my dear friends
well it finally happened i walked into the food store as my other self and bumped into a friend of mine from the car hobby in town who didn't know of diana.
he asks " one of the students of his son in law saw me as diana going into walmart recognized by my car (i drive a plain jane buick but with themed license plates that are common) and that his student asked the son in law and he asked the father in law .... if i was dressed differently.... and although i hesatated i just answered yes and explained that i am transgendered (we fully understood each other between the lines though upon answering). he said he didn't care as he had a close friend that is gay since high school (even though i said i am not gay) but he did mention that his wife and or daughter thought that there was something different about me..... and now it makes me wounder just how many people have surmised locally and profesionaly. 
luckly i am not currently working as a teacher although most of my work is related to several schools. aggghhhhhh oh well i can't change it. the pandora's box and "can of praverbial worms" have been opened with no way of putting it back into the box. bo hoo
luckly i had kept a log last year and have reallized that it is not pratical to dress more that 5-9 times a month so this year i have decided to dress as diana when i can but not push myself more than 5 days a month as it takes to much energy to do so. it takes a lot of energy to remain beautiful for 4-8 hours at a time LOL as well as a lot of energy swithcing back and forth.
first there is allways being observant with who notices you. then there is the time it takes to do even simple make up . the time it takes to change even if you could find that "phone booth" like superman giggle giggle. then there is being carefull not to rub or wash your face once the makeup is applyed. also remembering you have a wig and not a hat on so as not to remove it upon entering a building. then there is being carefull not to damage your panty hose or stockings, make sure you have transfered your keys and wallet to your purse, and remembering to install your upper body inserts.
now when you change back remembering to remove most of the make up and remembering to fully remove the make up before bed, removing the jewelery, find another phone booth giggle giggle ect.
whew it exsausts me just thinking about it. giggle giggle ... it's to much thinking for my blond brain.
later that evening after the "question" i just wanted to revert back and stop being diana but i know that is not possable eather.
soooo my question is how would you have handled it? (remember my dad still has to live in this small town)
this week has been crazy we had the town home inspector return to my aunts house. i couldn't sleep all night on sunday night . i couldn't go through this all the time with these power trip inspectors. it takes to much out of me physically. today i needed to sleep in to recharge from " the fear of the inspector" strain on my body.
but we passed obtaining the need certificate of occupancy so that is good.
today i had my mg midget sports car flat beded to a great sports car mechanic i have used over the passed 20 years but i am afraid the damp garage has taken it's toll on the poor car. so i will probably look for a better bodied one in the future.
the house buyers lawyer is behind on his paper work and soooo the closing will be maybe next week. aggghhhh.
the buyer is chafing at the bit to get in and our lawyer is ready so we await her lawyer....
hence no Diana time this week accept for sleep time also with the warm weather woman's wear gets harder to hide oh well.
anyway that's all for now
hugs
Diana
one thing that seems to be the biggest challenge for most of our transgendered sisters is the voice.
so as a former music teacher (although an instrumental band specialist i was always involved with choir as well and class voice was a breeze for me) i thought i'd add my thoughts to the challenge and suggest what has helped me.
a suggestion on the voice (that i have found works) first i talk softer (make every one else really listen!) and i shift into what's called the bottom of my "falsetto" voice. since i am a baritone or second tenor in singing voice it puts my voice into a woman’s 2nd or lower alto voice. when i first started to do this i would speak and really support the sound from down at my belly button and try to enunciate clearer since you can't force this sound as it is basically impossible.
also you will find you need to open you mouth and throat (somewhat flattening your tong in the process on the vowels) to allow the softer falsetto sound to come out and project better.
these are just good singing techniques applied to speaking (although falsetto can be hard on the voice i have been told if used for very long periods of time when forced to loudly but if supported properly and done somewhat softly i have found it to be ok and i have heard mixed thoughts on this anyway)
of course if you are a second bass as your other self and very deep in tambour this won't be all that helpful. but remember there are those gg's that really do have a deep voice and thinning hair and really are taller than 5'7" so take heart.
also i have found being over tired makes it hard to pass as i find it takes a tremendous amount of energy to go out in the public in fem because you are always on your guard for negative feedback.
just remember a smile for negative looks goes a very long way toward disarming what you think is a disapproving look. sometimes the other person is thinking about something totally different than us and is sort of looking our way but more through us than at us.
so take heart and enjoy being out in the world !
hugs
Diana
i have come to grips with keeping them rounded to about 3/16" which seems to work for both selves. essspeciallly since gg's seem to be keeping their nails shorter with the tight economy.
but they have larger sizes of shoes up through get this... i think size 13!