MonicaPz

Karen, may I suggest that you create a DVD set for those that can not attend your classes . . .

Am a cisgender (born female) Lesbian, and was very happily involved with a transwoman who identified as a Lesbian for ten years. Frankly, I am sick of the politics of the cisgender Lesbian community and prefer transwoman Lesbians. Recommend exploring http://www.TGPersonals.com, as I feel it is one of the most wholesome transgender dating websites. Just a warning, though, you will find a few creeps in even the best Internet dating websites. Don't give up!

Just to clarify . . . am reading a fascinating book, "Community In Transition," and the body map is how a transgender person sees how they look, even before transitioning. This concept is similar to how a person missing a limb can sense where their toes or fingers are, even though they are not there. The writer explained that the same place in the brain controls "false limbs" as well as the look and sensation of the perceived body of the transgender person. Would love to see more research into this!

Karen, you would be a great nurse! Wonder if Dr. Marci Bowers, M.D., would hire you? LOL!

Karen, I would LOVE to take your class, as I don't believe in carrying any kind of weapons!

Karen, is this because of your anesthesia? May I ask, how long did the operation take (how long were you under?) Usually it takes only a few days to recover from anesthesia, but maybe you have a sensitivity to the anesthesia they used? Have you had previous surgeries using the same kind of anesthesia (assuming you did not have this kind of reaction after previous surgeries)? Think you need to ask the doctor . .

Karen, not only did your co-workers accepted you and gave you their support, but they were proud to be seen with you in public. Hooray for you, and for them!

In Tampa Bay, Florida (Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa), we had 'outings' in public restaurants and clubs. Also, we had gatherings in homes, some of which I sponsored in my apartment. In Orlando, we would gather at a nice hotel. That was until 15 years ago, but I don't know if they are still doing it. I hope so. Feel that the Internet is a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that there is support 24/7, and you don't have to step out your door. A curse, in that I have noticed that a lot of 'face to face' resources has disappeared in the wake of the Internet. We need the Internet as an ADJUNCT to face to face interaction, not in the place of!

Rejoicing your co-workers are so supportive! Am so proud of them!!

Dear Eve, Am so glad you are finding closure! Yours truly, Monica

Dear Warren, Think you have turned around the corner! Am proud of you, brother! Yours truly, Monica

Dear Karen, The "ignore" look is when they look right "through" you, as if you are invisible, or when they look at you briefly, then snap or jerk their head away, wanting to make sure you get the message they are ignoring or snubbing you. You are on the right track! Yours truly, Monica

Dear Warren, If that is not male energy, then I don't know what is! LOL! Am so proud of you!! Yours truly, Monica

Dear Karen, Congratulations on your discharge! Yours truly, Monica

Emma, I love "The Sound of Music," and my favorite song is "Climb Every Mountain." Believe that the song is all about squarely facing our struggles. Agree 100% with the essay!

Dear Karen, Unfortunately, women spray. That is why I hate it when a woman does not take the time to put paper down on the toilet seat and sit on it when she urinates. The ones that hover over the toilet seat, leaving a mess on the seat and floor for the next woman to clean up irkes me! LOL!!

Dear Karen, Please call the doctor, and if you are not comfortable doing that, ask to speak to the nurse. It may be par for the course, but better to err on the conservative side. Am surprised they are allowing you to stay at a hotel with a catheter. Hope your friend is with you at the hotel. My prayers and thoughts are with you! Yours truly, Monica

Dear Karen, You are wise to look at the big picture, having done your research, and to avoid being being penny wise and pound foolish! Your friend, Monica

http://www.etsy.com/ Dear Warren, Etsy is a great site to sell handmade goods. It is the largest in the world. Suggest you explore the website to get ideas . . . and Amazon sells books on how to sell on Etsy. Warren, there are many men who make beautiful jewelry. Take a look at Etsy's "success stories," and you will find many of them are men! Wishing you the best. Yours truly, Monica

Especially early in life, it is difficult to tell tomboys, butch Lesbians and transmen apart. This demands that parents and other caring individuals develop strong observational skills and to learn all they can about parenting. Parents and other caring adults, such as aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, teachers, and coaches help the child build a foundation that will serve the child for the rest of his or her life. The tomboy cycles rapidly between male and female energies and behaviors. She does not feel acute stress when an occasion calls for feminine attire/behavior, such as wearing an Easter dress on Easter,etc. The tomboy is often heterosexual and grows out of it, sometimes as late as high school or college. She may have a boy's nickname, sometimes only at playtime, or when playing sports. Often a tomboy does this in an effort to gain male privilege. Occasionally the tomboy grows up to be a butch Lesbian. The butch Lesbian may have been a tomboy earlier and acknowledges feeling "different," or a romantic attraction to girls (crushes) at an early age (often age four or even earlier), but these feelings become stronger during puberty and often she becomes more masculine as she ages. However, she never hates being a woman, even though she may dress and act very masculine, and does not seek gender reassignment. The butch Lesbian may be able to stop homosexual BEHAVIOR, but the desire is always there. They have been known to marry and have children, due to family and societal pressure.Often she seeks the company of heterosexual men as friends and work mates, but dislike other butch Lesbians, with whom she sees as competition for the attention of feminine Lesbians. Obviously, she seeks romantic relationships with feminine Lesbians. Butch Lesbians are NOT about gender but about SEXUAL ORIENTATION. The transman, like the butch Lesbian, and the tomboy, feels "different" at an early age, age four, and sometimes earlier. The transman adamantly demands to dress in boy's clothing, have a boy's name (not a nickname!) and questions why his body does not look like a boy's. A transman is ALL ABOUT gender, BUT can be ANY sexual orientation in relation to his TRUE GENDER, the gender he identifies as being (internal gender). A heterosexual transman may have mistook himself as a butch Lesbian prior to learning about the concept of transgender. During this time he may have had trouble "connecting" with the Lesbian community. A note to parents: On the surface, the behaviors of a future tomboy, butch Lesbian and transman are remarkably similar. One must become familiar with your children and develop excellent observational skills, especially at playtime, when a child feels most free to be themselves. One wants to support your child into becoming an healthy adult, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, without inadvertently encouraging a child to become something they are not. Being a parent is the hardest and most important job you will ever do, but will also be the most satisfying.

Just don't feel clean with unshaven arm pits. How else can my deodorant would make contact with my skin to do it's work?

Don't know if you ladies know this, but I was taught by a fitter the proper way to put on a bra is to bend over at the waist and drop your breasts into the cups. Firmly agree that EVERY woman should be professionally fitted for her bra at least once a year!