Your Innvestment

Vol. 7, No. 9

May 1999

PAGE INDEX

INFORMAL MAY MEETING SUCCESSFUL

   The may meeting started out to be a meeting about makeovers, makeup and getting all dolled up. Instead it turned into a multi faceted meeting with makeup being only one of the many subjects discussed. The meeting was scheduled with a representative from Mary Kay being the keynote speaker and demonstrator. This did not take place due to a family situation where her father-in-law ended up in the hospital. We hope that things turned out O.K. and send our best wishes to her and her family. This program will be rescheduled for next fall when we start up with our new season.
   The meeting started with a few announcements about upcoming events and programs in general. The status of the new web site (see story elsewhere), email, the pool party, the picnic, and the Halloween Party were also covered. A schedule of events is also published elsewhere in this newsletter. Innvestments President, Liz, who is also on the staff of Fantasia Fair, provided an update on what was going on and things that were planned and solicited help from Innvestments members. More on this program later. As the main theme of the evening's program was to be on cosmetics and makeup, everyone contributed some little hint or trick that they used when applying foundation. It seemed that everyone had something a little different from everyone else that they did while applying their own makeup. These were readily shared with others in the room. Hair removal, and places to shop were also covered.
   We had three new girls attend our meeting for the first time. Samantha had come to our meeting last month but got cold feet when she arrived at the door to the room in the hotel. This time she overcame her fears, came in, got dressed and joined in with the group. Welcome!. Maqqi was also in attendance. She did attend our Valentine Party in February where she won the Best Red Dress Award, but this was her first meeting. This was also Del's first meeting, although she has subscribed to our newsletter. She was in P- Town during last Fantasia Fair where Liz had taken her under her wing. We hope they will all be back for our June meeting.
After enjoying pizza and soda's, everyone adjourned to the lounge where we kept some other hotel patrons enthralled watching us. We probably passed up a good chance to explain ourselves to them but the way they were watching us, I don't think they would have joined us. We did manage to keep them entertained, tho.
NEXT MEETING
June 7, 1999
Ramada Inn
Hyannis, MA.
7:00 p.m.
We will have a TVision deportment class then go out for supper at a new restaurant. We have been invited to eat at Kelsey Lynn's. Plan to put your best foot forward and join us in having a good!

2 Your Innvestment May 1999

About Innvestments

and Your Innvestment

Your Innvestment is a publication of Innvestments, P.O. Box 2194, Orleans, MA.0 2653-2194. 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 Island. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint any article appearing in Your Innvestment is hereby granted to similar non-profit organizations provided that publication and and authorship credit is 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 known in open source publications on Cape Cod and the Islands as Cape Cod Cross Dressers (Triple C-D).

OFFICERS

Liz W.........................................................President
Julie W..(stimpl@capecod.net).........Vice President
Brenda L. (Brrendaa@aol.com)...............Treasurer

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Judy T............................................................Board
Candy Scott....................................................Board
PO Box 354
Sagamore, MA 02561-0354
Tel.: 508+563-3160 (Keep trying)
Fax.: 508+563-1240
email: candyscott@capecod.net

DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership (including newsletter) is $30.00 per-year (pro-rated after January) with a $15.00 meeting fee. Meeting fees payable only for those attended. This pays meeting location fees charged to the group, and for pizza and soda for all. Subscription only rates are $10.00 per year.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Advertising is placed in newsletter free of charge at discretion of the editor/s and is not considered an indorsement by Innvestments.


May 1999 Your Innvestment 3


ONE DAY OUT SHOPPING...


EDITORS COMMENT: This was found on the world wide web.

It reminded me of several instances where some of the girls

have noticed others, dressed, and out and about, and

then later spoke of their reactions.


Date: Thursday, May 6, 1999

Time: 6:30 A.M.

Subject: To a sister seen walking in J. C. Penney's on May 3, 1999

   You don't know me. Nor, would you have recognized me on that day. You were enfemme, walking out of J. C. Penney's via the catalog counter. When we passed, I noticed you looked very nervous. You looked nice, though.

   I was going to say "Hi" but a few things got in the way. First, I was too much in drab, and you looked as if you were afraid I was going to be nasty. Second, I noticed one of the sales girls (she was pretty young) follow you to the start of the corridor, and I wanted to see if she was going to make a comment, and third, by the time I got around the building you were long gone from the parking lot.

   What happened? One: I wasn't completely in drab. My shoes were from the women's rack but I'm the blue jeans, red vest jacket and Akubra hat (think "The Man From Snowy River") distracted you from them. Two: The young woman did not say anything, or even let on that she read you. But I strongly suspect she said something while on break. Not everyone who looks menacing is. Plus: It is easier for others to accept and deal with you if they aren't worried about your attitude at the time. If this was one of your first outings, I can fully appreciate the tension. But, it gets more enjoyable the more you can allow yourself this experience.

   It looked as if you put a lot of thought into how to dress for the trip. Nothing "over the top". Something like a well groomed secretary or professional woman might wear. A bit dark on the foundation, but not bad at all. I spotted you from a great distance because of the stiffness in your walk, and because I'm one too.

   Too bad, I had a good line to speak to you with but it was probably just as well. If you had seen me driving my pickup, you would probably have had a seizure.

   What I do want to say though is: Don't be so tense. I do wish I could have said "Hi", but there wasn't enough time, and I didn't want to make you more uncomfortable than you probably already were by saying it very loudly.

EDITORS COMMENT: Food for Thought. How many times have you seen a sister out and wanted to say something but did not know if you should...or not? What would you have done...if it were you who were spoken too?

 

4 Your Innvestment May 1999

 

MY FAVORITE TIMES

by Brenda L.


Some of my favorite times as a crossdresser are as follows:
   Getting ready is always a lot of fun. I know I take too much time (considering the years I have been at this) but I enjoy primping and fussing with my makeup and wardrobe. On the other hand, a TS friend of mine would rather NOT spend much time getting ready, she just wants to be a girl automatically. How about you?
   I find it thrilling when a man makes a pass at me when I am out. It proves that I have done well in my preparations for the evening. Now if I can just find my femme voice long enough to let him down gently.
   Finally, I do so enjoy all the "safe" places that we have available to visit such as Innvestments meetings and functions. They allow me to go out dressed as a lady with none of the fears of being in the public eye.
Would anyone else like to share their favorite times with the rest of us? Just send them to Innvestments c/o Brenda L. (or Candy) and I will see that they get printed.

VANITY POLL (Tall Tales)
A total of 5,663 women were asked to vote on the reasons they wore high heels or platform shoes. The answers are below:

QUESTION: I wear high heels and/or platforms because
l
They make me feel sexier and more powerful.
l
I want to look taller.
l
They're required at my workplace.

WEB PAGE UP AND RUNNING
   
Thanks to Brenda L., the new computer web site for Innvestments is up and running. It is still a little rough but and needs some editing but it is out there for the world to find.
   Brenda has spent a considerable amount of time working on this project. It is not a fancy site with a lot of bells and whistles but it gets the message across. This was done to save space as we have been given a free site thanks to the TV Forum. She has developed a home page, some stats about the group and then copies of past newsletters. The format of the newsletters needs to be fixed but this was due to the old program that Candy was using to do the newsletter with. Now that Candy has upgraded and is learning some new programs, we can expect the formats to improve and they should load into the web site much easier. At present, Brenda has had to retype some of the pages to get them in.
   One other feature Brenda has incorporated into the site, is a space for member articles and short stories. Please take advantage of this and send Brenda your items. As we progress into this venture it can only get better. A special THANKS to Brenda for a difficult job, well done!


(Heels: The Lowdown)

53 % get an ego boost from heels.
18% wish they were taller.
3 % work for evil, heel-dictating swines who should be shot.
26% wouldn't wear heels if asked by the Queen Mother herself.
Sexy, Powerful, Stupid? See more about high heels on page 6.



May 1999 Your Innvestment 5

LIFE

Life isn't about keeping score. It's not about how many friends you have Or how accepted you are. Not about if you have plans this weekend or if you're alone. It isn't about who you're dating, who you used to date, how many people you've dated, or if you haven't been with anyone at all. It isn't about who you have kissed, It's not about sex. It isn't about who your family is or how much money they have. Or what kind of car you drive. Or where you are sent to school. It's not about how beautiful or ugly you are. Or what clothes you wear, what shoes you have on, or what kind of music you listen to. It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black, or brown. Or if your skin is too light or too dark. Not about what grades you get, how smart you are, how smart everybody else thinks you are, or how smart standardized tests say you are. It's not about what clubs you're in or how good you are at your sport. It's not about representing your whole being on a piece of paper and seeing who will accept the written you. LIFE JUST ISN'T. Life is about who you love and who you hurt. It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposefully. It's about keeping or betraying trust. It's about friendship, used as a sanctity or a weapon. It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful, maybe heartening. About starting rumors and contributing to petty gossip. It's about what judgments you pass and why. And who your judgments are spread to. It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention. It's about jealousy, fear, ignorance, and revenge. It's about carrying inner hate and love, letting it grow, and spreading it. But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison other people's hearts in such a way that it could have never occurred alone.
Only you choose the way those hearts are affected.
and those choices are what life's all about.





6 Your Innvestment May 1999


HIGH HEELS...are they worth it?

   Does it matter that you can't walk very far in star-quality stilettos? If you have a car and driver, you don't have to. No limo? Well, guess you better take as your own the motto of the Kilgore Rangerettes, Texas's most famous baton-twirling team: "Beauty knows no pain."

   Beauty is, of course, at the bottom of the high-heel conundrum. When a power-suit outfit features a short tight skirt and spike heels, it raises interesting questions. Some women argue that you have to use everything you've got to get ahead in a man's world. Others point out that flaunting your physical assets undercuts complaints about sexually suggestive behavior by men in the office. The truth is, a hint of sexiness is a door opener, but when it comes to serious promotions, the bosses are looking at your competence, not your ankles.

   Stilettos are more relevant to the dating game. Men love 'em for the way they make legs look and for putting a wiggle in your walk. One could take the symbolism of shoes further (see Freud), and some do. But for most of us, it's an interesting balancing act. So to speak. You can look at wearing high heels as a painful concession to male fantasies or as some heavy sexual artillery of which you are in command. (Q: What's the one thing strippers leave on? A: Their stilettos.)

   But when the real thing comes along -- true love or a great business opportunity -- is anyone looking at your feet? How do you think high heels affect workplace or romantic interactions?

 

HIGH HEELS:

Achingly Sexy?

 

by Mary Peacock

   Remember the fashions of fall 1997. The shoe of the season was the highest stiletto Gucci and Manolo Blahnik could engineer. And fall `98's must have shoe? The flattest skimmer they could press out of shoe leather. Oh, those fashionistas!

   Stilettos have always had their time, as if they had magic powers.

   And speaking of the supernatural, high heels embody a paradox about power that defies early logic. For many a woman, the essential finishing tough to feeling as powerful as possible is .. a pair of killer heels.

   But who are they killing? You don't need a podiatrist to tell you all the medical problems that can stem from too many hours in high heels (the latest addition to the list of bunions, hammer toes, nerve damage, etc., is arthritis of the knees).

   OK, if medical researchers were able to influence behavior, tobacco companies would be out of business. Let's just mention more immediate issues...such as, say, running from a mugger or a burning building. Or walking comfortably for more than two blocks.

   These days, although fashion followers could certainly agree on the status footwear of any given season, shoes are assumed to be changeable, disposable and fun, rather than a fundamental statement of socioeconomic status.

   But just because flats rule the runways one season does not mean that garbage cans across America will be filled with high heels. Shoes are more personal than that. Women can fall in love with and spend the rent on a pair of red shoes. They will save old favorites they know they'll never wear again. Certain pairs seem to guarantee a good time, as if they had magic powers.

But heel height is about much more than what's in fashion, or what goes with what. Some short women would wear high heels on a surfboard if they could. Comfort freaks would wear sneakers with an evening gown - if they were as confident as Cybill Shepherd, who's done it. In fact, shoes used to be the most telling element of one's dress. Everyone wore the best she could afford. The axiom "You can tell a lady by her shoes" was perfectly true.


May 1999 Your Innvestment 7


COMPUTER.COM

As reported on an earlier page, Brenda has the Innvestments home page up and operating. The URL for this page is included below. Also included are those who gave their email addresses at April meeting. This way you can keep in touch.(From surfing around, I can see traces of our people here, there and everywhere). First, lets get the official URL's out of the way. The second column contains world wide web sites that may be of interest. Starting with the next issue we will review some of these site. If you would like to have our E-mail address added to the list, please let us know.

 

MEMBERS EMAIL

Innvestments...............innvstmnts@aol.com

Brenda L........................brrendaa@aol.com

Candy S.................candyscott@capecod.net

Denise S.............................dsteale@aol.com

Joan C..................................jcofiii@aol.com

Julie W.........................stimpy@capecod.net

Karin Anne S...............kar63784@aol.com

Maqqi J.....................maqqi2727@aol.com

Noel R..........................noellerose@aol.com

Rachel E......................raellis@capecod.net

 

MISCELLANEOUS EMAIL

Karin Ferron/A Plus Electrolysis..................

...............................apluselec@capecod.net

Sara B. & Beth B...sblossom@earthlink.net

Sunshine Club...............................................

.....umass.edu/stonewall/sunshineclub.html

IFGE Bookstore...................Books@ifge.org

Trans-Chat (Worcester area)........................

.....................................Transgndr@aol.com

MISCELLANEOUS WEB SITES

Our very own site

Innvestments..................transgender.org/innv/

Our site hosts

Trans Gender Forum...................tgforum.com

                                    ....................tgfmall.com

Large Gender Organizations

International Foundation Gender Edecation...............ifge.org

Tiffany Club.........................................tcne.org

CO. Gender Info Center..........abmall.com/gic/

Fantasia Fair............................fantasiafair.org/

Information (for what it is worth)

Wives Pge......ruralamerica.com/candy2b.html

Gianna Israel Librar.........firelily.com/gender/gianna
How to..................tvts.net/lvtgw/index_h3.htm
TS Roadmap......members.aol.com/tsroadmap/

Services

Nail Polish...............theglamorouswoman.com/
Makeovers........................................................
......emakeover.com/makeover/homeframe.htm
Disposable Breast Forms..................................
...................members.tripod.com/disposable_2
/
Hormones.........................................................
savina.com/confluence/hormonem2f/index.htm
Fashion Experience..........................................
...............................michaelhall.com/index.html

Special

Womans Network...........................women.com
Cheri Berens............................cheri.addr.com/


8 Your Innvestment May 1999


Candy's Cupboard

L I will master this computer program or I will die trying.

L If you have not already heard...One of our own, Dawn R. was diagnosed with spots on her lung. After 2 of the first of 3 massive doses of chemo, she suffered what appeared to be a heart attack. With a lot of prayers she came through that ordeal and went back onto the chemo. She still requires your prayers and a special card or two would be nice. Call Candy for the address.

L When it rains, it seems to pour. After reporting on Charlynn and Joanne, keeping track of Karin from A-Plus Electrolysis, folks checking on myself (thank you), Tracy with removal of some tumors, and now Dawn, we also have Phyllis F. who has undergone some problems and will be going into the hospital for an operation. We send our prayers and best wishes for speedy recovery to everyone!.

J After all that, just remember....A smile is the curve that sets things straight!

J A United Kingdom clothes retailer recently took a poll of 552 men on whether or not men should wear skirts. The results were that 447 voted that it was about time; 57 voted that guys should keep their trousers on and the remaining 48 indicated that if other guys wanted to, why not.

J Brenda L., who used to take quite a bit of wedding photography would like to get together with some of the members to take some serious portraits. Along with the pictures she will get the photos placed on floppy disks so that they can be placed onto the web or sent over the internet if you so desire. Please give Brenda a call if you would like to take advantage of this. A special session can be set up to do just photography. Bring lots of outfits for fun, fashion and photos.

J When Noel Rose was in Boston recently she passed a retail shoe store on Newbury Street with a most interesting name: investments Shoes. Even tho she was in drab she went in a did some browsing (of course...wouldn't we all.) She commented that they seemed to quite at home with guys buying ladies shoes (a big plus). They are also on the web at www.DesignerShoes.com. The last statement under their "What We Do" paragraph says: "We'd be delighted to welcome you to what some have called a Shoe Fantasy land. This could be the answer to your dreams!." That sounds like an invitation to become an "Imelda" and shop till you drop.

J "Why didn't you report the robbery at once?' an insurance agent asked a woman claimant. "Didn't you suspect something when you came home and discovered all the drawers opened and their contents scattered around the room?" "Not really," the woman replied. "I thought my husband had been trying on my clothes while I was away."

J You might want to check out the following www.geocities.com/colosseum/pressbox/

flash4968. See if you can find someone "dressed" that you might know.

J At the next meeting, we will be going out to eat at Kelsey Lynn's. This is located across from the airport. Elaine and I ate there recently and it was very good. Please come prepared.

Innvestments

Schedule of Events


1999

7 June........................7 p.m. Meeting at Ramada Inn (TV deportment) (Check out how you really walk, as viewed by others.)

Followed by supper at Kelsey Lynns (Dutch treat. Order from the menu.)

17 July.......................1. p.m. Pool Party and Barbeque at Randolph Country Club. (Tiffany Club members will also be involved.) Followed up by dancing in the evening.

14 August..................10:00 a.m. Family Picnic at Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Our annual family in DRAB event. Bring the family and meet others.

13 September............7 p.m. First meeting of the new season. Annual business meeting and election of officers. There will be a photo session conducted by Brenda L. Bring several changes of outfits and look pretty.

4 October...................7 p.m. Meeting at Ramada Inn. Makeup & makeover session. Bring your questions.

17 - 24 October Fantasia Fair in Provincetown. Keep Posted.

30 October 7 p.m. Halloween Party at private home in Barnstable Village. Wear costumes. Prizes for certain categories.

1 November 7 p.m. Meeting at Ramada Inn. Speaker: The law and you. Bring your questions.

4 December 6:30 p.m. Christmas Party at the Ramada Inn. Annual Party and awards banquet. PLAN TO ATTEND NOW.


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