tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27749647700622380072024-03-07T03:34:32.143+00:00Terri's Enigmatic DesiresAn Exploration of the Self...in a cute mini skirtTerrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.comBlogger322125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-72688264304237238992024-02-29T23:38:00.002+00:002024-02-29T23:38:38.895+00:00Pink Library #12: Twinies <p> I've grown to like twinning stories more and more through the years and it's surprising that I haven't really clocked that before as some of my earliest crossdressing fantasies involved the girls in my school turning me into their 'twin' or having to 'fill in' for them in class. I think it's the idea of becoming like someone else and having to take on their mannerisms.</p><p>This is a fun story that I came across recently involving twinning:</p><p><a href="https://www.tgstorytime.com/viewstory.php?sid=7168" target="_blank">Twinies by Stargate52</a><br /></p><p>This is a rather innocent tale, not really done out of malice and Amy just comes across as a normal, fun loving woman rather than a controlling bitch or bully looking for an apprentice and in fact Dan comes across rather snobby. The change seems to be a pre-break up kindness to him which I'm not sure of but it's a fun tale. I love the rather slow change mainly shown through his reactions as the two converse and I would have liked more description of his clothes changing but that's just me. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-17280616158162250932024-01-31T22:47:00.003+00:002024-01-31T22:51:50.073+00:00A Note on Captioning<p> I did want my first post of 2024 to be something slightly happier, maybe about some of the stories I've been reading over the past year but today was one of those days in which I sometimes regret taking up captioning at all.</p><p>Purely by chance I was checking out my Twitter and someone had liked an old caption of mine from about 6 months ago which was nice until I came across an old comment that I had somehow missed first time around calling me disgusting for what I had written and asking me to delete the tweet. This was mainly to do with the picture used which was of a 16th birthday party. I probably never gave it that much thought at the time but maybe the poster was right and I should have been more careful about the source material used especially regarding the sexual content.</p><p>I have heard arguments for using AI in captions now. It would certainly take the effort out of looking for that perfect picture to have fit the story in your head but then I also like stumbling across a photograph and having an idea on the spot. Maybe I'll see if I can give AI a go for a bit and although I say I want to stop captioning I probably won't but this has made me think twice about what I do and I will delete the tweets. I'll probably feel like shit for a few days too. I would still like to preserve the text so I'll add it here: </p><p><i>1. Kelly was really looking forward to her birthday party but knew her dad would probably spoil it for her. He would tell her to cover up, keep her away from guys and stop her fun. Why couldn't he see things from her point of view? Perhaps he could with the help of some Teen-X.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2. "OMG Kels this party is awesome. Thanks for inviting me and giving me this cute dress!"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"No probs dad, sorry Steph, I knew you would love it if you were a teen girl like me."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"I'm so glad I am, now I see all the hot guys here ready to fuck."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Like daughter like daddy!"</i></span></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-59781304737139402772023-12-31T11:36:00.000+00:002023-12-31T11:36:26.879+00:00Check Up #28<p> Ok so in this one I'm going to attempt to round up the last year and try to make up for 6 months of not posting anything. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Earlier in the year I moved house and it took me a while to get used to it. In some ways I've still got a bit more tidying and decoration to do. It also didn't help that my parents decided to dump even more old stuff from my teenage bedroom on me without warning so now I have a spare room full of stuff that needs sorting out, nowhere to put it and no time to do it in.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Due to this I also had to have some furniture moved over (because I couldn't bear trashing something I've had for nearly 40 years) so a chest of drawers full of my femme clothes had to be moved out of the way. Now of course this means that the moment you moved it the bottoms fell out of the drawers meaning all my clothes fell out in front of everyone. I had to scramble to try and pick everything up and getting increasingly more angry about it all. No-one mentioned it so I don't really know what to make of that. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I finished my cap debt list over at Rachel's Haven this year but I'm still doing the odd one or two. For the meantime though I like the immediacy of using Twitter even though it's not quite the site it used to be for obvious reasons.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>At the end of the year I was mostly preoccupied by a couple of weddings. The first was more of a reception I was invited to and I had decided to dress for it. It was in Manchester so I had to travel a bit for it and even then the venue was a way out of town so I had to make a decision about whether to go by public transport or by taxi. I don't take a lot of taxis so it put me on edge a little bit but needless to say it turned out ok in the end and I quite like the outfit I chose however I did have some issue with some pink flats I chose that were too big for me. I should have tried them on in the shop but this was one of those times when my nerve went. On the day of the wedding I had to quickly dash up to the shop I bought them in to replace them. Everyone was so nice about it in the shop that I wonder why I didn't do this before and waste time trying to find ways to adapt the original shoes.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The other wedding I attended this year I didn't dress femme for because I had a specific role - I was the Best Man so not only did I have a speech to write but the arrangements were on and off for a while and I didn't really know what was happening. Despite the nerves I now look back on it fondly. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Due to moving house earlier in the year and the train station being closer I haven't been getting quite as much exercise as I have before and unexpectedly I managed to put on 3 stone in weight which I have been trying to lose for the last few months. This means that there are some clothes that no longer fit which I'm quite down about. I'm hoping I can get the weight off at some point next year. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I haven't really done much cosplay this year apart from when I went to a convention earlier in the year. I would still like to continue though and there are still a lot of costumes I would like to try. I miss the days of the big conventions I used to attend with my friends. I'm not sure I have the stomach to go alone anymore unless it's just to look round the merch stalls. I haven't collected autographs for about 20 years and that was mainly <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer </i>which I'm coincidentally rewatching. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I haven't bought many new clothes this year, a couple of dresses and skirts though and a top I think. One of the dresses came without a button at the back so again I'm resolving to learn to sew again so I can do these small jobs for myself. In fact this dress is a bit of a departure for me as it's a black and white leopard print. It's not normally a pattern I go for as it's a touch chavvy (which is no bad thing and I would love to go full chav one day just for the sake of dress up but not for my personal style) I do like this one though as it's in my usual Clara style with a small black collar. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Towards the end of the year I was able to go to a few events dressed which was quite cool. I was also told by one bloke at a party I was making him feel underdressed and this was only in one of my normal dresses and some tights I bought from Snag. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> This year I also read Grayson Perry's memoir <i>Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl</i> which had some interesting things to say about his transvestitism. </li></ul><div>At least I know I'm going into 2024 with less chaos and change ahead of me than there was in 2023 so at least that's something hopeful. </div><p></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-50610282740326105072023-12-31T00:00:00.002+00:002023-12-31T00:03:58.919+00:00Check Up #27Yes I'm not dead! Hurrah!<div><br /></div><div>Also it seems that looking back last year I also reached 30th December and had to do a round-up post because I hadn't posted in a while. This time it's been about 6 months. This is not that post though as it's just a quick note because I wanted to say something after such a long time and it's coming up to the New Year so hopefully I'll be back to do some more stuff soon but this year I've been a bit distracted by some changes in my life and a couple of events. </div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-48702121010619869782023-06-30T23:12:00.002+01:002023-06-30T23:12:44.718+01:00The Capping Years: 2014<p>As you all know I love doing Role Exchanger caps and particularly exploring some of the many areas that you can go with Morpheus' creation. Although gender change is often the name of the game I do like playing around with other aspects of physical and mental changes and sometimes if you want to do that in a TG cap you also need to squeeze in that aspect which can feel forced. </p><p>I'm really pleased with this cap as I managed to play with the format a little by making the characters switch ambitions and then twisting it into a crossdressing cap rather than full on gender change. In a way this cap has influenced many of my future Role Exchanger caps although I have been experimenting with F2F ones a bit more recently which make the personality swap caps easier.</p><p>This caption was created for Totalditz over on Rachel's Haven. I've created many caps for Ashlee over the years starting from when I first joined the Haven and indeed we have a Halloween cap swapping tradition now so it's only right that at least one of these captions is for her.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_qlhxuJD6MsfD2WAO9j2-H6qwHHRrHmE01CFgLFS1NjjX_V8FtoOUWYt5xGtxXlTVXgqwv0-lgVhTXY1gJJt4lrRuZ3ypzNAWobgRTK3uEu7Ui--5LNQ-BcMJVZK9fLwGBV_5UK-v4cK_5F7BSFxCqbTNlvxORaT1AORbfiIHcShmp_k8Mc--Mc2Bnim/s828/DitzAmbition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_qlhxuJD6MsfD2WAO9j2-H6qwHHRrHmE01CFgLFS1NjjX_V8FtoOUWYt5xGtxXlTVXgqwv0-lgVhTXY1gJJt4lrRuZ3ypzNAWobgRTK3uEu7Ui--5LNQ-BcMJVZK9fLwGBV_5UK-v4cK_5F7BSFxCqbTNlvxORaT1AORbfiIHcShmp_k8Mc--Mc2Bnim/s320/DitzAmbition.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheer Ambition (2014)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-66741755321389532972023-05-30T23:47:00.000+01:002023-05-30T23:47:51.252+01:00Check Up #26<p>Once again I say I have been meaning to update this for quite a while. </p><p>In March I went to a convention again. I did get back into it last year although lately I've been feeling that I don't really want to keep doing so on my own. Back when I was a teenager I did end up going to a lot of conventions and things on my own simply because no-one else wanted to go with me and I was determined not let that spoil what I wanted to do. These days I think I feel the loneliness more and sometimes I just can't face it. It's why I have been thinking that if I do want to do more cosplay it will mean travelling to a lot more conventions and probably spending most of the day on my own trudging round merch halls. </p><p>Anyway, this time I was staying with some friends and I ended up dressing for more or less the whole time I was there. I did a couple of new cosplays with varying degrees of success and I'm even thinking about more for next year. On the Saturday night I was probably the prettiest I have ever looked. I had a very gothy dress on, tights, boots and a friend leant me a fascinator and I did get some really nice comments on it. I still probably should experiment with make-up at some point. </p><p>I haven't really bought much else, perhaps a blue and white striped top and another blue pleated maxi-skirt. I'm still really enjoying wearing maxi skirts. I had a couple of events on recently so I was able to dress up for those which I'm always pleased to do although it does bring a dose of anxiety as well. I'll go through the motions of regretting what I'm doing but knowing that if I don't do it I'll regret it more and more. The current climate and endless gender debates don't really help either.</p><p>I've also recently completed my caption debt list on Rachel's Haven and it feels good. I don't know how often I'll cap from now on but I doubt I'll stop completely and although I enjoy doing it on Twitter sometimes I prefer something a little longer form. One thing I also enjoyed doing on Twitter recently was a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' type story made up of various polls. It was fascinating to see the answers that I got and to be able to write something every day. </p><p><br /></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-76732980800348944322023-03-15T10:00:00.000+00:002023-03-15T10:00:30.259+00:00Moving House<p> I have meant to update this blog more often since the beginning of the year but the big event in January was my decision to move house and that kind of put things on hold. </p><p>I had lived in my old place for over a decade so it was was quite emotional for me to move especially into a house that I also had an emotional connection with as my new house was previously owned by relatives of mine and is now owned by my parents. In fact one concern of mine was that I would lose a little of my privacy which is quite important to me considering my crossdressing. Also I knew that I would have to bag up everything and take it over to my new place and I was afraid that someone would see as people were helping me move. </p><p>To be fair I don't think my parents have a real issue with it, they'll think it's strange but also don't want to see me get my head kicked in and unfortunately it looks like the situation is only getting worse out there. I don't think anyone saw anything but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised. They certainly haven't said anything to me if they have. Ever since I tried to speak to my parents about it and it went slightly wrong I haven't broached it since plus it was never important to me that they know and, hell, I never saw myself doing this. I considered it a secret I would take to the grave with possible exception of a sexual partner willing to explore that with me so the fact that I've been able to reach the stage I have has been a blessing. I did have a slightly odd conversation with my mum about coat hangers though recently and the inference that I know what sort of coat hangers you use to hang up skirts. If that sounds odd reading it sounded odd to type and I may be slightly paranoid. </p><p>So anyway I been here over 6 weeks now and I feel more settled than I was when I first moved in. Early on you just need a few creature comforts I think and once I was able to watch the TV I was more or less fine. I have more space but having trouble trying to arrange my clothes and to be honest it was one of the only times I've felt bad about my dressing. If I had just stuck to male clothes I could have had it sorted out within an hour but it's still there waiting to be done. At least I don't have my incredible collapsing clothes pile anymore and I also have a full length mirror at last which is very helpful. </p><p>As for new clothes, I bought a lovely blue pleated maxi skirt. I've always wanted one like that as I think they look so beautiful. I never used to be one for long skirts but these days they really make me feel feminine. I did have an issue with it though as some stores seem to have decided never to reopen their changing rooms since lockdown nearly 3 years ago. This led to me getting the wrong size and having to take it back and exchange it the same day. I was at least able to wear it out for some birthday drinks though, pairing it with a grey sequined jumper. I've also been able to get a new houndstooth dress and a lovely vintage 1950s look Hearts and Roses dress from a charity shop which was another lucky find. Nearly bought a pair of pleated ladies trousers this weekend but unfortunately missed out. </p><p>I haven't been doing as many captions for the Haven recently as I mostly stick to Twitter now and I have given ChatGPT a go this week to see what kind of stories that would produce. I hope to get back to the Haven at some point though. </p><p> </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-38794597288806123362023-02-05T14:23:00.000+00:002023-02-05T14:23:30.550+00:00Casa Susanna<p>I know I haven't posted recently but there is a good reason for that (this time anyway) in that I have been moving house which is something I do mean to post about shortly but before I do I wanted to get in a quick mention, before I forget, to a documentary I watched last week. </p><p><i>Casa Susanna</i> is a 2022 American-French documentary directed by Sébastien Lifshitz which takes a look at a refuge in the Catskills near New York which was a haven for crossdressing men in the 1950s and 1960s. The documentary tells the story with contributions from some of the participants, now in their 80s and some of which have since transitioned, alongside those from relatives as a group returns to the now dilapidated resort to talk about what it meant to them. </p><p>It's a fascinating look at what life was like for crossdressers back then especially when it was against the law. Throughout the documentary we see a variety of old photographs which apparently brought the refuge to light after their discovery at a flea market and it's a shame we don't find out more about this aspect as it peaked my interest but to be fair that's not the story here. The vintage look of the photos also has an appeal of its own to me as you rarely see images of crossdressers from this time. </p><p>How Casa Susanna brought people together is a wonderful story too in this day and age of the internet and so much connectivity. There was a specialist magazine that people put ads in and then gradually word of mouth got around the community about the place and it ended up drawing in people not only from the USA but other parts of the world. It shows how intoxicating it can be to find a safe space within which to be yourself and the lengths people will go to in order to feel like they belong if only for a few hours on the weekend. Sometimes the best feeling we can receive in any walk of life is that we are not alone and that someone else thinks like we do and accepts that side of us which, as I've said before, is something I wanted to do with writing this blog. </p><p>Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a full review but I just thought I would mention it as it was a fascinating look at a forgotten piece of trans history. Here in the UK, the film is still on the BBC iPlayer under its Storyville strand and if this short piece has peaked your interest then please try and track down the documentary. </p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtobOAq3dBiLnHBX6hhAoUPrvnivXpALkYJqoSz0CX9uQBd7k2rRh_G9Tx-pzF01LRQBOH0O7nkly8RIj9as5LLs7S3dudWW1oa38Ss8onsGxnZguGSzvqBd_aTaPHEp1-Lj_ryqwqmQe8hJx6gFUHCz_S0qTGptZ4MJTG9wRIOsvw8GXTWxKMEAR83A/s1500/Casa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtobOAq3dBiLnHBX6hhAoUPrvnivXpALkYJqoSz0CX9uQBd7k2rRh_G9Tx-pzF01LRQBOH0O7nkly8RIj9as5LLs7S3dudWW1oa38Ss8onsGxnZguGSzvqBd_aTaPHEp1-Lj_ryqwqmQe8hJx6gFUHCz_S0qTGptZ4MJTG9wRIOsvw8GXTWxKMEAR83A/s320/Casa.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promo poster for Casa Susanna (2022)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-53769478444030676842022-12-30T22:03:00.000+00:002022-12-30T22:03:04.599+00:00Check-Up #25<p>Ok, I've meant to update this for a while now and suddenly we're at the end of December and getting ready for the New Year. I may just go with the bullet points again for brevity's sake. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've had an up and down couple of months. I went away for a few days in November and came back with a cold (nothing serious, not COVID or anything) but it just proved hard to get shot of so I wasn't feeling up to much. Before that though I went to a sci-fi convention for a nice couple of days. I was able to do some cosplay as well, rolling out my 13th Doctor and <b>Star Trek</b> cosplays. In the evenings I also had the opportunity to dress which was quite nice and I had some compliments which is always welcome (apart from the odd moment in which someone half-heartedly tried to steal a necklace from me). </li><li>I'm glad I had the opportunity to do more cosplay this year but it's something that, for me, the future is uncertain. I'm not sure if I want to keep going to shows as it can be lonely if I'm always going on my own. You do get used to it after a number of years though but then we also don't know how many years we have left. There are still a few I would love to do like the 10th Doctor, Missy, more Clara stuff, more Harley Quinn. Seeing<b> Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</b> this year I've been thinking about Nurse Chapel and also in the last month or so I've been thinking about the 14th Doctor's outfit as well. </li><li>I recently bought a couple of new skirts, one purple with a black pleather ring around the bottom and the other is an argyle patten in blue, black, white and yellow. I also bought a necklace in the shape of a key but I think that's about it for things I've bought recently. </li><li>Regarding fashion, I notice that argyle is quite trendy recently, tank tops are back and also large collars on dresses and jumpers. </li><li>One thing I have noticed is that nowadays when I go out or purchase tickets for events I do consider whether or not I'll be able to dress at them. It's really one of the first things that pops into my head. I did have an event planned for early December which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the ongoing train strikes here in the UK. Luckily though around the same time I was able to book up for a podcast recording and I was able to dress for that which I was quite pleased with. </li><li>I had a nice Christmas with my family in the end and got some lovely gifts. New Year's Eve is probably just going to involve me and the TV again and to be honest I've been a little down this past week due to changes at work and preparing to move house in January so unfortunately things probably aren't going to settle down for a bit. </li></ul><div>Finally, here's a Christmas caption I devised for a more slimline version of the Christmas advent calendar I usually oversee on Rache's Haven so I hope you like. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX7cSkc71mKUtTB9Uhaba8V0xXIYoWxrSQSTnwi_mFmH1EbvogVsTJzJTPlFOzDIFJAmafVX2BdmECgy7hTDTz7Tgn91GqHVUd2cOArRK0UDNuVooKsWZAlysxPzbZxS8sAt_Y9mUVYn4rq39nTV2ENy_JVoPQhVa1Nmm6d6iEHU1W6cicbhKyyNrgA/s1008/Xmas221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX7cSkc71mKUtTB9Uhaba8V0xXIYoWxrSQSTnwi_mFmH1EbvogVsTJzJTPlFOzDIFJAmafVX2BdmECgy7hTDTz7Tgn91GqHVUd2cOArRK0UDNuVooKsWZAlysxPzbZxS8sAt_Y9mUVYn4rq39nTV2ENy_JVoPQhVa1Nmm6d6iEHU1W6cicbhKyyNrgA/s320/Xmas221.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Sissy for Christmas (2022)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><p></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-82953145252281074082022-10-08T23:25:00.001+01:002022-10-08T23:25:39.009+01:00Check-Up #24<p> Ok, I've been meaning to update this for quite a while. Nothing earth shattering has happened but I would still like to add a few things. Some bullet points, I think:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Back to the wedding I attended a couple of months ago and I forgot to add that I was asked the immortal question by a teenager, namely '<i>why are you wearing a dress?</i>' I just said that it was a wedding and left it at that. I did get serious dress envy at that wedding though, there were some gorgeous dresses I saw that day. Oh and on the flip side the groom thanked me for wearing a dress because it confused an elderly relative of his wife's that he didn't like. Glad to be of service, I guess.</li><li>Went out to an event after work and this involves my aforementioned habit of deciding to change at work and despite the fact that I work in a large building I've come close to running into members of my firm on a couple of occasions. This time (striped top and blue skirt as you ask so nicely. Bare legs too so I was feeling bold but it was still summer) I saw a colleague waiting at a bus stop and so snuck down the road to cross over and make it safely into the tube station. Thinking he must have gone I made it into the station and onto the down escalator...only to see him going up the opposite one. How that happened I don't know but he never said anything so I think I got away with it. I swear it's like a Whitehall farce at times</li><li>Went on holiday for a week and saw a dress in a charity shop. Nearly bought it but, as I was staying with my parents, I resisted. I did think of going back and had many visions of how to get it back into the house through maybe some system of hiding it in a bush or a bin or something and going back. In the end I did go back but it had gone. Always the rule of second hand shops, never leave it more than a day as it will almost always have gone. I did buy a nice dress before I went away though plus a nice necklace. </li><li>In addition, I am trying to resist buying everything I see and sometimes it's hard but I must try to consider what I really, really want. Which is the true lesson of the Spice Girls. Maybe. Today however ever I did some some great stuff round the shops but if only it had been one of two sizes bigger. Shame really.</li><li>Brad Pitt wore a skirt so...that was that. The debate was reopened in the papers for a bit but that was about it. Not sure if it will change anything but it was nice to see such a high profile male celebrity choosing to dress differently.</li><li>Saw <i>Ed Wood</i> recently. This is a 1994 film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Martin Landau which is based on the life of the famous B-movie director who was also a crossdresser. Perhaps best known as director of <i>Plan 9 From Outer Space </i>(1959) he also directed early cross dressing film <i>Glen or Glenda </i>(1953) which I may give a look if I can find it. There's definitely something I like about the RP way Depp says "<i>I like to wear women's clothes. I just feel more comfortable in them.</i>" I did think about doing a full review of this but I think the time has passed but I may do in the future</li><li>I still watch most iterations of<i> Ru Paul's Drag Race</i> and the UK version has just started. Dakota Schiffer is the first trans queen on the show (the UK version anyway) and I must say her confessional outfit makes my little preppy girl heart jump. I always love the vintage queens especially if they go all 1960s and already I'm loving her outfits. </li><li>On a similar tack, I've been watching <i>She-Hulk</i> recently and the character of her paralegal Nikki Ramos (Played by Ginger Gonzaga) is also giving me severe outfit envy. Business wear seems to be a thing of mine and also makes my preppy girl heart sing. </li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-11705239667488515862022-09-17T22:58:00.000+01:002022-09-17T22:58:08.867+01:00Quantum Leap #7: Liberation <p style="text-align: center;"><b><u> Liberation</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(16 October 1968)</b></p><p><b>Sam is...Margaret Sanders, protesting parent</b></p><p><b>The Mission...</b>Stop women's liberation protester Diana St. Cloud being shot and keep Margaret's marriage together whilst trying to open up her husband George's eyes to the inequality faced by women. </p><p>This is another episode I fondly remember watching while growing up and it's another example of <i>Quantum Leap</i> tackling a big social issue. We open on Sam leaping into a protest and I love the way of Sam seeing his new host body in this one by him suddenly being handed a photograph (and one that will come back to haunt him). After some heckling the police break up the protest and everyone is hauled off to jail. </p><p>It's here that things get a little muddy plot wise as it's Sam standing up to the aggressive police chief Tipton (Stephen Mills) that inspires protest leader Diana (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) to pursue more violent means of getting her message across. So much so that Sam's mission becomes the prevention of her shooting but in that case what was the original history? Did Diana originally reach that conclusion herself following her assault by Tipton in the cell? With a violent father in her past surely it was only a matter of time before she decided to take a more violent approach. Could this be a self fulfilling prophecy in that Sam had to leap in to set in motion the actions that he himself had to counter? It's certainly one of the messier situations he's been in. </p><p>The final showdown takes place at at gentlemen's club in which the women's libbers stage a sit -in...except they don't sit and it's one of the most unpassionate protests ever committed to film. Margaret's daughter Suzi (Megyn Price) heroically saves Chief Tipton from being shot by Diana despite putting his life in danger in the first place by handing Diana the gun that she had bought. Sam gives a typical QL speech about the virtues of using the law to change things. To sit and talk instead of using violence. The ending to this scene is particularly interesting as Diana is led away by police still ranting and Suzi has regrets ever following her and it's at this point a lesser production would have faded to black but Sam takes Suzi aside and convinces her that there was nothing wrong with Diana's views, just her actions. In fact, following her release from jail, we learn that she still played a big part in the movement. </p><p>The other plotline here is with Margaret's husband George (Max Gail) who is a more sympathetic figure than you would expect. He could have been made a misogynistic, bully of a man that Margaret and the kids would be well shot of but instead he's kind and caring (in his own way) but, like Sam, a man out of time. As Al points out, he was brought up a certain way and it's going to take a lot to change his whole way of thinking but there are signs that he is starting to understand. One of the ways he does so is with a little nudge from Sam as two people vie for a promotion at his office - Tipton's son Peter (Bill Calvert) and Evy (Jordan Baker). Evy, despite having seniority, is afraid to put herself forward due to looking bossy but she impresses George with her ideas after a chat with Sam. After this latest rewatch there was an exchange from the dinner party that I rather enjoyed as Peter bemoans that his wife Dora (Mary Elizabeth Murphy) bought a set of encyclopaedias missing three volumes. "<i>I don't need to know everything</i>" she quips back. It's played a little ditzily but could be a nice zinger if spat back in the manner of either comedies today or the fast moving ones of the 1940s. I could certainly imagine Joey from <i>Friends </i>saying it. </p><p>There are the usual jokes about Sam wearing women's clothes and never wanting to see a bra again after he burns his and he leaps out during an uncomfortable kiss from George which has potential for looking homophobic today but then the idea of kissing someone, male or female, you don't want to is a comedy trope. Al is also quite cringingly sexist when he first shows up in the prison cell. </p><p>Overall I still like this story. Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell are as good as always with Sam being as harassed as ever trying to keep a number of plates spinning and makes a decent fist of trying to explain the issues of the time and societal changes from a suburban perspective. There are a couple of plot niggles as explained above plus the sit-in protest at the club is conveniently explained to George like it was common knowledge and also how did Suzi escape her locked room? </p><p>As I write this, the long awaited reboot of <i>Quantum Leap</i> is set to air on the 19th September 2022 (the same day as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II which is quite the juxtaposition for you) so there may yet be more episodes for me to comment on rather than the two I have left. although it has taken me nearly a year to sit down and do this after writing initial notes last November. We know from the trailers that the new leaper, Dr Ben Song, will definitely be leaping into a woman at some point, in particular a 1980s rock star, and it will be interesting to see how much of a Trans angle is put on things. There are elements in the original series which certainly felt like it could be further explored. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-77215118557097694852022-08-18T22:33:00.005+01:002022-08-18T22:35:31.863+01:00Shulkie<p>Yes, it's another Marvel tie-in. </p><p>Anyway, the new series <i>She-Hulk: Attorney at Law</i> dropped today and I must say I really enjoyed the first episode. A few years ago I did read the graphic novel of Dan Slott's 2004 run on the comic, <i>Single Green Female</i>, which I picked up in a charity shop and enjoyed it so much I bought a few more so I was really pleased to see this one pop up on Marvel's slate. Tatiana Maslany is a brilliant actress as anyone who watched the fantastic <i>Orphan Black</i> will know. I have also toyed with the idea of cosplaying She-Hulk as dressed in the black skirt suit of Jennifer Walters but I think it may be too much make-up for me. </p><p>So as she's currently in the news here's a caption featuring the green goddess I did for Chelsea Baker on Rachel's Haven. I quite like it although I'm not too sure about the scream at the end. Feels a bit much now. Anyway, hope you like. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1H_bMb4uhhmMRjXY0QkO-9IWtsxunrqEH_KvANwQfryiDfAryCm_611AD-l3VHcZVXAYGoliyAt4CcephDlBSdQwLfHWbtqRzrGubazWqDGU4bHfa5lrMwkpReddrSN9Y8enAV9Rk1pOowdeS8KJavzUJy49vIje1HFxOZGNL5e8JTxJr33XugHBrA/s780/ChelseaShulkie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1H_bMb4uhhmMRjXY0QkO-9IWtsxunrqEH_KvANwQfryiDfAryCm_611AD-l3VHcZVXAYGoliyAt4CcephDlBSdQwLfHWbtqRzrGubazWqDGU4bHfa5lrMwkpReddrSN9Y8enAV9Rk1pOowdeS8KJavzUJy49vIje1HFxOZGNL5e8JTxJr33XugHBrA/s320/ChelseaShulkie.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shulkie (2015)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-10052864184199492052022-08-07T16:42:00.005+01:002022-08-07T17:00:52.689+01:00Check-Up #23<p>On the hottest days of the year so far I attended a wedding. </p><p>Now what was I wearing you may ask? Well I did end up wearing a shirt, tie and trousers but in the end it was my decision and not something I felt compelled to do due to the social situation plus there was a specific outfit I was thinking of doing. My friends are quite liberal and accepting and we were all in a big hotel out of the way so I did feel safe to dress a couple of times, mainly on the night before the wedding and at the reception. I wore my short summer dress I mentioned in a previous post and I did have some nice comments about it particularly how cool it looked on such a hot day although I was constantly trying to make sure it didn't fly up while dancing. I even had someone say to me that they thought that seeing me wearing trousers looked odd now. Always nice to receive some validation too. There were some lovely dresses on show that day as well and I got very envious. </p><p>Speaking of which, I bought a purple maxi-skirt recently and I'm really liking it. I don't often wear maxi-skirts, mainly in summer, and I adore the pleated ones you can get but as of yet I only have meshy light green one. This one is made of a heavy material and is a bit hippyish but I'm liking wearing more than I thought I would. </p><p>Finally, I did have another opportunity to dress at work on a recent dress down day (which are very rare) but in the end I decided not too. I do hear occasional comments from others that make me think it may not be that well received but I may be over-exaggerating slightly. Generally I think it would be ok enough so I don't know what puts me off but maybe it's the different way I think people will look at me if I do end up 'coming out', so to speak. I've been thinking a bit more about this recently and why it concerns me so much and I think that I've got to a point now where it's getting harder to put the genie back into the bottle. I used to think that I would be able to separate my feelings but as I've started to dress more and more especially in more social situations it has started to make me angrier when I feel that I can't because, I guess, that I've gotten so used to it now and myself like this. I used to think it was a secret I would take with me to the grave or that it was the next generation's fight and not something for someone like me but over time I've changed my mind. Maybe one day but then maybe it shouldn't matter as much as I think it does. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-51508330603529453772022-07-20T22:32:00.004+01:002022-07-20T22:33:54.432+01:00The Capping Years: 2013<p>The caption I've chosen for 2013 is something a little different which is perhaps why I've selected it. Vancouverite over at Rachel's Haven asked for a twisted wishes type scenario. There would be a gender change...but with a caveat. In this case you either have large, but fake looking, breasts, a large bum or the dress sense of a hooker once you are outside of the office. As you might be able to tell I loved writing the fashion part of this as I love messing with styles. Never done anything before it before and luckily this was well received so I was proud of it. </p><p>What would you choose? Let me know in the comments...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6oyOXeqDhM0jgFvf8_9_J-3v5oziLHsNpj1saizZJAwG8IUB1xs3GFHQfo5MNlpBYJBT4ygFh-HZMBDztvDe3ANl7aQuUid3mA2l55rwZ8JrhutI8GqNLC8lnQ8S0bUJzklacv1Wf4TiFUzlK6MoahKUtprSS4X_xxLOgvgu4ikgsPrBcEIbDTFEhQ/s648/VanCall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="648" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6oyOXeqDhM0jgFvf8_9_J-3v5oziLHsNpj1saizZJAwG8IUB1xs3GFHQfo5MNlpBYJBT4ygFh-HZMBDztvDe3ANl7aQuUid3mA2l55rwZ8JrhutI8GqNLC8lnQ8S0bUJzklacv1Wf4TiFUzlK6MoahKUtprSS4X_xxLOgvgu4ikgsPrBcEIbDTFEhQ/s320/VanCall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You Make the Call: Working Girl (1) (2013)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcbAAunWXbysApawLnIAzi68XNCC_p1Go0drmvh4bwcEm9rn4hEErADWD9tOcmXCy8feRsDnrz7smyaWE85xcbXG83v2gh1g6dlowVOFNs3FmMGertM4sjpvmzwZhyqUU8GQhM28COkob56xHx6oTpiRo4_JB1rl72_1jJUn9eblINvxrj3jCIMFJNw/s864/VanCall2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcbAAunWXbysApawLnIAzi68XNCC_p1Go0drmvh4bwcEm9rn4hEErADWD9tOcmXCy8feRsDnrz7smyaWE85xcbXG83v2gh1g6dlowVOFNs3FmMGertM4sjpvmzwZhyqUU8GQhM28COkob56xHx6oTpiRo4_JB1rl72_1jJUn9eblINvxrj3jCIMFJNw/s320/VanCall2.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You Make the Call: Working Girl (2) (2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-80447277664096370772022-07-16T22:42:00.001+01:002022-07-16T22:42:22.956+01:00Check-Up #22<p>After a bit of a bumpy start to the month I'm feeling a lot better about myself now after a couple of experiences this week. </p><p>Cosplay has been a worry for me over the last couple of years particularly whether I still enjoy it. I have no doubt that there are plenty of costumes that I would still like to do but do I have places to wear them and if I do will I be doing it alone? I've attended conventions alone for most of the time I've been doing them and after giving them up for a bit I came back when I started cosplay but that was for the most part doing it with friends. I thought I might just feel a bit lonely. This week however I did attend a convention and took the opportunity to wear my 13th Doctor cosplay and, despite once more having to do a quick change in the toilets, I really enjoyed myself. I even met a former cast member who asked me why I wasn't wearing the wig. Also, if you wish to take any fashion advice from me then I must advise that the current geek threads du jour are a Hellfire Club t-shirt from the fourth series of <i>Stranger Things</i>. </p><p>I didn't really get a lot of other comments on my costume but I did get some nods from other Doctor cosplayers which was nice and it was a lot of fun walking around with a big swishy coat. Ok, perhaps not the smartest choice given the hot weather but I didn't feel that bad plus I was wearing a skirt so I was cool in other areas and that's something I've learned through crossdressing. It doesn't matter if parts of you are more exposed than usual, covering up elsewhere helps it. Wearing a short skirt or dress? Try a cardigan or knee socks if it gets too cold. Anyway, back to the costume and it is a decent one for all weathers as you can choose to do without the coat and just go with the t-shirt for the heat but in the cold you can also wear a jumper for a top or a the t-shirt with a long sleeved white top underneath. So anyway it was a largely positive experience so it might be something I continue in the future.</p><p>I also forgot how many great artists you get at these things and there are a couple in particular I would like to mention:</p><p>Passing one stall I also saw something on display that made me think of this blog and it was a replica Hooters uniform except the top read 'Femboy Hooters'. So far I have resisted buying it but there was a lot of great stuff on there: <a href="https://occulttrash.com" target="_blank">https://occulttrash.com</a></p><p>Another one I adored was the work of the Retro Draughtsman over at <a href="https://www.theretrodraughtsman.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cult Locations Ink</a> who draws buildings from cult TV and films and I even left with a couple of them. </p><p>Speaking of movies, I watched <i>Enola Holmes</i> recently starring Millie Bobby Brown from the aforementioned <i>Stranger Things</i> as Sherlock's younger sister. A very fun movie but also one including crossdressing as Enola chooses to wear male clothes as a disguise from time to time and one running gag saw her offering money to a couple of men to switch clothes with her. The TG caption writes itself there. To one, a gardener, she even stipulates that he doesn't have to wear the dress and even offers to tie him up to further cover up why his clothes are missing. Tied up and wearing a dress - this must be the best day of his life! Sadly we never saw any shots of the chaps wearing the dresses but you can always hope. </p><p>Finally, I had an event to go to one evening this week and decided to wear a dress to it as it was a hot night. A good choice, as it turns out, as it was nice and cool. Toilets once again played a role as I got changed in one at work and luckily was able to avoid anyone I worked with despite nearly meeting someone at the traffic lights. The event was in a pub so of course I needed to go to the toilet part way through the night and while I was awaiting the single cubicle in the Gents I spoke briefly with a man in there who seemed genuinely confused as to why I was in there rather than in the Ladies. Whether or not he was being nice or really thought I was a woman (reader - I do not pass) I don't know but it was interesting considering the horrible nature of the Trans discourse recently much of which seems to be centred around lavatories. In fact the same discourse has been worrying me of late (too much Twitter I expect) and I nearly didn't dress that night for those same reasons. Life works in funny ways sometimes. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-49096530557883246752022-07-03T00:08:00.004+01:002022-07-03T00:08:34.286+01:00Check-Up #21<p>So anyway a few things that have happened recently. </p><p>Last week I bought a lovely new summer dress. A little short maybe but otherwise fine. I also got a bracelet which looks a little like barbed wire so it's bit punky which is cool. Otherwise I've been a bit preoccupied with my thoughts on dressing for a works party. I thought a lot about it, trying to weight it up, picked out a dress and also sought advice from my friends on social media. The day came and so I stuffed the dress and some jewellery in the suitcase (I was staying in a hotel overnight) and ultimately the time came and I opted not to wear it. Perhaps I need to start a little smaller than the gathering planned. </p><p>I can't say it made me feel more miserable than I think I would have been at a large gathering and as such I didn't feel so self-conscious. I still paint my nails most weeks though so it's not like I don't show that side of myself (this night though they were silver with a coat of glitter on). There is a twist though. I did feel the need to talk to someone about it and the amount of alcohol I had didn't do me any favours but I did end up confiding in a colleague in the end and he seemed ok with it. So I don't know what will happen from here on out so I guess we will see. I was worrying a lot about but I perhaps built it up a little too much in my mind. As a friend of mine said, I had to weigh up how safe and scared I would feel coming out but also the effects on my mental health if I didn't and it's something like that which I had never considered before. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-48247384368537005532022-06-26T20:23:00.002+01:002022-06-26T20:23:24.290+01:00Strange New Worlds One of the cosplays I've done most over the years has been my <i>Star Trek</i> red dress from the original series which ran from 1966-1969. I was never a huge fan of <i>Star Trek</i> growing up but in recent years and especially since its recent revival (and availability on Netflix) I have taken the opportunity to start watching the various series. In fact while the dress is more commonly associated with Lt. Uhura it was seeing Yeoman Rand wearing it that made me think about it as a possible cosplay for an upcoming convention. <div><br /></div><div>Whoever wore it though, it's now an iconic piece of costume design today and one very closely associated with the past. Despite the introduction of the skant in <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> that even men would be seen walking about it, mainly extras would be seen wearing them and it seems to have been phased out especially when the new breed of Star Trek shows began with <i>Star Trek: Discovery</i> in 2017. In fact amongst the jumpsuits only Lt Nhan seemed to be wearing something like them but that involved a red top and skirt and a skant version of the <i>Discovery </i>jumpsuit. Anyway, this brings me on to the very latest show <i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.</i> This prequel takes place before the original series and is set on the Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike and I was heartened to read that Rebecca Romijn, who plays second in command Lt Commander Una Chin-Riley, fought to wear the mini dress and bring that touch of femininity back to the show. </div><div><br /></div><div>The full interview can be read here: <a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/850009/rebecca-romijn-insisted-on-wearing-a-starfleet-dress-on-star-trek-strange-new-worlds/" target="_blank">https://www.slashfilm.com/850009/rebecca-romijn-insisted-on-wearing-a-starfleet-dress-on-star-trek-strange-new-worlds/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a further look at the fashions of Strange New Worlds: <a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-costume-designer-interview" target="_blank">https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-costume-designer-interview</a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iD69W74FuVNxvRDoYkM2WogxHoshFsHrA_VRRZaPWhxCQ4S4mDG05ppsUnkan4PHV9XvYWeu8cNVX8SMsph_Dw7PIslP8pPV8k3iO01fnB7O4DR3iZpXLoezGJPkOw_7WtYGX5Ac9DCCM_wUe_Y_BCGIqJqR0dFA8JrxM6cubFX8amj7V2Odn1G2Uw/s755/SNW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iD69W74FuVNxvRDoYkM2WogxHoshFsHrA_VRRZaPWhxCQ4S4mDG05ppsUnkan4PHV9XvYWeu8cNVX8SMsph_Dw7PIslP8pPV8k3iO01fnB7O4DR3iZpXLoezGJPkOw_7WtYGX5Ac9DCCM_wUe_Y_BCGIqJqR0dFA8JrxM6cubFX8amj7V2Odn1G2Uw/s320/SNW.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rebecca Romijn as Lt Commander Una Chin-Riley in a <br />promotional poster for <i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</i> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Unisex does seem to be the order of the day with a more masculine look seeming favourable. What's so wrong with looking feminine? It's a lot more fun. Unisex to me always conjures the idea of grey clothes and everyone looking the same. I'm all for breaking down gender boundaries but again it does seem to be skewed towards the masculine like that's all what people are striving for. Is it really that much better or bringing the equality that we need? Skirts for men have been tried over the years and make-up too but it's never really taken off however I think these days more than other men have been making bolder choices with more colourful suits and shirts. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was interesting to note how things seem to have come full circle albeit for different reasons. The short dresses of the original series have become much derided over the years and are often held up as an example of the sexism that existed in the series and in particular that of creator Gene Roddenberry. However in the original pilot <i>The Cage</i> they are nowhere to be seen with the uniform consisting of a top and trousers. It was the aforementioned Yeoman Rand herself, actress Grace Lee Whitney who asked the production staff to implement the dresses. In fact dresses like that were everywhere in the late 1960s and were seen as a part of female sexual freedom rather than something enforced. Ironically enough these days it's the fact that they are so short that makes them stand out as a relic of the 1960s. Although I have worn one it wasn't until I watched some of those original episodes that I realised exactly how short they were on the show. Even Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura herself, has defended them when asked about what it was like being asked to wear one. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSXCLLZYIlUMhb-vzJKSwGT4Orc6bgZ3TeD0OSLrpHxjqJ5Xx5XeSsRaEOnYKiOMNYLff6USvbUjPIO2wqquC4E2XS1A_oHNIY-4rAh2VEcP2N7UxpJSmpZdWckCvzsataBe6M_3v3DjDGVAnRrPnBud918jIgy2cS9SFZN8DfSATVbz0j1opCMIHvA/s600/Uhura.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSXCLLZYIlUMhb-vzJKSwGT4Orc6bgZ3TeD0OSLrpHxjqJ5Xx5XeSsRaEOnYKiOMNYLff6USvbUjPIO2wqquC4E2XS1A_oHNIY-4rAh2VEcP2N7UxpJSmpZdWckCvzsataBe6M_3v3DjDGVAnRrPnBud918jIgy2cS9SFZN8DfSATVbz0j1opCMIHvA/s320/Uhura.png" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nichelle Nicols as Lt Uhura in <br />Star Trek: The Original Series</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>There's a nice short piece here about it: <a href="https://blog.ha.com/minis-are-maximum-fashion-in-star-trek-the-original-series/" target="_blank">https://blog.ha.com/minis-are-maximum-fashion-in-star-trek-the-original-series/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>With the classic dresses being derided it's no surprise that they weren't considered for a comeback when the series returned to TV although they did return in the three 'Kelvinverse' films: <i>Star Trek</i> (2009), <i>Star Trek Into Darkness</i> (2013) and <i>Star Trek Beyond</i> (2016) showing that they could be done with a more modern eye. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8xYyDNBC0THfAncvJwD8tlP0ip502obsTLft7JaLNmJxpjqNadyvYER4tyj5Y-5zbyVhEId7ixFct-gTKWljUMkcDp72diJI7hbbrX0taVCuDVNNqTqIFEwUVkBtQoHl5UJ9lRe3A4J1a5IC3INRnoKrOt9UASAvcWffiZy2d648457NnFym1OkBMw/s1324/Uhura2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="618" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8xYyDNBC0THfAncvJwD8tlP0ip502obsTLft7JaLNmJxpjqNadyvYER4tyj5Y-5zbyVhEId7ixFct-gTKWljUMkcDp72diJI7hbbrX0taVCuDVNNqTqIFEwUVkBtQoHl5UJ9lRe3A4J1a5IC3INRnoKrOt9UASAvcWffiZy2d648457NnFym1OkBMw/s320/Uhura2.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe Saldana as Lt Uhura in<br />Star Trek (2009)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway I'm glad that like Grace Lee Whitney and Nichelle Nichols, Rebecca Romijn has stuck up for a more feminine look on the bridge of the Enterprise and I notice that even her hair and make-up is inspired by the looks of the original series (plus she has some marvellous gold nails). It's been fascinating looking into this and as someone who has an eye towards more feminine clothing I'm surprised that women are still fighting to wear it and to look feminine although I suppose that may be expected on a show dealing with the military and less on the usual type of dramas (certainly to have the wardrobe of a heroine on a DC series would be quite something).</div><div><br /></div><div>I have thought about doing this cosplay myself and may just do that among with some of the others I have planned although another one from SNW that has caught my eye is the white jumpsuit of Nurse Chapel so who knows. </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-16035373395569871692022-06-20T23:01:00.002+01:002022-06-20T23:01:22.617+01:00Check-Up #20<p>So what have I been doing recently? </p><p>Not much really. I haven't bought anything new clothes wise apart from a necklace with a large silver heart on it but I have had some opportunities to dress recently as I've had some time working from home. I've also found that shaving most of my body hair has helped with my mood as I've often looked down at my various hairy limbs and despaired somewhat. I always pledge to shave more often but I rarely do plus you do get those horrible stubby hairs that you can never entirely get rid of. Maybe I ought to try waxing or go somewhere professional to try and get it done properly. </p><p>Speaking of work (and I know I may be sounding like a broken record here) but we have a staff event coming up that is partially going to be on a boat. So do I dress? I've thought about it and the various dresses I could wear for it but I fear the confidence may leave me unless my old friend alcohol becomes involved as it has whenever I took a big step in my dressing. I haven't decided whether I will do yet but I still have a few more weeks to think about it. If I don't I know I will be miserable for most of the night but if I do it may be one of my more nerve-wracking nights and I've had quite a few but it's different this time as I won't have any of my friends around me. I expect it's one of those times when I just have to get over the initial awkwardness and questions and it will be fine. Funnily enough also in July I have a friend's wedding coming up in which I have no qualms about dressing for but I'm torn between wearing a suit, at least for the ceremony, or buying a new dress. Well, I probably have something I could wear anyway if I didn't get something new. That should be fun anyway. </p><p>I finished watching <i>Sex Education</i> and I would recommend it and it has some wonderful LGBTQ+ representation. I certainly wish I had something like this when I was younger. Everything I learned about sex I had to pick up myself as neither school nor my parents taught me anything. I doubt it would have made much difference as I still would have been a shy child but you never know. </p><p>I've started to do more captions for the Haven again too and I'm still enjoying producing work over on Twitter so it's a surprisingly creative time for me. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-15140416580127798762022-06-13T22:56:00.006+01:002022-06-13T23:04:15.413+01:00Ms Marvel <p>Once again where Marvel goes, I follow. As <i>Ms Marvel</i> has presently landed on Disney + and is doing well I thought I would put up a couple of themed captions. Unfortunately I don't have the names of either cosplayer. </p><p>This one was created for Jeannie over at Rachel's Haven and uses one of my favourite concepts - Secret Cosplay. The premise being that a person receives an envelope with a cosplay choice on they must dress as for a local convention and if they dare ignore it then the choice will be fulfilled whether they like it or not. I seem to remember creating as a way to get some quick capbacks done with a common concept I could use without doing the same thing over and over again. I have varied it and there are quite a few captions and characters I've used it with now. This one is more the classic Carol Danvers version of the character though rather than the Kamala Khan version from the TV show. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M8wzLjtf-5DH6LLgYuoGTBWRGkPJIx4mCcrxb174Ux80wlPQ9fvxBwkXHfQpVqJdi6WLiIceShLFCFaFo3--isc22Dz5dAAVD9hcOg030heeTUuAscTXX8JKidmaO_jx6V1hHzQlkl-aGUDSWwk6Oe0OlRvIFp1BK7sxtoD58x_HqB235l024U_oAw/s720/JeannieMarvel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M8wzLjtf-5DH6LLgYuoGTBWRGkPJIx4mCcrxb174Ux80wlPQ9fvxBwkXHfQpVqJdi6WLiIceShLFCFaFo3--isc22Dz5dAAVD9hcOg030heeTUuAscTXX8JKidmaO_jx6V1hHzQlkl-aGUDSWwk6Oe0OlRvIFp1BK7sxtoD58x_HqB235l024U_oAw/s320/JeannieMarvel.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret Cosplay: Ms Marvel (2018)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div>This second caption was created for Jay Seaver over at Rachel's Haven and was inspired by the then recent <i>Captain Marvel</i> movie and riffs on a more conventional bodyswap scenario.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDshHJj7Zw1sZ6LM11rhaAPc-fYjGe9tgimWqzTDbL-z0QhyG5nXzgMnS2hlKIs7NiL7wYXHsxXzKysWlnSGxTriHe1Ml1uYR2ENWMDlTz-_oI0dpdD6C21wlkAAsQ-SGRxXXyPBRTi0ryhN8COZVXPPR2ywq1WfUDv5rtiyrZx_WzhRANGo5PwY_UZg/s839/JayMarvel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDshHJj7Zw1sZ6LM11rhaAPc-fYjGe9tgimWqzTDbL-z0QhyG5nXzgMnS2hlKIs7NiL7wYXHsxXzKysWlnSGxTriHe1Ml1uYR2ENWMDlTz-_oI0dpdD6C21wlkAAsQ-SGRxXXyPBRTi0ryhN8COZVXPPR2ywq1WfUDv5rtiyrZx_WzhRANGo5PwY_UZg/s320/JayMarvel.jpg" width="173" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marvel-ous Cosplay (2019)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-90145731928736714362022-06-04T22:53:00.000+01:002022-06-04T22:53:02.543+01:00Terri in the Multiverse of Madness<p>Well Multiverses seem to be all the rage these days and the other day by chance I found a couple of captions related to them. </p><p>The below was created for Chelsea Baker on Rachel's Haven and uses a screencap from the makeover (actually more a make-under show as they championed natural beauty and teaching people how to live without tons of make-up) TV show <i>Snog, Marry, Avoid</i> which I used to watch quite a lot. The title was taken from a 2009 episode of <i>Family Guy </i>which itself was a nod to the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby <i>Road To...</i> movies </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tpOjTovE7gs8oba4ZBqugXID7eUQUE5oXPxw-6JHpF4EZ-Tsqeupiz4LuHOnOanR7mCh5MpRnLEKNuDCWKF8yiP0gIK64JmsPNwS_K1ghAV8wvodg06WDP1EoYZ_oJ03FcZSZKeZ4wPrfEA3IFcOROTyve4cZP9z8KC8KD_gomYpNWxxJHZraiy7Lw/s670/ChelseaMultiverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tpOjTovE7gs8oba4ZBqugXID7eUQUE5oXPxw-6JHpF4EZ-Tsqeupiz4LuHOnOanR7mCh5MpRnLEKNuDCWKF8yiP0gIK64JmsPNwS_K1ghAV8wvodg06WDP1EoYZ_oJ03FcZSZKeZ4wPrfEA3IFcOROTyve4cZP9z8KC8KD_gomYpNWxxJHZraiy7Lw/s320/ChelseaMultiverse.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road to the Multiverse (2013)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This second one may be a bit tricky to understand without context since I basically took someone's preferences and flipped them. This was done for Felicia Hextus over at Rachel's Haven who loves to be age reduced, shrunk, teased and humiliated so obviously I turned her into a strong, powerful maneater. Luckily she enjoyed it and also really liked having her preferences turned against her and saw it as a form of teasing in itself. It's always nice when you hit on a kink that may not have been there before. This cap also brings back one of my favourite characters, Ember Montoya, and if I ever mention parallel universes the universe of shrimp often comes up which is a reference to <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer.</i> Now, I'm not sure if there is a reference in the title unless I thought it just sounded good but knowing me there probably was but I can't remember it now. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsJ0ULcS5XgRfWaXALmMV7bY0hN6EcpGAQ7mu8YBhOpEd6xN8dPMuodqyb3wIotzAtFk4qEZf5VdULztA26V_ut85Il2-NwS1bAob_GPsOVQ0zcDnARXlCyRF41TUSku1Jp2rvlGwT4SfHdZm0YhKbA0gjBRHt4ilA0LWSbOfRk6dM4fRacNDEK-4kA/s742/FeliciaWorlds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="742" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsJ0ULcS5XgRfWaXALmMV7bY0hN6EcpGAQ7mu8YBhOpEd6xN8dPMuodqyb3wIotzAtFk4qEZf5VdULztA26V_ut85Il2-NwS1bAob_GPsOVQ0zcDnARXlCyRF41TUSku1Jp2rvlGwT4SfHdZm0YhKbA0gjBRHt4ilA0LWSbOfRk6dM4fRacNDEK-4kA/s320/FeliciaWorlds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felicia of Two Worlds (2015)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-70222612625520333172022-06-02T16:56:00.005+01:002022-06-02T16:56:42.028+01:00Sex Education<p> Things have been a bit busy recently but there are a couple of things I wanted to talk about. Firstly I mentioned joining Twitter last month and I've really been enjoying it. My captions have been doing quite well (I think, anyway) and it's also taught me the value of brevity as I only have 140 characters to play with. Doing a new caption for the Haven recently I could feel myself editing it a bit more so hopefully it has sharpened up my skills a bit. </p><p>Now, like a lot of other <i>Doctor Who</i> fans have been doing recently, I have started watching <i>Sex Education</i> on Netflix as one of the main roles is played by the new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa. The show had been on my list for a while but other things had taken precedence so this was as good an excuse as any to begin. For the uninitiated, the show is a comedy drama which revolves around teenager Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson). Otis attends sixth form at Moordale Secondary School (which weirdly seems to resemble an American high school) and with another pupil, Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) starts an under-the-wire sex clinic of his own advising his fellow students for money. Gatwa plays his gay best friend Eric Effiong. From here on in the spoilers for season one start so please look away now if you are still wanting to watch this and go in cold (please come back if you do though. I'll still be here, hopefully). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNwQOnTaKXdyfzSr5x6UYoFDc7yM5T5uwtDQQNYKonSQV1tr0MXuHS6fJUZ0rvHIUYHIXDd9I6NlrSV1l3zdKfsHVCLEwrxt2gaXdUetcl2hpGztkNbjmdrNIOBePwLi6hoMywhicltxSiv7tuGYj16jJTjx_LtA40DsixwYKx9zzKKVHW-eWTi32Rg/s2048/SexED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNwQOnTaKXdyfzSr5x6UYoFDc7yM5T5uwtDQQNYKonSQV1tr0MXuHS6fJUZ0rvHIUYHIXDd9I6NlrSV1l3zdKfsHVCLEwrxt2gaXdUetcl2hpGztkNbjmdrNIOBePwLi6hoMywhicltxSiv7tuGYj16jJTjx_LtA40DsixwYKx9zzKKVHW-eWTi32Rg/s320/SexED.jpg" width="216" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promo poster for Season One of Sex Education<br />(L to R: Ncuti Gatwa as Eric, Emma Mackey as Maeve and Asa Butterfield as Otis)<br />Credit: IMDB</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The episode I want to discuss is the fifth episode of season one (no title given) which (surprise, surprise) involves crossdressing. It's Eric's 17th birthday and he and Otis have tickets to a screening of <i>Hedwig and the Angry Inch</i>. Both dress in drag for the event and both have very different evenings. While Otis gets side-lined by Maeve and the main plot which involves finding out who has been sending photographs of school mean girl Ruby's vagina to everyone, Eric continues on alone. If he were already being written by Russell T Davies he would doubtless be a super confident charmer and would mostly probably seduce someone at the bus stop but not so much here. We are not in some bustling metropolis but a small town and you feel for Eric as he stands alone at a wooden shack of a bus stop out in the woods. On his own and out of his element he retreats into himself and I know just how he feels. Two lads approach and he turns away and tries to hide himself in a place where he has nowhere to run which is another feeling I know all too well. I often wear a big coat if I can which is all the better for covering yourself up from other people. At least the station platform I often frequent is longer than Eric's bus stop. Noticing his birthday badge though one of the youths smiles and says that not only is it his birthday too but offers Eric a drink and compliments his outfit. </p><p>Sadly that's the best that Eric's evening gets. Not only does Otis never show but his coat is stolen and he gets attacked on his way home. Calling Jean for a lift he returns home with her only to have a bust up with Otis over his desertion. Over the next couple of episodes he's a broken man, choosing less flamboyant clothing and trying not to be seen eventually getting into fights and being suspended from school. I have to say I have been feeling this a little at the moment too due to what happened to me at work a couple of weeks ago. While I've never been the type to scorch the Earth, I haven't painted my nails again since. This being television it does have a happy ending though as Eric rediscovers himself through a service at his local church and a stranger with fierce nails on his way to a wedding. A school dance proves his big opportunity for a comeback and of course he makes up with Otis. </p><p>For Otis himself I'm pleased to see that, being straight, he has no qualms about dressing in drag and attending the show with his friend. No feeling of being made to do it or embarrassment (well no more than that of an average awkward teen). I have to wonder where they both got the outfits though and despite saying it's a yearly thing they do it seems like the first time unless of course it's normally something they do at home. I'm just nitpicking though. Even Otis gets compliments on his outfit which, again is nice to see. We don't have universal acceptance or universal hatred but something inbetween which is what real life is like. Otis may be a little sheepish about his new look but he shrugs it off as no big deal and no-one particularly makes fun of him either. Of course he also stays within the confines of their cosy town and not into the wider world like Eric. </p><p>One final person I would like to mention in all this is Eric's dad, Abeo Effiong (DeObia Oparei), who goes on a journey of his own towards acceptance of his son. A couple of episodes earlier he catches Eric in drag and demands he remove it so you get the impression this he is your typical religious, unaccepting father. In episode five he tries to stop Eric going out in drag by almost pleading with him to rethink his outfit. I recognise this too from the time I told my own parents by turning up at their house wearing a denim miniskirt. It's that same look of trying to work it out, trying to make sense of it and also the realisation that your child has just painted a target on their back, the 'oh he's going to get the shit kicked out of him' look. I can sympathise so much with that. Later when Eric returns home he can tell that something has happened but Eric is in no mood for talking. The next morning he spares his blushes with the rest of the family by making up a cover story and when Eric rediscovers himself and gets dressed up for the dance his father offers to drive him. Outside the school they have a heart to heart and Abeo admits he admires his brave son and that maybe he should be braver himself. Revealing his background as an immigrant made me realise that he must have been hiding for a lot of his life, scared to put his head above the parapet, and that there must be people in this country who have been settled for over 50 years but still have that same sense of keeping their heads down lest somebody try to throw them out. </p><p>I must admit I didn't expect any crossdressing in this show and I doubt it will happen again but I'm glad at the way it was handled.</p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-73636834290013556812022-05-26T23:24:00.004+01:002022-05-27T22:48:28.721+01:00The Capping Years: 2012<p>When I was thinking about what captions I wanted to put up for this, <i>Taking Her Place</i> was one at the top of the list. This caption was created for Crow over at Rachel's Haven and is still one of my favourites. </p><p>It features another in the line of alien entities who seem to like messing with accepted roles and DNA. I only did a couple with The Persuader in the end perhaps because it took too much thought to think up the phrases I would need to use but it might be nice to go back to it at some point. Switching clothes and personalities is always a fun topic for me and although this doesn't feature a clothes swap it gets quite close to it. I'm also pleased with the final line which indicates that balance will be restored and she will take <i>his </i>place. </p><p>I'm still playing around with my style here as can be seen by the bold colours of the text box and background and I'm still using a thinner font than I eventually ended up staying with. I think it fits the character too. This was one of the longest stories I had done at the time at least in one picture.</p><p>EDIT: I was thinking about this again and one thing that did niggle me was the amount of time Amy was ill as opposed to the amount of time it took for Charlie to change however in these days of COVID and self isolation it doesn't seem that outlandish any more. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FfXGu4esAm0cqLMgjasHrRKyVlFvjL5FhX39nL5TbxSYYsMcfIw332yZTYeIF-c2JBZePBxUTHNzVX1t5aZZlYDPyz5Lnoo6TA2QktW_mmbEcJBUV5AgjTFOXtAuT4szElwLneElNQo_sq4jsKHonxbkYDPFfox8PRmbYypXv8GBo8jn4S7U9eleTA/s828/CrowPlace.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FfXGu4esAm0cqLMgjasHrRKyVlFvjL5FhX39nL5TbxSYYsMcfIw332yZTYeIF-c2JBZePBxUTHNzVX1t5aZZlYDPyz5Lnoo6TA2QktW_mmbEcJBUV5AgjTFOXtAuT4szElwLneElNQo_sq4jsKHonxbkYDPFfox8PRmbYypXv8GBo8jn4S7U9eleTA/s320/CrowPlace.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Taking Her Place (2012)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-32509372288597760112022-05-20T23:27:00.004+01:002022-05-20T23:27:25.767+01:0010 Years On <p>Tonight is a double celebration as not only is it 10 years to the day that I started this blog but this is also my 300th post which has worked out quite nicely. </p><p>Looking back at my first post I hadn't really begun dressing much at all yet. I was just about to start doing cosplay and I wasn't even thinking of dressing on a regular basis and if so then it would just be for a bit in my bedroom privately with an ice princess dress I was dared into buying online. It's true I never thought I would start dressing en femme. Oh maybe with a willing sexual partner but I was never that good at romance so girlfriends were few and far between in fact my longest relationship wasn't going to happen for another year or so. In fact early on I was told that dressing would be a good icebreaker. So it was a secret I thought I would take with me to the grave but things change and I could see ways that I could do what I wanted and even more so people wouldn't want to punch my lights out or recall in disgust. </p><p>I've tried to keep this blog up as best I can but sometimes life gets in the way. In fact I said I wouldn't turn it into a cap blog and to be fair I still haven't but I have started talking about them more on here and they seem to be popular posts. In fact I think my most popular has turned out to be one linking to a Role Exchanger story. I'm still amazed that so many people from around the world read this and I hope that I've inspired people with it even if it makes just one person consider acting on their impulse to dress or maybe take up crossplay and hopefully see that it's not so bad. </p><p>Looking back I can't believe how far I've come in the last decade and how much better it feels now doing something I never thought I would dare to. Sure it's not gone smoothly and life at the moment isn't perfect but I still don't know what that looks like for me. These days although I still love clothes I'm finding myself with less wardrobe space and looking forward to maybe doing make-up. Hopefully it will be fun finding out. </p><p>Thank you to everyone for reading my digital scribblings over the past 10 years!</p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-27626672611374218202022-05-19T23:52:00.004+01:002022-05-19T23:52:29.846+01:00The Capping Years: 2011<p> I knew exactly the cap I wanted to put up for 2011...and then I re-read it and discovered that I made it in a different year so had to pick again. </p><p>There's quite a few I had in mind looking through my old stuff, for example <i>Red Dress Redemption</i> was an early favourite, I introduced my Neighbour Virus and Reflections concepts, <i>Lego Lady</i> was my first caption contest win, <i>The New Lisa</i> allowed me to write up an old fantasy of mine (one of my earliest), <i>In Custody</i> was another favourite and the first chav cap I did and <i>A Punky Phase</i> remains a Medallion of Zulo cap I still love. </p><p>One thing I also noticed was that my caps are a bit more positive and featured protagonists who either didn't mind or welcomed the change or the chance to dress. </p><p>The one I did pick was <i>The Punk Singer</i> though which I did for Vancouverite on Rachel's Haven. It was a kind of 'She'll Become What She Hates' cap but in the end there are a lot of good things about the change so I like to think it ends on a positive. I think must also be my first F2F caption </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEcq3uk7AxiQONsPIa7s4HHPN3mmx85ouViaH8OOUW3vi5QmL-Dwe6KbanXrEQtKFOyP-m1MwWZ7KzgYlkE5LBITJ0neELJ-INELf38aPLQW-ZKJnn2232ho65VKVsc72Cya9uIY8IkCOwI7DCQm6mrT8cDAvDdMNuCEncZFMjcWfwYsRzE8AovQx8g/s630/VanPunk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="630" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEcq3uk7AxiQONsPIa7s4HHPN3mmx85ouViaH8OOUW3vi5QmL-Dwe6KbanXrEQtKFOyP-m1MwWZ7KzgYlkE5LBITJ0neELJ-INELf38aPLQW-ZKJnn2232ho65VKVsc72Cya9uIY8IkCOwI7DCQm6mrT8cDAvDdMNuCEncZFMjcWfwYsRzE8AovQx8g/s320/VanPunk1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The Punk Singer (1) (2011)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl8t0Zta48YuDlyOVBnF5ZztnhfvgwKEORBREWb-NCCa0gs-FQB-hxJrM-ZS38OdN08vF98itsSMLJuvIfk4XVp5q4tt4GLJ2sJryOqjakSjk0XQRXIyu8FJHCCg8KsWJvtLfnTVv1Ut3YpLY8vWy9r3hIkHsVKdvgW73G_IuGa9omA1KUu6cHDpvbQ/s713/VanPunk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="713" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl8t0Zta48YuDlyOVBnF5ZztnhfvgwKEORBREWb-NCCa0gs-FQB-hxJrM-ZS38OdN08vF98itsSMLJuvIfk4XVp5q4tt4GLJ2sJryOqjakSjk0XQRXIyu8FJHCCg8KsWJvtLfnTVv1Ut3YpLY8vWy9r3hIkHsVKdvgW73G_IuGa9omA1KUu6cHDpvbQ/s320/VanPunk2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />The Punk Singer (2) (2011)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2774964770062238007.post-58442154058391480212022-05-17T23:26:00.004+01:002022-05-17T23:26:39.629+01:00Saying and Not Saying<p>I do have a couple of posts planned over the next few days but I didn't expect to be siting down and writing anything tonight but something happened at work. It regarded someone who worked for a different company on the same floor as us and the way he was dressed (pink shorts and a t-shirt basically) and a colleague of mine mentioned, partially using another colleague as a random example, "<i>Well he could wear a skirt and you couldn't say anything</i>."</p><p>Sorry for the vagueness by the way but I'm sure you'll understand why. Anyway, this made me think about my own situation and how I've at times thought of asking if I can wear more feminine clothes in the office. I'm not really trans or at least I don't think so so there's not really much of an excuse. People still look at crossdressers as perverts in some respects but hopefully with the younger generation embracing gender fluidity there may be hope yet. A friend of mine who does dress a little different themselves works in an office where it isn't an issue but then I work in a much stricter profession. </p><p>It's those words that stuck in my craw a bit though "<i>you couldn't say anything</i>" with the implication being that it would be wrong for a man to wear a skirt and the next sentence out would most likely be about 'woke liberal snowflakes' or other such culture war rubbish. Why should something need to be said though? Why can't it just be? The conclusion ended up being that as long it was appropriate office wear it would be within company rules and to be fair to the colleague who had the comment randomly directed at him did say he had no issue with anyone if that's what they wanted to do but just not him. In fact it reminded me a little of something I saw on a train once with a late middle aged couple commenting on one of the people sitting opposite me (I think anyway. I wasn't dressed femme but probably had my nails painted). Both were sitting on opposite seats and stretched a newspaper across them to whisper. It was like a scene from a sitcom, both hiding behind a big newspaper. I recall the man saying something like "<i>probably get done for even asking</i>."</p><p>So did I say anything? No. It was hard to know quite what to say especially without outing yourself plus these moments pass by so quickly they can be hard to process. I don't want to think ill of my colleague though as I do like them and they never struck me as that sort. I've also been painting my nails for a while now. I only used to on the weekends and then I became the sole occupant of the office during lockdown so I never stopped. Most people like it but now I wonder if it's just being tolerated because "<i>you can't say anything</i>". I might try and bring it up in a humourous way with them at some point and see how things go. I may be overthinking things and of course I've spoken before about how I'm conflicted about asking my superiors about dressing and how it's something I never even considered would ever come up in my lifetime. I never thought I would go outside fully dressed let alone to pubs with friends. </p><p>People are stuck in their ways and sometimes they just need their eyes opening. I've had experiences like that. I'm not sure if I'm the person to do that though. In cases like this you're either the rabble rouser who wants to make things better for people like you or you just want to get on with your life and live it how you want to. I should be grateful at how many people are so accepting of me. I don't know if I'm the sort of person to change things but then visibility even in small ways is important. This year <i>Ru Paul's Drag Race</i> had its first heterosexual queen - Maddy Morphosis - and she was wonderful to see for someone like me but Maddy also spoke about not wanting to be a role model or trendsetter for cis guys in drag. </p><p>I'm sure I'll think about it a lot in the next few days but things like this never truly affect me or if they do it's only for a little while. I may think I've reached the end of my tether but then I see the next outfit I really want to wear and I feel no shame about it. It's just the way I am. </p>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298716436747423912noreply@blogger.com2