Out and about in Phoenix

[KimberlyS]

I am out of town on business for a few days. I had an very early flight out which was not much fun flying out at 5am after getting no sleep. But the plus is I got some femme time. I arrived in Phoenix before noon and and often can not check into a hotel room that early. So what is a CDer to do?? Well go shopping of course. I was in male mode and I put my forms into my bra which I already had on. I then headed for the mall. I hit DB first and tried on a few things. A couple of maybe's but was unsure not being in full femme. On to LB and Gap but nothing hit me to try on. At Ross clothes were a strike out, but tried on several pair of shoes. Only thing that worked was similar to what I already had. A guy gave me a strange look seeing me trying on shoes. I just smiled. I then wandered around Alta and then hit JCPenny with lots of clearance and sale items, but nothing again. Just more 3/4 length sleeve tops which usually do not work for my furry arms. I wandered around VS, and then several other shops. Tried on a pair of boots at one. Surprised the SA when I asked to try on, but it did not slow her down for long. I loved the boots but were a tad too big and that was before breaking them in.

With the afternoon about done I headed for my hotel room and did some work. After a bit realized I did not eat lunch so decided Kim needed to get out. So I got ready and headed back to the mall to try on the tops that were possibilities. Tops did not work but I got a shell. I returned to VS for some perfume and went through the clearance bras as I had been interrupted earlier by a phone call. I then when to Target and tried on a couple of dresses and picked up an eye shadow brush since I left all of my makeup brushes at home. My stomach began to complain again to I decided on Chilli's for some food. It was a busy place for being after 10 at night. After eating I wandered a several block area near Chilli's which was a club / bar area. Lots of people about walking around. At least I was not the only one in heels as lots of GG's were wearing heels. I had a few GG's give me some surprised or strange looks. Guess I was not showing enough boobage for being in that area as many of the GG's were leaving little to the imagination. Or maybe they were looking at me strangely because I was staring at their chests. What can I say I am a guy in a skirt.

I hope to get some more femme time in the next few days.

kimberlys-cd
joe in a skirt

[Susan]

Dear Kimberly

I have been to Phoenix (family in tow so no Susan time) and I like the place.

No deserts in the UK so maybe I appreciate Arizona more than you natives.

HUGS

Susan

[KimberlyS]

Last night being Sunday there was not much open after I got done with what I needed to do for work. But I was going to take advantage of the femme time I could get. So I stopped at a pizza/pasta place for supper. Then found a wallymart to wander around for a while and tried on a few things. ended up getting a new skirt. Then stopped at a 24 hr drug store for some munchies and soda for today. Wandered through a club/bar/resturant area for a bit then went back to my room get some sleep. Not sure what tonight will bring.

kim

[Stephanie H]

Kimberly:
What a busy day you had. Get some sleep.

[Anita]

Those out-of-town business trips sure are fun, from the sound of it. I have a friend who, before her transition, spent almost every road moment enfemme. She was on the road a lot. so "Michelle" got in tons of girltime.

Or maybe they were looking at me strangely because I was staring at their chests.

Let's be discreet, Kimberly. Quick glance and away.

[KimberlyS]

Anita, it was pretty hard not to stare at times. Being it was a club/bar/restaurant area, I swear there was a contest going on for who could show the most cleavage or boobage. Some left little to the imagination.

[KimberlyS]

Quick up day for tonight, Monday. Because as Stephanie says I need some sleep. I have a long day of work tomorrow.

I got done a bit early today, so I got femmed up and I was off. My first stop was Fashion Bug. I tried on a few tops and a pair of slacks. But the only thing that looked good on me was a top. And to boot it was on clearance and was a more casual top which I need more of. I also got a pair of ear rings and a necklace. Next stop was Sears. Lots of things on sale and clearance. I tried on several things but none of them work except for a nice twin set. I really wanted to take it home but was not willing to spend that amount of money for it. So it stayed there. For supper I decided to put myself up to a challenge and went to Hooters. Well I was a bit surprised when I got there as the place was packed. Lots of people watching the Fiesta Bowl game which made me a bit more uneasy. But I quickly calmed down after my server stopped at the table and I ordered. Then I just became another person watching the game. On the way out I stopped in the restroom. Busy in there also. Couple gals at the sinks, all four stalls full, but one opened up quickly. I was on my normal track of get in, go, wash and get out when a gal came to the sinks just behind me. And she was in a chatty mood. Asked who I was cheering for. Told me she was visiting town and at the same conference I was at. Gulp. Then she wanted to know about me as did I live there. Said I was from Minnesota, well close enough at least. Then why was I there... a a a a , business, I was there visiting a client. Lucky she accepted that and did not want to know more. Since she was chatting and did not seem to be in a hurry I opened up my purse and dug out some lipstick and put it on. She liked the color and had to know what color it was and what brand. I was like do all GG's chat like this in the restroom. I then fussed some with my hair and she paused long enough that I took the opening and said it had been nice chatting but needed to go. And she should enjoy her time in town. I walked around the area for a bit before heading back to my room. Hard to just stop having femme time. I usually want to get in as much time as possible.

Will see if I can pick out the chatty gal from the restroom tomorrow and see if she is just as chatty. LOL

No femme time tomorrow night as I will be going out to eat with some of my clients. Maybe on Wednesday.

kim

[KimberlyS]

Well here is the final wrap up of my trip a bit after the fact. I did run into the chatty gal from the restroom but she did not seem to remember me at all. And yea she was still chatty. Tuesday night was work and no femme time.

But Wednesday night I got out again enfemme. I went to the AZ Mills outlet mall until close. I was a bit more daring and wore a skirt I had purchased on a previous night that was a bit shorter than I usually wear. I was so comfortable, full and flowing. I tried on things at several places but was not having any luck with fit or look. Oh well, I was there until close and then went to a Carl's Jr for a late meal. Guess others had the same idea as the place was about 1/3 full which is busy for a later night time. Any way I ate my meal with just a few looks and stares but otherwise uneventful.

Back at the room I checked email and someone from the area sent me a TG friendly club that was having a drag show. I have been to a few clubs but usually stick to mainstream places I was not sure I wanted to get out more but checked out the location and it was not too far away so decided to give it a try. Crusin 7th for those that want to know. It was fairly quiet and not really busy, but did have a nice drag show. I ended up sitting with another CDer as we both watched the show. A bit too loud to talk much. There were also several other CD/TG gals there all which looked good.

Well back at the room I decide to do some packing instead of doing it all in the morning. Sometimes I sleep a bit too long. I had been tossing around in my mind of flying back enfemme. In packing a mostly decided that I would do that but would also bring my smaller suitcase as a carry on with male clothes just in case. Also because I needed to change to male mode before heading home. And it would figure that would be the time I would loose my luggage if I checked them both.

Thursday morning I got ready enfemme and finished packing. Went down and checkec out of my room. This was the first time the front desk had not seen me in male mode. But normal checkout. I sat and had a quick bit to eat as the breakfast area was still open. Several others were running late also. We chatted some as we all ate.

Then off to the airport with a stop to fill up the gas tank on the rental car. Ended up being a station with out pay at the pump option and needed to prepay. So a trip in to give her my credit card, back out to pump, then in to pay.

Dropping off the rental car was also a non-issue. I pulled in and got out and it was good morning maam. As I finish taking out my things from the trunk the guy comes up and says I will have your receipt in just a minute maam. We chatted about the weather as we waited. Then it was have a good day maam as he handed me my receipt and moved on to the next person. Nothing like being maamed multiple times to give one confidence.

Then it was off to the shuttle bus. I carried on my two suitcases and then removed my backpack as I sat down. The guy next to me says you much be strong. Not sure what type of compliment that was, but I replied I needed to be carrying a computer, projector and other equipment around. Guess my heavy backpack looked heavy. I am just glad the airline does not make me weigh it as it is over weight for a carry on.

Checking my luggage and getting my boarding pass was a non-issue. Just like if I was in male mode. Put bag to be checked on the scale, check my ID, than have a good flight. The only cumbersome thing was having a purse to deal with along with my two suitcases and backpack. But left the checked suitcase with TSA and I was down by one. I put my purse in my backpack for going through security and did my normal remove what metal that I could before getting there. I flew through the first ID/boarding pass check. Then the unpack of computer, projector, bag of liquids/gels, shoes off; then head for the security and DARN. I had set my boarding pass in one of the tubs and it was already in the scanner. I got the TSA's attention, and he motioned me through and I set it off. Shoot what did I forget or was it the hooks on my cincher. The TSA guy started down the list of things until earrings and necklace. Oh i forgot those as I guess I could not see those. So back through and remove them and send them through and I make it through that time. He says for a boarding pass check for me as I head for my things and take it out of the tub and had it to the TSA agent as I collect the rest of my things. The TSA agent asks if I am traveling with someone else and I say no, thinking oh no here it comes. I continue to collect my things. He asked if I was sure this was me, and I say yes. What is your name he asks, and I tell him my male name. He hands me my boarding pass to me and says to have a good flight. He looks down as I am putting away my liquids and gel bag and stops me. He fingers my face wash which he asked about the size. Shoot I did not plan to carry that on when I originally left home. Yes it was too big, and no I was not going to try to get it to my checked luggage. Rats now I need a new clean up plan before I get home. I finish gathering my things and head to my gate.

My flights come and go without any issues. And that included multiple stops in the restrooms before, between and after my flights. The people sitting next to and around me seem either not to notice or are indifferent to my attire or being masculine looking wearing female clothing. It does make a person wonder why us CDers worry so much about getting out and about. Especially when done away from home and those that we know. And while I may blend well I do not pass. And you ask how do I know. I know by the surprised or questioning looks I get. Yes many do not seem to notice or I do not see their initial looks. I was treated just like an average person the whole trip. And it was delightful.

kim

[Kyra]

Glad you had such a good trip, Kim. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
One question...the chatty lady with whom you spoke to in the restroom, you said you ran into her again. I assume that was in male attire? ...and she didn't make the connection? ...at least not verbally, eh.

Don't you just love being "Ma'am-ed"! It certainly does give one confidence.

Hugs,
Kyra

[Leeza]

Kim, glad you had a good trip. Just wondered if you waved or threw a kiss as you flew by?

Leeza

[KimberlyS]

Kyra, I ran into the chatty lady at the conference and ended up sitting just two chairs away from her for a while. We spoke for just a few minutes as we knew a mutual person at the conference who was seated between us. She did not seem to pick up on the verbal. But I soften my voice some when enfemme from my male voice.

Yes I love being Ma'amed. It lets me know that I at least presenting a decent feminine image. Even if they stumble a bit when they get a better look at me.

[KimberlyS]

Sorry Leeza on the way down I was sleeping. On the way back I was just enjoying my femme time. It sure made the trip go fast.

kim
joe in a skirt

[Absaroka]

Kimberly I'm glad you had a nice trip. It was fun to read about your little "vacation".

I haven't been to Phoenix in years. All I remember was that it had a nice zoo and that nothing was within walking distance. I stayed in a hotel where they made me give a security deposit to borrow an alarm clock-no wake up calls; the manager was drunk as a skunk. The nicer hotel across the street took one look at me and said they had no vacancies-don't know if it was true.

Absaroka

[KimberlyS]

Absaroka, that sounds like you stayed in a scary part of town. Yes I had a nice vacation as part of my work trip.

Something I just thought about as I read through things again. At times it almost sounds like I am bragging about what I am doing. And that is not at all why I am posting about my outings in Phoenix. I am just trying to encourage others that want to get out that it is possible. And that doing it away from home and those you know makes it much easier if getting out is something that you want to try to do. I also want to show others that the world is more accepting or tolerating that we often give it credit for. The first times I went out were in Milwaukee and then Phoenix. They were far from the small town I live here in SD. And those first times gave me the confidence to do more and closer to home. The first times out also showed me that how I looked was a minor part of getting out.

[Anita]

Your reports are good ones, Kimberly, for describing the social scene as you experience it out there.

Sometime it is said on here that people are self-absorbed and don't really care about a person's gender, but I don't find that to be true. If you're ambiguous-looking, people stare and pay attention. They really have a strong need to place you in one camp or the other, and they don't 'rest' until they have some idea. I find that I even react this way at times, and I'm much more comfortable with the whole issue than the average person would be.

But if you present a consistent gender (either one), people do not tend to be concerned or alarmed. They may still read you or me, but that is not enough to cause them to react. Other times, we blend in, and people truly don't notice.

I like the combination. I like blending in for long periods, mixed with some kind of recognition of what I'm doing out there. As we point out, if you pass perfectly, then there's no new ground being broken. There's no education going on, and I know that for me, that's an important part.

Flying back enfemme--that's neat, Kimberly. Glad you took the effort to do it.