SCC 2004

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:53 pm

I may end up with a U-Haul behind my car!! It will definitely be a learning experience in how GG's pack for vacation or other trips. Geesh, just the makeup alone and I agree with Angie, shoes!!!?? That is the one part of my wardrobe that I may not be able to totally coordinate, but we will be having too much fun. As for meeting, I guess we will all have name tags so that will be a start and since I am suppose to be working the registration desk on Friday I can be the coordinator for whatever we choose to do. I definitely hope we can get our own table for Saturday night!
I plan to drive to Greenville, SC Wednesday stay in a motel - dress on Thursday morning and drive into the meeting. I am sooooo excited about meeting you girls and just having fun!
Love,
Virginia

Julie M. · Post by **Julie M.** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:49 pm

Virginia,

I went to the Be-All with one of those huge bags that requires wheels to lug around, my camera bag, my workout bag, another medium sized bag to fit what I couldn't in the big one and one "carry on" bag that had all the last minute stuff.

When I got to the hotel I checked in and....no kidding...it took me over 1/2 hour to get all the bags up to the room and get the car parked. So I figure I am ready for the world! But I was feeling maybe I over did it. No matter, I was there and it was time to have fun.

Now I had never met Jacki at that point but had talked to her on the phone. We seemed to be similar in many respects except Jacki had been out many times and knew her way around. For me it had been over 10 years since I had ventured out of the house. I was a bit nervous. Anyway I digress...

So back to what to bring. Even though I thought I may have brought too much I was stunned when I walked into Jacki's room. Think steamer trunks! This wasn't a lot of stuff, it was her entire wardrobe! Suddenly I felt like I didn't bring enough. And that must be true because I ended up borrowing one of her tops one night.

So the moral of the story is if you think there's even the slightest chance you might need or want it, BRING IT!

Have fun Hon,
Julie

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:21 am

Well since I lost some weight, I again went through my wardrobe last night to see what fit and I had to make a few adjustments, but nothing major. I make up a "zipper puller" and it worked great on one of my "evening dresses" but I could not get it to work on the sexy blue one, so I will depend on one of my sisters to help me with that one if I decide to wear it. Like I said, "Zip me up, please" is such a sexy phrase!
I don't know how GG's do it? I now have to go out and by make-up remover as I have used all mine, rasors, moistureizer, all associarted nail material, glue, files, nails, polish, etc. Bras, panites, slips, belts, jewelery, and it goes on and on. I am think that I will have to either bring my own cargo bearers or I will have to tip two or three bellhops upward of $20.00 each - I am so looking forward to this!!
Love,
Virgina

Angie · Post by **Angie** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:01 am

Not sure what the parking situation is like at the hotel. Valet/parking deck I'd imagine. Going to make baggage handling a nightmare, so I'll be bringing tip money galore.

Attire is packed, just need to make a final check of the cosmetics to make sure everything is there. As for nails, I've made an appointment at the salon (Nails & Skin 4 U) located in the mall attached to the hotel. I never have any luck with the glue-on variety. If anyone is arriving on Tuesday and would like to join me at the salon, just drop me a line.

Have a safe trip down, all!!!
Angie

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:28 am

Angie,
Yeah! I spent most of Saturday afternoon packing while I listened to your Carolina boys whip up on our "Hokies" I thought I was doing good in keeping the luggage limited to three, then I realized I had not even considered my wigs--- AAAAHHHHH! Let's see where is that U-Haul number?? I bought a set of Revlon stick on nails - kinda of expensive, but they really look nice and I have not tried Revelon before, so hope they will work. I also have several sets of glue on so it will be interesting.
Can't wait!!!'
Love, Virginia

Joanna · Post by **Joanna** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:31 am

Angie wrote:Not sure what the parking situation is like at the hotel. Valet/parking deck I'd imagine. Going to make baggage handling a nightmare, so I'll be bringing tip money galore.

Parking is a snap, but getting good spaces near the entrance is difficult. Pull in to the main portico and have the bellman deliver your stuff to your room...... then you can self park and save some money....

I'm leaving at 6:00 AM Wednesday and I am soooooo excited!

Angie · Post by **Angie** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:16 pm

So much for planning ahead. I was backing up to my garage to load the car in advance of the coming monsoon (the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne) and managed to drive right into the door. Ah, well. Just something else to take care of when I get back. Too much fun ahead to worry about it this week.

Virginia - Don't know if I'd call what Carolina pulled off a whipping or just getting by. If it weren't for that missed field goal, our boys would have left the stadium with their tails between their legs.

Joanna - Thanks for the parking / baggage info! I'll be leaving Tuesday around 5:30a. May need to rent a boat for the ride down.

Take care on the trip to Hotlanta. Can't wait to meet everyone!
Angie

Jamie Ann · Post by **Jamie Ann** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:39 pm

I am going to solve the problem of getting around in Atlanta by driving to Doraville (a few miles northeast of Atlanta) parking in the long-term parking area, and taking MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) to the hotel. The Art Center Station is about two or three blocks from the Sheraton, and the cost is only $1.75 to ride from any station to any other station. The trains are fast, reasonably clean and pleasant, and safe. However, as other have described, there is ample parking at the hotel and in lots near the hotel as well.

I hope to see Virginia on Friday morning at about 9:00 a.m. (when I register) and perhaps her and others at noon for lunch. I plan to attend some of the seminars in the mornings and afternoons, eat lunch and dinner both Friday and Saturday in the Grand Ballroom, go to LeBuzz for at least a hour or two Friday night (there are shuttles from the hotel to LeBuzz and back again that are included in our registration fees), and of course attend the big galla and party at the hotel Saturday night. It should be an amazing en femme holiday!

I am very excited about meeting the other conference participants from this forum. That will be quite a thrill!

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:05 pm

Well girls, time is drawing nye!!!! I have spent, probably too much time getting my ride ready, a red Toyota sports car! Blond locks blowing in the breeze as I zoom down I-85. I think I will be able to get by without the U-Haul afterall

.
I have a list of us who expressed some aspect of attending:
Jamie Ann
Angie
Wendy
Joanna
Penny
Joann
Stef
Alexandra
Jean (she is the ?chairperson? of our local chapter and a "supplier" at the meeting and she may have an assistant with her)
I am like Jamie Ann, I will not be working the registration all the time as I want to see some of the seminars as well, and a girl's gotta eat so lunch too.
I can hardly wait to meet you girls!!!
Love,
Virginia

Angie · Post by **Angie** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:42 pm

Well, I've arrived at the conference and, as a first timer, I'm already impressed with how friendly everyone is. I visited the nail salon in the mall while en femme to get "the works" - nails, pedicure, eyebrow waxing. I left there wondering why I had waited so long to give it a try.

Certainly no problems with being "read". No one, inside the hotel or in the adjoining mall, appears to consider you as anything, but what you're presenting as. I've been "ma'amed" more times than I can count. Never have I felt so free to be myself. Ladies, this is going to be a great week for all of us!

Take care,
Angie

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:26 am

Wow!

The event has started. This is going to be really cool!!

I hope everyone has the ability to connect to the internet and tell us what's going on like you did Angie.

Please keep us up to date!!

If your first report is any indication of the quality of posts we're going to get from you I'm going to staring at this thread all day hoping for an update.

Beauty

Jamie Ann · Post by **Jamie Ann** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:35 pm

Beauty wrote:If your first report is any indication of the quality of posts we're going to get from [Angie], I'm going to be staring at this thread all day hoping for an update.

Beauty

I agree. Thanks, Angie! After work tomorrow, I will be heading to Atlanta for the Southern Comfort Conference, the largest (I believe) organized gathering of CDs in the United States. I look forward to spending a fabulous weekend at the Sheraton. I have been there twice before, so I have some idea what to expect. As Angie said, being accepted is no problem. Early in the week, there will be at least 100 of us, which is a significant presence in a hotel of roughly 500 guests. By Friday, there will be 300 of us, and by Saturday, there will be 450 or more of us. Our sheer numbers guarantee that we will be treated with respect. Furthermore, as the other guests get used to us, they tend to become not just accepting, but even friendly in many cases.

I also agree with Angie that this is an excellent opportunity to let go of our inhibitions and enjoy the CD experience. Get a manicure; shop for a wig; go for coffee with a group of girls; strike up a conversation with non-CD guests. This is a time to feel good about ourselves and to do a little outreach with the non-CD community. Many Americans would tell a survey researcher that they were opposed to crossdressers, but the American people are more open than survey results suggest. When it comes down to the crunch, they are more accepting than their out-of-context responses seem to say. Something like the SCC is an excellent opportunity to feel good about ourselves and to experience respect from others who may be travelling on business or for other reasons.

Angie · Post by **Angie** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:49 pm

Hello, all!

Thanks, Beauty for your kind comments! Jamie Ann said it best, SCC is an excellent venue to release your inhibitions to whatever level you feel comfortable with. I arrived here alone and within a few days have made a new circle of friends. Wasn’t quite sure what to expect, since I fall more into the CD range of the transgender spectrum. I would guess that most participants are comfortable with the birth gender, but have a need to express their other self to varying degrees. That said, I have been befriended by some wonderful folks who have completed or are in the process of completing a gender change. I think I have grown to be more accepting as a result of this interaction.

As for the activities, well, there are too many to count, and even more should one decide to venture out on one’s own. Last night, the conference offered a trip to a mystery dinner theater, in which the audience participates in the play. The conference organizers purposely avoid selling out the theater, so as to give the general public a chance to mingle with a portion of the population that they might otherwise avoid. A great time was had by all. Upon returning to the hotel, we socialized in the lobby bar until the wee hours.

This morning, I had planned to go to a session on wig styling, but last night’s revelry made for a slow morning

. Made it down just in time for the cookout in the park. We spent some time strolling around Piedmont Park afterwards, then returned to the hotel, where we browsed the offerings in the vendor’s room. (My bank account will never be the same. Ha! Ha!) Heather (a new friend from the conference) and I decided to go to Lennox Square mall and do a bit of shopping. Were we read? Yep. Did we care? No. I am amazed at how much confidence this event has instilled. Still not quite to Elizabeth’s level of courage (maybe someday I’ll be able to ask a mall patron about my appearance), but compared to just a few days ago, it’s remarkable. It's helped that all of the sales clerks and other members of the general public have been very helpful and friendly.

Tonight there is a reception for the guests (hope to see some of the forum girls there) and later, a pajama party in the hotel lounge.

More to come!

Take Care,
Angie

Beauty · Post by **Beauty** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:39 am

Hi Angie,

Thank you for the re-cap from Thursday. It sounds wonderful.

I wonder if you've met anyone from the forum yet?

Again, I really appreciate you taking any time at all to come here and post. It's ok if you don't have time to post. I imagine your agenda is quite full and the opportunity to get out and spend time with people is far more important than posting here. Especially when you consider that what you post from memory will be almost the same thing you'd post if you were taking time out every day to post here.

Ok, I'm babbling. Thank you for the update. I look forward, very much forward to hearing more.

YAY YOU!

Beauty