Rhonda's Commentary on VANIQ Hair Removal Cream

Today with VANIQA, I do not shave the area above my lip or area below, almost down to the chin.  The beard is not completely gone, but the noticeable black tough hairs are and what is left is white and wispy - easily plucked twice a week.  Here are my results and suggestions – you mileage may vary.

In this featured post, Rhonda discusses her experience with VANIQA, as a means of facial hair removal.  I was not aware of this product.  Not for everyone....it's expensive. 

While you're exploring Rhonda's Escape, be sure to check out her detailed "About" page.

Cross-dressers: The Other Woman

Is cross-dressing a total game-changer in marriage? It absolutely is and to deny it is a self-fulfilling fantasy for cross-dressers. The femme side always wins and unless a wife is bi-sexual or favors women, she is going to be unhappy in her marriage, unless there is open communication and an agreement can be worked out between them that allows for them to both grow together.

Cross-dressers: The Other Woman, is good blog post to read, written by the former wife of a crossdresser.  

A Holiday Tradition: My Thanksgiving Coming-Out Poem

Last year, when I was looking for a post to feature on the eve of the American Thanksgiving holiday, I remembered the late Matt Kailey's Thanksgiving Coming Out Poem.  Well, I see that Don has featured it this year, so why not go to Dawn to Don to read it this time?  It's a very funny post and, while written for the American Thanksgiving holiday, it applies to any gathering of family, anywhere in the world.

Some of you may remember Matt Kailey's Tranifesto blog.  Matt transitioned from female-to-male, in 2007. It was a sad day in the LBGT world, when Matt died in his sleep, last May, at far too young an age.  His blog is still listed on T-Central.  His last post, Tranifesto Celebrates Five Years, was on March 31, 2014.

I Finally Figured it Out!

All her life, Nadine has been trying to figure out why she is a crossdresser.  Well, our girl has finally figured it out.  

Go to, I Finally Figured it Out!, for the answer!.

Lives Guided By Fear: In Honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance

Although I came to rightly realize that I was meant to be a woman, I did not allow myself to accept that I was transgender. Moreover, the way I physically transitioned allowed for me to reinforce this idea that being transgender wasn't good enough. That who I am is shameful and not something one should advertise. This caused me to constantly live in fear of being discovered.

Chloe has written a beautiful, and very different, blog for the Huff Post on the subject of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  This post hit home with me and it may for you too.  Please take a moment to read Lives Guided By Fear: In Honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

 

25 since Attempt

On November 1, 2015, I passed a milestone.  Is it one worth celebrating?  I'm not sure.
It was the 25th anniversary of a defining moment in my life.
Twenty five years ago on that date, I should've died.  I wanted to die.  I tried to die. 

We're so glad you didn't, Sophie!

Read Sophie's story, 25 since Attempt, from her blog, A Woman Named Sophie.

crossdressing is a verb

The act of cross dressing seems to be a primordial need in many of us from a very tender age. We remember going into our mother's closet and trying on her shoes and clothing all the while never understanding why. It was simply our normal.

"It was simply our normal".  Joanna nailed it, didn't she?  Is there anyone, trans, who doesn't agree with that?  Read more at Crossdressing is a verb.

The Bulge

Women and men are physically different and so while we may need to add a bit up top to fill out a blouse we also are also a little too filled out for women’s pants.

A nice, clear, G-Rated discussion on the subject of The Bulge.

Wall to Wall Stuff

We're losing two long time bloggers this week.  In the last T-Central post, it was announced that Kathleen is shutting down her Genderblog site.  This post features Stace's Musings of an I.T. Girl.  While Stace is not yet shutting down the blog, she has all but said that she doesn't expect to do many more posts.

Wall to Wall Stuff is a nice summary of Stace's life since she started the blog in 2009.  The facts are unique to Stace, but similar to many who have gone through the pain of gender dysphoria and the actual decision to transition.

The good news is that T-Central has added two new blogs this week:

Confessions of Anna, Secret Poet and It's All About My Lucy.

We Are Good

I am transgendered and I am lovable; I am transgendered and I am loving. I am worthy, and worthwhile, and valuable to the society in which I live. No one could ask more of anyone. It’s OK; I’m OK just the way I am.

The words, above, are from a 2014 post from Kathleen's GenderBlog, which has consistently been one of my favorites blogs listed on T-Central.  Alas, all good things must come to an end.  Kathleen is shutting down her blog.

I always have mixed emotions when a trans blogger shuts down his or her blog.  Generally, the blogger has completed transition and there is simply nothing more to write about.  It has happened time and time again and each time I ask myself....."Why am I still here fighting gender dysphoria every minute of every hour of every day of every year?"  I suppose that's something I need to blog about.

Kathleen's first GenderBlog post was in November, 2009.  I asked her if she had a favorite post that she would like featured.  She did and it's titled, We Are Good, a short, but sweet, post she wrote in September, 2014.  The quote, above, is from that post.

I want to add that in the next month or so, T-Central will have reached the 1 million page views plateau.  To celebrate T-Central's six years of serving the T-Blogging community, we will feature guest posts from some of our bloggers with the theme of how their life has changed in the past six years.  Jenny, one of the T-Central administrators, suggested this theme and Kathleen has agreed to write one of the guest posts for us.

Growing Up With Gender Dysphoria

I hated school because of the bullying and I couldn’t tell anyone about the feelings I was having, it wasn’t normal and I was all alone. I found an escape through crossdressing, it was the only way that I knew how to cope. I guess I was around 10 years old when I started. I can’t remember exactly why I started crossdressing except that it felt natural to me, it had an affect that was immediately calming and for the first time I was feeling comfortable in myself. It just reaffirmed what I already knew inside, that I should have been born a girl.

 

Danielle says it so well in this re-post from her previous blog.  I'm sure many will relate to Growing Up With Gender Dysphoria.

The medicalisation and pathologification of being transgender, an exploration

Unfortunately, the belief held by a number of both trans and cisgender people that the only ‘real’ trans people are those that are transitioning and that ‘transitioning’ requires some sort of medical intervention; medication (hormones) at the very least and more aggressive medical interventions (surgery) at the more extreme levels exacerbates some confusion in society. At least some people believe that if you aren’t (at least) on hormones, then you aren’t really trans and you are ‘just crossdressing’.

Daniella is not rambling in this blog.  Instead, she has written a well thought out post on, The medicalisation and pathologification of being transgender, an exploration.

Pesky Pronouns

In the beginning our close friends really struggled. They got the pronouns wrong constantly... but they were trying and that’s what mattered to us. They cared enough to make the effort. They were open enough and willing to change how to address Dana. 

Mary discusses the issue of pronouns; an all to familiar subject for anyone trans.  Who gets a free pass from Mary and Dana?  Read Pesky Pronouns to find out.

Gender clinic conversations

This post is just what the title says.  Clare, who I might add is just gorgeous, is in the gender clinic conversing with another transwoman and a transman.  It's the kind of conversation that only two who are trans can have.....a conversation I have had with many.  I found myself nodding my head and feeling as if I was part of the group.  You will too.

Gender clinic conversations is from the talented Clare Flourish's blog.

I Never Did

Did you ever dress up for Halloween?  That would be dressing up in the clothes of your desired gender?  I never did, nor did Diana....both for the same reasons.

It's always nice to feature one of the longest running blogs listed on T-Central.  Take a minute and read Diana's post, I Never Did, which includes some comments from others about being trans and Halloween.