MichelleP
07-24-2009, 02:55 PM
It has been about 5 months since I last posted here. At that time (in February) I was travelling to Seattle for business. I was planning on a couple days of work balanced with relaxing in the TS/TG friendly environs of Seattle. I had even made plans to meet one of the other wonderful tgirls on this board for some shopping. As it turns out it was not to be. By the end of the week I was left an emotional wreck with my confidence destroyed. I regretfully purged my feminine things and I have not visited this site again until just a few days ago.
Here’s my story:
I work in the television/motion picture industry. I have variously been employed both "above the line"as an actor and writer and "below the line" as everything from a script supervisor to a location scout. If you've watched any syndicated sports television programming in the Northwest in the last 5 years you have probably caught a glimpse of me (in drab) or my name. I'm not a big name or any kind of star so you would likely never recognize me, especially when I'm dressed as Michelle.
On Monday we all met and were introduced to our local crew. These are all the union guys (and girls) that work as gaffers, grips, production assistants, food craft etc. Local folks are hired for out-of-town shoots usually. It was an easy day, we worked out all the last minute shooting details and were ready for the week, no problems. Monday night I dressed and relaxed by taking in a movie and I did some shoe shopping at Nordstrom’s across the street from my hotel in the really cool Pacific Place mall. I know you're thinking, whoa you dress and walk out the same hotel where all the rest of your co-workers are staying? Yep. I've never had any problems.
Tuesday goes well, the director gets what he needs but, we work really late for it. The out-of-town folks return to the hotel. I’m too wiped out to do anything except go to bed. Wednesday morning the shooting schedule has been pushed back until the afternoon. I think to myself, “what would Michelle do?” well Michelle, the carefree fashionista she is, would throw on some jeans and get herself down to Macys about three blocks away when they opened. Soooo… that’s what I did. Black short-sleeve top, jeans, Born shoes, leather jacket, big slouch bag and my new cinnamon hair. I look like ummm about twenty other girls happily walking down the street in Seattle that morning. I get to Macy’s as it opens browse a little then decide to walk back up Pine Street toward my hotel. As I stop at a crosswalk waiting for the light to change, I notice one man at the opposite end of the crosswalk whose gaze is fixed upon me. The light changes and I walk across. He keeps on staring. Now I must tell you that I am a pretty confident girl, I look’em the eye and smile (except I was wearing sunglasses in this case). Instead of continuing on his way, he turns and begins to follow me in the opposite direction that he had been going. He’s pretty blatant about it too. I can easily see him in the reflections on store windows just a few paces back. I make my way back toward the hotel. I’m figuring that this is a pretty safe option. I’m on a busy street, during midmorning on a weekday with lots of people. He hasn’t done anything except to very obviously stare and follow me. But what if he finds out where I’m staying? I duck into the Pacific Place mall and find my way to Barnes & Noble to think. At this time I’m starting to get a little creeped out but, if he is going to do something I don’t think he’ll do in the mall. I figure I’ll wait him out. I actually go and find the book The Extra Half Inch by Victoria Beckham (which is great by the way) and try to act calm as I thumb through it in the coffee shop area. I don’t see Mr. Creepy for a while so maybe he’s given up and is hanging out somewhere else. After about an hour, I have another more pressing problem. I have to pee. I have three choices, the B & N ladies room, a bathroom in the mall or my own bathroom in my hotel room across the street. I put Posh’s book back on the shelf and start toward the front door (which is up an escalator from the coffee shop) and standing on the corner outside is Mr. Creepy!!! Does he know who I am? Or did he just clock me as a tgirl in general? Why is he waiting!!! I get read probably more than I know but, usually I’m a good blender and I actually pass (at least without any adverse reactions) most of the time. When I’m read I smile back and go with it, no big deal. I’ve never had anyone follow me before. I quickly turn and head for the B & N ladies room. After some tense moments in there, I decide to head out the car garage entrance to the mall and circle around the block to get to my hotel. I walk two blocks over and around the Washington convention center. As I’m almost to the entrance I can see Mr. Creepy across the street having a smoke with another guy now and most of my questions are answered. Though I don’t recognize Mr. Creepy, he chatting with one of the local crew I’ve been working with and they’re waiting at the front of the B & N. Just as I turn toward the hotel door they spot me and dash across the street against traffic! It’s as if they were paparazzi rushing a limo. By that time my nerves were shot and I turned to face them. They laughed and pointed and snickered at me. Their catcalls were loud and everyone at the valet/cab stand noticed this. I was paralyzed. I wish there had been a cop there. I finally turned to the valet, and older gentleman, showed him my room key and said in what must have been a cracking voice, “these men are bothering me”. Mr. Creepy and the new hire erupted in laughter. The valet opened the door for me and began saying something to my two tormentors. He also blocked their entrance into the hotel (at least until I rounded the corner for the elevator). Mercifully, none of the other crew were anywhere to be found that I could see. The afternoon shoot went smoothly except for some pointing fingers and smirks from the local hires. I flew home the next day sans all my feminine things I had brought with me. Do the producer, director and others know? If they do, they are being discreet about it.
Since that time my confidence has been shot, gone, eradicated. Michelle just isn’t Michelle anymore. Sharing this story is perhaps a first step to bringing my “carefree fashionista” back.
To all you other tgirls – be safe out there.
Michelle:sad:
Here’s my story:
I work in the television/motion picture industry. I have variously been employed both "above the line"as an actor and writer and "below the line" as everything from a script supervisor to a location scout. If you've watched any syndicated sports television programming in the Northwest in the last 5 years you have probably caught a glimpse of me (in drab) or my name. I'm not a big name or any kind of star so you would likely never recognize me, especially when I'm dressed as Michelle.
On Monday we all met and were introduced to our local crew. These are all the union guys (and girls) that work as gaffers, grips, production assistants, food craft etc. Local folks are hired for out-of-town shoots usually. It was an easy day, we worked out all the last minute shooting details and were ready for the week, no problems. Monday night I dressed and relaxed by taking in a movie and I did some shoe shopping at Nordstrom’s across the street from my hotel in the really cool Pacific Place mall. I know you're thinking, whoa you dress and walk out the same hotel where all the rest of your co-workers are staying? Yep. I've never had any problems.
Tuesday goes well, the director gets what he needs but, we work really late for it. The out-of-town folks return to the hotel. I’m too wiped out to do anything except go to bed. Wednesday morning the shooting schedule has been pushed back until the afternoon. I think to myself, “what would Michelle do?” well Michelle, the carefree fashionista she is, would throw on some jeans and get herself down to Macys about three blocks away when they opened. Soooo… that’s what I did. Black short-sleeve top, jeans, Born shoes, leather jacket, big slouch bag and my new cinnamon hair. I look like ummm about twenty other girls happily walking down the street in Seattle that morning. I get to Macy’s as it opens browse a little then decide to walk back up Pine Street toward my hotel. As I stop at a crosswalk waiting for the light to change, I notice one man at the opposite end of the crosswalk whose gaze is fixed upon me. The light changes and I walk across. He keeps on staring. Now I must tell you that I am a pretty confident girl, I look’em the eye and smile (except I was wearing sunglasses in this case). Instead of continuing on his way, he turns and begins to follow me in the opposite direction that he had been going. He’s pretty blatant about it too. I can easily see him in the reflections on store windows just a few paces back. I make my way back toward the hotel. I’m figuring that this is a pretty safe option. I’m on a busy street, during midmorning on a weekday with lots of people. He hasn’t done anything except to very obviously stare and follow me. But what if he finds out where I’m staying? I duck into the Pacific Place mall and find my way to Barnes & Noble to think. At this time I’m starting to get a little creeped out but, if he is going to do something I don’t think he’ll do in the mall. I figure I’ll wait him out. I actually go and find the book The Extra Half Inch by Victoria Beckham (which is great by the way) and try to act calm as I thumb through it in the coffee shop area. I don’t see Mr. Creepy for a while so maybe he’s given up and is hanging out somewhere else. After about an hour, I have another more pressing problem. I have to pee. I have three choices, the B & N ladies room, a bathroom in the mall or my own bathroom in my hotel room across the street. I put Posh’s book back on the shelf and start toward the front door (which is up an escalator from the coffee shop) and standing on the corner outside is Mr. Creepy!!! Does he know who I am? Or did he just clock me as a tgirl in general? Why is he waiting!!! I get read probably more than I know but, usually I’m a good blender and I actually pass (at least without any adverse reactions) most of the time. When I’m read I smile back and go with it, no big deal. I’ve never had anyone follow me before. I quickly turn and head for the B & N ladies room. After some tense moments in there, I decide to head out the car garage entrance to the mall and circle around the block to get to my hotel. I walk two blocks over and around the Washington convention center. As I’m almost to the entrance I can see Mr. Creepy across the street having a smoke with another guy now and most of my questions are answered. Though I don’t recognize Mr. Creepy, he chatting with one of the local crew I’ve been working with and they’re waiting at the front of the B & N. Just as I turn toward the hotel door they spot me and dash across the street against traffic! It’s as if they were paparazzi rushing a limo. By that time my nerves were shot and I turned to face them. They laughed and pointed and snickered at me. Their catcalls were loud and everyone at the valet/cab stand noticed this. I was paralyzed. I wish there had been a cop there. I finally turned to the valet, and older gentleman, showed him my room key and said in what must have been a cracking voice, “these men are bothering me”. Mr. Creepy and the new hire erupted in laughter. The valet opened the door for me and began saying something to my two tormentors. He also blocked their entrance into the hotel (at least until I rounded the corner for the elevator). Mercifully, none of the other crew were anywhere to be found that I could see. The afternoon shoot went smoothly except for some pointing fingers and smirks from the local hires. I flew home the next day sans all my feminine things I had brought with me. Do the producer, director and others know? If they do, they are being discreet about it.
Since that time my confidence has been shot, gone, eradicated. Michelle just isn’t Michelle anymore. Sharing this story is perhaps a first step to bringing my “carefree fashionista” back.
To all you other tgirls – be safe out there.
Michelle:sad: