Small Town Crap...

In this town of 20 bumpkins, 10 dogs & countless cats, possums & skunks; I have a good mechanic & a doctor I like.    Other than that, not much else. If you want anything odd, oh I don't know, like a decent sized, table top, oscillating fan you're out of luck.  Even if you can find it, it won't be of any decent quality & will cost a ridiculous amount. 

Most things here are sub-par.  I guess that's just the way of things in rural USA.  We get hand me downs from the larger towns when the cities cast off their left overs.   

Yes, I'm bitching.  No, I can't just up & move.  Yes, I do think there should be some scorched earth policy practiced on this town for not having decent internet, roads or much of anything for that matter.  No, I probably won't get my way.  Damn!

I guess I should just count my blessings the restaurants aren't serving roadkill & calling it "Filet Mignon Especial."

Cya... 

Oh Really...

I found an article today that discussed variables making young gay & bi males more prone to contract HIV.  I'm not bothering with a link, not because the info isn't valuable, but because it's been stated a lot already.  This was another "Duh!" moment. 

They found young males 13 - 24 had a higher prevalence of being HIV + if:

• They lived in a lower income area
• They were Black or Hispanic
• They had lesser economic or education opportunities
• There was a high level HIV in the area
• There was a high  presence of drug use in the area

Like I said, "Duh!"  These are factors marginalizing them from the rest of society.  I've blogged a lot about marginalization & stigma.  Everyone of those factors is a strike against these people.  

This information is important, but why present it as new?  Its far from it.   This isn't limited to HIV.  Its part of every aspect of life for people living on the fringe.  It irks me someone spent $ to study this. 

Cya...

More Little Things...

Its been weird without a porch cat, really quiet.  I didn't realize how much noise they made.  Without Hex, the others haven't been around.  There's been no fussing or racing across the porch.   I've not been woke up by cat fights. 

I don't have to go check on the porch now.  I still do, but I don't have to.  Its just a habit.   

Today was nice.  I got to watch the neighbor's white cat try to climb the crepe myrtle.    A lot birds live in the top of this old bush.   It never really gets cut back, so its 15+ feet tall.   Still the bush is deceptive.  The start of the climb is easy for them, but that quickly changes.   So far, I've not seen any cat make it near the nests or the birds.   Its fun to watch them try, sort of like a rigged carnival game .

With fewer cats, the local squirrels have grown more comfortable with the yard.   They race about hiding their finds.  If they're lucky, the birds don't immediately go pluck up the hidden treasures.

Porch life has changed, mostly come to a halt.  Still, the yard has birds & the like.  Maybe soon the hummingbirds will show up & the dragonflies. I know, I can be easily distracted.  Its the little things.

Cya...

It Continues...

This article & many others out today are talking about a rural Kentucky area & its Hep C epidemic.   The man in the article has tracked over 500 IV drug users since 2008.  At this time up to a 70% are infected with Hep C.   That's 350 + people with a highly infectious disease.   

This probably could've been handled better with more outreach programs & needle exchange.   But this is a southern state where such things are highly frowned upon.  Remember this is only 200 miles south of the county in Indiana suffering from a huge HIV outbreak.  

The writer realizes its just a matter of time before those drug users also test + for HIV.   Then what?  In these states where prevention is a 4-letter word & akin to devil-worship, these highly communicable & preventable diseases are spreading like wildfire.  Way to go conservatives.  

Many people still think this is the 1980's & things like Hep C & HIV are city-things.   But more & more these viruses are present in fairly removed, rural settings.   Places with high-unemployment, little-to-no public services & a lot of drug users.

What's going to happen here?  I have no idea.  Will these states learn?  Most likely not.  They'll do just enough to get through the danger zone & then go back to business as usual.  

Cya...

Bill Day Again...

We had a few errands this morning & a cancellation.  Still we managed to get a lot accomplished.  On top of that, its trash day.  The garbage was drug to the curb & there's less junk in the house.

The cancellation was something for my roomie.  Its already been rescheduled, but her momentum is off now.  This was 1 of those things that needed a bit of mental preparation.  When appointments like that get cancelled, its effort down the drain.   Now, she'll have to ramp up all over again.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Tulsa about Telemedicine.  I figure, it's as good as dead.  Still, I need to be sure before I head on to new things. 

That's about it for today.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Cya...

A Step Maybe...

Not much going on today.  I called my specialist in Tulsa, trying to find out more about the fate of Telemedicine.   I got a hold of the person I though I needed to but she said I'd need to speak on the matter with someone else.  Of course that person wasn't in the office today.    The woman I spoke to said she ask & then return my call. We'll see.

It seems lately that no matter what I'm doing, I'm somehow at the bottom of the list of priorities.  It took 2 deliveries to get my pharmacy order completed.    Unless someone/something needs something from me or for me to do something, I'm a very low priority.    Probably not much I can do about that.  

I can at least not allow them to wallow in it while I'm present.  I fairly fed up with things lately.   I might get past it or I might not.  That depends on thing somewhat on my periphery. 

Cya...

Busy 1st Morning...

Had to go shopping & run some errands this morning.  The weather's warming up again.  Maybe we'll dry  out a little.  

There are some changes going on here.  For me, adjusting to not having a porch cat.  Its seriously weird.  Its the right thing for now, but still its odd not to have a cat lounging on the porch.  There's been at least 1 since we've moved into this house.

Some serious lack of professionalism has forced my roomie into having to deal with some changes in her life.  As to be expected, she isn't happy about it.  Today, she took another step in approaching those alterations.  

So May is behind us.  Other than all the rain, the power outage, the costs & dealing with Hex Cat this wasn't a bad month.   Just with those things, it wasn't a great 1.   So, hello June.  Can we keep the mayhem & misery to a minimum.  

It'd be appreciated.

Cya...