The best way to explain myself is that I am gender-gifted in that I like being female and at times, male. It's the best of both worlds.I'm finding that I am being less in the guy mode and am en femme just about every day now that I am retired. I've been growing my hair since December 2011, it's so nice not having to wear wigs. I'm also really having to build my fem wardrobe for everyday wear though. But shopping is fun! Never thought I would enjoy finding a deal as much as I do. It's crazy, I never liked to shop before, but now, I have found if you wait and watch, you can always find a sale. What a journey.

Note: If you don't have a photo to share, or you're a guy, good chance I'll block you. Sorry.

Update Nov. 2021: The last 1-1/2 years since I've updated this missive has kinda been non-eventful...unless you consider Trump getting his ass handed to him, or Covid. Luckily I've avoided Covid as I hunkered down and only went to the grocery store once a week early on Sunday mornings. I did get the vax a few months ago since I don't want to die at a young age. So I have been venturing out a bit lately. I'm letting my hair grow out since I just can't imagine being subjected to someone being so close that's non-family. My hair looks like shit right now but that didn't prevent me from going to a James Taylor concert with thousands of people in attendance. Truthfully, I didn't care. It is what it is. I like to present put-together and for the most part I was. The woman sitting next to me struck up a conversation after about 20 minutes, not sure if she knew how to start, so she said I love your shoes, they were a gray wool flat with buttons (like levi's) angled across the vamp. So I replied by thanking her and then said it's hard to find cute shoes in my size, hoping that she knew I gave he an opening. Her husband was all ears haha. She engaged in a very pleasant/encouraging conversation and the theme was how brave I was going out in public. I told her I don't have any choice being trans, it is who I am. And I said I life my life honestly to the best of my ability. And hopefully one day society will be a little more accepting, Until then I just keep in mind to "dance like nobody is watching". Honestly, going to that concert was the most liberating thing I've ever done, no kidding!

Until next time...Julia

Update Feb. 2020: Realized I haven't updated this in a long time. I think I can say I'm still working on blending into society although I don't realize it anymore. It is what it is. I just go about my business and truthfully don't care what anybody thinks. I make regular salon visits (because I'm a hair freak) and so I can post something here because I hate taking selfies especially in public. I'm just not into social media. For me, Flickr is it on occasion. You can probably also tell by my pics I am way into ear piercings, sorry but it's just something I like. My motto is: can't have too many! Not only have I had a thing for ear piercings but over the last couple three years I have pierced my nose and just recently added a second nose piercing. I have a theory about that in which I think all of my piercings act as a distractor from my "manly" facial features, they're a focal point. But then again, maybe not. Bottom line is, I like ear piercings/earrings and they give me great pleasure. I am down now to one item that's not natural and that's my acrylic nails. I just can't grow my own nails to the length I like, so I do acrylic. I used to go to a local nail salon but that became a little cost prohibitive since you have to get them filled every couple weeks as the natural nail grows. So I have been doing my own now for a while. It really was pretty easy to learn, it just took a little practice. That's about it for now, hopefully I won't wait so long to do the next update!

Update: Been absent for a few months while I worked through some things but I think I have found somewhat of a balance. Just need to be moderate in everything I do,

May 2016 update: Really enjoying my feminine side as of late. I did go through a stage where I put everything away (again) a while back but after I ascended into a sixth decade I thought what the hell, the whole societal taboo now doesn't mean anything to me anymore. My male clothes were almost to the point of needing updating so I decided to replace those with fem items. I'm almost to the point where I will have a good four-season fem wardrobe. A couple of months ago I had a full set of acrylic nails done again and get them filled every couple of weeks, I had really missed them. I'm letting my hair grow out again and have my next hair appointment on June 7 for my first real fem haircut. No more blended styles, just doesn't matter anymore. Don't know my future direction other than no desire to have any surgery or any meds. It will be what it will be from here on out. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Juliana

July 2016 update: Of recent I've been enjoying my fem side a lot and have found the perfect hair stylist that is taking my hair style totally fem with a pixie cut. Gone are the guy cuts...not even trying to hide that anymore. Still getting my acrylic nails filled every couple of weeks and loving them. I now leave small diamond studs in my pierced ears (four in the left and three in the right ear) all the time. Now have a triple forward helix piercing in my left ear (for a total of seven) and think it's quite cute. I just love pierced ears.

Update 9/6/16: So I decided to re-pierce my fifth hole in my left ear, it was there, and a little healed over, but got one in it yesterday. I just so enjoy pierced ears. It's probably too many for an old lady but my pixie haircut allows me to show them off. I think there's still room for another few!

It also seems I'm having to block a lot of people lately for either being a guy showing their wang (don't need to see yours since I already have one) or don't have anything pics available. Sorry.

Until later...

Juliana