Florida, day 4

Mom told me to get on the next plane home and called me an asshole because I didn't buy her as much wine as she wanted on Thursday. She also complained about the wine itself* but nevertheless put away a bottle in at most two days.

I got her a 750ml bottle of the cheap, nasty dessert wine she likes.

Then I went to the UF campus to walk around. Hey look, Trans Pride stickers on a lamp post! A new building on the lawn where my dad used to collect toke pipes the morning after movies! Gatorade from a vending machine and a needed, sparkling restroom in the student union building!

Then I went downtown, walked around and reminisced some more, got OK ramen outdoors, went to University Club and was the lone customer as I told the bartender my sorrows; the irony is not lost on me. And he answered a question I had: all those people who look straight at UC most likely are, because Gainesville's laid back like that.

I got back to Mom's around 1815, shortly before the shift change. I'd been away for five hours.

Something I haven't told many of you because it hasn't come up is that Mom used to behave like this when I was in high school.

This wasn't an easy entry for me to write. I want out of here. And at the moment I'm OK with not seeing my mother "alive" again. Good Sister says each time we see her now may be the last. If only.

Fortunately, I have more plans outside the house for today: lunch with Funny Lady's friend A and her trans daughter, and sushi with fizzgig. I can't, however, escape taking Mom's trash out because she might flush another diaper if I don't.



*Which was good once but had started to turn. Publix sux.

Florida, day 5: a break from the suck.

I pulled the trigger on my London trip: ticket snarfed for September 1-16. I haven't arranged accommodation yet. I'm hoping that the quarantine requirement is gone by then. If it isn't, I'll blame trystbat*.

And after a walk to the end of the street and back with Mom, this time without incident, I spent the whole afternoon with friends. I met Funny Lady's friend A and her trans daughter M for lunch downtown. M is about to go to grad school in computer science. She lit up when we talked shop, but she was averse to talking about traveling while trans. She generally seemed, well, squeamish and aloof, and maybe even embarrassed by her mom and this other older woman letting it all hang out. Wevs. I had a fine time with A.

Came home back to Mom's long enough to turn around twice and go to sushi with fizzgig_bites and her daughter Bug. Fizzgig lost her mom late last year after a bout of dementia, and has spent the months since wrangling probate and restoring her mom's house. It was the kind of conversation that a) makes me count my blessings and b) makes me worry that we're cheesing off the restaurant staff for tying up a table for so long. I forgot what a champion talker Fizzgig can be, and Bug is a chip off the old block in that respect.

Shallow Fashion Details:

• black New Look-inspired dress with a web-and-rose print from Pinup Girl
• black petticoat even though it got up to 90°F today because I am a Femme of Steel
• Fluevog Truth Alisons until they rubbed me raw so I switched to my black gladiator sandals
• Mostly MAC makeup including winged eyeliner, but I only brought Revlon Black Cherry lipstick. I'm not trying to seduce anyone this week.

*Not really.