Converse

During our collective chat I was reminded of some old research, in which the specialist suggested – and I’ll paraphrase – that the real rub isn’t being trans, it’s not being able to express that. 




Social distancing has brought a stop to most if not all TG group get-togethers.  Lynn writes about on-line chats.  Not the same as being there but what else can we do right now?  Sometimes, you just need quality time with the "like-minded".

The Crossdressers Voice

Having heard girls for different (english speaking) nations adopt this method I have come to the conclusion they have almost invented the 'tranny accent', which to my mind is not a good thing. I have been on an evening out and could hear someone talking behind me, and I instantly knew it was a crossdresser without seeing the person. 


OK, I really hate the title of this post because it certainly does not apply strictly to crossdressers.  Many who are transitioning or have transitioned still face this issue and it's unique to those of us who are male-to-female transgender.  I have met many who transitioned more than 20 years prior who still face this issue.  Andrea doesn't have the answers but she certainly brings up some good points as to how NOT to communicate with your voice. 

Ask Hannah!

I was wondering if you have any advice for clothing selection for very muscular legs? I am an avid cyclist and between genetics and cycling have massive leg muscles, especially my quadriceps. Even by male standards they are very large. What clothing choices would you suggest to minimize their impact on feminine appearance?






Go here for Hannah's response and, as usual, it includes a few photos!

How Did I Get Here?

On occasion too, I get so desperate for new blog posts, I have been known to journey back through the old dusty Cyrsti's Condo blog posts for ideas. What I discovered was I was far more interested in the outward impression I was making as a transgender woman than my inner self. 


This is a short one but I really like what Cyrsti was trying to get across in the post. A very positive post!

Being Overly Critical

I was just reading someone’s opinion on a website about MtF transgender voice therapy and something struck me, how critical are you of gender “tells?” The specific thought someone posted was in saying that while they have heard many transgender women speak they are still aware that the person was born AMAB.  [Assigned Male At Birth]


Kelly has learned so much about what it is to be a woman, since transitioning, yet she still lives under the stigma of being assigned male at birth.  Being Overly Critical is an apropos title for this post.

Ms Blue Sky

I have realised that most of my fear of mum/work are not as great as they once were. I have been reassessing what is important to me and how much I am willing to change and it is still obvious that I will need to move, but I am sensible enough not to do that until I have gotten to HRT.


Dee is feeling pretty good about herself right now, all things considered, even though coming out to Mum and work remains in the future.

Shackles Loosed – The Power Of Coming Out

Her eventual conclusion; she just couldn’t live with a man who believed he was a woman. And to some degree understandably so.  Eventually, on the advice of a counselor she divorced me for this reason. That hurt deeply, but was not much of it not my own making?



It's been a long time since we've featured a post from Crossdresser Heaven.  You'll want to read this one.

The last post

A fact that is worth pondering is more people will die from cancer this year than are predicted to die from Covid19. When this threat is over, perhaps the government will put as much effort into cancer as they have with this virus………


I'm so sorry I missed reading this post, from a week and a half ago.  It's Bobby's last post and the quote, above, will give you a clue as to it's content.  We're so going to miss this blogger, who's been writing since 2013.  Peace be with you, girl.....

Sunday Susan time

.......I will get someone who will tell me I am going to Transition and that is not what I want, it is not what is right for me. Yes, when I am Susan, I really think of myself as Susan and yes during that time I really do wish I was Susan but that is only part of my life. When I am not Susan, I am happy with my male self. This is what is right for me.

It was a wonderful and fun Sunday in Portland, Oregon, and Susan made the most of it. 

Thanks, Susan, for including a link to T-Central on your blog!

Dreams of Old Revisited

The dream of so many transgender people- to magically wake up in the body which you should've been born with.  I used to take long walks when I was a teen (see: Peace and Quiet, above) to sort out my head.  Hormones were rushing, causing changes I didn't want.  The girls were becoming women, and, due to delayed adolescence, I was still me.  It wasn't fair!  In any case, I didn't WANT the changes that were coming my way.  But, come they did, and there was nothing I could do about it.  All the wishes in the world weren't going to prevent it.




In a very interesting and easy-to-read post, Sophie takes us through the dreams that came true in her life and those that never did.  

Feminine Differential - Anklet

I love wearing an anklet.  I started about 20 years ago and off-and-on wore one until I either lost or misplaced it. Recently I repurchased and love the look.  A subtle act of feminine differentially, especially when the it is delicate or has a small charm.




I always love to read Rhonda's Feminine Differential series of blog posts.  This time, is all about the anklet, and it's not just for women. 

Thank you Rhonda, for including a link to T-Central on your blog!

Purify and Detox

Yesterday’s moth was still on the wall. A little thing, “Are you still here?” I asked wondering why he hadn’t left via the open window in the afternoon and what he could possibly want that made him stay here. I could have got a cup and gently evicted him into the rainy dark night but it felt like the one bit of non-conversational company I needed right now. At least I probably needed some kind of conversation given I was asking questions to a moth.



Only Hannah can take a moth on the wall and relate it to her feelings about gender.  I really wonder if that month wasn't a "she".  Hannah's thinking again, and writing it down for you in her unique way.

Trans women, simply explained

There is no such thing as “trans ideology”. I am a trans woman. I do not seek to define womanhood for any other woman. I don’t define women’s sexuality, or how women should dress or behave. I want freedom for women to be who they are, because I need that freedom myself. When we say “my gender identity is female” or “I am a woman” we are psyching ourselves up to do what we do not understand but want more than anything else in the world- to express ourselves as women.

Trans women defined?  Clare says, "keep it simple".

Remedy

There are certain tunes that run through me. Music that makes me want to get up and move. To feel the energy held within and to get up, dance, and be lost in the freedom of just enjoying. The way the growling roll of low guitar makes you prowl, to the stuttering jolt of electro, or leaning in to pop’s high kitch.


The Remedy?  Well, the way Lynn describes her taste in music, perhaps it has something to do with the tunes she loves?

Struggling

Technology had already allowed us to know more people and know those people less. The roots we grew in relationships do not have the time to germinate anymore. It has also, even more recently, eliminated the need to actual be somewhere. Now we Zoom everything.



Kandi's struggling right now as many of us are.  There's that lack of human contact and interaction, you know?  She lets it all, well said, out in this blog post.

Tomima Talks - The Bra Straps of Summer Why - Because We Need To Know.

Did she intentionally pick that blue bra to wear with her yellow tank knowing the straps would show?






Let those bra straps show, or not?  Rhonda prefers NOT and has some suggestions to keep them out of site. 

Thanks to Ronda for including a link to T-Central on her blog.

Aging Well

Moisturizers and eye creams are my best friend. I have been using both for about 20 years and it makes a difference.







They really do make a difference!  I've been using them for years also.  Go here, for Stana's post.

Go here for Stana's Fantasia Fair Diaries book!

Lockdown

So to that non-trans person I would now ask how would you feel if you were restricted as to what you wear, how you lived your life and where you can go, not for three months but in many cases for years, decades, a life time? Almost certainly they would not relish the idea, but for many of us in the trans spectrum this has been our life, for years..............


Andrea talks about the lockdown, but not the one you're thinking of.  She feels that most of her life has been in lockdown, simply because she can't be the person she wants to be.  Interesting thoughts, from Andrea.

A Review of a Transgender Book.

“It’s a myth that gender identity is formed for life within the first five years of life. While that might be true for many people, it is not a universal truth as my own life is a clear counter-example (and internet research tells me I’m not alone).” I can personally testified that Williams is right here. I did not fully identify as a woman until I was 59, and I defy anyone to say I am not trans enough or woman enough for that matter.

This featured post is a long one, so grab a cup of tea or coffee or whatever and enjoy this review from Stephie.  She includes many quotes (like the one at the top of this page) from the book, titled Trans-Gressive, A Transwoman on Gender, Feminism, and Politics, by Rachel Anne Williams.  Stephie gives the book six stars out of five.  I think she liked it!

Little things that help

Anyway, as I happened drop a teaspoon, I caught sight of my toes. They don’t usually see much sunlight, them being less that very pale was unusual. My next thought that popped into my head was a bright pink varnish would look ace.



Can't go out and about right now as your real, or other, self?  Never fear, there are Little things that help!

Trans in Quarantine

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has changed everyone’s lives.  What seems normal is being challenged on a regular basis.  No more hugging other people.  No more going out to restaurants.  No more in-person chorus rehearsals.  It feels a lot like stepping back inside the closet, and for many in the transgender/non-binary community, that’s what has happened.




The theme of the last featured post on T-Central was how the blogger's life has changed for the worse, while sheltering in place.  This post, from Maddie, takes a completely different view on the subject of this horrible time we live in right now.

Time to say Goodbye

Feeling that due to my health issues I’m in a higher risk group I decided early on, 109 days ago to be precise, that I should shelter as much as possible to try to keep myself safe.





Like so many in this horrible time, Tish has had to shelter in place and has lost much of the social life that we humans so need. She is also saying goodbye to a part of her life over the past years.  It really saddens me to hear this, since a similar part of my life has meant so much to me.  Go here to read about it and consider leaving Tish a comment.   For all of those sheltering in place, without the ability to socialize, even a comment on a blog can be very welcome.