tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5796788976212041702012-01-12T10:43:21.934-08:00A place to pause and put your virtual feet upAllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-49094292363662787562009-02-15T14:05:00.001-08:002009-02-15T14:07:57.620-08:00

A message to the California Supreme Court and all those who want to deny equal rights to minorities. Please, Don't Divorce US

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-78051799822628587872009-02-15T13:07:00.000-08:002009-02-15T13:19:40.082-08:00

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.My niece told me about this video; and when I watched, it nearly broke my heart. I know that the California Supreme Court is hearing the case of same-sex marriage next month, and that our marriage may be invalidated as a result.The link on the video takes you to a page that allows you to sign the letter to the court to reject

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-74281469228558938142008-12-28T15:39:00.000-08:002008-12-28T16:34:19.889-08:00

My partner and I can’t be labeled activists, radicals or subversives—we are simply a same-sex couple who wanted to legitimize our relationship. So on September 8, 2008 Traci and I took advantage of a window of opportunity to get legally married at San Francisco City Hall. We’ve been together for over 8 years but haven’t been able to enjoy the rights of a legally married union until the ruling

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-43770892961419887132008-11-04T11:59:00.000-08:002008-11-04T12:02:22.969-08:00

It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I changed email addresses, passwords and more. So I haven’t been able to get into my old blog for quite some time. I wish I could just get rid of all the passwords and usernames and simply put my thumb on the computer screen and let that do the trick. Maybe someday.Anyway, I voted today. It was a remarkable experience because change is in the air. I voted

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-5188321099555636912007-10-09T19:05:00.000-07:002007-10-09T19:47:46.276-07:00

I was at the United Airlines Terminal at SFO this weekend and observed their latest cost-cutting measure. United claims this new technique of getting planes out of the terminals will save millions of dollars, even if it strains a few backs. :)

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-20861519412298049762007-08-22T21:03:00.000-07:002007-08-22T21:18:39.846-07:00

Yikes! why has it been so long since I've posted an entry? It's not for lack of subject material. I could put lots of interesting things in - what I had for lunch, my scary nightmares, why I like the Geico Cavemen. I guess I'll have to 'fess up to a general laziness I've experienced over the summer. I've put on more weight, been spending too much time at work, over-eating, drinking WAY too

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-87550788642543718592007-06-17T08:38:00.000-07:002008-12-10T19:43:43.399-08:00

Our recent encounter with the QM2 in San Francisco Bay (See February posting) was serendipitous; little did we know that we would breakfast on the original Queen Mary just a few short weeks later. We decided to take a long Memorial Day weekend and see some friends that used to live in Pacifica with us. Eric and Edgar moved to the land of make believe (the L.A. area) a couple years ago and it was

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-13719749647221533052007-05-14T20:54:00.000-07:002007-05-14T21:03:51.359-07:00

What a fun afternoon we had yesterday. Marlena’s, a fun little bar in Hayes Valley, held a benefit for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. They held a drag show, raffle, auction and a great barbeque. In honor of Mother’s Day the place was decorated with Joan Crawford memorabilia—mostly pictures and metal coat hangers. And they played her old movies. One scene in particular had Joan screaming

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-92125930478092773252007-04-22T21:16:00.000-07:002007-04-22T21:18:25.247-07:00

Another conference last week. I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico—The Land of Enchantment. It took me weeks of practice to learn to spell Albuquerque. So many U’s. But I was enchanted. I’m in disaster services, and hundreds of us came together from all over the country—to learn, to share, to celebrate our successes, to grieve our many losses.I came back to San Francisco a little changed. I’m

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-7185995342423158282007-03-29T22:18:00.000-07:002007-03-29T22:24:24.045-07:00

I was at a conference today. Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco. Talk about security; when you’ve got millions of dollars under one roof you tend to be protective. Anyway, it was one of those conferences that I felt I should participate in. Call it obligation, call it duty, whatever. So I was scheduled to speak in the afternoon. A half-hour out of a whole day’s grueling seminar. I had

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-13572999466177609172007-03-28T20:48:00.000-07:002007-03-28T20:49:24.322-07:00

I have to roll the shades up at night so I can look at the shadowy figures outside my window as I fight sleep. The hills are dotted with lights from the windows of homes; the orange streetlights of the road that winds up the troughs outline the contours of the mountain. It all helps to calm me from the sleep that I always resist. Eventually my eyes get heavy, the scene fades into black, and I

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-75319912142151213952007-03-12T19:05:00.000-07:002007-03-12T19:15:30.300-07:00

: "1. Grand Canyon Suite - On the Trail - Arthur Fiedler "[Rhapsody members click on the title "Suite Memories" to listen]Traci came out from the bedroom this evening; I was sitting quietly in the big lounge chair reading my book. Traci put our cat, Puff, in her lap and began moving her paws to a tune she hummed—paws moving in unison to the beat. Dum, de dum, de dum, de dum dum de dum…..“That’s

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-51222568779045370792007-03-11T20:55:00.000-07:002007-03-11T21:04:13.033-07:00

This is a scene from All My Children posted to You Tube by Red Emmie. Although the Soap Opera is fictional, the scene is more real-life than fiction. The participants are real-life trans men and women who were invited to the show to help show the pain many of us experience. The group leader is Jennifer Finney Boylan, a famous transsexual professor and author. Betty Crow is also a participant;

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-57718434178706820592007-03-11T20:36:00.000-07:002007-03-11T20:40:41.099-07:00

So I told my cousin, JoAnna Banana, this story and she said I should put it on my blog. I reminded her that she and I are the only ones who read the blog, so there was no sense wasting time writing it out just so she could post some snide comment. But she persisted and I yielded. After all, I’ve always been told to obey my elders.We were talking about apartment living. Traci and I live on the

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-80941446436367346652007-03-01T20:29:00.000-08:002007-03-01T20:37:00.431-08:00

I have to say that I don’t think about being transsexual too often. But there are times when it can’t be avoided. And mostly those times, for me at least, are in social situations with friends and acquaintances. Last night is a good example. I’m at a conference this week with coworkers; we are typically scattered around the country, but come together occasionally for group work.So we’re on a

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-38394526118018628392007-02-27T13:49:00.000-08:002007-02-27T13:51:06.382-08:00

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-20030574686709116112007-02-23T06:13:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:43.690-08:00

There is nothing as frustrating as the search for perfect hair. First there are the typical MTF trans issues to deal with: receding hairline in front; bald spot in back. I took care of those years ago with transplants in Bangkok. I mean the transplants were on my head...and I had it done in...well, I'm digressing...never mind. It’s probably the best money I ever spent. A half-day session to move

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-16072729873790409122007-02-20T20:31:00.000-08:002007-02-20T20:33:34.348-08:00

I rode home on a relatively typical commute – one that takes no more than a half hour. It really shouldn’t be called a commute. I only live 15 miles from where I work. And I’m lucky that the BART train keeps the traffic down on my route. So I can have a leisurely ride most days and listen to the radio. Today was one of those days.But it wasn’t leisurely despite the mild traffic. NPR was

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-55237235848919918372007-02-07T18:43:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:44.525-08:00

Superbowl Sunday. Colts vs. Bears – an all animal game this year. Even in laid back San Francisco people thought there’d be a lot of excitement around the game. And there was in some corners of the city. I even bought a Peyton Manning jersey, mostly because I like his commercials. He’s funny. But I didn’t watch the Superbowl, nor did many others by the look of San Francisco Bay that day—a day

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-40993713568696147802007-02-03T19:43:00.000-08:002007-02-03T19:47:53.933-08:00

In Sociology class I had to write an essay on why I was in school (community college). It was meant for kids out of the house for the first time, but it was apt for this old woman too. Here it is with all its warts:Why Am I Here? Sept 10, 2003It has taken me some fifty-odd years to get here. The path here is littered with many trials—battles won and battles lost, friends remembered and

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-33445925386192454422007-01-25T19:53:00.000-08:002007-01-25T19:56:09.633-08:00

Chris Daley, E.D. of the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco is moving on. I read the announcement with some sadness. TLC grew under Chris’ watchful eye. He’s not transgender, but he is a young, dedicated lawyer who found a cause with a little slice of society that needed his help. I first met Chris when he was the lone attorney working as TLC out of the offices of NCLR (National Center

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-65691815208162141272007-01-24T19:45:00.000-08:002007-01-24T19:50:21.431-08:00

I went to my first writing class last night since I left college. I graduated (lets call it late in life) May of last year and have been writing this and that ever since. I enjoy the writing, and I want to continue to improve my skills. So off I went to this private class; we’re lucky in San Francisco where we have many opportunities outside the university system to pursue arts in various

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-44750843096864587912007-01-20T19:47:00.000-08:002007-01-20T19:53:52.363-08:00

Spanking is illegal, or it will be in California if this insane law passes the state legislature. I am so fed up with our political system—it is totally dysfunctional and will probably never get better in my lifetime. Now, mind you, I don’t condone child abuse. But I gave my kids a good swat in the seat of their pants when they were young from time to time. It didn’t traumatize them, ruin their

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-73404196470928250422007-01-17T20:27:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:45.620-08:00

Sometimes I have to whirl through the day going to meetings, getting on conference calls, making presentations, and you know the rest. Many of us are in similar situations. Today I had a meeting on Treasure Island. Every time I go there I’m amazed at the view and have to take a moment to look around me and appreciate where I am, who I am, and thank God for all my blessings. Here are some pictures

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-64897398570214647902007-01-14T13:17:00.000-08:002007-01-14T13:24:56.688-08:00

As country western music drifts in from the movie, Brokeback Mountain, my partner is watching in the main room of our one-bedroom apartment, I lay in our bed with the December copy of Smithsonian magazine in my left hand and a hard plastic dilator in my right. I am reading the “Treasures of Timbuktu” while pushing the dilator into my man-made vagina; small groans escape my lips and sweat breaks

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-4688270211337325932007-01-11T20:32:00.000-08:002007-01-14T13:26:37.156-08:00

So I have this article on the web; it’s very serious. It’s about the importance for Transsexual women to dilate. I get a lot of questions on this article—mostly from pre-ops. The questioners almost always ask why I have to convince TS women to dilate regularly.‘Doesn’t it feel good?’ No, it doesn’t. No, really, it doesn’t.It’s an understandable question. Isn’t the whole point of having a vagina

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-82962784973779681892007-01-08T21:36:00.000-08:002007-01-08T21:38:06.907-08:00

I started jogging on the treadmill today—again. Ugh. I hit the wall at 7 ½ minutes. I got my second wind in 8 minutes and quit in 10. I didn’t exactly resolve to start exercising again, but after clothes shopping yesterday with my cousin, I was too scared NOT to start exercising. But at least I won’t be breaking a resolution if I don’t keep it up!I’m starting this year with a few

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-38015967077223896222007-01-06T18:36:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:46.273-08:00

It started with the Turkey; Thanksgiving--no longer an elegant dinner with family giving thanks for the gifts of the past year, but an all day gorge-fest complete with breakfast for the parade, all-day-grazing snacks for the football games, and a dinner big enough to choke an elephant. Cookies, pies and cakes round out the night. Let's not even talk about all the drinking that goes on. Here's

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-57355603364426207732007-01-03T21:56:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:46.906-08:00

So where do a couple over the hill trans-women go for New Year's in the Bay Area? Diva's in the Tenderloin, or maybe Crash Nightclub? No, these two oldsters went to our favorite biker-bar right down the street: Winter's Tavern in Pacifica.This favorite haunt of ours is so close we could walk there in 4-inch platform heels. Good thing too because there were more cops out than at a Crispy Cream on

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-44288307018806631732006-12-31T09:18:00.001-08:002006-12-31T09:18:16.429-08:00

This is a great way to get through the holidays. Thanks to thatjustinguy (YouTube)for making a great video.

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-8801207344468577042006-12-28T20:41:00.001-08:002006-12-28T20:41:12.897-08:00

Waves crash over the seawall in high winds at Pacifica, CA.

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-91380117793440027042006-12-26T22:23:00.000-08:002006-12-26T22:36:29.268-08:00

So Christmas is past and I survived. Interestingly, many of the people I sent the super microwaveable herbal scented back and shoulder warmers to (see Christmas Shopping at the Mall from Hell post) said they loved them. Well, of course they would say that; they're nice people. Too nice to say what the Hell are these things? Traci and I got three packages of summer sausage, beef sticks, and

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-90348853905038063462006-12-22T21:12:00.001-08:002006-12-22T21:12:11.355-08:00

A house with Christmas lights set to music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-22098033449179026142006-12-18T18:40:00.000-08:002006-12-18T18:43:20.630-08:00

“Lie on your stomach and spread your ass-cheeks—just like last time.” She spoke with a European accent and stood over my nearly naked body, tool in hand waiting for me to respond. She’d said it matter-of-factly, as if it wasn’t anything new to her—and in reality it wasn’t; she’d done this before with me and with others. Young, tall and Gold’s Gym taut, I especially liked the way she pulled her

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-56429952743548430832006-12-13T21:48:00.000-08:002006-12-15T05:58:51.788-08:00

I had just come out of a meeting at City Hall and was getting on my Harley when I heard someone on the sidewalk behind me. "He's wearing a dress...and that's a wig he's wearing...not his real hair!" I didn't hear him clearly at first, I wasn't really paying attention. I didn't know he was addressing me. I looked up and a small thin Indian (from India Indian) man was pointing out the back profile

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-51683075138492655902006-12-05T20:38:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:43:47.188-08:00

Cookies & ScreamSan Francisco Values. It’s a term that was in the news quite a lot before the recent elections: Do you really want Nancy Pelosi with her San Francisco Values to be the new Speaker of the House? I guess the far-right had no more ammunition and decided to try and pit the country against our lovely little city by the bay. Well, I guess the country isn’t as afraid of San Francisco as

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-71664585615972009322006-12-03T13:28:00.000-08:002006-12-03T13:41:39.863-08:00

I’m a sap. I scour the grocery store shelves for the best deals possible, looking closely at the price per unit to get the very best price, even though I end up emptying my purse at the cash register because I bought 80 pounds of kitty litter at .015 cents cheaper per ounce. As good or bad (I still haven’t figured that out) as that may be I pulled the ultimate boner recently while Christmas

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-579678897621204170.post-89827561394855723492006-12-02T11:38:00.000-08:002006-12-02T11:40:48.756-08:00

I claim in my profile that one of my likes is writing. So I feel compelled to have a blog. But blogs scare me. After all, I am over...I mean approaching 50-something. Doesn’t that allow me a bogging-exemption? I don’t really understand blogging. Is it like public masturbation? Maybe...So I guess if I want to keep a public diary I need to have a blog. Why a public diary? Isn’t this

AllyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11667369968923886378noreply@blogger.com0