Goodbye July...

 

This is the last day of July.  The month started off alright.  It wasn't that Summery.  It was overcast, damp & fairly mild temps.  Then the tail end got here.  It stayed hazy, while the humidity & temps cranked up.  I haven't handled this part of the month.  I'm not sleeping well & it's leading me to feel off, sick & anxious.  

Tomorrow starts August.   I have expectations for that month & they're all bad.  I think this is going to be a bad month.  It feels like a lot is coming my way & I probably won't be able to handle it.  I think this is going to be a month of loss.   It's the last month of my birth year.  It's the last month I'll be in my 50s.  

I really needed a good Summer.  Just another thing on the list I never got.  I don't need to see September.  I don't need more trips around the circle.  I would gladly just step off the ride.  I'm tired of feeling like this.  I hate knowing my life peaked decades ago & it wasn't that great.  I broke the GenX rule.  I should've died young.  I wouldn't have had to see what a disaster I became.

Goodbye July, you failed at being a good Summer month.

Cya...

July Lasts...

 

The last days of July are here, no more Saturdays.  This Summer is going too quickly.  Other than being hot, it hardly counts as a Summer.  It's been hazy, dark or rainy so much of the season.  This fall isn't going to be fun.   Then again, these days what is?

There's so much I'm anxious about & nothing I'm looking forward to.  I'm not seeing much in upcoming movies.  Most of the things to-do aren't that great or are expensive & still not that good.  Fun seems to be going extinct, at least for me.  It's really tiring.

That's all for now, take care.  

Cya...

More Options...

 

Merck has announced trials for a monthly, oral PrEP medication.  This piece offers information about  Alimatravir.  This is the only data I can find on this drug.  It's a good piece & a monthly pill could offer options that other forms of prevention can't.  It may not be twice yearly, but it's also not an injection.  For some, that will be a significant factor.

It's dark today & not supposed to get much warmer.  It's also not supposed to get much cooler.  Tonight could be hard sleeping weather.  The last week of July looks to be hot.

I'm trying not to, but I'm already getting anxious about Fall.  Summer has been a bust again & I haven't handled the last 2 falls well.  I doubt I will this time.   I really don't need to see Sucktember.  I don't need all of it's hell drama.  I guess SAD is just a year round thing for me now, like allergies.  

That's all for now.

Cya...

A Week In...

 

The week is winding down.   The local bills are handled, the rest is online.   It should be a nothing day.  Both of us could use that.  Things have been a little rough with the surge in heat, humidity & holiday smoke.  Maybe that will settle down some.

The internet went down again last night.  Optimum seriously sucks.  It's back on for now.  It'd be nice if they got their act together.  

That's about it for now, take care.

Cya...

July Beginnings...

 

July's in full swing.  Most of the bills are paid & the water bill would've been if the city hall hadn't closed on Friday.  I get they wanted a 3 day weekend, but they should've posted about on the website or facebook.

The 4th is over & it rained last night.  It blew most the smoke away.  That was a change.  The smelly, haze from the fireworks normally lingers for hours.  There'll still be some people setting things off for a bit, but the lion's share of it should be over.

Later in the week is supposed to get hot.  I suppose we should count ourselves fortunate that it took this long to get here.  July has arrived.

Take care.

Cya...

Getting Things Started...

 

We'll handle bank stuff, some bills, groceries & errands today.  With the holiday & the way the month fell, we'll need to do more today than normal.  Monday's mail is already late arriving.  With the Saturday holiday it may be really delayed.

As far as I know this stuff will be all we have to handle today.  That's be OK, it's getting hot.   We don't have any plans for the holidays, we haven't in years.  

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Pause Before...

 

It's a bit of a pause before the bills phase of the month starts.  We'll need to do more tomorrow, due to the 4th being this weekend.  Banks & things are supposed to be open Friday & Monday, but with this area, you never know for sure.  

This used to be a favorite holiday for me.  There was fireworks & often float trips, but for years I've drifted further & further from those days.  I feel little connection to any of the holidays these days.   Maybe, I'm just not on the list anymore. 

I hope it brings some joy to those revelling.  For me it's just another day with extra noise & smoke.  Maybe that's how it gets for a lot of people.  You're either on the bus drinking the Kool Aid or you aren't. 

Take care.

Cya...

July & Anal Cancer...

 

July is here, may it be a good month.  We need it.  It's at least sunny, so that's a start.  It's supposed to get hot.  

I found a good article today.   It concerns HIV, HPV & anal cancer.    While this cancer is still more prevalent in women, its numbers are high in men, especially those with HPV.  Men with HPV who engage sex with men are at a higher risk.  The chances grow if the person is HIV+.

The risk of anal cancer in HIV-positive men who have sex with men is now higher than the risk for cervical cancer was in women before the advent of Pap tests

Almost everyone who has ever had sex has been exposed to HPV, a large family of viruses that cause six types of cancer: anal cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, penis cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. 

Most people have been exposed to HPV & HIV can greatly increase the chances of it developing into cancer.  There is a vaccine.  It can be given to children & up to the mid 40s.  I had already aged out by the time I heard about the vaccine or I would've got it.

HIV is hard enough.  HPV alone can be deadly.  Combine them & it could be a disaster.   If you can, get vaccinated.  They have anal pap tests like cervical paps.  It's up to you to educate yourself.  Most likely your care provider won't even think about this matter.  

Give this piece a read.  Hello July, be good.  Take care.

Cya...

Less Please...

 

From before it began until it ended, July was busy, hot & expensive.  It flew by in a steamy, cost ridden blur.  I'm hoping August will slow down a bit & have less expenses.  

For the moment, we have nothing planned for today.  We'll finish bills & run errands tomorrow.  This is a labs month for a telemed appointment in September.

A few years back, we had a really great August.  It'd be nice if this month was a repeat or at least close.  We need a break from the whizzing around & ending up with less.

Take care.

Cya...

Goodbye July...

 

This is the end of the month, it's been busy.  There's been a lot not normally on our plate.  My roomie has an appointment this afternoon.  Tuesday we took the car it had heat issues on Monday while we were running errands.  We got it back yesterday.   They had to replace the radiator.  There's another $550+ adding to an already expensive Summer.   Tomorrow will be shopping.   It's a busy week for us.

Goodbye July.   A couple of weather sites say we hit 100°.  Some others weren't quite to the century mark.  Either way it was hot.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Last July Monday...

 

It's going to be a hot ending to a hot month.  The temps & weather have been about the only things I've had to write about.   Other than some cat issues & the rare article, this has been sort of a bust month for posting.  

It'd be nice if the weather had been a little less on, but things could've been worse.  They have been in other parts.  We didn't get the higher temps or the massive flooding.  There's that at least.

It's a shopping day.  We'll do that & check the mail.  The it'll be back inside.  Take care.

Cya...

Last Week Of July....

 

July is closing down.  It's supposed to be hot.   That should ease up a little as we enter August.  It's weird to think of August as the cooler month.  We'll see.  There's an appointment later in the week.   Other than that, it's just shopping & letting July wrap up.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Monday Morning Again...

 

It's July & it's already past warm this morning.  It's going to be hot.  It'd be nice if it was bright as well.  We'll be handling some errands & shopping.  Then, it'll be inside for the day.  The only articles right now are over the foreseen future of the fight against HIV with the orange stain around.  

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Mid Month Thursday...

 

It's mid July & yesterday was the 1st day we had to use the AC.  It's going to stay hot for the duration.  As of yet, nothing's on the list of to-do's today.   Maybe that'll hold.  

The trash has been picked up.  The removal of bees is ongoing.  I'm still worn out from the beginning of the week.  We have shopping tomorrow.   

That's about it for now.   Take care.

Cya...

Dark Rainy July...

 

Yesterday was cooler, but not all that easier.  The morning rain never showed.  The air was soaked.   It wasn't hot, but it was so humid just walking left you soaked.   The rain finally showed about dinner time & hasn't left since.  It could be here all the way to Tuesday morning.  I think we'll make our average rainfall average.

Dealing with rain & dark morning is about it for me.  Take care.

Cya...

Getting Hot...

 

It's July & it's hot.  It'd be nice if this morning haze would go away.  It may tamp down the heat a degree or so, but it cranks the humidity.  It's better to be hotter & drier.

Summer visitors have returned.   For a few years now we've had short yellow lizards & yellowish geckos.  They're hard to tell apart from a distance.   They're nearly the same size & color.   Up close, the geckos don't look quite real.  They look rubbery & squiggle when the move.  Lizards are solid & dart.  Both eat insects, so yeah.  But the cats like to chase, so boo.  At least it'll only Millie this year.  She's less destructive than Machen was.

That's about it for.  We'll head out in a bit for errands & shopping.  Take care.

Cya...

Summer 1st...

 

The oddest thing in the yard lately has been a groundhog.  It roams the yard eating the clover & other plants.  It's sort of cute in a fat, squirrelish way.

I got a surprise this morning.  It was so small & quick, I barely saw it.  But for a few seconds a tiny hummingbird flitted near the crepe myrtle in the back.   Judging by its size & lack of distinctive color, it was either a small female or juvenile.  I used to see a lot of hummers.  Last year I only saw a few.  The way things are going, this may be my only little hummer of the season.  I hope not.

Summer's rolling along.  So far it hasn't been too hot.  It's stayed very hazy in the mornings.  That's not god for waking or seeing.  

I need my hummers, dragons, porch cats & other little creatures.   I saw a lizard on the back screen.  Those lizards & the geckos could be back soon.  These little beings give me something to focus on, a distraction.  They help me not fixate on the crap going on around us.  They let me stay in the moment, the now & somewhat sane.

Well that's it for the 6th of July.   Take care.

Cya...

Happy 4th...

The lights, sounds & smells of fireworks have been here for a bit.   This is the day, after this they should dwindle.  To those who celebrate it, have a Festive 4th.   I've not been much into any holidays for a while & this is no different.  Some of the big displays are pretty, but they get smaller, lower & smellier every year.  

That's all for now, take care, happy holiday.

Cya...

Hello July...

 

July is here & this is going to be busy week.  The 1st of the month bill run will be rushed due to Friday being a holiday.  Speaking of which, fireworks are smelling horrid this year; somewhere between burning tires & scorched ham.  

I wish I felt better about this month, but I don't.  Maybe I'm just becoming a pessimist.  But this hasn't been pleasant year so far.

OK July show me I'm wrong about this month.  Be a good month & let there be some fun.  That would be nice.

Take care.

Cya...

Goodbye July & Done For Now...

 

This is the end of July 2024.  It's on to the last month of my birth year.  This month wasn't horrible, but it certainly wasn't fun.  It was hot, humid & often too stressful.  It came in hot & that's the way it's going out.

Yesterday was busy & tiring.  We took the van to the mechanic.  It got partially fixed.  It has to go back in next week for a big maintenance job.  Just about everything that can leak, does.  Maybe after that, the van drama will be settled for a while.

Our eye exams went easy enough.   New glasses have been ordered.  They'll take a while to get here.  The van & exam took up our day, then we were hot & worn out.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...