Now I'm starting to get nervous. Today we have a VERY long choir rehearsal to go over the entire concert. In one week, I'll be singing my first solo (that isn't karaoke) in front of a large group of people since I last hopped onstage with my friends Brian and Casey 14 years ago! *swoons from fright* I still think my singing voice sounds like a guy, though no one has ever said anything to me. Point of fact, others have reassured me that I definitely sound like a woman, albeit a middle-toned alto. Which is perfectly fine by me as long as I don't sound like a dude. Al had a good point when she said that Kourtney - our choir director - wouldn't have put me in a solo if SHE thought I sounded like a guy. Good point... I think. I'm just nervous as hell is all.
In other news, I've started a couple of new-ish things: first of all, the color guard rehearsal went well. I'm still learning the basics of flag spinning (or whatever the hell they want to call it besides "twirling"), but picked up on a few things really quickly. I just need to remember them from rehearsal to rehearsal.
I've also FINALLY started mentoring/being an adviser with Growing American Youth, a local group for LGBT youth. As far as I know, I'm the only transgender adviser they have, which is interesting. Even more interesting is that the head cheese of the mousetrap, Scott, suggested that the youth put on a Transgender Day of Remembrance next Thursday (which is, of course, tech rehearsal for the choir concert) during their typical meeting time. I gave a few suggestions and am going to work up yet another information sheet on the whole transgender/transsexual/crossdresser differences. I've also edited a Beyoncé song ("If I Were A Boy") and will be editing a snippet of "A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story" for them to use during their TDoR. It should be interesting to hear how it went. I'm really proud of the youth in the group; they're smart as a whip (especially coming out before they turned 18. WTH??) and are at least open to learning more about something they themselves aren't familiar with. Kudos to the youth!
This year, I'll be able to go to a TDoR myself. Last year, we had tech rehearsal on the 20th, and this year it'll be dress rehearsal on the 20th. One of the local LGBT-friendly churches is having one on Wednesday the 18th, though, so I'm going to attend that one. I think it'll be Al's 2nd one and Amy's 1st TDoR. I'm fully expecting to be weepy as hell when it gets done, especially in light of the fact that the amount of people on the list this year has more than doubled from 42 in 2008's TDoR to nearly 100 this year! I think the increase is due to the fact that it's probably getting more frequently reported than it used to be. In general, society is starting to become more aware of us and our situations. It's not a perfect understanding, mind you, but it's at least a start.
Small victory for me: I haven't had any electrolysis and only a few laser appointments a couple of years ago, but have wanted to wean myself off of makeup slowly but surely. It's been really well so far. On the way to Growing American Youth, Al and I took the subway into Saint Louis and I had zero issues. I guess after 8 or so years on hormones, things even out, yanno? Like I said, small victory. But to be able to go out without the crutch of wearing makeup and looking like myself is a pretty big deal, to be honest with you.
So, I'm busier than I thought being unemployed and all. It's just a matter of getting out there and getting involved in different things, even something outside my comfort zone like color guard but it's still fun.
giddy
intimidated
hopeful![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}