I got back from the Asian market and there was a package waiting for me.
Either a carburetor to fix the snowblower or a silk floral blouse.
I was happy to see it was the blouse I've been waiting for! XS is my size! It is crop style so it is the right length for me. I have a lot of clothes and have gotten picky about how well clothes fit. I have some sewing machines that were used to hem my guy clothes but now I just spend more time shopping for brands that fit me.
Being retired I can take my time digging out of the snow with a shovel, but the new Chinese made carburetor is only $18. Probably cost more to clean it and buy new gaskets.
Just finished wrapping my roses for winter with burlap. The burlap helps them stay dormant during the thaw part of our freeze/thaw winters. I have enough roses to bloom continuously all season long.
I'm still golfing during the winter! I don' hit it very far but I can be very accurate with my irons. Since October I've been making at least birdie a month! Didn't one until December 17th but I got one on January 3rd! Golf is a lot of fun when you can keep it in the fairway and hit greens with your approach shots.
Marion
Good to have you back, Marion!
~Sara
Sounds like my parcels except the blouse bit!!
Amazon said my carburetor was delayed until Monday so I went to Walmart to get some cleaner to fix the old one. Then I get home and it says they can deliver it today! Sure enough, it shows up at 3PM. In less than an hour I get it installed an now my snow blower is running again!
I guess that is how it is done these days. Buy a new carburetor for $18 and swap it out for the old one. Also came with a fuel shutoff valve and fuel filter. Project for later. Latest forecast says we will be having heavy snow in couple hours for our first big snow storm of the season!
When I fix something for the first time I usually need a new tool. This one was no exception, as I needed a fuel line puller!
I rummaged around my tool box and found a cheap 5/16" wrench stamped out of steel. Bent it in a vise and sharpened the jaws with a file and I had my new tool in a matter of minutes!
Keep the original. They can be rebuilt and rebuilt. The cheap new ones are disposable. Go ahead and use the new one, but be cleaning the old one, you'll probably need it soon.
The old one lasted twenty years without cleaning! And it looks great inside as I always drained the gas. Nor did I run it in a dirty environment. Most likely there are just a few tiny nozzles that got clogged so it would start easily and stop running. The problem is the ethanol in the gas that gums up the works.
What I really needed was a new gasket and replacement hoses. Rubber doesn't age well. Never messed with fixing small engines. Now I've fixed both my lawn mower and snow blower in a matter of months! Helps to have spare parts in case something goes wrong.
It is pretty amazing to be able to order something like that and have it delivered in 2 days just before a snow storm!
And then be able to have it up and running when you have never fixed that problem before.
Its amazing just how cheap these Chinese carbs are. I bought one last year for my generator. I remember the rebuild kits costing around 15 back in the day. I think its the ethanol in the gas that destroys the gaskets and seals. I run Stabil now in all my small engines. Not sure if it helps but gives my confidence I'm doing something.
Gina
When possible, run non-ethanol gasoline in small motors.
Costs a bit more but I can buy ethanol free fuel. I use that in my 3 vintage ('56 Chev, '57' Rolls and '65 Chev). I don't seem to have to worry about parking them over the winter. My Honda mower struggles a minute or more to start in Spring, but a shot or so of ether does the trick. In my US built mower it was always a struggle to get it going every year. I had a heck of a time with weed whackers. I gave up and bought electric.
I flooded my Honda mower a few months ago and found out I could clear that by tilting over the mower! I looked into getting ethanol free gas and it would be cheaper just to clean and alternate carbs as they go bad. I last ran the mower in December and will likely run it again in a month when we get a mid-winter warm spell. So it is like I run my mower all year. The oil in it is amazingly clean.
Also needed to fix the gas cap as it didn't vent properly but all that required was some copper wire to hold it loosely in place so it didn't tighten with the vacuum pressure! After that it ran great! Little lady with the big two stage snowblower! My neighbors certainly noticed as I can help them out and clear the block's sidewalk first thing in the morning.
I have to run my 68 VW panel on super unleaded fuel as the ethanol in the standard unleaded will kill the fuel lines and carbs, same with the Austin hot rod as the engine is 96 vintage fuel injected
When I first joined back in 2018 I mentioned a target weight of 108lb, which is now my current weight! My waistline down to 24 inches and my bust has increased to 32A! At the time I had shoulder length hair. Now it reaches the middle of my back. My hips haven't changed at 34 inches.
I retired back in April and have been living by myself in a small house since my wife passed from ALS back in 2014. As there is no cure for ALS, she went on hospice for the last half year. Medicaid paid for everything. In the USA going quietly via the hospice option is a way to preserve any assets you have for your loved ones versus opting for costly live saving medical procedures and drugs.
Good to see you back.
Is HRT and surgery needed to transition? I've transitioned socially in a very accepting community but have yet to start HRT. I don't see the benefits of HRT as outweighing the disadvantages. A loss of height and strength is often reported. I can't really afford to lose any of either as I'm now 5' 2"
My hair is thinning but for some reason I don't have male pattern baldness like my father. I have a big strong neighbor next door who is the manager for a chain auto repair place who I can call on for any help. I have a very feminine hourglass figure, a female speaking voice with excellent modulation as a result of professional speech therapy, and female mannerisms.
I like competitive activities, like competing in flower shows and playing golf. It is impossible not to notice who grows the better flowers or who has the better golf swing. Especially when you win all the top prizes. I also like to share what I do and get feedback on what works and doesn't work for other gardeners. When I play golf I get to talk and share ideas on how to play better golf. There is an art to helping your random partners play better golf.
We only got five inches of snow in Connecticut. Then it warmed up to 50 and the warm rain melted the snow. Not much need for a snowblower in weather like that but it is nice to have just in case we do get a nasty blizzard. I remember when we used to get blizzards. I recall my big noisy snowblower distracting a squirrel, allowing a big hawk to grab lunch and fly away with it.
You look too young to retire! Transition is faceted. Where you are comfortable and dysphoria well controlled, there is no need for the HRT or surgeries?
Yes, I'm younger than the "age of invisibility." When I walk across parking lots people will stop and wait a minute for me to cross in front them! As a short guy I'd consistently get ignored. Now it is totally different. My hair has been too long to be practical for over a year but I figure that this is my last chance to have really long hair so I just let it grow. :D
I am very well off as my investments have done very well. Sort of like when you don't worry about losing your balls and the other guy blinks first! ;D
I was married long enough to collect survivors benefits when I turned 60. So I can wait and then collect my own benefits later on. I have enough cash flow that I don't have to touch my investments.
MM, I know you enjoy connecting with people as you tell your stories of chatting with this stranger or that in parking lots and at the golf course.
And I know you love sharing how you're extra-small and have an hourglass figure and you're wealthy and "win all the top prizes."
However, sharing and resharing and resharing all your points of self-pride might lessen your connecting with others. For example, I have praised Allie for her wit. I have praised REM for taking a stand against racism. I have praised Danielle for having the courage to move thousands of miles and begin a business and new life. If you share what you admire about others, you might find yourself connecting more.
But I'm not looking for connections here. I connect with plenty of people.
I would like to show that you don't have to follow a particular path because you are transgender.
A big issue with most girls is getting acceptance from a partner.
I told my partner before we got married. She observed me carefully and concluded I was in fact transgender based on stuff I routinely did. That is a big issue with many relationships. They are based on trust and keeping secrets will erode that trust. A hidden secret can blow up a relationship.
I'd talk with her about all sorts of things but of course that only was her viewpoint on gender issues.
I used to build electronic projects but that changed when I had a stroke. I decided I needed to get out of the house and do stuff that would help my mobility. So I returned to my childhood and built many of the exact same models I constructed as a kid. Except that this time I built them to much higher standards. I also re-engineered them to function as I thought they should! I can still do electronics construction and repair as I have kept all my tools and junk I've accumulated over the years. Back when I was in rehab the consensus was that nearly all of your recovery was in the first six months. I found that to be incorrect in my case as I learned to throw darts a decade later! And it took another decade before my balance was good enough to walk and play on golf course that was anything but flat.
I was shoveling snow last night at 9PM! I timed it just right so I was able to scrape the sidewalk clean of snow enough for it to sublimate or disappear without snow melt. Today I had very good paths for walking! Totally avoided the danger of black ice. It seems that every year I know someone that has a very nasty slip and fall accident that requires weeks or months of rehab.
I do a lot of my cooking from basic ingredients. I am very good at picking out choice cuts of meats and cutting it up when I get home into single serving portions. This helps me manage my weight I only cook one meal at a time. It is a great way of saving money as raw meat and seasonings isn't that expensive, especially when you compare the cost of home cooked meals to take out.
I tend to batch cook, have some pork belly slices that I froze as they were reduced price due to close to sell by date. Thinking sweet and sour stir fry but will cook them in the air fryer first to get rid of a lot of the fat, carrots and Monge to as well for veg intake.
The air fryer is great for making pork less fatty. I sometimes heat up prepared pork from the Asian Market in the air fryer. I learned that if I cut the top off a 1/2 gallon milk carton I can stick the air fryer basket in it to drain the oil!
Wandering the aisles of a grocery store looking for markdowns is a great way to save money.
Just have to remember that you don't have much time before it spoils.
I like to dress nicely to put myself in a good mood for grocery shopping. I also pick my shopping times so the store is less crowded.
I think this helps get better service. Last time I bought day boat scallops the guy spent the extra time to pick out the extra large scallops that are great for searing in the pan with hot butter.
Our air fryer would smoke as the fat from chicken dripped onto the heating elements. I found if we put a few slices of bread in the basket to catch the grease it helps.
Gina
When not in use, it is best to unplug the air fryer, not just turn it off, to help prevent fires.
A cleanable and replaceable liner has proven helpful to use in my air fryer.
The cleaning seems to be easier too.
Chrissy
element is in the top on mine, took 2 big paper towels to mop the fat up just.
Just got a purple crop blouse through Revolve, a popular Internet shop for clothes.
I'm really short, so this is very figure flattering when I wear it. I do a lot of "retail therapy."
My wife used to pay for a therapist "out of pocket" as insurance wouldn't cover it. "Retail therapy" is less expensive!
(https://i.imgur.com/YTFY4Bgm.png)
Instead of moving, I transitioned at work over several years, first wearing nail polish and high heels, which made that distinctive sound on the linoleum floors. It was a pleasure to switch to women's clothes as I have a feminine hourglass figure with hips that are a tad larger than my chest. I started before the Pandemic.
After the Pandemic some women began to wear excessively casual clothes to the office, so a dress code was instituted. I wore skirts to the office, as they were allowed while shorts were prohibited. But, all good things have to come to an end eventually. I realized that I had more than ample savings and it didn't make a lot of sense to continue working past 60, so I gave six months notice. A few months later they hired another Tgirl, who happily maintains the "in your face" evidence that we exist. She wanted to move to a new city after transitioning, and our company was the ideal fit for her!
I was getting take out sushi and spotted a pink Hello Kitty Mitsubishi Mirage on my way home!
A cute little car made in Japan. I also drive a cute little car made in Japan.
When I go out I'll often wear a little bit of dark red lipstick. It doesn't take long to put on and helps as a gender clue.
My go to lippy is a bright red or an orangey pink? hard to describe but it goes with any clothes with orange or pink in them.
The bathroom sink drain was getting slow so I cleared it with a rubber plunger.
I filled the sink with water and instead of pushing down on the clog, I pulled up!
The suction pulled the clog up and broke it up in pieces to be picked up and tossed in the trash.
Much better than using nasty drain cleaners.
Marion
Tip on the telly in a house cleaning program, baking soda and white vinegar followed by a boiling kettle of water. Baking soda and a bit of washing up liquid to shift calcium stains around taps, tile grouting and things like that using a tooth brush.
I changed the gender identity information this week with both my doctor and dentist offices.
I find it much easier to present as female. When I used to present as a guy I'd often fall into the uncanny valley between male and female!
Danger Zone! The uncanny valley between male and female is a danger zone!
It sets off all sorts of alarm bells.
Drag queens are safely out of the danger zone. They aren't considered threats.
It is like an airplane flying near its stall speed.
You may think you are safe, traveling slowly, when in reality you are in great danger of tumbling out of the sky if you lack enough altitude to recover.
Based on this thinking, if you are going to out yourself, best to go full throttle and present as convincing a female image as is practical. Avoid being right in the middle, thinking that may be easier for people to accept. Being in "uncanny valley" makes it harder for the people you wish to reach.
I have found that it doesn't take much to look more feminine. Too often drag and cross-dressers try too hard and end up way over the top.
When someone looks at you, what do they notice first? Hair? A feminine hairstyle, short or long works. Their subconscious mind is already taking in data to decide. Eyes? A little eyeliner works so well that I skip the mascara. Lips? A light touch of color is all that is needed. Some people like bright reds but I prefer dark pink. Maybelline Color Stay stains the skin, so after wiping it off, I still have a hint of color. As they scan down, next is boobs. Big or small, ANY will register. If the overall look is feminine (not slutty or overdone) their subconscious will whisper "female".
FtM can use the same tricks. Shorter hair in a masculine style. A little smoky eye shadow around the mouth can give the illusion of a five o'clock shadow. Shoulder pads to make the torso look wider at the top.
I agree that "going all out" is the way to go to stay out of "danger alley". But it doesn't require heroic efforts to signal your gender. Observe how most women (or men) dress, talk, and behave in general. If you can mimic what they do, you will blend in perfectly.
I wore high heels to the garden club meeting and bought freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
I made two cookies without any chocolate and made the cookies really small since everyone seems to be on a diet these days.
Winter in New England is drab and dreary so I opted for some bright color in my outfit, wearing a florescent yellow shirt over a light green crop top. I picked out blue jeans with a shiny fabric.
Pass the shades!!! All the colours of a flower bed dear.
I think it is more feminine to read the room and adapt to what your audience wants, hence the small cookies and providing an alternative for those who don't like chocolate.
I had spotted someone new and had a conversation, identifying myself as one of the more experienced members. I found she wanted to grow roses where there may only be enough sun for them to flower once during the year, yet she wanted modern repeating roses. I suggested she may want to consider old garden roses and hook up with gardeners who like give away roses that are out of commerce because they don't repeat like modern roses.
Suggesting your fellow member mine someone else's garden for old school roses who's going new school is a good idea, Marion.
I just got my annual fix of See's chocolate!
$90 for two boxes of dark chocolate, five candy bars, and assortment of Easter themed candy.
The weight goes to my hips to maintain my hourglass figure. 😀
I bought my first glass nail file from the Mark Twain gift shop twenty years ago.
They really make a difference in keeping my nails properly shaped.
I decided to stock up and bought eight new ones via Amazon.
A box of aluminum plant tags for properly naming the hundreds of flowering plants I have growing around the yard. A sharp pencil leaves a mark that won't fade in the sun. I've also used Avery labels and a laser printer to make tags that last twenty years but it is useful to be able to make tags without a computer.
Your lucky , mine just goes to my tummy--------
I have a glass file that I use too. I love it!
Mmmmm I can smell the chocolate from here.
Hugs!
Quote from: davina61 on March 13, 2024, 02:43:38 PMYour lucky , mine just goes to my tummy--------
Mine goes to my head.
I like labeled plants, Marion. A couple hundred, huh? Whew! More than I have and my garden is an acre. I do a lot of mass plantings.
Got my state and federal tax refunds.
When I was picking my retirement date I realized if I timed it right, I could earn just enough money to fall into a lower tax bracket and pay less taxes on the money I earned. That is because taxes are based on earnings over a calendar year. I got to work on my garden as Spring finally arrived.
Spring is early this year! My roses are already leafing out this year. Well ahead of the yellow forsythia.
The daffodils are in bloom.
Still way to wet to get on the soil here and still more wet stuff coming next week.
I live north of you, Marion, and my garden is quiet. I think my azalea buds might be slightly larger, but this might be wishful seeing. However, I'm happy. I built my garden to be pretty in the winter too, so I look outside and enjoy plenty of color and my critter feeding stations means it's always busy outside too.
I'm wearing my most challenging pair of high heels tonight. A barbie pink Cole Haan with just four straps in front and none in back.
Wearing high heels helps my balance.
(https://i.imgur.com/TF0PK8ym.png)
Very pretty shoes Marion.
I have started working my vegetable garden yesterday. Hoping to get in some cool weather stuff soon.
Gina
Marion does windows! The last owner of the house installed bay windows with vinyl trim that blew off in nasty winter storms. I got on a ladder and pounded it back in with a white rubber mallet, then cleaned the windows with glass cleaner.
I've been digging out perennials to make way for a new rose bed! The ground is quite workable as the temperatures have stayed above freezing. I remember times in which the ground was still frozen at this time of years.
Over 2-1/2 inches of rain and it is still coming down! Lots of ponding in the backyard but fortunately just a little in the basement.
Found out from the oil maintainence guy that if I get a new oil tank, I'll need to remove a shelf installed by the former owner above the old oil tank. They used the shelf for cloth dryer supplies. I was going to rip it out until I saw electrical wiring attached to it. It had two shelves, so I shortened the four 1x3 wood supports with a fine bladed miter saw to hold just one shelf above the oil tank. Full body workout standing on a short ladder to saw the two back 1x3s. Made half a dozen trips to complete the task, doing a little at a time and keeping an eye on the trickle of water on the basement floor that goes from one window and out the door.
That was fast!
I had my 30k car service Monday and needed new ball joints.
They were able to get the parts from a nearby shop and I got the car back that day.
But in the process I ended up playing phone/email tag with the guy who sells the oil tanks and figures out what needs to be done. We managed to meet and he sent the contact via email the next day.
He said they could install it the very next day after a weekly meeting.
Sure enough, they came 45 minutes early and left in time for lunch! Now I have a new oil tank!
Interactions are different when you are female. Guys look for affirmation from women. Told him I'm an engineer so he knew he didn't have to explain anything. But I also mentioned that electricians make really good money if they can pass the tests. Told him about the car service wasting the day so the phone tag didn't matter and gave him a chance to vent about one of his own issues getting a simple oil change. Guys like to be able to share stories like that.
I had the work area cleared away inside and out. With a tarp over the dryer. They were all smiles that morning.
The guy who gave me the paperwork said he had time to hang the dryer duct from the ceiling behind the new oil tank! They caught a nice break in the weather. Now it is back to wet rainy weather.
Bit of a storm here this afternoon, watching horizontal rain past my kitchen window.
Yesterday I deconstructed an old recliner purchased twenty years ago from Bob's Discount Furniture. The fabric was attached with lots of steel staples.
It is fun to see how stuff is put together. It used a lot of plywood. I now have a large lazy Susan or rotating platform to play with.
I used to rely on cooking thermometers but I can now smell when foods are important cooking temperatures from a distance! I've now been cooking for a decade. Today I'm cooking corned beef brisket in a slow cooker for dinner and will be having Teriyaki flank steak for lunch. Yesterday I got up early and had the corned beef for lunch and the flank steak for dinner.
I used to wear heels all the time at work but stopped when I retired a year ago.
I wore heels the other day when I went out to get my eyes checked. I ought to wear heels more often!
My investments are doing great since I retired!
My SS widow's benefit covers most of my expenses since the house is paid for.
Plan to spend more time fixing up the house this year.
Yesterday I moved a room darkening blind to the master bedroom after breaking off some brittle slats in the old one.
The old one was 11 years old. We had a guest and they broke the one it replaced. Bad luck spot for blinds!
You're a busy bee, MM. Good for you!
Busy on dear, nice to get jobs sorted.
Quote from: davina61 on April 04, 2024, 11:51:11 AMBusy on dear, nice to get jobs sorted.
She's a dervish!
Planted a new rose bed between two long asphalt driveways.
A dozen big hybrid tea roses from a friend who is moving in a week. Took me four hours to dig them up.
An ideal location with all day sun and excellent drainage.
Used to be a perennial bed.
I transplanted a bunch of peonies as the soil was soft enough to dig them out with minimal damage to the brittle roots. Ended the day by finding an Asiatic Lily under some weeds. Moved it to a spot that is easy to see from the sidewalk.
I moved my fragrant roses to locations about five feet from the sidewalk so folks can smell them.
There was an old rose that got smothered by plants that I cleared, last year it put up 2 stems about 3 ft tall and no flowers. Now it has put out 3 long shoots so I am wondering if its just wild root stock? Will see what happens to it this year ,if its gone wild it will get dug up.
Old garden roses and root stock bloom on old wood, which means they wouldn't bloom on the three long shoots that just came out. They would bloom on the two 3ft tall stems if left long enough to produce lateral growth out of the bud eyes on the stems.
Many OGRs fell out of favor because they would only bloom once in the late Spring or early summer in favor of modern roses that would bloom two or three times a year, typically in cycles seven weeks apart.
In New England a lot of yards have too much tree shading in the fall to allow modern roses to re-bloom unless located in choice spots away from the trees. OGRs are a better choice if the roses don't get enough sun to bloom again.
I talked with my neighbor about her new roof. A big crew of guys did it four hours.
I think they realized they need to do some improvements to their home when they heard about my new oil tank.
My wife commented years ago that she doesn't dress properly. She is a busy manager. When she worked as a manager at Nine West they told her she needed to wear high heels. A decade later she looks like a girl going off to school with her backpack! I say this because dressing appropriately is a skill that is learned. It doesn't come automatically!
Dressing appropriately is something that I can now do easily now that I can buy stuff off the rack that fits. They don't make much in the way of clothes for short guys. It was a lot of work trying to alter clothes to fit. Now I can buy crops styles that don't need hemming!
Life as a woman in the USA means that you will be judged constantly by how you look. I'm OK with that.
Sorting out sexuality.
I was happy to hear that Rachel in Philly was able to sort it out and find a partner who she gets giddy over!
I think a lot of us have a "type."
Did you know that "You Belong With Me" foreshadows her current relationship with Travis Kelce?
She is attracted to #12, who catches the ball to win the game! Travis is a tight end!
Her alter-ego, pushes him away in favor of the quarterback, right after the game winning celebration.
Quarterback is the alpha male on football field who gets to make the split second decisons on where the ball will go.
Why not an alpha female hooking up with an alpha male? Hard to have two leaders in a relationship!
This video was way back in 2009! Taylor put in a lot of work singing the National Anthem at sporting events to gain valuable experience with singing in front of crowds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw
I know most folks don't have the visual memory to recall details like this.
Here is the willow tree that I've been pollarding to keep it small. It is about twelve years old. The yellow flowers to the left are forsythia.
(https://i.imgur.com/lauc9oom.jpg)
You taught me a word, MM: pollard!
Your trees are way ahead of ours. I love the first flush of green. So bright and pretty.
The one pollard willow that was/is at my grand parents and then our house on the common was over 6ft in girth so how old is that?
Quote from: davina61 on April 20, 2024, 03:07:47 AMThe one pollard willow that was/is at my grand parents and then our house on the common was over 6ft in girth so how old is that?
One of the coolest things I saw in England was Weeping Willows trimmed on the bottom. They looked like Beatle 'dos.
I got my new flannel lined Eddy Bauer jeans! They fit perfectly with no need for hemming or a belt!
I wore insulated Eddy Bauer pants all the time this winter to stay warm.
I look forward to warmer weather so I can wear short shorts and crop tops!
Dropped an large ugly branch off my maple tree. Most of it, anyway.
I'm thinking of cutting off the bark near the trunk to let the wood season in place.
Then dropping a much lighter log onto the ground.
I chop up the wood with a bow saw and put it on a huge compost pile!
I harvest the compost or "black gold" to feed my rose bushes.
I know it contains no herbicides, a danger if you buy soil amendments.
The lack of persistence is what makes RoundupSpecial.
It allows quick replanting without the need for a long wait.
I had some snow crab. I found the shells were soft enough to cut with my Hello Kitty pink scissors.
Yesterday I did some more tree trimming with my Silky pole saw.
I did something different. Instead of using my arms I used my feet to raise the saw up and down!
As I've been doing a lot of walking with heels I can do that!
This allows me to hold the saw with my arms fully extended, to cut a branch high off the ground.
Just got a new watch. Most of my watches have small faces that are sometimes hard to read.
This one is easy to read but will never be mistaken for a man's watch. The strap fits, With one hole to spare!
The Indiglo is a really nice feature. The face lights up when I touch the crown.
(https://i.imgur.com/u8oBWG5m.png)
I had some decaf Paris tea and Chinese coconut Gau heated in the air fryer for breakfast. Gau is a sweet steamed rice cake similar to Japanese mochi.
Cute watch, MM.
I don't wear watches anymore, but I would wear that!
Thats just (pea) nuts
I have another big tree in my yard. It is about 30ft tall and trunk is too big and heavy for me to take down safely. It has been cut back for years but apparently it loved the wet weather and grew really fast.
I bought my first micro mini skirt for $17. It fits perfectly. I'll wear it around the house when the weather gets really hot. I save on the electric bill by not running A/C during the summer. Connecticut is 2nd only to Hawaii in how much we pay for electricity.
I can look out the window and see purple lilacs straight ahead and purple wisteria in bloom to the left.
Wonderfully fragrant when I'm outside in the back yard.
It is very peaceful back there with tall shrubs surrounding the yard on all sides.
When I had my own place, I planted lilacs, English lavender, and honeysuckle near the house. I could open the windows in the summer and the fragrant breeze blowing in was heavenly!
Mum has white and blue lilac in her garden, the bees love it. I have 2 more lavender to plant between the ones we put in last year and the rose arch.
I learned the "art of good enough" from my wife.
When I took out the sliding doors in the bathroom because they made the bathroom moldy.
They were OK when we first bought the place during a long drought and the yard was dry.
Now the climate is much wetter with all the plants I grow. Maybe the plants encourage the clouds to drop rain on my yard?
Anyway, there were now these ugly mounting holes. I bought a bunch of plugs but the cats insisted on hiding them so there have been two ugly holes for years. They are gone so I finally bought fity plugs on Amazon for $10. No, they don't quite hide the ugly marks made in drilling the holes but it looks way better now. The cats are gone now. Nice to have, but I developed an allergy to cat hair so I'm not getting any more cats.
Went grocery shopping and bought two boxes of Sauvignon Blanc for cooking, a bottle of cane sugar Coke, flank steak, and chicken drumsticks.
Boxed wine is great for cooking because you can squeeze the air out so it lasts longer in the refrigerator.
Flank steak is really tasty when marinated withTeriyaki sauce and cut agaist the grain so it isn't so chewy. Also helps to eat tougher cuts of meat while they are still quite warm off the stove. I cook the drumsticks in the air fryer after marinating them with a ketchup and soy marinade.
Marion
I went shopping in my heeled booties yesterday. I'm quite good at getting around in heels, and can walk faster than average while wearing them! That allows me to park away from the crowded part of the parking lot and walk into the store. I carried my cell phone in a little black crossbody bag.
My new 30ft tree is a Tatarian Maple. It has a short thick trunk that leads to many smaller branches to form a dense rounded crown. It produces a lot of seeds, but as I said earlier, not much I can do about that now, unless I were to hire someone to take it down. It is in a good place where it doesn't shade my rose beds and provides some shade to my neighbor. I have two large Sugar Maples in my yard, as well as a third that is in the neighbors but has branches over mine.
If you are tall and have confidence issues wearing heels you should look to the hero of many women, TaylorSwift! She is tall and has gone on public record about her body image issues that resulted in an eating disorder. An eating disorder killed Karen Carpenter way before her time. She is a hero because she stood up to "the Man" numerous times to get what was rightfully hers. It isn't that she is an exceptionally talented singer.
My little brother taught me how to defend myself against bullies.
He would try to pick fights with me. Turns out that my reflexes are wickedly fast, enabling me to effectively deploy a number of defense strategies. He gave me ample opportunity to learn what worked including catching his punches and tying him up. I was small enough in school that the teachers would routinely look the other way as long as I could handle the situation myself. I had an extremely effective right hook. As one observer noted, but he can land that right hook!
The power of pretty. Pretty women have a lot of power as they get to choose the "alpha male."
Done properly, it is a win-win situation for both parties, elevating their social status. But, there is also the potential for disaster.
I had an opportunity to select the "alpha male" while waiting for the emission test to be done on my car. It was just after COVID so I don't recall the exact details, but I picked who I thought was the alpha male. He came over and we had a conversation. I believe some of the body language is hard wired into our minds rather than something we learn as it is implausible that I learned the body language for the wrong gender. This theory may also explain the awkwardness I'd have presenting as a guy if I was using the signals for the wrong gender. The interaction happens so fast that I realize what I've done after I've done it. This is opposite of what I've read in autism books where females struggle to memorize what to do because their social skills are lacking. Highly intelligent autistics often burn out because it takes too much work to fake being normal. This is a theme in the X-man science fiction universe. The immense burder of trying to appear normal when you aren't normal.
John Nash won a Nobel Prize for out thinking what normally happens is social dating situations.
He postulated that ignoring the "hot blonde" and going for someone else was far better according to his game theory.
In my lifetime, I have met a few actresses and models. I think the reason guys skip over the "hot blonde" is they feel they don't have a chance, they are not in the same league and can avoid failure by not even trying. In the Army, I knew a guy who bragged that he had a higher success rate by dating the "low-hanging fruit".
But in speaking with these actresses and models they told me that they have a very hard time because of this. Men tend to ignore them assuming they are "stuck up" or that they have no chance of dating a beautiful woman. These women were frustrated and wanted men to just be themselves.
I have also found that women respond to me, or enjoy having a gay friend because sex is not part of the relationship. They don't have to fend off flirts and sexual innuendo and can just relax and enjoy the company. If I am in male mode, women are more stand-offish and I believe it is this perception. Now that I am full-time, women are more friendly and open towards me.
As they say, YMMV but that has been my experience.
I find people share a lot when I socialize.
I think it is because I avoid being judgemental.
I've been in a lot of different situations where I didn't fit in.
Going to an Ivy League school is great because you get to meet the best and brightest from all walks of life. They give full scholarships to insure a full diversity of backgrounds.
Prep school was awkward because it was so different in so many ways. I went from an agricultural/Tourist society to a big bustling city. I started late, so I ended up learning a foreign language with students three years younger! A huge difference!
I think many are less concern with revealing secrets than being judged for something beyond their control. They just want someone to listen to them.
Marion
As a retiree I get to take naps in the middle of the day when there is little shade in the yard.
But, where best to take naps?
I just put a big projector screen in the bedroom to block the mid-day sun! It makes the room darker in the daytime, unless I turn on the overhead light. Then the screen acts as a huge reflector to brighten the room with a soft diffuse light! Best of all, I can easily use it as a projector screen! I used to have it stored away in the corner of a room. It was a hassle to move it and set it up for use so it rarely got used.
I just recline my sofa watching the TV ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I do the same. But then I realize that I am not watching TV.
The TV is watching me zzzzzzzzzzzz in the chair. ;D
I never could sleep in a recliner. Which is why I got rid of mine.
Cooking fresh mussels in two batches turned out great.
Cooking a small batch allowed me to toss the bad ones quickly. And cook both meals in one large pan.
If I missed one that went bad overnight in the cold refrigerator it might be safe to eat but I tossed them anyway. Good to check things twice!
Thinking it over allowed me to combine recipes and remember that I like to add a bit of Japanese red pepper Ichimi Togarashi. In an Italian restaurant the key word is Diavolo or "Devil." Next time I'll add a bit of oregano to mix of bay leaves, EVO, onions, plenty of garlic, and tomatoes. Normally I don't like the mushy texture and seeds of tomatoes but I read a recipe overnight saying I could just spoon that out! So I did! I took the mussels out of the pan as soon as they were open. Reduced the Sauvignon Blanc used to boil the mussels and make a sauce to top the butter coated mussels over pasta.
I think my wife was pleasantly surprised that if she wanted to eat something in particular, I could figure out how to cook it!
The little knife I used for cutting up Porterhouse into smaller steaks had gotten dull.
I eyeballed the bevel and took a few slow strokes against my 8000 grit waterstones, on each side then back again. It is now sharp again!
Another rainy day so I spend almost all my time indoors doing Spring cleaning.
I got a lot of stuff to clean! I don't remember buying all that stuff.
Marion
I made an old guy smile today.
I was debating whether to wear my pink bucket hat on a drugstore and takeout run.
We exchanged looks driving past each other. He smiled because he was wearing a white bucket hat, undoubtedly because he just had some skin surgery and was warned by the doctor that he needed to do so. Seeing me in my pink bucket hat made him smile!
After ten years I was running out of Band-Aids and bought new ones. As well as two chocolate candy bars. Then it was off to Doogies to get my 2ft hotdog, Fanta orange soda,and french fries.
The weather was gorgeous so I at the fries with ketchup outside at a picnic table.
For breakfast I had an english muffin and a cinnamon churro waffle. For dinner I had a 6oz teriyaki tenderloin steak with steamed rice.
Marion
I have a Japonica camellia that gets too much afternoon sun, despite being in a protected spot north of the house. The sun scalds the leaves while hybrid camellia next to it is now a showy specimen plant. I just figured out that if I mount an old solar panel vertically next to it, the bottom white side of the panel will reflect the morning sun back onto the camellia, while the normal side will shade the camellia. The solar panel can be used to power some LED lights in the basement for rooting plants! The basement is about the ideal temperature for root growth. I bet the average gardener wouldn't think of using a solar panel in a vertical orientation for doing that!
Camellias provide a splash of early winter color in Connecticut, as my specimen plant blooms in late November or December, after a killing frost has shut down the roses. A Japonica may be able to provide a mid winter bloom, when nothing else is blooming in Connecticut! Both plants are fifteen years old and have survived -11 Fahrenheit unprotected outside. They died back to the ground but bounced back beautifully!
It is quite the challenge figuring out how to get flowers all year in a four season climate. I took a rooted cutting and will try growing it indoors in a semi-heated sun room. It used to be the laundry room and got converted to a sun room with expensive electric heat and a North facing roof window. I never run the electric radiator. It also used to be the cat's room, where I put the food and kitty litter. Maybe it will become my indoor garden?
So many ideas, so little time!
I'm such a unicorn!
My most common golfing mistake with driver off the tee is topping the ball.
What makes me unusual is that instead of shortening my swing, I need to make it longer!
If I shorten it I think I need to swing harder, which messes up my timing!
Instead, if I make it longer, I have plenty of time to get the path of the club head properly aligned!
Just like landing an airplane and getting the glide path right. I'd rather have a long runway than a short one!
By the time the club finally reaches the ball it is moving a pretty good clip!
A longer swing means faster for me! But many seniors lack the flexibility to do that!
I was really tiny but I was fast enough to throw and land a right hook. Bullies take notice of that!
This revelation horrified my wife, who was taught to turn the other cheek, growing up as a Quaker Pacifist.
I knew how to turn the other guy's cheek! As I said,
I'm such a Unicorn!
I put an old pair of prescription safety glasses in the donation pile. They were very narrow glasses and were "safety glasses" because the lenses met impact standards. But, I feel safer in my new glasses because they cover so much of my face! I pick frames with very large lenses. ;D
Today I'm finally upgrading to Win 11 with a new mini computer.
With a new pink computer desk for girls! 24 inch monitor and gaming keyboard.
I have an embarassment of riches. Buying new stuff is easy.
Changing the infrastructure of the house to use it most effectively takes work.
I'll be able to run three computers simultaneously, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
I did it! I moved the computer desk from one room to another!
I'd imagine it is like having a pool table or piano installed in an room where you have a great view of your surroundings from high above.
My wife prided herself on being able to decorate a room and eyeballing how stuff would fit.
She was shocked to find out that I can manipulate images in 3D to figure out stuff out.
I lifted up the desk to rotate it through the doors. Mission accomplished!
Now I can put my shoe rack back to the corner of the room.
A big logistical challenge was engineerig a dry basement so I could store stuff down there.
When I first moved in it used to flood when we had heavy rains. I built up the yard with leaf compost so my yard is higher. It took twenty years but I'm delighted with the results! I planted rose beds to soak up the water, as well as water hungry trees. ;D
Dehumidifiers have gotten a lot more energy efficient. I have to take the old one to the Town Dump for disposal.
I put the dehumidifier on a work table and run the water drain to the washer drain so I don't have to empty out the water.
(https://i.imgur.com/zlJm8W5m.jpg)
I think the computer table will be a good place for storing my old DSLRs.
I can quickly grab them to take pictures of wildlife I see in the yard.
@Maid Marion
Dear Marion:
Good news on drying out your damp basement and taking steps to
help prevent excess ground water around the foundation of your home.
Regarding having your cameras on your computer table... the tables that
my computers at home and at my office are a place that I put everything
important... keys, handbag, cameras, and snack food.
Thanks for sharing and posting,HUGS, Danielle
In my experience, anything that has a surface will collect stuff.
I think I'll use the new table to hold appointment reminders!
The immediate high priority ones get placed on the keyboard!
Please share some of your wildlife photos, MM.
Marion:
My computer monitors at home and at work are usually plastered with sticky-notes.
HUGS,
Danielle
Quote from: Maid Marion on May 31, 2024, 04:33:24 AMI think I'll use the new table to hold appointment reminders!
The immediate high priority ones get placed on the keyboard!
I use Post-it notes in the kitchen to remind me of the ingredients and steps for my favorite recipes.
I have plenty of obsolete business cards that work great for writing down reminders!
They are just the right size to fit in my wallet with my credit cards. It is easier to write on paper with substance!
A possum tried to cross the road to my house but didn't make it. :(
I gave it a proper burial near the Tartarian maple tree.
I saw a woodpecker that was smaller than than usual pileated woodpeckers I've seen. It had the distinctive head so I assume it was a juvenile pileated woodpecker.
The big red rose is called Grande Amore. A purple rhododendron is up against the house behind it.
(https://i.imgur.com/TBZJwbhm.jpg)
That is beautiful, MM.
I love the business card idea!
Possums don't do well with roads, do they? It was nice of you to give it to rest.
As I shared another time, I see Downy and Hairy woodpeckers everyday in my yard. They're common. Pileated woodpeckers prefer deep, mature woods and even though I have hundreds of trees on all three sides of me that I own, I still don't see Pileated woodpeckers. Plus, I live in a heavily forested state. My last home was even deeper in the woods and I saw two Pileated woodpeckers there in ten years. Yet, you live in the suburbs and see them often, even though they're known for disappearing for considerable periods of time. Again, since you're a wildlife photographer, please share your photos. I'd love to see them.
You have nice flowers Marion.
Chrissy
Thank you Chrissy! I got compliments as well when I went to the last garden club meeting!
We all wore our summer outfits for the first time this year! One of my friends noticed I was wearing a skirt! I wore my green skort, stretchy skin tight yellow athletic shirt, and black booties. I brought a rose with its first bloom in a 1 gallon pot to raffle off to a lucky winner. I like to give away easy to grow roses. I keep the fussy prima donnas to grow myself. I was told the "Double Knockout" I gave away is now six feet wide.
There are rose shows in New England coming up! One in Hope Rhode Island and another at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden! The folks in Rhode Island work really hard to put on a good show. I'm always impressed whenever am able to go there. I like to observe how organizations are run.
Soon, it will be time for my first round of golf of the season! Most have already played their first round but I'm too busy working on the yard.
I got a new high lift blade for my lawn mower. I can take my time re-sharpening the old one during the summer. I'll use the old one for mulching tree leaves in the fall. I got some Ethanol Shield from Walmart to add to my small engine gas. I have a Facebook Friend who said her old Toro stopped working. Maybe a victim of ethanol gas left in the engine over a long winter? Last winter instead of draining it I ran it duriing the unseasonably warm days.
A white rose I got from a friend.
(https://i.imgur.com/dYGjLXxh.jpg)
I'm learning to pan fry cheese on the stove top after breading it with Panko. Deep frying it was a disaster.
Canola oil didn't taste quite right, so I tried bacon fat.
Better, but not as good as a mixture of bacon fat and extra virgin olive oil!
It is a test of my skills to decide when the cheese is cooked to the proper "doneness."
I'll often have leftover egg from my morning waffle that I can use to make pan fried cheese later in the day.
I don't like to waste any food and this sort of cooking helps me use all the food I buy.
Sometimes my snacks have extra seasonings left in the bag. I'll add that to my cooked meals!
I'm constantly experimenting like that.
I used to hate mushy parts of tomatoes. Then I read a recipe that said I could just spoon that out before cooking! DOH!
Yes lots of tips and wrinkles you can use cooking, I have a good range of oils from veg, corn, extra virgin olive, olive, cold pressed rape seed and mustard seed. Also a block of lard in the fridge, not that that gets much use but a must when doing Yorkshire puddings or toad in the hole.
That rose that we thought had turned wild is the same as the climbing rose (seven sisters) but it was a standard rose before so how did that happen? Its 5ft away from the other one as well, might be a good idea to dig it up in the winter and plant it on the other side of the rose arch.
Seven sisters is a hybrid multiflora rose that would make a fantastic rootstock to grow in my acid clay soil. No need to amend it. Just dig hole and stick in in! Done! They passed a law officially making multiflora a weed in Connecticut. They just added Japanese and Chinese Wisteria to the list of weeds, which means that it can only be grown for scientific research. Wow! I guess all my study of plants has resulted in me being able to grow Wisteria so I can advise gardeners in Connecticut how to efficiently control it. I get on a ladder, cut off the seed pods, and compost them! As a practical matter,the law means that folks will have difficulty buying Wisteria from reputable nurseries in Connecticut. There were complaints about barberries still being sold! My friend is going to rip the all barberrries out of her new home. Ugh!
Why is my yard an oasis? I have lots of water. Water ponds in my back yard for the Weeping Willow. Actually, the Weeping Willow was planted to get rid of the ponding water. But, is the first statement incorrect? Does an oasis attract rain? I used to launch and recover model rockets. Trees eat rockets! Trees alter the airflow around them. Could that translate into attracting rain?
As more and more trees get cut down my Tartarian Maple is big exception! My next door neighbor has a Sugar Maple in rough shape that must look good to woodpeckers.
Does it make sense for a garden to be planted in elevated mounds of dirt or level dirt?
Perhaps this is merely a matter of preference.
Chrissy
Raised beds allow plans that don't like wet feet to thrive in gardens like mine!
Roses do worse in my climate if watered every day, as their roots gather both oxygen and water.
They suffer from oxygen deprivation if watered too often and will show this in their leaves.
I avoid this by not watering my estabilished roses. I collect water from the Garage Roof using a 55gallon rain barrel and use this for all my watering. No worries if I forget and leave the tap running!
I moved my Barzella Itoh Peony. Instead of digging a hole I plopped it under a tree and added soil! It has a pretty yellow bloom and another big bud!
I figure it will become established in its new home before the tree roots find the newly added soil! The soil there is a mess of roots.
(https://i.imgur.com/XJjfet9m.png)
I put down cold intolerance as a current health issue.
I sleep under blankets when that is too hot for most!
I wear layer of clothes when the weather is warm.
I think I'd have gain weight to fix that.
But wouldn't that create new health issues?
I am in the normal BMI range right now, though doctors have told me it is OK to gain weight.
Quote from: Maid Marion on June 03, 2024, 07:54:51 AMRaised beds allow plans that don't like wet feet to thrive in gardens like mine!
Roses do worse in my climate if watered every day, as their roots gather both oxygen and water.
They suffer from oxygen deprivation if watered too often and will show this in their leaves.
I avoid this by not watering my estabilished roses. I collect water from the Garage Roof using a 55gallon rain barrel and use this for all my watering. No worries if I forget and leave the tap running!
I moved my Barzella Itoh Peony. Instead of digging a hole I plopped it under a tree and added soil! It has a pretty yellow bloom and another big bud!
I figure it will become established in its new home before the tree roots find the newly added soil! The soil there is a mess of roots.
Interesting, that is. Thanks for that information.
Chrissy
I get Kadoya dark sesame seed oil from the Asian Market so my stir fry smells authentic!
I am lucky to be able to get both Asian and European specialty foods at very reasonable prices.
I also get choice American foods like 100% Vermont Maple Syrup!
Adjusting seasonings to taste is another cooking skill I'm working on.
Cooking wines often come with a lot of salt it is not necessary to add more salt when using cooking wines!
Oh, it may be desirable to have lumpy raised beds. This can route more water to plants that need it.
I'm still working on what works best.
I found this small kid's watch in my collection and put a lithium battery in it.
(https://i.imgur.com/R7jawYfm.jpg)
Spotted some weird activity on my credit card! Someone charged me for something then did a charge back for 15 cents less! Called it in and they cancelled the card so they may not have even gotten the 15 cents. Think they were just testing the card number or something. So I spent half an hour changing my autopays.
Spent the day cleaning out my garage. Now I can see the garage floor again!
I've been rearranging the kitchen!
I have plenty of space but a lot of it isn't being used effectively.
I realized I no longer need a drawer with tools for quick fixes.
Too confusing at my age to have screwdrivers scattered about the house.
So I'm movin all the screwdrivers to one spot in a big tool chest! I used to collect tools until I started to run out of stuff to buy!
It is much cheaper to shop for XS clothes and size 7shoes on discount!
I've learned to cook cheap chuck stew meat so it is like Tenderloin, soft and easy on the teeth but not much flavor. The soup is good though.
I'm spoiled with highly seasoned stir fry f flank steak that has a wonderful taste and is reasonably tender if cut thinly across the grain with a razor sharp knife.
I went to the doctor today and explained that my low heart rate may be due to taking care of the yard. Sort of like running a marathon. Lots of stuff I want to do before the sun sets. She thought my resting heart rate of 43 was OK but doubled the dose of my blood pressure med it was a little high for someone on meds. I told her I do vitamin D for six weeks in the dead of winter. She said my blood work is fine. Presenting female with my hair down, I am more likely to remember to bring up issues to discuss.
I switched from my basic black crossbody bag to a blingy white VS bag and pink credit card holder.
The VS bag has more room and seems more girly to me.
Went to the market and bought flank steak, a loaf of French bread, brownie mix, sugar, an ear of corn, and a freshly made BBQ flatbread pizza.
I bought a naughty toy on Amazon using my Awards Points. The total came to $0.00. I archived the order for a little bit of privacy It can in a ubiquitous Amazon white and blue mailing package. It won't show up on my credit card statement.
Woo Hoo! I can play golf!
I hooked up with a friend I met in Cape Cod a few years ago.
He used to be in the industry a few years ago but hasn't played due to injury.
I learned he's been an umpire since the 7th grade.
I hit my first drive straight down the middle of the fairway.
The only one of our foursome to hit a good shot. ;D
New course, but I instinctively knew where the next shot should go, as long as I could see the pin.
If I got lost I just asked my friend for advice! Guys like it when you ask for advice!
He complemented me a couple times on my iron shots, as they kept getting better and better.
Not only can I make sweet sounding contact, but my ball goes high and straight! Perfect for getting over water hazards and sand bunkers.
Don't play much with others but pretty much nailed all the little social niceties needed for enjoyable play with others.
We had no trouble keeping up with the group in front of us.
We both had a wonderful time and he thanked me for the idea of playing golf as we both had a few hours with nothing to do otherwise.
It's addicting.... Be careful! And it can be pricey!
But if nothing else, it's a nice way to get outside.
Of course, Mark Twain famously called golf "a good walk, spoiled" 😉
Yes, my former big boss was given the ultimatum to stop playing golf or get better grades!
I'm at the age where my body won't let me play as much as I'd like to. I manage my practice reps to avoid golfer's elbow.
As for as the cost, there are plenty of old 9 hole golf courses with character around New England that don't cost a lot. The course we played was $35 during prime time on a weekend with a motorized cart! Before I left for Rhode Island I remembered to change the beneficiaries of two of my investments to my new favorite Charity.
I have lots of great golfing clothes I can wear on the course. Soon it will be warm enough to wear skirts!
I've been using my Braun IPL on my legs all winter.
I've been so generous giving roses away in the past that folks have given me free roses in return!
Two more this past weekend brings th 2024 total up to nineteen rose bushes that cost me $0!
I like to grow fussy roses that are hard to grow.
I like to give away roses that I think are easy to grow in our climate.
Often these are big healthy roses that are better than you can find at a nursery as they have big root systems to support a modest amout of top growth.
Nursery roses are limited by the small pots they are sold in while customers look for lots of top growth.
Marion
(https://i.imgur.com/hY36YLDt.png)
I just bought this $20 bikini bottom from Revolve. Fits great!
(https://i.imgur.com/B2Ox4ZQt.png)
I can wear XS sizes fitted for women like this cute pink chef's coat. This came via Amazon.
I will wear a long sleeves PJ top over a sleeveless nightgown to stay warm for an hour or two before I go to bed. I do a lot of wardrobe changes as the weather goes from the 50s in the morning to the 80s in the afternoon.
I'm nearly done with the kitchen drawer reorganization. Took out most of stuff I never use.
The grass is growing great. Won't be long before the bare spots fill in. If not, I move sod to fill in the bare spots myself!
I had trouble reading greens last week so I decided to go to the nearest public golf course, just 7 minutes away, and combine it with a cookie/cracker run at a nearby grocery store. They had Pepperidge Farm cookies on sale for just 2.97 each if you buy two. I like the Chessmen and Gingerman cookies. Shopping trip was great. I found everything!
But, when I got to the golf course I discovered I left my (golf) balls at home!
At least it wasn't a wasted trip!
I put together a new summer outfit. A white polo with mid length sleeves. A white knee length skort with a red/green printed pattern.
Together with my pink Tilly Hat, floral Timex watch, and floral Cole Haan golf shoes.
Marion
Going through stacks of clothes to pick out my summer wardrobe.
Found a light green spaghetti strap crop top that I wore this afternoon.
I bought a lot of crop tops over the last two years.
Started running a de-humidifier in the basement so I can store clothes down there.
The newer ones are a lot more energy efficient.
Marion
I went to a public golf course with an upscale dress code,so I picked out a nice purple top and a contrasting white skort. White is a high visibility color which helps other golfers see me out on the course. It also makes my bottom look bigger and enhances the hourglass look desired by many. I forgot I moved my floral Timex watch to a staging area so I wore my Timex Barbie Pink girls watch instead! An adorable pink accent to go with my pink hat and floral shoes.
I wore it to the Rose Show as well! I took home four big trophies, including a heavy wood plaque that I get to keep for a year and have my name added. In eleven years it has been won by three couples and two individuals. All have some sort of American Rose Society accredition. I misplaced my scissors. Someone asked a question. I figured it would be an appropriate time to ask whether I could borrow some scissors. Sure enough, three or four people volunteered to lend the theirs, all at once! I am very generous with my friends, so they jumped at opportunity to return the favor!
I was asked about the skirt. I told him I had played golf today and that it makes it easier to use the restroom! A lady who knows I'm transgender had to laugh as she hear part of that! She has a transgender girl and posts her pictures on Facebook. The least of the four trophies came with a $5gift certificate, so I gave it to him to add to his $50 and $10 gift certificates for the same company. He had a memorial rose with great exhibition form so I asked for it and he gave it to me to propagate. Most exhibition roses are never patented. In any case the patent would have expired years ago.
It was another great day to play golf. Gorgeous weather and my play improved with each hole we played!
Marion
https://youtu.be/sZbrVxcvIyE
It's a battle of the sexes that's taken over TikTok! In the viral "center of gravity challenge," or the "balance challenge," a man and woman start off on their knees and elbows, then try to quickly put their hands behind their backs without falling. But one person always seems to win: the woman! Meanwhile, men keep eating the floor as they lose their balance and fall on their faces. It turns out that the science behind this says that women have a lower center of gravity, giving them an edge.
I carry enough weight in my thighs to do this! Right after mowing the yard and not being tested yet!
Yesterday I cleaned out the bathtub drain! I go down in top the basement, open up the pipes, and run a drain snake to pull it the hair that gets stuck in the pipes. There are two catch points. When I run the drain through the 2nd one it is time to pull the snake back and clean up the mess that normally results. Last year was particularly hard as one of the pipes had rusted through but the Home Improvement centers are a short drive away to buy a new pipe! I was able to use a chop saw to quickly cut the new pipe to size.
Finally got someone to send me a picture of me with someone else wearing a knee length golf skirt!
The Greater Hartford Open is this week! I may go if one of the weekdays is predicted to be free of thunderstorms. It will be hot and humid this week. It got upgraded to a Signature event which means many of the top players will be there.
Marion
Tick Tock challenge: I wonder if Trans girls can do it?? Cleaning out the pipes, yuck. Nice that you can save yourself money and do it yourself.
I was curious what you do to keep the Japanese beetles from hurting your roses ?
Hi Gina,
Yes, I do plumbing and electrical to save money! I have a service contract for the oil heat. Girl has got to know her limitations!
This year I pushed the roses in the Spring to bloom as quickly as possible! First flush came before they arrived! I've been seeing oriental and rose chafer beetles in the yard as I pull weeds. I'm an avid weeder. I'll get grubs as I'm weeding. The oriental beetles seem to have dominance over the Japanese beetles which is good because they aren't as damaging to the blooms. When two species compete for the same resources one will often dominate and squeeze the other out.
When they arrive I'll get a small bucket and put in an inch of water and some dish detergent to break the surface tension of the water. I'll knock beetles off the blooms into the water! Sometimes they will try to fly away but most of the time they just drop down to the ground.
I have a large bird population and some will eat beetles.
I have used the soapy water trick on them and it works. You can also use a few drops of Jet-Dri. It does the same thing: breaks the surface tension of the water. I use it when I am gold panning to keep fine gold from floating on the surface. I can't use soap for that because the suds cause gold to float. So Jet-Dri or HE detergent to reduce suds.
I have three pics of me wearing a knee length skirts. Of the three, I chose the one with the best facial expressions. The way the fabric drapes I can't tell if I'm wearing a skirt or pants. ::)
I got 14 likes and two loves for the pic in sixteen hours.
My phone is too old for the latest online sporting event ticket technology! They want you to use an App instead of an image with a bar code. My Iphone is on version 15 and then new software needs iOS 16. I emailed me about it and the sent me a text link to download the ticket to my phone. It has a waving bar to discourage photos of the bar code. I knew something wasn't right so I fixed it before I got there via email.
Marion
I survived the extreme heat and humidity at the Traveler's Championship! The heat index got upto 103!
I did a lot of socializing, and, as expected, I find it easy with my educational background and life experiences to interact with those in the upper middle class. Must have been gendered as female a dozen times.
I won a free souvenir for landing a pitch shot on a Traveler's umbrella floating in water 56ft away. Saved me a trip to the gift shop.
I'm go to reflect on what went well and what didn't so I can do it again next year with better preparation. Being short I don't like crowds that make it impossible for me to see anything.
(https://i.imgur.com/8D9pMHht.jpg)
Quote from: Maid Marion on June 21, 2024, 08:08:00 AMI won a free souvenir for landing a pitch shot on a Traveler's umbrella floating in water 56ft away. Saved me a trip to the gift shop.
I don't know much golf... but that sounds pretty darn impressive! well done!
Stay Cool!
~Jenn
Thanks! Yes it was in the sense that I'm now able to make shots with an audience. ;D
The mental part of golf is really hard for adults, especially when they set up the game so that kids can win it!
It was really something to see how much that affects the best golfers in the world.
Shane Lowry was gassed from playing too much and three-putted the first hole!
With a limited field they were playing as twosomes. Most of the time the two balls ended up rather close to each other. It was quite unusual to see balls on either side of the fairway.
Oh no, a scammer caught me off guard yesterday, rousing me from my mid day nap.
Before I knew it he was up on my roof, removing loose bricks from my chimney!
Worse, being a clever con man, he got me to share Too Much Information!
But, making a personal connection works both ways!
He wanted two things. A wire transfer of funds or my email account address.
He learned too much about me so he realized I wasn't a normal old lady who could be easily fleeced of her money. I told him I just went through the hassle of cancelling a credit card over fifteen cents!
He said with the bricks removed someone needed to fix it now, so I called a company while he was still there! He left without either of the two things he wanted. My next door neighbor also got a good look at him, so I doubt he will be back.
My next door neighbor wasn't home yet, so I took a nap. When I awoke my next door neighbor was home and we talked about what had happened! He agreed to be on the lookout for anything strange and that I'd talk about any work on my home with him or his wife.
I doubt he or his partner will be back as my neighbor also got a good look at him.
Marion
Looking at the chimney this morning I may have gotten off better than the scammers.
They removed the loose bricks and placed them on the ground next to the chimney.
Saving someone the work of doing that!
I went out to a local golf course to practice hitting my lob wedges.
I'm getting pretty good at that. I ended the session by hitting a 35ft putt against a marker pin.
Marion
They removed the top two layers of brick.
Why not replace those bricks with another color or style?
I can certainly afford to do something different!
This house is meant to be a retirement home for me to live out my years in Connecticut. Unless I decide to sell it to live closer to relatives.
While the washer/dryer is downstairs everything can easily be moved to a single floor!
A distinctive chimney could be a selling feature to a retiree with memory issues, by providing an easy to remember landmark where home is! Even if you can't remember the house number, everyone may quickly learn where the unusual chimney is located! Best of all, one can see the chimney from a distance!
I'm sure that some folks can't remember numbers, just as some can't remember faces.
But, some folks may have a great memory for distinctive images that are just a little different.
Everyone in New England knows what a chimney looks like!
I look way too young to be an experienced disability expert. But I know these things.
My friends like solving word puzzles in the morning. I think I'm up to tougher challenges.
I like my flat, big rooms and Victorian height ceilings. I rattle around on my own, only down side is the stairs to get to the 2nd floor------------
Two story colonials are quite popular where I live but we wanted to live in that was suitable for the elderly. Right now I can go up and down the basement stairs in four inch heels!
I found a West Hartford contractor who can rebuild my chimney next week!
Of course it is a little expensive but I can afford it. ;)
Cross my fingers but it is likely I can have it done once and not have to worry about that part of the house again! It is likely that with 15 years of exposure to an 85% efficiency furnace a rebuild is likely to be a good idea. High efficiency means cooler stack temperatures and more degradation of chimneys compared to the original 1950s furnance. It is even worse with the new furnaces with even greater efficiency and even lower stack temperatures.
Oh, and talked with him today wearing a girly clothes. A vee neck golf shirt and my white skort with red and green printing. Open toe sandals.
Marion
You would think that lower stack temp would mean less degradation. I know nothing about it.
Quote from: LoriDee on June 22, 2024, 05:25:34 PMYou would think that lower stack temp would mean less degradation. I know nothing about it.
That is the case, but there are alternative venting method for a high-efficiency furnace or boiler, normally contractors consult local building codes and manufacturer guidelines to ensure compliance and safety. Each method has its own advantages and considerations, and the choice often depends on factors such as building layout, local regulations, and the specific requirements of the appliance.
Most high efficiency boilers require a pipe to maintain draft. Many times they will drop this down the existing chimney.
I was talking to my next door neighbor about getting my chimney rebuilt. I can park in her driveway as needed. They took out the plants right in front of their house so there is just bare dirt there. I told her if there is anything they want out my yard like Hostas they can have them. She said they kill stuff so I said that means they can try again and again until they find something that lives! Just as long as her hubby does the digging!
I over shared that my waist has gotten obscenely thin, well below 24 inches! I wonder it wearing 4 inch heels all the time had anything to do with that?
I have to wear women's XS clothes because nothing else fits. She told me her store only gets one XS and that they normally sell them. She also shared that she wears men's hoodies. Our fashion styles should be swapped but it is what it is!
After 3 weeks I cancelled my Revolve Order. I got a 15% off coupon as compensation. I used it to buy a $50 sleeveless pink tank top. Velvet by Graham and Spencer. I didn't put enough sunscreen on my shoulders during the day at the Golf Championship so they got a little sunburned. Which is now a nice tan. I be wearing sleeveless tops sporting a nice tan this summer. I prepared for this possibility by getting 8SPF sunscreen to help even it out.
Marion
My Farmington Ave WeHa Home Improvement Contractor wants to play golf with me!
When he first saw a me I was wearing a skirt but Connecticut is very open minded toward the LBGTQ+ community. I picked him because I wanted someone with his experience to do everything quickly and correctly the first time. I'm sure he picked me as a golfing partner because he realized he could grow himself by getting to know me. He is at that age when you have satisfied your financial needs and realize that there are social ones that need to be addressed.
I'm sure it must have been a surprise to see that I got up early, removed his street sign, and mowed the lawn that morning! Then replaced it to its original spot! Who does that before heading out for some golfing at 9:30 in the morning!
I have a really upbeat attitude because my golf game has progressed to where it is significantly better than average. 175 yard strikes down the middle of the fairway is a perfectly serviceable way to start the hole. Then I have a superb short game to put the ball in the hole! For someone who spent a month in Hartford Hospital learning to walk again! That was my first good decision that got me here, choosing to go there instead of New Britain General
I talked to my neighbor and offered him some plants to put next the the front of his house. Probably hosta is the best fit.
I found out he is allergic to Tiger Lilies so I think I'm make them all go away. His mom loved them but all that exposure sensitized him.
His mom got rid of them and so did his allergies!
The 7AM start is actually 8AM. I know because I protected the peonies and weeded the front yard waiting for them. I am an expert weeder. I know I could earn a living organically growing lawns for rich people worried about chemicals. Not only do I know how to spot the weak points of weeds, my study of golf has improved my knowledge of how grass grows!
Humans are social people who like to see their leaders to inspire them.
The guy I hired constantly drives around to make sure the work is being done right.
I'm sure it helps for them to see the owner getting up just as early as they did!
But, I also learned from Mom's mistakes. They just need to see me and say hi! They can ring the doorbell if they need something. Instead of passing by the construction site I went the other way though my next door neighbor's yard and spotted my Nikko Blue Hydrange blooming inside the hedge!
I think I'll cut a hole in the hedge so everyone can see the hydrangea from the street! If I don't like it the hedge will grow back.
Marion
He brought his son over to see some of the stuff in my back yard!
Marion
I fixed my vacuum cleaner! It made an awful squealing noise and then the rotor stopped spinning.
Rather that search fix online, I did an inspection and removed a half dozen screws.
Once opened up, I could see that a ball of hair gummed up the works! I removed the hair and now it works!
Exactly how I used to fix stuff!
My contractor rebuilt my chimney in 2 days!
I decided to go all-in and have him completely re-do the roof as well. Fixing a bunch of stuff and not just another layer of shingles on the old one.
Soaked up my excess cash that wasn't doing much and I didn't know where to put it. So it is going into fixing up my house! Was worried how I was going to get the work done and not have someone trash the plants.
Ran the numbers and I now have a more sensible allocation of funds, especially since I have SS covering the day to day expenses.
I seemed to have "cracked the code." My waistline is sub 24 inches yet I look healthy, carrying a decent amount of fat in my thighs and having nicely toned arms. I don't do any of that "diet stuff." As is usual for summer, I often do dinner twice, first around fiveish and then around sunset.
I cook with butter and sugar. ;D
Wish I could! Crack the code that is, looks like I only need 800cal a day to work.
As an engineer I intellectually know that female body standards are unrealistic even with someone like TaylorSwift who has every possible advantage and has gone public about it.
As a practical matter nothing comes in anything smaller than a 24 inch waist.
They did it! They fixed the roof in just one day! The skylight rotted the boards so it cost an extra $2000 but I'm OK with that. I had them take out the skylight so it won't happen again. Lot of work done on the house in just one week!
Marion
She who has the gold makes the rules. When it came time to settle up I wore a pink crop with the bottom rolled up to look like a tube top and light denim shorts with a 3 inch inseam! I painted my fingernails pink and my toenails a medium red. Open toed sandals so you could see my toenails. By no means banking attire. But, he was certainly interested in doing more work in future! He admitted that he couldn't afford the work I had done.
24" waist is tiny. I wish mine was close to that but I don't think my skeleton would allow that.
Glad the construction went well.
I would be happy if mine was 34 !!
I went to town hall yesterday and paid my property taxes. I wore a striped purple golf polo, pink skirt, and floral shoes. A little bit of lipstick and pink painted nails. A bit overdressed compared to what everyone else was wearing.
I just found out that Lynn Conway was a trangender activist. I've known the name since studying microcircuit fabrication but had no idea about her life story!
Posted my most feminine picture yet on Facebook, wearing a pink sleeveless polo and a white pleated skirt. One dozen likes and one "love" from my friends.
For my morning walk, I'm wearing a gray t-shirt, a desert tan baseball cap, and military green shorts. Army colors. I might be drab, but since it's all cotton, I'm comfy.
The other day I forgot about the thunderstorms that were supposed to arrive in the afternoon!
I was in Ocean State Job lot when the skies unleashed a deluge of rain!
I spent half an hour in Harbor Freight while the rain continued.
I went back to the car with a re-usable shopping bag filled with candy held over my head.
I was just fine. I was wearing high tech synthetic fabrics which handle the rain much better than cotton!
Next time I'm dressed like that I can just walk back to my car!
With cotton there is a risk of hypothermia when it gets wet.
Cotton can kill, for sure, MM. I spend a lot of time on water and don't wear it there. But for going into town, it's fine. I'm not going to die in July when running errands if it rains. Heck, I won't die in November if I get wet.
You do you and I do me!
I talk a lot of about my appearance because that is what I do to handle my gender issues.
Because I am successful at looking good as a female I don't have to do anything in terms of hormones or surgery. That was the agreement with my wife when we had the talk. I could dress as I pleased, but if I wanted to go on hormones, we had to have another talk. Her ulterior motives was that I looked hot as a girl! I don't think that has changed!
One of my hobbies is exhibiting roses. One of the skills is knowing what looks good.
There is a rule book and a points system to assist the judges and exhibitors in picking the best exhibits. But, it is hard to beat someone with a large garden and a skilled eye at picking outstanding exhibits. Rarely is an exhibit perfect. There may be a bug eaten leaf or some other technical flaw. But, with the emphasis on growing roses without pesticides, some judges no longer care about minor bug damage. Instead, they focus on the beauty of the rose, as they should!
After 13 years I filled the 16GB of my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 camera! A great little point and shoot digital camera.
I ordered a 32GB card to replace the old 16 GB SDHC card for $8. The 32 GB card is a few cents cheaper than the 16GB card!
Marion
A major appearance tweak for this year has been to put on SPF 15 tanning sunscreen to get a light tan as well as wearing spaghetti strap sleeveless crop tops. Last year I put on SPF 30 which meant I looked too pale. I investigated the Health Risk and there isn't actual evidence to support the idea of a light tan being more of a health risks than no tan at all. What is important is to get regular screenings which I get by seeing the doctor every couple months. It used to be for cholesterol monitoring with my old doctor. With my new doctor it is adjusting my blood pressure medication.
Marion
I am very cautious about sun exposure. I have spent most of my life outdoors and I have had seven basal cell carcinomas removed. Screening is very important.
What most people misunderstand is that the SPF rating tells you how often it needs to be reapplied in minutes. So an SPF-15 means reapplying every 15 minutes for full protection. I found an SPF-100 which is more convenient. But when I am gold panning, I can't have any oils on my hands. Fine gold can float if it comes in contact with oil. So I apply the sunscreen and then wash my hands thoroughly. I don't reapply it, I just rely on my wide-brim hat and long sleeves.
You are wise to get regular screenings.
The SPF has noting to do with the amount of time to re-apply. Instead, SPF ratings reveal how effectively they shield your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays come in two main types, UVA and UVB, each penetrating the skin differently. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, specifically denotes protection against UVB rays, which are known for causing sunburn and skin damage.
Here's the breakdown: SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 ups the protection to around 97%. Moving higher, SPF 50 reaches approximately 98%, and SPF 100 offers about 99% protection against UVB. Beyond SPF 30, the incremental increase in protection becomes minimal.
It's crucial to note that SPF ratings are determined under controlled conditions in labs, where a specific amount of sunscreen is evenly applied and exposed to a standardized light source. In real-world scenarios, variables like sun intensity and how much sunscreen is applied make exact protection levels harder to predict.
In general, SPF 30 is often considered sufficient for daily use, offering robust protection against UVB rays when applied correctly. Pick a brand you trust and get used to how it works and its protection. Application of a SPF 30 every couple of hours is the current advice for someone staying out in full sun.
Quote from: Maid Marion on June 28, 2024, 03:15:36 PMThey did it! They fixed the roof in just one day! The skylight rotted the boards so it cost an extra $2000 but I'm OK with that. I had them take out the skylight so it won't happen again. Lot of work done on the house in just one week!
Marion
$2k sounds an awful lot of money to take out a skylight on a roof they already were repairing.. how did they not see the rot before when they quoted you for the job?.. did you take 3 quotes and pick the middle one? that is always a rule you should do if spending amounts of money on your property.. there are many people who will gladly take someone who is bragging about their wealth and inflate the prices whilst stroking their ego's.. Just be careful if you hire them again for any other work and always get those other quotes.. Keep safe ..
QuoteYou do you and I do me!
Well, sure. You have no interest in looking like an old and creaky gal like me. I get that.
What we have in common is gardening, but I don't grow roses.
Yes, it was expensive because I picked someone who normally does business for the wealthy who live in the West Hartford area. I wanted a quality job done quickly with minimal hassle. Pick 2!
Having the chimney done was just like dating,in which we had a bunch of chats to learn about each other and whether or not it was worthwhile to persue a long term relationship. Smart people all have their issues. Sometimes those issues make an at arms length relationship better as you only need to put up with them for a short time. He really wanted to work for me because I was willing to trust his judgement on what would look good. Rarely does he have the opportunity to do that.
Sure, I could save money by finding someone cheaper do the job, but most the time you get what you pay for. Less experienced workers, less management expertise, or cheaper materials. As someone who works with their hands and can do all sorts of stuff, I can tell the difference. Sitting inside the house I could hear the cadence of roofers who knew what they were doing. He was amazed at how much I learned by observing. If I'm going to learn new stuff why not learn from the best? More tricks to add to my mental toolkit! Most folks wouldn't have clue. As I said before, you do you and I do me.
I have Pacific Islander olive skin that tans beautifully. Not only that, but I prefer to stay in the shade, minimizing my exposure to the sun. I was pulling crabgrass at 6AM this morning!
I have expensive Neutrogena SPF 55/60 in the car for emergencies but have decided that most of the time SPF 15 is appropriate for me when I'm outside. SPF 30 if I'm going to be outside in the sun.
Getting a light tan while wearing a variety of feminine tops; sleeveless polo, spaghetti strap, crop top, is yet another way of gendering yourself as female. Tan lines are a concern for CDs who can't have clues about dressing.
More practical than no tan, as it is easy to miss a spot that creates a tan spot that lingers on and on.
Preach it, Sister!
I have been wearing my sandals most days lately. Now my feet have tan lines. ;D
Feminizing yourself is a lot more than HRT and surgery.
Important milestones to be sure, but not the entire package!
There is a concept in birding known as "general impression" in which an experienced birder while know the identification of a bird is correct because there are a number of supporting clues that all point to a particular bird, even though none there is insufficient certainty that any of the clues by themselves are accurate. The bird may be too far off in the distance to see any marking, but one can be sure the bird is a woodpecker by the way it flies; woodpeckers literally fall off trees to catch any tasty insects before their meal hits the ground! The acceleration due to gravity is extremely consistent!
If you can't do surgery or HRT due to health reasons you may be able to learn enough social clues to present reliably as female. There are women actors like Awkwafina who have husky deep voices yet are unmistakably female. Learning to walk in heels may help you acquire a more feminine gait.
Similarly, lounging around in a dress with no underwear may help you sit down in a more feminine manner. Or maybe not. Put a mirror next to the web surfing computer and watch yourself sit!
Sometimes, just the effort of doing something can be helpful to one's attitude toward life.
Marion
I never had to adopt a feminine gait nor learn to sit like a woman. I always moved like other girls/women and was chided for it a few times. Moving into the female role meant I was now safe to literally move as I had throughout my childhood and young adulthood. You know that chair challenge that only women can do? I could always do that easy-peasy.
Quote from: Maid Marion on July 04, 2024, 05:20:16 AMLearning to walk in heels may help you acquire a more feminine gait.
Similarly, lounging around in a dress with no underwear may help you sit down in a more feminine manner. Or maybe not. Put a mirror next to the web surfing computer and watch yourself sit!
Ahh - I see you are wanting to pretend to be a woman.. you see, I am a woman and so, I just be me. Much like I tell anyone who finds themselves dealing with GD.. but as you like to say - you do you and I will do me..
Stereotypes are not the norm.
I found it extremely uncomfortable to be in the uncanny valley between male and female.
People's gender calculators would get locked up and not be able to compute my gender.
I decided to celebrate my birthday by having a lobster roll at a sit down restaurant.
I think the server appreciated that my presentation left no doubt as to my choice of gender.
Her job is tough enough as it is!
I remember how hard it was finding guy clothes when I had a 27 inch waist. I could find some 28 inch pants on eBay.
Now my waistline is four or five inches thinner and I doubt men's clothes has gotten any smaller!
There is the mindset of wearing custom made clothing. That is what Couture really means but surprisingly few people actually know that.
I'm not ready to go there.
Marion
In my case, the issue is telling folks what pronouns they should use without having to tell them what pronouns they should use!
These people aren't friends and family. They are random people I meet while out and about. On the other hand, I'm sure the server knows who I am as I've been there often enough over the years. I suppose that is why some girls move away for a fresh start rather than transitioning in place.
First off, happy birthday!
Secondly, a lobster roll is YUMMY.
Thirdly, transitioning in place is challenging and it sounds like you've met that considerable challenge and without surgery or HRT.
Lastly, happy birthday again!
Thank you Old and Creaky!
Being able to transition in place says as much about the acceptance of the community as the girl doing the transitioning. I've investing a lot of time and money to create an excellent living space for myself. In many societies a peaceful private back yard garden like mine would be a sure sign of being wealthy.
It wouldn't be a transition in place if I couldn't go out at eat at my favorite restaurants.
You're welcome, MM. FWIW, my cyberpals call me O&C. Feel free to do the same.
As a fellow gardener, I know your garden, which I've enjoyed through your photos, came from your creativity and grit rather than wealth. Of course, one can always purchase a garden hiring a designer and workers, but then it's never quite your garden.
When I started working on my garden, my general contractor said that other tradesmen had inquired about who I'd hired to do my garden.
"It's all the homeowner," he explained.
I felt good because they had assumed professionals were building it. Three years later, it's finally coming into its own, as my trees and bushes have gotten their roots under them and can focus on growing above groun, which they are. The garden is about an acre and I also own four acres of woods around the cleared area where I garden.
I was edging my lawn yesterday at sunset and spotted a cross dresser off in the distance headed my way!
Maybe 2% chance it was a GG who had no idea what would be appropriate for wearing during a heat wave in Connecticut. I put away my black boots months ago! I had plenty of time to clear the sidewalk and say hi as she went past me. I routinely say hi to all the folks who pass by as I'm working in my front yard. I saw no reason to make an exception for her.
The local grocery store sells freshly made baguettes. They are too big for me to eat in one day so I tried freezing half of it. Yesterday I made french toast with two day old bread. That was much better.
QuoteI routinely say hi to all the folks who pass by as I'm working in my front yard.
Mighty neighborly of you!
Yes, a big part of presenting female is confidence interacting with random people so I get a lot of practice doing exactly that!
Marion
Confidence is key, MM.
A stronge trait typically associated with females is the ability to read the room and tell and empathic story.
When I was at the golf course noticed that two of us had identical binoculars. It was no accident.
The other binoculars came from a father who owned four of them and was given to someone to watch the Traveler's Championship. I felt it was entirely appropriate for me to interrupt and give my take on why his father ended up with four quality of the same make and model! I thought he was at the age in which men want to understand their parents and this was an opportunity to help him out with a short concise story of how that came to be!
So, what's the story?
He read all the reviews and undoubtedly bought one on sale.
Then liked it so much that he bought another one at a good sale price.
Finally, it went on closeout and he couldn't resist buying two more!
He knew that someone would ask for his help on binoculars and his plan was to give them away to friends and relatives.
I have given away several pairs of binoculars myself. Karma has a way of lining up what I don't need with folks in need.
Shortly after my wife passed a co-worker had a house fire and lost her clothes.
Amazingly enough she wore the same sizes as my wife, so I gave the choice items to her.
Thanks, MM, for explaining.
And thanks for being kind to the woman who lost her clothes in the house fire.
Made a new friend at the Public Golf course where I practice chipping and putting. One of the regulars introduced themselves and we chatted for fifteen minutes. He likes to practice as a stress relieving activity as we all have too much stress in our lives. He recently went into the hospital for a prostate issue. He came out today as the heat wave had finally broken though the humidity is higher than the temperature! I just checked an online weather station and they agree that it is 77 degrees with 87% humidity! Mine says 88%, close enough!
I'm very unusual that I learn new things to help my golf game. Most golfers never get any better.
Marion
Two black ladies were going door to door for a milk delivery service!
I politely declined by didn't say I was lactose intolerant.
The lady said she liked my spaghetti strap rainbow mid-riff baring crop top!
She also talked to me again as they were leaving the neighborhood and I was weeding the front yard as the sun set.
They were both very fit physically and I'm sure they like to see others that take good care of their health.
Yesterday I went through the house lights and made sure I had sufficient lighting to see well.
Found a burnt out LED bulb that I replaced.
Ran a new outlet for the basement so need to use a long extension cord.
The parts are really cheap for that sort of thing if you do it yourself.
Not allowed to do stuff like that in this country, you have to be qualified. First fix is okay but connecting stuff to mains has to be done by electrician. Saying that I did wire up my workshop and my friends garden rooms but I do know how to do it (shush don't tell). There again American wiring is a bit strange, no earth and are you still on 110V?
Yes, 120V AC 3 wires is the standard. Hot, neutral, and ground.
I'm actually re-using old electrical cords and connecting them to standard electrical boxes. The box lets me add a switch near the outlet.
The flexible cord allows me to EMI/RFI protect the GFCI outlets with a ferrite toroid core.
Then I'm tacking the wire to the ceiling of the basement so I don't trip over the cord.
Finally one of the outlets powers a night light so I can see around that area without turning on a light.
I bought some deals on the Amazon Prime sale.
An epilator, illuminated globe, white RV Queen sheets, and metal oiler can to hold aluminum cutting fluid, and limited range arrows.
I've had an interest in archery for a long time had a chance to shoot some arrows on summer company outings. It may even be useful for self defense with the proper arrows, as I have the mental conditioning to hit targets under stress. I now play better golf when I'm with a group and have guys watching me.
Spent some time cleaning out the garage today so I can finally park my car inside it!
I live on a busy street so I was able to get rid of decorative metal pumps and plastic lawn chairs by hauling them out to the curb next to a "free" sign.
Got my latest electric bill. Almost $100! Not a surprise with a rate hike and running dehumidifiers constantly to prevent mold so I can store clothes in the basement. But, that is pretty reasonable considering that I'm living in a three bedroom ranch with a basement.
I was weeding the lawn at sunset wearing pigtails.
I was reminded of something that made my wife jealous.
Kids would ask me questions and I'd answer them as if the whole thing were scripted.
Happened again tonight as a mom was walking with two very young kids.
The older one asked what I was doing and I told him I was removing weeds.
What for? To make the grass grow better. The mom added that they needed to do that as well.
As an expert in answering questions I slowed down just a little and chose my phrasing to be clear.
While pulling weed out of the lawn.
Confidence is a big part of presenting female.
It wasn't until this year that I had enough confidence to ask where the ladies room was at Walmart!
Marion
Confidence is 75% plus of what passing is, sat in the pub on my own a couple of men kept looking my way. Have I been clocked? no just a woman sat on her own!
Last night was the Town Party Night. The guy who does furnace maintenance was going to the big party next door but I didn't recognize him out of uniform. I was wearing an orange gingham shirt and a green knee length skirt while pruning the roses. He spent a minute telling me who he was. I asked whether or not he went to the Extravaganza and he asked me whether I'd was going to see the fireworks that night and asked where I'd see them. He told me to go to the Golf Course up the street. Sure enough, it was a fabulous place to see the fireworks from up on the hill. The acoustics were great. We were far enough away that I didn't need to wear the high fidelity earplugs that I brought. There was an echo effect on the coming from behind me to the right. It took 1/2 hour to walk home, not bad considering the traffic.
Maybe the toughest part of transitioning is abandoning the "male ego" that prevents you from accepting any help or advice. I find that with a female presentation I'm far more likely to get useful advice or offers for help. But, many are cautious about rejection. Body language can be helpful if you can do that.
As an older gal living by myself there are times when life is so much easier if I can get help from my friends and neighbors.
I learned the names of two of my neighbors this morning. They live across the street and would like to grow roses! Socializing is a big part of being female and I seem to be doing OK at it! Remembering faces has never been easy but perhaps with less awkward conversations I'll be able to figure it out. It helps that one is the mom and the other is a daughter soI can use age differences for identification.
Marion
I talked to another neighbor walking his dog this morning who asked what I did to keep my roses looking great. I told him I spray them with a fungicide, Bayer Advanced Disease Control. It prevents them from getting Black Spot, which makes the leaves fall off.
My wife and a friend in the mental health business both thought I had autism. He was doing an internship at the state mental health facility. I spend a lot of time studying folks with autism and learned that their biggest issue by far was masking. They would spend so much time and effort trying to be normal that they would eventually burn out and crash! I think a lot of girls run into this as well, trying to act normal by hiding as male. This causes a ton of stress. Fortunately I've not had to do much of that.
I remember being embarrassed and playing sports topless. Shirts and skins. Guess what? I didn't to take off my shirt and was somehow granted an exemption to keep my shirt on. Not like it mattered as I was such a terrible athlete that I wasn't picked half the time. The other 50% of the time I was picked last.
I had lunch at Doogies wearing a skimpy crop top that showed off my midriff!
I figured it was appropriate because the restaurants on the Berlin Turnpike try to sell the seafood shack food folks normally eat when they vacationing on the Long Island Sound.
I ran yet another outlet in the basement, so I have convenient outlets everywhere!
Now I don't have to string long extension cords that become tripping hazards.
Heard the Pileated woodpecker again this morning. It likes the dead wood around my property.
So many around me have cleared the trees from their yards after winter damage that my home is a green oasis that attracts all sort of wildlife. Fortunately no deer. I trap mice in the garage. It rained so they went in there for shelter.
Clean fingernails with no polish that look good strongly gender as feminine. Guys think they look good and girls know how much work it takes to keep them clean! If you do that it helps to keep the middle finger nail the longest, and keep the thumb and pinky nails short, as that generally looks best.
Making French toast out of leftover French baguettes is working out really well. I'm learning how to cook them to just the right amount of browning in the fry pan. I cook them in butter. Then I dip them in pure Vermont Maple syrup as I eat them.
Expert birders will often confidently identify a bird via "general impression" rather than some identifying feature.
I've been working my "general impression" by getting a light feminine tan. My right shoulder is tanned the most since I missed getting sunscreen on it one day. Which is the exact opposite of a farmer's tan!
I've been using a combination of IPL, an epilator, and shaving to have very smooth skin on my legs and arms. Wearing spaghetti strap sleeveless tops helps me avoid a farmer's tan.
I bought two more sleeveless crop tops with the 30% Kohl's coupon. Both have a square neck style. One has a tropical motif and the other featured Hello Kitty!
Marion
I broke my bathroom plunger. The rubber came apart!
I bought two new ones at Home Depot. One for the sink and the other for the toilet.
The one for the sink works really well. When the sink fills with water I can pull UP to loosen the stuff that gets stuck in the pipe. Then I can work the junk back and forth to break it up.
I noticed yesterday in the mirror that efforts to reduce my beard using IPL and epilation have been successful.
Much more feminine than it was last year! Sometimes it is hard to see the changes.
Every little bit helps give me more confidence when going out in public!
Wearing pigtails is a lot better than a ponytail. One can see them from the front and not just the back.
I can also sleep with them. I bought Kitsch spiral hair ties as they are the smallest and come in pairs of different colors. Now I need pairs of matching hair ties.
My roses are doing great this year. There are spiders eating up the harmful insects! Plenty of blooms all season.
Marion
I am with you Marion on the chin hairs. I have a long way to go but every step is so satisfying. I have a lot of gray hairs so I have to mix in electrolysis. Ouch!
Picture of me before I started using the epilator two months ago.
https://imgur.com/a/Arl6eE9
Such a cutie, MM!
Thanks for sharing.
@Maid Marion
Dear Marion:
Thank you for sharing your picture....
...the epilator is doing a great job.
"no chin hairs that I can see!!!"
HUGS, Danielle
Marion,
What is the best way and when to trim a standard rose plant? Now, spring, right before winter, maybe it does not matter when? Or not trim it?
I have some of unknown variety that seems to have sprouted two feet with new side shoots in the last month.
I can lookup YouTube but I know are an expert so that is what I am asking you; however, if you know of a video out there that you think is great about this, kindly refer me to it.
Where on the plant do you make snips, where a branch starts, a few inches above that, or a few inches from the new top of the branch? Or should only old growth be cut?
Thank you,
Chrissy
Happy Thanksgiving Marion!
Chrissy
Father always said, "Trim the roses anytime you like. Just ensure you do it before the freeze, which will not permit the cut end to heal. If you wait too long the canes will be damaged by the freeze and introducing a path for disease. If it is too late in the year, then wait until spring when the saps are running and the plant can heal itself.
He also said to trim it back at least to the first grouping of five leaves, or back to the next or more grouping of 5 leaves. Cut out dead canes, but make sure they are dead, not dormant!
Marry Christmas Marion.
Chrissy
(https://i.imgur.com/PtRGsJ0.png)
The crochet crop top I've worn in the heat of summer.
A very fit 20-something GG complemented me on wearing it.
I'd suggest contacting an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian for pruning advice for you local climate.
It is very controversial but for a while the UK Rose society once suggested using hedge trimmers to prune your roses! How do you think they prune those big commercial fields of roses?
I prune roses in the dead of winter. If I see any diseased canes I prune it off.
Quote from: Maid Marion on January 20, 2025, 01:06:48 PM(https://i.imgur.com/PtRGsJ0.png)
The crochet crop top I've worn in the heat of summer.
A very fit 20-something GG complemented me on wearing it.
Hi MM,
Long time don't see, it always good to see you. That's Pretty, but it's still a bit cold up here for another month and a half for me, maybe in the warmer months.
Quote from: Maid Marion on January 20, 2025, 01:06:48 PM(https://i.imgur.com/PtRGsJ0.png)
The crochet crop top I've worn in the heat of summer.
A very fit 20-something GG complemented me on wearing it.
Good for you Marion! That was nice.
Chrissy
Filed my taxes today. First time I've used a capital gains loss to bump my tax bracket back into a lower one! US Taxes are very complicated. It can be very useful to precisely adjust one's income when paying taxes on special categories of income like long term capital gains. There is a huge difference between paying 15% tax and 0% tax! I did that successfully twenty years ago by taking a lot of deductions putting money into retirement accounts.
Now I'm doing it in reverse, figuring out how to get the money out of the retirement accounts while minimizing the taxes.
Marion
I have never filed capital gains tax, but I used to do the same thing with Schedule C Business Income and Expenses. I got audited one year and the IRS agent mentioned that I had claimed a business loss three years in a row. I said, "I never claimed to be good at it. Is there a law that says you must be good at your business?"
No. No, there is not. ;D
I did a Schedule C one year for my partner's failed business.
She passed from ALS a decade ago. :(
She was so worried about how me and my brother would handle our parent's estate.
That sort of money tears families apart.
We donated a house to set up scholarship fund in memory of our father!
It took two different meds at the same time,but I finally got my blood pressure down to normal levels. I had to change meds after retiring as my heart rate got too low without the constant work stress.
Getting back into golf after a long winter. Every year my golf swing gets better. ;D
Transitioning is a lot like growing a rose garden. It is a ton of work and requires constant maintenance but for many of us the results are worth it!
There are "easy to grow" Knockout roses but they just aren't the same as the red Veterans' Honor or the pink Signature rose.
There are constant battles with disease, bugs, and bad weather.
There are local rose clubs that can help, just as their are online forums to help with transitioning.
It certainly helps to start off with a great location with good soil, just like it helps if you have good genes for your transition.
If you have the money, removing trees will help immensely in giving roses the light they need to grow.
Much like surgical procedures, they can't be easily replaced if you change your mind.
The most famous gay person in history that I know of is Alan Turing, who broke the Enigma code in World War 2. He was granted a pardon after his death by Queen Elizabeth II and his portrait appears on the 50pound note.
Similarly, the most famous transgender person that I know of is Lynn Conway, who was an American computer scientist, electrical engineer, and transgender activist. She taught people how to design microchips, paving the way for a revolution in electronics.
My most notable transgender person has to be Jess! (Jessica Rose).
Close behind are other moderators and administrators here. Then there have been and currently are a number of active members here that would rank high, although I really do not want to rank anyone.
Jess is such a positive role model!
Virginia Prince was an early spokeswoman for many aspects of being transgender, including cross dressing. More is known now of being transgender. If I remember right, she came up with the term femmiphile as she thought the word transvestite was often being used in a derogatory manner.
Chrissy
The woman in the 'Crying Game.' She was classy and beautiful and gave me my first inkling that maybe, someday, I, too, could be classy and beautiful. In so many ways, she motivated me to take the first step of this amazing journey.
@ChrissyRyan , I don't know what I have done to earn your praise, but thank you. Many people have come before me on this site, and many will come after. I like to think I'm simply repaying the help I received from those whose footsteps I follow. Since I enjoy music, I'll add Wendy Carlos to the list. She composed the score to 'A Clockwork Orange', 'The Shining', and 'Tron'.
Love always -- Jessica Rose
Quote from: Jessica_Rose on April 06, 2025, 07:20:28 PM@ChrissyRyan , I don't know what I have done to earn your praise, but thank you. Many people have come before me on this site, and many will come after. I like to think I'm simply repaying the help I received from those whose footsteps I follow. Since I enjoy music, I'll add Wendy Carlos to the list. She composed the score to 'A Clockwork Orange', 'The Shining', and 'Tron'.
Love always -- Jessica Rose
Jess,
You just continue being you. Keep that love in your heart and let it continue to shine through your actions.
Hugs,
Chrissy
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fw9ZnkvHm.png&hash=cef0c1804e6c1228fc6265589fbd6b7822e54e7a) (https://imgur.com/w9ZnkvH)
Doogie's, a hotdog restaurant in the middle of Connecticut, has one of these Progress Pride flags hanging inside.
Easter holiday shopping at the grocery store.
This is a great time to buy ham on sale. I bought a fully cooked boneless 4 lb ham for $12.
I also got a free dozen ready to cook meatballs with that purchase, so I got 5 lbs of meat for just $12!
Grocery store routinely offer great deals around holidays. Sometimes a couple weeks in advance.
So do most big box stores. The employees would much rather have you buy sale items early rather than waiting to the last moment like everyone else.
Any roses of your blooming yet Marion?
Chrissy
In my yard the first roses are usually just before Memorial Day at the end of May.
I'm busy taking out the invasive weeds that were planted as ornamentals by former neighbors.
They were nice to look at but insist upon spreading through my rose beds via runners.
Fortunately they are under control after a lot of work and I'm taking out the last few stragglers this year.
I want to move a climbing rose and its starting to put out new growth, will it be okay to move it?
Yes, you can move it now. But the roots should roughly balance the top part, so may be sacrificing a lot of blooms moving it now versus moving it when it was dormant if you lose a lot of the root system.
I have moved Hybrid Tea and mini roses in the early spring to new locations and won trophies a couple months later!
The worst time to move a rose is just after it has bloomed.
I had a chance to meet one of top French rose growers at a National Convention.
He said that exhibiting roses isn't done in Continental Europe. It is just the UK and the USA.
Thanks, need to wait for a dry day and then move it to grow up the rose arch.
I prefer to put perhaps a foot of space between a rose and support like an arch.
Roses throw more laterals when the canes are closer to horizontal than vertical.
It is often easier to work on the canes when you have more space.
I've decided to eat out more this year.
I had lunch today at Pepe's Pizza in West Hartford.
Surprised to see only two people at one table having a long lunch at 1PM.
I had the white clam pizza and chocolate milk.
My roses are growing really well this year. So are the weeds. >:(
Not sure if the rose I moved will do any good as had to cut through the main root to get it out, mum has kept watering it.