Allie's Blog IV: Revenge of Allie's Blog

[imallie]

Your electrolygist is a good woman. I expect you'll cry here and there for weeks. Tears, being salty, will rust our gut if we don't release them. I pity the ones who can't cry.

Oh yeah, not crying has NEVER been an issue for me. Hormones has nothing to do with it. At least so far. I probably can still reach for the tissue 30 seconds later than my wife, but that's about it.

That's about how our timing worked listening to Joni Mitchell perform on the Grammys. For those who have, or haven't seen it. It's something worth checking out.

[imallie]

Hey all - not normally into product endorsement, but this morning I finally tried something I'd been wanting to get my hands on for a little while - and it very much did not disappoint:

Mission Protein Wraps.

These are nutrient-dense tortilla wraps, a fantastic swap for any flour, multigrain or other wrap you're currently using. I would like to try slicing one up and seeing if it makes chips well in the air fryer, but short of that... I'm sold.

Per wrap: 70 calories, 7 grams of protein, 12 grams of fiber.  That is about as nutrient dense as it can get.

By way of comparison, a typical flour tortilla will be about 200 calories, 6 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber.

Any time you can multiply the grams of protein x10 and it's close to the calories, or do the same with grams of fiber, you're talking a food with bang for its buck. When you get one with BOTH? You're talking a real keeper.

Had a good taste, nice and soft (some "healthier" wraps tend to crumble and/or taste like cardboard), and because of the high protein/fiber content, it will really fill you up.

Anyway... end of endorsement. 😘


P.S. Here was my breakfast:


Wrap/ 1/3 cup of egg whites, 1/2 oz reduced fat sharp cheddar, 1 oz maple ham, 1 tbsp chopped bell pepper, s/p:

175 cal, 24g protein, 12g fiber, 18g carbs, 6g fats

[imallie]

Ok, just a bit more... here's lunch



This tuna melt wrap:
237 cal, 29g protein, 12g fiber, 20g carbs

1 wrap, 1 packet chunk light reduced sodium tuna (Star Kist), 1 wedge Laughing Cow aged cheddar, 1 slice extra thin mild cheddar, 3 bread & butter pickles (I love Bubbies), pinch of paprika/s/p

By the way, as much as I wanted to try the wrap again, I REALLY wanted to try this wrap-making method I'd seen recently... and now I'm sold on. Maybe the shape of the above wrap is common to some, but I'd not seen it before, but it is SOOO great, and such an easy way to make a multi-layer wrap, and a one-handed, easy to eat meal!

For those who know... skip this. For my fellow wrap-neophytes:

1. Cut a radius in the wrap from 6 pm to the center.
2. Place your wrap items in the four quadrants created (UL, UR, LL, LR)
3. For planning purposes, UL and LL will be the tops and bottoms of your wrap, so that is the best place for cheese/condiments... if you like those on the top/bottom.
4. Your protein is best positioned in UR
5. Once everything is in place:
 A. Fold LR up to cover UR
 B. Flip the LR/UR combo to the left, covering UL
 C. Fold THAT trio down, covering LL

That's it! You then have a layered, triangular wrap! If you want to air fry it, or grill it, it'll hold up. Or if it's a cold wrap it's good to go. But it will hold up and everything is perfectly layered.

I was kind of blown away I didn't know about this for the past 57 years. Just glad it wasn't a few weeks from now, or I'd have to say 58. So at least there's THAT!

Love, just a tiny bit smarter than I was yesterday...
Allie

[Oldandcreaky]

Looks yummy!

[imallie]

Looks yummy!

Yeah it was good. The wraps are really nice. But that folding method was like a magic trick! I really wish I had learned it sooner!!

[davina61]

Yes dear, if you sealed the top edge it would be a samosa!

[Oldandcreaky]

I love samosas!

[imallie]

Yes dear, if you sealed the top edge it would be a samosa!

Oh you know what Davina, that's kind of true! It's the same principle as a samosa and some wontons... but those use rectangular wraps (or square) and I guess this is the tortilla variation. 

Oh wow, Tortilla Variation is an EXCELLENT band name.

[ChrissyRyan]

Hey all - not normally into product endorsement, but this morning I finally tried something I'd been wanting to get my hands on for a little while - and it very much did not disappoint:

Mission Protein Wraps.

These are nutrient-dense tortilla wraps, a fantastic swap for any flour, multigrain or other wrap you're currently using. I would like to try slicing one up and seeing if it makes chips well in the air fryer, but short of that... I'm sold.

Per wrap: 70 calories, 7 grams of protein, 12 grams of fiber.  That is about as nutrient dense as it can get.

By way of comparison, a typical flour tortilla will be about 200 calories, 6 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber.

Any time you can multiply the grams of protein x10 and it's close to the calories, or do the same with grams of fiber, you're talking a food with bang for its buck. When you get one with BOTH? You're talking a real keeper.

Had a good taste, nice and soft (some "healthier" wraps tend to crumble and/or taste like cardboard), and because of the high protein/fiber content, it will really fill you up.

Anyway... end of endorsement. 😘


P.S. Here was my breakfast:


Wrap/ 1/3 cup of egg whites, 1/2 oz reduced fat sharp cheddar, 1 oz maple ham, 1 tbsp chopped bell pepper, s/p:

175 cal, 24g protein, 12g fiber, 18g carbs, 6g fats

Looks good.  Thank you.


Chrissy

[davina61]

You use a 1/2 circle for a samosa, fold it to a 1/4 then a 1/4 again.

[imallie]

You use a 1/2 circle for a samosa, fold it to a 1/4 then a 1/4 again.

Oh I'll have to look that up. The only time we ever made them, it was a rectangular piece... folded over the top into a triangle to make a cone... filled the cone..and then basically replicated what I did with the wrap until you had a sealed triangle.

But literally did it one time. LOL

[imallie]

Had an appointment with my lead Neurologist today (I need a TEAM of people to deal with what's wrong between my ears...). I've been seeing him since he initially diagnosed my cluster headaches in 30 seconds after 4-5 other doctors were baffled.

So he's a keeper.

Plus, his deep Eastern European accent always makes me smile. It's not scary-Dracula level, think more Count Chocula's kindly grandpa. 😉

Anyway, it was he who I went to when my endo wanted us to see what the impact on hormones would be on my headaches... so, since we happened to be in Miami at the time, I messaged him through the hospital portal and basically came out to him and asked the question.

He then gave me the 70-20-10 answer which I've shared here before (70% change HRT would make it worse, 20% the same, 10% better, and so he wouldn't recommend it). Obviously informed consent and all, endo and I decided to start slow and see... and now I'm at least in the 20% but it could be the 10% based on the strides.

But that story is not why you bought a ticket to this particular Rodeo.

No, the thing is... since then, I've had a nagging suspicion that he's forgotten that I'm trans. It just so happens our last few visits have been tele-health. He was sick once, they had to change my time where it was too late for me to drive... and today... I don't know why it was tele-health, but it was what was scheduled.

Not that in person would make that much of a difference, I suppose.  But even so, it wasn't like I was purposely not talking about it... it was just not germane to our discussions. But I keep saying to my wife AFTER the appointments, "you know... I'm starting to think..."

I said that today, and she laughed. She noted that I was unshaven (had electro on Wednesday... so I normally don't shave until Friday morning, and I was still going to do the treadmill after my apt, so I hadn't showered yet), plus I had my old glasses on. So I wasn't helping matters.

But also, my meds are in the chart... and my primary care doc put "->-bleeped-<-" into my "condition" list. I didn't know it was considered a condition, but whatever.

So he should know... and maybe he does. But it's starting to be a thing. I'll just be curious at my next appointment, if I do it in person, in six months... by then I assume (hope) I'd be to the point where I'm going out fully dressed... at least some/most of the time. So that will be interesting.

Unless he already does know. Which he definitely doesn't. Which he 100% should.

This whole thing is making my head hurt... which is exactly what he's supposed to help me prevent... which just makes that even worse...

*sigh* 😂

Happy Friday everyone!

Love,
Allie

[Oldandcreaky]

Unless he already does know. Which he definitely doesn't. Which he 100% should.

^This^ made my head hurt too.

[imallie]

^This^ made my head hurt too.

You're welcome. 😘

[imallie]

We were finalizing our menu for the big event tomorrow (i.e. watching commercials between short snippets of what hopefully will not be a dreadful game...), and one thing we decided to do is have me make some onion petals in the air fryer.

I did a test run on those last week (with a buttermilk dredge) and they really worked. I was skeptical about a wet batter in the air fryer, but if done lightly it really works.

Anyway, for something like that, you need a really good dipping sauce... and I have to say, what I threw together tonight is pretty darn amaze-balls.  I think I'd dip shoelaces in it.

So since I've been really lazy and not posting on my food blog, I thought I'd share it with my friends here... in case you all needed something for your own purposes or to bring somewhere. It would work for chips, wings, chicken.. pretty much anything. And you likely have everything you need lying around.

1 5.3 oz container of non-fat Greek Yogurt
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp spicy brown mustard (or 1 tsp horseradish if you prefer. I think that would work too)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

That's it

By the way, if you want the "less healthy" version... you could just use 1/2 c of mayo instead of the yogurt... and then skip the vinegar (which is only there to make the yogurt match the mayo's tang).  But if you have yogurt, it's a lot lower in calories, higher in protein and you won't notice a difference.

Love,
Allie

[Oldandcreaky]

I think I'd dip shoelaces in it.

Clever girl.

[REM.1126]

I had to fill out some online survey for my wife's insurance today, it's something so that we can get a $500 wellness credit. It's one of the supposedly "voluntary/anonymous" things where they hook you in with cash credits.

Anyway, one question was birth gender, one was preferred... and when I got to the second I was about to click "transgender" and then I saw there was a "beeswax, nunya" option, so I took that. I really didn't feel like coming out to some computer program today.

But it also made realize something that, maybe is patently obvious to many others. But just dawned on me today. Let's not focus on how late I am, let's just celebrate the fact that I showed up at the party, ok?

What I realized was - "transition" is for other people.

The whole thing. The whole megillah. The entire pizza. The full box of crayons. Whatever you like. It's not for us, but for them. All the "thems"

If, God forbid, you were permanently stranded on a deserted island, and had known you were transgender previously, you would simply begin living as your authentic self immediately. There would be no "transition." No steps. You'd flip a switch, and that would be it. You'd never think about it again. Sure, you'd work to improve your appearance... but everyone of every gender does that. But there'd be no living between genders, going back and forth, etc. You would just BE you.

It's only that we, validly by the way, do things to make it easier for the people in our lives... and easier for us to exist in the company of judgmental strangers, that we conform to the notion and procedures of a transition.

Again, I'm sure this is a "Yeah of course!" moment for many of you. And it doesn't really lead to living my life any differently, knowing this, but it is fascinating to me, as something that totally eluded me until now.

Cluelessly yours,
Allie

I don't relate to that. For me, the problem isn't other people as much as it is my body.  Is that a weird way to feel?  I am not caught up in the social gender norms.  I mean, I publicly do follow them to get along.  But, what causes me dysphoria is my body.  The male primary and secondary sex characteristics.  The genitalia, the body hair, the bald head, the voice, the way I smell.  None of that would change alone in the world. 

And. While I recognize full well that I am not doing anything about those things here while I can, at least right now it is a choice.  It is my decision.  Alone on an island, I would have no choice.  I would have no control over it.  I'd be stuck being male.

Maybe that is a strange outlook.  I don't know.  But, other people are (to me, I believe) important in how they see me, and how they interact with me.  Alone, I wouldn't have that.  But, I would still have dysphoria, just as bad as ever.  Maybe worse due to lack of control.

[imallie]

I don't relate to that. For me, the problem isn't other people as much as it is my body.  Is that a weird way to feel?  I am not caught up in the social gender norms.  I mean, I publicly do follow them to get along.  But, what causes me dysphoria is my body.  The male primary and secondary sex characteristics.  The genitalia, the body hair, the bald head, the voice, the way I smell.  None of that would change alone in the world. 

And. While I recognize full well that I am not doing anything about those things here while I can, at least right now it is a choice.  It is my decision.  Alone on an island, I would have no choice.  I would have no control over it.  I'd be stuck being male.

Maybe that is a strange outlook.  I don't know.  But, other people are (to me, I believe) important in how they see me, and how they interact with me.  Alone, I wouldn't have that.  But, I would still have dysphoria, just as bad as ever.  Maybe worse due to lack of control.

First of all Rachel, you feel how you feel. No one gets to judge.

But secondly, I don't think you quite got my point.

You were speaking to what causes you, or any of us to consider ourselves transgender. What are our dysphoric triggers. Yours, like mine, are body based. I have always been ok with the person I am, I'm just wrapped in a shell that makes no sense to me. That's what I'm in the process of slowly changing through hormones, and even more slowly though social re-calibration, and other physical changes.

But when I was speaking of "transition" I was talking about the PROCESS of transition. If it were not for other people, if it were not for societal norms and expectations... once I accepted that this was who I truly was, the next day I would have woken up and begun to live my life 24/7 as my female self. I would have dressed as would be appropriate, and gotten myself totally into the mindset of being forever female. Not "in transition." Not doing it slowly to make others more comfortable.

Yes, my body would still have been an issue.. but it would be a "fake it til you make it thing"... I of course would do all that I could to keep working that and make it better, and certainly I would still have dysphoria until I got to some physical tipping point, but there would be no process of social transition, such as it is. Because, as I was saying, I really think THAT is something we undertake for the benefit of others, not ourselves.

Apologies if that wasn't clear to you in my initial post.

[imallie]

Aarrgh -

We are expecting 9-12 inches of snow all of a sudden on Tuesday. I don't really care about that too much, except it means that my wife will work from home.  Normally, I'm fine with that.. except, my plans for Tuesday WERE:

a tele-health session with my therapist, and then making cake pops as an anniversary present for my wife.

I can still do the therapy session (it'll be the first time I've done it with her in the house, but at this point I'm not really talking about anything that I've not said to her... so...)

But the cake pop thing is throwing me for a loop.

Options:

1. I could make them tomorrow (Monday). The issue with that is then I've got to keep them hidden for two days, which is a bit of an issue, and they'll be two days less fresh.  Plus, tomorrow morning I'm already making a delivery to our food local charity food pantry, plus I need to make a batch of sauce, and then meatballs.  And I have to do all that before lunch (when my migraines start). Don't know how I squeeze cake pops into that schedule.

2. I could try to do it Tuesday night after she goes to sleep. But she's going to smell cake baking and hear the mixer..uh..mixing. That seems like a non-starter.

3. Wednesday morning I have electrolysis, which takes me right up until lunch. PLUS I really would like to have brought some to my electrologist as well as a VD gift.  So I suppose, thinking as a write this, *sigh* my only option is to get up at the crack-a** of dawn on Wednesday and try to make them completely and still give myself time to shower and leave for my appointment by 9:30 am. 

Never having made them before, I have the benefit of total ignorance on my side when I say "that seems doable." 

So unless someone has a suggestion I'm missing (I'm freshly post-cluster headache right now, so very much NOT thinking clearly) or access to a time machine... I guess that's my best and only option.

Love,
Allie

[davina61]

Time And Relative Dimension In Space, sounds like you need one of these (Tardis) but will you still have time once you have fought off the Daleks and Cybermen??