January 31, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the CBS TV line up from 7 PM to 9 PM.  At 9 PM we went to bed and we watched Shark Tank in bed.   While I was watching TV I was chatting with a friend on Facebook.  He told me about an event at a Water Park about an hour away that is happening this November.  Some Gay group is renting out the indoor water park for 24 hours for only gay people, a big gay party.  We had gone to one of these in Florida for Gay Days long time ago and had a blast.  Of course that was 20 years ago when I was much younger and had a better body.  Was hard to make the commitment since the tickets for the event are non refundable.  Tony said he wanted to go, so I broke down and bought the tickets for the event.  It will be fun.  400 rooms of gay guys in speedos for 24 hours at a water park can't be all bad?   LOL.  It will be a blast.  We will be the two old guys in the corner drooling over the young studs.  Is always nice at these events because you can just relax and be yourself.  Hug, kiss, show affection, and not worry or look around to see who is looking.  Of course making these kind of commitments raises my stress level but I have to get over that and this will be a good test.  Heck, the water park is less than an hour away.  If we have to we can drive home and feed the dogs and stuff if worse case we don't have someone to take care of the dogs.  Also, who is to say we will have all four dogs come next November since 3 are getting very old. 

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and downloading a few movies to watch later.  Around 11 AM I thought I best go upstairs and just check in on my tenant so I seem concerned.  I knocked, she opened the door about 6 inches and said she was fine and I then left.  She looked like hell.  Could hear the baby crying in the back room.  I know they treat their baby well so I am not concerned.  Plus as long as there are two adults I would hope one would have their head on straight at any given moment?   What more can I do?   There are laws as to how much I can do or what I can not do.  I am waiting to see if the guy moves out this weekend like I was told a couple weeks ago.  With these two you never know.  It does scare me more to think of just her living upstairs with the baby and dog.  I just hope she moves after this semester or come spring so I don't have these nut jobs living above me in my house.  Will hopefully spend the night watching the last two episodes of American Horror Story since we did not last night.  Tomorrow there is a pet expo we will most likely go to.  Some time over the weekend a lady from a cat rescue is coming into town so we can meet her at Tony's shop.  She is bringing a big cat house since Tony has five or more cats living in his cars and car parts in the lot.  The cat rescue is going to give us a house.  The employees and neighbors feed the cats.  The alternative is having them put down?  I do plan on having them spayed or neutered this spring if we can catch them.  Hate to have this live put on another generation.  I am allergic to cats or I would do more.  It did get in the 20s today in Milwaukee.  Felt like a heat wave compared to what we have dealt with lately.  More snow over the weekend.  This Winter is never going to end.  Oh, guess there is a big football game this weekend?  We will most likely go to a bar for half time food.  LOL.

January 30, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

This morning around 5 AM, as usual, Bo needed to go outside.  So as usual Tony gets up and also grabs Vito and lets them out.  As he was doing this at 5 AM the telephone rang.  Of course when the phone rings at 5 AM you think the worst.  I jumped out of bed to answer the phone to have it be my girl tenant upstairs.  She says to me 'are you awake'.   I told her Tony was letting the dogs out but we were still sleeping.  She then said 'can I ask a favor'.  I ask what the favor was and she said 'can I come down and get two beers and a joint'.  I honestly didn't know what to say and just said nothing for the longest time.  I then said 'it is 5 AM, I am going back to bed, and I suggest you do the same'.  WTF?  At 5 PM she is calling to ask for two beers and a joint.  Of course Tony nor I could fall back to sleep after this strange call.  We soon got up around 6 AM and did the morning routine.  Spent the early morning reading the newspaper.  Around 11 AM Tony picked me up so we could take Vito to the vet to get his nails trimmed.  Stopped off at the bank on the way home and cashed the rent check.  Spent the afternoon watching the snow fall and listening to music.  Will most likely spend the night watching the last two episodes of American Horror Story before we go to bed.  Just finished shoveling the two inches of snow.  Making left over spaghetti for supper tonight with a salad.    Still have not seen either tenant today but I can hear them upstairs.  They sure are nut jobs.

January 29, 2014 Wedesday Afternoon

Spent yesterday just doing things around the house.  Been straightening out or cleaning out areas or drawers I would not clean or go through unless I was stranded at home in the cold.  It never got above zero all day again today in Milwaukee.  With that said, I saw my neighbor kid playing with her rabbit in the snow and went outside to explain to her that 'she may be all bundled up but her rabbit is an inside rabbit and is not used to the snow and zero degree weather and could get sick or die'.  She finally got the point and took the rabbit into the house.  How crazy is that?  Schools are canceled and everything is closed, the news is telling people to stay indoors, and she decides it is time to play with her indoor rabbit in the snow and cold.  Some people.   Spent the afternoon listening to some old music like Alan Parson Project, Styx, Queen and Supertramp.   Sometimes it is nice to listen to the music from your past.  Made some Oncore beef patties, rice and salads for supper.  Spent the night watching Obama give his speech.  I thought he did good and I give him all my support when it comes to by passing congress to get things done.  The Republicans have made it their mission to make sure Obama is the most unproductive president in history and so far they have done a good job.  I hope he just starts passing laws and doing the right thing for the middle class.  Something the Republicans and Democrats have seem to forgotten.  Went to sleep around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Went to Tony's side of the bed for some hugs and of course it turned into a round of lovin.     We then got up and fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspapers and starting to fill out my taxes.  I am still waiting for one more form that I need and then I can finish them.  My taxes are easy since I make very little and it is all Social Security.  Around 1 PM some friends picked me up so we could go to a meeting on Health Care.  My insurance agent was there with our new policies to sign up for them.   They will begin April 1st of this year since Governor Walker extended our current health insurance for three months only into this year.  Made no sense but that is the way our Governor continues to do things.  He really only cares about his Republican rich friends. 
Making spaghetti for supper tonight with bread and salad.  Will most likely watch TV from the DVR or pick a movie to watch. 

January 27, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching the gay themed movie A Wedding Most Strange.  It was a very strange movie and by the time it ended, we were happy it was over.  Went to bed around 9:30 PM to watch a little TV before going to sleep.  Ended up having a round of lovin and then went to sleep.

Saturday morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent an hour or so in the early morning shoveling the couple inches of snow that we got over night.  Tony and I took a nice long nap with the dog Saturday afternoon.  Spent Saturday night watching the movies The Starving Games, 12 Years A Slave and I Want Your Love.    Starving Games was a Hunger Games spoof and pretty much was what we expected.  Twelve Years A Slave was a very good movie.  I Want Your Love was OK but could have been better.  Ended up going to bed around 10 PM.  After a round of lovin we went to sleep.

Sunday morning again I was up by 7 AM.  After I fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot I went out and shoveled again the night's snow.  Spent the rest of the morning reading the newspaper and watching some TV from the DVR.  Around noon we went to Pick N Save to get the weekly lottery tickets and the groceries for the week.  Another cold week this week and I do not plan on leaving the house.  Spent the afternoon watching the movies Enough Said and Captain Phillips.  Both were good movies, in fact Captain Phillips was outstanding.  Tom Hanks did a great job in this movie.  I was not sure I even wanted to see this movie knowing the plot and story and all.  It was great.  I recommend Captain Phillips.  In the middle of the afternoon something must have spooked the possum and the rabbit because around 2 PM they both came running out from under the snow buried Cadillac in the front yard.  They both went running under the front bushes.  The possum was not my small baby one I usually see. It was quite big and had a bad patch of skin and hair missing in front of it's tail.  Looked bloody and not very good.  Poor Possum.  Watched out the window for a while and soon both the rabbit and possum walked or hopped back under the car for the rest of the day.  Funny to think they are keeping warm feet apart from each other under the 1969 Cadillac.  Spent the night watching the Grammy Awards.  Was a good show and loved the Same Love song while the married couples joined.  Was a very entertaining show.  I am also happy Daft Punk won because I love their CD Random Access Memories.  I am in fact playing it right now.  Making some Chicken Cordon Bleu for supper tonight with noodles and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR.   It never got above 0 all day today.  Right now the temperature is negative 3 with a feels like temperature of 25 below zero.  Suppose to be the same all day tomorrow.  Over 48 hours never getting about 0 degrees.   I hate this Winter.

January 24, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Spent all day yesterday doing things around the house.  I printed out tax forms.  Did a few loads of laundry.  Did a little dusting.  Never left the house due to the cold that seems to never end.  Made BBQ ribs, potatoes and corn for supper.  Spent last night watching TV from the DVR that was recorded earlier in the week.  Went to the bedroom around 9 PM for a round of lovin before we soon went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work at 7:30 AM.  I spent the morning reading the newspapers and downloading a couple movies.  Tony came home around 11 AM so we could take Bo and Stella to the vet to get their nails trimmed.  Heard Bo crying in the back room as they cut his nails.  The vet was not hurting him.  Bo is just very vocal.  Dropped the dogs off at home.  Grabbed the two bags of jeans that Tony brought home the other day from work.  (9 jeans and 4 one piece work outfits).  We then had lunch with the guys.  Had a nice lunch.  On the way home we stopped off to drop off the pants at a person's house I contact on our community website.  Of course I knocked and knocked and no one answered.  Came home to find a message from the lady on my computer to call her.  Called the number to find out where she was and when I could drop off the pants.  She honestly frustrated me so much I handed Tony the phone and told him 'they are your pants, you figure out meeting this lady'.  Why is it people are not where they say they will be when they say they will meet you?  She gave me her address and we agreed to meet at 1:15 PM.   I was at her door at 1:15 PM.  Why the hell she was at Pick N Save is beyond me.  Of course she offered to meet her at Pick N Save and I told her I was not going to drop off 9 jeans and 4 outfits to someone I don't even know in a Pick N Save parking lot.  My plan was to find someone in the neighborhood to hem the pants and keep the money in the neighborhood.  I am hoping I did the right thing.   Tony talked to her and told her he would meet her in 10 minutes at her house.  I have no patience anymore for this kind of bullshit.  You tell me to be somewhere at a certain time and I will be there.  Why your not?  Pisses me off.  Spent the afternoon watching TV and reflecting how poorly I am dealing with life lately.  Everything pisses me off or sets me off.   I have no patience and just want to stay home and be at home.  Not sure what I am making for supper tonight.  From the big lunch this afternoon at this point I have no desire for more food.  No plans this weekend.  On Monday we are getting another cold front.  Suppose to be a HIGH of NEGATIVE 2 degrees for the day.  Yes, you read that right.  Tuesday a high of 1 degree.  Wind chill of over 40 below each day.  What is it with this Winter.  I can not remember a colder Winter and I am really tired of being cold all the time.  I need a vacation to somewhere warm soon before I loose it.

January 22, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the first three episodes of Intelligence.   I like the people in the show but hate the story line.  The show makes Josh H into a super hero or something with all his powers.  Not sure if this show is going to make it or how long it will keep our interest.  Went to bed around 9 PM for a round of lovin.  Then watched a few episodes of Everyone Loves Raymond before going to sleep. 

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Was up early not only because of bowel problems but because today is the deadline for ordering my book I have been working on to get 40 percent off.  So of course I laid in bed most of last night thinking of those last few pics that just have to be in the book.   Tony soon left for work and I loaded Shutterfly and started doing more work on the book.  Time just flies.  It was noon soon and I figured I would never get anything else done today unless I just ordered the damn thing and stopped making changes.  Ordered the book.  Got 40 % off and free shipping.  Was happy with the price.  Tried to lay on the bed with the dogs but just couldn't stop thinking about everything I still need to get done around here and soon got up.  Showered and started cleaning the house.  Making left over spaghetti for supper tonight.  I will pan fry it crispy for Tony.  I will most likely have a TV dinner or something.  Will most likely spend the night watching American Idol.   Was another cold day today in Milwaukee.  Only got to 8 degrees this afternoon.  I am so damn sick of the cold.  It also snowed on and off flurries most of the day today.  Not enough to shovel but enough to keep covering the dirty snow. 

January 21, 2014 TogetherPoz.com

I got an email from the person who has put together the website TogetherPoz.com asking if I would post a link and make his site known.  I know very little about the site but am sure the person running the site can answer any of your questions.  We can never have enough web sites for help so I pass this on.  It is similar to Facebook, but not linked in any way.

Hello Dave:

My name is Brian and I am the founder of TogetherPoz.com social network.

I created this site because in February 2013 I discovered that I was HIV+. At first I thought it was just something that I had to deal with and not a big deal. As time went on it started to effect me mentally and I felt all alone. I searched for sites to share the same issues I was having but there was not a lot out there so I decided to develop TogetherPoz.com. This way I could have a common ground with other people living with HIV.

I am contacting you today because this site just went live December 26th 2013 and I need to get the word out. So far there are 48 people signed up.

I see that you have a blog and a website and was wondering if you would be willing to mention TogetherPoz.com on there in an attempt to bring people to the site. 
You can see on the site there is a lot to offer such as instant messenger, blogs, comments, selling of items, games and much much more.

Cordially,

Brian
TogetherPoz.com

January 21, 2014 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching How I Met Your Mother, Mom, Mike & Molly and Castle.  In talking with Tony I found out the reason I did not have a car to take to the doctor was not because the alternator went bad, it was because he chose to work on my car all morning and had the doors open killing the battery.  So when he went to start the car to bring it home so I could go to the doctor it was dead.  Makes me mad since it was the only appointment all week on my schedule.  Now I wait another three weeks to find out my blood results and address my concerns.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left for work with my car.  Another day stranded at home without a car and in the cold Wisconsin Winter.  It has only gotten to 8 degrees today in Milwaukee and not going to get any warmer yet today.  Going to be like this for a couple more days.  Saw another cold front coming through next week and we will have much the same temperature.  What a cold Winter this year.   Spent today doing things around the house.  Got a load of laundry done.  Cleaned my bathroom good.  Picked up the dog poop outside even with it so cold outside.  Made a yellow cake and chocolate frosting.  Still have to frost the cake.  Making spaghetti for supper tonight with a French bread and salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching CSI and CSI LA before something on the DVR in bed.  Talked to my mom on the phone this afternoon.  She hates being in Florida.  I would trade with her in a snap.  She is bored to death but dad loves it down there. 

Got my 25th anniversary book all done.  I don't think I have any more changes before tomorrows deadline of 40 percent off.  Will order it tomorrow. 

January 20, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Another Monday that I have very little to say about what we did all weekend due to the fact we did so little. 
Saturday morning we took Kali to the vet to get her nails trimmed.   Picked up some breakfast at McDonald's on the way home.  Spent the day watching TV.  Took a nap in the afternoon with the dogs.  Ordered some food delivered for supper and spent the night watching the last couple episodes of American Horror Story.  Went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  I made breakfast and we spent the morning reading the newspaper and watching TV from the DVR.  Around noon we went to Pick N Save to do the grocery shopping for the week.  It is suppose to be very cold again this week so I figured I would get everything we need and maybe not have to leave the house all week.   Made soup and sandwiches for supper.  Spent the night watching two gay themed movies named Flight Of The Cardinal and Abrupt Decision.  Both were very good movies.  Actually, Abrupt Decision was the most realistic look at a 20 year gay relationship I have ever seen on TV or movies.  The couple resembled us a lot.  Went to bed around 9 PM for a round of lovin and after an hour or so of TV we went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning working on our 25th anniversary book.  You can just waste hours rearranging things and changing formats on each page as you produce them with pictures.  I lay in bed at night and think of pictures I should add and have to get out of bed and write it down so I will remember in the morning.  I am going to order the book by Wednesday to take advantage of the 40 percent off and free shipping.  Hopefully after that I will not wake up every hour or so with a book idea.  Tony took my car to work today since our other vehicle, the truck, is being worked on at his shop.   I reminded Tony to have my car home by 1 PM because I had a doctor appointment at 2 PM with my HIV doctor.  Of course at 1 PM I was calling him to find out where my car was and to get home here with it so I could go to my doctor.  Five minutes later he calls to tell me it is dead, 'maybe the alternator'.  WTF.  So I call and cancel and reschedule my HIV appointment that I have been on pins an needles waiting for all day to February, three weeks from now.  I was really looking forward to finding out my numbers since my last numbers were very low when I had shingles and just switched from Truvada to Epzicom.   So I was really looking forward to these numbers.  Plus I stopped using the cream on my face the first of the month and the rash is returning.  I was hoping to show the doctor my rash.   In three weeks it will be much worse if I don't start putting on the cream daily.  Plus, I had other issues to discuss. 
Making a pork loin roast for supper with mashed potato and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR.   Tomorrow we are suppose to have a high of 5 degrees and wind chill of 25 below zero during the day.  The days following are not suppose to be much better.  I don't plan on leaving the house.  I did get a lot of information from a friend in Ohio on a buddy phone system they have going or a mentoring program.  We are trying to get a buddy phone type system here for people newly diagnosed and in need of a quick help line type thing.  If anyone has a buddy system or mentoring program in your area I would love to hear more about it and who I can contact.  Hopefully tomorrow I will make some phone calls to Ohio and find out how they do it and get around the liability issues.  That is the main reason most organizations in Milwaukee want nothing to do with a mentoring or buddy phone program. 
It is snowing again right now.  Has snowed on and off all day and I did have to shovel an inch or so of snow at lunch time.  I sure wish it would stop snowing because it is going to get to cold to go outside and shovel.

January 17, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Wednesday night I think I got food poisoning.  I think from the chicken I made that night for supper.  I was up all night with stomach cramps and got very little sleep all night.  Tony woke up with stomach problems also and was throwing up before he went to work that next morning.  I spent most of the day just laying around on the couch or in bed.  I did go to my meeting at ARCW since I felt it good to get out of the house since I don't get out much.  I need to socialize more.  Got home from my meeting and then starting getting done anything and everything I would need to do before I could just go to bed.   I fed the dogs,  Tony came home and I served us chicken noodle soup, and then I went to bed to watch TV.  Spent the night watching American Idol.  I felt horrible last night.  Cold chills, sweating, and body ached like someone beat me up.  I kept telling Tony that this is 'the big one'.  I get one big cold or illness a year and that is how it feels with the body aches and all.  I finally ended up taking a strong pain pill and that helped for a while.  Did not sleep well at all and was up all night in pain.

This morning I got out of bed by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Said goodbye to Tony and told him to have a nice day because I was going back to bed.  Also didn't think I would do lunch with the guys today.  Went back to bed until 10 AM. and woke up feeling pretty good.  Showered and by the time lunch came I felt better than I did in days.  I went and had lunch with the guys, Tony stayed at work and had lunch with his employees.  He buys them lunch every Friday.  I do think it interesting and noteworthy that my body must still have a lot of fight in it if I can go from feeling like I did last night to how I feel right now as I type this post.  Must have been a 48 hr food poisoning or cold.  Either way I think I am getting better.  Will still go to the couch when I am done posting this and rest for awhile and go to bed early tonight.  No plans this weekend.  Will most likely spend the weekend indoors watching a lot of TV because of the Winter cold and snow.  I see my HIV doctor on Monday afternoon so I will have new numbers to post.   I do have a list of things to talk to him about which include the rash on my face which has returned since I stopped putting the cream on it the first of the month.  I also would like to get a colonoscopy and a lung and heart scan this year and see if he can get them scheduled. 

I have been feeding a baby possum the past week.  I showed up early this week in the front bushes where I feed the rabbit daily and Tony feeds the birds.  It now comes a couple times a night as I put bread out for it.  I am surprised how small it is being Winter and all.  Looks health, just small for a possum.  My rabbit still comes a couple times a day to eat the carrots, corn and bread I put out for it.  I call them my outdoor pets.

January 15, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Monday just as I was hitting the 'post' button I looked out the window to see an electrician coming up the steps towards the front door.  Tony I guess did call an electrician to fix the light switch in his bathroom.  I was surprised.  I little warning would have been nice so I could lock up the dogs in the back half of the house.  Had the electric problem fixed in 5 minutes and I told the guy to send Tony the bill.  Spent Monday night watching TV finishing the night watching Castle in bed before going to sleep.

Tuesday I was at the dentist by 9 AM to get my teeth cleaned.  Picked up my monthly HIV meds and my food from the pantry and came home.  Spent the rest of the day working on the Internet and my 25th anniversary book on Shutterfly.  The more I play with my book the more I want to add and the more I find out what you can do format wise.  It is so easy and so fun.  I even had a problem and thought I would try the help phone line.  Got someone in minutes to help me and got my problem fixed.  You go Shutterfly.  I am impressed.  Spent last night watching TV from the DVR until we went to sleep around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went out to shovel the two inches of snow we got over night.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and then got back to the book I am making on Shutterfly.  Called my sister who is making a book for my dad and we exchanged pass codes and looked at each others books.  Got some good ideas like coloring the pages and highlighting some pictures as well as other ideas.  Around noon I went grocery shopping.  Came home and spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Michael Jackson and thinking of any changes or additions I want to make before I order my book.  I will wait a while yet to order since it is only January and our anniversary is in March.  Might have things to add and I really don't have to order until the end of February to get here by the end of March.  I lay in bed sometimes at night and think of an idea or a picture I should add and have to jump out of bed and write it down.  Making a prebaked chicken for supper tonight that I bought at the grocery store.  I will have to debone the chicken before I serve it to Tony.  He hates bones.  Will most likely spend tonight watching American Idol.  I was turned off by last season and we stopped watching soon after the season began.  I do like all the judges now and think it will be fun to watch this season.   Will give it a shot and see.

January 13, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Last weekend we did very little.  We never even left the house on Saturday.  Tony spent most of the day watching TV or napping.  I was on the computer most of the day working on our 25th Anniversary Book from Shutterfly website.   I am making an 11 x 14 book of our life the first 25 years for our anniversary in March.  I have it pretty much finished as of this typing and am just making minor adjustments here and there to the book.  If is time consuming but fun.  I have over 363 pictures of our life in the over 100 pages of book.  It will make a nice coffee table book and will be nice to look back on as we get older.  I try to keep them in date order and you can write something under the pictures depending on the layout you choose on each page.  Saturday night we ordered some lasagna and salads delivered for supper.   Went to bed around 9 PM and did the lovin thing before going to sleep.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Picked up Tony's mom and took her to breakfast.  After we got home Tony spent the entire afternoon trying to fix a light switch in his bathroom.  He must have spent at least four hours and it still is not fixed.  He says he will have to call an electrician and I told him that was up to him.  It is his bathroom so when or how it gets done is out of my hands.  It will be interesting to see how long the wires hang out of the wall.  I spent the day again on the computer working on the anniversary book.  It takes time and you keep going back and making changes and adding photos.  Ordered a pizza delivered for supper.   Spent the night watching the Golden Globe awards.  Went to bed when they were over at 10 PM.

This morning we were up by 5 AM when Bo starting crying loudly.  Woke us both up.  We both jumped up in bed and I ran to him.  He walked around the bed for a while crying but nothing seemed wrong.  I picked him up and then took him outside and gave him a treat.  He seemed fine then.  I think he had a bad dream and when he woke up was still in the dream.  It was really strange.  I was scared to death thinking he was going to emergency for a while there.   He is fine and was in no time.  Slept for a while and soon got up to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Spent the entire day doing laundry and cleaning in between working on the anniversary book.  Did four loads of laundry.  Making some Hormel dinner for supper with mashed potato and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR.

January 10 2014 Friday Afternoon

Spent all day yesterday watching old family videos and taking snap shots of good frames when I would pause the video.  I am doing this for my sister who is making a photo book for my dad's 80th birthday.  Spent last night watching TV from the DVR.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Actually I was up much earlier laying in bed thinking about my next project.  Since our 25th anniversary is coming up this March I thought it might be cool to make a photo book of all the events in our lives together the past 25 years.  So after Tony left I started going through old scrap and photo albums and scanning pictures that I don't have on the computer in digital format since they are so old.  Spent all morning and afternoon doing this only breaking to have Tony pick me up and meet the guys for lunch.

No plans this weekend.  It is raining right now.  Yes, it is above freezing in Milwaukee.  It is 34 degrees right now.

January 8, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Was surprised I did not make a post yesterday.  I was sitting in the theater last night watching the play War Horse and looked at Tony and said 'I didn't post today'.  LOL.  So, last night we saw the play War Horse.  I enjoyed it.  The horses look so real you forget people are operating them.  Was glad I broke down and bought the tickets even though they were almost $100 each.  Got home by 10:15 PM and after we watched a little of the news we went to sleep.

Got up this morning by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Didn't drink any coffee and left the house at 7:30 AM to go get my 6 month HIV blood taken.  It was only 5 below zero and I was going to wait until tomorrow but thought I would just get the blood drawn and over with.  Getting used to the needle in the arm.  Stopped off at McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich on the way home.  After I was home for a while I left to go to Walgreen's to buy a couple photo albums.  My sister has us going through our old photos so she can put a book together for my father's 80 birthday that is coming up.  I have a lot of pictures but need to scan each one to get them to her.  So I spend a good part of yesterday and again today going through my photo albums, scanning pictures, and sending them to her.  I realized some of the older albums I have were falling apart so it was time to buy new ones and transfer the pictures.  Was really nice to go through these pictures.  My mom gave each of us kids a photo album many years ago of all our baby and family pictures from growing up.  Where did all the time go?  I don't really mind taking the time to scan them because I will now have them digitally on my computer forever and not have a faded picture in years to come in the album.  Making some salads and steaks with mashed potatoes for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch The People's Choice Awards tonight so I don't have to fast forward the DVR all night.  Nice to see the familiar faces in the audience at the award shows.  It is finally above zero this afternoon.  I am so tired of this cold.  I'm going to need donations to pay the next heating bill if this continues.

January 6, 2014 Monday Afternoon

We had no plans this past weekend but to wait for the cold front to come through.  By this morning it was here. 

Saturday we spent the day doing nothing.  We laid around the house and watched TV all day.  We did take a nap in the afternoon which led to a round of lovin.  Of course when I say 'did nothing' that really more applies to Tony than myself since I still have to take care of all the daily things that come up all day while Tony is on the couch.  Had a pizza and spaghetti delivered for supper.  Spent the night watching one of the best movies we have watched in a long time.  It was a gay themed movie called The Falls: Testament Of Love.  The movie involved two guys and their fight dealing with the church.   They were lovers for a year 'on retreat'.  Ten years later one had cut ties with the church and lived life as a gay man, the other got married and had a kid and was never really happy.  Years later the guys meet up.  It was heart breaking at times to watch how someone could live a life that is not their own or not what feels right.  So sad what the church has done to people.  Went to bed around 9 PM for a round of lovin and soon went to sleep after the local news on TV.

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Spent the early morning reading the newspaper and making eggs bacon and muffins for breakfast.  As I was making breakfast and walked into Tony's bathroom to talk to him, I looked up to see the ceiling was wet and water was leaking from the upstairs bathroom.  Tony finished what he was doing and started tearing down the ceiling as the water poured out.  I called the tenants to see if they were up and soon we were upstairs figuring out the cold water on the tub was leaking behind the wall.  Tony spent the next couple hours fixing the leak but we now have a bathroom without a ceiling.  Around noon we ventured outdoors to go to Pick N Save to buy the weekly lottery tickets and some groceries for the week.  I do not plan on leaving the house much this week due to the extreme cold.  Watched a lot of TV off the DVR and topped off the night watching Revenge and another round of lovin.  The temperature was dropping.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Tony usually lets Bo and Vito out before I get out of bed but this morning I knew I would need to carry Vito outside due to the cold and being blind.  When we got up this morning it was negative 13 degrees and a wind chill or feels like temperature of 39 below zero.  The dogs paws freeze up in no time and they fall over.  Went back to bed with Vito for a half hour before I got up to start the day.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  When they were all done eating I carried each one out one at a time to do their business.  Tony soon left for work.  I spent the morning reading the newspapers, doing a load of laundry and ordered the last year of posts from this blog in hard cover book form like I do each year.  Made a ham sandwich for lunch and took a nap with the dogs.  The back bedroom creaks and makes loud noises from the shifting and cold.  I swear their must be bolts popping sometimes it is so loud.  It never got above 10 below zero all day today.  Thankfully Stella has only needed to go out twice.  She is too heavy to carry.  Did talk to my mom today via the phone since they go down to Florida starting tomorrow for the Winter.  I wish I was them and could escape this cold.  Making some Chicken Cordon Bleu for supper with mashed potato and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR while it records tonight's shows. 

January 3, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Just as I was starting a movie to watch last night the man tenant knocks on the door to give me half of his half of the rent in cash.  Says he will give me the rest on Friday.  Wrote him a receipt and said goodbye.  Started the movie over from the beginning.  Watched the movie The Perfect Wedding.  It was another gay themed movie and was entertaining enough.  The main character in the movie was so good looking the movie plot did not matter, just kidding.  He was hot and the plot was good enough.  Went to bed around 9 PM and watched an hour of TV in bed before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and said goodbye to Tony as he left for work.  Read the morning newspapers and loaded up my usual Friday movie downloads.  At 8:30 AM I called my dentist at ARCW to cancel the appointment I had for Monday at 9 AM.  Monday they are saying will be the coldest day in a long time.  A high of 8 below zero or worse for the day.  I figure since the tooth is a crown they are working on and it can wait I do not need to go outside in 8 below zero temperatures.  As I was typing that sentence the dentist called to reschedule and can get me in on May 6th.   WTF?   May 6th is the soonest?   I will have to talk with someone there about this.  I don't thing this is acceptable having to wait 5 months for an appointment for a tooth crown.  Tony picked me up to have lunch with the guys.  Had a nice lunch and then had Tony drop me off at home.  Spent the afternoon listening to music.  Making some salad for supper tonight and will most likely add a TV dinner for Tony.  No plans this weekend which is good because a very cold front is coming through on Sunday.  High of 5 degrees on Sunday and Tuesday and only a high of 8 below zero on Monday.  Going to be another week indoors because of the cold.  It will be so cold outside on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that I will most likely have to carry the dogs outside and carry them back in or their feet will freeze and they can not walk.

January 2, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

First year I was asleep as the new year arrived.  We made steaks and a nice supper.  Watched a couple episodes of Homeland and soon Tony was sleeping on the couch by 9 PM.  I watched a little of Anderson Cooper and then went to bed with Tony and the dogs to watch TV in bed.  Well, in no time I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up it was 2 AM.  Happy New Year.

Spent New Year's Day watching the remaining episodes of Homeland.  Binge watched the entire third season in one week.  I did enjoy the entire season.  Still wondering why she isn't going nuts not being on her meds because of the baby?  She should be a mess by now and seemed very well at the end of the season after Body was hanged.  Will watch next season or download and watch it next year this time most likely.  It snowed all day.  I went out and shoveled a couple times during the day in between watching TV.  We got about 8 inches of fluffy snow.  Spent the night watching two gay themed movies called Vampire Boys 2 and The Men Next Door.  Both were entertaining enough.  Sometimes very sad how very few gay themed movies there are and how we will sit through and watch a gay themed movie with such bad acting.  Went to bed by 9 PM and watched a little TV and the news before doing the lovin thing and going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony soon left for work.  As he left I noticed a note on the back stairs from the guy upstairs saying 'the bank was closed yesterday and he will have his half of the rent to me later today'.  I had to shake my head since I knew the banks would be closed but what does that matter when you write out a check?  I got her half over the weekend in the mail.  I spent the morning doing things around the house and shoveling the snow outside that fell over night.  We got about 3 more inches of fluffy snow over night.  Sure has been a snowy cold Winter so far.  I have already had about enough.   As I was shoveling the snow she came outside to go somewhere with her baby.  As she shoveled off her car she asked me if I had 'talked to her boyfriend'.  It was more in the tone of that I HAD talked with her boyfriend.  I said he left a note about the rent and she looked at me with this dumb look.  She then said 'he told you he was moving out right?'.   I said no I had not talked with him about that.  She paused and said 'well, this is why, see he said he went out with you and Tony one night to a gay bar and told you guys the entire story'.  When I told her we had not been out with him she said he even gave this whole story and account of the night and what food and drinks were at the bar.  WOW!   I didn't intend to step into this one but what the hell?  Who makes up such a story and why?  So I guess he will be moving out?  I have no clue how she can pay her rent not working, going to school, and having a baby less than a year old.  What a fucked up couple of people.  He is now washing windows as a job and leaves the house at 3:30 AM and gets home around 4 PM.  At least I think he is going there and doing that.  Who would know at this point since what he says to his girl friend are lies.  Making some salads and TV dinners for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch a couple movies and hope I get the other half of my rent tonight.  Funny, didn't I go through this last month with them?