Quote from: imallie on August 08, 2024, 02:17:17 PMWell Lester and gloster I really think we're saying them the same way but with different accents.  With  Lester liester I have friends that live in the town who pronounce it each way


It's like Shrewsbury which I know gets pronounced many ways over there too. Same here!

It's because we use the letter "E" somewhat differently to you folks across the pond. We don't use the "-ce" as a separate syllable. Worcester... "The "Worce" is pronounced as "Worse" So tack on the "Ster" after and you get "Worster". Which, I mean some people might say it is, lol. But that's the diffence in language.

Well because I watch a lot of british TV, I hear you guys pronouncing "our" towns all the time. I'm used to it. 😉

Quote from: imallie on August 08, 2024, 03:56:16 PMWell because I watch a lot of british TV, I hear you guys pronouncing "our" towns all the time. I'm used to it. 😉

To be fair, you make it kind of easy, lol. It's only the English who butchered the English Language.

By the way, I'm attempting to make tofu steaks for dinner. I don't mean that in the "ooh I'm fooling you! It's really tofu!" But more in the knife and fork, oven roasted dark seasoned slab of protein.

About to go in the oven. Lots of ways this could go horribly wrong. But for us, there is only the trying... right?

Quote from: imallie on August 08, 2024, 03:59:04 PMBy the way, I'm attempting to make tofu steaks for dinner. I don't mean that in the "ooh I'm fooling you! It's really tofu!" But more in the knife and fork, oven roasted dark seasoned slab of protein.

About to go in the oven. Lots of ways this could go horribly wrong. But for us, there is only the trying... right?

As a massive carnivore.. can I ask.. why?

Quote from: Sephirah on August 08, 2024, 04:01:34 PMAs a massive carnivore.. can I ask.. why?

We're carnivores too.. but variety is the spice of life. We like tofu when it's prepared right, and I think eating should always be about trying new things, or preparing things you like in new ways.

But that's just me!

The only time I tried Tofu... I was like "You're trying too hard to please people deprived of a bacon sandwich!"

Which is ironic because my best friend on this earth... the other half of my soul... she is vegan.

I cannot do it, lol. I think I would go insane to have a diet without meat

Quote from: Sephirah on August 08, 2024, 09:10:22 PMI cannot do it, lol. I think I would go insane to have a diet without meat

"I know what you mean," Lori nods as she sprinkles bacon bits on her breakfast cereal. 

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 08, 2024, 09:14:13 PM"I know what you mean," Lori nods as she sprinkles bacon bits on her breakfast cereal. 

You made me legit laugh out loud. Thank you so much.

We don't have bacon bits in the UK. At least not where I am... that's a criminal offence!

Quote from: Sephirah on August 08, 2024, 09:10:22 PMThe only time I tried Tofu... I was like "You're trying too hard to please people deprived of a bacon sandwich!"

Which is ironic because my best friend on this earth... the other half of my soul... she is vegan.

I cannot do it, lol. I think I would go insane to have a diet without meat

Oh yeah, me either.

I've had some lovely vegan meals. I love someone who can do creative stuff with vegetables... but to give up meat entirely? Hard pass.

Found a lower leg of lamb with a reduced sticker yesterday, that will get cubed with some frozen. Lamb and spinach curry once I have finished the apricot chicken.

Quote from: davina61 on August 09, 2024, 03:26:56 AMFound a lower leg of lamb with a reduced sticker yesterday, that will get cubed with some frozen. Lamb and spinach curry once I have finished the apricot chicken.

Lamb and spinach curry sounds delicious Davina! Lamb is one protein we don't eat often enough — for no real reason.

Your welcome to pop over for a bowl full, use by date on the lamb was today and it only just made the 800g for the recipe. Bone and trimmings frozen for stock. It always tastes better after a few days in the fridge as the spices mature.

Nice day!
Had my first full salon visit (the first time my topper had to be un-beaded, then re-beaded - or "the full magilla" as I called it) and the whole thing with a a shampoo and style and lots of chatting was still an hour.

Such a great place. Love my stylist, and the whole crew there. We somehow were all sharing sauce and meatball making secrets... then vacation plans.. and some of the younger gals were talking about Tik Tok stuff which just flew straight over my head.

Speaking of my head - seeing myself sans topper for the first time in 5+ weeks was a bit jarring. But this place caters to women who experience hair loss, so not just trans women... and also 75% of their business is normal salon stuff. But my point is it's really comfortable.

In fact, when I was waiting, a woman who worked there approached me because the owner sent her over. She was just new to wearing a topper and wanted to ask some advice because mine looked good and how often did I wash it, etc... and so we chatted a bit.  The owner then asked if I'd be willing to do some videos for them and I said sure.  The topper-lady was the videographer on the project, and when my topper came off I think was the first time she realized I was trans. 😂

Which means as good as I think I look, I don't pass with extreme male pattern baldness. I can totally live with that. No sleep lost here.

My stylist said the topper looks great, and I should be able to get 8 months to a year out of it, easily the way I've been caring for it. It's definitely lightened up with the sun in the summer... and she said maybe in the fall she might tint it a bit darker. I trust her 100%.

It's funny, when I was updating her about all that was going on with me, I mentioned I was starting to look into surgery and she leaned in and whispered "Please don't do anything to your face! You look sooo feminine already! You don't need to do anything. Trust me!"

It was very nice that she said that, but I was not sure at first why she was whispering. But then I put my glasses back on, and realized there was a cis woman at a station behind me who had more plastic surgery done than any person I'd ever seen in person. And it. Was. Not. Good.

All the stylist were saying things like "oh sweetie, if you husband loves you that's all that matters, you don't need to do THAT"... so I don't know what she was talking about doing next.

But I think mine was saying that in a whisper so as not to make it sound like she was anti surgery to hurt that lady's feelings. Which is sweet.

Oh, and then I came home to an Amex card with my new name AND an insurance card with the same.  So... the wallet is filling up!

Love,
Allie

The AMEX card makes it official. Sounds like you had a great day!

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 10, 2024, 04:02:00 PMThe AMEX card makes it official. Sounds like you had a great day!

Thanks! With how often I use Applepay the Amex will seldom be physically seen much but it's piece of mind. The insurance card is very helpful. Once I get Medicare too then I can get things like CVS changed and update all my drs and various and sundry hospitals and clinics. 

Quote from: imallie on August 10, 2024, 05:37:16 PMThanks! With how often I use Applepay the Amex will seldom be physically seen much but it's piece of mind. The insurance card is very helpful. Once I get Medicare too then I can get things like CVS changed and update all my drs and various and sundry hospitals and clinics. 

You misunderstand. Take the AMEX card to the passport office. That's all the proof they need. 

OK, maybe not.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 10, 2024, 05:39:00 PMYou misunderstand. Take the AMEX card to the passport office. That's all the proof they need. 

OK, maybe not.

Methinks you over-estimate the power of my gold card. 😘

At dinner tonight, my wife caught me staring off wresting with a thought.

"Something to share?" She asked.

I crinkled my nose and shook my head. "It's one of those things that's fully formed in my brain, and makes completely sense to me... but I fear that if said out loud it will sound..."

"Stupid?" She asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Try me."

So I did.

You all just need to take my word for this... my family, is very attractive. My three older sisters are quite pretty. Growing up, some of my friends used to always want to come to my house to do stuff, just to catch glimpses of my sisters. Even in their 60's and early 70's, they're all still beautiful and look 20 years younger than their age.

My younger brother — from whom the whole family is estranged and to whom I'm not spoken for 10 years? — well he may have gone a bit nuts with things, but he was a model as a kid, and was on a major network soap opera, and dated a few famous actresses (that we know of) as an adult.

All that is to say, my whole life I felt like I got the fuzzy end of the lollipop.

Until... now. For the first time in my life, I actually feel like I fit in with the rest of my family. When I look in the mirror I see someone who is attractive like my sibs. So it's not just that I'm thrilled that I look as good as I do, but I look so much better as a woman than I did as a guy.

And as I was saying this to my wife, HER nose began to crinkle a bit.

"But," I continued "I know you probably don't really agree with that so much... because of course you thought I was adorable before...."

"Correct," she said, smiling, excited to see how I walked myself out of this.

"And really, I just think this is about how I FELT about myself before versus how I feel about myself now"

She just smiled and we went back to our meals.

Allie,

I understand how you feel because I feel the same way about myself. That I am a better looking women then I ever die as a male.

Ellen