Well today marks a significant first. This actually will be reprinted in the main area to the right, but I wanted to get it listed earlier, so it goes here. Today I went to a job interview.

Today I went to a job interview at the mall.

Today I went to a job interview at the mall and interviewed at Wet Seal.

Today I went to a job interview at the mall, interviewed at Wet Seal and Revealed that I am a transsexual...

And it wasn't a problem at all. Nor a significant plot point in the interview process.

I have a second interview there tommorrow with the other manager for confirmation and I'm looking forward to it.

You see, I'm happy being who and what I am. Even though I've got a lot of obstacles ahead of me, I will overcome them. And not because I'm a Jack Sparrow Wannabe, or because I watched way too much Big Trouble In Little China, its because I have confidence in myself and that's why I think I'm gonna say the next bit.

I've been hearing bits and pieces from jersey about how Avenger is fairing now that Ricky and I are gone. I have not been pleased.

If the rumours and reports are true, then it looks like Avenger has stumbled a bit and needs to regain its footing. Its confidence. You're confidence.

We did alot of work together you and I, I didn't step up to be XO and stay on to this day in other capacities because I wanted the ship to fail. I did it, because we needed to do the work, to rebuild our confidence, to figure out who we were and what we are and then build on that.

I left the Xo post because of personal reasons to which you are all now privy, but I also left because my work there was done. I left New Jersey, because I had more to do elsewhere, and because I have confidence you all will persevere and continue to build and grow, on the keel we worked so hard to re-forge.

Now you are at another crossroads. And now you are being asked, by me, to step up to whichever task this ship, this crew, this family, may need of you.

I am asking that you all seriously sit down and work together towards the future, keeping our ideals in mind, keeping IDIC alive, and not sit idly by and through apathy or a 'someone else will do it'-mentality let all that we have worked, sweated and yes even bled for (I remember some of those moving days ;) be ripped asunder.

It may seem a bit extreme to some of you to hear all of this, but to others it might ring spot on. This ship, its crew, all of you, friends, family, prodigals or prodigals in the making are assembled together because, in the end, we are in many ways, the same. We all have a love of sci-fi/fantasy, we all seek out like minds that share our passions, intellectual, emotional, grammatical, and otherwise.

You are here because this is your place and your time to be here. It is my belief that we are where we are for a reason. Let that reason be a positive one, binding you together.

And one last, and this is the extra personal little bit, I've heard tell that some members are against my having this little page, to shed light on my walk along the Transgendered Road, and...fairly ..to espouse on the minutae large or small, of the world as I see it.

To them, I say this. It was not so long ago that I walked your roads with you. It was not so long ago, that you called me friend. It was not so long ago, that you shared my pain and rejoiced in my joys. And it is every day that I am here for you still. If you have a problem with this page, if you have a problem with the way I do things, or with me, then step up, take responsibility for your words and deeds and say something to me -directly.

This page exists because I have something to say on occasion. It may not be serious all the time, it may be flighty on the off-days, and hell it may just be a little fun too. This page is here so that others, who deal with aversity in any form can point and say, 'There's someone who is going through what I'm going through' or here's someone who can understand where I'm coming from or at the very least, 'If they can get through their issues, I can too.'.

And judging by the emails and comments I've received, there are alot of people out there who are, or who know someone who is like me. The fact that I can come here and put this all down for anyone to read is cathartic for me. Its a luxury afforded me by the Avenger and one that I take very seriously.

And because of that, I will say what I believe must be said. And I will temper that by saying that anyone who comes here knows that this is my opinion and that right or wrong, at least I'm speaking out. I'm using my voice.

Everyone aboard the Avenger has a right to speak here on the website, you simply need the confidence to do so. I entreat all interested, as I have since day one, to send something in for publication here on the website, our Lisan al'gaib. And I entreat our Cstaff to use their blogs, and the list to do the same.

People read the site and the lists, use them to forge a better tommorrow.

(*Okay that's it from me, the end started to lose a little focus as I dealt with two topics simultaneously, but hey, that's the stream of consciousness talking...and you just take the ol' Porkchop Expresses' advice. "On a dark and stormy night, when the lightnin's crashin' and the thunder's rollin' and the rain's coming down in sheet's thick as lead, just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes and the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake.. Yeah Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, Give me your best shot pal, I can take it."


And Until Next Time... I remain,

-Lourdes

(c 2003, Lourdes C., Recreation Dept., Medical Division, USS Avenger NCC-1860)

Addendum: You can go to http://www.cafepress.com/lesravienne and help me out a little bit and get some darn funny swag. Make sure to share the link with your friends ;) This works better in mass ;)