It' the last day of May. I can only hope June is a better, less difficult month. Yes, things could've been worse in May, but they could've been a lot better & less stressful. May wasn't a fun or full of sunshine.
We have to go shopping soon & I need a shower, so this is it. We may run over to Ft Smith, to grab some things our store no longer carries. So, this is it for now. Take care.
Goodbye May, hopefully June won't suck.
Cya...
I woke to it being brighter. That didn't last long before the clouds rolled in. It's not dreary, but it's not bright. It's been chilly here the last couple of nights, down in the lower 50s. That's odd for the end of May. I knew it got colder, a cat was pressed against my leg all night. That won't happen once it gets warm.
That's all for now. Take care.
Cya...
It's not sunshiny, but at least it's not dismal. It's nice to wake to at least some light. May is almost over. Until last year, I had 2 siblings who had birthdays on this date. My oldest sister & next younger brother. He died last year. I wasn't close to them, but still it's a little weird.
Billie Porter said the best thing about celebrities outing themselves as HIV+. He said doing it helped him. I can absolutely accept that. If his announcement lessened his load in any manner, that's actually pretty awesome. As long as it's not at others' expense, I'll not fault people for lightening their burdens. So cheers to you Mr. Porter, may your road be a little smoother.
Cya...
I did some yard work yesterday. A crepe myrtle is partially, hopefully not completely, dead. That wore me out. But, I slowly recovered.
At almost 9 PM, the storms came. In a few hours they dumped over 1.5". That puts us about 5" over our monthly average. It looks like we might make it through the rest of May without more rain. But there are significant rain chances on the 1st.
This dark, wet muck of a year we've had so far has been hard on us. Last night's rains were hard on my feet and back. This weather's also allowed fleas to boom. I had to dose the cats yesterday & it was like a post apocalyptic flea movie. The fleas were falling off everywhere. It was nasty.
That's all for now, take care.
Cya...
I'm trying hard not to be in meh mood. I woke a little around 6 & then again right before 8 as the trash truck went by our house. It was bright & sunny. Less than an hour later it's back to being dismal. This BS is being hard on me.
I come across articles occasionally talking about how the fight against HIV has faltered. The researchers admit the numbers are way lower than they had been historically, but not low enough to signal any further significant decline in the population living with HIV.
Even with all the advancements, awareness, education, condoms & PrEP, it's still holding about the same. In places like the USA, this can't entirely be blamed on the medical or drug industry. The researchers have done their part.
The pandemic drove things back. Mostly, this seems to be unwillingness or inability of some people to protect themselves or others from HIV. There are still people who don't care, bug chasers & intentional infectors out there.
In the end, you have to do all you can do to remain safe. You won't always succeed, but we can do better. if we don't, HIV isn't going anywhere.
Cya...
It rained all day yesterday. It was a dark, dismal & outright pissy day. We got almost 3" of rain. There's bound to be flooding. It's a little sunnier today. With this rain, we're 3.5" over the monthly rain average. That wouldn't be a bad thing if the rain had been spread throughout the month & not dumped in a week. There's still 5 more days in the month & more rain chances.
Windows is pushing a new feature update. I won't install it for at least a month. Maybe that'll get us past the early people & let them fix as many bugs as possible. I usually wait closer to 2 months. This is supposed to be another smaller feature update. I'd rather them do small quarterly versions than big changes. The big updates always have issues.
That's all for now. Take care.
Cya...
I'm having a hard time getting around this morning. It's dark & raining. I got up late & I need to get a shower. This is it for now. I'll be glad when the skies clear. I really need some sunshine. It doesn't look like May will offering much in the way of light.
Cya...
Every year or so, a celebrity outs themself as HIV+. There's a lot of hoopla, good & bad. It's seen as a revelation, a truth, a scandal. Recently it was Billie Porter, before that the guy from Queer Eye or Charlie Sheen. Shortly after, the "experts" claim this single announcement is breaking down walls. This bit of info is tearing away at the shame, ignorance & stigma of being HIV+.
Really? A few days ago I read about Porter's HIV status & we're already having the "experts" tell of it's great impact on fighting the stigma. Simply put, that's BS!
Celebrity announcements concerning any illness may temporarily boost interest & awareness, but there's little evidence to suggest it has lasting impact. Especially, where stigma is concerned.
Stigma isn't about the virus. Stigma is about control. Stigma is about someone or some group trying to make themselves look better than another by shaming them. People have stigmatized everything; being Gay, being left-handed, speaking native languages, having red hair, etc...
There are plenty of famous people with red hair & gingers still get hell. Left-handed people still face challenges in society. Native Americans were beaten & killed for their culture. Time may lessen stigma, but it hardly ever completely goes away. By the time it does, the damage is done. Celebrity announcements may re-aim the focus, but they won't get rid of stigma.
Cya...
It's the last third of May & all the morning sky can muster is a strange, glowing, dimness. There's a solid cloud cover & the sun is shining. The whole thing is a harsh glow. It's hard to look at & not giving off the that much light. It isn't pleasant. I would like some sunny mornings please.
Cya...
It's another dim morning. The rain has calmed for now. The weather & light have been off for long enough to screw with my sleep. I'm having weird sleep. It's not bad, just not very deep. I'm staying more alert during it than I should & everything is waking me. I'm beglad when the weather settles a bit.
That's all for now, take care.
Cya...
Let's start with, May Sucks! I haven't felt much like myself for weeks & probably won't the rest of May. It's still raining & looks to all day. It at least made the monthly rain average. Still, May Sucks!
I found an interesting article this morning. It was very vague, so I won't cite it. The idea was novel. The research was attempting to develop an method where the meds given to HIV+ people might approach the virus in a different way. Focused more on weakening the virus than eliminating it.
This wasn't being presented as a cure all. It proposed the idea of treating HIV so it was driven so far back, it'd take significant time for the virus to reemerge. Therefore, lessening to need for daily regimen of antivirals. Perhaps after a month on this type of treatment, the virus would be dormant for several months. Then the meds could be reintroduced. Followed by another period of dormancy. It's not perfect, but possibly better than what we have now. It might also be more achievable than an outright cure.
Cya...
I guess most people need to identify with others. Growing up, I never felt anyone else was especially like me or mine. I thought that was a good thing. My life wasn't great & who wanted to be a massed produced product. It turned out, a lot more kids had my early life than I knew. Still, I have no desire to be some high volume print. I never looked at movies, books or comics & thought, that character's like me. I didn't look at those things to see me or my life. I dove in to escape, not find familiarity.
As usual, I'm on the outside of this matter. Others seem to cling to finding themselves reproduced in fiction or art. Even when it comes to HIV. Every so often a celebrity outs themselves as HIV+. I'm sure they all have their own reasons. But, the public eats it up. In the past, it was to villainize them, now people want to celebrate their openness. They want to see faces they know or connect with have the same issues as them. I find that a weird, vulturish form of connecting.
Billy Porter revealed he's been HIV+ for over a decade. This morning, 4 out of the top 5 HIV articles focused on him. Good for him, I guess, but not good articles over anything else. Being HIV+ is weird thing to celebrate. It seems some people are happy that he's been drug down into the mess with them. I don't find this kind or benevolent.
Cya...
Having a slow start. It stormed last night. The sporadic noise kept waking me. I didn't sleep as sound as I would've liked. It's grey & drizzly. There was over an inch of rain & more's on the way. There are varying rain chances through the rest of the month. Maybe we'll make the average rainfall for the month. So far, the month's mostly just been gloomy & humid. I'm glad the lawn got mowed yesterday or else it might've been JUne before it could ever be dry enough to handle.
We've been dealing with ick weather, fleas & pollen. The cats have new "natural" flea collars. We'll see if they work. They're certainly being rough on us.
That's all for now, take care.
Cya...
SAD is usually a Fall/Winter thing, but this year it's been a late Spring issue. I've had more anxiety & nervousness this month than all Winter. The weather's off, there's little sunlight, little things keep going sideways, the TV's glitchy, etc...
I'm over Spring. It's been rough on me. Ostara dropped the ball this time around. We need sunlight, dead bugs & everything else to calm itself down for awhile.
I'm too scattered for more than this, maybe tomorrow. Take care.
Cya...
I constantly come across useless articles. This morning I read a piece supposedly over HIV & comorbidities. Experiencing multiple ongoing health issues is a given for people with chronic illness. This should have been an informative read.
It wasn't. It was a waste of space blip. A briefer version of the article would've been. There's HIV, it's bad. There's comorbidities, they're bad. These are some possible comorbidities, um' okay. So, HIV & comorbidities are bad. That was basically it.
What bothers me more than the useless article, is this author is probably proud of that crap. It was worthless & undermined the seriousness of the issue. Some people may feel an article with such little weight means while comorbidities are bad, they're not that big of a problem. Stop putting useless articles out.
Cya...
It was bright for a few moments this morning. It made waking up a little easier. There are clouds, showers & storms forecasted for the month. Just wonderful. Not at all what I wanted or needed.
I need things to warm up & dry out a bit. The bugs are already bad. If the temps hold, I might get to finish Winter laundry. I usually have all this handled by early April.
A favorite show got cancelled. When this happens, it makes it very hard to start a new show. You don't trust it. To hell with FOX for killing 1 of 2 shows I like on their station.
That's all for now. Take care.
Cya...
Another dim morning is not making it easy to get around. It looks to be this way for the remainder of the month. Just great. This won't be borderline miserable. I'm sick of crappy mornings. Not a lot I can do about it though.
I need to get a shower & fix breakfast, so this is it for now. Take care.
Cya...
There have been remarkably few bright mornings this Spring. There've been a few, but most have been dreary or dim. It makes waking very difficult. I've had more anxiousness from SAD issues in April & May then I did all Winter. The 1st part of this year hasn't been pleasant or easy.
Oh well, I'm running late. I had to handle a cat issue this morning & it ate some time. We have to go shopping in a bit, so this is it.
Take care.
Cya...
I've seen quite a few articles lately touting insight into new forms of HIV treatment in development. I think development is a strong word. What I'm reading sounds more like intense research than development.
I saw a piece this morning dealing with gene therapy & treating HIV. It threw some terms & concepts around, but nothing that haven't been written about before & in more detail. This article offered little. Cell therapy may someday be of great importance to HIV, but not now.
Take care.
Cya...
There's not much happening. I'm hoping the clear forecast holds. I need rid of a large box & that can't happen if it's raining. It looks clear for today & tomorrow.
A windows update marred my do nothing morning. But, past that & trash there's not much. I do need to pick up meds.
Research's waffling over HIV+ people & COVID. It's either no different for us or a horrible thing. I have no idea which is accurate. Just try to stay as safe as possible.
Take care.
Cya...
It's the mid of May & our high today will only be in the 50s. That's chilly for us. According to forecasts, the later half of the month will be filled with chances for thunderstorms. May is looks to be another dismal month. We didn't need this. Instead of warmth & light. We're still chilly, yet getting bugs & needing mowed. That sucks.
Cya...
I've been having morning issues lately. Something outside is making enough noise during the very early mornings to wake me up. When I go back to sleep, I'm oversleeping & waking up a bit groggy.
Yesterday was Mother's Day. I've never really been involved with the parent days. For some people they're very important & for others very bittersweet. For me, they're a reminder of the disaster that was my parents' presence in my life. For some, it's a reminder of a significant loss. I count myself lucky on this matter. This time having crappy parents paid off.
I need to get. I'm late & we have shopping. Looks like more rain, oh joy. Take care.
Cya...
We've had odd weather since yesterday. It got really warm & humid. Yet never rained like it was supposed to. It made sleeping weird & I eventually overslept a bit. It finally rained a harsh blip for a few minutes. The temps are cooling down to normal. During this, I almost forgot to post anything. So, here it is, not much, but it's here.
Take care & have a good day.
Cya...
There were some rough patches this Winter & I'm glad it's over. But, Spring has been far harder on me. It's been weird weather & lots of stressors. Yesterday morning was an example of that. The microwave, my keyboard & another device all screwed up on the same morning. I didn't need that.
The microwave has been replaced. So far, the only issue seems to be a matter with the clock slowing when I cook. This model is slightly more powerful than the last. The additional pull may be messing with the time. If it's the only issue, albeit annoying, I can handle that. Here's hoping this microwave can make 3 years.
Take care.
Cya...
I'm in a foul mood. We had planned a reasonably simple morning. But something in this damned house absolutely hates the idea of me having an easy morning.
1st, the microwave died this morning. Less than 3 years after we bought it. Then I get to my room & my keyboard falls. It loses some keys & can't find 1 of them.
I'm already tired & the day's just getting started. Not a good sign for the rest of the day. Here's hoping the rest of the day isn't as crappy as this morning.
Take care.
Cya...
Indiana is about to take a giant step backwards. In 2015, Scott County became the epicenter of a massive HIV outbreak due to IV drug use. In conservative fashion, then governor Pence opted to shame, ridicule & accuse, but little else. Eventually, the county started a syringe exchange campaign. It not only helped get their HIV cases under control, but became a role model for other such programs.
In 2021, the same conservative mentality wants to all but curtail the program. Even though the baseline issues haven't changed. It this happens, it is not only likely, but anticipated, another surge in HIV cases will follow.
This isn't just stupid, it shows how horrible these people are. May every conservative opposing programs like these be treated with the same kindness & mercy. Republicans want to save fetuses, but murder everyone else or least watch then suffer. This group is nothing but a collection of monsters who delight in the misery of others.
Cya...
It stormed again last night. We got over 1.5". There was a lot of thunder, lightning, some wind & hail. It's overcast this morning, but the rain has stopped.
We handled some of the 1st of month stuff. I found out what I could about my doctor's office move, which wasn't much. For now, it looks like he'll still have the same numbers. We'll see how this plays out.
Hopefully, the rain will die down & we'll get some sun. That's all for now, take care.
Cya...
It's the 1st Monday in May. We have things to handle this morning. There's the typical bank & bills items & then shopping. Then I need to figure out about my doctor's new office situation. I really dislike it when everything lands on the beginning of the month. At least the sun's out for now.
Take care.
Cya...
I'm not sure what, but something is making a lot of noise at night. It's woke me a couple of times this last week. It's making it hard to get back to sleep. Add to that all the typical noise like animals, trains, cars, etc... & my neighborhood can get a little loud in the early mornings. Things need to shut up. It's supposed to rain today & the skies are grey. This is it for now, take care.
Cya...
Not much going this 1st day in May. It's not super sunny, but it's better than yesterday. There are rain chances this week, so I handled some yard work earlier.
After seeing my doctor on Monday, I found out some news about his office last night. The local paper reported his office was moving. It isn't relocating far from where he was, but still no one said a word about it on Monday. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'll find out more on Monday.
That's all for now, take care.
Cya...
