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View Full Version : My First Big Day Out - One Awesome Day!



Nancy Sue
01-30-2015, 03:01 AM
Sometimes some things go in "fits and starts", and then sometimes you go from nowhere to Hollywood in what seems like a flash! This day was like that for me.

A couple years ago I had a makeover in another city, then went to a bar to hear a band for a couple hours with a couple girls. It was interesting, and fun, but short. Other than dress while driving on a few road trips, alone, I had not been "out" at all before, or since.

Last week I was down in LA and went to Hamburger Mary's for TGirl Tuesdays and Karaoke with a girl from this forum, Carmen. It was a lot of fun, and I plan to go again when I am back down.

On Thursday I decided to see the drag show (as opposed to drag races) at the Velvet Lounge in Santa Ana, as I had never been to one. It would have been a lot more fun if I had been with friends, so next time I go it will be with friends.

But Saturday was my day! It started with a make-over at Macy's, and the MAC artist who did me up, and taught me a lot about what works best for my complexion and color, and how to apply it, was awesome! Then I drove, en femme, to meet up with a couple girls I had met here in the forum, but had never met in person, Eryn and Persephone. We met at an upscale mall, The Beverly Center, walked around a bit, and in time decided it was time to go do the other things they had planned for the day. Persephone had a large car that held both of them, plus their spouses and I, very comfortably.

Now until recently I had never had a dress, and only wore skirts and blouses when I was driving. But I had recently bought a couple dresses, and was going to wear one for the first time in public. With the fresh makeup, and fully done up, I realized I could pass easily, and was ready to go. As we walked around the mall I realized that nobody was looking at me more than they were looking at anyone else. I blended right in - I passed, as did Eryn, Persephone and their spouses, of course. Eryn and Persephone explained it to me later in the evening. They said "Men always look at you. Its not because they 'read you', but because they look at all women. That's what men do. They look you up and down, and when they realize they are not going to make it with you they look at the next woman. Watch them and you will see this. And the women look at you, too, but for a different reason. The women look because they are comparing themselves to you, checking out what you are wearing, and so on, depending on who they are." Sometimes both the men and the women are just scurrying along, headed somewhere, doing their own thing, and they do not really 'see' anything or anyone. Other times they are paying more attention. That helped me feel more relaxed, even less conspicuous, and as we walked around I realized that nobody in the whole mall was paying particular attention to anyone, and certainly not to me. It was interesting to see the reflection of people in the large display windows, and then realize that I was one of them!

First they took me on a sightseeing tour of the city, and pointed out where parts of various movies were filmed. About dusk we arrived up at the Griffith Observatory. We toured the whole facility, along with hundreds of others, including individuals, family groups, tourist groups and droves of young and old couples. Nobody paid any attention to any of us, even when standing in line to use the loo, or in the elevator changing floors. The view of LA from the outer walk is stunning at night! We then went to West Hollywood, and they pointed out where more movies or TV shows were filmed.

Then we went to The French Quarter restaurant for dinner. Excellent food, excellent service, and nobody noticed I was "fresh out", so to speak.

On Hollywood Boulevard we walked the Walk of Stars, and I took pictures of many of my favorites, including Henry Mancini, Barry White, The Original 5th Dimension, John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Michael J Fox, and others, as well as some of the handprints, footprints and quotes in the Hollywood forecourt of the Grauman Chinese Theatre. Now, there were some pretty interesting looking people down there, both in and out of costumes, and with many hundreds of people milling around at any one time, and people coming and going all the time, and everybody was there to 'people watch', nobody noticed me, Eryn or Persephone, or their wives for that matter.

After some more walking around, and hearing more stories about the city and various industries and people, we went to Greenblatt's Deli, next to The Laugh Factory, for dessert. Persephone had been making some calls, and since her son lived near, he and his SO walked over and we all sat and talked for another hour, maybe closer to two. It was delightful, and everyone was so nice.

By the time they had me back to the mall's 24-hour car park it was after 1 AM, and there was only one other car on the floor I had parked on - but the automation worked right and I drove my car out. Fourteen hours after my day had started at the MAC counter at Macy's I was back at my hotel, having just spent One Awesome Day.

Many thanks to both Eryn and Persephone, and their fun loving and friendly wives, for going way far out of their way to show this girl a good time in LA. I feel like I have some true girlfriends now, and look forward to many more outings together.

bridget thronton
01-30-2015, 04:00 AM
Thanks for a great post on you big day

Princess29
01-30-2015, 04:06 AM
sounds like quite an adventure

Requal Jo
01-30-2015, 04:08 AM
Congratulations on your outings Nancy. Sounds as if you had a wonderful time and in the process made some new friends to share with.

Jamie Lynn
01-30-2015, 07:54 AM
Sounds like a GREAT time and lots of fun! You must be on Cloud 9!You know.... the PINK one!! :c9:

Julie Denier
01-30-2015, 12:06 PM
Wow! What an adventure -- congratulations! ;)

Melissa Anne
01-30-2015, 12:46 PM
Congrats! Sounds like you had a wonderful day.

MsVal
01-30-2015, 01:15 PM
That's a wonderful trip report Nancy.

You had two very wonderful ladies escorting you on a delightful tour. With their assistance you went to places, did things, and had more fun than you could possibly have had alone.

They say you don't forget your 'first' of anything significant. It could have been the memory of an anxious, worried event that lasted only minutes. Instead, you have a long day full of great things.

Congratulations to you and thanks to Eryn and Persephone for being so wonderful.

I want to acknowledge Samantha Rogers for being there for me when I made my first outing.

Best wishes
MsVal

carhill2mn
01-30-2015, 01:27 PM
Thanks for sharing your fun experience.

AngelaYVR
01-30-2015, 02:18 PM
The excitement is apparent in your writing! It certainly is a rush, that first time, thanks for telling us about it!

kimdl93
01-30-2015, 02:30 PM
Great post...and a very full day!

Kandi Robbins
01-30-2015, 07:17 PM
That certainly was a full day! Thanks for sharing.

Eryn
01-30-2015, 07:55 PM
Mimi and I sure enjoyed our adventure with Nancy! I think that our heads hit the pillow a bit after 2:00AM!

Nancy looked great! Her MAC artist did a great job and she cruised through the crowds very nicely!

Here are some pictures Mimi took:

At Griffith Observatory:
240121

In front of Groman's Chinese Theater:
240122

And, near the El Capitan Theater:
240123

Persephone
01-31-2015, 03:52 AM
It really was fun being with you, Nancy! A very pleasant day!

Hugs,
Persephone.

charlenesomeone
01-31-2015, 05:19 AM
Wow what an awesome Girls night out. Looks like a fun time for all of you.
Hugs

Lynn Marie
01-31-2015, 08:06 AM
Great post Nancy. I lived in Hollywood during my high school years and in the Los Angeles area for many years afterwards. That was one heck of an introduction to the big city. I'm always out with my CD girlfriends. Life is so much better when lived together. Thanks for your validation.

Marcelle
01-31-2015, 09:12 AM
Hi Nancy,

What a great adventure and what great people to share it with. I am glad you had a great time.

Hugs

Isha

Eryn
01-31-2015, 01:10 PM
What Mimi's pictures didn't capture, because we intentionally avoided it, was the fact that in all three there were literally hundreds of people around us.

At the Griffith Observatory there were dozens of amateur-built telescopes set up on every bit of grass, mostly to observe asteroid 2004 BL86 as it passed near Earth.

On Hollywood Blvd. on Saturday night there are always crowds milling about along with street artists and performers as well as those people in costumes who want to get paid to be in your picture.

We all blended in very well and not an eyebrow was raised.

Nancy Sue
02-02-2015, 01:37 AM
Thanks for all the nice comments, and yes, it was a great experience, and I feel like I have made some new friends. And thanks for posting the photos Eryn - I am wondering if I should have touched up my lipstick first, though.

Eryn
02-02-2015, 10:49 PM
I am wondering if I should have touched up my lipstick first, though.

Sometimes we remember to touch up, sometimes we forget! No big deal. You look great!

ChristinaK
02-02-2015, 11:50 PM
You all look great. Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience. Such outings in such public circumstances demonstrate that we can comfortably go out with confidence and that all will be okay.

Jean 103
02-02-2015, 11:53 PM
Glad to hear you had a good time in Hollywood. There is a lot to see and do there. If you like taking pictures check out the wax museum next time, it’s a blast.

Carmen
02-03-2015, 02:23 AM
A very nice story Nancy. Glad you had fun.