All Around Sarail: May 2015

Wednesday, I capped off the end of month four by driving down to Little Rock (in some very heavy rain, mind you) to meet a very special group of people. I say special because they hold a place in an intricate, important part of my heart and mind. All of them made me feel very welcomed, and I came home that night with a couple of tears built up in my eyes. I already love them all.

But yup, I started the day off by meeting up with Ruth (my future roommate) and her boyfriend, Phillip, and her friend, Molly - all incredible human beings. Phillip greeted me at the door, and then immediately donned a pastel pink coloured cowboy hat...and I knew I was in great company. :P "Perfect," I thought, "I'm already feeling comfortable." :)

So, we set out to go look at apartments, had lunch at a local place called Leo's, and then ran around a bit more. I was even able to run by one of the Hob Lobs there and talk to their store manager about getting a transfer - it sounded like a fairly positive talk, so hopefully I'll hear something soon. Afterwards, we went back to an apartment community we looked at earlier in the day...and turned in an application. The unit Ruth and I looked at is a two-floor townhouse that is absolutely awesome (that kitchen counter space, yo!) T.C.'s gonna love the stairs, too. Can't wait. Hopefully we'll hear something after the first of the month. *fingers crossed*

To end the day (for me anyway), we headed over to Cajun's Wharf to meet up with some of the new friends I've made these last several months. And it was such a joy and honour to meet these lovely ladies, too. Tracy, Laney, Reda, Annette, and Tammy...you guys made me so happy and feel so welcomed into your circle. I can't wait to get to know all of you even better after I move down there. And even the ones who weren't able to make it out (get better soon, Lynne!)...all of you have made this girl feel immensely special over the last five months. Thank you.

Two week measurements. Here ya go. :)

And to bring this blog post to a close, the monthly progression shot.Yay, corners of my jawline are rounding off now! Cheeks puffier, too. :P

This quote from To Kill a Mockingbird is perfectly descriptive of northeast Arkansas. Keep in mind, there are good people here - but they're so outnumbered by conservative, backward-thinking people. When you find a good one, hold on to them. :) I wish I could take my good ones with me to Little Rock (even you, Beau.)

See ya, space cowboy.

22 May
0 Comments

Cosplay, Ahoy!

Anna

18 May
0 Comments

Large Lime Slush EOTWP

Anna

Week 15 came to a close Wednesday evening into the early morning hours, and I'm now in the final week of month four. FOUR whole months. Crazy. Time is just flying by, and life feels like a blur since starting to live authentically a month and a half ago. I don't know what to do with myself, honestly, other than continuing to smile and being happy that I'm finally discovering who I am outwardly. It's incredible.

So many aspects internally and externally have changed already. I feel brand new. My thinking has changed. Mood has changed. I've become more relaxed. I'm happy and in a cheery mood probably 95 percent of each day ... with the other small percentage being just content. Hah. I've lost my mental connection for initial physical attraction that 99.9 percent of males carry. Instead, I bond more with emotional connections now - that's what I'm attracted to initially. I love it. I'll see a beautiful woman (all women are beautiful) in the store, for instance, and I'll have a mental thought of "Oh, she's pretty," but I won't have that internal hormonal push for physical attraction. Instead, I follow up with "Gawd, I love those shoes. And that skirt. And that top! I love her style!" Yup. :P

Externally, my complexion (especially in my face) has cleared up and softened greatly. My cheekbones are more defined. My trapezium muscles are slowly diminishing. Hair growing faster (and coming in finally - thanks, finasteride!) I have boobs. Yay. My lips are fuller. I carry myself differently now. My walk is more proper and graceful. No more clunky and hunched over walking, gone. I speak more with my hands. My inflection and lilt in my voice is developing faster now (not a hormone thing...just confidence from hormones.) My weight is starting its initial dispersement to my lower abdomen, hips, and butt now. So beyond happy about that. Coarse hairs that used to be are no longer coarse...developing into vellus hairs (the blonde, barely visible hairs.) Body hair on my torso is disappearing - and on my butt, too! Thank jeebus, ugh. Gross. :P

I am discovering one aspect that's been driving me crazy, though. Wearing my contacts is starting to prove difficult and annoying. Maybe the shape of my cornea is changing? I'm not sure if this is a thing or not, really. It's okay, honestly, as I don't mind wearing my glasses. But I definitely do prefer wearing contacts over glasses. I think I'm due for a prescription update anyway. I may go back soon to see what's changed exactly.

I suppose that brings this EOTWP post to a close. Next week, I'll post the monthly progression photo set and transition measurements, too. Excited about that. Anyhoo, be good! Love! <3

15 May
0 Comments

The Banana

Anna

13 May
0 Comments

This Is an Inkling Test EOTWP

Anna

09 May
0 Comments

Ready. Steady. Go!

Anna

07 May
0 Comments

Grow, Little Plant, Grow!

Anna

04 May
0 Comments

Not Confusing At All

acceptance

I feel the need to clear up a few things. First off, I love my family immensely. Those two, front and center, are the ones who gave me life in this imperfect world. And I greatly appreciate them.

My mother is a warrior. Two bouts with breast cancer, and she's overcome it all. She's taught me strength, and it's because of her I discovered that overcoming adversity - no matter what trials I might go through - would lead me to fulfilling my life. And in this case, knowing who I am inside...getting it to reflect outwardly, physically, would be my battle.

And I'd say I'm fighting that fight quite well now. :)

And my father. Oh my gosh, my father. Talk about a man who completely turned every single aspect of his life around for the better. He's been my number one inspiration in this enduring battle of mine. If he can change it all around for the better, then I most certainly can as well. And I'm doing just that.

I know they care for me and want the utmost happiness in my life. But they want it from their perspective of how life should be. Their indoctrination from southern churches in this country - both southern Baptist and Penticostal/Assembly of God - have shaped their minds to be unaccepting of people who are different. Yes, they'll say they love them, but showing/displaying it is a completely different matter. And they'll use the excuse of "love the sinner, hate the sin" as their means of doing so. Guess what, family? Jesus didn't hate ANY aspect of any human being on this Earth. I do recall that your good book even mentions Jesus sitting at a table having dinner with prostitutes, thieves, etc...treating every single of one of them the same - with love and kindness.

My siblings are the ones who scare me the most, however. Because that's how indoctrination works in a world that is greatly shifting its attitude toward being more accepting of differing people. As newer generations come about, the traits of indoctrination they've been taught from parents - and from their grandparents, and so on - becomes more intensified. And this intensity creates hatred and bigotry. Because fear of something one refuses to understand can cause some crazy, negative reactions (see: the Duggers, the Robertson clan, Glenn Beck, etc.) This happens, because they're gasping for those collective last bits of air in a culture war that is pushing them aside.

This is why I always say be good and to just love one another. Because ultimately, that's all that matters in life.

I know my family loves and cares for me. And I reciprocate that back to them, too. There's just some misguided, preconceived perceptions of how life is supposed to be, coming from them. That's all. Hopefully, in time, they'll come to realise how huge of a mistake it is pushing me out from the family - they're missing out on a wonderful person's new life flourishing!

So. As always...be good, and love one another, always. Until next time, lovelies. ^_^