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Well, life has been busy since my last entry. My cycling has dropped off some due to traveling and probably won’t pick up again until the week of Thanksgiving. And then again in mid-December. Although I do love my job, it’s hard to get cycling in when I want to. I recently got Chris Carmichael’s book, The Time Crunched Cyclist. Basically, it’s like his program he used for Lance but adjusted for the average cyclist who wants to do well. I certainly wouldn’t be able to do the Tour de France but i should be able to do a few centuries and my planned tours. I will have to maximize my cycling. I’m tempted to get a new indoor trainer. I used to have one when I lived in Canada (cold nights made it hard to bike then). I think the bigger challenge will be that I’m on the road so much right now and in the near future. The one good thing is that the week of Thanksgiving my company is doing a “shutdown” and I intend to leverage that for a fair amount of cycling. We recently got the dogs a bicycle dog trailer and I might even attempt to see if they like that. If they do, then I can bring them with me on rides.
In other fun stuff, I got my new visa. This is good since it’ll keep me here for a while. It was a bit of nerve racking experience but it’s done. I now have my new passport (with new name) and a visa (also with new name). I went to SSA to get a new SSN with new name and will start the process for a driver’s license as well. I think I’ll also get a California ID as I do need additional ID sometimes and it would be better, when traveling only in the US, to use the state issued ID. So little time and so much to do.
Thanksgiving week will probably be the week I look into finally getting top surgery booked. I still have some weight I need to lose before then. I’ve dropped about 20lbs since earlier this summer and I think I can drop another 30-40lbs before the end of the year. I certainly wouldn’t be buff or perfectly lean but I think I will be in a healthier position for surgery. What is interesting is that I recently checked my company’s benefits site and I noticed that the exclusion for SRS has been removed. In fact, all exclusions seem removed and it’s down to 4 general terms. Since I know quite a few trans individuals who have had Aetna successfully cover their surgery I think I’m going to actively pursue the surgery and coverage under my benefits program.
I can honestly say that this makes life look great. I often post on HuffPost and have been commenting on the articles about Cher’s comments on Chaz in an effort to dispel some of the misinformation on trans individuals. While that can often be discouraging it is the worst I see in life today.
Uh.... Ice Age?
I started writing this entry after the CNN piece and got sidetracked with life. So I’m editing it and picking it up again with a bit of modification.
Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. — John F. Kennedy.
So the CNN story is up and I have to say, it’s nice to see the different stories they highlighted. There is no single story that represents the trans community. And I’ll give credit to CNN for trying to present a variety of views equally. It’s nice to be seen in a light other than an object.
That said, the comments are just disturbing. JFK’s comment is very apropos as many are giving an opinion about trans “folx” without really understanding what’s involved. I can respect someone who says “I understand all that’s involved but personally, it’s not my cup of tea”. Ok, fine. I can totally get that. It’s the ones like the following that get me:
drag these idiots down the street. I’d rather have beheadings and 9/11 every friday than to listen to this slop.
Uh. What?? Apparently, many of the readers on CNN don’t like it when they are faced with things that make them think. Life is no longer compartmentalized for them into neat little blocks. I watch the MSM (Main Stream Media) and all I see is perfect little lives that are cut-outs and variations of the 1950s. The US seems determined to remain there and ensure that nothing changes from that point to now. It’s interesting that as I re-read this, I noticed an article on CNN today that talks about how that the Supreme Court of Justice (SCOTUS) even without any Protestants on it, will still get some Protestant views on it. Yes, it will be different and moderate comparative to others but the diversity is a good thing.
But for many (especially white Protestant Americans) this means learning to adapt with change. And for many, this is a scary thing. Change is viewed with apprehension and concern as it feels like we are losing something that we’ve known all our lives. So we react to it because the change is done at a pace that we have no control over. What we once know is no longer true. And what once made us unique and special is being divided amongst all these other people we don’t know or understand. It becomes, in the US, “un-American”. What’s curious is that my home country of Canada doesn’t seem to suffer the same kind of malaise. There is no “un-Canadian”. While this doesn’t eliminate discrimination, I wonder if the constant and regular exposure to things that were different allowed for a mellowing of Canadian society compared to the “separation” of US society.
I have a hard time understanding extreme polarization that occurs here in the US and wonder sometimes if it helps to have this. Certainly everyone has the right to their opinion but it doesn’t mean that one needs to voice it in a manner to demean or debase others. We all have the right to our opinions — and the right to live without fear.
I realized after I posted the video that I got the years wrong. My planned trip of San Fran to L.A. will be 2011 while Vancouver to L.A. is slated for 2012 (assuming the world doesn’t end 😉 )
I love watching hockey, especially women’s hockey. And gotta say.. I get proud when I see them win.
Go, Canada, Go!
This is just awesome!
Amazing how language can cause a story to be misinterpreted. 🙂
Apparently a new cell phone company, Wind, is entering the Canadian market. Both Bell and Rogers should be concerned. These ads would be enough for me to join.
It’s been a hectic work week and I still ain’t done. I had to do some extra troubleshooting this evening. Thankfully, the class is ahead of schedule so we should finish at a decent time tomorrow. Anyways, to amuse myself this evening (and for your amusement) I present a giggle I found: