May 23, 2012 Wednesday Dinner Time

Tony came home early from work yesterday so we could go out to dinner and celebrate our anniversary.  Went to Butch's Steak House as I predicted.  Had a great steak dinner.  Actually we both should have ordered the 8 oz rather than the 12 oz fillet since we both only ate half our steaks and brought the rest home.  Got home and started watching the Dance Final.  Was OK with how it all turned out.  I think they all deserved to win, so who ever did win did deserve it.  Exchanged our cards while we watched TV, yah, how romantic hey?  Tonys card to me was funny.  On the front of the card it said 'Honey, Here's what I'm hoping for on our anniversary' and in big letters under it on this trifold card reads 'Hot Sex Now'.  You then open the folds of the card and each letter of Hot Sex Now expands to a sentence like:  Holding hands, Openly talking about our feelings, watching the balleT, Sharing our dreams, Enjoying time together, Taking time to relaX, Taking a Nice long walk,  going Out for dinner, recalling hoW we met.  At first I just thought, how romantic, and then I looked at Tony and said, Yah we can do all those things.   Tony looked at me and said No No No, you got the card.  As the night went on and we were talking or doing this or that Tony would say, Ok, we got another one taken care of, as he held my hand for 20 seconds, etc,  LOL.    (As I type this out our front window four bike cops have two kids on the ground in hand cuffs, now two police cars pulled up, wonder what this is about, have to see, typing as I watch)   Went to bed around 10:30 PM after the local news on TV.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Cut the little grass we have between the road and sidewalk.  Took a shower and went grocery shopping.  (I just walked across the street to find out what was going on.  Some people standing by said the kids ran from the cops when they saw them in an alley and stopped them here in front of my house to question them.  Guess they are lying and stuff and they were actually finger printing them as I found out this information from the bystanders, they ended up loading the both of them in the paddy wagon, back to the blog)    Made myself a sliced steak sandwich with my left over steak from last night for lunch.  Went for my usual walk around the river.  Laid down for an hour with the dogs in bed.  When I got up I started making my next music mix.  Finished it prior to starting to type this blog and listening to it now.  Will need some adjustments and might have to just do it all over again.  Since I love mixing music it is always best to do it a couple times and get the right songs playing and mixing into each other.  Made some salads for supper.  That will be enough for me since I am really cutting down and watching what I eat.  Will make Tony some of the left over spaghetti from Monday.  Will spend the night watching TV.  Was in the 60s again today and a bit cool with the lake breeze. 

Here's a picture of what I was watching outside across the street as I typed this today:

While I'm adding pictures I might as well add today's Mourning Dove video.  You can see the mother and one of the babies, the other baby is behind the mother.  I covered the pond today with netting since they will be flying the nest soon and it would kill me to watch them take their first flight, into the pond.

 

May 22, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Today is Tony and my 19th Anniversary of our Holy Union. 

Took a walk yesterday after I posted.  Walked to Pick N Save and bought some salad and a couple other items.  Didn't buy much since I had to carry it home.  Spent the night watching Dancing With The Stars and a couple shows on the DVR before going to bed.  Did the lovin thing before we went to sleep.  I could not sleep and listened to my IPod until about midnight.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  Around 11 AM the Flag Center called to tell me my new flag with the five dogs we have had to say goodbye to on it was done and ready to pick up.  It turned out great.  I will take a picture some day when the wind is blowing it so you can see it.  Hung the flag and the plaque I bought to go on the flag pole.  Took a short nap with the dogs.  A little while ago I went to Walgreen's to buy a card for Tony and some fat burner pills.  The walking alone is not doing it so I have to step it up a little.  I feel horribly fat these last few weeks.   My chest feels tight and if this doesn't work I will have to go to the doctor because something else is wrong.  I feel like my middle body is getting tight and hard like someone poured cement in me.  Tony should be home early tonight so we can go out for supper.  Going to go to Butch's Steak House for a nice steak dinner to celebrate our anniversary.  Will then spend the night watching the Dancing With The Stars Final to see who wins.  Today it was in the 60s in Milwaukee.  A bit cool but I love this weather.  Not too hot, not too cold.  The Mourning Doves have been leaving the babies alone for a time here and there during the day.  I figure it is a test to get them use to not having mom and dad around 24 hours a day.  Should be a couple days now until they fly the nest.

May 21, 2012 Monday Morning

Friday afternoon, after I posted, I was looking at the Mourning Dove nest and could not believe it, there are two babies.  They were now big enough to see the both since one was always hiding under the parent bird.  They are now, after a week, as big as baby chicks.  It is very barbaric to watch them feed from the parents.  It honestly looks painful for the parent bird as they put their beaks up into the parent bird to eat what they bring up for them in their mouths.  I made another video of them feeding on Saturday afternoon here it is:

Saturday afternoon we went to a couple rummage sales and a car show west of Milwaukee.  It was in the 80s away from Lake Michigan.  Thankfully it stayed cooler by our house along the lake.  Saturday night I did get Tony to go for a long walk around the river trails at dusk.  I enjoyed the walk, Tony basically did it to make me happy.  Talked with some people on the trails and found out there are coyotes down there by the river also.  A father and son with there dog encountered one the night prior when they slept down there camping for the night.  Guess the coyote almost got the dog.  Went to bed around 11 PM Saturday night.

Sunday morning we were up by 7 AM.  After I fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot I made some eggs, bacon, and english muffins for breakfast.   Around noon we went to a car show south of Milwaukee and took the lakefront roads home.  Half way home we encountered and stray dog.  After trying for about a half hour to catch it, with no luck, we finally gave up when it ran into the woods in Cudahy.  It was such a cute dog and was running in traffic when we first saw it.  I hope someone finds him safe.  Wish we could have caught it.  Came home and spent the afternoon around the house and outside enjoying the nice weather.  Went to the neighbors house after a light supper and talked for a while watching the sun set.  Spent the night watching the Billboard Awards on TV.  Can't believe lost another Disco era music person with Robin Gibb dieing over the weekend.  I know there music and liked most of it except the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack.  I never ever bought that album being a disco freak like I was and all.  Of course I have danced to all the songs, but was never a big Bee Gees fan.   Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  On my second load of laundry and already took a shower.  Put on sweats and a tshirt after showering so I think that tells me I am not going far from home today.  In the 60s and cool today in Milwaukee.  Might go for a walk this afternoon or take a nap, maybe both.  Other than that I am staying home today, relaxing with the dogs and cleaning.

May 18, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Got up this morning at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his Insulin shot. Just amazes me how he won't let me cut his hair or nails, but lets me give him his shot every morning and dinner time.  Spent the morning listening to the new Donna Summer CD called Crayons and a few other mixes.  It is a good CD.  I am surprised I had not heard of it.  Also downloaded her 3 CD collection called The Ultimate Collection which contains 39 of her hit songs.  The mail came and the renewal for the Milwaukee Journal came in the bills.  They wanted $298.73 for a 7 day weekly delivery of the paper.  I called, like I did last year, and asked if there was a better rate.  The person on the phone said 'is $130 better?'   Unbelievable that a 10 minute phone call can save me almost $170.  Why, since I am a loyal customer for over 20 years, do I just not automatically get the best or lowest rate.  What has happened to the world and rewarding loyal customers.  Was happy to save the money but mad that the average person just pays the bill and renews at the higher cost when a lower rate is available by just asking, and quite a lower rate I must add.  Got showered and ready to have lunch with the guys.  Had a nice lunch with the guys.  A new guy showed up which always makes the conversation more interesting.  Came home and after a bit I went for a walk along the river and trails.  Stopped off at Pick N Save on the way home and bought some salad and raspberries for the salad.  Will most likely just make salads for supper and a TV dinner to go with it for Tony.  Will spend the night watching TV before going to bed.  We do have some things on the schedule for the weekend.  The neighborhood church is having a rummage sale on Saturday.  Also on Saturday is the big Cadillac Car show that Tony every year insists we go to, so we will go to the car show in the morning.  A friend is sponsoring a volleyball team at the tournament at the lake front, so we will most likely check out the men, I mean volleyball tournament, in the afternoon.  Suppose to be in the 80s and beautiful all weekend.  Hoping to get Tony to go for a walk one night at dusk along the river this weekend so we can hopefully see the animals that come out at that time of day.  Have a great weekend everyone.

May 17, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

RIP Donna Summer.  So sad.  More on this later.

Spent last night watching the ABC TV line up.  Went to bed around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  Tony called me a little before noon to ask if I had heard the news that Donna Summer had died.  I had not.  Wow!  I am not sure there is any other artist I listened to more than Donna Summer.  Yes, I loved disco.  When I think back, her music was a part of my life, the important learning part of my life.  Actually Donna Summer's Live And More was the first album I ever bought.  I remember well dancing at the Red Rooster Disco in Waukesha in 1979 and the last song played was always Last Dance.  I can remember when her big hits Hot Stuff and Bad Girls came out I was in college and not many people on my dorm floor liked Disco.  I remember playing the album so many times I had to buy a second one, I wore out the first album playing it so often.  I can still see myself dancing in the Discos to Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, Dim All The Lights and Enough Is Enough.  I was living in Madison for the Summer when She Works Hard For The Money was released.  It was played nonstop on the radio when it was first released.  I think we all remember the video being just as popular.  I can even picture myself dancing with Marty at the first gay bar I was at called The Factory to the song Finger On The Trigger.  Marty died of AIDS about 4 years later I was told.  I see Marty's face every time I hear the song Finger On The Trigger or Get Down On It by Kool & The Gang.  So it is very sad to hear that Donna Summer died today of Cancer.  When I go through her song list I can picture myself where I was and what I did at that point in my life.  I don't think there is anyone else music wise I can do this with.   In college it was not popular to listen to Disco, I bucked the trend and listened and loved it anyway.  I honestly have every album or CD she has released, even the ones that did not do as well towards the end of her popularity.  I took a walk this afternoon around the trails and river listening to her music on my IPOD.  As each song played I could picture where I was in my life and what I was doing.  I am listening to her still now as I type this blog.  Tony and I even drove down to Chicago about 15 years ago to see her in concert.  She gave a great concert and sang every hit song.  It was a magical night since I had always wanted to see her in concert and was finally able to.   I heard she was starting a Standards CD and a Dance CD in 2010.  Hope she has more to release in the future.  It is also sad she was only 63 years old.  Life sure isn't fair or a sure thing, is it?  Not sure why some people get to live to close to 100 and others die so much before that when they had so much more they could have contributed if they had lived longer.  I do also remember the controversy she caused in the beginning of the AIDS crisis.  She had such a big gay following, yet kinda threw us under the bus when she discussed AIDS and turned Christian.  Later years she changed her tune or denied what was said.  I do not and did not ever hold this against her knowing words can be taken out of context and views change as the years go by.  So, I will miss Donna Summer and remember her music fondly.  On a side note, I took my pedometer with me on my walk.  It says my walk around the river is 4891 steps.  According to the conversion chart I checked that is about 2 miles.  Not a bad walk daily?  I think I remember hearing that everyone should take at least 2000 walking steps a day.  Now if I could just loose some weight with all this walking.  Making Sweet N Sour Chicken and Rice with a salad tonight for supper.  Will spend the night watching TV.  It is only 60 degrees today in Milwaukee.  A cool breeze is coming off Lake Michigan keeping it cooler here by the lake.  Suppose to be in the 80s this weekend. 

May 16, 2012 Wednesday Dinner Time

Spent last night watching Dancing Results.  Was so surprised and very unhappy that Derek Hough and his partner got the boot last night.  I don't see how a couple in the top spot can get the lowest votes and get booted from the show.  How does that happen?  Even if they got the lowest votes, when you blend them together with the judges scores, they should have ended somewhere in the middle?  I was not happy.  Derek is my favorite on the show.  Finished off the night with Monday's America's Got Talent.  I am not happy with Howard Stern.  I have nothing against him but it seemed more like The Howard Stern show and all about the judges and not on the acts.  Will see in time if the show gets better.  Went to sleep after some lovin.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Was able to make it through the morning without the sick feeling in my stomach due to eating some crackers when I got up in the middle of the night.  I think the crackers help with all the stomach acids and the problem it gives me a half hour after getting out of bed in the morning.  Went grocery shopping in the morning.  Went for a long walk along the river and trails in the afternoon.  Making some pre baked ribs, scallop potatoes and salad for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching the ABC TV line up as the DVR tapes 3 other shows on different channels all night.  It was cool today, in the 60s, but sunny.  Just closed the windows because it is getting cold outside and slipping below 60 as I type.  The Mourning Dove is still feeding her baby.  My baby bunny was out back last night eating the bread I put out for it.  So all is well in Dave's world, except for this sinus headache I hope goes away soon.

May 15, 2012 Tuesday Dinner Time

Spent last night watching Dancing With The Stars, Mike & Molly, and Smash; before going to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Had a sick stomach again this morning.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  Watched a little TV with the President on the View as I ate my bowl of raisin bran.   Around noon I went for a walk to the hardware store 3 blocks away.  Got a couple copies of keys made.  Went to Alterra Coffee to see if I could get a strawberry smoothie.  Of course they don't have smoothies in just strawberry, so I did not get one.  Walked home and made myself a single frozen pizza for lunch.  Took a long nap this afternoon.  It is around 85 degrees today and warm.  If it gets any warmer I will have to turn on the air conditioning.  Thankfully a cool front is on its way and should bring some relief by later tonight.  Tomorrow it is suppose to be in the 60s after the cold front comes through.  Making hamburger helper and salads for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching TV.  I did not work out this morning.  Body was sore from the other days work out.  Thought is best to just take it easy for a day, which I did today.

May 14, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Saturday afternoon we went to lunch at Five Guys.  It is a hamburger restaurant.  On the way home we stopped off at a rummage sale at Riverside High School.  Wow, did we do good.  Right place at the right time.  Someone must have donated someones clothes that fit Tony and I to a 'T'.  For $25 we got this bag full of stuff, two new white dress shirts, a dark blue pin striped never worn Calvin Klein suit, a leather jacket, a white furry pimp like jacket, and a pair of dress shoes, along with a bunch of other items.   I could not believe what we all got for $25.  The suit was a bargain in itself.  I wish it fit me, but it is a bit tight.  Fits Tony perfectly.  Came home and spent the night watching the movie The Vow and other TV on the DVR.  The Vow was a very good movie.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday morning we took Tony's mom out for breakfast for Mother's Day.  Came home and in the middle of the afternoon we took a long long walk around the river and trails.  We walked for almost 2 hours.  Tony was exhausted.  I felt great.  Walked up the street and ate supper at a local bar.  Spent the night watching the final of Desperate Housewives and went to bed around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Threw up again this morning.  I have to start waiting longer before I start drinking coffee in the morning or go back to eating some saltine crackers when I get up.  I take an antacid at bed time and sometime again in the middle of the night.   Guess they aren't working any more.  Spent the morning doing things outside.  Vacuumed the pond out a little to get the junk at the bottom out.  Did a little painting that was needed on the sun room.  Took a shower around noon and went for a long walk down by the river around 1 PM.  I could not believe while I was walking along the trail, I stopped and in front of me was a deer.  I deer!   I had just told a friend of mine I didn't think we had any more deer down there in the trails.  I guess I was wrong.  It was close to the road and I did not want to scare him towards it.  I stood there and watched her and then she was gone.  Not sure where it went but I was so happy to see and know we do indeed still have deer down here at the river.  Of course I didn't have my camera on me.  Always seems when I don't bring it there could have been a good reason for it.  Will have to bring it from now on.  Spent the rest of the afternoon talking to a couple people on the phone.  Had to get them out of the way. I am not a phone person.  When someone calls my first words are 'what do you want'.  Making some beef ribs, potato, corn and salad for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars and DVR America's Got Talent.  Very nice day today in Milwaukee.  Sunny and in the 70s.  Nice breeze off the lake also.  Mother Mourning Dove is still feeding her baby.  It is already getting bigger.

May 13, 2012 Sunday Morning

Here is a short video of the Mourning Dove feeding her baby Saturday for the first time, via my nature camera.

May 12, 2012 Saturday Morning - Egg Hatched

I just happen to be watching the camera of the Mourning Dove sitting in the nest when I saw the other bird out of the corner of my eye fly to the nest.  The Mourning Dove sitting on the nest got up and the other bird grabbed a half of egg shell, walked around the nest, and flew away with the half of egg shell.  It soon returned and got the other half.  The bird that had been on the nest then started walking around the nest and got in front of the baby bird and started cleaning it.  Looked like it was eating it, LOL.   Before she settled down on the baby she walked around the nest again and I could see the baby flopping around as she pecked at it, cleaning it I assume.  After she was done cleaning the baby she quickly got on top of the baby to keep it warm.  I could not believe I just happened to glance at the camera at the right time to see the baby Mourning Dove hatch and the parents clean the nest and baby.  Not sure if there are more eggs, time will tell.   Tony went to work this morning to cut the grass at his Auto Body Shop.  He said he will be home by noon.  Been doing things around the house until he returns.  Just watched TV last night.  Went to bed around 10:30 PM after the news on TV.  Not sure what we will do this afternoon.  It is a bit cool with the wind off Lake Michigan.  It is in the high 50s today and the sun is trying to come out.  Will send any updates as needed if something happens with the Mourning Dove over the weekend.

As for yesterday's comment.  Some birds steal eggs out of other birds nests to steal the nest or just be mean.   Sometimes a bird will know the egg is not going to hatch and remove it from the nest.  If it was pieces of the shell it was most likely like what I just watched, the birds removed the shells from a nearby nest. 

May 11, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Got up this morning at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM.  Spent a little time reading the morning newspapers, then got outside and started weeding the back rock garden.  Planted a Mum plant Tony gave me for my Birthday outside in the front yard.  Took a shower and had Tony pick me up to go to lunch with the guys.  I figured I would walk home.  Bakers Square is about 2 or miles away so I knew it would be a nice long walk back home.  Tony thought I was nuts.  Turned out one of the guys took the bus to lunch and decided to walk back with me.  Had a great lunch and walked all the way from Capital Drive home through the paths along the river.  Took us about and hour and a half to walk to my house.  Had a great walk.  Had great conversation also and was glad I had someone to walk with me and appreciate the sights along the way.  Got home and spent the afternoon downloading some music and movies.  Hoping to get enough songs together soon for a new music mix.  It is simply perfect weather today in Milwaukee.  It is 75 degrees, sunny, with a small breeze.  The windows are open and the birds are going nuts outside chirping away.  My Mourning Dove has been moving around in the nest and looks like she listens to the egg or eggs once in a while.  Hatch day should be today or tomorrow if it goes like last year.  No plans this weekend.  My parents are out of town so I don't have to make a trip out to their house to see them for Mother's Day.  Will most likely take Tony's mom out for breakfast and buy her some flowers.  My big rabbit has been laying under the front bushes all morning and afternoon.  So cute to look out and see him spread out feeling totally safe.  I can see him out the font window just laying there looking at me.  Suppose to be in the 60s this weekend so it should be nice enough to do things outside.  Have a great weekend.

May 10, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV.  Went to bed around 10:30 PM after a little lovin.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his Insulin shot.  Read the morning newspaper and did some cleaning, which included vacuuming.  Talked with my mom for a while on the phone.  Got showered and left for my meeting around 11:30 AM.  The meeting was frustrating and I expressed my frustration at the end of the meeting.  I simply think it is rude and disrespectful to get up 3 times or more and leave the room while a speaker is speaking.  If you can't for one hour not answer your phone, have a cig, or go to the bathroom, maybe you shouldn't be at the meetings.  There were several people I directed this at.  Some agreed with me others did not and had excuses.  I simply was raised differently I guess because I was always taught it was rude to leave while a speaker is speaking for anything other than an emergency.  If you can't take care of your business prior to an hour meeting, then maybe you should not be at the meeting, is my thought.  Otherwise you are being disruptive and rude to the meeting and the speaker.  Hell, it wasn't a pot luck, it was a meeting.  I tried to also explain there was a time when we didn't have cell phones but that didn't go over either.  Honestly, I am thinking of leaving the board.  Not sure if I want to continue.   Got heated at one point and I did not appreciated getting yelled at.  Came home around 3 PM and was still very angry.  Thought it best to take a long walk, so I did.  Took the camera with me.  Took the longest way around on the other side of the river.  This means walking across the Locust Street bridge, going down the hill by Riverside School, and walking south on the trial to the foot bridge, which is past North Avenue.  I then go across the foot bridge and back onto the paved bike trail on my side of the river.  Have to walk under the North Avenue bridge and down the bike trail to home.  Standing on the bridge and taking pictures was not easy.  I am so afraid of heights.  I had to get my grip on the railing and quickly take the pictures.  I could not believe on my way across the high Locust street bridge, as I started to across I saw this wall of students coming my way out of the high school.  I held the rail the entire time as they all passed.  Thought I was going to be pushed over the rail.  LOL.  So, here are some more pictures of the trails and the walk I did today:

The first to pictures are taken standing on the middle of the Locust street bridge looking south at the river.  The second picture is down under the bridge looking up at it from the walking trails.

The next pictures are of the sign telling of the work the Ecology Center is doing around the river and then a picture of the area and what it looks like as they have it covered to kill all the bad growings and next year will plant trees and natural species plants. 

The next picture is of the North Avenue bridge I walk under to get to the foot bridge a little farther down the trail.

From there I walk across the foot bridge to the west side of the river bank.  Here are two pictures of the foot bridge and then two pictures on the foot bridge, one looking south, one looking north down the river.

May 9, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Glee, Dancing Results and the news before going to bed around 10 PM.  I was happy with who got elliminated on the Dance show.  On a side note I saw the comment about staying safe on the trails.  Actually the Milwaukee police have been very good about patroling the paths and I usually see one when I am walking.  I also make sure I keep someone in my view just in case I needed to yell for help.  I do worry about getting mugged so I don't bring my wallet, just a card with my name and address on it so they know who the body belongs to.  LOL.  I do feel pretty safe on the trails and paths.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Talked to my mom on the phone for a bit in the morning.  Read the newspaper and did some cleaning.  Went grocery shopping around 10 AM to get some fresh produce for salad and also a bunch of fruit to make a fruit salad.  Came home and after making a ham sandwich for lunch I took a nap with the dogs.  I wanted to go for a walk but it was about 52 degrees and a cold wind coming off the lake.  So a nap was the next best thing.  Took a nice nap with the dogs.  Felt tired today anyway.  The worst part about having HIV I think is how one day I can feel so good and the next I feel so tired and have no energy.  You never know how your going to feel in advance or know if it will be a good day or bad day.  Making Sweet N Sour Chicken and a salad for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching TV on the DVR as it tapes our regular shows to watch later.  This morning when we woke one of my nature cameras showed the Possum is back and must have not had time to get to his / her home and was still in the little house in the back yard.  He comes nightly and eats the bread I put out for the rabbit.  Here are two pictures of the nature cameras.  The first picture shows all four screens.  The top left screen shows the Mourning Dove still sitting in the nest.  The bottom right screen shows the Possum in the back yard rock garden house.  The second picture is a close up of the Possum in the house out back.  I wish I could somehow get these nature cameras online. The Mourning Dove eggs should hatch on Friday if I count the days correctly.  Will be fun to watch them feeding the babies again this year.

May 8, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Ten years ago on this date I had to say good bye to my first dog, Tiny.   She was the first dog I ever bought.  I was lucky enough to have her in my life for 16 1/2 years.  I 10 years later still think of her daily.

Yesterday after I posted I started looking into making dinner and noticed the bag of lettuce I had was going bad even though the 'best by' date was the next day.  So since it was still early and nice out I decided to walk to Pick N Save and exchange the bag for a fresher one and buy a couple other items.  Ended up buying a pre made meat loaf and a few other items.  Carried them all home.  Spent the night watching Dancing With The Stars.  Have to say I thought the three way dance thing was so cool.  I hate to see any of them go tonight.  Tonight is a double elimination so it should be interesting.  Went to bed around 10:20 PM after a little of the news on TV. 

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  What a difference the day is when you don't wake up and start your day throwing up.  After Tony left for work I did a half hour work out to some dance music.  I then was feeling ambitious so I mopped the living room and dining room floors, dusting everything in both rooms.  Took me all morning.  It feels like I am getting the last of Barkley out of the house.  Even though it makes me sad.  The house smells so much nicer with him gone and the house starting to get back to being our home rather than a dog pen.  Called Tony after my shower.   He came home so we could go vote together in today's election for Governor.  We are in the middle of a recall election here in Milwaukee.  After we voted and Tony dropped me off I decided to go for a walk before it starts to rain.  Rain is suppose to start later this afternoon and I can see it coming on the radar.  Took a long walk down the bottom trail from Locust Street to North Avenue.  Wish I would have brought my camera which I am going to have to start doing.  Saw some really interesting things.  One was at this one part at the bottom of the hill all the seed from this tree had piled up at least 6 inches in parts.  It was like walking through snow.  It went on for a long time through the part of the trail.  Another part of the trail, just as I was thinking of my chipmunk, which I have not seen for a week and think he might be dead.  I saw one and then a second chipmunk playing in the woods.  Brought a smile to my face that even if my chipmunk is dead there are others in the woods.  I even googled 'where have all the chipmunks gone' last night and believe it or not there are web sights that ponder that same question.  We use to have tons of chipmunks in Wisconsin.  Here are some pictures of the trail I walk.  I took these a couple weeks ago.  I will try to post them an narrate as I go.   Ready......................

These first two pictures is looking down the dead end from the street I live on, and the trail going down to the bike path that is on the top of the river's hill.

From this point down this small trail you get to the bike paths for the college student and people to walk.  Here is looking both ways.

I walk North to Gordon Park and take the gavel trail down the hill to the dirt trail which is down the this huge hill.  It is quite a climb back up if you walk the opposite way around.  In the first picture I turn left through the park.  The second picture is the long steep hill down to the river and dirt trails.

At that point I am under the Locust street bridge.  The first picture is looking up at the bridge.  The second picture is the dirt trail along the river heading south to North Avenue.

So then it is just a nice long walk along the river and on the dirt trail.  Here are some picture along the trail and finally the North Avenue bridge.  It is about a six block distance between bridges.

You can see the North Avenue bridge in the distance in the last picture above.  I then walk back up the hill to the bike trail and take the bike trail back to where I started at the end of the dead end street a half block from our house.

Hope you enjoyed the walk.  As the leaves start filling the trees I will take more pictures in the future as I walk.  Making left over .......you guessed it,  spaghetti for supper tonight.  Tony's sister dropped off some left overs from Sunday this morning.  So I just have to heat it and make a salad and some bread and call it dinner.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV.  I had a good day today.  Wish every day was like today.  Or at least I had as much ambition as I did today.

May 7, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we went out for spaghetti at a local bar.  It was a fundraiser for a school.  Walked up to the bar about 4 blocks away.  Had a great supper and ice cream dessert.  Talked with some of the neighborhood friends at the event.  Found out Tony's dad's bar has reopened, which is on the walk home, so we decided to stop by and have a drink.  Had one drink and talked with the bartender and a couple other people in the bar.  Came home and went to take my daily HIV pills that I take after dinner.  I grabbed today's pills out of the container and could not believe yesterday's pills were still in the container labeled Thursday PM.  Damn!  In over 3 years I have forgotten to take my pills but always realized it later that night or by morning.  This is the first time I totally forgot to take my meds in over 3 years.  I know one day is not going to kill me but those of us with HIV and having to take our meds daily know what an 'oh shit' moment this is.  Went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Took Stella to the vet to find out her ears are doing much better and all I have done in the last two weeks has helped make the ear infections go away.  Was told to keep an eye on her ears, clean them weekly and put drops in them once a week also.  Was actually the cheapest vet bill in a long long time.  Sad to think a $70 bill is cheap but when you have the dogs we have....hell, the vet built a new building with what they have made on us.  Went out for lunch at a Mexican restaurant on the south side of town.  Came home and spent the rest of the day watching TV and movies.  Watched the movies Longhorn and Mother's Day.  Both were good movies.  Went to bed around 11:30 PM after some lovin.

Sunday we were up at 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning and early afternoon just doing things around the house.  It was a crappy weekend weather wise so doing anything outside was out of the question.  Rained and was cold all weekend.  Left the house around 2:30 PM to get lottery tickets and a bottle of red wine for dinner at Tony's sister's house.  Tony's sister made us a big spaghetti dinner with ice cream sundays for dessert.  Did we just have that 2 nights ago?  Tony could eat spaghetti every day 3 times a day for a week.   Got home around 6 PM and fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the night watching the conclusion of Amazing Race.  Was happy with who won.  They deserved it most.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was out of bed at 5:30 AM with a sick feeling stomach.  Tried to get the bile out with no luck.  Went back to bed for a while.  Got up around 6:30 AM and before I could finish feeding the dogs I was back in the bathroom throwing up, this time the yellow bile came out.  Once I get that out I am usually fine.  Took me over 10 minutes gagging and hanging over the sink.  Finished feeding the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  After Tony left for work I went back to bed.  Was in and out of bed all morning and finally got up for good around 1 PM and showered.  Starting the day throwing up is not a great way to start the day.  Now my back, shoulders and stomach hurt, and I feel like crap.  Been doing a little cleaning around the house.  It is around 60 degrees outside but still cloudy and damp from all the rain all weekend.  Making some salads and some TV dinners for supper tonight.  I don't feel like cooking.  Will spend the night watching Dancing With The Stars and Castle.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a more productive day.

May 4, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV on the DVR.  Finished off the night watching The Mentalist.  Watched The Mentalist in bed, did the lovin thing, and sleeping by 10:30 PM.

Got up this morning at 6 AM because I had to pee for the 5th time during the night.  I was up 4 times during the night to pee.  Jeez, I didn't drink anything out of the normal before I went to bed.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito and Stella their meds.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper, doing things around the house and getting ready to meet the guys for lunch.   Had a great lunch and laughed like crazy telling stories of last Saturday's nipple story.  One of the usual guys did not make lunch, told me last week he would not.  Missed yah T.  Came home and took a nice nap with the dogs.  It is in the 50s and just cold and nasty outside today in Milwaukee.  The wind is off Lake Michigan and is very cold and raw.  I don't even think if the sun came out it would help.  Planning on going out for a Spaghetti fundraiser supper tonight at a bowling alley / bar a couple blocks down the street.  Tony is always up for Spaghetti, I am always up for a supper I don't have to cook.  I will not be very hungry from lunch, but will eat what I can.  The Mourning Doves are still on the next 24 hours a day.  They should hatch a week from today.  Saw my baby bunny eating bread I put out for him a couple times last night when I got up to go to the bathroom the 4 or 5 times.  Hopefully Tony will come home in a good mood tonight.  He has decided he can no longer put up with his brother working for him on work release from jail.  He is telling him tonight the work release is over.  Tony has told him for the past month that as of May to get another job or spend his days and nights in jail.  May started Monday so he gave him this one last week to work and look for another job.  Tony found out yesterday his brother just started looking on Wednesday of this week even though he knew for a month his days were over as of May.  That was the last straw.  So hopefully Tony will stick to this decision because I am so sick of him coming home day after day bitching about his worthless brother and how much money he cost him in mistakes and business.  Tony feels responsible for him since their father died like now it is Tony's job to take care of his family.  I keep telling him his brother is not our responsibility and he has done more for his brother than anyone else has offered or done.  I will let you know.  No plans this weekend.  Not suppose to be a very nice weekend weather wise so we will most likely stay close to home and watch a lot of TV with the dogs.  We do have a vet appointment tomorrow for Stella to recheck her ears.  Other than that it will be a very relaxing weekend.   Have a great weekend everyone.

May 3, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Spent most of last night watching TV shows on the DVR.  Finished off the night with the TV show Revenge before we did the lovin thing and went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Slept like crap all night.  I think it was because it was so warm in the bedroom.  Any warmer and I would have to turn on the air conditioning.  Had the ceiling fan on medium all night to cool off the room.  Got out of bed around 6 AM since the birds were so damn loud this morning.  WTF?  They started singing at 3:30 AM.  As much as I enjoy having the windows open I can not wait until it is too hot and the air conditioning must be turned on to drown out the birds in the morning.  I swear every bird was outside my window this morning chirping to wake me.  Fed the dogs and gave the other dogs their meds.  Put drops in Stella's ears after I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast.  Went out and put some more cement patch on the front sidewalk that I bought yesterday.  Even though rain is predicted the other parts I did held up in the rain, so you know me, I have to just 'get it done'.  I think I did a very nice job on the sidewalk cement patch work.  Drove to ARCW to get my monthly prescriptions filled and picked up.  Picked up my monthly food at the pantry while I was there.  Came home and made myself a frozen pizza single for lunch and turned on some old Disco.  Spent the afternoon just laying on the couch listening to music.  I think people who say disco sucks are people who never danced their ass off all night in a club when they were young.  I love disco.  Would love to take a short walk today but I have been watching the radar and another line of storms should hit us in about an hour.  I line of storms went through last night, just loud enough to wake all the dogs and get everyone up.  It is in the 80s today in Milwaukee, hot and humid.  If it were not for the fact a cold front is coming through this evening I would turn on the air conditioning.  I can tell the dogs also think it is a little warm since they are just laying around all day with their tongues hanging out and have no energy.  Making tacos and beans with a salad for supper tonight.  Will spend the night watching TV and listening to the rain and storms that are predicted tonight as the cold front comes through.  It is getting pretty dark outside and it should start storming any minute.  Here are two pics of the sidewalk repair.  The repair actually turned out better than the pictures show.  Once the new cement dries it will look better, but you can see what I repaired on the two steps and then the cracks by the gate in the sidewalk.  It's done!  And I did it myself.

May 2, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Glee and Dancing Results.  Went to bed around 9 PM to get a little lovin before we went to sleep.  Went to sleep around 10:30 PM after the lovin and the TV news.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and got them their meds.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM.  After reading a little of the morning newspaper I showered to go to Walmart to buy more Insulin for Vito.  I buy 2 months worth at a time so I don't have to subject myself to Walmart but every other month.  They are the cheapest on the Insulin and my doctor says I have to throw away what is left the end of each month and start a new bottle because Insulin goes bad once it is opened and needles inserted twice daily?  Anyone know anything about this feel free to chime in.  Am I throwing good Insulin away?  Can it last 6 weeks rather than 4?  Heck, it's only a third gone by the time the month is over I give Vito so little of it daily.  Anyway, I was probably the only one showered at Walmart at 9 AM on the 2nd of the month.  Sorry if that sounds harsh but I think you all know what I mean.  Spent close to $100 in the Insulin and other items I stocked up on that will be used in the next couple months like paper plates, napkins, paper towels, etc.  They are remodeling the Walmart here by my house to include a grocery store.  The store is a wreck and about half way done.  The food part is still not even up and running.  So I got what I needed and got the hell out of Walmart.  Stopped off at the hardware store on the way home and bought more patch cement for the front sidewalk.  It rained, actually stormed last night, and more are expected in the next day or so because of the quick increase in temperature.  I think I will hold off doing any more patch work for a couple days until the storms and rain stop.  It was 50, foggy and drizzly yesterday.  Today it is sunny and going to 80 degrees.  Only in Milwaukee.  Suppose to get storms tonight and tomorrow night before a cold front comes through on Friday.  Around 11 AM I went to Pick N Save to buy a couple more items I saved to get double coupon savings today.  Actually got two boxes of Dove Bars for free with the sale and double $1 coupon off.  Bought a few other items and came home.  Took a long walk around the river trails around 2 PM.  Was walking for over an hour around the river from North Avenue to Locust Street.  About half way around the walk I turned off my IPod so I could listen to 'nature' as I walked.  It actually is hot out there and I felt a little sweaty after the walk.  Might even need another shower.  It got hot and humid very quick today.  Making Sweet N Sour Chicken and Rice for supper tonight with a salad.  Will be nice to have the windows open tonight for the first time since it is suppose to stay warm enough for the next couple days.  Could Summer be here?   You never know when you live in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

May 1, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Dancing With The Stars and then Castle before going to bed.

This morning I was up at 6 AM. Bo would not let me sleep any more at that time and kept dropping his tennis ball on me to get me to play and get out of bed. Got out of bed, fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot. Tony shoved the pills down Stella's throat. Thanks for the pill popper idea in the comments from yesterday. I will look into that. The problem is getting her to open her mouth. You have to pry her mouth open and if you have a Pitbull you know how strong their mouths are. Prying her mouth open is the hardest part of the whole ordeal. Hopefully only a few more days left since her meds end Saturday when she goes back to the vet for a follow up appointment. Still waiting for the sun to come out here in Milwaukee. It is suppose to get in the 60s today. It has not yet. I did this morning make up a batch of cement patch for the front steps and after bordering off the step, poured the patch cement. The bag could have contained more and I will have to buy more to finish the job. Removed the boards holding the cement in place around noon and I think it turned out OK. I am no mason. But doing it myself saves us money, and if I don't do it, it probably won't get done. Lets hope some smart ass kid doesn't put his foot or finger prints in the cement before it dries completely. Went for a walk to Pick N Save to buy a couple coupon items. Only a few items since I had to carry what ever I bought home. Had a nice walk but wish the fog off Lake Michigan would go away. It is now getting foggy out, where is the sun? Still can not believe in yesterday's mail I received my new assessment for my house and what it is considered valued at now with the housing market tanking in Milwaukee for the past few years. I did not get a decrease for the past three years and they hit me hard this year. My value dropped 20% on my house. I lost $40,000 in value. Basically that is what I have paid off on my house. So everything I have paid off in morgage is now gone in value. Wow. I am not sure if this is good or bad. Since I do not plan on selling it anytime soon it should decrease my taxes, though that is unlikely since you know the government always finds a way to get their tax money. The bad things are my house is worth a whole lot less if I needed to sell it to retire or move. Milwaukee home values lost the most in the entire state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is on its way to becoming the worst place to live. The unemployment has risen, the rich get richer and the poor keep getting poorer all under or new Governor Scott Walker. He is up for a recall election next month which should be very interesting. Going to go make a cup of coffee and finish the morning newspaper. Making sloppy joe's and curly fries with a salad for supper tonight. Searched the house this afternoon for a cig. Thankfully I did not find one because it was a weak moment I would have regretted. I am better now. My Mourning Dove is still in their nest. I predict the egg or eggs will hatch a week from Friday. Two weeks after they were laid. Here is a picture of where the nest is, under the Batmobile, and what I see with the camera I have under the Batmobile.

April 30, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we spent the night watching two movies.  Watched the movies The Darkest Hour and Wreckage.  I enjoyed both movies.  Went to bed around 11 PM.

Saturday morning we were both up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave the dogs their meds.  We never even left the house all day Saturday until Saturday night.  Watched TV and took a long nap in the afternoon after we watched 'a movie' and had some lovin.  After we fed the dogs supper we went to a fundraiser for ARCW called Make A Promise.  Suit and tie event.  The couple we have lunch with was there also and assigned to our table to sit, which worked out nice.  Over 1000 people in attendance at the event.  Had a nice time at the event.  Dinner itself was interesting.  Six of us sat at this assigned table of 10 to eat dinner.  About half way through eating a couple joined the table leaving only 2 empty seats.  As the couple sat down I could not believe my eyes.  The one was a guy, in drag, BAD drag.  His dress did not fit and the way it was cut, as he sat down his nipples showed from the sides.  It was hideous and as I watched the other people at our table eventually notice what I had been noticing, I could not stop laughing.  Just seeing every one's eyes as they looked around, locked on the guy/girl, could see his nipples, and the shock on their faces as they realized what they were looking at.  So all during dinner I could not stop laughing.  I could not turn to the left, because I would see his nipples hanging out of his dress, and I could not look at the people at the table, without breaking down laughing.  Soon everyone caught on and we just could not look each other in the eyes without laughing.  I even had to get up and compose myself at one point because I could not stop laughing.  Someone should have told this drag queen her dress was not right for her body.  I guess it would be no different than one of my testicles hanging out of my pants every time I sat down or turned.  Guess the moral of the story is to really take a look at yourself and the outfit your wearing before you get to an event, not after.  He / she kept putting on his fur coat when he went to the bathroom and got his / her 5 beers during the dinner part of the event.  So I know he / she must have known what a bad choice she / he made with the dress.  We left after the speeches and before the dancing.  The food was OK, could have been better.  The meat was so hard to chew at points I had to spit it out.  Thankfully for the salad because I did not eat much of the main food that came.  Tony said he enjoyed his.  Got home around 11 PM.  Watched a little TV.   Did the lovin thing, and went to bed around midnight.

Sunday morning we were up at 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave the dogs their meds.  Made some eggs, bacon and muffins for breakfast.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and doing little projects around the house.  Around noon we went to Pick N Save to get lottery tickets and some groceries.  Of course the store was out of most the sale items so I will have to go back again this week.  Got home and after a lot of begging, got Tony to take a walk around the river with me.  I just could not spend the afternoon doing nothing.  It was about 55 degrees out and sunny so it was not that cold outside.  Tony complained most of the walk about the cold, and pain,  lol.  I simply enjoyed my walk and kept reminding him the pain is because he is old and because he doesn't walk like this enough.  Made some steaks on the grill which ran out of gas again half way through making the steaks.  It is a new tank of gas so I am not sure why.  Had to finish the steaks on the stove.  Had a nice dinner and spent the night watching TV.  Tony was snoring on the couch by 8 PM.  I watched the TV Land awards and dragged him to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Before I could feed the dogs I was throwing up, or should I say gagging in the sink.  Hell, there is nothing in my stomach first thing in the morning but bile.  Got that out, haven't had to start my day doing this in a while.  Haven't missed it.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony eventually shoved the pills down Stella's throat as she spit them out over and over again.  I spent the morning doing things around the house.  Actually put a big mirror in the bedroom so BOTH of us can see the porn as we watch it, not just one of us.  Because of the positions it seems only one can always watch, and that always is Tony.  So now I can enjoy 'the movies' also looking at them with a big mirror on the side wall of the bedroom.  After lunch I decided to lay down for a while which turned into a two hour nap.  Was hoping it would be nicer outside when I got up, nope, still cloudy and in the 50s.  It is suppose to get nicer as the week goes on.  Put some laundry away and vacuumed.  Will soon start making salads for supper.  Thinking I will just make a frozen pizza to go with the salads since I don't feel like cooking.  Will spend the night watching TV.  Almost signed off without the best news of all.  My Mourning Dove must have laid some eggs because she has not left the nest since Friday afternoon.   I can not tell or see how many eggs.   Oh, one more thing ..... it has been one week without a cigarette.  Haven't even had to wear the patch the last couple days.  Seven days without a cig, I am proud of myself and just need to keep it going.   Have to take some deep breaths once in a while, but I have made it 7 days.

April 27, 2012 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Grey's Anatomy and The Mentalist.  Went to bed around 10:20 PM after the weather on the news. 

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony gave Stella her 2 pills.  Went back to bed for an hour after Tony left for work.  Just laid there listening to music.  Got up around 9:30 AM and started the day over.  Had a bowl of cereal, showered, and did a little cleaning around the house.  Met Tony and the guys for lunch.  Had a great lunch as always.  Came home from lunch and since the sun was out and it feels warm enough outside I went for a long walk along the trails and pathway around the river.  Had a great walk.  It is in the 50s today in Milwaukee.  Suppose to be a cool weekend in the 40s.  Tonight we will spend the night watching TV with the dogs.  Will most likely make some salads for supper.  Will have to make a TV dinner or something more for Tony.  A salad will be enough for me because of the big lunch.  Tomorrow night we have plans to go to a fundraiser.  Should be a nice event.  I got free tickets.  It is a very classy, suit and tie event fundraiser for ARCW.  Will be nice to get dressed up and feel important for a night.  Other then that, not much on the schedule this weekend.  Since we are broke, Tony's business sucks this past week and last, we most likely will spend the weekend at home with the dogs watching TV. 

April 26, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV on the DVR.  Have the DVR pretty much cleared except for a couple shows and their episodes.  Ended the night watching Don't Trust the B and Law and Order SVU.  Gave Tony a little lovin and we went to bed around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Tony gave Stella her pills while I fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  I honestly don't know where the day has gone.  I did a little around the house and caught up on some magazines.  Paid some bills that just keep getting more expensive as the time goes on, I am talking about the ATT bill that went up again this month.  Also got the remainder of the amount owed on my HIV doctor visit in February, my part is $101.   The state was nice enough to pick up the other $80.   I saw my HIV doctor for less than 15 minutes the last time I had my blood tests, and he gets $180 for that 15 minutes.  No wonder the health care system in the USA is broken.  Made a ham sandwich with the last of the ham from yesterdays grocery shopping.   Laid down with the dogs for an hour or so this afternoon, and now it is close to 3 PM.  The sun is out but it is cold, it is only 45 degrees right now and now expected to go up much more.   We had a warmer March then April here in Wisconsin.  Making Sweet N Sour Chicken and Rice with a salad tonight.  Will spend the night watching TV.  Have actually made it through today, without a cig, and without the patch.  Since I don't plan on leaving the house I don't have any way of getting or having any cigs.  Still wish my lungs and chest would feel better.  Tomorrow is lunch with the guys and then the weekend is here.

April 25, 2012 Wednesday Afternoon

Tony and I did go out for tacos last night.  Had a large strawberry Margarita also.  A little after we got home Tony's sister called and needed car help.  So Tony left to go to the shop and get his battery charger and headed downtown to help his sister start her car.  Got home in about 45 minutes.  Spent the night watching TV.  Went to bed a little after 9 PM because I was so tired.  Did not sleep well.  I think it might be because of the nicotine patch so I will take it off prior to going to bed tonight.

Got up this morning around 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Stella her pills.  Spent the early morning doing things around the house and reading the morning newspapers.  Went grocery shopping a little after 10 AM.  Got out to my car with the groceries and thought I had better look at my receipt because I bought 6 Kellogg's cereals because they had a deal going on if you buy 6 boxes they are just $1.98 a piece.   If you buy less than 6 boxes of the selected Kellogg's cereal they are then just on sale for $2.98 a box, which is still a good deal these days.  Have you seen the price of cereal lately?  Noticed that my receipt did not reflect the $1.98 price and I was charged $2.98 for each of the 6 boxes of cereal.  Got out of the car and went to the service desk.  After a little of this and that I finally got my $6 back that I should have not been charged due to buying 6 boxes of the Kellogg's cereal.  Hey, six dollars is six dollar in my mind.  I wonder how many other people got cheated before I brought it to the stores attention.   Got home and put all the groceries away.  Made myself a ham sandwich for lunch.  It is raining in Milwaukee today and in the low 50s.  Not a nice day.  So I loaded up the IPod and spent the afternoon listening to music on the couch with the dogs.  Making spaghetti and salads for supper tonight.  On my second day on the nicotine patch.  My lungs and back still hurt but I have to give this some time before I call the doctor.  Will spend the night watching TV with the dogs tonight.  Hoping to do some major mopping and cleaning tomorrow if I wake up with ambition.
Here is what the new flag, that will fly in the front yard, will look like.  I just have them adding a bit of white on the middle dog.  I think it is going to look great waving in the wind out front.

April 24, 2012 Tuesday Afternoon

I am so disappointed in Tony.  Yah, I guess that's what it is.  I guess I figured Tony would try to make some sort of effort when it came to my birthday.  I should know better after 23 years together.  I thought Tony would come home early from work since he knew it was my birthday and we were going out to eat.  Plus I thought that was the reason he called at 1:15 PM to ask when I would be up from napping.  I put a Viagra out and waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally around 6 PM he walks in the door with this torn gift bag and says 'here, happy birthday'.  I look inside the torn bag and there is a Play Station and about 10 kid games in the bag.  What is this I ask?  Tony then says he bought this for me for my birthday.  Well, after 23 years together you would think he would know I don't play video games and never have.  It is not like he went out and bought a game for the system he thought I would like.  Just these 10 kids games for children.  I guess some guy came by the shop selling stuff, probably is hot or doesn't even work.   Real effort there, hey?  OK.  So then I was not in a good mood and the arguing started.  Tony then got in the shower and after asked where I wanted to go to dinner.  He handed me my birthday card and I could not believe as I read it.  Basically the message was that he is my cake and I can enjoy him because it is my birthday.  What?  Wouldn't I be the one who should get the enjoyment or be pleased.  After 23 years, sorry, he is no present.   Tony then pointed out to me he bought me 6 roses.  Oh, lets go there.  He bought me 6 roses on his way home from work on Friday.  He forgot he had them in the car until Saturday night, 24 hours later.  The roses were not in water and in his hot car for 24 hours.  When he remembered them Saturday night he went out to his car, came in the house, set them on the kitchen counter, and said, 'here, happy birthday'.  So I guess I should be happy I got 6 roses that sat in a car for 24 hours with no water?   We finally decided to go to Harry's Bar and Grill since I was not hungry and didn't feel like sitting across the table from someone I think is a selfish person who never never puts any effort into an anniversary or event.  We had an OK supper and came home.  Spent the night in silence watching Dancing With The Stars.   Went to bed around 10 PM.  Glad I spent the morning doing Dave things because I guess the only happiness I am going to receive will be by my own doing.

Got up this morning around 7 AM so I would not have to talk to Tony much before he left for work.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Stella her pills.  Tony went to leave for work and grabbed the bag with the Play Station.  I asked what he was doing and he said since I didn't want it he would sell it.  I asked him if he planned on playing with it and he said 'no'.  I then asked him again why the hell he thought I would want to play this alone much less play it at all, since he doesn't plan on playing with it either.  He set down the bag and left for work.  Had my last cig and laid down for an hour thinking.  Got back up again around 9 AM and showered.  Did a little around the house and outside since it is sunny and going to be close to 60 degrees today.  I did put the nicotine patch on right after my shower so the quit smoking has begun.  My shoulders and chest still hurt and are not right so I have no choice but to quit.  I have to do this so if this doesn't help, it might be something more serious I will have to look into.  Will give the quiting a chance before I call the doctor again.  I am starting to think it might be a heart thing, which is scaring me.  I know I should not put this off to long if it is, so I will call the doctor if the not smoking doesn't help in the very near future.  Around noon I decided to go for a walk along the trails of the river.  Started on the Locust Street Bridge side and worked my way to the North Avenue Bridge.  When I got to the North Avenue bridge, the Milwaukee Dive Rescue was setting up ropes across the river to do a training exercises.  So I walked quickly back home and got my camera and a Granola Bar to go back down to the river and watching them practice and take some pictures of them and the trails.  The video posted is of the Milwaukee Dive Rescue practicing on the river under the North Avenue Bridge.  It is a short video.  Took the long way home and took pictures of the trails. 
I will post some of the 80 or more pictures I took on the trails once I look through them to pick out a couple of the best ones.  Tony just came home as I was typing this blog.  He had a wrapped plant in his hands and said 'hopefully this Birthday present is better than the other I got'.  It is a mum plant.  It smells great and I will plant it outside later in the season.  It was thoughtful of him so I will have to be nicer and just let this one go like I do all the other times.  The plant would have meant a whole lot more yesterday ON MY BIRTHDAY than as an I am sorry Birthday present a day after.  Oh well, he tried I guess and did think of me, that is my point in all this, isn't it?  Thinking we will go out for taco's tonight rather than cooking.  I still have not had a cig all day and I am really craving one.  Deep deep breaths, I can do it.

April 23, 2012 Monday Afternoon

Happy Birthday to me.  I am 51 years old today.

Saturday morning we got a call just before 10 AM that Barkley's ashes were ready to be picked up.  Tony went and got them and the urn I had picked out.  They had the ashes already in the urn when Tony returned with Barkley.  I took Stella to the vet to get shots and nails trimmed.  Turns out she has bad ear infections in both ears.  So now she is on ear drops and antibiotics, two pills, twice daily.  Trying to get her to not spit out the pills is a challenge.  She finds a way to not swallow the pill no matter if we put it in her food or a treat.  Damn dog, going to have to just thrust him down her throat if she don't take them with her food or treats.  Went to Menard's later in the afternoon and found a new carpet for the living room that we ended up buying.  Went out to lunch at Chili's.  Had a nice lunch.  Came home and spent the night watching TV on the DVR.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

Sunday morning we took Tony's mom out for breakfast.  She then wanted to go to Big Lots.  Got to Big Lots and she handed us the ad and told us what she wanted and said she would sit in the car.  Of course wasn't until we got her home we found out we got the wrong item and had to go back and get the right item and then back to her house.  Jeez, she complains about being so heavy and then can't even walk into a store.  She even at breakfast had the nerve to blame her heavy weight on 'Rosie', her ghost that lives in the attic.  What you say?   Yes, she blamed her weight on a ghost living in the attic named Rosie somehow making her fat.  WOW!   What a nut job.  Came home and spent the afternoon doing things around the house before taking a short nap with the dogs.  Got up and went to a church festival Tony entered a raffle item in.  Stayed for a while and then just picked up a pizza and came home.  Spent the night watching TV with the dogs.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Stella her pills and Vito his shot.  Put drops in Stella's ears.  Tomorrow I will have to clean them prior to the drops.  Showered and went to Menard's to get the smaller carpet to match the large one we bought on Saturday, for the dining room.  Got a couple other items also.  I then drove to Target to buy myself a Birthday present ...  a box of nicotine patches.  Figure if I am really going to do this I have to do it right and not just a day here and a day there.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the day I stop for good.  Stopped off at Starbucks and got myself a vanilla latte and then McDonald's for a bacon egg and cheese bagel.  Came home and put the carpets around the house and did a little rearranging.  Tried to take a short nap with the dogs but of course Tony called at 1:15 and the neighbor at 2 PM.  Jeez, they all know nap time is from 1 to 3 PM during the week.  Yet they call and the first thing they say is 'you aren't sleeping are you'?   Yes, I am, or trying, what time is it?   Finally just got up and now I type this post.  Tony will most likely come home early and we will go out for supper somewhere for my Birthday.  I picked up a small two person cake for later so Tony can sing Happy Birthday to me.  Will then just top off the night with some TV and lovin before going to sleep.  I have a Viagra pill waiting for him to take when he walks in the door.  Hey, it's my Birthday!  I am just happy I made it to 51 since 3 years ago I didn't not even think that was a reality or possible.

April 20, 2012 Friday Afternoon

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went back and laid down in bed until about 10 AM.  Got showered and ready for lunch with the guys.  Before I left I noticed a package sitting out front on the stoop.  Figured it was for my tenant and was so surprised when I saw my name on the package.  It was a Birthday present filled with peanut butter cookies and peanut butter cups from my sister and her kids.  How sweet, they know I love peanut butter.  My Birthday is on Monday and I will be 51 years old.  Stopped off at Walgreen's to pick up Tony's prescription.  Got a number from the pharmacist of someone looking for a pet sitter, called her and left her a message a little while ago.  Figure I could help someone out knowing how hard it is to find anyone to take care of my dogs so I can go out of town.  Had a great lunch with the guys.  At one point I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.  It was a much needed laugh.  Spent the afternoon watching TV and reading a book my mom gave me.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV on the DVR.  No plans this weekend.  That is great because I could use the time just to relax with Tony and the dogs.  Have a good weekend everyone.  I am getting through each day, one day at a time.

April 19, 2012 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV on the DVR.  Finished the night in bed watching Law And Order: SVU.  Went to bed around 10:20 PM.

This morning I was up at 6 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Read a little of the morning newspaper before going back to bed and listening to some music with the dogs.  Listened to the new CD by Lionel Richie.  It is OK considering I do not like country music and it is his popular songs with a country twist to them.  Got back out of bed around 10 AM and showered.  Left the house around 11:30 AM to go to my 2 hour noon board meeting with ARCW.  Had a good meeting.  I was very quiet, probably the most quiet I ever am at a meeting.  Just didn't have the 'fight' in me today.  LOL.  Stopped off at the shop that made the plaque for the flag pole to pick it up.  Paid the bill and made it out of there without crying.  The plaque turned out great.  I will wait until the new flag is made to hang the new plaque for under it on the flag pole.  The flag company called today and said they have the old design, told them how I want the new flag, and they are emailing me a proof in a day or so.  Picked up some bread at the food pantry at ARCW for the new baby rabbit I have in the back yard.  I was so surprised. Last night I was looking in the back yard and could not believe my eyes when I saw a very small baby rabbit eating the bread I had just put out for the larger rabbit that I have been feeding for 3 years now.  So I guess I have baby rabbits because I am sure if there is one, there are more.  The nest must be in the back yard somewhere because the baby was way to small to have come from any distance.  It really made me smile.  I have been trying to keep this one rabbit, our first in 20 years, alive for the past 3 years.  I first noticed this rabbit shortly after I found out I was HIV+ and watched it daily as I cried looking out the front window deciding how I would continue life.  Now the circle of life has come full circle and I will have babies and hopefully more rabbits.  If only I can keep the stray cats out of the yard or neighborhood.  It is interesting how one looks at things a bit differently after they have a major even like I had this week.  As I was walking yesterday I stopped and sat down to look this huge tree that had fallen over in the wind or had gotten hit by lightning.  Even though the entire top of the tree was dead from slitting in half, laying on the ground dead, there were now new branches coming out of where the tree had split.  I sat there thinking, this huge tree could have just gave up and died, yet it decided to sprout new branches and try to survive even though it's entire top was dead.  I thought more about life, how we just through instinct, fight to continue to survive.  I must mention that the dogs have already ruined two of the new carpet with their nails snagging the carpets.  I am sure the two carpets will not last long.  Guess I just wasted $100 on those two new carpets.  On a good note.  Because of the new carpets and not having Barkley, the house smells so much nicer.  Or should I say, it doesn't smell like an old dog, Barkley.  Poor guy, but he did smell even with a bath once a week.  I also have only had to vacuum every other day rather than every day since he has been gone.  I still would put up with it all just to have him back.   Making a meat loaf and mashed potatoes for supper with a salad.  Will spend the night watching TV.  It is raining outside and in the 50s today in Milwaukee.