Gwen (my new sister) has made the fulltime transition from Male to Female. She has given away all her old mens clothes and now has only womens clothes in her wardrobe. She says the weight of the world has been lifted from her shoulders and she is feeling fine.
I am making the mental transition myself and the hardest part is calling her Gwen to her face for some reason. I've taken to not using any names when talking to her but I am working on it.

My workplace has been realigned and I now have a different manager and working for a different teaching centre. They were going to give me a pay cut and change my position, but I have negotiated to keep things as they are as I have some ideas that will make money for them. They like that.

It's almost 2 years since josh and I were married so that means its' almost time for josh to put in the application for permanent residency. They want all the health checks and what knot redone and we have to provide evidence that the relationship is real and not figments of our imaginations. We have to get statements of family and friends to prove our relationship, send pics and all sorts of documentation. It is a gigantic hastle but this is the last hurdle so we will be relieved when it is all done.

Date:	2007-09-07 19:59
Subject:	News from Mac
Security:	Public
Mood:	lethargic

I haven't been here in something like 6 months. So I apologise to all my friends that I've missed all your news and hope nothing earth shattering has happened in your lives.
I suppose I was feeling that no one cares what I have to write about so why bother but maybe its just supposed to be my own record that I can look back on and reflect.

A few things have happened in my life. I have had weeks where I get very little sleep, and lie awake wondering when sleep might come but it doesn't. I get hot all thru the night so I went to the doc and she tells me I am peri-menopausal. well thats about the crappiest news I've heard in a long while and I can expect it to last for months or years until I have the real thing.

My 17 year old dog Ralph had to be put to sleep. He got where he couldn't walk properly, his back legs let him down and he fell over all the time. Well he fell over one night and got stuck behind our central air unit. He must have been there for hours. he had hyperthermia and his legs were all cut up from trying to get unstuck. We got him through the night but he was totally deteriorated from it. I called the vet to have a look and she said the best thing was to let him go. Very sad indeed.

My 54 yo brother has decided he is going to be my sister. Totally mind blowing. I sure didn't see that one coming. Turns out apart from work and family he has been living the past year as a woman and has decided he cant keep it hidden any longer and is coming out. None of us had any idea!
I greived for a bit as I felt like I've lost my brother, but I met Gwen last week and she is a lot like my brother, she's got the same humour and intellect as him and I think its going to all work out once I get used to the name change and appearance.

Arrived in Oklahoma to spend Christmas with the in-laws. Been off visiting our friends in San Antonio and Dallas, except our Dallas friends couldnt be bothered to see us, so fuck them. Had a great time in San Antonio eating out and geocaching with our good friends and found a market with lots of mexican ornaments to take back to Australia. A storm followed us all the way to Dallas and we had to stay there an extra day with the ice storms in Oklahoma. Its still incredibly icy on the roads in OK and driving is very hazardous so we might stay in a day or so.
I hope the ice melts before Friday as we leave OK for Phoenix and driving up to the Grand Canyon (in freezing weather) for a few days before returing to Phoenix and then off to Los Angeles for couple of days, to see the La Brea tar pits that we missed last time. We're staying in Santa Monica this time, cos last time we stayed in West Hollywood and I felt like a pork chop at a jewish party.
Then back to Australia and start back at work. :(

The old boy went missing. We spent many hours into the night searching for him, but searching for a deaf dog has challenges of its own. After a few days and a few tears I was resigned to the fate that he was no longer with us. Perhaps a fox got him in his frail condition, perhaps he wandered into the yard of a less than friendly dog, perhaps wandered into the bush and was starving or been injured, or perhaps it was true that old dogs go away to die?
NOT SO!! The RSPCA gave us a call that a dog matching the description of ancient brown and white scruffy terrier had been handed in. Could it be true? Indeed it was and Ralph is back home after his mammoth expedition. Seems a passing motorist found him wandering along the highway and handed him into a local vet and from there he ended up at the RSPCA. What happened along the way? Ralph isn't telling. So now when he grizzles to be fed (an hour after being fed because he's forgotten about that) or taking 5 minutes to walk to the door while I wait holding it open for him, I'll just think how lucky I am to have the old bastard back.

My grey cells aren't what they used to be.
Can anyone remember the name of the guy from paris cafe back when it was still geocities, that was from NZ and used to sleep on triangles front door step waiting to use her comp?

Josh has been away all week on a field trip to the outback with the mining students. I miss him. I've bought a dishwasher and had it installed while he's been gone. It's like a consolation prize.

Just when I think I have got on top of the ant infestation, I am proved wrong yet again.
I've been up in the roof space and poisoned/sprayed and baited all through the roof and no more ants have been coming in the house. This sounds like a good outcome, doesn't it. well I come home from work and notice a little pile of sand coloured particles next to a brick pillar in the car port so I have a close look. Bloody ants have tunelled through the mortar holding the brick together. The hole is big enough that I can see inside the pillar. I have a close inspection around the pillar and can see that they have tried tunnelling in several places and have several holes in the pillar. I'm wondering if the carport is about to disintergrate before my eyes. Well they ants mean war so tomorrow I'm calling the exterminator BEFORE my house turns into a pile of bricks.

Date:	2006-06-30 18:32
Subject:	Ants
Security:	Public
Mood:	irate

We moved into our new house about 4 weeks ago. The previous owners showed us the paperwork where they had a pest inspection done only weeks before so we didnt bother getting another inspection. Bad move. A few days after we moved in I had little black ants walking all over my kitchen like they think they own it. I put out an ant bait and after a few days no more ants. Good deal thinks me. A few more days and theres black ants walking all over the hand basin in our bathroom. I sprayed them and sprayed the line where they were walking.
Then more ants appeared in the kitchen again and more in our loungeroom, and then we start finding ants in every room of the house. I decide to investigate the ceiling as I can see all the ant trails go up into the ceiling either via little gaps in the cornice or through vents or light fitting etc. OMG theres a colony of 1000s up there. They have made a nest using bits of insulation and they are all between the rafters. Ive put some ant poison up there but if it doesnt finish them off l'll have to get a pest man out to have a go at exterminating them.
Ive never been bothered with ants before but enough is enough and now I am prepared to go to war with them.

We will be moving in another 3 weeks, so everday I pack stuff into boxes getting ready for the move, but no matter how many boxes I pack the house is still full of stuff! Whats up with that?
Somebody (not mentioning any names) keeps using up all my bandwidth with their downloads! Ive got 1500bps and it's slower than dialup somedays.

We bought a house, very nice 3 bedroom brick veneer with ensuite and walk in robe, plenty of open plan living, 8 years old on 1/3 acre in a small township about 10 mins from where we live now. The yard has all trees and plants, its all been landscaped. I think the dogs will love it. i know we do. I'm all excited and cant wait till we move in, which will be in 60 days.

Date:	2005-12-04 00:10
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	pensive

Monday, I get to take a group of students into the South Australian outback to Weekeroo and Manna Hill. It's about 200km west of Broken Hill for a week of desert heat (42C) and flies and taking geological samples and other related field work. Looking forward to it like a hole in the head. ahwell. Outback at Weekeroo

Date:	2005-11-21 23:27
Subject:	we did it!
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

We finally got around to it and are now officially married. Soon to start our search for a house we both like (and can afford the repayments). Happy as a pig in shit.

Date:	2005-10-18 21:48
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

My baby will be here in 3 1/2 days for a permanent stay (except for visits back to the US). I'm excited and impatient that 3 1/2 days can take so long. Its taken us 6 years to finally get to this point. We must be the Paris Cafe couple who took the longest to be together. We both had some growing to do along the way and we got here!! Thanks to all our friends for your support along the way.

Date:	2005-09-22 23:14
Subject:	Here comes the bride
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

After all these months on waiting and being jerked around, the Dept of Immigration has decided to grant josh a visa, so its happening and we are to be married on our new wedding date on 5th November 2005. Its such a relief to have an answer in our favour.

Date:	2005-07-03 20:50
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious

What do we want? A permanent visa.
When do we want it? NOW!

Nothing sickens the stomach more than a notice of intention to refuse a visa application, except maybe an actual visa refusal.
Leaves us between a rock and a hard place, or perhaps between a legal technicality and a genuine mistake.
Either way we've got 3 weeks to give them enough justification why they should let josh in the country, or we're up the creek and someone stole our canoe.

We're supposed to be getting married in 2 1/2 months. Can't something go my way just for once?

Date:	2005-04-29 20:20
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	depressed

Spent a good few days in LA a coupla months ago. No one told me West Hollywood was gay. Felt like a pork chop at a jewish party when we went to a restaurant since I was the only woman in there.
Josh came for 3 months, now he's gone home to await a decision on his permanent visa and I feel miserable. Nothing more to say.

Date:	2005-01-04 14:50
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper

I never update this damn thing. I never seem to have the time. How long does it take to write a few lines. Not long really but first you need the motivation and THEN the time.
I'm in the USA again, came over for Christmas and going back in another 3 weeks. Spend New Years eve, deliviering pizzas. Not much fun but I got to wear a party hat at least.
We were going to see "meet the fockers" last night but the starter in the car had other plans, so now were gonna see it on another night when OU isnt playing in the National Championships, (if the car allows).
I'm in high spirits, I always am when i'm with josh. Get to take him home with me for 3 months while we are anxiously waiting for the outcome of his permanent visa application.

Photobucket ate my account.. bastards!!

Date:	2004-08-05 11:58
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	gloomy

I just dropped off josh at the airport. What a sickening empty feeling that was. I just feel so empty, there's a part of me missing and all I feel like doing is crying.
We've had a great time the past 3 months. I get so much strength from his presence and he's been so supportive to me while I was despairing over my dog's injuries. I'm just feeling lost, thats all there is to it...

Well my little dog Nelly, is doing just fine. Her windpipe has finally completely closed and she is growing new tissue on her neck and thinks being a house dog is the bee's knees. Its now just over 3 weeks since she received horrific injuries from a dog fight and the vet didn't think she would make it. I am so glad I gave her the chance at survival. She sure has made the most of it and is back to her happy little self. She may need a skin graft to close the wound or we may let her keep growing tissue slowly, it depends if the scar tissue tightens which would affect her head and shoulder movement. josh is going home in a couple of days and I will miss him terribly, he's been such a support to me during all this turmoil over the dog, and cares for her almost as much as I do. Nelly will sure miss him too, she enjoys his company, not to mention all the snacks he gives her.