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Sooooooo....... The weekend is almost over here, it's been a strange kind of weekend. Went to see the new Mission Impossible, which I would say is worth seeing if only because the other option is Fantastic Four. If you have ever seen James Bond, Casino Royale (the latest version) or have seen anything with Tom Cruise in it before, it's probably worth just going down to your local video store or online provider and just watch one of those instead. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of options in terms of new material movies around. They are either reboots or recent movies or just nothing which is breaking the ground. Even the Stonewall movie is getting bad press for being historically inaccurate (wait! Hollywood re-writing history.....I am shocked). On the smaller screen I am just about to sit down and watch the second installment of I am Cait which has had mixed reviews. Will stick with it and see how things go, but I am not really a committed TV programme watcher. I tend to wait for it to come out on box set or just lose interest. Whilst we are on about Caitlyn, somebody sent a 'funny' joke on Facebook earlier.......not that funny to be honest. But probably typifies why there will always be issues with being seen as 'different'. Anyway, as promised, have uploaded a few pics I have taken around the city the past week or so. If you like them I'll try and add some more as i take them. Have a good week Take care c.xoxo

Yesterday I went to visit my best female friend who unfortunately lives forty minutes north of me and does not drive. During non-peak hours it's a 20 minute drive. Any ways we were planned on going to the Portland Saturday market but I for some reason went to bed at 6:30PM Friday night and she was up dealing with an inebriated husband till 3AM in the morning. Beings I was up at mid-night and ended up texting with her the end result was no Saturday market as we both needed to take naps and ended up getting to her place around 11AM. So we went to a great mall five minutes from her place and did typical shopping and trying on clothes. Got to Pandora store (the only one in Oregon) and wanted to find a charm for my bracelet that had butterflies which can be seen in the picture above costing $40. After picking that one out my friend asked the sales person if they had any charms with a knife on it (if you have read my blogs this is about me and teaching edge weapon tactics) but no they did not. Then she says, how about one for best friends. Now I know at this point what she is doing, looking to purchase a charm for my bracelet and keep quite as saying you don't need to do this will not stop her. So the third one I say something like, yes that one works for me and by looking at it my brain says "expensive". She says I want to buy this for her. Side note, when you tell the sales person you want a charm he or she (dealt with both) will place the charm on the bracelet. He then takes both our credit cards to ring up the charms. At this point my friend breaks down in tears and know why, she adores me and has said countless times I am truly her best friend. So we embrace each other for a while then release. I look at her and she at me and we embrace again all the while she has tears flowing down her face. Of course that got me teary eyed too. I was of course not keeping time on this but was an intense few minutes and the sales person did not try to interrupt us. Even though a year ago I had been on hormones for eight months I was not that emotional, I had been a fearsome male who rarely if ever showed emotions and now over the past six months finding this happening more and more Leaving the store she told me not to tell her husband she had purchased the charm as he would not care for her spending that kind of money on non-family members We then went to lunch then back to her place where her husband was cooking dinner. Sat and chatted for about an hour then left for home. If you read this far the thing I wanted to say if nothing else is, it is so wonderful to have good friends. I have many friends but only four that I can say that are really and truly a friend for life. Besides my friend mentioned above I have after thirty years rekindled friendship with my brother's former girlfriend whom he dated in our late teens. I stayed close with her for another five years until she moved 3,000 miles away. We reconnected the week after my gender reassignment surgery for an entire day. Two weeks ago I said I would be purchasing a new sports car in the fall and driving down her way to visit my son. She has invited me to stay for a weekend which will be so wonderful. There are few people that will do this and I am honored to be her friend.

One purpose of this entry is to "back myself into a corner" - by publicly stating a goal i'll hopefully feel more pressure to do it Next week at work I plan to (1) start wearing my wig, and (2) wear a skirt at least a couple of days. Below are a couple of pics from today - i didn't do makeup today, i'll do that tomorrow and post another

aww thank you both for your comments. I hope your journeys through this thing we called life are full of more ups than downs. take care. xoxo

Warning - this is a boring post. Thank goodness, lol! I am doing better since my last post. Things have stabilized. I talked with my wife today and she was warm and reaffirming. I've been biking a lot. I rode 50 miles yesterday and almost 80 miles today with a friend from my support group. I am getting ready for the Reston Century in two weeks. Still have more work to do, if I am going to make it. But I feel better about my chances. I did go to my therapist appt two weeks ago, but have missed a couple support group meetings as well as "going out" events. Part of it is that I've been out of town quite a bit, on vacation or travel. Things should settle down bit after my kids go to school. This summer has been much busier than I expected overall. In fact, I missed three weeks of electrolysis appts. I'll miss again next week as well. I went to an appt to get blood work this week, for the first time since starting Estradiol. Everything came out normal, however I don't know what my levels are yet. I have a follow-up appt scheduled next week, but will need to reschedule to the following week. I hope that all is well with everyone. I am feeling much better. Hope that will continue and hope that all is well with all of you. --Lisa

Karen, Thank you for posting that picture. You look great and so happy. It stinks that your friend's husband kept her up late. That's ridiculous. I hope he doesn't do that often. Good friends are very hard to come by and in this age stay connected to. I think we all have had long gaps where we don't make time for our friends or they are too busy. --Lisa

Monica, It often works! And there are times when it doesn't but for some valid reason. Here are some pics today, with make-up

Wow. Your photos really, really are fantastic.

lol thanks Christie x

Hiya Charli. Sorry You are having Server problems. I Know What It Is Like, When You Are unable, to get on Your Internet. Please feel free, to stay in touch with Me, anytime Sweetheart. You Really do have a very pretty face, and lovely appealing Hazel Eyes, and lovely Hair ! I Hope that Life also has More Up's, than Down's, for You Also. It Is Good to Hear from You Charli, You Sweetie. Take Care, Best Wishes, Steph. xoxo.

One criticism, next time you take a picture look straight ahead rather than looking in a downward direction, otherwise great pictures

Dear Karen, I thought that was adorable, two bff's buying each other bff charms! There was a recent study of teenagers, one group who had NO friends, another group who had a FEW friends, and the third group that had MANY friends. The group that had no friends, had many difficulties in life, while the groups that had a few friends and many friends, fared much better, and the group with many friends fared only SLIGHTLY better than the group that had a few friends. The upshot of all of this was that it was important to have friends, period. How many does not matter. Recently, a neighbor and I sat outside for a half hour, and she picked my brain about my planned move. A few days later, she caught me at the Subway Sandwich Shop, and she picked my brain further. I promised I would write down the answers. She used the restroom first, and I watched her things, and I asked her to do the same for me as she exited the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, she was gone, without even saying goodbye. This did not hurt me, as I share information to all who asks, (she asked about a dentist and about Kingston), because I knew she was an acquaintance. It is important to know the difference between an "Internet friend," "light acquaintance," "good acquaintance," and friend. An Internet friend can drop out of your life at any time, without explanation, a light acquaintance knows you by sight but not by name, saying "hello," a good acquaintance will sit down with you if they happen to come across you, and know you by name and a friend knows your first, last name, address and telephone number. Many have a lover with no friends at all. Realize that it is harder to make friends after graduating post secondary school. This is true of lovers, also. But we should not despair, as opportunities to make friends and find lovers do present themselves throughout our lives. Certain communities are more amenable to making friends and finding lovers, and we should be aware of that. Have seen people shrivel up and die due to communities that were unfriendly. Karen, I am glad to see you opening up like a flower! Feel your best friend's husband should respect her more by being clean and sober, as he should realize how lucky he is to have her! Your friend, Monica

Charli, love your photos, as I am an architecture and outdoor sculpture fan!

Charli, Your pictures are really nice, you have a good eye for photography! As for "I am cait," I watched episode 2 and was generally happy with it - with a couple of reservations - but I won't risk spoiling it for you Xoxo Christie

So this week has been an 'up and down' sort of week. Frustrations at work and generally getting annoyed at how I look has been the story of the week. One of the things I do enjoy though is getting out on my lunch break and taking photo's around the city, those little things that people generally walk past daily and fail to notice. So I have been out doing that. I will upload some photographs in the coming weeks. I've also managed to find myself a quiet place where I can go and get a coffee and generally be ignored and watch the world pass by. I suppose I should add a little more about me, so this is taken from my profile page on another site: I am a transgender female who will not be transitioning anytime in the near future. There I said it!For FAQs see bottom of profile!After a number of incidents in my childhood, which I let define me for too long I was fortunate enough to find someone who actually loves me for being me, and someone I could equally love back.I have had a lot of friends go through transition and lose their families and loved ones as a result. It would be psychologically detrimental for me to do that, having spent so long being neglected.Having spent so many years trying to be something I wasn't I legally changed my name to give me more of an androgynous feel and to help me be who I am on the inside.Educationally I am due to begin my Masters program shortly but as well as the more serious subject matter I have also taken night classes in Skin Care, Beauty and Make Up as well as dress making. My guilty pleasures are Art Galleries and Fashion Magazines.I am also a big fan of Twitter and more can be gleaned about me from https://twitter.com/TGcharlotte if you really must.Having moved from the UK, where I used to go out in Manchester I now find myself living in what I consider to be the best place in the world.It hasnt been an easy journey in my 40 years but I am now moderately at peace with myself.Obviously I still have those bad days but I have learnt to enjoy life as me.I am happy to support newbies so please feel free to message me.And that's just about me other than the regulatory 5'11 hazel eyes and bergundy hair Take care and be safeC.xoxoFAQs.Am I full time?I am a female in the wrong shaped body. I am full time in terms of being a human being who just happens to be female. Please understand, clothes are just clothes, wearing women's clothing doesn't make me a woman, my brain has first call on that.Do I like Men?No, I am not sexually attracted to men at all. I like women, confusing I know but try being me, or my wife, how do you even begin to define that relationship other than its a loving one.What will you talk about?Fashion, music, social and behavioral psychologyWhat won't you talk about?Anything to do with sex, sport or car engines

Christie, interestingly, I do that, too. I state a goal to all those around me, so that I would feel more obliged to carry it through!

Christie, Hiya Sweetheart. Congratulations on being able to start HRT. It Is Something I Am looking forward to being able to start HRT Myself, hopefully sooner, rather than later. I Am a 53 Year-Old, MtoF Transsexual, 5'11" Tall, Brown Eyes, Dark Brown Hair, Which I Wear In A Pony Tail, and Slim.(UK Size 12). I Only Came-Out as TS, on 30th. April, 2015, And I Started Fully, Full-Time, Female-Dressing, on 1st. May, 2015. Christie Sweetie, You Can be very Proud, at what You have achieved So Far, and just think of All the achievements, You Will have. I Also, want to Fully Transition, and I Do want Full GRS/SRS too ! We have Both got So Much to Look Forward to, and I Am So Glad that You Are Happy. Christie Sweetheart, feel free to message Me, anytime Love. Take Care, and Very Best Wishes to You. All The Very Best Honey, Regards, Stephanie.

Charli, Hiya, I Am Steph. I Am in Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, in the UK. I Am 14 Week's "Out" as MtoF Transsexual ! The Fact that You are Happy being You, and have a Loving Wife, is All that matters, apart From Your Health. If You have Good Health, that is Good ! Your Photograph is Lovely. Like You, I Am 5'11" Tall; with Hazel Eyes. I Am a UK Size 12, and have Dark Brown Hair, in A Pony Tail. I Wish You All The Very Best For The Future, I hope All goes Well for You. Take Care, Regards, Stephanie.

Dear Tara, Am very sorry about your failed surgery. Beg everyone to check a surgeon's website for before/after pictures, patient references and consider THREE doctors (a second and third opinion), not just one, because often this kind of surgery is permanent. A good bed side manner does not mean a good surgeon. This is where dialogue with our brothers and sisters is ESSENTIAL! Yours truly, Monica

Dr Brassard hasn't retired. That was his predecessor, Dr Menard who retired and left the clientele to Dr B. Dr Bélanger and Dr Brassard work together. It's a shame options for transitional surgeries are limited. I hoped there were more options too. The surgical work and immediate aftercare from Montreal was very good. Better than a lot of other places. Longer term after care (for non Quebecers ) has been difficult for some people. i went to the US for a top surgery that OHiP wouldnt cover and basically lost all the money I spent on it after the surgery failed, and the Dr wouldnt provide what I felt was an a acceptable and fair revision process. I went to a different surgeon in the US Nd had good results with the repair of the first one. We're a small and vulnerable minority, so sometimes we're sidelined or ripped off, and other times treated quite well. We just have to keep doing our best research and sharing what we learn with each other to protect ourselves. Thank you for your article.