My near-brushes with TG fame.

[CJ]

Hi all,

On the lighter side of gender variance, both my own and that of others:

Just over a week ago, the Montreal Divers-Cité (Gay Pride Week, a play on words, meaning both "diverse city" and "diversity") closed with an open air free concert in the heart of downtown. Many community icons were up on stage, not the least of which was RuPaul himself (herself? I don't remember which pronouns RuPaul uses when self-referring). At the invitation of one of my colleagues (who describes herself as a total "TG hag"), I was slated to go with her and see the diva with my own eyes. I even thought of pulling out RuPaul's book (alas, still buried in my boxes somewhere!) and bring it with me so that I could get it autographed.

Yet, as I was debating whether or not to go, it started raining. This caused a delay that was just long enough for me to be surprised by a phone call from Beauty. Well, that sealed RuPaul's fate; there's just no question that, faced with choosing between seeing RuPaul and chatting with Beauty, I'll chat with Beauty any time (and a great conversation it was)!

Yesterday, on my way to work I noticed they'd closed the streets around the neighbourhood where my office is located. They were filming an episode of the second season of Cover Girl, a locally produced, and aired, show (partly drama, partly sitcom) about the ups and downs in the life of a group of drag queens. So I stood and watched for a few minutes, eventually getting to witness two of the show's main characters wrapping up a scene (after half a dozen takes). It was sort of funny; the day was so hot and sunny and one of the characters' makeup applied so thickly that a "gopher" went around following "her" with a parasol in order to shield "her" from the sun.

I seriously thought of trying to just walk by the set, to be sort of an improptu extra--free of charge!--so that I could say to my friends, "Hey! I'm gonna be in a TV TV show!" But then I noticed they weren't letting anyone on the set that wasn't supposed to be walking in the background. Sheesh! It's all a setup! I'd look at these fashion models--both male and female--walking on the sidewalk on cue, looking as though they do this every day, and I'm thinking, "no! I do this every day... but I don't look anything like that!" (And neither do most Montrealers, I think.) Well, anyway, for this here crossdresser, who hasn't dressed up in eight months now, it was kind of fun to witness illusion in the making.

I guess my best claim to fame is that some of you here know me and have me in your hearts as I know you and have you in mine. And that's plenty good enough for me!

Love,
CJ

[DonnaT]

I guess my best claim to fame is that some of you here know me and have me in your hearts as I know you and have you in mine. And that's plenty good enough for me!

Me too CJ

So, did you make it to work?

I hate when they close streets near my Office in DC. Talk about a nightmare. One day I noticed that the exit end of the side street running in front of my office bldg. wasn't blocked, only the entrance, so I backed all the way up it to the garage entrance

[Virginia]

CJ, Your a sweetheart!!! Uh, I won't comment on the "eight months" thing?
Love,
Virginia

[CJ]

Hi all,

Heh. Yeah, Donna, I made it to work all right. I was only at the office for a few minutes to pick something up and I took a few moments more to indulge in some "TG'ed star-gazing" on the way back.

The one I got to see, in flagrante delicto, so to speak, was the blonde, in the middle.




Virginia,

You can comment all you want. My lack of girl time isn't something that's bothering too much at the moment. It'll come back, I'm sure.

Love,
CJ

[Curly(SO)]

Your post gave me a big grin, CJ! I came home from work with a stressy headcahe and the first thing I read was your post Headache is gone now...Thanks

You will have your fifteen minutes of fame another day I'm sure

Love,
Curly(SO)

[Elizabeth]

Hi CJ,

I was once called to a Live location filming "Cagney and Lacey" when a generator to one of the makeup trailers went out. I also was surprised to find out that everything was set up. It turns out that Cagney and Lacey which took place in New York, was actually filmed in downtown Los Angeles. They had magnetic New York licence plates to cover the plates of all the cars that happened to be parked on the shooting location, as well as street signs to cover the LA ones with one that looked like NY ones.

Everyone walking anywhere on the scene, was a paid actor, just as you said. And even though I had a pass and was actually on the set, I could get no where near the stars of the show. None the less it took all day, shutting down a street in downtown LA, tons of trailers, food trucks, tents with tables for the crews to eat and when all was said and done, they shot about 90 seconds of film.

As for my claim to fame, I Played a set of my original songs at the world famous Gazarri's on the Sunset Strip. The same place where the Doors, Van Halen, Motley Crew and others played when they were nobody's.

As for girl time, well I consider that personal. You seem the same to me, no matter how often you actually get around to dressing.

And should I ever be graced by a call from Beauty, I am sure I would take it over seeing RuPaul. In fact, I would prefer a call from you(CJ) or anyone of my sisters here, to a chance at seeing someone famous.

And I started reading RuPaul's book, not sure which one, last summer but it got boring. It was her life story. She seems just a bit too ego tripped for me, although I enjoyed her description of how she got ready when transforming into her "en femme" character.

Also, she seems quite happy with her male self and it seems she only dresses as a means of making money as a performer. I never got the feeling she really "feels it", the need to crossdress that is.

One more thing. Unpack your books, they need you.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[CJ]

Hi all,

Curly,

Glad to be of service! Humour can be a great pain reliever (even if that humour is my own foot-in-cheek brand... uh, yeah ).

Elizabeth,

I'd forgotten you live close to Tinseltown. That gives you the best ready-made excuse for crossdressing (should you feel so inclined as to think you need an excuse to be who you are): "I'm a character actor and I'm researching a role."

Love,
CJ