I have been remiss in posting to this thread! Let's see if I can catch up on the past week.
A week ago I had my first follow-up speech therapy session, via video conference. I had a new headset so the voice connection would be nice and clean. It was actually a fun session! The therapist and her intern were on the other end, and the intern blurted out that I was totally passing after just a few minutes. Wheeee! I've been practicing, on everyone I can. At church, on the phone, at appointments.
I can be hard to shut up at times. Note that I still need practice, as I want this to be automatic, not something that I have to intently concentrate on every phrase before I speak. There are months to go even as I practice 24/7.
I chaired a meeting of our amateur radio club with about 40 people present, and let everyone know that elections were coming up, self-nomination is just fine, and that I would like someone else to please run for President, as I don't live in town any more, and feel odd about being a non-resident with keys to the city Emergency Operations Center. It's not like I can get there if the bridge between my new home and old town goes in the next quake. Better someone else takes on the job. Besides, I'm busy enough as is.
Wednesday I had a meeting with a new therapist inside the Kaiser Multi-Specialty Transitions clinic to discuss my future plans. 😇 🙀 "So, do you usually wear a scarf?" "That or a turtleneck, yes." "Are you interested in..." "Surgeries? Yes, please!" So, after the usual rites and rituals were concluded, I am getting referrals for my trach shave and FFS. I also had an intake phone interview scheduled to start my GCS process rolling. YESSSS!
Then, I went off to my little group therapy session 70 miles away, in the town my old therapist had retired to. That was a productive session, going over my recent little crash and some interpersonal issues. Turns out two gals in group had some questions about me as well, being familiar with recent events in my life, so that session turned interesting. Weird, but productive. I came out of it with some good ideas on how to proceed in the future.
Thursday our LGBTQ Committee at the Unitarian Universalist church met to go over plans for our next little event, a celebration of the Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. That went OK, but I also had to share that my melanoma surgery is scheduled for that day, and I might not be able to make the event. Bummer. Getting the cancer under control takes priority, though.
Friday I had lunch with a few members of our local transgender social support group, lovely folks, and then went over to help out my mother in law. There I rebuilt the mechanisms for the front door, a big slider that was sticking and too difficult for her to open. That was successful, and now the door slides, like buttah! Then, a mature woman of French-Canadian ancestry sat down with a Hungarian immigrant to enjoy a traditional Irish corned beef dinner. 😇
Saturday was a Me day, with me taking care of all the stuff that had backed up during the week. Paperwork, bills, cleaning, laundry, etc. Boooooring...
Sunday was all church, and coffee service. I was up at the Unitarian Universalist church. During services, I trued using my new breathing control to sing. I was loud, if not on key, and a few people around me noticed. ☺ I did the usual coffee mug washing marathon during the coffee klatch afterwards. I'm filling in there again next weekend, with a bit of a shortfall in our coffee volunteer staff. I'm actually quite good at this. Navy training...
Monday was Electrolysis Day. My electrolysis operator had a birthday last week, and I brought in some things I thought she might like, a variety of mellow throat soothing herbal teas, and a couple varieties of chocolate with a bit of orange flavoring. I am absolutely coinvinced that chocolate tastes better on estradiol.
Tuesday was mostly me puttering around, doing a bit of paperwork and walking to get my 10,000 steps in between rainstorms. Made it. This evening I tried a new therapy group, run by Kaiser MST over in Oakland. This was a pretty good group session, lots of folks there, and fairly well structured and moderated. I think I'll try it again in a few weeks.
