On June 14, 1996, Friday afternoon, I leave Quebec city for a trip of one month in car across Canada and U.S.A. When I arrive in Montreal, I decides to go shopping.

At 22:00, I decide to leave Montreal to go sleeping somewhere between Montreal and Provincetown in Massachusetts, but I am so awaked that I decide to cross the border during the night. At midnight, I arrive at the border and the custom officer says: "Nice evening Madam, what is your citizenship."

I answer: "I am Canadian."

"Where do you go?"

"To Provincetown, Massachusetts." 

"For what reason?"

"I am on vacation; it is for my pleasure."

"So, Miss, have a nice vacation in U.S.A."

And now, I am in U.S.A. I drive all the night and I arrive in Provincetown at 6:45.

During the morning and because all the hotels are closed, I visit a little bit the city of Provincetown and I arrive at my hotel, The Roomers, a 11:30. At noon, I decide to go to the beach to take a little bit of sun and to do a little bit of shopping. So, I put on my bathing suit and before going to the beach, I shop between 12:00 and 14:00 and at this time, I go to the beach to swim in the ocean and to take some sun bath. At 16:00, I go back to my hotel, remove my bathing suit and dress with a pale blue dress for doing a little more of shopping.

During the evening, I choose a very outrageous white and pink dress with long sleeves, a lot of frills and a very huge bosom and a lot of feathers in her head to go to the "Debutante Ball" where I meet 38 other girls who were there for this Ball. Even if I did not win any prizes because the rules of the Ball are that every contestant must wear only white clothing, I was certainly the most applauded girl.

Sunday morning, June 16, I go back again to the beach and after three hours of swimming and sun bath, I go back to my hotel and leave the hotel to go to New York. I choose a small hotel but the room is so small that I decide to stay only one night in New York; even my wardrobe is greater that this room. When I put one of my suitcases on the bed to open it, I had no place to move in the room.

From 21:00 to 01:00, I walk in the street of New York, alone but confident and with my great smile, entering and exiting from many bars and meeting some guys on the streets. A young black man offers me to show me the main bars in downtown New York and I accept him as a guide. At a moment, the young guy says: "Don't you are afraid to be, you, a blonde white girl with blue eyes with a black man like me?"

"No, you are a man like any other man. Do you have a problem?"

"No. You are a curious girl."

"I am from the North."

After that, he continues to show me some interesting bar and I go back to my hotel.

Monday morning, June 17, I leave my room at 9:00 and decide to go shopping to Gunit's, a nice place for dresses with pearls and beads. All these dresses are evening dresses with a lot of pearls or sequins, very bright dresses for a woman who wish to be seen by everybody around her. I decide to continue my shopping in Macy's and Payless Shoes Source but I do not find any thing to buy.

I continue to shop at Lee Mardi Gras Boutique, a superb sexshop, the best that I have ever seen in America. I have bought there a very thigh and real corset that removes at least 9 inches to my waist and an Emerald necklace with its earrings.

At 19:00, I leave New York to Atlantic City where I wish to stay two days to go to the Casino. At 22:00, I arrive at Atlantic City, the Caesar and the Bally's are full, but I find a room at the Claridge. I pass the night, up to 5:00, to go from one casino to another: Claridge, Caesar, Bally's, Trump, Taj Mahal and few other casinos.

Tuesday afternoon, June 18, I walk on the Boardwalk to do a little bit of shopping. At 19:00, I decide to go eating at the buffet of the Claridge. During the waiting time on the lane, many women talk to me about my good taste for my dress and they ask me permission to sit with me. So, I have talked with many women all the time that I was in the restaurant.

During the evening, I returns on the Boardwalk to walk again and a policeman come to speak to her and say: "You have walked on the Boardwalk this afternoon."

"Yes." 

"You were wearing a white dress."

"Yes."

"You have a very nice dress this evening. Why do you have changes your dress?"

"Well, I have many dresses and I wish to show all of them."

"Atlantic city is a nice play for that."

We have continued to chat at least during 30 minutes. After leaving the policeman, three men approach me and asked if I work and how much. I answered in telling: "For three nice men like you, it will be free if we go to the Casino."

They say "OK" and I was a kind Lucky Bunny for a part of the evening; I throw the dices for them.

When I return to the casino of the Claridge, one of the girls who served drinks asked me : "Didn't you wear a different dress and a different wig yesterday evening?"

"Yes, I am at the Claridge and I have many beautiful dresses and different wigs and I like to change my style and my look."

"Will you come back this evening again with a new dress?"

"If you wish, yes. I will go back to my room on the 17th floor and I will be back in 10 minutes."

During this night, I have put on a new dress, at least 7 times. The girls were completely crazy and I have had many drinks. It was a marvelous evening.

Wednesday, June 19, I drive from Atlantic City to Toronto. I leave Atlantic City at 10:00 under a very huge thunderstorm, a real flood. I have so much luggage that I call the bellboy and a valet to bring back my car. Everyone is very kind with me and says : "Thank you, Miss."

"Have a very nice day, Miss."

I arrive at the border at 22:00 and the custom officer asks me only my citizenship. Ten seconds after, I am on my way to Toronto and I arrive at Hotel Selby at midnight.

Thursday morning, June 20, I go to the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto for a presentation by Corel about Word Perfect and Ventura from 9:00 to 16:00.

After the presentation, I return to her hotel in walking on Yonge Street. At 21:00, I go to a Fetish Night at the Boots Warehouse located just under Hotel Selby. This fetish night is patronized by Xpressions, the crossdressers' club of Toronto.

Friday, June 21, I drive to Detroit but I decide to pass by Sarnia-Port Huron. This time, I am delayed during 15 minutes to pass the border. The custom officer sends me to the secondary inspection and when the second custom officer sees that there is nothing on his computer about me when he has checked my passport, he just lets me continuing my trip in U.S.A.

Saturday, June 22, during the afternoon, I shop a little bit in Detroit and meet some friends. At the evening, I go to a bar for dancing.

Sunday, June 23, I shop a little bit in Detroit at Sears. Then, I drive back to Canada. When I arrive at the Detroit-Windsor border, again, I am delayed during 10 minutes and I am sent to the secondary inspection. The second custom officer asks me to open the trunk of my car. He opens one of my suitcases but when he sees that there are only dresses in the suitcases, he just closes the suitcase and tells me that I can continue my trip.

I arrive at Toronto at 22:00. At 23:00, I decide to go dancing in a lesbian bar, the Roses Bar Café on Parliament Street.

Monday, June 24, I shop all the day long with another girl, Melissa, and we have a lot of fun together.

During the evening, I decide to go to the Bar 501 and to the Colby's.

Tuesday, June 25, I go to a make-up session at The Bay, a big department store on Bloor street with Melissa. The girl of Mac, the cosmetic company, does a very excellent work on my face. After that, we continue to shop. During the evening, I go to the Limelight for dancing.

Wednesday, June 26, I shop and I find a very nice ring at Henry Birks & Sons, but it is a little bit expensive: 6300$ but there are 25 diamonds on this ring. I love it so much than when I got into matrimony, it was my wedding ring.

At 21:00, I go to the Pimblett's on Gerrard street; it is the best place in Toronto to meet crossdressers. I meet Melissa, April, Carol, Helen and Pat.

Thursday, June 27, I meet an old couple in which the man does not exactly know how to drive in Toronto and where to go. Her wife must go to the hospital for some exams. I offer my services to be their guide in Toronto and to escort them to the hospital. They accept and I am their guide for the day.

So, I begin my day by driving the woman to the hospital with the car of the man and after that I show to the man how to drive in Toronto and where to park is car and we return together to the hospital to wait the wife in the waiting room. It was funny because we look like a man with his daughter and when the wife goes out of the room of examination, they look like a couple with her daughter. After a little bit of shopping with this couple, they invite me in a restaurant to have a good meal. After the meal, they leave Toronto for Montreal.

During the evening, I go to the Jax Bar on Yonge Street to see a female impersonator show and to the Roses Bar Café for dancing a little bit.

Friday, June 28, I shop a little bit. During the evening, I am invited at the apartment of Jim to have a little dinner with friends.

Saturday, June 29, I just walk a little bit around the hotel and stay at the bar of the hotel. During the evening, I go to the monthly Xpressions Dinner hold on the last Saturday of every month. Xpressions is the crossdresser's club of Toronto. This time, the dinner is hold at the Corner Bistro.

After the dinner, eight girls decide to go to the El Convento Rico, a very fine place to dance and to see some female impersonators show. After the show, I walk a little bit in the streets of downtown Toronto because some streets are closed for the Gay Pride Parade of Sunday. I meet three policemen in front of the Maple Leaf Garden and one of them says to me : "Hello inspector, is every thing OK?"

"Silence, please; you know that I am on an anonymous patrol."

They begin to laugh and we have a lot of pleasure to talk during 15 minutes.

Sunday, June 30, this is the Gay Pride Parade in Toronto and I am in the parade. I wear the same outrageous pink and white dress that I have worn at the "Debutante Ball" in Provincetown.

After the parade, I am so exhausted that I go directly to my hotel to plunge in my bath for at least 30 minutes; I am completely dehydrated.

Monday, July 1, the Canada Day, all the stores are closed and I walk in the parks of Toronto. At the evening, I go with Chris, a very nice guy, to the Jax Bar where they have played Bingo. I win a T-shirt and a 25$ certificate of drinks at the bar The Sneakers.

Tuesday, July 2, I shop a little bit in two jewelers where I meet, in 30 minutes, two policemen that I had met on Saturday evening. Every policeman asks me how I feel, if I have a good time in Toronto and if I need some help. They are very kind and polite.

At the evening, I go to The Sneakers with Natacha, a young black lesbian who lives in Toronto. After having finishing to drink, we go, together and under a very heavy rain to the Jax Bar to see a female impersonator show.

Natacha ask to Michelle Dubarry, the leader of the show if I may sing for her in French. Five minutes after, I am on the stage to sing in French, without any preparation, music and lyrics, a song for Natacha. I choose to sing "Sous les ponts de Paris". I was well applauded by the audience.
 

Wednesday, July 3 up to Sunday, July 7, I am in Houston at the International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy (ICTLEP). It is the best occasion to meet many girls and to discuss about the place of girls like us in North America, Australia, United Kingdom and across the world. For going to Houston, I decide to go by airplane and I use Air Canada. It was a very quiet flight and many persons around me wish to talk to me. As usual, I have no problem with the custom officer and I go through all the procedures at the speed of a lightening.

In Houston, at the convention in the Ramada Astrodome Motel, I meet a lot of girls and many of them are now good friends. We have had many discussions about many topics and it was certainly the most interesting conference for girls like us. Each evening, we have had, after a day of conference, a little wine and cheese for socialization. The temperature is very hot 40C (105F) on the shade and 45C (115F) under the sun with much humidity and even the water of the swimming pool is hot. We are approximately 70 girls at this conference in a hotel of 300 rooms. So, we take much room but we are not alone in this hotel. The clients at this hotel and the staff were very kind.

I was so humid that after going in the swimming pool, I have hung my bathing suit in my bathing room of my room to let it dry. Tomorrow morning, my bathing suit was still wet. Many pieces of clothing were humid or wet.

Thursday, July 4, I am a lecturer for a conference about the rights of gays, lesbians, crossdressers and transgenders' people in Quebec, Canada. I think that I  have given a good picture of the rights of these people in Quebec.

Friday, July 5, during the day, I have participated to many forums. During the evening, with seven other girls, Vanessa, Tony Lynn, Deborah, Lisa, Christine, Heidi et Diane, I go to the Richard's Bar in Houston to dance. When eight girls like us enter a bar, you may be sure that many persons have given us a very special glance. We have had a lot of fun to dance.

Saturday, July 6, we have a big dinner where many persons who have contributed to help the community of transgenders and crossdressers, have received a special award. We have also had the opportunity to meet the girls of the Tau Chi Chapter of the TRI-ESS Society and the girls of the Gulf Coast Transgender Community. I must say that every person of the ICTLEP, the Tau Chi Chapter and the Gulf Coast Transgender Community is a very fine girl. I feel as I am with a lot of friends that I know since many years. They are warm and welcome; we are like a great family. A very big: "Thank you to you." Also, I have met many fine, charming and sweet persons from Texas and I must tell you that girls from Texas are very nice girls.

Sunday, July 7, it is the time to leave. We have a good breakfast followed by a preparation of the conference of next year. During the afternoon, I go to the house of Vanessa for swimming and eating a small Bar-B-Q with Dianna and Deborah. We have a nice time in the swimming pool and I have caught a sunburn. The Bar-B-Q is fine and after that, Vanessa drive back all the girls to the hotel where we must take the shuttle to the airport.

I have a lot of pleasure with the stewards and the stewardesses in the airplane and we take some pictures inside the airplane. I arrive at my hotel in Toronto at 00:30.
 

I did not know exactly what to expect at Fantasia Fair. Many persons have said to me that Fantasia Fair is the best place to assist to many seminars on psychology and sociology about crossdressing and transgendering, to understand why someone is a transvestite or a transgender, to meet some professionals on crossdressing and transgendering, to share some feelings with people who have the same kind of feeelings, to meet many sisters, to build new friendship, and all of that in a friendly environment.

So, I decide to go there to see and participate to Fantasia Fair in Provincetown in October 1996 to improve my own understanding of myself.

I arrive in Provincetown at the morning of Wednesday, October 23, after a night of driving. You must know that I was unable to arrive earlier because I have to work on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 to 15:00. So, after finishing working on Tuesday afternoon, I come home to dress myself and to prepare my luggages. I leave Quebec city at 23:00 because I was unable to leave earlier.

I cross the border a little bit after midnight where I am delayed by at least 25 to 30 minutes by two officer sof the U.S. customs service, one male and one female. The male U.S. customs officer takes all the necessary time to check one by one, my seven suitcases and to check every spot in my car to be sure that I do not transport some illegal material and at the same time, the female U.S. customs officer stays at my side. As you know, I do not smoke, do not drink and do not drug myself and the custom officer  find nothing. It is the first time that I am delayed so long at the customs.

At a moment, I told to the male U.S. customs officer.

"Look Sir, I know that you loves my dresses but you are too fat."

The male U.S. customs officer look at me with a bad eye meanwhile the female U.S. customs officer is laughing.

After that, I continue my way to Provincetown where I arrive at 9:15. I take my time to check in at the hotel, to register myself at the Fantasia Fair and to dress up properly for her first activity, the lunch of Wednesday.

I must tell you that, during the morning of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I stay at the Fairbanks Inn to chat with the other Canadian girls to meet them and to know them better.

During the afternoon of Wednesday and Thursday, I participate to the rehearsals for the Fantasia Fair Follies and these rehearsals take some time.

The first barrier that I encounter is the barrier of the language. Even if I am enough fluent in English, my native tongue is French and I do not catch all the jokes instantly. In fact, if someone speaks to fast in using slang or abbreviations, sometime I am unable to understand and I know that some people may find this lack of understanding frustrating and dull.

It is very easy for me to approach everybody to talk to them because I am a very opened person and I am not shy or timid.

I meet many persons on Wednesday and I am very happy to meet so many interesting people with so various experiences of life.

Thursday, the day of the Fantasia Fair Follies, I begin the day with the lunch and after that, I go to the rehearsal. I am so busy to prepare my performance that I do not have time to do other thing. I must thank Miqqi who has suggested me to do a performance with Melissa in singing together "Sisters". I have had a very huge pleasure to sing a duo with Melissa. Not only we have had a lot of fun to sing together, but working with Melissa is a real pleasure. A very big thank you to Melissa for having worked and sung with Micheline.

Singing "Hello Dolly" is certainly a marvelous moment in my life. I am so happy to do it that I am in the clouds, in Heaven, and when the crowd begin to sing along with me, this was a delightful moment, a piece of a dream.

Thank you for everybody who gives me the opportunity to sing this song and to prepare my performance in giving me many counsels. I must tell you something: I choose this song not only because I like Barbra Streisand but also because of the lyrics that express my feelings:
 

 It's so nice to be back home where I belong
 I feel the room swaying
 For the band playing
 One of my old favorites songs
 So bridge that gap, fellows
 Find me an empty lap, fellows
 Micheline will never go away again
 Here's my hat, fellows
 I'm staying where is my hat, fellows
 I went away, from the lights of 14th street
 But now then I'm back in the lights of 14th street
 Tomorrow, we'll be brighter than the good old days
 Micheline is overjoyed and overwhelmed
 I hear and tinkle
 I see and twinkle
 

I have a big success at the Fantasy Ball where I win the trophy for the best dressed costume.

After the Ball, the girls gone to the Roomers for a girl's party.

On Sunday, I leave at 16:00 but I meet a slight problem; there is a flat tire on my car. It is always an interesting experience to have a flat tire on a Sunday afternoon when you are in a hurry and when the garages are generally closed. Anyway, an old woman of Provincetown who sees the flat tire tells me where to find an opened garage and the tire was fixed.
 

I am in Chicago, Illinois, from November 8, 1996, to November 10, 1996 to participate to "Holiday en Femme" at the Hyatt Lisle in the suburb of Chicago, nearby the Airport O'Hare.

I have a very pleasant time and it is full of interesting events.

During all this time, I have participated to a seminar with more thant 80 young students who were enlisted in a course of psychology and who have been invited by their professor to have a meeting with people from TRI-ESS, the Society for Second Self.

It was interesting to hear three girls talking about their own experience and listening the questions from the students.

The Procrastinator's Halloween Ball on Friday evening was a success and the girls have worn some magnificent dresses and outfits.

The "Looking good clinic" on Saturday morning was interesting and full of surprises; thank you to Amanda, Christine, Dee Dee and Eve.

The dance class of Saturday afternoon with Amanda was excellent ; Amanda is a very good dancer and all the girls have had a lot of fun in listening their explanations and dancing. Thank you very much Amanda.

The "Wedding Ceremony" and the "Puttin on the Ritz" of Saturday evening were perfect. I greatly appreciate to be one of the bridemaids and I must tell you that this was a very special sensation to be a bridemaid; my heart was full of emotions, love and, believe it or not, I am a little bit shy.

Finally, the brunch buffet of Sunday is perfect.

The staff of Hyatt Lisle is perfect and Chriss, the chief of the staff for the service at the table, is a lovely lady who has done every thing possible to give the best service of her life. Also, the rooms at the Hyatt are fine and very comfortable.

Next time, I must go on the scene and sing something ; I am feeling so good.

For finishing, a big thank you and a huge kiss to Denise, the person who run this convention with a master hand.

You may be sure of one thing ; I will come back and stay longer.
 

Thursday, July 10, 1997. I take my flight to San Diego in California on US Airways in passing by Pittsburgh. At the airport, Roxy and Donna are there to welcome me and they drop me at the Hillcrest Inn in downtown San Diego; this hotel is very well located, the prices are affordable and the rooms are nice.

During the afternoon, I walk downtown and shop at the Horton Plaza, a nice shopping center located in front of the U. S. Grant Hotel.

For the evening, I change my dress for a shiny black dress to go to the PECS, a leather bar on University Avenue for a welcome evening. After that, we go to the Club Mustang, a spa on University Avenue, to assist to the election of Mister Nude San Diego. Nicole the Great, one of the former empresses of San Diego is always a very fine «Mistress of Ceremony» for this kind of events.

The contest is very interesting and I sit on the first row at just one foot of the contestants because I am the Hostess for the evening and the bearer of the "Mister Nude San Diego 1997" scarf. Don't have bad ideas; I am not "Mister Nude San Diego 1997" ; I am  probably the only woman who has been the bearer of the "Mister Nude San Diego 1997" scarf. I have given it to the winner of the contest.

Friday, July 11. We take a bus for Tijuana in Mexico to participate at the election of the new Emperor and Empress of Tijuana. After the election, I and Sacha shop a little bit in Tijuana and we were constantly harassed by people who wishes to offer us to enter their shop to buy something.

Finally, we come back to San Diego at 15:30 where I go to the SRO Lounge on Fifth Avenue to salute Emperor XIV Clint Johnson.

During the evening, I go to the First Annual Empress I Jose Honors State Dinner at the U. S. Grant Hotel and for this occasion, I decide to wear her long black and gold dress. I meet the Empress I Jose and the emperor and empress XXV of San Diego, Noel and Roxy. After that, I participate to the «Out of Town Show» at the U. S. Grant Hotel where I sing a French song «Et c'est pas fini».

Saturday, July 12. I go to the Hospitality Suite of the Imperial Court of the San Diego County at the U. S. Grant Hotel to meet some friends and to chat with them. After, I go to the Empress Mimi of Buffalo's Annual Weenie Roast BBQ at No 1 Fifth Avenue on Fifth Avenue to meet some friends and eat some hot dogs.

Finally, for ending the afternoon, I do a little walk in San Diego. Two policewomen ask me if I am a «working girl» and if «I am working». I answer them that I am just a «walking girl», a tourist on foot.

At 19:00, I go to the grand ballroom of the U. S. Grant Hotel for the Coronation XXVI Ball; I wear my long red and brown princess dress with crinoline like the style of an imperial dress of Elizabeth, Empress of Austria. The evening is fine and every body is well dressed, nice and happy. After the ball, I go to the Hillcrest Inn hotel to change my princess dress for a short black dress to finish the evening at the PECS.

Sunday morning, July 13. I go to the Briefs for the Victory Lunch. After the brunch, I visit San Diego on foot. I must say that during all the time that I am in San Diego, the sky is blue and the temperature is between 72oF and 82oF; a very fine temperature.

Monday, July 14. I shop all the day long. I buy a nice ruby ring and after that, I walk back to the hotel by passing near the port to see the sailboats.

At 21:30, I go to the Brass Rail, a bar on Fifth Avenue, to see a nice show of female impersonators; I must say that this is really a very fine show.

Tuesday, July 15. It is only a day for shopping and walking.

Wednesday morning, July 16. I have just the time to go downtown to pick up few dresses that I have bought at Macy's but that I was unable to pick them up before Wednesday morning because there was a special discount that applied only on dresses bought on Wednesday.

After that, I go back to my hotel, take my suitcases and take a cab to the airport. I have just the time to go to the airport to take the flight between San Diego and Montreal.
 

Wednesday, July 16, 1997. Arriving at 16:30 at Houston, I go to Alamo Rent-a-Car to take charge of my car for one week. I drive downtown to the home of Fancy and I call a friend, Mary Ellen, who lives in San Antonio. Learning that Mary Ellen must live San Antonio on Friday evening for a trip of one week, I decide to go immediately to San Antonio by car. During my way to San Antonio, I was arrested for a little excess of speed but the policeman is very kind and he just gives me a warning in telling me to watch more often my speed. Finally, I arrive at the house of Mary Ellen a little bit after midnight. We chat together during two hours before going to bed.

Thursday, July 17. I drive downtown to reach the AAA (American Automobile Association) office to grab some maps of San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin and Houston. At this office, I receive a very well professional service by Sabrina and Lori; girls, you are the best. Lori persuade me to fly from Houston to Fort Worth instead of driving because the flight ticket is very inexpensive, 101 $ including taxes, and it is faster and more relaxing; I must agree with her.

After that, I  shop a little bit and I drive back to the house of Mary Ellen where I meet five other girls and we have a lot of fun to chat together.

Friday, July 18. I help Mary Ellen to prepare herself for her trip and after that, Mary Ellen gives me a key of her house for the next two days. During the afternoon, I go to the San Marcos Factory Outlet, a giant factory outlet at 35 miles north-east of San Antonio on the road to Austin where I shop a little bit. After 21:00, I drive back to downtown San Antonio to visit San Antonio by night and to walk on the River Walk.

Saturday, July 19. I go downtown to visit San Antonio during the day, to take a ride on the small boats that are on the river and to visit the fort of Alamo. I have always though that the fort of Alamo was at Alamo but this fort is in the middle of San Antonio.

During the evening, I meet the emperor and the empress of San Antonio, Gene and Shirley, at the 2015, a bar where I am invited to perform as a guest from the Imperial Court of Toronto. I accept to sing and it is a pleasure to participate to a fund raising events for charity.

Sunday, July 20, 1997. I drive back to Houston.

Sunday, July 20, 1997. Late afternoon, I arrive Houston. During the evening, I go to the Briar Patch a bar on Holcombe Street, with Fancy and Janet. I am invited to perform and I sing two songs, «Goldfinger» and «Diamonds are a girl's best friends» with a short sleeveless black dress, a necklace, bracelets, earrings and rings in diamonds. After that, with Janet, we eat at a little restaurant in downtown Houston.

Monday, July 21.  Fancy and I go together to shop at the Galleria, a giant shopping center in Houston.

Tuesday, July 22. Fancy and I go together to meet Peter, Emperor IX of Toronto and after that we shop a little bit. Finally, we go to the beach at Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico. The sand is fine and the water is hot; it is a fine afternoon. During the evening, we meet a group of crossdressers in downtown Houston to discuss about the rights of crossdressers and their experiences.

Wednesday morning, July 23. I and Janet buy our tickets for the «Garden Party», the finest and most original party and funds raising events that I have ever seen. During the afternoon, I and Fancy go to «Leather by Boots», one of the best leather shop that I have ever visited. We also go to Spec's Liquor Warehouse, the largest liquor store in Houston. The choice is huge and you may be sure that you will find what you are looking for. Finally, during the evening, we go to the movie  to see «Hercules». During the day, I wear a short sleeveless red dress because it is so hot.

Thursday, July 24. During the day, I walk to visit downtown Houston and with Fancy, I shop on Harwin Street where there are many jewelers and dress' shops. During the evening, I and Fancy go to see a piece at the theater; it is an adaptation of «Gone with the wind». After that, Janet comes to the house of Fancy to pick me up because on Friday morning, I and Janet will fly together to Fort Worth.

Friday, July 25. I and Janet take a flight from Continental Airlines at Houston for Fort Worth. I wear a classic short black dress but Janet wears an outrageous pink and black outfit. You may be sure that Janet was the central point of attraction during this flight. After the flight, we take the shuttle from the airport to the Ramada Downtown. During the afternoon, we go to the «Hospitality Suites» to meet other members of different courts.

At 17:00, I decide to go swimming. At 19:30, I am ready for the «Out-of-town show» and I wear my classic long black and gold dress for singing «Hello Dolly». After the show, we fill up three buses to do a ride in town to visit five different bars.

Saturday afternoon, July 26. I shop a little bit in downtown Fort Worth. At 19:00, it is time for Coronation and I wear my long red and brown princess dress with crinoline and with her emerald necklace.

Sunday, July 27. I and Janet fly back to Houston to assist at 16:00 to the «Garden Party» at the Rich's on San Jacinto Street. That is certainly the most eccentric and original party that I have ever seen and I think that this is the best part of my trip. People are dressed like for a Fetish Night, a Lingerie Show, a Fashion Show, a Leather Show, a Latex Show or a Crosdressing Show with Merry Widows, black hoses, hifh heels, push-up bras, big and colourful wigs, chains, leather, vinyl and so on. Think about any kind of eccentric, exhibitionist or sexy clothings and you will find it there. We meet also Fancy at the «Garden Party». There are hundred of persons who wait outside to cheer the participants to the party and to take pictures and movies of people who go to the party.

At 20:00, we go to a second party, the «Denim Party» at the Brazos River Bottom (BRB) on Brazos Street. This place is also full of people and I meet many interesting people. At 23:00, I and Jackie, a girl who sells flowers to customers, decide to go together from bar to bar to sell flowers. I do not sell flowers but I will stay with Jackie without interfering. At 2:30, we reach the house of another girl named also Jackie where we go to the swimming pool and the hot tub. Finally, we go to bed at 6:00.

Monday, July 28. We are so tired that we stay all the day long at home for resting, watching movies and listening music. I must say that during all the time that I was in Texas, the sky was blue and the temperature was between 90oF and 104oF; a very hot temperature, sometime too hot.

Tuesday, July 29. It is now the time for me to fly back to my home in Quebec city.
 

Friday, October 10, 1997. I leave Quebec by car to Toronto for the Coronation.

This is the day of the «Out of Town Show» and it is certainly one of the most entertaining evening. The people of the out of town Courts perform with glamour and glitter. In some Courts, the show stops at 22h00 because the Court organize a kind of visit of the other bars in the area but in Toronto the show goes on as long as there are performers and this year, the show goes up to 2h00. It was a long show but a fine and exciting show. I love this show and the performers have a real opportunity to show what they are able to do.

When I arrive in Toronto Friday evening very late, I take my place as the chauffeur and the maid of the Emperor to help him to be every where in time and well dressed. It is a busy job but I have a lot of fun to do it.

Saturday, October 11. During the day, it is the run for grabbing some stuff for the Coronation and to buy some gifts for the Emperor and the Empress. As the Coronation is hold at the Colony Hotel, nearby the Eaton Center, you may guess that I shop at the Eaton Center. Finally, I go back to the hotel at 17h00 with my hands full of stuff for dressing myself with my princess dress for the Coronation that begin at 19h00.

The Coronation is a long show up to 2h00 with a special theme «Galaxy - An Odyssey of Futuristic Pageantry». Many performances are done in accordance with this theme and we have some Klingons, Ferengis, Borgs and some other creatures from strange planets. Other people wear futuristic and spatial costumes.

Finally, at the end of the show, they announce the new monarchs : The Empress XI will be Rose DuBarry De Lee but there will not have an Emperor XI.

However, there will be a «Regent to the Empress XI» and the Regent will be Gary Farr, Emperor X of Toronto.

During the show, I help the Emperor to change his costumes. I also met many of my friends qho are members of Xpressions. I also met many people that I have encountered during my trip of the Summer 1997 in U.S.A. After the show and before reaching my room, I take some drinks with Savannah and other members of the Court in her room. Savannah is a very lovely lady and each year, I have always a lot of fun to meet her and to chat with her.

Sunday, October 12. We must wake up because we must go to the «Victory Brunch» at noon at the Planet Trax V. This brunch is a celebration for the victory of the new monarchs but it is in same time the occasion for the stepping down monarchs to give some awards to some members of the Court. This year, Micheline is become a member of the «Order of the Polar Bear» for outstanding personal dedication to the cause. I also receive an award as a «Personage Speciale».

During the evening, it is the time for the «Tough Drag» contest, a show done by men who never dress themselves as a woman. At my own point of view, it was certainly the best show during this week. Not only the costumes were beautiful or eccentric but also, when you meet lovely women with long beards, big moustaches, too much hairs on the arms or the legs, colorful wigs and dresses, you have no other choice than to laugh. The performers are excellent and I laugh enough; it is incredible.

Monday morning, October 13. We have a meeting of the Canadian Courts and the Courts of the North-East of the U.S.A. and we have discussed about the creation of an Imperial Court of Canada and the establishment of a Principality in Quebec city. Many people have expressed some interesting points of view about the creation of an Imperial Court of Canada as a mean to increase the links between Canadian Courts.

Later, I go back to Quebec city by car, a long 10 hours drive.
 

Can you believe that I have needed of 36 hours to fly from Québec city to Houston in Texas? Yes, 36 hours!

When I wake up at 4:00 on Thursday, January 8, 1998, I dress myself with a long black dress because it is Winter in Québec city. I put on high heels boots and I am ready to go to Montréal to take the flight to Pittsburgh and Houston. My flight is scheduled for 12:00 and I have enough time to go to the airport. However the weather is so awful that I decide to take the bus for Montreal instead of taking my car. So, I drive my car down to the bus station and I leave my car in the parking lot of the bus station. I sleep during the trip to Montreal and there, I take the shuttle to the airport. This is the beginning of many problems. At this time, there are many trees that are damaged by the ice and there is enough snow on the streets to slow down the traffic. Remember that January 1998 is the period of the icy rain and storm and many people were without power during up to 43 days. However, I finally arrive at the airport around 10:30.

My flight on U.S. Airways is canceled because the weather is too bad. I am unable to find a room in an hotel around the airport or in Montréal because one of the consequences of the icy rain in Montréal was a huge breakdown of power on the island of Montréal and around Montréal and, consequently, all the hotels in and around Montréal are full of people without electricity at home. Going back to Québec city by bus during the afternoon and coming back late during the evening to catch the first flight on Friday morning is not a good idea for two reasons. I do not intend to stay all the day in bus between Montréal and Québec city and U.S. Airways can not guaranty me that the flight will take off on Friday morning; they must wait up to Friday morning to see what will be the weather in Montréal.

So, my best choice is to find an other airline company that does not have canceled all its flights for U.S.A. I try Air Canada, Delta Airlines, Canadian International and finally I find a place on a flight of American Airlines up to Houston via Chicago. However, before taking my ticket, US Airways must give its consent. I go back to line up at the counter of US Airways and finally I obtain their consent. I return to the line of American Airlines and finally, I have my place on the flight to Chicago departing at 16:00.

I remove my boots, place them in my suitcase, put my high heels on and give my suitcase to the agent to be put in the airplane. There is so much ice on the airplane that we take off only at 18:00. I am happy because I am on the air and the stewardess inform me that my connecting flight to Houston is delayed to give us a chance to reach it.

Unfortunately, after the landing at the O'Hare Airport in Chicago, the plane stays stuck on the tarmac during one hour and 40 minutes because there is no free gate; there is an icy airplane at each gate of the terminal. Finally, when my plane reach a free gate, I run to the gate for my airplane to Houston but my plane has left few minutes ago. So, I am stuck in Chicago for the night.

I go to the counter of American Airlines for customer service and an agent tell me that he may find a room for me at my own expenses because the problem is not caused by American Airlines but by the bad weather (Act of God). The price of the room is 75 $ and I must pay 30 $ of taxi to go there and to come back because there is not shuttle service between the airport and this hotel. I find by myself and hotel nearby the airport at a price of 79 $ and this price includes a free shuttle service between the airport in the hotel and a continental breakfast.

I ask for my suitcase to the agent but he tells me that he is unable to give it to me because my suitcase is somewhere in the airport. So, I am now stuck in a short dress and high heels with no boots, no coat and no suitcase. The agent offers me to book me for an early flight, 7:00 on Friday morning but I tell him that if I have to stay the night in Chicago, I wish to have a good rest and I will take the following flight at 11:50.

Think about a poor little girl in a short dress and high heels waiting for her taxi outside in an icy storm. I look like an icy and frozen slut.

I arrive at the hotel with only my purse and a little hand bag in which I have my make-up and some little things. I have a nice room and I am lucky because there is a heated inside swimming pool at this hotel.

Damned! My bikini is in my suitcase and I may not go swimming in bra and panties. Not only it is not suitable but even if it was suitable, I have no replacement bra and panties. I am stuck in a dress without the possibility of changing my clothing.

Friday morning, January 9. I wake up myself very well rested, dress myself and go to the restaurant for taking the breakfast. After that, at 10:00, I take the shuttle to the airport. I am in time at the airport, my flight is in time and I arrive in Houston at 14:30, on time. Jackie has told me to call her when I will reach the airport because I was obliged to call her three times on Thursday to inform her each time that there is a change in my hour of arrival in Houston. So, at 14:30, I call Jackie and she comes to pick me up at the airport.

When I arrive at her place, we chat a little bit and I call another friend, Janet, because Janet told me, few days ago, that she wishes to come with me to the Award Banquet of the Imperial Court of the Single Star in Houston scheduled at 19:00 at the Kim Sun, a Chinese restaurant in downtown Houston. I have just the time to change myself to be dressed with a long black and gold dress and bearing my crown because it is an official banquet and I am now the Ambassador of the Imperial Court of Toronto.

During the Award Banquet, one of the organizers ask me to be one of the three judges of the contest for the best performers. The three judges have chosen the same performer. The food is good and I meet old friends and new friends. After the show, Janet drive me back to the home or Jackie.

Saturday, January 10. It is a quiet afternoon. After taking my time, I move to the apartment of two friends, Russ and Kelly, because they have invited me to stay at their home when I will be in Houston. On Saturday evening, I visit some bars with many friends.

Sunday, January 11. There is a fund raising event at the Venture N Houston and I sing «Goldfinger» in a very sexy and provocative way because it is the evening for eccentric and extravagant ways of singing. Many performers are big men with beards and wearing outrageous outfit full of colours and they performed in a very eccentric way. After my performance, I give all the tips that I receive because it is a fund raising event.

Monday, January 12, Tuesday, January 13 and Wednesday, January 14. Quiet during the day but always a party in a bar at night. During the day, I take my time to rest as much as possible because I usually go to bed around 3:00 and I also take some time to shop at Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Marcus Nieman at The Galleria, the big shopping center in Houston and to shop at Sears, Payless Shoes Source, Wig International and other stores nearby the place where I stay in Houston. After that, a little party in a bar. On this Wednesday evening, I go to the restaurant Black Peas with Phoebe. The waiter, John, is a very friendly man who speak at least four languages and his service is excellent.

Thursday, January 15. It is now time for the «In town show» at the bar «Chances» where people from Houston may perform and show themselves. The best performances will be presented a second time Saturday night on the show of the Coronation. The show begins at 20:00 and I wear a short but elegant black dress with diamonds for this formal show. This is a lovely show with a mix of female impersonators and group performers. After the show, the party continues at Chances and at two other bars, the Barn and Mary's. With John and few other girls, we have had a lot of fun to dance at the Barn up to 2:00. John is a terrific dancer; he will burn you out because he is full of energy.

Friday, January 16. I move to the Hotel Braeswood nearby the Astrodome for the two big days of Coronation because all the main events will be hold at the Braeswood in the main ballroom. I share the room with an other girl named Jackie who is a candidate for Empress XIV of Houston. It is now time for the «Out of town show» where people from outside Houston may perform and show themselves. The best performances will be presented a second time tomorrow night on the show of the Coronation. The show begins at 18:00 and I wear my black and silver sleeveless dress with my crown for this formal show.

After one hour of show, I change my dress for a little dress with a deep décolleté in leopard print and high heels black boots because the theme of the Coronation is «Out of Africa, an African safari». I am looking a little bit like Jane.

It is easy to change of costume when you stay at the hotel where the Coronation is presented. Usually, every person who will participate to the two big days of events at a Coronation, even if he or she lives in this town, will stay at the hotel to be able to change easily, often and fastly. Again, it is a very good show mainly performed by reigning monarchs and past monarchs from across America.

The show ends at 21:30 and we must prepare ourselves for the big bus tour up to 2:00. We visit five of the best bars in Houston. We begin by the Briar Patch, followed by the Gentry, the E.J.'s, the Chances and finally the Venture N Houston. At each place, we have time to take one or two drinks, to chat with old friends and to meet new friends. For this bus tour, I am with Janet and Loraine, a princess from the Court of San Antonio. I wear a short black dress because I wish to wear something very comfortable for the bus tour because we usually dance a lot.

Saturday, January 17. After shopping a little bit at a shopping center nearby the hotel, it is time for dressing for the Coronation that will begin at 17:00. I wear my long red and gold dress like an Arab princess with my veil and my jewels because it is the most formal evening of the week of the Coronation. However, I do not wear my crown because it is not appropriate for an Arab princess. Many of my friends are here and it is a lovely show.

It is not too long because the awards have been given on the previous Friday at the Award Banquet. I have loan two of my dresses to the two young daughters of the Prince of San Antonio because they do not have something to wear for the evening. At 22:00, they announce the election of Jennifer as Empress XIV of Houston. At the end of the evening and before going to the bar Chances for a party and a lunch, I change my dress for my long black and gold dress because it will be more practical for the bus.

At Chances, we are a bunch of six lovely girls : Her Royal Highness Princess Royal Micheline Anne Montreuil from the Imperial Court of Toronto, Phoebe from Houston, Princess Royal Cindy from the Imperial Court of Denver, Princess de la Fiesta Loraine from The Imperial Court of the Alamo Empire (San Antonio), TV Janet from Houston and Phoebe #3 from Houston. Marlene, the owner of the bar Chances, is there and she is a very lovely hostess. This evening, there is also a female singer and Cindy and I have a lot of fun to sing and to dance with the singer.

After the lunch at Chances, I go to bed at 2:30. Jackie is sleeping at this time. At 3:30, Jerry, a former Emperor XI of Houston and Shirley, the reigning Empress of San Antonio come to our room to support Jackie because she has lost the election. Another girl, Phoebe, join us at 4:00 and these three peoples stay in our room up to 8:10.

You may guess that we have miss the «Victory Brunch» at 11:00 because we were too tired. We have even been waked up two by the phone, one time at 10:30 and one time at 11:30. This is really a short night. At 11:30, Jackie and I must wake up and leave the room because the check-out time is at noon.

Sunday, January 18. I am so tired after a so short night that, when I reach the apartment of my friends, I just lay down on the sofa and I fall asleep. At 20:00, this is the Victory Show at the Venture N Houston and I sing «Hello Dolly» in a very classic way wearing a long and very conservative black dress. This time, the show is more classic with very nice female impersonators and good singers. After the show, I go back to bed early.

Monday, January 19, Tuesday, January 20 and Wednesday, January 21. Quiet days and a little party in a bar. During the day, I take my time to rest as much as possible because I usually go to bed around 3:00. I also spend few hours every day to surf on the WEB. Conclusion : if I had the WEB at home, I will spend too many hours on.

Thursday, January 22. After a quiet day, I go to a dinner in a private home with Phoebe, Gary, Jack, John, Boris, Norman and two other friends from Mexico. I wear my shortest and most provocative sleeveless dress with tiny diamonds straps because Gary has told me that he wishes to see me in my most sexy dress. The dinner is wonderful and every body is kind and gentle.

Friday, January 23. Quiet day and a little party in a bar. The end of my vacations is near and I try to take some rest. Anyway, with a lovely Macintosh at home, I have a lot of fun to increase its performance and to surf on the WEB.

Saturday, January 24. This day begins quietly because I feel a little bit tired but I must go out with my friends for a last party at Mary's, a leather bar in Houston. However, it is too noisy and I decide that I must go somewhere else. One of my friends tells me that there is a kind of meeting in a costume shop, the Jewel's Boutique. I go there and I meet all of my friends of TRI-ESS, the Society for the Second Self, because they have their monthly meeting this evening and at this place.

Jane Ellen presents me as the guest of honor and tells to the other that I am the person who is trying to start a TRI-ESS chapter in Québec city. It is really funny because I have called few days ago Mary, one of the organizer of TRI-ESS in Houston, and she told me that there will be a meeting of TRI-ESS on this evening but at that time, she did not know where the meeting would be hold. So, from 21:00 to 23:30, I stay with the girls of TRI-ESS and we have a lot of fun to chat and to try some dresses. At the beginning, I do not realize that I know the owner of the store, Jewel Dean; I have met her in July 1997 at the Garden Party in Houston where she was dressed like Ru Paul. She has a picture of me in her album and I have a picture of her in my album. It is really a small world.

Sunday, January 25. At noon, I go to visit the Museum of natural science with Phoebe.

At 18:00, we go to the bar Brazos River Bottom to eat a steak and to see the beginning of the contest «Mister B.R.B.».

At 21:00, we move to the Briar Patch where there is a fund raising event and I sing «I want to be love by you» and «Diamonds are the girl's best friends». I wear a very beautiful black and silver jumpsuit with a black and silver scarf that I use to charm men to encourage them to give tips for the event. Obviously, I give all the tips that I receive because it is a fund raising event. One of the owners tell me that, when I will come back this Summer, I will have my own show.

Monday, January 26, it is now the time for me to go home by airplane on U.S. Airways. I take off from Houston to Montréal with a stop in Pittsburgh at 16:50. For traveling, I wear only a long purple dress. As usual, I have put my boots and my coat in my suitcase to travel light. The weather is perfect and my plane is always on time.

When I arrive in Montréal at 22:50, I pass through the customs and immigration, open my suitcase to grab my boots and my coat, put them and take the shuttle to the bus station. Outside, it is very cold, minus 30. At the bus station, I take the bus for Québec city where I arrive at 2:30. My car is still on the parking but it is still very cold and there is a mountain of snow on the left side of my car.

I try to enter by the right side but the door is jammed by the ice. Wearing just a dress, a coat and my high heels boots, I must shovel the snow with my hands and my boots to dig my way to the left door of my car in hoping that this door is not jammed. After few minutes of shoveling the snow, I am lucky because this door is not jammed. I open the door and start the car.

I try to move the car but there is too much snow around the car. So, I open the trunk, take a shovel and begin to shovel the snow in front of the car, on the left side of the car and under the car. After 20 minutes of shoveling, I am able to move the car. I leave the parking lot of the bus station and I am heading home. I enter my home in Quebec city at 3:15.

On Friday, February 13, 1998, Janet, a friend from Houston, calls me and tells me that she will go to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans in Louisiana and she ask me if I wish to go with her. I will have just to pay for my flight between Quebec city and Houston and New Orleans because she has already paid for the hotel in New Orleans. I tell her that I will call her back on Monday because I need few days to see if I am able to have an airplane's ticket to fly down to Houston at a low fare. Finally, I call her back on Monday, February 16, and I tell her that I will arrive in Houston on Thursday, February 19 because, prior going to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, I wish to go to the Carnival of Galveston named the «Big Speakeasy».

Thursday, February 19. I must drive from Quebec city to Montreal because I do not have enough time to take the bus. During the first 50 kilometers, I come across a snow storm but after that, the sky is blue and the pavement is dry. So, it is a good trip up to Montreal. At the airport, before checking in my suitcase, I open it and put inside my winter boots and my coat to let me travelling light. So, in the airplane, I just wear a short dress with pantyhose and high heels.

This time, I fly on U.S. Airways without any incident or delay and I arrive on time at the International Airport George Bush in Houston where Phoebe, a friend, picks me up at the airport. She drives me down to the downtown of Houston where we meet some friends. I give to my friends some gifts that I have brought for them from Canada. After chatting a little bit, we go to a restaurant where Janet is waiting for us. After a light lunch, I go with Janet to stay at her place while I will be in Houston.

Friday, February 20. As usual, I wake up myself, I dress myself and I am ready to go to the restaurant for taking the breakfast or to go shopping. Obviously, Janet is not ready and she gives me the keys of her car to let me going shopping at the nearest shopping center, the «Willowbrook Mall». The sky is blue and the temperature is around 70°F. Inside Sears, I decide to go to the hair dressing saloon to have a brushing and I buy a casual red and black dress.

Around 16:00, Janet is ready and we do a lot of shopping because she needs a new special outfit for the «Big Speakeasy». She buys this outfit, a kind of yellow leotard with green ruffles like a leotard worn by an ice skater, at a place named «Skate Texas» where I buy a new necklace in rhinestones.

Saturday, February 21. As usual, I wake up myself, I dress myself and I am ready to go out for breakfast and obviously Janet is still not ready to go out. So, she gives me the keys of her car and I go shopping again. Finally, around 16:00, Janet is ready and we depart for Galveston.

On our way, we stop at a boutique of lingerie where Janet wishes to show her sexy outfit and my Arab Princess dress. My dress has a corsage in green, gold and red satin, the sleeves and the skirt are in gold transparent fishnet and there is a kind of flounce in the front and in the back of the skirt to hide my panties. I also wear a red bolero in satin over the dress and a red veil in satin on my head. The veil is attached to a gold diadem that I wear on my head and around my forehead. The salesgirls are completely crazy when they see our costumes. We take many pictures and now, we are ready to go to Galveston.

Janet knows well Galveston and she finds the shortcuts to bring us downtown without being stuck in the traffic. We arrive downtown around 18:30 and we stop at a restaurant nearby the Strand Street where the parade will pass. We are lucky to be able to park the car in a street nearby the restaurant.

At the restaurant, I order just a small order of French fries because I hear the sound of the parade and I wish to see it. Janet order a light lunch, a beer and a hurricane because she wishes to be in good shape for the parade. Finally, we leave the restaurant around 19:15 and we walk directly to Strand Street to see the parade. Even if we have missed one third of the parade, the parade is nice and I appreciate every thing that I see.

There are many floats on which there are peoples who throw away some beads, cups and medals for the greatest pleasure of the crowd. There is also a band between each float and the crowd is happy. When peoples on the float throw away some beads, cups and medals, the crowd become crazy and every body tries to catch some beads, cups or medals.

After the parade, we walk on the street and I note that there are many peoples on the balconies on each side of the street and they also throw away some beads to the peoples who walk in the street. So, more you are sexy and more you look them or you salute them and more they will throw away some beads.

At this moment, I loose Janet in the crowd and I am unable to find her. I continue to walk from one end of the street to the other end of the street but I do not find her. So, I decide to go back to the restaurant where we were at the beginning in hoping that she will have the same idea.

Furthermore, I go first to the car and I leave a little word in the window telling her that I am in the restaurant. At the restaurant, I eat a standard meal waiting for Janet. After finishing eating, Janet is still not here. So, I go back on Strand Street to try to find again Janet.

When I am on Strand Street, there are some shootings and one person is killed and four other persons are wounded. The police arrive very swiftly and they move us out of the street very swiftly; they wish to have enough room for the ambulances and they wish to have no people around them for doing their job. It seems that this is a kind of war between two gangs and some peoples were only at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Meanwhile, it begins to rain and I am stuck in my Arab Princess dress in the middle of the street. I have the choice to go back to the car or to go back to the restaurant. I am unable to continue to search Janet on the street because the police has closed the street.

Worrying about the possibility of being stuck in my long dress under a huge rain, I decide to go back to the restaurant. I wait Janet in the restaurant up to 22:30 and I must leave at this time because the restaurant is closing but I face now a very important problem. Outside, there is a huge thunderstorm with thunder, lightening and a so heavy rain that it looks like a flood. I must stay in front of the restaurant under the weather-board stuck to the wall of the restaurant and trying to do not be wet by the rain.

In front of the restaurant, there is a kind of canal with a «V» shape where the water is going before going to the sewer but the rain is so huge that the water begins to spread slowly but inexorably to me. I must turn my feet to avoid to be touched by water and in same time, I begin to become wet on my shoulders, my back and my breasts because the rain passes through the weather-board. I am beginning to become a true wet girl stuck in a long dress under a huge rain. I am now fully ready fot a wet T-shirt contest; I even do not need a pail of water to wet me.

Finally, the rain slows down a little and the water stops at less than one inch of my feet. At this time, I decide to cross the canal and to run under the rain up to the car. I am lucky because even if this is the car of Janet, I have the keys because she prefers that I keep the keys. There is just one problem; I have the key for the doors and the trunk but I do not have the key of the motor. So, I open the trunk of the car, pick up my long winter boots and my coat, put them on me and I sit in the car waiting for Janet. It is now around 23:15 and my dress is wet, my undergarments are wet and I am lucky to have my winter boots and my coat to keep me warm.

Meanwhile, Janet has a lot of fun at the «Kon-Tiki», a well-known bar in Galveston. She tries to reach me but seeing the thunderstorm, she stays at the bar. Around 1:00, she reaches the car and she find me inside the car, half asleep. The streets are now quiet and I inform Janet about the shooting. She is not aware about that. Any way, we decide to go to sleep at the home of the parents of Janet who live in Galveston and we arrive there at 2:00. They are asleep on the second floor and we go to bed right away on the first floor.

Sunday, February 22. As usual, I wake up myself, I dress myself and I am ready to go out for breakfast but Janet needs few minutes to dress herself as a man because her parents have never seen Janet and so they will not see her this time. So, I decide to do a little walk outside to give a Janet enough time to dress herself. When I come back, Janet and I go to the second floor to meet the parents of Janet.

They are very happy to see us and the mother of Janet has prepared a very good breakfast for us but before eating, she says to her son to remove the mascara on his face. Janet present me to his parents as his "girlfriend".

The parents of Janet are really lovely and I would be very proud to have parents like them. After the breakfast, we chat a little bit and the father told me that, at the beginning, he was eager to know the tall blonde lady in the red dress who has slept in his house because he has seen me walking on the street when he has looked by the window on the second floor.

As you remember, we have slept on the first floor and the parents of Janet live on the second floor. Finally we go back to Houston and I am driving the car.

We do a little stop in a lingerie shop because Janet wishes again to buy some clothing and finally we arrive around 16:00 at the Mary's, a bar in Houston, where Phoebe is waiting us. After few drinks, Janet and I decide to go home early because she needs time to do her suitcases. In fact, we go to bed around 1:00 after that Janet has finished to do her suitcases.

On Monday, February 23, 1998, the alarm clock rings at 6:00. As usual, I dress myself fast and I am ready to go at 7:00. Janet is ready at 8:20 and we leave for the airport. Our flight is at 10:35 at Hobby Airport in South East of Houston and Janet lives in North West of Houston. So, we think that we need at least one hour to reach the airport. Finally, we arrive at the parking of the airport at 9:30 and we are at the counter of SouthWest Airlines at 9:40.

For travelling, I wear the same short brown and gold dress that I have worn during the flight between Montreal and Houston but Janet wears her yellow and green skater outfit. You may be sure that every body has seen Janet in the airport. The flight is on time and we arrive around 11:30 at New Orleans.

Richard, a man from «The Olivier Estate», the bed and breakfast where we will stay, is waiting for us at the airport and he drives us to «The Olivier Estate» in fifty minutes. This hotel is very well located, a little bit at the North East of the French Quarter, and we may go on foot to the French Quarter. If you go to New Orleans, go to this hotel; it is very fine and the staff is perfect.

During the afternoon, Janet and I walk on Bourbon Street, the main street of the French Quarter, where many people stand on the balconies of the second floor and throw away to us some beads. Bourbon Street is approximately two kilometers long and it is crowded from one end to the other end of the street. During this walk, I wear a short black dress with golden flowers and Janet wears her yellow and green skater outfit. We received tens and tens of beads.

We also walk on Canal Street where many parades go on at different time of the day. At a moment, I leave Janet in a bar on Bourbon Street because I wish to go to watch some of the parades on Canal Street.

You must know that this year, in 1998, there are 46 different parades for the Mardi Gras in New Orleans from February 8 up to February 24. These parades are :

Sunday, February 8
1-Little Rascals

Friday, February 13
2-Cleopatra, 3-Ashanti, 4-Oshun, 5-Atlas

Saturday, February 14
6-Choctaw, 7-Pontchartrain, 8-Sparta, 9-Caesar

Sunday, February 15
10-Barkus, 11-Carrollton, 12-Alla, 13-Rhea, 14-Camelot, 15-Centurions

Monday February 16
16-Thebes, 17-Neptune

Tuesday, February 17
18-Pegasus, 19-Sinbad

Wednesday, February 18
20-Saturn, 21-Thor

Thursday, February 19
22-Babylon, 23-Aquila

Friday, February 20
24-Hermes, 25-D'etat, 26-Diana

Saturday, February 21
27-Nomtoc, 28-Iris, 29-Tucks, 30-Endymion, 31-Isis

Sunday, February 22
32-Thoth, 33-Okeanos, 34-Mercury, 35-Mid-City, 36-Napoleon, 37-Bacchus

Monday, February 23
38-Bards of Bohemia, 39-Orpheus, 40-Zeus

Tuesday, February 24
41-Zulu, 42-Rex, 43-Elks Orleanians & Crescent City Trucks, 44-Argus, 45-Elks of Jefferson & Jefferson Trucks 46-America

As you may see, the names of the parades come mainly from the Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Viking mythology. Usually, in each parade, there are twenty floats and twenty bands. On each float, there are between ten and twenty peoples who throw away beads, cups and medals. So, the crowd become hysteric and crazy each time that a float pass in front because every body tries to catch beads, cups and medals. There are so many parades on Canal Street that you may just stay there someday like the 14, 15, 21, 22 and 24 for watching parades.

On Monday evening, I watch the parades «Bards of Bohemia» and «Orpheus». After that, I go back on Bourbon Street to meet Janet. We come back to the hotel around 23:00 where we chat with Richard and Victor, the owner of the hotel, and with some other clients of the hotel. We go to bed around 3:00.

Tuesday, February 24. This is the big day for the Mardi Gras. As usual, I wake up myself and I dress myself with my Arab Princess dress. I am ready to go out for the day but obviously Janet is not ready. So, at 13:00, I go out alone on Bourbon Street to have more beads.

The sky is blue and the temperature is around 75°F. I continue on Canal Street to watch the parades «Zulu» and «Rex». On this day, there are thousand of peoples with costumes and even if I have a very pretty dress as an Arab Princess, I must tell you that there are many dresses that are more beautiful than mine. Some of these dresses are 8 feet high by 8 feet wide with hundreds of feathers; it is very impressive.

At 17:00, I meet Janet and Victor at a bar on Bourbon Street. I take a drink and I chat a little bit with them but I decide to go back to the hotel to have a little rest and to change my dress for the evening. At 20:00, I come back wearing a short and sexy black dress with silver dots. It is really more comfortable because the temperature is always around 72°F and because there are so many people on the street. I receive again tens and tens of beads. In fact, when I will come back to Quebec city, I will have more than twenty pounds of beads in my suitcases.

When we walk on the street, we encounter many religious peoples who wear a cross or a placard on which it is written «God is our Savior», «God loves every one, included the sinners», «Repent for the last judgment» and so on. Usually, there are just there in silence but one time, there is a man with a megaphone who tells us there we are sinners and that we must repent to save our soul. They do not disturb but it is just strange to see these true believers standing there with their crosses and their placards on a day like the Mardi Gras.

On Tuesday evening, at a moment, more than 2000 true believers walk in silence on Bourbon Street, three by three, each one putting their hands on the shoulders of the previous walker like a giant caterpillar. I must say that this is very impressive. Even if the crowd is very dense, it opens a way for this religious procession. It is very special and, at this time, I have had the impression that if these peoples do not stay calm, it may be the beginning of a big fight. However, they are very pacific and every thing is fine. It is just a strange experience for me. I go back to the hotel around 23:00.

Wednesday, February 25. As usual, I wake up myself and I dress myself with an ordinary dress because I wish to go shopping. The sky is still blue and the temperature is around 75°F Obviously, Janet is not ready and I go shopping alone on Canal Street where I buy a pair of running shoes. The streets and the sidewalks are too rough for high heels and my feet need some rest.

At 15:00, I am back to the hotel and with Janet, we go together for the last time in a bar, the Lafitte.

After that, Janet goes back to the hotel because she will leave on the evening for Houston. Meanwhile, I continue to walk and to shop and I go up to a mall named «The Riverwalk» where I shop but I do not find something interesting for me.

Thursday, February 26. It is now the time for me to go home by airplane on U.S. Airways but my flight is just at 17:20. So, I have time to do some shopping at the flea market and on Canal Street where I buy a pair of platform shoes. The sky is blue but it is a little bit windy. I come back to the hotel around 15:00 and Victor drives me back to the airport at 15:45.

My plane takes off at 17:20 from New Orleans to Montreal with a stop in Pittsburgh. For traveling, I wear only my short brown and gold dress; as you know, my boots and my coat are in my suitcase because I prefer to travel light. The weather is perfect at the airports and my plane is always on time but during the flight between New Orleans and Pittsburgh, we come across some turbulence and the captain asks to the flight attendants to stop to serve the meals.

When I arrive in Montreal at 22:50, I pass through the customs and immigration, open my suitcase to grab my boots and my coat, put them on and take my car to drive to Quebec city. The sky is clear, the temperature is around the freezing point and the road is on dry pavement. Finally, I arrive at my home 2:10.

On March 8, 1998, I do a little trip in Seattle to meet a friend, Sharon, and in Vancouver to participate to the Coronation at the Imperial Court of Vancouver.

After arriving in Vancouver, I pick up my suitcase and I go to Hertz rent-a-car to pick up the car that I have reserved and I drive down immediately to Seattle to meet a friend. It takes me 30 minutes to cross the customs because there is a long line of cars waiting for crossing the borders. I do not show my passport to the customs officer and he does not ask for it; he just asks me to open the trunk to see what I have inside, just my big orange suitcase.

Passing through Seattle, I decide to exit the highway to visit a little bit Seattle and to see the famous tower «Space Needle». Well, it is not the CN Tower in Toronto or the Tour Eiffel in Paris but it is a nice little tower. There is no other building around it and it looks tall but it is not so big. Nevertheless, it is an interesting construction.

On March 9, I decide to go to see the battleship Missouri and two air-craft carriers that are in the bay at Bremerton. I have never seen these so big ships from so near. It is impressive and I was thinking how it may be awful for people to receive some bullets from these so big guns. Nevertheless, it was an interesting visit. However, I am not allowed to go on the ship but they are just anchored at few meters of me.

On Tuesday, March 10,1998. I drive from Seattle to Vancouver where I stay at the Dufferin Hotel to share the room with Gary, Emperor X of Toronto. After noon, we have a lunch with Marty, emperor of Vancouver, at a restaurant named Metro Broiler. We have a long lunch. Phoebe, a lovely friend from Texas, calls me to tell me that she has sent to me a special gift by UPS. At the evening, we go to the Dufferin Pub to see the show done by the native people in the honor of Marty. Many people of the Imperial Court of Vancouver are there and I sing a song to Marty «I want to be loved by you». For this song, I wear a very short black dress with hundreds of little silver dots. I may tell you that Marty has really appreciated this song. After the show, many people move to an other bar, the Celebrities, to see a show of female impersonators and I go with them.

Thursday, March 12. Gary and I meet Ted North, the Empress of Canada, for lunch and after that, around 15:00, I go back to the airport to pick up Rose, Empress XI of Toronto and to drive her to the Dufferin Hotel; she is the reigning Empress.

At 18:00, it is the formal «State Dinner» where many people from the Imperial Court of Vancouver and from the out-of-town courts have a very friendly meal. It is an occasion for many persons to see some people that they do not have seen since a long time and for me, it is an occasion to meet new friends. For the «State Dinner». The meal is perfect and we are now ready to go to the Dufferin Pub to see the «In-town Show» given by people of the Imperial Court of Vancouver.

Friday, March 13. At 10:00, Rose and I take breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel with some other members of the court. Looking outside, I see a truck of UPS stopping in front of the hotel. I look at the driver and ask him to come inside to see me. Yes, it is the parcel that Phoebe has sent to «Her Royal Highness Princess Royal Micheline Anne Montreuil». There is just a little surprise : a lovely gold and diamond spider, a gold and green frog and a gay pin from Texas. A thousand «Thank You» to my dearest  friend Phoebe; she is really a lovely person.

After that, Rose and I are going shopping because she needs a compact disc of Anne Murray and some other stuffs for the Coronation.

At 18:00, I go to the restaurant Metro Broiler for a cocktail from 18:00 to 20:00. I also give my tape for the song that I will sing during the «Out-of-town Show» a little bit later.

At 20:30, I move to the Celebrities because the «Out-of-town Show» is presented at this bar. I am the first to sing and I begin the show with one of my favorite songs «Hello Dolly».

Saturday, March 14.  At 10:00, Rose and I take breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel with some other members of the court. After that, I go to the Dufferin Lounge to chat with some other members of the court.

At 14:00, I go to the Dufferin Pub to chat with some other members of the court and around 15:30, I go back to my room to dress as an Arab Princess for the Coronation. My dress has a corsage in green, gold and red satin, the sleeves and the skirt are in gold transparent fishnet and there is a kind of flounce in the front and in the back of the skirt to hide my panties. I also wear a red bolero in satin over the dress and a red veil in satin on my head. The veil is attached to a gold diadem that I wear on my head and around my forehead. I also wear my emerald's necklace and earrings.

Gary and I go together to the Coronation and we arrive around 17:00. We chat with many friends from all around Canada and U.S.A. and we assist to a lovely show that will end a little bit after midnight. Some of the performers are extraordinary like Judy Jive and Carlotta from Vancouver and Scarlett Fever, Empress X of Toronto. In reading the program, I am greatly surprise and very happy to see that Marty, Emperor of Vancouver, has written a little word about me when he was talking about his souvenirs from the Imperial Court of Toronto and the trip to San Diego and Tijuana. He begins his text with my name and this is what he has written :

What may I say? Just «Thank you, my dear Marty, you are a wonderful person».

Sunday, March 15, 1998. I wake up around 9:00 to have enough time to dress because my plane will take off from Vancouver at 12:30.
 

On Wednesday, March 25, 1998, I leave Quebec city by train to go to Toronto to participate to «Crossing Borders», a big event organized by the IFGE, the International Foundation for Gender Education.

I arrive at 21:00 at Union Station and I take a taxi to reach the house of Gary, a friend who live in Toronto and where I stay when I am in Toronto. At home, I give two phones calls to some friends and I go to Pimblett's, a restaurant and a bar at 263 Gerrard Street East, where some friends are waiting for me. The Pimblett's is the best place in town for meeting crossdressers. Every evening, some crossdressers go there to eat a good meal in the restaurant located at the first floor between 18:30 and 21:00.

In same time, from 19:00 to 23:00, many crossdressers go there to drink a good beer or a liquor in the bar located at the lower floor. You will find the greatest number of crossdressers on Wednesday and Saturday. This is the best place in town to meet our sisters and, after that, to decide to go else where. On Wednesday and Saturday evening, there are, usually, between six and twenty sisters. There are not there at the same time because they come in and come out during the evening. There are also some female to male crossdressers and some transsexuals.

On Thursday, March 26, when I arrive at the hotel, I meet immediately some friends of Xpressions like Nancy, Lindsey, Lynn, Miqqi, Pamela, Mellissa, Michelle and so on and I also meet some friends of IFGE like Christine, Dottie, Alison, Mariette, Jane, Robin and so on.

For me this kind of convention is more a social gathering because I have participate to many of these conventions and that I know many people from all around the world. So, a convention like this one is the best place to meet some friends that I do not have seen since many months or many years. Also, I have assisted to many of these seminars and, consequently, I know the majority of these topics. However, there are always some new seminars and it is also an occasion to learn something new.

I decide to assist to the seminar given by Michelle Dubarry entitled «My life as a Queen». Michelle is a well-known entertainer in Toronto and her dresses and her jewels are unforgettable. Michelle is also a close friend and for me, it was another occasion to see her again. She talks about her life, her experiences and the evolution of the places of crossdressers and queens during the last thirty years.

During the evening, I assist to a very special show by the «Famous People Players». This is a dinner theatre run by handicapped children and adults. From the cooking of the food to the serving and the show, each one is a member of the handicapped community. The show is a musical show in darkness with a kind of giant phosphorescent puppets. So, in the darkness, you see the puppets and you hear the music but you do not see the people who move the puppets. Some puppets are maneuver by up to three people and they must be careful to do not walk on the other people. After the show, we meet them in the backstage where we see many puppets and where we may talk with the artists. They are very lovely people and it is a very hard job but they are very proud of their works.

Friday, March 27, 1998. On the morning, I go to the seminar hosted by Mariette Pathy Allen entitled «Forbidden bodies - the changing face-off of the TG community». Mariette is a professional photographer and her seminar shows the evolution of the TG community since the last thirty years. It is very interesting to see the evolution because people are now more out of the closet than ever and they are proud of who they are. At lunch, I assist to a speech given by Keith Norton, commissioner at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. It is also an interesting speech because it is the occasion for us to hear from one official what is the position of the Commission about the TG Community and what are the changes that happen in Canada.

During the afternoon, I assist to a seminar given by doctor Richard Docter and entitled «Are there common stages of crossdressing?». Even if I agree with many of the steps underlined by Richard Docter, I remark him that he does not take care of the sensitive aspect of crossdressing in the meaning that, by example, I feel more sensitive and more human when I am dressed. After my remark, many persons sustain the same thing. This aspect must be studied deeper. On the evening, I assist to a buffet and a dinner at the Colony Hotel followed by a show. The show is done by three women are they are fabulous. After that, I go back to my place because I am a little bit tired.

On March 28, I go shopping instead of attending to the seminars. As I told you, during many years, I have assisted to many seminars and, consequently, many topics are familiar for me. During the afternoon, I assist to the seminar given by doctors Yvon Ménard and Pierre Brassard, the two best well known surgeons from Montreal for SRS or GRS (Sex or Gender Reassignment Surgery) for both male to female or female to male. The seminar is excellent. There are also some plastic surgeons who are there and who offer advice about surgery. I ask them about how much it will cost for me for a SRS and some minor cosmetic improvements. The tag price is 68 000 $ U.S. Very expensive ! 

During the evening, I assist to the «Gala Banquet». It is a nice meal and we have a show given by some members of the TG Community; it is really a good show.

On March 29, I am on time for the «Farewell Brunch» at 10:00. In fact, I am one of the three firsts to arrive at the 27 floors of the Colony Hotel at the revolving restaurant. I choose a table near the window because I wish to have a beautiful sightseeing of Toronto during the brunch. I talk to many friends but this morning, there are not many girls; the huge majority of them are dressed in pants and T-shirt. No more magic.

After the brunch, I go to the restaurant inside Eaton in the Eaton's Center to take a dessert with a friend and after that, I go back to my place.

During the evening, I go to «Trax», a bar on Yonge Street, to participate to an event of the Imperial Court of Toronto with Diva, the Miss Trillium 1997-1998, Rose Dubarry De Lee, the Empress XI, Michelle Dubarry, the Empress VI, Michelle Richard, the Queen Mum, Alexis Van Cartier, the Lady in Waiting to Queen Mum, Lady Savannah and many other people. At this occasion, I sing one song to help to raise funds for the benefit of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto.

On Monday, March 30, I take the train at Union Station for Quebec city.
 

Thursday, June 25. Phoebe and I take the white Audi and we leave together Houston at 11:00 for San Antonio and we arrive at 16:00.

We decide to stay at a little guest house «The Painted Lady» because there is no available room at the Menger Hotel where the Coronation will be hold. We visit a little bit San Antonio on foot and we go back to our guest house to prepare ourselves for the «In town show» at the bar «Petticoat Junction» where people from San Antonio may perform and show themselves.

The show begins at 22:00 and I wear a short but elegant black dress with diamonds for this formal show. This is a lovely show with female impersonators. Gene, the Emperor VI of San Antonio, ask me to sing a song and I sing «Goldfinger».

On June 26, I go to the Menger Hotel at 10:30 to participate to a bus tour called the «Tour of El Mercado», the historic shopping district of San Antonio.

At 13:00, we go to a restaurant on the «Riverwalk» to eat a Mexican buffet and to participate to a cruise on the river.

At this occasion, the Imperial Court of San Antonio bestows me the title of «Empress I Paseo del Rio of San Antonio» and I thank them.

At 20:00, it is now time for the «Out of town show» at «The Bonham Exchange» where people from outside San Antonio may perform and show themselves.

On June 27 at 13:00, I go to the swimming pool at the Menger Hotel. Nothing is better than the cold water of the swimming pool of  to cool you a little bit, but I must tell you a secret : the water was not so cold ! In fact, the water was very warm and I have now a nice sun tan on my skin !

At 18:00, it is time for dressing for the Coronation that will begin at 20:00. I will wear many dresses because I will have to change myself for different functions.

First, I arrive dressed with only a short black dress for travelling from the guest house to the Menger Hotel.

Few moments later, I change myself for a long and simple black dress because I sing the national anthem «O Canada» in French.

Third, I wear my long red and gold dress like an Arab princess with my veil and my jewels because it is the most formal evening of the week of the Coronation and I must be presented to the stepping down monarchs. However, even if I am Princess Royale, I do not bear my crown because it is not appropriate for an Arab princess to bear a crown.

After, the presentation, I wear a long black and gold dress with hundred of sequins.

I change again for my costume as the «Empress I Paseo del Rio of San Antonio», known as «The Naked Iguana».

Finally, I change again for my long black and gold dress with my crown for the announcement of the results of the election of Kristie as Empress VII of San Antonio and Adam as Emperor VII of San Antonio.

After the Coronation, we go to the «Hospitality Suite» to drink, to eat and to chat

On June 28. It is time for the «Award's Brunch» at 11:00 at the Menger Hotel. At this occasion, the stepping down Regent Empress VI of San Antonio, Kristie, bestows me the title of «Empress VI 1/2 of San Antonio» as a true proof of frienship. A thousand «Thank You, dearest Kristie». After the brunch, I go back to Houston.

On June 29, I fly back again to Montreal.
 

In December 1998, I have visited Acapulco in Mexico.

At the airport of Acapulco, it is funny to see how the custom's officers decide to search or not your suitcases; you have to press a button and a light will turn on : a green or a red light. If the green light turns on, you continue your way but if a red light turns on, your suitcases will be searched by a custom's officer. I press the button and I have a green light. The guy behind me press the button and he has a red light. The custom's officer was ready to search his suitcases but his supervisor told him that it is not necessary to search the suitcases of this man.

So, even if you have a red light, it is possible that your suitcases will not be searched. However, even if you have a green light, your suitcases may be searched. It happens to a woman behind us. She has had a green light but the custom's officer has decided to search her suitcases even if she has protested. So, the system of the green and red light is not really useful.

Also, it is interesting to note that nobody has checked our passport, our birth certificate, our driver's license or any identification document. We just pass through without any control. After exiting the custom's area, a guide is waiting for us and she drive us down directly to our hotel, the Playa Caleta located at the end of the peninsula that surround the Bay of Acapulco but on the outside of the peninsula. So the water in front of us is not the water of the Bay of Acapulco but the water of the Pacific Ocean. It takes one hour to drive down from the Airport to the hotel. The temperature is around 100°F.

We enter in the hotel and after checking in and visiting our room, we decide to change of room because the room is too small, the bed is small, there is a kind of opening in the wall that let all the fresh air from the air conditioning unit going out of the room, the room is on the side of a noisy street and there is no balcony. So, for 15 US$ more per day, we have now the suite that is a very large room with a huge balcony, a king size bed and a sight directly on the Ocean. I think that we have now the best room in the hotel.

You must know that, since few months, I am probably one of the most well-known women in the Province of Quebec because I have sued the government and I have given many interviews to all French Canadian television and radio networks; my picture was also in all French newspapers of the Province of Quebec. Furthermore, I have participated to many talk shows on television. So, when I have decided to go to Acapulco, I though that I will be anonymous there. Forget about that.

Five minutes after my arrival at the hotel, many people knew that Micheline was in town and come to see me and to congratulate me for my fight against the government.

All of these people are French speaking people and many English speaking people come to ask them who is this tall blonde girl that every one who speaks French knows.

So, in few hours, every body knows about me and the manager of the hotel was very kind with me.

This is Christmas Eve and we will have a nice Christmas dinner later. So, we decide to go walking a little bit around to see the place and to see if we may buy something. We take some pictures and many guys whistle at me but I am not bothered by that. Finally, we have a nice Christmas buffet with Chicken and chocolate cake. The meal looks like a Christmas meal but forget about the snow. Even if it is Christmas, for us that was not Christmas because a Christmas without snow is not really a Christmas. There were some Christmas lights around but it does not look like Christmas. We are lucky because we have a little orchestra, Mexican mariachis, to entertain us during the meal.

Friday, December 25. It is a quiet day. We spend our day swimming between the meals or eating between the time in the swimming pool. To be honest, there are just three thing to do in Acapulco : having a sun bath, dancing during the night in a disco or eating and drinking. Otherwise, there is nothing to do, nothing to visit. I will add that if you look for a sunny place to take a sun bath, Acapulco is probably one of the best places for that. During all the week that we were there, the sky was always blue and the temperature was always between 95°F and 105°F. So, it is the place for short dresses, bathing suits and sun glasses.

Each evening, we stay, first in the restaurant of the hotel and later around the swimming pool, to chat with people. As you know, the drinks are usually free and some guys and gals drink too much. Some of them do not hesitate to order three triple rum and coke or three beers at the same time and drink them at the speed of a lightening. When it is free, some people drink a little bit too much.

During this week, we have met many friendly people. At every meal, there are always few persons who wish to sit with us to chat about every thing and about «Micheline». It is a very quiet week.

Saturday, December 26. It is a so quiet day that I decide to walk to downtown. After 45 minutes of a fast walk, I arrive at the beginning of the downtown of Acapulco. I meet the three different categories of policemen that they have in Acapulco : the ones that are dressed all in white are there for helping tourists; the ones that are dressed all in blue and with a whistle are there for doing the traffic and the ones that are dressed all in blue with a gun of caliber 12 in their hands are the real policemen.

These policemen may walk on the street or may be inside a car or may stand at the back of a pick-up and they are in charge of maintain the order. I do not think that there many violent crimes on the main streets because there are too much policemen. However, they are not very tall and I may tell you that they have always looked at Micheline but no one of them has talked to me or has checked my passport. I feel very secure in Acapulco and you may go there without any fear. Every body has been very kind with me and I think that when you do not bother them, they do no bother you. So, feel free to visit Acapulco. After looking around during one hour, I decide do go back to the hotel.

During the evening, I decide to go to dance downtown with an other girl and four boys. We take a cabs and we reach the downtown of Acapulco in ten minutes even if there is a huge traffic around midnight. In the majority of the discos, you have to pay a fee for entering in the disco because the beverages are free.

Usually, it cost between 10 and 40 $ for a woman and between 20 and 60 $ for a man. it is less expensive for a woman because we usually do not drink a lot because we dance. On the contrary, men usually drink and do not dance. In fact, we, the two girls, are on the dancing floor and the four guys stay sat in drinking and looking at us dancing.

I must tell you that I have waited 30 minutes before having my first drink because there were more than 1 000 people inside the disco and just four barmaids. So, we have to wait a long time before drinking. In the disco, a girl come to see me and tell me that I am Micheline. Obviously, I say yes and she tells me that she is a real estates broker in Montreal and that she has seen me on television. So, even at 2:00, there is always someone who knows Micheline.

Sunday, December 27. It is a quiet day and we spend the morning in the swimming pool. During the afternoon, we take the bus to go shopping to Wal-Mart because, believe it or not, there is Wal-Mart in Acapulco and it is located at the end of the bus circuit. In fact, it is written Wal-Mart on the sign of the bus to let you know that the bus is going up to Wal-Mart. I am sure that the average age of a bus is around 30 years. I do not know where they find them but I am sure that there are no more buses like them in Canada or United States. Also, I think that these buses are owned and operated by the drivers themselves because each bus is decorated inside with the personal touch of the driver and I am sure that he is the only one who drives his bus. Furthermore, there is no control for the money that people pay for using the bus.

Big surprise in Wal-Mart! Every thing is very expensive, more than the price that you will pay for the same price in Canada or in United States. The price is lower if it is made in Mexico. For example, a color television that you will buy for 300 US$ in United States will cost you 400 US$ if you buy it in Mexico. The pressed powder made by Cover Girl for which you will pay 4 US$ will cost you 6 US$ if you buy it in Mexico. However, if you buy a Mexican brand of pressed powder, you will pay around 1 US$. At each cashier, there are always two or three young boys or girls between 10 and 12 years old who are there for packing what you have bought.

Monday, December 28. It is a quiet day and we spend the day in the swimming pool and in the ocean. During the evening, we chat, as usual, with the other people who stay at the hotel.

Tuesday, December 29. It is a quiet day and we spend the morning in the swimming pool and in the ocean. During the afternoon, we go shopping to downtown Acapulco to see if we may find something interesting to bring back to Canada. We shop a lot but nothing interesting to bring back in Canada, just few cheap things for tourists; nothing special. There are some beggars in town but they do not bother us a lot. They are there and that is all.

Wednesday, December 30. During the morning, we spend our time in the swimming pool and in the ocean. During the afternoon, we go downtown for a three hours cruise on a catamaran, the Aca Tiki, in the bay of Acapulco. Surprise, there is a Christmas tree on board. We see all the bay of Acapulco and the guide tell us where is the house of Frank Sinatra, the house of Madonna, the house of John Travolta and so on. We also see the cliff's divers. It is a good way to break the monotony of a vacation in Acapulco. I recommend this cruise.

When we are back to the hotel for the dinner, we are lucky because there is a little show to entertain us during the meal, a show of Hawaiian dancers. Do not ask me why they are Hawaiian dancers and not Mexican dancers, I do not know. The dancers are good and the show too.

Thursday, December 31. It is now the time for us to go home by airplane on Air Transat. The hostess is unable to serve us some tea and coffee because the pipes are frozen.

When I show my passport to the custom's officer, this man tell me that he has seen me on television and there is certainly no problem with me. So, I just cross the custom's desk and I exit in the airport.
 

J'ai été étudiante en France et j'ai eu l'occasion de visiter à plusieurs reprises Paris et la grande région qui entoure Paris ainsi que quelques autres régions de la France, particulièrement la Bretagne, la Bourgogne, la vallée du Rhone et la Côté d'Azur.

J'ai visité encore une fois le Château de Versailles et ses jardins ainsi que le Grand Trianon et le Petit Trianon qui était l'endroit favori de Marie-Antoinette, reine de France et épouse de Louis XVI.

À cette occasion, j'étais accompagnée non pas de ma douce moitié mais de mon alter ego, celle que j'appelle affectueusement mon «Amoureuse Attendrie», celle qui habite mon coeur et mes pensées, celle qui a toujours un grand sourire et qui ne manque jamais d'amour à donner et à partager, celle dont la vivacité et l'entrain ne peuvent que vous conduire à vous dépasser et à profiter de la vie, celle dont le chien et le chat sont des sources de joie, de bonheur, de complicité et de rapprochement, celle que j'ai eu la chance de découvrir pour mon plus grand bonheur.

Dans les jardins du Petit Trianon, vous y trouverez le Temple de Vénus.

Les Jardins portaient encore la trace du verglas et des tornades de l'hiver 2000.

Si vous y allez avec la personne qui a gagné votre coeur, vous y retournerez sûrement.
 

J'ai fait un voyage à Cuba avec ma conjointe Michèle du 3 au 13 juillet 2001. C'est un pays pauvre et il est évident que les habitants ne sont pas heureux. Cependant et contrairement à ce qui se passe dans la majorité des autres pays, à Cuba, il n'y a personne qui meurt de faim et toute personne peut recevoir des soins médicaux gratuits et fréquenter l'université sans payer de frais de scolarité. Cuba n'est certes pas un modèle de démocratie mais il y a quand de bonnes réalisations sociales.

La température se maintenait entre 30 et 35 degrés centigrades. Nous étions logées à l'hôtel Club Atlantico situé sur la Playas del estes à Santa Maria del Mar à environ 30 kilomètres à l'est de La Havane. Nous avions choisi ce coin réputé pour son vent continu, ce qui rend la chaleur plus supportable, et pour ses vagues sans fin, ce qui augmente le plaisir de se baigner dans la mer. J'étais certainement la plus grande fille sur la plage et j'ai ramené un beau bronzage mais j'ai été légèrement brûlée sur les épaules pour avoir un peu trop marché sur la plage.

À cet hôtel, il y avait un service gratuit de navettes avec La Havane deux fois par jour à 9:00 et à 14:00 de sorte qu'il était facile de visiter La Havane qui est une très belle ville de style Vieille Espagne des XVIIe, XVIIIe et XIXe siècles.

Cependant, La Havane aurait besoin d'un programme de restauration et de ravalement des façades qui coûterait certainement quelques milliards de dollars pour nettoyer la ville et réparer tous les immeubles qui souffrent d'un manque évident d'entretien.

De plus, la pollution causée par les camions et les automobiles est épouvantable. D'ailleurs, le souvenir olfactif que je retiendrai de La Havane est l'odeur de l'huile brûlée et de l'essence. Si les véhicules qui roulent à Cuba étaient soumis aux mêmes normes contre la pollution qui existent au Canada, je suis convaincue que 95 % des véhicules qui roulent à Cuba ne satisferaient pas à ces normes. Cette odeur d'huile brûlée est réellement ennuyante.

Enfin, le samedi soir, nous sommes allées voir un spectacle de cabaret au «National Cabaret» à La Havane. Il s'agit d'un spectacle de musique, de danse et de chant qui ressemble un peu à un spectacle de type Moulin Rouge. En premier, il y avait un orchestre cubain composé de huit musiciens qui occupaient l'arrière scène et qui assuraient la musique durant tout le spectacle. Ensuite, en avant de l'orchestre, il y avait entre deux et quatre chanteurs qui chantaient en solo, en duo, en trio ou en quatuor, soit avec les danseurs ou sans les danseurs. Enfin, il y avait une chanteuse étoile qui a chanté seule quatre chansons.

Enfin, à l'avant scène, il y avait 16 danseuses habillées généralement de plumes et d'un mini bikini et exécutant des chorégraphies variées et rapides. À ces 16 filles qui étaient sur scène par groupes de 2, 4, 8, 12 ou 16 selon le numéro, il faut ajouter la danseuse étoile âgée de 37 ans, blonde et mesurant environ 1,75m qui était d'une agilité surprenante et les deux danseurs étoiles dont la souplesse et la rapidité d'exécution n'avaient rien à envier aux meilleurs danseurs du monde.

Pour le dernier numéro du spectacle, les deux danseurs étoiles sont venus chercher deux femmes dans la salle pour participer au dernier numéro de danse et c'est Michèle et moi qui avons été choisies pour danser avec eux. Avec ma grande taille, ma robe longue et mon style, je fus certainement la plus regardée mais je peux vous dire une chose, j'ai suivi le danseur dans tous ses mouvements. Encore une chance que la danse n'a duré que dix minutes car je n'aurais pas été capable de danser avec lui pendant tout le spectacle qui a duré environ 80 minutes.

Enfin, après le spectacle, la chanteuse étoile est venue m'offrir une cassette de ses chansons. Il faut croire que j'étais visible et remarquable.

Quelques petites remarques pour terminer.

Si vous allez à Cuba, apportez avec vous du papier de toilette, des mouchoirs en papier, des produits pour éloigner les moustiques, de l'alcool à friction et une crème à base de cortisone pour arrêter les démangeaisons et guérir les dommages causés par les piqures de moustiques.

L'économie cubaine fonctionne maintenant avec des dollars et il est possible d'acheter bien des produits mais avec des dollars américains uniquement. Par exemple, si vous aimez les "Pringles", vous pouvez en avoir mais à 4 $US la boîte ce qui revient à 6,50 $ canadiens. Si vous aimez tant les "Pringles", apportez les vôtres.

Si vous désirez rapporter de l'alcool ou des produits du tabac locaux, ils ne sont pas chers.

Les chambres sont convenables et la nourriture est acceptable.
 

Finally, I have also visited Cuba in July 2001. It is still a poor country and people are not happy. However, nobody dies by lack of food and every body is entitled to receive free medical treatment and may go up to university without any scolarship to pay.

The temperature was sunny with a high of 95oF and a low of 85oF. I was at Club Atlantico hotel located at Playas des estes, 20 miles east of Havana, a very lovely and quiet place that I have choosen for the wind and the big waves on the ocean. I was certainly the tallest girl on the beach and I have a lovely sun tan.

We had a free shuttle twice a day to go to Havana and come back. Havana is a very beautiful city, old Spanish Style of the XVII, XVIII et XIX centuries but Havana needs few billions dollars of works to clean up the city and repair all the building that have suffered of a lack of maintenance. However, the pollution caused by trucks and cars is very strong in Havana and I will always remember the smelt of oil in Havana.

I have assisted to a night show at the «National Cabaret» in Havana. It was a show like Moulin Rouge in Paris with male and female dancers and singers and a lot of feathers and tiny briefs. When one of the two male dancers has invited me to dance with him on the stage, I was certainly the most look girl on the stage. Not only I was the tallest girl but I was the only to dance with a long dress.