Knee Update

Still having knee problems. I hate it. I should go to the emergency room but I'm just lazy. Mike says I should call a cab, but I'd hate to pay for a short trip. I might be able to hop on the trolley, but I'm afraid I'll fall.

Tony's coming over and taking me on some errands. Got to go to the library, pick up my bus pass, and get some groceries. I'm also going to take him to lunch as a thank you. I know, I'm so nice.

Chiflaco out.

Bathroom Problems

This is week two that I've had bathroom problems. My tummy has been upset and I've been spending a lot of time on my throne.

I should go to the doctor's but I can't right now. At least my body is flushing itself out. I'm not complaining. I just have to be near the bathroom.

Chiflaco out.

Homebound

Something happened to my left knee Monday. I was sitting at the computer and when I got up, it didn't. I'm in a lot of pain and my knee is swollen.

Go to the doctor. I can barely make it out of bed let alone schlep out of the building and take the trolley to the clinic. I am taking the ibuprofen and it's not really working.

I have a lot to do. At least I have some groceries for the next few days or so. And I have to do labs tomorrow but I think I'll cancel. And then I have to go pick up my bus pass tomorrow. Don't know how I will make it. To top it off, I'm almost out of sangria! LOL.

More later...

PS. At least someone has food, water, and litter. Poor baby I can't even pet him. He knows I still love him.

Shoulder Update

I seem to have my shoulder pain under control. I did have an x-ray taken  and it looks like arthritis but I can't pursue this until next year when my insurance kicks in. My doctor is not available in HMO but is on PPO. So I just signed up for it and I should be able to find out more in January.

For now I am taking 800 mg ibuprofen twice a day. I take it at lunch and at bedtime and it is helping. What's helping also is working is the Ben-Gay. I rub some on in the evenings and it seems to be working. Not to mention Jean-Luc loves it. It drives him crazy like catnip.

Speaking of Jean-Luc, I've been thinking of giving him a sibling. I have been checking on Craigslist for another Siamese. But I will wait until I renew my lease to do that.

Chiflaco out.

Cold

For some strange reason I've been cold a lot recently. I blogged  about this before I think. Don't know why I'm cold. Don't know if it's age or AIDS.

I do have my a/c on. Otherwise I'd be sweating up a storm. I guess it's better that I shiver than sweat. I hope it's temporary. I much prefer the cool weather.

Guess I'll just have to fess up to it and deal with the situation. I'll just keep the a/c on and sit around with a jacket or a blankie.

Chiflaco out.

Sleeping Beauty

I've been sleeping a lot lately. I've been sleeping like ten hours a night and have a two hour nap sometimes. I owe it to the booze.

I'm still drinking a lot. No, I'm not an alcoholic, I just love my booze. I do hard liquor around lunchtime and have a great nap. And I drink wine at night to help me go to sleep.

I am concerned about this but what can I do? I'm drinking vodka strait as I write this. Really hits home and I'm almost ready for my daily nap.

Wish I could stop.

Chiflaco out.

Laughing Gas

I went to the dentist yesterday. Dr. Riley is quite the hottie. He's got gorgeous blue eyes and a smile from here to tomorrow.

I got my teeth x-rayed and cleaned. I have some loose teeth that will eventually have to be extracted. That means an upper partial. I'm just falling apart. I should just go to dentures and get it over with.

Everybody at New Heights Dental is great and I highly recommend them. Not only for Dr. Riley but for great teeth. I have to go in three months for another cleaning and see how my teeth are doing. I have to decide to yank them out or not. We shall see.

Chiflaco out.

THE Birthday Boy

Happy 56th Birthday to Chiflaco! Here I is at the Chinese Buffet the family goes to. Damn I look old!

Birthday Boy

Happy 46th Birthday to the hottie from Down Under, Hugh Jackman. Honey, I'd love to go down under with him!

Eating Out

I had lunch with Mike and Tony yesterday. Invitation came out of the blue. Of course I was happy to oblige. We went to Chinese Buffet and pigged out. It was great seeing them. Poor Tony got unceremoniously let go at work a few weeks ago. I hope he finds a job soon.

Tonight I went to the Spaghetti Warehouse with Doug. Centro had a dinner and I signed us up. I had the grilled chicken Caesar salad. I was the only one that had a salad. I've been craving one for some time now.

Nothing much going on. Just another day in paradise.

Chiflaco out.

Digital Photography

Don't think I told you. I'm taking a digital photography class at the Southwest Craft Center. I was in photoshop in high school so I know a lot of the ins and outs. Problem is how to translate that knowledge into digital.

I thought my first photos were good but then I saw what the others turned in and I felt mediocre. Next we're doing things with a tripod and I went in search of one today. I can't believe I didn't find one at Wal-Mart. Guess I'll try another one tomorrow.

Today wore me out. I went to get my x-ray taken and that was a good hour. Then I took the bus downtown to transfer to another one. That was another two hours. I'm exhausted.

I went by Bill Miller's for sustenance and I schlepped on home. I'm just taking it easy for the rest of the night. I'll try again tomorrow.

Chiflaco out.

Winter Coat

I'm in the market for a winter coat. All my coats don't fit anymore. I've lost so much weight they just hang on me.

So I went to Burlington's since they have such a big variety. And I found nothing. I even went to Ross and nothing. Guess I'll have to try Macy's or something at the mall.

I didn't know losing weight would bring so many problems. Maybe I should gain all the weight back! JK

Chiflaco out.

Dr's Visit

Went to get my lab results yesterday. My t-cell count went down again and my viral load went from zero to 376. That's not good people. But then again, I did skip my meds for a few weeks.


Also got my flu shot so I'm protected this season. I also mentioned my right shoulder. He said I was bony! That's a first, me, bony?! I took it as a compliment. He said it might be arthritis or my shoulder could be dislocated. I have to go get it x-rayed.


Got to see my nutritionist. Yeah, I've gained weight, but then I've seen a lot of my co-horts and they've all gained weight. I really should start exercising but I'm just too lazy. I am eating less which she didn't like. I'm just not hungry.


Chiflaco out.

Marano

That's Spanish for pig. And I pigged out this week.

Sunday I went to lunch with Mike. We went to Jim's to check out the after-the-club crowd. We then went to go see This is Where I Leave You. The story of a dysfunctional family who gets together to sit shivah for the father. Funny!

Wednesday I went to Luby's with Doug. My clinic gives information dinners about AIDS topics. They talked about hepatitis C. Doug also brought me some cherry cobbler and apple crisp. They were delicious with coffee for breakfast.

Friday I went to a luncheon with Doug again. This was sponsored by the People's Caucus. They are a group of infected  and affected people with AIDS who set rules for social services for us. It was at a Tex-Mex restaurant I would not recommend but it was free food.

Today I did the family thing. Barbara and Jerry celebrated 21 years of marriage and Debra took us out to lunch. We went to the usual buffet where we pigged out. It's a Chinese buffet but I had American food. Go figure.

I'm exhausted! I normally have quiet weeks but this week was different. It's always great seeing my support system. I am truly blessed with my friends and family. Don't know what I'd do without them.

Chiflaco out.

Cold

Don't know if it's age or AIDS, but I've been cold for the past month or so. I love the cold and have been looking forward to fall and winter. I even learned how to knot my scarf in the fashionable way.

But I'm cold. I've actually been shivering. I wonder how I'm gonna react to the cold weather. Not that it gets cold here like in Michigan.

But for some reason I feel the cold more here then there. I owe it to the fact that it gets cold suddenly here. In Michigan it was cold for months and I didn't feel the cold that much. I was actually in short sleeves in winter. Here I'm in sweaters and long sleeves.

I know AIDS patients are delicate when it comes to temperatures. I hope that's not the case with me. I do so enjoy the cool weather. I'm kinda scared this time.

Chiflaco out.

Ben Gay Catnip!?!?!?

About three years ago, I woke up with a sharp pain in my right shoulder. It's been with me ever since. It actually dissipated for a bit but it just came back with a vengeance.

I got some Ben Gay and massage it into my shoulder as best I can. I really need somebody to work it in, hint, hint, anyone.

So I put it on and sit down. Jean-Luc went crazy with it. He climbed up on my chest and started nuzzling on my shoulder. He started purring and gyrating all over me. He usually does that when I give him catnip.

Guess there's catnip in Ben Gay. Who knew?

Chiflaco out.

Quiet Week

Nothing much going on. I did go to the clinic the other day for labs and to talk to my therapist. I did bring up the drinking problem. That was my main concern and took up the bulk of my visit.

I'm watching Ken Burns' The Roosevelts on PBS. A look into Teddy, Eleanor, and Franklin's lives. Very good. I'm mesmerized by the series. Brought a lot of insight into them. We never really studied Teddy but he was a Renaissance man. He was quite a character.

One thing interesting that came out is that both Teddy and FDR suffered from depression. Also, Eleanor was not that great a mother. I always thought she was because of her altruism. But that was not the case.

I feel old watching this series. Only older people would appreciate this. I don't think I would have watched anything like this thirty years ago. Makes me want to go back to school again.

Chiflaco out.

Matthew's Luncheon

Got together with the family this weekend. It was Matthew's 17th birthday. I still remember when Barbara told us she was pregnant. And I knew all along that it was gonna be a boy.

Tremors-They're B-A-A-A-C-K!!!

Ten years ago I had shingles and this led to my HIV+ status. I had them up and down my right arm. The bad part was that I was unable to eat with my right arm but I liked it because I lost weight.

I had a severe case of tremors. My right arm has just never recovered. My penmanship is horrendous and I can't hold a fork for the life of me.

I've had them for ten years and they have gotten better. But for some reason, they're back. I was at lunch with Doug the other day and he noticed me shaking. Doug is an older man I've talked about before. I call him my Silver Daddy.

So here I am shaking again. It could be the DTs since I've been drinking a lot lately. Don't know why, I just am. Mike asked if I'm depressed but I don't know. I just know that I'm drinking a lot. And not just my usual nightly glass of wine. I've been hitting the hard liquor. We're talking tequila and vodka. I just can't get enough.

I've gotten used to drinking in the late mornings and taking a nap afterwards. It's relaxing but it's still a problem. No I'm not alcoholic, I just love my booze. I'm in a daze most of the time because of it.

I wish I could stop but I can't. I won't. What's the use? Why stop drinking if it doesn't hurt me? It is hurting my pocket book, but I'm still able to function okay.

Fact is the tremors are back. They are annoying. I can't eat or write and keyboarding is a problem. I'm making due.

Chiflaco out.

Addiction

I officially have no life. I found Mark and Ethan in you tube and now I've found three other couples.

It's like watching a train wreck, I just can't get enough. RJ and Will are a couple in CA. Luke and Trent are from the UK and Australia. And Vinny and Luke are also from the UK although Vinny is American. Luke and Trent are married as are Vinny and Luke. RJ and will are engaged.

They're all cute couples. I must say I'm envious of their relationships. They are all in the honeymoon stage and they're all lovey dovey. Of course I think of all my relationships and how they all started off great. I pray these couples stay together.

RJ and Will have the longest relationship at four years. It's so nice to see these couples with the love and support of their families. I remember my parents were supportive of all my exes.

Chiflaco out.