Kathy's journey

[Jayne01]

Still looking good there Kathy. I do have to agree with Christine, surely there is a machine that could help with the manual labour. Shovelling is never fun, no matter how good you look doing it.

Jayne

[KathyLauren]

An 800' foot driveway? Where do you live, out in the country?  That has to be a lot of shoveling, more than I'd want to do. I think I'd be a callin Hertz Rent A Dozer. Driving is a whole lot easier than shoveling.

Yes, we have 25 acres in a very rural area.  Our driveway is longer than most, even for this area.  I thought about hiring someone to come and grade it, but we've been spending money pretty fast lately (just having the gravel delivered cost nearly $1000), so hand work was the only way.  It's mostly done now.

Kathy, from an earlier post on your thread I read where you were a flight instructor. Are you still flying and what do or did you fly?

I was a flying instructor in the (Royal) Canadian Air Force back in the late 1970s and early 80s.  We flew the Canadair Tutor jet, the same plane still flown by the Snowbirds aerobatic team today.  I only kept up a civilian license for a few years after I got out, until I realized that there was no point: I'd done it all.

[Northern Star Girl]

Yes, we have 25 acres in a very rural area.  Our driveway is longer than most, even for this area.  I thought about hiring someone to come and grade it, but we've been spending money pretty fast lately (just having the gravel delivered cost nearly $1000), so hand work was the only way.  It's mostly done now.

I was a flying instructor in the (Royal) Canadian Air Force back in the late 1970s and early 80s.  We flew the Canadair Tutor jet, the same plane still flown by the Snowbirds aerobatic team today.  I only kept up a civilian license for a few years after I got out, until I realized that there was no point: I'd done it all.

Kathy: Very nice update and posting of the aircraft that is in your CAF photo. As we transition, we all have interesting past experiences that can be fond memories and fun to review, if anything, it just shows how far we have come.... and of course some experiences and memories that we want to keep buried with our old-self.

Hmm, your long driveway does indeed sound like a big task to do manually....  but the cost of gravel and paying someone can certainly cost more than you planned....  plus the hard work keeps your body looking and feeling good, especially after your shower.....   hmm, perhaps a shower picture to add to my planned montage, LOL.
You do look very good in your "Hot and Sweaty" picture that you posted, but of course there was no closeup and our pictures don't come with all the details of standing next to you when you are hot and sweaty!!!!
Again, thanks for keeping us all updated... your thread is a joy for me to follow.
Hugs,
Danielle

[christinej78]

Yes, we have 25 acres in a very rural area.  Our driveway is longer than most, even for this area.  I thought about hiring someone to come and grade it, but we've been spending money pretty fast lately (just having the gravel delivered cost nearly $1000), so hand work was the only way.  It's mostly done now.

I was a flying instructor in the (Royal) Canadian Air Force back in the late 1970s and early 80s.  We flew the Canadair Tutor jet, the same plane still flown by the Snowbirds aerobatic team today.  I only kept up a civilian license for a few years after I got out, until I realized that there was no point: I'd done it all.

Good Morning Kathy,                 08 May 2018

Well, Thank You for Your Service. That is awesome. You did "Do it All."

Never flew military though I wanted to. Poor choices on my part precluded it.

Glad you're almost finished with the driveway. That had to be an enormous task.

Take care, don't work too hard or you'll "Muscle-up." I've decided I'm not going to worry about the muscling up; I climb trees and that does a lot for the upper body's  muscle-tone. I'll just be a balding old gal with ripped muscles and hopefully some boobs. They are a startin.

Best Always,
Christine 

[KathyLauren]

A hard day of driving yesterday.  We drove 2.5 hours each way to where my wife's parents lived, so she and her sister could wind up their father's financial affairs.  (He died in January; his wife died back in September.) 

We were hoping it would only take an hour or so to close the accounts, but it ended up being nearly two hours.  I was just along as chauffeur, but I sat in on the long meeting with the bank rep, while she talked on the speaker phone with someone at a data centre in India.  Lots of technical glitches, and too much "hurry up and wait", but they eventually got it done.  Boring!  The rep whose office we were in was almost catatonic at the slow pace of the transaction.

No funny looks from anyone in the bank, even when I had to go to the front desk and plead to use a washroom.  (Thanks, spiro!)  Since they don't have a public washroom, they had to have someone escort me to the staff washroom in the back.   They were all very nice about it.

We have to repeat the long drive in a couple of weeks for my father-in-law's memorial service.  It could be interesting, because there will be extended family there who might not have heard about me.  I'm sure they'll all be nice to me, even if they go home afterwards and gossip.

Thanks, @christinej78.  From your signature, it looks like you have "done it all", too.  What did/do you fly?

[christinej78]

Thanks, @christinej78.  From your signature, it looks like you have "done it all", too.  What did/do you fly?

Good Morning Kathy,            09 May 2018

My license is private, single, multi, land. My favorite is the Cessna T-310R, the last of the 310 series. I like it because it is fast, fairly heavy (stable) and is difficult to fly for some folks. It has complex systems. I didn't fly for sight seeing, I did it to challenge my skills. If I wasn't soaked in sweat after a flight, it wasn't a fun/good flight.

I guess I've done a couple of things, I am now an arborist. I like trees and enjoy taking care of them. I sometimes just climb for the sheer joy of being up in the canopy. I have a photo of me up in a tree I was wrecking out (felling) that was taken by a friend 5 years ago. I'm going to try and send it to Danielle for her "Sweaty" montage.

I gave up flying several years ago as I'm not a spring chick. I don't like the idea of possibly endangering others just because I am doing something I like. The only way I would fly today would be if I had someone along that was proficient in the type and model we are in. My health is excellent, but time is closing in on me, I don't have 50 years ahead of me like I had in 1968; of course I didn't know that back then. Now it's just mundane stuff I do where only I can get hurt.

Was a biker for a period until I had a couple close calls. Think my boss upstairs was sending me a message: "Get rid of that thing before you end up crippled." Listened to him and sold the Harley in 1999. I looked the part, long gray hair, beard, well worn Levies and fancy black Lucchese cowboy boots. Those were the days; almost always rode alone, didn't feel safe riding in a gaggle of bikers with varying skill levels. Need to add this to my signature.

I used to vacation north of Thessalon, Ontario up the Chapleau Highway (Highway 129) at Cummings Lake. The water was so clean you could drink it right out of the lake. One of the best vacations I have ever had was back in 1975; my two Huskies and I went up there for two weeks. My girlfriend at the time couldn't go (yay!). No complaining and griping about the primitive conditions. We had a blast, rock climbing, boating, swimming, hiking the bush. You name it, we did it. My pooches loved it.

The first day there we wore ourselves out doing things physical. We went to bed, the dogs crawled under the bed and it was snooze city. When I awoke in the morning I could barely breathe. I remember thinking I must have come down with a life threatening illness. When I opened my eyes I could see what was causing my breathing problem. Both Huskies, 70 lbs. each, were lying across my chest. That was the ritual every morning thereafter.

Somewhere I have an 8mm movie I shot of them sitting in chairs at the breakfast table eating their French Toast with genuine "Maple Surple" (thank you Roger Miller for "Dang Me" and "Maple Surple"); I've called it that ever since.

I get started and I can't stop. Gonna stop now as it's almost lunch time and I haven't had my breakfast... yet. That's next.

See what you get when you ask me a question.

Beast Always, Love
Christine

[KathyLauren]

I've noticed a couple of things lately: my voice seems to be higher, and my posture is better.

I can't credit any effort on my part, and it is unlikely to be HRT.  Instead, I think it is just the power of intention.  I do frequently remind myself that I ought to work on my voice, and I ought to suck my gut in and stick my boobs out.  It seems that that is enough to make actual changes.  Who knew?

Anyway, I am happy to see the results.  It's enough to inspire me to make an actual effort. 

[Jessica]

I have noticed that when I mindfully think about my posture, and walk like a woman.....I feel more like a woman and I feel I project myself in a more feminine way.  I have noticed that my voice can be in a higher range when I am not thinking about it, but it can go deep at a moments notice.

[Donna]

Lately I've been paying more attention to posture. I still do the guy slouch thing. My wife has been watching and teaching me how to walk better and keeping the elbows close to my side helps. I can now get my voice into female range about 15% of the time  if I'm not excited about something.

[steph2.0]

I've noticed a couple of things lately: my voice seems to be higher, and my posture is better.

I can't credit any effort on my part, and it is unlikely to be HRT.  Instead, I think it is just the power of intention.  I do frequently remind myself that I ought to work on my voice, and I ought to suck my gut in and stick my boobs out.  It seems that that is enough to make actual changes.  Who knew?

Anyway, I am happy to see the results.  It's enough to inspire me to make an actual effort. 

I *think* I'm doing ok with the walk, but the voice is a strange thing. Around home it's whatsisname's voice. I should make it a rule that I have to use the new voice all the time, no exceptions. Some of it is I just let myself relax behind closed doors. But a lot of it is because I'm so self-conscious about it around my wife. It didn't help that she told me she was so used to the old voice that any time I try to change it it sounds faintly ridiculous to her. Thanks...

But when I'm in public it seems to go higher and more feminine without any conscious effort. It happened over and over again today. In the car the old voice came out, but any time there was a stranger involved, what passes for my new voice just came out. Back and forth all day. Weird...

Stephanie

[Jayne01]

Trying to fit in as a man all these years has been like carrying a heavy weight around. When I let Jayne out, That weight seems to lift and my posture naturally improves. As for my voice, it's driving me crazy, it is either "him" or some weird cartoon character. I can't seem to find a nice balance in between. My voice is the current source of much of my dysphoria.

Jayne

[Donna]

Voice is an interesting thing. My wife loves my voice the way it is but knows I'm working on changing it. I hit female about 15% of the time now.
I not making the voice thing a source of concern. People are now referencing my voice to my new name and that is great. I can get away with strangers 90% of the time keeping my voice under control. An interesting conversation with a translady recently changed my mind a bit. She is 5 years into transitioning and 3 post op and is doing nothing with her voice. She does not sound overly female but has been female long enough that her looks override the urge to misgendered her by strangers. I'm starting to notice the same thing and so the voice is now a low priority item for me. Oh how thought can change so quickly about what is important or next.

[KathyLauren]

I have noticed that when I mindfully think about my posture, and walk like a woman.....I feel more like a woman and I feel I project myself in a more feminine way.  I have noticed that my voice can be in a higher range when I am not thinking about it, but it can go deep at a moments notice.

I have noticed the same thing for both points.

A funny thing I've noticed on my voice.  I sometimes run into my voice therapist at the theatre where she is an actor and I am the sound-and-light girl.  When I do, my voice suddenly jumps an octave!  I guess my subconscious wants to make a good impression.

[Jacey Jones]

At the time, I was horrified, as I thought any right-minded person would be.  But when I tried to talk about my feelings of horror, I was told, in no uncertain terms, that, because the victims were targeted because they were women, as "a man", I could not possibly comprehend the feeling. 

I hate when people do this.  It's like when bad parents say, "You don't understand because you don't have kids."
People are entitled to their feelings as long as said feelings are not meant to oppress, abuse or hurt others in any way, shape or form.  There is no need to qualify feelings.

[KathyLauren]

I am skipping out of the last dance class of the season tonight.  I really like the dancing - it keeps you on your toes (groan!  ) - but tonight, I look like I have some dreaded communicable skin disease.  I don't; it's just the result of my electrolysis appointment earlier in the day.

For various scheduling reasons, my electrolysis appointment is usually on the same day as dance class.  For months, I have been getting my neck area zapped, but the rash was not too visible.  I just went to dancing with a rash on my neck, and no one commented. 

But today, she worked on my cheek, and it's pretty hard to miss.  It's practically flashing neon.  So I chickened out and skipped the dancing.  Ordinarily, I don't worry about what people think, but my self-confidence has limits, apparently.

[Jayne01]

I am skipping out of the last dance class of the season tonight.  I really like the dancing - it keeps you on your toes (groan!  ) - but tonight, I look like I have some dreaded communicable skin disease.  I don't; it's just the result of my electrolysis appointment earlier in the day.

For various scheduling reasons, my electrolysis appointment is usually on the same day as dance class.  For months, I have been getting my neck area zapped, but the rash was not too visible.  I just went to dancing with a rash on my neck, and no one commented. 

But today, she worked on my cheek, and it's pretty hard to miss.  It's practically flashing neon.  So I chickened out and skipped the dancing.  Ordinarily, I don't worry about what people think, but my self-confidence has limits, apparently.

I think you look great! It's ok if your self confidence takes a break from time to time. What is a little communicable disease between friends! [emoji12]
I am on my way to get zapped right now. I'm running late, slept through my alarm.

Hug,

Jayne

[KathyLauren]

And some sad news today.  A trans-male member of our support group passed away.  There are no specifics, but it seems to have been from natural causes.  I know he had some serious medical issues. 

He was actually distantly connected to my wife's family.  His second cousin was married to her third cousin once removed, or something like that.  We weren't close, though we sometimes messaged each other. 

But the saddest thing is that his obituary misgendered him throughout.  For some reason, that hurts worse than his dying.

[Jayne01]

And some sad news today.  A trans-male member of our support group passed away.  There are no specifics, but it seems to have been from natural causes.  I know he had some serious medical issues. 

He was actually distantly connected to my wife's family.  His second cousin was married to her third cousin once removed, or something like that.  We weren't close, though we sometimes messaged each other. 

But the saddest thing is that his obituary misgendered him throughout.  For some reason, that hurts worse than his dying.

Kathy, I am sorry to hear about the passing of your friend from the support group. That is terrible how he was misgendered in his obituary. He wasn't being remembered the way he would have liked. I hope that a corrected obituary can be published.

(((Hug)))

Jayne

[Donna]

Sorry to hear about your friend Kathy. Hope they can fix the wording in the obituary.

[KathyLauren]

Kathy, I am sorry to hear about the passing of your friend from the support group. That is terrible how he was misgendered in his obituary. He wasn't being remembered the way he would have liked. I hope that a corrected obituary can be published.

(((Hug)))

Jayne

Sorry to hear about your friend Kathy. Hope they can fix the wording in the obituary.

Thanks, Jayne and Donna.  The obituary won't be changed.  Through family connections, my wife learned that it was written by his mother, who has always been non-accepting of his transition.  The misgendering was deliberate.  So sad.