Writer's Block: Health Care

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In Australia, where I live, minimum health care is not so much a right, but a service enabled by government programs. See Health care in Australia at the Wikipedia for details.

It's not perfect, but I know I'd be much worse off without it.

Second Life Contemplation

I found out yesterday that one can set visibility of the groups that one is a member of so that they don't appear on one's profile to others (it's a tick box in the group's profile). That being the case, it's possible to have it both ways in SL - you can be both a member of the groups that you want, but still be in "stealth" so that no one else necessarily knows.

Second life is at times problematic for me. I've discovered that I enjoy making clothes, accessories and avatars, like the Daria Morgendorffer one shown to the right - I created an ALT Laurel Galli just to focus on building and learning.

I still use my original avatar Elsie Broek for socialising and support. Groups like gimpgirl (which has both an SL and LJ presence) do help.  But some times I find that SL just magnifies the insecurities and anxieties that beset me in real life. Until I get to know people in RL, it can be hard for me to be comfortable with them. I get the "I don't know what to say" block.

I had thought that in SL I might try and connect with people who acknowledge their transgender status (even though there's no need for them to do so), as that would be a point in common. I've been finding the too most obvious trans support groups there to be less than helpful. When I go to the Transgender Lounge I sometimes feel less supported than before, and the Resource Centre is a very hit and miss (though if I ever buy land in SL I want a house like that one).

It may be that I'm making a mistake by going back to these places. In RL I seem to be in a "post trans" state where issues of transition as such seem well behind me, and day to day existence after transition involves different sets of issues. And yet, finding places in RL where I'm comfortable, or can chat with people in a casual and open way about RL, seem very scarce indeed. I know that this is as much my own issue as anyone else's. As a consequence, I seem to find myself feeling more and more isolated in SL of late.

So perhaps I need to consider how much time I'm spending in SL and what I'm doing with it. I haven't drawn a new web comic since 13th August, and am starting to feel that maybe my time and attention is being diverted into SL instead.

Feeling sick and lonely

Just feel very ill and sad right now. I am so glad that I didn't go out today like I planned.

Sleep

Had a bit of a nap, felt better, but am going back to bed.

Picture Meme

As infected by _blubloo_'s post.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Post a picture in my comments of what you think describes me when you think about what/who I am.
Give no written explanation though. Just an image.

Copy and paste into your own journal and see what others think about you in pictures!