Mar

15

If I Was Your Girl

Book / Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

I have done a lot more writing than reading when it comes to trans experiences. But now that I’m on a reading kick, I am discovering how powerful it feels to me when transgender authors express experiences I have had through their lenses.

The whole thing is making me a bit emotional. First, there’s that sense of community, of shared feelings and responses that I never got even from all those trans events I attended over the years, where I got to know so many terrific people. I now get to sit in the quiet of my home and let these messages wash over me rather than having to have a ready answer for a conversation-mate, or a quick reply before the music or other revelers intruded.

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Mar

08

See You at the Summit

Book  Posted by / 2 comments

Preoccupied as I am at the moment with writing and books, especially about topics that mirror my own book, I picked up a copy of Jordyn Taylor’s See You at the Summit.

Good move! I absolutely devoured the book in two days and loved every minute of it.

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Mar

03

Nice to be Back

Out in the World / Transgender Life  Posted by / 4 comments

Today, I dropped in on Manic Coffee, a place I used to spend a lot of time thinking my thoughts and writing my blog. I hadn’t been there in ages, but being in the neighbourhood, I stopped by on a whim.

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Feb

27

Time Flies

Book / Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 3 comments

This feels vaguely like climbing, stiffly and slowly, back behind the wheel of a truck I left by the side of the road years ago. I wonder if I can still handle this rig.

Hard to believe, but it’s been nearly a decade since my last post. In that time, we’ve had Covid, and

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apology and thanks
Mar

07

Thanks for Being There

Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 5 comments

Recently, I undertook the task of going through my blog posts to get a sense of my history. It has been a bit of a humbling experience – so much so that I think I owe my loyal and persistent commenters an apology.

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janie golfing happier
Jun

23

Golf + Bubble Baths – Why I’m Happier as a Woman

Introspection / Transgender Life  Posted by / 4 comments

I always knew that I was happier as a woman, but I’m only just starting to realize why.

I played golf today with a couple of my old male friends. I shanked my share and hit some plain stupid shots, but y’know what? It didn’t affect my mood one iota. Not to put too fine a point on it, but that’s not exactly the way it was in my prior life. Today, all I cared about was being outside on a beautiful day playing a fun game with friends. And, I was happy.

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What's My Reality - Man or Woman
Jun

16

Reality is in the Eye of the Beholder

Out in the World / Transgender Life  Posted by / 12 comments

I am starting to question my grip on reality. Or, perhaps my friends’.

Last week I played golf for the first time openly as a woman. It was also the first one-on-one time I have had with this golf-buddy of mine since I told him I was trans. Of course, old habits die hard, especially when there is no occasion to practice new things, and he couldn’t help saying things like, “You’re up, big g–! Oops! Sorry!” He freely admitted that he still sees me as a guy, notwithstanding my adorable light-mauve golf dress and makeup. He’s known me as a guy for decades, and it is hard for him to see me any other way.

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Apr

13

Playing Hockey is the Weirdest Thing

Out in the World / Transgender Life  Posted by / 8 comments

janie the hockey playerI used to have a t-shirt that said, “Hockey is Life, the rest is just details.” Well, I was much younger back then… The details are everything now; and hockey has been a casualty until now.

A lot has happened in my life since I have written anything personal here. That simply playing hockey with my friends is such a big deal is but a hint. I used to play all the time, but as my feminine life took over, anything that required me to assume a male role kinda fell by the wayside. Now, as you can see by the photos, hockey no longer requires me to be a guy. And, reading between the lines, the other message is that all my old guy friends know that I am transgender and have been wonderful in accepting me and keeping me involved in our group.

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portrait of the photographer
Sep

24

The Gala Photographer

Modeling / Photography  Posted by / 1 comments

As usual, whenever there’s a camera around – especially my own – I cannot resist getting in front of it. So, while I enjoyed my time as the event photographer for the Fairytale Fantasy Ball, I did manage to get a shot or two of myself. (See below):

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thinking about discrimination
Apr

15

An Open Letter to Supporters of Religious Freedom/Anti-LGBT Laws

Politics and Opinion / Transgender Life  Posted by / 2 comments

I understand that transgender or homosexual people may seem to you to be odd, or unnatural, or off-putting, or even a wrong choice. Many of you may have even made your determination without ever having met one of us or carefully researching the facts. I understand that the way we lead our lives may conflict with the way your religion instructs you to lead yours.

As much as we wish you didn’t feel that way about us (and would like to work to foster a better understanding of one another), rest assured that we have no desire to interfere with your beliefs or the exercise of your religion. We This business serves everyone without discriminationjust want to live our lives in peace and with dignity, much in the same way as you do. The greatest thing about our society is the way people of different backgrounds, races, colors, beliefs and opinions can live together in harmony. It makes all of us richer, happier and stronger.

Look around the world at the places where people try to impose their beliefs on everyone else.

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