Decision Made & Going For It!

[BossTamsin (imported)]

Congrats, that's just great to hear.

[lilac (imported)]

OMG!!! I am so happy for you EricaAnn!!!! :balsmilie WoW!!! I agree with how Kristoff said it too. See you in a few days.

Lilac

[mrt (imported)]

You are a brave girl! Chicago? Construction? Whew.... Make that AMAZING Girl and congrats that it went well. It looks like very soon you will be done with the "trans" part of your sexuality and its just going to be you... The 1st Female Veep!

[Christina (imported)]

Congratulations on this milestone event!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

Just cleared two more major hurtles on my road of transition. Last Friday I returned to the Secretary of States office armed with a letter from my doctor regarding my gender. I walked up to the gentlemen at the front desk who asks what your business is so that they direct you to see the correct person. He greeted me with good morning ma'am. How may I help you? My response "I need a corrected driver's license issued." He responded "Oh, change of address?" I responded "No, change of gender." He got this dumbfounded look on his face, pied at me over the top of his eyeglasses and I could read his mind from the other side of the desk "OMG, it's one of those!"

Long story made short, an hour and half later I left the office with my new license bearing female in the gender portion of the license.

I also went to my local social security office this morning and had my name and gender change on my social security account. They will be mailing my new social security card to me in the next few weeks.

I am now officially a female in the eyes of the State of Illinois as well as with the federal government social security administration.

WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING IT IS TO BE YOURSELF!

[tugon (imported)]

Congratulations! Having met you and seeing the strength within you I know no one will stand in the way of your dreams. You have my admiration.

[Paolo]

"OH MY GOD! You have boobs!"

That's all the proof you need, girlfriend!

[Taylor (imported)]

Many congratulations.

May blessings rain down upon you from now on!

YOU ROCK!!!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

Well last Saturday night I experienced an act of ignorance that I have not had since coming out to my own family over a year ago. Me, my spouse and a friend of mine, another TG girl, stopped at a local straight nightclub for a couple of drinks. We were sitting at a table off to one side of the club minding our own business and having a conversation when I caught another patron, a guy in his late 20's or so, approaching our table. He stopped about 10 feet away, took a good look at all of us, pointed at me and began to laugh. Above the din of the music and conversations around us I heard him say to me "What the F&$% do you guys think you're doing? You don't really think you can pull this off do you? Hold on, I'm going to get my friend so he can have a good laugh too." He had obviously been quite "over served" and was about 3/4's of the way "in the bag."

He took off to go back to the corner of the bar where he came from and brought his friend back. Once again, he did not approach any closer to our table than about 10 feet, obviously to stay far enough away to prevent me from grabbing him by his throat, and much to his surprise, his friend smiled at me and gave me a thumbs up. This act on his friend's behalf seemed to take much of the enjoyment of this episode away from him.

They both walked away and before that could return to the corner of the bar, they were intercepted by one of the security staff. After what appeared to be a stern warning, they returned to the bar where they came from.

Our waitress came over and was deeply apologetic about the whole incident. His friend then came over and also apologized for his friend's actions.

I guess transgendered people will continue to experience these kinds of embarrassing incidents until there is more education and acceptance among the general population in this country. :-\

[kristoff]

Hang in their girl! They at least showed progress on 3 out of 4 fronts!

[mrt (imported)]

I have this friend. Humm... Lets call her "N" and she is one of the nicest people every. A hard worker and a person you could count on. Which for those of you who are fortunate to know such a person is RARE!

I asked "N" to go to lunch (Nothing untword) and at this Mexican restaurant she got all these stares by the latin men. She felt more and more uncomfortable and she was SURE it was because she was "too ugly" or whatever. I asked one of the weightresses why the male servers were all looking at her and one looked at me in sort of disgust... "oh they are all HOT for your American woman because she is tall and Mexican guys really love women who are tall." Then she pointed to herself and her friend that were barely 5 ft tall.

When I told her she didn't believe me. So I called one of the male servers over and he admitted that he and his friends were really jealous of my "date"

HA! Now, she is a married mother of two and does not consider herself a "babe" in any sense of the word. Byt she did like the attention after that even tho she thought the guys were all "cracked."

The guy who gave you the thumbs up? I would focus on that. The world has a small percentage of narrow minded bigots who think a persons skin color defines their intellegence / morality etc. So finding some similar idiot who can't comprehend anything but his need to get drunk regularly is just bound to happen - WHO CARES!? I would call him a moron but thats a insult to morons...

I heard this elsewhere. The bone is for the dog the meat is for the man!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

Things have been going just great lately. I have my next appointment scheduled with the laser tomorrow morning. Going to have another run on the remaining body hair and beard. I have noticed some good results even after one treatment, so I'm pretty excited!

Last Thursday was my first time back in the office since coming out at work and going "full time." I wore a nice pair of chocolate brown female slacks with one of my new silk tops and my brown pumps. I did my hair and makeup and dabbed on a little bit of fragrance. OPI red nail polish, earrings, necklace and a few rings and I was ready to go.

I got a real good reception in the office including the president of the company who remarked jokingly when he walked in "your perfume betrayed you."

Life is good!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Well, I took another big step on the road of transition. I downloaded and filled out the application for the SRS with Dr. Bower. I mailed it to her this past Monday along with a photo of myself, as per her request, and a check that is required for a deposit to set up the date for the surgery. I have requested September of 2008 for the BIG DAY.

By then I will have completed my one year of RLE and will have satisfied the last requirement of the Standards of Care that Dr. Bower adheres to.

I can't wait for the day to come!

[mrt (imported)]

Well, I took another big step on the road of transition. I downloaded and filled out the application for the SRS with Dr. Bower. I mailed it to her this past Monday along with a photo of myself, as per her request, and a check that is required for a deposit to set up the date for the surgery. I have requested September of 2008 for the BIG DAY.

By then I will have completed my one year of RLE and will have satisfied the last requirement of the Standards of Care that Dr. Bower adheres to.

I can't wait for the day to come!

Congrats! I imagine its a big relief to take that next step in transition. There must be some count down clock that you can download?!

[lilac (imported)]

That is the greatest news EricaAnn!!! I know you are very happy about this, and we are all happy for you. Wow, the year is gonna fly by I'll bet ya. Best wishes in the year ahead of you.

Love, Lilac

[Mac (imported)]

Well, I took another big step on the road of transition. I downloaded and filled out the application for the SRS with Dr. Bower. I mailed it to her this past Monday along with a photo of myself, as per her request, and a check that is required for a deposit to set up the date for the surgery. I have requested September of 2008 for the BIG DAY.

By then I will have completed my one year of RLE and will have satisfied the last requirement of the Standards of Care that Dr. Bower adheres to.

I can't wait for the day to come!

Congratulations on your progress. I

really envy you! Best Wishes!

[homptydumpty (imported)]

You truly are a very brave women, and a caring person to share your story with us all. i hope that the future brings every thing you have imagined and more.

z

[kristoff]

You truly are a very brave women, and a caring person to share your story with us all. i hope that the future brings every thing you have imagined and more.

z

I have met Erica Ann a couple of times. I've enjoyed martinis and a couple of nights on the town with her. You haven't begun to say the half of it -- she is one BALLSY woman, and so is her partner (I do not know to whom to attribute any greater character, if either - certainly both). You go girl(s)!

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

This past Friday I spoke with Dr. Bower's office and my date for the SRS is set. Friday, September 19, 2008 is the day. Can you tell that I'm excited?!

I'm also very much looking forward to my consultation for my FFS which is Wednesday, October 24th. If everything sounds good I'm going to see if I can schedule the procedure for around the end of this year.

WOW, a lot of good things have happened this week.

[padawna (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

This past Friday I spoke with Dr. Bower's office and my date for the SRS is set. Friday, September 19, 2008 is the day. Can you tell that I'm excited?!

I'm also very much looking forward to my consultation for my FFS which is Wednesday, October 24th. If everything sounds good I'm going to see if I can schedule the procedure for around the end of this year.

WOW, a lot of good things have happened this week.

Awesome, congratulations! I wish you the best. Its definitely something to look forward to and celebrate.

[Taylor (imported)]

Ericaann, I can't give you a hug in person so here is a smiley hug

You have the kind of guts we all should strive to emulate; to be who you are unlike those of us who hide and pretend to be the person others think we are.



Taylor

[EricaAnn (imported)]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted in awhile, but just wanted to let let everyone know that I'm alive and doing well.

I'm now 4 months into my RLT and things are going well for the most part. I have found a great deal of acceptance in my job and in my profession. I was stationed at the site of the project I was completing for a period of about 3 months and began going there as "me" from about the middle of October. At the time there were 30+ tradesmen on site. I walked into the building and did get a strange look from several of them. I looked at them and said "We'll have a Q & A session after work today, in the mean time get back to it, we have a lot of work to do." No one, but no one came up to me and said anything. My laborer saw me get out of my car and I walked up to him and explained to him that this is really who I am and that my real name is Erica. I told him that I hope this is not going to create any problems in work together. He just looked at me and said "No ma'am, I don't have a problem working for a women." So much for that! By the time the job was completed I had everyone calling me by my new name and they even had their pronouns correct.

I went to the grand opening party for the project where there were about 300 people in attendance. Wearing my "little black dress" I introduced myself to the mayor of the local municipality and told her what a joy it was to work with her staff. I also introduced myself to the president of the company that owns the facility. He complimented on the wonderful job we did for him.

The middle of October my doctor started me on his "hormone cocktail" consisting of a combination of estradiol and progesterone. I now do a weekly injection of both. I have noticed a definite effect on my breasts. They are now rounding out quite nicely!

I did have somewhat of an emotional let down a few weeks ago. My father-in-law passed away after a long fight with cancer. I was barred by my spouse's family from attending his wake and funeral because of who and what I am. When my spouse asked her Mother about me attending her response was "Absolutely not. I don't even know why you'd ask that question."

That hurt a great deal! Here was a man that I have known, loved and respected for over 31 years and I could not attend to pay my final respects to him. I felt it was a cruel and hurtful act. Several of my spouses family members feel that I'm being selfish in my actions and pursuits to finally be the person I really am. I sometimes feel that maybe these people should look inward at their own selfishness in expecting me to continue to try to be someone that I'm really not just for their own comfort. Maybe some day I will gain their acceptance, but for the time being, I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it to come. Just have to keep moving on!

My laser hair removal continues and is really starting to make a big difference. I have very little hair left on my arms, chest and underarms. My beard is down to basically a "chin strap" configuration and rapidly disappearing. It won't be long now until I'm pretty much hair free.

My therapist has sent her letter to Marci for the big event coming up in September. I'm going to see a second therapist after the Holidays to get the second letter I need for the SRS and after that it's just a matter of time.

[mrt (imported)]

Thats great that work is going well. I think thats fantastic that they are at least respectful and not making life miserable for you.

The other part sounds very distressing... Here is hoping your family members get over this insane stuff. When you consider the troubles your going to, to have this done you think they might understand it a little bit better.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

Well done! I am SO pleased to hear from you again. --FLO--

[Taylor (imported)]

Sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

That trite little saying is nothing but crap. Words hurt. They hurt more that stick & stones. Please don't let the ignorant bastards get you down. You are braver and tougher by far than they can imagine.



Taylor