Has anyone recently legally changed their name and/or gender in California??

I've a few questions if you have.

Beth

I am looking for someone with experience writing orders for the military. Preferably c. 1975 and O-4 or above, but I'll take any help I can get.

It's for a story I'm working on:

Some of you know I'm a pastor. I've been available to anyone who needs me. Usually I've been able to say something reassuring, helpful, etc...

At this point, I've been asked to leave my house. I'm sure I can move that date forward or backward by as much as a month.

Eight years here. Oh my how the time flies...

Beth

I've been living with a lot of pain for the last two years. The rotator cuff in my left shoulder is pretty torn up. I've been able to function, barely. Yesterday I received word surgery to repair it has been approved. Yeah!

September 24 I go under the knife.

This is critical for me. I have at least two surgeries too get through before I can even contemplate SRS. I'm happy this is finally under way! December I should be able to have surgery on my right ankle. That means I'll be on track for SRS sometime late next year!!

Please, keep me in prayer.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings

It’s been a long week, and it’s only Monday. Today was memorable. I had to see my primary care physician, and my cardiologist. They both had good news for me.
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I mentioned a few months ago I stopped and picked up a woman who was being beaten by her husband.

I had the opportunity of sharing lunch last month with Erin. One of the things we talked about is:

Is there any interest in a get together in the Southern California area for a potluck?? Erin and I were at one in the San Francisco Bay area last fall. It was a LOT of fun.

And even more fun?? Meeting with others who think the way you do, or who write/read the same genre of fiction!!

Come One, Come all!!!

If you're interested, let me know. We're probably looking at something the end of the Summer.

Hugs and Blessings,

Beth

The Police Were Here for Two Hours!!
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It's amazing how serendipity works. You do something, and immediately it leads to something else totally unexpected.
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Last Night I was doing research on BWS (Battered Women Syndrome). Today DJ (my long suffering spouse) and I picked up my mom. We were taking her to our house to fix a B-Day dinner for her 77th year. We drove along, DJ called out, "did you see that??" I'd been fiddling with something and only caught a glimpse of a woman being shoved and hit.
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I know a LOT of people have been waiting for this for far, far too long. Now that I've got a timetable, and even more, my Muse (or whatever I'm calling inspiration) has decided it's time.

In two weeks I expect to send the next chapter in my Comdex series to the editors. Hopefully, that means in about three to four weeks I'll be posting it.

Some of you know, I'm a pastor as well as being a MtF in the process of transition. As part of being a pastor I regularly counsel people, many of whom are transgendered themselves. One, is a MtF trying to deal with what it means being trans. I chat with her on the phone every Thursday night. This last week I said something that immediately clicked with both of us. Both thought I should share it.

We know more about being a man than we want, and know less about being a woman than we need.

Blessings,
Beth

I'm Home.

I've been on a journey of discovery, pain, love, and hope these last few weeks. I shared some of it, with some of you. You see, my mom remembered my telling her I'd been abused.

I've also spent the last week+ on the road, with my wife DJ most of the time, with one of my sisters and her spouse part of the time, and running down the corridors of my mind whenever I allowed my self to think.

I'm absolutely, positively in shock!! I just got my renewal package for my health insurance. I am, for medical reasons, retired from the University of California.

This year, (drum roll please) the University has included Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS/SRS). The very last hurdle for me to go forward with it has been removed.

Now all I have to do is make up my mind (okay, it's already made up, but...) to do IT.

(sigh)

Blessings,
Beth

I don't post here often, apart from my stories, preferring instead to write directly. I try not to post if I don't have something important to say.

My mom suffers from short-term memory problems. Things that happened an hour ago she may or may not remember; things from years ago she remembers as clearly as anyone else.

My grief lies all within, and these external manners of lament are merely shadow to the unseen grief that swells with silence in the tortured soul. ~ William Shakespeare

I would like to remind ALL readers here of the 2011 Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20, 2011.

I know it's more than a month away, and I will probably submit this again next month, BUT, if you haven't visited the Day of Remembrance website, http://www.transgenderdor.org, I would encourage you to do so.

Why is this so important? Because trans people are in greater danger of being killed.

Holly is doing extremely well. There's talk of releasing her on Wednesday; a remarkably short time in hospital considering the surgery.

She sounded Great today.

More news as it develops.

Blessings and hugs,

Beth

I spoke with Holly today. She's running marathons in the hospital (well, walking around the nurse's station). She is in good spirits. The doctors were able to remove the tumor with much less damage than anticipated to the pancreatic duct that joins with the bile duct. It appears her outlook is good (I'd be tempted to say Great!).
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Holly is down to one IV. She is also on the PCA (personally controlled analgesic), but seems to be keeping ahead of the pain.
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Holly will need your thoughts and prayers for longer than a blog usually stays visible so Erin is going to keep this one at the top of the blogs for a few days.

I've just spoken with Shelly. Holly is out of surgery. The doctors do not think the tumor has metastaticized.

I'm passing on a prayer request (or good thoughts, wishes, whatever your tradition is).
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Holly moved from the San Francisco area to Indianapolis in June. Those of you who know her, know what a loving and caring woman she is. She has been to the doctors, and will be undergoing surgery most probably next week.
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Holly has pancreatic cancer.
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Earlier this year, Holly had difficulties. The doctors did a biopsy, and it did not show any cancerous cells.
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It does now.
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PLEASE, according to your tradition or beliefs, pray for Holly.
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It's been a tough 4 or 5 years. Let's see, I told my kids I was transsexual, my church refused to renew my pastor's license, One of my children informed me in no uncertain terms that he wished I HAD killed my self about 3 or 4 years ago. And, it grieves me so but I have to admit, if only to myself (Okay, and all of you!!) that my marriage was shattered years ago, what little is left has been held together my my love, my unwillingness to give up, and a barrel of superglue.

No, that wasn't an exaggeration. Discovery Channel has a new program, debuting Friday, July 29 at 10:00 pm.

I suppose that's all to be said really. The title is the post, Sex Change Hospital. I do hope to be able to get my SO to watch it.

Beth

I am getting a new gender therapist. Does anybody have any experience with a Dr. David Van Zak?

He's in the Los Angeles area.

Thanks,
Beth

I had heard of the "Color Personality Test" oh a year or so ago, and tried to take it. Unfortunately, the site had been taken down because of too many hits. It was almost like a DOS attack - except they were all legitimate hits!!

You can find the test at http://www.colorquiz.com/

I blithely expected my kids to be accepting when I told them I was transgendered; after all, I'd modeled acceptance to them all their lives. So telling them would be a piece of cake! Right??

Wrong

My oldest told my wife the only reason he didn't yell at me when I told him was because we were traveling down the freeway at 75 MPH in a driving rain and I was practically comatose huddled against the door.

My middle son said nothing. Of course that means little since he normally says almost nothing.

A Hope that got your attention. LOL

I like every other writer out there does this for free, nada, zilch, zip, nothing! Well, except for one thing, your comments and Kudos!!

I was looking at the numbers on the stories currently being offered and I noticed something. Well, it's not REALLY hard to guess, but there is no correlation between the number of comments or kudos AND the number of readers. Sooo...

Thanksgiving?

Why?

We had Thanksgiving at MY house today. 13 or 14 people around the house, chatting, eating, playing with my son's new baby.

All of them smiling, happy.

I asked what we had to be thankful for. The Grand baby, my son's job, the weight I've lost this year (120 pounds, more or less, thank you very much!), the food, everyone was happy on the outside.

Except me.

My family barely tolerates me, though God Forbid they should show it in public. My son says I'm "disgusting. My oldest commands, "don't embarrass us."

Is anyone going to the TDOR in San Diego??
Thanks,
Beth

Is there an issue with the Chatroom, I can't get in :(

Thanks,

Beth