Been fighting with harassing phone calls from my mother's creditors. I really never knew how bad things were until she started ducking calls. It worries me greatly, but there is little i can do to help. I might as well share with you my secret plans - I had planed to take out a loan so i could get a transition started, but now its moot. Because we shared back accounts, I doubt i could get one. It was a long shot anyway, but ah, well. Dreams die hard, but they can die.

I got to work tonight and turned on my laptop just like I do every night and when I look at the screen it is totally blank. I've tried a couple things and low and behold nada. Fortunately the computer is still working, and if I stare intently at the screen I can make out a faint outline of what is appearing on the screen of my laptop. I planned on replacing it later this year, but not right now. Unfortunately I also need it this weekend.

I hate unexpected expenses.

Edit changed black to blank.

I'm hoping that everyone is enjoying this little tale of mine. OK so it won't end up to be so little.

I'm just gratified that there seem to be so many readers. I didn't expect that many actual people reading this story. Partly because as someone said to me "Historical tales don't get that many readers on this site"

I'm hoping to post a new part every week, so that will give you an idea of when to check back for a new part.

mittfh has the right idea I just didn't know the scientific names for those terms, both physical and mental. I'm happy that someone did though.

I can't believe that I finally got to the point where I can say I transitioned a month ago.Christmas Eve I gave myself my transition as a Christmas gift. I hadn't planned it in fact I was going to transition over spring break after I had obtained a legal name change.I went to my therapist the day before and she said why don't you just transition? So I asked myself why don't I just transition?

This morning's Observer had an article by the Readers' Editor referring to comments received on an article about David/Sonia Burgess. Burgess, a civil rights lawyer, was allegedly murdered by being pushed under a London Underground train last year and a trial is shortly to take place. The comments were concerned with how the paper referred to to her/him. It was quite difficult because sometimes Burgess lived as a male (David) or female (Sonia) and had friends in each persona but, apparently, few in both.

The other night, the ABC program, "Primetime: What Would You Do?" had a segment regarding gender stereotyping. In the segment, the producers sent actors playing a father and a young son into a toy store, where the boy is to choose a Barbie doll and the father is to argue with him. The object was to see what the reactions would be of bystanders in the store. The exercise was then escalated with a third actor playing a hostile man berating the "father." A third iteration involved boys wearing dresses in the store.

I had a nice, hot shower earlier tonight. I’m trying out a new deep conditioner that takes five minutes to set, in addition to my usual washing routine, so I had a lot of time to stand there in the steam and let my mind wander.

One of my favorite online writers has started posting a new book at his website: http://www.spearfishlaketales.com/17gm/gm.htm

The name of the book is, "The Girl in the Mirror" and you can probably make some guesses based on the book teaser below.

Wes has published some really good books online and self published. As far as I know this is his first that deals with a tg theme.

In one of my recent stories, The Redhead and the PM, I used The Goring Hotel as one of the early settings. I had no idea at the time that Kate Middleton and family would be using it for their operating location before the wedding later this year. The owner of the hotel mentioned to me that The Queen Mother was attending an affair there and mentioned to him that the hotel was "rather convenient" to Buckingham Palace. It is a great place, probably one of the best hotels in London if not in the world.

This is the reply I have sent to my brother.

Mike:

I need the help of readers!

What do I need help with, you ask? Well, to start with, in writing the second semester of "Princess For Hire" I've decided that there's no better way to do it than to as for suggestions of what you, the readers might want. Do you like a particular secondary character and would like them to play a larger role? Or perhaps you'd like more information on a portion of the school or program that you don't think I've been forthcoming enough with? Let me know! The more suggestions, the longer the second semester will be, and the more rich for it.

In case.... for those that missed it.... good news... a quote from her post

SAPPHIRE'S PLACE

First I want to give a HUGE thanks to Nora! The first I got any info
was when she called me on the phone!

The domain reg had expired, and since the last time I had to renew
it, I got the " 10 year" package, and I lost track of time ( and got
NO NOTICE from Network Solutions! )

Looking over the info the registrant info they have, it seems they
sent the renewal notice to Mindy! ( for those with LONG memories,
they might remember that FM/Mindy hosted the site long ago - well

This is actually semi-T* related for two reasons.

1) I need to get in shape because I live a very unhealthy lifestyle, and that flat out needs to change if I'm ever going to move forward.

2) My calves are huge! :-(

Just so everyone knows, I have changed my name from Kayla Smith to Samantha Jenkins. I feel that Samantha fits me better than Kayla (and not to mention that since my Zodiac sign changed to a sign that fits me better than Cancer (Now I'm a Gemini) I figure that I should change my name to match how I feel when I'm dressed up.)

Samantha

I was just on Sapphire's Place reading some stories and suddenly got a domain expired page. Does anyone know if Sapphire is going to renew the domain or if she needs any financial assistance to renew the domain?

Well, after a rotten day yesterday, I had a fantastic day today. I went for a interview with a local tg group, and we were meeting at a restaurant. I got there first, and the server was taking me to a booth, and i tried to tell her I would prefer a table, but she didnt hear me at first. But another server heard me, and told my server "SHE would like a booth" It is amazing, what a single letter can do for one's confidence.

I was wondering what happened to saphire's place?

An article in today's paper said that Swiss Bank UBC was revising its dress code. Currently, bankers are required to wear skin colored underwear, refrain from eating garlic and wear a watch because it signals "trustworthiness and a concern for punctuality". The code tells women how to apply makeup and what color stockings are acceptable.

I wonder if a crossdressing banker could get away with a skin colored bra when they line up the employees for morning underwear inspection?

Hi, It's been a while, but I've written a new story, this time using Open Office. My problem is that I've got permission to use a picture taken from Flickr with the title, and I'd like the title to be in a suitable nice font. Could someone please help me to get this done? It may sound lazy if I ask to send them everything and they produce the end product for me, but if they explain how its done, I can maybe do it myself next time.

With many thanks in anticipation,

Bronwen Welsh

I've been working on several legal documents, namely: a Will, a Health Proxy and a Power Of Attorney. Those I can afford. I've been putting off my name change because of the costs and another matter that concerns only me and one other nameless person. The matter between me and that person seems to be settled, and I am proceeding with the name change because... I've been informed that our local Legal Aid thingie will not only fill out the paperwork for me, but they can also get the fees waived due to my financial status... one step below poor.

I have just discovered DocsToGo for my iPhone, and it is an incredibly useful app.

It enables me to edit MS Word files on my iPhone and then synchronise them with my computer, so I can now write on the train or in a cafe, or even in bed at 3 am (my most creative time). Unlike a laptop, unless people get very close, it is completely private. Sure, typing is not that fast on the iPhone, but it's fast enough for my brain. And you can always tidy it up when you transfer it to your computer. It even handles password protected files - another important feature for me.

I ran across these today. There is a small bit of TG but I enjoyed them all.
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/01/14/sean-hartter-movie-...

Hugs!
Grover

An ode of English Plural
English: A Tough Language to Learn

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

Okay... this is probably be a bit on the intense side so fair warning that this may be the post you want to skip.

It's important that I state, first and foremost, that I am in an exceptionally good mood right now. I feel more creative, and, in a word, "pumped" than I've felt in awhile, so take that into account foremost to set the 'mood' of this blog post.

I know after I finished Book Two of Becoming Robin I sort of went into a conservation phase for awhile. It took me forever to get the final chapter posted due to a combination of RL stuff and the Holiday blues, which put an even further damper on my finishing rewriting Shadowcraft.

Hi all!

I just stumbled on an article in The Daily Mail about an ancient Egyptian mummy that turns out to be a boy dressed as a girl! No fooling! It just goes to show you that we've been around forever!

Read here about the mummy of a boy dressed as a girl!

Lisa
(Mona Lisa)

Dear Friends:

I just noticed on my information page, that I have been a member of Big Closet Top Shelf for exactley 2 Years and 6 minutes.

So I want to thank Erin and her staff and everyone else who helps out for their time, hard work and sacrifice which makes this place possible. If any of my blogs or comments have caused you heartache or grief, I appologize.

I also want to thank all of the authors who stories I have read and even those authors who I have not had the time to enjoy for the hours of enjoyment they give me.

Hey Lil is there an update as to whats canon in The Center. Ive been waiting to read it till there a more solid whats canon and whats not

I am troubled tonight, and I don't seem to be able to sort my feelings out very well right now. I have been coming to this site just 2 weeks over 4 years, and I have come to know and have great affection for a number of the Authors here. I really appreciate the patience and understanding that Erin has shown me when my emotions were unmanageable. It is posible that I was the biggest drama queen ever to come here, and in spite of it all, I don't think anyone has ever sent an unkind email or comment to me. I am so thankful for that.

I'm not sure what I can say about this. The nature v. nurture argument pops up in many areas of discussion of human behavior and identity. Following is an example of personal anecdotes (and photos) of gay men and women and their earliest evidence of being... different.

Presented without further comment:

http://borngaybornthisway.blogspot.com/

Particularly those of you who have stories at Crystal's.

This only vaguely has anything to do with anything more than I'm frustrated and decided to vent here rather than there.

There of course being the name for the inside of the old freezer I keep the bodies in...

any hoo

So years ago I played Magic the Gathering with my little brother.

My next story was going to be a Mattie story but frankly every chance that I've tried to write it I just can't seem to come up with a thing for it. So I'm going to put the story on hold for a while and move onto something else. I've got a couple more ideas, I'm not sure which one is going to come first though.

Just a quick little warning. I am going to discuss some tough subjects so take care reading

Looks like a TG day in the news today.

”‹Brian Katcher's 2009 novel, Almost Perfect, has been grabbing attention and awards -- it just snagged the 2011 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award.

This story sounds so much like so many we can find right here. It's nice to see a story about a TG teen get an award.

Hugs,

Connie

Hi everyone yet another storm comes LOL LOL will it ?

I've posted chapter 17 of Amanda's Eyes on Fictioneer. As before, no tg content but a good dose of teen angst and romance. Some here have shown interest.

http://fictioneer.org/content/amandas-eyes-chapter-17-boo

Amanda finds some friends, Ken does an over the top halloween display and we see Kelly starting to understand what she's done.

Enjoy!
Woody

I was greeted this morning with the blue screen of death. All unbacked up work, including two and a half chapters of Sweat and Tears, down the pan. Sorry.

In a storyline that could have come right out of TopShelf, Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place now features a transgendered character, in a roundabout way.

For those not familiar with the series, it's about a family of wizards living in the modern world and how they cope with everyday situations.

One of the staple characters, Max, was inadvertently magically transformed into a young girl, "Maxine", on the last episode. The promo "and she might be sticking around awhile" is what amused me enough to finally post about it.

Recently an author asked if her writing sucked. Since writing is such a personal journey let's make that "Do I suck?"

Every author on Big Closet should look at Sue Brown's latest story . . . the second book of Football Girl.

It is as good as there is on BC. Yet, her latest chapter which was posted over two weeks ago has "only" attracted 1,475 hits, 88 kudos and 14 comments.

Many, many stories attract two to three thousand hits within the first two weeks of posting.

So just a quick update on the college front, since I promised a few of you I'd keep you posted when I knew something.

Essentially, I'm going to wait until the summer to start classes. I know this sounds like a cop-out, or that I'm backing out again, but really, it's not, and I actually owe you guys for it not being so for once :-)

Due to Illness the next chapter of 300 Rains is postponed. This last week I have been quite sick and often too tired to read, let alone write. So I have done no editing and very little reading and I am still plan on crashing early. I think it is safe to say that I have slept 30-32 hours of the last 48 and it was comparable the 48 prior to that. Next week I should have a chapter ready for you all. Sorry and take care.

Heather

Just wondering: Is my story Portia and the Double Whammy really that bad? Sixty reads, and not one kudo, not even a negative comment. Maybe the kudos aren't working. I guess real life situations are not that popular. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Portia

I'm probably well behind here and have missed something important, like the announcement that Kudos being interrupted for a while, which would explain where mine's gone. I've checked all the blogs back to before the New Year and haven't found anything. Have I not gone back far enough?

I just looked one day and there it wasn't.

Now compared to someone like Ang, whose Kudos looked like a phone number, mine just looked like loose change, but now I don't even have a zero.

Is it trying to tell me that I need to write something new?

I just wanted to make it clear the town of Fairbanks in my story isn't located in Alaska it's a town I made up in Alberta. It is not in Alaska. I made sure to mention that the town was in Alberta. And Just to Clarify things, Bridgeview is made up as well.

Sorry for any confusion everyone.
Bailey.

Had a difficult day and feel shattered, so I won't be posting tonight. Hopefully, back to normal tomorrow.

Angharad.

As promised, since it won a prize in the contest, I added an epilogue to Santa Monica.

Scroll down to the Kilroy-looking separator, where it says:

~o~O~o~
Epilogue:

I just posted a long blog about the uncanny parrallels between Steph's (Cyclist) story called Sweat and tears and the many abuses I suffered in care from aged six to fourteen.
The blog disappeared into the ether when I pressed submit so it's lost forever.

I'll try again.

In 1975 just after I got married, my wife, (to whom I'm still married)persuaded me to write a faction about my early life.

I scratched away for several months with pencil and several thick notebooks and then the story sat around in my attic for nearly 30 years.