Deana E H
"hopes everyone had a fine NEW YEARS and is strarting off the new year doing what they love. me i am."
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New Year Message
Sonia Kiss December 31st, 2008 7:10 am MSTHello friends, each of you is more dear to me than you know. I wish I could send direct emails like I have the last two years, but I've been so slow on the computer lately that I know I would never finish that project this year.
2008 has been a dark year for me. I've made little progress at resolving my legal problems, and consequently I've spent time in jail, time under house arrest, and I've lost my right to have a bank account, a job, health care, a driver's license, or a passport. I'm wanted in two states. I haven't checked, but in one of those states, I suspect my photo is on a "ten most wanted" poster. I've been essentially homeless for all of 2008. No, I haven't been living on the street or in shelters, but have been totally dependent on friends and family for whatever roof I've had over my head.
I learned early this year that I have cancer. I was near to dropping dead in my tracks by the time it was finally diagnosed, the diagnoses being delayed by six months or so by my legal problems. Obviously, I survived that close call. I got radiation treatments that treated the cancer very well and gave me a new lease on life. Only a lease though; I should have started chemotherapy by now, but that is delayed for the moment as I'm focusing on resolving my legal problems.
Most of you know me as a transsexual. (Apologies to those of you not exactly in the transgender community. This paragraph may sound a little strange to you.) 2008 was my first full calendar year to live as a woman, and I'm happy to report that being a woman has continued to be wonderful for me. Due to both legal and health problems, I haven't been able to make much progress in "physical" transition, but if you've got to pause somewhere, "full time" is a great place to pause. My "mood" status on one of my social networking sites currently says "Peaceful" and that really sums up how I feel about my current place in my transition. Yes, there is much, much more I would like to do. It can wait. I'm not suffering terribly from "birth defects."
One happy diversion I found this year was photography. After being away from Sisters of Boston for months, I was badly missing weekly photos of myself from Ashley's omnipresent camera. I fussed and delayed for months more before finally buying a pocket digital camera, in July of this year. I took a few of the vanity photos of myself I had been missing, then realized what an amazing instrument I had for creating art. A pocket digital camera, vintage 2008, is incredible for its capabilities. I began taking *lots* of photos, learning creative photography by just doing it, and also learning from studying the ocean of spectacular examples on Flickr, and before long, from meeting a few of Boston's most enthusiastic amateur photographers, watching them work, and listening to them talk about what they do.
I'll end with an invitation to everyone to write to me, just to say hello. But I have to also end with an apology to so, so many of you for not writing to you this year. I've failed to return emails to a vast number of my friends this year. My only explanation is that I've been just overwhelmed by my problems, my situation, and haven't had the mental energy to...to just return friendship, awful as that sounds. I do love you, each and every one of you.
Best wishes, love, and peace to all in 2009,
Sonia
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URNA DETECTIVES NEWS FLASH! DAN, JON & THE CASE OF THE MISSING JOURNAL ENTRIES!
Karen Reeves December 27th, 2008 8:54 pm MSTHi Everyone!
It appears that the case of the missing journal entry postings has been SOLVED!
I can see from my own list of the number of journal entries posted on my site that last June 4th was a busy day. I know I have posted quite a few journal entries over the years but not 53 of them!!! I can talk and write alot but . . . . .
Trying to repair the site the guys posted over 30 test entries on my site in just a few hours! When the site recently got repaired these disappearing journal entries suddenly reappeared. I just noticied this and have spent time deleting the test items.
I would suggest that everyone go delete repetative journal/test items to cut down on the clutter.
Thanks Dan & Jon for the great work in making Urnotalone such an awesome place!!! You have proved yourselves again!
*Smiles*
~Karen~
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HAPPY HOLIDAY'S 2008
Jackie Lee Thompson December 27th, 2008 8:14 pm MSTHi Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It appears the Journal is now working and we can now post new entries (THANK YOU DAN & JON!!!!!).
So, with that being said, I would just like to wish you all a belated MERRY CHRISTMAS.
And when it gets here......Have A Safe and Happy NEW YEAR!!!!!!
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Merry Christmas 2008 To You All!
Karen Reeves December 20th, 2008 11:51 pm MSTHi Everyone!
It is that time of year and yesterday's/today's snowstorm just seems to add to the festive mood of Christmas. I know that getting ready for the holidays can be stressful and painful.
I enjoy all the bright lights, good cheer, parties, the presents, and Xmas dinner. But let us remember the true meaning of Xmas. It is the day that we celeberate the life of one person and the meaning of what it is to strive and have a better planet to live on.
Enjoy your holidays no matter your belief system!!!!!
*Kisses*
~Karen~
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Sigh
Nicole Samantha James December 11th, 2008 2:02 am MSTWhat the hell am I doing? I moved out of LA because it was so stiffling then I get here to Arizona and before the month is out I had slept with 6 guys. Then I get pissed at myself and swear I will never do it again but the next week there I am on my back again making some guy happy. I get all femmed up and watch as even my voice changes ok well maybe I listen you cant really watch your voice change now can you?
On a lighter note Im having this dream where I find a bar of soap in a box so not just soap thrown in the street. On the box is a picture of a hot girl. I was with the soap and become that girl on the box. Turns out she is a stripper so now I am dancing at the local gentlemans club. One question why on earth is it called a GENTLEMANS club.
Im Nicole James and I am not really sure I approve this message
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GOOBLE GOOBLE GOOBLE-Some November Thoughts !
Karen Reeves November 16th, 2008 10:00 pm MSTHi Everyone!
I hope that all of you have a great Thanksgiving. We all have, though it may not seem that way many times, so much to be thankful for. The next time you get down emotionally remember that things could be a whole lot worse. Many people are in that predicament.
Don't each too much turkey!
*Kisses*
~Karen~
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My September 08 Update!
Jackie Lee Thompson September 24th, 2008 8:07 am MDTWOW! It has certainly been a while since I posted something in my Journal. So, I guess it is time to write a little something about how things have been going in my life.
Life has been very busy this year, and interesting. During First Event this year I had a consultation with Dr. Mark Zukowski and had secured a date for my FFS. It was to have been July 17th of this year. I met with the HR rep at the company I work for – I’ll call her Sara - and let her know of my transgendered situation and my plans to transition. She was very supportive and understanding and had indicated that some of the guys at work had actually noticed changes in my appearance and some were actually taking bets that I was actually transitioning!! How about that!!!!!
My plan had been to go on medical leave and have my surgery. I had no intentions to return to work there because I did not think that was possible - I did not think it would at all be accepted. My therapist has been telling me all along that I might be surprised and that it may very well be possible to transition where I work, but I just did not think so. That is until Sara from HR called me into her office one day for a talk.
Apparently Sara in HR had to discuss with the company owner my request for medical leave for my FFS. Naturally, she needed to explain what it was all about. The owner was very understanding and indicated that if I wanted to return he would insure there would harassment would not be acceptable. WOW! I never expected that. So, my plans earlier this year moved forward in that direction…to at least have FFS and then worry about work after.
Unfortunately, an injury from October ’07 was coming back to haunt me. Last October I started having bursitis in my right shoulder. At the time my orthopedic doctor had given me a shot of cortisone and indicated everything should clear up in time. Then a week later all hell broke loose – a tendon in my arm had snapped. He said it was a common sports injury and he sees lots of them. At that point he made me have an MRI and the pictures indicated I had not only snapped that tendon but I had also torn my rotator cuff slightly, not bad but there was definitely a partial tear. He put me through about 5 months of physical therapy but when I wasn’t progressing we scheduled rotator cuff surgery for April 15th.
Mid April came and I decided to hold off on the surgery because I wanted to have the FFS first. By June my shoulder had worsened and another picture indicated the tear had become worse, probably because of all the darn snow shoveling I did this past winter (we had ton’s of it in the Mount Washington Valley). So, rotator cuff surgery was scheduled for July 22nd and my FFS was rescheduled for next June. At work, my plans for medical leave for my FFS turned into a medical leave for shoulder surgery. Oh well. Life isn’t perfect I guess.
Prior to surgery my doctor indicated that he was hoping to only have to go in laparoscopiclly and clean things up. He did not think incisions and a full-blown cuff repair were necessary. That did not matter to me…surgery was surgery and I was not looking forward to it no matter what. The big thing is the recover time would be minimal if he only had to do a minimal repair. However, and he let me know it with certainly, if he got in there and things had worsened a more in depth surgery would be necessary and I could expect a much longer recovery period.
Unfortunately that is just what happened. When I woke from recovery he was standing at the foot of my bed with his arms crossed. I felt like I was being reprimanded for doing something wrong!!! He told me he could not repair everything laparoscopicaly and that he had to do a much larger incision and much larger repair than we had hoped for. Apparently I must have really screwed it up over the winter.
So, here I am. It has been almost 8 weeks since my surgery and I am out of work on disability and attending Physical Therapy three times a week. I have a lot of help though as my girlfriend – the love of my life – is taking great care of me. Thank God for her! At this point I am living in Connecticut. My shoulder recovery is progressing but it is progressing slowly due to all the scar tissue which has developed. My surgeon had indicated a recovery period of up to 6 months or more. Luckily I have great disability insurance so I am covered financially. I’m really looking forward to getting back to a full recovery….it is just going to take time.
So, what about my transition? My transition is going well! I have very little electrolysis left. I see my endocrinologist in a few weeks and that visit will mark an entire year on HRT. The changes have been phenomenal!!! My girlfriend doesn’t think I’ll ever need implants! It certainly is surprising how well the hormones have treated me. I’m really looking forward to FFS next June!
So, where am I going from here? Time will tell. When (and where) I return to work really depends on when my surgeon says its ok. It could be another month or more. I’m only into my third week of range-of-motion therapy and there is at least another month of that. Then there will be another 12 weeks of strength training. Even if I do return to work in NH it will probably only be for a short period of time. I am very much settled here in CT and have great work opportunities close by. I really like it here and this is my new home. Staying up in NH 4 nights a week and traveling back to CT each weekend just seems way too much.
So, that is that for now. I hope everyone had a great summer. I’m definitely looking forward to the fall season. That is my favorite time of year next to winter!!!
For now…..take good care everyone!!. Stay safe and stay happy!!! Stop in from time to time and say hello!
Love,
~ Jackie Lee
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RIO GRANDE HS ABQ NM CLASS REUNION
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an August 30th, 2008 7:25 pm MDTANYBODY FROM ABQ INTERESTED?
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RIO GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an August 30th, 2008 7:10 pm MDT[Comment on this post]
RIO GRANDE HIGHT SCHOOL ALB NEW MEXICO
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an August 30th, 2008 7:09 pm MDTAny Alumni out there? Trying to do a class reunion!
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Huge Success! YOU made it Happen!
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 21st, 2008 4:17 pm MDTHUGE SUCCESS! YOU MADE IT HAPPEN! THANK YOU!!!! This year's program generated more $ than any other year .. and it all goes to Charity!
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SUCCESS!!!! Thank You All!!!
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 21st, 2008 4:15 pm MDTThe Charity Coronation was a huge success and more $ were generated through this year's program than ever before ... all of which go directly to Charity.
I appreciate your participation ... than you so much .. YOU made it happen!
Sassycat Jo-An
URNA RGDC 2008 DUCAL CORONATION PROGRAM
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COVER/ CENTERFOLD ..URNOTALONE
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 7th, 2008 1:28 pm MDT[Comment on this post]
COVER/ CENTERFOLD ..URNOTALONE ON FLICKR~
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 5th, 2008 4:45 pm MDThttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jo-an-torres/2639639901/sizes/o/[1 comment]
COVER/ CENTERFOLD ..URNOTALONE
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 5th, 2008 4:24 pm MDT[Comment on this post]
COVER/ CENTERFOLD ..URNOTALONE
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 5th, 2008 4:23 pm MDT<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jo-an-torres/2639639901/" title="URNOTALONE COLLAG RGDC DUCAL PROGRAM by Jo-An Torres For Life ICP IRLM36, RCC RGDC13, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2639639901_d8a20d86d4_o.jpg" width="618" height="800" alt="URNOTALONE COLLAG RGDC DUCAL PROGRAM" /></a>
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testing
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 1st, 2008 6:31 pm MDTtesting
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testing
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 1st, 2008 6:27 pm MDTjust testing
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Just Testing to see if my HTML is working
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an July 1st, 2008 5:39 pm MDT[Comment on this post]
test - Collage for URNA for Charity
Sassy Cat Girl I Love It! Jo-an June 17th, 2008 4:42 pm MDTJust testing to see if html is working ... still a work in progress ... if you would like to join in, it is $10.00 for a photo .. all $ go to charity at a function to be held in July. Contact me off line at sassycatgirlmoi@yahoo.com .. Thanks!
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