Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I just was wondering if there are any other members up here or am I completely alone ?
  I know a lot of you won't like this but my psychiatrist tells me I would be the first going through Marquette General with transition. I trust my therapist and doctor to do their homework and provide me with the treatment for my gender dysphoria. I was thinking of going down to U of M Ann Arbor because they have an excellent program there but I'm not because I hate going down there and I trust my doctor very much she's awesome and I've been with her for about 10 years. But I'd still like to know if I'm the only one up here. Love you all Tatiana

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on April 30, 2018, 05:43:46 PM
I just was wondering if there are any other members up here or am I completely alone ?
  I know a lot of you won't like this but my psychiatrist tells me I would be the first going through Marquette General with transition. I trust my therapist and doctor to do their homework and provide me with the treatment for my gender dysphoria. I was thinking of going down to U of M Ann Arbor because they have an excellent program there but I'm not because I hate going down there and I trust my doctor very much she's awesome and I've been with her for about 10 years. But I'd still like to know if I'm the only one up here. Love you all Tatiana

Dear Tatiana:  I am certain that you are not alone,
I had seen a member from Marquett and another one from St. Ignace...  I wish that I could remember their profile names... or they may have not stated their real location.   
Unfortunately with the medical privacy laws your therapist can not reveal their names and locations.

Your posting thread SUBJECT TITLE should draw some interest if there are members in the UP.
Good luck to you....
Hugs,
Danielle

 
Dear Danielle
Thank you for telling me at least someone was up here but I won't be surprised if I get no response at all. The upper peninsula is one third of Michigan but only has 3% of its population the average population density where I live is 2.3 people per square mile which seems about right. I know it's not like Alaska but we do get influenced by the Arctic Ocean bringing very cold temperatures and huge lake effect snow falls. We live in the start of the Boreal forest and at the other end is polar bear Provincial Park on Hudson Bay about 500 miles away as the crow fly. We had back-to-back record snowfalls of 350 in for two years in a row it literally in engulfed the house and I had to dig out the windows to get light in and could park my snowmobile on the roof. I hope to talk about your area someday in the future best wishes love Tatiana

 Hi again Tatiana,

  Your topic got my notice. I am not in the UP but I have relatives up there. I have a cousin in Cooks and an adopted sister/cousin in Newberry. My parents used to live in Manistique after my Dad retired. I never lived there myself though I have been up there many times in the past for visits. I've even been in Marquette a couple of times.
  I've been wanting to go visit my cousin in Cooks and her husband. I don't think they are aware of my transition though and don't know what think would think of it.
  Anyway there is a possibility I may wander up that way in the future. Who know we might even meet someday it has happened to others you know?

Hugs,
   Laurie

Dear Laurie
First off thanks for your help the other day. I'm very glad that you had a chance to see a good part of the UP and would be interested to know what you thought about it up here. It's well off the beaten path and to me the smaller towns haven't changed at all. It's kind of like another world very different then the urban world I grew up in outside of Detroit.  and after a lot of bad things happened to my wife like getting knifed her purse stolen and then almost abducted by someone following her to work and trying to drag her into his van luckily A co-worker seen this and tackled the jerk. That was enough for me to quit my job and move up here to live on our 40 acre parcel in the wilderness. It was also both of our dreams to escape the urban jungle and start a new life up here and we're so glad we did. We are considered Yoopers and fit in to the small town very well over the last 25 years I think this will help me to come out to everyone but they're already pretty used to seen me dressed as a girl every Halloween and sometimes many days in advance but of course presenting different looks each time. and now I'm wearing my hair like a girl in public and don't have any negative thing to say about it just positive things for me.
I really would love to meet you if you ever came up here again please let me know, I have never met any trans anything before other than a Trans Am in the summer but that doesn't count. I sure would loved meeting you possibly someday as I'm sure you would have great influence and help to provide insite for me I'm so glad you answered this but I'm still hoping I'm not completely alone up here but won't be surprised if I am. Danielle told me she sure that there are some up here and I would agree but they might be still in the closet and unavailable.
  Thanks again you are such a sweetheart so glad you're here.I would love to say, welcome to da UP eh as I'm sure you picked up on the different accent up here sometimes I can hardly understand them it's so strong.
     All the best to you love Tatiana

Hello everyone

It appears that I am alone up here as I suspected but that's okay cuz I have all of you now. I might be able to talk to talk but will need all of your help to walk the walk.

  Love Tatiana

Hey Everyone
I just had to let you know this I am probably the only member up here but Alaskan Danielle was right I am not alone.
I just found a Trans woman that has been living and working up here and offers her services in helping others like me.
She knows the local scene up here and I'm sure will be crucial for me.
I'm just waiting for her to contact me,
how cool is that.
  love Tatiana

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on May 05, 2018, 07:11:34 AM
Hey Everyone
I just had to let you know this I am probably the only member up here but Alaskan Danielle was right I am not alone.
I just found a Trans woman that has been living and working up here and offers her services in helping others like me.
She knows the local scene up here and I'm sure will be crucial for me.
I'm just waiting for her to contact me,
how cool is that.
  love Tatiana

Tatiana:  That is such good news and thanks for posting your good report. 
Now, not only do you have new friends and friendly and accepting support here on Susan's but now you have found someone in your area that you can share with and help each other.   Even though she may be more further into her transition journey than you, there are things that you can share with her also.  Many times newbies have experiences to share that will help a more experienced person.
I am certain that now since you have made contact with at least one other, you will find more in your rural area.

As you might know from reading my posts that I am feeling quite alone where I live.  My town, like your area is so very small and quite conservative I am most likely the only trans-woman that most of the locals have ever seen or even met... so I go out of my way and make a concerted effort to make very certain that I am giving a positive impression of what a trans-woman is.

I will be eagerly awaiting your further updates about your journey up there in the lonely UP in Michigan.
Hugs and well wishes as always,
Danielle

Thanks so much Danielle
She fully transitioned in 09 and looks wonderful and seems quite a force of nature. Thanks for all of your advice I'll be sure to let you know how my first Contact went

Love Tatiana

There is some sort of "Drag" race in Ontonagon every year, I'm sure there will be at least a few participants that wear high heels more than once a year.

Thanks so much for your reply
It's really nice to know we're not alone up here eh.
I'm just barely learning the trans scene in Marquette. I have attended several drag shows at Northern Michigan University.
And of course me and my wife are regulars at The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the vista in Negaunee.
I'll definitely check this out and hopefully attend.
if you go there and ever see a 6 foot 2 and a 1/2 inch super skinny with long lanky legs and arms with 6 inch heels fishnets super  small mini skirt that'll be me.
So glad were in da U.P. eh !

Thanks CDTVforlife hope to meet someday

love Tatiana

@Tatiana -I also understand seclusion. I live in WV, about 100 miles outside DC and I have a feeling that I may very well be the first trans person anyone I know in my area has encountered. The stereo types you think about WV are true, most of them at least. There are confederate flags on probably 50% of cars and outside just as many houses - I'm not going to say intolerant is the correct word, because I haven't been out, presenting female in my area - but the area may not be real trans friendly, hence the reason I had to go all the way to DC to go to the Dr.
The only real time support I have is a couple girls at my civilian job- One fully transitioned a few years ago, and the other is full time.They both work in other components - I'll be the first in my office, which is so very alpha cis male -it's just dripping testosterone (Yet another thing I did to try and re-affrim who I thought I was supposed to be) very few females and even fewer LGBT people.
In any case - I think there are more of us in remote areas - in that aspect you're not alone. The bigger picture : you're never alone.

Hello Christyn

Glad to meet you you're absolutely right about the feeling of being alone but you're really not I guarantee there are others out there undiscovered.
I'm so glad you work with two others like yourself that you can learn from I just recently had contact with the first trans woman ever and it was very inspirational.
I can really identify with you about a rural situations I kind of feel the same but I have found there is a trans scene around me as there probably is by you.you. just have to search it out.
I personally am at the point where I just don't care what others think it's their problem not mine would they discriminate against someone in a wheelchair or with crutches I think not.
Humans throughout history have always discriminated against the unknown.
I came out today to a few in my little town by providing an explanation first as I'm certain my mother was exposed to DES
I started out explaining what that drug did to my two-year-old sister and luckily she avoided cervical cancer by the skin of her teeth. Then explained what it did to me being denied testosterone to my developing brain in my mother's womb provided a simple explanation.
I know everyone's case is a little different but I believe the base reasoning is sound and I tried it out in my little town by providing explanation first before opinions are formed and it's making it easier for me
Just be yourself hold your head high know who's in your head and presented with a big smile and eye contact.
learn from your coworkers they are a tremendous asset

Best wishes love tatiana

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on May 09, 2018, 07:16:18 PM
Hello Christyn

Glad to meet you you're absolutely right about the feeling of being alone but you're really not I guarantee there are others out there undiscovered.
I'm so glad you work with two others like yourself that you can learn from I just recently had contact with the first trans woman ever and it was very inspirational.
I can really identify with you about a rural situations I kind of feel the same but I have found there is a trans scene around me as there probably is by you.you. just have to search it out.
I personally am at the point where I just don't care what others think it's their problem not mine would they discriminate against someone in a wheelchair or with crutches I think not.
Humans throughout history have always discriminated against the unknown.
I came out today to a few in my little town by providing an explanation first as I'm certain my mother was exposed to DES
I started out explaining what that drug did to my two-year-old sister and luckily she avoided cervical cancer by the skin of her teeth. Then explained what it did to me being denied testosterone to my developing brain in my mother's womb provided a simple explanation.
I know everyone's case is a little different but I believe the base reasoning is sound and I tried it out in my little town by providing explanation first before opinions are formed and it's making it easier for me
Just be yourself hold your head high know who's in your head and presented with a big smile and eye contact.
learn from your coworkers they are a tremendous asset

Best wishes love tatiana

Thank you - I've gotten so much support from the 2 of them - they are very successful in their areas and have been so helpful on so many levels.
We'll see where things go in my little corner of WV - I am hopeful.
See you around -
Christyn

Christin, there is an awesome group in Hagerstown that meets once a month, HagerstownTGs.
HagerstownTGs@yahoogroups.com
Tatiana, The wife and I were on the cusp of buying a house in the Ontonagon area, and visit every couple years, best cheap real estate in the nation for certain, If I ever go during the drag race you'll know me as the "never gonna pass ever" giant 6'8" before any size 16 mens heels person.

If you do buy that house in Ontonagon I sure would look forward to meeting you and yours.
You're absolutely right about the housing prices they are extremely reasonable but we don't want to say that too loud because we like it just the way it is and hope it doesn't get over developed like it did for me downstate. But I don't believe this will ever happen in our lifetime I hope.
If you ever go to the drag race let me know I'll definitely will come with the wife and don't feel bad about being on passable I'm in the same boat but really don't care.
I really love the area around Ontonagon especially Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park I'm sure you have been there and probably would agree. Lake of the clouds is awesome  especially in fall  with all the brilliant color change. I think about half of the park about 20,000 Acres is Virgin old growth forest that is pretty rare to find nowadays the lower peninsula only has I think 49 Acres left at Hartwick Pines.

I admit it is a lot of fun at those events and dressing over the top with everything but now I'm kind of at the opposite Spectrum with real life experience some of the time dressing down as much as I can  just to slip under the radar but presenting a little more Femmie in baby steps.
It's kind of fun and interesting because I interact the same as I have for the last 25 years and they don't even seem to notice
I hope you buy that house so I can have another Yooper friend up here. I don't know if you've ever been up here in the winter because it sure is big snow country due to the lake effect snow from gitche gumee. I think it was 1996 and 1997 we had back-to-back record amounts of snow around 350 inches, we literally had to dig the house out to get light in through the windows and I could park the snowmobile on the roof of the house and then go down to the door.
I'm going to check out that drag race right now and see if I can find anything on it.

Looking forward to meeting you, Betcha By Golly Ya Eh.

     Love Tatiana

Quote from: cdtv4life on May 11, 2018, 05:28:47 PM
Christin, there is an awesome group in Hagerstown that meets once a month, HagerstownTGs.
HagerstownTGs@yahoogroups.com

Oh really? That is good to know- I'll definitely  have to look into that. Thank you for sharing!😬

For now the move is off, I figured it would cost me about 500 bucks round trip from South East PA in a geo metro at 48ish mpgeez to come back to see my mom in the DC area, half again that if the wife came with (she won't even sit in a metro)
So we are currently looking in the Waynesboro, PA area.
Been to Onto in jan, been there in the fall as well, freakin awesome either way.

I think that there are more members in the UP now, so I thought I'd push the topic back to the front of the queue.

Tatiana here is a handy list of support groups in Michigan. Marquette appears to have 37 people signed up which is not a lot. At least compared to Ingersoll here in Seattle.
http://www.transgendermichigan.org/chapter/index.html

Hi there, just wanted to pop in here. I'm not from the UP, but I'm from SE Michigan, so distant-neighbours at least :) I'm thrilled to see that you've connected with some people locally, that's really great!

Thanks All
For bringing this subject back up.
It's definitely nice knowing that I am not all alone up here. I spent my entire childhood and then some, feeling alone and isolated and back then I thought I was the only one on the planet with the feelings I have. But perhaps now it's my time to mingle a little with like-minded individuals.

To Mary,  thank you for your concern and also for your kind words in the past. I'll never forget the time you told me that nice places produce nice people. I do believe though that most people are generally good hearted, regardless where they come from.
But I have noticed quite a difference in people's behavior here, compared to where I grew up outside of Detroit.
  Darwinism definitely holds true,
We are all just products of our environment. Up here the environment is all natural and very beautiful which definitely reflects on to the people here.

And to Dawn, Thanks GF for taking the time out to provide me the link in the Marquette area. I know that 37 people to you doesn't seem like a lot but it's an absolutely huge number for me especially when I was thinking I was the only one up here.
  I'm going to the U P rainbow Pride parade and Gathering in a small Park in Marquette on September 15th.
I believe I'm going to be completely overwhelmed by the turnout which should be quite large for the area.
Northern Michigan University, thats in Marquette brings in a large batch of young people that grew up very different than we did.
I once went to a drag show on campus there and was shocked how stuffed to the rafters the place was with unique people. I'm sure a lot of these college students will also be at Pride Fest but I'm also hoping for many older individuals to be there so I don't feel so much like a dinosaur.lol and also I'm very much looking forward to meeting in person the first trans woman I ever had contact with that directed me to a trans friendly doctor that got me started in about a month, otherwise I'd still be without treatment from the main hospital up here even after 10 years of going there.
Much appreciated Dawn, I tried to go to that page recommended but couldn't due to some problem, but I'll try again later it'll probably work.

And to Hazel, I also was from Southeast Michigan, Dearborn to be exact and I lived within the shadows of where Henry Ford also grew up.
  It's definitely nice to hear from another Michigander, I hope to hear from you again in the future.

Love you all. Tatiana

MichelleF82 lives in The Middle of Nowhere, UP
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,239957.msg2162737.html#msg2162737

Thanks to you Mary
I found out that there's another yooper up here other than me, eh
I've already responded to Michelle in her introduction post, and PMed her
Thanks to you Mary if she PM's me back I can give her the name to my doctor and I think she should be very happy. My doctor is very trans-friendly and she's very cool.
Thank you much Mary and if Michelle contacts me she'll probably be thanking you too.
  Love Tatiana

Hon you need a laptop :D  i have no problem accessing the site.Hmm I don't know what's going on. But at least you are finding a few people. I think you will be excited when you see several hundred people show up. I know my first large crowed was a real eye opener as I too thought I was all alone for the longest time. Having others to talk to and share socially is so fabulous. If I could pull it off I would love to travel with Michelle and Laurie but I'm not as stable as I used to be due to neuropathy in my feet. I fell down last weekend and I had to have two people pick me up and since I am on blood thinners I bled like a stuck pig. 

Hello Dawn
The only thing going on is I'm trying to help Michelle find treatment as she described in her introduction thread. She said she couldn't find any treatment, because she lives in the middle of nowhere up in the UP.

Yes it should be quite fun at Pride Fest I believe I'm going to be a bit overwhelmed though I'm really not used to any kind of crowds or anything. But I really wanted to meet in person the first trans woman that directed me to the appropriate doctor because she also wasted time at the same hospital I did.
  So sorry to hear dear about the neuropathy in your feet, I hope things can improve for you in that area.
And gosh do you ever run out of awesome pictures for your avatar ?
I think your newest one is very lovely indeed.

  Health, happiness and love to you
    Tatiana

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
I fondly recall the day that I first welcomed you to Susan's Place exactly 4 months ago back in April.   
Today is your 4 month anniversary of being a Susan's Place member.

I am enjoying the give and take on this thread of yours... I am very pleased to see that you are interfacing with lots of other members here on the Forums....  and that you have found others in your rural area of Michigan that share your similar goals.    I am so glad to see that you have a wonderfully positive sprint about yourself.   
You will certainly do what you set out to do as you maintain your determination and have willpower to achieve your goals in your transition journey.

At this moment I don't have too much to post on your thread other than I want you to know that I am thinking about you often.
I look for and I read every one of your postings on the various threads around the forums and frequently follow your threads that you have started since you joined Susan's Place.  :)

My inbox is always open for your to write anytime about anything.

Wishing you well there in the U P  and  I know that you are always wishing me well up here where I live.   We both live in small rural towns so that alone gives us a common thread and bond.

Hugs and hugs,
Danielle   :-*

Thank you Tatiana. I would love to come up and visit as I have flying privileges with Alaska Air, Marquette looks like I would imagine heaven, unfortunately the closest airport is Detroit. I think it would be lovely to meet you in person. Neuropathy is just one more arrow in my crappy health quiver. Actually I stepped on a parking tire block but because I have no feeling in my feet, I fell. That's also why I can't wear heels. Oh boo hoo poor me. ;D

Dear Danielle
I can hardly believe it's been 4 months already, thanks dear for pointing this out to me.
I am certain if it was not for you I would not have made it to this point, I still feel awkward, but far less then when I first started here.
  You are definitely right about this being an addictive place I originally just came here for some information but admittedly got sucked in to the banter that exist here. Because we're all quite the same.
This place is such an Oasis from reality and is so filled with caring loving people willing to share their lives with you it's been just wonderful.
I'm very glad to hear that there's another young member that just introduced herself and also feels very alone in the middle of nowhere up in the UP, as I once did. And I would very much like to help her find treatment as others have helped me, I feel it's my turn to repay the favor.
And out of all the things I've ever done in my life I get the most reward out of even slightly helping someone here.
I definitely have always felt, the joy is always in the giving and now I possibly get to feel good if she contacts me back I'm sure I can make her happy telling her where to go.

Thank you so much for telling me the other day that you appreciated me taking the time for  welcoming a new member. I really do enjoy this very much but I have to be careful to stick to an MTF situation that I can relate to because I'm always worried about saying something wrong that I don't understand yet.
And thank you so much again Danielle know that you were instrumental in my existence here.

And to Dawn
I know that you would rather fly into Marquette than Detroit, because flying into Marquette would probably be one of the least crowded smallest airports you possibly ever flew into.
You would hardly even believe it, there's usually only a couple dozen people in the whole place and you can park your car right next to the door. The airport itself is huge because it used to be an active air force base called, KI Sawyer.  When I first moved here I remember seeing B-52,s  and fighter jets that sometimes would come down to skim Our lake. But now that the Cold War is Over it's been turned into the civilian, Sawyer International Airport.
  But flying into Detroit metro airport is about as complete opposite as you can get because it's a super big, super crowded Airport and it's still a 500 Mile Road Trip to get up to Marquette.
  My wife recently flew from Marquette to Detroit and came back traumatized from the experience.
It's really like two different worlds, up here things haven't changed in decades, where down there my wife could hardly navigate around because it got so extra busy.
  Too bad we're not like fine wine that gets better with age but I think we're more like old cars that break down slowly over time.lol but that's okay it sure a lot better breaking down slowly now than in our old dysphoric lives.
At least now we can live out our lives without this added horrible burden on us and we can look forward to the future with hope and optimism that we would not have if we would have not seeked out treatment.
And you're definitely right Dawn this phone's getting a little old.
But that's the yooper attitude of, if it works use it. but I believe its days are numbered.

Thank you both for your caring and support, know that it's quite Priceless to me.

Love you both. Tatiana

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
That was such a sweet response to @DawnOday and me.   THANK YOU for being so kind.

Note Tatiana... you know all too well about what I am saying in my next paragraph, but I wrote this for the followers of your thread:
I have been to the UP several times on road trips... coming east from Minneapolis or coming north from Chicago or Detroit or Grand Rapids. 

Detroit is such a long drive away that it might make sense for visitors to take a commuter flight from Detroit to Marquette.  If I correctly recall it is well over a 7 or 8 hour hour drive but beautiful scenery along the way, Well before getting to the UP is very rural and sparsely populated and includes a very large State Park and surrounding wilderness areas that offers an interesting visitor center and logging museum, many hiking and lake actives....   
.....and especially scenic is going over the Mackinac Bridge to get to the Upper Peninsula.  Of course a visit to Mackinac Island and the town of Mackinaw City should be on any travelers list. 

For your pallet if you have not tried Pasties or a English Pasty, there are lots of mom and pop bakeries and eateries in Mackinaw City that make them fresh daily.  
(Pasty is pronounced with a "soft A" much like in the word "nasty")

And once getting over the bridge, the scenery on the way to and in and around Marquette with the various Light House tours is simply beautiful.   One could take 2 or 3 days just to make the stops along the way to enjoy what your state has to offer...  the good news is that it is nothing at all like Detroit!!!! LOL

So anyway Tatiana, I am very much familiar with the small town rural setting that you are living in and I certainly can identify with it considering where I live as well.

Thank you again for your kind thoughts and words.... and for keeping your threads alive....
Hugs and more hugs,
Danielle

OMG Danielle
I am so shocked and so happy that you are so familiar with what is offered up here.
I think that you described everything excellently. This is most definitely not a place to come to for man-made features but to take in all the natural ones.
Even your times driving from Detroit to up here are very accurate because I must have made the trip I'm guessing at least 50 times coming up here first on every vacation then to find land and to get the construction going because we bought a piece of raw forested land and it took a little effort to get it into a homestead.
I actually had a friend that I grew up with who was an excellent diesel mechanic that moved to Fairbanks and assured me because he knew my background that I could find work there if not at his company, there would be others.
I'm most certain if I ever came up to Alaska I would fall in love with the Wilderness and have to live there, but there was just enough of that here to keep me closer to my parents at that time that were quite old and getting sick.

I think that Pamela might have tricked us both about gammon in her country. So I tried to trick her about the Pasty that I have only heard about up here but of course she knew about it I didn't realize it was so common in her country I'll have to think of something else to trick her about. lol
I've lived enough Winters here so the locals don't call me troll anymore, which is someone living south of the Mackinac Bridge where 97% of Michigan's population lives.
But now after I've been living here for 25 years I'm considered a yooper for sure.
  I can't even hide my yooper accent that I didn't think I had, but when I talk to my sisters they always tell me they can hear it even when I'm trying to enunciate everything perfectly.
Wah, I am so very glad ya traveled through dis neck of da woods, eh.

hugs and love back to you sweetheart
      Tatiana

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on August 21, 2018, 02:03:58 PM
@Tatiana 79
Pasty is pronounced with a "soft A" much like in the word "nasty"[/color]

Danielle

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on August 21, 2018, 03:23:44 PM
I think that Pamela might have tricked us both about gammon in her country. So I tried to trick her about the Pasty that I have only heard about up here but of course she knew about it I didn't realize it was so common in her country I'll have to think of something else to trick her about. lol
hugs and love back to you sweetheart
      Tatiana

Dear Danielle and Dear Tatiana

Just 2 quick brief points on food:

My first time in US I was in a restaurant and they offered as a vegetable beets which I and my friend had never heard of and we agreed to sample some and then we laughed when we saw them as we had sampled many times before but in UK we say beetroot!

I only discovered last year on pronunciation that you have long A sound in basil wheras we have a soft A in it as in the boy's name!

Diversity is good!

Hugs to you both

Pamela

Quote from: pamelatransuk on August 22, 2018, 04:38:51 AM
Dear Danielle and Dear Tatiana

Just 2 quick brief points on food:

My first time in US I was in a restaurant and they offered as a vegetable beets which I and my friend had never heard of and we agreed to sample some and then we laughed when we saw them as we had sampled many times before but in UK we say beetroot!

I only discovered last year on pronunciation that you have long A sound in basil wheras we have a soft A in it as in the boy's name!

Diversity is good!

Hugs to you both

Pamela

@pamelatransuk    cc: @Tatiana 79
Dear Pamela:
Ahhh, yes, it is wonderful that things are not boringly the same everywhere....  it may be a small world but there is so very much diversity in food and food names, pronunciation, wording and phrases, etc.... and quite apparently in the variations from how words are spelled in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada... as compared to the USA... all English Language countries.

Here in the USA and also in Canada we love our Peanut Butter but for the life of me what is it that the Brits and Aussies find so appealing about Marmite and Vegemite  ???   
I have eaten both when in my travels so I am speaking from personal experience.

NOTE:  For those that do not know, both products (spreadable on crackers and toast) are made from yeast extract, a by-product of beer brewing

Thank you for posting your thoughts,
Hugs,
Danielle 

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on August 21, 2018, 02:03:58 PM
@Tatiana 79
... For your pallet if you have not tried Pasties or a English Pasty, there are lots of mom and pop bakeries and eateries in Mackinaw City that make them fresh daily. ...

We used to call them Cornish pasties in England but the bureaucrats stepped in and now they can't be called that unless they were actually made in Cornwall.

I'm not sure whether we are still allowed to eat Yorkshire puddings that weren't made in Yorkshire, Scotch eggs that weren't made (and laid) in Scotland, Welsh rabbit that wasn't made in Wales, Irish stew that wasn't made in Ireland, French fries that weren't made in France, Hamburgers that weren't made in Hamburg, Frankfurters that weren't made in Frankfurt, Berliners (didn't JFK think that he was one?) that weren't made in Berlin, Vienna sausages (I think that Americans call them Wieners) that weren't made in Vienna, Neapolitan ice cream that isn't from Naples or Steak Canadienne that isn't from Canada.

Mary: Thank you so much for making sure Tatiana and I met. Still much trepidation about getting HRT, (mostly because of a possible move coming up) but it is such a relief to know it's an option. Also, to add to the food disscussion, you can't make Scotch outside of Scottland ;)

Tatiana: If my nerves don't fail me, I'll be meeting you at Pride (3 days! :O ). So excited, I can't evem decide on what to wear, probably a wardrobe change if I end up staying for the Drag show ;) .

All: Be prepared for Yoopers to laugh if you pronounce pasty with a long 'a' sound. As innocent as our country side seems, everybody know those are what you put on nipples. I was born here and I have slipped up a few times, lol.

Quote from: MichelleF82 on September 12, 2018, 03:07:02 PM
Mary: Thank you so much for making sure Tatiana and I met. Still much trepidation about getting HRT, (mostly because of a possible move coming up) but it is such a relief to know it's an option. Also, to add to the food disscussion, you can't make Scotch outside of Scottland ;)

Tatiana: If my nerves don't fail me, I'll be meeting you at Pride (3 days! :O ). So excited, I can't evem decide on what to wear, probably a wardrobe change if I end up staying for the Drag show ;) .

All: Be prepared for Yoopers to laugh if you pronounce pasty with a long 'a' sound. As innocent as our country side seems, everybody know those are what you put on nipples. I was born here and I have slipped up a few times, lol.

@MichelleF82
Dear Michelle:
I know that you have most likely already been around the various Forum threads and most probably have a feel for what HRT can do. 
Certainly trepidation and fear is very normal for those thinking hard about beginning HRT....   
...and should be addressed with a therapist....

Ahh, the famous and frequently incorrect pronunciation of Pasty, as in a meat pie...
The Cornish Pasty (a small meat pie) arrived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.) in the 1840s, just a few years after Michigan's present-day boundaries were carved out of the former Northwest Territory. ... Experienced miners from Cornwall immigrated to help develop the mines, bringing pasty-making with them.
And as you correctly pointed out, a Pasty pronounced with a long-A as in the word "hasty" is a much different thing.

I will be looking so forward to the updates of your Pride day when you meet up with Tatiana....
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

Hello Michelle
I'm glad you're going to try to make it to Pridefest.
Yes indeed it's coming up fast and no need to worry about your nerves,
You'll be among friends even though we all didn't meet each other yet. I'm sure you can find something within your comfort zone to wear.
I have never met any trans people at all before, let alone a whole Park full of them, but I imagine we will feel right at home there just like Susan's.
And if we hook up there I'd like both of us to meet Marissa.
I personally know without her I still would be stuck on the 6th floor at Marquette General with no treatment, just like I have been getting for the last 10 years.
And I think you would enjoy meeting her also, she seems to be quite the advocate for Trans rights and she's the one that led me to my doctor, that's extremely trans-friendly.
I know that it's a little drive for you coming from your side of the UP,
But I don't think you'd find any better doctor closer to you but I'm sure we can ask Marissa to know for sure, but even if you had to drive in to Marquette to see her I believe you would find it worth it. I got started on HRT on the second visit only 4 weeks from the first time I seen her and I'm sure you would probably have similar results to, when you're ready.

And gosh I didn't know there was a drag show later on. Normally I  would go over the top just for the drag show but I probably won't being I'll have to be there that way for the whole time.
I'll be the tall lanky long hair old dude(56) with my hot little blonde punk rock wife, with a rainbow in her hair, that's about a foot shorter than me.
  It shouldn't be too hard to find us I'm like 6 ft 2 in and she's like five foot even. But they'll be 3 of us because my first and best girlfriend up here is also coming along.
  I'm not going presenting as female there because I'm not ready to at this early stage.
As you know we've been having some pretty nice hot summer weather and the forecast for Saturday is 80° but with a 40% chance of rain so I'll probably just have my old 1970s cut off short pants on, with my towns name on my t-shirt. I don't think I'm going to bring anything else for the drag show but if it was just the drag show, I sure would, just like when the Vista theater in Negaunee has Rocky Horror Picture Show play going on. I always go there as Magenta.
But unfortunately I don't think they're having it this year so I'll just have to go out for Halloween.
  We'll keep our eyes peeled for you dear, I'm sure we'll find each other because it's not that big. And yes, I'm getting excited to.
I definitely hope to see you there.
Love Tatiana

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
I am excited to hear that you may get a chance to meet @MichelleF82 at the Pride event.
As I mentioned in my reply to her, I will be looking so forward to the updates of both of your Pride Day attendance.
Pictures are always nice as well, but only post pictures if you feel comfortable doing so.

I will be eagerly awaiting your Pride Day updates.
Hugs,
Danielle

You Betcha By Golly, eh

Sorry I'm not on here much, just been busy with life!... just want to add, as others luckilily beat me to it, you are definitely not alone!!
Hope things are well,
Andi[emoji272][emoji259][emoji258][emoji883][emoji217]

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Quote from: MichelleF82 on September 12, 2018, 03:07:02 PM
Be prepared for Yoopers to laugh if you pronounce pasty with a long 'a' sound. As innocent as our country side seems, everybody know those are what you put on nipples. I was born here and I have slipped up a few times, lol.

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on September 12, 2018, 03:23:26 PM
And as you correctly pointed out, a Pasty pronounced with a long-A as in the word "hasty" is a much different thing.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Hugs and well wishes
Danielle

Hello Michelle and Hello again Danielle

Extraordinary the English language isn't it and the different pronunciations:

I think there are 3 in fact here: pasty (short a) which you eat, pasty (long a) for nipples and pasty (long a) as an adjective perhaps for someone's complexion.

But on the more important matter, I hope Michelle you meet up with my dear friend Tatiana. She is a wonderful lady and we have found we have much in common despite our different geographical locations. She is wonderful company online and I am sure she is in person.

Hugs to you both and to Tatiana.

Pamela

Hello Andi
I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, dear. And no worries at all about not being out here much,
You know the high state of urgency, with all the hustle and bustle going on, and the horrible rush hour traffic us yooopers have. lol
I just had to renew my license plate tab and when I went to the Michigan Secretary of State at  L'anse
It was just horrible it probably took as long as 4 minutes to get in and out of there, when I went in there I didn't even know if anyone was home because I was the only one in there and had to yell for someone. There wasn't even one of those numbered tape rolls to pull a ticket off of. lol  sorry to all of the urban dwellers from the big city, I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and remember how incredibly bad it was to go there for anything it would take hours and sometimes the line would stretch outside into the street.

But anyways, I see your on the South Shore of gitche gumee. I'm about 50 miles outside of Marquette, in the middle of nowhere, and I'm glad you showed up because now between you, me and Michelle that makes three of us in da UP
 
And to Pamela
Thank you very much dearest for your English lesson and I hope you have a wonderful time on your upcoming holiday

Happiness and love to both of you, Tatiana

Was out at Pride all day. First Pride event, first drag show, and longest i've been 'out' in public! Had a great time!

(https://kmpumq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mi1e4fiWgrIf0iPmkX7OGjF88EXfY9ZuWxckbsWUTBMHgeZxaIHcDocI8ZGJUHS6LAos3igx1d0K6gDqdiMvjgiEwHER9nbzvcKDA9EDDhW0S9Qk7pMujbvyzd7gTftI9rJmpx301JzjF7tYxtTbyPNlHDZziye44-GQOxuUiJ3QyWgK8hF6V70e5iMp_v31KnizubrqAFGfAb2LEVmlrRw?width=720&height=1280&cropmode=none)

@MichelleF82
Dear Michelle:
A wonderful update, thank you for sharing with us all.
It was nice to hear that you had a great time your First Pride event and enjoyed you longest time that you had been "out" in public.

Were you able to meet up and make new friends with other like-minded trans-women that live near your general area?
.... and were you able to meet up with @Tatiana 79  and her wife while there?

Thank you for posting your nice photo....  you look wonderful
>>> perhaps it might become your new Avatar/profile picture?

Again, thank you for your update.
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

Quote from: MichelleF82 on September 16, 2018, 12:29:20 AM
Was out at Pride all day. First Pride event, first drag show, and longest i've been 'out' in public! Had a great time!

(https://kmpumq.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mi1e4fiWgrIf0iPmkX7OGjF88EXfY9ZuWxckbsWUTBMHgeZxaIHcDocI8ZGJUHS6LAos3igx1d0K6gDqdiMvjgiEwHER9nbzvcKDA9EDDhW0S9Qk7pMujbvyzd7gTftI9rJmpx301JzjF7tYxtTbyPNlHDZziye44-GQOxuUiJ3QyWgK8hF6V70e5iMp_v31KnizubrqAFGfAb2LEVmlrRw?width=720&height=1280&cropmode=none)

I talked to way more people than my shyness usually allows :D Got a ton of compliments, and had some wholesome conversations with not only lgbtq's but allies as well. To my surprise, there were actual protesters there, but thankfully they were kicked out by the permit board.

Tatiana and her wife made it just in time for drag show, it was great meeting them. We got along great. She's got all the group pics, I hope she'll post em, cause I didn't get any (what was I thinking?)

It was a super long day, and my body is aching from wearing wedge heels on uneven grass all day, but I wouldn't change anything... except talking to the cute redhead a little more (she seemed really interested, just my flirt game is really off).

Thanks for the interest,
Michelle

Whoops! didn't realize my attempt last night to update my pic removed my old pic. Was waaay too tired when i got home to bother with resizing a photo. lol. There you go!

ps. that smear on my neck may be a bug that flew in my window when I was driving. Yes, it was there all day.  ::)

Tatiana79,

I'm from SE Mi. and been to the UP many times. If you ever plan a trip back down to the "D", try to schedule your visit around a TG Invasion. It is a 3 day gathering of Trans-women from all over the country. It takes place 4 times a year. It is very safe being out with 30 to 40 women for dinner and dancing. Look it up on Facebook,  TG Invasion Detroit.

Hello Joanne
Thanks for your thoughtful reply pertaining to the TG invasion Detroit event. I really don't get down there that much and haven't been there since 98 at my mother's funeral, and I seriously don't think I'll be down there anytime soon. But I appreciate you letting me know about this. That's what us Michiganders do is take care of each other.

   5th annual UP rainbow Pride recap.

First off, I popped in and out of here a few times yesterday but when I wanted to put this down internet signal faded out.
But anyways we were a little late because my best GF wanted to drive but she got unexpected relations that dropped in so the three of us were about an hour late. But I knew Michelle was already there because we have been texting each other so I could let her know when we were finally there, but I knew there was a lot of events there to keep her occupied on this hot humid day.
So the four of us finally hooked up and I must say Michelle looked wonderful and was weathering the heat wave very well as her makeup was still intact. So the four of us started to walk around just a little as my wife and GF went off to check out some of the stuff that the vendors had on display and Michelle and I started talking as we followed just a little behind. It was a little funny then because just as I was telling Michelle that me being trans is nothing compared to how my wife expresses herself and that I feel like a sheep.
Then it just seemed like it was right on cue as Michelle pointed to a pink T-shirt with a sheep on it that a vendor had for sale.
But then the four of us sat down at a picnic table and started talking for maybe an hour until we heard the screams from the drag show starting.
So I never really got a chance to walk around and find Marissa who was the one that helped me out a lot,
I should have just gave her a call but I didn't think of this at the time with the excitement starting to build from the show. 
Excitement is a little bit of an understatement and there seemed to be some kind of electricity in the air or something because everyone there just gelled together perfectly.
And OMG everyone was having an absolute blast singing dancing jumping around with all the lights on and strobe lights going music blaring with professional drag queens and kings doing their stuff. I do have a snippet of video and some pictures that I promise to try to put down somehow with my phone but I'm not sure if I can do it but I'll be working on it.
The place was really jumping with everyone having a great time until it ended around 10 pm. I would probably estimate there was two to three hundred people there and I know this seems small compared to bigger events but what it lacked in attendance it sure made up for with the attitude that could be felt there.
But then people started leaving and Michelle had to leave because she had a really long drive home but the three of us just sat down at a picnic table and that's when some of the juicy stuff happened. The three of us sitting there we're just partying a little and maybe getting a little loud and there were still people around even though the main event was over.
Everyone there was super friendly but maybe a little too friendly. The first group of people came over to us and wanted to take us out to the bar but we didn't because we knew we are going to be leaving shortly also.
But then another group came by and a nice looking girl just came right over to us standing in front of my wife and said, okay is there a couple here, are you two a couple or are you two a couple it was really quite funny. So then she started introducing herself to my wife and GF and then got to me. So what's your name she said as she looks at me and I just looked up at her and said Tatiana but my friends call me Tanya. And this felt really good because this was the first time I answered that way to a stranger. But this seemed to kick it up a notch or two and they insisted that we have a little party somewhere. Then it finally dawned on me that OMG these people are swingers, and the three of us told them that we're pretty much not into that but they tried it a second time as we were walking to our vehicle to leave. And one of the girls kept telling me how beautiful I was and I was just laughing telling her she was the beautiful one, I said I'm certainly not I have a mirror but I have to admit it did feel good, even though I understood her intent.
But anyways we all had a blast there and it was a nice escape from reality.

I'll try to get some pics here if I can.
  Love Tatiana

Tatiana,
You are not alone. We are always here. I try t get to the Uper as often as possible when I am in MI. I have an Uncle west of Houghton. The last two years my wife and youngest have taken the northern route coming home. When ever I get a chance We are planning a circle Lake Mich on the motorcycle.

I am just about the same boat. While my VA counselor mentioned other TG vets. She couldn't say. I have no resources in Laramie. UW may but IDK. Even finding anything in Northern CO has proven tough. I used to know a crossdresser here in town but lost touch. but she is strictly CD not TG.

Kymmie 

QuoteI just looked up at her and said Tatiana but my friends call me Tanya.

Hahaha, that's my girl :D

You had great time hun :) I'm so happy for you and a bit envious too, but mostly happy :)

It's great that you met and had a wonderful time at the Pride event.

Here's a link for a few seconds of the drag show you can see my wife with pink in her blond hair in some of this

[https://youtu.be/OszPFOVgMgQ]

Hello Kymmie
You're right I know now I'm not alone but it sure felt that way for about 4 months until Michelle started off here and also there's Andi that I haven't had the pleasure to talk to yet.
But I imagine you probably feel the same way in Northern Colorado.
Hang in there though I would bet you connect with others eventually as I did.
And let me know when you visit that Uncle west of Houghton it isn't too far from me.

And to Alice and Mary
I wish I could have just somehow transported both of you here. It was an absolute blast, Michelle was really cool and I'm certain you gals would have agreed if you would have been here and really had a wonderful time also.
I did find out that the last group of people I talked about traveled around the country to all the LGBT events.
So they were pretty used to this environment when we were not.
And this was my first experience at this type of event and one that certainly I'll never forget.

Love you all Tatiana

Hey people!

As you probably know Tanya live in the woods where's quite bad connection and also she do everything from her phone (or sometimes from her wife's phone) so it was more easy to her to send everything to me and let me upload stuff. So, I place photos and videos, Tanya comment it later, I'll add her description in my post :) Right now she sent me only 7 photos, but later will be more I guess.

5th annual UP rainbow Pride

Photos
(clickable)

1. "This one's the time when I grabbed the phone out of my wife's hand and came out to her girlfriend that is now also mine. When I was talking to her on the phone she drove over here without me knowing And this is the picture I took at that time when she first showed up."©Tanya
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENURqv.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENURqv.jpg)
2. "Wife and our GF"©Tanya
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENV8Ho.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENV8Ho.jpg)
3. "My punk-rock wife carving the Anarchy A, as she often does."©Tanya
I like that habit lol ^_^ © me
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENVrFX.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENVrFX.jpg)
4. "My wife was chasing down all mohawks and this was a Youngster she met."©Tanya
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENSNTH.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENSNTH.jpg)
5. "My wife and Michelle who was the very first person I have ever met from Susan's and I'm so very glad it was her. We all had a blast together."©Tanya
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENW0ZM.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENW0ZM.jpg)
6. "A queen we met after the show that actually anointed or knighted my wife with her weapon. She just said she doesn't bend down on one knee for many people but said she felt like Lancelot getting knighted by King Arthur. Then the Queen picked her up kissed her right on the lips."©Tanya
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENWfES.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENWfES.jpg)
7. "Cool shoes."©Tanya
;D ©me
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENTGqm.jpg) (https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HENTGqm.jpg)

Videos
1. "And just a couple Snippets of the of the drag show."©Tanya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw_7ZX09NrU
2. "And just a couple Snippets of the of the drag show."©Tanya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwfNqTs-ESw
3. "And just a couple Snippets of the of the drag show."©Tanya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh3bUAVgLrI

Thanks so much Alice
You are such a sweetheart for taking the time out for doing this for me.

Pic 1. This one's the time when I grabbed the phone out of my wife's hand and came out to her girlfriend that is now also mine. When I was talking to her on the phone she drove over here without me knowing And this is the picture I took at that time when she first showed up.

Pic 2. Wife and our GF

     3.   My punk-rock wife carving the Anarchy A, as she often does.

    4.  My wife was chasing down all mohawks and this was a Youngster she met.

  5. My wife and Michelle who was the very first person I have ever met from Susan's and I'm so very glad it was her. We all had a blast together.

  6. A queen we met after the show that actually anointed or knighted my wife with her weapon. She just said she doesn't bend down on one knee for many people but said she felt like Lancelot getting knighted by King Arthur. Then the Queen picked her up kissed her right on the lips.

  7. Cool shoes.

And just a couple Snippets of the of the drag show.

We all had a lot of fun there and I'm sure we'll go every year, but in a way I was a bit overwhelmed.
I know that this event was for everyone under the umbrella but in a way it really wasn't my scene. I live a very simple isolated life that's not very flamboyant. And I would be happy enough merely slipping under the cracks possibly someday.
And I'm also very glad that we met Michelle and we all had a good time.

Love Tatiana

Comments added :) Anytime ;)

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
Thank you and many thanks to @Alice V for getting your Pride pictures posted....  it is great to see involved in your activities... and to see photos of your wife and also of @MichelleF82 ...

I looks like that all had a great time.
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

Thanks so much Alice and Danielle

I most sincerely appreciate both of your support more than you think.
Much love to both of you.
     Tanya

@Tatiana 79

Happy Birthday Tatiana!  :icon_birthday:
I live in NZ so I see everyone's B'day a day earlier than all the americans!  ;)
Thank you for all our your kindness and happiness here at Susans Place, I hope you have a great day!

Take care,

Sonja.

My dearest Tatiana

I am so glad all went well at the recent Pride Event and that you met Michelle.

I enjoyed my holiday in Slovenia and got back home Wednesday 26th at 11.00pm.

Obviously I was unable to attend the recent UK Meet Up in Birmingham UK but it also was a success and you may wish to read the thread and put faces to names of some of your UK Transgender friends.

Finally I send you belated birthday greetings. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and I wish you everything you wish for yourself for the next year.

Sending Love to you and your wife.

Pamela  xx

Thank you Dearest for your PM and I shall reply in the next few days but just to let you know that another thread that will interest you is that from JKRedman "My Another Transition Thread" as she is also drawn just like you to the DES reason as the cause of being born transgender. I know you will be able to offer her advice being such a compassionate and understanding girl.

Hugs

Pamela xx

Thanks Pamela
I'll definitely check that thread out that you suggested.
 
Fall colors here in the UP are in their Glory. It's so beautiful it's almost impossible to stay inside.
Sorry for the lower quality on my avatar pic but I just wanted to show everyone what it looks like up here at Peak color.
This is the bluff in my backyard I climb up to get a post off when internet signal is fading.
 
Welcome To the UP.

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on October 04, 2018, 11:57:15 AM
Thanks Pamela
I'll definitely check that thread out that you suggested.
 
Fall colors here in the UP are in their Glory. It's so beautiful it's almost impossible to stay inside.
Sorry for the lower quality on my avatar pic but I just wanted to show everyone what it looks like up here at Peak color.
This is the bluff in my backyard I climb up to get a post off when internet signal is fading.
 
Welcome To the UP.

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
More pictures of your fall colors would be most welcome!

I trust that you and your wife are doing well.   It was nice to see your PRIDE photos that you recently posted.
From what you are saying in your posts and seeing your photos, it appears that your transition journey is going well for you....

The scenery here where I live is just a little different from yours....
(https://i.imgur.com/CksSDks.jpg)

Thank you for posting and sharing,

Hugs and well wishes as always,
Danielle

Hehehe look what I have here :D Just for future, it's bigger image of Tanya's backyard
(https://cdn.pbrd.co/images/HH1fE65.jpg)

Beautiful picture Tatiana. Beautiful scenery to witness every day!

Hugs

Pamela

Hi Tatiana,

I'm originally from the LP, but I always loved visiting the Yoopers. St. Ignace, the Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls in aptly named Paradise, anything on the Superior shoreline but especially Seney and the Pictured Rocks, the Keweenaw Peninsula and Copper Harbor, even Isle Royale, which I hiked waaay back in 1972. I especially miss the cool dry air, visits to cider mills, and the colors this time of year. One of the most awesome sights I've ever experienced was looking down on Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains when the colors were at peak.

I get none of that here in Florida, though it does have its compensations - I'll be relaxing in shorts or a bikini while you're shoveling frozen sunshine. I never had a snowmobile, and the joys of XC skiing aren't that compelling any more. Surprisingly, I think what I miss most is ice skating.

Thanks for letting me reminisce.


Stephanie

Well the Fall colors here took an Abrupt change last night to White.
Everything was blanketed by 2 inches of wet snow.
But I don't believe it's going to stick, but you never know up here.
I believe it was in 95 it started snowing on October 2nd and basically never stopped due to the lake effect Snow bands coming off of Lake Superior. That winter I believe we got 340 in of snow and I literally had to dig my house out to get light in through the windows and I could park my snow machine right on the roof of the house. That was a record-breaking winter and guess what so was the next winter we ended up with over 350 in of snow.
But those were the two worst Winters I seen since we've lived here.
We normally only average round 250 in but lately it hasn't been too bad.

Hey Danielle God forbid the day I figure out how to post pictures from my phone because I've got 25 years worth of Wildlife and especially fall color season. The other week I actually had a huge Bull Moose walk down my driveway after it rubbed and trashed a tree right behind my mailbox. My two Huskies ran to the window while my Alaskan Malamute was on the chain in the back barking.
So I ran out the front and OMG I was about 35 yards away from the bull as he stopped to turn and look at us.
Let me tell you when you're that close to a huge Bull Moose on flat ground it really gets your attention.
This thing was so big I'm over 6 feet and I think his legs were bigger. He was like some kind of megafauna from the Ice Age or something.
There was some potential Danger from this because they're in the Rut and with my Malamute barking at him he really looks like a wolf which is the moose,s  natural predator.
As you know many moose attacks occur in Alaskan parks where people are walking their dogs and the Moose sees the dog as a wolf and will either fight or flee but usually it's a mother moose with her calfs.
I was a little relieved when this huge Bull decided to take off and crash through the Woods like you wouldn't believe.
I'm pretty much at the start of the Boreal forest that contains a lot of Maples that give it the color but up where you're at it's probably more softwood and Aspen and Birch I'm guessing though.
Your Alaskan scenery is so diverse and striking I don't think you'll have any problem finding awesome shots.

And thanks Pamela
Even after living here 25 years I'm still in awe of the environment here.
And is the source of all my inspiration. My life's more like camping and you really get familiar with nature. It's something that I have learned to to understand pretty well.
Unlike when I first started here I couldn't do anything right. lol

And thanks Alice I imagine you'll be getting snow in Moscow pretty soon.
Stay safe my friend.

Hello Stephanie
I'm also from lower Michigan
But our dream was always to move up to the Northwoods and after we had our honeymoon here I knew it would be our destiny.
It sounds like we both covered pretty much the same places up here. We just went everywhere on our Harley, when it's warm enough.
Nature dictates her time schedule up here and it doesn't always conform to yours. You might not always make it into work because there's a lot of blizzards. And I also once went to Isle Royale but on a friend's 24-foot boat. We intended to only stay  there a week but Lake Superior decided to keep us there for 2 weeks. I do a lot of hiking on Lake Superior Shores looking for semi-precious stones like agates  and thomsonite. Its So beautiful and seems so untouched the whole day goes by in the blink of an eye.
And yes the view of lake of the clouds in fall is stunning I spent a lot of time hiking around Porcupine Mountains and it's really awesome that 20000 Acres of the park are virgin old growth Timber.
And do you remember that thermometer on the side of US 41 in Keweenaw marking their 390 in. Record snowfall.
But this place is definitely not for everyone and some choose to do what you did and move to Florida.
I personally like the seasonal change and the extreme weather but as the years go by it's certainly doesn't get any easier. Like shoveling your roof a half a dozen times in winter to keep it from caving in.
I'm really glad you had the opportunity to explore the UP, it really is Someplace Special.

Love Tatiana

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
Had some snow last week, but no snow here this week, but it has been bitter cold for so early in October... down to 22 degrees last night and very heavy frost... I first thought it was snow when I looked out the window early this moring but we had clear skies with no precipitation foretasted.
Next week we are supposed to get some more snow but at the lower temperature is will not be as wet and sloppy.

Stay warm and bundle up when you venture outside.   This evening when I get home from work I will fire-up my propane fireplace and sit and read a good book after my dinner.... or
... I did get a "warning" from my Suitor #4 that there may be other plans that I may be expected to attend...   ;)  ::)

Hugs and stuff,
Danielle

Hi Danielle
I would imagine your average temperatures are quite a bit lower than what we get here. It'll be interesting to see how We compare during the winter.
I'm not sure exactly how cold it got here because my thermometer only goes down to 40 below but I do remember a cold month where every morning I would look at the thing and all the Mercury would just be in the ball. But the coldest it's ever got in Michigan is is -52 f.
I use wood exclusively for Heat, I   have one of those outdoor wood stoves that heats water and circulates it to my house my garage and a heat exchanger on my hot water tank.
And of course wood is plentiful here and it can burn any type of wood even green. But scrounging 10 cord of firewood is pretty daunting, but it's good exercise and I love being out in the woods.

And good luck with suitor #4
And remember if you want him to know there's steak for dinner you got to let him hear it sizzle. lol

See ya,  love Tatiana

Quote from: Tatiana 79 on October 05, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Hi Danielle
I would imagine your average temperatures are quite a bit lower than what we get here. It'll be interesting to see how We compare during the winter.
I'm not sure exactly how cold it got here because my thermometer only goes down to 40 below but I do remember a cold month where every morning I would look at the thing and all the Mercury would just be in the ball. But the coldest it's ever got in Michigan is is -52 f.
I use wood exclusively for Heat, I   have one of those outdoor wood stoves that heats water and circulates it to my house my garage and a heat exchanger on my hot water tank.
And of course wood is plentiful here and it can burn any type of wood even green. But scrounging 10 cord of firewood is pretty daunting, but it's good exercise and I love being out in the woods.

And good luck with suitor #4
And remember if you want him to know there's steak for dinner you got to let him hear it sizzle. lol

See ya,  love Tatiana

Hi Tatiana: 
For sure some of the coldest spots in the USA lower 48 states are North Dakota, and northern portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.  Temperatures in those areas can be bitter cold and even rival the cold temps in Alaska except for the north half of Alaska above the Arctic Circle where it can be so very bone chilling and deadly cold for months in a row. 
Where you and I live, block heaters for the car engine can be an essential item.
Hugs,
Danielle

Hi Danielle
And yes our climate justifies a good  winterization before winter.
If you can load test the battery that would be great because it's simulates the load of the starter and the cold engine. When load testing a battery it's better to use the bigger ones than the smaller fixed load ones
I think they're around a hundred fifty amps a little small for us. But with a good meter and a variable carbon pile like the sun Vat 40.
This meter is a little old but that works just fine and I remember using it when I went to shop class back  in the Stone age
In college.
Here's the test just divide the cold crank amp rating by 2 and use that number to duplicate what your drawing out of your variable carbon pile. So if the cold crank amp rating is 600 use 300 amps for 15 seconds and the voltage should not go lower than 9.6 volts. This is how a good shop would test the battery but now you know how so make sure they're doing it right, because most certainly they want to sell you a new battery.
Having a new or good battery is absolutely Paramount. Because it's like a double whammy kind of thing the engine will require double the amperage when cold but the battery can only produce half the amperage when cold. There are battery tray warmers but all you really need is a good battery unless you're in the extreme Arctic. The fixed load testers are significantly cheaper and do serve a purpose although they cannot performance test a battery properly but it'll give you an idea. But in a pinch you can use as something as simple as a multimeter on the DC volt setting and connected to the battery then crank the engine and the voltage should also not be below 9.6 V.
NEXT I always use and would recommend a 5w -30 synthetic oil.
Mobile one makes an excellent extended service oil that'll get you to 15000 MI. I would always change it around 10,000 and the oil always looks
very clean. But if you're in a colder  environment
than 62 below I'd go to 5w 20 or 0w 20 in the Arctic.
petroleum-based oils do not have the temperature range synthetic oils do
Like a regular petroleum-based oil in 10W 30 will operate okay between 0 degrees F and 100 f. And the 5w 30 is good to around 20 below the 5w 30 Mobil 1 synthetic will take you from 63 below to hotter than you're going to find on this planet. It's a pretty good deal too because you don't have to change the oil 3 or 4 times just once every 10 to 15 thousand miles and you'll never have oil related problems
And of course check the concentration of your antifreeze better a little lower setting then a higher one that might freeze.
And yes block heaters are essential in very cold climates, I keep my truck in my heated garage but there's times you got to go out and leave it somewhere and it might be 40 to 50 below out plus just as important as starting is that block heaters reduce cold wear starts. Starting an engine cold without the elliptical Pistons properly warmed is actually where the most engine wear occurs.
And of course don't forget the basic common sense of warming your car or truck up before taking off. Some people as soon as it starts they're moving and that's bad and can hear it, the Pistons knocking a little actually because as I said before Pistons are not made perfect circles they're made elliptical with heat dams in it for controlled expansion so it'll become a perfect circle when warm And a set of snow tires certainly couldn't hurt.
And diesel engines have their own issues of course they need the good thin oil also.Very important is that the fuel is Blended with number 1 to the proper concentration or that the appropriate amount of additives are introduced. This will really work and prevent the wax crystals growing too large and plugging your filters.
And remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I always worked and managed fleets of diesel trucks and My Philosophy is it's better to use additives because they give a few extra benefits. But when your blending summer fuel which is # 2 with number 1 it actually will reduce the BTUs of heat energy per gallon which will result in less fuel mileage and a little reduced power.
Way up in the Arctic they actually run them on straight kerosene but they only have like 30% engine power they would have on a number 2 diesel fuel but at least they run, and usually never shut them off in the cold winter. But nowadays there's all kinds of system preheaters. They usually cost around 5 grand and are mainly only used in off road equipment. They really are awesome, it's like a little diesel fuel fired furnace that can give you thermostatic temperature control of your cab by Heating and circulating engine coolant, then some of that heated engine coolant goes through a stainless steel coil in your hydraulic tank and your fuel tank. So basically it could be -50 all weekend long then depending on what time you start you can set it an hour or two earlier before you start and you can jump into the cab in a t-shirt and you'll be work ready with warm fuel, engine, hydraulic oil. These little  units like ProHeat are worth their weight in gold because you don't need to spend an hour on warming up your machine, Plus you got much less engine wear because the coolant is at normal operating temp. And you'll have no slow hydraulic operations because it's work ready temperature wise.
And a good heaters also essential and it possibly could save your life.
If your heater doesn't work good make sure your engine temperature is getting up to where it should then make sure your heater core isn't packed with debris like pine needles and even mice hair. If your heater still isn't blowing hot air find where the two hoses go into your heater core in the firewall somewhere. And feeling with your hand they both should feel approximately the same temp and it is too hot to keep your hand on them. if not the valve that let's the water into the heater core might be bad or restricted.
Plus you wouldn't believe how many engine block heaters I've seen that were plugged in properly and didn't work, everything has a finite life even the cosmos.
The hot engine coolant that's going out usually is on the back of the head or the block then it goes through the heater core and then it goes to the water pump suction side. This creates a pressure differential which massively contributes to flow which is very important. The coolant coming out of the head could be as high as 20 psi even higher than the cap rating and the water pump suction is in a vacuum so there is a large pressure differential that  is proportional to flow.
And of course if your heater blower motor isn't running properly or running at all you won't have any heat or air flow. Any heatmotor that isn't spinning  could be as simple as a blown fuse or a bad motor or bad temp switch if you don't have all your blower speeds it's probably your resistor in your air duct . Or potentially it could be anything in the system.
That's why with me the first thing is to understand the system because how you going to find the problem when you don't understand how it works you'll just be guessing and that's not good enough for a professional mechanic. If you don't understand how all the parts work and relate together in the system how are you going to pinpoint the problem, although sometimes a blind squirrel does occasionally find a nut.lol
If anyone has a cold problem or any problem especially with off-road equipment and trucks send me a p.m. And I will help you.
The only job I ever had in life was a mechanic, one I never really wanted but I kind of got shoved into it by my parents. And l have a lot of experience, and specialized training from the manufacturers.
 
I also was kind of a monster drummer around the Detroit area but that was a side gig but a lot of fun.


Happy cold motoring everyone love Tatiana.

@Tatiana 79:
Dear Tatiana:
Thank you for sharing your "winterization" post... 
... you would survive and get along very well up in Alaska...

The cold weather and winter temperatures does have it's special issues and is not for everyone, but if one is prepared for it with proper clothing, proper vehicle maintenace, good weatherization and maintenace of homes and buildings... 
.... and plain "ole" common sense for personal safety..... winter can be a most enjoyable season.

Again, thanks for sharing,
Hugs,
Danielle

Thanks Danielle,
Wow, apologies for all the mistakes
I could hardly believe it when I read it today but I'm really not used to posting that late at night but still that's no excuse.
  And I had a little problem when I hooked up to Wi-Fi for the first time in about 5 years. Everything was going crazy updating. And ever since then I wasn't able to sign into my Gmail account and I didn't know if my phone had the adequate version to run it.
But mainly thanks to my wife everything seems to be going okay now and I'm getting notifications from Susan's like I was before.
But another thing I noticed is the voice to text is horrible. And anything that has to be corrected is very difficult because of the cursor keeps jumping around and leaving open spaces and duplicating many words hopefully it's a little better but I'm still getting some duplicated words.
But it's really not too difficult to deal with it.
And I was wondering if anyone else experienced symptoms like these.

We got a little snow for the last few days but nothing stuck and it seems like it's been raining forever.
There's still a lot of fall color out but most of it has already dissipated and the ominous approach of winter is undeniable because the weather turned much colder and I believe our daylight now is under 12 hours.

Love Tatiana

@Tatiana 79
Dear Tatiana:
I barely saw the mistakes in your long winterization posting.  Lots of good information there... thank you for sharing yur knowledge.  Up here where I live, these folks know much about cold weather and how to prepare for it.

Regarding snow, here we have also had snow in spirts and sputters and very soon expecting our normal bigger snowfalls....  I love winter.   Our leaves here hardly had a chance to turn into colorful scenery... the almost constant stormy weather, rain, wind and light snow all but ended that possibility.....

So sorry you are having so many problems with internet and computers...  I am glad that your wife is able to tackle those tasks..

Stay warm and dry...
Hugs and hugs,
Danielle

I didn't feel right keeping that pretty fall Avatar of my backyard up.
Fall colors over and the season is short but now we're into the dominant season of winter. One year it lasted so long it's started snowing October 2nd and really never stopped until almost June  I still had piles of snow where I plowed up until almost July. 
Not too much need for a snow shovel here other than the yooper snow scoop. Most of my shoveling done by my big four wheel drive plow truck with chains on the rears and it's still barely can handle it. This thing's quite the animal set up just for plowing and never leaves my property.

Just a couple days ago it was pretty warm and there was no snow just the earthy smell of the new Leaf litter laying in the woods, which is powerful enough to invoke emotions in me.
We probably got a couple feet of snow so far but right now we're being pelted by bands of lake effect snow off of gitche gumee (Lake Superior)
Just going into my little town store this morning was definitely a precursor of things to come. And if you didn't have all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive I don't think you'd have a very good day. I was slipping and sliding in near white-out conditions as one of as one of these Lake effect snow bands was dumping huge amounts of snow probably 2 to 3 inches per hour in Gusty winds.
Not really too cold yet the coldest I seen was 14 degrees F.
These lake-effect snow bands are pretty strange one minute you can have blue skies and the next whiteout blizzard conditions.

Hey Michelle and Andi, I know you both live in big snow country  and if you feel like jumping in with your local conditions please feel to.
I would bet most members would consider what us yoopers consider normal they would not. lol

See ya, love Tatiana
 

Wow :) Did you finished your homework with collecting firewood? Don't freeze to death my friend :D

Here in Moscow it becoming warmer from year to year. I won't be surprise if we won't have any snow in January. Actually some of us think in few years (or maybe decades) there would be tropical climat :D

I would really miss Fall if I were up north. Fall is the best time of the year in my opinion. Beautiful colors and great weather. We already had the first freeze so there bugs are all dead. :)

I must admit that Winter is better than Nebraska's hot, humid Summer torture.

I'm not in UP, but it is 52 with clear blue skies. Your backyard is much better than mine.
(https://i.imgur.com/BQfUakr.jpg)

Hi Alice
It's definitely nice hearing from you again.
Yes I have been busy trying to get things before the snow but now I think it's probably here for good so hopefully I'll be out here more often.
I'm really surprised you don't get more snow and a colder climate in Moscow. Maybe there's something to global warming after all.

Stay safe my friend
Love Tanya

Moscow is megalopolice, it's typical that here warmer climat then outside the city.
And yeah, global warming do its job I suppose.

Though I bet we already have some snow somewhere in Syberia.

Hi Ginger
It's nice meeting you and I'm sure you would enjoy the beautiful fall colors up here from the sugar Maples.
But this is certainly not a land for everybody.
Unfortunately the u p is being discovered and in a magazine I can't remember it was voted one of the 10 best places in America to retire. But in the small outline towns it's like time hasn't even touched them.
I really find that hard to believe that but they're building up the Lakeshore in Marquette with fancy condos that are springing up like crazy unfortunately. But I am very far insulated from this world.
Most locals are against development and some actually feel we should be our own State. I think this is a little extreme but if it were to happen it would have the lowest population out of any other US state.

I kind of hate to tell you this because I know how hot and humid the Summers were in lower Michigan but up here I don't even have air conditioning in my vehicle  and I think I turned the house air conditioner on about 6 times mainly for my huskies and Malamute.
  It won't be long now and I'll be hitting the trails with my dogs.

It's been very nice to meet you, thank you for sharing your world and thoughts.
Best wishes love Tatiana

The whole living midtown in the city is actually fairly new to me. I does take some getting use to. I did pick a good area and there is an very nice shopping area just a 15 minute walk away via a walking/biking trail. I have not lived in an apartment for over 15 years and had to have one on the top floor. I do not want to sound privileged or anything and I've worked hard, but I miss living the suburbs. It is so much quieter out there. Looking at corn fields isn't pretty any time of year. It is funny how I grown to miss it.

@Tatiana 79
My Dear Tatiana:
Even though you have been absent on the Forums for a while, it doesn't mean that I have not been thinking of you. 
Whatever is keeping you away I am trusting that things are going well for you in all areas of your life.

I hope and trust that you are finding the joy and happiness that you deserve so I am giving you my expression of the holiday season that we are now in:
wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a prosperous and Happy NEW YEAR  in 2019

Hugs and as always, Well Wishes
Danielle

Dearest Tatiana

I am thinking of you also and sent you "Happy Christmas" PM last week.

I hope the only reason you are absent from reading/posting is that you are too busy. I truly hope all is well with you and with your wife and that you continue to benefit from HRT. I continue to benefit accordingly and have updated my thread which is also attached below.

I hope you enjoyed and are still enjoying Christmas and I look forward to your return to the forums but only when you are ready of course.

God Bless

Pamela  xx

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,241374.0.html