MichelleLea

I have been careful to go to the non-alcoholic events. At this stage, I want to network, not socialize. I prefer morning meetings--people have more purpose.

It never hurts to be helpful.

Thanks as always for your comments. I'm doing better today, and I have a busy week ahead. Tommorrow evening, I have another speed networking event with the Chamber of Commerce, so that will get me out of the house and out of my comfort zone. I giving a short presentation on team building which I found on Eric Barker's blog: Barking up the Wrong Tree. Good stuff. Wish me luck.

Thanks as usual for your comments and encouraging words. I plan on getting more involved with Chamber activities and projects as I am able. So far, so good.

Monica, I hope you will be okay. I'm not sure what I can do to help, but let me know. At least, keep us up-to-date.

My furry children definitely keep me on my toes. They are a full-time job, but I love them and they love me, so that's all that matters. They are a lot of company which is helpful now that I'm all on my own. 
BTW, I joined the local Chamber of Commerce today. I need to meet more people and I think it makes good business sense. Besides, it won't hurt for me to get a little more involved with my community. I'll let you know how it goes in future blogs.

I am late in commenting, but I feel for you, Emma. Life is a roller-coaster, isn't it? Another Grateful Dead lyric: Sometimes the light's all shining on me, and sometimes I can barely see. You know it will get better. Keep on pushing. Big hug in the meanwhile.

Thanks as always for your comments.  You are all special to me.

Thanks as always for your sage advice.​ 

You sound like someone I'd like to meet. I don't know if I could be as brave as you, but I'm glad you stepped in and weren't a bystander. I haven't said anything to anyone yet about me. I'm not sure I will. Love your writing and your poetry. Merry Christmas to you.

Not sure how that happens. What I was trying to say is that I keep learning and working hard. The rest will follow.

You look great. I walk my dogs around the neighborhood, but I really need to take advantage of our parks and do some hiking in a more natural setting. Being in nature is so rewarding and fulfilling.

Thanks, Emma. Good point. I will take your advice.

Wow! Emma, you really delivered. I have read some on your list, but I am appreciative of your suggestions. Some I need to re-read: Man's Search for Meaning.  

Did you ever get into The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the two books that followed? My wife and I both plowed through them. I'm afraid I find Ayn Rand a little too preachy for me. I know where she's coming from, but I'm not a fan of her philosophy. I read  Grapes of Wrath in an American fiction course I took. A monumental work to be sure. If you haven't already, you should read Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God which I thought was a gem--also in the American fiction class.

If your are into articles at all, I recommend the Flipboard app for your phone or tablet. You can select almost any topic under the sun, and it will bring you the current articles on that topic. Among other things, I have chosen news, politics, physics, LGBTQ issues, space, mindfullness,...I read a lot of really neat stuff this way. I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers too just for fun. Michael Connelly is good as is David Baldacci. A litle more off-beat is James Lee Burke with his flawed detective in Louisiana. I think I've read just about everything he has written. I started reading one of Eco's books, but never really got off the ground. I am halfway through War and Peace . I suppose I will finish it eventually.

Anyway, great sharing. I want to see  Professor Marston and the Wonder Women. Have you seen it yet? Talk again soon.

Thanks, Emma, We are on the same page.​ Please let me know what you are currently reading. I've gotten to be a news junkie, but I need some good literature as well.

Thanks, Emma. It seems that the people who buy our products are especially nice themselves and care about their employees.I will be happy to have them as clients. It looks like Thursday is the big day as we are lined up to open four accounts. So far, so good.

Hi Kimmi, 

I don't know that it's ever too late. It's a tragedy that we live in a society that condemns people for being who they are. I'm CD myself and only now at age 75 and widowed am I able to dress freely--in the house anyway. ​Maybe you will still have the chance to be the woman you are. You still sound like a lovely person no matter what.

I think that it is good that you are examining the word "Transition" and any other terms in use in the trans community. Language is so important in that it defines who we are and how we and the world see ourselves. I believe that language will evolve as the trans community receives greater acceptance. People in general still have a hard time differentiating between gender and sex .

Thanks for all your comments. I love getting your feedback.

Hi Chrissy,

Thanks as usual for your comments and suggestions. You're right about moods fluctuating. I go from being so not-in-the-mood to being so-in-the-mood. All depends. I suppose we learn to take it in stride.

Hi Chrissy and Emma,

First of all, kudos to Chrissy for her role as organizer/moderator of such an important topic. I enjoyed your discussion although I was at a disadvantage of not having seen the videos. What it means to be a woman is probably at the heart of feminism and being trans. In my way of thinking, a woman is a woman, no matter the way she got that way. And yes, as a former English teacher, language does evolve or we'd still be speaking old English or something even less understandable to us moderns.

This whole line of thinking goes along with the article I just read about Hiroshi Ishiguro who is making autonomous human-like robots. His background is in art, and he considers himself an artist who creates and represents what he observes and feels--in this case, what makes a human, a human.  His robots are getting so close to acting and responding like people. This is deep and heavy stuff to be sure. But what is the essence of a woman, or a man, or a human being for that matter? For now, I have to say, we are who we are, and leave it at that.

Emma, darling, I think we both could outwork 20-somethings. LOL

Congratulations, Aunt Emma. You will be an amazing Auntie I know.

I love it too. I didn't know you were from Washington. I thought New York.