I'm glad I kept collision coverage on my car, even though it is often recommended that you not keep this on older, high mileage vehicles to save money. The adjuster called today and offered me over $3,000 for the loss of my car. I will speak with him tomorrow to work on getting something closer to $4,000. That's the Kelly Blue Book value for my make, model and year auto in excellent condition. Thanks to Kristoff for his advice on this.
Yesterday, I opened checking and savings accounts at a local branch of Bank of America. I used funds from my Minnesota bank, which has only four branches and they are all in the Twin Cities. The new account will enable me to get cash easily should I need it when I buy a used car.
I don't need anything fancy. As long as the car is reliable and gets good gas mileage, I will be happy. I prefer a stick shift, in part because I feel like I'm more a part of the driving experience with a manual transmission.
Driving in the big city with a stick shift doesn't bother me at all.First thing this morning, I checked with the recruiter about the state job I applied for. He responded that 'we are in the game.' As part of the application, I included my portfolio. Kristoff (thanks again!) passed on the idea of creating a portfolio from a friend of his who does the same type of work as I do.
I was contacted by three recruiters today about job opportunities. None of these were the best fits for my skills but I would be quite comfortable doing the work.
I'm feeling more at home in Chicagoland each day. Late this afternoon, I drove to Woodfield Mall in the western suburbs. I visited this mall many times in the years before I moved to this area. It is a very large mall and has been rated the most popular tourist attraction in Illinois. If that ranking is correct, I find it a bit peculiar. I would prefer to visit the terrific museums and other attractions in downtown Chicago that are first class. Of course, the mall is free if you don't spend anything. The downtown attractions are not.
Woodfield Mall seems small compared to the Mall of Death in the Twin Cities. Yet I find it much more pleasant. It's got a much better layout, it's less noisy and I don't feel overwhelmed by its size. The only thing I find strange about it is that there is no bookstore.
Yesterday evening, I drove to Westfield Mall in Vernon Hills. This is much smaller than Woodfield Mall but still very nice to walk around. My main purpose for these trips is to get out and drive places so I feel more at home.
Onto yet another subject.
I have no problem admitting that I wear a wig. Until now, I have kept my own hair extremely short. Most of it is gray. Several people, whose opinions I respect, have told me I need to let my own hair grow and dye it to match the wig color. One advantage of this is that, in the unlikely event I ever find myself in a sexual encounter and the wig comes off, my lover will see long, dyed hair.Perhaps when I have a job, and a little more money, I will be more interested in the possibility of a sexual assignation. After being on estrogen for nearly two years, however, I find that my libido is practically nonexistent. This doesn't bother me at all. If I am treated well by a man and we dance or get physically close in other ways, I get some arousal.
) are not sexual after GRS. I don't think its the surgery or the ability to attract men. Anyway, give it some thought and look at your labs versus natal female levels.