My life

[butterflyjack (imported)]

As always, Danya..beautifully written...I sense that there is room for you in this company...I'd have to think that someone, in authority there, other than your boss, must know your worth..Those two projects you worked on must have impacted someone.. But,disregarding your present firm, you've been offered some opportunities, elsewhere: No? I love your veracity. Gotta go split and bring in some wood for the stove; we're expecting some cool weather for the next wee while....Smooches dragonfly

[Danya (imported)]

As always, Danya..beautifully written...I sense that there is room for you in this company...I'd have to think that someone, in authority there, other than your boss, must know your worth..Those two projects you worked on must have impacted someone.. But,disregarding your present firm, you've been offered some opportunities, elsewhere: No? I love your veracity. Gotta go split and bring in some wood for the stove; we're expecting some cool weather for the next wee while....Smooches dragonfly

Hi Dragonfly,

Thanks for the compliment.

I do not yet have any offers of employment. This takes time and I've only seriously been looking for a week or two.

I just applied for a permanent position where I am currently working. It's a very good match for my skills set. Fortunately, I can access the corporate internal job site from home. It helps to be applying internally.

In addition, I applied for 8 other openings today. All are in the Chicago area. Some are contract, others are 'permanent' ( - there really is no such thing, of course!). One of the permanent jobs is a scientist position. I'm going for everything that may be a good fit.

In the next hour or so, I'll also reconnect with a number of recruiters I worked with when I first moved here. After that, I will be done for the evening. My roommate and I will watch a movie together, here at home.

Yesterday evening, I drove to "X's" place. We had gotten snow yesterday and additional, lake effect, snow had been predicted for areas near Lake Michigan. By the time I left to visit 'X', the snow had stopped in my suburb and there were a few breaks in the clouds. As I drove past O'Hare, I saw a dark, threatening cloud mass ahead and I thought "cool, a lake effect!" Sure enough, a few miles further down the expressway I was engulfed in heavy snow. I was thrilled as this was my first experience with having part of Lake Michigan dumped on me.

[butterflyjack (imported)]

Nicely done Danya..And I bet it won't be the last time Lake Michigan comes down on your head....Over in NY it's Lake Erie that dumps on us...

smooches dragonfly

[mrt (imported)]

Hi - long time no talk.

Re:Injections versus pills here is a good cheat sheet that i've used for years.

www.forge-forward.org/handouts/injection.pdf

Good luck on the job hunt its murder out there!

[JessicaH (imported)]

It's good to see you around here MrT. I always thought you were one of the nicest and level headed people on the board. I hope you are doing well!

[Danya (imported)]

MrT is a very nice gentleman. He has offered me lots of encouragement over the last several years.

MrT, when I was doing chemotherapy for Hepatitis C in the late 1990s I had to inject myself with interferon several times a week. This was merely a part of the treatment. I hated injecting myself. Unlike some other people I know, I was never able to jab myself with the needle. I was too chicken! Instead, I slowly and very gently pushed the needle into my thigh. In other words, I used the more painful technique. If I go with injections for estradiol, I'll need to do better.

Things on the job front are looking very promising. The recruiter I visited last week called today to tell me their client company is very interested. They want to wait for more resumes, though, before proceeding with interviews. He said that I should let him know as soon as I have an interview scheduled with a hiring manager. Any hiring manager will do at any company! He will then tell his client that I am in demand and that they better take action or risk losing me.

The company is in one of the north shore suburbs. Further north than self-proclaimed nuclear-free Evanston and even closer to Wisconsin than Highland Park. *

I meet with yet another recruiter early tomorrow morning. Over lunch, I have a tentative meeting set with another. She called today to say that several positions had just become available. She's been wanting to network with me for weeks. Or so she says.

Just when I thought I could slow down a bit for the holidays.

* 'X' tells this joke:

"Why are there no mosquitos in Highland Park? They can't afford the rent!" It was funny when he told it. Really! Anyway, I'm not a mosquito and I cannot afford the rent there.

[Danya (imported)]

In only ten days, my four-month countdown to GRS will begin. I'm not counting the days, at all! For the next several months, I will continue weekly electrolysis treatments on the surgery area. These are exquisitely painful. At times, I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out. Or telling my electrologist to stop.

Today, three recruiters called me. One tried to interest me in a job in another state. I immediately turned that down. If that state had been California, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii (:)), Maine, New York and some others I might have been tempted.

Another opportunity was for a 3-month

contract-to-hire position in a nearby suburb. The

description was a close match for my skills set. The recruiter seemed really interested in me, too. She was supposed to email me details today. So far, I haven't gotten those. She did tell me my verbal acceptance was enough for her to submit my resume to the hiring company. Maybe she has done that. I will call her tomorrow to check.

Whether or not anything comes from this, I am confident of finding another job. It may not happen quite as soon as I would like; I'll do what I need to for survival. Including move to another city if I must. Or hold several part-time jobs at the same time.

Tomorrow, I will meet with a recruiter whose agency is in the Willis (nee Sears) Tower. This is a quick walk from my office.

Everything at the office is going very well. Since the other contractor in my group left last week, more tasks are coming my way. My boss is showing signs that she now realizes the high quality of my work.

Yesterday, I received terrific feedback from a supervisor in another department. Today, I led another meeting. A permanent employee who participated, from another group, later stopped by my desk. She thanked me for speaking out at the meeting on an issue no one else seemed to want to face.

I'm determined that when this contract ends, I will leave behind a lot of favorable impressions. This may come in handy later.

It was more than a few months ago that I sent an email to my undergraduate college. I was letting them know that I had transitioned genders. I was not sure that they would print my announcement. Three years ago, a school official stated the college had never had a trans student. [Later that year, I was invited to speak with a group of trans students at the college.] And besides, the official added, what would other church schools think if they allowed a name change for a trans student?

Roughly two years ago, I learned of a dean who would likely help get my name and gender changed on my transcript. I worked closely with him, sending several letters justifying my case. The registrar's office agreed with me. I was issued a new transcript and diploma with my then new name. The dean later told me that other former students, who happened to be transgender, had tried to accomplish the same thing and failed. So perhaps others will be helped by my actions.

The official name and gender change was never an issue with my two grad schools.

Today, the semi-annual class newsletter arrived in the mail. I was pleased to see my transition news was included. In my note, I did something I seldom will now. I included my former, male name. I had no choice if I wanted former classmates to know who I am. In addition, I provided my personal email address in case anyone should wish to write.

[butterflyjack (imported)]

Hi Danya...Wow you're really leaping out there...The Geebuz school didn't have any TG graduates, eh? Hehe.. Lots of possibilities in the job market, it seems...Their loss if they don't hire you...you magnificent specimen..

smooches dragonfly

[Danya (imported)]

Yesterday, I called my HRT doctor to get blood work results from my check-up/yearly physical. I have eliminated several medications since I lost my job in mid-2009. It turns out I don't need them at all. My doctor suggests, and I agree, that all this is a result of reduced life stress. Losing my job last year first seemed like a catastrophe. I was under tremendous stress with that job, though, typically putting in 60 - 70 hours per week. What has had the most influence on reducing my overall stress level, and satisfaction with life, has been transitioning. Dr. 'M' states, without hesitation, that this is the reason I have been able to eliminate prescriptions for:

1. esophageal reflux

2. high triglycerides

3. nearly all of my asthma prevention medications

4. migraine prevention

All of my blood work was very good. My HDL/LDL is excellent. Not surprisingly, my Prostate Specific Antigen result is very low. It was always low. With estrogen, it is even lower.

The one minor disappointment was that my estrogen level is far too low. I will see the doctor after work Monday to start injectable estrogen.

The administrators here ask that regular writers let people know when they are leaving the site. This is so the many fine people here do not worry. For several weeks, I have been thinking it is time for me to leave. This is unlike previous times when I thought I wanted to stop posting. I've thought about this decision a lot longer this time before mentioning it.

I wrote recently that I have now revealed just about everything important about my life. Of course, I've also shared many not so important and interesting things, too. There is little more for me to reveal. I have other reasons for leaving. None of these has anything to do with this fine site or its members.

My upcoming GRS, in mid-April, is the 'icing on the cake' for me of transitioning. I've finished the important work I needed to do to make that happen. Meaning, what matters most is living my life as who I was meant to be. Being seen and recognized as the woman I am. Interacting with others as a woman and being entirely accepted as a woman. All of these non-surgical factors are far more critical than ever having surgery.

By early January, I expect I will seldom, if ever, log in here again. Those who want to reach me are welcome to send an email. I do not expect to log in to answer PMs.

If I can find the time, I will write a summary post of what I consider important things for my life, lessons I have learned and so on.

[butterflyjack (imported)]

Hi Danya...Good news on the medication front...Whatever you decide, I hope it's in your best interests...You can always come back here, if you wish...

I, and I'm sure, many others, will miss you if you leave...But also wish you only the best...smooches dragonfly