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[Zingoleb]

In what sense are you transgendered, if you will pardon the intrusion?

I am trying to understand how it would effect employment.

It wouldn't. That's the thing. Right now I have a feminine haircut and dress and present pretty androgynously as well, so that prompted her to ask. But she's worried about the children!Anything but the children!

And from what I can remember, pre-op and on hormones, to be more specific.

Right on the first, wrong on the second. I'm not on hormones yet. That process has been delayed for various reasons for the last year or so.

And just to mini-rant (and without trying to seem like I'm running for the Persecution Olympics) - it would be so much easier if I were just MTF. I could transition, present female, and that would be it. Great, I've crossed the divide from male to female, and now people see me as a girl and treat me as such. I know I could, people here have seen my pictures, I'm feminine enough to pass pretty easy (even with my stupid big hands and tallness).

But, instead, I don't identify female. Nor male. Or anything, for that matter. I don't have a gender identity but furthermore I don't want one.* But you can't live your life that way. People have to put you down as male or female because if you're neither of those you're a freak who cannot be trusted. You're now an 'other' and I think history speaks enough for people who fit that category.

*And because I know people are going to ask "why are you going on hormones if you don't identify female" - I've done my research. I've weighed the pros and cons and decided that given what they do, I'd rather take that route. Just because I'm not female doesn't mean I can't be feminine.

/endrant

[Patrick]

Idunno I mean I am pretty sure I have given you my address sight-unseen over the Internet and I haven't received a mail bomb yet. I know you can't exactly put it on a resume, but whatever.

Also I still think you should take this up with the ACLU. Because you know what, it's damned bullshit that somebody would ever say "Nope, your gender identity is just too much for me to handle, so don't even bother applying." I'm sorry, that shit just doesn't fly. It's insulting to you as a person, to your ability to do the job competently, and to your status as a transgendered person.

Atop that, I still don't think there is any grounds for this to be legal. Anti-discrimination laws clearly state that you are not to be discriminated against on basis of sexual preference or gender. And I'm sorry but your gender identity (or lack thereof!) easily falls under these categories.

[valley_parade]

The ACLU would probably be helpful, but check out the Southern Poverty Law Center as well.

[Zingoleb]

Yeah, that looks great on a resume. "Have not mail-bombed any acquaintances at this point in my life."

I'll look into the ACLU thing. It's not as big a deal now as it was when I first posted (and I was pretty pissed then), it's gone from a 'this situation SUCKS' to a 'life in general' problem - now other things are working against me (notably a 'friend' who somehow lost ~10 job applications she promised to drop off for me). And then there's just job applications in general.

But on the other hand, I'm still surviving and despite how horrible things seem to be going, I'm actually happier than I've ever been in my life so far. It's big stuff! So, huzzah, etc., let joy be unconfined.

[Barmymoo]

I demand a link for this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12137318 Happy to oblige!

France is really quite french. I've discovered I can't actually speak any french (the four year old is more fluent than I am) but that I can manage with the few words I've figured out and some sign language. I've also discovered that no one takes any notice of traffic lights, and that zebra crossings here are not actually zebra crossings because there is no obligation to stop, which makes me wonder why they bother painting the lines at all.

Also I'm kind of tired.


THERE IS SOMEONE OUTSIDE MY ROOM AND THEY HAVE BEEN REVERSING FOR LIKE TWENTY MINUTES, JUST GIVE UP AND GO IN FORWARDS ALREADY.

[Lines]

But, instead, I don't identify female. Nor male. Or anything, for that matter. I don't have a gender identity but furthermore I don't want one.* But you can't live your life that way. People have to put you down as male or female because if you're neither of those you're a freak who cannot be trusted. You're now an 'other' and I think history speaks enough for people who fit that category.

*And because I know people are going to ask "why are you going on hormones if you don't identify female" - I've done my research. I've weighed the pros and cons and decided that given what they do, I'd rather take that route. Just because I'm not female doesn't mean I can't be feminine.

/endrant

Hey Zing, I know a few gender queer people and they have similar problems. One of them in particular goes by ze/hir in friendly company, but in the professional community prefers to go by he. A lot of people don't understand gender neutrality, so sometimes it is a lot easier to just pick whichever gender you most closely resemble for the professional world. It's not that you have to hide who you are, it just makes it easier on those who don't get the whole gender queer thing. I also know a FTM trans who is a "femme boy" - he's mostly masculine in appearance, but has pink hair, still likes wearing high heels, and loves glitter and he has to be patient with people to figure out what he is. (It also adds to the confusion that he's dating another FTM.) I guess the whole thing is about patience on both sides. If you're willing to ease into it with others, over time they'll get more comfortable and start to understand. Or hopefully, anyways.

I'm rooting for you! Don't get bogged down. The world just hasn't caught up with everything yet.

[ummmkay]

I've also discovered that no one takes any notice of traffic lights, and that zebra crossings here are not actually zebra crossings because there is no obligation to stop, which makes me wonder why they bother painting the lines at all.

zebra crossing? crosswalk? is that an actual thing that people say?

[pwhodges]

Pedestrian crossings with painted stripes are called zebra crossings in the UK; this is normal and universal.  Cars are required to stop for pedestrians at them, if safe to do so.  They have flashing orange beacons at each end, called Belisha beacons after the transport minister called Hore-Belisha who introduced them.

[Barmymoo]

In France they have no beacons and it is apparently perfectly legal to sail across them at 50km/h and potentially run over a four year old! Except they would not run over the four year old because she has an extremely cautious au pair.

[nekowafer]

Yeah I just assumed it had something to do with actual zebras. Despite knowing that there aren't zebras wandering the French countryside. I'd never heard of a zebra crossing before.

[ummmkay]

me neither, but it is now going to become a Thing in the southern us because i will never call a crosswalk anything but a zebra crossing ever again!

[Lunchbox]

That's so cute! You've honestly never heard Zebra Crossing?

[ummmkay]

never! i mean i figured out what she meant, but i thought maybe she was being funny. i had no idea whole countries used that phrase!

[onewheelwizzard]

I've never heard the phrase either, to me it's just a "crosswalk."

[valley_parade]

never! i mean i figured out what she meant, but i thought maybe she was being funny. i had no idea whole countries used that phrase!

I learned the other day that what I always thought to be "playing catch" is called "having a catch" by everyone else.

Huh?!

[Gemmwah]

BLOGBLOG
I bought a new bike to replace the one that got stolen. This one folds in the middle 

[ummmkay]

never! i mean i figured out what she meant, but i thought maybe she was being funny. i had no idea whole countries used that phrase!

I learned the other day that what I always thought to be "playing catch" is called "having a catch" by everyone else.

Huh?!

whaaaat. is that a uk thing as well? i've always said playing catch. you're not alone!

[JD]

BLOGBLOG
I bought a new bike to replace the one that got stolen. This one folds in the middle  

[img]http://static.letsbuyit.com/filer/images/uk/products/original/141/94/emmelle-shuttle-folding-bike-14194333.jpeg[img]

Jealousssss

[jmrz]

I just call them pedestrian crossings.

I've also discovered that no one takes any notice of traffic lights, and that zebra crossings here are not actually zebra crossings because there is no obligation to stop, which makes me wonder why they bother painting the lines at all.

I found the same thing when I was in France, they kind of don't have road rules that they actually listen to. Italy was worse. Our tour manager basically just told us that we had to walk out on the road and maintain eye contact with the cars and they would stop. They wont actually hit you because then they have to fill out a whole bunch of paper work and that is just an inconvenience and they'd really rather not. I adjusted to this pretty quickly as I am not a terribly patient pedestrian and I tend to walk out in front of traffic a lot when I know I have enough time to get to the other side of the road without getting hurt. However, people here stop for you when they are supposed to, Europeans? Not so much.

[valley_parade]

whaaaat. is that a uk thing as well? i've always said playing catch. you're not alone!

Do they play/have catch(es?)? Toss around a cricket ball?

I've seen cricket stories on Sky Sports News where the guys are practicing and one of them has a baseball glove, but..?

[ummmkay]

i don't know, i'm just guessing because i've never heard anyone in america say "having a catch" - although admittedly i haven't been to every part of america. definitely not a southern thing though!

[Papersatan]

Not up north either.

[nekowafer]

It's not something I've heard over here on the east coast either.

Also I think pop is a silly word for soda.

[jodizzle]

Death total 8 confirmed - 72 people missing

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8250131/Eight-swept-to-death-as-Australian-floods-takes-Queensland-town-by-surprise.html

The footage of the people on thier vehicle was just awful, it was just them completely surrounded byu nothing but water.  the helicopter filming went to get help, came back and they were gone.  Still missing

It's all supposed to happen again today, so the weather people are predicting.  Hopefully if it does it won't happen to such a terrifying degree.

[valley_parade]

It's not something I've heard over here on the east coast either.

Also I think pop is a silly word for soda.

Since I'm taking a road trip to Pittsburgh this summer, I looked it up on Wikipedia and found that they say "pop". Almost made me not want to go.

[bainidhe_dub]

I got a new job today! I applied for it on Thursday and he called 15 minutes later and I had an interview on Friday morning and another one this morning and he called me on my way home to offer me the position.

[Elizzybeth]

i don't know, i'm just guessing because i've never heard anyone in america say "having a catch" - although admittedly i haven't been to every part of america. definitely not a southern thing though!

Not up north either.

It's not something I've heard over here on the east coast either.

Nor out west.  Pretty sure it's not an American thing.

[Lunchbox]

Yay Rosie!

In sadder stuff...
Just saw this footage of the flood washing some cars away. It is pretty upsetting imagining how so many people died.
I really really hope this doesn't happen in Sydney because pretty much every state is affected by either fire or flood right now.

[jodizzle]

I was just watching that.  It shows how quickly it came up.  It was brutal.

They have evacuated downtown now, because they are expecting it to happen again soon.  Stupid work won't send us home even though none of us are really doing anythign useful because we are all so horrified and distracted.  This stuff neevr happens here!  Not ever!  Half the staff aren't even here anyway.

[nobo]

I just bought 2 plane tickets to Poland for April. Now my wife can meet the rest of her new family

[Eris]

Hopefully these will help me not cough all the time:

[Tom]

I was just watching that.  It shows how quickly it came up.  It was brutal.

They have evacuated downtown now, because they are expecting it to happen again soon.  Stupid work won't send us home even though none of us are really doing anythign useful because we are all so horrified and distracted.  This stuff neevr happens here!  Not ever!  Half the staff aren't even here anyway.

Meanwhile, Sydney has only had a few minutes of light rain.

[Patrick]

I am a safer driver than the overwhelming majority of these Arlington taxis and yet my mother would rather spend $50 getting to and from chemo tomorrow morning. I mean, I am just a useless warm body in the apartment anyway. I think the only thing I have actually done since I arrived Sunday night was unload a single load of groceries.

My godmother sent me a Christmas present. It was a new hat (which I love, it makes me look like Jonsi) and a new sweater, which is too big, but I can exchange it.

Also it's really funny that my mom and sister are the ones who put the handegg game on, to MY protests.

Also also I'm going to be getting a haircut from the Aveda Institute within the week. I am super psyched. Cosmetology students. They do it for free but they are allowed to accept tips (and of course I plan on tipping well!) and they do a very nice job.

[Johnny C]

fuck that's cool

[David_Dovey]

So fuckin' dreamy

[jodizzle]

Guys in case you are following my flood updates, it looks like the worst has passed for Toowoomba (for now, thias weather is expected to hang around in March so I won't be surprised if it happens again) and there is now massive flooding happening in Brisbane.  People are being evacuated.  I checked in with brettles though, and he is ok!

[Graphite]

I know a woman who is soon to be touring a play she wrote called Nothing Ever Happens In Towoomba, Ever.

...how terribly awkward for her. I hope the worst of the flooding really has passed and that the relief efforts are going well.

[öde]

Be careful around water, Jodie!

[StaedlerMars]

George Clooney is attractive. Fact.

[jodizzle]

Turns out my house didn't flood when we were at work yesterday because my neighbour saw the water coming up almost into our house and opened the backyard gate which drained the water into her yard, then opened the next gate and it drained into the next yard.  Thanks neighbour for not letting my lounge room get wet!

All looks like it is fading for now!  We are even meant to have some brief sunlight on Friday and Saturday.  That would be nice!  So much for summer!

I am waiting to hear from my best firend in Brisbane to see if her house is affected by the flood at all.  I'm not worried she is drowned, it has only started to do a thig there, but I would like to know how she is!

[Inlander]

I'm glad you're okay, Jodie.

I'm also glad to hear that Brett still exists! I was worried that he might have disappeared into an intergalactic wormhole he found on the bottom shelf behind a bar or something.

[ummmkay]

snow/ice day #2, thanks to the Great Blizzard of 2011. i love living in the south, everyone goes nuts if there is more than a half inch of snow, and I get to "work from home" aka keep a tab open with my work email and check it occasionally while lying in bed watching buffy. it's like weather-enforced solitude. I LOVE IT.

[Gemmwah]

I'm glad you and Brett are okay, Jodie. This is insane, the amount of water there is unbelievable, and how easily the cars are just getting washed away! It's terrible.

[Barmymoo]

What is going on with this weather?! I think we had better stop using electricity or something if that would reverse this apocalyptic slide into extreme weather all the time.

[Patrick]

I'm really glad to know you're doing okay, Jodie. As long as it's safe, please keep us posted. It's good to know that ours are well and accounted for.

ETA: I have never watched anybody get chemo in person before, let alone my mom. As things go, it is not on my list of preferred activities.

And this morning I realized that the chemo drugs themselves are not the only things in the equation. There's also steroids in there, which are making her really bossy and agitated all the time. I wasn't expecting that; shows how much I know. I guess it's as much a learning experience for me as it is for her. I remember when she was on a steroid inhaler for her asthma when I was a little kid, and it was hell back then. I just hope she stays in touch with reality this go-round. I don't know how much of this I can handle; she's already said some really hurtful and unnecessary things. And I am hyper-sensitive to those kinds of things, I always have been.

Guess I've still got a lot of growing up to do.

[nekowafer]

Is there anything she can take to calm her? If I'm right they take more than just the chemo and the steroids, but I don't know all the details. It will be better for her (and for her family and doctors) if she can be calm and relatively happy (as much as one can be in this situation) through all of this. Maybe a mild anti-depressant or very mild sedative?

On a different note I am getting some pretty bad chest pains again and holy shit it is terrifying. I thought that I wouldn't be able to develop another clot while on meds but my body is metabolizing them differently so the amount I was taking is no longer working as well as it was. So maybe I developed another one. I desperately do not want to go to the hospital again, or have to get surgery this time to remove one or both if there are two. I have a PET/CT scan on the 31st and it will tell them if I've developed another one (and tell them if I have cancer, which is a worry) but I don't know if I can really wait that long. My original clot was giving me chest pains again yesterday but today it's a whole new spot. And I'm running out of percocet.

I got a CT scan on 12/18 and it didn't show anything. But I got an x-ray (which does show some signs of a clot if it's there) a week before my first clot happened and it wasn't detected. So these things can pop up out of nowhere. On one hand, getting another CT scan soon would make me feel better about the whole situation and maybe they'd be willing to give me a few more percocet or something. On the other hand if there's nothing wrong, I've wasted everyone's time. And for all I know this is just stress.

ARGH I am way too young for all this medical bullshit. I'm supposed to be indestructible in my 20s, right?

[valley_parade]

You're supposed to think you're indestructible in your 20s.

[Tom]

What is going on with this weather?! I think we had better stop using electricity or something if that would reverse this apocalyptic slide into extreme weather all the time.

This is actually due to La Niña event that's passing over Queensland atm. Instead of droughts experienced by due to El Niño, this meteorological event results in monsoonal conditions. This is not really a direct or indirect result of Global Warming.

EDIT: Wikipedia has this nice little graph of La Niña events from 1950-2011. The thicker the bar, the more intense the event. It is likely that global warming has led to a decrease in frequency with no significant increase in intensity.

[Zingoleb]

I just filled out a job application that asked for every address I've lived at in the last 10 years.

I've moved 31 times in the last ten years.

Squidfuckers.

[Patrick]

Whoa there, you might hurt Jimmy's feelings.