voice. Clattering about the office in my heels, the model of professionalism and cool beauty. Nothing fazes me.

Or...the bubbly blonde. Curly blonde hair, dressed just in a black mini skirt, blouse with too many buttons open and maybe a pink jacket. Big sunglasses, big handbag, forever attached to my pink glittery phone, lots of make-up. A friend to all and the source of all gossip. A proper chatterbox who will say anything to anyone. I like hearing gossip and spreading it, perhaps I have a loud obnoxious laugh too. Long lunches, sneaky shopping trips, coming back in the office laid down with bags and trying to hide them under the desk. Leaving on the dot of half 5. Still damn good at my job and that's why anyone puts up with me.

Or...perhaps the teen office intern. Dressed in the latest fashions. Glad to get the experience yet thinking everything's beneath her. Trendy skirts, tight fitting clothes, going to lunch with mates. Lots to do but little pressure or responsibility.

One of my favourite captions ever is Trend Setter by Evie in which a teen intern picks the trend setter card from the Role With It box and makes a male co-worker dress like her. If you have Haven Gallery access the three parts can be found here: Trend Setter.

Hope you enjoyed my little set of fantasies as much as I did writing them.

Edit: Ooh my 100th blog post! Yay!

Post-Christmas

Well it's the first day back at work for me tomorrow.

After Christmas there's always that lag towards New Year and then back to work. Whenever I think about it I also feel glad I have a job considering the current climate although that doesn't mean the feeling of sadness goes away. At least it's not sheer dread which is what I used to get with my old job. I'll know that when that starts, that's the end of it for me. Time to move on. I have no plans to at the moment though and at least there's plenty to keep me busy during the coming week.

When I was younger i knew the Christmas holidays were over when my Dad went back to work. holidays meant rolling out of bed, everyone in dressing gowns and something cooked to eat. The minute my Dad was back in a suit and cereal was on the table, that was it or at least it felt like it. These days it feels different although I still seem to have that habit of wishing my days away. i was so happy coming home on Christmas eve but still had the thought of tonight, the last day, at the back of my mind. Still, it hasn't been too bad. I have a bit of a cold at the moment and I've spent the last day curled up on the sofa catching up with The Flash. It's a wonderful little show so far.

At least I've managed to do most of the things I set out to with this time off including keeping this blog up. I apologise for drifting into less girlier subjects but hopefully I should stay more on topic soon.

Take Me Out 2015

Take Me Out started again tonight.

This is a dating show in which a man comes on, presents himself and does tasks for the chance to win a date with one of 30 single women. It's a of guilty pleasure of mine which I started watching purely because my parents did and it became something I'll half watch on a Saturday night while doing other things. It's a show I would be utterly terrified to go on though; I don't I could ever be the centre of attention for that amount of time and face all that rejection. Still you never know, it's the fear of rejection I think bothers me most rather than the actual rejection. Once it happens on a scale such as that, it might be enough to push me out of it.

It is nice to see what all the girls are wearing though and it's one of the main reasons I tune in; some very varied outfits and lovely dresses . I would really love a pleather pleated skirt. One girl paired it with a lovely tartan top. Another wore a 1950s inspired Lindy Bop dress. I don't know if I would fully want to do the 1940s/50s vintage thing but it would be something I would want to try. I think it's fascinating that the style has made a comeback. Perhaps it took clothes getting shorter and skimpier over the years to make us look back to the past and something which could look glamorous but still be modernized. I've seen these dresses made out of all kinds of materials including patterns I had on curtains and duvet covers back in the 1980s.  

Fiction

One of my resolutions this year is to do more fiction writing.

I have some friends who regularly write short stories and even publish novels online and ever since then I've been considering doing the same. Hopefully one of my stories will be published with a group of others next year too. I also hope to submit something to Rachel's Haven's own anthology series "A Little Bit of Girl Time" which is reaching its third volume soon. The first two are available now as e-books from Amazon along with the individual stories. I have meant to submit something before but time and other work has previously been an issue.

Amazon link for A Little Bit of Girl Time

When I was writing the first story I mentioned (apologies if I'm sounding a bit cagey about this, by the way) I found it a little hard to get back into the groove since I have been writing non-fiction things like blog posts, and reviews for various websites. It's funny that I never even considered all the captions (at least 200+ now) I wrote as fiction when of course they are. Not long enough to be short stories they are kind of micro-stories I guess and although they are on a similar theme, there are still many, many, many things you can do with it and I'm very proud of all the work I've done.

When I was younger I used to write fan fiction mainly. Now, most people think that fan fiction is just writing about various characters hooking up and to be honest that's what a lot of it is but I've read many wonderful stories by people wanting to write about adventures set in their favourite universes. I would recommend fan fiction to anyone as a good way to get into writing. Straight away you have a set-up and characters right in front of you. The hardest thing to do can be to stare at a blank sheet, or screen, in front of you without the foggiest about how to start. With fan fiction, you get to play in someone else's sandbox for a bit with their ready-made characters. You get to make up your own stories involving them, dialogue and bring in your own characters. There are various websites you can publish these on such as fanfiction.net. It's a good way of building confidence and once you have that then you can go on to cultivate your own ideas and characters.

Of course, this is not for everyone. I've spoken to people about this before and they've just not been able to do it. Indeed, it can feel odd writing in someone else's universe with familiar characters. It can make you feel a bit like a charlatan and not a proper writer. I know, I've felt all these things but yet I would still recommend it to writers starting out to sharpen up their confidence.

Many years ago I also had an idea for a series of books. Sadly, although I had the concept I didn't have any solid plot ideas so I've remained stuck ever since and I've further been soured on it by finding that a similar idea has already been used. However though it could still happen. I've always wanted to write a novel and in this this shiny new digital ago of e-books that is more of a possibility than it was 10 years ago.

Hopefully, this will be something good for me this year.

New Years Day

Well, not much to report for today. New Years Eve was a bit of a let down to be honest because we didn't find anything much to do. I've become a little depressed by the whole changing of the year. I should have more hope I guess but it just reminds me of everything that's happened over the last year. Of everything that happened with my ex-girlfriend I guess it's the sexual side of things that worried me the most. At first I wondered whether it's worth even trying to get into another relationship again, whether I would be able to trust someone not to up and leave no matter how much they profess to like you. At the end of today, I think I have my answer and its more positive than I thought.

Today has been a cloudy, overcast day and I've been hit by a cold which I hope to get rid of by next week. 

One thing I did enjoy tonight was the final episode of the sitcom Miranda and I must give a quick shout out to the wonderful outfit that Stevie wore tonight (right of the picture below). Lovely blouse, shorts and black tights. Eclectic but still stylish. 

Miranda and Stevie toast their finale 

Photograph: Radiotimes.com