March 30, 2012 Friday Afternoon

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Spent the morning doing things around the house. Since my lungs are not feeling better I broke down and made a doctor's appointment for Monday afternoon. Showered and got ready for lunch with the guys. Had a great lunch as always. Bought $5 worth of lottery tickets for the big drawing tonight. Hopefully I will be the big winner. Took a short nap with the dogs. Really didn't get any sleep but was nice to spend an hour just resting. Got up and vacuumed the house and now I wait for Tony to come home from work. Tonight we are going to a fundraiser downtown for the Brew City Bully Club which helps raise money to stop dog fighting. Since we own a Pitbull we are involved with the club. The fundraiser is from 5:30 to 10 PM which works perfect for us old folks who go to bed around 10 PM. Figure it also gets me out of cooking supper since some sort of food will be served to munch on while we have a couple drinks. Was rainy all morning and still cloudy. In the high 40s today in Milwaukee. Suppose to warm a bit tomorrow and then be in the 70 on Sunday or Monday. No other plans for the weekend. Will just let the weekend unfold and see what we do, hopefully it will involve a walk since I have not for the past two days.

March 29, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Last night Tony came home around 6 PM with the new umbrella I bought on line for the table outside. I ordered it online on Sunday and just got the regular shipping to his shop. Still arrived in just 3 days. Goes to show buying the more expensive, faster shipping is a waste of money. Spent the night watching American Idol and then South Beach Tow. Went to bed around 10 PM after a little lovin.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM because the dogs would not let me sleep any longer. Got up and fed them and gave Vito his shot. Barkley is again wearing his cone since the other day when I found him chewing himself bloody again. Damn dog, going to be the death of me. Did very little all morning. Listened to the soundtrack to Les Miserables and then took a shower and started the day again around 11 AM. Drove to Little Caesar's and bought a $5 peperoni pizza. Took it to Tony's shop and we ate lunch together. Of course the guys had to come and eat some of the pizza too. Sucks I can't just bring my man lunch at work and not have to feel bad about feeding the employees. Got home and shortly thereafter took a long nap with the dogs. Stella is still not feeling well with her ear infections. She snuggled next to me in bed until Bo wedged himself between us. Got up around 3 PM and started supper. Making pork ribs, mashed potato and green beans with a salad. I do love ribs. I think it would be what I ask for if I had a last supper. My lungs and back are still hurting but seem to be getting a little better, well I should say they are not getting worse. Still wondering if I should call the doctor. I just hate going again to the doctor and hope this just clears up on it's own. Will spend the night watching American Idol Results and then shows on the DVR before going to bed. It was in the 40s today in Milwaukee. A little cool but the sun was out most of the day making it seem warmer than it was. Tomorrow is suppose to be a cold rainy day all day, yuck.

March 28, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Went out for tacos last night for supper. At the restaurant we got into a conversation about Tony's looser brother, who is on work release, working for Tony again. He showed up last Tuesday. We were talking about the fact that Tony reports his hours, and pays him to work from 8 AM to 5 PM, so he can be out of jail. Well, his brother takes a bus to and from work and arrives about 9 AM and leaves at 4:30 PM to get the bus home. I asked why he was not paying him from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and and argument started. First Tony used the bus as an excuse to pay him those times. When I tried to explain to Tony the reason he takes the bus is because of his own drunk driving 5 times, Tony kept saying, 'he is my brother'. I kept telling him he is not our responsibility and it is once again bullshit to pay someone for hours they don't work. Tony is trying to give his brother a break and help, but I see it as coming out of our pocket. Plus, it is just bullshit. If he works from 9 to 4:30, he should get paid from that time not an hour and a half more for not working. It just doesn't make sense and pisses the hell out of me. Tony did tell his brother that this is temporary and as of May 1st he better have a different job because he will not be welcome here after May 1st as an employee. Yah right, stay tuned. Want to bet come May his brother is still working for him. He is to fricken lazy to go out and find a different job, much less one that might require him to actually work for his pay. Dinner was quite after that and we ate and came home. Spent the night watching Dancing With The Stars and Body of Proof before going to bed.

Got up this morning at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Saw an ad for a pillow chair at Menard's that would be great for the dogs, $19.99 after rebate. Left the house around 9 AM and went to Menard's and bought the chair, some bird food and some Algae control for the pond. Came home and after putting the chair together left again to go grocery shopping. Ended up spending more than I would have imagined for very little groceries. Took a nap with the dogs. Stella needed to snuggle next to me so tight. When we got up I noticed why. She has an ear infection and has scratched it bloody. Poor thing. Cleaned it out and put ear medicine in the ear. Will have to keep an eye on it for the next couple days. Should have known something was up when she needed to snuggle so close during nap time. Now I just have to keep Bo from licking the medicine out of the ear. Kali loves her new chair. I put it right next to the computer desk and she is sleeping away right next to me. I think she claimed the chair. Making hamburger helper and a salad for supper tonight. Will spend the night watching American Idol. Was in the 60s today. Warm enough for me and still way above the normal. Tomorrow a cold front comes through for the day in it is to be in the 40s. Then back to the 60s and 70s for the weekend. This is what weather is like living near Lake Michigan. Depending on what direction the wind is coming from has a direct effect on the temperature being so close to the lake like we are.

March 27, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Took Bo to the vet today at 11 AM to get his nails trimmed. Stopped off at McDonald's after the appointment and got me a hamburger and medium french fries for the dogs to munch on while I eat my hamburger. My lungs and back are hurting me today and have been for a while now. It seems to be getting worse and I am thinking I might have to see a doctor soon if it doesn't get better. I think it is also making me very tired, so something is not right. Took a walk to Pick N Save, not really to go shopping, but to just get out and walk. Today started in the 40s and it is now close to 60 degrees outside. Nice in the sun. Felt good to walk. My back and lungs almost feel stress related, but I have no stress to speak of so I think it has to be my lungs. Don't feel like cooking tonight so I think we will go down the street for dollar tacos and call it dinner. Will spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars Results and then Body Of Proof, before going to bed. Not much else going on today. Wish I didn't have this lung and back / shoulder pain. It is even hard to breath at times. Time will tell I guess if it is something serious.

March 26, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Saturday morning Tony went to work to pay bills. I did some cleaning while he was gone. A little after noon a friend I worked with and his wife came over and we went out for lunch at a bar a couple blocks away. Had a nice lunch and conversation. Was nice to see him and his wife. I had not seen them in a couple years. Got home and in a little while Tony was laying on the bed wanting some lovin. Did the deed and I got up to do things in the other room. I left half the dogs in the bed with him. I started watching TV and doing things in the living room. A little while later I could hear the rest of the dogs filing out of the bedroom with Tony. He looked at me and said 'they won't let me sleep'. I told him this is what nap time is like during the week also. Spent the rest of the day and night at home watching TV shows on the DVR. Went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Sunday morning we were up at 7 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Left a little before 10 AM to go pick up Tony's mom and go out for breakfast. So funny to sit and listen to her ramble about how she thinks the newspaper girl purposely does things to her yard each day as she delivers the paper. Tony's mom think she pours bags of leaves and rocks in her yard and ruins her path lights. Of course she is nuts because this just is not happening. Could be the ghost and ghost boyfriend she thinks lives in her attic. Yes, she is going nuts. After we ate I walked next door to Stein's Garden and bought 4 bags of big bark nuggets for the front yard. Put them in the trunk of my car, dropped of the mom and drove home. As I was putting out the bark chips the new neighbor's son came out to let his dog out. Told him I would love to meet his father, since we had not yet. He went in to get his dad and his dad walked out, looked at me and said, 'hi Dave'. We actually know each other. I had hired him to do painting around the building for the company I last worked for. Talk about a small world. Thankfully I was never mean to him, LOL. Around 1 PM I talked Tony into going for a long walk around the river paths. Took the long long 2 hour walk around from North Avenue to Locust Street. On the way back we decided to stop for a strawberry margarita at the Mexican restaurant by our house. Found out it was 2 for 1 so we both had to have two. LOL. Felt a little tipsy walking home the block we had to walk home. Afer we got home Tony was feeling frisky again so we again did the deed and had some lovin. Tony then napped for an hour before getting up and joining me in the living room. Spent the night watching Amazing Race, The Good Wife and CSI Miami, before going to bed around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Tony took my car to work today to finish the brake job he started 6 months ago. Since I am without my car for the day, he did leave his truck, I figured I would spend the day cleaning. Cleaned my bathroom attached to the bedroom real good. I hate cleaning the bathroom and usually let it just go until Tony does it. I just hate cleaning the toilet. Never did like it. Did three loads of laundry today and made a chocolate cake. Laid on the bed for an hour or so this afternoon listening to music with the dogs. Could not nap since the neighbors dog was barking and it kept my dogs stirring. Made an appointment for Bo to get his toe nails clipped tomorrow. I tried and he will not let me or Tony. Tony tried over the weekend but he is so blind I thought he would cut the dogs toe off doing the job so I made him stop. Plus Bo was not having any of it. Making a pork roast, rice and a salad for dinner tonight. I did not get a card from Tony for the anniversary weekend due to the fact he says the date in May when we had our Holly Union, four years after we were dating, is our anniversary. He says that, but then that date comes and goes and he does nothing special for that anniversary either. Oh well, not worth the fight. Will spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars and then Castle before going to bed tonight.

March 23, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Had a nice dinner last night to celebrate our 23rd first dinner together. I did order something different and was not happy when the steak came with mushrooms on it. I did have to send it back. I do not eat mushrooms. Came home and spent the night watching the last two episodes of this seasons The Walking Dead. Was surprised how many main characters died in the final shows. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. It was raining when I got up this morning and it appears it will continue all day. It is in the 50s so it is nice enough outside. Went back to bed until around 10 AM. Got up and showered, met the guys for lunch. Had a great lunch as always. Been spending the afternoon watching court shows on TV, listening to the rain fall. The dogs have been sleeping all afternoon due to the rain and darkness. Making some left over spaghetti and salad for supper tonight. Have plans to go to lunch with a guy I worked with a few years ago. He is coming into town so Tony can see his truck and possibly fix it in the future, and have lunch. Will eat at Tracks Bar, two blocks from our home. No other plans this weekend.

Twenty three years ago today Tony had a date with the guy he met the Saturday before. He called me the minute he got home and we spent the night talking on the phone. The next night we met at his father's tavern here on the Eastside and I met his sister and dad for the first time, it was a Friday night. On the night of March 25th, we spent our first night together. It was a Saturday and I worked all day. Met Tony at his apartment around 7:30 PM, a one room apartment. We look back and laugh now how I took the liberty to bring an over night bag with me for that date. Guess I was planning ahead, yah, that sounds better than the alternative. Our first night together was so nice, tender and sweet. Remember another red flag, the next morning when Tony was in the shower I looked through this stack of bills on his table. I remember seeing this months electric, gas, phone bills, etc. Then continuing through the pile seeing last months electric, gas, phone bills, etc. And then continuing to see the next months, and so on. I should have ran away fast, LOL. That and the closet full of laundry and the sink full of dishes. LOL. Remember how when I met Tony at his apartment he was all dressed up. He actually went out shopping that afternoon for a new pair of jeans, a shirt. I still can picture him today looking so nice for our date. Tony is not a shopper so this was exceptional for him to do all this for a first night together. Guess he even cleaned the sheets, LOL. After breakfast the next day, which was Easter Sunday, we went to my apartment because me ex was at his parents house in Chicago for the day and I needed to get home to my two dogs Tiny and Shadow. I was still living with my ex partner at this time. I remember so well as I was drying myself after my shower I looked through the crack of the door and saw Tony on the floor playing with the dogs. I knew right there and then 'he passed the puppy test', and he was the one. We took the dogs for a walk and I then spend that next night at Tony's apartment. Still can not believe all this was 23 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. Going forward we spent at least 3 night together a week and in May we moved in together with another roommate in a three bedroom home with my two dogs. We lived there for a year. On a sad note, that roommate died of AIDS a couple years later. I never knew and not sure he did that entire time we lived together. Is is sad how many friends we both have who have passed from AIDS. Makes me appreciate the days I get because of the advancements in treatments for AIDS these days.

March 22, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Went out for $1 hamburger and $1 french fries last night at a local bar. Came home and spent the night watching American Idol and South Beach Tow before going to bed.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Spent the early morning reading the two newspapers we get. Around 11 AM I took a walk along the river trail to Pick N Save to buy some fresh fruit. Bought a deli roast beef sandwich for lunch. Walked home and ate the sandwich. Laid down on the couch and listened to the new Madonna CD. Around 2 PM I felt something wrong in my stomach. A little while later I was on the toilet. I will never buy a deli sandwich from Pick N Save again. I know I said that the last two times when I got sick also, but this time I mean it. Walked over to talk to the neighbor for a while. A little chilly today in Milwaukee. But remember, when I say chilly, it still means it is warmer than it should be this time of year. The thermometer outside says it is 55 degrees. I am sure it is warmer away from the lake, west. Tonight Tony and I are going out to dinner at Palarmo Villa to have an Anniversary Dinner. It is 23 years to the date that we ate at this restaurant for our first date together. Tony and I last night were kidding each other about all the 'red flags' we should have seen and ran fast away from each other. I remember at this first date / dinner together Tony's breath being horrible. He also had to leave by 7 PM (we had an early dinner) so he could go to his group therapy meeting. Two big red flags right there, LOL. I did find out later the reason he had such bad breath was because he never made it home from the night before when we met and spent the wee hours out talking at a diner. Guess he forgot to tell the friend that was staying at his place to let him in at that time of night. Tony ended up sleeping the night at his auto body shop and hadn't even been home yet from the night before. Then there is the group therapy. I remember weeks into dating he was being told not to date me because 'it was too soon'. Well I guess they were all wrong because 23 years later, we are still together. Have to admire the determination on Tony's part to still meet for dinner under the circumstances. But we had made the plan to meet as we left the diner at 3 or 4 AM. Remember well how he called me that night after dinner and his meeting and we talked on the phone all night. Of course there was another red flag. He had just met a guy the previous Saturday and went home with him. And they had a date now to go to a concert the next night after Tony and my first date / dinner together. So he was kinda dating someone he just met when we started seeing each other. Sounds like another big red flag, LOL. He did go on the date and called me on the phone when he got home and we again talked on the phone all night until the wee hours of the morning. I honestly knew the minute I saw Tony in the bar he was going to be mine. I had always had a crush on him from the bars and I guess I just knew he was the one for me. He did have a very slutty past I had to deal with also, but we got through that. Hell, the guy he had been dating for 3 years, and just broke up with a couple weeks earlier, had a restraining order against Tony and Tony against him. I remember going to bars in the first few weeks and the bouncer at the door would tell us we could not come in because Russ was in the bar. Plus when we did get into a bar there was always an ex or two or three there to spoil the night. Somehow we got through it and Tony put up with all my insecurities, trust me, there was a lot of insecurity. It is not fun to go out with your man and have some dizzy queen walk up and tell you they slept with your man and how good it was. Gay people can sometimes be so cruel in this area. Not everyone wants to hear of know about all the other people they have slept with. Much less hear them brag about it. Anyway, I am sure we will have a nice supper tonight since we have ate at the restaurant every year since and many times in between. Will most likely come home and after a little TV do the lovin thing. I will recall and tell the rest of the weeks story 23 years ago as this week goes on. Those that have followed me for over a year most likely know the story. I do enjoy reflecting on it. It makes me smile. We both were lost souls looking for someone to spend their life with. Unfortunately we had to taste a lot of 'fruits' before we found each other.

As I was proof reading and ready to post, Tony walked in the door, home early from work, for the day. He just told me the bad news, they found a body, most likely Tom Hecht, in the river just like I had thought. They just found the body hours ago. Now the police can hopefully figure out if there was fowl play or not. So sad. My sympathy to the Hecht family.

March 21, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Got up this morning at 6 AM. Before I could feed Vito he threw up some bile. Great! Fed the other dogs as Vito walked away from his. As I was giving him a little attention to see why he was sick I noticed he has a sore on his bottom lip. Called Tony at work and asked him to come home and look at it. He said 'he will be fine', and left back for work. Typical response as I would assume. I am a little concerned and have been looking at it all day. He might have scraped it when he fell off the end of the couch on Sunday, or maybe he ran into one of the screens. Remember, he is blind. I hope it is one of those options and not something more serious. I will keep an eye on it and make a vet appointment if it gets worse or changes color. Finally got Vito to eat breakfast around 8:30 AM and gave him his shot. Talked to my mom on the phone for a while before showering and getting on with the day since it is so nice weather wise in Milwaukee. I know I sound like a broken record but this is just unbelievable. Our usual high this time of year is the 40s. We had snow on the ground last year this time of year. Our low last night was 60 degrees. The thermometer outside right now says 70 because we are so close to Lake Michigan. Go West and it is in the 80s. My sister in Oconomowoc had her air conditioning on yesterday and said she will have it on again today. It's March! We broke all time temperature records these past two days. Never since recorded has it been this hot in March in Wisconsin, EVER. Got the mail today to find a letter telling me my health care assistance will end next month due to the fact my doctor said I have been working and am working part time. I called the assistance office and had them fax a form to my doctor to fill out saying I do not work and have not since I was diagnosed HIV+ three years ago. Then called my HIV doctor to tell him to fill out the form and send it back stating I have not and do not work due to my HIV. Jeez, you would think my doctor would know I don't work. Hopefully that will be all straightened out. I need the assistance. Went for an even longer walk than yesterday around 11:30 AM. Took me 2 hours. This time I walked the trail down the the North Avenue bridge and then walked the trail on the East side of the river rather than the West side. Walked all the way to North Avenue and back home. As I was walking I thought next time I am bring a camera to take pictures to show how beautiful the river walk here is on the Eastside. Even stopped to talk to a police officer eating his lunch in his car on the trail. Talked with the neighbor for a while before laying on the couch to listen to some old disco and relax. The old disco is still playing. The song In The Name Of Love by Sharon Redd is playing. Love this song. Tonight we will go out for hamburgers since I do not feel like cooking. As I mention every year, this is our anniversary week. Twenty three years ago to this date I met Tony at the Triangle bar and we went out for coffee afterwards until about 3 AM talking. On the 22nd, 23 years ago, we had our first dinner together at Palarmo Vila, and on the 25th of March, 23 years ago, we spent the night together for the first time. So as of today we have been together 23 years. I think that is pretty good. Most marriages don't even last this long. Tomorrow night, like every year, we will go out to eat at Palarmo Vila to celebrate the first dinner we had together. Honestly I have no idea where 23 years has gone. It seems like maybe 5 years or so. I am very proud of the time and years Tony and I have been together. It has taken work and commitment. It has not always been an easy road. But in the end we have always been there together through the good and bad. Oh, and Tony got his blood test results back. He is negative for HIV and has a bone spure in his elbow. Also his cholesteral is high and he is getting a stronger pill. He does have this history and has had open heart surgery already, so we have to get the cholesteral level lower.

March 20, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Dancing With The Stars. Was a great show. I think the first to go will be the country singer and the tennis star. Went to bed shortly after watching Castle on ABC.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. I am so amazed how giving Barkley a Walitin daily has helped with his itching. He has not had his cone on in two days now and he is doing great. No eating himself either. I will have to keep giving him this pill daily. Took a shower and gave Barkley a bath at the same time this morning. Didn't wash him on Sunday so I though I had better to keep his skin from itching. Cleaned up the work bench downstairs in the basement from all the wood shavings that have collected in time. Used the new shop vac we bought a few months ago for the first time. I then went for a long long walk. Walked the trail to Pick N Save and then took the path along the river home all the way from North Avenue to Locust Street. Took my time and stopped along the way to reflect and just relax. I love walking in the woods alone. I look into the horizon and pretend it is like my heaven fantasy, seeing my dead dogs and grandparents walking the trail or jumping through the branches. Cried a little and then pulled myself together to keep enjoying the walk. It felt so good in the 70 degree weather we are having in Milwaukee. Suppose to break records today and tomorrow. Rested listening to music for a half hour before I got the water hoses out and Weeded and Feeded the front lawn between the road and sidewalk. This is the only grass we have in our yard. The rest is bark chips or gravel. Used a whole bottle of Weed N Feed on the front lawn. I now have spaghetti sauce on the stove and soon will make salads to go along with it for supper tonight. So nice to have the windows open. The dogs just love the weather, laying out in the sun. Felt so good to get things done today and take some time for myself walking along the river. I think I will do it a lot more often this Summer. Not sure why all these years living along the river I have never walked the trials. Will spend the night watching TV. Most likely will watch the last two episodes of The Walking Dead tonight before going to bed. Will have to give Tony a little lovin before sleeping. Man do I love this Wisconsin weather this year. We are going to be so spoiled when next Winter comes. We really did not have a Winter this year at all in Wisconsin.

March 20, 2012 Riverwest Video

Here is a nice little video about the neighborhood I live in.

March 19, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we watched the movie The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo. It was OK, but we found it hard to follow at times. Plus our hearing at our age, it seems you catch every other word or so. Went to bed around 11 PM. It was a long movie.

Saturday morning Tony went to work for the morning. I did things around the house. Around 2 PM we decided to go have lunch down on Water Street where all the drunks were celebrating St Patricks Day. Sat down in the middle of a couple hundred drunks and ate a nice hamburger. Everyone but us was drunk. It was funny to see what a mess people were and how they act when they are drunk. At one time a drunk girl came up to me and asked me what I am buying her for lunch. I said 'nothing'. I was not in the mood to deal with her. She was so drunk. I remember those days well and really don't miss them. I only miss the energy I had back then. Got home around 4 PM and spent the rest of the day outside or watching TV. Went to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday was another unbelievable weather day in Milwaukee. In the 70s yesterday and today. Went to breakfast at Ma Fishers on the Eastside of Milwaukee. Stopped off at Payless Shoes and bought a pair a sneakers. Tony bought a pair also. Stopped off at Pick N Save to buy some groceries and the weekly lottery tickets. Came home for a while until we realized there was a walk going on for a guy who has been missing for over a week in Milwaukee named Tom Hecht. He never made it home last Saturday from going out drinking and the family and city have been looking for him for over a week now. So sad. He lives right down the street from us. I did not know him personally but it has been one of those stories that tug at your heart strings seeing the father on the news each night. I did talk with the father and told him 'his son is proud of him for all the family is doing to find him'. I tried to sound positive. The father thanked me with tears in his eyes. I honestly think they will find him in the river. I bet he fell in the river on his way home from the bars last week. Closure would be nice for the family. Handsome guy 28 years old. The family has been out 24 hours the last week looking for him along with the Milwaukee police and dive teams. It is less than a mile from the bars to his house, so where the hell is he. He is not the first 20 aged male to come up missing in Miwaukee recently. Got home around 4 PM after we walked back home along the river paths. After feeding the dogs supper we grilled out some steaks on the grill with some baked potato's and a salad. The gas grill ran out of gas half way cooking the steaks, was not cooked good. Tony loves his raw, I do not. Ate about half and that was it. Spent the night watching Amazing Race, The Good Wife, and then after some lovin went to bed.

This morning I was up at 6 AM since the dogs could hear Tony in the living room and wanted to get up also. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Spent the early morning reading the newspaper. Around 10 AM I went back to return my shoes I bought over the weekend. Didn't like them after having them on an hour in the house. Return went smoothly and then I went to Big Lots to see what they had in dog beds. Last one of a kind bed had no tag on it and I told the clerk, $10 and it is sold. They finally agreed and I was out the door. Stopped off at Tony's shop to see him and then dropped him off a mile away to pick up a car having work done on it that he does not do. Came home and took a two hour nap with the dogs. It is still so nice in Milwaukee. I have been holding off putting the pond plant back into the pond from it's bucket of water it has been in all winter in the house. I figure it has to get cold again, right? It is only March. Think I might just break down and put it in the pond. I can always pull it out again if it snows. We do get snow in May here in Wisconsin some years so it is hard to say if Winter is truly over. Making a salad and pizza for supper tonight. Looking forward to tonight's first show of the season's Dancing With The Stars. Been waiting since last season ended. We do like this show.

March 16, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching American Idol Results show and then a couple shows on the DVR. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up a little before 7 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Read a little of the morning newspaper and went back to bed from 8 AM to 10 AM. Got up at 10 AM to shower and get ready for lunch with the guys. I could have just gone back to sleep I am so tired. I have no energy at all for some reason. Also feel like I am getting a lung infection because I keep coughing. Hopefully just a cold but I am on an antibiotic until next Tuesday. Stopped off at Walgreen's on my way to lunch. Had a great lunch with the guys. Came home and went back to bed for 2 hours with the dogs. Barkley has had his cone off most of the day. I think a second day on his allergy pills is helping him a lot. I have had to yell at him to stop licking here and there, but not like before when he just wanted to always eat himself bloody. Time will tell. No plans this weekend. Tony mentioned how tired he is at lunch and said he looks forward to 'sleeping the weekend away', I think not. LOL. Will most likely watch a lot of movies and TV on the DVR. The weather is still very nice in Milwaukee. In the mid 50s and sunny today. Still way above normal temperatures for this time of year.

March 15, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching American Idol and then CSI. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:45 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Started giving Barkley the same allergy pill I take daily in hope it helps with his skin condition and licking. So far it has not helped but I figure it has to build in his system for a few days to hopefully see some positive results. Spent the morning doing things around the house. Left around 11:30 AM for my noon board meeting with ARCW. Had a good meeting. Had a speaker on fund raising today. It started in the 60s today and as the day has gone on, the temperature has been dropping. Suppose to get in the 50s tonight. Forgot to mention in yesterday's post that our TV cable channel 12 was not working again in the morning. After spending 45 minutes on the phone with ATT I finally just told them to have a supervisor call me. Of course no one ever called. Will have to switch companies or just reboot the box when this happens. I am so tired of waiting for repair people and will not go through it again. We have had them out at least 10 times in the past year for this problem. What a pain in the ass. Making a Stouffer's frozen Lasagna for supper tonight with bread and a salad. Will spend the night watching American Idol results and Grey's Anatomy, most likely topping off the night with a DVR TV show since there is nothing we watch after Grey's Anatomy. Feeling tired again today. I wish I had some energy. Not sure what the problem is, can't be the weather. Must be my mind state. Just feel like sleeping.

March 14, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Thought I had better come in from the sun for a while so I don't get a rash like I seem to do every year on these HIV meds. Thought I had better blog since I did not yesterday.

Yesterday was so nice in Milwaukee you would think it would be hard to beat. It was in the 60s all day and I even opened the windows in the house for a couple hours. So nice to air out the house. Walked to Pick N Save and did a little grocery shopping. Did not buy much since I would have to carry it all back home. The Pick N Save is 5 LONG blocks south of my house. Bought $25 of mostly produce and walked home. Had a phone call from someone who works with a new therapy for HIV. I guess it is called SilverIon Therapy. Sounds promising and hopefully trials will begin soon in the USA. I guess the trials are in Mexico right now and they are having great success of ridding over 200 people of HIV. Now of course I am skeptical but hope full. I would not be a good candidate for the trials since the procedure alone would scare me. Much less being in the trial stage. If anyone is interested in more information email me. The person I spoke to yesterday said he would get me some information to put on my blog. Time will tell. If I get the information I will pass it along. Went out for $2 steak tacos last night a block down the street. Spent the rest of the night watching TV, topped off the night with a little lovin before going to bed.

This morning I was up at 6 AM. Slept like crap last night. These damn dogs are about to go out the window. Between letting them out and them just stirring, I got very little sleep. It was in the 40s when we got up this morning and now it is 75 degrees. Yes, 75 degrees in Milwaukee on March 14th. Has anyone heard of global warming? I have all the windows open and spent most of the day laying outside with the dogs enjoying the weather, listening to music. Moved a chair away from the front window since I am tired of yelling at Stella for being up in it and barking at everyone who walks by on the front sidewalk. Did a lot of cleaning today with the windows open. Even did some windows. Will make a beef roast, corn, potato and a salad for dinner tonight. Tony dropped me off a hamburger at lunch that he got for me when he had lunch with his Mom. They do that every so often. I think it is great and let them have the alone time. Since I am always invited to join them, that is enough. His Mom is nuts so I can do without the drama. Going to go back outside and enjoy the warm weather. Jeez, this is crazy how warm it is. I think we will even break a record today.

March 12, 2012 Monday Dinner Time

Friday night we watched the movies The Descendants and Real Steel. Both were very very good movies. I recommend both. Went to bed around 11 PM.

Saturday Tony was not in the mood to do anything. Said he needed a day off. So we did very little all day. Watched a lot of home improvement shows during the day as Tony napped, all day. I did some tile work, or should say, tore up my tile work from last week. Around 4 PM we went to dinner at a restaurant called Hamburger Mary's. I took a chance on the chicken barbecue sandwich and I did not like it. Not sure what they marinated the chicken in, tasted like cloves. Ate half of it and brought the rest home for the dogs. Spent the night watching the movies Young Adult and Take Shelter. Both were good enough but not as good as the two movies we watched the night before. Went to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday we were up at 7 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Made a big breakfast. Around 10 AM I saw Tony starting to recline on the couch and told him I was not spending another day doing nothing, I do that all week. LOL. Called a friend to borrow his ladder so we could work on the overhang on the porch. Told Tony I only needed his help for an hour. Jeez, one hour, you would think I asked for the whole day. Got the project done in less than an hour and Tony returned the ladder. It was very nice outside, in the 60s, so I spent the afternoon working on the pond while Tony napped. Around 4 PM I woke him and we went to Home Depot for some patio blocks for the pond wall. Took a little getting him to do anything again, but we were soon out the door. Bought the blocks we needed and unloaded them by the pond. Of course I could not wait for the week to work on the wall, so I started working on it after we got back for a while. Made a couple steaks on the grill for supper with a salad. Spent the night watching Amazing Race, Desperate Housewives and the show after it. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. It was so dark outside with the time shift over the weekend. Got the dogs fed and gave Vito his shot. Had to drop off Vito at 7:30 AM at the vet for a glucose blood check for the day. Stopped off at McDonald's for some breakfast on the way home. It rained all morning today, quite hard at times. By around 1 PM it ended and soon the vet called and said I could pick up Vito. His blood work was great and we should continue with 5 units of Insulin at feeding. Brought Vito home. He was so happy to see me. I even called the vet around 11 AM when I heard thunder to let them know he is afraid of thunder storms. They said they could keep an eye on him. Got Vito home and spent the rest of the day working outside in the yard and pond since the sun was now out and it was in the 60s. It is suppose to be in the 70s all week. Unheard of this time of year. Making spaghetti and salad for dinner and will spend the night watching TV. Tony will by tired being a Monday and the time shift I am sure will not help. I am sure he will be sleeping on the couch by 8 PM.

March 9, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the Prop 8 video on yesterday's post. I had watched it earlier in the day, I knew Tony would want to see it. Went to bed shortly after watching The Mentalist around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Went back to bed after Tony left for work for another hour. Spent the rest of the morning doing things around the house. My sinus problem is not getting better. Just as I was about to call my doctor to make an appointment the phone rang and it was Walgreen's saying my 3 prescriptions that the doctor called in from Tony going on Tuesday, were ready to be picked up. I love my doctor. Left for Walgreens around 11:30 AM to pick up the prescriptions prior to lunch with the guys. The prescriptions were for my pain pills, antibiotic, and Cialis for Tony. I did not get the Cialis since the cost would have been $61 for two pills. Sorry, $30 a 'pop' is not going to fly in my house. Tony will have to do without. Since I am not complaining I don't see why it is a big deal. LOL. Had a nice lunch with the guys. Two didn't show due to being sick. Everyone is sick in Milwaukee. It has to be this mild weather. Apologized to Tony at lunch for yelling at him for not getting the prescriptions in hand on Tuesday since the doctor did call them in for me to pick up today. I do apologize when I am wrong. Tried to take a nap with the dogs. Ended up just laying there thinking. Got out of bed and decided to get some more done around the house. Vacuumed and dusted. Will make a salad for dinner for the both of us. Tony will need a TV dinner or something more. I will be happy with just a salad due to not being hungry from lunch. No plans this weekend. Will most likely take Tony's mom out for breakfast Sunday. Today it was a little above freezing all day with the sun out. Tomorrow and going forward for the week it looks like it will be in the 50s. Spring is here.

March 8, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Had a great dinner last night on Tony's Birthday. Got home and watched a little TV while we had cake. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Went back to bed shortly after Tony left for work. Got up again around 10 AM and while watching the People's Court on channel 7, the channel went black. Spent 45 minutes on the phone with ATT again. Spent the afternoon watching the play about the Propositon 8 trial. It is worth watching. Had me shaking my head at the nut jobs and their stance on the measure. Well worth watching. Here is a link.

March 7, 2012 Tony's Birthday

Last night the ATT repair guy showed up at 5:30 PM. He was here about an hour and a half. Only think he could think would cause the problems was the connectors on all the cables. So he replaced about 12 connectors and told us the problem should be fixed. If it happens again we have done everything inside the house and it has to be an outside problem. Spent the night watching some shows on the DVR before going to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Was out of the house by 9:30 AM. Stopped at Walgreen's to drop off two of Tony's prescriptions from his doctor appointment yesterday. One for his finger nails and his pain pills. I was also pleasantly surprised when he told me he had the doctor add an HIV test to his regular tests he had done, a blood draw. Of course he did not get any antibiotic for me at the doctor like I had asked. He had so many excuses I could not believe it. The next time I see the doctor I will not be getting him any meds, samples, or boner pills. Although, I do benefit from the boner pills. LOL. After dropping off the prescriptions at the drop of window I went to Piggly Wiggly to buy a cake and Birthday balloon. They had nothing in cakes and ended up buying a frozen one. Stopped at Tony's shop to give him the Birthday balloon and attached it to his desk chair so all the customers today can know it is his Birthday. I then noticed only half of his security cameras were working and when I found out he needed some adaptors I went to Radio Shack and bought him four of them. Dropped the adaptors off at the shop and went back to Walgreen's to pick up his prescriptions and some allergy medicine. My allergies are just killing me this year. It has to be the warm weather we have had. Spent a half hour with the neighbor before coming into the house. Took a short nap with the dogs this afternoon. Taking Tony out to a little Italian restaurant here on the east side of Milwaukee tonight for his Birthday. Will most likely stop for a drink on the way home at one of our favorite bars. It got to 60 today in Milwaukee. Very windy and cloudy all day. If the sun had come out it would have gotten warmer. Rain is suppose to start falling by 5 PM tonight and then all night.

March 6, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Tony and I sat here last night waiting for the ATT repair person. Waited, waited, soon it was 8:15 PM and still no one. I called ATT and was on hold for 47 minutes and when I finally got a person on the phone and told him my story and wanting to find out where the repair person was, we got disconnected. UFB! I was so mad by this time I took a Valium and we went to bed around 10 PM after a little lovin.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Took a while for Vito to eat again today. After I got the dogs taken care of and Tony walked out the door for work, I called ATT. Spoke to a supervisor and was told someone would come out today from 4 PM to 8 PM. He promised it would be a good repair person who would find the problem. Showered and left the house around 10:30 AM to go to ARCW to get my monthly prescriptions and my food for the month. Came home and spent the afternoon listening to some of my music mixes. The sun is out and the thermometer says it is 60 degrees out. The snow is melting very fast and with tomorrow being the same, most or all the snow should be gone. I even have the sliding door open to the sun room it is so nice outside. The sun heats the glass sun room. Soon the repair person should be here, again. The dogs do not like being locked up and caged when the repair person is here and they let us know it. Called Tony and reminded him of his doctor appointment and asked if he could hurry home tonight to help with the dogs and the repair person. Hopefully this will be the last time or I am switching to Time Warner Cable again. Made a couple salads for dinner and will throw a pizza in the oven in between the repair and service guy. Wish they would send a cute repair person. Is there such a thing? Makes one wonder. Tomorrow is Tony's Birthday. I will go buy him a big cake and card tomorrow. Better sign off, the repair person should hopefully be calling or here soon.

March 5, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Saturday we did not even leave the house. Spent the day with the dogs watching TV. Took a two hour nap and some lovin in the afternoon. We did put the muzzle on Vito and after a little while, and a lot of fight on Vito's part, we were able to trim him just the way I wanted. He looks so cute with short hair. Got most of the hair in his face also which is the hardest to do. I am always afraid I will hit his eyes with the scissors or electric hair cutter. Took three sessions of hair cutting to get him done. Watched the movies Jack And Jill and Tower Heist. Tower Heist was the better of the two movies. Went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Sunday I made breakfast and we spent the day doing very little again. I left the house around noon to go to Pick N Save and deposit the rent check and do a little grocery shopping. I will not have to go this week now since I bought all we will need for the week. Pretty much cleared the DVR. Watched the movie I Melt With You, which was pretty good. Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning the first words I heard was Tony saying we did not have ABC channel 12 again on the TV. Damn, how many new boxes and stuff do I have to get from ATT to make this stop happening. Fed the dogs, Vito would not eat so I could not give him his shot. Called ATT after 7 AM and now a guy is coming to the house between noon and 4 PM today. I hate this crap. Not that I have plans but now I will have to cage Stella and lock up the dogs when the guy is here, all the while the dogs will be barking and going nuts. It must be a problem with the wires coming from the outside pole or something. Will not let him replace the boxes again since we have been down that road before many times and it did not correct the problem. Finally got Vito to eat half his food around 8 AM and gave him his shot. I think he felt my tension and that is why he didn't want to eat until I was more calm. I am sure he heard me on the phone with ATT, my voice was not soft, I was mad this still is happening. Had to reboot the entire system again which take about 10 minutes. The sun is out today but it is very cold in Milwaukee. Coldest morning of the Winter so far. The weekend was cold and we had light snow all day Sunday. Nothing really accumulated, but it was pretty to watch all day. This morning was in the teens and cold. Of course this is Wisconsin and tomorrow it is suppose to be 45 degrees, and 50 degrees on Wednesday. Then Thursday back in the 30s. Spring in Wisconsin is a roller coaster of temperatures. Spent the afternoon listening to music waiting the the ATT guy to show up. He finally showed up around 2:15 and walked out in frustration at 3 PM. I was so mad. He said I was not cooperating. I told him over and over that the problem is not in my house it is your wires and the signal coming into the house since we have replaced every box and cable at least twice in the past year and the problem persists. Got on the phone with ATT and another service person is coming out now between 4 and 8 PM. Filed a complaint against the first service guy. I am so pissed right now. Do you have any idea what it is like to cage up 5 dogs so someone can come into the house. All the while they are barking and going nuts. I am honestly on my last nerve right now. Going to start making dinner, which I am sure will be disrupted by the service call at some point. Will let you know how this plays out with tomorrows post. Hopefully Tony will be home when this next service guy gets here and will keep me calm.

March 2, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the results show of American Idol. Then watched two comedies on the DVR before going to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Spent the morning reading the newspapers and doing things around the house. Had Tony pick me up for lunch with the guys. Had a great lunch as always. Started raining at lunch. Came home and spent an hour on the couch listening to music with the dogs. As I type this, a little after 3 PM, the rain has turned to big snow flakes. We are suppose to ge about 6 inches of wet heavy snow in the next 6 or so hours. Could still be worse if we were not on Lake Michigan. Everywhere west and north is getting a lot more of this snow than us. With Lake Michigan not frozen over it will keep our snow total down. Sometimes it is nice to be near the lake. It is pretty watching the big flakes fall. It is suppose to be a cold weekend but the future forecast says in the 50s by the middle of next week. Will spend the night watching TV on the DVR since we have over 40 shows in the DVR to watch. Could spend the weekend snuggling and watching movies and and TV if we choose. We don't have any plans this weekend so that might just be the case. Have a great weekend everyone.

March 1, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Saw the play Mary Poppins last night. It was OK. Could have been better. Was hard to hear what they were saying on stage at times. Had to nudge Tony a couple times to wake him up. At intermission he looked at me and said 'is it over'. Got home a little after 10 PM. Went to bed shortly there after.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM. Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Spent the morning changing all the artist names on my music mix sights. Emailed back and forth yesterday with someone from my file share sight. He told me I was flagged because of a search from a company over seas called SCPP. It's a french company. He also told me if I didn't want to get flagged again I should alter the artist name a bit so that it can not be found in a search a company might do to find copyright material. So I spent the morning putting a * in ever artist name. You can see what I did for an example with the mix at the bottom of this blog, my Summer Mix, the one they flagged and deleted. It is back. I had over 600 people listen to the mix so I hate for it not to be available to play. Hopefully this fix will not get me removed from the file sharing sight since it was my second violation. Removed and re cemented another tile in the kitchen today. Should have included it in the four I did yesterday. Got it all cemented in and will grout it tomorrow. Make a bowl of tomato soup for lunch. Always makes me think of my grandmother on my mom's side. Remember as a kid going to their house for lunch and she would make tomato soup. Remember how it was so sweet because she added a ton of sugar. I do add a little sugar also and think of her every time as I do it. Remember they would always be sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. So sad they are gone and that they died before I was old enough to appreciate them. I guess if I could do life over I would spend more time with the people I should of at the time, knowing they won't be around when I get older. Took a little nap with the dogs this afternoon. Bo is such a nut. Stella and I spoon in the bed as we sleep. Bo is not happy with that and has to be in between us. He stands on my pillow and licks my face looking at me to say 'make room for me'. So I then move over a couple inches and he squeezes in between Stella and me. He is always happy if he is in between me and Stella. Took a two hour nap. Cloudy in Milwaukee and in the mid 30s. Suppose to have a sloppy weather mess tomorrow of rain, sleet and snow. Will most likely just leave the house tomorrow for lunch with the guys. Tony will have to buy lunch tomorrow since his Birthday is next week. The Birthday guy always buys lunch for everyone.