Maybe It's Time...

 

I try not to get too political on this blog.  I do express my opinions of the orange asshat & his cult of maga idiots.  But maybe I should take a bit to make a point.

Assistance for HIV meds & providers is being gutted in the US.  Ryan White programs are being impacted.  I'm not a big trans supporter, but what's happening in Kansas is disgusting.  If that state can do what they want, then it might spread to others & for other groups.  Some states are wanting the right not to recognize same sex marriages.

If any of this affects you or someone you know, thank the damn republicans.  If someone in your life voted for these people, then they voted against you.  It's that simple.  This is a midterm election year, make sure you vote.  They're trying to make it harder to vote.  All that means is that they're afraid of losing.  

This isn't just about Gays, trans or people of color.  It's about anyone who isn't a 1%er or above, conservative, straight, white man.  I doubt anyone meeting those criteria is reading my blog, so this is aimed at you.  Just vote.

Cya...

The Last February Thursday...

 

This month is wrapping up.  February is never easy for us.  It's the month things break, have to be replaced or we wind up in the hospital.  I'm glad it's nearly over.  

We have no plans for today.  We're both spent after everything this month brought our way.  Tomorrow will be the last shopping trip of the month.  Next week, the new month will begin & things will start all over again.  Hopefully, without all the breakage.

That's all, take care.

Cya...

Optimum Prevention Method...

 

Other than abstinence, condoms are the best form of prevention.  There are many PrEP options, but they require access & implementation.  These meds do nothing to prevent other STIs & pregnancy.  Condoms offer similar protection & guard against more than HIV.  Besides being cheaper & more available, condoms don't require a medical visit.

This article is about the spread of syphilis, superbugs & other STI's on the rise in the US.  It's time to accept while PrEP is great, it & doxy aren't enough to deal with the rising numbers of other STIs.  Doxy does nothing to prevent herpes.

This is a good piece, give it a read.  Take care.

Cya...

It's Back...

 

Fix-It February is in full swing.  So much has broken then needed repaired or replaced.  This has been an expensive month for us.  The month is almost over.  The van's back, but that cost us a lot.  Hopefully, nothing else major will happen to it, before we can afford something newer.

So far, there's zip on our plate for today.  It needs to stay that way.  Both of us have had & still have too much going on.  We need a day of nothing.  This month has been tiring, expensive & frustrating.

That's it for today, take care.

Cya...

Morning Busyness...

 

This morning could be hectic.  We have business & busyness.  Shopping needs to be handled.  But now we're waiting to hear from a repairman about fixing the fridge's ice-maker issue.  The van should be finished today as well.  All of this had to be on a frigid, Monday morning. 

Other than that, there's just normal stuff going on.  Hopefully, this goes smoothly today.  All my labs are in & they look mostly reasonable.   

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Not Just...

 

I see articles about how HIV is addressed dissimilarly due to differing patient  demographics.  These factors include race & ethnicity, sex, rurality & social vulnerability.  It's accurate to say these distinctions can & do impact HIV treatment, but there's something being left out.  These traits affect groups no matter what the issue. 

Any of these factors or combination of them can push a person further from the standard of care given the mainstream population.  I'm gay, rural, poor & on disability.  My access to everything is very limited compared to a middle class person living in a metro area.  Still, that affects everything, not just my HIV treatment.

Too many articles are written as if these were isolated assaults those HIV+.  Disparity in treatment has always been a reality.  It shouldn't be, but it is.  In many incidents, the more conventional, metro & affluent a person is, the better they will be treated.

Stigma & disparity are a given in any situation where there's a power imbalance.  From what I can tell, it's not a fight that can be won.  You can focus on it & waste a lot of effort, but it's unlikely any lasting change will come about.  Sorry, but society sucks.

Cya...

More On...

 

I'm trying not to be bouncing off the walls anxious, but it's not going well.  It's the proverbial domino effect of crap.  I still don't have the van back, they didn't get finished.  I thought that would be the worse news I got yesterday.  I was wrong.  The ice-maker in the refrigerator isn't working & it's causing a small leak.  Of course this happened on Friday & we can't get anyone until Monday.

I've been trying to write about the return of the little blue flowers in the yard.  Normally, they can make me happy, but that's a tall order this year.  They still make me smile.  Warmer, brighter days are on the way.  Just 15 days until the time change.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...