Decision Made & Going For It!

[Jean Op den Kamp]

GREAT

loveUall
Jean

[tugon]

Originally Posted by EricaAnn

Hi Tugon,

Thank you for the lovely compliment. I really appreciate it! My new avatar is a photo that was taken by a professional photographer at the Be-All conference in early June of this year.
I'm so looking forward to seeing you again this coming August at the MOM.

I do not think I will be able to attend the Mom but I will be in Chicago in September. Staying at the Palmer House and would love to see you. As plans form maybe I can plan to take you both out for dinner. As plans formalize I will PM you.

[EricaAnn]

Originally Posted by tugon

I do not think I will be able to attend the Mom but I will be in Chicago in September. Staying at the Palmer House and would love to see you. As plans form maybe I can plan to take you both out for dinner. As plans formalize I will PM you.

Hi Tugon,

I would love to get together with you when your're in town. Please let me know when so that we can make plans. I'm so looking forward to seeing you again.

[EricaAnn]

Hi Everyone,

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about the upcoming Midwest MOM. I so welcome the opportunity to see my dear friend and "sister" Danya, to renew so many old acquaintances as well as the chance to meet so many of you that I only know from on line.

Let's all hope the weather is summer-like and conducive to being outdoors.

To my friend Kristoff and Paolo, I hope you don't mind if a lady buys you both a cocktail or two. I'm really looking forward to doing some intensive partying with you both so GET READY gentlemen...this party girl is coming to the Twin Cities.

And River...I'm looking forward to those wonderful pancakes of yours.

[kristoff]

Originally Posted by EricaAnn

Hi Everyone,

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about the upcoming Midwest MOM. I so welcome the opportunity to see my dear friend and "sister" Danya, to renew so many old acquaintances as well as the chance to meet so many of you that I only know from on line.

Let's all hope the weather is summer-like and conducive to being outdoors.

To my friend Kristoff and Paolo, I hope you don't mind if a lady buys you both a cocktail or two. I'm really looking forward to doing some intensive partying with you both so GET READY gentlemen...this party girl is coming to the Twin Cities.

And River...I'm looking forward to those wonderful pancakes of yours.

What brand the martini vodka? I usually do Canadian Communion Whisky. Martinis will be a good change of pace

[EricaAnn]

Originally Posted by kristoff

What brand the martini vodka? I usually do Canadian Communion Whisky. Martinis will be a good change of pace

Absolute or Sky would be wonderful. If you would like to introduce a more "Communion" style twist, we always do a grape flavor Sky vodka, but I'll leave that decision up to the good Sister.

[EricaAnn]

Hi Everyone,

I'm doing absolutely wonderful. Things are going great for me. I had a wonderful time at the MoM a couple of weekends ago. It was so good to see so many old friends and a chance to meet some members that I have not had the pleasure of knowing personally before. Thanks to all in attendance for a wonderful time.

My dilation schedule is now down to 5 times a week, basically Monday through Friday mornings taking the weekends off. There has been no changes in depth since going to the reduced schedule so that seems to be working out well. In another week or two I may try an every other day type of routine to see how that works out.

I also changed my hair color a couple of weeks ago. The black was beginning to look to harsh on me, so I stripped my hair color and am now what's called a medium maple brown. I love it. It's much softer on me.

I've also resumed electrolysis about 2 months ago. I did 11 laser treatments, which got rid of most of the dark hairs, but all it did for the gray ones was to bleach them white. So the electrolysis is slowly taking care of the white ones that are left on my face and neck. So far, so good. The girl that I'm now using is very fast and has the latest equipment, which does reduce the pain level a bit. So far she has totally cleared my face and around my jaw and is now working on my neck. She did do the bit of regrowth I had on my lower lip yesterday and that was a very a painful process to say the least. It definitely brought more than one tear to my eyes, but based on what she has accomplished so far, I probably have another 6-8 sessions to go to finish up. It's going to be great not to ever have to shave my face or neck again. I am so looking forward to that. I can't wait! It's also made a big difference in my complexion. The areas that she's done or so much smoother and my skin has a finer texture to it. She explained that the pores are now contracting where the hair follicles used to be and that's what's causing the wonderful change in my skin. Every little bit helps, that's for sure.

[paulault]

Originally Posted by EricaAnn

Hi Everyone,

I'm doing absolutely wonderful. Things are going great for me. I had a wonderful time at the MoM a couple of weekends ago. It was so good to see so many old friends and a chance to meet some members that I have not had the pleasure of knowing personal before. Thanks to all in attendance for a wonderful time.

My dilation schedule is now down to 5 times a week, basically Monday through Friday mornings taking the weekends off. There has been no changes in depth since going to the reduced schedule so that seems to be working out well. In another week or two I may try an every other day type of routine to see how that works out.

I also changed my hair color a couple of weeks ago. The black was beginning to look to harsh on me, so I stripped my hair color and am now what's called a medium maple brown. I love it. It's much softer on me.

I've also resumed electrolysis about 2 months ago. I did 11 laser treatments, which got rid of most of the dark hairs, but all it did for the gray ones was to bleach them white. So the electrolysis is slowly taking care of the white ones that are left on my face and neck. So far, so good. The girl that I'm now using is very fast and has the latest equipment, which does reduce the pain level a bit. So far she has totally cleared my face and around my jaw and is now working on my neck. She did do the bit of regrowth I had on my lower lip yesterday and that was a very a painful process to say the least. It definitely brought more than one tear to my eyes, but based on what she has accomplished so far, I probably have another 6-8 sessions to go to finish up. It's going to be great not to ever have to shave my face or neck again. I am so looking forward to that. I can't wait! It's also made a big difference in my complexion. The areas that she's done or so much smoother and my skin has a finer texture to it. She explained that the pores are now contracting were the hair follicles used to be and that's what's causing the wonderful change in my skin. Every little bit helps, that's for sure.

Hi EricaAnn the hair color sounds like something i might want to try once my hair gets long enough.

Like you i have done 9 laser sessions and last month started electrolysis, in addition to my laser every 8 weeks, i have booked at least a couple hours a week of electrolysis thru September. The white hairs are what are left with a sprinkling of dark hairs. She is having a harder time removing the hairs since the follicle seems to be larger than the hair shaft, we think it's due to the hormones.

Facial hair removal and my voice are top priority at the moment, i seem to have no trouble passing even with my voice which is a blessing.



Paula

[EricaAnn]

Originally Posted by paulault

Hi EricaAnn the hair color sounds like something i might want to try once my hair gets long enough.

Like you i have done 9 laser sessions and last month started electrolysis, in addition to my laser every 8 weeks, i have booked at least a couple hours a week of electrolysis thru September. The white hairs are what are left with a sprinkling of dark hairs. She is having a harder time removing the hairs since the follicle seems to be larger than the hair shaft, we think it's due to the hormones.

Facial hair removal and my voice are top priority at the moment, i seem to have no trouble passing even with my voice which is a blessing.



Paula

Hi Paula,

The white hairs are by far and away the toughest to get rid of. Mine seem like tree trunks compared to the dark ones. I've never investigated the follicle size issue so you and your electrolysis tech may have a good point on that matter.

The voice is always a big issue in passing. I've taken several voice training classes which seem to have helped me, but it's really hard for me since I had such a baritone voice to begin with.

I'm so glad for you that your voice is passable at this point of your transition. That's very important.

[charlenebrown]

Erica,
i am new to all this , but also on a journey like yours, albeit less far down the road.
Erica, YOU have given me hope , encouragement and - well if i am honest , a sort fo role model to aspire to.
I wish You all the best, and will be thinking of You , hang in there girl.
Malcolm Fraser, an Australian Prime Minister, once said ' Life wasn't meant to be easy', and how true....
i lost 2 million dollars when i was 30, and business and house and wife , pretty much everything *external*, but managed to get through that, so really , ** everything ** is possible, trust me.

One just has to dust oneself off and start again.
I am so sure You will be fine , and look forward to a long and happy, if distant, association with You

Do take care Erica,

xxxx

charlene

[EricaAnn]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd check in to let everyone know that I'm alive and doing well.

I've been busy lately with a major upgrade to the heating system in my home. I finally resolved a problem I've had since my home was built, that being a big temperature difference between the upper and lower levels of the house. Fixed this problem by having a zoned heating and air conditioning system installed. Now the lower level has it's own independent thermostat and it's own heating and air conditioning zone from the upstairs. I also had my 26 year old furnace replaced with a new high efficiency furnace which should save me a lot on my gas bill every month and with the current government program going, I'll be able to deduct 30% of the equipment cost off of my income taxes next year.

I went out for the Halloween this year and had an absolute blast. I was in costume for the first time in probably 15 years. I went as a Las Vegas show girl. Needless to say, I got more than a few looks from the guys in the nightclub that night. It was great fun!

Other than that, I've just been doing my daily dilating and continuing with my weekly electrolysis sessions to rid my face from this darn hair. She's made good progress and has cleared my entire face and is about half done with my neck area. I can't wait to be finally finished with that process. It's painful to say the least!