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Yesterday met up with the local Miata club, normally there are about five or six cars but yesterday there were 15 cars. With that there were many new people I got to meet and not one of them as with the members I met already had anything to say about me other than what someone would say to a cisgender female. We start off with a sit down in a restaurant for about 10 to 30 minutes chit chatting then hit the road normally for one to four hour drive through the countryside. Each time so far it's a different route. Yesterday I asked, how long of a ride is it today? I was informed it would be pretty much the entire day. We hit the main highway for about two hours then off into the backcountry for about an hour at which time we took a rest stop. I was the car directly behind the lead car, had not met him till yesterday. He said that my driving was great but at one point he lost sight of me. I told him that the others were lagging behind so I wanted to keep sight of them. He said, they know the way and they would caught up to us here. He then said I was a tad back during the last leg of the run and I said I thought it was the right distance between cars. He said, heck you can get closer. So then everyone was ready he said "the boss is getting back in the car and heading off" I jumped in my car and with the thought in mind that I could stay close to him I did. For the next 40 to 50 minutes we ran through some pretty exciting twist and turns in the road, got to the next spot to meet up with the rest of the group, got out of our cars and I said I think they must be about 15 minutes behind us when he asked me how far do you think they are behind us? He then told me about how he learned to drive like he does and then said I was a natural. He said "no matter what I did I you were right on my tail where many others would never keep up with me. It was 13 minutes by the time the others caught up and they said, it's time for lunch so off we drove another 20 minutes and hit a bar. While eating two of the seasoned members told me I am ready to lead the group on a run whenever I am ready (yes I was smiling big time). As I see it my driving skills throughout my life were crippled only by the cars I had and their ability to do regular style driving. Ever since my second run with the group I have been right in the world I should had been decades ago. Any ways on the way home I was asked if I wanted to be the lead driver and did so which was great. I will admit what I need to be lead driver at the start is learning the routes which is going to take a few more runs. When I returned home my car was absolutely dirty so I washed it, had a quick dinner and went to bed early happy how the day turned out. The milestones are piling up nicely for less than a year after surgery.

I'm more of a passenger-type myself, but that all sounds like a lot of fun :-)

Hmmmm, do Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Sebastian Vettell need to worry about a future challenge? LoL Glad you're enjoying life. Cheers, Eve

Hiya Karen. I Am so glad, that You are having the fun with Your Car, that You are doing, You Lead-Foot Lady ! There is Nothing like enjoying times like that. ( I had to stop driving, due to health Problems, several Year's ago ! So I Am always pleased, when Friend's get to enjoy themselves ! ) It will be Great, when You are the Lead-Driver, right from the start. As You said, You are less than a Year, since You had Your Surgery, but, look at All the Fun, You have already been having ! Karen, You are a Great, Fun-Loving Lady, and I Am Genuinely so Happy for You. Keep on Enjoying Yourself Love, because You deserve it. Karen, Take Care, With My Very Best Wishes, Stephanie. xoxoxoxo

Hi everyone, Happy Monday! It's still strikes me as funny that I can actually believe that when I say it now - but it's true. Since I got my promotion (and raise) at work I decided I could and should go away finally. It's been at least 2 or 3 years since I went away - granted, I don't really like traveling all the much, but usually I like to get at least a long weekend somewhere each year. So in November, in the week before Thanksgiving, I'm going down to D.C. It's part family, part fun. I have an aunt and uncle (not husband and wife, they are my mother's brother and her other brother's wife), and three cousins and their families. I suggested to one of my cousins that if I was going to see my aunt and uncle I could consider "going back" just for those visits - both are in their mid to late 80s, no need to shock them. But he said he didn't think there's any need - my aunt has dealt with enough and can deal with this (she is Spanish and grew up very conservative catholic and has 2 kids who are gay, so yes), and my uncles probably has more in his background than any of us can match - so I'm going with that. (I probably will suggest that it would be good if one of my cousins could tell them before I go down) The bigger thing for me is just the idea of traveling - this is the first time for me traveling as a woman. I have no idea what that means, but I feel like it's something. I've been to D.C. many, many times, but I have no idea what I will do now - I imagine some of the gay bars I've gone to will still be fine, but who knows (I doubt my cousins will be of much help, they all live outside the city and are older and settled). Speaking of family, it's now been about a month since my last email to my sister and still no response. I want to believe that it's fine, if that's how it's going to be that's it, but I have to admit that when I was thinking about it Friday night it kind of hurt. We haven't always been very close, but we have been at times, and I'd miss that if it's gone. I'm not going to do anything further about it unless she does, I know it just has to be what it is, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt. On a more positive front - I mailed in my paperwork to update my Birth Certificate today (name only, in NJ you can't change gender until after GRS), and my mortgage company. xoxo Christie

Went out for another long walk in the Severn Valley countryside on Sunday with my friend Sharon, we'd done walks along the valley a couple of times previously, but this time we parked my car two thirds of the way from Bewdley to Arley at a place Called Trimpley just above the reservoirs. we walked down the valley side to cross the preserved steam railway and then walked alongside the reservoirs, under the historic Victorai rail bridge along the river side to Arley where we crossed the river and walked on the west river bank all the way to Hampton Loade railway station to wait for a train to return us to Arley. Total distance walked as worked out with dividers, rulers and OS map is 8.155 miles or 13.125 Kms, it seemed nearly twice that distance walking over uneven grass, mud, and gravel surfaces. My bad left knee (bone necrosis - scuba diving, motorcycling et al) is still suffering the following day. Anyway we had an enjoyable time and saw some really fine preserved locomotives and carriages pass us as we walked along the riverside, including a couple of famous Locomotives ex LMSR no 46100 Royal Scot, and Ex LNER Replica 60163 Tornado, built in 2008 at Darlington, it's that last steam locomotive built in the UK after a 48 year gap. Enough of my anorak mentality. All through the walk I spoke to other walkers and and passengers and staff at the railway station and no one treated Sharon or myself any differently than other passengers or walkers. So I either passed as female, or people are very tolerant of Transgender people, either way I'm happy with that.

Yes Steph, Tornado was the engine that we travelled back to Arley behind.

Hiya Eve. I feel like saying " Choo ! Choo ! " I must admit to being slightly envious, travelling on " Proper " Steam Rail Line's ! The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Line, is Not Full-Time, and the Quainton Road Steam Rail Line, only has a half-mile track in use ! Tornado, is one Steam engine, that I would Love to travel with. I Am glad that You and Sharon, had a Great Walk, and Steam Train Ride. What a wonderful way to travel ! Eve, keep enjoying Your Walk's, and Steam Train Journey's, with Your Friend Sharon. Take Care, and My Very Best Wishes, Stephanie. xoxoxoxo

Thanks Michele

Lucky I've been like a teenager my whole life when it comes to being a girl, can't wait to see what grown up lady brings me. Grey hair I call golden streaks. Enjoy the new look Karen.

Ohhh, in the neighborhood of 30

Okay, on day one I was exhausted and still went to the gym. This week I managed to go to the gym 3 days with my friend. One I couldn't go because I had to attend to a work function. What I noticed on Wednesday was. Meeting day is a crappy day to be at the station. I should thank the heavens that I wasn't put in charge of typing the minutes as well. I hate doing minutes. I had to sit in some meeting that was super boring. And another where I call it a crap out parade. Shame this one Captain just seems to not be in the good books at all. On a brighter note. My Colonel is back, after having a triple bypass and I would have told him to stay at home seeing that the wounds have not as yet all healed, and he developed some infections. But how can you tell a workaholic to stay away from work, if that is one of the things that is making him sick and depressed. So when he says I must drive him somewhere, I just get a vehicle and drive him. I think he is more open about things with me as I am open about myself with him. After he was informed that I dated, he initially jumped to a time I dated someone around the corner from his house, whom was also in the police at that time and abusive. I should be glad that I didn't tell him that ex is in jail now, or he would've blown a gasket. In that breakup I need the protection of my Colonel to make certain that that guy stay away from me. He showed how protective he can be over me and then his friend the commander of that person also had to intervene, because I didn't realize I was dating a psycho, until he became abusive to the extent of punching me a few times and going for a firearm to quiet me up, because no amount of hitting me can make me go quiet. Actually I defended myself, but couldn't get to my phone for help to arrive. I should say, fortunately for me, I had my firearm on me that day, or things would've been different. What I mean by that, I would've been shot, if I didn't have my unique place of pointing a firearm to make any CIS or Transgender Male drop their weapons in fear of losing their little guy. I walked out and as I drove off that day I called to say, don't bother calling me or trying to see me, no person threatens my life or hits me to return into my life without being an arrested suspect. Long story short, I need to run. Just got an urgent call. Will continue on this later.