Re: The Stephanie Chronicles 2.0

[steph2.0]

Busy busy busy...

We finished our plans, got our tickets, and reserved our rooms for our Europe trip. More about that in another post.

My poor old Rocket Skate is getting old...

I hit the jackpot with a beautiful dress I found at Ross. I've been wanting a color block dress for a long time, and I just love love love this one!

I got the turbo intercooler and tubing mounted for the engine in one of my projects.

I've been doing the annual condition inspection on the plane I built a few years ago. I have the official FAA Maintenance Certificate (in the correct name, of course) so the current owner pays me every year to do the inspection. It's so cool to sign my name in the logbook!

New top, slacks, and shoes for the trip!

The plane's got new shoes, too.

For the pilots (and the cowbell fans) in the group:

I saw a sign with his picture posted on a "Walken" cooler in a restaurant. In a doctor's office I saw his picture on a sign that said, "Walkens Welcome." I assume when he gets older, he'll be advertising Walken tubs.

That is all.


Stephanie

[Donica]

I thought Walken's was already selling Walken tubs? Oh well.... Nice pics Stephanie. I haven't broken 100,000 yet on the Cosmo Sled. STill have 2 or 300,000 left to go.

I've been looking in all the traders lately for a light sport aircraft. Not a lot to be hopeful about. Lots of $$$ As our friend mentioned, one could buy an older C-140 for around $18,000.

Is your hair getting longer girl? It's looking nice.

[steph2.0]

Europe Trip!

@SassyCassie and I leave next Wednesday for our big European Vacation. Here's the itinerary:

May 29-30th: Fly to London, UK
May 30th-June 1st: London
June 1st: Train to Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 1st-4th: Amsterdam
June 4th: Train to Frankfurt, Germany
June 4th-6th: Frankfurt
June 6th: Train to Zurich, Switzerland
June 6th-9th: Zurich
June 9th: Fly to Malaga/Marbella, Spain
June 9th-24th: Marbella
June 24th: Fly to London
June 25th: Fly back to USA

On June 12th-14th Cassie and I will be getting our various procedures done and FacialTeam and Ocean Clinic.

Except for one short night in London on the way back home, we will be staying exclusively in AirBNB homes and apartments. In Marbella we have an entire apartment to ourselves and plan to cook our own meals to save money and to avoid having to go out as we heal.

This is going to be exhausting, but so much fun! And I get to share it all with my Bestie!


Stephanie

[Northern Star Girl]

@steph2.0
Dear Stephanie:
I certainly enjoyed your last update... and for sure you look beautiful in your new dress.
... and your airplane and maintenance photos are a treat for me to see.

Thank you for sharing and for posting... Have safe travels.... and do know that all of your followers and I are a curious bunch!!!!  Please keep the updates coming.
HUGS, best wishes, and safe travels.
Danielle

[steph2.0]

I thought Walken's was already selling Walken tubs? Oh well.... Nice pics Stephanie.

Is your hair getting longer girl? It's looking nice.

It is getting longer, but not for long! Tomorrow I have an appointment with a salon to try something new, which includes shortening it some. I have some ideas, but I won't know for sure until I talk with over with my stylist. I'm thinking about a bob just above the shoulders, with a wave and a color change. You'll just have to wait for the pictures.


Stephanie

[Jessica]

It is getting longer, but not for long! Tomorrow I have an appointment with a salon to try something new, which includes shortening it some. I have some ideas, but I won't know for sure until I talk with over with my stylist. I'm thinking about a bob just above the shoulders, with a wave and a color change. You'll just have to wait for the pictures.


Stephanie

I'm excited to see!

[steph2.0]

@steph2.0
Dear Stephanie:
I certainly enjoyed your last update... and for sure you look beautiful in your new dress.
... and your airplane and maintenance photos are a treat for me to see.

Thank you for sharing and for posting... Have safe travels.... and do know that all of your followers and I are a curious bunch!!!!  Please keep the updates coming.
HUGS, best wishes, and safe travels.
Danielle

Aww, thanks. By the way, the dress and the airplane pictures are not simultaneous. Considering it's 95 degrees here, here's my work uniform.



Two points (so to speak): this top gives no enhancement to the girls. It's just a shelf bra. Underneath is all real. Squeee!

Also, I love that fact that women's clothing is so much cooler than men's. Other than going shirtless (which I'd never do in the before-times, and certainly won't do now) you can't find much that's cooler, except maybe stripping down to a sports bra. Not the best uniform for working on airplanes...


Stephanie

[steph2.0]

The Continuing Saga

When we last left our heroine...

Today I picked up my first letter from my primary therapist. I helped him write it yesterday. He did the therapist language stuff and I outlined for him all the milestones I've passed in transition, and he incorporated a lot of it into his letter verbatim. I left his office and went to the place I used to get therapy at to see if their doctor would rewrite the letter my previous therapist had written in March of 2018. They think it's doable, and I have an appointment with her on Monday.

I went to that appointment last Monday, wearing that new dress to impress the doctor, and had a really nice interview. She promised to have a new letter for me on Tuesday, and I left happy.

The next day their office manager emailed me with the letter. Yay! Except for one typo (she addressed it to Mary Bowers instead of Marci) it looked like just what I needed. I wrapped up it and the letter from my main therapist, along with another one from a PhD therapist at Mt. Sinai that was "expired" but good for reference, into an email, and sent it to the surgeon's office.

Remember how the wizards ran smack into the wall on Platform 9 3/4? <SMACK!>

I got a return email from my contact at Bower's office. The Doctor I'd gotten the letter from is a medical doctor, not a therapist. She didn't think the insurance company would accept it. Pardon my language: &%(&%#@$!!!!

After fighting a round of despair, I dug out the official guidance document for my insurance company. Study study study... oh wait! It says the PhD has to be a physician or mental health provider. By golly, an M.D. surely qualifies, right? I pointed this out to the surgeon's office, and sent her a copy of the guidelines. She interpreted it the same way I did, and agreed to send the paperwork to the insurance company. She said we should get some kind of answer in 3-4 weeks at the most. Hopefully I'll know something definite, good or bad, by the time I get back from the Europe trip.

So now we wait some more. 124 days until the proposed surgery date, but who's counting? [emoji2324]

By the way, my insurance is through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida - Florida Blue. If anyone in Florida has that coverage, I'll be happy to forward you the documents I have.


Stephanie

[davina61]

Looking great dear, like your new gear and the clothes look great as well. Shame I cant make it to London to meet you and Bestie as I would love to meet you both . Hope the trip goes well and enjoy your CURRY!!!

[KathyLauren]

For the pilots (and the cowbell fans) in the group:

Why would you want more right footrest??

[steph2.0]

Why would you want more right footrest??

Oh Kathy. SMH. You definitely need some taildragger time.




- Stephanie

[Donica]

Oh Kathy. SMH. You definitely need some taildragger time.




- Stephanie

Aw Steph!... You know Kathy still rides tricycles

[steph2.0]

Aw Steph!... You know Kathy still rides tricycles

Some folks never progress beyond training wheels, but no judgement. [emoji16] In the air the plane doesn't care where the wheels are.


- Stephanie

[mm]

Stephanie, you mentioned wearing a shelf bra, yes there is little support for the girls with them.  One needs a real bra to support and make ones girls look their best, when one has much size an underwire style works best.

[steph2.0]

Stephanie, you mentioned wearing a shelf bra, yes there is little support for the girls with them.  One needs a real bra to support and make ones girls look their best, when one has much size an underwire style works best.

All true. But mine are small enough that support isn't much of an issue. My goal that day was trying to stay as cool as possible, considering it was 95F in the hangar. I was happy that they could be seen at all. I was working alone and only one neighbor, who is very supportive of my transition, stopped by.

Any time I'll be out and about I'll wear a lightly padded bra, sometimes underwire. Still at 36B, so any help to make them look good is appreciated.


Stephanie

[KathyLauren]

I imagine that you must be madly packing for your trip to Europe.  I just wanted to wish you and your sweetie a great trip, successful on all counts.

[steph2.0]

I imagine that you must be madly packing for your trip to Europe.  I just wanted to wish you and your sweetie a great trip, successful on all counts.

Thank you so much, Kathy! I have just begun the transition from IPM* to FPM**.  There is much yet to be done but do I have a plan of sorts. Much of it involves the "P" in the previous acronyms. [emoji51]

* Initial Panic Mode
** Full Panic Mode


- Stephanie

[steph2.0]

If anyone's interested in waving as we go over, Cassie and I leave from Orlando on our way to London Gatwick on Wednesday at 5:30pm on AA6205. Kathy, let's hope for CAVU!


- Stephanie

[KathyLauren]

I'll follow your flight, but you won't see me waving.  It's supposed to be cloudy Wednesday.

Safe travels!

[Faith]

If anyone's interested in waving as we go over, Cassie and I leave from Orlando on our way to London Gatwick on Wednesday at 5:30pm on AA6205. Kathy, let's hope for CAVU!

Best wishes to you both. I won't be waving, you're too far away already