Steps Taken Towards...

 

For a while, my roomie has made commitments to herself to try to make changes in her life.  I won't comment on those these, but I will say they were for her benefit & of her choosing.  These were things she pursued & bit by bit she made progress.  

I'd like to make a few notes here.  She choose to these pursuits & they were to improve her life & well being.  She made choices & adhered to the steps it took to get there.  She put in the effort to make these things happen.

There is something important, acknowledgement.  She will be wrapping up some parts of her journey soon.  There needs to recognition a set goal was met & possibly exceeded.  There needs to be a goodbye to these things.  The steps she took, the place she was, those who aided her & to the self that opted to begin this journey.

All of these things may have just been the beginning, but she took the steps.  She's no longer where she was, nor is she who she will become as this continues.  Acknowledgement, recognition & farewells are important.   Her life may be improving, but she's still leaving an aspect behind.  All of this deserves it's moment.

Make your goals, your plans, take your steps, keep record of your pursuit.  But never forget how & why you're heading down your path.  Take care.

Cya...

Last, Best Choice...

 

The way things are with global funding for HIV, long acting medications may be necessary.  These  monthly to bi-annual injections from Gilead, ViiV, Merck, etc...  may be the only real option.   Even with the extreme costs, these meds won't need as much infrastructure.  Patients won't need daily doses, so that overhead will be less.

Long acting meds aren't cures.  But, if enough people were treated, it could buy time.  Time to either come up with a vaccine/cure or to starve the virus out of existence. 

Even if this is the best option, it may still not be a choice.  These things are very costly & the funds may not be available.  The orange stain declared war on the fight against HIV.  He & his could cost the world decades of advancements.  They are evil & disgusting.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Little August...

 

It got hotter yesterday.  That's alright, it also got rid of some of the humidity.  If the forecast is right, today could be the last day in the 90's for a bit.  I'm not happy about that.   Muggy 80s are far worse than dry 90s.   But forecasts change on a dime.  It's decently bright this morning.  That's good.  Still, I'm waking up slower & that's not.  

The neighbors across the street are still prepping their house for sell.   Yesterday, they had an old man doing yard work while using a walker.  It wasn't a good idea.  Our yards are uneven.  Also, it was hot & he was alone.  I tried to look out every once in a while.  Maybe, it's the best they could do, but it wasn't safe.

It seems a lot of people are in a place to make a lot choices between this bad, that bad & a worse option.  

Take care.

Cya...

Quiet Day...

It's quiet here today.  My roomie went to Tulsa with her friend to see the 30th anniversary of Labyrinth.   I could've gone, but I've not been feeling all that great lately.  My allergies have been acting up a lot & my legs/feet have been hating on the weather.   I wouldn't have been driving, so I'd been in the backseat for several hours with little leg room.   That wouldn't have been fun.  

When you're chronically ill, sometimes things like this happen.  You have to balance what you want to do with what you can manage.  Not only what you can pull off, but what you can without significant consequence.  Like being worn out for days after whatever it was you did.  It would've been nice to see the movie, but not worth what I wouldn't paid for it later.

I hope she enjoys her trip.

Cya...

Choices...

Life is full of them & we've been trying to make different choices lately.  My roomie & I stopped trying to do "normal" holiday stuff a few years ago.  We've slowly stepped away from what most people expect, to do something that suits our needs & wants.    We're planning on pushing that even more in other aspects of these plans.  

It's the 2 of us.  We don't need or want the big holiday spread.  We'd waste a lot of it & get sick of the rest.  We're trying for smaller meals & things we don't get often.  A small bottle of prosecco instead of a large bottle of champagne.  A few things of odd, pricey ice creams instead of a regular pie. 

The point is simple, we want these things to be for us & about us.  There's no one else here so why should we do what most people do?  I'd rather have the small container of limoncello ice cream than a big pumpkin pie.   These are the holidays & at least at this moment the story is going to be about us.  It should be about you in your life.

So we're altering how we're making choices.  We're aiming for things that will suit us.  We may not always be able to do it, but when we can, I think we should.

Cya...

OT & Errands...

I have some more errands. This is off topic but applicable.  While growing up, we get used to things & develop preferences.  Sometimes those change as you age, sometimes they don't.

I'm not quite as sold on the childhood theory that more ketchup & cheese can make anything better as I was when I was a kid.  I still like cheese & ketchup, but they're no longer my food saviors.   I used to love the idea of supreme pizzas, the everything potato chips or the works burgers.    Now, I usually prefer simpler, more straight forward fare.

However, I still prefer boxed macaroni & canned biscuits.  I'm sure there are  others but those are the 2 of mine that get challenged most often.  I don't like homemade mac & cheese or biscuits.  Which BTW, taste eerily similar.   Someone just slapped gloppy cheese on the elbow macaroni.  

I know a lot of people who prefer the homemade versions,   That's just freaking, awesome for them.  They can eat all of that stuff they want, just leave my canned biscuits & blue box of mac alone.   But, they don't.  They feel they're right & they have to push their opinions on us uneducated, uncultured slobs who prefer Kraft Mac & Cheese.

This is a stupid clash over taste & isn't worth your time.  I can be rather cattish sometimes.  Leave me alone & I'll leave your face on your head.   Sometimes other people seem to feel they have the right to tell you how to live, what to eat, who to date... Unless, its hurting you or someone else, just do it & to hell with the naysayers.  

These things aren't worth fighting over. If these people will be rude to you over something so small as mac & cheese, what are they going to be like over the big stuff?  Totally unbearable. 

This is my life.  I like the blue box of mac & Grands biscuits.  I am chronically ill & didn't ask for your opinion on the virtues of the  homemade  versions.  I have limited energy & I'm seriously low F'cks to give.  I simply refuse to spend either on someone who thinks they're better than me & their food snobbery.  The same goes for the rest of my life as well.    If you want me to listen to your opinions on my life, then start paying my bills.  If not, shut up.

Cya...

It Stays With Me...

I've seen blips here & there about the idea of, "It stays with me," in reference to HIV.  There's research out there saying anywhere from 50 - 80% of gay men infected with the virus, contracted it from partners who were unaware they were +.  That number is huge.  Even if the number is less, it's still too high.

With all the testing, education & access to condoms, we should be able to greatly limit the spread of HIV.  We are in some populations, but not others.  It's up to you to protect yourself as much as possible.

Let's say you roll craps & wind up +.   Now what?  That's where this sentiment comes in, "It stays with me."  I may have been infected, but I can make sure I don't infect anyone else.   We're not brain-craving zombies here.

We can take our meds & lower our detectable levels.  We can inform our partners of our status.  We can make sure protection is always used.  Or, we can simply opt not to engage in sexual activity with others.

OMG, no sex, are you kidding?  NO, I'm not.  I played safe & wound up +.  I will not knowingly risk anyone else's life just for sex.  I couldn't live with myself knowing after all I've gone through, I'd infected another person.  Quite frankly if someone can live with that or even the chance of it, I don't want to know them.  You had your time on the ride & it came up bust, accept it & move on with your life.

I may be +, but I can make sure it stays with me.

Cya...