"Mo Names"

Two outstanding comments on our "What's in a Name" post here in Cyrsti's Condo.

The first from Shelle takes the process a little deeper and is very useful for those of us who still have all the gender marker hurdles ahead of us:

It seems the vast majority choose an adaptation of their first given name,as I was never called by mine (my mother hated it because it was the same as my father and they went through a bitter divorce when I was quite young) I first chose an adaptation of my middle name,but when my transition began in earnest I felt it just didn't suit me,so changed it,this past summer I began the process of changing my name and gender markers as I could it required some expensive court costs but it's done as for my gender marker it went quite smoothly on the federal level but as for my birth records and state ID,not so the state of Indiana requires proof that I have had significant permanent surgery,and another expensive trip through the court system leaving my fate to a judge I recently found out I can receive an orchy through the VA so this is my next step I push on undaunted by the barriers cast in front of me but wishing it wasn't so very difficult and expensive.

Thanks Shelle, if the VA is approving an "orchy" maybe breast augmentations are next!

From Paula:
"Call me anything like except late for lunch" We are privileged to be able to choose our own names, most people have t put up with whatever their parents chose for them. I decided to stick with what I had, just taking the feminine version. On the other hand, daughter was not too impressed with our choice for her, so she has hyphenated her two forenames together and rather likes that.

Don't beat me to that lunch line Paula!  I had an easy choice not to use a feminized version of my male name, because there really isn't one! Indeed it is a privilege to choose a new name as it is to have the opportunity to live in our chosen gender!

Transgender Veteran Survey

Of interest to all you transgender veterans who stop by Cyrsti's Condo, I received a request to fill out a rather lengthy, in depth survey yesterday.  It deals with all sorts of questions about our transgender experiences in service and with the Veterans Administration.

If you are interested in the link, please email me and I will give it to you.

cyrstih@yahoo.com

I was impressed they were looking for our feedback!

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our featured cover girl today is Laura Nocetti, complete with a before and after.

What's In a Name Part 12

We have bounced the idea's of how we "renamed" ourselves here in Cyrsti's Condo more than a couple times and I promise not to bore you again with this post.  (Better said than done!)

Many of you have sent in comments about how you came to choose the feminine moniker you now use. Idea's such as, family names, women you admire or even the sound of the name are equally as relevant.  I have written how I impulsively chose Cyrsti one night (pronounced Krysti) when I was at the very beginning of considering transitioning from a cross dresser to a transgender woman.  The name caught on before I could consider the ramifications of what I was doing because it is simple enough for the public to use ...if they don't have to spell it plus (I never considered) how the unique spelling allows it to be found in internet search engines.

I have also have written here about my desire to choose another name, which comes from a respected family member from my youth. The name is Jessie and ironically was my grandfathers name. The poetic justice is, my long deceased grandfather was a strong well respected man in his community. Leave it to me, right?

Last week, I even brought the subject up of changing gender markers as the next tier of my transition process with my partner Liz.  Having the "steel trap mind" she thinks she has, it took her approximately a day to mention when I was going through the process, it would be a "now or never" moment to do the name thing.  Don't tell her I said this, but she is right, the synergy is there.  Over the years, I have known any number of transgender women who went by one name before SRS and one after.  Just because I'm not going through the physical torment of changing my genetalia, I am taking all the final legal steps to wipe "male" off my records.

Then, the more I thought of it, I'm not the "social butterfly" I used to be and am slowly but surely moving to a new area, so why wouldn't it be a good time for an appropriate name change?  Doesn't matter anyhow, there are more than a couple peeps out there who would love to use less appropriate names with me than the ones I just mentioned.

It's just a new take on the old theme, "you can call me Cyrsti, or you can call me Jessie", just don't call me tranny, she male, dude, it, or a-hole!

Cyrsti's Condo "HorrorScope"

All I can write this week is, zzzzzzzzzzzz:


Libra (September 23-October 22): Sticking to what’s standard is your safest bet this week. Save those sexy acrobatic antics for another time, as even your sex life will be better as straight vanilla, rather than loaded with toppings. If you try to push yourself to achieve a higher standard now, it will only have you landing farther behind. Yes, this week will be as boring as it sounds.
**Best Day To Get Lucky: Saturday, February 8

See, I told you!  Maybe your scope is more exciting! Go here, to theFrisky to find out.

And while you are there, check out this interview with Janet Mock.

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our feature transgender woman today is Kalinda Chan

Transgender Words to Live By

On the Road to Oz

Brianna Austin, has been one of the most active transgender columnists for some time.

Today here in Cyrsti's Condo, I am passing along one of her recent posts I loved. She wrote it  after watching  the Wizard of Oz movie over the holidays.    Here's an excerpt:

"I was lounging around home this past holiday season and watched yet another classic, the Wizard of Oz, which I hadn't seen in years. I wondered, is Dorothy really so different than us? A girl lost in a far off land, yearning to find her way home. They say that home is where the heart is, so perhaps we are trying to find our internal home as well. She enlists the help of many strangers to assist her get home, only to discover that she alone was the only one that could make it happen. There is always that day when you look in the mirror and realize that regardless of whether your “girl” desires are fashion, passion, or bedroom fantasy, they don’t seem to be going away. You acknowledge – perhaps for the first time -- that this is not a phase that will pass, nor can you pretend it will never happen again. What an exciting and horrifying moment! Has the tornado just plucked you from out of your own dream and dropped you into reality? Well, you’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure! Of course you know you can’t go back the way you came, because you don’t even know how you got here in the first place. So now what? Glenda, good witch of the North, said it best, “it’s always best to start at the beginning.” 

 Go here to read the rest of the post!

Cyrsti's Condo "Sunday Edition"

Welcome in to the "Super Sunday" edition in the "Condo".  If you are passionate about either team, I hope you win!  Looking back a year, I know what I was up to during the big game-or down to.  For some crazy reason I was offered the morning after the game for a colostomy.  So I spent the evening not sampling wings and beer but drinking some brand of system "flushing" liquid and trying to make my toilet as comfortable as possible. Duh!


Section One.- The Week in Review.  Bruce Jenner's refusal to come out of the closet comes to mind as one of the memorable moments of the week.  It's Jenner's business to do as he/she pleases but why not do something positive with his transition.  If he is not transitioning MtF, then his time with the Kardashians' certainly wore off on him.  Check the latest picture of Bruce on the left.  He seems to have a nice little set of HRT induced breasts working.  The negative of course is Jenner sets himself and the transgender community up for ridicule.  Coming out would give us another example of a guy who lived under the cover of an intensely male life such as former Navy Seal Kristin Beck.  If you don't know, Jenner was once considered one of the top male athletes in the world as a decathlon competitor.  The worst case scenario is having Dr. Phil, who struggles to even say transgender, speculate on your transition Bruce, on the Inside Edition television show.  Really Bruce?

Section 2.- Breaking News:  Patricia, a former Ohio Buckeye who now lives in California, was kind enough to send me this information from Planned Parenthood:


Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (California) is offering transgender hormone services at the following health center locations: Fulton Street Health Center – Fresno Mountain View Health Center – Mountain View B Street Health Center – Sacramento Westside Health Center – Santa Cruz 

Our transgender hormone services include: Transgender Female (MTF) Hormone Therapy including estrogen and spironolactone Transgender Male (FTM) Hormone Therapy including testosterone We may be able to start or continue hormone therapy and provide referrals for gender-qualified therapy and resources if needed. 

If you are on hormone therapy, you can utilize the health center for ongoing care and monitoring. In order to receive transgender services you need to be over 18 and capable of providing consent for services. We can provide services for younger patients in Santa Cruz with a parent or guardian’s permission. There are special consents for these services.

For more info, go here.  Thanks Patricia, I have no idea if Planned Parenthood offers these services on a wider basis.  Frankly, it's the first time I've even heard of them and I am impressed!

Well, it's about time to get another hot cup of coffee and the dog is happy the weather is warm and dry enough for a walk.  Here's hoping you all have a great week!  This should be a special one here in Cyrsti's Condo as we pass the one million hits mark!  I wish I could give away a new car but it's not in the budget!