Thursday 31 October 2013

Happy Haloweenie Everybody



A quick post to wish everyone a happy Halloween, of course for someone as zombie obsessed as myself, everyday is Halloween.

Spent last night gutting and carving pumpkins to my children's designs, the youngest wanted her first initial to light up the night.

 

I had to work today so only a little extra eye makeup, red lips and skull earrings and necklace.   Another lady unprompted said I should be a model....Cass I knew it was you in disguise...boy do you squirm when I tried to pull the rubber mask off.

No time for the angel of death costume this year, though I might wear my black halo and wings to hand out candy.

trying to look scary        

the Cramps, the best band to play on Halloween and every other day too
 

Tuesday 29 October 2013

The Ultimate in Passing?


Well I guess that would be dating a guy and him never guessing I was not born a woman, as that is not the case perhaps the title of this post should be the penultimate in passing.

As I seek the restart my career (fruitlessly it sometimes seems) I busy myself as a freelance writer, which unfortunately is too unpredictable to pay the bills.

In this recession bound economy even part time jobs are hard to come by.  I remind myself that I am lucky to pick up a position in what is one of Canada’s high-end department stores. I was flattered to be hired for the lingerie department though I spend most of my time in shoes.

I should not be worried about passing after SRS but having surgery is no guarantee one will immediately be accepted as a woman by the public at large. Nor do I think I would have been hired for this particular job had I not passed convincingly.

Beyond the pay, my time in this job is a fascinating personal education in female socialization through both my co-workers and customers. Of course I have worked with women in the past but never as one of them. I am pleased that no one is aware of my past nor has guessed I have not always been female in body if not spirit.

It is interesting to see how the most stern visagd customer will melt when receiving a sincere compliment about her outfit, make up etc.  My favorite was an elegant older lady (store demographics skew to a more mature crowd) who after I complimented her amazing eye makeup told me I should be a model. I have since adopted her!

Mostly I take passing for granted, but at least once a day I am caught by surprise when I hear, “oh that young lady is helping me” ….oh yeah that is me :)

It is also remarkable to think that it was only three years ago that I left this same mall in tears convinced I would never transition or be able to pass.

getting ready for work


we can wear any colour so long as it is black....lucky it is my favorite colour
below...exhausted after a seven hour shift
 

 All told its not quite as fun as "Are You Being Served " made it out to be:



















Friday 25 October 2013

Sick as a Parrot


Sorry for my on line absence, I have been stuck down by the virulent flu or perhaps zombie virus that is going around my part of North America.

I did look up the derivation of sick as a parrot but it is far too murky to get into here. I guess I picked it up when I was at school in the UK during the late seventies/early eighties. I believe it has something to do with sports and being disappointment in the results. I always felt it to be a good description of feeling under the weather myself. 

I appear to be over the worst of it, (see above image) Imagine me in all my feverish nose running horror.

Normal sporadic posts on transitioning, cars, music and my so called life to resume soon. 

Here is the greatest horror movie opening sequence ever: 



Thursday 17 October 2013

Season Four Walking Dead….It’s Raining Zombies





The latest season of AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead debuted last Sunday night.

Not disappointed, lots of action and nail biting suspense….just wish I didn’t have to watch alone…but does add to the scare factor when its just you and the glowing cathode ray tube.

In the interview “after show” program The Talking Dead the director promised lots of horror to come….of both the personal character driven and zombie kind.

My favorite part of the episode (spoiler coming up) was when it started raining zombies. A group of survivors including the very good looking Norman Reedus an American actor who portrays Daryl Dixon on the show were on a supply run to a mall. Unbeknownst to them a portion of a crashed airliner was on the roof with a large number of reanimated passengers. As our heroes stock up on supplies the roof begins to give way, raining ravenous zombies down upon their heads.

And I thought I was having a bad day.....

Friday 11 October 2013

DEAD LIKE ME - Blessed Art Thou Amongst Women



I consider Dead Like Me the best modern television show ever….better than Mad Men, Walking Dead or Life on Mars (original British version).

The show ran only two seasons and tells the story of a group of recently and not so recently deceased individuals who in the afterlife (purgatory if you will) are given a new career path. Reborn as reapers they collect the souls of those about to die in accidents. It is an unpaid role, they still have to live, eat and hold down a “real” job.
 

They are mere cogs in a mysterious (divine?) bureaucracy that is only hinted at.   

The show deals artfully with the meaning of life and death, family and god. I should add that it could be emotional; there is one episode that caused me to weep. It is not the clip I will share with you, I will leave you to find that one yourselves. Most of the episodes can be found on You Tube.

The clip I want to share is of a transsexual nature so be warned it might contain some triggers. To put it in context, in episode 4 season 2 a recently deceased MtoF’s last request is to go to church where they proceed to curse out god for his cruelty. It is not so clear on the small screen but god or an angel appears to carry Her home and god is female. 

But you knew that right?


 its also a good show if you have a thing for post it notes.



Wednesday 9 October 2013

Career Opportunities


I had been relatively quiet on line, as I had been prepping for an important interview. It was great to be back in the city, for all its congestion and constant construction it just feels like the center of things.

I went in very well prepared and had even been working with an interview coach to ensure I was on top of my game. I brought along a portfolio of past marketing campaigns and some other published work. It was a difficult panel style interview though the director did most of the talking. A couple of put the interviewee on the spot type questions asking for critiques of current and proposed advertising campaigns.

An hour flew by but I didn’t get the warm fuzzies on leaving and was quite down on the train ride back to the suburbs. Passing was not an issue as the position was with an LGBT focused publishing company.

A full time career position would be the answer to my prayers, I felt like this was my opportunity. Letting go and focusing on the next set of challenges is what I need to do but it is difficult. 

Saturday 5 October 2013

Bang(s)!

I apologize for my absence from the blog as I have been preparing for a big interview in Toronto next week. I have also been working on a portfolio of all my marketing campaigns.

I did take time out to finally get around to getting my hair done. I liked the length but hated the way it fell across my face and was looking all scraggly.

I never thought I could do bangs with my fine blondish hair but my stylist did a great job. Felt like a million bucks leaving the salon. I love bangs, ever since I saw my first photo of Bettie Page.

I took my inspiration from Sharin Foo of with the Danish band The Ravonettes. Gosh she is gorgeous.