Goodbye June...

 

It's goodbye to June & I'm thankful for that.  June hasn't  been an awful month, but it hasn't been good  either.  It'd be nice if the last half of the year was better.  I have little nice to say, so Goodbye June, try harder next year.

I found another article over needle exchanges.  Even though they've been proven to help combat the spread of HIV & are supported by the CDC, many states are trying to end them.  Vicious conservatives are being idiots over health matters, no surprise there.

That's all for, take care.

Cya...

Late Month Sightings...

 

There isn't much going on this morning.  At least the sun's shining.  It's been a weird month & June is almost over.   Yesterday was cooler, but the coolness was almost draining after being so warm. 

About a week ago, I saw my 1st dragon of the season.  It was glossy black.  This morning, I saw the 1st hummer of the year.   It was so tiny, I could barely see it.  I couldn't tell the color.  I just saw the motion & strange flight of a hummer.  

That's all for now.  Take care & enjoy the end of June.

Cya...

Yuck...

 

Yesterday was borderline miserable.  It started dark & moved into storming.  The rain was supposed to last all day.  It was only supposed to make it into the 80s.  The rains stopped & the temps rose into the mid 80s.  Yesterday was like living in a giants arm pit.  The humidity was oppressive.  The air smelled like rotten eggs due to locals shooting off fireworks.  It was hot, smokey, sticky & smelled of sulfur.  What a great day.  Maybe today will be a little better.

Cya...

National HIV Testing Day...

It's that time of year again.  It's National HIV Testing Day.  Go online & find a testing center near you.  Many offer free testing.  Testing is the 1st step in treatment.  

Take care.

Cya...

2 Things...

 

Summer issues are here.  These mornings often find me very dehydrated.  I don't sleep as deep during the Summer & wake up a lot easier.  The fans & heat are basically trying to turn me into jerky.  By morning, I'm parched.  It takes a while to get rehydrated & feel somewhat normal again.

Next topic, I've lost most the blogs I follow.  When I started blogging, I followed a few dozen.  Most of those are gone.  Under a dozen still stand.  Less than half of those post semi-regularly.  While only a couple post often.  A blogger posted a message she was retiring her blog.  She'd moved on to other formats.  I don't blame her, but there goes another thing I enjoyed.  I have means of following some of these other people still, but it's not the same.   They may be prettier & more professional, but the soul's gone.  Blogger may end someday & then I'll have to make a decision about my blog.  Do I allow an ending or  move somewhere else? I don't know.

Cya...

Sticky...

 

There isn't much happening this morning.  It's sort of bright out, but clouds keep dimming things.  I hate filtered Summer light.  It's rough on the eyes.  The humidity is high & it's sticky this morning.  The cat gave me a dirty look when I tried to pet her. She didn't want my sticky heat adding to her's.  It won't get any cooler today, but maybe the heat will burn off some of this moisture.  Have to go now, we have shopping to handle.

Take care.

Cya...

It's Back...

 

The reprieve from the Summer heat ends today.  It's supposed to be hot until Sunday, then back down in the 80s.  It was nice to have the cooler days.  There was no need for the AC.  

The heat has returned & with it came idiots.  Idiots that stay up all night making noise.  Fools that try to skateboard while half drunk.  It also means the return of fireworks.  It's not the idea of them that gets to me.  It's the repetition & smell.  That gets really annoying & can make it hard  to  breathe.  Sometimes our neighbors suck.

Take care.

Cya...

Back At It...

 

For the last week or so Suddenlink has found it's suck option again.  It's the company's prefer mode.  It keeps dropping out.  It did it again last night.  We always call & often, we're the 1st to let them know there's an issue in our area.  Suddenlink rarely  admits there's an area outage.  If they're going to, there'll being an automated message.  Normally, they try to put you through hoops & say they need to send a tech.  It's never been our end, it's always theirs.  The best option is just wait a while.  It usually comes back on in a bit.  I hate Suddenlink.   

It's trash day & we have errands.  That'll be our day.  Take care.

Cya...

Cool & Stormy...

 

Yesterday morning was dark & stormy. It rained nearly an inch & cooled us down a lot.  Our high was in the low 70s.   Too bad it stayed dark all day.  It's another cooler day, we'll probably be in the lower 80s.  At least there's a little sunshine.  Other than a shower & normal stuff, I don't have much to do today.

Take care & have a nice day.

Cya...

Cloudy Outing....

 

We have to go shopping soon.  It wasn't easy to wake up this morning.  The skies are overcast & we're expecting possibly storms.  Great, the 1st day of real  Summer & it's grey & wet.  I need to get going, so this is it for now. 

Take care.

Cya...

Summer Solstice...

 

It's the 1st day of Summer, Happy Solstice.  Summer can you pull it together & be a better season than Spring?  I really hope so.  

I found this piece.  It deals with the effectiveness of telemedicine for HIV patients in rural areas.  For those  unfamiliar with the concept, it's a good read.  

That's all for now, have a great Summer.

Cya...

Late-Mid June...

 

For meteorologists, Summer started at the beginning  of the month.   Probably,  actually true for the weather itself.  But Summer actually starts after the Solstice.  Which is tomorrow.  So,  goodbye Spring & hello Summer.   Maybe the world's mood will change a little for the better.  That'd be nice.

Have a good Summer.

Cya...

So Far...

 

For a bit, life has been tediously stressful.  Usually nothing too big, just a series of serious annoyances & setbacks.   I'm worn out.  So far, this morning has been decent.  Maybe it'll hold.  We need a good, easy day.  We need to rest & recharge.  That's all for now.  The sun's shining & it's not too hot yet.  Hopefully, this will be a good day.

Cya...

Basically None...

 

There basically won't be a post this morning.  Suddenlink's  internet keeps dropping out.  I'm not  sure how this is going to last.  I didn't forget to post  & blogger didn't eat it.  Suddenlink screwed my morning.  I'm really angry almost every morning, my day gets f'ed before  11 AM.  I wish all  the uppity ups  at  Suddenlink a painful & embarrassing ending.

Cya...

Another Trash Day In June....

 

Not much going on this morning, but it's bright.  Other than taking trash to the curb, we don't have much planned.  The standoff with the bees is ongoing, but their numbers are dwindling.  Hopefully, soon they'll decide the porch isn't a good place.  I got some of the spray on my hand & didn't rinse well enough.  I'm having a small reaction to it.  It should die down soon.  It doesn't itch, it's just a little bumpy.

That's all for  now, take care.

Cya...

1st Half...

 

June is halfway over, that means 2021 is nearly the same.  2020 may have had more fear than this year, but 2021 still has it's share & is really working the agitation & stress.  

We're still dealing with bees.  I hope what we're doing is making them see this is an hostile place.  We just need them away from the house & definitely not in the house.   

Yesterday had nicer weather.   But, I tired myself out earlier in the day.    I  never quite recovered.  The Summer heat is impacting how I take my blood pressure  med.   My BP lowers a lot in  warm weather.  I take it was the monitor says my BP is higher.   Summer means dehydration.  I wake up feeling like dried leather.  It takes forever to get rehydrated & I drink a  lot of liquids.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya..

Blogger Ate Another Post...

 

Blogger ate another post.   I blogged about ongoing issues & plans about them.  But, the post went up in smoke.  This will have to hold for now.  I'll post more  tomorrow.

Good Day, No...

 

I was having a decent day yesterday until the  afternoon.  Then we noticed swarming bees.  The house was & still is covered in honey bees.  I want  them gone.  They're getting in the house.  This Summer is already causing agitation.  There were issues with my meds & the lawn mowing.  Regular seasonal pests are back in force.  Now, we have to  deal with bees.  2021, you aren't being a good year for me.  As they say, "You're ruining  my experience."

Cya...

Attitudes...

 

I hear conversations about people being worried about what others are going to think of them.  If someone  is going to think less of you because of something you did that you had little choice in, they don't hold you high regard in the beginning.  Live for yourself.  Do what you can live with & deal with the fallout.  It's not their life.

In the same vein, some people say they're proud to tell of their HIV+ status.  While you shouldn't be ashamed of being +, what's to be proud about.  You  contracted a virus.  That's like saying, I'm proud of my flu this season.

There are articles about HIV being 40+ & how we need to do more about stigma.   No, we  don't.  Stop  wasting time on that.  If people, after 4 decades of awareness,  are going to be judgey about being HIV+, nothing will ever change  them.  It was never about HIV.  It was about power & wanting to put others down.

Attitudes are just that, attitudes.  Sometimes people change theirs, but it's rare & up to them.  If they have available information & they persist in their beliefs, you'll never change them.  You are only responsible for you & your actions.  Let it be & move on to things you can impact.

Cya...

Uggh & Good...

 

Let's start with the ugh.  It got awful yesterday.  It  hit 93.  By the time it was 89, there was already a heat index of 101.  It wasn't pleasant.  It was the 1st day the AC was turned on this year.   Luckily, the weather cooled down fairly quickly in the evening.

On to the good.  The yard got mowed, yay!  That's a relief.  An even bigger relief is that the pharmacy called & told me they will have my meds in today.   I'll go by later & get those.  We didn't need the stress of  those 2 things being up in the air.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

It's Back...

 

Even though the morning was dim, yesterday got warm & humid.  It got to the upper 80s & was very muggy.  It looks to be the trend for a while.  Maybe we'll eventually get some sunlight to burn off some of the humidity & drear.  

Nothing else is going on here.  We still don't know about the lawn.   The pharmacy hasn't got back to me about my meds.  This is not being a stress free time.  Articles were also a bust.  This is it for now, take care.

Cya...

Nerved...

 

I'm not having a good morning.  I woke to another  dreary morning.  We're trying to figure out how to get  our lawn mowed since our guy had to have surgery.  Now, the pharmacy can't find my med.   I'm not in a  good  place.  I'm tired of being so anxious.  Hopefully,  we'll figure out  something soon.  I need some  of  this off my plate.

Cya...

Another Grey...

 

It's another grey morning  the forecast shows more rain chances.  It's supposed to warm up to more seasonal temps,  But, there's still no sign of being much brighter.  I didn't notice any newish articles.  Most are still going on about the anniversary of HIV & COVID issues.  Maybe soon, we can get back to actual info over HIV.

Take care.

Cya...

Uggh...

 

It's 9 AM & I'm spent.  The lack of light is throwing me off.  It's always so damnably grey.  It's going to rain again today.  No sunlight today for us then.  It'll be like this until at least Thursday & then the rain chances lessen.  Too bad there's no sunshine in the forecast for the next 10 days.  Between the weather  & other crap, I'm done for  now.

Cya...

Rough Morning...

 

It started storming right as I went to bed last night.   It was loud & clashing.  The rain, wind,  thunder & lightning made sleep difficult.  It's June, but it looks like March.  Meteorologists have us in Summer & the Solstice is in 2 weeks. So, why is it so grey?  2021 may be somewhat better than 2020, but I'm not sure there are good years anymore.  

Cya...

This Is Why...

 

People ask why there isn't a vaccine or at least much better treatment for HIV decades out.  There are a lot of reasons behind that & much has been written on the subject.  This piece covers why after 40 years there still isn't a vaccine.  It's long, but worth the read.  HIV  may no longer be considered deadly by some, but it's hard to match the virus's complexity & adaptability.  

That's all for  now, take care.

Cya...

Annoyed...

 

We we're having a productive time yesterday.  It was going well & it seemed  OK.  Then, there was a knock at the door. We got some news, that's putting some plans in jeopardy.  It's been a crap Spring, we've had mostly challenging times & lots of issues.   Yesterday started off bright, non-eventful & productive,  Then life said, "Oh no, we  can't have that,  here's  some  bad news, grey skies & anxiety."

Sometimes,  I just  can't.

Cya...

OpEd...

 

I normally don't post about OpEd's, but for a while, I've noticed pieces like this article.   It's written by a man.  He was in NYC & knew of Larry Kramer in the pre-HIV years.  

The point was simple, HIV isn't over.  It hasn't been handled.   Time after time, things disrupt the fight against the virus.  This last time it was COVID.  We have a lot of momentum at the moment.   If we don't insure they use it to end HIV, we'll endure until the next pandemic.  Then, who knows?

Give this a read & have a good day.

Cya...

Anniversaries & Hard Wakes...

 

Albeit, we now know HIV has been around longer,  this month marks the recognized 40th anniversary of HIV.   This piece & others discuss it.  Some of  those articles are objective, many aren't.  I'd suggest reading them.  The problem is, parts of society act like HIV has been beaten & we can move with our lives.  This virus hasn't been beat, we haven't  won.  Researchers found vaccines for COVID in months.  They've been working on a HIV vaccine for decades.  This virus is much more complex.  There is always the possibility HIV could mutate again & leave all currents meds/therapies would be useless.  Then we'd be back to just "safer" sex & condoms.

June is  still being a dismal  beast.  It's like  trying to hug a dirty, wet mop.  This has not been a good Spring for me. It has been a very hard season, much worse than Winter was this year.  Maybe things will pick up sometime soon.

Cya...

Meh of June...

 

It would've been nice for June to start off cheerful & sunshiny.  But no, it's the same dismal BS as May.  Thanks June for such a yick start.  It's been hard  waking this morning.  It's dark & raining.  I woke late  & need to get around.  This is all I have for now.  The articles were mostly just updates, maybe tomorrow.

Cya...