Hi Paulie,

Good luck on getting your General Class ticket!  It should be the entry class as the Tech doesn't  offer enough useful privileges now that hams are starting with HF digital.

Marion

Good luck on the test, Paulie!

I had a very nice day today.  I spent most of yesterday cramming for the Ham General Level Test.  I passed the test this morning right at about 90% on the first try.  You can try 2 time in the same day.  A couple friends were there for their Technician Level tests, both passed.  I met a neighbor there too that I didn't know was going to be there.  He was going for his General Tag, he passed too.     

When I got back home and put on a nice navy-blue sundress with a lager blue and yellow pastel flower pattern.  It has spaghetti straps, came to just above the knees and I put on a pair of flats too.  I have some bigger projects I need to take care of but none of them could be done is a sun-dress with flats.  So, I spent the day doing a bunch of little chores in the yard.  The weather is cooling down a bit but it was still a very pleasant day and I really enjoyed being out in the dress. 

Tomorrow's going to be a denim skirt or shorts, a heavier cotton tank or t-shirt.  Oh and work boots too. Stuff I can get dirty in. 

Paulie,

Dirty day for me as well working on my hot rod, work trousers, old work polo and sweat shirt. Logo is stitched in so have to put up with it but they were free when I retired! Steel toe cap work boots as well, you get used to them after 54 years-------

Well, it's been a while since I've been here to update my blog.  Mix between being very busy and too tired, both mental and physical. I've been on Susan's off and on in the past few months.  Mostly to scan the recent activity and reply if time allowed.  I have fallen behind on keeping up with some of the other member's posts that I had been following.  I hope to do some catching up but winters coming and I have so much to do still.  Funny, Autumn arrives tomorrow and I concerned about winter. 

I have two 4-wheel drive vehicles that need work before the snow arrives.  One is my plow truck.  It had an issue with the transfer case but was still drivable, now the clutch linkage is out and it's not drivable.  I'll probably have a neighbor look at these two vehicles, I hear he does good work.  I have another vehicle that needs some work too.  I'll probably do that one.

I have some windows that I should replace and I need to get fire wood too.  I'll cut some, buy and stack the rest.  I need to get some gravel on the driveway.  The driveway is 700ft long and is way over due for gravel.  There's other work that should be done before the gravel is put down but that's not going to happen.  I also need to change propane companies and get the septic tank pumped.   

Overall, the above doesn't sound too bad, but I need to finish setting up the greenhouse too.  The greenhouse is what's put me so far behind for the last year.  We bought a 14 by 29 ft greenhouse on a whim. That 4.3 x 8.8 in meters.   We had wanted a greenhouse but probably would not have gotten one this large except that a great deal came our way.  Putting the greenhouse up was quite an ordeal of which I may go into on another post. 

There's still a number of items regarding the greenhouse I need to take care of before winter.  It's about 200 feet from the house and I need to get water and electracy to it.  We do freeze here in the winter so I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with the water yet.  I also need to expand the electric fence to include the greenhouse and garden area.  We have bears in the area. They got into the chick coop last fall and we lost most of the hens.  When they get hungry in the winter the greenhouse will become a target.

So, on top of all that, my wife had 2 knee replacements (planed). Wound up in the hospital for a week (un-planed), and has some other medical issues to boot.    My mother wound up in the hospital twice.  Mom is 92 and has dementia.  Last November we moved her to where I could better take care of her (another long story).  She's in a great group home so I'm not doing 7/24 care, but she requires a lot of time none the less.  I also make time just to spend with her. 

We had three dogs but lost the young one a couple of months back to some intestinal issue.  Many days at the vet and lots' of $ latter and we never figured out what it was.  She was a real sweet heart and we miss her dearly.  The old lady of the bunch was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago, but damn she just keeps on going.  Bless her, you'd never know there was anything wrong with her.  The other gal has always had some kind of issue going. The last was a growth on her left arm.  We had it remove last Wednesday and are still waiting on the biopsy to see if it was cancerous.
   
Part of the problem time wise is that I'm still working.  Actually, other than taking up a lot of my time, work is good.  I've become more valuable as of late at my job and demand for what I do has increased greatly in the last few years.  My manager lets me do my job with very little oversite and I can pretty much come and go as I need.  I'm careful not to abuse and take unfair advantage of my situation.  What I do has also change over the last few years and I enjoy what I do much more.  I'm very thankful to be in the place that I am. 

So, all caught up for now. 

It's late, no time to proof read this, pleases excuse the grammar errors.

Warm Regards,

Paulie.




 

Thank you for your update Paulie.
Lots going on.  It is good to be needed, at work and other places.
Sorry about the loss of your dog.
The health issues can be tough too.
Hope you get the gravel you need too.
I also hope your vehicles get into tip top working order.
Do stock up on the wood.  Unsure about your windows.  Do the frames need replacing or just the glass? Sometimes just the glass inserts need replacing, if you have the windows that use them.
It would be a good time to get wood and to pump out the septic.

Nice to hear from you.

Chrissy

Busy on then dear, hope you get the house stuff done before winter.

Thanks for the update. It is always good for us to read an update even if it is not all good news. Take your time and do what you need to do. Once winter sets in, hopefully, things will slow down so you can focus on work and play.

Hugs!

This Thursday will be my year and a half checkup since starting HRT.  Well 17 months actually, not sure how that happened.  The lab work should be there and I expect everything to stay the same dose wise.  I'm a healthy B cup and still tender, so still growing I hope.  Maybe a little less body hair growth, though it's hard to tell since I've taken care of most of that with ILP many years ago.  The hair on my head feels a little fuller but that could just be wishful thinking.

As I mentioned before, I'm on a very lose dose of spironolactone.  This is due to low blood pressure (it's always been low).  I'm thinking of asking about a different androgen blocker during the visit.  I posted an article on spiro a while back and Lori Dee has cautioned me about it too.  I'm going to have to do a little research before Thursday morning.

Paulie.

18-month HTR follow up didn't go well.

The Dr's assistant that normally takes me back to the exam room came out and asked for another patient.  That got my attention but I didn't think much of it.  Minutes later another Dr's assistant came out and took me back. Weighted me, had me sit, and brough up my chart.  Then she asked what are we seeing you for?  I said "really?"  I was dumbfounded that she as asking about a follow up appointment that I was told to make. 

She said doctor "not my doctor" needs .....   I'm not sure exactly what she said after that cause I stopped her and I said my doctor is "my doctor".  She said your appointment is with doctor "not my doctor".  I said - I made an appointment with doctor "my doctor". She said there must have been a scheduling conflict, you're seeing doctor "not my doctor".   I sat back and let out a big sigh. 

I'm thinking to myself, I'm not going to do this.  I'm not explaining the last two years to someone new so they can try to make a credible evaluation of where I'm at.  Epically since I wanted to discuss changing androgen blockers.     

Before I could object the assistant offered to reschedule my appointment with "my doctor".
The next open appointment was on the 9th of October.  Two weeks away.  I was bummed but I took it.  She took me out and asked the gal at the desk to schedule me for the 9th. 

The gal at the front was a real sweat heart.  When she found out I had not been seen, she found me an appointment for next Monday, the 30th.  She made my day; it didn't matter so much that I have to wait the weekend.  I was a little disappointed but it didn't ruin my day.

Warm Regards,

Paulie. 

I think you did the right thing.

I would have demanded to see MY doctor. At the start of my transition, on every visit, I saw some different new intern. I said I wanted to see someone that I could visit with every time and who knows me, so we don't waste an hour answering the same questions that are already in my chart.

I am proud of you for standing up for yourself. You go, Girl!

I had my follow up with my GP today and it went well.  I told her that I was looking to get off spiro and gave her a couple of other anti-androgen that I was interested in.  She said my first choice wasn't really appropriate for what I needed.  She was fine with the other so, now I'm on Finasteride along with my Estradiol.  My Estradiol dose didn't change and I was told I'm good for another 3 months.  It Would have been 6 months but for the med change. 

My results were good on Estradiol and Spiro, but I'm really looking forward to trying the Finasteride.  We're using it "Off Label" but the common side effects are what we're looking for. 

Paulie..

Quote from: Paulie on October 01, 2024, 01:13:20 AMI had my follow up with my GP today and it went well.  I told her that I was looking to get off spiro and gave her a couple of other anti-androgen that I was interested in.  She said my first choice wasn't really appropriate for what I needed.  She was fine with the other so, now I'm on Finasteride along with my Estradiol.  My Estradiol dose didn't change and I was told I'm good for another 3 months.  It Would have been 6 months but for the med change. 

My results were good on Estradiol and Spiro, but I'm really looking forward to trying the Finasteride.  We're using it "Off Label" but the common side effects are what we're looking for. 

Paulie..

Paulie,

It is good to have constructive, informative conversations with your medical doctors.  I am on both the F and E, tablets.  F is often not considered to be an anti androgen per se, but it helps me with my head hair for sure, and it may have the side benefit for some as an anti androgen.  Only your MD, lab tests, and you may know for sure!

Chrissy

Finasteride is like Spiro in that it is not a testosterone blocker. Like Paulie said, it is used off-label because it has ant-androgen effects. It is stronger than Spiro, so hopefully you will benefit from it. It didn't work for me because it messes with all of your hormones. Spiro and Finasteride have their effects by messing with the 5a-reductase enzyme. That has the effect of reducing testosterone but also messes with estradiol, progesterone, and others. Everyone's body chemistry is different, so it may be enough of a tweak to get levels where they need to be. After four years I dropped both Spiro and Finasteride and was put on leuprolide injections. That blocks T production at the source and works for me. But it is expensive, so not everyone can go that route.

All packed for my trip to San Diego tomorrow and in bed.  Two others from work will be at the hotel so the only extra thing I packed was a night gown for the room.  I did pick out a nice cami and bra to wear under my blouse tomorrow.  Some women might notice its a blouse but it's a style that most men wouldn't.  The blouse for the following day has darts on the sides in the bust area.  These are not really that noticeable, and if I keep my over shirt on they are pretty much hidden.  I often wear a light weight unbuttoned shirt in place of a jacket in air conditioned buildings.

Normally I wear pull over tops but out on business I try to wear button up tops.

Warm Regards.

Paulie.

The Trip to San Diego went as expected, except the flight back.  It was delayed about 5 hours and I didn't get home until after midnight.

It was just a 2 day trip, and on this trip there were 2 coworkers from Las Vegas along.  We all stayed at the customers Hotel, so other then in my room there was no opportunity to dress and get out. 

I have another trip at the end of the month to Las Vegas.  It's a 3 day trip, and on the first day I'll be on my own, no coworkers.  So when I'm done, I'll be going to my hotel on my own.  I'm staying at one of the bigger casinos and it has several restaurants.  I'm hoping that I'm comfortable enough to put on a denim skirt or my skinny jeans and some heels and get dinner. Then to hang out a little on the casino floor.  Maybe have a cup of coffee or a beer and find a place to read a book. 

The second day I'll be out with a coworker so I'm sure well have dinner together and that I'll get back to the casino much latter.  I'm still hoping to hang out in the casino some that evening. 

I have a couple of nicer looking high waisted denim skirts that I'd feel comfortable wearing out.

Paulie.

I'm mostly packed for my trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday.  Three skirt options, one pair of skinny jeans and 5 tops, 2 pair of shoes.  I may bring a simple dress too.  I don't get to wear skirts and dresses out in my home town.  I also will not be wearing them while I'm working in Las Vegas.  I will have one dinner by myself on one if the nights, two if I'm lucky.  I'll be with a co-worker on the second day and he'll probably want to join me for dinner.  He's a nice guy and I enjoy his company so it'll be nice whichever way it goes.  I'm planning spending some time down to the casino floor in the evening to have a beer, just to get out again. 

If there's a coffee shop in the casino that opens early enough, I may dress up and go down for breakfast too.  If not, I'll just dress up and go down to get a cup of coffee to bring back up to my room like I did last time. 

The last time I was in Las Vegas it was very hard to leave the room dressed up for the first time.  It was easer the second time, but that was just to get a cup of coffee in the morning to bring up to my room.  I'm think (hope) it will be easer this time.     

For a short time today, I thought my customer for the third day was going to canceled on me.  When they found out I couldn't change my schedule they made arrangement to accommodate me.   If they had canceled it would not have made sense to stay over the third day.   I would have lost my second night out.  It also would have made the whole trip less worthwhile for my employer. 

Paulie.

I think that the more time you get to spend out the less apprehensive you will be about it. I used to spend hours getting ready so that I felt everything looked just right. The more I was out and nothing bad happened, reinforced my confidence that it was ok to look the way I wanted to. Then there were times when I spent little to no effort and still got gendered correctly, and that helped boost my confidence too. It is just a matter of training your brain to relax and be yourself. Realize that you are not putting on a show for anyone, but just doing what makes you feel good. Others can take it or leave it. It is their decision on how they react, so I tend to ignore them unless I am directly interacting with them. Even that has gotten easier over time. Enjoy your time out.

I got pretty comfortable this week wearing skirts out in Las Vegas.  Enough that I thought I'd wear one home on the plane.  I figured what are the odds of someone I know seeing me on the plane or in the airport.  So when I finished working I put on a slim fitting mid thigh denim shirt that went well with the nice business type blouse and a sweater vest I had on.  Then I headed for the car rental return and the airport. 

Everything went fine until I got to the baggage claim.  I had just gotten my second bag off the carousel when a woman came up beside me and leaned in.  She very politely whispered that she needed to tell me, that my skirt was split up the back.  She tried to make me feel better by telling me that it happened to her once too.

I pulled a shirt out of one of my bags and wrapped it around my waist and headed for the parking garage.  I tried to figure out where it split as I waked to the garage.  I think it may have happened when I sat down in the plane, but that might just be wishful thinking.  Oddly enough I was more bothered that it was one of my favorite skirts that split than I was that it happened in public. 

Quote from: Paulie on October 26, 2024, 12:14:46 AMI got pretty comfortable this week wearing skirts out in Las Vegas.  Enough that I thought I'd wear one home on the plane.  I figured what are the odds of someone I know seeing me on the plane or in the airport.  So when I finished working I put on a slim fitting mid thigh denim shirt that went well with the nice business type blouse and a sweater vest I had on.  Then I headed for the car rental return and the airport. 

Everything went fine until I got to the baggage claim.  I had just gotten my second bag off the carousel when a woman came up beside me and leaned in.  She very politely whispered that she needed to tell me, that my skirt was split up the back.  She tried to make me feel better by telling me that it happened to her once too.

I pulled a shirt out of one of my bags and wrapped it around my waist and headed for the parking garage.  I tried to figure out where it split as I waked to the garage.  I think it may have happened when I sat down in the plane, but that might just be wishful thinking.  Oddly enough I was more bothered that it was one of my favorite skirts that split than I was that it happened in public. 

Oh my, I am sorry that happened to your skirt.

Chrissy