Not a couple hours earlier at a cosmetics store.  So be it.

This evening I was not very hungry.  But I am eating a bowl of Neapolitan ice cream now!

Monday I ate halibut.

Sunday I ate fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Ate eight

Uproar

I am not a lawyer, nor in MN, but how much time are you spending hugging naked in the locker room? The purpose of the locker room is to change clothes, so I don't see how that would take much time. It isn't that difficult to show some modesty and cover up with a towel as much as possible until you are dressed. That is just my opinion, but if there is a lawyer available who can weigh in, I'll shut up.

Quote from: davina61 on Today at 02:15:55 PMBut these are cut into small bits and fried for a while before the cauliflower goes in then a good few teaspoons of various spices get added so not very "potatoey"

I do appreciate that. I have managed to get her to approve a version of air fryer potatoes I make, which are a (pale) copy of the potatoes from Jonathan Waxman's WONDERFUL NYC restaurant, Barbuto. Those potatoes, she loves.

I can kind of replicate them... at least to the point where she likes them.

By the way? For those visiting New York City - a hearty, hearty recommendation for Barbuto, one of our very favorite places. It's tucked a bit out of the way of the hustle and bustle but still in a great location for sight seeing.

It's down at the Pier... so if you want to check out Little Island (google it, it's quite cool to check out if you can go early in the morning before it gets busy!), and it's also a short walk to Chelsea Market... and the High Line (another not-to-be missed kinda secret thing people don't talk about enough in the city)

But Barbuto? It's a gem. And I hate to do this - but it was done to us, and it's 100% true. Yes, I'm sure everything on the menu is wonderful. But the roast chicken is TO DIE FOR. Like you will crave it forever and a day after. I'm thinking about it right now. Same with these potatoes. Also, the Kale Salad.
You get a kale salad, you get the chicken and the potatoes and that feeds 2 or 3 people EASILY. One order of each. If you even try to each order your own order the waiter/waitress will say "you really don't need to do that..."

Oh and the Olive Oil cake is also just... OMG.

So we literally go there now, just to get the above. We no longer even go through the motions of looking at the menu. And every single person we've ever sent there has thanked us up and down for the recommendation.

It's open for lunch (which a lot of places are not) and so... like I said... planning a trip to city? At least put it on your list.

I know this started as a discussion of potatoes, but this is how my mind works. I made peace with it years ago. 🤔🙄😂

Robby,

I answered most of your questions in the other post.

Your medical care (transition or other) has no effect on your disability. As 100% service-connected, your medical care is covered at no cost. As stated in the other post, I don't know if you will pay less than I do, but it is possible. When you register they can answer all of your questions.

I had been seeing a private therapist before going to the VA. I signed HIPAA forms to authorize my therapist to send his notes to my VA psychologist. My VA psychologist said that he never read them. He prefers to do his own evaluation without anyone else's opinions influencing his diagnosis.

After that, I continued in therapy with the VA psychologist. He left the VA and I was assigned a new psychologist and I have been seeing her for a couple of years. Our LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator is also a psychologist in our Mental Health Services department.

Only you can decide your path of transition. But if you want to do it through the VA, your plan is solid.

The VA does it all themselves in-house. If a service is not available, then they send you to a Care-in-the-Community provider and that provider is paid via insurance. In the Midwest is Optum, out West there is Tri-Care. That happens behind the scenes. You don't have to do anything. My disability rating is only 10% service-connected, but all my medical care is covered. Yours would be too. The exception is medicines. I do pay a co-pay for meds, but top-shelf name-brand meds only cost me $33 for a 90-day supply. With the higher rating, your meds might be with no copay. You would have to ask. I don't know how that works.

All of the complaints that I have heard about the VA were from people who were in large cities. Here in Rapid City, SD (pop. 75,000) I have no complaints. Everyone here is top-notch professional and very helpful with my transition. I don't know if it will make a difference, but you could try going to a smaller town's VA clinic instead of Phoenix. Like Chandler, or someplace smaller. Since I am limited here and do not have many to choose from, I can't say it would make a difference.

I would definitely check into it. Get registered as a patient, if you are not already. Make an appointment to see a Primary Care Physician. Talk to them about what you want to do. They can send a consult to Mental Health for evaluation of Gender Dysphoria. Once that is done, your Primary can then either prescribe HRT or refer you to Endocrinology or Gynecology. They will write the prescriptions and monitor hormone levels. Your Primary can also do the consults for Facial Hair Removal or Voice Training if you are interested in those. They will know what services are available there.

Every VA Clinic is supposed to have an LGBTQ+ Care Coordinator on staff. Check the Phoenix VA website and it will tell you who that person is and their contact information. They can also help you navigate the care that is available.

This is a lot of information I'm throwing out, but I hope it helps you and any other vets who are just getting started through the VA.


Hugs!