I'm still new to all this, but I wanted to share my experience in case there may be someone who could benefit (and maybe someone could give me a hand, too!)

I had a wonderful night on the town with my fiancee Friday night.  I got dressed in a cute outfit, did my own makeup (this time more subtle, lighter eyeliner under they eye, etc, proud of my pretty "natural" look.)

We went to a performance of a local band in the tourist-friendly downtown area, enjoying just being girls out on the town.  We kept getting attention, but not negative attention.  It was all very flattering, including the expression we overheard from a group of guys who passed by about the beautiful ladies they had just seen (we were the only women in the area; a big ego-boost).  I didn't get any hostile or puzzled stares going in to a local shop for coffee; I was (gasp) apparently unremarkable.  This is *very* new to me; I think I may have *finally* gotten my walk down.

Quite simply, we were having a blast.

Then we went to a local gay bar I have visited infrequently for some time.  As the night wore on, I realized I was getting clocked more and more.  I half-expected *that*, the area being more open to transgendered people, etc... but what amazed me is people recognized me from before.  Nothing hostile, but I found myself coming out again and again to people who had apparently missed the original bulletin... and then someone took my picture:


Aaaack!  My face was suddenly splotchy, my eye makeup had disappeared, and all sense of being pretty flew out the window... I had been having such a great time up until then...  I realize, now, it wasn't that bad a pic, but at the time I felt like I looked terrible, and I wanted to hide.

I did my best to relax, and then it hit me.  It really didn't matter.  I had been having a great time and others were enjoying my company.  I was accepted, even if I *did* begin to resemble my "old self".  It took a bit, and I found it very irritating when one person insisted on calling me by my old name, but all in all, I was OK.  I went back to having a great evening.

I would, however, appreciate it if someone could help a girl out with a tip on how to make sure her makeup lasts all night...

Hiya!

I use a MAC product, Fix+.  It is designed to "set" make up. My brows
are so sparse I need to draw them in with powder. The Fix+ is waterproof,
well more sweat proof.  It also works well to set powder over foundation

Best wishes,
Elaina

Thank you so much... and if that is your picture, you are absolutely lovely!  I'll take a dozen of those Fix+'s, please and thank you! 

Thank you! That is probably the best pic I have ever had.  The camera angle is very flattering.

The picture also has special meaning. It was taken at a girls night out with my co-workers.
We were celebrating my departure for Thailand and SRS

Wow... that is incredibly awesome.  What a wonderful picture for an avatar. 

Mine so far have been milestones, too... the current avatar pic was of me before I went out on my first night on-the-town dressed to match *me*.  I am so grateful my loving fiancee helped with the makeup.  She's been the #1 proponent in getting me to go out of my man clothes, despite the fact she fell in love with me when *I* thought I was male.  She never pressured me and let me come to conclusions on my own, but since I admitted to myself that I am transgendered she has admitted that she knew it since the first time she saw me dress.