Christmas day has come and only just gone here in Ontario and I am ready to go to bed. A long day, children were up at 7:01 exactly and raring to go!
Pancakes, bacon, coffee then the great unwrapping.
Friends and relatives came by, at four in the afternoon "J" and the children departed as is custom to my brother in laws for Christmas dinner. Not being invited I instead burnt through many gallons of crushed dinosaur juice in the Lincoln visiting my parents, friends both trans and otherwise with Christmas puddings in hand.
I had a nice time and the go go afternoon and evening flitting from pillar to post was an exhilarating change from the normal apres turkey catatonia.
The Lincoln responded well to its gift of new spark plugs and rotor, blasting along the traffic jam free QEW highway at 80 MPH with the cruise on and Christmas carols on the radio was a great gift.
Some great presents, spa day card, earrings, necklace, hat, gloves and a book I had been waiting to read, feel quite spoiled.
OK last Christmas tune of the season and for a change this year I am sad to see it go. The Beach Boys with Little St. Nick, an alternate version faster than the original borrowing from Drive In and Cherry Cherry Coupe.
Don't worry I am not going to lay some anti-commercialism of Christmas rant on you. Rather consider this a tribute to all parents out there staying up late into the night wrapping presents only to face the terrors of some assembly required come Christmas morn.
I even made it to church this evening (children were beyond fidgety), though they made up for it earlier by presenting us with their renditions of their favourite Phineas and Ferb Christmas songs. I have included a sample below for those of you who do not have children of a certain age.
Also one of my favourite Christmas songs ever, The Sonics Santa Claus. Love the line, "I want a brand new car, twangy guitar and cute little honey and lots of money." Well don't we all! Size and gender of your honey may vary , some settling may occur during shipping.
Since I am running out of time I have a few other Xmas gems, Charlie Rich with Santa Claus' Daughter.
Church was also a chance to finally wear the black lace skirt and gold blouse I had bought ages ago. Even did my nails in matching gold.
Morning was spent on last minute shopping and for a change of place cleaning the plugs on the Lincoln and installing the specially ordered distributor cap and rotor. Amazingly got a new old stock piece with brass contacts not the easy to corrode aluminium ones you usually get nowadays. Even vintage cars need a Christmas present.
Get some sleep and have a great Christmas morning.
Off for some last minute Christmas shopping today, making sure we watch the pennies.
Bank in the morning to sign some papers, felt like total crap and quite uncomfortable as I am not working. Just feeling off today, feeling ugly and like I am not passing at all. Put me in a terrible mood, argued with "J". Made me feel even worse. Ate a good half bag of barbecue potato chips….my one weakness.
Once again thank God for modern pharmaceutical science.
Waiting in line at Canadian Tire parts counter, guy starts explaining that I have the wrong furnace filters. Turns out he was just back from Afghanistan servicing HVAC systems. You really need the corrugated paper style that you cannot see through he tells me. Gave him a big smile and picked out the other kind (assume I passed!).
Turns out the store no longer stocks distributor cap and rotors…OMG I feel old. Next time I will ask where is the kerosene for my horseless carriage's headlamps.
Think I am just about over feeling sorry for myself. Will try to channel some traditional Christmas cheer and help bake cookies. Maybe watch the Alastair Sim's Christmas Carol later and cry when Tiny Tim lives.
I know I don't have it as bad as many transitioners and I should be more grateful for what I have, the support I have and the continuing friendship of so many.
It is a tough road for many of us so a double shot of Christmas blues to hopefully mellow you out from that mincemeat pie high and contemplate what we have to thankful for. Some of us are alone this season so pick up the phone, e-mail or just go visit them.
I seem to be writing about nothing but passing recently. Sorry to add another post on this topic but as I have been out and about recently it means I am meeting old acquaintances anew or meeting people for the first time as April.
Thursday morning found me at JPG Exhaust in Oakville getting an estimate on a terrible exhaust leak on the driver's side of my 76 Mark IV. Turned out they could not help as it was a deteriorated manifold gasket and they only touch the pipes back.
A great shop and very pleasant to deal with, they did the custom system on my Corvette and the original dual system on the Lincoln which it still wears over a decade ago.
Anyway I didn't seem to raise any suspicions when I entered the shop. After their inspection they kindly informed me that I would need a mechanic to repair the manifold leak. That would be me I volunteered, I assumed I was passing as this seemed to catch them off guard. You replaced the other manifold gasket yourself!?! Yes I replied, took almost three weeks to loosen all the bolts with penetrating oil. They seemed suitably impressed. We bid each other Merry Christmas (how delightfully unPC) and I left head held high.
Next stop Mississauga to have the Lincoln undercoated and take photos for an article on rust proofing. Again things seemed to go well, however they were expecting a him as I had arranged the photo shoot with the VP at the rust proofing company's head office who I had worked with on other projects over the past few years.
I received a call later in the day from a slightly quizzical VP as to who actually visited his shop earlier in the day. Whoops, I told him it was a long story, that the location had done an outstanding job and that I would send him an e-mail explaining all.
I quickly kicked the children off the Mac and sent my standard coming out/going full time letter. We talked later on the phone, it seems the franchise owner was a little surprised by me and called saying that the the person from the magazine might be transsexual. The VP knowing the franchise owner is also a practical joker responded, oh that can't be (insert my old name here)! Good news is that he now knows and it is not an issue. Offered his support and amazement that I transitioned in such a male dominated industry. Though I don't know I can say I am still in that industry when I am not working full time.
Swung by garage doing safety on the Seville (again greeted by "hi guy"….really not dressed as fancy as yesterday, I mean does he call everyone that?). Bad news is Seville needs new lower ball joints, not expensive but once you add in labour at almost $95 per hour it gets prohibitive, may have no choice but to do myself or postpone. Not a job this girl looks forward to especially if I do it outside!
Made sure I was back on time to pick up oldest daughter and then home to start dinner.
Some more rockabilly Christmas treats and vintage cars doing donuts in the snow!
Enjoyable time getting my hair trimmed at DV8 Salon in Niagara Falls, such a cool place and proprietor Ron makes every visit so fun. Terrible drive there rain all the way but at least it was not snow.
Trying to be a good girl, just a coffee and muffin on the way back and no purchases at the big outlet mall despite there being a Coach store.
Staff at the salon were great, compliments on my makeup and appearance. Happy with the look.
On the way back popped into the garage to check on the safety inspection (like an MOT in England) for my 85 Cadillac Seville. Entered the office and came face to face with the owner's wife who used to work with "J" and who I had met on a few occasions.
I am positive she didn't recognize me as she asked my name and which car I was here to pick up. I had talked to the mechanic a few months ago when I was considering buying the car as his garage had done all the maintenance for the previous owner. When I booked it in yesterday he must have wrote up the work order under my male name.
Informed that I was here he emerges from the garage and greets me, "What's up guy?" WTF I mean I hadn't even said boo yet, really do I look so much like my old self I was certainly not dressed as a guy! (see photo). Additionally put out by the fact the car was not ready as being mis gendered.
Here is the Christmas Race by the Refreshments, a band you may know from backing Dave Edmunds (they certainly have his sound) as well as the guys behind the King of the Hill theme. Check out their whole catalog.
PS. Santa if you are reading this I want implants or a white on white Lincoln Mark V with a matching white mink. Thanks in advance April over and out. Oh yeah peace on earth and goodwill yada yada yada
Here is a Christmas tune completely free of schmaltz and even a little risque by Loretta Lynn. Shame it is not heard more in the typical Christmas/MOR radio play lists. Maybe it is in your neck of the woods but a first time for me.
Released in 1966 her Country Christmas album reached number 103 on the Billboard charts. Another great tune to be found on the album is I Won't Decorate Your Christmas Tree….now what did I say about risque.
Off to Niagara Falls tomorrow to get my hair trimmed, bangs too long and spoiling the overall look. Long way to go for a hair cut but if you find someone who knows what they are doing with you it is best to stick with them. In my former persona I went to the same barber for about twenty years, I guess he may be wondering what ever happened to me.
Being transsexual means one best be able look at things in a humorous light, the old adage of not knowing whether to laugh or cry is most apt.
Today I met my father for lunch, we had enjoyable chat about his coming (possible) retirement from career number two, getting ready for Christmas and old cars.
In the parking lot saying our goodbyes and standing by our respective vehicles, a large SUV appears and a rather tattooed gentlemen called out nice car (referring to my Lincoln of course) is it yours addressing my dad.
No he yells back across the parking lot, "its his!" I must have made a rather sour face as he quickly corrected himself and said hers. The SUV drivers responds "be careful she won't like that." My dad adds its for sale want to buy it....why does everyone think I have too many cars. I do like money too (and I know where there is a great 79 Mark V Givenchy edition for sale) so I named a price.
By the way I was dressed up, black boots, nylons, skirt, silver blouse and my new to me black fur coat. I had a voice appointment in Toronto that evening and wished to blend with all the other business women on the commuter train.
SUV guy gets out to check out the Lincoln, while I was showing him the custom built 460 my voice betrayed me and he gives me a look and says, the other guy wasn't kidding was he? Adding that he meant no offence, none taken I reply but I will be adding $500 on to the asking price.
Oh well not all meetings can be like the one at church the other day. Here is Ike and Tina for your Christmas listening pleasure.
