Leaderboard

Good afternoon everyone! I mentioned in a post last week that I had started using Christie at work, in addition to everywhere else in my life. This week, with the approval of the Dean and Associate Dean, I asked our IT Dept. to change my email address, which they did without question and quite quickly (within an hour of my request - and they NEVER do anything that fast). An email is being put together to send to the students I work directly with, and then another for the full school which won't mention me directly. But all of them are becoming rapidly moot as people see my name on the email address - a number of students have already started calling me Christie in email to me. I was getting a little anxious and hoping that they would finalize the emails quickly, but now I'm just accepting that word is spreading anyway, so the email can go when it goes. More important though is an email I rec'd from an outsider who was directed to me by one of our faculty members - I could see in the earlier emails between them that our faculty member referred to me as "she," and so when that person wrote to me I realized she is the first person to communicate with me who never knew me other than as Christie xoxo Christie

Today, I came across a moving and beautiful article by a reader of Lesbian Connection . . . "I am 64; I was born female and I have been Lesbian identified since I was 19 (soft butch). I was active in the Gay Rights and the Women's Rights movements. It is now 2015, and many things have changed." "I am weary of the ANTI-TRANSWOMEN words I keep reading here, and I'm having a hard time with some of the more caustic comments! I have not heard anybody say whether or not these women are actually transgender or transsexual; I am assuming transgender. If they are transgender, do they identify as Lesbian? Many do. I am also disappointed by women who insist on calling transwomen "men." I don't care what chromosomes they had at birth; I care about who they are. Are you still referring to Chaz Bono as 'she'?" "As Lesbians, we fought so hard for acceptance, and it is just inconceivable that we could be so unaccepting of another subculture whose journey is more difficult than many of ours. When I was younger, I was involved for nearly two years with a transgender woman (her physical and legal transition was complete when I met her). Because of this I had the enlightening opportunity to meet many other trans folks of both genders, and the chance to learn about and try to understand their world. I met many wonderful and sincere people, some of whom had suffered terrible abuse as transpersons. It does not matter what gender a person is born; if they do not identify with that gender, then life is a nightmare. I applaud those who have the strength and resources to make a very difficult change. Once they make it, they have every right to be seen as that gender, be it male to female, or female to male! I also happen to think that those in between have the right to be called whatever they feel identifies them." "I feel strongly that it is time to acknowledge that the world has changed considerably since the '70s. Lesbians have NOT been erased; we have been mainstreamed! Isn't that what most of us wanted - to be treated the same as Straight folks, with the same rights and opportunities?" "During my thirties, I pretty much lived in a Lesbian-dominated world, and I loved it. Then things started to change. I found myself with more Straight friends and working mostly with Straight people. Although I did not like the changes at first, I now realize I live in a much larger world. While I miss some things about the old days, I believe that living in this larger world is a good thing, and for my part, I am determined that it will be open to diversity, including transgender women. And I want to give my thumbs up to the readers who had the courage to give supportive comments about transwomen!" - Margaret P. Margaret P. writes a beautiful article about the importance of Lesbians to deal with their fear of losing their identity as they become mainstreamed rather than lashing out at another minority culture. Couldn't agree more!

So I figured I'd stop in with yet another update, on two things. First off, the dog I were helping care for down the road (Weezie) is doing much better! Her owner/mother took her to an emergency veterinary clinic because she were still very worried about her. I were supposed to go with her but overslept and never got her messages, so I missed it. BUT, The vets decided to keep her overnight because of her age so they could examine her and run a few tests. They found that she were severely dehydrated, so she was put on an IV overnight, and much to her delight, spoonfed food. I were correct on the gas, afterall, and they found that she had a gastro-intestinal blockage. Given another week or so, she probably would have passed away. Also the severe shedding were simply because she is an older dog, and we did have a really hard winter, So this is what they refer to as a "hard shed" due to excess oils in her hair and its just a LOT more than normal. I'm pleased to report that she is doing MUCH better and is roaming around very happily, freshly groomed and bathed, her nails clipped and ears cleaned. She got very pampered and she loved it! She's now walking and roaming back to normal, and is fully able to get herself up and around without assistance. Also, It's wednesday!! Which means another youtube video It were certainly a bit longer than I had planned, but I were half awake this morning so it's sort of slapped together >.< Enjoy, and feel free to give me ideas and whatnot Lots of love and not much to report otherwise, Warren

Good topic Eve. The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry when one leads a double life no matter how careful we are, how smart we are a slight bump in the road can reveal the other side of us. I had to be very creative while married for 18 years then new challenges when dating for five years, it gets tiring and crazy as we are not only managing clothes but when done right mannerism plays into the equation too. It would be very interesting to hear from others how they handle this where if they are married that really is a challenge more so that single.

What a lovely blog entry, and if you don't think that you're passable as a woman what do you think you are passable as? I can only see female, and would never guess that you're trans, so stop worrying ! And remember it takes one to see one ! Cheers, Eve

I've had a few random thoughts in the past couple of days, so i thought I'd share them whilst my nails are drying. A lot has been said recently about making decisions about going full-time and starting HRT, all of it was perfectly sensible and also correct about giving a lot of thought before taking a step that is largely irreversible, i have reflected on my own experience and reasoning and realised that an important (to me anyway) factor had been omitted thus far. I found it increasingly difficult leading a double life, male part-time and female part-time. Male wardrobe and shoes and female wardrobe and shoes, ensure no-one can see both, in front of some people I had to be Femme and others male, what a difficult juggling act it became for me, so along with the deep thought and long held desire to be identified as Femme I also had little choice at the end..................maybe this will be controversial to some , but it was my experience. Cheers, Eve x

That's Brilliant Monica, I think you need to add an extra vote button called Love this............. Cheers, Eve

Dear Monica, Thank you for such a lovely and thoughtful post. Isn't it wonderful? You are too. Emma

Monica, thanks for the words of wisdom. In regards to meeting people in public, in my past life I would not worry at all beings how I am trained but then even so would take counter measures to ensure I could not be traced back to my residence. Since transitioning have met a few people but nothing went so far as sex as I am the type who will not have sex with someone unless I have genuine feelings, not the type that come from below the belt. So with that said, yes, a relationship comes first. Eve, we have men here to that want to explore and nothing more, have encountered them in the past and avoid them at all cost.

Hmmmm, that's interesting and what develops might be more interesting. I find it strange that I have exactly the same thougts about women as you Karen, and the thought of me having sex with a man repulses me, but paradoxically, I sometimes fantasize about being made love to with a penis. I can only explain so far, and that it's not the reproductive organ that bothers me it's the rest of the flesh and persona around it! I think that Male persona's are what really bother me. It's all rather hypothetical anyway seeing as I'm married, yes Monica, albeit rather like Bill & Hillary, perhaps slightly more to true love but not romantic love, anymore lestways. I also worry about "Tranny Chasers" as they are called over here, males who want to experience something different, often wanting pre-op trans girls after seeing the porn sites, with the sole reason so that they can fulfil their fantasies. "Primeval and void of the notion of love" I think lots of men would fit that description, but not all. I just couldn't do it with a man, I think that they're nearly all ugly, such a shame God gave them all the penises................... Hugs, Eve

Hello Wpwyle and welcome to the forums. Monica is such a wonderful person and resource to all of us and would highly suggest taking her advice.

What a thoughtful young man . . . wish he lived near me!