I would like to make a point about parents. Most parents do the best by their kids that is within THEIR capabilities. I could write a book about the shortcomings of my father but I do have to give him credit that he was a better father than his father and his father was better than his. I think parent grow beyond their own parents and most people only have a limited capacity to grow beyond what they grew up with.

I know you don't have children of your own but I think you would have made a wonderful father or mother for any child! Thanks again for sharing so much of yourself and please don't take anything I have said to minimize any neglect or abuse that you have suffered.

Much love, Stacy

JessicaH (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:52 am I would like to make a point about parents. Most parents do the best by their kids that is within THEIR capabilities. I could write a book about the shortcomings of my father but I do have to give him credit that he was a better father than his father and his father was better than his. I think parent grow beyond their own parents and most people only have a limited capacity to grow beyond what they grew up with.

I know you don't have children of your own but I think you would have made a wonderful father or mother for any child! Thanks again for sharing so much of yourself and please don't take anything I have said to minimize any neglect or abuse that you have suffered.

Much love, Stacy

Hi Stacy,

I agree with your statement about parents. Mine absolutely did the best they could given their own family backgrounds and other circumstances. Understanding that was why I was able to tell both of them I loved them, a number of times, long before they died.

My mother would rarely talk about her childhood. What I heard from relatives, though, indicated she was probably physically abused.

When I was engage to be married, my ex and I thought we wanted two children. She was a 2nd grade teacher. Within a year of our marriage, though, she decided she did not want kids. She was a very capable teacher but felt that after five years of intense work with children, she could not handle the strain of raising one of our own.

After talking about it for another year or so, I agreed with her. Both of us had difficult childhoods. Then she was anorexic in college. She once showed me a photo from those days and she looked like she had been in a concentration camp. Anyway, we needed some time to be good to ourselves nuturing our inner, neglected children.

If we had had a child at that point, I know I would have been a good parent. I very much appreciate your pointing this out. Back then, though, I was terrified any child of mine would inherit my 'differentness' and, like me, feel no connection with other kids.

I know better now. In fact, for some months I have mulled over the idea of adopting an older child. For now, this is nothing more than a fond wish. I'd need to be in a much better spot, financially. At least having some job security. When my transition expenses drop, I'll also be able to save money once again.

Nothing you wrote left me feeling you were minimizing my experiences. Rather, I think you understand very well.

Love,

[quot

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm e="Danya (imported)" time=1295517480]
[quot

Da [/quote] nya (imported) wrote:Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm

Danya ( [/quote] imported) wrote:Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm
_____________________________________

_____

I saw my HRT doctor after work at his Michigan Avenue office downtown. Tonight, as usual, we spent a very long time, nearly two hours, talking about all kinds of things beyond my health. We discussed religion, spirituality, creativity, music, careers (mine, mostly ) the science of certain drug actions and yet other things. By the end of this rambling discussion, he had invited me to his Buddhist temple for worship. I will go sometime in the next few months.

As far as my health goes, I am starting Androgel to boost my now undetectable testosterone. After a month, he'll see how well this is working from my blood work. I'll then switch to very low dose of injectable testosterone, because it will save a lot of money. My doctor expects testosterone will help 'fix' my low energy problem.

I am so tired some days that I will sit on the toilet for a half hour longer than I need to, simply because I cannot muster the energy to get up. I'm not sitting there reading, either. I just sit.

He told me that it is indeed unusual for a male-to-female transsexual woman on estradiol to have no detectable testosterone. He added "but then you are an unusual person." I responded "I think that's a compliment", to which he answered "Of course."

When I spoke with my psychiatrist on Wednesday and with my physician tonight, I realized what I'm dealing with is not depression at all. During our visits, I was animated and my usual self. I had nothing special that has been bothering me

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm . I am under continuing stress without a permanent jo

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm b. I've dealt with this stress well, though, for most [qu

ote="Danya (imported)" time=1295182380]
of the last year.

It's just that my low energy lea[

quote="Danya (imported)" time=1294649040]
ves me feeling down. I don't want to get out of bed b[quot

e="Danya (imported)" time=1294472940]
ecause I don't have enough energy. This is not a resul
[/quote]

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm t of depression. Both psychiatrist and doctor agreed.

[q

uote="Danya (imported)" time=1292968260]
__________________________________________________
[/quote]
____

When I finally arrived home this evening, I was thrilled to see a large envelope from my GRS surgeon. Things are getting more serious now. During the month of February, I will be sending two more deposits totalling - a large sum of money.

The packet contained all kinds of information. Including a note that I will need to stop all hormone treatments three weeks before surgery. That will be difficult. Erica Ann has already warned me about hot flashes.

They talked about travel arrangements. I'll need to arrive two days before my scheduled surgery. I will likely be able to fly back to Chicago from Montreal on April 27

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm th, eight days after surgery.

They described the sur

gical technique. I know they offer either general ane

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm sthesia or a spinal block. General anesthesia typically results

in my having great difficulty urinating. I

Danya (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm may opt for the spinal. I will have absolutely no de

sire to watch the procedure via a mirror. I've seen

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm very graphic photos of how this is done. Those more than satisf

ied my curiosity. Usually, I am interested

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:49 pm in watching procedures. This time, I will only be inte

rested in the result.

I'll give the documents a clos

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm er read tomorrow. Their total fee is the same as when I schedu

led surgery over 4 months ago. This is good.

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:51 am __________________________________________________

_________

Last night, I stopped at Best Buy to pick up an AC power adapter for my Sony Walkman. Then I

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm happened past an aisle with music keyboards. I have n

ot played an instrument since I sold my very fine digital piano last February. I tried every keyboard in t

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm he store. I played, from memory, small sections of a Bach

French Suite, a Bach Two-Part Invention and Chopin's Ballade #4. I was ecstatic. It would take sev

Danya (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm eral months of practice for me to get back to where I

was before I left Minnesota. Yesterday, I could still play with relative ease.

Until last night, I tho

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm ught there was no way I could be a substitute organist let alon

e apply for a part-time staff organist job. Now I know that I can. When I substitute, I always sa

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:49 pm y I need a key so that I can practice at least a day b

efore the service.

I now know I willl not be wasting the $95 to join the local American Guild of Organist

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm s society. Actually, there are three or four local groups her

e. I have to join one to see their list of open positions and have my name listed as a substitute.

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:51 am __________________________________________________

________

I've started taking my headphones and Sony Walkman to work to listen to CDs. As I listened to a Rachmanioff's "Variations on a Theme of Paganini," I realized something for the first time.

I've written before that my musical tastes have broadened beyond classical and jazz since I transitioned. Yesterday, I realized that my tastes within the classical genre have also expanded. There was a time when I would not have enjoyed Rachmanioff. While his music is often very sensual, it does not have the organizational structure, wide ranging harmonizations, ingenuity and perhaps the grandeur of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Handel, Brahms, Wagner, Stravinsky, Webern and certain others. BTW, there are a number of contermporary composers of 'classical' music that I appreciate. Including Dominick Argento, a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota.

I always considered Rachmanioff's music to be more fluff than substance. Although he is still not one of my favorites, I am now able to enjoy some of his works.

As I listened to his variations on the famous theme written by perhaps the greatest violinist of all time, Niccolo Paganini, I realized one of the variations seemed to be based on an inversion of part of the theme. So I took a short break at the office to write out the notes and then compared them to the theme. This variation is a thematic inversion. It is also very beautiful and has been made famous in a number of movies.

Inversion of a theme is just one of many methods to develop astoundingly effective, beautiful variations.

Brahms used the same Paganini theme in his piano "Variations on Theme of Paganini." There was a time when I played a few of the work's simpler variations well. They are technically extremely difficult. Brahms' unrequited love interest, Clara Schumann, called them "witches variations" because of their difficulty. She herself, like Brahms, was a virtuoso pianist. Brahms is generally considered on of the top masters of the variation form and the variation form is one of my favorites. Brahms also wrote the first ever set of orchestral variations, "Variations on a Theme by Haydn." Then he ends the variations...enough. He was a scholar of ancient music and he adapted a very old form for the conclusion of this work. Knowledgable listeners were stunned to here this used so effectively in a piece of 19th century Romantic period music.

I still prefer Brahms' Paganini variations to those of Rachmanioff. Now, though, I can also enjoy Rachmanioff.

Is there no end to your expertise? You embarrass me...Good news on the surgery...I've read some references to Montreal's surgeons in this area...

It's a very advanced city in many ways, I guess...Cold as a rat's a-- in the winter, though..You'll be there in late April..Lovely...I'd like to visit Montreal..It's about a 6-7 hour ride due north from here..Maybe some day..

Glad to hear you seem to have the solution to your exhaustion at hand...

smooches dragonfly

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:39 pm After giving it some thought, I decided to delete the very serious parts of this post. For the first time, it was not therapeutic for me to write about certain things. What follows is much shorter than the original.

I got the good news last night that my gallbladder is 100% normal. Hooray! No gallstones, no possible need for surgery. I may have a peptic ulcer. After I filled him in on some details, my doctor agreed that if I have an ulcer it may be medication related. We'll find out.

I also spoke with the good doctor, again, about my 'too low' testosterone level. Natal women have some testosterone. Mine is

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:39 pm 1295182380]
below the test detection limit.

I asked if this could account for my low energy and down moods. This is wh
[/quote]
en he chimed in with "You seem to be doing fine.

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:39 pm " C

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:18 pm onsidering everything going on in my life, I am.

He agreed that we probably need to do something about my relative lack of testosterone. So the next time I see him, in a few weeks for blood work, we will discuss starting testosterone injections, at a low level of course. In fact, I will make an appointment for as soon as I can get one. I cannot wait a few weeks. I'm having trouble dealing with feeling tired nearly every waking moment. I feel tired when I get up, through the day, and I no longer experience my 'night person' energy.

Too low testosterone in women is also associated with depression. Bingo! This has got to stop, and soon.

For what this is worth I was first put on Testosterone because of "depression" like symptoms which included lack of energy, mood, etc. YES! Women have testosterone and I believe from what I've read a lot of M2F folks miss out on a lot because they think "all" testosterone is evil and they try to lower it to abnormal levels (For women)

Sex drive, energy, moods etc are part of being female (or male) and having the right "mix" is very important. Mrs T uses a compounded cream that includes enough testosterone to keep her in the normal range for women and its done wonders.

BTW thats one suggestion I really wanted to make. Ask your Doctor about using a rub on cream of Estrogen, Progesterone & Testosterone.

butterflyjack (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2011 6:32 am Is there no end to your expertise? You embarrass me...Good news on the surgery...I've read some references to Montreal's surgeons in this area...

It's a very advanced city in many ways, I guess...Cold as a rat's a-- in the winter, though..You'll be there in late April..Lovely...I'd like to visit Montreal..It's about a 6-7 hour ride due north from here..Maybe some day..

Glad to hear you seem to have the solution to your exhaustion at hand...

smooches dragonfly

Hi Dragonfly,

I've worked very hard since I was young to learn a lot about many things. One of my favorite activities is gathering information. Keep in mind, too, that I've been around now for over 59 years. In addition, I have changed careers several times.

I do not regret any of my career changes, although I wonder if I would have been better off to have continued working as a scientist. The unemployment rate for chemists with my educational background is very low even today. I will find my way in this new work world.

I've been to Montreal twice, once on business and the second time to visit friends. Compared with American cities, the people there seem to be much less inhibited about sexuality. I enjoyed both visits.

The

mrt (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2011 9:59 pm testosterone seems to be helping some already.

Hugs,

Danya

For what this is worth I was first put on Testosterone because of "depression" like symptoms which included lack of energy, mood, etc. YES! Women have testosterone and I believe from what I've read a lot of M2F folks miss out on a lot because they think "all" testosterone is evil and they try to lower it to abnormal levels (For women)

Sex drive, energy, moods etc are part of being female (or male) and having the right "mix" is very important. Mrs T uses a compounded cream that includes enough testosterone to keep her in the normal range for women and its done wonders.

BTW thats one suggestion I really wanted to make. Ask your Doctor about u

sing a rub on cream of Estrogen, Progesterone & Testosterone.

Hi MrT,

You and I have spoken about hormone issues, although not in a long time. I had forgotten about the effect low testosterone had for you.

I definitely want a sex drive. Normal energy and mood are important for me, too. I recently read that if a woman's testosterone is too low, she may be infertile. This is not a concern for me.

I will speak with my doctor about a rub on cream for testosterone. If it will save money and allow me to avoid another injection, I will be interested.

Now I'm off to the Chicago Botanic Garden to walk outside and in the greenhouses. I need the exercise and it's one of my favorite spots. I'm taking my camera along.

Hugs,

Danya

I went to a very welcoming Lutheran church this morning. Turned out they had a 3 manual pipe organ and a fine grand piano. These sounded great with the very good acoustics of the worship space.

After the service, I spoke with the organist. I let her know I was interested in substituting and, perhaps, finding a part-time staff organist position. She was glad I had introduced myself and told me how hard it is to find substitutes. She also said I could practice on both the organ and piano! This will work well as the church is no more than a 10-minute drive from home.

She suggested I volunteer to play special prelude or postlude music to get used to the pipe organ. I can't wait.

Finally, she gave me contact info for someone whose church is looking for a part-time organist and another contact for finding substitute gigs.

Then she introduced me to the music director. He and I had an interesting discussion on liturgical music. He invited me to come to choir rehearsal Thursday night. I am going to do this, although I have not sung much at all since I transitioned. Not long ago, the choir had another trans woman who moved out of state a few months ago.

I love to sing and when I sing regularly I am good at it, too. I think that, with practice, I can reach most of the notes in a normal tenor range or those for a contralto. When I sang regularly, I was a competent Bass I (baritone range) although I could reach most tenor notes.

Before leaving, I stayed for coffee and snacks. I sat with a number of older ladies. Many were far older than me, like by at least 15 years. This was OK. They all welcomed me warmly, stating that they wouldn't ask my age until next week.

As we spoke, I networked with the woman next to me and found out lots of information information that I might later use in finding an somewhat different career path.

Overall, this experience was very good. I enjoyed the service, the people were exceptionally friendly, I felt at home, the organist already has me in mind to sub for her for Memorial Day weekend, I met new people, found a place to practice and networked on non-musical things, too.

[quote="Danya (imported)" post_id=119071 time=1295698860 user_id=3065]
[quote="Danya (imported)" post_id=119069 time=1295602740 user_id=3065]
[quote="
[/quote]
Danya (imported)" time=1295517480]

Several weeks ago, I started seeing 'X' again on a strictly friendship basis. At most, we meet once a week to go to a cheap movie and to share an inexpensive meal. The first time we met after I broke up with him, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. Now, I enjoy his company and this provides another chance for me to get out and about.

After I ended our more intimate relationship in late December, I read several books on the ways men and women interact. These books are all highly rated, written by respected therapists and researchers. Whether or not I agreed with everything these 'experts' wrote, a lot of it made sense. I could see, as I've mentioned before, where I made mistakes in how I handled things with 'X.'

For one thing, I did not realize how important it is for at least some men to feel they are being protective of a wife or girlfriend. Some men also feel a visceral need to display how knowledgeable they are, at least as far as being able to contribute something that the woman does not know.

The day before I broke up with 'X,' I called him from my cell phone on the way home from work. It was the end of my first day at the new office and I was lost. I calmly asked him for some directional pointers as he is familiar with this particular part of the Chicago metro area.

Despite my laid back question, he responded with "Don't panic, everything will be OK!" I asked him if I sounded at all panicked, because I was not. Although I have lived in the Chicago region less than a year, I have never gotten very lost. I am not used to having a man display protective behavior for me. I'm sure I could get used to it rather easily.

Another problem with our relationship was caused by my insensitive tendency to blurt out "I already know that" when someone tells me something that I already know. The thing is, I may not fully know what someone wants to share because I cut the conversation short. During my time with 'X,' we discussed this and I made a conscious effort to stop it. Before I did, he thought there was nothing he could tell me that I did not already know. Many men need to feel they can contribute their own perspective and knowledge to a relationship and that this will be appreciated by the women in their lives. It's not all that difficult for me to keep my mouth shut when I need to. This may be hard to believe.

I could blame another issue on my personality type, and my desire to ask a lot of intense questions is typical for my type. I want to get all the information I can and I tend to not let up until I feel satisfied. This can make some people uncomfortable, especially when they don't have the answers I seek, and I need to be sensitive to that. I am able to make a decision to asked fewer questions.

While I enjoy our friendship time together, I have no desire to return to more intimacy. That cannot work for us. He accepts this, too, and says he needs to devote most of his energy to getting through school.

[quote="Danya (imported)" post_id=119075 time=1295855880 user_id=3065]
[quote="Danya (imported)" post_id=119071 time=1295698860 user_id=3065]
[quote="Danya (im
[/quote]
ported)" time=1295602740]

Earlier this evening, I made my flight reservation from O'Hare to Montreal and back. I will leave late Sunday morning, April 17, complete GRS on April 19 and return to Chicago in the early afternoon on April 27. Making this reservation and sending in all of the deposits is making this very real and exciting.

It is likely I will still have my current contract job in early April. That's when I'll need to give the company two week's notice that I will be leaving. I will not tell them it is for GRS. I will explain, however, that I had been planning this 'event' for months and that I would lose thousands of dollars if I cancel. This is true.

I will let them know that I could work from home in very early May and start working from the office again 2 - 3 weeks after that. They may be interested. This is my preferred outcome.

Although I am excited about my rapidly approaching surgery, I still have some underlying anxiety. Everything I read indicates this is entirely normal. I've never had major surgery before, for one thing. It's also a large expense at a time

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:27 pm when I do not have a permanent job.

I remain confident I will get everything to wo[

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:21 pm

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:21 pm
ime=1295517480]

rted)" time=1294649040]
[quote="Danya (imported)" tim

e=1294472940]
r

Danya (imp [/quote] orted) wrote:Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm [quote="Danya (imported)" t

ime=1292968260]
k out, whatever ha

ppens with my current contract job.

_______________

__________________________________
[/quote]
_ __________________________________________________ _________

While I am convalescing from surgery, I will probably prepare for the Project Manager Professional certification and take the test. I have managed projects from the time I was a research scientist, through havng my own business and in the IT corporate world. This certification is for all types of project management; it is not limited to information technology. While project management is not my ideal type of work, I can do it and it pays well. This certification fits into my long term goals. As part of my long-range plan, I'm considering creating an incorpoated business for the second time. I would gradually grow this business while

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:21 pm continuing to work in IT-related areas. I'm trying t

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm o put a

plan in place so that I can continue to be ac

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:21 pm tive and employe

d at least into my mid-70s. Even if I

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm find I

could retire sooner, I want to remain active

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm and empl

oyed. Part of my goal in starting another bus

Danya (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm iness is that I

hope to someday be able to work remo

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm tely from

anyplace in the country. I will continue to

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:49 pm build on the ski

lls I have, including IT and science.

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm I will

be contacting people I know who have side bus

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:51 am inesses in my ar

eas of expertise, to get their input.

_________________________________________________

_ __________________________________________________ ________

As I plan my long-term goals, I'm also considering a possible move after GRS. Any move would need to make financial sense as well as meeting other needs. I am doing a similar analysis to what I completed early last year when I made the decision to move to Chicago. I'm considering the advantages of this area, and there are many, but also where I might want to spend the rest of my life.

My preliminary research is turning up several possibilities for a move. One looks very promising. It's on the west coast. Two or three others are on the east coast.

My HRT doctor told me I would

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:21 pm be able to make a long distance move 4 weeks after GRS. Driving would not be a problem. I would need to

h

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm ire some young folks to load my car and, perhaps, a small U-Haul hi

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2011 10:21 pm tched to my car.

The thing is, the p

er

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:21 pm iod right af

ter GRS will be a good time for me to make a move if I

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm conclude that is a good idea. By the

ti

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm me I could move,

I will have lived in Chicagoland a little over a y

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:21 pm ear. I do not have deep roots here.

I

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm spoke with m

y close Minnesota woman friend about these things and s

Danya (imported) wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:39 pm he says all of this makes sense to he

r.

Danya (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm At the age

of 62, and with a permanent job, she is considering lea

Danya (imported) wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:58 pm ving Minnesota for a warmer climate.

S

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm he's spent her en

tire life in Milwaukee and, for the last 23 years,

Danya (imported) wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 pm in the Twin Cities.

I have no desire

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:49 pm to move back

to Minnesota. It's a beautiful state and the Twin Citi

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 pm es offer a lot of advantages. After ex

pe

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm riencing the mil

der Chicago winter, though, I do not want to retur

Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:49 pm n to a colder climate. An offer of a p

er

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:51 am manent job w

ould be the only thing to change my mind.

____________

Danya (imported) wrote: Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:14 pm _____________________________________

_ __________________________________________________

Supplme

ntal testosterone is making my life much easier. I

Danya (imported) wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:51 am have regained my typical energy and positive outlook.

_________________________________________________

_ __________________________________________________ ____

I just read the we are supposed to experience snow with blizzard conditions late Tuesday into Wednesday. The company I work at may allow me to bring the corporate laptop home so I can continue working during this period. I hope so, I need the income.

Danya (imported) wrote: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:03 pm Earlier this evening, I made my flight reservation from O'Hare to Montreal and back. I will leave late Sunday morning, April 17, complete GRS on April 19 and return to Chicago in the early afternoon on April 27. Making this reservation and sending in all of the deposits is making this very real and exciting. ...................

What can I say other than to wish for your ultimate happiness. I will be looking forward to seeing your post surgery posts.

:doll :

Hi sweety. It's good to hear from you...A wee bit of man juice has certainly improved your mood/ drive...

If nothing else, you'll never be able to say you are living a mundane, boring life..I really love your drive/ambition...Good going on the tickets to La Belle Province... Maybe you could check out some opportunities in the Montreal area...

You'd probably fit right in there...The world is your oyster; keep shucking..

smooches dragonfly