Two blogs in two days!!! This is unheard of! I just wanted to invite all of you out there to join a really cool HIV/AIDS group on facebook. The link can be found at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/128107/57580606?m=7638c73a While you are there look me up using my name! James McLarty-Lopes. See you soon.
James
05 April 2009
04 April 2009
A New Era
Hello out there in the blogosphere. It's been quite a while since my last posting. I hope that all of you who have followed me through the years have not given up on me. Life gets hectic at times and as such I either forget to blog or...well errr there really is no or, I just forget. There have been a lot of things going on so we can catch up.
I want to start this blog posting off by saying goodbye to a friend of mine...Justin Bush, 24, of Atlanta, GA who passed away at 6:30 last night. He was a mess but will be missed by all who really knew the person he was.
I really can't recall if I have stated this is a previous post or not so I will here. If I have please forgive me. I officially am married now thanks to the great state of California!!! Chad and I were married into wedded bliss (or unbliss HA HA HA) on September 2, 2009 in San Fransisco (I KNOW I KNOW...CLICHE). But I digress. Unhappy with the job market and general attitude of most Southern people we decided to relocate to (I would like to say an ever warmer climate but no) Chicago, IL. We packed up the Budget truck on October 31, 2008 and moved to Chitown. Chad found at least temporary employment and we're happy here, despite the fact that this was their coldest winter in 26 years.
I was able to stop taking the painful fuzeon shots (for HIV) and went back on an earlier regimine. It didn't work for too long but anything was better than those damn shots. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I was over the shots. I do have a doctor here in Chicago that I go to see again this Monday for my new cocktail of medications. Joyous occassion.
Followers of my blog since the beginning, or even if you're a new comer and read the old posts WELCOME!, know how much I despised President Bush. As the entire World knows there is a new comer on the political scene. President Barack Obama. Chad and I were able to go to Grant Park, in Chicago, on election night, where he was giving his victory speech. WOW. There wasn't a dry eye in the park. Everybody was hugging everybody. It didn't seem to matter if you were rich or poor, gay or straigh, housed or homeless. There was so much love going around. Thankfully not like the free love of the 60's and 70's that required penicillin after you experienced it. HA HA HA LOL...I made a funny. I look forward to seeing what this Dark Horse Candidate can really do once he gets his feet wet.
Chad and I last night were discussing Justin's passing. While very sad it was only a matter of time. He rarely EVER went to the doctor and certainly did not take proper care of himself. Please don't e-mail me saying that I am cruel because you interpret above statment as he had it coming. That's not at all what I am saying. As much as I have bitched and complained about meds, side effects and the drug company conspiracy in this blog I am very much aware that it is my desire to live coupled with the medications that I have lived as long as I have. I have been tired many times. I have been weak many times. However, through the times in the valley I have always said "I want to live." In comparison, Justin too said he wanted to live, the difference being, he waited far too late to make that decision. He was only 24 and ravaged with HIV and AIDS defining illnesses. Who knows why Justin never really sought treatment? Perhaps the stigma of having HIV stopped him. Perhaps he just didn't want to have to acknowledge the fact he had it. The only person who could have answered that is gone. Speculation will neither ease the pain nor bring him back. Now it's about remembering his smile and moving on with the lesson of I want to live.
Until next time...take care of yourself and each other :)
I want to start this blog posting off by saying goodbye to a friend of mine...Justin Bush, 24, of Atlanta, GA who passed away at 6:30 last night. He was a mess but will be missed by all who really knew the person he was.
I really can't recall if I have stated this is a previous post or not so I will here. If I have please forgive me. I officially am married now thanks to the great state of California!!! Chad and I were married into wedded bliss (or unbliss HA HA HA) on September 2, 2009 in San Fransisco (I KNOW I KNOW...CLICHE). But I digress. Unhappy with the job market and general attitude of most Southern people we decided to relocate to (I would like to say an ever warmer climate but no) Chicago, IL. We packed up the Budget truck on October 31, 2008 and moved to Chitown. Chad found at least temporary employment and we're happy here, despite the fact that this was their coldest winter in 26 years.
I was able to stop taking the painful fuzeon shots (for HIV) and went back on an earlier regimine. It didn't work for too long but anything was better than those damn shots. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I was over the shots. I do have a doctor here in Chicago that I go to see again this Monday for my new cocktail of medications. Joyous occassion.
Followers of my blog since the beginning, or even if you're a new comer and read the old posts WELCOME!, know how much I despised President Bush. As the entire World knows there is a new comer on the political scene. President Barack Obama. Chad and I were able to go to Grant Park, in Chicago, on election night, where he was giving his victory speech. WOW. There wasn't a dry eye in the park. Everybody was hugging everybody. It didn't seem to matter if you were rich or poor, gay or straigh, housed or homeless. There was so much love going around. Thankfully not like the free love of the 60's and 70's that required penicillin after you experienced it. HA HA HA LOL...I made a funny. I look forward to seeing what this Dark Horse Candidate can really do once he gets his feet wet.
Chad and I last night were discussing Justin's passing. While very sad it was only a matter of time. He rarely EVER went to the doctor and certainly did not take proper care of himself. Please don't e-mail me saying that I am cruel because you interpret above statment as he had it coming. That's not at all what I am saying. As much as I have bitched and complained about meds, side effects and the drug company conspiracy in this blog I am very much aware that it is my desire to live coupled with the medications that I have lived as long as I have. I have been tired many times. I have been weak many times. However, through the times in the valley I have always said "I want to live." In comparison, Justin too said he wanted to live, the difference being, he waited far too late to make that decision. He was only 24 and ravaged with HIV and AIDS defining illnesses. Who knows why Justin never really sought treatment? Perhaps the stigma of having HIV stopped him. Perhaps he just didn't want to have to acknowledge the fact he had it. The only person who could have answered that is gone. Speculation will neither ease the pain nor bring him back. Now it's about remembering his smile and moving on with the lesson of I want to live.
Until next time...take care of yourself and each other :)
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