Perfectly understandable. Our rule here at Susan's is to share only what you are comfortable with. I understand the need to remain as private as possible. Twice, I have had online stalkers track me down through Facebook posts, so I learned to be cautious about sharing too much. Now if they were to try to find me I would say "Good Luck!".

Thank you for continuing the conversation here. You are among friends and may be able to find a post or someone online who has had a similar experience. Hopefully, they can chime in.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Today at 04:22:09 PMDo the finishes called polished, matte, and leather apply to the rock work you do?

Chrissy,

Not exactly. The harder rocks like agates and jaspers will get nice and shiny. The softer ones like Fuchsite are too porous so they get smooth but not really shiny. The problem is that softer rocks have to be tumbled with care because they get worn down pretty quickly and can break apart. So they don't get as long of a cycle in the tumbler.

I have some "exotics" that I will be tumbling soon. Amethyst is a hard stone, but like quartz, it can fracture and bruise easily. So they need special care too. I have some jade, amethyst, tiger eye, amazonite, and quartz ready to start next week. I have to add "padding" in the form of small stones so they don't crash into each other as they tumble. I am anxious to see how they come out.

Lori,

Do the finishes called polished, matte, and leather apply to the rock work you do?


Chrissy

Quote from: LoriDee on Today at 02:33:09 PMAnother day of cleaning out the rock tumblers.

Previously, I had mentioned that I like the Bubblegum Agates because they can be full of surprises. Here is an example:

When I find it on the ground and wash it off it looks sort of like this.


Then after rolling around in the tumblers, the abrasive grit wears away the "husk" and we get a glimpse of what's inside. This is how this one turned out.


and the other side.


Here are a few others that turned out nice.

This one came from Teepee Canyon. I'll be going back to get more soon.





My expertise in jewelry making is improving.
Check out this engagement ring. Now that is a rock any woman would love to receive.



Or not. 

I like all of them, except the one with the rock inside prongs.  I guess some people might like that one too but it is not one that I would wear.

Thank you for the responses. I apologize, but I'm hesitant to share too much out in the open so I am not sure making an introduction would be something I'd be comfortable doing. It's not you all, I've experienced targeted harassment in the past. I almost didn't post at all because I can't control what is visible by the public. If you have something more secure, I'd love to participate more and talk more privately. Sorry it's that way, but this is the state of the world at the moment. I'm aware I'm a little paranoid, but I have very valid reasons.

I'm in my early 40's and I transitioned as a late teen. I'm relatively new to the area I'm in, so it's taking some time to get my current medical care in order, but I had faced significant medical discrimination with my general care in the past so I have a rough time trusting medical professionals, as I've had "religious beliefs" impact my treatment in places where that's allowed to happen legally. It's less bad where I live now, but I expect the other shoe to drop every time I walk into an office.

Your information is helpful and I think my own anxieties are mostly making this worse for me but my GP isn't really concerned at all. I think his biggest concern is finding someone who will for sure be affirming so the situation is as comfortable as possible  for me. I could really use a "Oh yeah, that happened to me, here's my experience".

Love them! As a child, polished stones enchanted me. Heck, they still do.

Another day of cleaning out the rock tumblers.

Previously, I had mentioned that I like the Bubblegum Agates because they can be full of surprises. Here is an example:

When I find it on the ground and wash it off it looks sort of like this.


Then after rolling around in the tumblers, the abrasive grit wears away the "husk" and we get a glimpse of what's inside. This is how this one turned out.


and the other side.


Here are a few others that turned out nice.

This one came from Teepee Canyon. I'll be going back to get more soon.





My expertise in jewelry making is improving.
Check out this engagement ring. Now that is a rock any woman would love to receive.



Or not. 

Hello Starryskyy

My name is Sarah B and I would also like to formally, Welcome you to Susan's Place!

I see that Lori, my fellow team member, Maid Marion and ChrissyRyan have already greeted you warmly to Susan's.

You mentioned in the Introduction Forum the following about yourself.

Quote from: Starryskyy on Today at 11:18:19 AMI'm a trans girl from the US just looking for decent online community to participate in! Currently in a difficult spot and have a lot of insecurities but I hope having more of a community backbone will help smooth things out for me.

You do not have to hope, Susan's Place is a place where you will be helped as much as possible by the members of Susan's and in doing so they will help you to 'smooth things out' for you, in your journey to achieve your dreams.

You also mentioned in the 'Ebb and flow' thread the following:

Quote from: Starryskyy on Today at 11:36:28 AMHi I'm an expert in the never ending ebb and flow of gender frustrations. It's totally normal especially as you get much further along in simply being you despite various obstacles, I'm unable to see myself as male and just look at myself horrified in the mirror often. Been this way for many years and I've had a lot more experience with being completely open about being who I am even though it's not entirely safe for me to shout it from the rooftops.

As you can gather other members of Susan's have mentioned the gender frustrations or gender dysphoria that they suffer.  They also mention how they also deal with those problems on a day to day basis.

You are right, you never shout who you are from the rooftops, it is never wise to do so anyway.  I never tell anyone about myself ever.  I never had any obstacles and if there were, I was prepared to jump over or walk around them.

Quote from: Starryskyy on Today at 11:36:28 AMSince doing so though and just being me regardless of the never ending dysphoria from my looks often I never think about my gender otherwise. I just go about my life as a woman and get misgendered every day a million times over with the occasional person that gets it (I do look naturally extremely feminine with some really bad issues that have more to do with head shape and hair than much else).

When I changed my life around, there was only one thing that did not change and that was of course, Me!  In addition I never thought about my gender even when I filled out forms asking me my gender!

You say you are extremely feminine and yet you get misgendered all the time and you know why that is the case.  Lori has already mentioned to you in her post, what she does and she has the experience in regards to wigs.  Just look at her avatar.  However, the head shape can only or usually be overcome with FFS.

Quote from: Starryskyy on Today at 11:36:28 AMIf I cover the top of my head and shave so well that day that only the most baseline shadow is there I get gendered correctly more often. It's still extremely rough and because of the divide between my appearance and presentation with the hair situation and people that recognize me in public as male that aren't exactly good people things can scary out there.

Seeking specialists or people with knowledge in the area of wigs, like Lori, you will be able to improve your looks accordingly.  Two other things that you could do to improve your looks and that is to be on HRT (if you are not already on) will make your face more feminine and to get rid of your facial hair.

There are several ways to do this, one wax your face. Two have IPL treatment and or have electrolysis done, or a combination of all three.  If you have these treatments then I almost sure you will pass or look more feminine and hence get gendered correctly more often.

Quote from: Starryskyy on Today at 11:36:28 AMI'd say most of my dysphoria besides my personal view on my looks comes from the way the immediate community treats me and what I need to do to protect myself sometimes. I can't just present male, I have no idea how to so usually on the days where I'm most insecure I just turtle inside a hoody and keep on the down low. Always have other things to do to take my mind off it and I value my time away from people anyways where I need it.

You should not have to hide yourself and if you are able to pass or get gendered correctly then your self esteem will improve no end.  Your safety is paramount and you have to ensure that you remain safe at all times.  Sometimes it is wise to seek help from a 'gender therapist' to help you along.

Once you feel comfortable here, it would be appreciated if you add a little bit more about yourself in other forums and threads or just add more information to what you have already posted in the Introductions Forum.  It would be appreciated very much as, I'm always interested in learning something new about visitors to Susan's

In addition members of Susan's will come along and more than likely will discuss problems or issues that are similar to yours as most of us have experienced these as well.

Take care and all the best for the future and if you need help please do not hesitate to ask.  We are here to help you as much as possible.  You are lucky in a sense you have a wealth of information at your fingers tips.  Yet when I had changed my life around I virtually had none.

Once again, Welcome to Susan's Place!
Sarah B
Offical Greeter
@LoriDee
@Northern Star Girl
@Starryskyy

Thank you, Allie.

You, as a fellow journalist, understand the propensity to ask: "Can you tell me a little more about that?"

Our shared curiosity connects us, as does our love of language.

So, you also understand how much I appreciate the clarity of your answer, its concision and precision. You let me see beyond my ken.

Keep on going one day at a time. 

Chrissy