January 30, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

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

January 29, 2014 Wedesday Afternoon

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

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

January 27, 2014 Monday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 24, 2014 Friday Afternoon

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

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

January 22, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

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

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

January 21, 2014 TogetherPoz.com

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

Hello Dave:

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

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

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

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

Cordially,

Brian
TogetherPoz.com

January 21, 2014 Tuesday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 20, 2014 Monday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 17, 2014 Friday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 15, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 13, 2014 Monday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 10 2014 Friday Afternoon

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

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

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

January 8, 2014 Wednesday Afternoon

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

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

January 6, 2014 Monday Afternoon

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

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

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

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

January 3, 2014 Friday Afternoon

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

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

January 2, 2014 Thursday Afternoon

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

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

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

December 31, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching three more episodes of Homeland from this season.  We are half way through this years shows.  Went to bed around 9 PM and watched some TV in bed before going to sleep a little after 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 6:00 AM.  Tony climbed over to my side of the bed before he got up and that led to a round of lovin.  Got up.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went to Pick N Save this morning to buy some taco dip and nachos for tonight since we are staying in.  I have two big T Bone steaks I got from mom for Christmas that we will make for supper.  Will spend the night watching Anderson Cooper ring in the new year.  Made a batch of chocolate crack bark that my neighbor had made and gave me instruction on how to make them.  They actually turned out good and they are so addictive hence calling it 'crack' bark.  No plans tonight which is good since it is suppose to start snowing soon and we might get up to 6 inches over night.  Plus it is only 10 degrees outside right now and not going to get any warmer outside.  Perfectly happy to stay home and watch TV with Tony and the dogs.

I saw on Facebook an idea and started it.  I made a jar and wrote on it '2014 Happy Memories'.  As the year goes by I will drop little notes or pieces of paper into it containing happy moments or times that occur during the year.  Then next New Year's you go through them all and remember all the happy moments.   I think it is a great idea and made a jar for notes this morning. 

I still am thinking about the Showtime series Time Of Death.  I tell you that series sure got me thinking and under my skin.  Actually during episode 5 I had a panic attack thinking about death and how painful and scary it all is.  I had to look up at the ceiling and breath slowly.  I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest and I could not breath.  The show is that good and that honest about death.  I told Tony I want to move to Oregon.  At least they allow assisted suicide.  I think we are more humane to our animals than we are to our dying or old people.  I do recommend finding this show and have a box of tissues handy while you watch it.

Happy New Year.  See you in 2014.

December 30, 2013 Monday Afternoon

By Friday night I got word that our dinner plans for Saturday night were being canceled due to one of the friends being sick and with him starting chemo tomorrow it is best for him to stay indoors and away from people.  I was disappointed.   Spent Friday night watching TV off the DVR.  Went to bed a little after 10 PM.

Saturday morning we were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and watching TV.  A little before noon we went to Home Depot and bought a ceiling fan for the living room.  We have been without one for some time and with the cold outside and the cold in the house, we need one to circulate the air.  Took us a while to decide on one we both liked and bought it.  Was more than I wanted to spend but was happy to have it bought.  Stopped at Culver's on the way home for lunch.  Came home and decided to take a nap before tackling the ceiling fan.  Of course the nap turned into a round of lovin by the time we got up.  Spent the night installing the ceiling fan which went smoothly.  We then started watching the 6 episodes series from Showtime called Time Of Death.  I had downloaded the series because I read it was one of the top shows to watch in 2013.  Got half way through the series, first three episodes of six, before going to bed.  All the crying watching the show Time Of Death must have made us loving for each other because soon after getting into bed we were doing the lovin thing again.  That is twice in one day.  Went to sleep by 11 PM.

Sunday we were up again by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Spent a little time reading the newspaper and after we showered we went out for breakfast.  Stopped off at Walmart since it was still early in the day and bought a few items on the way home.  Bought the weeks worth of lottery tickets at the corner store and came home.  Spent the afternoon watching the final three episodes of Time Of Death.  I think we went through an entire box of tissue watching this series.  Very good, very honest look at death.  Each episode follows one person through their last days and the day they die.  Jeez, I am not looking forward to dying if I have to go like these people did.  Spent the rest of the day watching the first four episodes of 12 of this past season of Homeland.  I like to binge watch an entire show's season and waited until the complete season was over to start watching.  I am not liking this season of Homeland as much but then again I did read everything about it as it was playing last fall and pretty much even know the ending of this season.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  I had already planned on not leaving the house today or tomorrow due to the cold.  It was negative 5 degrees at 8 AM this morning.  It is 5 degrees right now at 3:15 PM in the afternoon.  Spent the day doing things around the house.  Spent the afternoon on the couch with the dogs listening to Alan Parson's Project from my college days.  Making an Oncore dinner and mac and cheese for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch a couple more episodes of Homeland before we had to bed.

December 27, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching a couple episodes of The Walking Dead that I had on the DVR.  Went to bed around 9 PM and watched a couple episodes of Web Soup before going to sleep.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Didn't sleep well last night due to the nap I took that afternoon.  I don't think I fell asleep until after 1 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left for work.  I spent the morning reading the newspapers and doing my usual Friday movie downloads.  Tony picked me up to go have lunch with the guys.  Had a great lunch as usual.  Stopped off at Walgreen's on the way home to go through the drive thru and pick up a prescription for each of us.  After Tony dropped me off at home I started my yearly back up off all my files on my new 1T hard drive I bought myself as a Christmas present.  This will be the hard drive I have Tony keep at the shop with all my files, pictures, music, videos, and movies so that if the house burned down I would not loose everything.  I had a 500 Gig hard drive but that just isn't big enough anymore to hold all the files I need to save.   Made some salads and will make Tony a TV dinner for supper tonight.  The salad will be enough for me since I had a big lunch.  Will most likely spend the night watching more TV off the DVR or maybe start watching the season of Homeland.   I also have a couple episodes of a show called Time Of Death that I heard was good that played on either HBO or Showtime.  Saturday night I am having supper with my college buddies.  Should be interesting since we have not seen each other for over 30 years.  I will let you know how it goes and hopefully even get a picture of all of us at the restaurant.  No other plans this weekend.  It is suppose to get above freezing tomorrow but then a cold front comes through and highs of 5 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.  Will spend those days indoors.

December 26, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Christmas is over.  I must say I had a very good Christmas.

Christmas Eve we went to Tony's family starting out at his mother's home.  After about an hour it started getting pretty crowded and she had no food or drink so we went over to a brothers house a few blocks away.  Spent a good couple hours playing the card game Cards Against Humanity.  I printed it out and cut the cards so we could play it.  You can download the game for free and print it out.  We all had so much fun and laughed and cried laughing so many times.  It is a very funny game to play with the right people.  Got home a little after 11 PM and opened the few presents I had bought for Tony and I.  Tony never really shops for Christmas and just has me buy what I want.  Have spent 24 years trying to get him Christmas shopping with no luck.  Watched a little TV and then went to bed which led to a round of lovin before going to sleep.

Christmas Day we were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Spent the morning reading the newspaper and watching the Christmas parade on TV.  Left the house around 11:30 AM with Bo to go to my parents house.  Had a good time talking with the family.  Got a nice increase in the amount the parents give us for cash each year for Christmas.  Left their house around 4 PM and got home a little after 5 PM since it was snowing and the roads were getting slick.  Spent last night watching Fast And Furious 6.  I am not a fan of these movies but with the recent death of the one actor I thought we should watch it.  Was not a good movie and would have rather watched a different one.  Went to bed around 9 PM and turned off the TV shortly there after because we both were falling asleep. 

Doesn't happen often, in fact this is only the third time in almost 5 years ............. Christmas Eve I forgot to take my pills.  Noticed the next day right before leaving for my parents house.  Won't die from one night of missed pills but it does make you think about the fact that they are keeping me alive. 

Was up today by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and soon Tony left for work.  Left the house by 10 AM to get a McDonald's breakfast sandwich and then go to the bank and deposit the Christmas check from mom and dad.  Stopped off at Pick N Save and did a little grocery shopping on the way home.  Spent the rest of the day with the dogs.  Took a nice nap this afternoon.  Making some left overs my mom gave us for supper tonight with a salad.  Will most likely spend tonight watching a movie.

December 24, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the movie On The Road.  It was a good enough movie but hard to follow.  Movie ended around 9 PM and we went to the bedroom for a round of lovin and then went to sleep after watching the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony did not get my car fixed yesterday and it is still at the shop.  He is not happy and said he already spend two hours trying to get the hood open with no luck.  Since I was without a car for the day I spend the day doing a couple loads of laundry and some cleaning.  Spent the afternoon on the couch wrapped in a blanket with the dogs listening to music.  It is very cold in Milwaukee.   VERY COLD.  I don't think it got above 10 degrees today.  I am so tired of this cold.  I have long john's on, insulated jeans and two shirts just to try to stay warm.  Our house is over 100 years old so there are cold spots everywhere.  Tonight we will go to Tony's mom's house for Christmas Eve.  We will then tomorrow afternoon go to my parents house for Christmas Day.  Not really looking forward to tonight and cramming everyone into Tony's mom's little cluttered house.  Will enjoy tomorrow afternoon with my family at their house. 

Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we went to a Christmas party at a gay bar downtown Milwaukee.  By the time we got there around 6:30 PM the spread of food was already put out so we ordered drinks and headed for some food.  Great spread of food.  The owners put on a great Christmas party every year.  Of course there was the Colt Christmas Santa and we got a picture with him.  When the bar posts the pictures I will post them on here.  Got home before 10 PM.  Watched a little TV before we went to bed to do the lovin thing and then go to sleep.

Saturday we were up before 7 AM.  Spent the morning watching TV and reading the newspapers.  For some reason I got a USA Today weekend edition which I usually get on Friday so there was a lot of newspaper to read.  By noon we left the house to make copies or I should say have a card game called Cards Against Humanity printed out at the local printer.  The game was on talk show and when you go the website you can download and print out the game for free.  Looks like a fun game to play at Christmas with Tony's family.  We then went next door to Five Guys and had over priced hamburgers.  Jeez, two burgers, one medium French fry and one medium soda was $20.  Could have gone to McDonald's for half the price.  Came home and took a nap with the dogs which of course led to another round of lovin.  Got up, cleaned up and fed the dogs.  We soon left for another bar Christmas party my ex was having at his and his partners bar a couple blocks away.  Went to the bar and ate some bar food and had a drink.  Left by 8 PM to go home and snuggle waiting for the snow storm to arrive.  Spent the rest of the night watching the movie Insidious Chapter 2.  What a stupid horror movie.  I do not recommend this movie.  Went to sleep a little before 11 PM.

Sunday we were up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs, gave Vito his shot and put on my boots to shovel a path for the dogs outside in the snow.  Snowed all Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Made a big breakfast and then headed outside to start shoveling the walkways and back alley.  Tony got in the plow truck and together we got the back alley cleaned up.  Tony then went to his shop to do some plowing as I shoveled the front walks.  Of course the tenant waited until we were done, brushed all 8 inches of snow off his car and then just moved it over.  I could have died.  I then had to get out the shovel and clean up his car snow mess.  What a fricken jerk.  Tony had to pick up a check in Racine which is normally about 45 minutes south of Milwaukee so I went along with him.  In a snow storm or right after it would take longer and did.  We left by 1 PM and got to the house by 2:30 PM.  Cars in the ditch on the expressway all the way down there.  I made Tony drive slow and in the middle lane.  I think when he started seeing all the cars in the ditch and a couple upside down in the medium he figured he better take it slow.  Got the check and drove home along the lake front instead of the expressway which was turning into a parking lot from accidents.  Stopped off at a little diner for a late lunch.  Great late lunch.  Jeez, I had the ribs special, Tony had the meat loaf special, with deserts and coffee it was less then $18.  I gave the waitress a nice tip.  Have spent a lot more and gotten a lot less or worse.  Sometimes it is worth stopping off at a little diner you have never been to before and take a chance.  Got home and spent Sunday night watching the movie The Last Stand.  Another bad movie and I would not recommend.  I actually still don't understand the ending as I type this post.   We then watched the movie A Place Beyond The Pines.  This movie was a little better but I honestly did not get the ending of this movie either.  Tony looked at me when the credits came up and said 'did I miss the ending'.   I said, 'what was the ending'.  Soon went to bed to watch some TV which turned into another round of lovin.  Wow, three times this weekend.  Sleeping by 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Went to Big Lots one last time to buy a few last Christmas items.  On the way home I stopped at Wendy's for chili and then Tony's shop to have him drive me home and then take my car back to the shop.  When I went to add windshield fluid today the hood would not open.  Tony could not get it open either.  The keys have stopped working also and I have to open and lock the doors manually with the keys.  So something is wrong and he will have to figure it out.  Since the car is saying 'add windshield fluid' he will have to fix it before tomorrow and the holiday.  Spent the afternoon listening to Madonna on the couch.  Making some salads and pizza for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch another movie before we go to sleep. 

I did get a nice email from my college buddy.  Was happy to hear from him.

One of the comments I received the other day asked:     ...is there a reason gay guys don't work?  is there not a job that they can do instead of living off of disability?  do you chose not to work> question.    Well, first off I know very few gay people that do not work.  Look around you.  Your wait staff.  Your hair dressers.  Your designers.  I could go on and on.  My partner works about 50 hours a week at his Auto Body shop that he has owned since he was 20 years old.  If you are really asking why 'people with HIV or AIDS' don't work the answer is because the disease and the meds we take for the disease gives us side effects that make us feel tired, throw up, dizzy and many more things.  The main reason I do not work is because with these side effects you never know from one day to the next how you will feel.  Yes, one day I might feel great and feel the top of my game only to wake up the next day, a cloudy day, and I can hardly get out of bed or I am on the toilet most of the morning with the runs or throwing up.  Actually more people I know with HIV work than do not work.  So hopefully that answers your question?   If it does not I would be happy to go into more details or direct you to the list of side effects the drugs we take carry.

December 20, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching an episode of American Horror Story and a couple Tosh.O shows before going to bed.  I love American Horror Story and am going to be so mad when it ends it's season soon.  Did the lovin thing, watched the local news and went to sleep by 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  It was sleeting when I got up and still is raining or sleeting a little right now as I type this post.  It has hovered at freezing or about 31 degrees all day.  Met the guys for lunch and had a great lunch.  Exchanged small gifts with the guys and got some small gifts from the guys.  Took a two hour nap with the dogs this afternoon.  Tonight we are going to a Christmas Party at a gay bar here in Milwaukee.   The bar always puts out a huge spread of food and there will be a Christmas Santa.  Will go for a couple drink and some food.  One of the lunch guys works at the bar so it will be nice to see him since he was not at lunch, resting for tonight's bar party. 

No plans this weekend. It is not suppose to be nice weather and there is talk of a snow storm, so I guess we will spend most of the weekend indoors watching TV with the dogs.  Will maybe get Tony out one time to do one last Christmas present run, but for all practical purposes we are done Christmas shopping. 

Have not heard from my college buddy and I am having second thoughts about telling him about my HIV.  I think it might have been too soon and scared him off.  Time will tell.

Haven't mentioned my outdoor animal friends recently.   I still put bread out back for the possum but have not seen him in a month or so.  The birds seem to enjoy the bread in the morning.  Hoping he is hibernating and not dead.  The rabbit still is living under the front end of the Cadillac in our front yard.  It comes out daily to eat the bird seed Tony puts out daily for the birds and loves the corn cobs I wire to the fence for him / her to eat.    Nice to sit here in the window and watch the rabbit eat the corn like a typewriter.  I have not seen the last of the two mourning doves in months.  The last time I saw the last living mourning dove it was trying to eat food under the bushes from the bird feeder and all the little birds were trying to get him to move or go away.  They finally chased it away.  So sad.  I fear the mourning doves are both dead.  I actually OK with that since mourning doves mate for life and they were together for almost 2 years, had 4 sets of babies in two summers and the one remaining bird only had to live 6 months alone without the other.   I don't think it is fair for the remaining bird, animal or human to have to live alone without their mate for long.

December 19, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Last night we spent the night watching a movie named Prisoners.  It was a very long movie but very good.  I think it clocked in at over 2 1/2 hours.  Very good movie and I recommend finding and renting to watch.  Went to sleep around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Did very little today.  It was cloudy all day and I just laid around listening to music or cruising the Internet.  Making some croutons right now in the oven.  I had a garlic loaf of bread and I thought I would try making them.  If nothing else they will be a nice snack.  Making Oncore beef patties, mashed potatoes and corn with a salad for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch another movie from the 100 or so I have on the DVR.

Read all your comments.  As much as I appreciate all the comments I do find the first one a little harsh and incorrect.  To say I have my 'own internalized homophobia/AIDS phobia' just because I am a little afraid at times to tell people I have HIV doesn't mean I am in need of a therapist.  I would rather protect myself from the hurt or rejection I might get revealing my status.  If anyone would need the therapist it would be the one not accepting me because I have HIV not me for protecting myself.  It is no different then not running down the street screaming 'I am gay, I am gay'.  In my city I might get beat up or killed.  I am not sure where you are from but please be a little less judgmental about someone needing therapy when they are really just trying to protect themselves.  I will agree with you on the fact that as of today I still have not had a bad reaction to telling anyone I was gay much less HIV.  Maybe it is all in the how and when?   Also, there might be reasons for NOT wanting to disclose you are HIV.  One example would be because one's brother would let everyone within shouting distance know and that is not what I would want.  Yes, I am living with HIV, but that does not mean I have to put it on my forehead and tell everyone.   I didn't want to go here, but it could be compared to Herpes.  If one had Herpes they would not want others knowing.  It would not be something you told someone unless you were going to sleep with them and if you did, I am pretty sure you might fear they will tell others.   Guess I just don't need the stress and it is never a good thing to have too much stress.   
I guess the fact that people will judge you on what disease you might or might not have is still around today.
Keep the comments coming so I don't feel like I am just talking to myself.
Croutons turned out great.

December 18, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Last night I got a friend request on Facebook from a wife of a friend I went to college with along with the guy I started talking to this past week.  He must have talked about me with this other friend and since his wife is on Facebook he reached out that way.  I friended her and then put a picture of Mark (her husband) on her Facebook page.  A short time later his son must have seen the picture and made a comment and soon we started talking.  I had to laugh so hard when I looked through his Facebook page and you can tell he is gay.  So, one of my other friends I went to college with has two sons and one is gay.  So I guess telling him I am gay will be no big deal when the time comes.  I am sure he probably knows or will figure it out quick when his wife shows him my Facebook page.  It made for an interesting night and I went to bed smiling.  Went to sleep after a round of lovin around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Got the morning routine done and left the house by 10 AM to go to one of the local malls to do some Christmas shopping.  I go to the mall one time, one week prior to Christmas each year.  This was the day.  Ended up buying a few items.  Unfortunately I bought more for me than I did for Tony, but that's OK I guess.  Got home this afternoon around 3 PM.  Just making some Hormel dinner and noodles with a salad tonight for supper. Will most likely spend the night watching TV off the DVR. 

As I was driving to the mall I was in deep thought about an issue.  I know the rules about disclosing your HIV status when your dating or meeting new people if your single.  My dilemma is when do you disclose if your meeting old friends from your past and you all are talking about how life has turned out.  This conversation always includes all the diseases like cancer or major surgeries they have had.  I most times have to remain silent even though I think I have a pretty big medical story about my life I could tell also.  Why is it I can not talk about my HIV as freely as someone can talk about the fact they are in cancer treatment or have a heart condition?  It simply is not fair.  I am not looking for sympathy but if your having a heart to heart sharing life changing information about each other to catch up with the years and what has been going on, how can I not talk about my HIV which is a major factor in my day to day life?  I sometimes find I am silent and that then resonates that I must be in perfect health and should have nothing to complain about.  No true and not fair. 
I also have a similar problem when we get together with friends or family that do not know my HIV or the fact I get monthly disability money.  So at times when we are talking someone will ask 'so what do you do for a living'.  I then have to say I don't work.  I can sometimes see the look in peoples faces like 'what does he contribute then financially since they know Tony works full time'.  It makes me look like a leaker who just sits home sponging off my husband.  If course if I bring up the fact that I do contribute to the finances of the family through my disability monthly check I then have to disclose my HIV.  
So I guess I have two questions.  When do you disclose your HIV to friends when your meeting them after years of not seeing each other and not knowing what their life is like now?
When do you tell someone you get disability so you don't seem like a leaker who makes no money and doesn't contribute to the household?   I have found myself lying saying I get disability for 'my back' and say it is for my degenerative back disease.  Why do I have to lie?

December 17, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching some TV off the DVR and topped off the night watching Hostages in bed.  Was not a good conclusion to the storyline considering it probably will not return due to low ratings.  Wrote my buddy another email to see if I get a response and I did later in the night.  Guess he was sending email to the shop email from the website I sent him.  So my fear this time of rejection was unfounded.  Shoveled one last time the two inches we got during the night of snow before going to bed.  Went to sleep around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Did not have a lot on my schedule for today so I decided to do what I planned on doing this Thursday.  Left the house by noon and stopped off at the grocery store for milk and salad.  Also bought some fresh potato bacon soup to take home for lunch.  Then went to ARCW to get my monthly meds for HIV and my three month prescriptions for the other meds.  Hopefully filling them in December and being a three month supply will get me through the donut hole come February for my part D insurance.  Sad we have to play these games but it is the difference of thousands of dollars if I did not have ADAP to cover the donut hole in the coverage.  Got my monthly food at the pantry which included a nice big ham for Christmas.  Spent the afternoon listening to my Ray Parker Jr collection of music.  Making some salads and TV dinners for supper tonight.  Not in the mood to cook.  Will most likely spend the night watching a movie or TV from the DVR.  Still have about 30 shows to watch and the complete season of Homeland that just finished and I have been downloading weekly. 

December 16, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night when Tony got home he just wanted to relax from the day's events.  Having three of your cars side swiped can be tiring.  We spent the night watching TV from the DVR.  Went to sleep around 9:30 PM.

Saturday is snowed most of the day.  I shoveled a couple times during the day.  Got Tony to go to Walmart to do some shopping and buy more Insulin and syringes for Vito in the afternoon.  By the time we got out the door we were both mad at each other and that made the shopping experience a drag / bummer.  I was mad at Tony because he left with the plow to get gas at 11:30 AM and didn't come home for over an hour and a half, out plowing.  Once again he left his cell phone home so I could not find out where the heck he was.  Simply put, you tell me your going to get GAS I assume you are going three blocks down the street, get gas, and coming home.  Silly me thinking your going to go plow for close to two hours leaving me at home wondering where the hell you are.  Bought what we needed at Walmart which included a cake for Tony's mom for her party Sunday morning.  Came home and made a pizza for supper from Walmart.  Was actually really good.  Thin crust and very tasty.  Spent the night watching the movies The Way Way Back and Elysium.  Way Way Back was very good and could relate to the kid and how hard it is growing up.  The movie Elysium was horrible.  I can not believe Jody Foster did this movie and would expect better from her.  Hated her accent the most to be honest.  Went to bed around 10 PM exhausted from shoveling three times during the day.  Only got about 5 inches but it took all day to get it.

Sunday we were up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  We were out the door by 9:45 AM to go to the breakfast birthday party for Tony's mom.  She was surprised and it was a good time.  Amazing how screwed up some of Tony's family is and how I can't stand them.  His brother for one.  Of course when the bill came the sister in law picked up the bill and Tony put in a $20 for the tip.  I really didn't think it was necessary since there were 30 of us, we bought the $30 cake, and gave her $80 in a card.  I don't even give my parents this much.  Loser brother never pulled out the wallet and it was him and his daughter.  I hate people who take take take and never pay or give anything back.  When I mentioned the $25 gift exchange the loser brothers daughter said 'I don't like them because I always go home with a gift worse than the one I buy for someone'.  How Christmas of her.  This coming from someone who has never paid for any dinner or time together.  Went to Fleet Farm to return a dog sweater that didn't fit a dog, that we bought a couple weeks ago.  Of course I thought it worth returning a $14 anything.  Tony thought it a waste of time.  Came home and spent the rest of the day and night watching TV in the nice warm house.  It is so damn cold this December.  Watched the movie called I Do.  It was a gay themed movie and we both enjoyed it.  Went to bed around 10 PM.

This morning I was up by 5 AM with stomach cramps and on the toilet.  Must have been the grilled cheese and soup we had for supper.  Had a frustrating day.  Went to Walgreen's this morning to turn in and pick up Tony's prescription for pain pills.  Was told Walgreen's did not have them in stock and would not have them for weeks or a month.  WTF?  Walgreen's doesn't have Percocet and wont for weeks?  I was told to go to CVS.  WTF?  I don't have a CVS prescription account and neither does Tony.  When the manager told me it was because of Obama I looked at him and said 'Fuck you, it would be worse if the other guy won'.  He didn't like my comment but knew I was pissed.  Wanted to talk to me off to the side and I said I was leaving and thought Walgreen's was fucked up if it doesn't have simple pain pills and cant even tell a client when they will have them and make them go to a different pharmacy to get them.  Was told Walgreens in all of Milwaukee is out of Percocet.  WTF?  Ended up going home empty handed.  Called Tony and soon got him home so I could ride with him and pick it up at St Mary's pharmacy.  I knew where to park for free and run in and get the prescription at the hospital so I rode with him.  Heck a hospital pharmacy has to have them right?  Believe it or not, the hospital pharmacy only had 40 left in stock and that was half the prescription.  Wow.  So they told Tony to come back tomorrow.  They said they would have more tomorrow.  Have you ever heard of this crap.  A shortage of Percocet?  Spent the rest of the afternoon having a nice long talk on the phone with mom.  We understand each other and had a nice hour long talk.  She thinks maybe I should look into volunteering after the first of the year somewhere so I feel like I have a purpose.  I agree and am going to see what I can find.  I need something.  I just feel frustrated, overwhelmed, mean, angry, and not a nice person.  I have to find out why.  Might be because being a house husband is a very un satisfying experience lately.   Making a Hormel dinner and mac and cheese for supper with the salad.  Will most likely watch TV off the DVR tonight before we go to bed.
Still no email from my college buddy.  Will email him tonight and see if I hear from him.

December 13, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Yesterday was another very cold day in Milwaukee.  It was 1 degree when I got up at 6:30 AM and only got to 12 degrees by the middle of the day.  I spent the day just laying around listening to music snuggled under blankets with the dogs.  Made spaghetti for supper and spent the night watching Greys Anatomy and a couple other shows off the DVR.  Went to bed around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent early morning reading the newspapers and doing my usual Friday movie downloads.  Went to Walgreen's around 10 AM to get a prescription and a couple other sale items.  Had an extra coupon for a one day 15% off so it was a good deal at Walgreen's today.  Came home and like I usually do I called Tony at 11:30 AM to remind him of lunch with the guys.  He took a deep breath and silence.  When I asked what was up he said I would not believe it.  Again, an uninsured unlicensed driver lost control of his car in front of Tony's shop this morning and side swiped one customer car and three of our cars before he finally came to a stop a block away, only because his front tire came off.  Son of a bitch would have just kept going.  Of course no insurance and this will all be on us again.  I am getting so tired of this.  I went to the shop and took a few pictures before I headed to lunch without him since he was busy talking with the police.  Here is a pic of the cars side swiped.

As you can see one of the cars is the yellow Mustang that Tony still hasn't gotten around to fixing the front end damage from a month or so ago when an uninsured lady pulled out in front of him.  I once again told Tony if he buys any more cars he might find himself single.  We don't need all the cars he owns and they just cost us money.  As you can see one is an old Cadillac he restored. 
Had a nice lunch with the guys and then went to Big Lots to get some small Christmas presents for the guys and such to pass out next week at lunch.  I always buy something small to pass everyone under $10. 
I am now waiting for the snow to start falling.  Suppose to start any time now and continue through all day Saturday.  Should end up with about 7 inches of lake effect snow when it is done tomorrow night.  Yuck.  Sunday we have a birthday breakfast with Tony's mom.  It is her 80th.  Everyone is surprising her when we take her to breakfast on Sunday.  She will be very surprised.  No other plans which is good since I have a feeling the weekend will be filled with a lot of snow shoveling.

I have not heard back from my college friend since we talked two days ago.  I am trying not to read to much into it and will give it a couple more days and write a short email and see if I get a response.  No big deal either way since I haven't seen him in 30 years.  Just the same, it does hurt if it is the AIDS thing that stopped the conversation dead in it's tracks.   Have no way to take it back.  Kind of wish I would have followed rule number one:   Be careful who you tell.

December 11, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the movie Grabbers.  It was a cheap horror film.  Sometimes, like this movie, it is best not to see the monster until later in the movie.  Sometimes seeing the monster ruins the movie because it is so cheap looking and silly.  This was one of those movies.  Spent the last hour or so in bed watching What Would You Do before turning off the TV after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left the house around 7:30 AM with instructions to spend as little time outside as possible.  It is down right horribly cold outside here in Milwaukee.  The temperature right now is 8 degrees at 3:30 PM.  Tonight we are suppose to go down to a wind chill of 25 below zero.  This is way too cold for December.  We get this in January.  What is January and February going to be like?  Showered and bundled up good so I could leave the house.  Got breakfast at McDonalds and then went to Pick N Save to do the weekly grocery shopping.  Bought way more than I wanted and couldn't believe it was over $100.  I figured since I don't want to leave the house I have to buy groceries and cook?  Spent the day listening to ELO and doing things around the house.  Making a couple TV dinners and salads for supper tonight.  I bought a bunch on sale so we will be having TV dinners for a while here and there.  
I don't mind having the tenants dog down by us and would rather it play down here then see it sitting outside waiting for someone to bring it in from outside in this cold.  I am not going to punish a dog for it's parents bad behavior. 
I got a friend request from a guy I went to college with.  I then said Hi and we have been communicating.  Feeling a little stressed because I broke one of my own rules - Be careful who you tell about your HIV.  He wrote me a long message about his life and the heart problems he is having and will need a new heart to survive once they cure the cancer just found.  When I typed out a long message reply I talked about my life and told about my HIV.  It is just amazing how someone doesn't really have to think twice about telling someone about heart, cancer or diabetes, but if your HIV you can't talk about it without wondering if you will ever talk to that person again.  Such a terrible stigma with HIV.  Oh well.  Since I haven't seen him in 30 years I probably won't in another 30 years.  With that said, it would be nice to reconnect as friends again.  Just sad how you have to think twice about telling your HIV status.  Should be interesting when and if I get a reply.  I did hang with him and a few others for my four years in college and he was a good friend through those years.  Sad how life takes people in different directions.  Since I was pretending to be straight in college, when I left college I just dropped ties with anyone from that time.  Life was so different back then.  It has come a long way. 
Will most likely spend the night watching another movie and try to stay warm.

December 10, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Last night we watched the movie called The Apparition.  It was a horror movie and was entertaining enough.  Spent the last hour in bed watching Hostages and then went to sleep around 10:20 PM, after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Another very cold day in Milwaukee today.  When I got up the temperature was 1 degree.  It did get to about 15 degrees today by this afternoon.  Still too cold to go outside unless you have to.  I had no reason to leave the house and didn't.  Did some cleaning and reading of magazines today.  Spent the afternoon listening to some 70s disco music.  Late this afternoon the tenants dog came down to play.  Here is a video of Stella and Dessa playing this afternoon.

Making some chicken cordon bleu for supper with rice and a salad.  Will most likely spend the night watching another movie.  I figure if we watch one a night we might get through the 100 or so I have on the computer that I have downloaded. 

December 9, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Spent Friday night watching a couple episodes of American Horror Story before going to sleep around 10 PM.

Saturday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Cold day in Milwaukee with a high of only 16 degrees.  We did go to State Fair Park for their annual Rummage O Rama of junk.  Ended up walking around for an hour and buying some stuff for the house.  Stopped off for a late lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants on our way home.  Spent Saturday night watching the movies The Big Wedding and All The Boys Love Mandy Lane.  Both were good movies and we stayed awake until about 11 PM watching them.  Went to bed and after a little lovin we went to sleep.

Sunday we were again up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Started snowing around 10 AM and snowed all day.  We ended up getting about 5 inches by the time it ended late Sunday night.  We spent the day watching TV.  Tony never left the house.  I did walk to the store and get lottery tickets around noon and then walked there again later because I had a taste for nachos and dip.  I also went out and shoveled the snow a couple times.  Spent Sunday night watching the movie Hangover Part 3.  It was good enough.  Watched The Mentalist in bed and went to sleep when it was over.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Spent the morning doing laundry.  All the bedding and dog blankets around the house.  Takes four loads of laundry to get it all done.  Got a lot of paperwork taken care of also, one being requesting a pay off statement for the house.  I plan on paying off the house by Christmas this year.  Spent the afternoon on the couch listening to music.  Will most likely watch a movie tonight.  Making a Hormel meat loaf and mashed potatoes with the salad for supper tonight.

December 6, 2013 Friday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the live performance on NBC of The Sound Of Music.  I enjoyed it and was glad we watched it.  Was a bit different from the movie version.  Went to sleep around 10:20 PM after the local news.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work by 7:30 AM.  Spent the morning reading the newspapers and playing with the dogs.  Since it was only in the teens today I had Tony pick me up on his way to lunch with the guys so I wouldn't have to start my car and go out in the cold.  It is 18 degrees outside right now.  Tomorrow is suppose to be the same so I am sure we will stay indoor and watch a lot of TV this weekend.  Tony is sometimes out in this cold writing estimates so he will not want to go back out in it unless it is for food and drinks.  Will make some TV dinners for supper tonight since we had a big lunch with the guys and we are not that hungry come supper time.  Will most likely spend tonight catching up on the DVR since we have a couple episodes of American Horror Story and Walking Dead to watch along with about 30 other shows.  If we run out of TV I have a lot of movies we could watch.  I am sure the only reason we will leave the house this weekend will be to get food if I decide not to cook.

December 5, 2013 Thursday Afternoon

Spent last night watching a movie named C.O.G.   Stood for Child Of God.  It was a good movie about a guy taking a break from life and learning how the other side lives.  Kept us both awake for the whole movie so it had to be good.  Went to bed around 9 PM and watched an hour of TV in bed before going to sleep around 10:30 PM.

This morning I was up by 6 AM.  The ribs from last night's supper were giving my stomach cramps and had to get out of bed and on the toilet.  I love Ribs but they don't seem to like me the next day.  Soon fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning cleaning, vacuuming and doing a couple loads of laundry.  This afternoon I settled in with a blanket and the dogs and watched a movie a download a couple years ago from 2011 named Funkytown.  It was a very good movie but it was about 25% in French.  I did figure out about 10% of what they were saying so I didn't miss much of the movie.  Took place in the late 70s during the Disco days and was about the lives of some people and how they all wove together.  I enjoyed the movie and glad I watched it.  It ended in the 80s with one of the guys going to the doctor for a cough and then showed a sore on his shoulder.  Of course we all know what this was....AIDS.   The movie ended there.  Loved the music in the movie and it sure brought back some fun memories of nights on the dance floor.  It is in the 20s today in Milwaukee and partly cloudy.  Cold enough to not go outside unless I have to.  No need to go out so I stayed in all day.  Did take out the garbage and picked up dog poop but that was the extent of being outside today.   Making left over spaghetti for supper tonight for Tony.  I will have a TV dinner and a salad.  Will most likely watch the play Sound Of Music tonight on NBC.  Seen the movie many many times and the play should be just as good.  Will DVR most the other shows on other channels as we watch SOM. 

December 4, 2013 Wednesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching the movie White House Down.  We both enjoyed the movie.  Any movie Tony doesn't fall asleep watching must be worth seeing.  LOL.   It was a good movie from start to finish.  Went to bed around 10 PM and went to sleep after a round of lovin.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  It was foggy and drizzled all day today in Milwaukee.  Damp wet miserable day and about 40 degrees.  I did go to the post office this morning to get the tenants check.  Why I had to make this extra step is really bothering me.  I saw the guy in the hallway last night and he asked if I got the check in the mail.  When I told him No but I got a 'sorry we missed you slip' and will have to now go to the post office to get the check, he said nothing.  Like OK you will have your check then.  I have not seen the girl upstairs since our argument on Monday.  I actually like it this way but wish the tension was gone.  Stopped at Burger King for a ham cheese croissant and then went to the bank to put the checks in the bank account.  Came home and spent the day doing things around the house while I listened to 70s disco music.  Making BBQ ribs, baked potato and a salad for supper tonight.  Will most likely watch another movie tonight after we watch last night Chelsea Lately that I record each night.  We both love this show and wish I would have found it years ago.  We laugh so hard sometime watching her. 

December 3, 2013 Tuesday Afternoon

Spent last night watching a few episodes of Long Island Medium and then finished the night watching the TV show Hostages in bed.  Went to sleep around 10:20 PM after the local news.  The guy tenant did call around 9 PM to 'see how I was doing'.  He called seeming all concerned about whether I was OK or not because 'I had such a bad morning'.  I said 'I am fine, thanks for asking, have a good night' and ended the call.  I really have not much to say to them and I would rather not even see or talk to them right now. 

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot before Tony walked out the door to go to work.  Reminded him to call me after his morning eye doctor appointment.  He has very bad vision and is hoping this new eye doctor can take care of the cadderac (spell check is not helping me on this word) in his eye.  Got a call from Tony a few hours into the morning very frustrated and almost in tears over the fact the eye doctor said they can't fix his eyes.  He reads the morning paper with glasses and a magnifying glass.  He damaged one eye in is 20s and really only has the one other eye with the cadderac.   He is not a happy guy.  It rained all day in Milwaukee.  I felt depressed and just wanted to sleep and went back to bed until about 11 AM.  I then got up and showered and went to the grocery store.  Had to get out of the house.  Of course while I was gone the tenants overnight delivered rent check arrived with a note on the mailbox 'sorry we missed you'.  I can go to the post office tomorrow and pick it up.  What a bunch of bullshit.  Now I have to go get the other half of my rent check I should have had on Sunday.  Spent the afternoon reading magazines and feeling down.  I am not sure if it is the rain or the tenants or a combination of the two.  Just feel down and depressed.  Making spaghetti and meatballs for supper tonight with salads.  Will spend the night watching a movie since there is not much on TV these days.  I will save what is on the DVR for another day to watch.  Would be happy to just crawl under the covers and go to bed right now to be honest.  Still raining and cold outside and I just can't seem to get warm.  Feeling chilled to the bone.  Not good since it was in the 40s today and the temperature is just dropping from this point forward.  Suppose to only be a high in the teens this weekend.  BRR.

December 2, 2013 Monday Afternoon

Friday night we spent the night watching the movies Petunia and The Conjuring.  Both were great movies.  Went to bed around 10 PM for a little lovin before we went to sleep.

Saturday we were up by 7 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Spent the morning watching home improvement shows on TV.  Around noon we went to Hamburger Mary's for a burger.  Had a great lunch and then went to Target to look around and maybe do some Christmas shopping.  Discovered rather quickly that this was not a good day to shop, the day after good Friday, because nothing was on sale.  I am not going to pay full price for anything this time of year.  Ended up leaving with only a handful of items and less than $30.   Came home and spent the night watching Curse of Chucky and Iron Man 3.  Both were entertaining enough but liked the movies we watched the prior night better.  Went to sleep around 10:30 PM.

Sunday we again were up by 7 AM to feed the dogs and give Vito his shot.  Read a little of the morning newspaper and then showered and headed out the door to pick up Tony's mom and go have breakfast.   After breakfast we dropped her off at her home and then went to Farm and Fleet to do more Christmas shopping.  Ended up spending almost $300 with most of the items being for Tony (3 pairs of work pants and a car battery charger).   The things I picked out were less than $100 and all will get wrapped for Christmas.  Came home and spent the night watching TV.  Sunday night we watched the movie Grown Ups 2.  What a waste of time watching this movie.  I can not believe some of these people even signed on to such a stupid movie.  Went to sleep after The Good Wife.

This morning I was up by 6:30 AM.  Fed the dogs and gave Vito his shot.  Tony left for work by 7:30 AM.  Ended up getting in a big argument with my tenants this morning. 
Long story short. 
Last night I called to find out where the rent check was.  Was told by the guy that they only had half the rent.  I told them that would not due and they would need to come up with the rest of the rent by Monday (today) and would expect the rent sometime that day.  Well I still had no check as of 10 AM today and it is now December 2nd.  A little after 10 AM she called to see if I would be around so she could give me the rent check.  I told her to leave it on the steps outside my door so I didn't have to deal with her.  A little while later I went to get the check and it was only for half the rent.  Now I had just told her man I would not accept half the rent last night on the phone.  It pissed me off in the memo line she wrote 'December 2013 rent'.  Well, this is only half the rent and if I cash this check it is like they paid the rent in full.  So I called her to get the same excuse that they didn't have the rest of the rent.  Not even saying when they would have the rest.  I started getting mad and maybe said some things I should have kept to myself.  Anyway, when she threw the 'we have 5 days after the first to pay' I lost it.  All I have done for them and she now plays the 'we have 5 days' card.  I told her the lease says the first.  We argued for a while and then she hung up on me.  I went upstairs and pounded on the door and she would not open it.  I then gave her some choice words add 'and you wonder why we can not be friends when you pull this crap on the 2nd of the month'.   If you remember she last week or so wanted to know why we couldn't be friends.  Well this is why.  Because it is a business agreement and not a friendship.  I felt taken advantage of after all I have done for them.  Hell I have spent more money upstairs on remodeling for them and will not collect anything profit for it until February as they pay rent.  I could have handled it better but .... I didn't.  So now I want nothing to do with them and just wish they would move.  The boyfriend called a while later, I gave him some choice words and hung up on him.  He called back a while later to tell me his mother would be sending a check overnight and we would have the rest of the money by the 4th. 
I simply do not like having someone tell me on the 2nd of the month that they don't have the money for the rent they should have technically paid yesterday.  If they were short they could have told me a few days ahead so I could plan and move money around for the house payment that comes out on the 4th of the month.  I still have to make my damn house payment. 
So I really handled the whole situation badly.  Lately any problem sets me off.  I can not handle any stress or anything that rocks the cart so to speak.  Not sure why but I have to get this in check. 
Went across the alley to talk with the neighbor and get her take on the situation.  She said I was fine with what I did and they will now know from this point forward to make sure I have the rent on the 1st.  Hell, I should not have to ask for the rent each month and have had to every month they have been here.  It makes me feel uncomfortable and I just shouldn't have to.  I know its the first, they should also, right?   Go ahead, tell me 'I told you so'.