Austin Spa Technology School

So, on the 5th of October, I had an appointment to visit Austin School of Spa Technology! I had visited them before at their old location, but didn't have the money at the time to take any classes from them. This time, things would be different. With a partnership between my union and the state, I get some money for college classes and so, in January, I will be in school to become a nail technician!!!! This is something that I have TONS of fun doing and I can earn money doing it. The great part is that they offer job placement afterwards, so I can go from the schooling, right into a job!!! YEAH!!!! THen, with the money that I earn from that job, I will be able to earn money to take the rest of the classes and become a full out beautician!!!! YEAH!!! (not that I'm excited or anything)

Zombie Prom. . .found one of my callings

So, the Hellions of Troy Roller Derby hosted the Zombie Prom last night at Valentines. It was a LOT of fun. There were a whole lot of Zombies and a band and a DJ and stuff to do. The cool part was that I got to do make-up for a whole bunch of the girls!!! I had a blast doing it. Most of them just had me do a little bit of touch up so that they looked like the undead. One of the girls I was going to do the whole decaying skin look on her and everything. Then we found out she is allergic to latex (I did ask before hand). We got her cleaned up and such. I might have done her with regular make-up. I don't remember because what was three girls ended up being five or six (or more). Anyway, I had a BLAST doing all the make-up stuff and actually being a make-up artist. I was so happy doing it, that I emailed my friend who talked me into signing up for Austin Beauty/Spa School. I think I'm really going to enjoy these classes and the part time job that will come from it. It's so nice to finally enjoy what I will be doing. Even if it's not earning a living, at least I can enjoy both my jobs!!!!

Unexpected Compliments

So, sometimes at work, we tend to fill out the silly surveys that help us get through the day. We did one today where I got a HUGE compliment. There was one where you just sent it back to the person with a one word description of that person. One of the wonderful people that I work with (we will call her Tulip), sent me the answer as Balanced. Since this is something that I believe in in the world and i end up with in my own life. For each really good day, there's a crappy day and vise versa. Of course, it could be the fact that in the ongoing joke/prank war between her and another co-worker, I'm the one that they can both ask for help from and they know I have no problems attacking either one (or both sometimes).

Ithaca Bout

Okay, so I'm a little behind. This happened on the 11th of the month and it was great (at least for me). I was assigned the penalty box (as it's the only thing that I'm comfortable with as an official). EZ LEE BRIBED was a great head ref (as far as I was concerned). I really enjoyed the ride up to Ithaca (and slept most of the way back, so I enjoyed that too). The bout was great. . .well. . .what I saw of it, which wasn't all that much. The other penalty box person was Female Trouble, who was new to doing the box. So I helped her out with it. Which I have NO problem doing. It just means less of watching the bout. Though, even doing one box, you may not watch a lot of the bout. Which is fine, because it keeps me busy and is the reason that I have a decent reputation for doing the penalty box. Hell, the last time I had to turn down PVRD due to a wedding, they almost cancelled the wedding!!! (Course that I might have been because three of their usual refs had weddings to go to).
Anyway, Female Trouble did do an awesome job, but she's an actual "skater" with Ithaca (I only use the quotes because Hellions includes the referees as "skaters," but Female Trouble will actually be playing in bouts eventually. That's when it will be a bad thing if she joins me in the box). Which reminds me, I need to see about ordering the hot pants that have the "get in the box" printed on them. . . now back to our regularly scheduled blog). The Hellions did an awesome job of skating. There were times when I wanted to yell things to them, but I was a good girl/referee and I kept my comments to myself. I definitely had a good time and I think EZ Lee will be having the ref crew as well as probably the team, back again some time.

Roller Derby Membership

So on October 7th, my worries were relieved. We had a vote for the league on whether non-roster people (ie referees and such) can be actual members. I was very VERY worried because it was one of the things that kept me from being more active with another league that I was a part of. My fears were not fulfilled as it was a unanimous vote that the referees and such could be dues paying members!!!!! YEAH!!!!!! It meant a lot to me because it means that it will be worth the hard work and effort that, as an official, I put into the league and that I have a voice in the league. It was funny, with the old league there was thought to the referees paying dues. I thought back to the slogans of the Revolutionary War and the "No taxation without Representation!!" I have no problems paying my share of dues, but don't think that it means I get no voice with what occurs with my money.
Anyway, it means, too, that I can put the extra work into the league and that I will have a voice with what occurs. I know that the way I vote won't always win, but at least I have that vote. It has let me re-structure my priorities in life and derby has gotten moved up in the pecking order.

Looking at things differently

The church that I go to is the college mass at St. Vincent dePaul in Albany. I have been there since returning to Albany over five years ago. I also attended that mass when I was in college, so I know the people that run it very well. I actually am one of the people that helps out with the mass. My job is what I call the "Ed Organic position." Ed Organic was a gentleman who was at the church that I grew up at. He was a lector and Eucharistic Minister. He also was the one that did all the odd jobs that didn't happen every mass or took care of any problems that would come up during mass. At St. Vincent's College Mass, that's what I tend to do.
At the end of last semester, because of Roller Derby, I stopped attending. I did let them know that it would happen, so they were prepared for it. Well, this fall, I returned and was surprised to find most of my jobs filled by the students. At first I was really heart broken because I thought that they were trying to replace me because I was transitioning and that I was showing that a little more and it was becoming a problem or something.
Well, on the 5th of October of this year, I came to realize what had actually happened. The people that ran the mass had come to realize all of the work that I actually do. Many of the things are things that just kind of got pushed onto me because I knew what I was doing well enough that it was simple for me to add it on to my duties. But with me not being there for several months, they realized how much I actually do and are greatly appreciative of it. I still do the prayers of petition and I do fill in every once in a while when needed (more at the beginning and end of the semester and less in the middle).
Once I realized what had happened, my heart was much more calm with being there. I still help out as needed, but I am also less worried when I can't make it.

Sewing Machine

Just a quick note. I am not skilled enough to get my sewing machine to work the vinyl. I even had it all cute and pleated, but it is a no go. I will still have a cute Halloween Costume, but I need to find the replacement parts for some of the higher end sewing machines that I have.

Halloween Costume

So, I don't know if I have included this story, but you need to know it in order to understand my Halloween costume. When I was in kindergarten, two of the parents came in dressed as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. They did some type of presentation and then left. The teacher got the costumes and told us that we could put them on and play in them and that they would be over in the house area. I ALWAYS wanted to put on the Raggedy Anne costume. I never had the courage to do it. It was 1985 and I was five years old, so I didn't understand cross-dressing or being gay or anything alternative. I don't regret not having done it, because I did what I had to do to be okay with stuff, but I have this thing for Raggedy Anne stuff (and someday I'll have a Raggedy Anne doll, damn it). When I saw a vinyl Raggedy Anne outfit on eBay (granted it's a little bit sexier version), I've been dying to get it. I realized that since I finally know how to use my sewing machine, I am going to make it. I will actually finally be making my own Halloween costume. I've done it before by throwing things together, but this is the first time I'm actually sewing a Halloween costume. YEAH!!!!!!

The New Doctor

So, I had my first appointment with the doctor that will be taking me on the journey through this whole transition. He is REALLY FRICKING AWESOME!!!!!! We talked for about twenty minutes (about everything, including other non-transition related health stuff) and I found out that I am not his first transitioning patient, by a long shot. I knew I wouldn't be the first because another t-girl is the one that told me about him in the first place. I figured I'd be the second t-patient. Boy was I wrong. It was really nice because we actually talked and I really REALLY got the feeling that he really does care about his patients. He warned me too, that it would be a long fight and that it wouldn't be easy. But I have yet to do stuff the easy way. It was good too because he told me the stuff that I need to start looking into right away and such. So the next step is talking to an endocrinologist (aka the only endo in the area for this stuff), as well as getting rid of the facial hair.
It was nice because after the doctor, I went with one of my derby friends and did some shopping for stuff and we talked. She's a big gigantic sweetheart. She's been really supportive and it is greatly appreciated. It was really nice to talk to someone that's supportive and not be at home or work when doing it. My work friends and my roommates are GREAT!! I appreciate all that they have done for me. It's just really nice getting support from other people that I know in other communities.

1st Dr. Visit

So, if I have the date correctly, I have my first doctor's visit with a General Practice doctor this week. It's kind of cool getting excited about a doctor's visit. This doctor has one patient that is transitioning (cause I got his name from one of the girls), and I am hoping that he knows how to help with getting the laser hair removal and hormones and all the other fun stuff through the insurance. We'll see what happens. I just hope that it is on friday and not tomorrow (but I'll be prepared either way.)