@Emma1017
Dear Emma;
Thank you for sharing your good news regarding being approved as a substitute teacher again.... 

Now, about your Avatar Photo, I will be eagerly watching for it.

HUGS, Danielle

Quote from: Emma1017 on August 31, 2025, 03:29:18 PMI needed to change my avatar photo.  I couldn't get Lori's comparison to the Cheshire Cat out of my head, kind of like a "worm" photo.

I got my official email notice today that I am ok to substitute teach again...clearly they are maintaining their low standards. 

I am truly looking forward to it but I am sure there are children bemoaning the end of summer everywhere.

Emma, you look phenomenal in that photo. Truly.

The children will soon be glad to see you, especially when the summer weather vanishes. I always enjoyed substitute teachers.

Love the photo, Emma. That color suits you, and the Cheshire Cat has nothing on your smile. Sorry. 

So glad you will be going back to teaching again. There may be kids bemoaning the end of summer, but I think there will be many very happy to see you in front of the class. "Thank God we didn't get Mr. Higgenbottom again!" 

There was a great commercial for a school supply company that had a mother wheeling a shopping cart, dragging her kids behind her to the Christmas tune "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Really made me laugh.

Quote from: Emma1017 on September 02, 2025, 08:42:28 AMThere was a great commercial for a school supply company that had a mother wheeling a shopping cart, dragging her kids behind her to the Christmas tune "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Really made me laugh.

I love it. 

I got an email from the stylist who helped me find a dress for my cruise last March.  She had a great quote:

 
I love it!

Emma,


Have a wonderful week!


Chrissy

Oh Chrissy, have a great week too! And throw in the month to boot!

Quote from: Emma1017 on September 09, 2025, 06:09:48 PMOh Chrissy, have a great week too! And throw in the month to boot!

Sound good, and thoughtful.

Chrissy

I am glad the summer is over.  For the last 30 years, my family has had a summer beach bungalow in Rockaway, NY, home to one of the highest concentrations of Irish Catholics in the US.  There is nothing wrong with that except it is very conservative, with outbursts of Trump supporters waving flags on their lawns.

When I thought I was cisgender, I thought I fit in...kind of...ok, not really, but I never knew why.

Now I know.

My wife and I found a comfortable compromise so we can stay together.  Anyone who has kept up with my boring monologue on this website knows that I decided that presenting as cisgender hurts less than fully transitioning and destroying the most important person in my life.  It is my firm decision, and it works, except in the summer when I feel like I am drowning in a pool of social testosterone.

During the summer, I am the guy's guy.  Everyone here knows what I mean. We have all done the role.
I actually have fun during the summer.  My wife and I laugh every day together.  She is as angry with the Trumpites as I am, but most are great neighbors.  They would do anything for you, but we know that if I came out, it would all be at an end. 

We both don't want it.

But there are those moments when I just want to scream, you all know why, but fortunately, the summer is over.  We are back in Brooklyn, with big neighborhoods and a great blend of people, who don't need to know your business. 

I got a pedicure where the women all know me as Emma and missed me.  I start teaching again at the LGBTQ school. I am going to meet up with my girlfriend, Jenn, who will tell me about her new boyfriend, and go shopping with me. 

I other words, I get back to normal and Emma gets out of hiding.

I have had a "blokey" week cleaning my workshop up to my neck (and beyond as the hair wash water was black!) in dirt, dust and car parts. Over the weekend I will be one of the hot rod girls, how does that song go? lipstick, powder and paint! Its a proper retro weekend ,pre 70 dragsters, gassers and rockabilly bands. Now which  way is the diner--------

Quote from: davina61 on September 10, 2025, 09:22:12 AMNow which  way is the diner--------

You misspelled "pub". 

Stopping by to give you a giant hug, Emma. I know today is always hard for you.

And massive hugs for all my friends across the pond. Some people might try and ruin relationships, but for the common people... it's as strong as it ever was. Don't listen to all the nonsense.

<3

Thanks, Lauren.  For me, 9/11 is massively personal.  Not only did I lose many friends that day, but I continue to lose them to the cancers that have followed them even now.

I parked my car in the North Tower parking lot and hustled uptown to grab my notes for my 10 am meeting in the South Tower. I was lucky.  So many weren't.

Had a meeting with the principal at the LGBTQ school where I substitute teach, and I was warmly greeted by teachers and students while I waited outside his office.

It made me feel like part of the school and that I am in the right place. I am looking forward to the year ahead.

Sadly, their budget was cut again this year.  For example, they were given paint to paint the school halls, but no budget to hire painters, plus they cut two teaching positions.

I am trying to convince them to start a GoFundMe campaign.

I wonder if the parents would be willing to donate a Saturday to get it done.

Lori, that is a great idea!  I think I could get enough volunteers to do the job.

I will follow up with the principal tomorrow. 

Hi Emma

Have you thought of taking a vacation from your summer vacation, perhaps taking the ferry to Block Island?
Many tourists rent a bike or moped to get around the island.  I brought a Schwinn 3-speed tricycle.

Marion

MM I love Block Island but have a beach house we live in for the summer and I commute to work from there.

We moved back to Brooklyn last week. I reconnected to Emma immediately.