July 24, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Last night we went to a small car show at a McDonald's on the southeast side of town, near the airport.  About 30 cars which is enough for me.  Of course Tony would love 100 cars.  As I type this post I am looking out the window watching the construction workers pack up their tools for the day and head for their cars.  Some look good, but would need to shower.  LOL.   Took the lake front roads home and got home from the car show around 7:30 PM.  Gave Kali a half a pill for her stomach and a little food before we went to bed, per the vets orders.  Spent the night watching America's Got Talent and then did the lovin thing before we went to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony soon left for work.  Kali made it through the night without throwing up so the pill and food maybe helped.  I headed outside under the deck around 8 AM and cut out some boards to continue to find the source of the smell under the deck.  No luck.  Showered and went to the vet to pay the bill for yesterdays appointment with Kali.  The receptionist must have thought I was very happy when I paid the $49.50 she said I owed.  I even asked her 'if she was sure'.  I know the appointment and anal cleaning would add up to that cost and we got two meds, a spray and a pill for Kali also.   I think they messed up but I am not going to complain.  Damn, with four dogs they make enough on us, I will look at this as a discount or deal.  Went to McDonald's for a steak egg and cheese bagel.  I know I have eaten at McDonald's way to often this week.  I swear their food is addictive.  Went to Pick N Save and did the weekly grocery shopping, spending more than I would have thought.  Sure adds up fast.  Came home and spent the rest of the day outside on the deck listening to Michael Jackson and The Jacksons.  Loaded up the MP3 player and put it on shuffle.  Nice to hear the old music.  Dirty Diana is playing right now.  It was sunny and 65 degrees today in Milwaukee.  Perfect!  Felt so nice to just sit out and enjoy the yard all day and do very little.  The dogs sure enjoyed laying outside with me all afternoon.  Tony called to say he would like to go to another car show tonight.  This one is a distance to the south west.  It will be a bigger show than last night.  I think it a waste of gas money it is so far away, but Tony likes his car shows.  I figure it gets me out of cooking since we will eat somewhere.  Will most likely come home and spend the night watching TV from the DVR after the America's Got Talent Results show. 

July 23, 2013 Tuesday Dinner Time

Spent last night watching TV from the DVR and then the show Under The Dome in bed snuggling with the dogs.  Watched the local news and went to sleep by 10:30 PM.

Woke up this morning at 5 AM hearing Kali throwing up on the floor.  Jumped out of bed and got her outside.  She has been having stomach problems lately and threw up all over the house on Sunday.  Usually just a lot of bile, but it has been happening since Friday.  Got the mess cleaned up and she seemed fine so we went back to bed.  Got up again at 6:30 AM to feed them and give Vito his shot.  Called the vet this morning when they opened at 8 AM and made a 11:30 appointment for Stella to get her nails trimmed, and Kali at 3:30 PM to have the doctor check her out.  Took Stella to the Vet at 11:30 and stopped off at McDonald's for a double dollar burger and French fries.  As I ordered them I remembered we are most likely going to a car show tonight and it is at a McDonalds.  Hmm, twice in one day.   Got home and shared the French fries with the dogs.  Went for walk along the river trails.  Didn't take the longest trail since I am still working on what my feet can do and not do.   So far I have a little pain with my feet, but if I switch to my Crocs I can walk again without much pain.  So I am walking.  The Shingles and being off my feet for 2 months might have fixed my feet pain.  That or the not smoking and the med switch.  Still not a cig since Memorial Day.  Either way it is a good thing.  I could not run a marathon but I can walk through the grocery store where I couldn't a couple months ago.   Took a nice hour long walk enjoying nature and talking to myself as I walk.  LOL.  Got home and listened to music for an hour before I took Kali to the vet for her 3:30 PM appointment.  Got a spray for her skin, meds for her vomiting, and told to get Pepsid AC or the generic for her stomach.  Also have to give her a small snack at bedtime.  The computers were down so they could not tell me how much the bill would be.  I will have to pay over the phone when they call me.  I am guessing about $120.  I will let you know how close I guess when they call.  Got her home and then went to Walgreen's to get the Pepsid for Kali's stomach.  Tony just walked in the door so I have to get this finished and posted.  Guess he came home a little early to shower and go to the car show.  Off to feed the dogs.  Will then go to the south side to a car show.  It was perfect weather here in Milwaukee today.  Was partly cloudy and in the 70s with a nice breeze.  Perfect!

July 22, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching TV from the DVR.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony went to work for an hour to deliver a car and cut the grass at his other shop.  I turned off the power to the air conditioner outside unit and took the cover off to the electrical area to see if I could find the loose wire.  I have to sometimes shake the wire when we turn on the air conditioning so I think there is a loose connection to the thermostat.  Tightened the wires and hopefully solved the problem.  I am happy when I do projects like this.  Makes me feel like I could survive without Tony.  Tony and I took a long nap with the dogs Saturday afternoon so we would have energy to go to Festa Italian her on the Milwaukee Summerfest lakefront grounds at night.  Did the lovin thing during the napping.  Left the house around 6 PM and spent the night at the festival.  Stayed for the 10:30 PM fireworks.  Great show and was so nice to sit there and put our arms around each other while we watched.  I can remember a time when we would not have felt comfortable enough to do that in public.  So nice attitudes are changing.  Left after the fireworks and got home around 11:30 PM.  Went to bed about a half hour after we got home.

Sunday morning we again were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Made French toast and bacon for breakfast.  Spent the morning doing things around the house, reading the newspaper and enjoying the cool weather and the air conditioner off.  Around 10 AM we walked up the street to get lottery tickets and check out the farmers market.  Around noon I asked Tony to go for a walk or a bike ride.  Was pleasantly surprised when he said he wouldn't mind riding our bikes down to the lakefront to have a drink and a burger and watch the volley ball tournaments.  It is not a short bike ride down to the lakefront and there is always the ride back that is mostly uphill.  Kept thinking, be careful what you ask for.  Figured I better take advantage of the fact Tony even agreed to go for a bike ride and pumped up the tires on the bikes.  Rode our bikes down to the lakefront beach and sat in the cabana having a strawberry margarita and a hamburger.  Sat for about an hour or more watching the volley ball players and all the eye candy.  Here is a picture of us at the lakefront cabana. 

Rode our bikes home and almost died by the time we got home since it is more uphill than going to the lakefront.  Got home around  3 PM and spent the rest of the day relaxing with the dogs.  Soon Tony started saying he wasn't feeling good and out came all the cold medicine.  By the time we went to sleep Tony was not feeling good at all and said he was getting sick.  My final words to him were that I just got healthy and he better not get me sick.  Went to bed around 8 PM to watch TV in bed until around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and said goodbye to Tony as he left for work.  He said he still was not feeling well.  Cleaned the pond pump and did things around the house all day.  I did drive to the hardware store to get a florescent light bulb only to find out it was the unit and not the bulb.  Had to go return the bulb an hour later.  The heat and humidity returned today and so the air conditioning when back on.  Spent the day with the dogs staying cool in the house.  Making chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper.  Tony will come home tired, smelly and most likely still sick so I figure comfort food will be good for him.  I am sure he will be snoring on the couch shortly after he is done eating and showered.

To the person who left me a message on Fridays post.  Please contact me at my email address listed to the side in my bio.  You are not alone and I am here to talk if you need to.  Finding out you are HIV is the biggest mind fuck you will ever go through.  You don't have to go through it alone.

July 19, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Big Brother and Rookie Blue.  Went to bed and did the lovin thing before we went to sleep around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony was out the door to go to work.  Spent the early morning reading the newspapers and doing my usual Friday movie downloads.   Left to meet the guys for lunch early so I could stop at Walgreen's to pick up a prescription.  Of course they didn't have it ready so I had to leave without and come back later.  Had lunch with the guys.  Great lunch as usual at Bakers Square.  Went to Home Depot after lunch since Tony informed me at lunch he was out of bird food.  Out of bird food.  It is his one task each day and he waits to tell me he needs more bird food when he is out.  Everything I am in charge of I have back up here at the house.  Bought two big bags of bird food and a big bag of sunflower seeds.  Total cost come to $60 for the three bags of bird food.  That's a lot of money for birds.  I sure hope they appreciate it.  Stopped at Walgreen's again to get my prescription and ended up buy a couple more items that looked good and tasty.  Came home and spent the afternoon doing things around the house staying indoors because of the 90 plus degree heat outside.  Thankfully this is the last day of the heat wave and tomorrow it will be in around 80 degrees for a high and less humid.  I can not take this hot humid weather.  Even the construction workers across the street called it a day around 2 PM today.  Here is a picture of what the construction town house project looks like as of today.  That building is only one of four that will be on the property when finished and they still have to go a floor higher.  I am not happy but it could have been worse.

No plans this weekend.  Will most likely just see what comes along as the weekend unfolds.  Have a great weekend everyone.

July 18, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching Big Brother and the weeks worth of America's Got Talent.  Went to bed around 10 PM.  Slept great all night due to not taking a nap.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot, and soon Tony left for work.  Fourth day in a row without any stomach / throwing up problems in the morning.  So nice to not have this happening.  I was to a point where I was throwing up almost every morning from the Truvada and every morning I would say 'I hate mornings'.  Haven't said that all week.  Was at the ARCW dental office by 9 AM to have a crown put on a tooth.  The Milwaukee AIDS center now can make crowns as you wait.  Took three hours but I walked out with a nice new crown on a tooth and it is a white crown to boot.  The last time I got a crown it cost me over $750.   We are so lucky to have ARCW in Milwaukee.  My cost will be $25 most likely.  Got my monthly HIV prescriptions at the pharmacy.  Made sure I told them home great I feel each morning since switching off Truvada to Epzicom.   Picked up a sub sandwich at Subway next to the parking lot and headed home with some bread and food from the ARCW food pantry.  Spent the afternoon reading and cruising the Internet while I watched out the window all the construction going on across the street.  It again is 95 degrees in Milwaukee today, with a feel like temperature of over 100 degrees.  The construction workers across the street have several t-shirts they change into during the day.  They hang their wet t-shirts on the car windows and hood of their cars parked in front of the house.   Of course I must admit it is very nice to see them stretch and take off and put on there fresh t-shirts.  Sometimes they are so wet they ring them out.  I have to give them credit.  I could not work out in this heat anymore.  Got in my car a little while ago to buy some pizza toppings.  I got a Boboli pizza crust from the pantry and figure I would make a home made pizza with salad for supper tonight.  Bought a couple tomatoes, onion, peperoni and peppers.   I have tomato sauce and cheese.  Glad I don't have to leave the house again today because it is horrible outside it is so hot.  Will most likely spend the night watching TV from the DVR.  Weather says one more day of this heat.  By Saturday a cold front will have come through.  Can't wait.

July 17, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV from the DVR.  Got caught up on our Hardcore Pawn shows and a couple repo Tru TV shows.   Went to bed around 10 PM.  Had a hard time falling asleep due to taking a nap.  I thought to myself that I should not take a nap any more.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work around 7:30 AM.  Made it through the morning, third in a row, without throwing up.  I really think the Truvada was making my stomach sick each morning at this point.  Read the morning newspaper and then went to Walgreen's around 10 AM to pick up a prescription for Tony and one for me.  So nice to walk out not buying a pack of cigs.  I have my moments when I think of having one, but I think I am past the point of fucking up and having one.   Also has been saving me money since they are $6.50 a pack and I smoked three packs a week.  After Walgreen's I stopped at McDonald's for some breakfast and then went to Pick N Save to do the weekly grocery shopping.  Only bought fresh produce and fruit along with milk and ice cream.  I bought so much fruit it will most likely go bad if we don't eat a lot of it in the next few days.  Spent the rest of the day reading magazines and cruising the Internet as I looked out the window and watched the construction workers work in the 90 degree hot humid heat.  A couple of good looking men have joined the team and the truck driver that was there all day was damn handsome.  Went outside here and there to do some watering and of course I had to clean the pond pump again today.  If I clean it daily the pond is very clear and you can see all the fish swimming around.  Making spaghetti and salads for supper tonight.  Tony will have to go right to the shower again tonight when he gets home from work.  Will most likely spend the night watching Big Brother and America's Got Talent.  The feels like temperature was 100 today in Milwaukee.  I am not liking the heat and starting to feel a little cooped up being in the house all day to avoid the heat.  Last night we noticed the mother or father bird had left the nest we have a camera in.  They were back on the eggs soon enough.  There are three eggs in the nest.  This is their third batch of babies this Summer.  Also, and this is really good news, around 6 PM the other night I looked outside the front window and saw a baby rabbit eating the bird seed that falls to the ground under the bushes.  The last of my wild rabbits disappeared in March when the cats got them.  I really enjoyed the rabbits as anyone who follows my blog for years knows.  They actually came at a time I needed a reason to live, four years ago.  We never had a rabbit for over 20 years in the yard until about four years ago.  I watched three generations of rabbits, feeding them bread daily, until March, when they disappeared.   I hope there are more, or this one lives long enough to learn how to avoid the cats. 

July 16, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching an hour of Long Island Medium and then the last two episodes of 666 Park Avenue.  I am glad ABC decided to at least air the last episodes even though they cancelled the series.   I enjoyed the show and at least they gave the show some what of an ending.  Was on the computer most of the night while I watched TV and talked with a friend I met on this blog.  We talked on Facebook messenger.  Nice to talk to someone so far away in a different country.  People talk so different.  Another reason why I am happy I started this blog.  I have met so many nice people who don't deserve to be HIV.  Went to sleep around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Before we got up we did the lovin thing.  Not sure why we are doing this in the morning lately but I am not complaining.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot before Tony left for work.  No throwing up bile again for a second day in a row.  I mention this because this is the second day on my new med Epzicom that replaced Truvada due to my feet problems.  Could I have maybe solved this throwing up bile problem also by switching my HIV meds?   I was scared to switch, but so far no different side effects and only the good news of no throwing up the last two mornings.  Went outside and cleaned out the three pond pumps before it got to hot ourtside.  Spent the day doing very little.  It is close to 90 degrees and hot and humid here in Milwaukee.  It is down right tropical outside it is so hot and humid.  Spent some of the day reading the latest Advocate magazine, but mostly spent the day watching out the window and the construction across the street.  I can not believe how hard they work in this heat.  I felt like taking them some water or something I felt so bad.  One construction worker parks in front of the house and comes across the street here and there to put on a new T shirt.  Nice to see him take off the shirt and put on a new one.  He is one of the few that is half way good looking enough to want to look at.  Tony came home around noon to get some money he kept at the house.  He will be going straight to the showers the minute he walks in the house tonight.  No supper until after his shower.   (Just ran outside to give the neighbor kid a lesson in car parking.  He always complains about no parking out front on the street yet when he parks his car he will park in the middle of two parking spots so that there in not enough room to park a car in front or back, but if he would have pulled forward or back, another car could have parked there besides him and his car.  He is young and I guess not raised in the city.  He did go move his car up to the one in front of him after our little talk.  Sometimes I feel like the neighborhood watch person).   Making sweet and sour chicken with rice and a salad tonight for supper.  Will most likely spend the night watching more TV from the DVR.   Not liking this heat and it is not ending any time soon.  Going to have to go back to reading my books the rest of the week.  I don't like going out in the heat and will do anything not to, even if it means staying cooped up inside this week in the house with the dogs.  I did again have to bring Stella in after she laid outside for 20 minutes.  She came in again panting and I thought she was going to have a stroke again or something.  Told her she would not be going out again this week except to go to the bathroom.  I think she understood?  LOL. 

July 15, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we did go back to Bastille Days for a couple hours.  I swear since I feel so much better everything looks so good to eat.  I ate like a pig at the festival and even brought some things home to eat later.  Got home around 10:30 PM and went to bed about a half hour later to sleep.  I was so happy my feet the last two nights have let me walk around festivals.  Guess being off my feet helped my foot problems a lot.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Woke up on the same side of the bed and that turned into a morning round of some lovin.  Usually the dogs are between us and we are on opposite sides about to fall off the bed.  Got up and fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  I took Vito to the vet at 9:30 AM to get his nails trimmed.  Tony watched the dogs and then cut the front grass when I came home.  I laid on the couch around 11 AM to just shut my eyes for say 10 minutes.  Woke up at noon to find Tony sleeping on the couch in the spare room.  We have to go to a family pool party and should have already left the house since they live an hour away.  Quickly packed what we needed, let the dogs out and drove to the party.  Had a great afternoon eating, talking and swimming with the kids and adults.  They have a big deep pool.  This might be the one and only time I get to swim this Summer so I took advantage of it and spent a lot of time in the pool with a big hat on and a T shirt so I wouldn't get a burn.  Ate so much food and desserts my stomach should have burst.  Left around 5 PM and got home around 6 PM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his second shot with food for the day.  Spent the night watching the weeks two episodes of One Life To Live and the past two episodes of True Blood.  Went to bed around 10 PM exhausted from the swimming all day.

Sunday morning we again were up by 7 AM.  Did the lovin thing again this morning before getting out of bed.  Wow, two days in a row.  Got up and fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went outside and picked a big bowl of black berries from the front yard and made pancakes with black berries in them.  They were so good.  Nothing like eating food you personally pick.   The black berries have just gotten ready to pick and I should get a few days of berries this season.  The berries are huge and we must have had the right weather conditions for the berry bushes.  Around 11 AM we went to the South Shore Frolics on the south side of Milwaukee.  It was getting hot in Milwaukee so thankfully this festival is right on the lake front keeping things a bit cooler.  Spent a couple hours walking around the car show, listening to the band, and just sitting on the grass enjoying the breeze and talking.  Drove the long way home along the lake and got home around 2 PM, after buying the weekly lottery tickets.  Took an hour nap and then watched TV until we fed the dogs supper.  I was not cooking so we decided to walk up two blocks and have supper at a bar called Tracks.  Had a great hamburger and even a drink.  Walked home and spent the night watching the last two episodes of Rookie Blue and then went to bed and soon to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Last night was my first night taking Epzicom instead of Truvada.  Funny I did not have a sick stomach this morning?   Maybe the Truvada?  Time will tell.  Hate changing HIV meds but doctor thought it best to switch from Truvada to Epizicom because I might be getting Neuropathy in my feet from the Truvada.  Left the house by 9 AM to go to Walgreen's to buy two 24 packs of water on sale for Tony and his employees.  It is suppose to be close to 90 degrees every day this week.  Working outside or in the shop is very hot.  Thankfully Tony has an air conditioned office which I continue to remind him to spend time in rather than being outside in the heat due to his heart condition.  Then went to McDonald's for two sausage burritos.  Drove across the street to Walmart (my favorite store, NOT) and bought a ton of freezer bars and Popsicles for the employees this week in the heat.  Bought a freezer full of ice cream treats for them.  If the employees are happy they get more work done.  Dropped off the freezer pop treats at the shop, told them to make them last the week, and then headed home.  Spent the day doing things around the house staying indoors as much as possible to stay out of the heat.  Tony will be home soon and he will be hot, tired, sweaty and smelly.  I will direct him right to the shower.  No supper until he showers when it is close to 90 degrees outside.  I swear on hot days like this he comes home like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown with a cloud of stink around him.  LOL.  Will most likely spend the night watching the last couple episodes of Wife Swap and TV from the DVR before going to bed.  Damn it is hot outside and only getting hotter as the week goes on.  Will be catching up on magazines and books this week.

July 12, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Last night we walked around Bastille Days for about 2 hours.  Watched the big run start and then went to our car which was blocked because of the race and we had to watch most of the racers again at that point until the police let us get our car out of the parking ramp.  Got home around 10 PM.  My feet held out pretty good wearing my Crocks and feel like I could be a spokes person for the shoes.  Tony was actually the one to look at me a little after 9 PM and said 'have you had enough, I'm ready to go'.   Spent an hour watching TV and then went to sleep.  Was happy my feet let me walk around the festival for a couple hours.  Not sure why my feet are better.  I think it must have been the month or so I was off of them with the Shingles.   For the record, the it took me four weeks to get rid of the Shingles because I waited a week to find out I had them and start treatment.  So, get treatment early if you think you have Shingles.  I am amazed how many people I talk to who have had Shingles.

This morning I was up at 7 AM.  I could have just stayed in bed if it were not for having to feed the dogs and say goodbye to Tony.  I only got up one time all night.  The walking all night at the festival must have really tired out my body.  Actually most exercise I have gotten in months.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony left for work.  Read the morning newspapers, showered, and went to Pick N Save to buy some meat and snacks to take to the pool party tomorrow.  Bought cupcakes to pass also.   Tony called just before lunch to say he would rather not go since he was working hard and sweating, and smelled.  Best not to have lunch with us then.  Had a great lunch with the guys.  I do enjoy a lunch or two without Tony there so I can just let myself say things I wouldn't if he were there.  Laughed our butts off and had a long lunch.  Came home and decided to go for a walk along the river trails.  I have not taken a walk since I think March or April when I started having feet problems.  Took a nice long walk and really enjoyed it.  Was sad to see all the trees that have fallen because of getting leaves and the ground being so soft, the trees fall.  Trees down blocking the trails in spots.  Took almost a two hour walk and really got into the nature and beauty of what is all there on the trails.  I do a lot of reflecting and thinking when I am alone walking in the woods and trails.  I look at my walks as 'me time'.   Got home and thought best to just relax for an hour on the couch.  Not sure what we are doing tonight.  All depends on how tired Tony is when he gets home from work.  If he is not too tired we will go back to Bastille Days to eat some supper and walk around for an hour or so.  If too tired we will stay home and I will have to make some food for him.  Saturday is a yearly pool party we look forward to each year.  I am so happy I am healthy and all my scabs from the Shingles are gone.  Sunday we might meet my parents at another festival.  Haven't seen them since before Easter so I do want to get together with them.  It was in the 70s, sunny, slight breeze and beautiful today.  The apartment development across the street is coming along. They put up the beginning of the second floor.  This is only the first of a four faze development.  You can see from the picture what it will look like when finished which they put on the front of the start of the development.

                                                              Have a great weekend.

July 11, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV and then went to bed around 9:30 PM to watch the last of a show and then the news, before going to sleep.  I had turned off the air conditioning earlier in the day because the humidity was not so bad.   I did have to turn on a fan because it was a little hot in the bedroom with me, Tony and 4 dogs. 

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left for work.  As he left I asked him if he would mind driving me to my parents house in Oconomowoc, which is about an hour away, to get some Gabapentin from my mom, if the doctor doesn't call in a prescription by noon.  Of course Tony said, 'I am very busy, but just let me know'.   What a great partner he is.  Everyone should have someone like Tony to help them through life.  As I got off the phone with my mom around 9 AM to figure out if we would meet half way or what to get a few of her Gabapentin's, the phone rang and it was my doctor saying they called in a prescription to Walgreen's.  Showered and went to Walgreen's to get the Gabapentin.  Took one right away when I picked them up and just took another before writing this post.  Suppose to take them three times a day I was told and they will not work right away until time when they build up in your body.  So it might take a while to get some relief, but I have my Gabapentin to try.  Took a nap with the dogs.  Not sure if the Gabapentin makes one tired, but I was.   Only took one pain pill all day yesterday and have not taken one yet today, so I am on my way to being back to normal.  I laughed as I typed 'normal'.  Too funny.  Never thought I would say I was 'normal'.  Tonight starts Bastille Days in Milwaukee and we will most likely spend the night there tonight with friends.  Always a great festival.  I say every year that this festival has the best looking men at it.  It is in the middle of downtown so lot of the business men in suits are at the festival looking nice.   I have already gone through my closet to figure out what to wear tonight.  I have not had the desire or energy to go out and do anything for over a month and I am really looking forward to getting dressed up nice and having fun at Bastille Days tonight.  Still a little worried how I will manage walking and all with my sore hurting feet.  Figure I will wear my Crocs and take the night as it goes.  If my feet hurt we will have to sit or go home.  I got outside and did some yard work today, which really felt good.  I looked up at the sky and said 'Dave is back'.  I honestly feel I lost over a month of my life due to the Shingles.  I am so happy to see my body has fight in it and I am on the way to mending.   I honestly at times in the last month thought 'just let me die' I was in so much pain.  It is amazing the state of mind and how it changes depending on how you feel.  I no say 'let me live'. 

July 10, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching America's Got Talent.  Spent most of the show watching it in bed with Tony and the dogs.  Turned off the TV and went to sleep around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left for work.  I went outside around 8 AM to pull up some deck boards.  Smells like something died under the side deck boards and I was hoping I could find the source.  Took me an hour to take the boards off and ramp apart to get to the boards.  No luck finding the smell.  The little dead devil must be under that part of the deck I can not get to.  I am hoping the smell was just because it was very humid the last few days.  I do believe a rat or mouse died under the deck and time will tell how bad it will get or go away on it's own.  Was done by 10 AM and took a shower.  Went grocery shopping in the morning and was home by noon with the groceries.  Didn't buy much since I don't plan on cooking the next few days since we have so many things planned.   Bastille Days in Downtown Milwaukee starts tomorrow and there is a family pool party and other festivals this weekend.  So I don't plan on cooking much the next few days and bought mostly fruit and milk.   Tried to take a short nap with the dogs but I just couldn't fall asleep.  I am happy to say it is after 4 PM and I have yet to take a pain pill for the Shingles eye and head pain.  First day in over a month without pain pills.  I do have a little pain still behind the eye and off course the scalp and head are sensitive.  But felt so much better and was even able to read the newspaper this morning and a couple magazines this afternoon.  It has also been over a month and a half (since Memorial Day) that I had a cigarette.  So good news.  I am disappointed my doctor never called back with the Gabapentin prescription.  Since I feel better I might just hold off even if she eventually calls it in.  I think they are not going to or would have.  Makes me a little mad the doctor or nurse never called me back about the Gabapentin and filling the prescription from the message I left yesterday.  Since I feel a bit better I think we will go out for $1 hamburgers and french fries tonight for supper.  We have not gone there in a long time and since it is nice outside and I feel better, time to start living again.  Might even have a drink.  I still have not figured out if I will walk or take my scooter to the events and festivals this weekend.  Usually Bastille Days is too crowded to think about taking the scooter, so I might have to just put on the right pair of shoes and rest a lot.  Will worry about that tomorrow.  Will most likely send the rest of the night watching Big Brother and then another America's Got Talent on TV tonight before we go to bed.  I think I will be taking a half a pain pill soon, but still, that's really good!

July 9, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the last two episodes of the TNT show Falling Skies.  Like most shows this one is starting to get boring also and straying from the main plot and getting too far fetched.  Went to the bedroom and watched the last hour of TV, Under The Dome, in bed before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony out the door to work.  Spent the first hour reading the local newspaper online.  I figured out how to view the Milwaukee Journal online in a e-version since wearing glasses to read the actual paper is still to painful and uncomfortable.  Showered and got to my 9 AM dental cleaning appointment.  Talked with the pharmacist there at ARCW and she recommended I call my doctor for a prescription of Gabapentin to help with the nerve pain in my eye and head since the pain pills only do so much to relieve the pain.  I told the pharmacist I think the anti inflammatory are doing more for the pain than the actual pain pills and this is why she recommended getting a prescription of Gabapentin.  Got my teeth cleaned, grabbed my monthly food from the food pantry and came home after stopping at Walgreens to pick up another week of my Shingles anti viral meds my eye doctor wants me to continue taking for another week.  Got home and unpacked all the food and then left a message with my doctor about a prescription of Gabapentin since more pain pills seem to be a problem.  Still waiting to hear from the doctor or nurse.    Started to rain so I decided to take a nap with the dogs.  Didn't really sleep much but was nice to just lay there in the dark with the dogs around me with my eyes closed.  I just took another half a pain pill and sure wish it would kick in.  I am taking half pills with the pain pills to cut down and wean myself off as needed.  I am on my third half today so I think I am doing good.  I should be down to only 3 pain pills a day as of today if things go as planned.  Been taking an anti inflammatory with the pain pills, and food or course to help my stomach.  Will most likely spend the night watching America's Got Talent and be in bed by 10 PM.   Was hot and humid today and rained this afternoon, in the 80s today.

July 8, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching a couple movies.  Watched the movies Come Out And Play and Parker.  Both were very good movies.  Come Out and Play was a horror thriller and very good.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Not only was it hard for me to go outside with the bright sun on my eyes, but it was very hot and humid in Milwaukee all weekend.  Spent most of Saturday watching Most Shocking TV on Tru TV.  Since there was not much I could do in 'sunlight', we went to a movie Saturday afternoon.  Now I see why we don't go to movies very often and watch them at home after I download them.  It cost us $50 to see the movie The Heat.  The tickets were $7.50 each,  popcorn and a soda was $14 (which we shared), the large pizza was $16 and throw in gas to the theater .... $50.00.  The movie was very good and we laughed during the entire movie.  Was so nice and soothing on my eyes to be in the dark theater.  The ride home was horrible on my eyes from being in the dark and I sat with my eyes closed most of the ride home.  I looked at Tony at one point as he was driving and said 'don't think that I am watching the road, I have my eyes closed because they burn so much'.  Tony looked at me and said 'me too'.  We both laughed.  Got home and spent the rest of the day and night watching more movies.  Watched the movies Dead Man Down and Safe Haven.  Enjoyed both movies.  We both were in tears at the end of Safe Haven.  We both cry watching sad movies.  Heck, Tony is in tears most mornings when I catch him reading the obits.  I keep asking why he reads the obits if they make him sad.  Went to bed around 10:30 PM.

Sunday we were again up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Decided to go pick up Tony's mom and have breakfast with her in the morning.  Had a nice breakfast and drove home along the lake front.  My eyes still hurting in the light.  Came home and watched the movie White Frog.  White frog was a great movie and worth finding to rent and watch.  Gay themed about a young gay kid who died before coming out to his family.  Took a short nap with the dogs after the movie.  Got up and spent the rest of the day watching more TV.  Sunday night we watched the movies Mental and Dark Circles.  Dark Circles was the better of the two movies.  Went to bed around 9 PM for a round of lovin.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot, and Tony a kiss on his way out the door for work.  Tony was not feeling well when he left for work and told me he wish he could just stay home today.  Too bad he is the owner and boss, has to go there, but could leave early?   I am sure he will be home by 5 PM beat tired when he comes home tonight from work.  Went to my 10 AM eye doctor appointment.  Doctor thinks my eye is healing great and also thinks I should cut down on the pain meds.  He says 'four pills a day is a lot of medication'.  I looked at him thinking, four pills are honestly not enough.   Oh well, thankfully I still have more pain medication or I would be at my doctor's office or emergency begging for more.  The pain in my forehead and eye gets a hair better each day but is still very painful.  Light is horrible and my eyes are very sensitive to light.  The swelling around the eye is better and all my scabs have healed.  So now I just need to get rid of the horrible pain behind my left eye.  Doctor said it could take a couple more weeks or month and told me to come back in two weeks so he can look at my eyes again.  Also told me to refill and take another round of the anti viral for the Shingles.  Stopped off at the bank on the way home to deposit the check I got Saturday from Batteries Plus.  Go my full refund from them for trying to screw me out of paying for new batteries for my scooter when I swear they never even opened the battery box.  Happy to put this behind me and cash the check.  I did post another comment to my first one on their website to say they sent me a check.  I still stand by the fact I think they tried to screw me.  Took a long nap with the dogs this afternoon.  It is hot, humid and rain all morning here in Milwaukee.  Feels like we are in the tropics.  The sun is out now and it is very humid and hot, in the 80s.  The air conditioning has been on since Friday. 
So, my Shingles is getting better with each day.  My head and eye still hurt enough to take pain pills to try to get rid of the pain.  Other than that I feel I am healing good, just not fast enough.  The pain and sensitivity to light are my main problems right now.  Best just to stay indoors in the dark and not outside in the hot humid brightness.  I also could sleep all day and night, but hopefully that will improve as I start doing more and feeling better.

July 5, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Went to a car show yesterday morning on the south side of town.  It was a big car show so I brought my scooter.  I would have been fine dealing with the pain in my head, but the bright sun killed my eyes.  Spent most of the time at the car show looking down at the ground.  I should have simply stayed home.  Got home around 1 PM and took a nap with the dogs.  Did the lovin thing, was nice we got our timing back.  Made some hamburgers on the grill and spent the night watching TV from the DVR.  Went upstairs on the deck shortly after 9 PM and watched the fireworks from across the street, from the park.  Was a nice display this year.  Went to bed and watched the news, sleeping shortly thereafter.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left to go to work.  Spent the morning doing laundry and things around the house.  Did five loads of laundry, all the bedding and dog blankets.  The head pain is getting less with each day, but still bothers me.  I only took 4 pain pills yesterday so that tells me I am getting better.  My eye is what seems to bother me most.  I can not read without arranging the newspaper and glasses just right.  Since my nose has no feelings or feels like it is sleeping, putting the glass frame on my nose bothers me more and simply is not tolerable.  Spent a lot of time with my left eye closed.   Feels like there is always something in my left eye.  I go back to the eye doctor on Monday.  My head is very sensitive to the touch.  I still can not sleep on the pillow on my left side of my head.  It feels like the nerves in my head are all at the surface.  I can sometimes touch one and say to Tony 'here is a nerve driving my crazy'.  Had a nice lunch with the guys and then went to an auto body shop to get my car emissions tested.  I did pass and the envelope and $95 check is on the table ready to be mailed for new stickers.  No plans this weekend.  I honestly just want to keep my eyes closed or just sleep.  I hope by Monday this Shingles is gone or not bothering me as much.

The last two of the four baby Wrens left the nest on the 4th, must have been a pretty scary first night out in the world with all the fireworks. 

July 3, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night in bed watching America's Got Talent.  Turned off the TV and went to sleep around 10:15 PM after watching the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work and I thought by 7:30 AM it would be OK to have some coffee since I had not yet thrown up.  Big mistake.  Right after the first sip of coffee I was at the sink throwing up bile.  After that I tried reading a little of the morning newspaper and soon decided to go back to bed.  It rained most of today and in the 60s here in Milwaukee.  Got out of bed around 11 AM and after a quick shower I drove to Pick N Save to do the weekly grocery shopping.  Bought mostly fresh produce.  The large $25 bag of dog food didn't help the total amount owed.  I had only taken a half a pain pill this morning since I called the doctor and was told I can not get any more pain pills until after 30 days.  If I am in so much pain I should go to emergency, I was told again.  So I have to make these last 20 or so pain pills last.  Plus it wouldn't hurt to start taking less. Took the other half around 1 PM when I got back from the grocery store.  Spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch with the dogs watching TV.  Making a $10 rack of beef ribs and salads for supper tonight.  Will most likely make a rice or potato side.  No plans this evening or tomorrow for the 4th Of July holiday.  Will most likely stay close to home.  There is a car show on the 4th, and if the weather is nice, we will most likely go for a while if my head isn't hurting too bad.  I have enough pain meds to last through the weekend.  Will deal with what to do next week when that day comes.  I honestly can not believe the amount of pain this Shingles thing has given me.  It is very very painful and at times I just want to rip my eye out or push in my temple of my head, it throbs so much in pain.

Happy 4th Of July to all my followers.  Have a safe and happy holiday.

July 2, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching TV from the DVR.  Watched a couple episodes of Long Island Medium and then went to the bed to watch an hour of TV.  Don't even remember what we watched since I was just happy to have Tony in my arms and my eyes closed, helping sooth the pain.  Went to sleep sometime after the local news around 10:20 PM.

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Actually made it through the morning without throwing up.  Showered and left the house around 9:30 AM to go to Office Depot to buy something to help me read the newspaper, much less read at all.  Bought a reader magnifying sheet for $10 that I hope will help.  Had bought Tony one in the past to help him read and have looked all over the house for it with no luck.  Have only read about half the newspaper today because it is so uncomfortable and hard to read.  My eyes just water in pain.  Took a laxative before I went to bed last night and was ready for it to work this morning.  Was not easy but finally got out the last five days of food.  Will have to start taking a laxative every night before I go to bed while I am taking all these pain pills.  I tried just taking a half a pain pill this morning but the pain was so bad in an hour or so I took the other half.  Still taking about 6 pain pills in 24 hours.  Walked through Big Lots since it was next door to Office Depot.  Bought some crackers and headed home.  Took a nice long nap with the dog on the bed this afternoon.  I could honestly just sleep all day.   At least when I am sleeping there is no pain.  Made some salads to go along with the Bertolli spaghetti tonight.  Will most likely spend the night watching America's Got Talent in bed with Tony and the dogs.  Here is a picture of the apartment development going up across the street.  The first wall went up yesterday.

July 1, 2013 Monday Afternoon

I should have wrote down things during the weekend so I could remember if we did anything.  When you take 7 or 8 pain pills a day, the weekend goes by in a blur.   Friday night we did watch the past two episodes of True Blood.  Getting very bored with this show and not liking the direction.  Went to bed around 10 PM to do the loving thing.  Haven't done the loving thing in a long time due to my Shingles and all the pain in my head.  Didn't work out so good on these pain pills.  Tony ended up happy, I ended up frustrated.

Saturday I am not sure if we even left the house.  As you can tell, I spent most the weekend in pain from this Shingles.   We did end up meeting some guys from lunch at a car show around 6 PM.  I could not go out into the sun light so we went as the sun was setting.  Ate supper and looked at the cars.  Soon the pain began again and it was time to take me home.  Spent Saturday night watching something on TV before going to bed.

Yesterday we did, again, very little.  We did walk up two blocks to get lottery tickets some time in the afternoon.  Other than that, I laid around holding my head in pain just wishing I would die.  Made some soup and sandwiches for lunch and didn't even make supper last night.  Went to bed and watched TV in bed all night. 

This morning I got up 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent some time, like each morning all weekend, throwing up bile in the sink.  Actually Saturday morning I threw up so much food you would have thought I eat out some time during the night.   This throwing up every morning is not making me happy.  I just kind of wait for it now.  Know it will come.  And just run to the sink.  Went to my 11 AM eye doctor appointment this morning.  Doctor wants me to stay on the meds for at least another week and also gave me another eye drop to start putting in my eye.  Reassured me that this is what Shingles is and I have to stop thinking in terms of days and weeks and start thinking in terms of weeks and months, when it comes to the pain going away.  I told the doctor I will need stronger meds if I have to put up with this for months.  Came home and took a two hour nap with the dogs.  Typing is very hard and I have to go back and correct every other word.  Going to the couch to put ice on my head.  Damn, Shingles sucks.    I did notice there are four baby birds in the nest and not just three like I had earlier thought.  Typing is hard, gotta go.

June 28, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Went to the bed around 8 PM to watch TV in bed for the rest of the night.  I think we both fell asleep shortly after our heads hit the pillow since I don't remember anything we watched and the TV was off later on when I woke up to go to the bathroom.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony off to work.  Spent the morning trying to read the morning newspapers.  Still have the entire USA Today to read since it hurts too much to read on my eyes.  Just can not focus on the print.  Did little things around the house in the morning and soon it was time to shower and go have lunch with the guys.  Tony picked me up since I try to avoid driving with my eyes not working very good to light and the head pain.  Had a nice lunch since I loaded up on pills an hour prior.  Came home from lunch and took a nice two hour nap with the dogs.  Honestly could have just stayed in bed and slept the rest of the day away.  It feels so much nicer just having my eyes closed and sleeping.  I do go back to the eye doctor on Monday which I am happy to do since my nose has actually lost it's feeling.  Yes, I have lost the feeling in my nose.  Can't feel any sensation on the outside of my nose or between my eyes.  Took a pain pill when I got up from my nap and it better kick in soon since my head is pounding.  Will most likely spend the weekend watching movies or TV from the DVR.  Still have True Blood's episodes to watch this weekend.  No other plans this weekend which is fine with me considering the head and eye pain I am having from the Shingles.  Just happy to get through each day.  I wish these pills wouldn't make it so hard to have a bowel movement.  That's just another story for another day.  I sure hope there will be a day when I wake up and ....   no pain?

June 27, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching reruns on TV, mostly in bed, before going to sleep around 10 PM.  Pain pain pain, all night.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot, and got Tony off to work.  Made it though the morning without throwing up.  Funny, I forgot to take my ant acid last night off all nights, and no throwing up?  Read a little of the morning newspaper until I threw it on the coffee table in frustration because it hurts my eyes to much to try to focus on the typing of the print.  Took a round of pain pills with a bowl of cereal and about a half hour later I was outside vacuuming out the pond.  The water has gotten very cloudy and I vacuumed a little yesterday.  Vacuumed more today and then emptied the pond half way and refilled with fresh water.  Put more Algae killer in the water to stop the growth.  Was in the house and done by 11 AM, head in hands, in pain.  Made a peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch and then went to take a nap.  Just as my head hit the pillow the phone rang.  The CEO of Batteries Plus had seen my review on their website and wanted to talk about it and get it straightened out.  Ended up with him telling me they would send me a check for the remainder of the money I spent to fix the scooter battery and apologized.   Told the CEO that when I get the check I would be happy to put that out there on the website also.  I honestly think he believed me, but I am just happy to put it behind me and not be out any money.  I stand by my statement that they never even opened the battery pack.  Took a two hour nap with the dogs.  Spent most of the time just laying here and there with my eyes closed to relieve the pain.  Got up to late and should have gotten up sooner to take another pain pill.  My head and eye are pounding as I type this post and just wish it would stop.  Going to make chili mac hamburger helper for supper tonight with some salads.  Rain is on the way and we will most likely spend the night at home, ice pack on my head to relieve pain, watching True Blood.  Never got around to watching it last night.  I just want this head and eye pain to stop.  This is horrible.  Closing the eye only helps a bit.

I keep forgetting to mention that my Wrens have anther three babies in the nest as of last Sunday.  Seems just yesterday the other three babies left the nest.  These sure are busy parents and hungry babies.

June 26, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night in bed watching America's Got Talent with Tony and the dogs.  Just easier to lay in bed and hold an ice pack to my head as anywhere else.  It is also very soothing to just be in the dark bedroom and watch the big 110 inch projection TV.  Much easier on the eyes.  Was happy when the show was over and turned off the TV and went to sleep at 10 PM.

Got up in the middle of the night a couple times to pee.  Ate a cracker the second time to maybe help with the stomach in the morning.  Got up at 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot, and threw up the crackers I had just eaten a couple minutes before.  My stomach must be a mess from all the pain pills I am taking.  Showered and just as I was about to head out the door to go grocery shopping the Supreme Court ruling came down on Proposition 8 and DOMA.  Very happy with the decision but I think they could have gone farther.  We still will need to go back to the Supreme Court to make EVERY state recognize a gay marriage and not just the one that choose to recognize them.  We still can not get legally married here in Wisconsin even with these two decisions.  So the decisions help going forward, but don't help us right now.  Went grocery shopping and came home to an argument with the neighbor and how he parks his car.  We are all tired of him parking behind the garage and inconveniencing everyone else.  The neighbor across the alley and I yelled up to his window and gave him an earful again today.  His dad, who is such a good example, does the same and tried to pull him back in the house as he tried to explain 'he has no other place to park'.  Not our problem I told him.  I should have taken a picture of him and his father.  That is what White Trash looks like and acts like.  If all three neighbors on all sides of you have asked you nicely many many times to not park where he is illegally parking, it should have been a done deal after that?  Why are people such assholes?  Took a nice two hour nap with the dogs but should have taken my noon pain pill first.  I am now waiting in pain for it to kick in.  My head still hurts a lot.  My eye is so sensitive to light and I have an ice pack to my head more than not.  I have to just stick to my breakfast, lunch, supper and bed time pain pill and not skip one yet or I pay the price,  head pain, bad head pain.   Making left over spaghetti and salads for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch TV from the DVR or the past two episodes of True Blood I have downloaded and have yet to watch.  I just wish this pain would go away.  I am ready to rip my left eye out at times the pain is so bad.

June 25, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Left the scooter battery on the charger all night hoping that when we awake it would be green telling us the battery charged and is fully charged.  Spent the night watching a couple episodes of Long Island Medium and then watched the TV show Under The Dome in bed.  Went to sleep a little after the show was over.  We were up the second half of the night telling Vito to 'go back to bed' as he barked at the thunder.  Rained and thundered until morning. 

Got up this morning at 6:30 AM.  Of course the battery light was still red and was not charging or fixed.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Said goodbye to Tony as I threw up my usual morning bile into the sink.  Tony said he would come home around 9 AM so we could drive to the Battery Plus store and get our money back.  Showered and right before Tony got here to pick me up (I can not drive because my eye is so sensitive to light and it tears up when I go outside or in the light), I decided to open up the battery pack.  Even though it says in big writing not to open.  LOL.  Got the cover off and right away I noticed the problem.  One of the wires was not connected to one of the two batteries.  Connected the wire and put the battery pack back together.  Put the battery in the charger and the scooter worked fine.  Unbelievable.  This means Batteries Plus charged me $95 for two new batteries when they did not even open up the battery pack, or they would have seen and fixed the disconnected wire.  We drove to Batteries Plus and of course they kept telling us they would never 'say they changed out a battery if they didn't'.   Told them I thought they were lying to me and then the clerk made out a new receipt showing me getting $19 for my inconvenience.  As I counted the money I notice it was only $18.  The clerk then had to reopen the cash register to get me the other dollar.  Unbelievable.  They even tried to rip me off when giving me money back for my inconvenience.  Since I had no way of proving whether they put new batteries in or not I had no choice but to take my $19 and a receipt showing I had a year guarantee on the batteries and go.  Figure I got screwed out of $76, but learned a good lesson.  Batteries Plus will rip you off.  I feel like calling the local TV stations so they can do a bust on them.  I bet they do this to retired people all the time with their scooter batteries.  By this time my head was pounding and we took the money, told them to their face I still thought they were lying to me and left.  Tony dropped me off at home and I have spent most of the day just trying to get through the day with the curtains closed and the less light as possible coming into the house to make my eye water and head pound.  The scabs on my face have mostly cleared.  The ones on my head and scalp just keep getting bigger and the top of my head feels all scabbed up when you touch it.  Also hurts to just touch my head on the left side so I can not sleep with a pillow on my left side.  Just take another pain pill and get through the pain.  Took a nice two hour nap with the dogs this afternoon.  I could sleep all day I am so tired from the pain pills, but have no choice but to take them for this pounding head pain.  Making some salads and a pizza for supper tonight.  Will most likely spend the night watching a little from the DVR and then America's Got Talent in bed.  Kali is getting better with her skin condition now that she has been on her pills for 3 days now.  So, scooter is fixed, dogs are healing or doing good, and my Shingles is about the same ....  painful, but not worse.  At times it feels like someone is stabbing my eye with an ice pick or something.  Closing my eye doesn't make the pain stop.  Time for another pain pill.  Good news,  it has now been three weeks without a cigarette.  I am very proud of that.  My eye is throbbing so bad I just want to tear it out of my head.

June 24, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching the movie What To Expect When You're Expecting.  It was a good movie and glad we watched it.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

Saturday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  After I threw up I started taking my Shingles and pain pills.  Tony went and got breakfast at McDonalds.  Spent most of the morning on the couch trying to control the head pain.  Decided to try to go to a block party Saturday afternoon.  Took my scooter and soon had to wear two pairs of sun glasses just to keep the sun light out of my eyes and keep them from watering.  Became to hard to be out in the sun and after about an hour we went home.  Took another round of pain pills and took a nice nap with Tony and the dogs.  After we fed the dogs supper we decided at sunset to go back to the festival.  Two blocks down the street with my scooter and it decides to stop working.  Pushed it back to the car and told Tony we can walk one time around the festival and then go home.  Walked around a little bit and then went home since my head and eyes were killing me.  Any light in my eye hurts.  Spent the night watching the movie The Expendables 2.  Went to bed around 10 PM after another round of pain pills.

Sunday we were up by 7 AM.  I made breakfast and we spent most of the day just laying around the house watching TV or movies.  Watched the movies Paperboy and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  Paperboy was ok,  BHC was bad and we turned it off half way through.  Went to bed around 10 PM Sunday night.

Today I was up at 7 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony off to work.  Spent the morning doing things around the house.  Tony came home to drive me to my doctor for my 1 PM appointment.  It was my HIV doctor and got my new blood test results.  Not good, but considering I got the blood test the day of the Shingles emergency visit, the results are expected.  My CD4 count dropped  from 546 to 333.  Dropped off my scooter battery at Batteries Plus because it stopped working Sunday and won't take a charge.  They just called to say I can come get it.  Of course now I have to drive back to the south side of town to get it.   Have to get out before rush hour traffic.   My face has cleared up pretty good.  The pain in my head is the same..............bad and horrible. 

Just got back from Batteries Plus and they charged my $100 for a new battery.  Of course it doesn't work in the scooter and is being charged right now.  Was told there should be a small charge in the battery so I am afraid it might be a bigger problem than just the battery.  If it is not one thing it's another.  Getting pretty tired of life's challenges.  My head is killing me.  Time for the couch and a pain pill.

June 21, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching this week's two episodes of One Life To Live on Hulu.com.  Then watched the movie Mama.  It was a horror movie and was actually pretty good.  Kept Tony awake all night watching which means it must have been entertaining enough or he would have been sleeping on the couch soon after it started.  Went to bed around 10 PM after the movie.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and took my first round of pain pills and such for the day.  I took one of my new pain pills last night and I honestly think they are too strong.  Would rather take the 5.0 than the 10 in the oxycodone.  I can't think because they are too strong.  So I will cut them in half and will call for a less strong pain pill next week.  Saw that a big storm was coming so I showered and then went to Walgreen's to return a foot insert I bought the day prior, then go to the bank to order more checks, then went to Piggly Wiggly grocery store for some fruit and stuff for the weekend.  Got it all done before the pouring rain came.  Killed an hour around the house doing things and then went to have lunch with the guys.  Had a great lunch and brought my pictures of my face and what it looked like last week to now.  My face looks even better today and the scabs keep getting smaller.  By Monday my face might even be back to normal.  No one would believe me without the pictures of what I looked like just a week prior.  Of course now the pain just needs to end because the migraine pain is not going away.  Came home from lunch and decided too take a nap with the dogs listening to the rain fall.  My eyes, especially my left eye, is very sensitive today to light.  Having a hard time keeping it open and it is a cloudy day and raining.  The pain is mostly coming from behind the eye today and has me a bit worried.  Actually typing this now with just my right eye open.  Not much going on this weekend so we will stay close to home.  It is suppose to be very hot and humid and I even turned on the air conditioning today.  Will most likely be on through the weekend and the beginning of next week.  In the 80s and then 90s next week.  Hot and humid.  I don't do hot and humid.  Going to close this post and go rest my eye with an ice pack.  Thanks for all your support this week.  It has been a rough couple weeks and I have you all to thank for getting me through it.

June 20, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching some TV from the DVR.  Went to bed around 9 PM to watch an hour of TV and then lights out.   Got up once during the night to pee, but didn't take a pain pill. 

This morning I was up at 6:30 AM.  Did the usual routine and got Tony off to work.  Took my morning meds including the pain pill which by now was needed.  Damn the head just throbs if I wait to long in between pills.  Went to Walgreen's to deliver my prescriptions and wait for them to be filled.  For some reason my doctor had not called in the meds.  Thankfully I had the copies of the prescriptions on me and the pharmacist was able to fill them with the hard copies.  Got another 10 days of Valacyclovir 1GM tablets for the Shingles, a prescription of Acylclovir 5% ointment for the sores and painful spots on my head.  And another 90 Oxycodone 10s for the pain, to get me through the next few weeks.  So I am well medicated and I sure can feel it.  Having problems remembering anything and days just fly by.  As much as it is fun to be 'high' all the time, I don't want my life going by like this and no memory of each day.  So the pain better go away soon.  I feel like I am walking around like a zombie at times.  On my way to Walgreen's this morning, sitting at the stop light, I watched a car go right through the light and hit another car head on.  As it was happening I was saying 'buddy, what the hell are you doing' and then smash.  It all happened right in front of me in slow motion.  After Walgreen's I came home and left about an hour later to go to my board meeting this ARCW.  Took another pain pill on my way out the door.  Went there also to pick up my monthly prescriptions of HIV meds and my monthly food from the pantry.  Of course my meds were not ready and I had to complain because this was not the first, or second time this has happened.  I talked to them a week earlier about what day I would pick up all five prescriptions.  So there was no excuse and I didn't need the stress.  Went to my meeting and by the time I got out of the meeting the head guy at the place had straightened it all out for me and they just filled my meds so I would not have to come back.  Got my food and came home.  Stopped off at Tony's shop to see if he wanted anything we wouldn't eat in the bags of food.  Since I have been home my head is just pounding.  After I post this I am going to the couch.  Here is a picture of what I looked like this morning.  As you can see the scabs are healing well and each day I look a little better.  Now the pain needs to stop.

June 19, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the movie Treasure Buddies.   It was a kids movie and I liked it.  Went to bed around 9 PM and did the lovin thing.  Haven't in weeks.  I could have gone longer without it but poor Tony needed a release.  Was honestly happy when it was over since my head was pounding.  Took a pain pill and turned off the TV.  Slept all night without having to get up and take a pain pill during the night.  Did get up once to pee, but didn't take a pill.  Trying to ween myself off them slowly.  Only taking 5 a day right now which is not a problem.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Could have stayed in bed and just slept the day away.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot (opening a fresh Insulin), and got Tony off to work.  Took a round of pills and read a little of the morning newspaper.  Went to my eye doctor appointment at 10 AM and picked up some soup on the way home for lunch.  Eye doctor says my eye is looking good and suggested I make sure I fill another round of the Shingles anti viral drug for another week or ten days.  I only have three days left of the 10 day prescription.  Will deal with that at 5 PM when I see my regular doctor.  Ate the soup and took a nice two hour nap with the dogs.  I could just sleep all day.  Still waking up with sweating and dripping wet sheets and pillow case.  Will address this with the doctor tonight also.  I think I have a sinus infection along with the Shingles to be honest.  The sweating means there is something in my body trying to fight it's way out.  Soon I will feed the dogs early and go to the 5 PM doctor appointment.  Will pick up two subs on the way home for supper.  Will most likely be at the doctor for hours like every appointment with her in the past.  She is never on time and another reason I take one of the last appointments for the day.  I am usually left in the office with the cleaning crew.  Will then just spend the night watching TV from the DVR.  Was in the 70s and sunny in Milwaukee today.  Perfect weather if you wanted to be outside.  Because the eye doctor dilated my eyes today it has been hell on the eyes with the sun.  They still are sensitive to the light.

June 18, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the movie The Pact.  It was a thriller movie and dragged for over and hour and a half.  Would have been mad if I had spent movie theater prices to see the movie.  Was entertaining enough as a free download.   Turned off the TV and took the dogs and Tony to bed around 9 PM.  Watched an hour of TV in bed and went to sleep around 10 PM.   Not easy to sleep when you head hurts to the touch on your left side and top of the head.  Have to sleep on my right side of my face on the pillow.  Of course we all know you can only sleep that way for so long and then you roll over, and the pain wakes you up.  Got up as usual at 3 AM for another pain pill.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Took the first round of Shingles pills and pain pills right away.  Almost threw them up but was able to keep them down.  Spent the morning doing things around the house or just laying on the couch holding my head in pain.  It feels like my brain has swelled and if I move to quickly or think to hard, it feels like my brain gets a burn or something.  Hard to explain, but oh so real.  Tony came home around 11 AM so we could take Vito to the vet for his scheduled appointment.  Of course the vet wanted to do unneeded blood work and we just left it as the office visit and nail trim.  He is doing great, doesn't need a blood test right now, much less it hurts my head right now to even think about it.  Made an appointment for Kali on Saturday as we walked out the door.  Kali's skin condition must be addressed again.  I gave her a bath today , but that only does so much for the leaking and scabs she gets.  Had some cherries for lunch and then took a nice two hour nap with the dogs.  I could sleep all day.  Not sure if it is the Shingles, pain pills or pot making me so tired.  Yah, I said pot.  Would have died without it these last few weeks.  I feel like I could just lay in bed all day.  Trust me, its not the pot.  I have smoked that for over 30 years daily.  Thankfully it now helps with this head pounding pain.  Making some sweet and sour chicken and rice tonight with a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching another movie I have downloaded.   Tomorrow I see my eye doctor in the morning and regular doctor at supper time.  Here is a picture of what I look like today.  Took it about an hour ago.  The swelling under the eye seems to be going down a little each day.  The scabs don't look worse?  That about all the good news I can think of.

June 17, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Saturday night we made hamburgers and beans for supper.  Spent the night watching the past weeks Falling Sky's episodes and then went to bed around 9 PM, head pounding.

Sunday morning we got up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper as my eye watered.  Not easy to read with your eye watering.  Made eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast since I didn't think it fair to leave the house to go out to eat and ruin everyone else breakfast by the look of my face.    Was happy after breakfast I finally pooped.  Had not pooped for 8 days, since the pain and pain pills started.  Even though I had not ate much in the past week, a person needs to go before the eighth day.  Was not as painful as I was thinking it was going to be and was just happy to have this problem crossed off my list of problems.  It was very nice outside, sunny and in the 70s.   Decided not to go to my parents house for Father's Day since the head hurts so much, the face looks so horrible, and people talking to me is like knives being tossed at my face, the pain is so bad.   Around 1 PM we decided to load up the scooter and check out a car show on the south side of town.  Was glad we brought the scooter since it turned out to be a bigger car show than I thought and walking around the whole thing would not have been an option.  Was happy to be on my scooter with my big floppy hat and huge sun glasses so no one could see me or recognize me if we ran into anyone we knew.  Stopped off at Sonic for some late lunch and then came home.  Was exhausted by the time we got home.  I am amazed at how draining physically this Shingles thing is also.  Spent Sunday night watching the movie OZ The Great And Powerfull and went to bed around 9 PM.  The movie was good enough.  I was happy we watched it.  Tony slept through most of it.  Took another round of pain pills and went to sleep around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and got Tony off to work.  Here is what my face looks like today.  The picture does not show the pulsing pain in my head.

The swelling under my eye has me worried.  I did make a doctor appointment for Wednesday with my regular doctor so she can check me out and see if I am healing as I should or something more needs to be done.  I counted today and I have taken 22 pain pills since Thursday.   Of course in the beginning they were every hour and now I can at least wait four hours until the next round of thunder in the brain and pounding begins.  Any loud noise or fast movement is horribly painful.  It is like my brain moves in my head and hurts, if that makes sense.   Took another pain pill at 11 AM and then at 11:30 AM I decided to take my scooter three blocks down the street to Pick N Save.  Today has been the first day since I bought the damn thing that I even considered going with it to the grocery store.   Made it to the grocery store and back with minimal problems.  I did forget my coin change in the change machine, which I remembered halve way home.  Looked at the receipt to see it would have been 54 cents.  Oh well, I can get over that.  Made the next customers day I am sure when they got their change from paying.  Feeling itchy and tired of the head pounding pain.  Bought some ribs for supper tonight already baked and just need heating.  Will make some salads and a side to go with the ribs.   Will most likely spend the night watching a movie, not going out anywhere and subjecting them to my ugly mug.  Felt sorry for the Pick N Save clerk having to look at my scabby face.  I do have to take Vito tomorrow for a vet appointment.  Depending on my head pain, I might have to have Tony help.  Even bending over just makes the head THROB.

June 15, 2013 Saturday Afternoon

I don't usually post on the weekend but thought I would since I am doing so little else.  Friday night I actually felt like I was feeling a bit better.  My eye started opening to the point where I could actually use it to watch TV.  Put some cold compresses on the eye for a while to take down the swelling.  Stayed up watching TV until around 9 PM, before we went to the bedroom to watch a final hour of 20 / 20 on TV before going to sleep.  Took my anti viral and pain pill before going to sleep and for the first time in a week sleep until 3 AM, getting up to go to the bathroom and take another pain pill because of the head pain. 

Slept in until 7 AM, waking up feeling I was on my way to recovery.  When I say this, it is only because I have gotten to the point where I can control the pain enough to wait four hour in between each pain pill rather than just an hour or two like in the beginning.  Spent all day today doing very little.  Tony went to the shop to cut the grass and go to the bank afterwards.  I took a nap.  Very tired and could just sleep.  Having to put ice under my left eye now to get rid of the swelling where before yesterday the swelling was always behind or above the eye.  So, I slept almost all night and feel like I am controlling the pain for once, rather than the pain controlling me.   Take a deep breath.  Here is what the Shingles virus looks like on my shoulder and face today.  I won't be able to leave the house for months, if ever looking like this.  Looks like I had a motorcycle accident and road rash.

June 14, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Went to my eye doctor appointment only to have to wait almost an hour to see him.  By the time he came in the room I told him we have to do this fast and get me out of here.  Checked my eyes with his machines and said there is no damage so far to the eye, which is good, since now we are on the antibiotic Valacyclovir.   Got home around 5:30 PM and sat in pain wondering what Tony was planning for supper.  Of course, nothing.  After a little arguing, he went to McDonald's.  If I have to tell him one more time to 'look at my face' when he things I am going to serve him or take care of HIM like it is any other day and I don't have Shingles.  Ate a half a burger and little by little drank the strawberry shake, taking it out of the freezer to eat a little all night.  I swear the cold shake was the best just letting the ice cream melt in my mouth.   Spent the night in bed watching old reruns of Everybody Loves Ramond.  Really more listening then watching since the eyes don't focus to good. Not easy to type this either, if you were wondering, with one eye open.  Actually only got up every two hours to take my Oxycodone / Acetaminophen 5-325MG, which is an improvement from every hour. 

Was out of bed by 6 AM and got the dogs fed.  Tony left for work around 7 AM.  I told him to have fun at work today since I am sorry to say home life sucks.  Spent all day doing very little.  I did manage to eat a half a bowl of soup this afternoon.   Weighed myself and was so surprised to see I have lost 10 lbs since last week.  I know this isn't good, but you all know loosing 10 lbs, is loosing 10 lbs, no matter how we do it.  Plus since I quite smoking almost 2 weeks ago I should have gained 10 lbs rather than lost them.  So ..... silver lining?   I now have scabs and pimples all over my body, here and there.  Mostly in the back of my head and neck now.  They itch like hell.  My eye is getting slightly better and I am trying to keep it open as much as possible with drops.   I was able to wait 4 hours in between pain pills all day today, so this is good also.  Most likely will do very little this weekend, poor Tony.  But he always does just want to lay around and do nothing, so here is his time.  Hell, he could do projects around the house but that would be like  ....  work?   Doesn't look like I will be out much this Summer anyway since the scabs and marks on my face will not make me want to go out in public.   Thanks for all your well wishes.  Honestly, they mean more than you would imagine.  Here is a picture of what my face looks like today.  Please do not pass this around the Internet.  LOL.  This is what it looks like to have Shingles in your head and eye.  Not sure you can see the pain?

                                                           Not very pretty, hey?

June 13, 2013 Thursday Morning

Shingles!

Around 2:30 AM last night I packed my bag and drove to Emergency.  My head was hurting so much and my left eye can hardly open.  Plus I am getting scabs and sores around my head, forehead, top of my scalp and my eye burns and waters if I open it.  Got to emergency and was put in a room pretty quick because of how horrible I looked.  Nurse checked me out and soon the doctor came in the room.  She walked up to me and put her hands on my cheeks and looked me in the eye and said, 'Oh, my dear, I am so sorry, you have shingles'.   Soon I was given a shot or morphine for the pain and another shot for ..... I am not sure.  Both in the butt.  Was also given 2 anti viral pills and 2 pain pills.   Called Tony at home and told him to come get me since the doctor didn't want me driving home even though I am only a mile away from the hospital.  I have to call an eye doctor because of all the swelling and the fact the shingles has gone into my left eye, burning like hell and I can not open it.  Waters if I do.  Tony soon showed up and about a half hour later I was released and told to go home and sleep.  I did drive home with Tony following me.  Typing this with my eye closed which is not easy.   So today I have to get my meds from Walgreen's and set and appointment with the eye doctor they gave me the number for on this side of town.  Would hate to loose my eye sight over this.   So, that is it,  I honestly am not happy to hear I have shingles but I must say I am happy I was diagnosed with something they knew so I can fix it.  So best to know even though it sucks what I got.  Going to the couch and will be doing very little today but getting meds and the eye doctor.  Wanted to let you guys all know what was going on.  I should have gone to emergency sooner.  Glad I finally just did.

June 12, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Ate a half a slice of pizza for supper and that was it.  Spent the night in bed watching America's Got Talent with an ice pack on my head.  Was up every hour on the hour all night long in pain.  Getting up to take another pill or switch out the ice pack.

This morning I was out of bed by 6 AM since I could not just lay there in pain anymore.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and Tony soon left for work.   Tony has been very good helping a bit more with feeding them and doing things around the house.  I appreciate it so much because listening to teh dogs bark as I get their food ready is painful to the head.  This morning I called my regular general practice doctor to be told she thinks I should go to emergency for the pain since she can not fit me in for over a week.  I just can not see going to emergency and spending the huge dollars to do that if this is just a sinus thing.  Since I still had not eaten anything by 9 AM this morning I decided to go get my 6 month blood test which I had planned on doing tomorrow morning anyway.  I figure if I go to emergency at any time I can always tell them I just had my round of blood tests and hopefully some results.  Plus who knows if I will be dead by tomorrow from the pain, so I better get the blood test today rather than tomorrow.  Not that the blood test will matter much if I am dead.  Stopped off at Pick N Save to buy some fruit and milk for Tony just in case I end up in the hospital.  Not good for me to be out when my mind isn't working because as I grabbed my bags out of the cart and headed to the car I could not find my car and house keys.  Back tracked through the store and finally went to customer service to first be told no keys were found and then as I was walking away she got a call and yelled for me that my keys were found.  Guess I set them down near the cherries.  Wow, I would never do that.  Really didn't need all this problems when my head hurts, pounding in pain.  Came home and spent the day mostly in bed with ice.  Called my HIV doctor this afternoon and he just called me back.  He agreed that if the pain is that bad I need to go to emergency.  So there it is.  Both my doctors telling me to go to emergency and spend a ton of money.  Not very happy right now.  So, the plan I told my HIV doctor is that if this pain is still here in the morning I will go to emergency first thing.  HIV doctor thinks it might be a migraine thing and maybe a scan would be needed.  Sounds like a lot of money out the pocket.  So that is the plan.  I will try to make it thought the night hoping for a break.  If by morning or sometime before that I can no longer take the pain, I will be in emergency.  Guess I have no choice at this point.  My left eye only opens half way because of the pain and for some reason I have two scabs forming, one on my forehead and one on my nose right between my eyes.  Might be a fever thing from all the sweating?  Making some salads and beef ribs for supper along with some potatoes.  I will not eat much or anything but I have not cooked all week and Tony needs at least one good meal.  I haven't eaten much in the past week.  I honestly should weigh myself.  I think that might be uplifting seeing how much weight I have lost not eating in the past week.  Thanks for all your comments.  I read every one and appreciate all and any advice.  I promise, by tomorrow at this time I will either be better or in emergency finding out what the hell is wrong with me.  What a waste of almost a week.  Damn, if I had a job, I'd be fired.

June 11, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Had Tony pick up Wendy's food for supper last night.  Ate about half the chili hoping it would open my sinus's before I just wasn't hungry any more.  Went to bed around 7 PM with ice packs on my forehead and moving them around my head to relieve the pain.  I get these sinus infections about once a year which is why I stay an antibiotic ahead in the medicine cabinet so I have them ready to take.  I also have all the pain meds and sinus meds a person could have without being arrested.  In the past if I went to the doctor half way through these sinus episodes I am usually told to continue the antibiotic and sooner or later it just breaks and I am better.  Honestly it has never lasted this long and I am half way through my antibiotic of Levoquin.  Took an 800 mg ibuprofen an hour ago which seems to be giving me some relief.  I can only take them for so long until they rot out my stomach and I start throwing up again.  At least I am not typing and holding my head at the same time right now.  Spent all day today just trying to survive the head pain.  I did get laundry again done today because I woke up dripping wet again this morning.  Vacuumed and did a little dusting before the throbbing in my head began again and soon I was on the bed with ice packs.    I do feel sorry for Tony and the dogs because I have had no love to share with any of them this past week the way I feel.   Making a frozen pizza and a salad for Tony tonight.  Will most likely spend the night on the couch or in bed watching America's Got Talent with ice packs on my head.   I pray this pain ends soon or I will have to call my regular doctor.  That's another thing with having HIV.  Which fricken doctor do you call for things like this?  Only good thing I can think of is the fact it has been one week today that I had my last cigarette.  Made it a week.