It's COLD Dammit

Yes, the deep freeze has caught up with us here in Ohio and to add insult to injury, we are going to have a sizable amount of snow for Valentine's Day...time to stay home and snuggle.

My point of all of this is, if you are considering a MtF gender transition in a climate which changes seasonally, you have to consider what you are going to do about it. Unless you are much better than I am, it's tough to venture forth in cute snow boots with heels and bruise a hip. (Bad for my age.)

My problem is I am an extremely short term planner. Back in the day job interviewers would ask me what I planned on doing in five years. Early in the game I learned hoping I would be alive was not the right answer, or being a woman.

So now, after going on my second year of needing a seasonal wardrobe change, I think I have it down. Even though I can't wear heeled boots, I try to add to my boot collection every year now while they are on sale. 

Something that will be new for me this year will be the ability to go get another professional pedicure on my toes when I start wearing warm weather sandals. Then, I can retire my tennis shoes into an only exercise/walking shoe category.

I hate to say this but I think I'm fairly well set up in the tank/summer top category this year. However, I never say never! What fun would that be?

Plus, a lot could change this summer when I get my Medicare changed over and maybe I could get them to pay for a couple procedures, breast augmentation and a deviated septum surgery. I read somewhere a person ended up getting a nose job out of the deal. It's frustrating when I see a more feminine person peeking out of the mirror behind the person I'm looking at when I know that is just being shallow. I gave up being a mirror dweller years ago.

Most of these obviously are just dreams and goals, but then again without them, one's life becomes as cold and gray as the winter weather around here. Can't let that happen! 

Me and You and A Post Named Boob?

It's bad when I have hit a writers block on my second book and Cyrsti's Condo at the same time. I would suppose you could call my morning "blocked"

On the other hand, I rely on some of you to help me unblock my noggin and you did it again this morning when you considered the physical (rather than financial) pain of beard removal. To catch you up, due to my age, I must go the electrolysis route versus laser, which will only work on dark colors of beard. (Not gray)

"Paula Goodwin commented:

It's the top lip that hurts most!

And 

Mandy Sherman

Being retired, I'm in that boat with you - gray beard (laser being ineffective) and likely never being able to afford electrolysis. Regrettably I didn't have laser on my beard area (like I did for my arms and legs when they weren't gray yet.)

I had some test spots done on my side-burn area and upper lip with electrolysis back in the day...and the pain - even with numbing cream - was awful. And this from someone who had a root canal done without Novocaine years ago. The pain made it an easy decision...

I guess that's what razor blades and MAC makeup are for..

And:

Shelle Iles

So very Happy for you,must feel very fulfilling at long last :)"

Mandy @ Paula, OUCH! 
Shelle, thanks :)

Here are my choices going forward it seems. Finally the long term financial prospect tunnel I'm looking at doesn't seem to have a train coming at me and I might be able to afford Electro and/or breast surgery this year. Right now I think I would opt for the latter. Mandy is right (about shaving and Mac makeup) although I hate it. Plus I never really know when my estrogen ingestion is going to be a problem with the Doc's. I know "the Big E" does not have everything to do with breast size but it does with over all feeling for me.

At the least, life is not boring!

Transgender Beauty Queen

By now you are thinking Cyrsti, that is not so new anymore, fortunately. Plus, the nature of Cyrsti's Condo subject matter is normally MtF in nature (since of course is what I am.) So, waaaaasssup?

This story about Ashton Colby story though is different. Ashton is a FtM former beauty queen. That's right kids, he gave up his trophy to be a ...man?

From Today "Health & Wellness" The Columbus, Ohio, native spent his teen years competing on the notoriously gender-normative pageant circuit, a way of suppressing his natural inclination to behave the opposite way. "From a young age, I was a tomboy," Colby recalled. "Before puberty, it's fine to be that person. But in middle school, kids start making fun of you, and adults start having other expectations of what your life should be."

A typical story to be sure, but not one considered deeply by trans women consumed by the "what ifs"  of even having the chance to be considered a "tom boy". What we don't realize in our onward 
hell bent rushes to be women, trans guys have it just as bad.

Ashton's story provides more than a little insight. Make sure to follow the link above for more.