While we feel life is becoming more tolerant - could we be labouring under a misapprehension. West London seems to be having an upsurge of attacks on gay men.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/02/homophobic-attack-h...

Why people can't live in peace, I'll never understand.

Angharad.

Well, my muse refuses to give a lot of details about what she's been up to - just some hints about snogging some girl named Pippa at a wedding .... But, now that she has recovered from a hangover, she is pouring ideas into my head at a furious pace. Its too bad my daughter doesn't type, maybe I could offload some of my workload .....

As a counterpoint to the discussion over T* related labels, I thought it might be interesting to have a more light-hearted discussion of the various other labels we may apply to ourselves (i.e. not related to gender, sexuality or political affiliation) to describe certain aspects of who we are and what we do.

For example, as I'm more knowledgeable than average about computers, and actively enjoy using them, I consider myself a "Geek" (although according to some definitions, I'm actually closer to "Nerd").

I'm sitting here, with tears in my eyes, and shaking so hard its hard to type. Wave upon wave of self-hate is hitting me, and I'm not sure I can swim. I am battered on all sides with self-doubt, one moment fearing that I could be a woman someday, and then a worse moment when I wonder if my sister-in-law is right that I am just .... rejecting my male identity.
 

I am one of a growing number that are unhappy with the use of the word transgender. For me it isn't really about a dislike for other marginalized groups it is instead about a sense of identity. The word is supposed to be an umbrella term that covers diverse groups but in its current usage I think really does all groups involved harm. I think it loses it message and pushes others out that the word was originally meant to include like crossdressers. Speaking of those marginalized groups where are they in the supposedly large LGBT and Transgender groups?

Eh what with all this talk of family crests and such, it prompted me to explore mine a bit. If the "Sun" can invent outraveous lies then I ought also.
So I went looking on the Internet for the "Boucher" place of origin and family crest. Gads, we actually have one! It looks like they were part of the Norman invasion around 1066.
http://www.houseofnames.com/boucher-family-crest

Well, I managed to avoid most of the coverage of the Royal wedding. My reasons for this were not because of any Republican sentiments I may carry, but more raw emotions. I couldn't have born seeing that beautiful bride and that exquisite gown without being almost lost to envy. I have a wonderful girlfriend, but its hard to imagine that I will ever be a bride. But, I have to be grateful for what I do have, don't I?

Well, it seems that my muse has departed for parts unknown, leaving at least one story started and stranded. I hope she comes back soon .....

The devastation in northern Alabama seems to have affected our member Stanman who has not been onsite since early Thursday morning. Let us hope that it is just disruption of internet or electricity and that Stan is okay. There may be other BC members who are having connectivity problems in this extreme weather, remember them also.

Hugs to all,
Erin

Well... hello to all. I just want to say that Bigcloset TopShelf has rapidly become my all time favorite as a libray of TG Fiction.

Well, today there was a hiring fair for a health care company, and I went as Dorothy. We had a group interview, which was kinda different, but cool. The company looks great, and it looks like they would have no problem with me coming to work for them as Dorothy. The best moment was each of us was asked who they would hire, and one of the other people picked me. Wish me luck that they hire me.

New that Isn't!

So tonight after I got home from my volunteer job in Cleveland, my roomate had fixed Matzo Ball soup and then we sat around talkig about the school year and how happy they were that it was almost over. All this made me begin to think about my own life and how I would describe it.

Just a quick heads up, if you go to www.maddybell.com you can read some exciting news and see some new Gaby travel pics!

ttfn
Maddy

Hi all, I just wanted to take this moment to say I pray that you all are safe during these major storms rocking across the Midwest, Southwest, the South, Southeast and Eastern seaboard of the US. My heart goes out to Arkansas, where that State has had approx 20 persons killed, and millions and millions of dollars in damage done. Altho we see large storms this time of year; these have been majorily bad in all aspects. Take care and stay safe. Jan

Hello everyone I hope one and all had a wonderful time the last few days and had fun and a nice visit from the cute bunny no matter bad boy or good girl (hehehe LOL ) also I hope ereyone stays safe and dry ,, as in the last week I got so much rain I found my roof needs to be redone too many leaks and the shingles were at end of live span and with so much ice over the winter I also need new gutters it will be over $20,000 cry cry cry darn I just had drivway redone and now I will have a 30 yard dumpster in it darn I hope it will not crack the new drivway that is over 100 yards long

The Daily Wail does it again. Apparently this one wrote a book about herself, so is I suppose fair game. I wouldnt have thought 60 was that old - or is that all about personal perspective - the closer you get the younger it seems?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380687/British-ex-p...

Comments are the usual unhelpful sort, but there seems to be some effort to ger pronouns right.

I'm suffering a chest infection and I'm feeling totally crap, so there will be no Somewhere Else Entirely this week.

While Duty and Destiny is on hiatus, I'm working up a new story, over on my little writing website. My plan is to post the rough drafts over there, and when finished, I'll publish the final version here for general viewing.

If you're inclined, have a read.

-A

Moon Harper

Had an interview today. In boy mode, sadly, but I need work too badly to kick.

Curtsy everyone.

The true little me is a sweet little girl of 4 trying to poke out in the big real world. I have been to a number of adult little girl camps. Where i have meat a couple of writers on here aka Piper and cat. I look after a sweet writer calle allie elle.

As you are aware in real life unforntally i am a 33 year old male (soon to be 34) but i just love to be a sweet little girl.

I have loads of pictures of me on my flickr page but i think the perfect one for easter time would be this one http://www.flickr.com/photos/sissysamantharebecca/2536836130...

I have recently been hearing radio ads for a charity event to benefit a residential group home specifically for GLBT youths that is run by a local charity. In the ad they mention that this is one of three such facilities in the US.

Well, I'm back from church, and it was wonderful. They had a choir from Germany was was simply angelic. After the service, I went for coffee with a couple of guys from the welcoming group, and it was pretty good. Makes me wish I could do this every Sunday instead of having to go to my ex's church in male mode. Ah, well.

Well, happy Easter, everybody. I'm getting a rare chance to go to church as Dorothy, so that's good. I'll give an account of how it went when I get back.

To celebrate Earth Day, NASA released dozens of its best images of the planet. Here are some of the most beautiful.

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10007536.html?tag=cnetRiver

Hugs

Sue

I need to hear that I'm not the only one with the following problem.

So there I was, minding my own business back in March, when "Blam" out of the blue I got hit by several back to back severe episodes of Menieres. If you don't know what Menieres is, I will try to explain it. Frist let me say, the Doctors all state the following: "Don't know what causes it", "Don't know how to cure it", "Just know it is progressive." The progressive part is that a person with Menieres eventually goes DEAF in the affected ear.

I was doing some research for my story and in one part I use the phrase 'bitch in heat'. While looking to see if the phrase makes sense in the story, I came accross this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhzYHtaGqjo

Can you believe it? I just cut my nose shaving this morning. Far more psychological pain than physical pain of course.
Stupid facial hair, and stupid testosterone that makes it so. :P
Not that there's anything new about my thinking this way, but this served as a ...reminder. :|

Okay, this is something that I don't want to post, but I am because awareness needs to be raised.

There is this video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ec0_1303444048
There's a LOT of comments on it too.

I read an article that talks about how the Tennessee State Senate has passed a law making it illegal to say the words Gay or Homosexual or discuss any related issues in the classrooms of Tennessee schools. Just when you thought people couldn't be any dumber, this just adds another layer of stupid. They already get made fun of for other things, but now they will really get it big time. I guess the birthplace of the KKK wants to ensure a new generation of bigots continues for years to come. Unreal! This is the 21st century, not the dark ages! It's time these people figure that out!

John Scalzi is a well known sci-fi author who is published by TOR/Forge books.
I have some of them via my niece Anna who used to be Piers Anthony's editor
when she worked there. Ok, so here's what's going on. He tweeted a comment that
no one is doing any fan fiction of his books.

I sent him a note that I thought some of his books would go very well as
Transgendered Fiction and have received permission for me to tell you that his
world is open. The story and Universe I was thinking about was from his book
"Old Man's War" and the sequels. You have to be old to join the war, and you

Well, I just got a phone call for an interview on Monday. Now, though, I have a moral dilemma. Do I mention my trans status and risk not getting hired? Or do I lie, and have to live with that?

Courtesy of today's Independent:

The Malaysian authorities are at the centre of an increasingly heated row after it emerged that 66 Muslim boys identified by teachers as "effeminate" had been dispatched to a special camp to discourage them from becoming gay.

I wondered if anyone has heard from Maddy Bell.

Being a big fan of her Gaby stories, not seeing a post or update on her website for almost two months is unusual.

Sometimes, I get these odd impressions that defy logic and reality. Like sometimes i get an impression of having breasts that is almost real enough to make me cry. But today, I had an impression that went the other way. It was a very masculine impression, of having a sword and shield, and protecting a female from a monster. Make what you will of that.

Sorry I haven't been commenting much. I've been enchanted by SaraUK's wonderful series "You Have It All Wrong". It's such a great story that I haven't been reading the new stuff very much!
Sara, if you're out there, please write more! I'm so taken with your story!

Wren

Well, "Rock Star Makeover" is wrapped up, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to comment or leave a kudo. Thanks to all of you. For those who prefer to read a story in one sitting, the whole story is up on Fictionmania, if you want to check it out there. But I want to give fair warning. Although this story was "sweet/sentimental" and I'm happy with that, dont assume I'll always produce that type from here on. I have some dark corners in my head, and at some point I may go into them through my writing.

This was always intended to be a play on words title in honour to Shakespeare's line, "What light throught yonder window breaks, it is the sun and Juliet is the East."
I recently thought of new directions for the plot and therefore am making it With acts and scenes.
Every scene will be a chapter or installment. Every act will be the beginning and end of a major aspect of the story.
Enjoy!

PS- I really would like some feedback about this.

I never thought the day would come when I would be an irascable old person, but today I am one. Hopefully, it'll pass and be flushed.

Having problems with my router, dunno how long this will take to fix, so Bike may be suspended until I can sort things.

Angharad.

First off, to all of you have stuck with me through this dark and rather disturbing story, thank you. I know it isn't always easy to read, and trust me at times it isn't easy to write. I do appreciate all of you who have even at least looked at the story so far, and to those of you who have commented, do keep them coming. Comments give me ideas, and show me what I should do to clear things up storywise so what's happening is understandable to the readers.

For those who missed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLug&feature=aso#

Hugs
Sue

A certain amount of unfriendliness will be tolerated here. I just remove unfriendly posts and issue occasional warnings and explanations. But willfully pursuing another poster here with an obvious intent to cause harm will not be tolerated. Two people tonight went over the line and their accounts have been suspended. These same two have done this before and undoubtedly, if I were to reinstate their accounts, would do so again.

Thanks to a well-placed boot to my behind, I've stopped throwing a pity party. I'm taking a deep breath, and telling myself, "I'm okay, I'm okay...:

Passover starts Monday Night April 18, 2011/Nissan 15, 5771

To my friends:

May You and you Loved Ones
join in a meaningful and joyous Seder
this year and in the future.

May you be the one to hide the Affikomen
and get pleasure when someone discovers it,
or better yet, may you be the one to find the Affikomen (there is a child in all of us) and
holdout for the reward you most desire.

L'Shana Haba'a b'Yerushalayim

Sincerely ,

RAMI

Passover Nissan 13, 5771/April 17, 2011

Well, I managed to do something so stupid and almost impossible that I'm wondering if God is trying to tell me something. I managed to lose my only bra. And since I am a "special" size, it would take somewhere in the range of 50 dollars to replace it, I'm devastated and discouraged. Unless I get a miracle, I wont be going out as Dorothy again any time soon. All this gloom is slowing me down in writing "Rock Star Makeover", so I'll put up part 10 today, but I don't know when any more will be coming. Sorry.