Since I'm on disability, energy assistance for heating & cooling is normally a given. Apparently, that's no longer the case. I'll have to wait & try to get in with everyone else. That may not work. It's not a giant amount of funds, but any helps. Every time that orange stain opens it's hole, things get worse. I'll try to get it done.
I hate having to do things that should've already been handled. That's it for now.
Take care.
Cya...
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...
There'll still be lingering fireworks for a bit, but the holiday has passed. It wasn't all that great either. Each year the fireworks get smellier, smokier & do less. When we 1st moved to this house, we could sit on the porch & watch the show. It'd easily clear the treetops by 2 - 3 times. There'd a loud rumble boom & then the lights. Then unfortunately, the smoke. Each year, the lights in the sky got lower & the treetops obscured more of the show. Last night, unless I looked at a very specific angle, the fireworks were completely concealed by the trees. The booms were louders & the air was filled with more smoke & odors, but the lights were hidden.
Just like with everything else, the show has gotten more expensive. While the event happened, the pyrotechnics were much lower quality. They paid as much or more for the show & got less each passing year. In a few years, it'll just be sparklers on a podium.
All the 4th brought us was noise, litter & smoke. My head is dealing with the aftermath this morning. My eyes, nose & throat are hating it. Glad this only happens once a year.
On to other news, this article, actually an abstract from the National Library of Medicine of the NIH. Deals with the idea that even if a cure for HIV were found, it wouldn't solve everything for those living with the virus. This is something I've personally thought & worried about. They made 4 points. 1) a cure for HIV would not deal with health damage already incurred from or exacerbated by the virus. 2) you'd still have to deal with the stigma of being the person who had HIV. This could make reentering "normal" life difficult or impossible; try finding a job after a decade with no work experience due to being HIV+. 3) People who were cured could lose all public assistance leaving them more economically vulnerable. 4) There's no guarantee a cure would be available to everyone. Without the means to aid people who've been living with HIV for years of decades, a cure could be more problematic than the virus.
That's it for now. Hope you had a good holiday. Give the article a read. Take care.
Cya...
Yesterday was a crap day & on top of that, it was a week out from Machen passing. The day was stressful & left me feeling like crap. I'm sore & exhausted this morning. It doesn't help the car was acting up yesterday. We don't need that.
It's cloudy with a small chance of some rain. It'll most likely just stay gloomy & humid. This is July & it looks like April.
I need to shower. We have bills to pay. I hope this goes well. I'm too tired for more.
Cya...
PS - Optimum for out for over 14 hours.
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...
