scc08

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Day 1 at Southern Comfort Conference (SCC)

I will not bore you with details, instead I will start off arriving at Hartsfield airport right here In Atlanta. I arrived on time from Delta, I know I was shocked too, ha-ha cause that never seems to ever happen. While I walked through the airport I was deciding on what transportation to take to the hotel taxi/livery cab, shuttle buses or the MARTA… When I got to baggage claim I was a little hesitant on getting my bags because last year I had a horrible incident happen. Last year I didn’t get my bags until like sometime after midnight, they said my bag was too heavy and had to be on board another flight coming to Atlanta. Anyways, I found my bag and it was not delayed and not having to wait for it was a relief. Okay, at this point I opted for the Marta as It was the cheapest (1.75 +.50 (2.25) one way. I was scared as I never been on the MARTA and going through Atlanta scared the crap out of me, I guess it’s that feeling of being in a new area and I am not familiar to the transit system. When I walked up the stairs I was shocked (sorry Atlanta) it was actually clean and odorless. You see I am from the NYC area and I was like great this is going to be just like the NYC subway system. Boy was I dead wrong I was impressed that was an above transit system and it was not overly crowded. It looks like I will be a MARTA user in the future. The ride itself was pleasant, smooth and quick, less than 45 minutes one-way. As I arrived at Dunwoody station another “SHAMWOW” moment, was that, it was a stone throw away ha-ha, I knew it was close but not that close. Getting off the platform and down to street level to meet the shuttle to take us to the hotel was another 5 minute drive. I was happy to be finally here though a little sad at the same time, meaning that I wish I had a GG girl friend to share this with me, and yes I am still looking and taking applications for GG J he-he... btw GG means, Genetic Girl.

Arrived at the hotel, walked in and got my SCC registration packet and named tag. Checked In at the hotel and got my key card. This year I am on the 6th floor, last year I was on the 11 or something can’t remember. I have view of the back yard this time around nothing special as I can only see the top of the bar called Chip Shots. I unpacked my things and got everything in order. The time was about 415p I need to quickly dress and get to the nail salon that I went to last year, as I needed to get my nails done. Rushing through make up and doing a half decent job I finally got to the nail salon at around 510p. I was happy to see the girls there remembered me and many commented on my new look saying that I look better this year than last year, ha-ha. As we chit chatted away I got a manicure and a pedicure, which cost me with tip 50 bucks, to me that was reasonable. The whole process took about 1 hour or so, I was then at the bare minerals store as I need more foundation then I left the mall soon after. So back at the hotel I went to my room to freshen up and head back downstairs to check to see if any one was here that I knew. And low and behold I bump in to Amber a cross-dresser from Indiana and her Indy friends heading out to dinner and I asked if I could tag along they said sure the more the merrier. I didn’t know where we were eating but we got on bus to the restaurant called Old Hickory House a pulled BBQ pork place. Once we stepped inside we got the usual stares and dumb founded looks, ha-ha... the place is a local eatery and it was not busy just a small party in the back besides us. We seated ourselves in the back as those seem to be the bigger tables and ordered our food. The food was ok not great and the pork was tender and juicy, I had the shredded pork sandwich with Brunswick stew (It’s a chili like soup) and corn on the cob, at a reasonable price of 6.75, I got the cheapest meal out of all the girls. Well after talking and eating and showing my pictures we paid our bill on separate checks. We called the driver to pick us up and headed back to the hotel to just relax and meet any talk with the girls coming in and for me to have a good nights rest for tomorrow as it’s going to be a big day for me.


Thursday, October 2, 2008

Day 2

Woke up at 7ish and showered and shaved and got dressed in my Elie Tahari grey pant suit. I looked very professional as I went to breakfast downstairs at the hotel and OMG rip off on breakfast. I ordered 2 eggs sunny side up with corned beef hash, toast and an apple juice, now this meal sounds it would be a reasonable price, right, WRONG it cost 17.00 and I gave a 2 buck tip that came to 19.00. All I can say is HOLY SHIT. I was hungry, oh well... Today was an important day for me, why well I am to take my friend Naria around and introducing her to some of my friends to help her with her project she is working on for the Trans community. She called me at 1137a and said she already and checked in and is ready to roll. We headed to meet Cat first so she can register though we were too late. So we all headed to eat lunch, we sat at a table with my Indy friends and Naria had so many questions, she was very observant and asked me if that person was a man or woman , and every time gave her the answer, she was shocked. Through out the day, we talked and got to know each other fairly well. She got some good stories that can lead to a possible shows and I hope that she finds the right people. She is searching for heterosexual cross-dressers that are married and struggle with the desire to dress as a woman in public. She would like to have them go on camera as their male and female side. It’s a tall order but I am sure there are people out there that are willing and ready to speak out for cross-dressers. We meet some great people and I made a few new friends. As the evening ended with dinner with the Vanity Club girls SCC annual dinner at a local restaurant she talked to the wives of the group, I hope she made a few good friends. As we headed back to the hotel I asked her if she was glad to come to this conference if only for a short time she said yes she was happy that she came and had the opportunity to talk to all my friends and educated herself on this diverse community. Unfortunately Naria had to leave early the next day to care for her family. I wished she stayed longer, but I wish her well and good luck with her project and if she doesn’t find any leads or willing participants at least she is now more educated about the trans community and I hope be more understanding towards our community. I also hope that she teaches her children to be accepting of people like me.
This night also happened to be the vice president debate night and the lobby was packed with people watching the debate. Casino night was almost a bust but some people came to enjoy it like Amber who had no idea on what she was doing or how to play craps. This night my friend Dee drove up to see me, it took her 4 hours to find the place. I am glad that she made it but on a slow night and some what boring night. I was so tired from the entire day that I couldn’t even talk to her. As it was getting really late I bid her good night and that she should come when its more a party atmosphere, but thanks for coming Dee.



Friday, October 3, 2008

Day 3

Friday, today I woke up a little late, 9am and I was invited to breakfast by my friend Chloe, I couldn't make it as I was just getting up and getting ready. Today I wore an Elie Tahari black pencil skirt and VS thigh high stockings and a blue Theory blouse and Guess ankle strap heels, I looked HOT!! The career expo was going on and that was interesting that is why I dressed this way. It was bigger than last year so Kudos to SCC for attracting more companies. Again I was wandering through the vendor area, I spotted the really cute Asian girl and was eyeing her and I have been eyeing her since Wednesday. I wanted to go up to her and say how cute she was before I left, then today she started up a conversation with me, she beat me to it. She asked me if she looked good in her corset she was trying on and I said “yes you look gorgeous”, then she asked me have I come by her wig store I said “no I have not” so she lead me to her table and we talked for a bit. She said she would of dated me in a heart beat and that she never dated an Asian guy before, I was floored, I never ever have gotten that before in boy mode let alone as a woman. Her name is Nusara and she said all that to me when I was dressed. She also happened to be eyeing me so that just shows how understanding she is and open and she is also Republican. This is one of the best moments of my life I will never forget. Just my luck, she is already married, DOH!! I hope that she and I can become good friends to the point of almost BFF. This woman is so great I wish I found her years ago. Whoever married her is one dam lucky guy to have an open minded woman. I also meet another new girl her name is Diane, a GG and she owns a store in Long Island, now I didn’t know I spoke to her before until she mentioned First Event (FE) because I was supposed to be her model for the Fashion show. After talking to her and her mother about the local parties and some of the people we became instant friends. I also meet Gina lance editor of TG-life who also happens to be a cross-dresser who put out a book for cross-dressers to get out of the closet, she gave me a copy of her book as a token of friendship and she even signed it ha-ha. All three of these love woman I know will be long time friends for years to come.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Day 4 the last day

It started out normal ha-ha, right; I went down to get breakfast cost me about 12 bucks. Went to see Nusara again, that's the adorable Asian woman that happens to be married. I didn’t eat lunch and went shopping with Lauren she need some sort of wrap or shawl and I also need to get stud earrings I lost mine on Thursday night or Friday morning. It was around 4pm after all our shopping I went back to flirt with Nusara again and Jaye a VC sister told me that she told Nusara that I liked her and I that she was cute, which Is true but I didn’t know she would go and tell Nusara. In her response to Jaye, Nusara said that I looked cute as a boy too and that she likes me, why does she have to be married? I went back upstairs and packed up some things so I would not rushing to pack and get out on Sunday, as well as change in to my evening dress for the grand gala I looked ok I think ha-ha. I called Lauren to see if she needed help with deciding what to wear and she said “sure come down to my room” I sort of helped her, she was doing fine with out me, so I just waited for her to get ready, it was like 530- 600p. She finally got done and we headed out now for some reason the elevators were slow so I opted for the stairs with two other girls, we made it down and so did Lauren she took the elevators. While greeting and taking pictures I walked back into the vendor area yet again to glimpse at Nusara the Asian GG hottie. I was sad that she couldn’t stay. I said bye to her and got her contact info and told her to come back and go to the events with me.

Dinner was at 730p and it was a decent dinner as it was the last one. It was a surf and turf meal with red potatoes and asparagus and a plum tomato. Now for the entertainment, all I can say is WHAT THE FUCK was that. It was so gaudy and atrocious that you couldn’t understand what that actor was saying or even doing. Every one started walking out on the act and by the end only a handful of people were in the ballroom. Michael a trans-man and Capt of the night asked everyone that was outside to please go back in for announcements and to hear the band play. Trust me you didn’t miss much. The entertainment committee needs serious help. I didn’t go back in I stayed outside and took more pictures with people like Gia Darling yes you read that right Gia, she was there. All I can say about her Is DAM she is one gorgeous woman and in the words of our fearless Vanity Club president “I’d go "straight" for that, ha-ha. Gia is so short and skinny I was really surprised and I must say she is a hottie. I wish I had a chance to talk to her. I also took pictures with the Vanity Club girls that happen to be outside at that time. A bunch of great girls I must say. As the night wore on I headed upstairs to change in to my jeans and tank and packed up a little more. Went back downstairs to mingle a little more and I ran into Kelli a great girl In the making she has lots of potential to make It as a woman and I wish her good luck. It was getting close to 1am and I headed back up to my room and showered and cleaned up and went to bed.

Sunday, October 5, 2008
the day after

Woke up at 9am and packed the last few things I had out I tripled checked the room. Went downstairs to check out of the hotel and placed my bag in storage as I was leaving with some of the girls in their boy mode. It’s such an interesting thing to see someone in their boy mode and trying to guess who was who but hey that is the beauty of what makes us who we are sometimes. I called Lauren to see where she was, she was down in the restaurant having breakfast with Cat. After breakfast she went back upstairs to pack which took an hour, so I just hung out with Wendy and Kelli both in boy mode I said my good byes to all the Vanity Club girls that were leaving. It was now about 11am and I well be heading back to the airport on MARTA. It was a quiet ride to say the least and check in and security was a breeze. I had lunch there and boarded the plane home
I got home around 6p

Closing

This year definitely felt different than past SCC’s that I have been to. Mostly regarding the fetish side of it I saw a lot less leather and PVC and sissies this year which was a good thing, I think it made SCC a more upscale and sophisticated atmosphere. Yes it made SCC a less a place to have fun and enjoy the art of dressing. Another thing that has changed was the number of younger participants at SCC it seemed many are already transitioning or in the process. There are fewer younger cross-dressers every year. The trans-men are increasing in every year which is great. The third thing is the wild or party energy has gone down dramatically since leaving midtown, or it could just be this year, which in turn made this year seem to have less attendees, I heard like 850 or so compared to 910 last year. Possibly could be the result of economy, since for many SCC is more a luxury than a need.

The people are what make SCC all possible and this year there were some wild ones that pushed the boundaries of being passable. It’s great to see that many people come out and enjoy being a girl. I am happy that I was able to attend to say hi to old friends and make some new friends. One last thing coming home from Atlanta that was in the 75-80 degrees, to New York that was at 50-55 degrees SUCKS ha-ha……… oh and after seeing myself in pictures I think I look bad and FAT.

Until next year….