January 2011 - My Journey with AIDS

What to call this: P.C. f#@$s denial?

This story from Xtra! Vancouver infuriates me. AIDS groups remove ‘AIDS’ from their names. If “AIDS” still carries too much stigma, which it does, that is what to work on, not re-branding! I responded with this: It’s behaviour...

Published Mon, Jan 31 2011 7:37 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, stigma, public health

“The Shack”, allegory and empathy – but forgiveness?

“I brought a book I think you’ll find interesting,” my cousin said as we sat down for lunch recently, handing me a paperback copy of The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. I will not suggest motives she might have had in giving me this...

Published Tue, Jan 25 2011 2:08 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: grief, youth, writing, autobiography, childhood trauma, child abuse, spirituality, mental health, faith, church, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), sexual abuse, biography/autobiography, "The Shack", Wm. Paul Young

A grand old Montréal building enters a new, uncertain phase

When I read news from over the weekend that another former Montréal banking landmark is up for sale – there’s a wealth of information from this link – I found the photo (below) of “The Canadian Bank of Commerce” which I took...

Published Mon, Jan 24 2011 8:19 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: Québec, Montréal, architecture, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Expo '67, Imperial Bank of Canada, Canadian Bank of Commerce

We Talk About HIV/AIDS (h/t Amanda)

Michael Kimber Is Out – Torontoist

A really great read from Torontoist: Michael Kimber Is Out. Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 20 2011 10:41 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: mental illness, activism, mental health, stigma, biography/autobiography, Torontoist

Thank you Candy Crowley and “State of the Union”

“I think you might have bipolar disorder,” he (psychiatrist) said. “Oh, thank God,” I answered. Surprise registered on his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that reaction before.” “No, I am so relieved...

Published Mon, Jan 17 2011 1:22 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: autobiography, mental illness, AIDS and HIV, mental health, bipolar II, stigma, recovery, CNN, AIDS, Candy Crowley, Major depressive disorder, Bipolar II disorder, NBC

Engaging more in my mental health care

The mass shootings in Tucson, and the evolving picture of the mentally deranged man being held responsible, continue to both intrigue and inform me. I eagerly watched three of the Sunday morning news shows: NBC’s “Meet the Press”, ABC’s “This Week”...

Published Sun, Jan 16 2011 8:44 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, mental illness, bipolar, bipolar II, stigma, Tucson shootings

There’s enough insanity to go around – and then some

Even some of my best friends…can be described as having, at least, a nodding acquaintance with mental illness. While, as far as I know, a police check would not flag me as mentally ill, I probably owe that more to the fact that my only direct personal...

Published Sun, Jan 09 2011 9:21 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: mental illness, politics, bipolar II, stigma, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), Gabrielle Giffords, Tucson Arizona shootings, Sarah Palin, Feministe, Vaughan Bell, Jared Lee Loughner, brain trauma, Slate, Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, Howard Kurtz, Andrew Sullivan

There’s enough insanity to go around

Even some of my best friends…can be described as having, at least, a nodding acquaintance with mental illness. While, as far as I know, a police check would not flag me as mentally ill, I probably owe that more to the fact that my only direct personal...

Published Sun, Jan 09 2011 1:21 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: mental illness, politics, bipolar II, stigma, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), Gabrielle Giffords, Tucson Arizona shootings, Feministe, Vaughan Bell, Jared Lee Loughner, brain trauma, Slate, Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic

Sarah Palin incites stupidity, why not worse?

I have nothing but best wishes for the victims and families of today’s gun madness in Tucson. Speaking from family experience, the first brain surgery on Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was probably more about relieving the swelling than about making...

Published Sat, Jan 08 2011 6:39 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: media, activism, politics, Barack Obama, social conservatives, Gabrielle Giffords, Tucson Arizona shootings, Sarah Palin, 2012

Another hard tumble on ice – and still I enjoy winter!

Just twelve days after landing ass-down on my wallet in Perth, ice in Toronto claimed me on Friday – only I went down faster and even harder! I was at Riverdale Farm taking pictures of some of the birds and animals there and I went to check out...

Published Fri, Jan 07 2011 9:37 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: Toronto, internal fixation surgery, distal radius fracture of the right radius, Riverdale Farm, gluteus maximus

Requiem for an old, neglected Empress

The Yonge-Downtown BIA, which sees the value of heritage buldings, is framed wth sad irony as water is poured on the former Empress Hotel today. Oh, your Highness, The Empress Hotel, I didn’t know you, not even your successor The Edison....

Published Mon, Jan 03 2011 5:32 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, politics, Toronto, architecture, Empress Hotel

A piece o’ me on the Perth ice

Although there’s been a major melt since, just as my bruises have changed colour, I encountered some very thick and slippery ice in Perth over the holidays. During a post-Christmas walk a patch of ice between Codes Mill and Stewart Park got the...

Published Sun, Jan 02 2011 12:54 PM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: photography, Perth

PM Harper’s New Year’s Toast to Canadians

Stephen Harper has shaken a bottle of champagne sparkling cider, held it against the collective ass of Canadians, and let the cork fly into our nether regions with a monotone “Bonne année Canada, happy new year Canada.” At this time last year Canadians...

Published Sun, Jan 02 2011 10:00 AM by My journey with AIDS...and more!

Filed under: activism, AIDS and HIV, politics, Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, Conservatives, Stephen Harper, Peter Milliken, Tony Clement, Carolyn Bennett