Thanks Jenn! I certainly have no issue advocating for myself but that info is very helpful. Anything "hella hard to get off" is not what I'm looking for as I'm exploring whether or not I'm a fan. 😉

My niece is in labor (a bit on the nose today, I know) with her first child - so I am baking a lasagna so that she and her hubby will have some ready to eat meals when they get home.
Of course, being me, as I was planning to do this I figured that you can't have dinner without dessert, so I'm also baking cookies ...

Great aunt Allie (thought I would slip that in!!!) Its okay I am a great great aunty.

If Allie and Davina teamed up for a Cooking Channel:

"Are you ready for an easy weeknight meal?"

Me: YES!

"You'll probably even have most of the ingredients on hand."

Me: Awesome.

"OK, start by milking your goat."

Me:  WUT?

Quote from: davina61 on September 02, 2024, 04:59:47 PMGreat aunt Allie (thought I would slip that in!!!) Its okay I am a great great aunty.

This is way beyond the first child from a nephew or niece... on my side alone there are eight already, on my wife's there are at least five (I may have missed one).

But this one is the first since I would be an "auntie" I guess... plus this niece is my favorite. And that's just how that goes. 

Quote from: imallie on September 02, 2024, 03:36:20 PMThanks Jenn! I certainly have no issue advocating for myself but that info is very helpful. Anything "hella hard to get off" is not what I'm looking for as I'm exploring whether or not I'm a fan. 😉

Places I use charge you $10 to get gel off or remove the old free with a new round. Gel looks great longer. Gel is hard on your nail beds.

BTW, I realized you need some polish remover too. I assume Mrs Allie will share hers.

~Jenn

Allie, I don't know what the phrase upthread means. Latin?


As much as Jenn knows, I'm the utter opposite, so here's my salon advice:

Quote from: Jenn104 on September 03, 2024, 09:34:42 AMPlaces I use charge you $10 to get gel off or remove the old free with a new round. Gel looks great longer. Gel is hard on your nail beds.

BTW, I realized you need some polish remover too. I assume Mrs Allie will share hers.

~Jenn

Yeah she has these cool wipes that we use, they're pretty great (I've previously used them when she's done my toes for the beach!)

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 03, 2024, 02:22:05 PMAllie, I don't know what the phrase upthread means. Latin?


As much as Jenn knows, I'm the utter opposite, so here's my salon advice:

Ego corydon ergo deridetis


"I am a clown, therefore I make you laugh"

But my Latin is both rusty and lousy... so it could be wrong.

Heard from my PCP this evening... he said he'd be happy to write the letter I need for bottom surgery. Of course, It don't really need a letter per se from him, but more a referral with a bunch of info... but he said he thinks it would work better as a letter of support so he asked me why I wanted surgery in my own words, and so I let him know.

He's always been really supportive.. of my headaches, and now of this... but he always wants to play a roll... which is great too. No buts, other than... as long as his letter ALSO lists all my meds, how long I've been on hormones, etc.. all the other stuff he is supposed to do in his letter.  I gently reminded him in my reply. 

We'll see.

Have a session with my therapist in the morning, so I will light the fire under her on her letter... and also ask her to do the notarized affidavit I need in order to change my birth certificate.  So... hopefully this will be a productive week!

Love,
Allie

Quote from: imallie on September 03, 2024, 07:38:17 PMEgo corydon ergo deridetis


"I am a clown, therefore I make you laugh"

But my Latin is both rusty and lousy... so it could be wrong.

Thanks. I googled it, but nothing popped up.

You're a bullet transition train. I admire your efficiency.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 04, 2024, 02:57:19 AMThanks. I googled it, but nothing popped up.

You're a bullet transition train. I admire your efficiency.

I put it through google translate.

I am a clown, therefore I make you laugh:

ego sum Corydon ergo ego deridetis

So I was ... close, I guess? LOL. Not very really! But I tried..

Well, just coming out of one of the longer clusters in some time... clocking in at a just over 60 min. They're normally 30-45 min these days... and when you're talking about that kind of pain, every minute is like a week. So I feel like I spent six hours in a washing machine -- and NOT on "delicates."

So I just took a big dose of my pain meds and figured I'd come here and post to distract myself in hopes they would kick in. If not... this will be a sleepless night. Nights like this are like those space shuttle re-entry protocols (at least in the movies) - there is this paper-thin window for a safe re-entry otherwise they burn up in the atmosphere. For me, either this pain med hits just right AND I get sleepy and can go right out.. or I'll be up and restless.

*sigh* so... a few updates from today/yesterday.

Had a session with my therapist.

She will get right on writing me the letter I need to get a consult for bottom surgery. Assuming my PCP does what he said he'd do the other night, I should be home free.

I also asked her if she wouldn't mind filling out a form (and getting it notarized) so I could update my birth certificate -- and she's happy to do that as well. I'm in no rush on that one, but why not?

We talked a little today about guilt/imposter syndrome... not sure what to call it exactly. I've had some friends and family members mention in passing lately that they thought I should write a book on my transition experience. Partly, yes, because of my background as a writer, but moreso because of how swimmingly it's been going and perhaps people would find it helpful.

As I said to my therapist:

I do believe that I approached this whole this in a really measured, methodical and level-headed way. I assembled an excellent team, I never got out over my skiis on anything, and always tried to see things from not only my perspective but the perspective of those with whom I would interact. I also spent a lifetime building up good will with a strong, deep core of friends, and filling buckets with love and compassion with friends and family means you have a lot to draw on in your times of need.

And all of that? It accounts for like 4% of my so-called "success". The rest is due to my amazing wife.

So my book would be really short. Two words actually: "Marry well."

Don't always feel that way... honest. Today was just one of those days. Tomorrow won't be.

Ok, pills kicking in, but feeling awful still. Not great.Even so, going to lay down.

'night all.

Love,
Allie

Hope you had a better kip than I did, sneaky that leading you into a false sense of security and then WHAM hits you with a big one.

QuoteSo my book would be really short. Two words actually: "Marry well."

Ha! I had the same thought as soon as I read "should write a book."

But no way does she account for 96% of your success. You've played a BIG part, as have your friends and relations. You're so grounded. You are mag pragmatic.

You'd write a heckuva book, but that book has already been written, again and again, as you know.

So sad for your night of pain. I had ONE migraine my entire life and that walloped me. I truly can't imagine what you endure.

Quote from: Oldandcreaky on September 05, 2024, 05:29:20 AMHa! I had the same thought as soon as I read "should write a book."

But no way does she account for 96% of your success. You've played a BIG part, as have your friends and relations. You're so grounded. You are mag pragmatic.

You'd write a heckuva book, but that book has already been written, again and again, as you know.

So sad for your night of pain. I had ONE migraine my entire life and that walloped me. I truly can't imagine what you endure.

Thanks. Yeah, and the thing about such books is — and I've honestly never read a single one — is they're all simply a recipe for how THAT person transitioned. Not how someone else should. This is not a "buy off the rack" kind of process, it's very much custom tailored.

I'm glad you can't imagine what I endure, wouldn't want anyone to do so. For those who have experienced migraines (as I do too, for as I've mentioned, about 14 hours per day) by way of context — a migraine is to a cluster as a matchstick is to the core of the earth. I suppose they both are bright? But otherwise their intensity is not even measured on the same scales.

But even so, the body and mind can adjust to anything if it's in a routine.... And these clusters are nothing if not punctual. So there's that.

Quote from: davina61 on September 05, 2024, 03:51:09 AMHope you had a better kip than I did, sneaky that leading you into a false sense of security and then WHAM hits you with a big one.

What kept you up, Davina? Hope it wasn't something too too bad?

The ugly side-effects of being sleep deprived:

So I got 1:35 of sleep last night, but I had to get up early to meet my former boss for coffee. Well, to watch him drink coffee... I don't drink it. But I do drink tea on occasion, and we were checking out a new place - a branch of MOTW Coffee opened in our town. I'd read about them - spreading a message of peace and love for all peoples kinda vibe (MOTW = Muslims of the World) plus they're supposed to be on point with their beverages and treats.

So I got a chai - I'm used to Starbucks' Chai Lattes. This Yemeni Chai was so not like that. It was incredible. So much less sugary but equally flavorful and really wonderful. I loved it. And as a non-caffeine drinker, even the moderate amount in a Chai was enough to give me a little boost. Or so I thought.

End of prologue.

After our coffee I went to CVS to pick up a b-day card for the wife (hers is Sunday). As mentioned previously, she and I have been studying Spanish in anticipation of our Cancun holiday next April. So when I came across Spanish b-day cards, I thought that would be hilarious AND educational. And I grabbed one. I feel 95% certain it does NOT say "go ->-bleeped-<- yourself with a cupcake".  Ok, 85%.

Anyway, when I got home, I texted it to one of my sisters who I thought would get a kick out of it. HOWEVER, in my tired state I did not notice that the last time I'd texted this particular sister was when it was a little text chain with her AND my wife — so I also sent the card to my wife.

She responded by laughing, of course... and thought it was great. But now, obviously, the whole thing is ruined.

Cannot unring that particular bell.

Mi esposa es muy bonita y inteligente. Ella esposa es muy estupida. 🙄

(BTW, the above is not bad for 8 days, right? Duolingo is pretty good!!)

Oh hey, something nice. That little tester of Gucci Bloom perfume I ordered arrived today (which is perfect, as we're leaving for a few days at the beach early in the morning).

Bought it smell un smelt (is that the equivalent of "sight unseen"? My best guess...) and I have to say I love it. Sweet, flowery but neither sickly nor powdery not "old ladyish"... it hits right for me.

Be interesting to see what my wife thinks. Because obviously how it reacts to my body chemistry is the real test. And unlike the Spanish birthday card, I didn't blow this... so I just put a little on and so when she gets home we'll see how long it takes for her to notice and what her reaction is.

If she goes "ewww. Do you smell that?" Well, then, I will have my unvarnished answer right away... 😂

Quote from: imallie on September 05, 2024, 02:26:26 PMIf she goes "ewww. Do you smell that?" Well, then, I will have my unvarnished answer right away... 😂

A sneaky trick is to use a very small amount of her perfume with yours. We become "nose blind" to our own scents. If she doesn't care for yours, maybe a little mashup will change her mind.