We just returned home after dropping off my mother at some of her friends' house. She'll fly home on Wednesday.

Her week-long visit was phenomenal. She was phenomenal. By the end, she was getting pretty good at calling me "Pema" and "she." I'm sure she'll lose some of that when we don't see or talk to each other every day.

I'm still not sure why she felt it necessary to email the rest of the (very small) family and a few friends to tell them the day after I told her, but so be it. The responses were all positive, some shockingly so.

So, something whose anticipation generated quite a bit of stress ended up being extremely affirming.

It's all a bit overwhelming, and I look forward to going back to my simple life of just being me with my wife.

Thank you all for being the incredible people that you are.

Quote from: Dances With Trees on July 14, 2025, 02:48:00 PMI have chosen to stay in Montana and do what little I can to support trans women and trans children who have no choice but to live in Big Sky Country.

I admire your grit. 

With all the political rumblings all over the country, I suspect that a reckoning is coming. We will see what happens in 2026 and then in 2028.

Prosthetics (wigs, breast forms, binders, gaffs, packers, etc.) were among the things that were no longer covered since they revoked the VA Directive. I am hoping your approved consult pre-dates that and will get covered, as I have a similar issue with covering electrolysis. I had three approved consults going back five years. I am still trying to find out if we are grandfathered, but from what I have heard, they cancelled all of that. I wasn't even allowed my last appointment for voice training due to coverage being cancelled.

I hope you get lucky.

Montana.  What do I think about?

Glacier National Park.      The Rockies.  Close to Canada.  Cold and snowy during the winter.
Yellowstone National Park. 

Also:  Hannah

Quote from: Lori Dee on July 14, 2025, 01:48:26 PMNo one should have to live in an unsafe environment, ever.

I couldn't agree with you more, Lori. Though even the 'free' states seem to be caving to the hateful vitriol and funding constraints imposed by MAGA-ism. I'm an old woman. I was born less than a hundred miles from where I currently live. I have chosen to stay in Montana and do what little I can to support trans women and trans children who have no choice but to live in Big Sky Country. Hey, if a totally out in the open Zooey Zephyr can hack it, an old woman such as myself still hiding in the shadows should also be able to.

Called the wig shop for an update. Unfortunately they have been busy and have not yet had time to call the VA rep and see why the payment was not going through.
She did however seem pretty sure that the rep they typically go to for helping with payments that are being denied usually comes through for them and gets the payment to go through. So fingers crossed. We have to wait and see.

Vegetable  samosas  chicken  balti pilau rice and aubergine  pickles.  

Quote from: Dances With Trees on July 14, 2025, 01:23:18 PMI've noticed some people are referring to places like Colorado and California as 'free' states. For so many of us living in 'non-free' states, the environment is dangerously toxic. Best wishes, Tills. I hope you find your safe haven soon. 

No one should have to live in an unsafe environment, ever. It is like I keep saying, "Vote with your feet and get out." It doesn't mean today or this month, but make a plan to get somewhere safe. Support the safe place with your tax dollars and by supporting local businesses with your patronage. The best way to make change is by hitting them in the wallet. That they understand.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on July 13, 2025, 07:49:00 PMWhen I think of Montana, I think of grassland, mountains, and snow.

Montana is mostly all the things you mentioned, Jessica (especially the snow). But some valleys (like my spot within the Jefferson River Valley) are high mountain desert. Unfortunately, people from places like California bought up all the other places (including the mountain tops like our freshman Senator Tim Sheehy did). Of course, the standing joke remains: What's the difference between a rich Californian and a poor Montanan? Three years.
  Glad you're getting close to closing the deal in Colorado.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on July 14, 2025, 07:22:45 AMFor people with implants, I think the placement makes a difference. Although there are variations, the most frequent placement options are submuscular and subglandular.

With submuscular, the implants are place under the pectoral muscles. While this can initially be more uncomfortable and require a longer recovery period, it may result in a more natural look and feel.

For subglandular placement, the implants are above the pectoral muscle, but beneath existing breast tissue.

Based on my anatomy and my surgeon's experience, my implants are submuscular. Basically, my pectoral muscles are acting as a bra. When I 'flex' my pectoral muscles, I can put on quite a show. While I eventually may need to wear a bra for support, I'm currently enjoying my freedom to choose.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Wow that is most interesting.