Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Poll

Once again, rate each portrait from 1 to 5 (5 being best); vote in the poll to the right.

A

B

Poll Results

How you rated the latest portraits:

A=4.33

B=4.00

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Janus Syndrome 2012

Last year, in a post under this title, I went through some of Dani's accomplishments of 2011 and plans for 2012.

Here's the list of plans:

2012 goals:

1. Find that petticoat!

2. Get out at least five or six times for a semi-drag "adventure". I need to build my confidence.

3. Find an excuse to shave my mustache (hoping a theater role will require it this spring), so I can stop digitally removing it in photos.

4. Experience hypnotic trance. I've concluded this will require a real person as the hypnotist, at least on the phone, as virtual programs and recordings do not seem to work for me.

5. Meet one of my on-line friends in person.

Well, not exactly a successful year in that regard. I found a petticoat online but have not been able to order it (lack of funds, unable to schedule to guarantee it arrives when wife/family not home); I did get out in semi-drag twice (once at the very beginning of the year, once near the end); still have the mustache--none of my theater roles called for me to be clean-shaven; no hypnotic trance; still haven't met an on-line friend in person.

What did I accomplish this year? Well, I did a lot more videos than in the past, nearly one every month; I dressed a lot more often at home; I got new hardware and software that has improved the quality of my art posted here.

Goals for 2013:

1. Petticoat!

2. New wig--short gray

3. Get out more in semi-drag.

Let's see if I do better this year.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

New Poll

Once again, rate the portraits from 1 to 5, with 5 being best, by voting in the poll to the right.

A

B

Poll Results

Sorry this is late, but my internet was out for several days:

A=3.20

B=4.16

Monday, December 24, 2012

"Happy Christmas to All..." 2012

[My annual Christmas greeting, first posted in 2007.



...and to all a Good Night!"...as Clement Clark Moore wrote. (And, yes, he did write "Happy Christmas," not "Merry....")

I'll probably not be blogging very much over the next few weeks, so Happy New Year as well. I thought this was an opportunity to thank everybody who has commented here, who has linked to here, who reads here regularly.

And a chance to talk about how I feel about Christmas. I'm with Charles Dickens, who put these words into the mouth of Scrooge's nephew, Fred: "I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

There is practically no version of A Christmas Carol that I cannot stand to watch at least once, although I have a favorite--the 1984 TV version starring George C. Scott, which I consider closest to both the spirit and the letter of Dickens' work. I will confess a soft spot for The Muppet Christmas Carol, in part because my kids love it so (despite their being college graduates now).

So I will close this post with the immortal words of Tiny Tim:

God bless us, everyone!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Five Days Until Christmas

...and a very Christmas-y look, with a green dress and red trimmings.


The green dress with the henley collar is by Route 66, bought at Kmart in August 2009; the shoes are Fioni "Havre" two-tone black pumps, from Payless in February 2011; accessories are scarf, red jewelry, red belt, and dark hose.


Is the caption for that first pic "Go on, I'm listening?"


More pics on Flickr; no more dressing until after the New Year, but I'll try to find time to post some art; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Six Days Until Christmas

One of my favorite dresses...I knew the moment I saw it on the rack several years ago it would look terrific on me.


The red/black crepe dress is another Jaclyn Smith item from Kmart, purchased in March 2009; the Fioni "Kassie" red patent t-strap pumps are from Payless in January 2009. Other accessories are red rosette headband, pearls, and dark hose.


A nice portrait, no?


More pics on Flickr; the last outfit for the month will be posted tomorrow; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Seven Days Until Christmas

Like last Tuesday, I did three dressing and photo sessions today, but I will be posting them one a day for the remainder of the week.

Let's start with a red turtleneck sweater and checkered skirt. Isn't it strange that a turtleneck ~ one of the most demure of coverings ~ can somehow look very femme and sexy?


The turtleneck is by Croft & Barrow, purchased at Kohls in February 2009; the skirt is part of Kmart's Jaclyn Smith line from June 2009; and the shoes are Payless's Fioni "Hilt" red patent pumps, bought in November 2009. Other accessories are a red rosette headband, black-and-white jewelry, black belt and dark hose.


I love that top image: It looks so completely natural, like I'm having a conversation with someone off-camera (and besides, my legs look terrific)!


More pics on Flickr; the next outfit will be posted tomorrow; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

New Poll

Once again, rate each portrait from 1 to 5 (5 is best):

A

B

Poll Results

A=4.33

B=4.00

Nine Days Until Christmas

Still more art:

Eat It


You still have a few hours to vote in the poll (details here)!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

11 Days Until Christmas

As promised, some new art:

Fetish or Flirt?


Don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

12 Days Until Christmas

The third outfit from Tuesday: This is perhaps my most comfortable dress; if I hadn't had outside appointments, I could easily have worn it all day...and the new shoes are equally as comfy.


The brown jersey shirt-dress is part of Kmart's Attention line that I got back in April 2008; the shoes, on the other hand, are a very recent purchase: Merona "Melva" brown cap-toe mary-janes from Target in November 2012. Other accessories are a shiny bow, scarf, blue jewelry, and navy tights.


I'm trying some new ideas for portraits as well:


More pics on Flickr; for the next few days, some new art; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

13 Days Until Christmas

Here's the second outfit from Tuesday, featuring another sweater, this time paired with a pencil skirt.


The blue v-neck sweater is from Target's Merona line back in February 2009; the skirt is Jaclyn Smith from Kmart in February 2011; the shoes are Steve Madden "P-Echo" black patent pumps, bought at Famous Footwear in May 2012. Other accessories are shiny bow, scarf, silver jewelry and navy tights.


And a portrait shot:


More pics on Flickr; tomorrow, the final outfit from Tuesday; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

14 Days Until Christmas ~ Catching Up

So, other than being Dani whenever possible (and working), what have I been up to?

Well, some of you are aware that I am very involved in community theater...and I have just begun rehearsals for a production of Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits. If you're not familiar with Forbidden Broadway, here's a link to the Wikipedia entry.

I'm excited by this because it's the first time I've had a chance to sing on stage since I did Into the Woods several years ago. (I often have trouble getting roles in musicals because my dancing skills are nearly non-existent, plus there's a paucity of roles for men in their 50s and 60s.) Plus, I get to do parodies of some of my fave roles--the narrator in the aforementioned Into the Woods and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof among them. Apparently, I will also have the chance to cross-dress on stage in public! I'm set to do the Harvey Fierstein role in the Hairspray parody!

I'll keep you all informed as rehearsals continue.

Don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

14 Days Until Christmas

I'm squeezing in three outfits in my dressing session today, but I'm going to spread the posting of them over the week.

We'll start with one of my fave sweaters, the cowl-neck, and a nice pleated skirt. I was really happy with all the results in this set.


The cowlneck sweater, by Croft & Barrow, was purchased at Kohls in October 2008; the blue pleated skirt was found in a thrift store in June 2012 (no idea who made it, the tags were removed); the shoes are Fioni "In the Mix" navy felt peep-toe pumps from Payless in February 2011. Other accessories are shiny bow, gold jewelry, gold belt, and navy tights.


This is a particularly lovely portrait, I think:


More pics on Flickr; later today, a "catch-up" post on what I've been doing and will be doing; and don't forget to vote in the poll (details here)!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

New Poll

Rate each image in the poll to the right (5 is best):

A

B