Don't you ever get tired of angst, whining, and self-pity?

There has to be something positive in your life.

You are in charge of your attitude. That's a fact. It isn't just a bumper-sticker.

Life is about change. Good stories are about change. Life is about redemption. Good stories are about redemption.

When your stories lead to oblivion you've violated the contract you have with your reader. Readers are looking for that Hollywood ending where good prevails and bad is punished. It happens. Really -- it happens.

Ladies and gentlefolk, may I present, the June 2011 Writer's Challenge Topics! *applause!*

I seem to have developed a serious seizure disorder focused in my left shoulder. This is making typing very problematic so the odds are that the posting of chapter 40 is out until this has been dealt with.

So it goes.

It was with a sense of sadness and rage that I read some news about children being mistreated in Care Homes in the UK. I have several friends there who have had horrific experiences in places like that, and I realised that the news of these further atrocities was likely to dredge up feeling from the past that will make them feel quite broken and sad. I am so sorry for your having to relive the past and wish that I could some how make things better for you all, but then I am not God am I?

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/two-spirits/

June 14 10 pm

Fred Martinez was one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at 16. Two Spirits explores the life and death of a boy who was also a girl, and the essentially spiritual nature of gender.

Although I get annoyed at the reporter's choice of pronoun!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43230133/ns/today-today_people...

Well, the other day, I was reading my bible at work during my lunch break. One of the other workers noticed, and started talking to me about faith. At the end of the conversation, she invited me to join a LADIES bible study group. Sadly, its not a place I can get to, but the offer was nice.

I say this in the news today and thought i would share with the rest of you! transgender becomes prom queen.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43230133/ns/today-today_people...

Egyptian military performs 'virginity tests'

According to a report by an international activist group, the Egyptian military is accused of performing "virginity tests" on detained female protesters. The 2011 Egyptian revolution, which forced former president Hosni Mubarak out of power, has resulted in the military controlling the country until elections later this year. Like most military minds, excess is excused as military necessity. The more conservative the basis of the culture, the worse the excesses.

Just wanted to give a brief explanation for my last story, "Unintended Consequences". After I had read "A new game plan", I left my comment, expressing my opinion, and figured that would be the end of that. Unfortunately, my muse had other ideas. I went out with my daughter, and while watching her play in our neighborhood park the basic idea of this story dropped in. By the time I got back in, I was on fire, and the story took less than twenty minuses to write.

About 2 months ago, I opened up to a woman at work about myself. She's great. She recently left the call center where we work together and in the last couple days a coworker of mine has said that she told him about my secrets but she did swear him to secrecy. He has not outed me as of yet but he is lording it over me. I told him to go ahead and tell people since no one will believe a big mouth like him anyways. He has also jokingly implied blackmail. I have spoken to a supervisor with out naming names.

Some of you may have known

I've had a PM that makes me think I should clarify my opinion on the use of Prescription Drugs. After 9/11 their use way more than doubled, and I was one of the people who was put on them.

Time doesn't stand still. Moving toward a transition, while still with ones family does contribute stresses. Sometimes these stresses can become more than a person can take, when combined with everything else going on.

Well, I think the pills are starting to have an effect. This morning after I got home, I considered err... relieving some tension, and discovered that even my over-active imagination could not make the old soldier salute, as it were. God, that is such a relief.....

Okay, this week and next week at least deals with the storm clouds that have been growing around Melanie and company. So there is some intensity in the next few go rounds. Be prepared.

Like for real though.

Some of the content may be distressing for some viewers.

Just FYI.

Tomorrow we're off to France for just over a week to take possession of our new house.

Well, that's what we hope is going to happen. We'll have to see when we get there.

The house is ours - well all bar the shouting, but the shouting isn't over. At least it wasn't yesterday. The certificate d'urbanism, which basically means we don't get taxed for owning a commercial property wasn't changed as it was supposed to have been, so we're not 100% sure about what we're walking into.

I just wanted to apologize for the delay in part 3 of "Between one step and the next". I felt like I had written myself into a corner, and was about to despair, but I think I see a way out now. Unfortunately, with real life being what it is at the moment, my writing time is seriously curtailed, so it will take a bit. It will come when it does, so thank you for your patience. and again, my apologies.

Home from the hospital, at least for a while! The surgeon removed a large calloused area on the bottom of my foot (like I have that much to spare!). I have to go in for surgery in two weeks ro "stretch the Achilles tendon" which the surgeon says will be quite painful! I'm sooooo lucky!
If you didn't notice, chapter 2 of my story is up, as promised. I hope y'all like it! If not, be nice and tell me why! If you do like it, be nice and tell me why! I want to be a better writer, suggestions are welcome! (Hey y'all, over there! We'll have none of that kind of talk, thar's LADIES present!)

Wren

Despite the criticism and even condemnation of this type of therapy, people are still doing it and getting away with it. It says more about the therapist than the client.

This article appeared in todays Guardian, it was quite interesting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/27/gay-conversion-t...

Angharad.

I really like the great stories here. Once in a while my patience wears thin on the TG genre and I go looking for something else. I watch an author like Apache and Lazlo Zalesac. He has a really great one up about Corporate America and I can tell you with authority that it is the most factual, true to life story I have seen on the subject. I am sure that some of the members here can identify with it. There is NO sex. There is no menu so you will have to fumble with the address bar to get through the chapters.

Gwendolyn

Read an article the other day and as it had the same (nick)name of a certain character in one of my favorite stories her, I thought I would share the link here.

A Heartfelt Goodbye to a Spirited Mars Rover

Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas sent a letter to his team shortly after the final command was sent to the Mars rover Sprit, which operated on the surface of Mars for more than six years and made numerous scientific discoveries.

I'm currently in the hospital, using a borrowed computer without MSWord, so it's a bit difficult to write at this time. Apparently I have a bad infection in my foot (the only one I have left!). The Docs are having fun exploring it, and I just pray the infection is not in the bone. Chapter 2 is done, I just need to clean it up some-as soon as I get home, I'll post it. Sorry for the delay!

Wren

Those of you following my main novels, Becoming Robin and Boys Don't Cry have probably noticed I haven't been very active lately. Part of that is that this is storm season, and since I usually do my writing in the evening, that's put a big halt to using the main PC. I finally got Windows 7 on my laptop though I still need to find my MS Office disc for that.

I got a call yesterday from someone I used to work with. His mother-in-law is visiting, and she read his copy of my book. She LOVED it, and wants a copy for herself to take back to ALASKA with her so she can have her friends read it! We had a very nice phone conversation and I thanked her for calling to tell me that she loved the book. So now I gotta order a couple of copies so I can have one handy should this happen again! LOL

well, I'm very ticked off. Apparently, the schedule I was given wasnt worth the paper it was written on. The night supervisor called me tonight wondering where I was. According to him, I was supposed to give him the schedule they gave me and have him sign off on it, and without any input from me, he booked me for tonight. So I'm one day into my new job and am already at odds with my manger. Sigh.

Thank you all that commented andleft Private messages in my inbox all your help is greatly apprecitaed with all the love to you all hugs

Erin Amelia Fletcher

Winging it-
With a little bit of magical help from Porter, Carl manages to get a job at the coolest store in the mall. When Carl is forced to model a girl's dress in order to satisfy his snippy boss, he is accidentally drafted into a famous designer's fashion show.

I got the final decree on Saturday!!! I am now, officially, and forever more, Catherine Linda Michel!!! Oooooh! I just got goose pimples!

Catherine Linda Michel

I see from the BBC news that 89 people are believed killed or injured in storms in Missouri and the footage they showed was horrendous.

My commiserations to any readers who live or have friends and family in that part of the world, I hope they're all safe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13497489

Angharad

Well, I got my schedule, and for the next two weeks at least, I'll be working full time. Cant wait for my first official shift Monday night.

http://c0389161.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/dyn/str_st...

Well, I had my one day shift today, and it was wonderful. I had been told I would spend the day in the back to prevent any issue with dressing female while wearing a male name tag. So I decided to wear a skirt and heels. But they forget to tell my new supervisor, so after I did some computer learning he sent me to the garden department. I'm glad he did, because I actually enjoyed it. Best of all, one lady was looking for something, and her older companion saw me, and said to her in my hearing, "I bet this young woman can help us." I could have kissed him.

well, as of this morning my girlfriend has left her home, her job, and everyone she knows to make a fresh start. She is going to Portland, not having anything waiting there except whatever hope she brings with her. I can do little but pray until she is reconnected with me, hopefully when she arrives.

It seems one or two of you like this, and as it's had a few reads and a couple of Kudos, I'll continue it for a bit, perhaps two more episodes, while Melanie writes her next one.

I've used some of her characters though I haven't worked entirely to canon as you'll see in part two, which I'm working on as I have time.

My wife wears a wig 24/7 and we have 4 old wigs that are still usable and we would like to know if any of you girls need 1 and can not afford 1 So we will send 1 each so that they may go to they most use. Drop me a PM with your name and address and I will sent them to you USPS. They are collar length dark brown with a slight wave, just trying to make someone smile.HUGS & KISSES RICHIE2

Sometimes dating can be more trouble than it's worth.

Yesterday Jeffrey Catherine Jones died. She was an artist who transitioned in 1990. Frank Frazetta once called her the worlds greatest living painter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Jones_%28artist%29

Perhaps like me the name didn't ring any bells, but once I searched out some of her work I recognized them immediately. So many of the paperback covers of fantasy tales I read back in the 70's had her name on them. Also she was one of the artists that made National Lampoon such a hit in its hey day. A truly remarkable person.

Rest easy.
Grover

Well, I finished my second day of orientation at Wal-mart. So far, so good. Nobody has even looked at me funny for having a male name tag while wearing female clothes, makeup, and a wig. I live in the best country in the world ....

The idiocy of this is beyond my comprehension.

http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/city-bans-breast-feedin...

I wonder what F--- up in the development of society led to this mind set?

Portia

A comment on an old story. My, that's a circuit breaker in a good way. An antidote of sorts for the reality shits. You don't know. Some of you might but most don't I expect. What? Are you on something? Ummm, yeah maybe. You probably don't want any though. Well the comment maybe, assuming there's something to comment on. This is the expurgated version... good thing too I think. What??

I never fail to be amazed how someone could want to archive anything I wrote unless they were doing some sort of study on compulsions or classic lunacy. That someone could keep it up to date--it does involve a lot of effort--then create a map site and keep that up to date as well--I'm absolutely staggered. I'm also grateful although my thanks seem somewhat inadequate in comparison.

Thanks to PS and Ben for doing this, I know many readers find it an easier way to read such a long saga, so on their behalf, I thank you also.

Books

Just a little something to share with some of my favorite readers.

Well, I start working for Wal-mart today. Orientation will be interesting, since I will be dressed female, but have a male name tag. Ah, well.