Out again FINALLY! Can't wait until Keystone

[GretchenJ]

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01-28-15

Hi all , at the request of Rhonda, and to avoid multiple threads, I have changed the title of this thread, to enter their comments, plans, etc

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Just got back from a short trip out, it was my first time out in almost 6 weeks, mostly due to the holidays. it has been easiest the longest I have had to wait to venture out in more than a year (since kicking it up a notch in venturing out).

i have been in a malaise lately, in a bit of a depression, and after I changed back to drab, and drove home, I realize that this has been the cause of my mood. Not a good thing- I was always of the opinion that if push came to shove, I could limit my dressing and live with it. I will have to revisit this and give it some thought.

What has kept me going, and what always keeps me going, is the carrot that there is a possibility of an outing of more than an hour or two. In this case, it is the Keystone convention in Harrisburg in March. This will give me the opportunity for the first time to be Gretchen for 24 hours straight (actually 36 hours). I am truly amped for this, I have bought some new outfits, and will meet up with some good friends from this forum - some I will finally meet for the first time face to face. Am so excited.

My concern, will be the drop off in my mood once this is over and the euphoria has passed.

Does anyone have the same feelings?
Gretch

[Sometimes Steffi]

I have them too, but I have a cure.

I try to come down slowly. I usually stay dressed on Sunday after I leave. I stop and shop a a couple of Dress Barns on the way home. Then I change into boy clothes to arrive home, but stay underdressed.

Oh, if that doesn't work, there's always Wellbutrin! Really.

[TerriM]

Gretchen you will live Keystone. I went last yr and had a blast. Over 400 attendees. Great presentations, luncheons and Harrisburg was great. I can't wait to go back.
Terri

[Jacqueline Vivaldi]

Hi Gretchen-
I have gone to a few week long outing as 100% Jacqueline where I had a fantastic time. Keystone will give you confidence and expose you to the joy of being a female in the free world. I am going to First Event in Waltham, Mass next week. From your profile picture, you could pass anywhere.

[Katey888]

Hey Gretch,

So many of us seem to be experiencing 'wobbles' and phases in our feelings right now... maybe it's a Seasonally Affective Disorder thing too... (the muggles all see us as SAD CDs anyway... ) but like you I have another outing in the near future to look forward to, so that always helps in keeping the grumbles at bay. And I suspect the mood drop off is similar too, particularly for those of us who are constrained in when we can dress and get out. Not knowing when the next time will be is a tricky emotion to manage when the euphoria of the recent experience is so vivid... I don't have any advice for that - other than get planning that next outing if it's not already in the calendar!

You do have some great events in the USA... Vegas is still on my bucket list, but maybe put me down for Keystone 2016...

Chin up girl! Keep Calm & Carry On!

Katey x

[Marcelle]

Hi Gretch,

Don't worry . . . you are not alone in this feeling and I believe many get the same feelings. I think a lot of it is a knock on effect of going out "en femme". It is to say the least "intoxicating" because for the first time, you get to be who you are to the world, a part you have been hiding . . . it is "liberating" to some degree and recapturing that feeling can consume our thoughts to the point of distraction. I also find that some take this euphoric feeling as an indication they want to be a woman 24/7 and while it might be true for some (who are truly TS) for many I don't believe so. There is some validity to the natural endorphin rush we get when we do things that excite us and we can spend a lot of time "chasing the dragon" sort to speak to recapture that feeling. Problem is, endorphin rushes are almost always followed by endorphin crashes and this can translate into moodiness and slight depression until you can get that rush again. All this to say, unless you are truly TS, it is likely that as you dress "en femme" you may increase your dressing time ( I have moved from 20/80 to 40/60 split in a year) but it will normalize and the "high" you feel will most likely settle into "normalcy" once you find your balance point.

Hugs

Isha

[Claire Cook]

Hi Gretch,

I can't speak for others, but after several years of being out and about I can tell you that I still have them. While I'm still on a high when I first go out the door, it seems to become a more natural feeling now. That's probably good, since I'm a calmer me and that lets me act like a more relaxed person. And being relaxed (well, my antiperspirant still has work to do!) adds to my confidence, which adds to my "euphoria" (I'd rather call it being me), and to my interacting with the rest of the world.

But when I'm back in drab, I'm still looking forward to the next time....

So enjoy Keystone and keep us posted!

Hugs,
Claire

[Adriana Moretti]

Hey Gretch.......those weekend events we have both attended.....it usually takes me 2 days to come down from the high ( I know with me that can be taken in alot of ways )
but I mean the high from the whole enfemme weekend....it usually does not hit me until like 2 or 3 days later, when I settle back into the daily grind..but it gets me down too. Its all a blur...weather its 2 hours...or two days...it goes by too fast
But hey...Keep Your Head Up girl.......Keystone will be here soon........I will be there Wends-Thru Sunday...so hit me up when you get into town....or just look for me leaning over the bar making my own drink when the bartender has his back turned.....xoxo

[Rhonda Darling]

Gretchen:

I could have written your blog. Return to drab is always difficult and a euphoria buzz kill extraordinaire. I had family and friends descend throughout the holidays, too, and Rhonda had to miss two major t-girl holiday events in the area and curtail almost all dressing from mid November through the New Years holiday.

I went to Keystone in 2013 and loved it. Real life got in the way last year and I had to cancel out. I got my hotel lined up for this year's program and can't wait. The feeling that begins a couple weeks ahead, anticipating the drive up en femme and a week of no guy clothes to retreat to, is delicious, indeed.

We should have a photo gathering (at the least) during Keystone of all the cd.com girls who attend.

Look forward to see you (all of you) there.

Rhonda

[Adriana Moretti]

Gretchen:


We should have a photo gathering (at the least) during Keystone of all the cd.com girls who attend.

Look forward to see you (all of you) there.

Rhonda

Yes......and DINNER......

[JamieG]

Keystone is great fun. This year I plan to arrive Friday afternoon and stay through Sunday morning. I think it would be great to get all of the forum girls together.

[S. Lisa Smith]

I hope to be there Friday afternoon, also and leave Sunday.

[Adriana Moretti]

hi....yes..........CD.COM .......party of 20? we have dinner reservations here. Cant wait to see THAT bill.....when it gets closer lets try to plan something , looks like by Friday everyone will there so that might be the best night.

[GretchenJ]

hi....yes..........CD.COM .......party of 20? we have dinner reservations here. Cant wait to see THAT bill.....when it gets closer lets try to plan something , looks like by Friday everyone will there so that might be the best night.

Yes, Friday night is the best night for me, as I won't get in to maybe 6:30 on Thursday evening and I will be leaving about noon on Saturday!!

you guys are getting my mood back !

[Sometimes Steffi]

I'm arriving on Wednesday, leaving Sunday. The are couple of nights out at local restaurants (Wed and Fri) and it is, party of 20, or 25, or 30.

[TerriM]

Gretchen, you will have great time at Keystone. I'm planning to get there Thursday. It was very well run last year. I had a blast.
Terri

[curvious]

I vae been thinking about Keystone for a few months now and really getting my courage up. I am Total NP, but am setting up time to meet with TG stylist in Bethlehem soon to learn make-up and wig styling..... I 'd like to next purchase a nice wig and some nice clothes, just not all lingerie - even if I am not passable.. I have so many mixed feelings about this (dressing and going out), but I finally feel it is the right thing to do...

[Adriana Moretti]

curvious....there is a place there close by in jersey too called la femme finishing school which is pretty good, i have seen some of her makeovers....pretty good http://www.lefemmefinishingschool.com/

i bet there will be gals giving makeovers at keystone too.....i know this gal is doing makeovers there
http://makeoverswithelizabethtaylor..../crossdresser/

[GretchenJ]

I vae been thinking about Keystone for a few months now and really getting my courage up. I am Total NP, but am setting up time to meet with TG stylist in Bethlehem soon to learn make-up and wig styling..... I 'd like to next purchase a nice wig and some nice clothes, just not all lingerie - even if I am not passable.. I have so many mixed feelings about this (dressing and going out), but I finally feel it is the right thing to do...

Hi curvious,

if if I am thinking the same person that you are thinking about in Bethlehem, I have been there as well as the place Adriana is referring to and you can't go wrong with either, both people (Amanda and Ellen) were so nice and made me feel more than comfortable. Plus I believe that Amanda was at Keystone last year.

The way I see it is this, if you are on the fence, what better place to go than in a hotel along with 300 other people, many of them (me included) also with the jitters.

What you will find , in any of these outings, in the very few I have been to, is a support system which is second to none, plus I have made some special friends as well

[Rhonda Darling]

I'm sensing that Friday would be the best day for a gathering of CD.COM girls at Keystone -- it seems to be the day of greatest overlap (certainly doesn't preclude smaller groups getting together on any other day).

If this group is interested in getting together for dinner, then the options seem to be: all sign up for one of the offered dinners for Friday night; eat at the hotel's restaurant and hang for the evening at the hotel bar; pick another restaurant, make an appropriate reservation and get ourselves there and back; other.

ANY THOUGHTS, LADIES?

Oh, and Steffi has pointed out that when you register you can get a pin marker on your event badge that will identify you as belonging to CD.COM. Be sure to do so.

Rhonda

[GretchenJ]

I'm sensing that Friday would be the best day for a gathering of CD.COM girls at Keystone -- it seems to be the day of greatest overlap (certainly doesn't preclude smaller groups getting together on any other day).

If this group is interested in getting together for dinner, then the options seem to be: all sign up for one of the offered dinners for Friday night; eat at the hotel's restaurant and hang for the evening at the hotel bar; pick another restaurant, make an appropriate reservation and get ourselves there and back; other.


Rhonda

I am totally up for dinner on Friday evening, the online registration for Keystone is up (except for the workshop seminars) but I have not done so yet due to awaiting a consensus as to the rest of the gang.

There appears to be a bunch of dinner choices on Friday evening as well.
There are 6 choices for early dinner and 2 for late dinner.

i also believe that there is a dancing and drinks option after dinner that someone who will be nameless, but resides in the Michigan area **may** be interested in lol

[Rhonda Darling]

If we do one of the planned dinners, then on to Stocks for dancing, drinks, socializing, the Conference provides the bus transportation, running a loop throughout the evening. Convenience is guaranteed by going that route.

I'm looking forward to some great group photos, also. Events and get togethers like this, IMHO, help give confidence to ladies who are still on the fence about getting out and about.

Rhonda

[Giselle(Oshawa)]

my wife and I hope to get to the Keystone Conference early Thursday and do the Casino trip that evening.
hope to meet many sisters from here also some supportive spouses to give my wife some company.
See you all there.

[wanagione]

Yes I have had the same feeling leaving Keystone, it sucks but I think only because of the great time I have had going there. I'll be there on wed. afternoon and stay though Sunday. Stop by Bingo on thursday night, it's always a great time and great prizes. I'll be at the door with the bingo cards.

[Jenny J]

I vae been thinking about Keystone for a few months now and really getting my courage up. I am Total NP, but am setting up time to meet with TG stylist in Bethlehem soon to learn make-up and wig styling..... I 'd like to next purchase a nice wig and some nice clothes, just not all lingerie - even if I am not passable.. I have so many mixed feelings about this (dressing and going out), but I finally feel it is the right thing to do...

Let me be the first to welcome you to the 7th Annual Keystone Conference. I'm the Helping Hand director for the Keystone Conference and I'm glad you're giving serious thought about attending this year’s conference. Over the years we've assisted many just like you and we've had very positive feedback.

PM me if there are any questions or help you need to make it a memorable event for you.

Shameless plug: Bingo is a great place for everyone to meet and have a good time. El Sol for dinner is the best and Saturday night, Cassandra Storm will be available to take group shots. I recommend making an appointment early during the conference to set a time.

It’s a great place to have a great time!

See all of you there.

Jenny