Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Crab Trap


The Crab Trap in Somers Point, NJ is one of my favorite places to go on Friday and Saturday nights, I'm just one of the girls.

Food & Wine convention




I guess with all the food shows I go to you must think I'm getting fat, well you guessed right, I need to get on a diet and exercise routine.




Sunday 10 19 08, my wife got a call from a friend he had passes for us to go to the food show at the AC Convention Center. It was really a disgrace, it was about half what is was when they started a few years ago, admission is 18.00 and parking is 10.00, most people go with another person so 50 bucks is just not in every one's budget for such a small show.




Anyway, I didn't realize the also had a wine tasting (private) area, but with the passes we had we were allowed entry. The vendors were giving a small sample of what they distributed, but Louise was offered at least a half glass at every section she went to (I did visit the Amaretto) station 4 times. As I staggered out, my wife said my feet were crocked and to "GIVE ME THE Key's, your drunk).




Afterwards we met a friend for dinner (more food).

Another Epicurian




Monday my wife and I (Louise) went to another dinner function. I was greeted at the registration table with a big Hi Louise, please sign in here, by one of the offices of the group.




It is so rewarding to be accepted by "traditional" people, just her little acknowledgement allowed other people who may or may not be aware of what I am to become more comfortable with me. I am finding the more I stay the same, the more people change.




One other interesting fact was that Frank LoBiano or local Congressman was also there, we had met a few times before and one day he happened to be at the gym I go to as myself (Lou). I had to acknowledge him and said we had met before, he of course did as I do and said " you look familiar (trying to be polite) but I just can't place you, so I said this will help refresh your memory and handed my Louise card to him. He laughed and now he's much more comfortable with me. He greeted me with a big smile and hand shake as he said "we've met before".

Monday, October 13, 2008

October Epicurian Dinner

Out of mouths of babes and NYC

My wife and I went up to NNJ this weekend for our grand daughters 3 rd birthday. I had also promised an old acquaintance (another) CD I would go to dinner and a play with her on Sunday, she's a very senior citizen and gets tickers for 5.00 dollars.

My family and I went to breakfast at the same famous "Pancake house" *The Kid from Brooklyn" goes to. I was hoping he would be there. After breakfast we went home where my GD open some more presents from the party the day before (Saturday).

I had to meet my friend about 3 PM at the CDI apartment in NYC just a block from Port Authority bus terminal. I started to dress and was done about 1:30 or so. As I came out of the bedroom which is off the living room of my kids place, my grand daughter looks at me, smiles and says "Pop pop, you have hair" then she said "pop pop, your silly" she also wanted to touch my hair and said it wasn't real. I have to say, for a 3 year old she is sharp and has a good way of expressing herself. Her mother was there also and later my wife said absolutely nothing was mentioned after I left. I really wanted to try to avoid my GD from meeting Louise at least till she was older, but maybe she will be accepting, I guess I'll find out.

I got to the city without fan fare, whether people noticed or not I'm not sure, I know one girl had to because I kept staring at her, she was about 6'1 and stunning and I couldn't take my eye's off of her, she smiled at me and then started to read her book. I got to my destination right on time.

My friend, Joanna and I had a glass of wine, talked for a few minutes and then took a walk to B&H Camera store, if you haven't been there you have no idea what you're missing, they must do 1-3 million dollars a day in business. We had also walked through a street flea market, it was interesting and when I was up there before I went with my wife. As I was looking for my friend who was looking at other booths a gentleman came up to me and asked if I wouldn't mind him taking my picture. Of course Louise loves attention and to model so he took a picture and gave me his card so I could email for it, but Louise is a step ahead (usually) and gave him one of mine. About 2 hours later as we were going to the theater my phone rang and it was him, he said if I was in town for a few days he would like for me to come to his studio to model, I had to decline his invitation for a couple reasons, first I was leaving after the play and I pretty much know what he would have wanted for a gratuity for his service and I'm just not about that.

I got to my son's home about 10 PM and after loading the car we got home about 2 AM, we took about a 1 hour nap at a rest stop.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Catching up on interesting things


Without knowing me personally it's very hard to feel and know what my feelings are when I'm Louise. If you read some of my Blog posts you'll notice I sometimes mention how poorly I had always been treated as Lou.


A couple weeks ago I went to a street fair in Margate, NJ where my business was, I met a bunch of my old customers and surprisingly they had asked me about Louise, they always gave me a hard time as Lou. I met a lady who my wife knew from a store close to hers and gave her my card thinking she knew me, but she didn't. I felt I had to show her Louise in person, so a few days later I walked into her store as Louise. She just melted and mentioned a few times that I looked exactly like a woman and would have never known if I hadn't shown my picture to her before.


That same day I had my photography club meeting in Cherry Hill, NJ but also my insurance agent wanted to meet me for dinner and discuss a new policy, yes, I went as Louise. He had seen me once before a few years ago dressed, but this time he said (as I sat across from him in the booth) I don't know if I should hit on you or sell you insurance. This guy is an "Insurance Salesman" they have no sense of humor so I really considered that a compliment. I mentioned I would like to meet his wife (they live 5 miles away from the restaurant) so he took me to his home. The main reason was because he has mentioned Louise to her and she commented a few times I had to be gay. I was prepared to meet a hostile person who was going to great me with an attitude, As I walked in, she was standing far back from the front door, about 15 ft as I expected, she took one look at me and almost ran to hug me and draged me into her kitchen, she couldn't do enough for me, wine, cheese and so on. We had a great conversation and I know she formed an entirely different opinion of what being a "cross dresser" may be.


The next place was my camera club meeting, I got there about 45 Min's late. Unfortunately one of the members who I really consider very formidable in his skills and knowledge as a photographer and the biggest and strongest person there who happens to be of a different race whom I'm sure would have had objections if he was treated with prejudice had to make a rude comment "don't let that lady in" I really felt that was uncalled for, I have been to about 4 previous meetings as Louise and everyone has become very accepting and comfortable with her. Anyway, after the meeting one of the members wanted my picture and I will post it here.


The final experience last week was at the Family Center I belong to, it has a health club and my wife takes a couple of classes with the person who recognized me as Louise at the Epicurean dinner we went to last month. My wife and her and some others were at a demonstration for one of the classes and I went over to the lady and said hi, she said I'm sure I know you, but you have to help me remember, what's interesting, she knew me as Louise at the dinner but had no clue at the gym until I gave her my card with a Louise picture on the front. She was ecstatic and we both laughed at the paradox.


That's it till next episode, Louise