Yesterday was great and officially marks the beginning of my new life. I went before a judge and was granted an order to legally change my name to Jenna as well as ordering my name AND gender to be changed on my driver’s license, birth certificate, and all of my other legal documents. Ironically, I also picked up my associate of applied science degree yesterday, too. Now I have to order another one with the new name on it. No big deal though. I’ve accomplished a lot in the last year. I completed my degree, had a major surgery that needed to b e done, started electrolysis, changed my name and gender legally, paid off my house, re-established my credit, and came clean with my mother about why I had been so miserable for so long. Here’s to hoping 2010 will bring me a great job and bring me closer to feeling complete in every way possible.
January 17, 2010
December 3, 2009
Just When You Thought It Was Safe
I have two tests and two short papers to write and I’ll have my two-year degree in process technology finished. Since I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get a job, I decided to go ahead and register for two more classes in the spring. Once the semester begins I’m going to declare a new major in psychology and begin working on a B.A. in psych. It will probably take me ten years, but I’ll enjoy the courses regardless. I’m really happy to have the first degree out of the way. Once I have a job, a lot of the things I’ve worried and stressed myself over for the last two years will be relieved. It’s so nice to finally have a break, not just from school, but from everything. I’m going to take advantage of the next five weeks to rest, enjoy myself, and take a trip or two on the bikes. It’s been a hell of a year with a lot of wonderful changes in my life. I’m really looking forward to the changes that are still coming over the next few years. One age of craziness is coming to an end and another one is just beginning to take its place. Embrace the lunacy, you might just find something new and exciting that makes a wonderful change in your life, too.
November 9, 2009
This Is What I Was Expecting
Introduction
With an increasing number of people purchasing motorcycles to offset rising gasoline prices today, a potential health epidemic is beginning to emerge. Many new and even long-time riders have not been taught the importance of using proper hearing protection when they ride. By looking at how motorcyclists are exposed to harmful noise levels and methods of exposure prevention, a determination can be made as to how noise induced hearing loss among this part of the population can be reduced and/or prevented. This report will explain:
• How noise is defined
• What constitutes hearing loss
• Why failure to use hearing protection devices when riding a motorcycle can lead to permanent hearing loss
• How riders can protect themselves from hearing loss
• Recommended ways to educate riders about the dangers of noise induced hearing loss
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
Noise is generally defined as any unwanted sound. Prolonged exposure to excessive levels of noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. Referred to as noise induced hearing loss, it can be defined as irreversible damage to the internal parts of the ear that convert sounds into electrical impulses that the brain then converts into information. Noise induced hearing loss is a 100% preventable condition. Preventive measures include education about the dangers of noise exposure, what constitutes noise, and how to protect oneself from harmful noise exposure.
What is The Primary Noise Exposure Hazard Motorcyclists Encounter?
The primary source of noise that motorcycle riders are exposed to is not from the motorcycle itself, which is typically around 85 – 90 dB, but rather from the wind noise created by turbulence around the rider’s head. By using microphones placed inside of motorcycle helmets, audiologists have measured noise levels as high as 110 – 116 dB when travelling at 65 miles per hour. As noted in Table 1, permanent hearing loss can begin to occur with as little as 15 minutes of exposure to noise levels of 115 dB.
What Can Motorcyclists Do To Prevent Hearing Loss?
The most important thing that anyone can do to preserve their hearing and prevent hearing loss is to become educated on the dangers of noise exposure. Once an understanding of the hazard is gained, preventive measures can be taken to reduce the amount of exposure a person receives. The easiest and most inexpensive way to prevent hearing loss is to avoid high noise levels. When this is not feasible, the next step is to use inexpensive foam or silicone ear plugs. Ear plugs only take a few seconds to insert and come with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) to indicate the amount of noise (in decibels or dB) the ear plugs are capable of filtering out when used properly.
Conclusion
Hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to noise is a preventable injury that can best be prevented by educating new and experienced motorcycle riders alike on the dangers of noise exposure, how they are exposed, and how to protect themselves. This can be accomplished in several ways, including:
1. Inclusion in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic & Experienced Rider Courses
2. Inclusion in the owner’s manual that is shipped with each new motorcycle
3. Literature to be included with the purchase of new motorcycle helmets
4. Posters in motorcycle dealerships and parts supply stores
While there are most certainly many more ways that motorcyclists can be educated about hearing loss dangers, these few recommendations should serve as a basic guideline for instituting a program to educate the riding public on an often overlooked piece of safety equipment that should be included in every rider’s collection of safety equipment and daily riding habits.
Noise Source Sound Level (in dB) Maximum OSHA Exposure Time
Conversation 65 Unlimited
Motorcycle (at rest, idle) 85 to 88 10.6 – 16 hours
Lawn Mower, Shop Tools 90 8 hours
Leaf Blower 95 to 105 4 hours (at 95 dB)
Chain Saw 100 to 105 1 to 2 hours
Woodworking Shop, Stereo 110 30 minutes
Sandblasting 115 15 minutes
Motorcycle (at 65 mph) 110 to 116 15 to 30 minutes
Ambulance Siren, Rock Concert 120 7.5 minutes
Jet Engine 130 1 minute 52 seconds
Table 1: Noise sources, sound levels, and permissible exposure limits
The Table didn’t copy over very well, but it’s there.
November 8, 2009
The End Is Near
At least I hope it is. I still have to make it past Technical Report Writing and Interpersonal Communications. I’ve enjoyed the psychology and philosophy courses more than anything else I’ve taken so far. Sure, the technical courses were good, but they just didn’t feed my hunger for knowledge that these two did. Graduation appears to be set for next month, then the real fun begins. Time to actually find a job and make some money. I got another toy to pay for a few weeks ago so no time to goof around waiting for the jobs to come to me. Also scheduled to see an endocrinologist next month to begin managing my HRT properly. This only leaves a couple of little legal things to attend to before the real life test begins. I’m really hoping that i can swing this before I get a job since things will go so much easier by doing so. Okay, blog updated. I know I’ve been lazy, and the school work is showing it. I’m still behind on my reading and pretty much have been all semester. Thank God it’s almost over with. I just wish I could have done one more semester to take another psychology course. Time to start playing catch-up on the reading.
July 20, 2009
Life Changes
I’m currently trying to decide if I want to start blogging about everything that’s going on in my life here or on my other blog. A lot of things are changing and some of those changes are going to either shock or offend some people. To those people I would just ask that you keep it to yourself. It’s hard enough without being harassed and hated on. I took a new saying to heart when I saw it and really believe that it’s going to help me get through the days easier when people try bringing me down:
Always be yourself. Because the people that matter don’t mind. And the ones that do mind don’t matter.
I recently started to keep a paper diary of some of my daily activities, the first one I’ve had in almost 30 years, which I might begin transcribing to my blogs. I guess I should look at my Google Analytics information to see what kind of traffic I’m getting. It may not be that big of a deal right now, and it may be that the content causes an explosion in traffic. I guess only time will tell. What really needs to be determined is what kind of people are reading my blogs. If all I’m getting is a bunch of closed minded, prejudiced, homophobic assholes, then I’m not going to put anything up on this blog or the other. I’ll start a new one just for the purpose of documenting what I feel could be very helpful to others as well as myself when I need to look back and see how far I’ve come. Comments and constructive criticism are welcome, but please try to keep it civilized. Life can be hard enough without someone trying to ruin your day before it’s even begun.
July 12, 2009
I Hate Being The Bearer Of Bad News…
But not nearly as much as being the recipient of it. I got some absolutely thrilling news last week. Oh wait, it’s not that thrilling. I’ve been having serious pains for the last few months that I tried to ignore in the hopes it would pass, or at the least wait until I finish school in December to deal with. After an episode last week where i could hardly function I decided to go get checked out. The diagnosis is not something I wanted to hear. Without going into the graphic details, a couple of cysts were found that need to be removed before they get any worse. These things have been caused me a lot of pain, discomfort, and metal anguish, and in all honesty I really don’t think I can make it until December when I’m done with school. Now I’m kicking myself for not keeping up with a health insurance plan for when stuff like this comes up. So with that said, I set up a little page at ChipIn.com to try and raise the funds to cover the cost of the surgery. To everyone that has contributed so far, it is greatly appreciated and you have my thanks. Every little bit helps.
November 8, 2008
Big Fire
A plastics facility in Channelview, TX is on fire. This is what the smoke looks like from my back yard from about 20 miles away.
November 6, 2008
So Tired
Between the vasectomy last week and keeping up with school, I’ve been low on energy almost every day this week. Sleep hasn’t been coming easily and what little sleep I do get is of poor quality. I will definitely not be taking 17 hours during another semester. The course load I had for this term was way more than I expected even though I haven’t been performing badly. I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester two weeks later. The month between semesters is going to be a lot of rest, trips to the gym, and a shitload of video games. My poor Xbox hasn’t been touched in months and I’m paying for a gym membership that has been just as neglected. The reduced course load for the spring term should give me a little more time for those things. I know I have to take my school work seriously, but I think I’ve put too much focus on the school work and not enough on taking care of myself. Bah, I need to fix the bike and just take off for a weekend. That should leave me feeling quite a bit better. BBL. 
October 31, 2008
*SNIP SNIP*
Yesterday marked a milestone in my life that I been working toward for the last 13 years. I finally got my vasectomy. A lot of people have asked me why I would have a vasectomy even though I don’t have any kids. Well here is the simplest explanation that I can give. There are some people in this world that should never be allowed to have children for one reason or another. It just so happens that I feel like I belong in that category. I was raised in an abusive environment and have no tolerance for children. I can’t stand being around them or hearing other people talk about them. My foul attitude towards children and and lack of emotional response to hearing about violence toward them led me to my final decision. In other words, it was a proactive decision on my part to prevent any future harm to myself, both mentally and legally, as well as others around me.
I’m sure there are some people who will still think that it was a poor decision, but I spent well over 13 years knowing that this was what was right for me. When asked by a great-aunt 5 years ago when I was going to settle down and have children, my mother just looked at her and shook her head. I think she already knew what I had decided. Whether she had accepted the inevitability of that I don’t know. The question I have to answer now is this. When, if ever, do I tell my mother? I have to wonder if she held out hope that one day I would relent and sire a demon seed. Whatever the case may be, it’s too late now.
After returning home yesterday I felt more tired than usual. That could have been due to not sleeping well Wednesday night, the lack of food for 13 hours, and of course from the procedure itself. But later last night, after having slept for a few hours, I felt a peace of mind come over me that I had been looking for in vain. And now that i have it, I know that I made the right decision.
April 25, 2008
Gotta Love My Ex
So I get the text message and the fun begins.
Her – Holy shit! It’s Karl!
Me – Wha?
Her – Him, Justine, the wifey and two kids.
Me – Tell Justine that Jennifer is in town until tomorrow.
Her – Wasn’t talking to them, just laughing at Karl. Who’s Jennifer?
Me – The other girl I got pregnant 2 years after we broke up?
Her – Did she keep it? And why you want Justine to know?
Me – Tubal pregnancy. Justine likes her. Taking her to El Ranchero later (I had been offering to take Miss Genius there all week). You wanna make a baby yet? : )
That was 20 minutes ago and no response. I can’t wait to see where this goes. 
Edit: 10:00p.m. WordPress formatted the post in a funky way so I went back and changed it so that people don’t get lost trying to figure who’s talking about what.