URNotAlone

Going to Steamers Jazz Club 5/7/2011

May 8th, 2011 9:43 pm MDT

I had been talking to a girl (post-op if you must know) I had met online, and Friday she seemed a little down.  I suggest that not only do we actually meet for the first time, but we should go to Steamers Jazz Club in Fullerton, CA.  I thought that a little Latin Jazz might be just the right "pick me up".  She agreed and I got reservations for Saturday night for two.  Our intent was to listen to the music and go over all sordid details of our lives that were missed in the phone calls.

As usual, weather and my choice of outfits did not work well.  I planned on a cute dressy white, red, pink crinkle semi sheer V-neck top with a white cami, white pants (Bebe ultra white), and white sandals since the weather earlier in the week had been in the high 80's and low 90's.  Of course, Saturday the weather gods struck again being cold (50's), and a chance of rain in the evening.  Well, I had a leather look jacket with fur collar (hey, fake fur all you animal lovers) as a backup, and usually keep an umbrella in the car (this is strange in itself as it rarely rains in Southern Calif).

Vicki and I met in Fullerton (wow, what a parking mess) and walked over to the club.  I had been practicing voice for some time and hoped that my lessons would not fail me.  We checked in (reservations were under my name) and they said that they were going to move us from table 11 (near the back) to table 0 (zero) which is right in front of the band.  The biggest surprise was that they seated us with three men (was this matchmaking?? They were about our age)  Oh, now I was worried about all the times I skipped doing my voice lessons to/from work to listen to a particularly good audiobook.  Luckily Vicki is an extrovert and carried most of the conversation with them.  Unlike when I was out with my very good friend Joe, I ordered my own wine and food - no choice, no one to cover for me, lol.  Unfortunately, this seating location did not allow us to gossip, so that will have to be another time.

The band got on the stage about a half hour later, and we were treated to some very good Latin Jazz.  The band leader was VERY entertaining, and had us laughing a lot (ok, up to the point where he started telling stories in Spanish which I do not speak.)  After the first set, the band took a break and Vicki and I went out in the back (nice enclosed patio area) to have a cigarette break.  Vicki loved the music and bought one of the bands albums.  The band leader (Louie Cruz Beltran) chatted with us, turns out he is really Cuban.  When it was time to go back in, I was walking back to our seats, when the band percussionist stopped me and said I had a nice bracelet watch.  OK, that part was weird.

We decided to leave around midnight and I got the bill.  Wow, two salads and a few drinks, and a latte came to $96 total.  But it was worth it.  Turns out the chicken Caesar salads were quite expensive, but their personal pizzas looked too fattening as I am STILL trying to shed that lingering 10 lb tummy bulge.

Fullerton had done a massive revitalization of their downtown area, and I had not been there for a few years.  So we walked around.  This area has what seems to be hundreds of clubs and restaurants (this also explains the parking problem).  You can tell Fullerton is a college town with a community college and a State University, and there were a number of places that were "hopping" and catered to a much younger set of people (ok, I guess I am showing my age here). 

As we were about to cross the street, we noticed that a business across the way was still open.  OK, it was called "The Naughty Teddie" which peaked our interest.  We decided to do a little window shopping in the store.  OMG, can one blush thru a good full coverage Mac foundation?  I surely did.  In addition to some nice teddies, they had the worlds supply of vaginal/anal sex aids, fetish wear, and more.  Vicki struck up a converstation with the staff, and they tried to interest her (us) in some state of the art toys. Wow, a solar powered vibrator, guess everything is going green now. Well, this is not an area that I "dabble" in, and finally we got to leave (whew, the temperature seems to have risen about 30 degrees in that time).

Vicki was in high spirits when we got to her car and we resolved to go back there again after she introduces me to some places in Laguna.

What was interesting to me about the evening was that other than my worry about my voice (and yes I need more work), was that I was not really worried about going to a mainstream place.  My friends at the salon make sure that I dress classy.  I think that I actually pass well now.  Not one person at the club stared, said anything, nor did I draw unusual looks. Think most of this is attitude helped a little with real hair and a little help from the hormones.

We have a family friend that knows about me and asked me today where I had gone last night.  She had come over, and I was not there thru midnight so she assumed I had gone to a TG club.  I told her I had gone to Steamers and she said she did not know that they had a TG night.  I told her that they did not and I can pass without a problem, so they don't need to have one. OK, a little white lie, but not a big one. She has never seen Kathryn - just pictures. She does not really approve of me (she is trying to get me back together with my SO) but does get me clothes and discount Express coupons, and I still have a pair of her boots that I borrowed, so I guess she is not THAT against it.

I like going to Club Shine (except for the distance) and partying with my TG  friends, but I have always really wanted to just blend in with the rest of the world.  I think I am starting to.  Once I can blend, then I want to stand out as a woman. So there (she said defiantly)!!!!

If you are in Southern Calif and want to visit this outstanding club, please look at http://www.steamersjazz.com

Take care and take heart,

Kathryn