I’ve been in the Charleston, SC area for several years now and one thing you can almost count on here is that when winter comes you really don’t have to deal with much cold weather unless it's December and January. Well it’s freaking Nov. 18 and I’m freezing my ass off. Ok I know you if you’re in the north and reading this you’re going yawn now, but seriously when it gets below 50 degrees I’m too cold and if it get’s over 80 I’m too hot, so if anyone has any suggestions on a place in the world that stays within those degrees I’d gladly ask you to be your roommate, lol

But what are you going to do right, call Mother Nature and complain? I still can’t find her number myself. Oh well I’ll do what I do just about every year before Christmas when the leaves are on the ground. The skies here seem to always be gray with the constant humidity of summer due to living in the south near the ocean turns to the wet cold dampness of winter.And this is how we do it in the south.

Anyone ever heard of neck bones? It’s my grandma’s favorite and now it’s mine. It's Pork and I have no idea what part of the pig it is.I guess since its called neck bones it has something to do with the neck, lol. You can get them at any southern grocery store that I’m sure of, so if you live north of Virginia, south of Orlando, or west of Texas, you’ll have to let me know if you or “yawl” have them. They come in plain or smoked, which the smoked is a little spicy. You season with pepper (no salt, pork is salty enough). I have to have unions with them, boil for about 2 to 3 hours on medium high. Drain most of the water out, basically leaving what you can’t pour out in, and that’s cool. Then you add your veggies. Down here we call it succotash, basically corn, okra(if you like), lot’s of chopped tomatoes , lima beans then pour all that into the pot with the neck bones cook on low for another hour. Then make some corn bread and Walla neck bones soup.

Now it’s time to take a shower. I get the fireplace going, a big bowl of soup, everything I need to drink and its movie time. Yes I’m a movie buff pretty much year round but there’s nothing like a cold winter’s night to me with no work in the morning is even better. If there’s a light drizzle in the air and the fireplace is crackling, my cats all curled up around me, I have a big blanket to smother in and good movie, it’s heaven to me. And if it’s 420 time that’s a plus. I’ll probably eat the whole pot of soup,lol. So since its winter and I’ve done my Rachel Ray duty and gave you a good old southern recipe here’s also my list of what would be some good, cold, curl up in blanket movies. Actually I’ve even ranked my favorite transgender friendly films. It's not all I watch. We're lucky if we get a new film on anything transgender more than one new film a year if we’re lucky that year, but since this is Transmuseplanet and I will often be talking about films here, let’s start with my top 25 transgender films of all time.

My top 25 transgender film choices for the winter:

The first two is without a doubt, and the reason I choose other than being favorites of mine, is due to their significance in groundbreaking awareness of transgender issues in film;

1. Boys Don't Cry

2. The Crying Game

Now for you gals and guys out there that are under thirty, these are a must see for you. Long before Birdcage and tons of Anime cartoons there were these films that without a doubt opened a huge door for even mentioning transgender in the films. In each of these films their historical mark on history is still being felt;

3. Paris is burning; inspired Madonna’s vogue days and shed a dark but honest light on transgender issues of the eighties in NYC and is very funny by the way.

4. Stonewall; hopefully you’ve heard that stonewall was symbolically considered the beginning of the lgbt equality movement and that transgender teens lead the riot. Remembered here in the movie about them in the Stonewall Inn bar. If not, you should see what it was like to dress in the opposite gender’s clothing before 1970.

5. Myra Breckinridge; was just truly a head of its time. An hilarious and star packed film with Raquel Welch playing a transsexual in 1970 that’s going to take over the world. Also featuring, Mae West's last Film and a young Farrah Fawcett was just getting started.

It seemed that after all the ground breaking in the 70’s and 80’s with transgender in films. It seemed the 90’s and the new millennium was to finally give us award winning films like:

6. Princesa; A great film and must see. I apologize could not fine a trailer but here is a clip from the movie.

7. Transamerica;

8. Ma vien rose; If you haven’t seen it? Get your tissue ready this is excellent. But then again the French know how to do it best.

9. Soldier’s Girl; Based on a true story. youtu.be/1sRGi4UFqj8youtu.be/1sRGi4UFqj8 youtu.be/ezSsK3SgVk8youtu.be/ezS666

10. Bad Education; Subtitles again, but don’t let that get in the way of you ingit just because you’re too lazy to read the words,lol. You will be spellbound.

Where would we be, as a community, without those not so popular but can’t do without cult classics.

11. Female trouble; The great divine laying down concrete for drag and transgender way back in the 70’s.

12. Pink flamingos;

13. Strange Circus; Agreat foreign film about ftm transistiong.

14. Hedwig and the Angry Inch; The best soudtrack,

15 Breakfast on Pluto; I’m crazy about the soundtrack of this film as well.

16. Girls will be Girls; A 420 friendly must see. You’ll be on the floor crying with laughter garanteed.

17. Different for girls; In case you have a guy in your life get him to join you with a bowl of soup for this romantic comedy drama.

18. Orlando; Even thought this is not refer to transitioning, it's full of gender bending. Period film.

19. M Butterfly; Based on the true life love affair of spies.

Now for you youngsters who may read this. Some of you may have heard of a few of these. Most were made since 2000.

20. The skin I live in; Another great film from Almodovar.

21. Ticked off Trannies with knives; This film received a lot of negativity from a lot in the trans community for not being transgender positive. I think it was funny and really did shine a light on a sometimes dark side of being transgender and showed transsexuals can some kick ass too. Which hopefully you'll never have to do.

22. The Badge;

23. 20 Centimeters; Another great soundtrack of remakes.

24. Tomboy; I just loved this movie, ma vien rose ftm version. Simply touching.

25. Beautiful Boxer; Based on a recent true story.

Though it may seem cheesy to add to the list, a film you were in. I'll just say honorable mention. Of all the things I could say about this film, I will say more than any other, the cinematography was so beautiful to me. Full of beautiful scenery of NYC and hot guys. And though you will not see me in the trailer I've added a link to my reel of scenes from the movie.

Honorable Mention

Between Love and Goodbye;

So if your home alone, cold and bored you have yourself to blame. I’ve given you a good recipe and a list of must see by all transgendered people films. Take your pick or support the community and watch all of them and maybe there’ll be even more roles made for trans people. So here I go, I have my bowl of soup ready and mmmmm which one will I re-watch again, lol. Stay warm.