I had a pleasant night's sleep after my first day in Reno. After I woke up, I used the morning to organize my cosmetics, putting away most of the the old ones which I had brought with me and replacing them with the the new ones that I had purchased. I had scheduled an appoint with Leona at The Hidden Woman for 12:00 noon for a lesson on how to properly apply the new makeup. I got ready by washing and shaving, then put on my undergarments and the pink sweater top and pink and green pleated skirt that I had worn to the previous ETVC social meeting. I also wore a pair of pantyhose and the same white sandals that I had worn on the previous day. I then made a quick application of makeup, and put on my new wig.
I left the hotel at about 11:00 a.m., and walked toward the bus transfer center a few blocks away, stopping at a convenience store for a bottle of orange juice. The bus was already loading passengers as I arrived, and I boarded, placed my computer bag on a center-facing seat at the front of the bus in order to get the fare from my purse. I then sat down there, and rode to across the street from a small shopping center near the shop, where I purchased a single-use flash camera and some toiletries. I walked from there the remaining few blocks.
When I arrived, several people from the local Transgendered community were there, along with Leona and Carly. Although Leona hadn't had any appointments for the day, the shop was actually fairly busy, with several people coming in to order wigs and hairpieces. I also used the opportunity to check my E-mail using my laptop computer and the extra telephone line there.
The first picture was taken of me in
my new wig, and the "temporary" makeup that I had
applied at the hotel before leaving. The second is of me seated
at the table, with my wig removed, preparing for my makeup lesson.
The plastic makeup bag is on the left of the table, and the small
mirror that I used is next to it..
The small shop was pleasantly hectic during my lesson. One by one I used each item in the makeup kit, with Leona either showing me on one side of my face or telling me what to do. I took notes of each step. She realized that she had omitted some necessary items the previous day, and provided them to me in the proper sequence. I had some difficulty with the improvised lighting and mirror arrangement, but together we eventually got my face together. I then put on my wig, which she had brushed for me.
I spent the afternoon and early evening there chatting with the people there. I then gave everyone still there an actual hug, and left to catch the bus back to the hotel. I did stop at a clothing store where another person who had left just before I did was also shopping, and we looked at shoes, dressed, and other articles. I left without buying anything, and walked a few blocks to the next bus stop. The bus came within ten minutes, and I walked back toward the hotel, again stopping at the convenience store for a soft drink and some peanuts.
When I got in my hotel room, I removed the outfit that I was wearing, my wig, and some of my undergarments as well. I turned on the room air conditioner so that I could cool off. I then did my nails, removing the clear polish that I had been wearing, then applying a base coat, two coats of the colored polish that Leona had given me to match my makeup, and clear top coat. After it had dried somewhat, I applied a fast-setting liquid.
I then began the task of putting myself together for my night out. I began by putting back on my bra, breast forms, and waist cincher. Then I got out my black shoes, with a wide, one-inch heel, and black purse, and started transferring things that I would need for the night to it from the white purse that I had been carrying. I then got into my long, tight-fitting violet dress. I had to carefully adjust the top and rear straps of my bra, and my waist cincher, so that they were concealed. I then put my wig back on, and positioned it as best I could to conceal my hair.
When I was finally together, I left my room and walked down the hall toward the elevator. I had worn these shoes several times before, and it was a pleasant experience walking in them. When the elevator arrived I entered, and was amazed to see myself reflected in the mirrors on three sides of it, unrecognizable to me as a blonde in a nice, long, sleeveless dress. I first stopped at the registration area on the third floor, and picked up a guide to the shows that were playing.
There were no major performers
scheduled, so I walked several blocks to Harrah's Club,
where they had their nightly "adults only" review,
interestingly titled lipstick! I arrived barely
in time for the 9:30 p.m. show, and walked to the reservation
counter to purchase a ticket. Their reservation computer requires
a name, so the ticket shows me as Janis R_, where I gave a
variant of my last name.
The show had just begun as I entered, and I was shortly seated at my assigned place at a table by the center aisle, fairly close to the stage. Shortly after, the waiter came around for my drink order, and told me that he needed to see my ticket as well, probably to see if it was one which I didn't have which included the drinks. He examined it my the light of a candle on an adjacent table, then took my order for a glass of champagne. I hadn't had an alcoholic drink for many years, but made this exception for this occassion, the conclusion to my second successive day spent en femme!
The show was an elaborate musical production, featuring scantily-clad male and female dancers and singers, with many changes of costumes and settings. In the middle of it was a comedian, who performed in several costumes taken from an open trunk on stage with him. His act was definately "adults only" and not "politically correct!" At one point he singled out a man seated at the edge of the stage, and had him come on stage. He was escorted backstage, and later reemerged with lipstick kiss marks on his cheek, which he would somehow have to explain to his wife! The show lasted about an hour and a half.
After the show, I wandered around to several casinos, and began the gradual process of losing back the $100 that I had won the previous day.
After midnight I returned to Harrah's,
and had a late dinner at the coffee shop at which was the only
one of their restaurants that was still open at that hour. The
Kung Pau Chicken served with rice was disappointing. The waitress
was kind enough to take the only picture of me that night, seated
at another table which did not have a mirror beside it.
After dinner I resumed my wanderings, noting that many of the older casinos had closed since the last time that I had last been to Reno. I managed to complete the task of returning my previous day's winnings to the casinos.
I walked back toward my hotel using a different route, and found the salon where I had scheduled an appointment to have my own hair done after I would check out of the hotel on Wednesday. I then returned to my hotel room, and continued to savor the experience until about 3:00 a.m., when it was time to take of my dress, wig, and undergarments and remove my makeup.As always, I was sorry to have the magic experience end. I drifted off to a pleasant night's sleep.
This page last updated: April 06, 2000
