I am just home from my first orthopaedic appointment. My primary care doctor referred me because some of my pain, in her opinion, seemed more likely to be from a pinched nerve, or something of that nature, than fibromyalgia. The pain in question is in the upper back, is of a burning nature, and is to some degree touch sensitive. Continue reading
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My Experience with TSA
14 AprAs I mentioned previously, I recently flew through Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL) to O’Hare (ORD), and back. I didn’t have any difficulty at either airport. I was presenting full femme, with ID that didn’t agree with my presentation. I didn’t even get a side glance. Both times, due possibly to my wheelchair use, I was directed to the full body scanner. Given the cold weather in Chicago at the time, I was wearing leggings under my skirt. I had to have a pat down of my lower legs, both times, possibly because of how the leggings appeared on the scanner. That was administered by a female agent, without any need for me to specifically request such.
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Ma’am
23 MarSalesman just came to door trying to sell carpet cleaning. Even though I almost certainly have 5 o’clock shadow, he opens with “How are you doing ma’am?” 😀 So I guess this day is not totally fired.
BTW: All wood floors here.
Traveling While Trans and Disabled
22 MarAs I’ve mentioned here, I am traveling to Chicago next weekend, to attend the Trans 100 Live Event. This will be my first time flying in a significant number of years. Enough years that both traveling while trans, and traveling disabled are new to me. As I am prone to do, I have been actively researching what to expect at the TSA Checkpoints.
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Roommates
22 MarWell, as predicted, the possible third roommate flaked. The good news is that we had a waiting list for space, and we have moved on. A couple have decided to take our remaining room. Looking forward to their arrival the first weekend of April!
F*&% Fibro
20 MarFuck fibro.
All I did today was pickup an Rx and get some keys made. Drove 10 minutes each way to take roommate to train station and pick her up again. Basically, nothing.
It hurts so bad, and has for several hours now. I’m really worried it’s progressing so fast.
I’m Attending The Trans 100 Live Event!
19 MarThe Trans 100 Live Event is a big event among trans people. Every year, at the end of March, the community releases a list of the 100 most influential trans* people in the prior year.
The Trans 100 aims to provide an overview of the breadth and diversity of work being done in, by, and for the transgender community across the United States. New editions of The Trans 100 list are released every March at a live event in Chicago, Illinois.
Update: My living situation
19 MarFor the past several months, I have made my home in a “shelter” situation. It is a private home, which was managed by a relatively new 501(c)3 in cooperation with the property owner Logan Bruch. There were issues of lack of respect for the privacy of the individuals, autocratic behavior of the staff toward the residents, and just general mistreatment.
Inevitable consequences of loss of income
26 SepWhen last I checked in, I had just heard about my salary being dropped to zero. I was left as a very part-time employee of the company that had employed me for the past 11 years. The loss of my income was felt, severely, by the household of which I have been a member for the last 18 months or so. As a refresher, I moved in with my daughter and her husband back in March of 2013, after that bad breakup.
Under-employment
22 MayBeginning June 1, I will lose the salary that has kept me solvent for several years now. My employment (since 2003) has been on a salary plus commission basis. In the beginning, the commission part of that equation was the greater part. In the last few years, the commissionable work has declined, and I have been living on the salary. My employer has decided that my services aren’t sufficiently lucrative, and has informed me that the salary part of our agreement is canceled as of the end of this month. The only good news is that, so far, he hasn’t withdrawn my health insurance.
This will result in a severe financial hardship on my part. It’s very likely that I will default on a significant percentage of my consumer debt. I’m seriously considering bankruptcy. I have a few low balance credit cards and a car note. Those could be handled in consumer bankruptcy. The more significant issue is the utilities (gas, water, electricity, internet, and telco). Electricity, telco, and internet access are required for my continued employment, as I telecommute.
I’ve been looking into other employment possibilities, but unfortunately, the last ten years spent in a backwater of the IT industry have left me skills challenged. I simply don’t have any marketable skills, and can’t acquire them in a short enough period of time to make a difference. Add to that the fact that I am in transition, and you can see my dilemma.
I live with my daughter, and she and her husband are scrambling to make up the anticipated loss of income, and/or reduce the outgo. I’m hopeful, but also, quite honestly, terrified. Once again life asks me: “What now?”
An Aging Trans Woman 