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Vol. 11, No. 2 |
November 2002 |
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HOME PAGE - NEWSLETTERS - LINKS TO OTHERS - MEMBERS PAGE |
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Vol. 11, No. 2 |
November 2002 |
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| www.innvestments.org |
DECEMBER 7, 2002 - INNVESTMENTS CHRISTMAS ON CAPE COD
See the flyer at the end of the newsletter.
Be sure to be there!
JANUARY 6, 2003 - MONTHLY MEETING
FEBRUARY 8, 2003 - VALENTINE'S PARTY At the Ramada Inn in
Hyannis on Cape Cod.
MARCH 3, 2003 - MONTHLY MEETING
APRIL 5, 2003 - ANNUAL INNVESTMENTS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
We all had a really nice time at our Annual Halloween Party at Joan and Pat's lovely house. There were about two dozen of us in a wide array of scary and gorgeous costumes. The winners of our contest, as judged by Cindy and Sharon, were:
Your Innvestment is a publication of Innvestments, P.O. Box 493, Monument Beach, MA.02553-0493. Innvestments is a non-sexual service organization founded to support and to provide a socially acceptable outlet for the crossdressing, transvestite, transsexual, transgendered community located primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint any article appearing in Your Innvestment is hereby granted to non-profit similar organizations provided that publication and authorship credit is given. Any commercial use of Your Innvestment material is hereby prohibited. Some material may have previously appeared in print. Publication and authorship rights of material reprinted from other sources remain with its originator. The editor/s of Your Innvestment are not under any obligation to accept information and advertisements. Information and advertisements may be published in any form deemed acceptable. Any information about services, products or sympathetic locations published in Your Innvestment is not considered an endorsement of such by the staff of Your Innvestment or the Board of Directors of Innvestments.
Brenda L. (Brenda@innvestments.org).......President
Wendy B. (Wendy@innvestments.org).........Vice President
Brenda L.(Brenda@innvestments.org)........Treasurer (508-759-2179
eve's)
Innvestments, in conjunction with Fantasia Fair, decided to create a memorial in honor of the late Candy Scott at the Pilgrims Landing Park in Provincetown. The memorial consists of a square granite stone with the inscription "Candy Scott, Founder of Innvestments, Friend of Fantasia Fair." We both had fund drives in August and September and collected ample monies to pay for the monument. The Dedication for the Memorial was scheduled for October 26th, at 4:00 PM, the last Saturday of Fantasia Fair. All agreed that this would be a fine tribute to a person who had done SO much for not only our group, but many, many transgendered people that she helped throughout the years.
For those of you that may not have known Candy that well she had one trait that many of us found hard to understand. She just DID NOT want to be honored or thanked in any way for the help and support that she provided to us all on a constant basis. She would actually become angry at the thought of it. So, even though it was late, many of us thought this would be a good time to honor Candy once and for all. Wanna bet?
So here I sat at 1:00 PM on that Saturday, in a nice restaurant (Betsy's), overlooking Provincetown Harbor. It was NOT a nice day. Not only was it raining, it was POURING! The waves crashing on the beach in front of us were about 5 to 6 feet high. The cross wind was threatening to blow in the window I was sitting next to. Surely the sun would come out by the time of the ceremony. In your dreams!
When I arrived in town the day before I quickly made my way to the Pilgrims Landing Park to check out the memorial. It was a lovely courtyard with flat stones on the ground commemorating various people. It was a nice place and a fitting way to make a tribute to Candy. However, I could not locate the stone for her. Well, I figured that it would be laid down as part of the ceremony. On Saturday afternoon I asked around and found out that the stone had not been cut yet because the engravers drill bit was broke. Broke? Could this be Candy at work? I hoped It would be ready for the ceremony. Fat chance!
The appointed hour came and when I got to the sight I had to park about 75 yards away. It was still raining and I hoped my portable umbrella would stand up to the wind. But when I got out of the car I stepped in a puddle that was higher than the heels I was wearing. As I got closer I met some friends and ducked into their car for a few minutes while we waited for the rest of the crowd to show up. There would not be a large crowd this day.
So there stood about 10 of us foolish people in the steady rain and wind. We said our tributes to Candy and all she had done for us. Our voices barely overcame the sound of the wind and the rain. We remembered her for what she was, a good and caring friend who had done so much for all of us, a leader of not only Innvestments, but a driving force in many other groups and organizations. We have given this tribute to you because we are thankful to you. Thanks for everything Candy.
Unfortunately the dinner with Kate Bornstein in Albany was canceled. However, it opened up the weekend to be able to go the Cape for the Innvestments Halloween party in Hyannis. Left early Friday afternoon and ran into a little traffic around Providence, but other than that it was an easy ride.
After checking into the Ramada, I had found some information about an Irish restaurant called "Nine Famous Irishmen" and headed out for dinner. A long beige, peasant style dress with a cowl around the shoulders was the evenings' attire. The "Nine Famous Irishmen" part was connected to another restaurant called something like "Hot Red Peppers". I think either menu is available in both places. I opted for the Irish pub portion. Small, about a dozen stools at the bar with a half dozen tables across the other side of the room. A pint of Guinness and the Shepherds' Pie served as dinner with a canoli for dessert.
When I got back to the hotel I decided to mosey down to the lounge. Being the only customer, I had a drink and went back to the room. Seeing how the lounge also served as the restaurant, I headed back there in the morning for breakfast. On Saturday, it was off to P'town for some shopping and sight seeing. Checked out the Snug Cottage bread and breakfast where I have reservations for the Holly Folly in December. A quick stop at the ladies room in the wharf area (more on this later) and it was off on a trip down Commercial Street to see where the Holly Folly events will be, some window and regular shopping. Got some good ideas for Christmas shopping when I go back in December. Stopped for gas across from the hotel when I got back to Hyannis.
Then it was time for Little Red Riding Hood to go to the party. A red mini skirt with white ruffled panties underneath, black fishnets and red patent heels along with a white eyelet lace top and a red and white lined satin cape with hood that I made was the costume. The party was held at a members house that was actually a converted barn. REALLY nice house! Around two dozen people were there. Many of them being spouses. Met a nice girl from CT as well as a number from RI. And would you believe there was another Little Red! Nothing really exotic for the party. Bar was available, the hosts wife made a nice macaroni dish and salad, cheese and crackers and a neat spider cake kept every ones' appetite satisfied. The main objective of the evening was just to socialize. It was nice to only have to go a few miles down the road at the end of the evening (OK, actually morning!). The girl from CT was going back home with her friend from RI, and the worst part was they had to go back to Glamour Boutique in Auburn, MA to get one of their cars first!
After breakfast Sunday morning I took a little tour of Hyannis and then decided to do some shopping at the Christmas Tree Shop. This is a great place to get some "seasonal" type jewelry, earrings and such. Also got a nice little jewelry case. Of course after getting home and checking the receipt I noticed someone made a mistake and labeled it a sewing kit! Oh well, works fine for what I want. Before heading home I stopped to get a coffee and use the ladies room (another note for later). Took the scenic Route 6A off the Cape and not much traffic all the way back. After getting everything out of the van I thought I would go to the Hideaway Roadhouse for dinner. I had a below the knee length skirt with a white blouse with sheer sleeves and sheer fluffy collar and heels with an ankle strap. And I just decided to walk across the street and get the newspapers and unlock my mail box. And this was still during daylight. When you feel comfortable, you feel comfortable. Had a nice prime rib and got to chit chat with Stan, the owner.
Unfortunate that Kate Bornstein had to cancel her engagement, but the alternative was pleasant in its' own way. OK, now for the "later". Walked into the ladies room in P'town, the one at Town Hall, and there were two attendants in there by the door. After I had got into a stall I heard them continuing their conversation (not sure of its' beginning, possibly "breaking in" a new person with things to look out for) with one saying she had "one come in and she said, Sir, you don't belong here, you belong on the other side" (crossdresser I presume). Then she said she had one the next day or next week again. When she told this one that he belonged on the other side too, he responded with "I do?" and she told his yes he did. She told the other girl that just because they have ladies clothes on, they think they can use the Women' Room. So just remember, no matter how good you think you look, how "transgendered" you think you are, unless you have the right "paperwork" you are technically and legally MALE. Be prepared to deal with it! Me? When I left, I stopped by the door and put some change in the TIP box that was between the two girls, smiled and left. Was expecting someone to say something to me on my way out, but guess I should have said "Thanks"!
In the Broadway production "My Fair
Lady," Professor Higgins, exasperated by Eliza, asks "Why
Can't a Woman be more Like a Man?" The inverse of this question,
"Why can't a man be more like a woman?" is one that
members of Innvestments have answered--by the very act of cross-dressing.
But there was a time, historically, when men in fact dressed more
like a women than they do now--silk stockings, satin waistcoats
and breeches, powdered wigs (worn by both men and women), bright
colors and even manners--formal bows, handkerchiefs tucked in
sleeves, and so on--that we might consider today to be effeminate.
So what happened since that century long ago when a man could
dress more like a woman? How is it that men today are trapped
in trousers, jacket, starched shirts, with only a splash of color
allowed in a tie, unless the occasion is formal, when even the
tie is black or white?
An interesting article appeared in a recent
issue of the American Scholar that essentially blamed us chemists
(I have a degree in chemistry) for the transition from the halcyon
days of men's clothing in silks and satins to drab worsteds and
woolens. The advent of drab clothing for men was the consequence
of the development in the nineteenth century of the dye industry
that led to the inexpensive production of colored fabrics. Until
that time, dyed fabrics were expensive and used only by the upper
classes that could afford them. Ordinary laborers dressed in drab
homespun, undyed fabrics. When inexpensive dyed fabrics became
available, these ordinary folk latched onto them, and the extravagant
use of color in dress became common, so common that to distinguish
themselves from the hoi polloi, the upper classes resorted to
"refined," restrained cloth colors. The author of that
article suggested that only the necktie--that utterly worthless
male accouterment descended from the earlier cravat--was left
as a point of rebellion; neckties may appear in any color with
any design celebrating any occasion--even a birthday. But we crossdressers
have found a much more satisfying solution that goes beyond the
necktie. Blouses, skirts, dresses, lipstick, rouge--sharing in
the delights of female dress, we have closed the circle, and brought
men closer to women.
Recently I was on my way out for the evening. I had finished getting dressed and my make-up was complete when I put on my wig, the usual crowning touch to getting ready. But not this night. There was a tangle of hair on one side, a hair ball, even a synthetic hair ball! No matter how hard I tried it would not comb out. Wait a minute. This was the wig I wore on the day of Candy's memorial dedication when we all got caught in the rain. Could this be a continuation of her curse?
What should I do? I rummaged under the sink and found a trusty bottle of wig shampoo. The instructions said to wash, rinse, mat dry with a towel, do not use a hair dryer, and to let air dry overnight. Overnight? OVERNIGHT!!! But the rest of me was ready to go out NOW!
This was a situation that called for the reserves! Even though I had long ago found this one style that seemed to work very well for my features I continued to buy a new wig once in a while, usually by mail order. It is always nice to try something new and find a different look for myself, I had thought. So out of the closet came about five boxes with wigs in them.
The first was a light blonde page boy style. The hair and my face seemed to clash as it definitely did not work. I looked like a man in a wig. Ugh! The next one was a short curly affair. It made me look like someone's grandmother. The one after that was a long curly style in a dark brown shade. It made me look twenty years younger. Too bad that I did not have a mini skirt to match the look. Too dark, too light, too young and too old. How would I find the right look?
I was down to the last box now. When I opened it the color seemed kind of right. It was a dirty blonde that did not look too dark or too light. I put it on and the length in the back seemed about right, a little past my back collar but not overwhelming. But there were ringlet curls all over it. I started to brush it out and soon my old look was coming back! I remembered now! When I found that style I really liked several years ago I had bought a few of the same wig for later use. Wow! I was saved! I was out the door and on my way in a matter of minutes.