March 2010 - My Journey with AIDS

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An Easter I wish I could do over

In my second year at college I hitchhiked from Niagara to Burlington, as I would do occasionally, just a few weeks before Easter. A cousin, her husband and their young family were happy to pamper me with good food and fun. On this particular weekend they...

Published Mon, Mar 29 2010 1:57 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: family, youth, autobiography, activism, sexual orientation, United Church of Canada, faith, church, homosexuality, coming out of the closet, evangelicals, social conservatives, Christianism
The infuriating sins of the ‘Fathers’

As I walked up to the subway this morning I passed a Tamil-Canadian family crossing the street from St. James Town to attend Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church – so a confession is in order. I have received Communion from Jesuits there which...

Published Sun, Mar 28 2010 3:42 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: youth, autobiography, child abuse, AIDS and HIV, sexual orientation, faith, church, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), homosexuality, sexual abuse, Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse
The American health-care debate from an HIV patient’s perspective

I do not understand all the ins and outs of the American health-care system, neither that which existed before today’s vote in the House of Representatives nor the one after. Here’s what I do know. Canada has a single-payer health system for...

Published Sun, Mar 21 2010 3:45 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: activism, AIDS and HIV, health-care, public health, politics - USA, Barack Obama
Cross-posted from “Shared writing”

I’ve tentatively started an online writers’ group, a blog for writing, but I don’t even have a name for it, not to mention other members (although the usual suspects know who you are.) Wanna write in my tree-house? Read More...

Published Sat, Mar 20 2010 7:27 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: writing
‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like’ having no score for The Sound of Music wedding march?

As I followed some suggestions, during a morning stroll through YouTube, after viewing an organist handle a Bach piece with flair I found another one with a story much like one I can share. Many years ago, I’ll bet it’s pushing forty years now, my mother...

Published Fri, Mar 19 2010 6:03 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: family, youth, autobiography, YouTube, church
Unearthing one of my early newspaper appearances

After the cathartic experience here this morning of again recalling Craig’s struggles, in the early days of his ministry, I was remembering some of what was going on in my life 700 km away from Craig. In the raucous days of an Ontario Human...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 1:02 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: family, youth, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, spirituality, politics, human rights, social justice, stigma, sexual orientation, United Church of Canada, faith, church, homosexuality, coming out of the closet, fundamentalism, evangelicals, Ontario Human Rights Code, Bill 7, queer, social conservatives
Alyson Huntly will receive this year’s Craig Chaplin Memorial Award

Google Alyson Huntly’s name, as I did even before I knew with absolute certainty that I’d be writing this, and you’ll see what an accomplished author, educator, Diaconal Minister, grandmother (and on and on) she is! Add Doctor, too...

Published Mon, Mar 15 2010 11:49 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: activism, AIDS and HIV, spirituality, social justice, sexual orientation, Chaplin Memorial Fund (United Theological College), Craig Chaplin, Montréal, United Church of Canada, faith, church, homosexuality, coming out of the closet, Alyson Huntly, Affirm United/S'affirmer ensemble, same-sex marriage, gay clergy
The roof over my head – a touchstone of my gratitude

A brief look at Kengi’s blog reminded me to take stock of how grateful I am to be living where I do, as I do, with rent geared-to-income. This spring marks the beginning of my nineteenth year in this apartment – I’ve had to do a couple rounds of...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 11:26 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: autobiography, AIDS and HIV, health-care, mental health, bipolar II
Embedding YouTube in blogs

I’ve just discovered that all previous YouTube videos embedded here from day one have been replaced by a checkered box in the corner denoting SOL. Does anyone with WordPress experience know if this can be changed without re-doing every post, in...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 9:35 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: YouTube, Uncategorized, WordPress, video embedding
Coronation Street – Barlows visit an alcoholics’ recovery meeting

When I used to deliver the long-defunct Montreal Star through the late afternoon streets in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield there was an elderly customer on East Park, who shall remain nameless lest her great-great-grandchildren read this, who would meet me...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 9:14 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: youth, autobiography, YouTube, Montréal
Writing about being written about

I was quick to post this link to Facebook yesterday from a website in Princeton which featured an interview-by-email with me on the subject of blogging. Shruti Kalra, the writer of the piece, first contacted me early in the year, wondering a few things...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 3:29 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: family, grief, writing, autobiography, personal journal, activism, AIDS and HIV, health-care, mental health, bipolar II, stigma, type-II diabetes, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), blog therapy
1000 words (probably less for a smaller picture)

One of the very first outward signs of HIV I bore was seborrheic dermatitis. It was more like a reaction to being told that I had HIV. This has not been a consistent problem with me – or else I ignore it equally as consistently – but it has become problematic...

Published Wed, Mar 03 2010 12:54 AM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: AIDS and HIV, health-care, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone valerate, seborrheic dermatitis, ketoconazole
On smoking, Mr. President, ‘Don’t Ask’ for a cigarette, ‘Don’t Tell’ a smoker that you want one

An Open Letter to American President Barack Obama Dear Mr. President: I know how difficult it is to quit smoking. I would suggest that the mere fact that you can count on one hand the number of cigarettes you have each day is a great starting point...

Published Mon, Mar 01 2010 4:54 PM by My journey with AIDS

Filed under: health-care, public health, Barack Obama, quit smoking, smoking cessation, President Obama smoking

March 2010 - My Journey with AIDS

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An Easter I wish I could do over

The infuriating sins of the ‘Fathers’

The American health-care debate from an HIV patient’s perspective

Cross-posted from “Shared writing”

‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like’ having no score for The Sound of Music wedding march?

Unearthing one of my early newspaper appearances

Alyson Huntly will receive this year’s Craig Chaplin Memorial Award

The roof over my head – a touchstone of my gratitude

Embedding YouTube in blogs

Coronation Street – Barlows visit an alcoholics’ recovery meeting

Writing about being written about

1000 words (probably less for a smaller picture)

On smoking, Mr. President, ‘Don’t Ask’ for a cigarette, ‘Don’t Tell’ a smoker that you want one