I am working on a new Phoenix story, and it made me think about a lesson I hope I have learned, thanks to a story that failed. As some of you know, I wrote a "Amanda Waller" story for the ret-con universe, and it got rejected as being in need of a total re-write. Later, I wrote my story "The Tears of the Phoenix", and as you can see if you look for it, it was accepted. So why the difference? Well, with the Amanda Waller story, I think I got myself thinking like a comic book writer, not a novelist. I concentrated on some visual images I thought "cool", and I think the story suffered for it.

Sometimes...

... with affection...

Saturday Night Live had one of their send-up fake ads this weekend that was particularly aimed at making fun of transsexuals. IMHO, it was transphobic, trivializing and mocking. GLAAD is calling for an angry response from the LGBT community. Considering GLAAD is rarely "there" on trans issues, this is a bit of an earthquake.

Here's a link to start with, with links to other links, including embedded video:

http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/estromaxx.html

Saturday Night Live is a production of NBC Universal, which is in the process of merging with Comcast.

Gosh, it has taken so long to calm down and for my muse to once again feel comfortable in my flesh, Wallah ! Ch 3 is about half written and I hope to publish it this week. To both of my readers, LOL, I am sorry that I have been away for so long.

Once again, after Lt Katia's rest, she is in Afghanistan. Remember the war has now gone on for 20 years; the West seems unable to leave; the need for the rare minerals is so great. China is mining most of it but the West and China have come into a tense cooperation agreement.

Katia will face danger and startling personal revelations.

I just wanted to share about one moment that occurred while Kylie and I were writing "A College Outing". We got to the part where Todd was going to find out Tracy's secret, and we tried to figure the best way for that to happen. But once we had set his basic personality as creepy stalker, the only way that made sense to me was some kind of attempted assault. Kylie had written quite a bit of the stuff leading up to that moment, and needed a break, so I tackled it. As most of you know, I deal with my own assault, and so we had to be careful crafting the scene.

Well, for those who havent checked it out yet, the collaborative story I wrote with my gf Kylie is up. How to determine who wrote what? Easy. If you love it, thank Kylie. If you hate it, blame me...

Sorry folks, Just kidding about blaming me. Kylie says I am not allowed to put myself down, and she is right.

The first chapter in the new book is posted, this will be a little different than the original.

I'm writing this one almost entirely on an iPhone, during my morning and evening commutes, with editing work done on the weekends, on my laptop. (Thanks to all those who offered advice when I asked (see previous blog). I can say that PlainText plus DropBox does the job surprisingly well. Perhaps I'll move up to an iPad sometime, but the iPhone with PlainText is good enough that the need isn't as urgent as I thought.)

Oxumaré

Hope it's OK to post this. Just started watching new anime on a site I frequent that is tg themed. Hourou Musuko.

Plot Summary: Shuicihi Nitori appears to be a shy and quiet preteen boy, when he transfers to a new school he quickly makes friends with the tomboyish Yoshino Takatsuki who sits next to him. It soon becomes apparent that both Shucihi and Yoshino are more than simply a sensitive boy and masculine girl, they both are transgendered. Together they decide to take the first steps toward becoming the people they want to be.

The main constant in life, is to suffer mental anguish over things that happen that you have no control over, and can do nothing about!
-Quincy Kurtz

Sanity is overrated and it is only in the mind of the beholder
-Quincy Kurtz

If the reason for insanity is the world we live in, the world inside our heads is our salvation.
-Quincy Kurtz

Sanity is like a dry twig, apply too much force and it will snap.
-Quincy Kurtz

Well, I'd never have believed this could originate from the Daily Telegraph website!

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/belinda-white/TMG8285...

With all of the members and readers we have here, I thought I might inquire about something. A while back, my job revoked our permission to use a laptop or dvd player while working. We still have permission to read during down periods and on break. Being hard headed, and very cheap, I decided to do it the hard way. I located and purchased a like new IPAQ 1910, from back in 2002. I figured for 40.00 it would make things easier for me, and my buddy could buy a tank of gas. He gave me a 64 Mb card with it.

Well, I just got back from a very nice meeting with the local TS group. Not only was everybody nice, I ended up being given a makeup case (full), a wig holder (to help the wig dry), and a blond wig to go with my dark one. Pretty cool, no?

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/17/gaza.gender.id/

This is a really interesting article. The problem in GAZA is huge. And, now that I think of it, though we do not hear about it much, I am thinking that the problem is a big problem in Saudi Arabia too. Which explains, perhaps, why a Saudi man that I know seems really uninterested and not at all alarmed by my own status. Hmmmmm

Khadijah

I just got a reply to my latest e-mail from my brother, and had to share:

"I love you.
You must do as you must.
I will pray for blessing, protection, and that God reveal the truth to
both of us.
If I have to be the one to be adjusted, so be it.

Mike"

I am ... beyond stunned.

Hello dear friends,

Things might be a bit slow from me until next week. I haven't been well recently and I'm going to be away for the week-end.

Good Morning all! I'm posting this for Understanding Spouse. She's a rabid fan of a site called "Sleep Talking Man" It's a wife who posts the crazy things her Hubby says in his sleep. Todays has a few interesting items she thought the girls here might enjoy. Here's the link!

http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/

Grover

SWEAT AND TEARS DRAMATIS PERSONAE

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.

Thank you all for the wonderful responses you gave me. They really made me feel a bit better about things. As for some of the issues you listed and possible solutions let me address them.

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

A friend sent this to me and I thought some of you might get a giggle out of it.

What Religion is Your Bra?

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy's and shyly walked up to the woman behind the counter and said,
"I'd like to buy a bra for my wife. "

"What type of bra?" asked the clerk.

"Type?" inquires the man, "There's more than one type?"

"Look around," said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material imaginable.

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.