Susan's Place Transgender Resources

A storm blew through here on Tuesday knocking out our power.  It just came back on last night.  Besides the power needed for refrigeration and sump pumps, I really didn't miss it.  But the best part was being unplugged from the electronic universe.

No TV

No Internet

No radio

No computer

I started feeling very at peace.  The white noise of that universe was silenced.  It was very soothing.

When the power came on we were out at dinner.  When we got back we found lights and even the TV on.  The TV looked strange.  There was a human on this flat screen talking in our family room.  I had never seen her before.

When I later turned on the news to see if we missed anything, I found this uneasiness creeping under my skin.  Anderson Cooper talking about really bad people.  Local news people talking about really bad things.  I eventually couldn't take it.

For three days I had no idea what was going on past what I could see and hear and you know what?  I did quite well.  Better than before...

I can empathise - especially if you're used to having "The News" on, which is not really news so much as "Stuff to get outraged/scared at" since the percentage of reported news that's positive is generally below 1%.

People are still amazed when I'm having a conversation with them, my phone rings, and I don't answer it. That's just manners, isn't it, and in any case, it's what voicemail is for. But it's nicer if I remember just to turn it off.

Don't even get me started on the phone!  I don't believe in the idea we have to drop everything we're doing and rush to answer the phone.  I think that started back before the answering machine days.

In 1987 we had a phone switching building go up in flames.  It was a major hub for the Midwest.  Our phone was out for five weeks.  (This was before cell phone days.)  I was in heaven.  When they finally got us back on line I was amazed at how it changed the atmosphere in the house, with my daughter especially.

I take a regular media fast.

Aw, lucky you T~T I had times when I was just pretty much isolated from being able to touch my computers, sometimes involving a power outage.  I get pretty restless about being unable to touch the compy, (unless if there's a console I can play instead) and the lack of internet can get to me sometimes. ._. my phone addiction is only as far as a handy pocket alarm clock for naps, though. x3

internet is the only thing i'd ever miss, but that's mainly because of my manga addiction. if there was no internet, i'd have to move to japan.. or maybe i'd just read regular books instead

It is great to get away frm all the distractions in life. One aspect of modern culture is that people feel guilty if they are not busy doing something. Life is many facted and windng down is a part of that. Advertising bpmbards us daily saying that need this gadget, or that house, or live in that particular neighborhood in order to be happy. Those bubbles have surely burst in recent months.

Being out in nature with no modern conveniences is right up my alley. I was always liked this ever since childhood. Some folks have seen me as aloof but I love to enjoy the natural beauty around the world. I recently moved to another area where they are parks and foliage. I love the quiet and serenity.

Gennee   

I saw a commercial last night (while mesmerized by electronic media.)  A father, having just come home from work, goes from room to room in his house and sees family members all being mesmerized by electronic media.  He goes outside and shuts the power off to the house.  In the next scene the whole family is sitting at a table on the patio, lit by tiki torches, enjoying a freshly barbecued dinner.  I felt the stress melt away.

Social conversation.

Use to be of prime importance.

Now you meet people. What game to you play - it took me a while to understand - ? I never knew people lived on computers ::). I thought I was being asked for a triste


C

If all goes well I will be moving to just about the end of the earth. Well southern Tasmania anyway.  Mobile coverage will be sparse, and I am not sure how many TV channels there are.  Hopefully I will be spending time other than study, on the water or in the bush.  So many fish, so little time!

Karen.

While I do hate the countryside, and the rural idyll has never grabbed me, I do find that the best bits of life happen in three dimensions and with all five senses.

the best bits of life happen in three dimensions and with all five senses.

Or more.  I'm sure there is another dimention or two.  Some of them might even be good.  Then again... There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone.  And I know that's real, I've been through there too many times to count now.

But yeah, In the Realm of the Senses^*, it's the only way to live.  I worry about everyone cocooned, and informed right up to the split second, and for what?  Great, you can carry 3000 songs around with you.  Are there really 3000 good songs?^**  Instant access for everything except reality.

Reality shows demonstrate that a rather large number of people are sufficiently removed from actual life, that actual life has it's own educational and entertainment value.  I mean the only people who would find hour after hour after hour of someone else's job fascinating I think are pretty much people who've never worked themselves.

And by, 'removed from actual life', reality and all that, I really mean other people.

I think in our post-electronic age Tim Leary would have to revise Tune in, Turn on, Drop out, to Turn on, tune out, drop out.

I rather fancy the countryside, though we don't call it that.  The mountains, the hills, the ocean and desert are all totally unplugged, and pretty savage to those who don't respect them.  I go out every month and spend a night on the top of one of the hills around here.  I go to the beach whenever I can, even if it's only to just ride along it for a few miles.  It give me perspective.

My advice as a skilled technician is that every one of those things has an off switch.  You should test it from time to time to make sure it works.



* - Awesome movie, adults only, and remember, the Japanese have a couple of sexual notions that are different.  But it has lots of sex and passion, and a huge point about obsession, and it's destructive ability.  And it's got subtitles, I love subtitles.

** - You know those game where you pick the 10 records you'd choose if you were on a desert island.  I actually tried to figure out once what the real absolute minimum would be for me.  How many absolutely essential pieces of music that moved me, spoke to me, that I have to hear for the rest of my life are:  I got it down to 25-30.

Tekla, lets have babies.

Quote from: tekla on June 28, 2011, 01:21:38 PM
  Instant access for everything except reality... I mean the only people who would find hour after hour after hour of someone else's job fascinating I think are pretty much people who've never worked themselves.

Also, in the case of facebook, who needs (or indeed has) 300-odd friends?

Tekla, lets have babies.

My 'babies' are now older than you, or about the same age.

Hmm, lets just say I didn't think it through and have done with it. Got no where to put babies anyway, cept old fruit crates.

Quote from: Julie Marie on June 28, 2011, 05:05:06 AM
I saw a commercial last night (while mesmerized by electronic media.)  A father, having just come home from work, goes from room to room in his house and sees family members all being mesmerized by electronic media.  He goes outside and shuts the power off to the house.  In the next scene the whole family is sitting at a table on the patio, lit by tiki torches, enjoying a freshly barbecued dinner.  I felt the stress melt away.

That commercial describes what my wife and iIdo almost every Friday and Saturday night. We sit in our gazebo, tiki  torches going, barbecue cooking, and just conversing and talking with the neighbors. The only electrical sound you hear is the blender making some frozen alcoholic beverages!  :)
anyone care to join !

Sounds like fun Jamie Lee. After I move I'll build that boat I've always wanted, and sail over. I'll bring the Tassie smoked salmon!

Karen.

Quote from: jamie lee on June 29, 2011, 09:45:12 PM
We sit in our gazebo, tiki  torches going, barbecue cooking, and just conversing and talking with the neighbors. The only electrical sound you hear is the blender making some frozen alcoholic beverages!

That's pretty much just what Julie and I did last night.  But the tiki torches were trashed so we had to do without. 

It was Julie's birthday so I made some frozen Rum Runners and we sat in the gazebo sipping our frosty libations while the chops cooked on the grille. 

Karen, when you build that boat, I'm available for crew.  Hell, I could even help you build it!  Sailing and woodworking are two of my loves.

Quote from: Julie Marie on June 30, 2011, 08:59:49 AM


It was Julie's birthday so I made some frozen Rum Runners and we sat in the gazebo sipping our frosty libations while the chops cooked on the grille. 

Juliekins Birthday ! How did I miss that ! Tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Quote from: Julie Marie on June 30, 2011, 08:59:49 AM

Karen, when you build that boat, I'm available for crew.  Hell, I could even help you build it!  Sailing and woodworking are two of my loves.

Count me in on the boat! Never had enough money for one, Not too bad on wood working, Maybe I can help paint !

Happy birthday Julie :-*

What's the recipe for frozen rum runners, Julie Marie?

Sounds a fun night

Cindy

Quote from: Cindy James on July 01, 2011, 03:28:01 AM
What's the recipe for frozen rum runners, Julie Marie?

Frozen Rum Runner

1 oz light rum
1/2 oz blackberry brandy
1/2 oz banana liqueur
1/2 oz grenadine syrup
1/4 oz Rose's® lime juice
1 splash pineapple juice
1 splash sweet and sour mix
1/4 ripe banana
Meyer's Rum floater

Take all ingredients (except the Meyer's) x4 plus 1 ripe banana and put them in a blender.  Fill with ice.  Blend at high speed until smooth. Float a splash of Meyer's Rum on top ("splash" can mean anything you want.) Garnish with a lime wheel and cherry. Enjoy!

The original recipe called for 151 rum as the splasher but we like the taste of Meyer's.

I used hurricane glasses and the x4 portion filled two. I then filled a plastic test tube, that probably holds an ounce, with the Meyer's Rum and floated the tube in her glass, so Julie could splash to her taste.  She ended up going back for another splash.  :D

Not surprised  Julikins  kept asking for another. Rebecca only drinks through  a straw but  it will be good fun.
Thnaks Dolls

Cindy

Thank you both for the birthday wishes!

Julie's rum runners were phenomenal. It was a low key, but special day. While I was at work, my cell went off. I recognized the number as my father's cell.
I took the call, but didn't recognize the female voice on the other end. Turn's out it was my mother. We used to be close, but she couldn't handle my transition. We've not spoken in 3 1/2 years!

Although she used my old name (yuck!) we had a very pleasant conversation of 10-15 minutes. Like the hard feelings never existed. My father's encouragement finally broke through to her. She was afraid of how to speak to me, I guess. Turns out, she had nothing to fear. As is always the case, people's phobias are just that.

I later told Julie that my mom's call was very meaningful, but didn't mean as much to me as having her in my life. Besides, with whom else could I tip back a rum runner? ;)

Well Jamie, I've built a house, and rebuilt a few vehicles ok, so a boat will defo be the next project.  I'll pick up Cindy and Tekla on the way, should make for a lively crew!!

I think we would have to substitute Bundaberg Rum though being Aussies, but either way they sound more like Rum Lie Down and Hold onto the Floors!

Karen.

Well all you sail on sailors should sail out to SF next year.  It's going to be the first time the America's Cup is going to be a spectator sport as they are doing it in the Bay and we're all going to be able to watch from the hills.  Some the the test boats have been out the last month.  Unreal.

Believe it or not I still have the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times from September 27, 1983, just after the Aussies broke the longest winning streak ever when they won the America's Cup.  That's how big that was to me then.

When we were in Newport we saw three old Cuppers, Intrepid, Enterprise and Freedom, that are now retired to day-cruise boats.  They are still beautiful today.  Like the old J-boats (below), they never lose their beauty.

Yeah, I'm afraid we're about to change that 'unplugged' deal about the AC.  It's plugged in and wired, or wireless is more like it.  I don't think these boats even have a 'sail' anymore, they have a 'wing,' its set by computer controlled sensors all over the wing, and in the right conditions can do 2X the speed of the wind itself. 

I still remember getting a phone call from a friend telling to get out of bed and wathch the Aussies win the America's Cup. It was unreal. What a day, people who had totally no idea what was going on were rejoicing.
Sorry to my USA friends :laugh:

Cindy

Quote from: juliekins on July 01, 2011, 07:29:47 AM
Thank you both for the birthday wishes!

Julie's rum runners were phenomenal. It was a low key, but special day. While I was at work, my cell went off. I recognized the number as my father's cell.
I took the call, but didn't recognize the female voice on the other end. Turn's out it was my mother. We used to be close, but she couldn't handle my transition. We've not spoken in 3 1/2 years!

Although she used my old name (yuck!) we had a very pleasant conversation of 10-15 minutes. Like the hard feelings never existed. My father's encouragement finally broke through to her. She was afraid of how to speak to me, I guess. Turns out, she had nothing to fear. As is always the case, people's phobias are just that.

I later told Julie that my mom's call was very meaningful, but didn't mean as much to me as having her in my life. Besides, with whom else could I tip back a rum runner? ;)

I'm glad she contacted you. I think we forget how difficult is for some parents to accept us. Mine never did. They are both deceased and only met their other daughter when she came out to them and was immediately rejected.

You are both very lucky woman to have each other. and I hope we have a long distance friendship as well :-*

Cindy

Less than eight weeks form relocating, and apparently the block of land that I really like in Deep Bay will have to be rainwater tank and septic tank/enviro sewerage system.  It has power (Tasmania's electricity is green- all hydro) and phone. 
Too good a price to knock back as it is literally across the road from the bay.  So if I do manage to get it I will be partially self-sufficient.  An Envirocycle system will give me clean water for veg and fruit trees.

Karen, keeping her fingers crossed.

When I did the bulk of my sailing, about all we had to connect with the rest of the world was a VHF.  Later, cellphones improved that connection.  When I was involved in the cell carriers initial system setups, we even had harbors that requested we add better coverage for them.  Now boats can be completely plugged.

I'm sure this guy racing around the buoys is totally plugged (the largest sloop in the world - and it's for sale)

Sorry to my USA friends

No problem, we've won it back twice since then.  And the races off Perth were some of the best ever.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages3.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20070612182459%2Fpotbs%2Fimages%2Fthumb%2F3%2F39%2FEndeavour_replica_in_Cooktown_harbour.jpg%2F300px-Endeavour_replica_in_Cooktown_harbour.jpg&hash=f505a8ba7c293233a44994aa341a482202de5ed9)

Unplugged.

Happy birthday, Juliekins.

Gennee

Quote from: Julie Marie on July 02, 2011, 08:38:50 AM
When I did the bulk of my sailing, about all we had to connect with the rest of the world was a VHF.  Later, cellphones improved that connection.  When I was involved in the cell carriers initial system setups, we even had harbors that requested we add better coverage for them.  Now boats can be completely plugged.

I'm sure this guy racing around the buoys is totally plugged (the largest sloop in the world - and it's for sale)

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnewimages.yachtworld.com%2Fresize%2F1%2F1%2F27%2F3400127_0_20110401191923_3_0.jpg%3Ff%3D%2F1%2F1%2F27%2F3400127_0_20110401191923_3_0.jpg%26amp%3Bw%3D600%26amp%3Bh%3D400%26amp%3Bt%3D1301751023000&hash=83441eaaa68c14a18973cfd18a3f1201b60e95be)

Wow, that's a big sloop! Wonder how much he wants for it?

Gennee

Just a tad over $50,000,000, or EUR 35,000,000.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2004/Vt-Shipuilding-Sloop-2328712/St.-Barthilemy (http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2004/Vt-Shipuilding-Sloop-2328712/St.-Barthilemy)

Geez. you would need a big trailer and car to tow it :laugh:

Cindy

Quote from: Cindy James on July 06, 2011, 03:24:39 AM
Geez. you would need a big trailer and car to tow it :laugh:

Cindy

I'd leave it moored at Glenelg.. and not join the Yacht Club..

And, justmeinoz, I cook and have woodworking skills.. Never built a boat though.. Furniture is more my thing..

Axelle, has surrendered to no more DSTV (Digital Satellite TV) it is off.
Dish sits unused on the roof.

Next my monitor went mostly green, gone to repair... that's 1 year ago with fewer arguments, no more just tears --- just ->-bleeped-<- it. So WHAT, not even DVDs then.

Radio over here is pretty bad as well, mostly African language and then white Afrikaans, both not my choice. Also mostly switched of.

So? I now enjoy reading (chick-lit... yeah, don't say it), phone conversations, and of course the internet. Our ADSL is more narrow- then broad-band but works ok for Susan's etc.

An hours walk through the neighbourhood followed by a dip in the pool (in summer, not now PLEASE! Brrrr)

Piece be on earth, amen I say :-)
Axelle