Chapter 2: In Which Michelle_P lives her life post transition

[Michelle_P]

WhooHoo! Look at you. Why you got boobs! Congratulations Michelle.

Big hugs.

Thanks! I don't think I am doing too badly for a 65 year old broad.   

[Rachel]

Michelle, you look great. I am glad you are recovering well.

I am so happy you and Laurie have each other. I have tears in my eyes, I know how very difficult things were in the past for both of you.

[Jessica]

This morning marked the date I was to remove the bra and shower.  Oh, what a relief that is!  Of course, the unveiling produced it's own reaction.  For just 300cc on a side, well, damn!  [emoji2956]  The incisions are quite small, surprising me.  It looks like they will wind up right on the fold, almost invisible.

After the shower, I had to re-don a sports bra to maintain pressure and placement.  But first...

I have a fun Tommy Bahama resortware dress, rather open on top, that was a bit problematic to wear out in public.  I'd glue on a NuBra, and apply bronzer to try and fake cleavage out of my 34A-B bust.  Now, however...

Very nice Michelle.  Time to recycle that NuBra!

[Kendra]

WOW Michelle you look (and are) amazing!  And I bet you feel great overall. 

[islandgirl]

Looking Fabulous, Michelle!

[Michelle_P]

Thank you, Donica, Jessica, Kelly, and Kendra!   I have to sat that this procedure has produced an unexpected increase in self-esteem and confidence.  Is that shallow, or what?  🤣

Meanwhile, healing continues at The Other End.  Swelling is down on the revision, and I think and hope that it will look OK.

Today was the recommended day to remove the catheter and test my own functionality.  Once again, I managed to reverse the order I'm supposed to do things.  When my high fiber diet and stool softeners sent me to the restroom, while sitting there I heard that distinctive sound and sensations of an emptying bladder.  I managed to void AROUND the damn catheter. 

OK, that was a clue that I do not need it any more.  I got out the syringe and deflated the Foley catheter bulb while standing in the shower.  A little wiggle, and it slid right out.  That was a pleasant change from previous times I've had to remove a Foley.  The considerably  shorter urethra I have now probably helped...

We had company this afternoon, with @Jessica dropping by for a visit.  Cookies were baked, and leftovers sampled!  We had a very nice visit.

I also did a little more baking, a jalapeño cheddar fougasse.  It was delicious.  Now it's gone!  (Urp!)

[Jessica]

I also did a little more baking, a jalapeño cheddar fougasse.  It was delicious.  Now it's gone!  (Urp!)

Unfortunately I had my own cooking chores to deal with at home and needed to leave before it was finished, else I would have loved to try it!
The cookies and leftovers were delicious, and I mean delicious!

[LizK]

Great to see you mending up so well...although the Foley falling out has to be a unique experience...I assume the balloon had deflated otherwise I would imagine it could have been quite uncomfortable.

Nice to hear about you new found confidence and self esteem. What a great outcome

Take care

Liz

[Michelle_P]

I did a bit of baking before dragging Laurie off to Vespers and a community dinner.

I made a stuffed 'challah' three ways!  Each strand of a three strand braided challah was rolled flat, a filling added, and then re-rolled, braided, and baked.

The fillings were a brown sugar cinnamon raisin mix, an almond brown sugar raisin mix, and dark chocolate.

This makes a fun dessert bread.  Laurie says, "The chocolate is still creamy!  How did you do that?"  [emoji6]



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[steph2.0]

I did a bit of baking before dragging Laurie off to Vespers and a community dinner.

I made a stuffed 'challah' three ways!  Each strand of a three strand braided challah was rolled flat, a filling added, and then re-rolled, braided, and baked.

The fillings were a brown sugar cinnamon raisin mix, an almond brown sugar raisin mix, and dark chocolate.

This makes a fun dessert bread.  Laurie says, "The chocolate is still creamy!  How did you do that?"  [emoji6]

Oh Em Gee! That looks and sounds so awesome! The smell and taste must be heavenly.

Give up something for Lent? Sure, I'll give up my diet.

The real question is, how do you stay so dang skinny with that kind of stuff in the house? I just hit a new high weight the other day (and no, I'm not divulging that number) and I don't have anything like that around.

Stephanie

[islandgirl]

Y'all are baking such wonderful things! Now that I am moved into my new apartment and getting things set up, I think I will give baking a go! First up will be oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! First I have to find my favourite recipe! Must track down a copy of the Harrowsmith Cookbook #1.

[Northern Star Girl]

Y'all are baking such wonderful things! Now that I am moved into my new apartment and getting things set up, I think I will give baking a go! First up will be oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! First I have to find my favourite recipe! Must track down a copy of the Harrowsmith Cookbook #1.

@islandgirl
Dear Kelly:
I am so happy that you are getting settled in your new home.   Oh yeah, getting things set up in your new place is always a big and usually happy chore....  now, finding things that you have packed away is even a bigger chore and sometimes not so happy.

I trust that you will find your coveted Cookbook and make that batch of  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies !!!
Obviously you know the rule here on the forums...
                            Pictures or it didn't happen !!

Thanks for posting and sharing your life events with all of us....

Hugs and best wishes in your new home.
Danielle

[islandgirl]

Bought the book and this weekend I will give the cookies a go! Pictures to follow!I hope my efforts live up to the efforts of y'all!

[Donica]

I did a bit of baking before dragging Laurie off to Vespers and a community dinner.

I made a stuffed 'challah' three ways!  Each strand of a three strand braided challah was rolled flat, a filling added, and then re-rolled, braided, and baked.

The fillings were a brown sugar cinnamon raisin mix, an almond brown sugar raisin mix, and dark chocolate.

This makes a fun dessert bread.  Laurie says, "The chocolate is still creamy!  How did you do that?"  [emoji6]



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At first glance I thought it was Italian sausage cheese bread.



But you version is much sweater. Yum num num!!

[Michelle_P]

This has been quite a week. I'm active in my Unitarian Universalist community, and we had a bit of a self-inflicted wound this past week, with publication of an article in the national magazine that talked about transgender issues from the point of view of a friendly, if clumsy and poorly informed cisgender person.

The article modeled a number of hurtful behaviors, even to the point of trying to justify the old "Have you had THE surgery yet?" nosy and judgemental query.  Some bad information was included, and the article assumed we all follow the same path, seeking the same treatment, and that it was game for judgemental discussion.  Essentially, the article treated our visibility as a difficulty for the cisgender members of the church to deal with.  This is commonly referred to as 'centering' the privileged cisgender person in the discussion of transgender people.

The article was taken as advice and permission by some cisgender persons to ask intrusive questions of others,  and in a manner similar to other issues around marginalized persons, once again 'centered' the most privileged and resulted in discussion of how we trans persons impacted THEM.

Yuck.

I've written some stuff, and some of our best writers in the community have been working on this.  It's been wearying. The magazine editor and the president of the UU Association have apologized, acknowledging what went wrong and outlining plans to avoid this in the future. 

It's a misstep.  We will all learn from it, I am sure, and in the future we will all do better.

I still wish it had never happened.

[LizK]

Hi Michelle

I followed along with the whole thing as it appeared to unfold and I would say that it was handled better than most. I liked the apology and it seemed genuine.  Agreed it would have been better if it didn't happen but all in all the apology and follow through from an outsiders point of view appeared to be genuine.

[Michelle_P]

A few goodies coming to my church's Commitment Sunday breakfast, part of the annual pledge drive kickoff.



On the left is the Sour Cream Coffee Cake.  The other coffee cakes are gluten-free.  There is also a 'stuffed challah', with each braid strand having a different filling.  One is a cinnamon, one almond, and one chocolate.  At the upper right are caramel pecan cinnamon sticky buns.

I've been keeping busy, as well as enjoying the company of @Laurie who has been with me through my recovery, making sure I followed doctor's orders.  I'll be one-month postop in a few days, and am looking forward to losing the lifting and movement restrictions.



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[Northern Star Girl]

@Michelle_P
Dear Michelle:
OK, you have done it now....   I need to take a quick break and go over the next door coffee shop and get some of their goodies...  I am thinking cookies, cake and pie, oh, and some chocolate too!!! 

WOW, all of what you prepared looks so very good and is no doubt very tasty.

Your Caramel Pecan Cinnamon sticky buns have my attention for sure.
The Stuffed Challah is also grabbing my attention...  the fillings: Cinnamon, Almond, and Chocolate each sound terrific and each of them are my favorites.

I love the pictures....
Hugs,
Danielle

[Rayna]

Is there a word for pastry dysphoria wishing I had a piece of each of those? They look wonderful. Hi to @Laurie too.

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[Michelle_P]

...
The Stuffed Challah is also grabbing my attention...  the fillings: Cinnamon, Almond, and Chocolate each sound terrific and each of them are my favorites.

I love the pictures....
Hugs,
Danielle

The challah is really easy to make.  It's a simple dough, flour, light oil, eggs, a little sugar and yeast, let to rise and divided in three parts.  Each part is rolled into a strip around 5" by 18", buttered up with a filling except for the last inch on one long side, then rolled up to form a strand for braiding.

The braid is made, then the ends pinched together and tucked under the braid. It gets to rise another hour, then an egg white wash is applied.  I'll sprinkle coarse sugar on these braids to stick in the egg wash, just before baking.




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