February 27, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Stella her ear drops.  Tony left for work by 7:30 AM.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and trying to stay warm.  It was below zero again this morning and wind chill again at 25 below zero.  The furnace was running nonstop and could not stay at 70 degrees.  Tony came home a little before 11 AM so we could take Stella to the vet to have her ears checked again.  The vet says it looks more like a yeast infection and did a culture.  The vet sent us home with a pill to help with the yeast and a we have to bring her back on Saturday morning for a full culture with us not putting anything in her ears for the next two days.  They then will put something in her ears that dissolves and will help with the infection.  It is a new drug from dogs and ear infections.  Not sure the cost but at this point it hardly matters and has to be done.  Stopped off at McDonald's for a burger and fries to bring home and also stopped at the bank to deposit a check.  We then ate lunch with the dogs as they barked for French fries.  Tony went back to work and I spent the afternoon listening to my Donna Summer collection.  I have every song she has ever put out and love her music from old to new.  Most people don't even know she continued to put out music in the years before she died.  Just wasn't as popular but still just as good.  Spent time on the computer cruising the Internet also this afternoon.  Making a frozen pizza and salads for supper tonight.  Have not heard from anyone else in my family but my one sister and one brother regarding our up coming wedding.  It burns the hell out of me.  Pisses me off.  How many fricken hoops do I have to go through in order for my marriage to be like theirs and recognized as such?  If I don't hear from them before or after the wedding I might have to cut ties or cut back seeing the family due to the pain. 

I have talked about the nature cameras I put under the cars in our front yard.  Here is a picture of the bunny cam and the bunny in it's nest.

 

February 26, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching NCIS, NCIS LA and then went to the bedroom.  Did the lovin thing and Tony was soon sleeping.  I watched TV for an hour or so before I turned off the TV and went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot, and Stella her ear drops.  Before Tony left for work I had him hold the ladder outside so I could take down a light that seems to be shorting out.  It was zero degrees outside and feels like of 25 below.  Had to fix it and needed the ladder held in the 8 inches of snow and ice we still have on the ground.  Had it fixed and ready to hang back up before Tony left for work and had him hold the ladder again to put the light in place.   Will see if it works when the light goes on with the other outside lights tonight set on 'dusk to dawn' timers.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  I also sent out a formal email to my family letting them know the day, date and time of our Wedding in March.  I honestly don't expect any of them to show up since it will be in Illinois and will be a half hour ceremony and no reception or anything.  So it would be a long trip for any of them for a half hour.  Still it would be nice for anyone from my family to be at my wedding.  Tony's mom and two sisters will be at the wedding.  None of my family came to our Holy Union 21 years ago either so I guess I should expect pretty much the same.  I did get a response from one sister and one brother from my announcement email today.  Both congratulated us on our up coming wedding.  I figured I would get responses from those two siblings and will be interesting to see if my other brother and sister as well as my parents even respond to my email announcement.  It will tell me just how much they respect my marriage and how they feel it compares to theirs.  It hurts, but I will go on.  I did make a doctors appointment today for my back, shoulder, chest and lung pain I have had for a couple days now.  I would first think it stress by my lungs are not feeling good and feel congested.  The soonest my doctor can see me is next week Wednesday.  If I don't think I can wait that long I will have to call the doctor again and toss out the 'I have AIDS' card and hope for a sooner appointment.  I also wonder if it could be my lungs adjusting to it being 9 months without a cigarette.  I do smoke the weed so it is not like my lungs are smoke free.  Either way it is worth checking out and a doctor appointment is on the calendar for next week.  Spent the afternoon listening to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks music.  Was just in that kind of mood.  Making a canned ham, noodles and salads for supper tonight.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV and hopefully going to bed early.  It only got to a high of 10 degrees today outside and the wind chill or feel like was 25 below zero when we got up this morning.  This Winter just won't let go and no end in sight. 

February 25, 2014 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV and a couple shows off the DVR.  Talked all night as I thought of things about the wedding plans.  Of course Tony is in the mindset of 'just tell me when and where'.  I am trying to make it a great day.  Also was searching the Internet for restaurants to go to around the court house with Tony and the people we bring with us.  So far it looks like the guys from lunch, Tony's sister, mom and sister-in-law will make 10.  Will be a great group of people on a day to remember.  Most good fine dining restaurants are closed on a Friday afternoon so I think we will just have lunch at a Fuddruckers 10 minutes from the court house.  Went to bed and watched Castle with Tony and the dogs before going to sleep around 10:15 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the early morning reading the newspapers and figuring out how I would inform my mom about the wedding.  When we announced 21 years ago we were having a Holy Union I was disowned by the family for three years.  A lot has changed, but there are still those who don't totally agree with my life.  I did post on Facebook yesterday our wedding plans and it has been very interesting who has or more importantly who has not responded in some way.  One of my sisters 'liked' the post and commented 'congratulations'.   My other sister who I just went to the fundraiser with last weekend saw the post but has yet to say anything or respond in any way.  She is also the sister that told me 21 years ago that she would raise her children to know my lifestyle was wrong.  Again, a lot has changed, but obviously not enough has changed.  She will never feel my marriage is as worthy as hers, EVER.  When I did finally talk to my mom around 10 PM I talked about everything but the wedding.  I lastly told her I had something to tell her.   I asked her not to say a word until I was finished and she didn't.  I started by saying 'I have something to tell you.  It has finally become legal to get married in Illinois and Tony and I will be going to Illinois on March 21st to get legally married'.  I continued ' I am not sure how you feel about this but I am telling you I am a little put off by the lack of responses I have gotten from other family members.  I know for a fact that Dad and Penny know this from seeing my post and have yet to respond.   I think this is shameful because if I was anyone off the streets telling them I was getting married I would hear congratulations.  It hurts that I have not heard this from them and all I am asking is for you to say that, congratulations'.   I paused and mom said 'congratulations'.  I said thank you.  So I guess she got my point.  I am really put off by my siblings lack of acknowledgement of our wedding.  So I guess as far as things have gotten, they still have a ways to go.  I also told her I did not expect any presents from anyone but would be very disappointed if I did not receive a 'congratulations on your wedding day' card from them.  At this point it will be interesting to see who does or does not acknowledge my big day.  I also went on to tell mom 'this will be the happiest day of my life.  I have always dreamed of meeting a man to spend the rest of my life with, grow old with and get married, and my dream is finally coming true'.  I continued by telling her 'if I die the day after my wedding I would die a happy happy man'.  I actually think she understood.  What is so sad is the fact she said somewhere in the conversation 'I though you were married'.   This tells me how little people realize what we gay people can and can not do yet in this world.  Heck, you got Arizona trying to write discrimination into their laws and countries making it a crime to be gay.  We have a long way to go.  Went grocery shopping around noon since tomorrow is suppose to be very cold and only 10 degree high for the day.  This Winter is never going to end.  Looks like much the same for the next couple weeks never getting about 25 degrees.  Spent the afternoon listening to music with the dogs all snuggled around me.  Stella's ear is not getting better and I made an appointment to take her back to the doctor on Thursday.  I have been medicating the ear twice a day and she still cries when I touch her ears.  There is nasty coming out but after I clean them they look fine.  So, back to the doctor.  Making Chicken Cordon Bleu for supper with rice and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV with the dogs.  I am still on cloud nine and riding the wedding planning high.

February 24, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Had a very nice weekend.

Saturday we spent the day around the house.  Tony spent most of the day watching TV.  I spent most of the day playing with the new cameras and getting them in just the right spot under the cars in the front yard to view the rabbit and possum.  We took a nice nap with the dogs in the afternoon.  By 5 PM we showered and got all dressed up in our suits Saturday night for a fundraiser for Pitbull dogs.  My sister had tickets and invited Tony and I to attend with her and her husband.  We had a great time at this event.  We even valet parked and really only had to be in the cold for a short time to go to this event.  There were two Pitbulls at the event.  One was from the Michael Vick dog fighting rescue.  Such a sweet dog and in a tux.  Here is a picture of my sister and I will the M V Dog.

The night was magical.  We met so many nice people doing good things for Pitbulls.  So nice because there are too many people out there not being nice to Pitbulls.  Open bar all night.  Food was OK.  Filled up on appetizers.   Was full when the pasta came.   I actually spent a good chunk of the night playing with this dog and another that was there to show the dangers of in breeding.  Such a sweet dog with only good back legs.  One front leg needs a brace, the other is like a chicken wing and not useable.  Here is a picture of me with that dog.

Such a sweet and happy dog.  Sure didn't deserve a life so tough.  Stayed at the event until close to 11 PM and then came home.  I spent the night smiling and in tears.  Happy tears.   The dogs made the event.   After we got home we spent a little time watching TV and then went to bed to do the lovin thing and go to sleep.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning watching TV and reading the newspaper.  Met one of the couples we have Friday lunch with for lunch and then went to a classic car show across the street at State Fair park.  I really enjoy being with this couple and one of the best things that has come out of me finding out I was HIV+.   I met them.  We get along so good.  They are both into cars so Tony loves them also.  Spent a couple hours at the car show and headed home.  Spent the night watching the gay themed movie Pit Stop.  Was OK but not really sure what the plot was.  Went to bed around 9 PM and soon was sleeping.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning firming up our Wedding plans.  As of Friday it is legal to get married in one county of Illinois.  It is about an hour and a half from Milwaukee to the closest clerk of courts office.  Reserved a wedding at the court house for 2:30 PM on March 21st.  Then rented a stretch limo to take us there for the day.  I was in tears as I made these reservations.  Never did I ever think this would happen in my lifetime.  I am going to get married.  Of course it will not be legal in Wisconsin by the state.  But it is recognized at the federal level and that is good enough for me.  In time it will then become legal here after all the court challenges.  So....................I am getting married to Tony on March 21st 2014, our 25th anniversary of meeting each other.   How cool is that?  I am on cloud nine.

Of course Tony did almost bring me down this afternoon when he came home around 2 PM asking for another cat carrier.  I guess the employees have already caught two to get fixed.  Only problem is we don't have them scheduled until NEXT WEEK to have them fixed.  I did call to see if we could sneak them in this week with no luck.  Had to call Tony at work and tell him to release them.  Now they probably will not fall for that again next week.  We will have to see.  Why don't spouses listen and remember what you tell them? 

February 21, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Yesterday was a horrible day weather wise here in Milwaukee.  Snow, sleet, rain, more rain, then the wind and more sleet, then more snow was pretty much how it was all day yesterday.  I was suppose to have a meeting in the afternoon and it was cancelled due to the weather.  Was wondering what I was going to do all day when the UPS guy showed up with the recent Internet purchase I made of two remote cameras and a DVR 7 inch screen security system.   I saw them on sale at Office Depot and then found it much cheaper on the Internet.  Of course this would come back to bite me later.  Figured I would spend the day setting up the cameras and figure out how to use the system to access it remotely through my laptop.  I thought if it works I would buy another some time down the road and use it to view the dogs when we are away from home.  Spent all afternoon making some mounts for the cameras so I could put them under the front yard cars since they are wireless and only need power connected to them.  So in the rain at times I was outside putting the two cameras and stringing electrical wires to make them work.  I tried as hard as possible not to disturb and animals under the cars but the possum did move from one car to another at one point because I was putting a camera under the Cadillac.  I could see the rabbit still under the car in the trunk part so I just left the camera where it was and set up the other camera under another car.  Spent an hour or more just reading the instruction book.  After I got the camera outside working I then tried to view them on my computer and also the laptop, rather than just the 7 inch screen DVR.  Installed all the software and no luck viewing them remotely.  By the time I thought to call tech support they were closed.  Spent the night watching TV with Tony and the dogs.  Of course the animals stayed as far from the cameras as possible and we never once saw them.  Went to bed around 10 PM listening to the winds howling outside at close to 50 mph.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Read the morning newspapers and started a couple movie downloads.  Around 9 AM I made my first call to Uniden tech support to have them fix one problem.  I then was told to download two patches and all should work fine.  Yah right.  Download the two patches and not working.  Called again tech support and was on hold waiting for a half hour like the first time.  Was then told to check with my Internet supplier to see what speed I have and if it is above what they told me it should be.  Called ATT to find out I have more then enough bandwidth and fast enough speed.   Was too late to call Uniden back for support again, and soon Tony picked me up for lunch with the guys.  Had a great lunch.  Tony dropped me off at home and I called Uniden again.   After an hour on hold and then talking to support I was told there must be a problem with the unit and I should return it.  This is where the lower price bought at BJ's Warehouse is going to bit me in the ass.  Returning it and getting another or my money back will just be a pain in the ass.  Figure I will just use the cameras and 7 inch screen to view under the cars and get a better system for viewing remotely.  Was told by tech support I should get the G series because they have their own router?   Will have to check into this.  Was told it is much easier to connect and view remotely.  Glad I only bought one of these security units.  Will spend the rest of the afternoon listening to music and snuggle with the dogs.  It is still so windy out and once in a while I think the sun room is going to fly away.  No plans tonight.  Will make left over spaghetti for supper.  Tomorrow night we have a fund raiser to go to that my sister bought tickets for and asked us to join them.  It is for the Bully Breed club here in Milwaukee for Pitbulls.   Will be a nice event and always nice to get dressed up in a suit and tie.  Sunday we will go to the local car show here in town of old classic cars.  Tony got tickets from one of his vendors he buys car parts from.  Most likely will meet one of the couples we have Friday lunch with to meet for lunch before the car show and go to the show with them since they are big car guys like Tony.

February 19, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent yesterday cleaning up the snow around the yard and house.  It actually got to 40 degrees here in Milwaukee and it sure made the snow melt fast.  I try to clear as much away so it can dry and melt better.  Later in the afternoon I went to ARCW to get my monthly HIV meds and food from the pantry.  Came home and made sweet and sour chicken for supper.  Spent last night watching TV from the DVR. 

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went to the grocery store around 10 AM to do the weekly grocery shopping so I could be home by noon.  At noon tickets went on sale for Theresa the Long Island Medium and I got two pretty good seats for the second show when she comes to town in April.  I love her show and pray I get picked for a reading.  Took a nice nap with the dogs this afternoon.  Took a pain pill first because my shoulder is hurting from all the shoveling of the heavy snow yesterday.  I think I injured my rotary cuff.  Even put my arm in a sling for a while so I would not move it.  Making spaghetti for supper tonight.  Will most likely continue to clear the DVR and watch TV tonight.

My blood boils over the two comments from Sally on Monday's posts.  How dare you, Sally, say it is ALWAYS the mans fault.  I have seen many many woman do what ever it takes to push a mans buttons so they get hit, get a reaction, and then call the police.  They had this in mind the entire time they tried to get a reaction out of their man.  Well, you got your reaction.  I do no condone violence in any way but you are way off when you say it is always the mans fault like the woman is never at fault for starting a fight.  Hell, I will go as far to say I have seen woman push their men to the point where they say 'hit me, hit me' as they push on his chest.........they should have gotten slapped.  How dare anyone think they will push someone to that point and not get a reaction.  IT DOES TAKE TWO.  There I said it.  Go nuts on me.  Are you even in a relationship?  It is people like yourself who THINK they know so much about a relationship and they have never been in one and seen the dynamics of a relationship.  It is no different than a priest giving out marriage advice.  You also seem to think a man has no feelings or can not get hurt mentally or physically.  We men feel the same you women feel.   Jeez, I am so sick of women wanting all the rights of a man, yet you don't want to open OUR doors or pay for our dinner when we date.  Men and woman are equal.   You cant have it both ways.   If you don't know what your talking about, or not here to see what is going on, stop assuming you know best.  I am simply telling a story of my life on MY blog.  As much as I enjoy comments and other perspectives, if you don't like the way I tell my story, don't read my blog.

February 17, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching the movie American Hustle.  We both enjoyed the movie but not sure if it is 'the picture of the year'.  Went to bed around 10 PM for a round of loving and soon we went to sleep.

Saturday we never left the house.  Spent the entire day watching movies.  We started out the day watching the movie The Hitcher.  We have seen this movie many times and enjoyed watching it again.  Then started watching gay themed movies that I have downloaded.  Started off with the movie Capital Games.  Very good movie and I recommend finding and renting or downloading it.  We then watched Brides Of Sodom which was a vampire movie with little clothed men romping around biting people.  Was OK only because we have seen the other movies like this and knew not to expect much but men on men vampire action.  Ordered a pizza delivered for supper.  Then watched the movie Elliot Loves.  Very good movie about a kid growing up gay.  Finished off the night watching the movie On The Road.  We both thought we had seen this movie before because parts of it seemed familiar.  We still ended up watching the entire movie and enjoyed it again.  Really didn't remember much about the movie and glad we watched it again.  Went to bed around 10 PM and did the lovin thing from watching all these gay oriented movies all day.

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Went out for breakfast and then went to feed the cats at Tony's shop.  They all seemed fine and let you get within about 5 feet of them before they run.  Bought lottery tickets on the way home.  Spent the afternoon watching more movies.  Watched the movie Wrecked and Aleksander's Price.  Both were very deep movies and very good.  Made salads and warmed the left over pizza for supper.  Spent the night watching two more movies.  Watched the movies Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You and Tumbledown.   Two more excellent movies.  All in all I picked great movies to download and watch all weekend.  Any of the above movies are worth searching for.  Went to bed around 9 PM and did the loving thing.  Listened to my IPod for an hour before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  I knew a snow storm was coming today and planned ahead to just stay home and do laundry and clean.  Did five loads of laundry and some dusting and cleaning around the house.  It is still snowing and this is going to be the heavies and worst of the snow storms to shovel.  Told Tony to make sure he brings home the plow truck because there is way to much snow to shovel the alley.  We will end up with about 6 inches of snow the news casters are saying.  Should end around dinner time so I will most likely be spending tonight shoveling before we settle in the evening of TV.  Making some salad and a couple Stoffer's TV dinners for supper.   Suppose to actually get above freezing tomorrow and the next couple days before another cold front comes through and drops us to single numbers again.  We have not been above freezing since before Christmas I think.

February 14, 2014 Friday Afternoon

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spent last night watching the CBS TV line up.  The shows were all reruns but I must have missed them the first time around or been busy doing something when we watched them because they seemed new to me.  Went to bed around 9 PM and watched the Olympics for an hour and then went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Actually was up a couple times during the night because Stella has the runs.  So now on top of her ears hurting her she has the runs.  Will keep an eye on her and get her back to the vet if it continues.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  Honestly the morning flew by so fast I could not believe it was time for Friday lunch with the guys already.  Tony picked me up since we went to a corner pub that serves food for a difference, since today was one of the guys birthdays.  I brought the cake.  Had a drink and a combo cod fish and shrimp fry with French fries.  After lunch Tony drove me downtown to a theater where The Long Island Medium is going to be coming in April.  Tickets went on sale at noon today.  I got there at 1:30 and the ticket guy told me all there was left was row x in the balcony.  I am not spending money to watch with binoculars.  Was glad I went though because the ticket guy told me she added another date the next day and gave me a password code to buy tickets for that show starting next Wednesday.  Tickets otherwise won't go on sale until that Friday.  So I thought that was nice of him.  Really sad the ticket brokers snatch up all the tickets and now are selling them online for over $300 a seat.  After we left the ticket office we drove to a pizza place I though we would buy a heart shaped par baked pizza at for supper tonight.  Of course we got there to see a 'for lease' sign on the door.  It was a Papa John's or something like that.  Oh well, Tony then dropped me off at home.  Downloaded the CD by A Great Big World this afternoon and actually listened to it 3 times.  Love every song.  I find it hard to love ever song on any CD but this one is awesome.  Not my usual music but glad I tried something different.  Tony will be home in an hour.  I think we will order a pizza delivered and watch the movie American Hustle that I downloaded today also with my usual Friday morning movie downloads.  No plans this weekend at all.  I mean ............. nothing.  Should be interesting what we end up doing.

If there was any doubt, that was my comment yesterday in response to the first comment about 'once someone hits you'.  I didn't know how to say it was from me and just did it anonymous.   It was me.  Wanted to make that clear.  And I stand behind what I said.  Every circumstance is different. 

February 13, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

Yesterday after I posted the Cooper's Hawk that has been showing up twice a day was sitting out front of the house on the statue.  Here is a picture of it.

I feel bad that Tony feeds the birds out front with a bird feeder and then this bird comes twice a day to eat one or more of them.  It waits for a small bird to come and if one does not, it flies into the pine tree to shake the birds out of it that are trying to stay warm and hide.  
Tony got home late from work and we spent the night watching TV from the DVR.  Tony then tells me about the possum at the shop that lives with the five cats.  I pulled this picture off his cell phone of the possum and cats around it.  They take turns eating and all live together under the car parts.

The picture is through the garage door windows.  Seems like the possum and cats all get alone great.  We will need to get the cats fixed soon because Tony said he caught them mating yesterday.  So there will be more cats if we don't get them fixed soon.  Went to bed around 9:30 PM and soon went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  A little before 10 AM Tony came home so we could take Stella to the vet to have her ears and teeth checked.  She has been making pain/crying noises when you touch her ears.  They are clean, no infections, so we are at a loss as to why the crying noise if we bump her ears.  She is prone to ear infections but they seem fine. She also has stopped playing tug a war with Bo so I think she might have a tooth problem.  The vet said the ears looked pretty good but told us to start putting some drops twice a day in them for the next month.  We have used these drops before but we stop way too soon and should go the full course, which might be why she has a problem.  If a month of drops don't work there is a new procedure where they pour wax in the ears we were told as an option down the road.  Teeth looked fine and after a good exam the doctor simply said she is going on 77 years old in dog years so she might have some pain and aches just like we do.  She is a very vocal dog.  Stopped at Pick N Save to buy a cake for tomorrows lunch with the guys since it is one of their birthdays.  As I got out of the car Tony said 'if you want flowers for Valentine's Day maybe you should buy yourself some'.  In the past I have made him buy me a card or flowers.  I single rose or dandelion would be fine as long as he took the time to get it and think of me.  I thought for a minute in the store that I might as well just buy myself flowers and did.  Save him the trip to the flower store tomorrow.  I bought Tony a balloon so I guess we are set for the Valentine holiday.  Might order a heart shaped pizza for supper and call it a day. 
After I was back home with the dogs for a while my tenant upstairs called and asked if her dog could come down and play.  Was surprised when she came down also and asked to talk.  She told he she did have her man arrested and he was charged with domestic abuse and disorderly conduct.  He is also going to abuse classes she told me.  So as you can see she is protecting her child and this couple is getting help.  It makes me a little upset the way someone keeps saying 'call child services' in comments.  You think the child would be better raised by strangers?  The child has never been abused.  Accidents do happen and the glass hitting the baby was an unfortunate end to a fight they had.  But that is not child abuse.   I will say it again.  If I ever feel there is a need to take action I would.  She soon left and I noticed this afternoon the boyfriend was here at the house for a couple hours.  Was told the baby is at her mothers for a couple days.  I could not give my dogs away for a couple days but to each their own I guess.  It snowed all day so this afternoon I had to go out and shovel the two inches of snow.  It is about 25 degrees outside and that is a heat wave considering the temperatures we have had lately.  Making sloppy Joe's and French fries for supper tonight.  Will hopefully watch a movie tonight since the DVR is getting down the last of the shows recorded.  I do like to save a couple shows on the DVR for times when there is NOTHING on TV. 

February 12, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent yesterday doing things around the house.  Made a list of little things that needed to get done and got most of them crossed off by the end of the day.  Spent last night watching TV that we recorded the prior week.  Went to bed around 9 PM for a round of lovin and soon after went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Left the house around 11 AM to make copies of my taxes so I can mail them.  Then went to Pick N Save and did the weekly grocery shopping.  Spent the afternoon just laying on the couch with the dogs watching The People's Court and Judge Judy.  Making pork ribs, mashed potato, corn and a salad for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch a movie tonight since we are clearing the DVR pretty quick with the Olympics on TV, which we don't watch. 

Please stop telling me to call Child Services on my tenants.  If I thought for even one second their child was in danger I would take action.  The child is not in danger.  The parents are screwed up but they do treat the child very well.  The guy has not even been here since the last incident.  I see many many children around the city and country treated much worse.  Since there is no book on how to raise a child they are doing there best.  They just are very lazy and not good together for any length of time.  That in itself does not make them bad parents.  It just makes them incompatible.  

January 10, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Saturday morning around 8:30 AM we heard this crashing noise upstairs on the floor.  We both looked at each other and I said to Tony 'I sure hope they didn't drop the baby'.  About 2 minutes later there is a knock on our door and our tenant is standing there holding her baby in tears asking to come in.  She was shaking and the baby was bleeding from her chin.  We grabbed a cloth and got it wet and stopped the bleeding.  As we are doing this she is asking me for the phone so she can call the police.  I asked what was going on and I guess her boyfriend and her got in a fight this morning when he arrived 10 minutes before we heard the crashing noise.  He did move to a one bedroom apartment nearby I was told.  She continues by telling me he got mad and smashed a bowl on the floor and a piece of the bowl hit the baby and she was bleeding.  Lucky no glass got in her eyes and only on her chin.  I told her to think long and hard before she calls the police because once they come you can not take it back and one of them is going to jail.  The baby was fine.  She called upstairs and I could hear her telling him to 'just leave now'.   She kept saying she would clean the mess but if he didn't leave she would call the police.  I tried to get her to say what the fight was about and she would not say.  I do know it takes two and if she is pushing his buttons, this might be why, not that it is OK.  She would not tell me which tells me she helped cause the fight.  Of course he should not have smashed a bowl.  It takes two is what I am saying.  If you know how to push someone's buttons and you do that, you will get a reaction.  He left, she went back upstairs.  We just stood in the living room shaking our heads thinking WTF.   I then went outside to shovel the snow we got over night.  Showered and went to Pick N Save later in the morning to get wine and flowers to take to my college buddies home that night for spaghetti dinner.  Two college buddies and one's wife will be there.  I have not seen the college buddies in 30 years.  Took a nap in the afternoon.  Half hour before we were to leave to go to the buddies house for supper the police pulled up out front and soon were at our front door.  Figured out she did call the police and Milwaukee's finest were finally showing up at 5 PM.  Told them they would have to drive around back and she had a back entrance only.  They soon were at the back door and upstairs talking to her.  Of course the two squad cars were blocking our garage so we could not leave until they left at 5:30 PM.  So now these unemployed worthless low life tenants of mine are now wasting tax dollars and police on their crap because they can not act adult.  We soon left to go to my college buddies house and were there by 6:30 PM.  Of course they both looked older but could see their faces like yesterday.  We all had a great time.  I brought the photo album and we laughed telling stories about college all night.  Had a great spaghetti dinner also.  Had to laugh when the husband and wife were telling us about their two sons.  One is in Atlanta in a rehab for heroin addiction, the other is living in Chicago and is gay.  After they told us the story how their son came out and about the other being addicted I looked at them and said 'didn't make having a gay son so bad after all that'.   We all laughed.  It was interesting to see both sides of the coming out from the parents perspective and the kids, since I am basically in both.  All I tell people is there is no right or wrong way and there was never a book back then on how to 'come out'.  I guess their son left notes on their car steering wheels one morning before he went to school his senior year telling them he was gay.  Like I said, no rule book on that one.  Guess they took it hard but because of dealing with the heroin son, it was the less of two evils.   We stayed until almost 10 PM and thought it best to call it a night and make the drive home.  We had a great time and it was like we never stopped talking or 30 years had gone by.  When the college buddy pulled out the bong and we were smoking I was back 30 years and in college.  Really did have a nice night and I am sure I will keep in touch with the wife more then the college buddy since 'you know how guys are'.   Plus he is not on the computer and his wife is.  Honestly his wife and I as so much alike it was scary.  We got along great and it felt like I had known her my entire life.  The other college buddy has not done as well.  Never found anyone and now is dealing with just being removed from a heart transplant list because of the cancer and chemo treatments he is now taking.  He has not had an easy path or life.  Got home after 10:30 PM and after a little TV we went to bed to sleep.

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Made eggs bacon and bagels for breakfast.  Around noon we went to Tony's shop to feed the cats and give them fresh water.  Bought lottery tickets and went to the mall to get my necklace fixed that broke last week.  Jeweler fixed it in a half hour and we had a drink and a hamburger in the mall while it was being fixed.  Came home and spent the afternoon watching TV.  Made a canned ham for supper.  Right before supper a squad car pulled up out front and they once again came to the front door.  They were here to see if our tenant was OK.  WTF?   My tax dollars.  Hell, someone gets shot in front of my house and it takes hours for them to get here and I never sometimes ever hear from them again.  She gets a visit to see 'how she is doing'.  Told the police she was not home because her car was not parked in back.  They then left.  Spent the night watching the gay themed movies A Warm Wind and Scenes From A Gay Marriage.   Both were good movies.  A Warm Wind was very good and about a war vet being helped by his gay cousin after he comes back from war injured and with PTSD.  Was a very good movie.  Went to bed around 9:30 PM and soon went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the day doing things around the house.  Talked to my mom on the phone for a while.   It was my dads 80th birthday over the weekend and they got the book my sister had been working on with pictures of his life.  Mom said they both were in tears and loved it.  Went to my HIV doctor this afternoon to get my blood test results.  Was looking forward to them since the last numbers were when I had shingles and my CD4 was all the way down to 333.  Plus I then switched from Truvada to Epzicom.   So these numbers were important.  Plus I have quit smoking cigarettes since then.  Doctor is very happy and my CD4 count almost doubled to 621.  That is actually in the normal range.  So I am finally 'normal'.  Took me five years to get my CD4 count from 106 to 621.   Doctor said to continue what we are doing and come back after my blood test in June.  Drove home and soon I will have to start making supper.  Honestly have no clue and will have to rip the freezer apart to see what I even feel like making.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV.  Might even start watching the HBO series called Looking that I started downloading and it is up to the fourth episode.  Good time to start watching so we can bing watch through those first four episodes if it is good.   It only got to 9 degrees today.  It was below zero when we got up.  Suppose to be a bit warmer each day this week and maybe even close to 32 by Thursday.  That will feel like a heat wave compared to what have been having. 

February 7, 2014 Friday Afternoon

It has been very cold in Milwaukee these past two days so I have done very little.  It got to a high of 6 degrees.  I hate to even leave the house when it is this cold.  I spent yesterday doing things around the house.  I made two cat houses out of some coolers I got with my Omaha steaks two years in a row from my brother.  Tony came home with lunch and picked them up.  He told me the cats were in them the minute he put them in their area.  Spent the afternoon listening to music on the couch with the dogs.  Made sweet and sour chicken and salads for supper.  Spent the night messing with my IPod since it would not connect and then I thought I lost all my music.  Couldn't get ITunes and the IPod to sync.  Finally figured out it was a setting that some how got changed.  After two hours and missing the night's TV I got it fixed and recharged.  Went to bed around 10 PM.  Around 11 PM Tony got frisky so I gave in and we had a round of lovin.  Actually pretended to 'finish' just to get him to 'finish'.  Was the first time I 'faked it'.   Guess guys do it too?

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went back to bed for an hour after Tony left for work.  Got up and put some hair color in my hair.  I keep telling myself this is the last time.  I just hate the grey and still can't move past it and feel old when I see it.  Tony picked me up for lunch and we had a great lunch with the guys.  After I was back home for a while I went across to the neighbor for an hour and talked about life and how we hate this Winter.  Spent the rest of the afternoon listening to music.  Will most likely make Tony a salad and TV dinner for supper.  I will just snack since I am not hungry from our lunch.  Only plans this weekend are to meet my college buddies at their house for supper Saturday night.  Haven't seen them in 30 years and really am looking forward to it.  Will let you know how it turns out. 

As much as I enjoy and encourage comments.  I will delete comments that talk about false cures and healing.  There is enough false information out there and I honestly believe our HIV meds are our best defense to stay alive.  So if you leave a comment about a doctor that cured you and how to contact him, I will most likely delete your comment.

February 5, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

Tuesday I was up by 6 AM.   Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspapers and getting some laundry done.  Did two loads of laundry. Went grocery shopping around 11 AM and spent an hour at the grocery store.  It was my only out of the house this week and with another round of snow and cold I took my time.  Plus making decisions lately is not easy so deciding what size or even if I should buy each item sometimes turns into a major decision.  Came home and after I put it all away and warmed up the soup I bought, I took a nice two hour nap with the dogs.  Some might think I waste my days napping with the dogs.  Honestly when I am laying in bed with them and I look at them snuggling around me and each other,  I smile and feel very secure and loved.   Made tacos for supper.  Spent the night watching NCIS, NCIS LA and then some episodes of Everyone Loves Raymond before going to sleep.   We did end up doing a round of lovin also before we went to sleep.

This morning I was up again by 6 AM.  Got the morning routine done and headed outside to shovel the snow we got over night.  Got about and inch or two but is was blowing and a foot high drift here and there.  By the time I was finished Tony had left for work.  When I was finished I was exhausted and called Tony to let him know I am getting too old for this shoveling snow crap almost every day.  Of course now that the snow storm went through the temperature is dropping and we are expecting a high of only 8 degrees tomorrow.  This has been a horribly long Winter.   Made a can of soup for lunch and again took a nice nap with the dogs.  Right now the tenants dog is down here playing with Bo.  They play well but I do have to watch because once in a while they get too rough or Stella tries to step into the round of play, which never seems to end well.  Too many dogs competing for one toy even though there are toys everywhere.  Making a Stoffer's Lasagna for supper with salad and bread.  Will most likely spend the night watching live TV since there is enough on tonight and our DVD is getting low on recorded shows.  Tomorrow it is suppose to be only a high of 8 degrees.  I am so tired of this cold, snow and Winter.  Looks like I am finally going to get together with my college buddies this weekend.  Been putting the plans together with one of their wives.  We are going to meet at one of their houses for spaghetti and a nice laid back night of talking.  Should be nice.  Only wish they did not live 45 minutes away.

February 3, 2014 Monday Afternoon

Saturday morning we woke up to a fresh coat of snow that needed to be shoveled.  As Tony read the morning newspaper I went out and did the shoveling before it gets too walked on.  It was going to continue snowing all day so I knew I would be out again later to shovel again.  Around 10:30 AM we left the house to go to the Pet Expo.  We try to go every year to see the dogs and buy coats or toys for our dogs.  This year I had a few cat items for the cats at Tony's auto body shop that are living outside in the car parts.  We ended up buying a couple dog coats for Stella and Kali and also a heated water bowl and heated tent for the cats.   Spent an hour or two at the Pet Expo.  At one point a dog walked by that look exactly like my Buddy I had years ago.  Tony got my attention to see the dog and when I looked up again at Tony he was in tears.  Soon I also was in tears and explaining to the owner why and how much we miss our dog who looked just like this.  They are sad but happy tears I was even able to have this dog in my life for 7 years after I found him on the streets.  Stopped off at a Mexican restaurant on the way home for some lunch.  Had a drink with lunch.  After we ate we drove to Tony's shop to set up the heated tent and water bowl for the cats.  They were so happy and we watched them from inside the windows check out the heated tent and food / water.  Came home and after I shoveled the little snow that fell while we were gone.   Spent the night watching TV off the DVR which included the past two / last two episodes of American Horror Story.  Was good but sorry to have the story line die and be over. 

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Read half the newspaper and we both got showered so we could take Tony's mom out for breakfast.  After lunch we arrange with someone from a cat rescue to pick up another heated and bigger cat house that she had put together for us.  Since she was not far from Tony's mom it worked out great.  We picked up the cat house and spent about a half hour talking with the two ladies at the house.  They help rescue cats.  We talked about hopefully getting the cats fixed by Spring and that I would pay for it if we can trap and get them to the vet.  Left her house with the new cat house and went to Tony's shop to set it up for the cats.  Set it up, fed the cats and again watched them from the windows eating and checking out the new heated bigger house.  Here is a picture of the houses and  few of the 5 or six cats.

The cats had been just living in all the car parts piled behind the new cat houses.  They all look healthy so far.
Spent the rest of the afternoon watching TV off the DVR, hemmed a few pairs of jeans with iron tape, and had a round of lovin in the living room as we watched TV.  Ordered a pizza delivered for supper.  Spent the night watching TV off the DVR and did catch the Bruno Mars half time show.  Went to bed round 9 PM and after an hour of Tosh.O we went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Talked with my mom on the phone for a half hour or so.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper, doing a couple loads of laundry and things round the house.  Took a nice two hour nap with the dogs this afternoon.  Making left over pizza and a salad for supper tonight.  Was in the teens today in Milwaukee and partly cloudy.  Warm enough to get outside and pick up the dog droppings and clean out the bucket.  Didn't spend much more than that outside today.   Will spend the night watching TV.  Just talked with Tony on the phone and he said when he got to work this morning all the cats came running out of the cat houses.  So they had a warm night for a change.

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?