Don't come up into the classic boxing
stance with fists clenched. Keep moving around. Keep your palms
open and waving like a defensive maneuver...but if necessary,
be ready to punch forward with the heel of your hand. Keep your
weight on your back foot. Check the rear seat of your car before
entering. Do not stop to check your hair, redo your lipstick and/or
whatever else, before driving out of your parking spot...And the
list went on. Smiles and looks of exclamation flashed across the
faces of those in attendance as point after point was understood.
Each of what may at first seemed like insignificant items, all
wove together into a matrix of chain mail that provided a good
defense, should the occasion ever occur when you found yourself
in a box and had to get out. But the biggest recommendation of
all was...avoid confrontation. When dressed you do not want and
should avoid at all costs confrontational situations. In today's
society, there are too many dead heros who stood their macho,
masculine ground and found out that dying, just to prove they
could mix it up with the best of them, was detrimental to their
health.
The March meeting started as usual with a few announcements and
continued with an excellent presentation from one of our supporting
members, Michelle. Michelle who appeared in her guy mode, holds
several degrees of black belt in martial arts. She is also an
instructor and an active competitor who holds many medals and
trophies. Michelle's presentation was really on situational
awareness. Keeping aware of where you are and what you are
doing is paramount to survival. Getting caught up in the moment
and loosing sight of your surroundings can place you in a situation
from which there seems to be no way out. This type of a situation
should be avoided at all costs. Keeping alert to your situation,
your location, entrances and exits around you, other people, etc.,
is vital when going out in public, especially at night and to
the club scene.
The class was not designed to give you instruction on how to defend
yourself or how to disable your opponent but was geared to making
you aware of where you are and to alert you to some options that
may be available to you should you find yourself backed into a
corner. Remember, it is better to run away so you can get dressed
and go out another day than it is to get beaten to a pulp and
die on the street. Even the best boxer or martial arts person
can be at a disadvantage when in a skirt and high heels or when
attacked by more than one antagonist. Remember, bigots who want
to tear you down, rarely do this on a one to one basis. They have
to show off to their friends just how BIG they think they
are and their friends are probably just as bigoted and as bent
as well. Strategic withdrawal is not defeat. It is smart sense!
YOUR
INNVESTMENT
is a publication
of Innvestments, P.O. Box 2194, Orleans, MA.02653-2194
/ P.O. BOX 354, Sagamore, MA 02561-0354. Innvestments is
a non-sexual service organization founded to support and to provide
a socially acceptable outlet for the crossdressing, transvestite,
transsexual, transgendered community located primarily in Southeastern
Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint any article in Your Innvestment is
hereby granted to non-profit similar organizations provided that
publication and authorship credit be given. Any commercial use
of Your Innvestment material is hereby prohibited. Some
material may have previously appeared in print. Publication and
authorship rights of material reprinted from other sources remain
with its originator. The editor/s of Your Innvestment are
not under any obligation to accept information and advertisements.
Information and advertisements may be published in any form deemed
acceptable. Any information about services, products or sympathetic
locations published in Your Innvestment is not considered
an endorsement of such by the staff of Your Innvestment or
the Board of Directors of Innvestments. Innvestments is
also know in open source publications on Cape Cod and the Islands
as Cape Cod Cross Dressers (Triple C-D).
Liz W..................................President
Julie W...........................Vice President
Brenda L...............................Treasurer - E-mail Brrendaa@aol.com
Candy Scott........... .....................Board - E-mail Candyscott@capecod.net
Judy Thompson...............................Board
Membership (including
newsletter) is $30.00 per-year (pro-rated after Jan.) with a $15.00
meeting fee. Meeting fees payable only for those attended. Subscription
only rates are $10.00 per-year.
We've all been there: in front of a full lenght mirror, turning this way and that, not quite sure which shoe looks best with what. So just in time for prime skirt wearing weather, a guide that eliminates guesswork. Even better, our footwear selection is comfortable, too.
FASHIONS
Now that spring is right around the corner, thoughts turn to Easter bonnets and fancy hats to decorate and make elegant. The following are a few "haute hat" tips you may find useful.
_ Men must take their hats off indoors, but women do not
unless it's a rain hat.
_ The frillier the hat, the simpler the outfit.
_ Felt hats can be worn year round.
_ Straw hats look good with floral print dresses.
_ Most hats are made for a 22-inch-circumference head but
can be stretched a bit.
_ Rethink smoking if you're wearing a veiled cocktail hat.
_ Store hats in separate hat boxes on a mound of crumpled
tissue paper to protect their shape.
_ Don't buy a hat without a sweatband, as it will quickly
stretch out and blow off your head. It also will scratch your
forehead.
_ The tag that covers the sweatband seam always goes at
the back of the head.
_ Don't let a salesperson, or anyone else, intimidate you.
Wear the hat at any angle you like.
_ Spray starch will freshen an old straw hat (but don't
spray the ribbon).
_ If your felt hat gets really wet, stuff it with tissue
paper, shape it a bit with your hands, and put it on top of a
mixing bowl for about three days until it dries.
_ To block a crumpled felt had, pass it over a steaming
tea kettle for a few seconds to dampen; then reshape it, stuff
with tissue paper, and let dry.
Thank you Los Angeles Daily News
No matter how clear
the skies are when you start out for the day (or evening), when
you arrive at your destination, the weather could be drastically
different.
But then again, I'm sure that you know the "umbrella rule"
- - if you have one it won't rain, but if you leave your umbrella
at home, inevitably it will rain.
These days, umbrella's, without loosing their efficiency, are
being designed in smaller and smaller packages. You can slip one
into most decent sized purses without anyone knowing that should
the sky turn dark and pour on your parade, your preparedness will
see you through until you can reach your ultimate destination.
The old adage, "better safe than sorry" applies.
Thank you Holiday Inn Express Navigator
BOBBI BROWN ESSENTIALS
www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Known for her subtle and stylish makeup, Bobby Brown has lived
up to her reputation with this site. Browse the beautiful photographs
in the Looks section, which is divided into categories such as
Global, Over 50 and Black Tie. The shop online for Bobbi's full
line. Also check out her guidelines for makeup that photographs
well.
COSMETICS CONNECTION
www.kleinman.com/cosmetic/index.html
If you've spent any time on the Web shopping for cosmetics, you've
probably heard about Heather Kleinman, a consumer and makeup enthusiast
who runs this site and contributes to others. Her frank reviews
of more than 60 brands are being added to all the time, as is
her list of toll-free-numbers for every cosmetics company we can
think of. This is real advice from a real person.
ELECTRA BEAUTY
www.electra.com/beaumain.html
This site is a great general resource for hair, skin, nails
and even feet. Christine Dimmick, a regular consumer and one of
the site's contributors, shows you how to make good--and frugal--homemade
concoctions for the whole body. (Such as the cucumber eye pads.)
Contributor Heather Kleinman (see Cosmetics Connection above)
offers advice on the more expensive cosmetic counter stuff here.
BEAUTY BUZZ
www.beautybuzz.com
A dim background makes the red links hard to read, but if
you're into cosmetics, this site is worth a little squinting (just
buy some eye cream to sap any resulting wrinkles). Beauty Buzz
is stocked with great information, swaps, reviews and giveaways,
but it's the Shopping Buddy that really stands out. Just type
in the product you want--it'll even handle drugstore brands--and
it will be shipped to you.
CLINIQUE
www.clinque.com
Going to the Clinque site is almost as good as going to the counter.
Take its mini-quiz to find out your color and skin type; the site
will use the information to recommend colors and products for
you, which you can purchase on line. Color swatches of makeup
are true on a good monitor.
IVILLAGE FITNESS AND BEAUTY
www.ivillage.com/fitness
iVillage takes a well-rounded approach to beauty, with fitness
and nutrition just as important as makeup and other grooming techniques.
The site's practical approach is great for busy people. One favorite
feature: Keyboard Yoga, which teaches basic yoga postures and
self-massage techniques that you can do while sitting in front
of your computer.
PROFACES
www.profaces.com
The Profaces site feels like a clean, well-lit makeup counter--a
good start for this group of professional makeup artists from
New York City. They offer makeup tips plus professional quality
makeup in mix-and-match colors and brush sets, all at "45
percent below department store prices." Best bonus: the free
make over. Fill out a form online, send in a color photograph
and experts will e-mail you makeup advice.
Thank you www.accessmagazine.com
Time was that hugs
came easy, milk costs a nickel, and you could trust the president
alone with an intern for five minutes. Those days of innocence
are gone, but the Hugs for Health Foundation is trying to mount
a comeback for the simple hug. Hugs are one thing the transgendered
community excels at. As a group of people, I think we hug more
than any other. We hug upon meeting; we hug upon departing; we
hug when we are sad and need cheering up; we hug when we are over
flowing with happiness...just to pass our happiness on to others
and we hug to give support because Lord knows, at times we certainly
need it. Here are some tips provided by the Hugs for Health Foundation
just to make sure your next hug doesn't get you slapped either
physically or with a lawsuit.
HUG ETIQUETTE
_ Always respect another person's space.
_ Ask permission when sharing hugs. (In our community,
use your discretion.)
_ Keep in mind a hug is a nonsexual form of affection,
so hug accordingly.
_ A hug is a warm, gentle embrace, not the Heimlich maneuver.
TYPES OF HUGS
_ ME-HUG: Give yourself a big stretch and wrap your arms around
yourself.
_ HAND-HUG: Also known as the reserved hugger's hug or
our socially acceptable handshake.
_ SIDE-TO-SIDE-HUG: Also known as the buddy hug. Huggers
may stand or sit with arms around shoulders or waists.
_ A-FRAME-HUG: Huggers stand about 1 to 1½ feet
apart, bend at the waist with only the shoulders touching. This
is a very safe hug.
_ CHEEK-TO-CHEEK-HUG: This hug requires no arms and may
be applied with residents in bed or for those unable to lift their
arms. Simply press facial cheeks together, either facing one another
or facing the same way which then makes it a "Kodak moment"
hug.
_ BACK-TO-FRONT-HUG: This hug can be shared with folks
using wheelchairs. Hugger, let the huggee know you are behind
them, then gently embrace around huggee's waist.
_ BEAR-HUG: This is a full-bodied hug and all-time favorite.
Hugger and huggee are toe-to-toe, belly-to-belly, and eye-to-eye,
for a big bear hug.
KEEP IN MIND:
Not everyone is a hugger. Respect those not interested in
participating: however, be sure to wish everyone a "Happy
Hug."
CANDY'S
CUPBOARD
_ I want to
thank all of you who have called during my most recent illness.
Your calls have meant a lot and have been appreciated.
_ Karin Ferron from A-Plus Electrolysis was successfully
operated on last weekend. She is home and recuperating well. She
hopes to start back to work next week, at least for a few hours
here and there. We send her our prayers.
_ Merissa Sherrill Lynn, the founder of Tiffany Club and
of IFGE is still recuperating in Rhode Island after her stroke
at the end of 1998. She would appreciate a card. You may send
it in care of Furney, 96 Milton Street., Warwick, RI 02888 or
contact her by telephone at 401+941-0932.
_ Lady Di has just moved from Lowell to Provincetown. She
was fortunate to obtain a job with the town and now considers
herself a Cape Codder and not just a visitor, wandering through
on week ends.
_ In case you had not heard, Linda Buten, long time Chair
of IFGE had decided not to run for office again. The latest vote
placed Pam Geddes from Toronto as the new Chair. Also added to
the IFGE Board was our own Phyllis F. We know they both will do
a good job.
_ DO WE HAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS? If you would like to
share your E-Mail address with other members of Innvestments
as well as some of the other transgender organizations in the
area please send it to us at Innvstmnts@aol.com and we will add
it to our group news list as well as publish it in future issues
of Your Innvestment. Please inform us of any restrictions.
We will try to have a column each month, depending upon available
material, with Internet information.
_ For transgender movies, check out website http://WWW.planetout.com/pno/popcornq/
_ And you think you have problems? Headlines can be very misleading.
When companies go overseas and convert from English to the inter-national
market or vice versa, it can become downright hilarious. For example:
Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following
in an American ad campaign: "Nothing sucks like Electrolux."
Needless to say, it was pulled after two days. In Taiwan, the
translation of the Pepsi slogan "Come Alive With the Pepsi
Generation" came out "Pepsi will bring your ancestors
back from the dead." Also in Chinese, the Kentucky Fried
Chicken slogan, "Finger Lickin' good" translated as
"Eat your fingers off." When General Motors introduced
the Chevy Nova in South America, it was unaware that "no
va" means "it won't go." After the company figured
out why it wasn't selling, they changed the name to "Caribe,"
for its Spanish-language markets. Ford had a similar problem when
the Pinto flopped. The company found out that Pinto was Brazilian
slang for "tiny male genitals." Hunt-Wesson introduced
its Big John products in Quebec as Gros Jos before learning that
means "big breasts.' And Japans second largest tourist agency
was mystified when after entering the English speaking market,
that it was receiving requests for "unusual sex tours."
Upon finding out why, the owners of the Kinki Nippon Tourist Co.
changed its name.