December 2010 - My Journey with AIDS

Peace

I didn’t like the shape and tone of a recent argument presented here, so I’ve removed it. I take my leave of this city, which I call home (if reluctantly sometimes), and go to a place of beauty which is home to a good bit of my heart. Merry...

Published Wed, Dec 22 2010 8:40 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, Perth, friendship, Christmas

Perth – It’s like Black Creek Pioneer Village but with cars

There is a move afoot in Perth (Lanark County), Ontario to designate the original town boundaries to encourage its continued preservation. I think it’s a great idea! Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 23 2010 6:31 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: photography, Perth, architecture

World AIDS Day 2010 – Collected Stories – 4 – The prequel to “My journey with AIDS…and more!” by Kenn Chaplin

These days I still only started to think about trying to get a meal in my stomach once an almost painful hunger came upon me, seemingly out of nowhere, on this occasion at about three in the afternoon. I had just been to Sunnybrook Hospital where I was...

Published Wed, Dec 01 2010 12:16 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: writing, autobiography, AIDS and HIV, holiday letter, World AIDS Day, Toronto, poetry

Memories revisited

Holiday stories are nothing if not repetitive. These memories crossed my mind again today so, after double-checking to see that I had covered mostly everything, I’m left only to re-post! From 13 December 2009, I give you Christmas church candles...

Published Sun, Dec 05 2010 7:03 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, youth, autobiography, spirituality, Québec, United Church of Canada, church

World AIDS Day 2010 – Stories – 3 – “Kim and Alex” by JPK

Each writer in this series has generously given me permission to post their work. The views and experiences shared are their own. Where applicable, links will also be provided at the end of the piece. The best thing that I can say about Kim at this point...

Published Wed, Dec 01 2010 12:13 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: youth, writing, AIDS and HIV, mental health, World AIDS Day, biography/autobiography

Sensory memories: coffee, cold and cardboard

What I like about writing, sometimes, is how little it takes (sometimes remember!) to get an idea. This evening a Norman Rockwell-like scene from early childhood came to mind. Because I stopped into a grocery store on my way home? Because it’s cold? Because...

Published Thu, Dec 02 2010 7:34 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, youth, writing, autobiography, A & P, Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company

Senator Don Meredith! Can “Dr.” Charles McVety be far behind?

One of the first business days after the House of Commons broke for the Christmas recess and Stephen Harper appoints Don Meredith to the PM’s new favourite play-pen, The Senate. Wait! This Don Meredith? Stephen Harper’s cynicism knows no bounds...

Published Mon, Dec 20 2010 9:36 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, spirituality, politics, social justice, YouTube, sexual orientation, Chaplin Memorial Fund (United Theological College), United Church of Canada, church, Toronto Centre, fundamentalism, social conservatives, Christianism, Israel-Palestine, homophobia

The re-activation of an AIDS activist

While no one could say that I had ever completely stopped my AIDS activism I have, I would suggest, limited myself in recent years to writing or speaking about it on a smaller scale. It was consistent, determined protests – some of which I was a...

Published Sun, Dec 12 2010 11:45 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto, AIDS ACTION NOW!, Bill C-393 Student Coalition, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network

Activists warmly received – okay, met with mild bemusement – during very cold “Die-in” for Bill C-393

It was such a cold walk down to Yonge-Dundas Square this morning I was glad to be able to walk the full block south from Gerrard to Gould Streets through the corridors of Jorgenson Hall at Ryerson University. I was dressed for the outdoors reminiscent...

Published Mon, Dec 13 2010 6:20 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: youth, autobiography, activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, social justice, Planet Earth has AIDS, Toronto

Thank you “LPN to RN Bridge”

I know I’ve been on worse lists! Top 50 Blogs About HIV and AIDS Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 03 2010 7:40 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: writing, autobiography, AIDS and HIV, mental health, blog therapy

“It Gets Better” tops 2010 list

Dan Savage and husband Terry Miller started something in 2010 that Mark Kelley and the CBC Connect crew put at the top of Connect 10: A Countdown of the most popular stories online in 2010. Responding to highly-publicized cases of bullying of gays...

Published Wed, Dec 29 2010 7:09 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Imagine

For Mark Dailey, a tweet

RIP Mark Dailey – 1st hrd read’g v/o of film intros o’nite whl I @ undiscl. TO loctns; incl’d in acct of my ’03 smash http://tiny.cc/a41ia Read More...

Published Mon, Dec 06 2010 4:26 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, autobiography, Toronto, Mark Dailey, Citytv

A & P’s Chapter 11 and my Chapter 1

A & P, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, is being ahem reorganized. The company’s Chapter 11 filing today is juxtaposed in my mind closer to Chapter 1 of my life. The biting cold wind of this mid-December day reminds me of the A &...

Published Mon, Dec 13 2010 12:49 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: family, youth, writing, autobiography

A simple gesture over the holidays that could make a world of difference

I know that I was not the only Canadian very proud a few years back when Parliament passed legislation designed to make it easier for generic pharmaceutical companies to ship life-saving AIDS medications, and others, to developing nations of the...

Published Fri, Dec 17 2010 10:49 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!