Another busy day today.

Our Resident Council is meeting this morning to walk the property to discuss the Community Garden we plan to put in this summer. Then from 12-4 is our Meet & Greet event. I'm looking forward to the Bouncy Castle! Just kidding. I'm pretty certain that would put me in the hospital. 

My rock tumblers are finishing up their "wash cycle", so later today I will need to empty them and reload them with another batch of stones for polishing.

Monday is Memorial Day so I will drive up to the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. I try to go each year. They do some really nice memorial services there. Various speakers and songs and dances by the Oyate. Oyate is the Lakota Sioux word meaning "The People", specifically referring to themselves, the Lakota tribe of the Sioux Nation. I enjoy it when they put out the flags on each grave. It is such a well-maintained cemetery. One of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I'll share some pictures when I return.

When I had to go to the Fort Meade VA Hospital at Sturgis, I always salute the cemetery as I drive by. My way of saying, "Thank you for your service and sacrifice." Now that our Specialty Clinics have been moved to Rapid City, I don't get up that way very often. Some day, that will be my final resting place and just maybe someone will salute my grave as they drive by.

After a quick trip to the cemetery, I will head across the interstate (I-90) to the Fort Meade Recreation Area to do some rockhounding if my knees hold up. It is a huge acreage with a mix of grassland and forest. It was once a training area for soldiers stationed at Fort Meade, so no metal detecting or digging is allowed. They don't want someone to accidentally discover an unexploded bomb.

Within the Recreation Area is the old Fort Meade Cemetery. It is very small, but some of the graves date back to the early 1900s. It is no longer in use but is preserved for historical reasons. Volunteers continue to maintain the site for family members who wish to visit.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Be safe!

Quote from: imallie on Today at 06:13:50 AMjust printed out the name change paperwork for my state

We really lucked out. We stumbled upon a nonprofit organization of Cornell University law students who helped my wife change her name and gender. No charge for their services. We paid the court fee (>$200!), which is discounted for people who qualify, and provided a photocopy of her birth certificate. They got it all done in just a month, and the necessary court typo correction was done overnight! They arranged for the court record to be sealed. We provided all of the info that they needed to file, and they answered all of our concerns in less than an hour.

Their URL
https://vlpcny.org/
They might connect you with a similar service where you are.

I found some awful stories here at Susan's of long, drawn-out procedures in other states, and some much better ones in other countries 15 or so years ago. Let us know if we can help you in any way.

@Northern Star Girl
Another piece for your list. I also started a new Name Change Procedures thread on the Transgender talk board.

@Moonflower  @imallie  @LoriDee  @Sarah B
Dear Ladies:  
I am very much appreciative of all of your contributions in this useful
and informative conversation regarding the name change processes and procedures
that can apply to our members that are in their transition journey. 

Thank you for sharing and posting and please continue on with more of your
thoughts, comments and followup information.

Note: As you can see, I have included quotes of a of your posts here on my
reply comment which can be referred to anyone that is having name change
questions and/or problems.

Many Hugs,
Danielle   [Northern Star Girl]
The Forum Administrator
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quote from: LoriDee on Today at 08:14:53 AMI also sent a certified copy of the name change to each of the three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and EquiFax. That helps speed things along because then their information matches what the banks and credit cards are reporting.

Quote from: imallie on Today at 06:13:50 AMThat seems excellent. It seems to me... at the onset (just printed out the name change paperwork for my state) that the whole process is a bit like whack-a-mole. You just keep knocking down each thing when it pops up until, hopefully, eventually you "win". 😂

Quote from: Moonflower on Today at 04:05:09 AMJust now, I started putting together a checklist to help her manage it:
First, social security, then driver's license, then birth certificate.
Citizenship and immigration documentation, such as a passport or visa.
Voter registration.
Workplace and school records.
Military/veteran records.
Licensing boards and professional associations.
Financial institutions including banks, lenders, credit unions, credit cards, investment companies/brokerages, and retirement or pension accounts.
Legal documentation and accounts for real estate and personal property (vehicles), including deeds, mortgages or lease agreements.
Legal documents including those where listed as an agent, beneficiary, or trustee, such as a Deed, Last Will and Testament, Living Trust or Power of Attorney.
Insurance documents including health, auto, home, renters, umbrella, and life.
Bills, including electric, water, sewer, fuel, internet, cellphone, memberships, medical, shopping, and subscriptions.
Social media and email accounts.
Health care proxies.

Do any others come to mind? We can post this list on another board where others are more likely to find it.

Quote from: Sarah B on Yesterday at 09:40:30 PMHi Moonflower

You mentioned in this post:

Such a wondrous occasion, I'm happy you are enjoying that moment and the future ones, that are to come.  You should celebrate with a party or something similar, write it down in a diary.  So you will always remember these occasions more vividly than I can.  I hope you do not have lots of those documents to change.

I believe I only had the following to changed, when I changed my life around.  My driving licence, Medicare card, my Medibank card (health insurance) and my scuba diving cards.  As far as I know I never jumped for joy or had a party to remember those occasions by.  It was a case of I got one done, lets move on to the next one.  I also had only two sets of transcripts to be changed over.

As for the  Velveteen Rabbit, I will get a copy and I will be reading it shortly.

The love you both have for each other shows no bounds and the sharing of your journey to the members of Susan's is priceless and shows what is possible.  Maybe you should write a book about that journey.

Take care and as always best wishes for the future.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter
@Moonflower

I understand that each state and country has its own procedures. I'm in New York State. This is what I've found, so far:

Quote from: Moonflower on Today at 04:05:09 AMFirst, social security, then driver's license, then birth certificate.
Citizenship and immigration documentation, such as a passport or visa.
Voter registration.
Workplace and school records.
Military/veteran records.
Licensing boards and professional associations.
Financial institutions including banks, lenders, credit unions, credit cards, investment companies/brokerages, and retirement or pension accounts.
Credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, and EquiFax).
Legal documentation and accounts for real estate and personal property (vehicles), including deeds, mortgages or lease agreements.
Legal documents including those where listed as an agent, beneficiary, or trustee, such as a Deed, Last Will and Testament, Living Trust or Power of Attorney.
Insurance documents including health, auto, home, renters, umbrella, and life.
Bills, including electric, water, sewer, fuel, internet, phone, cable, memberships, medical, shopping, and subscriptions.
Social media and email accounts.
Health care proxies.

Do any others come to mind?

Quote from: LoriDee on Today at 08:14:53 AMI also sent a certified copy of the name change to each of the three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and EquiFax. That helps speed things along because then their information matches what the banks and credit cards are reporting.

Great! I added that to the list.

For some, it is possible to find happiness. Everyone transitions to their own satisfaction. Some may need the full treatment with surgery. Others might be content with underdressing. There is no right or wrong.

For me, I need the full treatment, but I am quickly realizing that I may never achieve that. I am happier than I have ever been in my life, but my goal is to be happiest.

I also sent a certified copy of the name change to each of the three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and EquiFax. That helps speed things along because then their information matches what the banks and credit cards are reporting.

It took me a while to get accustomed to it too. Stray bangs in my eyes and I kept brushing them away, then eventually trimmed them. After wearing them for longer outings, I finally got comfortable with them. I was worried my skin might get irritated from the wig tape on my skin that long. I had no issues.

Have fun!

Happy Saturday.

Busy morning here with apartment cleaning, laundry, and a few other small things. I need to take Mom to an appointment later. The post-race week was short and hectic. I love it-- on to pride. Whilest puttering, I've thrown the video of the race on (its on youtube, no I am not in it). Pretty darn nifty watching the pro version of the race. I am repeatedly flashing "Hey! I know that spot".  I am taking my finishers medal to get framed later, thank you.

I stopped by the bike store yesterday. I'd already seen the owners-- we ride together. They are super nice. I made it a point to go thank the store's mechanics who were really excited to talk to me about the race. I kind of wonder if I'd have done this pre-E. Hard to say, I am different in a good way about these things.

Next week? time to bring the wig in for a wash. My first "shadow" experience with the speakers bureau I joined, I have to watch a few before speaking. Miles on the bike, because why not? I am thinking next year,..

anyway. happy weekend everyone.


~Jenn

Yesterday I was wrapped up in work then started planting the garden. Came in the house and realized I had a counseling session in 15 min. Its a 30 min drive there. Threw on a pair of shorts and top and took off. Usually I would take 45min. to shower, dry my hair, makeup, dress...As I'm driving there I'm putting on makeup, lipstick, brushing my hair.. Oh my God, I am really a woman and doing these things while driving! Luckily the car has auto steering and auto braking. I was 15min. late and had a great session. Hopefully I will never have do that again. My mind has been a little distracted thinking of the upcoming surgery. 
I hope all are enjoying this memorial day weekend.
Gina