A friend of mine needed my help for some personal matters, and asked if I could come with her to Colorado this weekend.  She has known about me for a while, and is fine with it.  She told me I could bring some of my women's clothes to go out on the town with her and her friends.  I'm so giddy, scared, nervous, excited....This will be my first time out in public as me, ever.  It will be far away from my home town, so the likelihood of someone here seeing me will be nill, so that takes away some of the stress, random strangers are not as important to me as my customers.

I don't know what day it will be, I won't have my PC with me, and I use a flip phone, so I won't be able to update until Tuesday.  I don't even remember the name of the town/city we are going, but she said it was where they had a sports team of some sort.  Hoping to get a full picture of me.

Wow, can't wait to see pics on the way back!  I hope you can really savor each moment, and then repeat that, over and over and over again! 

Erin

Hey Artesia,

   I hope you have a great time and I understand that excitement and worry that goes into the anticipation of doing what you are about to do. It can scare the p%^ right of of you. But once you get past the initial fear of stepping out into what feels like a spotlight trained on you, you should be able to settle down and have fun with your friend. And that is what will make it all the easier for you, you will have your friend with you for moral support and to encourage you on.
   Have fun Artesia and please try not to act like a deer in the headlights. lol

Hugs,
   Laurie

Glad I had a moment to read these before I left.  Stepping out the door in a few minutes.  Thank you for the moral support.  I packed enough to go out 2 nights, so maybe I can get more comfortable out and about.  I'll attempt to post pictures when I return.  Have a good weekend all.

Alright.  First day back so a quick post before I start to figuring out how to post photos.

It was AMAZING out there.  The area was beautiful and the people were extremely friendly.  I only got to go out 2 days as me, but I was ma'amed about 4 times over both days; had a little girl tell her mom that there was 2 ladies over there; and had someone refer to me, my friend, and my friends friend as "lovely ladies" ; and had a couple ladies compliment my wardrobe/necklace.  My friend was amazing as well, having only messed up the gender and name a couple times, and even introduced me to her friends by my female name.  I also think a younger male was hitting on me, but I suck at reading flirting, so don't know for sure.  Had my first manicure.  Got tips from one of my friends group for my makeup and hair, they said I did really good with it, but it was to basic for my age.  My friend said my voice was pretty good, even though I didn't think so and haven't had much practice with it.  She even said my mannerisms at the restaurant were very natural looking, but that my walk looked a bit stiff and that I needed more sway but that it was probably because of my lack of hips.

The bad, makeup does notprotect from sunburns, my face has gotten a bit of a burn, but not nearly as bas as my neck and shoulders.  Didn't know the higher elevation, and more arid climate would cause skin to burn faster.  Also found out that walking fast in heels is REALLY hard, my friend was far to quick for me, and even though I can wear them all day at home, I was only able to do about 2 hours out and about with them. 

Well done and congratulations.   A positive first experience in public goes a long way!