After Mow...

I hope the mowing we had last night will be the last of the year.  We're normally done with this far earlier.  My head is not so thankful for the lawn care.   Mowing always sets off my allergies.  

The grass lowering revealed many more fire ant piles.  I hate those things.  Seriously, why won't they just die or move to Boca.  I've put out more bait for them.   I really hope this is the end of this type of yard work for the year.

I did a bit of winterizing & managed to find about 5 - 6' snake skin in the little rose bush.  It was probably a black snake using the thorns to exfoliate. The outdoor spigots are covered.  The air conditioners are covered.  Anything else can wait until it gets colder.  I still have to clean the stoves.  The ceiling fans need cleaned & reversed for the season.

Well trash is out, the yard is mowed & most of the chores are done.  Woohoo for us.  Maybe I can catch up some Netflix & TV.

Cya...

Cold To Hot...

I'm a tea drinker.  I'm not some aficionado or snob, but I like my tea.  I like your basic black, basic green, gun powder, Oolong & some non-tea tea's like apple & peppermint.    I'm not too into most fruity teas, they taste like Kool-Aid to me.  Most of the year, when it's warmer, I stick to black & green ice tea.  I don't like a lot of flavorings.  Slightly sweetened & that's it, other than the ice.

Now the season is changing & the mornings are frosty, I'm heading back to hot tea.  I like hot tea because it warms my hands when I drink it. The steam off of it clears my sinuses & relaxes my facial muscle.  The hot tea helps clear my throat & warm me from the inside out.    As much as I like ice tea, sometimes hot tea is a miracle drink.  It can do more to warm me up & loosen my sinuses than just about anything else.  

For some tea is a ritual.  Some of those are very beautiful.  For me, tea is just part of life.  Tea is 1 of the criteria I use to judge restaurants.  If you can't make good pot of tea & keep it fresh in a clean vessel, then why I would I possibly think you can do anything else.  Making tea is fairly simple.  Keeping the kettle & carafe clean should be habitual.  If your tea ware isn't clean & you're serving me from it, how clean is your kitchen?

For my household tea is a simple pleasure, but 1 that helps us get through the day.  Those things should be respected & appreciated.  What's your simple pleasure that makes getting by  in life easier?

Cya...

Hello Monday...

Monday's back & I'm not faring that well this morning.  We had shopping to do, which took me to Walmart.  That was such a yippie moment for me.   

I woke up very congested.  My head feels full & there's a low thudding.  I hate sinus crap.  The human head should come with pressure release valves.

The only articles I found today of merit were dealing with a topic I've covered a lot already, HIV stigma.  China & Sweden seem to headlining the topic of stigma & discrimination against the + people today.  Just wait,  Russia get back in the game soon enough.

Well, that's all for now.   

Cya...

Up, Yet Again....

You can Google these topics if you want.  They're everywhere right now.  1st is the development & rapid spread of a new strain of HIV in Russia.   2nd is the spike in new HIV cases in Australia.   Why am I putting these 2 topics together?  

Easy, they both have to do with a lack of communication & education.  According to many of the posts I've read, the Russian strain developed in Siberia.  An area, like most of Russia, that doesn't support much in the ways of sex ed.  There's little talking about how babies are made, let alone how STD's are spread.

Australia may have better sex ed, but the people aren't getting the message on HIV.  People are acting like it's the 1980's & that they don't have access to info about the virus & how to prevent it.  They're being indulgent. lazy & ignorant.

I've said before that communication is the key to ending HIV.  It really doesn't matter what meds are available or tests are possible, if people aren't going to talk about them & others won't listen.  The biggest detriment to ending HIV, even more than lack of funds, is ignorance.

Cya...

Waking Up...

The sunlight is shifting & my battle with waking up during the colder seasons has begun.  I don't use an alarm clock.  They don't work for me.  I get used to them & tune them out.  They'd wake the whole neighborhood before they'd wake me.  

I do wake up to changing light levels though.  Unfortunately, now my light is changing with the seasons & my mornings are beginning to drag.  I'll get used to it again, but I don't like it.

Draggy mornings give the rest of the day a similar forecast.  I'd like to wake up slowly.  I don't want to be jarred by an alarm or racket.  I want to slowly come to realize it's time to get up.  Morning should be a gradual realization, not a shocking reality.  This was a bit of a draggy morning, so I'm not as with it as I should be.   I'll write more tomorrow.

Cya...

Breathing Rough...

The change in the seasons is really catching up with me.  The allergens are still high & the atmosphere has is more conducive to breathing issues.  I'm having a lot of sinus drainage & clearing my throat a lot.  Cold & Flu season is almost upon us.   I need to go get my flu shot.

For someone with HIV, keeping tabs on respiratory things is very important.  We're susceptible to ailments such as colds, flu, bronchitis & pneumonia.  My breathing affects how I function & how well I sleep.  If my sleep is off, I'm off.   My health is affected by these things, so I try to pay attention to them.

Right now, I'm just dealing with some aggravated sinuses.  Around the 1st of the month I'll get vaccinated for the flu again.  I know some people are against vaccinations.  But I think not getting 1 is a bigger risk for a + person. 

Do you have your shots up to date?  Flu. Pneumonia, Tetanus, etc...  When's the last time you were tested for TB?  These are important things for everyone, but especially someone living with HIV or other chronic illnesses.  If you don't know the answer to these questions, you should get your shots up to date.

Cya...

Busy Day...

Have a bit to get through today & then I have to make a run to Fort Smith.    My roomie is visiting a friend & I need to pick up more fire ant killer.  Yeah, death to the fire ants & their ilk. Ilk, I like that word, do you?

Any ways, I need to wrap this up & get things underway.  Until tomorrow.

Cya...