Oh wow. I’ve been bad again about keeping things up to date, eh? Lots of good things have happened in the last little while so may be time for an update.

Yes, yes. I did succumb to the hype and got an iPhone 4. And to be honest, I love it. I still haven’t had the same issues that I keep reading about. My signal has been pretty good to begin with and I did get a bumper (which has been recently refunded thanks to Apple). I had been waiting, for what seemed like forever, for Otter Box to release their Defender series case. That arrive today and my iPhone is now snuggled into a decent case to protect against my clumsiness. Thankfully, it’s not as nearly as big as my Blackberry Otter Box case nor as heavy. The multitasking OS is awesome now and far more helpful. I’ve become more of an app addict and have found more apps that are useful for me.

And speaking of apps, I started using C25K (Couch-to-5K). I’ve been using this in the last couple of weeks to increase my weight loss. I had lost 10lbs but had plateaued. With my online teaching and the heat index, I hadn’t been leaving the apartment that much. This program has been helpful at pushing my body to burn more calories. Every other day I run/walk (5 min warmup, 30 min run and 5 min cool down) towards eventually running a 5k (this is a 9 week program). Once I do that, I’ll probably get the “Ease into 10K” (10 week program) or “Bridge to 10K” (6 week program). Thus far, I’ve lost an additional 4lbs (see chart below).

Get your own graph at skinnyr

While I still qualify as “morbidly obese”, I’m making progress. I’ve dropped 3+ points on the BMI scale and if I continue at this rate (about 7-8lbs per month, I might break 200 by the end of the year. This would be good for a variety of reasons: better health, top surgery options, better self-opinion of myself. I’ve never been happy with myself when I can barely fit into seats on airplanes and this will help me deal with that better. I’ve lost about 2-3 inches off the waist as well so that’s good.

And I might be flying more (not necessarily more often but rather I may be doing fewer online classes). I’ve gotten a new role in the company. While I’m still an instructor, I’ve also picked up the role of tech lead. This will mean I’ll be doing more specialized classes and a lot of research (which I enjoy and should allow me a more flexible schedule). I’m still waiting to see what happens with the visa (should be hearing on that in September sometime). Although I cannot leave the US until that time is up, I may have to so I can get a new passport. I finally got my birth certificate changed and have sent off for a new SIN number. With the birth certificate and SIN, I could finally get a new passport with my new name.

I don’t think I could ever envision I could be this happy with my life.

Life is good, indeed.

But well worth the wait for the Fall. At the end of August, I’ll be heading out to Los Angeles finally. I’ve begun the slow process of getting rid of what we don’t want/need any more. My forays into Craigslist proved to be without success. People expect goldmines for the price of a pack of bubble gum. So I’ve given up on selling it and decided to give it to charity. I figured if I have to give it up for pennies, it might as well go to helping someone truly in need. I think I might try them (likely Salvation Army since they are one of the few who will pick up in Queens — I know, I know; they have a nasty LGBTQ policy but poverty and helping those in need doesn’t) in a couple of weeks and see if they will come and get the sofa, my old desks, the bed frame (I’ll sleep on the mattresses fine), dining room table and about 6 bags of clothes.

So while I’m depressed at being alone (to a degree — whiny, old cat doesn’t count), I’ve had some good things happen. Work wise things are going well. I can’t get into details but there are some changes and it may mean an ok change or a wonderful change. We’ll see. In other work things, there’s a new visa in the works so that bodes well for the long term. So fingers crossed that in September or October I’ll have a new visa.

In other news, I succumbed to all the hype and went for the iPhone 4. I did need to get a new phone since my existing one died a horrible death (closing it caused it to shut down or crash — even on a full new battery). It’s a great phone and I’ve been enjoying it. I think I got the one that actually works compared to the news reports I’ve been reading. I am getting a case for it. The glass front and back make me very nervous. I’m a klutz when it comes to geek gear and this is why I have an Otter Box on my Blackberry. I so need to get one for this thing. Until I get a good case, I’m getting a decent one for now. I may get an armband case/carry as well. I’m going to start running in a couple of weeks to help improve my weight loss.

I got a Body Bugg a few weeks ago to help me track my calorie burned (if you’ve ever seen Biggest Loser, you know what a Body Bugg is). It’s been pretty awesome. I even know how well I sleep each night. It’s been pretty good at helping me keep on track for my caloric intake and output. I still have to record what I eat. I’ve plateaued a bit over the last couple of weeks so I figure running, even 3 times a week, will help break that a bit. Additionally, I’ll have to add push ups and pull ups to my daily routine to help me improve my chest muscles in prep for future plans.

Anyways, to say that life is good is an understatement albeit a bit lonely with K.

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 hate it when I finally find a barber and I know I’ll be leaving in a few months. This always seems to happen. The barber, a young kid really (maybe 20ish), did a great job not only on the fade but also the beard. I’ll probably go once more before the actual final move to L.A.

You lookin' at me?? You lookin' at me??

I’ve been far more remiss at posting blog entries this year than last. I think it’s because my life has become rather mundane although it’s been starting to ramp up a bit. This year has started off great and seems to be continuing (and potentially gaining speed) to be great. I’ve been hearing rumblings of a new work visa that will keep me here, potentially on a very longer term. I recently got a promotion (yay!) and a little pay bump (double yay!). That, along with a strong desire to finally skewer the remaining bits of debt that I have, have resulted in less stress and a more positive outlook on life. Things will get quiet here soon as K heads to L.A. next week and Bobcat and I stay here — for now. I’ve been trying to avoid buying things and actually have been contemplating selling certain things on Craigslist starting next week.

I have some concerns for the move, particularly how long it will be before Bob and I can go out to L.A. The very last date will be the end of August but I’m hoping for before then (end of June or July). The other concern is Bobcat herself. She ain’t no spring chicken any more. At 16, she’s cranky, whiny and a bit senile. She wasn’t happy about the flight from Toronto to NYC and a flight to L.A. will not be fun either.  If she comes onto the flight with me, she’ll be non-stop meow and worse than a baby crying. But I feel guilty about putting her in cargo. Ya, I know. I baby her far too much but she is my little furrkid.

My transition, such as it is, continues happily. I’m becoming a bear, I think. **ROFL** Hair loss is not an issue for me. I am contemplating moving up surgery to sometime this fall once I’m in L.A. A few of my fellow transmen recommend a specific doctor there and say that he does wonders, even for larger guys. I think once I’m in L.A. and have settled on a new doctor/health care environment, I’ll make a consultation appointment with this doctor to see about how much and how long before I could have the surgery. I have to admit being tired of binders and the constricted feel of it all. And I’d really like to not have to bike long distance with a binder (I’ve done it before but I don’t think I want to continue to do it).

One of the things that I will have to do is return back to a vegan lifestyle, more than like a raw vegan (or at least 80% raw vegan). I want to see if I can completely eliminate all processed food items (save for almond milk and cereal grains) from my diet. Not only will it help me lose the necessary weight for surgery but will generally help extend my life. K and I have become huge fans of The Biggest Loser. (ok. I’ll admit it. Jillian is hot!) These people are incredibly awe-inspiring. I would love to have a trainer again and be able to work out at a gym again but I’m afraid to. Most gyms have strict policies about locker room usage. Being in L.A., especially if the gym is within walking distance, will open up more workout opportunities but I think I’d rather be able to do so with shirt off or with a muscle shirt.

So that’s life in a nutshell at this point.

If you are looking for a new and fun radio show to listen to, check out Backbencher. My aunt is voicing one of the characters (Renée LeBlanc, Nellie’s Admin Assistant) and I got to listen to this little bit of Canadiana on my podcast. Highly recommend it. http://www.cbc.ca/backbencher/about.html

I’ve decided to go for the gusto and pay off a huge chunk of one of the remaining credit cards. It should mean that it will be completely paid off by end of next month (something that is very doable). This will leave me with one credit card and the line of credit left. I will always need one credit card for monthly things (e.g., phone, storage in Ontario, etc.) but I’m thinking that once this card is paid off, it may be worthwhile to cancel it and use my RBC Visa for that purpose (it has the lower % at 11.99% compared to 15% at BMO MC). One of the other things I’m going to try to do is use PayPal for payment of things. This makes life easier and it means I can pay cash (so to speak). And if I don’t have the cash, I don’t buy.

It almost seems that ever since I started paying this stuff off, things have been on an upswing for me. And it feels good. I’ve gotten news that the company is, in fact, working on a new visa for me and one that might be able to translate into a green card. I never thought I’d want to stay here. I’ll admit to the fact that there are still some things that make me wonder about the sanity of some but all-in-all most Americans I’ve met are simple, honest people just wanting to make a home, earn a living and spend time with family (not all the time otherwise the sanity will go out the window). And I do like it here. It’s hard for me to stay because there are times I miss my family (thank goodness for video Skype!) and want to go home. But other times I just enjoy what life has to offer here and it’s just as fun. I know some of it is just being tired of moving and wanting to settle down in one place and not have to go through a move. I’ve done enough over my lifetime that I know I hate it. But, if I want to be somewhere, I’m gonna have to take the plunge.

At least, with a move to California, I’m in a better financial spot than I was looking at before. It’s amazing how much financial stress can affect a person and a desire to interact with people at times. With better control on this, I think there is a real end-point in sight. Keeping a tight reign on spending and moving things forward otherwise, I should be good in the long run.