Good morning All. Coffees on.

[Mmindy]

Good morning everyone,

 

 

[Ashley0616]

2 minutes ago, Mmindy said:

Good morning everyone,

 

 

LOL Very true though

[RaineOnYourParade]

5 minutes ago, Mmindy said:

Good morning everyone,

 

 

And that's the gospel truth

[Ashley0616]

11 minutes ago, Willow said:

Hi,  lots of tough news posted here.  I am so sorry to read these things. I don’t believe in suicide but everyone has different experiences and troubles.  I know when life is a struggle I to have thought I should just move on to the next world.  But that isn’t the case for me these days.

 

A soon to be Ww year old co-worker contacted me yesterday,  she needed a place to stay as she and her girlfriend broke up. I new something was wrong Saturday but she obviously didn’t want to talk then so I dropped it.  Of course I said she could come here.  She sees me as her away from home parent/friend person she can turn to.  She spent the night here.  I don’t know how long she will stay.  My thought is that she will turn in her notice and move back to Virginia.  I hate to see her go but I don’t see any good reason why she wouldn’t go be with her family.  
 

im glad she thought to ask me and that I could help her in a time of need like this.  It suggests to me that I am doing something right for a change.  And I would never want to see a young person out on the street.  I would hope someone would do this for one of my granddaughters if the need ever arose but I also hope that they know they are loved and have family to turn to.

 

A point of confusion for my with is how I have seemingly changed when it comes to God and religion.  I’m not so sure it has changed as much as finally come out.  I’ve always wished I could help others like this.  Whether I’m being tested or the opportunity just finally came to me but I’m glad I could be here for her when she needed it.

 

well I need to get ready for work.  She relieves me and the end of my shift. So I’ll get a chance to talk to her then.

 

hugs

 

Willow

That's awesome that you are able to do such a kind thing. I can't do it because of my kids. If I was alone or had just a partner then I would do it without an issue. 

[Birdie]

1 hour ago, RaineOnYourParade said:

@Birdie You look nice

Thank you for such kind words!

Quite undeserved on my part I might add (I am pushing 60). 

 

PSAT is a great to have, you should be happy. I do hope you score well. 

[awkward-yet-sweet]

2 hours ago, Mmindy said:

Good morning everyone,

 

 

Probably true for a lot of people, anyways. For me it would be exactly the opposite. Kind of glad my family doesn't drink coffee. Now, if someone was to present me with a cup of hot chocolate in the morning, I would be quite happy to see them.

[Birdie]

Good morning

I'm a bit advantageous this morning and I have decided upon stir fried lamb, veggies, and rice.

Consists of 1 pound ground lamb fried with 2 pounds diced veggies and a ram of chopped cilantro fried together until the meat is browned. Seasoning to taste.

Then add 2 cups of uncooked rice and 2 1/2 of water.

Cook just like white rice in the rice cooker.

Serve with fresh lime juice.

[Mirrabooka]

Birdie, I love a good stir fry too, but it's never with ground meat! 

 

Same amount of lamb or beef or chicken strips, browned in a wok with canola oil spray then set aside.

 

Fresh veges then go in the wok but cooked in olive oil - typically brown or red (Spanish) onion segments, snow peas, strips of any color capsicum (bell peppers), broccoli florets, halved baby corn, mung bean sprouts, water chestnut slices, bok choy etc. tossing almost continuously. Add a jar of sauce (typically sweet & sour or sesame/honey/garlic) and stir it all through until it's hot, then return the meat and add pre-prepared udon or hokkien noodles. Throw in a handful of cashews for the last minute or so. Or if you want rice, pre-prepare that instead but don't add it to the wok; dish it up as the bed.

[RaineOnYourParade]

23 hours ago, Birdie said:

Quite undeserved on my part I might add

Not true!

 

23 hours ago, Birdie said:

PSAT is a great to have, you should be happy. I do hope you score well. 

Yeah I'm glad I can take it, but I can't do as well at 7:30 in the morning haha

[April Marie]

Good morning, everyone!!! I'm getting a late start - actually slept in a bit this morning.

 

Last night's Zoom get-together was so very wonderful. Such an awesome group of people with such far-ranging backgrounds and experiences. Fun, informative, thought-provoking and inspirational.  After last week's bout with depression I was pretty quiet but @KayC pulled me into the discussion. Thank you!!  

 

I am so glad that @Jet McCartney joined us. I very much enjoyed hearing his perspectives and experiences. I hope all of the women in the room didn't overwhelm you!!!  You held your own very well!!

 

Also a big thank you to @AllieJ and @Susan R for hosting the session and keeping us moving and on track. And, @Charlize, you are such a trend-setter and inspiration.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Remember, no matter how difficult it may seem, look for the goodness in this day we've been given. It's there.

[Ashley0616]

The Zoom meeting was nice! Hopefully more will be scheduled on Tuesdays. I have decided to just throw away the rest of the cokes and haven't had one for five days so far. 

[Birdie]

1 hour ago, Mirrabooka said:

Birdie, I love a good stir fry too, but it's never with ground meat! 

 

Same amount of lamb or beef or chicken strips, browned in a wok with canola oil spray then set aside.

 

Fresh veges then go in the wok but cooked in olive oil - typically brown or red (Spanish) onion segments, snow peas, strips of any color capsicum (bell peppers), broccoli florets, halved baby corn, mung bean sprouts, water chestnut slices, bok choy etc. tossing almost continuously. Add a jar of sauce (typically sweet & sour or sesame/honey/garlic) and stir it all through until it's hot, then return the meat and add pre-prepared udon or hokkien noodles. Throw in a handful of cashews for the last minute or so. Or if you want rice, pre-prepare that instead but don't add it to the wok; dish it up as the bed.

Sounds yummy as well. 

[Mmindy]

51 minutes ago, Ashley0616 said:

I have decided to just throw away the rest of the cokes and haven't had one for five days so far. 

Good morning everyone, ️️️️

 

Ashley, I stopped drinking carbonated drinks in 2007 as part of a weight loss program and it has helped me keep the weight off. When you stop drinking soda pop for several years and then have one as a treat. Wow it tastes so much better. I may drink two or three 12oz Diet Pepsi a year now. 
 

Mindy

 

 

[Jet McCartney]

2 hours ago, April Marie said:

Good morning, everyone!!! I'm getting a late start - actually slept in a bit this morning.

 

Last night's Zoom get-together was so very wonderful. Such an awesome group of people with such far-ranging backgrounds and experiences. Fun, informative, thought-provoking and inspirational.  After last week's bout with depression I was pretty quiet but @KayC pulled me into the discussion. Thank you!!  

 

I am so glad that @Jet McCartney joined us. I very much enjoyed hearing his perspectives and experiences. I hope all of the women in the room didn't overwhelm you!!!  You held your own very well!!

 

Also a big thank you to @AllieJ and @Susan R for hosting the session and keeping us moving and on track. And, @Charlize, you are such a trend-setter and inspiration.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Remember, no matter how difficult it may seem, look for the goodness in this day we've been given. It's there.

Good morning! 

I wasn't overwhelmed at all, I actually quite enjoyed myself.  Thank you. 

[KymmieL]

Well I had my first appointment with my new counselor this morning. Even though she is just an Intern. She is great. She is a Navy Vet. Stationed of all places, Pearl Harbor. Lucky girl. I think I will like working with her. I have another appointment next Wens again.  Only problem is that she is in Loveland, CO. About 80 miles from me. But she is OK with doing video appointments if the need arises. Today was almost a 2 hour session. Being it was the intake appointment. We touched on a lot of points. Some she noted to discuss later.

 

So being it was the VA Of course, I dressed feminine. Gray camo skort, and a gray woman's Harley t. Once I got home, and changed to go into work. He asked if I wanted to show off my legs, then something about fat rolls or something. Then He asked if the zoom meeting I attended last night was a trans anonymous meeting. Nope just a meeting of friends. I wonder if he has changed again and not supporting me anymore. Did my wife get to him? Do I only have my middle son supporting me.  I hope I am wrong. It just kind of hurt when he said that.

 

Hugs,

Kymmie

[Ivy]

My VA counselor is a 70 some mile drive.  I usually do the sessions on line.  But she also facilitates our support group which I usually drive up to attend twice a month.  She is LGBTQ herself, which helps.  I like her a lot.

[April Marie]

My therapist lives about 700 miles away - we’ve on.y ever met by videoconference. She’s awesome. 

[Mmindy]

Good morning everyone,

 

Yesterday was the first low stress day for me since July. I’ve been working and pushing vendors to meet an extremely short deadline for the fabrication of a full set of my company’s training props. One vendor and I worked 17 straight 10 hour days to complete the last prop. The truck load of props shipped yesterday and are delivering today. The drop dead date for the sale is September 29, 2023 aka tomorrow. If we missed the deadline the entire sale would be cancelled. 
 

This evening I’m taking the vendor and our wives out to dinner. 
 

I have been checking in here to keep up with as much as possible. Reading and following posts, but not responding. 
 

Hugs for all,

 

Mindy

 

 

[April Marie]

38 minutes ago, Mmindy said:

Good morning everyone,

 

Yesterday was the first low stress day for me since July. I’ve been working and pushing vendors to meet an extremely short deadline for the fabrication of a full set of my company’s training props. One vendor and I worked 17 straight 10 hour days to complete the last prop. The truck load of props shipped yesterday and are delivering today. The drop dead date for the sale is September 29, 2023 aka tomorrow. If we missed the deadline the entire sale would be cancelled. 
 

This evening I’m taking the vendor and our wives out to dinner. 
 

I have been checking in here to keep up with as much as possible. Reading and following posts, but not responding. 
 

Hugs for all,

 

Mindy

 

 

Congratulations, Mindy!!! So glad that you got it all done on time and can now enjoy a celebration dinner and, hopefully, a little relaxation.

[April Marie]

Good morning, everyone!! Lots going on today so I'm running a bit behind. Already loaded the coffee and about to head out to get some projects done around our property. 

 

I had a great session with my therapist yesterday - much needed after last week's depression crash. We put some new strategies in place to help stave off the depression before it gets ahold of me instead of trying to get out once it has. I'm going to start journaling, too. I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible to manage the dysphoria without some amount of HRT. We know it drives my depression so I've got to find a way to manage it.

 

In any case, life is good. Be safe and look for the goodness in this beautiful day we've been given!!

[Ivy]

2 hours ago, Mmindy said:

One vendor and I worked 17 straight 10 hour days to complete the last prop.

Dang….  I thought you were retiring!

[Mmindy]

41 minutes ago, Ivy said:

Dang….  I thought you were retiring!

Me Too! The problem I have Ivy, is people are willing to spend tons of money to acquire these training props. The only time it's a time crunching deadline is when an agencies uses Federal Grant Money. The government issues the grants in June, and they're the ones demanding the product be received by September 30th. It's an insane amount of money for my company, and I can't turn it down just yet. So at best, I'm semiretired.

 

Hugs,

 

Mindy

 

[Ashley0616]

1 hour ago, Mmindy said:

Me Too! The problem I have Ivy, is people are willing to spend tons of money to acquire these training props. The only time it's a time crunching deadline is when an agencies uses Federal Grant Money. The government issues the grants in June, and they're the ones demanding the product be received by September 30th. It's an insane amount of money for my company, and I can't turn it down just yet. So at best, I'm semiretired.

 

Hugs,

 

Mindy

 

Hopefully you aren't killing yourself. The victory dinner I'm sure will be well deserved especially after all that hard work. 

[Ashley0616]

My mental health doctor is 429 miles away, primary care physician is maybe 25 miles which is the same for therapist, endocrinologist, and gender therapist and speech therapist, but my psychotherapist is about 20 miles away. I do video with them all except endocrinologist and psychotherapist. 

[KymmieL]

I couldn't believe this. So I go to tell the acting manager that I wouldn't be in next Wednesday, till about noon. 

She tells me that she needs three weeks notice. She free has been told not to change the schedule.  I needed to talk to the district manager.  I text him about the appointment.  He asks when I found out about the appointment.  Yesterday,  when I first met with her. So, come to find out that the DM. Went corporate HR, about it. Affective immediately  I am off now on Wednesday. All this BS just to get a few hours off, for an appointment for an ongoing verified medical condition. 

 

Kymmie