Hi (Again)

[ErinM]

Hi!

I just finally registered here again. I have been lurking these forms for some time now, and I have to admit there have been a few topics that I have wanted to contribute to.

The last time I registered, I identified as Androgyne at the time and had an account under the screen name Photonic Soul.

A bit has changed since then . . .

When I stopped visiting here regularly I had decided that I would not need any form of transition, that I could live with my male body and role just fine.  As time progressed, I found it harder and harder to deal with the idea of spending the next 40 - 60 years as a male.

In the Spring of 2012 I finally decided to pursue HRT without the intention of a social transition.  One visit with my therapist later (I'd seen here off and on before) I had my letter and was on my way to my GP.  Less than a month later I was taking my first dose. 

After a few moths of HRT and driving for 1,000s of KM across the Canadian prairie to visit friends that are like family to me, I finally had the courage to admit to myself that nothing short of a full transition would be satisfactory.

Fast forward almost a year later.  I have been presenting female everywhere but work since the spring, and in a few weeks I'll be taking the big step and transitioning on the job.

[Sarah Louise]

Congratulations, welcome back and good luck.

[SaveMeJeebus]

Howdy Erin. Welcome back! =] It is terrific to hear where you are now. I hope you'll post a topic shortly after you come out at work. Eek. I'm sure you'll be fine and all will be well.

[Devlyn]

Hi Erin, welcome back! The snacks are still in the same place, help yourself!  See you around the site, hugs, Devlyn

[Jamie D]

Welcome back, Erin.

As a refresher ...

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Best of luck with the job.

Now, I'd like to test your memory.  What does this mean to you?

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale ...

[ErinM]

Thanks everybody for the welcome back!

So far I've already talked to Te HR manager and my immediate supervisor. They're but really supportive. The good thing is that the company has included both gender identity and expression in their discrimination and harassment policies. I'm not expecting trouble, but it's comforting to know that's in place.

Now, I'd like to test your memory.  What does this mean to you?

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale ...

One of the weird things about my memory is that even though I'm not old enough to have seen Gilligan's Island and I can't remover when or why I've managed to memorize (most) of the lyrics to the open ending theme song.

No wonder my friends think I'm strange.

Edited to fix autocorrect.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

[Shantel]

Welcome back Erin, your story is all so familiar. You're not the only soul who has gone through the agonizing mental hoops to arrive at this decision, you're in good company here!

[ErinM]

Ms. OBrien: LOL, at least we're starting to get to pop culture references closer to my lifetime.

Shantel:  It's been so comforting to read the experience of the people here to know that I'm not alone and I have also been given a lot of food for thought over the years. 

I just hope that in some small way I can give back.

[Jamie D]

Thanks everybody for the welcome back!

So far I've already talked to The HR manager and my immediate supervisor. They're but really supportive. The good thing is that the company has included both gender identity and expression in their discrimination and harassment policies. I'm not expecting trouble, but it's comforting to know that's in place.

One of the weird things about my memory is that even though I'm not old enough to have seen Gilligan's Island and I can't remover when or why I've managed to memorize (most) of the lyrics to the open ending theme song.

No wonder my friends think I'm strange.

Edited to fix autocorrect.

I brought that up because you had posted about it a while back in the Androgyne forum.

[ErinM]

I brought that up because you had posted about it a while back in the Androgyne forum.

Actually after I posted the reply it started to come back to me.  I believe it was from the "strange facts" thread along with how my dad's parents had different spellings of the same last name.

I think I'll have to look up my old posts.

[gennee]

Hi Erin and welcome back. Congratulations on your transitioning.

[Jamie D]

Actually after I posted the reply it started to come back to me.  I believe it was from the "strange facts" thread along with how my dad's parents had different spellings of the same last name.

I think I'll have to look up my old posts.

Yes, that was the topic!

I know Gilligans Island and Green Acres!  (My claim to fame - LOL)

My paternal grandmother's maiden name was a variation of my paternal grandfather's last name, Scottish and Irish respectively.

Despite being an I.T. professional, I go months without using my home computer (iPad doesn't count).

I can't move my right eyebrow, but I can move my right ear.

My brain has a tendency told hold ridiculous chunks or random data. For instance, despite only seeing a few reruns years ago, I have the lyrics to the opening theme song of Giligans Island committed to memory.

[ErinM]

"Green Acres is the place to be!"

The opening few notes and that's about all I can recall. I never saw any of that show, but it was mentioned enough times when I grew up in the 80's.

As a further update to that post, I'm no longer in I.T.  I lost my job there last summer when they found out how bad my productivity dropped. They never found out why because I never came out there.  I only mentioned that "personal issues" got in my way and that I was working in them.  I don't blame them too much. I just wish I had a chance for them to see how I was tuning things around after I started HRT.

Also I was planning leaving the field anyway and going ack to school to become an LPN after I finished transition. That's still the plan, but I'll have to ride it out in retail a couple years because I had let my technical skill fall behind at my last job.

[Shantel]

Also I was planning leaving the field anyway and going ack to school to become an LPN after I finished transition. That's still the plan, but I'll have to ride it out in retail a couple years because I had let my technical skill fall behind at my last job.

Good plan, LPN is an excellent field for you to get into then work into Nurse Practitioner, they make the $$$.