JJ's Sunday Edition

Welcome! Ker Plunk! The Sunday Edition is hitting your virtual front porch!
Weather: Ohio summer heat, humid with a chance of monsoons, let's grab a cup of cold "joe" or iced tea and get started.

The Week that Was or Wasn't: With the appearance of a real live transgender woman speaking at the Democratic National Convention, the Dems drew a definite line in the sand with the "Lets Make America White/Straight Again" Republican minions. Also the week saw the the NBA moving it's All Star game and approx 100 million dollars out of North Carolina. The bigoted governor there still refuses to cave in to pressure to protect transgender rights.

Yesterday's Coffee: Opinion: Friday night I had the pleasure of attending a monthly all inclusive safe haven event with a very young friend of mine who is exploring his gender (ftm). Of course at my age I have a difficult time even remembering even when I began to come out. On the bright side, he asked me tons of questions which began to get my mind moving again. We were both fortunate to listen to a wonderful transgender woman speaker- as the speakers can be on most any topic.

The Back Page: Thanks for taking your precious time to stop by JJ;s House! Be safe and remember I luv you all!

Progress

  PHILADELPHIA, July 28 (UPI) -- Sarah McBride on Thursday became the first transgender person to address a major American political party's convention, where she told fellow Democrats that Hillary Clinton will work to ensure greater protections for the LGBTQ community.
Plus, Sarah was not the only transgender representative at this years Democratic National Convention. 

The future is bright if the trans community stands together and is vigilant.

To Go or Not to Go

Tuesday I took a trip out to a nearby lake to cool off, relax and meditate. All of that came off as planned with no problems until I was half way home. My Rolls decided it was time to blow a thermostat in the cooling system (or so I was told) by the fix it guys and I had to partake in one of my fave pastimes-getting it towed.

Unfortunately over the years I have made riding in the cab of tow trucks somewhat of a norm. Depending where I am and how close I am to someone I know, I just have to hitch up my big girl panties and go for it.

Normally, the whole process is a look at where I am or am not in my Mtf gender transition.

When the driver pulled up in his big, bad truck he called me dear, which calmed my nerves somewhat. (One night, I had a guy who didn't want to tow me at all.)

As normally happens though, during the half hour ride, his illusion of me as a damsel in distress began to blur. Not to say he was nasty at all, if anything he didn't seem to care anyhow. He was off to haul his next car.

I was back in to my mechanics who unfortunately know my Rolls all too well and the transgender woman who brings it it.

Hate

The Democratic Convention is underway and immediately went to the toilets-the transgender ones. Some great quotes are coming from a site called "Politico" Here's one:

It’s clear there’s one thing you don’t understand about business,” said Jesse Lipson, an executive at Raleigh-based Citrix, told Trump from the podium in Philadelphia. “Nothing scares away investment like hate.”

Or:

Pointing to businesses and events, including the NBA All-Star Game, that are boycotting North Carolina over the law, Lipson said, “Republicans may think they’re telling people which bathroom to go into, but they’re actually telling people which market to stay out of.”

Trump had initially mocked North Carolina’s law, known as HB2, by inviting Caitlyn Jenner to use her bathroom of choice at Trump Tower, but he later said the matter should be left to the states.

Read more here,

Some Didn't Have it HOT?

I urge you to read all the comments up close and personal concerning the heatwave which has been gripping much of this country. I liked Mandy's about Mercury and expected Connie's about the Pacific Northwest where her and Mick reside.

Perhaps Jeni down in Australia could be the best look into another climate. Be sure to check all three.

Here our "velcro weather" is beginning to break - for awhile. I call it velcro because you stick to everything. (clothes etc.)

As far as Ohio weather goes, normally what one season gives another taketh away, so we may have a mild winter!

Some Don't Like it HOT

This is ridiculous. Another heat index figure day of over 100.  This separates the trans woman from the climate sissies somehow...although I haven't quite figured out just what that is yet.

To make matters worse, we don't have any air conditioning. To make things better, the weather is supposed to "break" in a couple days.

My reason for this post is just that...a reason of why I have been missing in action lately.

Stay cool!

Alana McLaughlin

In a story all too familiar with many of us...Another ex-special forces U.S. soldier reveals her inner battle to accept her true identity,
Alana McLaughlin served her military time hiding the fact she was living the ultimate lie-gender.
As you can see, she has transitioned well.

For more, go here.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Perhaps you have heard the National Basketball Association (NBA) has decided to move the 2017 All Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina. The state still persists in holding on to it's LGBTQ law overall and it's anti transgender restroom bill in particular.

The best part is North Carolina's pain over this bigotry isn't close to being over as the AAC Sports Conference is considering the same move.

Salutes to the NBA and may the ACC follow in their footsteps until this craziness is over.

And, speaking of crazy, "The Donald"struggled mightily to work some kind words about the LGBT community into his Republican Presidential acceptance speech last night. At the same time I am sure he knew of his party's completely anti LGBT platform.

I wonder how Caitlin Jenner would spin that-oh I did see her head spinning 360 degrees on her shoulders a couple times.

What Is Transgender - Guest Post

From Connie:

"I think we can all call ourselves whatever we want. The term "transgender" is what others will still use for us, however. I like the shortening of the word to "trans", only because, for me, it is actually short for "transcended". My current state-of-being is not the result of a "crossing over" of gender, rather it has come from an awareness that defies any explanation. Learning to accept that awareness has been the most difficult part, but once I began accepting myself as the person I really always was, other people began to see me the same way. 

A few years ago I landed a role in a community musical production, in which I played a female. I asked the director why I had been chosen over other cis females, and she told me, simply, "I only see you as Connie; there is no reason to think anything more about it." She didn't want me for the part because I could act like a woman, but because a could act AS a woman. The fact that my character was a sort of "washed-up lounge singer" who was running from her past may have been type casting, however. :-) 

My big number, which closed the first act, was entitled, "The Girl I Am", wherein my character revealed her true identity without reservation. This is all coincidence, mind you, as the part and the song had been written long before I had been considered for the part. The director had not even given thought to what was an obvious parallel to me. So, I transcended through that experience from the realization that I am seen to be who I am by, at least, some other people, and that the more I forget the "transgender" nonsense, the more I am accepted (by others and myself)."

Bravo!!!

Keeping A Breast of the Situation

Not surprisingly,  I received quite a few comments concerning my post on hormone replacement therapy and breast development. First Shelle:

" I researched for at least 100 hours before beginning the self administration of Hormones,I felt I was having really great results,but then turned my treatment over to the VA while I was able to keep some of my regime,much of it was eliminated because they follow Wpath,which isn't necessarily the best method for us but all they are willing to put in place no matter the results or world standards.The standards should be updated based on results of worldwide records and research,just my thoughts.When I began my own my research indicated that mimicking then hormones in a pubescent teenage girl would provide the best results,That's my story it worked for me and I'm sticking to it!"

Good point Shelle there is no right answer here but again I have to point out you just can't buy a bunch of mail order estrogen and starting popping the pills like candy!

Robin said:" Funny you talk about breasts, I'm pre everything, and I'm bigger then most women. I measured myself for a bra. Band 50, cup D ??. I see myself more a B. Yes I'm a big person."

Robin if you are familiar with Stana and the Femulate blog, I believe according to her, she has also been well endowed since puberty.

I have always thought we have a couple things we can work through as we transition. Weight is one (I managed to take off and keep off close to 45 pounds) and skin condition. The rest can be done through feminine smoke and mirrors. Simply look around closely and you can see many cis women do it too. The best ones just don't seem to show they are trying.

Plus it is important to keep trying and just know the great majority of us are not blessed with natural beauty. You will have more errors than successes as you transition. Going back to the drawing board time and time again is a very real possibility for trans women. Learning to draw is just not that easy with no teacher most of the time!

So, as you can see, keeping a breast of the situation is such a small part of the whole woman you want to be.

A Transgender Super Hero?

From NBC News: The comic book world is about to get its first transgender leading character. The central protagonist in the upcoming superhero series "Alters" is Chalice, a trans "hero for the new age."

"The 'Alters' series focuses on characters that have different forms of disadvantage, whether they are marginalized by society or struggling with their gender identity," said Paul Jenkins, the comic book's author.

I wonder how many cross dressers or transgender women will be lined up to play her at "Comic Con?"

Go here for more.

A Shot to the Girls

One of the misconceptions I have always written about is the amount of pressure put on the development of breasts when one starts hormone replacement therapy. I know too, I shouldn't be real surprised when you look around society and see so many women transgender or not define their femininity by the size of their breasts.

However, HRT brings so much more to your life as I have written so many times. There are several ways estrogen can be administered, pill, patch or shot are the three I know of. Ironically, at my VA transgender support meeting yesterday most of us talked about the success or failure of using patches (mainly getting them to stay on-which I haven't had a problem.)

We also talked about a mutual acquaintance who for the longest time went over board in the unsupervised hormone world, which is a great way to hurt yourself.

For many of us though if can quote Shelle from her blog (who takes the shot), the estrogen brings life itself to her.

So you see, HRT is much more than "growing breasts". The process involves a whole mental and physical process that as Shelle alluded to becomes life itself for us.

Excuse me now, it's time to change out my patches.

What is Transgender Part Two

Two comments: "One from Robin. Excuse my ignorance, but do you have to call yourself transgender?? if you dress, act, over all look like a women, are you not a women?? If you are a women shouldn't you use the women's toilet too?? This is all new to me. Thank you for your time."

Robin, I think transgender is just a binary gender term anyhow and most certainly one does not have to call her or his self trans. Personally, I just happen to prefer presenting as a woman to the public but internally I am just good old me. (Good Old me is feminine.) And, as an aside, I haven't used a men's room for years unless it was in a gay venue and the women's room was standing room only.

I suppose you could say if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and talk likes a duck, one might have to be real careful these days where she goes like a duck too.

Or, as Pat said:I am not sure what is harder to explain being transgender or being a cross dresser. You may have to flip a coin although you have walked both paths.

Finally, if you take it (transgender) literally- you are between genders and Robin, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

What Is Transgender?

Explaining being transgender just isn't so easy once you get down to it.

You are not simply wanting to cross dress and look like a member of the opposite sex, you are for all the world (between your ears) a woman.

We are not trying to "fool" society any longer, we are what we are. Still, a large part of society wants to keep discriminating against us at the least or harming us at the most.

I talked to an old friend a couple days ago who had spent quite a bit of time around me as I was moving from cross dresser to transgender woman and she asked (of course) how I was doing. I said better than I ever would have expected and this full time "girl thing" I was living was the most natural move I have ever made.

So, maybe all those years of searching for gender peace in the morning when I woke up was right under my pillow.

I can't explain why I am transgender, what transgender is, just that I am.

JJ's Sunday Edition

Welcome!!! KerPlunk! another Sunday Edition is hitting your virtual front porch!

Weather: Summer Sultry (drag queen or stripper name?) here in Ohio, high's around 90 with humidity about the same. It's times like this I am happy to seemingly get away with a lot less make up. Let's grab a cup of iced caramel joe this week and get started.

Page One: The Week that Was - or Wasn't: I for one would consider it the week that wasn't for any number of reasons. Number one of course was the truck tragedy in France and thinking every morning should I even turn the news on? Plus let's not forget the Evangelicals and their new fave son VP Candidate Pence (scary).

I did read a post about a common sense approach to rest rooms (yes there is one!) It's called the individual restroom or "pick a door-any door." and among other places a grocery store chain from Minneapolis called "HyVee".  With every large format store it has opened since 2012, including three in the Twin Cities in the past year, Hy-Vee built at least nine individual restrooms, joining the ­vanguard of a design movement that had momentum even before transgender bathrooms became a political controversy this year. Big, multi-stall bathrooms as we know them — often dirty and uncomfortable for many people — are on borrowed time.
 “Pick a door, any door,” shopper Samantha Chavez said outside the bathrooms at the Oakdale Hy-Vee on a recent visit. “I can handle all my kids in the bathroom with me and it’s private.”

Single-user restrooms reduce waiting times, relieve social pressure that people with shy bladders feel in public restrooms, solve the problem faced by parents and opposite-sex caregivers waiting for their charges, and eliminate the controversy over where a transgender person should go.

For more go here. Hurry before the Evangelicals find something wrong with this idea!

Page Two: Yesterday's Coffee- Opinion: Let's see, you all probably have surmised my feelings about the Prez candidates and the new "Keep America White and Male" candidate Pence so I will shut up about that. I am sure I can't change your mind anyhow. On another subject with some rather lively debate this week, we discussed SRS and the transgender girl. I urge you to go back a  couple posts and check the comments. As far as I have always wrote, I don't think SRS is for me due to age considerations etc. However, anymore I feel I am slipping  into a more mellow position on the idea and even though Medicare does cover the surgery now would I do it? I do know one way or another I have moved from a solid "no" to "probably not" and I can't explain definitely why. Except I have been on HRT for over three years now.

Page Three: The Back Page: Well kids, it's time to finish my coffee and get moving. Thanks for spending your precious time with us at JJ's House. Stay loved and safe!

JJ 

Maybe It's Not So Quiet?

I received three replies to a recent blog post about the relative quiet here at JJ's House (Thanks!)
Lets get to them:

"Hi I'm Robin and I'm new to your blog, I plan on checking back as often as I can. I too have not decided on surgery, just thinking of the pain is hard."

Robin, welcome! and I too have considered the pain and age considerations on my part with SRS. Plus, I am not so sure my new genitalia would define what is between my ears anymore than my old one did/does.

Or as Connie commented:
"I was so tempted earlier to say this, as it came to me when reading your post, but I thought "better" at the time. After a couple of beers though.......No SRS? You mean no JJ with a va-JJ? :-)"

And Shelle:    

"Sometimes I drop the whole box of pins and prick myself getting them back in the box."

Finally an old picture in black requested by my friend Amy ! Luv Ya! :)

Correction!

Youngest Grand Son is nine-daughter is turning 40. Thanks Connie! :)

It's So Quiet in Here:

It's so quiet here at JJ's I can hear a pin drop.

It could be because I had another (yawn) uneventful trip with Liz this morning, or it could be my youngest grandson (nine) got a full drum set for his birthday party yesterday.

I "sorta" kind of always wondered what this moment would be. I don't think a transgender person stands a chance sometimes for the "din" in their noggins to quiet down enough to think things through.

Either you are on the "passing" path trying your best to convince the public of who you are, or you are going down the hormone/surgical route which of course brings it own set of challenges. Then, lets not forget the pesky legal gender markers we have to worry about.

So, since I've decided any major surgery (SRS) is pretty much out of the question for me, everything else is pretty much copacetic in my life. A good thing except I have been running so long, I don't know how to take it.

Which brings up the question for a transgender person, when a pin drops in your life, do you hear it?

You bet ya!

J.J.'s Sunday Edition

Hello All! Another Sunday Edition is hitting your virtual front porch! KerPlunk! 
Weather: We are in what I call a summer lull here in Ohio when Momma Nature gives us a break from the heat and humidity for a couple days. It has been really nice and I hope it is too where you are.

Page One: The Week that Was-or Wasn't: Here on the blog, the chatter over the drug DES very much dominated the conversation. Michelle Hart wrote (no relation I think):

"I see that the DES controversy has come out to play once again. I remember in the infancy of the internet, when many of us sought the hows and whys of who we were, many latched onto this tidbit of information. You have to remember that back in the late 80's early 90's, everyone had information to share, whether it was the right information didn't matter."
And went on: Today, I just think to myself the immortal words of Popeye, "I ams what I ams and that all I ams."
Plus, January Powell wrote: "Having previously miscarried, Mom got estrogen -- DES, I guess? She said the popular alternative then was thalidomide; call me lucky.

Thanks to all who commented on the original post.

Page Two: Yesterday's Coffee-Opinion: Once again the world was spinning upside down or even out of control with the events in Dallas, Baton Rouge  and elsewhere. As crazy and tragic as all of this has been-some of the reaction I have seen has been worse. Some are calling for the "zombie apocalypse" is or worse yet...other end of days. What bugs me the fact I know so many good people on both sides of the spectrum. And, most certainly we can't attempt to run a society without a police force.

If once we get there, the evangelicals have just built a full fledged reproduction of the Ark down in Kentucky which may be a place to run to. Somehow though, I don't think any of the LGBT community would be allowed in two by two, and what rest rooms would we trans folk use?

I'm far from a genius but somehow we need to stop the indiscriminate killing by and of police and start to heal so together we can face an every looming greater terrorist threat.

I'm also kind of jealous in that I would love to see my grand-kids inherit a functioning country.

Page Three: Shopping On a lighter note (finally), Liz and I are thinking about taking a trip to Maine later on this fall, and it's never too early to consider what I am going to wear for the cooler weather. I have always considered seasonal shopping to be one of the greatest pleasures of being a girl!!!

Page Four: The Back Page: Well kids, it's a busy day ahead with the youngest grandson's 5th birthday party, so I must go. Take a moment to set aside your mistrust and even hatred and worship whatever higher being you believe in...we all need it!
Luv you all!!
JJ 

I Got "DES'D"!

It was interesting to me how the comments fluctuated on my DES post about the estrogen laden drug given to at risk pregnancy Mothers from the late 1940's through the 1970's.


Pat wrote: My mother miscarried three baby girls before my birth. She was treated with mega doses of estrogen...likely DES. I surmise that there may be a connection but there are also plenty of folks dealing with gender issues whose mothers did not take the drug.

Calie: My mother took DES. Her feeling was always, "if one pill is good, two are better". No doubt in my mind that this has something to do with the way I am. 

And Connie: Blessed are they who have accepted themselves for who they are without needing to know the reason (or excuse?). There are no maybes about it, a lifetime of questioning does no good at all.

No, a lifetime of questioning does no good...but I will take the blessings.

Calie, as you may have read in the link, DES was given out as some sort of a vitamin, so indeed you could be right.

And Pat good point and I wonder if my Mom found out about the connection somehow. She always had a very "over the top" (guilt?) reaction to me?

Thanks to all who responded!

We've Been Around

I happened across this set of five short transgender videos you may want to check out called "We've Been Around" 

Which leads me back to a point I have been wanting to make for awhile. At our last Trans Day of Remembrance planning meeting, the subject came up about how many more transgender people were there. Maybe not organized - but there.

If you watch any of these video's it turns out we have always been somewhere in the shadows waiting for our turn.

I have also began to follow another very wordy blog whom I think was trying to explain away any transgender movement.

I would argue she doesn't read much other than her own blog or doesn't get out much.

As I have always said, it matters not how beautiful you are or aren't, or how rarely you do get out of the closet, unless you are a complete ass, you are part of a larger transgender movement.

Candis Cayne

There is much more to this link including Jen Richards, co-writer, star, and producer of "Her Story," who then used the example of transgender actress Candis Cayne who 
became a positive role model. Cayne, when she came to national attention in 2007 starring in the ABC drama, Dirty Sexy Money. She was the first transgender actress to play a recurring transgender character in primetime, said Richards.

Growing up, Richards said she didn't see people like her on television. They were usually "the dead prostitute or the punch line," she said.

The next generation of trans people will have the advantage of seeing "trans people speaking in their own voices" onscreen in programs like "Her Story," said Richards."

Maybe it's just me, but this just might be a transgender movement?

Andreja Pejic

As "Andreja Pejic" rose through the modeling ranks to stardom a couple years ago, she was a blogger's dream. Beautiful, successful, blond and a trans supermodel-who could ask for more as a blogger?

She made history in 2015 as the first transgender model to grace the pages of American Vogue. Pejic, who was born in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina, was discovered in 2007 while working at a McDonald’s in Melbourne, Australia. The scout didn’t know if she was a boy or a girl, just that she looked like a model.

Three years later and she was walking in both the men’s and women’s shows for Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris, and she isn't done.

This year, she will appear as a face of Make Up For Ever, making her one of the first transgender models to score a significant beauty campaign .

For more go here.

Back in the Day

Recently we encountered a cis-female acquaintance whose spouse was scared to death to come out of the closet and also the mother of a trans daughter.

Immediately my heart went out to both, knowing fair well what the feelings are like. In fact, I was pretty sure the first night I came out my best accessory was an oxygen tank.

I had cross dressed off and on sure, but on this special night, I was going to go into a place I had scouted out several times as a guy-and go in as a woman. Order a drink, appetizer, the whole deal by myself.

The evening imprinted me so much that I can still feel the smooth sliding of hose inside my black flats as if it was yesterday. Not 20 years ago. The funny thing that happened was I managed to blend, breathe and not get laughed out of the place.

I am sure the bar tenders knew because soon I became a regular.

These days, I consider it my biggest pleasure to help anyone out of the closet-anyway I can. At the least it's good karma and most certainly I have enough smart and stupid stories to fill part of the evening.

The nice thing is around here at least (Southwestern Ohio) there are several "layers" of groups from cross dressers to transgender women.

Hopefully some night we can meet for coffee!  Of course there are always intangibles but if your spouse or parent supports you, the big ones are out of the way!

Just Think of the Possibilities!

Thanks Connie!

DES

The controversy over the mothers of transgender children and the drug DES, is raging again.

If you recall, the drug (with enormously high levels of estrogen) was given to women with a history of mis-carriages beginning in the late 1940's and continuing through the 1970's. Not only is DES linked to cancer in women, some also believe it causes gender identity manipulation.

Of course there are as many believers as disbelievers in the scientific community, but one way or another, those of us who fit the age profile can find a semblance of peace with this.

My mother suffered two still births before me - so I fit the profile.

Maybe all those years of questioning wouldn't have done me any good anyhow.

I didn't have a choice.

Here's a link for more.   

The Rise and Fall of the "Beta" Male?

I was surfing along this morning looking for unique thoughts and or idea's to pass along to you all. Today I ran across a post about "Beta Males" from the T Central site.

Without giving you too much of a spoiler alert, a "Beta Male" could be a person who doesn't quite need to completely transition or is having transition regrets so to speak.

All of this comes from a blog called "Claire Flourish." and here is an excerpt to get you started on the post:

"Am I a beta male? Can I enjoy that, and not transition?” I am suffering transition Regret at the moment. But first, what is a beta male?

"Here’s Evan Marckatz, a man who explains men to women. A woman asks about the “total sweetheart” “beta-male” she’s dating. She wants to “take control” but resists the urge because the Guru has advised otherwise. The Guru tells her that advice only applies to alpha males. “He’ll be thrilled that you’re taking control”. If that’s what you want, have fun!"

I would only say Evan, it's easier said than done, because most of the Beta Males I have known I kept wanting more and more until the relationship became more or less so one sided it was unworkable. Some where along the way, the Beta Male still has to develop some sort of workable personality. 

All in all though it is an interesting concept. I live 24/7 as a woman and I don't consider myself anything but a woman and I have had no surgery. So, placing myself in the beta male category doesn't work for me.

I suggest you follow the links above for your own take.

What Is Courage?

Going back to my last post on the KKK in Alabama, it's worth noting how far the word courage has come and the potential it has to move forward past the hate and ignorance in any form. Sometimes though you have to look at the big picture.

An example is my Grandma who passed away in her 90's -in the 1970's- used to tell us stories about going to Klan meetings in horse drawn wagons. My Dad was the youngest of three brothers and one sister and even though he talked a good bigotry game, was one of the first bankers in the area to loan money to black businessmen.

Then there is my brother and I. As you regulars know, we had a blow out during the holidays last year, when he didn't have the guts to stand up for me to his wife's Southern Baptist family.

My daughter represents the total direct opposite in that she, her kids, husband and his family support me completely.

So as you can see, times do change, even if we transgender women and trans men have to step back and look and on occasion need less courage than we think to make it happen.

Freedom?

As much as we don't want to talk (or write) about it, last year from the Fourth of July to this year saw an increase in transgender awareness and how we are treated as we go forward.

Of course the Executive Order on restrooms from the President was huge as was the ruling on same sex marriage. Then there was the long awaited Pentagon's decision to allow open service from transgender members.

KKK Hate From Central Alabama

I knew for sure this morning how far we have come following the announcement from the KKK that they were boycotting transgender women and men. I look good in sheets?

 Then there were Jazz Jennings, Caitlin Jenner and Laverne Cox opening trans doors even further.

Fortunately, I know I have missed so many others just as involved, or as we have written here so often-those of you who help the cause by just going out and being yourself. Which at times is so difficult.

Hopefully by next year being transgender will be so blase I won't have to write about it at all. We will be free to finally join society as full citizens.

J.J's Sunday Edition

Kristin Beck

Ker Plunk! A Fourth of July Sunday Edition is hitting your virtual front porch!
Weather: A coolish gray day here in Southwestern Ohio, expecting a rain out tomorrow though for the fourth itself. A great morning for a iced "cup o joe" or Chai Tea. Grab a cup and lets get started.

Page One: The Week that Was-or Wasn't: Last week brought the return of Caitlyn Jenner to the transgender spotlight with a cover on Sports Illustrated and kind comments about the "Make America White" again candidate Donald Trump.  On the other hand there are many other true transgender roll models to celebrate on the birth place of our nation such as Kristin Beck, the retired Navy Seal.

Page Two: Yesterdays' Coffee-Opinion: First of all, we all should never forget that freedom is never free and my thanks go out to all the active and trans vets who gave up to and all of their lives to protect us in places which just seemed crazy-until the world spins into the hot mess it is today. Thanks to all and mostly, the active service transgender members who were finally legalized by the Pentagon.

Page Three: Junk Yard Dawgs? This week, yes I did whine and cry about my trip to a junk yard with Liz. She finally told me to quiet down and at the least I knew a little about cars and not be a pretty, pretty princess again-point taken (dammit). I suggest you go back to the post "Damn Bucket List" and read Connie's totally different spin on a similar subject!

Page Four: The Back Page: Well kids, it's time to go and enjoy the day. Where ever you may be, I hope you enjoy your weekend. Thanks for spending your precious time here at J.J's house. Luv ya all!!!

Old Friends

Yesterday I was looking for an old fright wig which Liz can trim down into a facsimile of a Rocky Horror Show "Frank-N-Furter" look.

Instead I was fascinated by all the old friends I found as I went through my long unused wigs.

In many ways, each seemed to represent a part of my past progression to where I am now. Some I had fond memories of, some not so much. But either way, each reached out to me. Especially this one which I wore for two years until I literally wore it out.

These are some of my earliest attempts at pictures as I was making my way from cross dresser into transgender woman.

Damn Bucket List

Yesterday I seemed destined to be back in the male dominated arenas I never wanted to be in again. One was an auto repair store which we take our Rolls Royce to a lot, so it's wasn't bad. In fact, one of the younger guys there takes good care of us.

Next up though, I went through what I thought I would never have to do again in my life, look for a mirror for Liz's car in a hot, dusty, oily junk yard with a bunch of dirty, oily guys. (Not my type)

Actually, I didn't have to do any of the talking and sort of blended into the wood work or old cars as Liz found a mirror for her Rolls.

What surprised me next was not a big surprise. Her 18 year old son who enjoys special citizen status did the "work" of calling around for the best price for the mirror. Well, he found it but didn't bother to find out if there was an extra charge to remove it yourself and how much that would be.

My problem is that auto mechanics and I have never been friends and many of the cars there looked like I worked on them-so I was the last one to even try to figure out how take a mirror off. Neither did Liz of course so we were stuck paying more. Even that wasn't so bad but the guy charged her twice what he was charging other men in the yard removing parts from cars because- you got it- she is a woman.

So all you peeps who want to jump out of perfectly good planes or the like for your bucket list, just go ahead and consider a good old hot dusty junk yard instead.