The "first step" was actually the zero-th step. :-(

Sometimes it is easy to forget how blessed we are. I am flat on my back recovering from SRS. A really close pair of friends are allowing me to recover at their house, which I am greatful for. Lots of pain but it is normal. I can't wait for the tube to come out of my new tush, but no worries. Looking forward to doing more than hunt anf peck on this keyboard. Till then all my love.

Wendy

One thing loosing my job has done, it has moved up my timetable on SRS. This is because SRS is covered on my old insurance, and part of my severance package was insurance for 11 weeks after I was laid off. I am prepared to buy COBRA if I have to if I need the insurance extended.

So, baring glitches, I will be going into an operating room and having what was supposed to be the final stage of my transition done. Like I said, it was moved up. I do not see myself ever being able to afford this on my own, and I qualify now (or will as of Dec. 16).

My name is Wendy Jean M. It was William (Bill) M, and in the eyes of the government it still is. This will be corrected soon enough. I am 56 years old, and am transitioning from male to female (MtF).

Those of you who know me are already aware of the killer depression (literally) I went through. If not for the love of family, whom I love more than myself, I would be gone now. I’ve beat the depression, though traces still remain.

Everyone is posting pictures, I'll give it a try. I am still in male mode, but this is week 3 of HRT for me. Changes from the current photo include new studs (time to train my ears don't you know) and I am mostly wearing womans jeans now, like anyone but me can tell the difference.

They finally decided to give us Christmas vacation at work, after telling us repeatedly it wasn't happening. Good enough, I needed the down time.

This is me and my boy around 2004, he is the only reason I am still here.

I have had a few bad days, with some nastiness from colleagues based largely on being different. For the first time in years, I threw a 'sickie', calling in sick when I wasn't. I should add that my sick record is now three days off in seven years. Not bad, so I feel no guilt. The pressure that drove me was mainly having to deal with men who are Real Men, and want their way all of the time. Apparently, their penises are extremely large.

The venerable American comic strip doesn't seem as popular, or as influential, as it had been when people hung on every word of Dick Tracy, L'il Abner, and Pogo. This led some to make gloomy pronouncements about the end of that art form. Is the real problem, though, not that the medium itself is dated, but that its policies regarding appropriate content are stuck in 1953?

I'm inclined toward the latter view.

Tom Gabel of Against Me! Comes Out as Transgender

I thought this might interest some of you folks. However, his (her) name means nothing to me. I haven't a clue about his person, their group or their music

RAMI

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20594075,00.html?ici...