Monday, August 8, 2022

I almost forgot to post something today.

 

Last night, I didn't much sleep.  So I was doing whatever I could to stay awake at work throughout the day, and was very glad I could leave the job at the end of the work day.  

- - - - - -

But first....

During the day, I found out that my doctor's office had taken care of some paperwork I needed, and that I should now be able to pick up prescriptions at my local drug store. (I later found out that the drug store had left a message telling me that my prescriptions were ready to be picked up.)  There is only one problem.  During the week, I live in Marian mode, and hate changing into Mario mode for just a couple of hours.  So I will try to find out whether I can pick up everything on Saturday, after I have changed back into Mario for the weekend (and after I have stripped off my nail polish.)

At times during the day, I check my email.  Vicki sent me an email to let me know that she received a call from me, and that there was no message.  No, this is not as weird as it could be.  On the way home, I tried calling a couple of known numbers, and my phone did not handle communication from either station.  So, I rebooted my phone, and all was OK after I did this.  Vicki and I exchanged a few texts, and we decided to meet and eat at a local diner after work.

On the way to see Vicki, I killed some time at the new Trader Joe's, and then made it to the local diner to meet.  She was surprised that I was there early, and we proceeded to chat about many things.  I mentioned communications I had with my ex-girlfriend and she wanted to get control of that narrative, but I kept control - and got out the points I needed to make.  (No, I won't go into these points here.  But they have been covered before, in details which she could accept in this forum.)

All too soon, we had to go home, and I was in for the evening....

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Another weekend with RQS - Day 3

 

 

Yesterday was a day spent as Mario.  Today was a day spent as Marian.  Who'd have thought that RQS would feel this comfortable with me as Marian?

- - - - - -

As we got up today, we knew that we'd be getting a Mani-Pedi at the same place.  I just wasn't sure of which nail salon we were going to until I remembered a special at one of the shops in town.  So I shaved my face, arms, legs, and the rest of my torso to look nice enough to go out as Marian.  So, around 2:00 pm, it was off to the nail salon in a local strip mall.

When we arrived at the shop, we ended up being asked to come back at 3:00, when staff was coming in for late afternoon appointments.  So it was off to the diner for a quick bite to eat.  While in the parking lot, she grabbed my hand as a PDA.  Did she realize it until I told her?  Who knows?  But I know she is comfortable with me as Marian, though she prefers to see Mario.

We got our meal, and we got back to the salon at 3:00 - and had a nice time as two girlfriends only can.  Yet, she made it clear that she wants to see Mario, and I will gladly comply.  All too soon, it was time to drop RQS off at the station, and for our weekend together to end.

I'm hoping that this will be one of many weekends together that include time as Marian, and maybe a trip or two together with me presenting as a female....


Saturday, August 6, 2022

Another Weekend with RQS - Day 2


Today was spent in Mario mode.   

Neither RQS nor I was interested in getting dressed and going outside in the hot weather.  As I've said, I'll always make sure that she has Mario for a male partner.  So we kept ourselves busy by sorting through clothes I had in storage containers, and put half of them into donation bags to go to a local charity when I get around to making a donation.

Once we were done with this task, it was time to go out and brave the weather.  I was envious of RQS, as she could dress much more comfortably than I could for this weather.  So we tried to pick up a pair of trousers from the tailor, but the shop closed 15 minutes before we got there.  It was off to get a bite to eat, and that we did - trying out Smash Burger for the first time.  There's not much more that I can say, save that they make yummy burgers and fries.

On the way home, I jokingly suggested that we go for a Mani-Pedi together.  She thought for a second, and said sure.  Two weekend days as Marian!  Yay!!!!  (What more can a bi-gendered or transgender "boyfriend" want?)  Eventually, we made it back home for the night, and watched TV in air conditioned comfort....

Friday, August 5, 2022

Another weekend with RQS - Day 1

 

I'm afraid that I accidentally donated this dress several months ago.  When I showed RQS this picture, she noted that it was a good look for me, and that she'd keep an eye out for it as we looked through my storage bins this weekend.

But first....

As I've noted, I now arrive ar Croton Harmon station in Marian Mode to pick RQS up on arrival.  She is very comfortable with this, and has gotten used to seeing me wearing a dress when we go out to eat.  Yes, it may be a little subversive in nature, but we're comfortable with it, and that's all I care about.

This week, we decided to do something different and go to a Chinese Buffet near me.  Both of us pigged out.  RQS was impressed with the quality of the buffet.  I was gobsmacked with the inflated price of the buffet.  (I'm not complaining here.  It is just sticker shock, as I haven't been to this place since before the pandemic.)

What pleasantly surprised me today was that RQS is becoming more comfortable with me in Marian mode.  Although I'll always be there for her as Mario, it is nice that she accepts Marian as well....

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Life is strange

 

During 2020-2021, I let my apartment go to waste while I did my best to take care of myself.  The above image is typical of me - during one of the few chances I had to get to a meetup, I let myself have a little fun.

Why do I mention this?  Well, being transgender got in the way of my last relationship, and my former cruise partner (FCP) sent my (now) ex girlfriend a note that should have been forwarded to me without opening.  Of course, curiosity got the better of her, and the rest is history.  FCP is no longer a friend, and the ex is just an ex - we only have simple communications, and not that of people who were once intimate partners.

There has been a great upside to this.  If the ex and I had not broken up, I would never have been in the position to meet RQS.  And for that, I am very grateful.  She accepts me for who and what I am, something that my most recent ex couldn't do. Although it takes some effort for us to talk about uncomfortable things, we know we need to do so in order to have a solid relationship.  So far, all the signs are still green for us, and I hope that they stay this way.

- - - - - -

I see one of my flaws getting in the way of things, and that is something we've already talked about.  As much as I dislike my job, I am hesitant to leave it.  I know that there isn't much of a chance that I'll find another job at my age, and that leaving means that I'll have to solely live off of my nest egg.  RQS is already retired, and she seems to be doing well in retirement.  She has taken up new hobbies (read: artistic pursuits) as well as doing the exercises needed to improve her body and her health.  And she'd like for me to do something similar when I retire - if only to have me around as long as possible.

Hopefully, I will retire sooner than later, as I've already committed myself to do so with my Hawaii cruise later this year.  It's too bad that RQS will be unable to go with me....


Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Sometimes, even buying something as simple as a bar of soap can be a pain

 

As I often do these days, this is going to be a quick post.

One of the things I have found out is that Fels Naptha soap is both a great stain remover AND that it is a great soap for travelers to pack.  However, most people are not comfortable with this soap, and it has gone out of style in most areas.

Most people who know me know that I pick up weird bits of information.  And I plan to do a bit more traveling in the near future.  This means that I might need to launder some garments in the sink if I'm on a long trip, such as a Panama Canal cruise.  Given that only one of the cruise lines I've traveled on equips their ships with washers/dryers available to the cruisers, I figure that I'll need a bar of this soap when I take a long cruise.

There is a problem with my plan.  It's almost impossible to find this soap in most stores, and it sells out quickly on Amazon.  So I'll have to keep my eyes open, and buy it when I see it available.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

They don't make it simple....

 

A few weeks ago, I turned 65.  Switching over my insurance plans is a pain in the ass.  For example, I have a membership number with CVS/Caremark, which I've used to order medications from the mail order pharmacy.  Unfortunately, CVS/Caremark couples one's insurance plan to one's membership so tightly, that the only way to go to a new insurance company is to get a new membership number.  Something is very wrong with the design of Caremark's system, as a membership number should be tied to an individual, and not first to the insurance company.

All I wanted to do is to tell Caremark that Fidelis Care is no longer my insurance company of record for prescriptions, and to point to Silver Scripts in its stead.  There seems to be no way to do this.  (Please tell me if I'm wrong.)  So I had to open another email account just to allow Caremark and Silver Scripts to talk to each other, with me as the covered insured party.  Sadly, Caremark dropped the ball to do this.  So now, I will lose ALL my prescription history, and have to have my doctor start writing new scripts from scratch.  Ouch!

As you can guess, I'm pissed.  I'll be even more so if someone shows me a way that this could have been done.  It's almost enough to go postal, but with legalized cannabis, there are better ways to find relaxation and relief. 😁  


Lasagna - a dish Garfield and I both love.

  Today, it was lunch with CCS in Ossining.  Given that I hadn't seen her in a month, I was hoping for a quiet time at a "Red Sauce...