Ashley

girlme @ 2005-05-06T22:23:00

2005-05-07T03:30:48Z

Hey everyone,

It's been too long since I posted anything here. Things have been going well for me for the most part. I have been slowly trying to go out more and get people to call me Ashley more. I got paid and so I could refill my prescriptions. I went for an interview at my college to be supervising media technician for the campus. We'll see how that goes. I beat out 13 other applicants for the job. I'm trying to apply at bank where I think they will be cool with me. I've also been working on making a super awesome dvd for my mom for mother's day.

The main thing I want you guys to know is that I am transfering to a new livejournal. I am finally combining my boy lj and this one. I will keep this one going for a while. This will give those of you who wish you hadn't friended me a chance to get out now, and those of you who do read this to actually see me update my journal. :)

So yah. I hope all is well. Find out all about me as I throw off the shackles of secrecy and come out online. Let the rumor mill begin!

Paper or Plastic?

2005-04-24T17:53:20Z

Yesterday was huge! I went to the grocery store as Ashley, and in full daylight no less. I was terrified getting ready. I kept procrastinating which was driving Maria crazy, but eventually there was nothing more I could do to stall for time. I had to do it, to see. I figured if it went horrible then at least I had the rest of the day to come home and cry about it. We left the apartment, and right away the mailman started coming to the lobby door. I sped past him hoping he wouldn't notice, dragging Maria along in my dust.

We got to the car and it was so strange to be dress up durning the day. Thus far I've mainly gotten dolled up at night. It was kinda like being out the in sunlight for the first time. Sorta the way prisoners must feel after being released from prison after years and years. It felt great and I didn't want it to end, but at the same time I feared being spotted. We got in the car and the steel walls of my Chevy seemed to act as a bubble. I don't fear getting spotted in my car. I mean there is the possiblity, but really how often do people look at other people in their cars?

Finally we pulled into the grocery store. I found a spot near the return carts thingy. My heart was beating like crazy but there was no going back now. I kept trying to be rational and tell myself that nobody was going to say anything. Nobody would care (at least to my face!) As we got out of the car, a woman walked up to the car parked next to us. I was freaking out in my head, feeling that she was judging me, but we just kept walking up to the store and it was soon okay. We passed more people going in. I sorta kept my eyes to the ground, trying to be invisible, but really most people just passed by us.

Inside the store it was busy. At first I started to wonder why I chose a weekend to do this. Weekends are when most people go shopping. I could have easily come during the week and at night, but then I realized this was sorta trial by fire. Better to go through the worst of it now, and make it easier on myself later.

Actually the shopping went okay. Trying to decide what foods I needed for the week helped keep my mind off the fact that I was walking around a bunch of strangers with make-up, boobs, and jewelry on. No one really stared or did anything too obvious. I saw mothers with children and feared them pulling their babies away from me in disgust but that didn't happen either. In the check out line no one acted any different either. All and all it went pretty well. and I almost wanted to do more. Go to a movie, get ice cream or something, but I didn't feel like tempting the gods of prejudice more than I already had. But now it feels great! I feel like I've made another milestone in this journey. :)

girlme @ 2005-04-10T16:57:00

2005-04-10T21:59:28Z

So Maria and I leave for Texas tomorrow morning. If I haven't mentioned it before my Dad is getting remarried. I was hoping I could come to the wedding as Ashley, but he said that was too soon for most people to handle. So in lieu of that here's another new pic.

girlme @ 2005-04-05T01:34:00

2005-04-05T06:47:22Z

Today I got up early (10:30am), and went to the campus to attend a Gender fair being sponsered by the LGBT resource center. They had some poster-boards set up exlaining the gender binary and body types and various other Trans related topics. They had some buttons wich I didn't take, but maybe should have in retrospect. Anyways, some speakers talked. I only stayed for a really nice tboy who seems to be having a rough time of his transition. He's had to deal with a lot more discrimation that I have had to with this whole thing. I don't know how I've managed to be this lucky so far. I mean this whole thing definately sucks, but I feel like I've had a fairly decent experience with it comparatively speaking. I keep waiting for my luck to run out.

Speaking of luck, I couldn't stand the wait and called my mom this afternoon and asked her show my brother took the news. She said he hadn't mentioned anything to her about it. She told me she would call me back, but didn't. I got home and raced to check my email. There was an email from my brother in it. I was really nervous to open it.

He basically said he's doesn't hate me or never want to speak to me again and that he is naturally concerned but for the most part supportive of my choices. He thought I was making the whole thing up due to the proximity of April Fools Day. We are going to talk more when I go home in a week.

I swear I don't know how I manage to be so lucky!

girlme @ 2005-04-03T22:24:00

2005-04-04T03:24:54Z

So I finally figured out how to put a pic of me up. Damn this is hard work. Anyways this pic was taken in the reflection of a mirror (hence the dirtiness of it). On the "what's new with me" front. I emailed my brother yesterday and told him about myself. He hasn't written me back yet. I don't know whether to be worried or glad about that. I guess time will tell.

girlme @ 2005-03-26T19:38:00

2005-03-27T01:55:34Z

Wow I haven't posted in forever! I don't think I'm a LiveJournaler at heart. I only do it cuz I hope someone out there acutally cares what's going on with me. Gawd I'm such a narcissist!

Anyways I have been just sorta going along with things lately. I had my second pulse light treatment. It didn't hurt nearly as bad the 2nd time, but my face isn't cleared up yet. I'm giving it a couple of weeks though. The hormones have really been kicking in and I've become a lot more emotional, which is somewhat nice, but mainly it just manifests itself as me being crazy to Maria. We are getting along great! I love her so much. Sometimes I can't stand how amazing of a person she is.

I'm reading this teen book called "Luna" by Julie Anne Peters. It's about a boy slowly trying to discover himself as the girl he wants to be. It's reminding me of a lot of things about myself, but at the same time it is a cheesy teen novel. Some parts seem a little glossed over to me. But it's definately worth checking out.

My boobs are starting to come in which is both wonderful and weird. I fear soon I won't be able to wear tight tee-shirts and not get strange looks. Just one more thing to be paranoid about.

I really want to just come out to my brother and friends but I keep waiting cuz I want to do it right. God, how do you do something like that correctly? There is no perfect way. I mean so far everyone has been fairly receptive to it, but I'm fearing rejection from the few people who still don't know.

I keep thinking about if I'm making the right choice. If I am who I keep saying I am. This whole thing is not nearly as cut and dry as I'd like it to be. The times of desperate wanting are not always constant. I've never hated being a boy. (Well rarely hated it). I just wanna know that I'm not manifesting this out of something else, like my Dad assures me I am. I try to think about this as rationaly as I can. I cannot come up with any reasons why I would make this up. I don't want attention. (At least not for this!) I don't harbor resentment or guilt over my past. Why would someone make this up? I can only conclude that my actions and opinions are correct. I am transgenderd! I can't help it. I can't stop it. And really why should I? Why does there have to be anything wrong with being this way?

Wow I just went on a rant. Anyways I hope all are doing well.
I feel blessed.
-Ashley-

girlme @ 2005-03-06T02:11:00

2005-03-06T08:23:43Z

I've been feeling blah for the past day or so. I can't seem to shake these negative feelings. I feel like I'm kinda wasting my life still being a boy so much. I wanna hurry up and get to be Ashley full time, but I realize that I have a lot of work to do before that can happen.

This transgirl came into the bookstore where I work tonight. We met at the Halloween party I went to last year. I wanted so much to talk to her, to tell her that I wanted us to be friends, that I was trans too! But she is kinda off putting and I doubt she wants a trans-newbie like myself hanging around like a stray puppy. You can't expect that just cuz someone is in the same situation as you, that they will be sympathetic to your needs. So I didn't say anything.

I realized that nearly 50% of the people I know and care about in this world know about me being transgenderd. They might not all be comfortable with that knowledge, but at least they know. Now if only I could get the other 50% (which includes most of my family, my co-workers, and few outter circle of friends) to know!

I think I'm definately go home next month for my Dad's wedding. I guess I ought to tell my brother while I'm there. He may be moving out west again, and who knows when we'll see each other. Plus with the way the hormones are going I may not be able to hide the fact from him for long. I wanna get another round of pulse light done but I'm still too low on funds.

I guess my immediate plan should be to go out again sometime next week, and find a decent job ASAP!

Trans Mix

2005-03-03T07:05:54Z

So I wanna make myself and my friends who know about me a transgendered mix cd. The only problem is I'm having a tough time coming up with songs I like enough that deal with m2f transgenderism. Anybody got any other suggestions? So far I've got:

Make Up - Lou Reed
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Androgynous Mind - Sonic Youth
Beautiful Son - Hole
Lola - The Raincoats *Cover of the original
Dude looks Like a Lady - Aerosmith
Personality Crisis - New York Dolls

Please let me know if you can think of any.

girlme @ 2005-03-02T11:08:00

2005-03-02T17:24:51Z

So it's been forever since I've updated. (Sorry to anyone who actually still reads this thing with any interest.)
I've just been kind of crazy lately. A lot has been going on. So I'll just try to plow through this. The user pic is new. It was taken yesterday. No alterations, no upping the brightness or contrast. That's as close to my new haircut as you guys will get till I can f'ing figure out how to post pics. This is the first picture of me where I thought hey actually look pretty decent.

I have started on a new hormone regiment. My doctor and I upped the Estradiol to 4mg a day. The Spironal and Provera are the same. I'm really starting to notice the changes in my chest. Everything is a lot more sensitive/painful. Which means these pills are doing their job. My face has thinned out a little and I'm actually getting a waist somewhat. If I could just lose this tiny gut. Guess I'll have to cut back on the PBR!

Following my therapist's orders I went out and bought gas with Maria. This was the first time I'd gone out dressed up since Halloween. It was definately nerve racking for me. But all in all no one said anything. Most people didn't even bat an eye so I guess that's good too. Last night I went to my first group therapy session. I was the youngest person there. All the other women were in their mid 30's to 50's. They were a bunch of characters for sure. One thing disturbed me though. They all had really really bad teeth. I hope that isn't part of the process! Yikes!

Other than all that I am doing okay I guess I am trying to find a new job. Still waiting on my company's health insurance to give me my information cuz I'm going broke fast. I'm due for another round of pulse light but that will have to wait. The piggy bank is broken and I'm looking for things to sell off. :( I applied for a job at atarbucks where the manager knows about me so maybe I'll be able to get a job as Ashley soon! We'll see how that goes too.

Sorry I've been such a distant LJ friend lately. Carter I can't wait for your's and Nathan's wedding! Thanks to everyone actually reads my crazy thoughts and comments.

<3 Ash!

girlme @ 2005-02-04T07:33:00

2005-02-04T13:48:47Z

Wow! It's been a while since I've updated this thing. Right now it's like 7:30am and I should be asleep but I can't cuz I have insomnia and so i'm online.

Things have been pretty crazy lately. Sorry no pics yet. I just don't get photographed that often and I don't have a digital camera. Plus even if I did have one I've never figured out how to post them. I've tried believe me... I've given up.

Anyways I started on a new hormone regiment. On 100mg of Spironalactone. 2mg of Estradiol, and 2.5mg of Provera. So I'm well on my way hormone-wise. Been a little bit moodier, but I can't tell if that the pills or if I'm just my normal moody self.

Lately I've become really annoyed by the fact that the light pulse treatment has left my beard very patchy in some places. Several people have asked me if I have marker on my face. So basically I need to shave everyday now to not look like a loser who can't shave properly. I'm not looking forward to next month's second treatment, but hopefully I won't have to look like I have inkstains on my chin!

I tried going out the other night with some friends but they got sick. Damn WI and it's flu infested environment. Hopefully I won't get sick. I really wanted to go out. I don't begrudge my friends for their illness, but I haven't gone out "en femme" in a while and I need the practice of being a woman. I'm not going to get more comfortable with all this till I do it more. I keep trying to hang out with my girl friends but they are all busy. :(

And though I hate to end on bad news...I had a upsetting converation with my Dad a couple of weeks ago. Turns out he's not as comfortable with this as he led me to believe when I saw him at Xmas. He and his finance don't want me to come to their wedding as a girl. I can't say I entirely blame them, it would be an odd first impression to make on my new step-family, but still it sucks! I'm just more generally disappointed in his overall reaction to this. I'm afraid to talk to him about it more. We'll see.

just some late night babbling.

2005-01-20T10:48:25Z

I've been so busy lately, I haven't had time to update anything. I got my hair cut, and as much as I've been bitching about it to some of you, I really do like it. It's a lot shorter, but at least it's somewhat girly. I told the stylist (a friend of a friend) that I was trans and needed a haircut that can go both ways. She was very cool about it and gave me a cute bob haircut. Some people have made comments at work, but they are dumb and don't know better. If I try to style it girlishly it looks pretty cute I think.

Secondly I went for my first treatment of pulse light. This was done at the spa where my friend works as a masseuse. Pulse light for those who don't know is like laser hair removal only much quicker and can cover more area than laser can. I had to drive way outta town to goto the place. I got there and all the women in the salon were so gorgeous! Finally they took me back and I had to shave cuz I was running late. Apparently you can't have hair growth or the light will sear your skin. So I gave myself the closest shave I could. They had me lay down on a table much like a doctor's office, only there was soothing ambient music. I had to put on some protective eye wear. This made everything dark. I was feeling quite relaxed until they turned on the machine.

I can only describe the pain as a hot needle quickly puncturing my cheeks, jaws, lip and neck. There was the smell of burnt hair and flesh. It was QUITE uncomfortable! But I consoled myself with the fact that at least it wasn't electrolysis. The whole thing was over in 30 mins. (thank god!) Next they also did my hands which was nothing compared to my face. I paid my discounted rate and drove home with a bag of ice on my neck and jaw. I tried shaving 2 days later and discovered that my skin is still too sensitive. I plan to wait a while and then try shaving once the redness/razor burn has gone away.

Other than that... I have been on the hormones for roughly 2 months now. I feel like I've started noticing subtle changes in my hips and thighs. My face seems to be thinning out a bit. There is increased sensitivity in my nipples, and my chest seems to be more dense. All good signs! I go to see my Dr. on friday. I'm hoping to up the treatment to regular dosage levels. So far there hasn't been much of any "pink haze" to speak of. But maybe that will finally start to come.

Again I want to thank all my friend on and off the web for their support. This whole thing is crazy I hardly know what to make of it myself sometimes. Thanks again to my parents for their support. Everyone is so amazing, and I feel really blessed!

Once I get rid of this stubble I'll try to get some pics up! Till then g'nite!

girlme @ 2005-01-17T13:40:00

2005-01-17T19:41:08Z

I have dropped off the face of the earth. It's cold out here!

girlme @ 2005-01-11T12:29:00

2005-01-11T18:31:50Z

On the way to the salon. Gonna get a new haircut! :)

girlme @ 2005-01-11T01:33:00

2005-01-11T07:38:28Z

It's been a while since I've updated. Mainly cuz things have been slow going lately. I have made my first appointment for pulse light hair removal for this friday. I meet with my Dr. again in 2 weeks to hopefully up my hormones. My friend Dee waxed my arms for me. It was painful but worth it.

Lately I haven't had the time to dress up like I'd like to, so it's hard to feel as feminine as I'd like. I keep trying to make another appointment with my therapist but she dosen't call me back! I'm beginning to wonder about her. If only I didn't feel like there were a billion things to do right now. Impatient me.

Happy New Year!!!

2005-01-02T01:12:11Z

I am back in the icy north and much relieved to be so. I told my Dad and you know, he took it amazingly well! I was so proud of him. We had lunch at this yummy mexican resturant and then went back to his apartment. He started asking me about what my plans for the future were and I decided to go ahead and tell him everything. He was open-minded and calm about the whole thing. He even said I could come to his wedding in Apr. as Ashley if I wanted, just as long as I let people know ahead of time so as not to freak out those of my relatives and people who don't know.

I still didn't tell my brother. He has too aggressive of a personality for me to feel comfortable telling him in person. Perhaps as I continue along this path I will get to a point where the need to tell him will out weigh my desire to inform him. We'll see.

I have been very happy to be back in Milwaukee and with Maria! She is amazing. We had a great New Years! We visited my friend Tony who just moved much closer. We checked out his new place then we all went to see some friends' band play a NYE show. We caught some really great indie/punk rawk and then headed to more parties. I ended up seeing a lot of friends I don't normally run into. Good times.

I am anxious for 2005 to get underway and for my transitioning to progress as well. I am going to make an apppointment with my friend D who is giving me the hook-ups with laser treatment. Hopefully I can get my body waxed and even work on getting a new more feminine haircut. I plan to ask my doctor to up the dose of hormones from my current .625mg of Premarin and 50mg of Spironalactone. It will be great to finally start seeing some results.

I have sorely been behind on catching up with most of my ljfriends journals.

girlme @ 2004-12-28T01:05:00

2004-12-28T07:34:53Z

It's been a while since my last update. I'm here in TX visiting the folks and been doing the traditional holiday festivities. My plan was to come home and tell my brother and Dad about what's been going on with me.

All in all this trip home has been rather depressing. My parents/family are all proud of me for graduating and finally getting my degree, but this Xmas has been sorta hollow because I have chickened out and not told my family what's been going on.

I flew in a week ago, and I hate flying so I took some meds to calm me down. This didn't really relieve my anxiety, but it helped me to be super passed out during the flight. Anyways, immediately after I landed and met my Mom at baggage claim she starts in on me about the "trans business". I was exhausted from no sleep and sedatives. Needless to say it wasn't the best conversation.

I slept off the narcotics in my brother's old room which my female cousin, who has been staying with my Mom, has been using. She has redecorated it to look match the needs of a young woman so it's been sorta like having my own pretend girl room for a week now!

Most of my time home has been spent finishing Christmas shopping, visiting relatives, and watching too much cable television. One night after going out I sat up and talked with my Mom and she asked me why I wanted to tell my brother and father. I told her I wanted them to know what has been going on with me, and that I don't want to hide this about me anymore. She asked if I was certian that I wanted to go through with this all the way...to start living as a woman. I said I didn't know, so she asked me why tell them if I wasn't 100% sure I was going to go through with it. I thought about that a lot.

On one hand I don't want to feel like I'm keeping secrets from my family. I want them to accept me for who I am, regardless of my gender. On the other hand I feel like my mother has a point, not to stir up the nest when I don't necessarily need to. So thus far I haven't. I mean everyone is so happy that I am home, and that I have graduated. I planned on telling them sometime after Xmas, but the day when my plane leaves back to Milwaukee is rapidly approaching.

What's been killing me is not getting to be feminine. Not having any make-up to wear. Not getting to dress more girlish. My brother noticed that I shaved my arms and started questioning me about it. I made up some excuse (which amazingly he bought) since we were at my Grandmother's with all our aunts, uncles, and cousins around.

All this time, everyone keeps asking what I'm going to do now. I don't know how to tell them that I am going to try and become a woman!

I am having lunch with my Dad tomorrow alone. I will have to see if I am up to telling him or not. This all weighs so heavily on me. It's pretty much all I've been able to think about while I've been home. I can't wait to get back to my normal routines, friends, and environment. To be able to dress and act as I please. But what bothers me the most is my own uncertianty.

Why aren't I more certian that this is what I want? When will I be sure, or will I EVER be sure? I keep waiting for these hormones to provide some definative evidence either way. All I am left with is uncertianty. I feel fairly sure, but how can I say till I've done more. Lived it, experienced life as a woman?

Wow this post got long. Sor for anyone who actually waded through all this. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I've been thinking of many of you this holiday. Time for sleep.

-Ashley-

girlme @ 2004-12-17T01:29:00

2004-12-17T07:34:02Z

Today was very exciting indeed. Today was the last day of classes. I am for all practical purposes a college graduate! Just waiting for that diploma to arrive in the mail! So if anyone needs a transgirl to make a movie for them, I'm your lady.

Secondly I went to the doctor again this morning and she prescribed me some Spironalactone. Hopefully this will really start thing moving along. Man! A college graduate and increased hormones all in one fabulous day. I'm just growing up so fast. Now if only I can get a phat wad of grad money to pay for my pills.

Working Girl

2004-12-10T20:57:16Z

So I've been spending all my time working on my final film for film school. 6 hours a day editing with a few lack-off breaks here and there. Hopefully I will get this film finished in time to graduate from college. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

My friend Dee recently found out about my transness and has been freaking out, in a good way. I'm glad there are people enthusiastic for me to do this. The response of all my friends has been so overwhelmingly positive. I'm just anxious to start doing more with this. I keep waiting for these hormones to start working, so I can decided if I like the mental aspects of being a girl. If I do I figure I will go home and tell my brother and Dad and then come back to Milwaukee and start working toward becoming full-time. Dee works at a spa/salon and the owner is willing to help me with clearing my face, fixing my hair, doing my make-up...not to mention they also do massage! So I'm all super-psyched for all this, but I just want to make sure this is truly what I want. I mean I don't really have anything stopping me at this point (aside from $/health insurance). Which is cool, but I can't decide without feeling more of what hormones are like. I don't want to start doing things that will be telling (ie shaping eyebrows, clearing my face, pierced ears etc.) until I know for certian.

Hi Mom!!!

2004-12-04T00:45:42Z

So things have been super busy for me. I called my mom the other night cuz I couldn't stand holding in my secret any longer. We talked and she took it very well. She is concerned for me which is cool, but I wish she wouldn't worry so much. I've come out to some more people lately. I told my friend/co-worker Amanda who was super awesome about it. I can't wait to hang out with her more. I also told my friend Joe. He sat there in disbelief for a while not knowing what to say, but generally was nice about it. He told his wife, and she called me up yesterday saying she had talked it over with her boss at the salon she works at and they are going to try to work out a deal so that I can get laser hair removal for MEGA cheap!!!

I also went to my therapist again yesterday we had a long talk about stuff. She told me how I should deal with telling my family when I go home for Christmas. She mentioned a lot of interesting things. Like apparently 25% of all transpeople are left handed. She also told me I should start feeling the effects of the hormones after about 3-4 weeks. Just in time for Christmas.

My Mom called me up tonight and asked me how I was doing. I told her I was fine and that if she really wanted to check up on me she should read my journal. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all. HMMM.

5 Day on Horse Pee

2004-11-27T18:57:21Z

So far I haven't felt much of a change, I guess my overall mood is better which is cool. I've been super busy with work/school/thanksgiving. After thanksgiving dinner at Maria's parents we went our friend Ambers to watch a movie. After the movie it was just Maria, Amber, Emily, Katie and me. The girls all talked about people they knew from high school. They all know about me, so I don't think they acted like I was a guy. It was weird. Kinda hard to explain but as I was sitting there with them I did feel this overwhelming sense of femininess. Maybe it was all in my head. I wish I would feel it again. Again I'm so impatient. So I keep waiting for all those lovely effects some of you mentioned. But hey, no rush!

Doctor's Visits

2004-11-23T23:04:00Z

So today I went to see my doctor about starting hormone therapy!!! I got there and realized how long it's been since I've seen a "real" doctor. The more I thought about it, I realized that so much of my childhood memories are from waiting in doctor's offices. My doctor was super nice! She asked me what I wanted to get out of hormone therapy and I told her to figure out if this is what I want, and she wrote the prescription for Premarin right then and there! I was so happy! The whole thing cost me WAY less than I thought too. After she checked me out I just had to go downstairs to a lab and do some blood work. I don't think I've ever had any blood taken before. It wasn't too bad. Everything was over and done with so fast, and there I was with my filled prescription of a months supply of estrogen.

Since this was right near the mall I figured why the hell not go, cuz I was feeling just a tad light-headed probably from the blood work. They didn't take that much, but I'm a wuss, what can I say. I got a soda at the food court and took a pill. It's hard to say if there is any effect. I'm not expecting much considering the low dosage I'm on. I did feel a little more relaxed. I ran into Emily, and her friend Katie met up with us. We went shopping for some stuff. All and all not a bad day. I just can't wait to see what effects this will start to have on me. I just hope I don't become some raging bitch!

History 101 Second Draft

2004-11-20T07:53:48Z

Maybe I always wanted to be a girl. I remember wanting to play with the other girls on the playground in grade school. Then when I was 13 or so I tried my mother's lipstick. It grew from there. I spent years dressing up in secret in her clothes. Almost getting caught, hating myself, trying to quit and then doing it all over again.

I finally told my girlfriend over a painful and desparate tear soaked conversation. She told me to quit cuz she thought it was causing me so much distress. I did quit for a while since I moved away for college. Everytime I came back home I would still dress up. All this time I was in denial about it.

One day my same girlfriend said we should try having me dress up as an addition to our sexual play. This opened the floogates to feelings I had been bottling up inside for years! I began learning more and more about transexualism. I went out a few times on Halloween. I told my parents. They did not take it well. I went to a therapist that I could not afford. I started to obcess about it. I got too carried away with it. My relationship my girlfriend suffered. Eventually for this and many other reasons we broke up.

I gradually told a few more friends, but most of the time I would dress up at home alone. I dated more women, but always was afraid of what would happen if they eventually found out. I met a new girl. Eventually I told her in an almost equally difficult, though much less tear soaked confession. She was supportive. I moved into a new apartment with 2 guy roommates. I finally worked up the nerve to tell them. They were shocked, but generally supportive. I started going out more. I bought more and more clothes and make up. I went to see the same therapist whom this time I could afford.

Through somewhat misguided therapy I decided that this was not just a sexual thing for me. Not just a fetish, but something I felt and needed to deal with. I went out more, and came out to more people. Now I am waiting to start hormones and really become the girl/woman I am meant to be.

Out and About

2004-11-19T20:19:41Z

Yesterday was more dressing up! Yea! I got all dolled up in my favorite shirt and a cute black skirt and Maria, Emily, Mike, Sean, Matt, and I watched the "Burbs". Aside from the skirt and shaved legs I actually tried to dress down a bit. Later, Maria, Emily, Mike and I went to a club called Out and About. So far this club has probably been my favorite of the gay clubs we've gone to. Maybe that's cuz my friend/neighbor Tom was bartending. He is cute, and one of the few boys I've ever kissed! Out and about was okay, but everyone seemed really tired. No one was really talking. I tried bringing up topics but no one seemed really interested. I decided to finish my second Gin & Tonic and leave.

I'm so grateful that I have friends that support me and are cool with this. I need to get them to treat me more like Ashley and less like Kyle. Like Maria and my therapist both said this is just a matter of time. I am going to try and out myself more. I have my doctors appointment in a few days. I'm scared that they'll find some deadly disease or something what with all my stomache problems. If I do get cleared for hormones I'll be estatic, but nervous cuz then I feel like I have to tell people before the effects become too noticable/unreversable.

I'm really nervous about Xmas. I can't imagine how my Mom is going to take me telling her I have to go through with this. I fear the comments from aunts and uncles about my long hair, shaved body ect. I'm really worried about telling my brother Nick. I have no idea will take this at all! He has a tendency to get angery about things. I'm also afraid about telling my Dad cuz he is getting re-married. I have this irrational/rational fear that he won't want me to come to the wedding. That I'll be rejected by my family that I only see once a year!

That's why I'm lucky I guess that I live on my own, have such great supportive friends, a terrific girlfriend! They are like a second family to me. Still it would be nice to have emotional support from my parents/brother.

Losing My Mind

2004-11-18T08:21:19Z

I need something to happen soon. I can't take stagnation. "If it's not fucked up then it's boring!" I guess that's why I'm such a fuck-up sometimes.

Last Night

2004-11-16T17:09:22Z

So last night after work Dixie, Mike, Josh and I went to Palemino for drinks. Matt from work and his brother joined us. We sat and talked and listend to Josh's jukebox picks. Finally Matt and his brother left and I told Josh about me. He was wasted by this point (we all were). He took it well like I thought he would and maybe cuz he was drunk gave me the most enthusiastic response yet! He was also quick to point out that I should use my transgenderness to help fund my film projects. I don't really wanna think of myself as a minority but maybe he's got a point. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! :)