Sometimes, I feel that our world is being flushed down the drain.

 

A Golden Toilet - a perfect metaphor for what the Orange Snowflake is doing with America.  If one supports the snowflake, one might be reminded of the riches the man has achieved.  If one is among the opposition, one is reminded of the excess, cruelty and evil the man represents.  A recent google lookup provided the following result when queried about the Guggenheim, an art request by the snowflake, and the museum's response:

The Request:

In 2017, the White House requested to borrow a Vincent van Gogh painting, "Landscape with Snow," from the Guggenheim Museum for the private living quarters of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Museum curator Nancy Spector responded that the painting was unable to be loaned, citing that the painting was part of the museum's Thannhauser Collection, which has strict rules against travel. 

The Offer:

As a counter-offer, Spector suggested a long-term loan of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's work titled "America".

"America" is a fully functional toilet made of solid 18-karat gold.
This piece had been on display at the Guggenheim, where visitors were invited to use it.
The artist offered the toilet to the White House "for a long-term loan". 

Interpretation and Reaction:

The Guggenheim's offer was seen as a satirical commentary, poking fun at the excesses of affluence and the art market.
    
Some viewed the offer as a "sick burn" and a form of protest against the Trump administration.
The exchange became a widely reported news story and sparked debate about art, politics, and social commentary. 

I feel that this was a perfect response, and more appropriate today than it was several years ago, as the snowflake seems to be trying to flush America down the proverbial toilet.  Without his history of bad governance, he is known for vulgarity and bad taste.  Can anyone mention anything about him or his actions that is subtle?  I doubt it.

As I write this, the G7 summit has started, and he has been proven to be an embarrassment there as well. I feel that it is only time that the GOP will be forced (for its survival) to push him out of power. But it will take a larger than life gaffe for this to happen.  And the signs are there.  At the G7 conference opening, he pushed to have Russia readmitted to the former G8.  (Russia was kicked out of the group after its invasion of Ukraine in 2024.)  Would any sane political leader advocate that while Russia still occupies Ukrainian soil?  I doubt it.  Sooner or later, the snowflake's lunacy may force the GOP to confront its biggest problem - the Orange Snowflake. Right now, it will not survive without its cult leader.  And I can't wait for that day.

- - - - - -

But enough of that stuff.

Today, I woke up with absolutely no energy to do more than go to the bathroom, then back to bed.  It wasn't until I made myself some lunch and had a few drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) to quench my thirst did my energy level rise enough to stay out of bed for the rest of the day.

Through the course of the day, I received two packages - both delivered to the  entryway to my group of 6 apartments, and not to my door as in the delivery instructions.  This is a minor annoyance, as I had to get dressed to go to retrieve them, but not enough to complain about.  (Most people leave their residences at least once per day, so they'd see their packages upon returning home.) 

The package from Lands End contained an exercise dress that could double as a simple "Little Black Dress".  To me, it was worth the gamble to buy it, as I saw it on RQS looking more like something a woman would wear to a restaurant than on the tennis court - a truly "one and done" dress for more than one setting. 

 

The package from Target contained a Blazer Dress that I don't see me wearing until the cooler weather comes around.  And even then, I plan to pair it with black leggings, so that my legs aren't as exposed as they are on the woman in the photo above.  Who knows, once I get a lot of travel out of my system, I might want to return to the workforce again.

Now, I have to find ways to reenter the social world, so that I can make use of all of my wardrobe.  

Some thoughts on Independence Day

 

Today, I'm posting an entry which is meant to be current on the day my readers see it.  Too bad that I have to write something like this.

- - - - - - 

This year, I'm no longer sure if I can still say that I'm proud to be an American.  Our screwed up electoral system allowed a bombastic, dictatorial, grifting third rate TV personality to become president.   I can only imagine what the cadets at West Point were thinking when our so-called president gave the commencement address, given their honor code:

"A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

What would you think in their position?  They are obligated to obey orders.  But in the back of their minds, some must be wondering what happened to the German soldiers who defended themselves by saying:

"Ordnung ist Ordnung" 

 

or, in English,

"Orders are Orders" 

That is, orders must be followed, no matter what.

Given that our president is trying to provoke people in California (using ICE raids to round up illegal aliens) to use violence so that he could declare martial law,  the resistance is holding firm - and GROWING!  Our president uses cruelty to achieve his ends, and has given Carte Blanche to his masked criminal enforcers (usually without judicial warrant) to snatch people off the streets of America.  The time to resist these criminal actors is now!

Two hundred and forty nine years ago, our forefathers said that they were fed up with having a king whose government didn't care about the needs of America.  I hope that the same sentiment is still held by enough people so that we can prevent another "king" from destroying our republic.

Years ago, someone asked Ben Franklin what kind of government do we have?  He replied, saying:

"A republic, if you can keep it." 

 Hopefully, we will be able keep it.....

 

In my heart, I can't understand ignorance.

 

In my heart, I can't understand ignorance.  Maybe it's that I have a desire to understand as much as I can?  Who knows?  But as I write this, MAGA is denying that the Orange Snowflake's birthday parade was hardly attended, while 11 million people attended No Kings protests across the nation.

One of my Facebook friends, a TG person who doesn't want to acknowledge the truth that only photographs can show, is caught up in the false narrative that there weren't that many people attending the protests.  But then, she hasn't seen the "Gender Correction" letter being sent out for passport renewals.

- - - - - -

Ignorance is either a lack of opportunity to see an objective truth, or a choice to ignore an objective truth.  If one sees the objective truth and recognizes it as such, then the person is rational.  Choosing to ignore an objective truth is something else.  I'm not sure of what to call this.  Yet, who defines "Objective Truth?"  Years ago, broadcast TV had something known as the "Fairness Doctrine."  Sadly, Ronald Reagan killed that off, and along with it died objective news casting. Today, people pick their "news" sources based on their prejudices, and never hear opposing points of view that would test their views of reality.

Sadly, news organizations without a Fairness Doctrine will slant the news to serve the wishes of their owners.  All too often people on both sides of the political divide claim that the other side is reporting falsehoods. This has resulted in the political divide we have today - to such an extent that rational people should be thinking: Should we split up the United States along its political divides and limit the harm done to people on both sides of the divide?  Or, should we put guardrails on the 1st amendment to the constitution, and somehow make all organizations claiming to report the news report it objectively.

- - - - - -

I have a transgender acquaintance who still yearns for some of the conveniences of her biologically male past, such as being able to pee standing up.  Another transgender acquaintance I met through a (former?) reader of this blog is obviously TG.  That shouldn't be a problem, but this person moved to the back woods of Upstate NY and was rejected by her conservative church.  They both have the same flaw - they think that their (political) tribal membership card will continue to be accepted after transition.  I'm reminded of the Jews who supported Hitler, thinking that he'd take care of ALL who supported him.  Yes, they were taken care of, but not in the way they thought.

The above two people are choosing to be ignorant.  I expect that reality will soon hit them in the face.  It's a shame, as us aware people understand the consequences of the actions of people like those two, and we hate the upcoming suffering that their type is causing to happen.  As for me, I will try to get out of the way and report what is going on objectively as long as I can.
 

I paid off my last cruise for 2025 (a short post)

 

I will be taking a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 later this year.  It's not the route that I wanted to take on my first cruise on this ship.  But it will be a route that I am very familiar with and know how to plan for it.  Given that I will need to travel as Mario due to America's current political situation, I will take advantage of the fact that I should not be hassled for my gender presentation when in the Caribbean.

RQS and I booked this cruise a few weeks ago, and she's almost paid up.  I figured that I'd pay things off, and make it a little easier for her to take care of her upcoming bills.  As for me, I figured that I should withdraw some more money from one bank account, as the money in savings is earning virtually nothing. Since I will be away soon, it's nice to know that all my bills have been paid for this month.

My large suitcase has been moved into a place where I can start packing it, and I am planning on bringing it to RQS's place over the weekend.   One problem - TCL wants me to stop by, and I have no excuses left not to do so.  It'll take me time to pack 7-days of clothing, and still be able to have a suitcase ready to bring down over the weekend.  I don't want to do it on Monday, as I'll have to fight to get a parking spot.  Yet, I have to figure out how to fit everything in - and that includes going to church on Sunday.

This is going to be one busy weekend coming up! 

Preparing for my upcoming cruise while thinking of battles of the past. (A short post with a long title.)

 

As I write this, I'm taking care of preparations for my upcoming cruise.  Although our ship will be visiting the above ports, it will not be in the order we were supposed to go when we last booked a 10-day cruise with all of these ports.

When we originally planned to take this cruise, I intended to go as Marian, as I never had problems with people on either side of the Canadian border.  This time is something else.  Now that the Orange Snowflake is in power, I want to be as invisible as possible to anyone loyal to his criminal regime.  That means that I'll have to travel as Mario.  AARGH!

- - - - - -

One thing I can say is that I'm glad that I didn't legally transition as of yet.  Reports I'm getting from social media are that transgenders are getting notices from the Federal Government that their gender markers have been "Corrected" when they get their new passports.  Now, they have Federal and State issued IDs that no longer match.  How cruel can one be to minorities?

The other night, I watched "Good Night, and Good Luck" on CNN.  The bravery of Edward R. Murrow should inspire today's media leaders.  Instead, they all capitulate, forgetting the lessons of the past. Too bad we don't have enough people like him to stand up to bullies that are in charge of the levers of government.  

Lots of little stuff, but nothing of major importance.

 

This was "one of those days."  No, it was not a disastrous day.  Instead, it was a day where everything was a little bit off, and led me not to accomplish much.

- - - - - -

I may have mentioned that my apartment's super was coming over today to work on the bathtub water faucets.   To do this, I had to be up early, so that I could be ready anytime he was to come.  This meant that I would be dressing as Mario today, as I would be able to take care of some errands that required the presence of me in boy mode.

Once dressed, I put two loads of laundry into the wash, and then took care of errands.  Between the time I put clothes into the wash and then the dryer, I picked up some lunch.  Once the clothes were in the dryer, I deposited $440 in checks and took out $140 in cash to pay my super for his time and materials.  Laundry was done by 1 pm, so I had the time to sit and relax in the apartment until the super came.

This would be the first time I payed loose attention to the work my super was doing in the bathroom.  An hour later, I had learned a couple of things about bathroom plumbing, as well as having a plumbing fixture that should last a few years.  The super only asked for $50 to cover the parts he bought.  But I slipped him an extra $50 to help compensate him for his effort (even though it was done on co-op time).

Now that I had a working faucet again, I could rest.  Then TCL (The Cat Lady, as I call her) called just before I was about to take a short nap.  While on the phone, I found that I got an email from NYS Office of Unclaimed Funds - we need 2 more documents before they can send us any money.  That's OK with me, but I don't have access to certain things, and I forwarded the email to my brother for his opinion.

- - - - - -

Thankfully, the weather will be cooler tomorrow, and I will feel better about going outside - if it doesn't rain.... 

It's getting a little too warm for me to visit the city as Marian

 

The above map of New York City shows the density of Age 65+ residents in each borough.  And as an older transwoman, I figure that I should "act my age" and visit the NYC outpost of SeniorPlanet.Org for a 1 hour class on website building.  I didn't expect much, but it was a good excuse to visit the city and see an Off-Broadway play afterwards.

- - - - - -

The day started with the drip in my bathtub's hot water faucet becoming a steady stream of hot water.  This is something I couldn't fix on my own, and would need the help of our apartment complex's super whether or not a plumber needed to be called.  So, after I got dressed and on my way to NYC, I called our super and he agreed to come over sometime tomorrow.

Now that I got the process of fixing the leak started, it was time to pick up a sandwich that I could have for lunch before going into the city.  Because of this stop, I might have missed the train I wanted to take.  But I did catch a train that, with connections would bring me to NYC's in-person Senior Planet site at exactly 3 pm, including subway connections and walking.

When I arrived at Senior Planet, I wasn't sure of what to expect, save that the class would be a very light overview of website building.  And yet, I was surprised to find how little people of my generation understand about the internet and how things work.  So, I'm glad that places like Senior Planet exist, if only to provide technical scaffolding for those who didn't grow up around technology, as I did.  Since the lady at the entrance asked me to stop by her desk on my way out, I did so - and became a member.  We chatted for a minute (woman to woman) and she found my humor entertaining.  Now, if I go there again, it will be as Marian - as I want to live as much as my life as possible as a woman.  But I digress....

Next, it was off to Greenwich Village to eat.  After trying to find the Stonewall Historic site, I gave up after walking further than I wanted along Christopher Street.  (My back was bothering me, it was warm, and I had only a limited time to eat and travel to the theater.)  So, I walked back to the Ghandi Cafe for a "quick" dinner.  Although I ordered my old standbys, Samosas, Lamb Sagwala, and Onion Naan, I wasn't happy with today's meal.  I think that part of my reaction was predicated by the restaurant having its front window open and relying on ceiling fans to keep people cool.  This wasn't good enough for me, as I polished off at least a quart of water and a glass of Lassi to stay hydrated.  If anything, I'd bet that my taste buds were affected by my body's reaction to the warm weather.

Around 6:20, I was off to catch a train going uptown, and arrived at the theater with 15 minutes to spare before the show began.  I had good tickets for The Imaginary Invalid, an adaptation of Molière's classic comedy about love, greed, doctors, and deception.  One problem, my body's reaction to heat had me semi-conscious throughout the show, and I missed many of the jokes.  (I may go back and see this play again before it closes, weather and money permitting.)  But what jokes I did catch were funny, and actually got me to laugh (a rarity).

At 8:30, I was headed back to Grand Central and made it there with 10 minutes to catch the next train back to Croton. When I got off the train, I tripped on the platform and almost fell down.  But I was able to keep my balance and step onto the platform without harming my self.  Getting into the elevator, two ladies of my generation and I chatted for a second in the elevator.  When I came down the steps leading to the cab stand and parking lot, one of those ladies made sure to wait for me to come down the stairs - as if I were a typical woman traveling alone late at night.  It's nice to know that most people seem to be seeing me as a large, but overweight woman. 

 

 

 

 

A visit to the pulmonologist, followed by a co-op board meeting

 

There were two things on my docket for today, and both required that I present myself as Mario.  This was just as well, as it rained in the morning, making trousers a more practical garment for the day.  

But first....

When I last visited my now former pulmonologist, I knew that this would be my last visit with him due to his coming retirement at year end.  Everything went well, and I made sure to schedule my follow-up with another pulmonologist in the same medical group that day.  Today was that follow-up.

The first thing I did was to transfer my ID and money into Mario's wallet, and got dressed to present as Mario.  Around 1 pm, I drove to the doctor's office and checked in.  Within 5 minutes, I was brought into the back, and an assistant took my vitals - everything was OK.  Then the doctor came in, saying that the CPAP machine reported my daily use, and the machine was effective in helping me sleep properly.

My next step was back home to rest, as I was feeling tired.  After a rest, I opened up the co-op board meeting.  Unfortunately, the co-op president was caught in traffic, and I had to fill in the gap for an hour or so.  Eventually, our president joined in, and we got down to business.  Our new member was welcomed, and he looks like he will become a valuable member.

Once done with my business for the day, I called RQS.  She was much more energetic than usual, noting that she had a much worse time with the weather than I did - she got soaked on the way for her medical visit (or, at least, her shoes did).  But she was able to resolve a problem with her transit card.  That was good news.  And on that note, I'll end this post....  

How does one deal with a company which has bad customer service?

 

 

 

Someone I know lost her mom during Covid.  She now has a problem caused by a business who, after 2 attempts to get the problem resolved, still can't get things right.  In fact, the firm's representative suggested that my friend break the law to get it resolved.  AARGH!!!!

 

But first....

 

The problem started when my friend's mom overpaid the premiums on an insurance policy.  This would not normally be a problem, as eventually the over payment would be refunded to the customer.  However, the customer died during the pandemic.  Sometime late last year, the insurance company sent a notice to the wrong address for this woman, and the woman's granddaughter passed the notice on to my friend along with a refund check addressed to my friend's mother. My friend now had a dilemma.  The estate was closed out several years ago.  There was no bank account in which the check could be deposited and funds passed through to the woman's heirs.  How should she proceed to get this money? 

 

My friend's first task was to find out exactly who to contact in the insurance company.  This was the first layer of the problem.  Many companies issue checks from an entity holding a different corporate name than the entity with which one did business.  (Think of private label credit cards - a credit card issued with the Exxon, Sunoco, Shell or other fuel companies might send its refund checks with a Citibank payer name on the check.) In my friend's case, this was harder than it should have been for her.

 

The next layer of the problem was that the customer service number wasn't geared for payee problems.  It was geared for collection problems - their focus was on collecting money from people who were late on their payments, not on those that the company paid money to.  Yet, through perseverance, my friend was able to reach someone in customer service.  She explained the situation to someone in a foreign call center, and was told to submit proof of her mother's death and proof that she was the executor of the estate - which she did. 

 

Several weeks later, my friend received a check.  When my friend looked at the check, it was made out to be paid to her mother.  She called the company back and got someone who could barely speak English and was likely to be making things up on the fly to keep my friend happy.  My friend explained the problem, and the woman at the other side of the line told my friend - pretend you are your mom and cash the check.  The customer center suggested that my friend commit a crime to get the money that should be paid to her.  This was a ludicrous suggestion, and my friend insisted that the problem be fixed properly by issuing a check with my friend's name on it.  The call center lady "agreed" and said that a new check would be sent out shortly.

 

Another few weeks went by, and my friend received a second check.  And again, the check was issued to her mom.  So again, my friend made a call to the company and reached another person.  Again, the foreign call center suggested that she cash the check, and she refused.  This time, she led the call center fellow through the situation and got him to state who the check would be made out to (my friend's name).  This time, my friend thought the problem would be resolved and forgot about it for a while.

 

Still, another few weeks went by.  When my friend returned home after a long weekend, she found another check in her mailbox.  Opening up the envelope, she again found a check - again with her mom's name. Now, my friend became royally pissed off.  What should she do now?

 

I suggested that she talk to a lawyer (she has one in her family) as well as contact Elliot Advocacy.  Another friend suggested that she go to her bank and ask what to do.  Hopefully, she will get an answer she needs and finally get this problem resolved once and for all....   

 

 

 

 

 

  

Food for thought

 

The above picture of me was taken at Washington, DC's Kennedy Center.  It seems such a long while ago that I felt safe in visiting DC as Marian, and I don't plan on visiting there until the present regime is gone. But I'm wondering whether it is still safe t stay in "Civilized" areas of this country anymore, now that the Orange Snowflake is calling out the National Guard to suppress anti ICE ("La Migra") protests in Los Angeles, CA.

Our "Chief Executive"  believes that universal cruelty in oppressing his enemies, and that a disregard for law and order to feather the nests of him and his friends is OK.  He has no respect for women, people of color, as well as the LGBTIQ community.  He is a narcissist who has decided to imitate his authoritarian friends by holding a military parade in our nation's capital on his birthday.  

In a previous entry, I mentioned that the Catholic Church may be sending a message that it is time to send a message that people like the Snowflake are evil and must be resisted. But how?  As much as my heart wants to see violence used against the violent, this might not be the right approach when dealing with the Snowflake, as he will likely use even more violence against us.  So, what can be used against him?  Malicious compliance may be the best answer.  Bureaucracies exist for good reason. In addition to administrating public services provided by the government, they serve to subconsciously remember "lessons learned" from prior systemic failures, and help prevent them from happening again.  As the church provides for spiritual welfare, government bureaucracies provide for economic and social welfare.  Without some of the protections provided by today's governments' social programs, we would have likely seen our republic fall during the great depression of the 1930's.  Sadly, we are in a position where our nation will soon need to choose one of two paths to preserve a social order: (1) Authoritarianism, where a dominant group oppresses all others to maintain its power, or (2) Democratic Socialism, where the social leadership uses its economic power to deal with the needs of the less powerful, reducing the chance for a revolution like France had in the 1700's.

In short, our society has a simple choice: (1) Use violence to maintain an increasingly corrupt social and economic order, or (2) Use economic power to deal with the needs of the underprivileged to maintain the stability of society.  Citizens can help make it easier for our leaders to make the right choice by making our voices heard, and getting in the way of people who would choose wrongly. Demand accountability whenever possible.  Attend public forums.  Scream and shout, as squeaky wheels get the most grease. 

Years ago, Gandhi used non-violent methods to make it untenable for the United Kingdom to remain in India.  It is unlikely that America will ever develop something like the "Great Internet Firewall of China" to prevent Americans (and the world) from having access to the truth, and not just what the Snowflake wants us to hear.  We must use this tool as a weapon against authoritarianism while we can....

I decided to spend another day in NYC

 

Do you think I really need to take this class?  Probably not.  Yet, there are some things about building sites using WordPress that may be of use to me.  Specifically, I want to leave something NOT connected to Google's blogger for my co-op's long term use. Given that this is a free class, I don't expect too much from it.  But it will be an opportunity for me to visit NYC, take the class, have a light dinner, and then see a (Off ?) Broadway play at half price.

The first question I have is: Do I attend as Mario or as Marian?  Given that I will likely be one of many people here, I will likely blend into the woodwork either way.  Since it will likely be in the low 80's, I will likely go as Marian and wear a summery dress to be comfortable in the expected weather for the day of the class.  After this, I have to determine which play to see.  This is the harder question for me to answer, as I don't want to spend a lot of money right now. So far, I lean towards seeing "Operation Mincemeat", 

Todaytix.com describes Operation Mincemeat as follows:

How did a dead body, a fake love letter, and — of all people — Ian Fleming turn the tide of World War II? Winner of the 2024 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the most acclaimed West End show ever with 77 five-star reviews (and now four Tony Award nominations), Operation Mincemeat tells the chaotic true story you couldn’t make up if you tried. It’s 1943, the Allies are losing, and there’s only one thing left to do: risk it all on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train in this fast-paced, hilarious musical retelling of a twisted secret mission. 

Yes, this story is derived from a real life story which has been made into a movie.  I figure that it may be a fitting thing to see given that this play, like my last, is inspired by a gruesome reality.

Big question: How do I fit in a bite to eat between the time the class ends and the time the play begins?

A return to Savor

This is one side of Savor in Mahopac, NY.  There is a restaurant on the other side of the building that RQS and I went to over the weekend - and we'd both want to go back there soon.

But first....

As usual, I have yet to make a major dent in the clutter in my apartment before RQS arrived for the weekend.  So, before she arrived, I started to fold/store the laundry I had in the baskets from yesterday, then hang up much of the clothes hanging on my closet's  sliding  door guides. Even so, the apartment remained in its usual state of disorganization when I went to pick RQS up at the station.

It's a matter of fact, that I will usually be wearing a nice dress when I pick RQS up at the station.  Today, I was wearing a short, sleeveless, denim dress, as I was expecting warm and humid weather outside - and I was right.  One of the first things that RQS mentioned was that it was warmer than expected.  I responded, noting that it was 90° outside. Then, she realized why she was feeling warm, as 4 pm is often the warmest part of the day in summer weather.

Since both of us were hungry, I asked RQS if she wanted to try the restaurant I went to at a recent meetup. So, I drover to Mahopac, and pulled into the last parking spot in front of the restaurant.  Walking in, I was greeted by the same waitress who served our meetup group, and she remembered me from earlier in the week.  We were seated inside, and told that we should be done by 6 pm, as a large party was expected then.  This was not going to be a problem for us, as it was only 4:30 pm, and I knew we'd be out before 5:30 pm.  Once we sat down, I looked for the menu items I had on my last visit - and I was not disappointed.  RQS chose a half-size portion of her pasta dish, and still had leftovers to bring home.

It was a nice start to a weekend....

 

What do you do when you've bought way too many clothes?

 

I love how I looked when this picture was taken years ago.  It was a period where I was exploring my feminine side, as well as making many clothing mistakes which enabled people to "clock" me.  Now, I have developed a reasonable self-confidence, but have an overflowing closet to show for it.

Going through my closets tends to be a disruptive experience.  Tossing things I never wear into donation bags isn't the problem.  Instead, it'd the feeling that I might just wear these garments again (or for the first time) in the future.  There are dresses in my closet that I haven't worn yet thanks to Universal Standard's mystery boxes, as well as dresses in the closet which no longer excite me.  So, pruning my closet is the only logical thing I can do.

A similar thing has to be done with my undies and my bras.  The difference is that whatever I no longer want to wear has to go into the trash bin.  Yet, this isn't as hard as it could be.  Whenever I find something on the verge of wearing out, I toss it.  Given that I've been buying a better grade of undies than I originally bought in the stores, my old drawer of "unmentionables" is getting a refreshment as well.

Years ago, I complained that my late wife was a clothes horse.  Well, the only difference between us in this area is that I can afford to keep myself in a refreshed wardrobe at will....   

A trip to Daryl's House with Vicki

 

Daryl Hall (of Hall and Oates) owns a music venue in Pawling, NY that was once occupied by the Towne Crier Cafe (now in Beacon, NY).  Tonight, one of Vicki's favorite performers, Martin Sexton, performed there, and we went up for dinner and a show.

- - - - - -

My day started with me starting to write an entry for my cruise related blog.  Although experienced travelers would have packing for a cruise down to a science, inexperienced travelers might need guidance.  This entry is meant to give those people some of the guidance they need.  While writing this entry, I decided to catch up on laundry, and put 3 loads through the washer and dryer.  By the time the laundry was done, I turned off the computer, brought the laundry upstairs, and then proceeded to get ready to meet Vicki at her place.

Given how warm it was today, I decided to wear the dress above.  I figured that the less I wore, the less oppressive this weather would be for me.  Even this would make me feel like I was wearing too much due to the heat and humidity outside.  But I digress.  Leaving my apartment at 4:45 pm, I knew that I'd make it to Vicki's place by 5:00 pm.  Yet, Vicki was expecting me to be a little late, and we didn't start our journey to Pawling for another 10 minutes.

Now, driving to Pawling during rush hour is rarely a pleasant drive.  If one takes the most commonly used routes from Vicki's house, one would drive to Route 684, then follow Route 22 North to Pawling.  One problem - traffic along this stretch of road moves very slow during rush hour.  So, Vicki consulted Google for directions (I feel that she depends on Google too much for my taste), and it took us through back roads to get near Pawling.  Given how remote this area is, I would not consider returning via this road at night.

On our way there, we discussed many things - with Vicki trying to take control of the conversation when I was discussing will making.  I didn't need any advice on how to make a will.  Instead, I simply needed to figure out what I want to have done with my assets when I pass away.  I wasn't venting. All I was doing was to state where my mind was at, and she went into problem solving mode.  Thankfully, I have her as a friend and not as a spouse. 

We reached Pawling at 6:00 pm, and were seated 1 table away from the stage.  I ordered the fried calamari appetizer and a huge pork chop for dinner - and I'd order both again the next time we are there.  Dinner was over for us around 7:00 pm, and we killed an hour before Martin Sexton came on stage.  Both of us enjoyed his performance of Beatle songs (his latest album covered the entire Abbey Road album), and I found it interesting that Vicki enjoyed some Beatle music.  (Long story here, which I'm not in the mood to cover now.)  After a break, he performed a set of his own music, and the show was over by 10:00 pm.

For our return, Vicki knew that the easiest way home was the most direct way home.  I was home by 11:00 pm and ready to call it a night.
 

 

The Outlaw Is Dead!

 

With an entry title like this, one might think we'd be celebrating another person's death.  But in this case, I am talking about a visit to NYC to see the play "Dead Outlaw" on Broadway.  As much as I should have gone into NYC yesterday when the weather was cooler, or earlier today, when more tickets were available, I have no complaints.  The play was well worth what I paid to see it.

But first....

I keep adding more clothes to the "Dirty Laundry" baskets, and I have enough to fill two washers.  Since RQS is coming up on Friday, I figured that I could either do the wash today, or put it off until tomorrow.  Guess what I chose?  If you thought I'd stop putting this task off, you'd be wrong.  If anything, I started putting winter clothes into storage containers, and figured that I have to start on a third donation bag with excess clothing that's currently in the closet.

Around 3:30 pm, I decided that I was finally going to go into into NYC to see a Broadway play.  Only one problem.  By the time I would get to Croton-Harmon station, I would be on the margin of being able to get tickets to one of the plays I want to see before those plays started.  As I got to the station, the 4:46 pm train was leaving the platform.  So I took my time walking to the elevator to the ticketing area.  At the elevator, there was a mob of friends packed inside and the doors weren't closing.  Taking the stairs, I got to the ticketing area at the same time as this group.  Luckily, I was able to get to one of the ticket vending machines without having to wait for this group to be done,  And then, I had to wait 20 minutes for the train.

Once on the train, it took me 45 minutes to cool down from the heat outside.  Thankfully, I was wearing one of my favorite dresses, as I would have died if I were wearing much else.  (Too bad that I have to wear wigs, as they don't allow my head to radiate heat the way natural hair would allow.)  When I got to Grand Central Terminal, I skipped the chance to take a bio-break, and this would be a concern later on  I took the crosstown subway, then walked to the TKTS office in Times Square to buy a ticket for a Broadway play.

For those readers not familiar with NYC, Times Square has been a place that true New Yorkers avoid as much as possible.  It is a place fit only for tourists and for people in transit to Broadway plays.  Assuming one has taken the subway to Times Square / 42nd street, even a native New Yorker can get confused where uptown and downtown is due to the buildings with scaffolding on them - it's hard to see the street signs and traffic lights which give clues as to which way to walk.  So it took me a couple of minutes to find my way to Duffy Square (at the Northern end of the Times Square area) and the TKTS office.

Of the plays I wanted to see, only Dead Outlaw was on sale.  $95 later, with ticket in hand, I went to the theater and went to my seat.  (Or, I thought it was my seat.)  A few minutes later, the usher came by and directed me to another seat - he mistakenly told me to sit in the wrong seat.  Now, I was dead center, 7 rows out, with no way to sneak out for a bio-break.  Throughout the next 1 hour, 40 minutes, I was hoping that the play would end soon, so that I could go to the loo.  Yet, even with this annoyance, I enjoyed the play.  Would I have paid $190 to see it at full price?  No.  But for $95, it was worth it to me.

Before I go on too far, Dead Outlaw is a musical based on a real person's life and afterlife.  Elmer McCurdy was a person who lived a complicated life, wanting to become a bandit from childhood.  His life took him in many directions, and he ended up becoming an incompetent bandit before being shot to death in 1911. And that's the beginning of his afterlife story.  The coroner who embalmed his body mummified him, and charged money for people to see his corpse.  The body ended up being an exhibit in several traveling shows, a prop for movies, and a display for a scary amusement park ride before being forgotten about for decades. It was only in the 1970's did the body show up again, and finally put in its final resting place.  Hopefully, they will find a way to make this person's life and afterlife into a movie.

But back to the play....

I first heard a clip of the musical's opening number being sung in front of the Coney Island Sideshow Museum - and it was a perfect fit to be performed there.  (Sadly, I can't find that clip now.)  So, it became one of several musicals I wanted to see.  The music was a blend of rock and Broadway styles, and had an energy that I like in my musicals.  The story was wonderfully macabre, without being gruesome.  Once one gets used to the main character being a corpse for 45 minutes, it's fun.

Luckily for me, the play ended with enough time left to make it to the ladies' room without incident.  As I left the theater, I fought the usual Times Square crowds to make it to the shuttle, and grabbed a bite to eat when I got to Grand Central.  Sadly, the train I took home stopped at Yankee Stadium, and got crowded with fans who saw the home team lose.  At least, the play had a happy ending - the corpse is finally buried, encased in 6 inches of concrete (to prevent further use of the corpse).

I had lunch with "Short" Vicki today, and I'm glad we're friends who live in different worlds.

 

Last night, I didn't get a good night's sleep.  Although I went to bed earlier than usual, I passed out around 2 am, and woke up sometime around 5 am for a bio-break.  At this point, my body was awake enough to resist falling back to sleep, causing me to wish that I didn't have lunch scheduled with "Short" Vicki today.

- - - - - -

Vicki made a mistake in the choice of restaurant.  She thought it would be open at 11:30 am, and it didn't open until noon.  This didn't matter much, as I noted that I was feeling a little bit "Off" today.  Could it be the ennui I've been feeling as of late?  Or, could I be suffering with over stimulation to what's going on in the world as of late.  In short, I don't feel like I'm accomplishing much, and that I don't have the energy to participate in life.  Hopefully, Vicki will understand the mental malaise I've been dealing with lately.

We caught up on what's been going on in our lives, and I realized that she and I live in two very different worlds.  She's out and about regarding her sexuality, where I still keep part of myself in a closet - for practical reasons, given this administration.  Vicki said that I shouldn't fear US Customs upon returning to the US from a cruise, but I can't be sure of this given how border control has been hassling "certain people".  I don't want to get caught in their BS and be the person who has to fight to defend myself. But then, I'll admit that I could be over reacting to the news as of late.  Yet, I feel that my knowledge of history is telling me to be werry, werry careful - Elmer the snowflake may soon be hunting transgender wabbits.

- - - - - -

After lunch, I went home to rest.  And I know that I passed out on the couch watching TV.  This is what I needed, although I am likely to be up through the night.  I'll catch up on some of my chores tomorrow....

I'm lucky to live in the Northeast USA

 

Recently, I read a report (I can't find it right now) which lists 6 Northeastern states as being the most friendly to the LGBT community.  I am lucky to live in one of these states.  However, it saddens me that I can't risk visiting a state which is among the most LGBT unfriendly states in the union - Texas.  I'd love to take RQS with me and pay a visit to our 2 friends who live in the Dallas area.

As I've mentioned, I watch a lot of YouTube videos generated by people who have valuable things to say, most of which are well informed on the subjects they discuss.  (There's a lot of garbage out there.  So it takes time to separate the wheat from the chaff.)  One of the videographers I watch is a Floridian who discusses the problems with owning Florida real estate and how overvalued it is right now.  Recently, this gentleman came to New York City and did a video on our real estate market.  Instead of trashing it, he felt (based on objective measurements) that New York City real estate (especially Manhattan real estate) is undervalued.  New York, like major Northeastern cities, is a place where there are not enough places to live.  Yet, it is a place that has many opportunities for those who want to put up with the headaches of living here.

If I choose to take a land trip as Marian, I'll likely be in the Northeast - heading to Washington, DC may not be safe as long as the Orange Snowflake is in power, as its local laws can (and often are) overridden by congress.  This is not a problem for me, as I have yet to explore Northeast in the way the region deserves.  Specifically, I am interested in visiting Boston as Marian and getting to know the city in the way I've gotten to know DC.

For the most part, cities such as New York are cities where people "live and let live".  We are too busy with our own affairs to have the time to cause problems for others.  Since opportunities abound here, we have fewer temptations to retreat into attitudes of the past than if we lived in areas of fewer opportunities. I feel lucky to live in the Lower Hudson Valley, as I have access to New York City and to the rural beauty of the Upper Hudson Valley.  Within a "short" drive, I have access to much of New England.  Even though the Northeast has a highly dense population, there is a lot of rural beauty easily accessible to many who live here.

Could I live elsewhere? Likely not anymore.  Having a relationship with RQS who lives in New York City ties me to this region.  Any move I make would need to consider her needs as well.  Since she can't drive, we would need to be in a place with excellent mass transit.  This rules out much of the USA - especially rural areas of the nation.  I'm glad that I own my apartment, as well as half of a rental property.  At this stage of my life, I can afford to travel - and I expect to do more of this in the region in which I live and express my authentic self.

This past weekend was too short

 

Laffing Sal.  RQS and I will likely be visiting her when we next visit San Francisco.  Although she is a simple, decades old animatron, she is the best symbol of San Francisco's Musee Mechanique at Pier 45. For me, seeing her in person says I am really in "Fog City" and am ready for a great adventure.

Why do I mention his mechanical wonder?

RQS and I are counting down the days until our next two cruises (the first to Canada and the second to Alaska.) This limits the time I can help my brother with work that has to be done on the family homestead before we can rent it out.  This past weekend, I cut a weekend with RQS short, so I could help my brother with the house.

I knew I would have one problem.  Not doing any dirty work around the apartment, I don't have any clothes I can sacrifice for painting the basement.  And I'm glad my brother gave me an out, saying that I can keep him company while he finishes applying "mud" to the drywall, so that he can paint it during the week.  Hopefully, we can get the work finished before mid June, so that we may have someone renting the place by August.

After my brother was done with the work on the house, we drove to a buffet and enjoyed a good meal.  I rarely go to buffets, as I eat too much.  But here, the food was worth it - including the Asian Snails.  This visit, I skipped the sushi in favor of hot food.  Yet, I knew I'd pay for the indulgence later on.  

All too soon, the day ended, and it was time to go home.  Tomorrow, I'll go to my first meetup in a while.

Bringing some of my 2nd wardrobe to RQS's place.

 

As most of my readers know, my girlfriend/partner, RQS, is comfortable with me being in Marian mode when we're outside together. She's traveled with me in Marian mode, and will likely do it again when the Orange Snowflake is out of power. In the near future, I'll be bringing some of my feminine wardrobe to RQS's place (she's OK with this), as the weather will be perfect for both of us to be spending time in dresses on warn NYC summer days.  

Why is this important?

Most of us gender variant people (transgenders, bi-genders, cross-dressers, etc.) who don't fit into the traditional gender binary do not have spouses/partners who are comfortable with our non-traditional presentations. I am one of those lucky ones that do, something I wouldn't have dreamed of 6 years ago when I was dating XGFJ.  

I will take things slowly, bringing only a small subset of my wardrobe to RQS's place - 4 or 5 sets of undies, socks, dresses, and the makeup I'll need to go out with her.  (I'll also bring some shoes and other accoutrements.) I'll take care not to overwhelm her with my feminine things, as well as keeping the space they take up to be a minimum.  (She has very little storage space in her apartment.)  But this will be a milestone for us, as both sides of me will be present in her place.  We are blending households - but in two apartments we are keeping for the foreseeable future.

Hopefully, I will have more good news to write about over time, as I'd rather write about things like this than write about how MAGA is trying to persecute us.  Either way, I'll write about it.

 

This emperor wannabe has no clothes.

 

The Emperor has no Clothes!  I don't mean this in a literal sense,  But I do mean it in the sense that he only has power if we act is if he has any power.  However, he is losing most of his cases in court, and his administration is screwing up the rest of them due to DOJ attorneys being chosen for loyalty instead of competence.

The first example of his losing is NYC's congestion zone tolling that's been in place since January 2025.  One would think that he'd have a good case against NYC before ordering NYC to remove congestion zone tolls.  Recently retracted documents show that the Snowflake's lawyers have a very weak case.  Several months after the Snowflake's original removal deadline, these tolls are still in place and are doing their job better than NYC could have hoped.  Although the case is still in the legal system, it is doubtful that NYC will lose the case.  Simply put, the Snowflake made a threat that he had no power to cause harm to his intended victim, NYC.

Recently, the Snowflake suffered an even greater defeat- a little known federal court ruled that Congress had sole authority to levy tariffs, and could not unilaterally delegate this to the Executive branch of government. In short, even though the court's order is stayed on appeal, the Snowflake is again being checked by the courts.

Now, the "TACO" phrase is being applied to the Snowflake.  TACO - Trump Always Chickens Out.  People have gotten wise to him, and know that he will usually back down at the first sign of resistance. His so-called tariff deals are much ado about nothing.  Does one remember what happened to the Canada and Mexico tariffs?  What about the UK tariffs?  After a large amount of bluster, not much has changed, save that people no longer want to do business with America while the Snowflake is in office. Foreign governments know what TACO stands for, and are taking advantage of it.  Even better, Jimmy Kimmel has a new video for "Taco Man"!

So, how are transgenders being affected by the Snowflake's actions as of late?  Memorial Day weekend marks the graduation day for cadets in our service academies.  There were 3 transgender cadets who graduated, but weren't given their commissions because of the Snowflake.  They had until June 7th to resign or be involuntarily discharged. If they voluntarily resign, they will be responsible for the cost of their education.  If they are forced out, their education was for free.  I wonder how this saves money for the American taxpayer?

 

PS: West Point Cadets may have shown the Snowflake their disapproval of his actions by refusing to shake his hand at their graduation ceremony.  Although he may have shaken some hands, more of them didn't - officially because he left early. I'm not sure of what the objective truth is.  But I'm sure that many cadets were glad to be able to follow their honor code by not honoring a 34-count felon who is temporarily in charge of our executive branch of government.