A long, rambling chat with my brother (and a conversation missed).

 

After a day in which I did almost nothing, I decided to continue a long this path and order dinner from a local "Red Sauce" joint and have it delivered to my door.  As expected, the portion size was so large, that after a small salad and some soup, there was no way I could finish the main course.  So now, I have lunch or dinner for tomorrow or over-morrow (the day after tomorrow).  

Just after I finished my meal, my brother called to tell me that he finally landed a job.  It's not what he would have liked, but what he needed.  What do I mean by this?  Well, the position pays a little less than the last position he held. It is also with a firm which was almost killed by the Covid-19 pandemic.  (No, I will not say more about the nature and details of the firm's business, so that my words cannot harm it.) The conversation shifted to several things, such as the sale of the family homestead, a potential visit to my cousin (once removed) on the weekend that RQS is visiting her cousin, my brother's second citizenship paperwork (something which might be of interest to my cousin (she has automatic citizenship, as her dad was born in the same country as my grandmother), and both my niece and nephew.  It was a rambling chat that took over 2 hours.

During this chat, TCL called.  I was glad not to be able to answer her.  Her latest issue is an acquaintance who has a nasty habit of cancelling appointments at the last moment.  In a local message board, someone posted a similar problem with a friend, and TCL responded to the post.  Unfortunately, TCL's acquaintance saw TCL's response and asked TCL: "Were you talking about me?"  Well, I told TCL that this acquaintance knows what she does and doesn't care about how it affects her "friends".  TCL worries about how she should respond to this, and I advise her that she should focus on her needs, and not this woman's feelings.  So, I was lucky to be on a call with my brother when TCL called, as I didn't have the energy to rehash this issue with TCL once more.

Did I have the energy for either of these chats?  Not really.  But the chat with my brother was tiresome only because I needed to rest for a bit.  With TCL, it would have been emotionally tiring as well,  as I could not be a passive listener.  At least, I had some energy left for my nightly chat with RQS.

I didn't go out today.

 

I'd have loved to have Julia Child cook for me while she was alive.  Sadly, she's been gone for many years, but she left us with a cookbook with the essentials of French Cooking.  When I was young, I was a reverse snob, thinking that French Food was needlessly pretentious.  But that's simply because of cultural influences defined by many of New York's (and America's) early restaurants - French food was a sign of high culture.  I had yet to see French food as "Vittles" or "Grub" that the average French person might eat. Luckily, the more I got to know about the world, I learned that she was not as pretentious as my impressions of French Cuisine were.

Living in New York, I find it hard to see Italian food as anything but "Stick to your Ribs" food - there are way too many good inexpensive "Red Sauce" joints in the New York City area that allow me to think of Italian food (even its' American bastardization) as anything but everyday cooking.  So, when I go on cruise ships, I tend to avoid the ships' Italian restaurants for good reason - I don't want to be disappointed by a specialty meal which is not so special   In fact, the one time RQS and I ate at NCL's Italian restaurant, La Cucina, it was one of the worst meals I ever had on a cruise ship.  Yet, Princess's Italian restaurant, Sabbatini's had some of the best Italian food I ever had on a cruise ship, well worth the premium it would cost to dine here.  (I shouldn't leave out main dining room selections from MSC, where their Italian selections are always good.)

Tonight, I got dressed for only one reason - I placed an order for delivery from one of the Red Sauce joints near me.  This place is predictable and good.  But it has absolutely no atmosphere.  It's a place where one can order a slice of pizza to stay, eating in a marginally comfortable booth, or have a pizza made for takeaway. This is my one indulgence for the day, as I don't want to cook anything tonight.

- - - - - -

I mentioned that my friend Maria had medical issues.  Today, she had a CT scan, and will have the results next week.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her. 

I saw the doctor today, and....

 

I realize that doctors' visits aren't always good news.  But the more I see my doctor, the more I feel that he doesn't pay that much attention to things anymore.  It's as if he's preparing to wind down his practice, and he may not be as committed to serving his patients' needs as he once was.

- - - - - -

This month, my doctor visit was scheduled for the afternoon.  This way, I knew that if I had to drive back from RQS's place, that I'd have enough time to make it back home, change, then drive to the doctor's office.  However, I ended up coming home on Sunday, so I could have scheduled Monday's appointment for any time during the day.

What first surprised me today was my weight - I had lost 10 pounds since my last visit.  Only God knows why this happened.  I haven't been trying to watch what I eat as much as I've avoided stuffing myself to the gills.  (It scares me a little, as my wife couldn't explain her weight loss until she was diagnosed with terminal uterine cancer.  I want explanations, and I have none yet.)  

There is a US Government test program for Medicare involving GLP-1 Drug subsidies.  I'm not sure if I want to participate, as I'm not sure if my Part-D plan (Drug coverage) will cover GLP-1 drugs when the program ends.  Yet, to lose weight in a healthy way, it might be worth taking a chance on the program.  But first, my doctor has to apply in my behalf, and he hasn't lifted a finger yet.

- - - - - -

After my doctor's visit, all I did was to take care of laundry before going to sleep.  Tomorrow's lunch with Maria has been cancelled due to a medical issue.  So I'm not sure of what I'll do.  As Scarlet once said: "Tomorrow is another day."

I had to go home today - and I would have delayed this one day

 

My car was parked in a Monday/Thursday No Parking spot, so I had to go home.  Actually, it was because I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, and my parking spot was a reminder that I couldn't postpone things this week.

- - - - - -

 

RQS and I spent Saturday by taking the subway into Manhattan and seeing the movie Pressure.  It's a movie about the Meteorologist who was tasked with the responsibility of  predicting the weather for D-Day in an age where computers had yet to be developed.  (I won't include the primitive computer being used at Bletchley Park to decode German Enigma messages, as this was top secret and known only to Churchill and a very small staff.)  I'm grateful that there were people like the British Meteorologist  on our side, as I would have hated to see a world where the Nazis won WW2.

After the movie, we were about to walk to Katz's deli when we saw a Chinese restaurant a block away from the subway station. I suggested going here, even though my knees would be killing me if we used the Essex street station to go home.  (It is not "accessible", and has a lot of stairs that need to be used to reach the platforms from which to board the trains.)  Both of us ordered pork dishes, and I think my dish of shredded pork with little buns was something I'd order again at this place.  RQS noted that a movie night and dinner would now cost over $100, and she'd be right.  When you factor in $40 for Manhattan movie theater tickets and $80+ for a meal nearby, it starts to get pricey. 

While taking the subway to/from the theater, we did some people watching .  Both of us noticed a young woman wearing a skirt so short that it barely would keep her modest standing on the subway platform.  I noticed while climbing the stirs that she was wearing a thong.  (Leave it to my gender preference to notice such things.)  There were other women we noticed, such as another young woman wearing lace trousers.  (I wondered how she could stay comfortable given the chilly weather earlier in the day.)  

When we made it back to RQS's place, off came the dress and on went the night shirt.  It was time to get comfy and relax for the evening.

- - - - - -

Sunday morning came, and neither of us really wanted to get up.  However, both of us moved into the living room before 10:30 (early for us on weekends) and took care of a little chore - slicing up cardboard boxes, so that the paper content can be recycled.  RQS was a little surprised at how I did things, but she liked the results.  So, once I got showered and dressed, we took the remaining bags of cardboard downstairs for recycling and it was off to my car to get a 12-pack of soda for RQS.  I then drover her back to her house, and was off on the road home.

Normally, going home from RQS's place is predictable.  But traffic jams in Queens leading to the Whitestone bridge forced me to take local roads to the Throggs Neck bridge.  And even then, I knew that I'd have to take a roundabout way home to avoid Summer Weekend Sunday traffic.  Instead of the 2 hours I usually need to get home, it took almost 2 1/2 hours to get to a nearby supermarket to get food for the week. I finally made it home around 7:30, and I was glad to strip off my dress, my makeup, and my bra (not in that order) and finally relax for the evening.

Tomorrow, it's off to the doctor - I wonder how he'll hector me about my weight this time.... 

Going to RQS's place for the weekend (a short post)

 

When I started to see RQS, I made sure to present as Mario whenever I went to her place.  Her neighbors might see a balding, overly large, old fellow visiting RQS on a regular basis.  Over time, things have evolved that I rarely present as Mario, except when Mario needs to be seen for appearances' sake.  And I am happy with where things are, as I could never have believed things would be this good for me.

- - - - - -

Today, I had only one thing on the agenda - driving down to RQS's place.  Not being sure of the weather for the weekend, I packed clothes that would keep me comfortable in 50 degree weather, as well as in 80 degree weather.  Whether or not this would be needed would depend on whether the weather forecast was for warm weather or for cooler weather.  But enough about the weather for now....

I started off to RQS's place around 1:30, and realized that I might need to take a bio-break before reaching my destination.  (Several times, I have needed a break as I reached RQS's neighborhood, and was lucky that I could find a clean loo before looking for a "rare" parking spot near her house.)  This was a smart thing to do, as I hit a bit of traffic once I reached Queens.  

Arriving at 4 (as I planned), RQS was waiting for me, and we had an early night - dinner was ready by 5:30 (a rarity for us), and we were in bed relatively early for the night.   This was going to be a weekend send as Marian, and I was prepared for Saturday and Sunday to come.

- - - - - -

It's amazing how normal life can become over time.  But then, I'm glad that I don't live in the American South.  In New York, my Texas friends as Marian, but can't do so because of the laws enacted there in the past few years.  I am mostly "Out" where I live, but would need to be "Closeted" if I lived in Texas.  (I wonder what Kim of Traveling Transgender, a mostly defunct blog, is doing now.  Years ago, she traveled "Pretty" between major American cities.  Now, I hope she's able to get out and about as Kim now and then.)

My brother finally has his second citizenship.

 

The other day, I received an email telling my brother that he is finally registered in the foreign birth registry.  That means that once he has his second passport, he will be able to travel across the Atlantic to see his daughter without any other paperwork than his passports.  As for me, I will still need my UK ETA for this summer's cruise.  But I hope I will have my second citizenship and passport before my Iceland cruise in 2027.  Otherwise, I will need both a new UK ETA and an EU ETAIS, as I will have a new US passport issued next year.

In this day and age, it makes sense to have a way to leave the US.  I love America.  But with a senile, misogynist, racist, and incompetent authoritarian trying to destroy my country, I want my "Letters of Transit", so that RQS and I can leave for a new homeland if needed.  All too many people have forgotten the lessons of the past.  And I don't want to be a victim if the crud hits the fan.

- - - - - -

I'm glad that my brother and I are lucky enough to inherit another nation's citizenship through my grandmother.  There are way too many people in this country at risk with no way to exit. For transgenders, its a risk than many are avoiding by leaving the US while they still can.  In an article in Der Spiegel, the trials and tribulations of Americans leaving their homeland for Germany are discussed.  It's ironic that any descendant of a German Jew who escaped or survived the Holocaust is now welcomed by Germany.  (They have much more common sense than us in America.)

I figure that I might use a two-step process to leave the US if needed.  First, I'd get myself across the border, but close enough to take care of my remaining business in the US.  Once my bank accounts are emptied and the money moved overseas, I'd then leave North America for my new home.  (Money moved before arrival in the new country is not taxed.  Money moved after residing in the new country is taxed.)

As I say again and again - ALL Transgenders must have an exit plan ready while the Orange Monster is in control of government.  Get that passport now, as well as a second citizenship if eligible for one.  It's much better to be prepared for the worst, than to have no idea of what to do if it happens.  

Lunch with RO, and Game Night in Yonkers

 

As I write this, it's almost midnight and I haven't the energy to say much about today.  And yet, in spite of the little things, it was a successful day.

Let me begin here....

I didn't get a restful sleep last night, but managed to sleep an interrupted 6 hours.  That doesn't sound like much for many people, but when one wakes up twice in the middle of the night for bio-breaks, it's more like having 4-5 hours of sleep.  When the alarm clock rang at 10 am, I knew I had to get up and get ready to see RO in New Jersey.

So, I got showered and dressed, and when I was about to leave the house - the first problem of the day occurred.  I had tossed a pillow on the couch, and it fell in back of it.  Stupid me...  I decided to try and retrieve it, wasting 15 minutes of time I could have spent on the road to meet RO.  After tearing apart everything on one side of the couch to reach the pillow, I was able to retrieve it - and made the mistake of tossing the "grabber" in a way that it too had fallen behind the couch.  Retrieving the grabber would have to wait until I got home.

It took me a little over 1 hour & 15 minutes to get to the restaurant, and I was only 5 minutes late.  RO and I chatted and caught up on things. Although she is not political, she worries about her trans nephew in this political climate.  RO was glad to hear about my brother gaining his second citizenship, and was glad that my paperwork is well on its way to being processed.  All too soon, it was time to go, and we agreed to try and meet sometime in early July.

I drove a little under 1½ hours to get home, using a different route than I used to meet RO., then passed out for a couple of hours once I hit the couch.  (BTW, it only took me 5 minutes to fetch the grabber.)  Around 6, I realized that it was game night.  So, I changed into something a little warmer than what I wore to lunch and drove to Yonkers.  Believe it or not, I won 1 of the 2 games tonight.  Yay!

All in all, it was a good day, but not a perfect day.  But who needs perfection when things are in your favor?