September 05, 2007 - Richmond Virginia

So I am in Richmond Virginia installing some of our equipment for a customer. Most of the time when I am going to be taking a trip, I'll post on several groups and forums that I belong to and ask if any one knows neat things to do where I'm going, or if any Tsisters would care to meet. Most of the time I get no reply until after I return and post a blog about it and then everyone comes out of the woodwork:
"I wish I'd known you were going to be here!"
"Too bad I missed you"
"Let me know the next time you're going to be here"
I don't know if these folks really missed my posts before I went or if they just couldn't screw up the courage to say something until after I was gone.












In any case, Michelle does not suffer from a lack of courage. One look at her and you know that you're dealing with someone that has lots of attitude and confidence. Come on, just take a look at that face and tell me she doesn't look cocky as hell! She replied almost immediately with an offer to meet for dinner and drinks and so we did! We had a couple of games of pool (she let me win), a good meal, and a few drinks! Michelle does not suffer from a lack of courage. One look at her and you know your dealing with someone that has lots of attitude and confidence. Come on, just take a look at that face and tell me she doesn't look cocky as hell!
 
I don't know how comfortable Michelle would be with my saying much about her past, so I'll just tell we had a lot in common and it was night well spent. Thanks Michelle!

So the following day I have to go to work (that IS why I travel you know!). At one point I had to remove the side panel of our rack to gain access to the interior. The panel is probably three foot wide by 5 foot tall and heavier than it looks. I realized just how heavy it was when the darn thing surprised me and slid out of place and dropped two or three inches . . . to land on . . . my toes!
So while my vision turns to a red haze of pain and I'm biting my tongue to keep from yelling, what do you suppose I am thinking?
Am I thinking of how stupid I am going to look if I have broken my toes and have to tell the customer I have just ruined their "XX days with out an accident" record?
Am I thinking about how silly I'm going to feel if I have to take my shoe off and show the pretty pink polish on my toe nails?
Nope. All I'm thinking about is how damn ugly my foot is going to look in sandals with black and blue toes! Fortunately no broken toes, and if it did bruise, it's under that pink polish I mentioned and can't be seen!

After work, I decided not to do the Kim thing because I don't want my poor face to be raw from shaving so close so many days in a row. Instead I decide to go shopping drab. As I'm getting out of the car, I see a tall girl standing at her car and another very pretty girl a few yards away walking toward her. I could swear the girl at the car has a beard shadow but figure I've just got dressing on the brain. At least that's what I thought until the two started speaking very loudly to be heard over the cars and across the distance. Surprise, surprise, they are BOTH transgender! I was so surprised all I did was smile and say hi as I walked past them. The pretty one turned on the glam and gave me a thousand watt smile while she said "Hi honey, how are YOU doing?". That's where the conversation ended though as they both got in the car and left.
Small world, huh?