I'm a little blue today. The reason is a little too private to talk about here. I was a little surprised at the way it affected me, though; I wonder if it's the estrogen kicking in. I've noticed some other – positive – differences in my mood since starting HRT. I seem to be more easy-going, more ready to be guided by my emotions, less aggressive and more willing to let things slide.

I found out that HRT can make your scalp itch. A couple of days this week, I was walking at the mall; and, when my scalp started to perspire, it began itching like crazy. This was something I hadn't had a problem with before, so I searched on-line to see if anyone else starting HRT had experienced the same thing; and several people had. Best explanation is that it's due to the pH of the skin changing; the little critters that live on our skin are problem doing happy dances on mine, or something. It's temporary, so I'll ride it out. By the way, I also suspected that spironolactone, my anti-androgen (testosterone blocker) was upsetting my stomach once in a while – nothing serious – and, it turns out, that's a known side-effect. It doesn't happen often; so, again, I'll ride it out.

I left my apartment in girl mode for the third time Sunday evening to attend a local monthly transfeminine support group meeting for the first time. It was a positive experience. I got the name of a local primary care physician who is trans-friendly (my current one probably is not), something I very much wanted.

I've started a long-term project. Women come in all shapes and sizes, and in all degrees of femininity. You don't have to be girly or feminine at all to be female; but I am girly to the core, and I want to be as feminine in my expression as I can be. The best place for learning skills like that would be finishing school; but finishing schools for adult women, while they do exist, are apparently very few. I found one in Dallas, Texas, that is expensive and takes only 20 women a year, for two weeks in the summer – not what I would call a very strong course, if you ask me. There is also an age limit, which I don't pass. However, while I was scouting around, I learned about a series of books published in the 1960s, called the “Nancy Taylor Course,” that were spoken of highly. I investigated, found copies and bought them. Very, very nice; exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. They are very detailed and also very demanding. It's going to take awhile to get through them, but I think they're going to do for me what I want. It's very exciting.

I'm starting laser hair removal treatments for my facial hair soon. That will be a six-month project, more or less. Other than that, there's nothing new on the horizon.

After seeing many stories about struggles and setbacks, internal angst and equivocation, the decisiveness and speed of all this is dizzying, but very good to see! Hugs.