Category Archives: BLOG Entries

This category of My Writing includes my BLOG entries.

My TDOV GENECIS Rally Speeches

On March 31, 2022 a number of us anonymously held a rally at the University of Texas South Western Medical Center in Dallas to protest the closing of the Children’s GENECIS program that provided health and hormonal care for transgender … Continue reading

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77 Years Young, Transitions

Here is an article I wrote in 2009. It never found a home in the LGBT press, so I am sharing here as a blog post. I wish I had shared it sooner, rather than ten years later. I enjoyed … Continue reading

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30 Years Later – Remembering UTD

By Renee Baker for the UTD Mercury Our forebears love to tell us when we are young that life blazes by in the blink of an eye.   I would roll my eyes at such pronouncements.  Certainly when I moved to … Continue reading

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Spring Chicken

In case I haven’t mentioned it to you before, I love to read health books.   My dad especially likes studying longevity.   He is a great role model for staying well.   At the moment, he is 82 and still plays tennis.  … Continue reading

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The Plant Paradox

The Plant Paradox is an interesting health book written by Dr. Steven Gundry, who is a cardiologist and surgeon that has shifted his focus to dietary ways of healing.  As the saying goes, let food be thy medicine.  And Gundry … Continue reading

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The Marshmallow Test and Affirmations of Self-Control

About a month ago or so, I found myself at Barnes & Nobel Bookstore in Plano, a pretty likely place to find me actually, and I was looking for a book to help me with my weight.  I readily admit … Continue reading

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Response to Colette Chiland’s Transsexualism

Here is my pointed response to “Transsexualism: Illusion and Reality”, written by Colette Chiland in 1997 and translated by Philip Slotkin in 2003, published by Wesleyan University Press. This is an older book written about 20 years ago and as … Continue reading

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My 10 Year Gender Anniversary

Today is a special 10 year birthday for me. It was ten years ago today that I took a little trip to Quebec, home of my grandmother, to find a little more peace with my life. It was a 12 … Continue reading

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Hallucinations, Not Just For Porky Pig

Hallucinations are not just for Porky Pig.  If you are as old as me, then you may well remember the old Looney Tunes cartoon with Porky Pig and his camel lost in the desert in Egypt, dying of thirst, wanting … Continue reading

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Mind Up!

Most of us have heard the impossible phrase, “to pull oneself up by their bootstraps.” It makes us pause to wonder how do we do this. It’s like jumping straight up one foot, then when we get there, keep jumping … Continue reading

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Memorial Day Words

Some words for Memorial Day this year… My heart hurts to think of all the loss For families hurt by the death of their children Fathers and mothers that never came home Brothers and sisters that are now all alone … Continue reading

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Is You?

Here is where my mind is this morning: So I look at my cat and ask him squarely, “Is you or is you ain’t my constituency?” He looks at me and shakes his head. I said “Why? Haven’t I promised … Continue reading

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Are You Glad You Transitioned?

People often ask me, “Are you glad you transitioned?” While the answer is always yes, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hard thing to go through. It’s like asking somebody, “are you glad you had the triple-bypass?” In a lot … Continue reading

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On the Eve of April Fools

I wanted to share a little personal history before bedtime. On April 1, ten years ago, I was out for a walk/jog. I was physically out of shape and my life was really exhausting me. I was frustrated and often … Continue reading

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My Contribution to the Red Circle Project

I am adding the following entry I wrote last year on Sept 1, 2012 for The Red Circle Project.  I am sharing today on June 2, 2013..respectfully Renee Baker. Rising and falling My breath be not still And this mind … Continue reading

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The Best Breast

I’m a bit hesitant to share, but this is a true story as written back in 2007. The Best Breast was written by Dr. John Tebbetts, a well-known plastic surgeon in Dallas. I would like breast augmentation and since he … Continue reading

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50 Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice

Fifty Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice Renee Baker, Ph.D. The following is a list of tips and tidbits I consolidated from Irvin Yalom’s book The Gift of Therapy – An Open Letter to a New Generation … Continue reading

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Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment Renee S. Baker, Feb 8, 2011 Introduction In the fall of 2007, just a few years ago, Carmen Moreno and her colleagues made national and even international news when they released a … Continue reading

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An Ode to Reece Manley (1/14/69 – 2/3/11)

I wrote this for my Professional Counseling Class in May of 2010.  He shared many intimate details of his life with me.  He passed away this month from the many complications he faced.  He was often in great pain, so … Continue reading

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Maybe I Just Will

When I was studying to be an electrical engineer, our academic requirements laid out a path for us to take of study outside of core engineering.  They wanted us to have breadth as individuals, not just core depth.  But how … Continue reading

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Thixotropic Man – Or, Our Ground Substance Hero? Say what?

Look, up in the sky, no I mean laying there firmly in bed, it’s Thixotropic Man.  Can we help him?  Yes, quick, give him a massage before it’s too late.  It’s working, he’s starting to move, he’s warming up.  There, … Continue reading

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Being There

About twenty years ago, when I was doing some early research at UT Dallas, my advisor gave me some sage advice.  Not about school, but about relationships. He shared with me that we get so busy sometimes, wrapped up in … Continue reading

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Margaret Mercer – A Herstorical Woman of Character

Every now and then I really enjoy finding age old writings from the past.  I was in the process of writing an article about the Dallas Women’s Foundation and was researching philanthropy, when I came across Margaret Mercer, born in … Continue reading

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Dallas Stonewall March 2010

I had a distinct honor of saying a few words at the Pride rally downtown Dallas outside the City Courthouse.  I spoke on two issues of importance, but also on something beautiful that happened.  It is not often that we … Continue reading

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