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:

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: 

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.....

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.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Like_Me

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.

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. 

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.  

Black and White / (Squirrel Fatwa)

 

In an attempt to get the automotive portion of my life into some kind of order I have the goal of making sure all my cars (well most) are licensed and road ready so that they may be driven, sold or used offensively against the coming zombie hordes.

On Sunday I left my basement bunker to check on my cars that have been stored off site and make a list of necessary repairs and maintenance.

Leaving my house in the Seville a black squirrel darted across the road stopping right in the middle. I braked and gave it a moment to decide that the other side was a safer place for he and his nuts.

Good news was my Corvette, taking up space in my mother’s garage (THANKS MOM!) started right up after putting the battery on charge, no seized brakes, no evidence of mice etc. yeah! Drove her around the block.

The 76 T-Bird was not so lucky, upon opening the hood, the new and expensive underhood sound deadening pad I installed last year had been eaten and torn up to make a squirrel nest….acorns being much in evidence. After cleaning out the engine bay she started up fine. I seem to have caught the evil creature early before it did more serious damage.

Last time I brake for squirrels….you have been warned you little tree rats…   

  Black and white outfit was what I wore today to a networking session.

 

squirrels meet nemesis