Meet Me in St Louis, Part 2

I had one night when I was in St. Louis that I planned to go to dinner at the casino hotel where I was staying for the beginning of the week. My volunteer colleagues were handling the evening shift on January 5, 2026, so I came back to my room to get ready.

I put on the leopard print dress and ankle boots again, but this night I amped up the makeup for an evening look, including my false eyelashes and attempting to contour my double chin. I wanted to eat at one of the nicer restaurants near the casino and then spend some time in the casino.

After taking lots of pictures in my room, including with my tan handbag, I put on a light coat and left it open. Even though I wasn’t going outside, I felt it was a good choice to cover my arms for the walk to the restaurant. I had chosen the Italian place as I figured I would have a nice glass of wine with dinner. I let the hostess know that I was dining solo, and she led me to a table in the corner. I immediately saw, in the room next to my table, about a dozen other volunteers midway through their meal.

I didn’t panic or (hopefully) show any recognition of them and sat with my back to their table. I took off the coat while I ordered and ate dinner. I did see even more people I know come in and sit at another table. No one gave me a second look, as far as I could tell.

I enjoyed the meal and lingered with my glass of red wine. The large group behind me finished, a couple of the women went to the restroom, and then they left. When the bill came, I realized that paying cash would be smarter, because they would add a fee for using credit. I left a good tip, put my coat back on, and went to use the restroom myself to touch up my lipstick.

It was a short walk to the casino entrance, and I was glad that there wasn’t a huge crowd or a lot of smoke (as smoking is legal in Missouri in the casino). I guess Mondays are quieter here, too! I walked around the casino and tried a couple of the electronic machines. No winnings, but I was fine with that. I did scope out the table games and considered sitting at a blackjack table but decided against it. My feet were starting to hurt, as I haven’t worn heels out for several months. I knew the walk back to the hotel side was ahead and didn’t want to end the night badly.

I had one more opportunity to get out and had planned to visit the Gateway Arch on January 7. I got dressed in a casual outfit of a pink striped shirt, sweater, and black pants with flats (for walking!). I had a call with the team to go over that day’s events, as we had moved to a downtown hotel to be closer to the venue.

Unfortunately, there had been an issue the night before at the main venue that required my attention. It was managed okay, just that the leaders wanted assurances that the problem was under control. I spent more time texting and talking with people, all while dressed. I realized I was not going to have the time to get out, so I took a few pictures and sadly changed back to male mode.

The rest of the week was busy and did not allow me any further chances to dress. I put on panties and hosiery every day, and I slept in a nightgown every night. I was only a little bit disappointed, but I did enjoy the time I had. This is the way I’ve chosen to express myself, so I know how to pivot when things turn out differently than what I expected.

I flew home late on a Sunday night, arriving at home after 11 PM. I didn’t even think about unpacking and dealing with the items in my suitcase until the next day, when I worked from home. That made it simpler to remove the things I keep out of sight from my wife and put everything away in my stash. At some point over the next week or two, I will try to get the washing done.

All in all, I had a good trip, and the event was a success. I did miss my wife, but we saved a lot of money by not having her come for the week. And it allowed me to get some time for myself to appear as Tina, which was definitely needed and enjoyed. Until the next time, whenever that may be!

Hugs, Tina

Editorial Comment: The fact that I can give Tina this happiness is for me, the ultimate happiness! This one’s for you T!