Choice not sentence

Hello dear reader,

Okay, so this is attempt number four to get this opening, uhh, open…? 🤦‍♀️ Deep breath, Lynn… and focus.

It bears repeating that here at YATGB, I write about what’s going on: the good, the bad, and the whatever. Sometimes the world, sometimes Chams, and oftentimes, whatever nonsense is fluttering around the maelstrom wind in my mind.

I got into writing after reading (following?) the Web 2.0 boom of trans blogs as Becky’s Web and Joanna’s Diary. Jeez, that’s over twenty years ago. I wonder what they’re up to now? 🤔

Reading how others coped, thrived, fought, and learned to live with being somewhere under the transgender umbrella, helped me. Likewise, writing has let me make sense of things, so perhaps blogging was an opportunity I didn’t know I needed.

All of that and I feel that by taking about things openly, as best we can, otter trans folk might know they’re not alone in their worries, concerns, and trans joy. Likewise, folk who aren’t trans, might see beyond the lazy stereotypes and hopefully, all of this normalises things.

Day two

Not a second day out, but how long I’ve been on the meds. I’m following the GP’s advice of a half-dose (usually 20mg) and things seem more settled. Given it’s early days, the Ever Lovely Mrs J suggested it may be the placebo effect (no, not the band 😉), but I’ll take as a win.

I’ve also tried to do a little less and take things a little easier. Difficult when your brain is sparking off with different ideas and reminders, but pen & paper plus “not now brain, that’s later” seem to be helping.

Yay for good news! 💜

Chams

I’d been watching the weather app more than the office clock on Thursday 🙂 It’s cooled slightly, so I packed two dresses, two sets of heels, and my newly primped wig.

BTW, if traveling or storing, I would recommend making yourself a wig box. It lets you keep your ‘do on a stand, and it protects the hair from pick ups, being knocked about, etc.

Earlier in the week I’d fallen down the hyperfocus rabbit hole around under eye concealers. However, due to a chill out day following going out, I didn’t take things any further. I’m using a Nyx colour correcting set at the mo, but either I’m not using it right and/or I need something with more coverage. Recommendations welcome!

So, despite having to redo my under eyes, I was fairly pleased with my makeup. I had new earrings in and Steph’s magic on my hair lifted my mood. Likewise, the dress isn’t new, but I had it taken up to make it rest on the knee. I don’t know about you, but the recent mid calf hemlines do nothing for my legs – they end right on the widest part. Mid calf? Heffer more like 😉

Chams itself was fairly busy and great to see a number of new folk coming back. That and some who’d not been for a while, so it was great to catch up with them.

I’ve pretty much been in Birkies all summer, so switching up to high heels was a change. I certainly needed to reduce my pace and sit down more. I’m reminded of the line from I, Zombie: “this is more of a sitting shoe” 🙂 One if those comedy lines where you need to not identify too obviously when with others 😉

I’d misplaced my nail varnish, so I made do with some pre-glued false nails in a French tip style. Luckily the Elegant Touch brand is just big enough. That or the luck of genetics or hormone issues in the womb! 😁

Given the number of people, conversation was in smaller groups, rather than a central theme, but that’s cool. I think it’s a good thing to switch things up and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Come the end of the evening, it was time to wash the pots, put away, and gently remind folk of the time. Well, once we’d sorted photos out (thanks Val).

So, two trips out in a week. What a luxury!

Looking back, I felt so much better about my body. This morning, even though I had to remove the polish on my toes, that felt more like a choice than a sentence.

L x