dlv Special midweek mailing ...

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This is the general Diva Las Vegas 2002 mailing list.
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In this mailing:

This mailing
Mail problems
Winners and runners up
Note from Glamour Boutique
Hilton and age
Protocol
Dress comments
Dress comments
Dressing and such
Show questions
Boilerplate items
Administrivia
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Only 56 days left, gang!
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This mailing:

This is a special midweek mailing due to the volume of mail received.
Some items received will appear in the regular weekly mailing this
Sunday. Depending on volume of mail and timing issues, we will most
likely go to a twice-per-week mailing schedule sometime later this
month or in early April.
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Mail problems:

A lot of mail problems last weekend. About 10% of our mailings bounced
for one error or another. Particularly troublesome were mailings to
home.com, sissify.com, hotmail.com, and geocities.com.

If you did not receive Sunday's mailing, entitled "2 months 2 go ..",
it's on line at http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/dlv02arc/0016.html
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Winners and runners up:

(For those who don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about, please
read last Sunday's mailing very carefully. This will be repeated.)

Tina is number 5, which makes her Ms Congeniality.

Yvonne from Hawaii is Third Runner Up.
Carla F. is Second Runner Up.

Lea N. is First Runner up, and in the event Ms Free Drink cannot fulfill
her duties, Lea will take over that role.

And the moment you've all been waiting for, Anton a drum roll please!

{tat-a-tat-a-tat-a-tat}

Ms Free Drink 2002 {tat-a-tat} Ginny from Tennessee!

{Imagine Bert Parks singing as Ginny walks down the runway.}

Even though Ginny is new to the list, I understand she is no stranger to
some of you. :) Ginny's response came in very shortly after the mailing
went out.
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Note from Glamour Boutique:

+Hi my name is Stephanie Williams. I am the make up artist at the
+Glamour Boutique here in Vegas.

+I am not sure if the owner John contacted you about make up sessions
+and giving all that are with your group a BIG discount not just on
+make-overs but sales will be having in the store. If this interest you
+please email me on this email or at work glamourboutique2@aol.com just
+put att: Stephanie.

+I will be more than happy to give you any kind of help I can. I do
+have pics of make-overs I have done if interested. We are located at
+714 east Sahara..is a discreet location behind Tony Roma's on a side
+street that is still considered Sahara. The shop number is 702
+697-1800. Anyone can call for appt there or email me.

Glamour Boutique is one of the new t* specialty boutiques now in Las
Vegas. Last time I was in town I stopped in and was impressed. Even
though they are a t* specialty shop, their prices are reasonable.

If you are interested in a makeover, especially for the weekend
evenings, I would suggest you book well in advance.

Stephanie adds in a later note:

+I would love to get a how to seminar one day with a group of people.
+makes it easier and would be way cheaper if did it that way. So why
+not do Sat afternoon for seminar. I could have sign up sheets for
+the open house thurs or they could call the shop or email me.

There you go, gang, if you're interested in some professional makeup
instruction, you can have the option of doing it Saturday afternoon,
just in time for the big night out.
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Hilton and age:

>I just wanted to let you know that I was staying at the Hilton, but
>after reading some of the comments I was thinking that maybe I should
>change to the Main Street Station.

I'm assuming you mean the Las Vegas Hilton, and not the Flamingo.

>Have you heard anything good or bad about the Hilton?

I've stayed there, and we had people stay there for both DLV 2000 and
DLV 2001.

It's very nice. Only problem with the Hilton for DLV is that the big
Networld+Interop convention overlaps DLV somewhat and room rates at
the Hilton (next door to the Las Vegas Convention Center) are "adjusted"
(spelled g-o-u-g-e) for the later part of the DLV period.

Bottom line, if you have a good room rate, I suggest you stay there, if
not, cancel and move to the MSS or elsewhere.

>Also... can you give me a rough idea how old some of the "girls" are.
>I don't want to be the oldest one there.

Just lie about your age! (Hey, it works for me) :) :) (Doesn't it?)

Seriously, we will have people who range in age from the 20's to the
60's. As long as you're at least 18 (21 if you plan to follow the group
where there's drinking or gaming) you will be fine.
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Protocol:

>Thank's for the advice column on correct attire for the different
>events, It was one of the concerns I had and didn't like to ask for
>fear of sounding too naive as I am quite new at this.

>There is no mention of the pre get together location?

Pre-DLV get-together is planned for a place called Flex, corner of
Arville and Charleston. A detailed schedule with times, places,
directions, notes, a link to an annotated map, and explicit contact
information, will be sent just prior to DLV to all who have registered.

Please keep in mind that the schedule, including times, locations, etc.,
is still in a state of flux. Most of the major activities are solid, but
we're still finalizing plans on a number of activities.

>I am very aprehensive about going out in the afternoon to Milano's but
>I am really looking forward to my first "pre get together" and the
>Annual Mixer Night with everyone also.

If you are uneasy in (pardon the expression) broad daylight for your
first real public exposure, consider boymode for that. You will then
meet and get to know some of the others and become at ease with them.
Then you can change into girlmode on your way to the Pre-DLV thing.

>Your newsletter is very entertaining. Thank's again.

And you're very welcome. :)
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Dress comments:

Vicki writes:

>I realize that many first-timers are concerned and nervous about going
>out in public dressed. The last update had some excellent suggestions,
>and there is not much to add. But I will:)

>Don't forget your sunglasses! For many girls wearing sunglasses makes
>them a bit more "passable." Also, I have been told that it also
>provides a feeling of security.

>Practice your walking, hand and arm gestures, speaking, etc., at home.
>Try to be a little more observant of how women naturally move and talk,
>and work on this. I repeat the word-NATURALLY-! I am NOT talking
>about drag queens.

>Las Vegas is one of the great people watching cities in the world. So,
>people will look at you. 99% of the people who read you will either
>ignore you or give you a friendly smile. And why really worry about
>the 1% of the assholes? As a TS I live full-time as a woman, and once
>in a while I do get a rude comment.

>Sometimes I have gone over to
>someone who made a rude comment and said, "I am only wearing this
>skirt in order to piss off assholes. Have I pissed you off in some
>way?"

This is one point I'm gonna disagree with. Confronting a jerk can only
escalate the situation, attracting attention in the process, and perhaps
leading to violence.

My suggestion is to be a lady and ignore a heckler. If somebody gives
you a hard time and he cannot be ignored, there are people whose job it
is to handle them.

At one casino last year, a drunken lout started making comments toward
one of our people. The dealer called over a pit boss and a security
guard and they immediately bounced said lout. If our person would have
joined in, verbally or physically, she would have been bounced too, and
we don't wanna see anything like that happen.

Our behavior in public reflects on DLV and on the t* community in
general.

One thing to keep in mind for DLV is that there is nobody standing by to
bail you out or arrange for your attorney should you get arrested for
disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, or whatever. You are on your
own for this.

>The bottom line--- This is DLV, and you will not find any other
>activity that will afford you the opportunity to be dressed and
>comfortable that DLV does.
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Dress comments:

Mindy writes:

>just a few thoughts on being in the public in girl mode.

>as i have become more and more know in public in my female mode i have
>noticed a few things.

>1. show no fear.. i know this is not easy but if you look
>uncomfortable you will be noticed more and commented on more. I always
>walk with my head up and my attention is where most gg's attention
>would be.. if with friends its on them.. if shopping its on the store
>displays. also i have found that if somebody makes eye contact with
>you a smile and a hello wins the day.. most people will automaticly
>respond with a hello back and you are in control of the situation.

>2. passing... i know i dont pass well under close or even medium
>inspection. however when out casually i dress for the occasion (diane
>helps with this, sort of my personal fashion police) and act as natural
>as possable.. most people are in thier own little world and tend not to
>notice you at all if you just sort of blend in.

>3. las vegas in general is very accepting. locals see it all the time
>and dont really care. those from out of town expect to see the
>unusual.. 99% of the time out of towners ask to have a picture taken
>of them with me. i guess i have supplied more then my share of kodak
>moments *LOL*. many people are curious about us and if they start a
>conversation at a bar or gaming table it is friendly and they just want
>information.. often they are even willing to pay for your time in the
>form of a drink..

>a recent example of life in vegas involves a t-girl who came to visit
>and had never been out in the general public.. our 1st outing was the
>airport.. we made it to a bar for a drink, greeted our friend at the
>baggage claim and made an exit with no incidents at all. and this was
>post 9/11.

>she stayed at the boardwalk and after a couple of outings with our
>group decided to test the waters at the tables on her own.. she was
>suprised to find everyone treated her well, in fact by the time she
>left employees were stopping her to say hi and dealers were competing
>to get her to play at thier tables. (could be she tipped well?) she
>even had a minor problem. she locked herself out of her room and didnt
>have her id.. the manager on duty escourted her to her room let her in
checked her id and wished her a good night..

>so girlfriends.. enjoy vegas. i cant think of a more tolerante place to
>do your fem thing.

I agree, Mindy. Thanks.
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Dressing and such:

>>>>but we will be sending out a blurb on dress guidelines, as well as
[snip]

>>You couldn't send that out early, like now or soon? Here's why. I
>>do all my shopping mail or web order, and I've got to get at least
[clip]

>If I can add my $.00002 in here, that's $.02 adjusted for inflation.

>I hope this isn't too long to print. Sorry if it is, edit if you need.

>This will be the first Diva I've missed, and I really wish I could go,
>but my schedule won't allow it. I'll be with you in spirit. I've been
>to Diva three times now, 1999, 2000, 2001. The first time I went, I
>spend hours planning my wardrobe and what I was going to ear for each
>event, down to the earrings, made a list for everything. I packed
>everything. You see, before Diva 99, all I had ever done was go to a
>few support meetings, and the girls there were always trying to out-do
>each other and impress each other.

>Ok, so I came to Diva on a Friday night. I thought I was ok when I got
>in my car and started driving over to the bar there, but when I got
>there I was a total wreck, a real basket case. I almost chickened out
>and went back to the hotel so many times. I ended up casing the place
>out, kind of, then driving down the street over by the airport,
>thinking of just going back to the hotel, then going back for one
>more look.

>I was real nervous for 3 reasons. 1) It was my first time out in real
>public besides a support group where you changed in the back room. 2)
>I didn't know anyone there, and 3) I was so worried about what I was
>wearing, wanted to be sure every little thread was in place. Well,
>I finally got the nerve to pull in the parking lot. I figured I would
>sit there and see if anyone else went in. So I park for a couple minutes,
>it was still light out. No one went in that I could see, but this couple
>came out and they were talking and laughing so this told me 2 things,
>first, it must be at least a fun kind of place, since they were happy,
>but it also reminded me that I didn't know anyone there, so I almost
>backed out once again. Ok, so I figure I'll go in and just check it
>out, and maybe look for the group. The hardest thing I've ever done in
>my life was to shut off that motor and walk in that door. And when
>I got in there, I could barely see. I didn't realize it was so dark,
>the only real light was over by the pool table. I could see the bar
>so I kind of walked up there and started to look around.

>Then this one girl, I can't remember her for the life of me, but if I
>figure out who it is I'm gonna give her the biggest hug she's ever got
>in her life, she was standing at the bar getting a drink or something,
>and suddenly then she kind of turns to me and says Oh, Hi, we're over
>there, and points to some tables over in the corner. That night was a
>life changing event. I have never felt so welcomed and so wanted than
>I had that night. We stayed there forever, talked about everything there
>was under teh sun, but no one in the whole group was looking me over
>and comparing dresses and making snobish remarks about the others. We
>had a great time.

>My point in this long lengthy story is to not worry about every little
>thread being in place, or dressing as fancy as the others, it's not
>a contest. For the rest of the weekend I actually wore the less fancy
>stuff and only really got all dolled up for the show that night.

>>Is passing important? Some swear it is, others swear it is not.

>>One opinion is that passing is 90% attitude. Many agree. It may be
>>difficult to get out of that "guy in a dress" mindset, but developing
[bobbitt]

>I've never worried about passing, I worry more about fitting in and
>being accepted, or conversely making a total ass of myself. If I
>look in the mirror, I can see why I pass, and why I don't pass. The
>thing is, don't get obscessed with every little hair out of place
>and every flaw.

>>When selecting an outfit for a DLV activity, consider all of the
>>following:

>> * Your personal style, your likes and dislikes, your comfort level.

>I think this is so important, but you take some time developing your
>style. You go through phases. I went through my underware phase, my
>glam-o phase, by sissy phase, and you can say I'm now in my real woman
>phase. Most important thing is to find a look and a style that your
>comfortable with. Remember, the girls at Diva are not going to judge
>you harsh, or put you down if you make a little fashion mistake.

>I'm sorry that this is so long. I hope you will print it. I owe a lot
>to the girls at Diva for as happy as I am now. Thanks again.

You're very welcome, and thanks for writing. I must agree that the
people (girls and yes, the occasional guy <bfg>) are second to none, and
are in no way catty or judgemental. The group is very inclusive and many
people have reported feeling "part of the group" within a few minutes of
meeting up.

As for being nervous, it's natural and to be expected, however, as you
pointed out, many of our people report that it goes away very rapidly.
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Show questions:

>Hi Divas!

Hewwo! :)

>What's the deal on the shows, La Femme and La Cage? Are we
>doing the early shows or late?

For LaFemme on Thursday, we will be doing the earlier show, which starts
at 8:30pm. This will be followed by the limo tour.

For La Cage, plans are not solid yet, as there are a few options for
Saturday evening that are still being bounced around. This should be
solid within the next couple weeks or so. Which show we go to depends
on how everything fits that evening.

>Do we just get our own tickets directly?

We'll be sending out a special mailing on show tickets a few weeks before
DLV, which will explain exactly and explicitly what hoops have to be
jumped to attend the shows with the group, but ...

Here's the deal on the tickets.

For LaFemme on Thursday, we will be collecting $$$ on Wednesday evening
and our hostess will purchase "best available" seats for the group when
the box office opens on Thursday.

This is a necessary procedure to allow us to pay individually but sit
together, and yet allow a maximum of our people to attend.

For La Cage, we will have everybody reserve and pay for VIP seating
tickets individually. History has shown us that as long as everybody is
present and ON TIME when the group is seated, there's no problem sitting
together. Please note the emphasis of "ON TIME", as the people who are
on time will not be giving up their good seats in case some are late.

>Do you know if advance tickets are a must?

In most cases yes. They tell me (the ubiquitous "they") that La Cage
regularly sells out on the weekend, but La Femme does not during the
week. We'll let everybody know well in advance of any drop-dead dates.
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Boilerplate items:

Most boilerplate items (schedule, web sites, ongoing announcements,
etc.) do not appear in midweek mailings unless there are significant
updates to them. Please refer to last Sunday's mailing at the URL below
for these.

http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/dlv02arc/
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Administrivia:

This is the Diva Las Vegas 2002 mailing list.

Diva Las Vegas 2002
April 30 - May 5, 2002
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

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