I’ve been having a nice time in L.A. and saw a lot of friends last night at the Femme Fatale Party at the Threshold Clubhouse. The Club Fantasy TG Party will be held in the same location next Friday, on April 1st. My friend Barbara is bringing several items to give away on the exchange table, so I packed several wigs to give away, still in excellent shape, that just didn’t quite work with my face. Hope to see you there on April Fool’s Day!
Back in the Denver Airport
After a sleep-deprived night I’m sitting here again in DIA, waiting on my flight to L.A. It’ll be nice to see old friends again though I wish it were under happier circumstances.
Been listening to: Since I’m heading back again it seemed appropriate last night to listen to The Thrills’ excellent album “So Much for the City.” I remember back in 2003 when it came out and there was all kinds of talk on the radio about these Irish guys who sang songs about California and had the jangly-guitar sounds and harmonies of surf music. They were gonna be huge! And then they released a couple more albums, which were good but never really re-captured the excitement of their first effort, and they’ve since been pretty quiet since 2007. Big Sur was one of their best songs. Ah, so young and full of promise. I miss those days…
Eight Years of Trannies In Trouble
Yet another year has passed with Trannies in Trouble online now for eight years. I’m always amazed when March rolls around, and usually this time of year I mention the Iraq war, which was just gearing up when I went online with the site back in ’03. Well, the war’s apparently officially over, though of course things are still a mess over there. Barring any unforeseen catastrophe – such as the internet imploding – I’m looking forward to the site humming along for many more years to come. I’ve really got my eye on year nine and especially year ten, which will be here in no time, and then onward into double digits. Really the site has been one of the best things in my life so far and I can’t imagine not doing it. And I have to give a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported the site over the years – I really couldn’t do it without you! So here’s to the next year and the next and onward!
Memorial for Paul Logan, March 27th / Club Fantasy, April 1st
I just learned that the memorial service for Paul Logan (aka Chainguy) will be held on Sunday, March 27th, from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Threshold clubhouse in North Hollywood, California. I’m going to go out there a couple days before so that I can also go to the Femme Fatale party at Threshold on Friday, March 25th and hang out with friends who knew Paul. And then I decided I may as well stay that week and go to the Club Fantasy party on April 1st. That’s always my favorite party but it’ll probably be tough this time, since Paul was a regular there every month. He was the kind of friend where everything felt better once he showed up. It was always, “Oh cool, Paul’s here, now I can relax.” There will be a lot of people there who knew him, though, so I suspect we’ll probably all hang out in the back room and have a good time.
If you’re on Fetlife, here’s more information on the Memorial Service for Paul.
And the Threshold website here.
Some Recent California Pics
Well, it’s taken me a while here but I finally have some preview pictures from the last California trip, which was a lot of fun. Here are some nice shots with Kaitlynn Nguyen (some more of them will be going up Friday on the site). Also my cute friend Vicky whom I’ve known for several years from the Club Fantasy parties, where we’ve spent many fun evenings hanging out, and a few more of yours truly in distress.
That strappado in particular was tough! Oh, and that steel hogtie out on the patio was equally so. It’s bittersweet for me looking at many of these pictures since more than half of them were shot by Paul (Chainguy) who just suddenly passed away. There will be no replacing such a good friend, of course, but I know he’d want his pictures to be seen and enjoyed. I’m still waiting on word on his memorial service, which will likely be later this month. I’ll post more here when I hear the final date and also in the Yahoo Group for those who knew Paul and want to attend. I’m sure it will be packed.
Sad News About Paul Logan
Some readers here I’m sure have already heard the news that my good friend Paul (aka Chainguy) recently had a major health crisis and passed away in the hospital on Saturday, February 26th. He was 51. These last few days have been tough and I’ve been having a hard time believing that he’s really gone. He was a very good friend with a dry and clever sense of humor, and he also had a huge impact on Trannies In Trouble, shooting many of the galleries on the site.
I’m just waiting on news of the upcoming memorial to be held for him, most likely at the Threshold Clubhouse in L.A., where he was very active and where I often hung out with him at the Club Fantasy parties and at other events, and where we did quite a few shoots over the years. Flying back to California under these circumstances will be heartbreaking but I would regret it forever if I didn’t make it to the memorial service. He was loved and appreciated by many and I’m sure there will be a huge turnout. I don’t know yet when I’ll be leaving but it’ll probably be in a week or two. I’m going to keep this short but will write more about Paul later when I feel more confident about things. The shock is wearing off but I’m left with that empty feeling of disbelief as I go about my day.
Ts in Trouble on Tiffany’s Trapped Transvestite Caps
Tiffany Manners has a terrific captions blog, definitely one of my favorites, with lots of sexy pictures and clever captions. We recently exchanged some emails and she graciously agreed to do her caption treatment on a few of my shots. She has two series, here and here, and also another set of pictures with a Latin theme, which she did while on vacation in Cuba. Thanks so much, Tiffany – Nice work! Her entire blog is worth checking and she has a wicked and very sexy imagination ;-)
Anyone Know This Pic?
A friend in California gave me a copy of this wonderful picture, which I scanned here, and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the photographer or model, or if there are any other shots that go with this one? It looks like it could be an old Irving Klaw picture, although I’m not sure if it’s exactly his style. In any case it’s a lovely shot and a great outfit and tie. If you’re familiar with it, please feel free to leave a comment below or to email me directly. Thanks so much!
Update – Thanks for the comments and to everyone who emailed me directly. Yes, it does look like the lady in question is Pia Sands from an old Harmony magazine. Here’s another pic below that a reader just sent me. The wild hair at first threw me, but I’m guessing that it’s probably just bunched up behind her back, since everything else – the outfit, hose, heels, gloves, tie, even the blotchy carpet – all seem to match up. So if anyone has any more scans from this set, feel free to email them to me – I won’t mind! ;-)
Update 2-28-11 – Another reader kindly sent in a few more nice color pics from the Pia Sands gallery, so here are a couple more below. Check out those seamed stockings!
Update 3-15-11 – Another kind reader sent in another Pia Sands shot from a different set of pictures. It makes you wonder if these shots were all done at the same photoshoot. She’s wearing the same heels and it’s probably the same room with that same carpet. Hmm, interesting…
Heading Back to Denver
Well, here I am sitting in the Sacramento airport listening to the bland smooth jazz muzak. My flight was cancelled so they routed me up here before heading back to Denver later tonight. I don’t know what it is about travelling that makes me so, well, horny, but I’ve got it bad tonight. I did buy a few old Harmony reprints of John Willie and Irving Klaw photos at the My Kinky Valentine event the other day, so maybe I’ll have to check those out later in the wee hours ;-)
It was a nice visit in L.A. this past week or so, and I got to do several fun photoshoots including one with Chainguy, where I did a very strict self-hogtie in steel restraints, crawling on my stomach to get to the keys at the other end of the patio. I’ll try to post a few preview pics in a couple days once I’m home and back to normal. And then will have to make an effort to go out this weekend – I think to Hamburger Mary’s most likely – to try to minimize any post-L.A. crash, which has been known to happen.
Busy in L.A.
It’s been a whirlwind of busy-ness here in L.A. After the Club Fantasy party and the corset tea I’ve been able to do several photoshoots, go back to Theshold for another party on Saturday, see some friends and even get in a little shopping. Just taking it easy today and trying to re-group before the next weekend. I’ll be checking out Threshold’s My Kinky Valentine this Saturday and probably shooting at least once more before I head back to Denver (I hear it’s really cold!) next week.
More with Kimberly Sinical from FetishCon 2010
I recently got some more pictures from Jeff Jamm from back when we shot with the lovely Kimberly Sinical at Fetishcon 2010, with the two of us wearing this bizarre double ballgag. Believe me, this was such a chore to get tied up with her ;-) I only have a few pictures, so it’s not really enough for a full set on the website, so here they are on the blog…Enjoy!
Terrific Party at Club Fantasy
We had a wonderful turnout at the Club Fantasy party last night – well over 30 people with a lot of play going on. It was really nice to see so many friends and meet some nice new people too. Then today I went with a good friend to a “corset tea” salon at the Hollywood and Highland Center and met some more nice people, including a charming lady whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to. The great thing about being in Hollywood and walking around crossdressed is that no one bats an eye, except for maybe the tourists, in which case I’m just playing my role in the ongoing freak show. That’s certainly one thing I miss about L.A.
Been listening to: I recently heard “Ghost of Love” again, from David Lynch’s super-bizarre “Inland Empire,” back in 2006. The hypnotic thing’s been going through my mind since. David Lynch even does the singing (what can’t he do?), though his voice is so heavily processed that I wasn’t sure if it was a man or a woman when I first heard it.
The Bieber: Is it wrong that I kind of want to see the upcoming Justin Bieber movie?
The Brick Testament on Transvestism
I promise I won’t turn this into a big Biblical blog, but this guy the Reverend Smith (who is described as “both highly presumptuous and extremely vain”) made a bunch of Bible illustrations using Legos. The one on good ol’ Deuteronomy 22:5 about crossdressing is pretty amusing. You can check it out here and be sure to click on the little forward arrows on the right side of that page to see the other illustrations. They’re all really clever – I especially liked the ones on “Homosexuality,” “Bestiality,” “When to stone your children” and “Sexual Discharges.” Funny stuff.
Jay Bakker on Huffington Post
I just read a very interesting article from Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, about his visit with his wife to an L.A. drag show. At the time he was moving towards becoming a “gay-affirming pastor” but was still uncertain about whether he really wanted to be seen at the club. The night however turned out to be a turning point for him, with the drag queens welcoming him warmly and talking about Jesus’s love. It’s a terrific story and he seems like a really cool guy. There’s also another good blog post about him from Cathleen Falsani on his views on gays and the church that’s also very interesting (and check out those tattoos!) Apparently they had to close the comments on that particular post because things got so heated.
His basic argument is that homosexuality really is not a sin. He points out that the Bible contains so many laws against things that we now treat as no big deal (eating shellfish, for example) and all kinds of calls for actions that are illegal (killing this or that sinner or non-believer), and that the three references in the New Testament that do appear to deal with homosexuality may be using words that aren’t even translated correctly. He makes a very good and passionate argument and the article suggests a growing movement of some evangelical churches to fully embrace gays and lesbians, and not in that creepy “we love you but you can’t do any of that gay stuff” kind of way.
Both blog posts are very good, and the whole Bible and gays question is always fascinating, even for a heathen like me.
I’ll be at Club Fantasy, Feb. 4th, in N. Hollywood, CA
I just wanted to mention that I’ll once again be at the Club Fantasy party on Friday, February 4th, in N. Hollywood, California. I used to co-sponsor this event when I lived in L.A. and it was one of the few parties where I almost always felt comfortable and at home. I miss it terribly now that I’m away so it’s always a delight to visit again. I’ve already heard from several friends who’ll be there, so I’m looking forward to a good turnout and a fun evening. There’s always play going on in the front rooms, and almost always some good bondage, and nice people to visit with in the break room. If you’re in the area I hope you’ll stop by if you haven’t been there before and say hi. And if you’re new to going out and dressing, this event is always a very safe place to go, as it’s friendly and inviting and low stress. You can even dress there if you’d prefer, or just come in guy mode. And of course, you don’t have to be transgendered to attend. Friends and admirers are welcome too. Hope to see you there!
Latex Hood Giveaway for the New Year!
Congratulation to m. kilburn who won the latex hood giveaway! Thanks to everyone who signed up and left a comment – I hope to do another one in a few months here once I clean out my closets again!
The recent ballgag giveaway was a lot of fun so I dug some more things out of the closet and thought I’d do another one. I got this terrific latex hood with nose holes only from The Latex Store.com a couple years ago but the size wasn’t quite right. It’s a large and I recently got a medium that fits me much better. The measurements on their website for this one say 16 – 17.5 inches around the neck and 23.5 – 25 inches around the forehead. If this would fit you or you have someone you play with whom it would fit, it’s really easy to sign up for the drawing. Just like before, all you have to do is:
1) Sign up for this blog, which you can do on the Subscribe bar over on the right above my picture, or down below at the bottom of the right column under “Entries RSS.” If you’re already signed up, no worries.
2) Just leave a comment here on this blog post.
In two weeks I’ll use Random.org again to generate a random number to select the winner (whom I’ll email to get your address) and then I’ll pay the postage to send the hood to you anywhere in the world. (If you’re very far away though it might take a while!) That’s it. And of course, I’ll send the package discreetly. Oh, and just to be fair you can’t have won anything in the last six months here.
I should mention that hoods like this are very intense and if you’re at all claustrophobic (like I am a little) it’s very easy to panic wearing one. You’d only want to play with this with someone you really trust. And you would never want to use this in self-bondage, since the nose holes are quite small and if they were to slip out of place you could easily suffocate. But the intensity is also what makes them so appealing. In any case, since there’s a specific size for this hood, I’m guessing we may have fewer sign-ups than last time, so you should have pretty good odds…All the best…
Out Shopping
I’m not real crazy about shopping but do a fair amount of it to get new outfits for taking pictures and going out. For more fetish-ey kinds of things I often just buy online, which has its own hassles with returning things that don’t fit, but I also go shopping locally at places like Ross, Macy’s, Burlington Coat Factory and even Target occasionally. And like I’ve mentioned before, even after all these years, I’ll sometimes get insecure about being a guy looking at women’s clothes. I was talking to another CD the other day who said the same thing. He was planning to go out shopping in guy mode, made it into the store, and then lost his nerve and turned around and just kept walking. I’m sure many of us could relate, as it is often considered a bit odd, or at least unusual, to see a man browsing in the women’s department, whereas the reverse is no big deal at all.
To be honest, I’ve done it so much that I usually do pretty well but if I feel at all nervous it’s usually worse in the first ten minutes. Once I find an item that’s a possibility that usually relaxes me and I just focus on the hunt and get into it. Or if there’s a good song on the Muzak – I heard Macy Gray this afternoon – that can often put me at ease. But starting out can sometimes be slightly uncomfortable, especially since I’m sort of a nervous type to begin with. I know a few other CDs who have this relaxed confidence about them and who never seem to get rattled – yeah, that’s never been me. I’ve also known one or two who have an almost defiant quality to going out, and that’s something I also hope to avoid as it just comes off as angry and as if they have a chip on their shoulder (which, well, they seem to).
Of course, like so many things in life, it’s all a mental game. Most people really don’t care and if they notice or wonder about me at all it’s probably just a passing thought about the tall guy with shaggy hair over there looking at dresses. Then there’s also the whole question of going out shopping while dressed, which is something that I’ve never really enjoyed that much, as I feel like it draws even more attention to me than if I’m just some dude, and ironically enough, for someone who has lots of bondage pictures of themselves online, I don’t really enjoy being a center of attention when I’m out and about. I know other CDs who swear by shopping while dressed and say that’s definitely the way to go. In fact there’s a local CD and her wife who have suggested I should go with them, so I might try it again at some point.
So again, the real challenge is just in that space between my ears. Maybe I just need a nice prescription for some Xanax.
Secrets in Lace Videos
An online friend sent me a link to this Secrets in Lace Video on YouTube. I love how the model looks just slightly unsure of herself in front of the camera (I always find that sexy) and there’s this moment when she starts talking that almost looks like annoyance on her face when she says the phrase, “casual option” (it’s probably not but it is priceless). She is pretty hot and some of the comments on YouTube are pretty funny, especially “She should be tightly bound and gagged in her underwear for being a tease.” Click on the picture below to go to the clip. There’s also a Secrets In Lace page on YouTube with more. It makes me want to go online and spend several hundred dollars on expensive hose and lingerie!
Katy Perry Likes Rubber
These pictures of Katy Perry in the rubber dress that she wore at her recent Times Square performance have been posted a lot already but I figured they were good for another look, plus a few others with some nice outfits. She looks fantastic, and it’s a look that very few could pull off (I know I couldn’t!) I know her music often gets dismissed as fluff but she does have some super-catchy tunes.
In Atlanta
I had a nice flight on Delta to Atlanta the other day and am just having a nice time visiting with my parents here. Thankfully I didn’t have any of the airport woes that are afflicting the east coast. Hope everyone’s having a nice end of the year these last few days!
