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COME TO OUR VALENTINE'S PARTY!

 

   DOWNS AND UPS AND ALL AROUND
By Brenda L.

    The group, and I, have had our share of ups and downs lately.  We had very high hopes for our Christmas Party this year.  We hired a drag singing group, Dana & Jona from Provincetown, to do a show for us.  That, along with a lot of promotion brought the registrations up to 55 people.  That was many more than last year!  But the night before the party a BIG snowstorm hit us.  Many people that come a long distance had to cancel and we finally ended up with only 35 of us at the party.  For those of us that made it we all had an absolutely fabulous time.  The meal was good and the entertainment was great. 

     The down side was that the group took a fairly bad financial loss on the party.  For a long time I blamed myself for the loss and for other things in the group that were not going great.  It took a long time but a friend I saw at the Tiffany Clubs First Event took me aside and finally convinced me that the big snow storm was not really MY fault.  Then when some of our regular members found out about the loss they made gifts to the group to make up it.  Now I was starting to feel better.  I remembered that any time things have been bad for our group in the past something would happen to make them better.  If the treasury was low a gift would come from somewhere.  If attendance was low one month then something would come along and make the next meeting irresistible to attend.  Support for us just seems to happen unexpectedly.  That is the up side of running this group.  

    I have always been pleading with members to contribute newsletter articles for publication.  Maybe I have been coming on a little too strong and I'm sorry about that.  As a matter of fact a few members are threatening to circulate a petition with the intent of doing away with this newsletter.  Ugh!  I guess we won't get any articles from them!  But as happened with the party loss, when the group needs help we get it.  You will find a couple of very nice articles written by our members in this newsletter.  I even got into the spirit and wrote a few short stories myself.

       So Innvestments keeps going on and on.  No, the group is NOT going to go away, not even if I stop doing what I am doing now.  And I have no intention of doing that!  Besides, there is just too much support out there for what we are doing for the community.  "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."  That's what the fine print says is our purpose.  We provide a chance for transgendered people in our area to get together.  Friends are made, support is given and things are learned.

 

You Innvestments and Your Innvestment

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.

OFFICERS

Brenda L. (Brenda@innvestments.org).......President
Wendy B. (Wendy@innvestments.org).........Vice President
Brenda L. (Brenda@innvestments.org)........Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cate F.......................................Board
Rachel E................................Board
Lauren E.........................................Board
PO Box 493
Monument Beach, MA 02553-0493

Web Site www.innvestments.org

Brenda L........................Editoress of Your Innvestment
Submissions of Articles are both Wanted and Needed!

DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

   Membership (including newsletter) is $30.00 per-year (pro-rated after January) with a $15.00 meeting fee. Meeting fees payable only for those attended. This pays meeting location fees charged to the group, and for pizza and soda or full/partial payment for food in the hotel dining room for all.

 

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 A REALLY WEIRD SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
By Brenda L.

    Like many of us in the group I enjoy going shopping en femme once in a while.  Well, all right, probably too much.  Anyway, this Christmas someone in my family gave me a gift certificate to a clothing store.  But the store did not have any outlets on the Cape or for that matter nothing very close at all, just one in Fall River and another on the South Shore in the town where my family lives.  To make a long story short I ended up going to the store in my families town after visiting them.  Here is what happened.

    I walked into the store (in guy mode) and instinctively headed for the ladies department.  It is just such a habit to do that.  After browsing for several minutes I did not find anything that I desperately needed.  I made a decision to go to the men's department and buy something I could show to my family. 

    That is when things started to get weird.  As I approached the men's department I found myself in unfamiliar territory.  It had really been a while since I had shopped in this realm.  I thought back and realized most of my male dress clothes come as Christmas or birthday presents.  The styles and color choices were not at all as nice as they were just a few minutes ago in the ladies department.  Dress pants only come in four or five colors.  Shirts came in a few more but there were not many style choices.  There were no turtlenecks, no boat necks, no plunging necklines and no angora cardigans.  I was getting depressed.

    I wandered around in this new land looking for something that would strike me but did not see anything.  The sports sweatshirts and pants just would not do at the office.  Jerseys with large numbers and sports team logos were just not for me.  I did not need a new coat or dungarees or anything I walked past.  But then I spotted some brightness in the far corner!

    There were brilliant colors all lined up!  It was the necktie rack.  There were colors and patterns that would please anyone.  I was able to pick out three ties in bright and vivid colors and patterns.  When I wore them at work that week I got several compliments from the girls in my office.  But one of them asked why I was the only guy in the office that was not afraid to wear such pretty and colorful ties.  Oh if she only knew!


A SECOND WEIRD SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

    If you are ever going to go to the Sears at the Braintree Mall then DO NOT park in the garage!  A strange thing happened to me a while back.  As I entered the store (in girl mode of course) I found myself smack in the middle of the TOOL department.  There were drill presses, band saws, circular saws, socket wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, tool belts and all kinds of fun toys.  Many of them were on sale!  If I had been in guy mode I would have been drooling all over them.  I enjoy those things in my other life.

    But since I was in girl mode at the time I had to restrain myself and walk past them without giving in to my "other urges."  It was not easy!  I almost stopped for a drill bit set that was on sale.  But I was able to (figuratively) grab myself by the collar and get myself out of there.  Whew!  

 

SUSAN'S TRIP TO MANHATTAN
By Susan B.
 

 
    This year, I attended the Summer Fancy Food Show in Manhattan. That in itself is nothing new, however, it was 100 per cent, "Susan."  I have a, "business," as, "Susan's Specialized Services." I came up with that name when I worked one day a week for John Warrener at the Glamour Boutique. I had just been reduced from management to a part-time Shift Lead and while I don't think John really needed any help, he saw a need for Susan to work as Susan. It helped me tremendously.
 
    My wife dropped off, "Susan," at the Montello Commuter Rail stop in Brockton on Saturday morning, June 28th. I was wearing my new white and blue skirt suit. She complimented me on it. I think she was also seeing herself in it. I also wore it coming home form the Halloween Party at Joan and Pat's home. I had changed from my French Maid's Uniform.

    I had three travel cases. Thank goodness for those picture I.D. cards from Tiffany's First Event! Susan and her bags went to South Station and then boarded the Business Class Amtrak train to Penn Station. Please bear in mind, that I wore nor took any male clothes with me at all. Susan was living for six days in Manhattan. My bags and I went across Seventh Avenue to the Hotel Pennsylvania. The very same one that Glenn Miller and His Band made famous. Susan had her reservation and checked in. No one had any problem talking with me on the train ride down. It was at face value, which isn't too much in my case.
 
    On Saturday evening my sister, Frances, and I had, "dinner and drinks," at LIPS. It's a tourist drag, "gin mill," with talent in the kitchen. I hadn't been there in a year.
 
    Susan went to Mass on Sunday and then walked the eight blocks to the Food Show. It was six over and two up. I "love" walking in high heels. I was astounded after I unpacked Saturday afternoon. I had 16 pairs of "heels" with me. I'm staying for 6 days and 16 sets of "heels." Go figure. I had pre-registered for a seminar on Sunday, on Olive Oil. No one gave me a second look. I went back to LIPS on Sunday night for some of their squid-ink pasta and a Pesto sauce that rivals my own.
 
    For my many miles of walking on Monday, I did take second pair of "dress for success" high heels with me. I took no "flats" with me. It's amazing, for me, that just changing your high heel shoes renews your body. After the show on Monday I went to have "food and drinks" with Brianna Austin of Girl Talk magazine. She introduced me to a "gender friendly" place called "East of Eighth." Grilled Shrimp and Asparagus "to die for." I wore skirt suits at the show and dresses or skirt and blouse sets in the evening. This girl walked in her most favorite black, patent-leather, high heels from the hotel to the restaurant. No cabs for this girl when it's not raining. The previous Saturday and Sunday, I walked "deliciously" from the corner of "the Village" back to the Hotel Pennsylvania. It's so nice to feel the wind serenading your nylon encased legs and gently surrounding your skirt. The only reason that I can arrive at as to why genetic women wear pants is, that they are ashamed of their legs. I'm not. Do you remember some of the lines from Broadway's "Unsinkable Molly Brown,". Part of the, "Belly Up-to The Bar, Boys," song goes, "...never romance a woman in pants; or a girl who wears a veil. ..."
 
    After the show on Tuesday I went back to the Village and made it to the Village Vanguard. I have so much music that was recorded there, I had to go there. Not only some great Jazz, but Susan met the late owner's widow, Lorraine Gordon. She even inscribed a book for me. I walked back from the Village to the hotel. In Manhattan, there is 20 blocks to the mile. That's how it was built. Obviously the three "bending streets" don't count. Hence, it was about a mile and a third for each trip in my heels. This is after the multiple miles of high heel walking at the Fancy Food Show.
 
    Susan did take the subway up the 41st Street to the St. James Theatre to see "The Producers."  I was feeling great all week. My time to get "presentable" has decreased from over four hours to just under two. I was walking east on West 41st Street to the theatre. I passed two or three outdoor cafes. I was quickly brought down to earth when one of the little girls at a cafe, loudly, spoke to her Mother and sisters, "Oh look Mommy, there's a man in Drag."
 
    Well, one doesn't have a Jamie Austin or a Jim Bridge's makeover every day!
 
    After the show, I saw that "Birdland" was only a block and a half west. Ms. Susan went to Birdland. How could anyone resist? Some very good Jazz was performed. I did notice with sadness, that, "DIVA," [No Man's Band] was performing at Birdland on Friday, July 4th and Saturday the 5th. They're a great Jazz band. I had seen them perform at the South Shore Jazz Festival two or three years ago. However, I had to work on July 4th and Thursday the 3rd was a travel day for Ms. Susan.
 
    Ms. Susan's better-half picked her up at the Montello Station. We then shared a couple of O'Leary's Coffees (5 different liqueurs) before heading home.
 
    Why did I relate this tale? It was kind of a long response to, "The Dream." If  I awoke one day and was a woman, would I want to go back to being a male? It really reads, "do you need a safety net to fall back upon?" If I had my "druthers" I'd dress as a girl or as a woman every day.  I'd like to be able to do it without wigs and make-up. However, the world does not accept males in dresses and heels without either laughing at or harming them. Most people are scared of "men in dresses."  So, I guess the wigs and the make-up are a must.
 
    When I'm "dressed" I am, indeed, in Seventh Heaven. Most people are too busy with their own lives to really care how you present yourselves.
 
    Share your talents with your spouse and ask your spouse to share her insights with you. If I see a blouse that I like and want to purchase, I'll buy two and get one in my wife's size. At our daughter's wedding last September, I guided my wife to her "Mother-of-the-Bride" dress. It was in the third store at the Braintree Mall, that we went to. I picked out her necklace, bracelet, and earrings. I introduced her to my local makeover spa for her facial, makeover, and hair. I also had introduced her to my manicurists.
 
    When a card is needed or wanted, both Susan and the other fellow send cards. It feels great when I send a card from Ms. Susan to Ms. Mary Ellen.
 
    She wishes all this would go away but she also knows that this is part of my life that I need.
 
    I'm very lucky.
 

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SO HOW CAN YOU HELP INNVESTMENTS?

 For those members who would like to help Innvestments there are two ways you can do it:
        1.    Yes, we ALWAYS need articles for this newsletter.  It can be FUN to write down something that happened to you when you were out or how you feel about being a transgendered person.
        2.    We need volunteers to plan and lead our monthly meetings.  Is there a subject you could present to the group or a special talent you could present?  Or maybe you have an acquaintance that could speak to us or give us a demonstration of some kind.  We would like to have a different member lead a meeting on occasion.

 

SO YOU WANT tO bE a WOMAN?
By Jennifer F.

 

    Brenda has raised a good question when she asks how strongly is a cross-dresser bent towards the idea of being an actual woman.  I've had hankerings in that direction, but any thoughts of a sex change are certainly squelched by one very important factor--my age.  Approaching eighty years, I realize that any opportunity or occasion for such a change is quite beyond me.  But I keep coming back to the question, if at a younger age, say something like fifty, I knew myself then as well as I know myself now, what would I have done?   You see, times have changed.  Our present is much more accepting of sexual or gender deviance than the past of thirty years ago.  In those days Christine Jorgensen, the first public transsexual that most of us were aware of, was a freak and a scandal.  And for myself, my cross dressing in the past was always attended by a sense of shame, which--thanks to an understanding spouse and contact with Innvestments, is no longer the case. 

    The matter of cross-dressing of course is not as weighty or shattering as the matter of sex-change, but I think they are related.  Certainly one necessarily precedes and may be a step towards the other.  Cross-dressers are in a sense part-time women, or partial women.  Think about our similarities to the female sex--attention to makeup, shopping, jewelry, nails, hair.  In fact, in some respects, cross-dressers are MORE feminine than some women, particularly modern women.  I would rather wear skirts than slacks (more feminine), but when I look closely at the current feminine scene, I see mostly slacks or Capri pants with nondescript blouses and sneakers.  Most decidedly unfeminine, even though worn by women!  The problem here is that if I dressed like today's women, I would look more like a man than a woman! 

    So, on a part-time basis, we CD's become women, or take a step towards becoming women.  But the thing that stops me is that, while I am dressed, feeling comfortable and at peace because I am dressed, I still approach the world with the same senses, and that is what really scotches for me the idea of sex-change.  I am not so sure that my perception of the world would be any different as a sex-altered male.   Regardless of how I feel, when I am dressed the world looks the same to me as it looks when I am in drab.   Sounds, sights, smell, and taste  remain the same.  I might behave differently as a woman, meeting expectations and society's stereotypes, but that external world has not changed, regardless of what I wear or what a surgeon may do to my body.  There is no denying the fact that there are men who feel misplaced with respect to gender, for whom sex-reassignment surgery answers a very deep, troubling need.  That does not happen to be my case.  So, maybe the answer is that thirty years ago, I wouldn't have done anything differently--except that I might have come to the unashamed fun of cross-dressing a lot sooner.

 

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VALENTINE'S PARTY
ON FEBRUARY 21, 2004

 

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