Finally Back in Chicago

It has been exactly nine months since I last posted. During that time, a lot has happened. Most importantly, I moved back to Chicago a few weeks ago. Since I originally started this blog the first time I moved to Chicago, I decided that I should take up the blog again, now that I’ve moved back.

Ending the Post A Day Challenge

I took up The Daily Post’s Post A Day challenge in 2011, meaning that I did my best to post something every day last year. I missed a few days (mainly because I’d been out with friends later than I expected), but overall, I’ve done surprisingly well — nearly 99% of the year. Although I’m not necessarily proud of everything I posted last year, I do feel a sense of accomplishment from having stuck to it. One year, however, was enough. Obviously, I haven’t committed myself to posting everyday this year. 

One Month Post-Top Surgery

One month later!

I had top surgery exactly one month ago, and I’m feeling great!

Top Surgery Update (One Week Later)

I had top surgery last Friday, and so far, recovery has gone pretty well. I had a hematoma issue earlier this week, and so I went in for more surgery on Wednesday morning, but that went okay. There hasn’t been too much in the way of pain; the biggest issue has been the post-surgery compression vest, which is awful.

Recovery: Day 1

So far, so good. Surgery went well yesterday. Everyone at the hospital was really nice. I realized this morning that it could’ve been a bad experience, but it all went really well. I kept receiving texts and Facebook posts until nearly the time I went in for surgery, which just made me feel so supported and cared for. My parents have been taking care of every little thing for me. They’ve been fantastic.

Surgery Date Is Finally Here!

In just a few minutes, I will be heading off to get top surgery! Not exactly a sentence I can say everyday (by which I mean, only today for a few more minutes). After my constant “this many months left, this many weeks left” countdown posts, the last one is finally here. 

Top Surgery Tomorrow

Last Day Before Surgery

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’re probably aware that I’m having top surgery tomorrow . . . and if you haven’t been, well, now you know. I am so excited for it to finally be happening. I am rather less excited about the whole hospital/surgery thing. I don’t have much experience with either of those. Still, it’ll be what it’ll be, and my family and friends have been fantastic.

Continuing Thoughts About the Job (Three Months In)

People often ask me whether I like my job, or how it’s going. If I’m being polite, I say that my co-workers are nice, and it’s going well. It’s helping me to save money to pay for top surgery (on Friday!) and move back to Chicago. It’s steady, and I’m grateful to have a job in this economy. If I’m being more honest, it sounds something like this: it’s distressing, and it’s frustrating. Dealing with angry people makes me wither a little inside. I hate being called “ma’am.” I feel like I’m not contributing to the world. I almost feel like I’m someone else. 

One Month Until Top Surgery!

Because top surgery is scheduled for December 9th, I have exactly one month until it happens! Technically, slightly less than a month, given that surgery is scheduled for far earlier in the day than it is right now. I’ve confirmed with my surgeon, I’m scheduled at the hospital, and I told my manager today at work that I will need to go on medical leave for surgery/recovery. I’ve posted before at what I thought was the three month mark and also when surgery was two months away (when I realized that I needed to reschedule). Now it’s down to one month. 

The Barbershop: Finally Found Somewhere to Cut My Hair

I have posted more than once about my attempts to get a haircut. It feels like such a complicated process that I usually end up putting it off until my hair begins to look like a chia pet. The haircut almost inevitably seems to be more expensive than I really want to pay and/or be thirty minutes away from where I live (or further) — and then there’s the issue that I nearly always get misgendered, and that’s stressful as well. All of those other issues actually tend to feel more important than the actual haircut itself: as soon as my hair is shorter, and I don’t look terrible, I’m usually satisfied on that front. Today, I may have found my solution to my Minnesota haircut dilemma (the answer to the Chicago one would be to have one of my awesome haircut-competent friends cut my hair) through The Barbershop.