In my final-for-now physical therapy appointment “a week-after-the-first-one” which you read about previously, there were no issues or problems. 

My regular tech was still away on vacation, and the same female tech as last time was still “filling in.”   She – and the other tech – surprisingly addressed me by my given name (which is now predominantly given to females).  That has always been, and continues to be, fine with me – especially in an office this close to home.  To disinterested passersby, anyone hearing my given name routinely thinks “it’s a girl.” With my feminine appearance to match the name, it doesn’t require much further analysis on their part.

My outfit that day was very similar to what I wore for my previous appointment:  different color stirrup pants, a crew neck tunic top, and ballet flats.  Very feminine, very comfortable.  She complimented my pants, initiating a discussion of her preference for their appearance vs  leggings (which she doesn’t like because they look – and generally are – so skin tight that every little bulge shows.) Her comment was “for those of us carrying a few extra pounds, form-fitting leggings just aren’t very flattering”.   Surprisingly, she said that “your stirrup pants are perfect for you.” And she confided that my wearing them has convinced her to search for some for her herself.  Wow, that outcome was surprising…and totally “out of the blue.”

But wait, there’s more!  

After renewed discussion of my long hair (with no reference to my birth gender), she told me she really liked my flats.  “Where did you get them, and how comfortable are they?”  So I told her I’ve had them a while and love them – more than any other shoes in my closet.  She asked about where I bought them,  and we discussed that for a bit.  Not local, that’s for sure.  “On-line is best” was my response.

She really liked the cut of the vamp, showing some toe cleavage.  “Up to now I’ve had to wear sneakers all day to be comfortable, but they’re not at all stylish. A pair of sexy ballet flats like those would be fun to wear, not to mention more than a little bit flirty.”  My comment: “Flirty’s not a bad thing for us as we get older, is it?”  “Not at all, sweetie.” And we both laughed. 

We’re clearly different shoe sizes, so she didn’t bring up any discussion of “trying them on.”  Though it would have been interesting – and fun – to get her comments on my white toe nails. She would have had to take my shoes off me – revealing I was not wearing socks!  Maybe one day I’ll wear my sandals…that would cause a bit of a stir!

Don’t get the idea that we talked only about clothes and shoes. Peripherally, we also hit other “topics du jour” – nails, holiday cooking, Christmas plans, and so on. Just like two gabby women!

When I left after my appointment, everyone again used my given (female) name, without any issue, or any reference to gender.  It was a very stress-free experience…too bad she’s not likely to be around if I need a future appointment!  That half-hour-plus of pure girl talk was a lot of fun. 

Lately I’ve spent hours rooting through boxes of paperwork, which Mom (and Dad) had accumulated over 50 years of marriage.  I couldn’t deal with the task any sooner, but finally had to get it under way, “moist eyes” and all. As a result of my page-by-page examination, much of the older stuff is superfluous, and “feeds the shredder.” 

What a shock I got as I opened one file, the contents of which were from about 25 years ago.  Buried deep therein was a clean, unfolded, apparently brand-new, and still-crisp-from-the-bank $50 Federal Reserve Note.  A thoughtful little “reward” for my effort in taking the time to check everything. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

That’s all for now…

Hugs,

Mandy

The one in Cornwall, UK – not the one closer to home!

But first, what is Land’s End? It’s a headland and holiday complex in western Cornwall, the UK, situated within the Penwith peninsula about eight miles (13 km) west-south-west of Penzance at the western end of route A30. To the east of it is the English Channel and to the west the Celtic Sea.

(Note: it’s the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England.  However, it is not the westernmost point on mainland Great Britain, as this title narrowly goes to Corrachadh Mor in the Scottish Highlands.

During our 1985 sojourn, we were fortunate enough to have taken the train to Penzance, and then spontaneously hired a cab for (with apologies to the old TV show Gilligan’s Island – and their shipwrecked MINNOW) a “three-hour-tour” around the area. Expensive? No doubt, but not as bad as renting a car and learning to drive on the “other side of the road” while trying to decipher maps. Given the short amount of time we were in town, I think we got a much better tour of the highlights than if we had tried to do it ourselves. And it was definitely much less stressful/more fun!

You readers from the UK will note that I didn’t mention whether driving there is on the “right or wrong side” – just different than we from the USA are accustomed to. When visiting the UK, it’s best avoided at all costs! The price of a little “Oops” could be unimaginable, and head-on collisions are always potentially fatal – especially without the air bags in modern cars! Could really mess up your sightseeing…not to mention your financial and physical well-being.

Above is the traditional 1950’s Lands End signpost, another of the many sights to which we were treated by our friendly cabbie. And he even pointed out the architecturally- fascinating Longships Lighthouse, located on a significant reef just over a mile offshore.

That little white vertical blip in the center of the picture below is the lighthouse…look it up on line and you’ll see its definitely-non-traditional flat-top design. Fascinating!

Yes, it was a spectacular visit – to a beautiful spot – on a wonderful-weather day!

And this leads us to think: we haven’t yet visited our own Lands End – right here at home in the Florida Keys… Never fear, it’s on the “bucket list.” We’ll get there – someday! (If the virus ever goes away…)

Stay tuned for more…

Mandy

We truly enjoyed our 1985 visit to the UK…you probably can tell from my posts!

One of our highlights was The Scott Monument (below), designed by John Steell. Finished in 1844, it’s 200 feet 6 inches high and has viewing platforms reached by a series of spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest platform is reached by a total of 287 steps. It is built from Binny sandstone quarried near West Lothian

It’s on axis with South St. David Street, the main street leading off St. Andrew Square to Princes Street, and is a focal point within that vista, its scale being large enough to screen the Old Town behind. Its location appears more random when seen from the south side and Princes Street Gardens, but it dominates the eastern section of the gardens through its scale and elevated position.

Following Scott’s death in 1832, a competition was allegedly held to design a monument to him. An unlikely entrant went under the pseudonym “John Morvo”, the medieval architect of Melrose Abbey. Morvo was in fact George Kemp, 45 year-old joiner, draftsman, and self-taught architect. He had feared that his lack of architectural qualifications and reputation would disqualify him, but his design was popular with the competition’s judges, and they awarded him the contract to construct the monument in 1838.  John Steell was commissioned to design a monumental statue of Scott to rest in the centre space within the tower’s four columns.  Made from white Carrara marble, it shows Scott seated, resting from writing one of his works with a quill pen, his dog Maida by his side.

The monument carries figures of characters from Scott’s novels, sculpted by various Scots sculptors.  There are 68 statues on the monument, not counting Scott and his dog, and 64 are visible from the ground. Four figures are placed above the final viewing gallery and are only visible by telephoto or from the viewing gallery (at a distorted angle). In addition, eight kneeling Druid figures support the final viewing gallery. There are 32 unfilled niches at higher level.

The foundation stone was laid on 15 August 1840. Construction began in 1841 following permission by Parliament’s Monument to Sir Walter Scott Act and ran for nearly four years. It was completed in the autumn of 1844, with Kemp’s son placing the finial in August of the year. The total cost was just over £16,154. The monument was inaugurated on 15 August 1846, but George Meikle Kemp was absent. He had fallen into the Union Canal while walking home from the site, and drowned on the foggy evening of 6 March 1844.

But there are still more highlights for you…stay tuned!

Mandy

To all my readers who celebrate Thanksgiving today, I send best wishes for a happy and healthy day. And don’t overdo that turkey and pumpkin pie!

Hugs,

Mandy

Recently I had a physical therapy appointment. That day, the only two staff members present who had seen me previously seen me were the female receptionist (out front), and a new 20-something male staff member who has only seen me a couple times. (He has not previously used any gender-specific forms of address for me, though when I started going to that office, there was confusion.) This 50something female therapist was new to me, and was obviously a substitute, since my “regular” male therapist was absent. Naturally, I once again precipitated some confusion… (it wasn’t the first time, and it probably won’t be the last!)

My “outfit du jour” was: tan stirrup pants with ballet flats, and a short sleeve long tunic top (untucked.) I was wearing a womens’ sweater, and carrying my purse. Accoutrements were my now-long (I need a manicure) pinkish fingernails and long hair. No makeup or jewelry.

The session started off normally, with regular warm-up exercises “alone.” Then the therapist came in and began the session. As she worked, she noticed my fingernails, and complimented them, with the usual “girl talk” about our nails and keeping them up. Then came additional typical “girl talk” about kids and grandkids. So far, so good, and the conversation stayed generic. She loved my long hair, and that (as well as hair color) became another topic for a short discussion.

Eventually the “my spouse” discussion surfaced, as did discussion about kids’ and grandkids’ names as well. What tipped me off about the direction the discussion was heading: it included origins of the names and their history in families. Case in point – my given name – which does have a family history. You may remember my mentioning that it used to be a predominantly male name (Dad and Granddad), and which over the past 40 years has been given mostly to newborn females.

We continued our discussion, and it apparently solidified her inkling that “all is not what it seems to be.” I didn’t sense any problem or concern with it, but when she inquired how I wished to be addressed, that made “what was on her mind” obvious. Since this office was rather close to home, and people in town talk, I indicated that because of my preference for long hair and pretty nails, comfortable clothes, and the convenience of carrying a purse, it’s easier to simply respond to either form of address.

As the session ended, there was no issue whatsoever, all was well, and she addressed me in the manner plainly shown on their records – as a guy. “Follow the records” is always the safe course.

Unlike the clerk at the pharmacy from a while back (who got fired as a result of his extreme antagonism toward me), this was truly a case of: “no harm, no foul.” And “as a guy” is the same way my regular therapist refers to me anyway…LOL!

So now, on to the next adventure…

Mandy

When vaccination has finally come to exist, and the virus is less of a threat, the more-womanly Mandy may be able to emerge again.

This is an everyday outfit around the house (though typically sans any shoes.) It’s comfortable, I’m used to wearing dresses, and would love to wear them more often in my outings.

But having stayed mostly in skirts on past outings, I’m not sure this would work in public. What do you think? With makeup, earrings and jewelry, white sandals (or flats if the weather is bad), brightly painted nails, my long hair, purse and so on, would this work in the spring and fall? (Or in summer with a short sleeve blouse instead of a turtleneck?)

It would be a big change for me…just not sure if it’s “for the better!”

Mandy

No, it’s not what it appears to be.

Yes, it IS the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western/later Erie Lackawanna passenger station in Wayland. But this was at that time (and still is) the stub end of the former line from New York City to Buffalo, which lost through train service on June 30, 1962.

Wayland then began being served by the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad, one of those short lines which “hangs on by a thread.” The passenger car and station were bought by (and station still is owned by) Gunlocke Manufacturing, a furniture manufacturing company. Both venues served as office and conference space for them.

Just as a curious observation, FDR acquired some Gunlocke furniture for use in the White House, elevating the company’s status just a bit!

Recently I checked Google Maps to see what’s left at the site. Gunlocke still exists, as does the station. However the passenger car is gone. And track has been rearranged to the other side of the station. And last I heard, they weren’t getting any freight!

Nothing is permanent except change…

Mandy

1985 to be exact, my wife and I made a sightseeing excursion to the UK for some sightseeing.  (That was “in the days before Mandy.”)  We had a fabulous time.  One of the places we enjoyed visiting was Edinburgh,  Scotland.  And we got there from London by – you guessed it – British Rail!

Our visit to Edinburgh was on board what is called a diesel-multiple-unit passenger train.  There are several cars, each equipped with a small diesel engine turning a generator, which powers its own electric traction motors.  And as many of these as necessary can be coupled together (multiple units) to provide a train of the required length. 

The advantage of such a type of equipment for the vacationer is the ability to “see very clearly the track and scenery in front of you.”  That’s because the operating cab (complete with engineer – or driver in the UK) is located at the end of the lead car, where the steps are traditionally located!  And there is at least one door window into the passenger compartment – sometimes many more than that.

Guess where we sat?

But the gorgeous view made our efforts worthwhile.  Now for a bit of history about the photogenic bridge just ahead…

It’s a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, approximately 9 miles west of central Edinburgh. It’s considered a Scottish symbol, having been voted Scotland’s greatest man-made wonder in 2016, and yes, it is impressive.  It was designed by the English engineers Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker. It is sometimes referred to as the Forth Rail Bridge (to distinguish it from the adjacent Forth Road Bridge), although this has never been its official name.

Construction of the bridge began in 1882 and it was opened on 4 March 1890 by the Duke of Rothesay, the future Edward VII. The bridge carries the Edinburgh–Aberdeen line  across the Forth between the villages of South Queensferry and North Queensferry, and has a total length of 8,094 feet (2,467 m). When it opened it had the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world.  That record remained until 1919, when the Quebec Bridge  in Canada was completed. It continues to be the world’s second-longest single cantilever span, with a span of 1,709 feet (521 m).

The bridge has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour for high-speed trains and diesel multiple units, 40 miles per hour for ordinary passenger trains and 30 miles per hour for freight trains. The route availability code is RA8, but freight trains above a certain size must not pass each other on the bridge. Up to 190–200 trains per day crossed the bridge in 2006.

In 1882 the National British Railways were given powers to purchase the bridge, which it never exercised. In 1923, the bridge was still jointly owned by the same four railways, and so it became jointly owned by these companies’ successors, the London Midland and Scottish Railway (30%) and the London and North Eastern Railway (70%). The Forth Bridge Railway Company was named in the Transport Act 1947 as one of the bodies to be nationalized and so became part of British Railways on 1 January 1948. Under the Act, Forth Bridge shareholders would receive £109 of British Transport stock for each £100 of Forth Bridge Debenture stock; and £104 17s 6d of British Transport stock for each £100 of Forth Bridge Ordinary stock.The bridge and its associated railway infrastructure are now owned by Network Rail.

As you can see, this bridge is a beauty – an absolute engineering marvel, in addition to being very dated-looking. It may well be prettier than some famous bridges here in the USA (our Golden Gate, New River Gorge, or Mackinac Straits bridges.)

Enjoy!

Mandy

While this was taken several autumns ago, the skyline (at the Museum of Science & Industry in Baltimore), is timeless.

And not much has changed. The skyline remains basically the same.

Well, one thing has changed: “the virus”, which severely hampers the world, as well Mandy’s ability to get out and about. Between masks, social distancing, and a general desire to avoid doing anything which could risk exposure to the virus, leaving the house is always a challenge.

True, there are some things which require it, and some which make obtaining a given result easier. It’s tough to get medical attention for some issues without leaving the house. When your printer runs out of ink, it requires either a several-day wait for the new one to arrive, or a trip to a store. And when one lives out it the sticks, when you run out of milk, eggs and so on, there is little choice but to mask up and get in the car.

So let’s all do our part, stay safe and try to beat this thing…stay safe.

Mandy

Found the following in my file. This was taken near Warsaw, in New York State, back in the fall of 1990. Was it in the process of being moved? In, or out?

Or was a flood imminent and somebody didn’t want the place to wash away. We’ll never know!

Mandy