SOLO ROAD TRIP

SOLO ROAD TRIP

Today June 16, 2014:  I've been planning this trip for several weeks since I got my state Medicaid, I called and set up an appointment with Dr. Katy Kropf at Ohio University in Athens for the first physical checkup I think since grade school. She was recommended by the Trans Ohio website. It was a long 2 weeks wait.

Woman on a mission.

    Well I woke up early, couldn't really sleep I was so excited,  took a shower and shaved as closely as I could. My mother doesn't know about my transition yet so I had to put my makeup and clothes on in the garage before leaving. It took me about 30 minutes to get myself where I felt half way satisfied.  

Ohio SR 32

   So I donned my shades and hit the road.

The trip takes me roughly 65 minutes depending on traffic and deer movement. It was a peaceful trip, I listened to some music my cousin Betty introduced me to,  Jehne Aiko and 'In this Moment' over my stereo, while contemplating the universe and watching for idiot drivers. hehe

Selfie outside Parks Hall.
Ohio University Athens

I arrived almost 40 minutes early. so I sat out in the van and touched up my makeup, I STILL SUCK at eyes..

OOOH a big mirror.
SELFIE TIME.

I walked in and took the stairs up to the second floor where I met with the receptionist, who was very nice, and checked in. She gave me a stack of papers to read and fill out my medical and personal history, This took me about 18 minutes to complete. That put me waiting about 4 minutes to be taken back to get my weight, height and temperature and pulse oxygen.  The medical assistant then took me back to an exam room and got my Blood pressure and yet again my medical history. These people are great.  I've never been to a place so accepting, my team works with many Transgender patients.

Close up.

I waited about 10 minutes till Dr Kropf came back to meet me, she is a professor and asked if I minded if 2 students sat in on the exam. I said sure no problem. This was about a 20 minute long conversation, again going over my medical history and she wanted me to tell her about my personal history to help understand who I am. This went great she was super nice and did not do anything to make me uncomfortable. The two students were nice as well, one even complemented me on my makeup. Oh and both were named Brittany, hehe one of my favorite nieces is named Brittany. After  our initial consultation concluded she explained how she goes about HRT and transgender care. She works on an informed consent plan, where after the initial consult and examining my blood work I sign a few papers indicating that I know the risks both physically and emotionally about starting on HRT. I go back again in 2 weeks for  the rest of my exam and to let me know how my blood work went. I suspect I will be put on some form of Diabetic medicine as well as the stuff used to counter the side effects of the diabetic pills. Also I suspect that I have a thyroid issue my dad did, but she said my thyroid glands felt normal.

I left the exam room and back to the receptionist for my lab orders and to get my next appointment set up, July 3 - 9:15 am.. Then down to the basement to get my blood drawn.. it took 4 tubes. Again this lady was awesome and so friendly she even showed me how the centrifuge worked.

Tuna sub. Lunch

I left the campus and back on SR 32 on the way I stopped at a Subway for a food, I hadn't eaten in about 14 hours, because I knew I would have blood taken.  I got me a Tuna sub on wheat, with lettuce and light mayonnaise. YUM.  Not being my normal self I ate slowly while reading the papers my doctor gave me to look over. Again nobody said anything or looked at me oddly while eating there. I finished half my sandwich, I was going to get a 6 inch sub but they told me that the foot long was only a dollar more.

Back on the road. I took a slightly different route back because I wanted to see a few sights.

Lake Snowden park.

The first is Lake Snowden, just outside of Athens.. it was storming so I didn't pull in so my picture was bad.

Big Catfish

This is a campground between Welston and Jackson. I thought this big Catfish was cool.

Here are 2 small ponds I've dreamed of fishing for years.

Farm pond off of SR776

Real nice farm pond off SR335

Well back home have to put back on my jeans and Tshirt, loose the heels and wipe the makeup off putting back on my mask.. Back to pretending again. 

Oh I almost forgot, here is the necklace and earrings I picked up last night at Walmart to wear today. 

ANOTHER HURDLE DOWN.

     Started the day with the hope of getting a makeover at the Mall.  My cousin agreed to be there with me as a buddy for both shopping and support for being out in the local area without my mask and shield of protection.. 
  
      I started off running a bit late because it took longer then I planned to put on my makeup <in the van-another first> so I was about a half hour behind schedule. It was fine with my cousin she said she could work over a bit. Her work is basically next door to the mall..

      I arrived in Ashland about 5:30pm, checked my makeup and got out of my minivan. I had a little anxiety shake in my hands, but it was cool, "I AM GOING TO DO THIS".  I walked across the lot and down to the main entrance, careful not to look directly at anyone. I didn't want to give anyone a chance to  say anything.  I seen my cousin sitting in the food court where she said to meet her. I sat down beside her and we chatted a second. We then walked back out to her car to get a purse she is lending me for my first doctors appointment on Monday. I loaded the purse with my billfold, keys, and lipstick. Afterwards we walked back into JCPenneys and into the Sephora section.

Urban Decay collection.

      OMG what nice makeup display, with test samples 
galore, I didn't use because of fear of contamination.  And those prices.. 20 bucks for an eyeliner stick, 31 for some primer... I can't afford this stuff yet.  After browsing for a few minutes I asked one of the girls working there about a makeover for my eyes and she said that there was a 2 week wait and needed an appointment. I can understand the appointment as only 2 girls worked the whole area. Guess this place didn't want my money.

      We left there and went over to the shoe department, yet again higher prices then I could afford but some nice shoes.  We left JCP and walked into the mall hitting all the shoe stores, the best deals I found was at Wet Seals, but I was hesitant buying anything. they had some nice flats and flat sandals. 7 bucks a pair with a buy one get one for 5 bucks.  I may hit there again in the near future.

      We walked some more and went into some ladies clothing stores, this was another first for me. Mom never liked any mall clothes so we never went into any. "Mom wasn't with me today'.. I fell in love with several nice tops and dresses at Body Central http://www.bodycentral.com/, but the sizing is bad for me..lol their XL was about like a 10-12... I'm 14 on tops and 16 on dresses and skirts. Oh well nothing here I can wear. BUT, I now have another weight loss goal, I MUST get down to a 10-12 and get me this one dress/sweater combo it was to die for.. Pink tube dress with a black and white striped hooded sweater. A girl can dream, and dreams can come true if you work hard enough.




      We were in that store and my cousin's work friend texted asking if we were still going to eat. My cousin's feet were killing her after 9hrs working and our hour long jaunt through the mall. I guess heels weren't really made for that long wear. So we left the mall and walked over to Cheddar's Casual Café and waited on her workmate.

YUM Spagsana

       We got a table and was seated. "What would you girls like to drink?" that felt good 'GIRLS' takes some getting used to.  Me and my cousin just asked for water, Soda's are bad and we can't drink because of the 35 minute drive back home for both of us.  After our drinks came and a few minutes longer the waitress came back, "Are you ladies ready to order?"  again elation kept hidden on my part. I had planned on the "Key West Chicken and Shrimp" then I seen something called Spasagna, I LOVE pasta dishes. The dinner was amazing, I could only eat about 60 percent of my meal so I got a take home box to put what was left in it. The food was too good to waste.

     We finished eating and talked for a little after, I explained a few things about my transition to my cousin's co-worker. It was a great time.

Now comes the hurdle, since starting to go into public as my true self, I've had this deep fear of using the Ladies room. I thought I could hold it as long as possible to avoid going into a regular Ladies room or I would go some place to find a single occupancy room. Well my body said "YOU CAN NOT WAIT".  So I asked my cousin where the Ladies room was and then I walked by myself there. I waited till I seen someone come out then I briskly walked into the room, "Great no one is out of a stall".
    I found an open stall and cleaned the seat, sat down and done my business. BIG RELIEF. I finished then stepped out and started washing my hands. Another lady came out of her stall and stood beside me, "I love your top"  I heard. I looked around and I was the only other one there. I looked at her and smiled I said "TY, it has the pink breast cancer cure ribbon embroidered on the side near the hem". We talked for almost a minute. She didn't show any sign of me not passing so I was elated. We finished talking and I touched up my lipstick then went our separate ways.  

     All in all, despite the main goal of a makeover was not reached, the fact that I had the courage to go into the ladies room, it was a major victory. I am now ready for my doctors appointment on June 16.