September 30, 2013 Monday Afternoon

The weather over last weekend was great.  It was close to 70 each day and sunny.  Saturday afternoon we went to the Urban Ecology Center for their grand opening.  We rode our bikes to it.  It is on the other side of the river, directly across the other side.  Was nice to ride around and learn about all they have done and are doing to make this area around our house a little 'central park' like place for people and animals along the river banks.  After we left the Ecology Center we went to a street market and then had a slice of pizza and a drink at a new pizza restaurant that was on the way home.  Saturday night I made soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper.  We spent Saturday night watching TV from the DRV.

Sunday morning we took Bo with us to get lottery tickets and then the farmers market a couple blocks from our house.  Bought some fresh bakery and walked home.  We then took Stella and the other two dogs for a walk.   Kali was a half walk since she is old and Vito just around the alley since he is blind and only smells stuff and bangs into things.  He still loves to go outside.  We then locked up the dogs and took another bike ride longer than the prior day.  We rode our bikes down the bike trials to the lake front, biked across the Milwaukee lakefront north and then up the hill and back home the long way through the upper east side.  We stopped for a coffee at a little coffee shop and bought a foot long sub at Subway on the way home.  Got home around 3 PM and spent the rest of the day doing things around the house.  We did go out for supper to a rib and steak restaurant and had a great supper.  Leftover's tonight for supper.  Watched Amazing Race, Good Wife and Mentalist before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Took Kali to the vet at 11 AM to get her nails trimmed.  She shook like a leaf the entire time until we got back in the car after the appointment.  Bought a $1 double cheeseburger and French fries for lunch and headed home.  Took a nice long walk along the river trails this afternoon and then did some mixing and editing on the new music mix I am currently working on.  It is almost finished.  Tonight we will watch Dancing With The Stars and Castle before going to sleep. 

I read the posts from Friday.  I agree 100% and will put Tony and myself first above the dogs for once.  I did call the Clerk Of Courts office in Maine today and got all the answers I needed.  So far no road blocks and no excuses for not going through with the wedding and trip.  Thanks again for the comments.  I do read and need them to sometimes knock me into thinking correctly.  The worst that is going to happen is the pee and poop up the house.  They are safe and I have to do this trip.

September 27, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Grey's Anatomy and then went to sleep after the local news.  Slept like a baby and didn't get up until 5 AM to go to the bathroom for the first time.  I am usually up at least twice by then. 

Got up and out of bed this morning around 6:30 AM.   Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony was soon out the door to go to work and I started reading the newspaper and doing my usual Friday movie downloads.  Around 10:30 AM I went to St Mary's pharmacy to pick up the cream my dermatologist prescribed that Walgreen's said was not covered and would cost $64.  Got it for $4.96 at the St Mary's pharmacy.  Came home and was on the Internet for a while before I had to go and meet Tony and the guys for lunch.  Had a great lunch and even sent Tony back to work early so I could tell the guys my plan for our 25th anniversary that I have been planning and firming up the plans the last few days.  More on this later.  Left lunch and went to Walgreen's to pick up another cream the dermatologist prescribed that had to be sent from another store.  So now I have all my prescriptions and hopefully in time my rash on my face will clear up.  The antibiotic I got yesterday is called  Doxcycline.   Guess it will help clear up my face?  Spent the afternoon re mixing the mix I made yesterday.  Listening to it now but I don't think it turned out as good as the day before and will most likely try again next week.  If the beats don't match I am not happy.  Takes at least 80 minutes to make a full CD mix and that means recording in one taping and then editing if there are small miss beats.  I think I might be best to scrap most of this mix and start over.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR since it was recording all the new shows all week.  Tony did mention he would like some lovin tonight so maybe we will get that over and out of the way after his shower and before the TV for the night.  Only plans this weekend are to go to the nature center here in Riverwest for their grand opening and tours of what they all planted along the river bluffs.  Other than that will just take it as it comes.

So back to my plan I mentioned earlier for our 25th anniversary.  A friend in Maine that came and visited me a few months after my diagnosis works at a resort in Maine.  I had this bright idea to fly to the resort and get legally married in Maine since Wisconsin will not allow it yet.  He thought it was a great idea and would love to help make this dream come true.  So I have already check flights and clerk of courts information and their state laws and I think it is actually going to happen.  I figure I will propose to Tony and hand him the flight information when he says yes.  My friend in Maine's motel is on the ocean and he says he knows the perfect beach spot for the wedding.  If all falls into place we could be legally married, by the federal government, not our state government, by the end of March next year.  Sucks we even have to play these games to get married after being together for almost 25 years.  We already have engagement rings from our Holy Union 20 years ago so I figure if Tony accepts the flight and reservation paperwork he is saying yes.  Will have to get it all recorded when I do propose.  Tony proposed for  our Holy Union so it is my turn for the wedding in Maine.  Now if I can just get comfortable about leaving the dogs.  I will some how have to make this right with leaving them and have fun.

September 26, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Law And Order: SVU.  Went to sleep after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony soon left for work and I spent an hour reading today's newspapers before I took a shower.  Left the house at 10 AM for my dermatologist appointment.  Nice enough doctor and she does not think the rash on my face is because of the HIV meds.  She seems to think it would be all over my body more and not just on my face.  She gave me some prescriptions for creams and one for an antibiotic.  I have not picked them up yet but will leave soon to get the antibiotic.  I guess one of the creams, according to Walgreen's, is not covered by my insurance and the other cream they will have to order and have sent to the store.  I have them calling my doctor back to pick a different cream than the one not covered.  Will pick up the antibiotic today and hopefully tomorrow the creams will be available for pick up.  Thinking I will go get the prescription around supper time so I can pick up a $5 Little Caesar's  Pizza on the way home.  Will most likely spend tonight watching Grey's Anatomy before we go to bed since it is a 2 your episode tonight while the DVR records shows on 3 other channels.

September 25, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Was up by 6:30 AM this morning with an upset stomach.  Ended up throwing up bile in the sink for a while before I even got to feeding he dogs.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Read the morning newspaper and then showered so I could go to McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich and then Pick N Save for the weekly grocery shopping.  Was home by 10:30 AM.  Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon cleaning the sun room windows where the hot tub is.  Took my time and got it done by 3 PM.  Listened to some music while I washed the windows.  They look so nice now.  I had to wash them since I cleaned the inside windows yesterday, when you looked into the sun room the windows looked horrible in comparison to the washed windows.  Made a yellow cake with vanilla frosting after I was done with the windows.  I had three eggs I had to use or throw away soon.  Making meat loaf and mashed potato along with a salad for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching the new TV shows that recorded the past two nights while new shows record.  I can get through them all and see how I like them all if I fast forward through commercials.  Did not like two of the comedies we watched last night.  I think one was called Goldberg's and the other Trophy Wife.  I liked TW better of the two but if they don't get better they will go off the DVR record list.  Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with a dermatologist to look at the red rash on my face that has appeared since I switched from Truvada to Epzicom.  I am praying I don't have to switch my meds again and it is not the Epzicom.  Hopefully I can get a cream or a pill to clear up the rash on my face from the dermatologist tomorrow.   Will let you know.

September 24, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony was walking out the door to go to work.  Spent the early morning reading the newspapers.  Around 9 AM I started cleaning windows.  Cleaned and washed the kitchen, dining room and living room windows, inside and out.  With the sun coming through they looked like they need a good cleaning.  Made a peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch and then went for a nice long walk along the river trails.  Got home around 2 PM and spent the rest of the afternoon mixing music.  I have a CD full of songs and am working on my Summer 2013 mix.  I am almost done, now I just have to polish it off and make the beats all match.  I do love mixing music.  Thinking we might go out for $1 tacos tonight since I don't feel like cooking and I do feel like a strawberry margarita.  Will then spend the night watching TV from the DVR while it records all the new shows on all the network stations.  I am recording most of the new show and will watch the first few episodes and then decide if we will continue watching the series.  Was in the 40s this morning and got into the 60s this afternoon.  Was sunny all day and felt great outside.   I only wish the days would stop getting shorter.

September 23, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we went to a play at the LGBT Center in Milwaukee called Jerker.  It was an interesting play and well done.  We both enjoyed it.  Came home and after we watched the news we went to bed for a little lovin before sleep.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  This weekend was an event in Milwaukee called Open Doors where buildings and places in Milwaukee are open to the public like they are not usually.  I had a plan of what I wanted to see and our first stop was the Court House to get tickets for a tour later in the day at Jones Island Water Sewage Treatment Plant.  Got there at 10 AM and the line was around the building for tickets to the various events that had special tours.  Since Tony had forgotten his reading glasses that he would need for the other places we decided to go home and get his glasses.  Got the glasses and headed back downtown.  As we passed the Court House we could see there was no more line and we parked, went in, and got tickets for a 3:30 PM free tour.  Left the Court House and headed to the Global Water Center.  It is a seven story old warehouse converted into water research.  Was a great tour of all the research going on with water here in Milwaukee.  In fact I was surprised to hear that Milwaukee is actually the leader in water research and technology.  Got some great pictures.  Here is one of Tony and I on the sixth floor.

Then got a great picture of me on the seventh floor roof with the city of Milwaukee in the back ground.

We then left the Global Water Center and went about a mile towards the lake front and went for a tour of the University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee School Of Freshwater Sciences.  I didn't know this building existed either in Milwaukee and all the students and people there working on degrees were out in the hallways and rooms showing off their research.  I at one point said to one 'you guys are like the guys on Big Bang Theory only with water'.  The guy never heard of the show Big Bang Theory.  After we went through the university and saw the research and such we went out for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.  We then headed home to let the dogs out and after a half hour left again for a tour of the Sewage Treatment Plant on Jones Island on the Milwaukee lake front.  Great bus tour around the facility and then a walk through tour of the fertilizer part of the facility where they make Milorganite.  Was a smelly tour to say the least.  Tony walked around covering his nose with his shirt then entire walk through the fertilizer plant.  Was an hour long tour and very informative.  Was glad we did the tour.  Headed home and spent the night ordering a pizza for delivery and watching a few movies.  Watched the movies Scary Movie 5 and No One Lives.  Both were good movies.   Went to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Left the house by 9:30 AM to go get Tony's mom and take her out for a Sunday morning breakfast.  Had a great breakfast.  Dropped her off and after stopping at a couple store with no luck buying what I stopped for, we headed home.  We then took Bo for a walk to get lottery tickets and then to the farmer's market a block farther down the street.  Bought some fresh lettuce.  Came home and got Stella and we then took her for a short walk around the block with Bo.  Stella needs the walking to keep her knee working and hopefully we can avoid surgery like the other knee.  Spent the rest of the day napping and then doing things around the house.  Spent Sunday night watching the Emmy's.  Went to bed after the Emmy's and fell fast asleep after another round of lovin.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony out the door for work.  Spent the early morning reading the newspaper and then headed outside to do some yard work.  Put Weed N Feed on the front lawn and other work outside.  Was a great day in the 60s today and sunny.  Got a couple loads of laundry done and after I post I will start supper.  Making salads and hamburger helper chili mac.  Will spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars and Hostage before we go to sleep.

September 20, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon I had a board meeting with ARCW.  Was a shorter meeting than usual and after the meeting I picked up my monthly HIV prescriptions and my monthly food from the pantry.  Came home and spent the afternoon playing with the video security system and cameras Tony brought home from his shop that he is not using.  I could not figure why one of the video systems wouldn't work with a certain monitor and after doing everything under the sun from switching cables to switching plugs I still can not figure out why the security systems do not like a certain monitor.  It is a computer monitor just like the others I am using.  No difference.  Tony was home early from work and I ended up making some salads and a half a pizza for supper.  Spent the night watching the final of Big Brother that we DVR'd from the prior night.  Was happy with the winner.  Spent the last hour in bed watching the Valerie Harper story.  She really shows how one should be in the end.  Standing so strong.  Went to sleep a little after the local news.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning playing with the security system and monitors again only to get very frustrated by the fact the problems I can not fix make no sense or rhyme or reason.  Showered and met the guys and Tony for lunch.  Had a great lunch as usual.  Came home and spent the afternoon playing with the cameras figuring out which ones are broken and which ones even work.  Still have not figured out the big problem I just can not solve with the monitors.  Will just make some salads and TV dinners for supper tonight.  If Tony has an energy we talked about going to a play tonight at the LGBT center here in Milwaukee.  If we do not go we will just end up staying home watching TV from the DVR.  This weekend is the Open Door's Of Milwaukee event.  Lot of places you can not usually enter are open to the public.  We do have a few on our list to go to. 

September 18, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Yesterday I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the day doing things around the house.  I did go for a nice long walk late in the afternoon.  Ended up going to a car show and then Taco Bell for supper last night.  On the way home we got stopped by the police about a half mile from the house.  Guess the cop had nothing better to do than stop us to check out our monster truck and see if it was legal.  Guess Tony should have Hobbyist plates on the car and not the ones he has.  The cop was a dick and finally just let us go.  Heck, it has been safety inspected and all the paperwork has been filled out.  You would think they would have better things to do with all the crime and shootings lately around the city.  Not sure where the day went yesterday but it sure went by fast.  Spent last night watching America's Got Talent Final.  I hope the magician kid or the comic kid wins.  Went to sleep around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Talked on the phone for a while with my mom in the morning.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and doing things around the house.  I laid down for a while in the afternoon and soon Tony was home with a 47 inch smart TV in hand that he bought from someone on the street.  I have no use for this size TV.  We already have a bigger TV in the living room and the 32 inch TV's around the house fit where they are and a bigger TV would not fit.  Tony kept saying how it is a 'smart TV'.  I don't need a smart TV.  I have Internet and all I need right now.  I don't use Amazon or the Internet to buy TV or movies.  Heck I download them for free.  So the $270 he spent on this great TV was really a waste.  Will most likely sell it or keep it as a back up TV if our 65 inch TV dies.  I did go grocery shopping this morning but bought very little since we have gone out to eat so much and I have cooked so little.  I even think tonight we will go out to eat and have $1.50 hamburgers and French fries at the local bar.  Tonight is a full night of TV from the Big Brother final to America's Got Talent final.  There are also shows recording on two other channels.  Was in the 60s most of today and sunny.  Tomorrow it is suppose to get to almost 80 and humid before another cold front comes through for the weekend.

September 16, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we spent the night watching the movie World War Z.  I loved the movie but then again I love zombie movies.  Was everything I wanted and then some.  Went to bed around 10 PM and after a little lovin we went to sleep.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspapers and doing things around the house.  Around 12:30 PM we rode our bikes about a mile away to see the street festival and art show and buy some flowers on the way home to take to Tony's relatives house tonight for a cook out.  Was a nice bike ride and we were home in about two hours.  Spent some time with the dogs and watched a little TV before we got back on our bike to go back to the street festival for the 4 PM tomato romp / throwing.  We have gone to this in the past years and it is so fun to watch about 100 people get into a cage about 6 inches deep with tomatoes and just start throwing them at each other.  We learned after our first year of watching to stand far away because the tomatoes fly outside the cage and if your even 15 feet of the cage you are covered in tomatoes.  Had a fun time watching and seeing all the people covered in tomato slime.  Rode our bikes back home and fed the dogs.  After a little while we then left to go to Tony's niece's house for a cook out.  Stayed for about an hour and ended up buying her walking tread mill for $25 that she was throwing out.  We figured if we gave her $25 we would never have to hear in the future that she 'gave' us a tread mill.  Funny how you learn these life lessons as you get older.  Got home around 8 PM and spent the night watching TV from the DVR.   Spent the night watching horror movies on Chill channel.  Actually was up until 2 AM watching horror movies in bed.

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Sunday was a raining day, all day.  I spent the morning moving TV and camera monitors around so that a bigger monitor was in the kitchen.  Had to change the wiring and it turned into a bigger project than I originally thought.  Got it all done and showered by noon.  We then went to George Webb's for breakfast even though it was after 12 PM.  Came home and spent the afternoon watching the movie Mud.  I did not follow the movie well and did not like it.  It never caught my interest.  Didn't help that our tenant came down to cry on our shoulders about how her boy friend hit her and the fight they had the night before.  I thought I had heard something going on but did not hear a fight.  She told us way to much and I am not feeling good about this tenant relationship at all now.  Her boy friend then came down without his shirt on, first time seeing him with his shirt off.  I think he did it to throw us off from the conversation,  lol.   Anyway.  We let her know we did not think he should be hitting her and would never take his side if it happens in the future.  She then soon left after her boyfriend came down and it got awkward.  He only stayed for a couple minutes and made an excuse to leave.  Wow, 'keep my distance'.  I should have taken all your advice a week or more ago.  Sounds like he gets drunk and then verbally and physically abusive to her.  I know it takes two, but no one should hit anyone.  Tony and I have been there a couple times in a very heated fight.  We even took fists to each other once about 23 years ago, in our first year.  It never happened again and we made a firm rule that 'if anyone in this relationship is stupid enough to ever hit the other, they better be prepared and will deserve to get hit back TWICE as hard'.  It has kept us from ever having a heated fight like that again knowing that if your stupid enough to throw a punch in a heated argument, you will get hit harder back and deserve it.  Spent Sunday night watching the movie The English Teacher.  It was OK from what I remember, I fell asleep a little ways through the movie and then it was over.  Went to bed around 10 PM. 

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony soon left for work.  Spent the morning doing the bedroom laundry.  Dog blankets, bed blankets and sheets along with the comforter.  Three loads of laundry in all.  This afternoon around 2 PM I went for a nice long walk along the river trails.  Had a great walk.  Had to push myself out the door to get it started, but once I got through the park and into the river trails I was so glad I was out walking.  Going to call Tony soon and find out when he will be home.  Thinking we might go to a car show tonight while we still can it is warm enough and light enough outside for them still.  It is getting dark by 7 PM now already.  Hate the fact it gets dark so early in the Winter.  Will then spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars and then Under The Dome.  It was in the 40s this morning when I woke and got up to 60 degrees this afternoon.  A little chilly but I am not complaining.

September 13, 2013 Friday Afternoon

As I sit here to type about what I did yesterday my mind is blank.  I did do some work out in the yard in the morning and took a nap in the afternoon.  Called my parents in the afternoon and spoke with both mom and dad.  Of course we didn't talk about the email because ..... well, it's like a father son saying they love each other.  You say it once and move on.  I guess that is how I can make sense of it.  Either way, the email will be cherished and I know better where we stand if Tony and I do indeed someday get legally married.  Made spaghetti for supper and spent the night watching TV with Tony and the dogs.  Went to bed around 10 PM for a little lovin and then went to sleep. 

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and doing my usual Friday morning movie downloads.  Had lunch with the guys and came home.  It was in the 60s today and sunny.  I do love the 60s and decided to go for a nice long walk through the river trails.  I have not walked the trails for a long time and it felt so good.  Met and talked with four homeless people or road people under the Locust street bridge.  They are on there way to North Dakota to pick snow peas.  Must be a hard life on the road.  They had four dogs with them and I felt so sorry for the dogs.  I could see them scratching like crazy because of the fleas they must have.  Finished my walk and after a little bit I packed up a big bag of dog dry food, four cans of dog food and a box of dog treats and headed back down to the trails to give it to the homeless for their dogs.  I did throw in some crackers for them also.  I was happy to hear one of the guys say 'the dogs eat better than we do'.  I figure the dogs didn't choose the street life so they should eat better.  Felt good to give them about $10 worth of dog food and they did appreciate it.  Walked back home and soon after I started posting Tony walked in the door home early from work.  Have to finish this post and get him in the shower.  Since he is home so early we will go out for a Friday night fish fry that Wisconsin is famous for.  Have a couple parties to go to over the weekend.  Sunday looks like rain all day so we will spend most of the day indoors watching movies.

September 11, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Someone from the window place for the new upstairs windows was to be here between 10 and noon to measure all the windows.  A little before 9 AM I got a call saying he would be here in 20 minutes.  Early but OK.  Got through the window measuring and was out the door by 10:30 AM to go grocery shopping.  Bought way too much food and now I wonder why since I will have to cook it all.  The frig and cabinets are stocked.  I shouldn't have to buy anything but milk and fresh produce for a long time.  Everything looked so good today and of course it was all 'on sale'.  Took a short nap with the dogs this afternoon as I reflected on an email I got from my father today.  My parents have not always been supportive of my lifestyle or relationship.  They have come a long way.  Today I got the following email from my father:

Good morning Dave,   I went to a meeting last night and found it very interesting. It was held
at our church but it was for the Oconomowoc community  There were about 75 to 80 people
there.  The subject was "Fostering Understanding Creating Awareness"  It was for Parents
of children who are LGBT..I found it very interesting, and wish I would have understood and attended a panel discussion like that 25 years ago. I would have had a better understanding and
awareness of your issues. I have always been against same sex marriage, but after last nights
meeting I have a greater understanding, how two people of the same sex or not, if they
have love in there heart and are happy being together that is the important part of life. After hearing
some of the stories of how these parents had to deal with understanding there children and
how the children were so afraid to come "out of the closet" not knowing how things would turn
out..I am happy for you and Tony and have a much greater understanding of your values in life.
(mom did not go with me and I wish she would have} 
Thanks Dave for being you.   with love to you and Tony     Dad

Wow.  My reply to him was 'the next thing your going to tell me is that your a democrat'. 
For all those out there who continue to say 'it gets better'.  It still gets better even when you are 52 years old.  You don't have to be a kid in high school to feel the joy of a parent telling you in writing he took the time to understand your relationship.  I honestly cry every time I read his email.  It made my day and I will cherish it until the day I die and remember him after he is gone.  Making sweet and sour chicken with a salad tonight for supper.  Will spend the night watching Big Brother, X Factor and America's Got Talent results before going to sleep.  It was again hot and humid in Milwaukee today.  To hot to open the windows and the air conditioning has been on all day.  Hopefully tomorrow the humidity will be less and it will be cooler so I can open the windows.

September 10, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM.  I read a little of the morning newspaper and then after I showered, was out the door by 9:30 AM.  Stopped at McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich and then drove across the street to Walmart.  I got the email yesterday telling me the air conditioner I ordered online was ready to be picked up.  I did buy a different one at KMart over the weekend but figured I would buy this one also since the price was right and the other old air conditioner Tony can take to work.  The tenants will now have two brand new air conditioners.  Spent almost $400 when you add all I bought.  The air conditioner was $110.  The Insulin and needles were $80.  The other stuff I bought for around the house came to $180.   So I spent more than I ever thought today but on things we will use.  Dropped off a box of Popsicles at Tony's shop for the guys since it is close to 90 degrees today in Milwaukee.  I then came home and spent the rest of the day indoors out of the heat.  Tonight a cold front comes through and it will be much better tomorrow.  Way too hot for me outside.  I have been watching the construction all afternoon out front since they dug another hole in the street and have had the road closed most of the day.  Around 1 PM I watched two guy trying to break into an apartment window across the street and when I called the neighbor she was already on the phone with the police.  Amazing what I can all watch and see just out my front window.  Making salads, a beef roast and potatoes for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching America's Got Talent before we go to sleep.  Tony will come home from work hot, smelly and will be told to go to the shower the minute he walks in the door.

September 9, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Saturday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the early morning reading the newspaper.  Around 11 AM we headed outside to walk up Center street and check out the street party set up.  It began at noon with a push cart race that is so funny each year.  This year's race was just as good.  Unfortunately just as the race ended the rain began.  Rained hard for an hour.  Thankfully we made it home before the rain came down hard.  Waited out the rain which took until about 2 PM.  After the rain stopped the sun came out and the street festival was in full swing again.  Spent the rest of the afternoon at the street festival listening to music and talking with friends.  After we fed the dogs supper we went back up to the festival and ate at one of our favorite Italian restaurants.  Sat outside at a table on the sidewalk watching people as we ate.  Had a great supper and came home.  Spent the rest of the night watching TV, going to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday morning we were again up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Around10 AM we left the house to have breakfast at George Webb's and then go to a car show on the south side of town.  After the car show we went to KMart and bought an air conditioner since the one I ordered at Walmart has been put on hold twice now and not arrived.  Drove to the north side of town for another car show and then headed home.  Spent the rest of the day around the house with the dogs.  Had a pizza delivered for supper.  Spent last night watching TV and then went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony off to work.  Around 10 AM I left the house to go to the BMW dealer for a battery for my key chain.  Drove all the way there to find out there is not a battery in the key and it must be the towers making the key not work.  A new key would be $175.  Drove home and spent the day in the house since it is getting very hot and humid today in Milwaukee.  Made some brownies this afternoon and just making TV dinners and salads for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching TV from the DVR and finish off the night with Under The Dome.

I totally agree with the comments on Friday's post about keeping my distance from the tenants and not becoming friends.  Tony keeps telling / reminding me about this all the time.  I agree and am starting to keep my distance.  Thank you for the advice.  Sometimes I just need to see it in writing and have it from an outside source.

September 6, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Last night our new tenants came down for a drink with their baby and dog.  Had a nice night watching the dogs all get along great.  I am always a little scared of what Stella our Pitbull will be like with a new dog.  She always pleasantly surprises me.  Bo took to the baby and wanted to always be near her.  Vito and their dog seemed to get along the best to my surprise since Vito is blind and can not even see the new dog.  The tenants left around 8:30 PM and we finished off the night watching Big Brother and Rookie Blue before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and doing my usual Friday morning movie downloads.  Met Tony and the guys for lunch at Baker's Square like we do every Friday.  Had a great lunch and conversation as always.  Came home and took a little nap with the dogs.  It now is going on 4:30 PM and the tenants dog is here in our apartment since they left for a while.  It is so nice to see all the dogs get along.  Making TV dinners and salads for supper tonight.  It was in the 70s today, starting out in the 50s.  Another perfect Summer day in Milwaukee.  Tonight we will watch TV from the DVR before going to sleep.  Tomorrow is the big street festival on our cross street.  Always a fun day of food and bands.  Just hope the rain they are forecasting holds off until after dinner time tomorrow although we need rain desperately.  Sunday will be a day of getting some outside projects done and some plumbing issues upstairs also addressed.  So fun on Saturday, a little household work on Sunday. 

September 5, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Yesterday flew by so fast I could not believe where the day went.  I did go grocery shopping in the morning.  Spent the rest of the day doing things outside and around the house.  Tony got home from work at 4 PM, an hour or more early, which is about the time I usually post.  Hence no post yesterday.  Spent last night watching Big Brother and America's Got Talent results.  Went to bed and did the lovin thing and I then watched another hour of TV and news before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM with the reminder to be home at 12:30 for a Feldco representative to give us an estimate on replacing the upstairs and hallway windows.  Spent the morning working out back making some room to lock the bikes behind the house and made some landscaping changes in the back yard.  Tony was home by 12:15 PM with lunch.  Of course the Feldco guy was early and we eat our cold burgers later as he wrote the estimate.  Way high on the price at first but we got him down to a reasonable price in the end.  Replacing three windows in the apartment upstairs and two in the hallway for $3500.  I thought it was high but Tony of course said 'lets just get it done, write him a check'.  So in a few weeks we will have new windows upstairs for the tenants.  Sucks to spent all that money and I will really not benefit much from it except to know I have new windows upstairs that I will not see or look out of.  It's only money and a good investment on the house?  I keep telling myself that anyway.  It was again in the 70s today starting out in the 50s.  Perfect Summer weather.  Spent the rest of the afternoon after the Feldco guy left doing things around the house and putting laundry away.  Making left over spaghetti tonight.  Will maybe fry it up for Tony the way he likes it, nice and crispy.  I will just have a TV dinner or something with a salad.  Will send tonight watching another Big Brother episode and then end the night watching Rookie Blue.  Listening to Daft Punk, I love their new CD and play it so often.

September 3, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Friday night we went to the block party on North Avenue for the Harley Davidson 110th Anniversary.   Had a great dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants.  Sat outside and watched all the excitement and motorcycles.  Got home and after a little TV we went to bed in anticipation of a hard working next day of cleaning.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Tony and I spent all day cleaning the upstairs apartment.  We were up there by 9 AM and didn't come back down to shower until dinner time.  It became clear early on the old tenants were not going to do the cleaning job we expected and there was no changing the fact the new tenants move in the next day.  The old tenants even left by about 3 PM because they 'just couldn't clean anymore'.  Got the place looking GREAT and ready for the new tenants.  Showered and went to a friends house for dinner and party.  Saw some nice friends and had some good conversation.  We were home by 9 PM and in bed by 10 PM beat tired.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM.  By 8 AM I went to McDonald's to buy some breakfast and then stopped to pick up some flowers at the market and headed home to wait for the new tenants to arrive.
New tenants pulled up in the back yard with their huge U Haul rented truck and no one to help them.  At least they left the baby and dog with family.  So, we spent all morning helping them get moved in.  I carried things to the stairs, Tony and the guy took things up the stairs.  The girl fiend helped get things out of the truck for me to carry to the stairs.  Was a good system and we got the job done pretty fast considering they had a ton of stuff.  Was nice to get to know them and talk as we moved their stuff in.  Just as we finished the family came with the kid and dog.  After Tony and I rested for about an hour on the couch we showered and went out to eat for pizza.  Had a great pizza at a newly opened restaurant here on the east side.  Spent the night watching TV and went to bed around 10 PM.

Monday morning we were again up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went out for breakfast at George Webb's and then went across the street and bought a few items at Walgreen's before heading home.  Around noon we took the dogs out back one by one to meet the new tenants and their dog.  Went pretty smooth.  It does not appear that we will be able to let the dogs get together because their dog wants to hump and my dogs went nothing of that.  Realized what day it was and that on this day there is a huge rummage sale called St Martin's Fair and we got in the car and went shopping at the festival.  Bought some fruit and household cheap items.  Tony bought some car stuff for the shop.  Got home around 3 PM and rested for about an hour.  I then got the idea to invite our new tenants down for supper and I made hamburgers and beans, corn and salad and we had dinner together.  Had a nice supper and got to know each other.  I think they will be fine.  I do have some reservations but will keep them to myself for now.  Spent the night watching TV finishing the night with Under The Dome before we went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony off to work.  Spent a little time this morning cleaning the basement and making a spot for all the tenants stuff they would like to store in the basement.  Since we always loose stuff if we put it with ours I made a spot in the front of the basement for just their stuff.  Took a long afternoon nap and soon I have to get Bo to the vet for a 4 PM nail trim.  Not sure if I am cooking or we are going to a car show tonight.  Haven't thought that far out yet.  Will most likely spend the night watching America's Got Talent.