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OK, I'd Forgotten

what writing like this was for me.

Crap! Sit down at the laptop and a couple of hours later 5 or 6 thousand words come out!

It's cool and all, and it is the way the first 10 chapters came into being, but damn it's tiring.

But that has my draft of Chapter 16 done. Now to go back and edit it all.

But, glad to see my muse has returned for a while.

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Today was my first day at my new job!

Crazy times have been had the last few weeks, but I am now employed again!

I'm back at Wal Mart, though this time in Mountain View rather than Heber Springs. The upshot is that it's less than 5 minutes' drive or 15 or so walking away from my aunt's, where I'm now staying, so gas costs are no longer an issue at all. I'll also be making more an hour than I ever have before, AND working a relatively stable schedule since I'm an "IMS Associate," from 10 PM to 7 AM.

So, yayness! Money! Progress! WOOO!

Melanie E.

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Worst nightmare.

Well, it finally happened. My worst nightmare. As I have proudly proclaimed for a while. I'm quite confident in being out and about in my neighborhood and around town.

Tuesday, week before last, I was sent to get birdseed (and some other things) at Bi-mart after work. This time, I opted to stop by the house and change into appropriate clothing and not appear there in my overly masculine work uniform.

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Grover is in Hospital.

Grover's wife just called me and told me that Grover is in hospital and will be undergoing triple bypass surgery within the next day or two.

Let's all take a moment and send good thoughts, vibes and/or prayers for one of the most prolific and imaginative writers out there.

My prayers have already gone out and will continue to do so until Grover, my friend, my sister, is past this crisis. Lots of hugs to Understanding Wife, Grover's wife as well.

Catherine Linda Michel

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Outed

Sweet flying spaghetti monster, I thought I'd never have to deal with this again. Especially not from one of our own.

As I was making my way home from my monthly transgender support group meeting, I ended up behind someone obviously transgender herself--someone vaguely familiar.

It turns out she lives in the same apartment complex I do. After years of being the only transgender tenant, apparently I have company.

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My Nice Kids

This past Sunday we went and met my boys for a lunch for Mothers Day / Fathers Day . My younger son paid for the lunch and then a nice surprise from my older son . He went to the Seminole Casino the week before and won $3000.00 at the back rack table so as we where leaving to go home he handed me some money folded with a $100.00 bill on the outside with 4 more on the inside very nice to get $500.00 for mom day and dad day. He has done this before we he wins big , he is a CPA and is ahead of the casino's with the winnings .

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Please help. I don't know what to do now

I finally did it. I acquired pure capsaicin crystals. And I then tried them. Not straight mind you. You can actually put all the pure capsaicin crystals you want in your mouth. They're not water soluble and require a fat or oil to dissolve so saliva won't work. The stuff came with a tiny bottle of glycerine which I did mix them into and try.

Not as hot as I thought it would be. The previous highest scoville unit thing I had was this 4.4 million sauce. The 16 mil is hotter, but it doesn't seem by much.

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Best Dressed at the 2015 Met Gala

Some of the ladies thought it was Halloween??? I swear some of those outfits made me physically shudder. Only way I would ever be caught in many of those dresses I looked at was if I was dead. Has everyone forgot what class is or is shock the new normal? Looking at a few of the ladies caught in the background I saw many who still had the idea what a woman should wear to an evening event.

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Be my guest - enjoy a rant.

Another article from the Guardian about guns. Everyone, should by now, know how opposed I am to them but there are some interesting statistics, especially the increased risk of injury or death to women if guns are kept in the home.

For those interested: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/gun-violence-wa...

Please keep the responses civil.

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A small treat for Unreachable fans

Since I am posting Worth Fighting For, I figured that enough time has gone by that a repost of Unreachable might be a good idea to remind everyone where Desiree has come from. So, for the duration (and as long as no one alerts Amazon) I will make Unreachable and Reaching Home available to everyone (without posting chapter by chapter). I hope people will enjoy and I still wouldn't mind if people posted reviews on Amazon for me (I'd like to hit 100 reviews).

So, while you still can (most likely a month), enjoy one of my better received works.

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Another lap around the sun

As those of you who engage in the Great Waste Of Time known as Facebook may already be aware, today marks my completion of another lap around the sun - not that I feel any different to yesterday or appreciably older. Just an ordinary day at work attempting to make sense of a pile of social care data, hoping to massage it into shape by the end of the week ready for the annual government return.

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Battle For Earth: Infiltration epub & pdf

For those that are still interested I've uploaded the epub for Battle For Earth:Infiltration. You can grab it from the outline page or download it directly from this link. As with Battle for Earth: Resistance if you want the pdf I will send it to you via email. Just send me a PM with your email addy and I'll get it sent out.

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pictures of the past

Well, we have finally got pictures on our walls, so my mom is happy.

Many trans people would be a little upset at seeing pictures of themselves pre-transition everywhere, but honestly, I find I don't mind all that much.

The boy I was raised as is a part of me, my history in boy world helps shape the woman I'm becoming, so why should I be ashamed of him?

Just my thinking, what's yours?

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New Universe

Now that The Unusual Clownfish is coming to an end---at least the first part of it, I want to move onto something different. For a while now I've been teasing the possibility of starting a new universe and now I think its time to do so.

I'm going to be taking a foray into a superhero universe. I don't have all the specific details of it fully hammered out but I'm hoping to get the first story up and done as soon as I polish off the last 3 chapters of Clownfish Part One.

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I'm glad to be here

I see that my approach to storytelling is welcome here and for that I'm glad. I prefer a lighthearted approach to issues related to gender identity and sexuality but by no means do I think they are frivolous. Sometimes a series of light touches is the best way to explore difficult subjects. On top of that I do enjoy making people smile once in a while.

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B B King, A Legend Who Now Belongs to the Ages

B B King died this past Thursday at 89. I saw and heard this great Blues Guitarist perform live several times. He also was an influence to other musicians over decades. God is in Heaven and listing to a great jam session.

He was also a WWII veteran. These heroes are getting rarer.

shalimar

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Clownfish Update Again

Sorry about no chapter this week. I was having some internet issues the last few days. Actually it was connectivity issues, the internet would stay on sometimes for a few minutes then shut off for a few hours. I was told there was a problem with one of my lines. I think I managed to fix the problem on my own. So far things are still going very well internet wise.

I'm halfway through Ch.12 as I write this.

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Helping Doppler Press rise

Doppler Press has had some nice success to start off. Heather O'Malley's 300 Rains, Lana Lee's Suit Yourself and Sue Brown's Soccer Girl have all hit best seller status. Katie Leone just published Worth Fighting For and that is doing okay for us too. But there are things that the Big Closet community can do to really help not only increase our visibility on Amazon, but drive traffic (more readers for all our authors and perhaps a few new authors to post stories to boot) to the site.

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Gabycon 2015

Okay folks

here are the details as they stand

Dates 3/4/5 July 2015
Location Dorchester

programme tbc

Friday evening - meal in Dorchester
Saturday - optional cycle ride (non riders can drive of course!) to Weymouth/Portland followed by Gaby readings and evening meal
Sunday - visit to Yeovilton Air Museum, lunch with Gaby readings before departure.

There is a wide variety of accommodation in the area

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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria: Meeting Maria Bello

Picture of Myself, Maria Bello and CapturedByThePastSo I recently got the chance to meet Maria Bellow during the book tour for her new book "WHATEVER... Love is Love" and thought I'd share my experience. I just recently posted it to my rarely-updated WordPress blog.

-Piper

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Friendly Warning

Hey there...

I just wanted to let you all know that I am going to be pulling Transitioning Home as soon as Joyce can get to it. I plan on reworking some things based on my research and then seeing if I can do the thing with the publish. But, since you all might get surprised by it simply vanishing I felt that letting you all know that was going to happen would be a kindness.

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Transgender stigma.

I was sitting in a writer's group a couple weeks ago talking about writing TG content out of stories I plan to publish. Surprisingly, it was the consensus of the group is that TG stigma is all but gone. And, it seems that the general public wants to know more about being TG and Intersex. I do not know how Amazon is doing it, and what choices there are but most of the group felt that publishing these stories in General Public is acceptable.

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A strange dream

Well, today I wanted to share a dream I had during my move.

In the dream, at first I found myself in a classroom, and a drill instructer of a teacher was making a boy parade in front of the class because he had come to school previously in ripped pants. We were to sacastically applaud the fact that today he had chosen to wear pants without a rip in them.

Then I looked down at myself, and at first I thought I was wearing red pajamas, so I thought I would be next to be humilated, but the instructor ignored me, and instead clapped his hands together.

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The Ice Saints

The Ice Saints (Die Eisheiligen in German) are saints named for 4th and 5th century martyrs and so on.

This year the Ice Saints' Days start today, according to German-speaking countries. Other countries modify the 'rule'!

This year:

11th May - Mamertus
12th May - Servatius
13th May - Pankratius
14th May - Bonifatius
15th May - Kalte Sophia

Why is this important?
Well, according to farmer's observations over hundreds of years, these days are the last fling of winter, after which no more frosts and no more snow.

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It seems amateur cyclists are doping as much as the pros

Why am I surprised? Probably because I'm incredibly naïve and don't understand why anyone would want to do it. It's dangerous and pointless. What's the point of bragging rights, which apparently alpha males enjoy, if you cheated to get them? Some people seem to think it's worth it, I'm saddened especially as it's rife in youth cycling. Whoever is responsible should be jailed for a very long time - it's tantamount to child abuse and these are the people we want to develop in fitness, technique and ethics. Winning is not all.

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Fanfiction

For several years I received a stream of Gabyverse fanfiction which for the most part seemed to be received very well and enjoyed by many. Apart from specials by Angharad for the Gabycon's (this years event is the first weekend of July), this has dried up so that the arrival this week of a new interlude was quite unexpected.

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Rules

I just want to say that I'm encouraged and discouraged both by recent discussions of unpubbing stories, kudos, criticism and the like.

I've demoted two blogs concerned with those subjects off the front page, not because they were unimportant but because I felt that they were both beginning to attract comments that some people could feel were unfriendly.

In general, people are trying to say things they think are encouraging or helpful but I've been doing this for fifteen years and I have a sense of when something is being said that can too easily be misinterpreted. So....

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Fear of mediocrity?

Real life has really slapped me upside the head lately.

Virtually everything mechanical that I own, or use, has broken down in the last month. My wheelchair, my digital camera, my landline phone, and incredibly, my refrigerator. Luckily, I had very little food to lose--thanks to the foresight of the state of Wisconsin, my laughably meager food-stamp pittance pretty much ensured I wouldn't be able to stock the refrigerator with much anyway.

There are certain advantages to living in an apartment building, however, the most important of which being I (thank goodness!) don't have to hunt for a replacement refrigerator--the apartment management takes care of that. Medicaid took care of the chair, and for the moment I'm relying solely on my cell phone.

Therefore, I can get back to what would normally be my main concern. Namely, writing.

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BLARG!

So... I'm angry. Those of you who know me, probably know I have anger issues. I joke about it and say I'm Irish (which I am) and that I've got the stereotypical temper (which I do). I have a hard time getting past anger. I don't forgive easily. I hold grudges. Maybe I'm being petty. I don't know, and I just don't care.

This is why I'm leaving BCTS. For how long? I don't know. Maybe for good, maybe not.

Caution: 

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Hatbox Funds Needed Soon

We have about $3000 in bills due before the end of the month and the HatBox has only about $600 in it, including the $300 or so received so far this month. So anything that anyone can send will help us pay our bills on time.

Next month, Amazon changes the way things work with their Payments interface and we hope to have our new version of the Hatbox up and running well before that. We think you are going to like it and it should make helping us pay our bills more pleasant and maybe even more fun. :)

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Regarding Battle for Earth epubs and pdfs.

Well, those who've followed my stories for the last several years are probably aware that I often provide pdf and epub versions of my stories for folks to download here on bigcloset. Unfortunately, I won't be able to provide PDF documents this time around as the file sizes are much too large (bigcloset has a max file upload size of 2 mb). I could reduce them by producing inferior images or removing from the images from pdf altogether, but that's something I very am very keen on doing. If anyone is interested in a pdf download I am willing to send them a copy of the file.

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An interview with Trans Comedianne Julia Scotti

Julia says some very interesting things about her life and her transition as well as being trans and open about it.

http://theheroines.blogspot.com/2014/05/interview-with-julia...

Catherine Linda Michel

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A hard blog to write

You know, doing this blog, I've noticed that some entries are easier for me to write than others. In today's case, its super hard, so please be kind.

I had a good conversation with my pastor Tuesday. First we talked a little about the meltdown I had at church two Sundays ago, then we talked about a number of subjects including my past, my present, and my hoped for future.

It was in regard to the last that she wanted to give me some ideas to think about, especially in two main areas of concern.

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5 years, 12 months

Well, according to my account feature, I've been here for "5 years 12 months", so I guess its happy anniversary to me?

I am very grateful I found this place. Its given me a chance to read good stories by great authors, to try my hand at writing myself, and to make some wonderful friends who I cherish.

My thanks to Erin, Piper, and all those who work behind the scenes to keep this place going.

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose - Bruce Jenner and the Chevalier d'Eon

An article caught my eye that reminds me that someone has always been there before.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/04/transge...

Whether it's Bruce Jenner or the Chevalier d'Eon matters not. Journalists will swarm like bees to honey ( I was going to type 'flies to..' but decided it wasn't polite).

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New chapter of Debriefings posted

Firstly, I'd like to thank Jessica Nicole for her kind assistance with the dialogue in the scene from Brandon's German language class.

The next chapter of Whose Irish Eyes Be Smiling? is well under way for those of you who are still waiting for it. Also, I'm trying to make progress rewriting a few tales stolen along with my smartphone.

For those of you who wonder why this chapter took so long, I'm recovering from surgery on my right shoulder for a torn rotator cuff. My arm is now out of the sling and I'm slowly beginning to use it again.

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Let it Go….

Has anyone else actually listened to the lyrics for Disney's 'Let it go' and thought that it would make a great TG anthem?

As a silly competition idea does anyone have any other suggestions for an off the wall TG anthem ( e.g. Rodney Atkins "If you're goin' through Hell")?

P.S. First place will automatically go to Andrea as she does this all the time! :)

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Exciting news - really friggin big

For those who don't know, I'm fat. I mean really, really fat. I used to be fat when I was in high school, but I'm way beyond that now. When I won districts my senior year the newspaper read "slimmer heavyweight wins title". I thought the article was about someone else because I was at the high end of the weight class at 275lbs. But the article was about me and was littered with fat jokes and how I struggled keeping under 275. Oh, how I wish I weighed that now. Instead, I am 615lbs. God I wish that was a typo. But it is a fact of life.

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Apologies for story.

For those of you that have read my recent submission of a Bikini Beach story. I want to apologize for it. Not for the story itself, but for the grammatical errors that are littered throughout the story. To be honest the story wasn't ready for prime time.

Even though I had caught some items before and even 'revised' it. It still does not meet certain standards and I rushed it. And for that I'm sorry.

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Stocking Store.com

Years ago, I wore Suntan Garter style stockings and then they became unavailable. Recently I bought 6 pair from Stocking Store.com and wore the first set today, with my blue suit and 3" heels.

I don't like pantihose because the hips and waist are too tight and they are so hot that I get claustrophobic. Self stay ups, either don't stay up or make painful welts on my thighs.

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breathing a sigh of relief

Well, once again my anxiety was far greater than a situation required.

My landlord not only didn't comment on the name on my lease, he came down and helped me set up my mom's computer for her.

I continue to be amazed at the forbarance, tolerance, and grace I have received in this journey ...

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Free Comic Book Day

Today is a fun and free Holiday to those that enjoy Graphic novels and Pictorial Books.

In other words it is "Free Comic Book Day"
How does this holiday work you ask?
It is easy you go to a comic or one of many hobby stores and ask for a copy of a Free pre-approved comic book.

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Number of readers

I noticed a strange behaviour yesterday, the number of 'reads' for one of my stories differed from the total hit for the same story on the 'my stories' page.

This morning, Chapter 11 of Unaccounted Gains 3 has 491 reads on the front page and 699 in My Stories (the same number is shown within the story itself). So, why would the front page counter differ? I'm also pretty sure this is not related to my account having checked a few others.

Shiraz

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facing serious anxiety

Well, just when I thought I could start to relax after the stress of the move, I have a new anxiety to deal with.

See, my new landlord has given my mom and I a tenancy agreement form to fill out, and as it is a legal document, I'll have to put my legal name down, basically outing myself to him.

So I am trying really hard to not dwell on the possiblity of him freaking out over it, but I'm not succeeding all that well ...

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Just stopping by to say hi

Hi everyone. I've been MIA for a while. Not sure if anyone noticed, but for those who have, I'm still around. Sometimes I just lurk in the shadows while sorting through some of life's challenges. All is well, and have overcome some hurdles in my absence. Drop by and say hi, let me know how all of you are doing, would love to catch up with some of you.

Love Megan.

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Calling all Spoonies/Survivors

Is anyone here a "spoonie" or afflicted with things such as fibromyalgia or other conditions that cause chronic pain? I'm going to be seeing a pain management doctor soon, and I'm wondering what to expect.

Those of you who don't know what the "spoon theory" is, here is a link www.butyoudontlooksick.com/category/the-spoon-theory

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A report on transgender female sex workers in China

This is a very interesting article, including a link to the full 79 page report about transgender women working in the sex industry in Shanghai and Beijing by a group called Asia Catalyst, which I found while poking about on the Guardian website. It appears that the Chinese generally are not very accepting of transgender people so treatment to transition and so on is not easily found, plus the establishment while not making it illegal is not very helpful either.

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For Abuse Survivors

Though Focus on the Family may not be transgender friendly yet, they do give great advice on some areas of life. I make it a habit of listening to them every morning, even though they are off on some issues. I thought today' episode was quite good and without naming names, I thought it might help some people in the community.

This broadcast is about overcoming being a victim of molestation. It is only the first part, but I will piggyback the link for the second part tomorrow when it becomes available. I hope this helps some people.

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Time for some fun !

Okay, enough doom and gloom, time for something fun!

Dorothy Bellion presents ... Why Hollywood should make a movie of my life!

1: Hollywood loves Bio-pics - It's true. Some of the biggest movies in the last few years have been true stories about real people. So why not me?

2: Hollywood also loves underdog stories - People cant seem to get enough tales of people overcoming handicaps or tragedy to succeed, and my life has had a few tough moments, so I'm perfect for the movies!

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On the nature of hate

I will be the first to admit that I have a lot of pent up anger and hate. I have had a lifetime of resentment. Most people don't know the things that have happened to me, and I'm sure most, if not all, of you don't really care. Anger and hatred are quite valuable tools. They insulate you from a harsh and brutal world that seeks nothing more that to destroy you. It gives you the strength and resolve to soldier on through the quagmire that is everyday life.

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