The Story of Lori, Chapter 2

[Lori Dee ✅]

The Art of Positive Thinking.

This is something that I tell people a lot, and many do not believe that it is possible to change their thinking. It is definitely hard work, because we are not accustomed to that type of labor. I learned in school to become certified as a hypnotherapist, and I witnessed it in my private practice that it is possible.

The problem is that people, in general, lack the motivation to see it through. They give up too soon, or they don't do as instructed. And like any basic arithmetic problem, if you don't follow the rules, you will not get the correct result.

The difference between happiness and sadness is how we think about something. It can be anything at all. It takes the same amount of effort to be happy as it does to be sad. The difference is how you choose to think.

Our lives are run like a program. The subconscious mind learns from past experiences. You learned how to walk, and now you don't need to tell each muscle what to do; your subconscious mind just takes the command and performs all the necessary actions to make it happen. You don't need to think about digesting food, or healing a wound, or telling your heart to pump your blood. The subconscious mind does it all for you.

The subconscious mind takes commands from the conscious mind. That is the part where you make decisions, perform judgments, and exercise willpower. The conscious mind tells you to go make a sandwich, and the subconscious mind takes over and gets it done. It is estimated that 84% of our lives are controlled by the subconscious mind. Most of the time, we don't need to make a lot of decisions, and we let things happen the way we learned them.

Because the subconscious mind takes commands from the conscious mind, we can tell it what to think. Over time, repeated commands teach the subconscious how to do what you want it to do.

If you would like to know how to change your thinking, there is a book that can help you train your thoughts.

"The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace D. Wattles was written in 1910. The title was designed to get people interested. It provides motivation for reading it and following the instructions. But within the context of the book, it shows you how to change your thinking.

What if you could get rich by just changing your thinking? Would you be interested in trying it? The nice thing about it is you can try it, and no one would ever know. You are only changing your thinking. So if it does not work, you don't look foolish because no one knew you were doing it. But what if it works?

What if changing your thinking applied not just to money, but to everything? If it worked, what would it be worth to you?

The book was written in 1910, so it is out of copyright now. Many "unscrupulous" types have rewritten it, added advertisements of various sorts, introductions, forewords, and other crap that did not appear in the original book -- for a very good reason. Doing a simple search online, you will find hundreds of copies claiming to be the original in brightly colored covers and recent publication dates. Those are not what you need.

If you want to try it out for yourself, you need a truly original copy, as it was written in 1910. You can get a free copy to download HERE 🔗 [Link: philliptanzilo.com/wp-​content/uploads/2015/10/The-​science-​of-​getting-​rich-​ORIGINAL.pdf/].

I have no connection to this website; there are no ads, no subscriptions, no BS. Click the link, and it will download in PDF format.

As you go through this short book and practice what it tells you, you will find that you are consciously taking control of your thoughts. Thoughts control behavior and emotions. Use this as training as a way to start taking control of your mind instead of allowing others to think for you. Use it to improve how you see people and interact with them. When you improve the lives of others, you improve yourself and your own life as well. Try it and see.

[Lori Dee ✅]

My appointment with the VA Endocrinologist in Aurora, at the Rocky Mountain Regional Center, turned out to be a non-event. This will be long, but the intent here is to document for my own records.

The week before the appointment on the 20th, I received numerous emails, text messages, and a postcard reminding me of the appointment. Each one indicated that this was to be an in-person appointment. I have explained to them many times that I am not able to spend four hours driving for a one-hour appointment, and then the provider is an hour late. That wastes my entire day for something that can be discussed with a phone call or via text message.

I called the scheduling office with each reminder and was told every time that the notes indicate this is a phone appointment, not an in-person appointment. 40 minutes before the appointment, I received a text message asking if I had arrived for my appointment. I called again, and again was told that someone would call me and that I did not need to check in.

The appointment was scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

At 11:15, I called, but no one answered, so I left a voicemail. At 1:30 p.m., I called again. Still no answer, so I left another message telling them that I was still waiting for the doctor to call me. Then I logged into my VA account to send a secure message. The list of contacts that you can message is based on the providers that you have been assigned to. RMR Endocrinology was not in the list. So, I sent the message to the Regional Appointment Scheduler and explained that I did not want to be penalized for a missed appointment since it was the provider who was a no-show.

A few hours later, I received a call from an appointment scheduler here in Pueblo. She said she had received my message. She apologized and said that perhaps RMR felt the appointment was unimportant because I have another appointment via TeleHealth scheduled for March. (Apparently, it is also unimportant to notify the patient that they won't need to sit around waiting for no one to call.)

Yesterday, I received a call asking who the provider was who missed the appointment. This, too, is part of the issue. At my previous appointment, I was scheduled to see an Endocrinologist. They were an hour late, then I was called in by somebody else (a "fellow"). After the usual screening questions, he excused himself to consult with "his attending" physician. She came in, said hello (no introduction, but her nametag indicated she was not the doctor I was supposed to see). She then wanted to argue with me about changing my dosage without lab tests or even reviewing my health records.

So my answer to the question was that I don't know. I was scheduled to see Dr. B---, but who knows who would have been the one to call. The fact is that no one did.

She said she will contact my Primary to submit a consult to have an iPad sent to me for the March video appointment.

Today, I received another message that someone is going to contact the Endocrinology Department at RMR and find out what patients were being seen at the time of my appointment, and by whom. I am not sure why that matters at this point, but okay.

After giving this a lot of thought, I am changing my approach to see if I can bypass all the gatekeeping going on. The VA has discontinued all "gender affirming care" per instructions from the White House. The exceptions are that if a veteran is currently receiving HRT, that care will continue. Everything else is no longer covered. My therapist has told me that they are not even allowed to offer mental health support for gender dysphoria, so no records are kept. She records our discussions about my PTSD, but nothing else.

When I moved from South Dakota to Colorado, I was being seen by a gynecologist in the Women's Health Clinic for Hormone Replacement Therapy. According to the VA's own records, I transitioned in 2022. I changed my legal name and updated all of my IDs and records. After that, the VA changed me from seeing an endocrinologist to a gynecologist.

When I was moving, they sent a referral to RMR in Colorado for continued "hormone monitoring". Somewhere along the line, someone translated that to "Gender Affirming Care", and ever since then, I have been getting this runaround.

So, today, I sent a message to my Primary that I believe that there has been some miscommunication about what my care entails. I am NOT seeking "Gender Affirming Care" because the VA does not provide such care. I transitioned in 2022 and was assigned to the Women's Health Clinic for hormone therapy (I am 68 years old, so that makes sense). My ovaries do not produce sufficient hormones (since I never had any), and therefore, hormone therapy needs to continue as previously prescribed.

I am hoping that this approach will steer the VA to provide what I need while avoiding "political backlash". Sometimes, when someone is wrong about something, the discussion can continue if you provide them a way out while saving face.

We will see.

And now, I have some dirty rocks that need to be washed. 😁

[Sephirah]

It really bothers me that because the person in charge of a country has a personal issue with something, they can make everyone going through that something suffer to an unbearable degree. I am sorry you're having to deal with all this, Lori. And having to jump through more hoops than a circus seal just to get the care that you need. It hurts no-one for you to be yourself.

I really hope you can get this sorted to whatever degree. And the whole world just has to weather the orange storm for a few more years until he's out and his childish behaviour is over. Assuming you aren't all crazy enough to let him do what Hitler did, he only has a few more years to throw his tantrums. Then, hopefully, the rest of the world won't be too far gone and things can get back to some semblance of reality.

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

It is indeed very insane times right now. I can never really understand why some people wish to cause such pain. Particularly when they have more of everything than the rest of us could ever imagine. Wanting for nothing. I believe both power and money to be evil in this world.

I hope it all gets sorted and for sure know that you can navigate through this like the best of us.

I'm glad that I'm handling all my transition myself as rarely hear much good regarding HRT both in US or UK. I always have meds and can keep on track easily. I've got over 12 months stockpiled!

[ChrissyRyan]

Sounds like something fell into a crack Lori with your appointment.

SNAFU?

I can appreciate your situation as a considerable, irritating one.  I hope going forward this does not happen again.  Will you getting another lab result looked at by the MDs solve the dosage argument issue?

How about going to a low cost med clinic instead of the VA?  That may be cost effective, especially considering your time and travel for an away in person appointment. 

Chrissy

[Lori Dee ✅]

Thanks, Ladies!

I anticipated this problem before I left South Dakota. I told them that it would take me two months to move, that during that time I would be split between two residences. I told them this, while carefully speaking the words they needed to hear to check all the boxes, so they would classify me as a "Traveling Veteran". With that status, all of my medications continue while I am on "vacation," and I can stop at any VA clinic if I need to see a doctor.

I then asked my doctors to renew all of my meds so that they would be delivered before I left South Dakota. They did. Then "Traveling Vet" status kicked in, and I was able to refill my meds a couple of weeks later. Then, once arrived in Colorado, I told them I hadn't established care here yet, so I needed them to refill all of my meds. Then, about a month later, I checked in with the VA here. When they asked if I needed anything, I said that I needed to have my prescriptions renewed so they are prescribed by my doctors here, instead of my old doctors in SD. They did, and the pharmacy here sent out the order right away.

Each refill is a 90-day supply, so I'll let you do the math. 😁

@ChrissyRyan The issue wasn't what my levels are. This was a doctor who seemed to have an attitude that she has a medical degree and I don't, so she knows better. When I tried to explain to her about new studies and test results that overrule the old methods, she got flustered and said she would check with her department chief, because he is up on all the latest studies.

No change has been made yet. So, either she did not consult the chief, or the chief agreed with me.

The argument was about my dosage of progesterone. Her information was severely outdated and does not apply to transgender women. She did not like me telling her that. But if she won't listen to someone with real-life experience for the past six years, that's on her.

I told her to review my medical records and read what my entire healthcare team decided concerning the dosage I take today. It isn't new. I have been at these doses for almost two years. It took four years for my Primary, two endocrinologists, and a gynecologist to figure it out. They probably have a combined total of over 100 years of experience and training. This girl looked like she graduated from college during COVID.

So, I am in no danger of losing anything yet. Even if they decide to stop everything, I have supplies to last for a while. I also noticed that certain prescription refills are being refilled in South Dakota and sent to me. I will milk that as long as I can.

😀

[Sephirah]

This girl looked like she graduated from college during COVID.

She probably did.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Some interesting stones from the last batch. These are not polished, so the surface is more satin than glossy. To see how it may look when finished, I look at them while wet. These will still need a week in pre-polish (1000-grit aluminum oxide) and then another week in the polish.

The first is Kambaba Jasper, also known as Crocodile Jasper. Despite the name, it is not a jasper. And despite the "experts" online, it is not a fossil. It is an igneous rock that has needle-like minerals in it. The cross-section makes them look like crocodile eyes. It is primarily found in Madagascar.

The next is Chrysocolla. Then a nice dark purple Chevron Amethyst.
Then there is Indigo Gabbro, also known as Mystic Merlinite. The "white" part has a faint indigo hue to it. And then a piece of Tree Jasper, but the way it is polishing up, it resembles Serpentine.

[Pema]

Wow, Lori. Those are fantastic.

Where did you acquire these? (Please forgive me if this has been addressed elsewhere.)

How are you attaching your images now? (Same request for forgiveness.)

[Charlotte_Ringwood]

Those are all just so pretty. Those colors just can't be found anywhere else. So deep and vibrant. You've done a great job.

[Dances With Trees]

Absolutely beautiful! And before polishing? Thanks, Lori.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Where did you acquire these?

I buy the rough rock from a variety of sources online. The Rock Shed in Keystone, SD.
I used to buy from Fantasia Mining (Amazon), but their prices and quality seem to be slipping. Lately, I have been buying from Diggin' Dolls (Amazon). They are a woman-owned rockhounding business. The size and quality of their stones are very good.

Most of these stones come from Madagascar. Some come from Asia or Brazil. They are imported as crushed rock and repackaged into 1 or 2 lb bags.

I was using Imgur for my pics, but our friends in the UK can't see them. I set up an account with Flickr, but they stopped providing share links.

Here, I just attached them to the image after sizing them down to a smaller file. When typing your message, hit Preview, and you will see the option at the bottom to attach a file. After attaching, hit Post.

[Sephirah]

I LOVE the middle one. That colour is amazing. I would totally wear that as a pendant. <3

[Emma1017]

They are all stunning, Lori!  The green in the first one is so dramatic.

Sephirah I could so see you wearing the purple one as a pendant.  It gives that witches coven vibe!