Hello my fearless readers! I hope you are all in the very best of health and spirits – wherever you are on this big blue marble we call Earth.
The weather is turning here in southern Maine. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Autumn, or Fall as we call it here. Morning temperatures are pretty cool, down around 50F and it does warm up into the 70F range by mid day, but summer is now behind us as well as her very hot, humid weather. Personally, I love this time of year. I love the smells, like fresh cut hay, newly fertilized fields, pumpkin and apple pies being baked, and that crisp clean smell of the ocean as the tides roll in and out. Yes, this time of year just feels good. I like being able to wear my sweatshirts and flannel shirts, and dressing in layers is key as you want to shed some as the days warm up. I like that I don’t have to run the air conditioners in the house – and have actually removed them and stored them for the winter – yet, I also don’t have to run the furnace for heat either. Living with the ambient natural temperatures is perfect. Sleeping is great, the cooler weather makes it so for me anyway. And days are just comfortable.
I’ve been doing all the regular stuff. Working, keeping up with the house and taking care of the dogs. Everything is going pretty well. I get to talk to my girlfriend every day, and we are doing really well. Thank goodness for Skype! And messenger of course. what the hell did we do in days before cell phones and computers? Dating was very different back then for sure, you were relegated to dating only those you could meet in your local circles. I’m really glad that’s not still the way it is. I never would have met this awesome woman had it not been for social media – this blog specifically. And I’m really glad I met her and have gotten to know her. She’s planning to come here in late November. She’s got a lot of work between now and then, thus we are waiting. I’m really looking forward to us spending a week just hanging out together. It’s going to be great.
I decided not to bounce the friend of mine, who is staying here, out of the house just yet. After giving it some careful consideration I decided to make a rule that politics are not to be discussed and told him to please be considerate of the fact I don’t want to hear it. I felt bad cuz I know he doesn’t have much choice other than moving back to the motel. Thus my choice to give it another try. So far so good…although I am having some issues with his excessive alcohol consumption. I don’t think that he will be here very long, too many things tell me this. He’s planning to head to Florida the second week of December, and I think I can deal with him until then. We shall see. Regardless, he won’t be coming back to this house when he returns to the Maine coast, and returns to fishing, in the Spring. I’ve already decided that definitively.
I’ve been feeling really good. Met with my doctors, each of them, in the last week. Been having some issues with my c-spine, pain radiating down into my arms and hands. So I am on a non-narcotic pain reliever called Celebrex and I have a brace on my left wrist. We think I may also have carpal tunnel in that arm, thus the brace. Both have seemed to help, I am in far less pain now. Then I met with my HIV specialist yesterday. My current tests just came back from the lab and I’m doing great. T-cells up around 790 and my viral load is remaining undetectable. This makes me really happy. It means the cocktail of drugs that I am on is working and keeping my immune system healthy. I’m feeling excellent, although I still battle a little weight gain, but I’m not real worried about it right now. I know it’s a result of healthier living and being on the Suboxone…got to give a little to get a lot, so I’m just letting it ride. I’ll work on losing the weight along the way.
My dogs are doing great. Here’s a cute pic of them invading my spot in the bed…
Well, I’m off to Groups…my weekly check in is on Wednesdays. Things are going well with it and I’m continuing the program. Staying clean is pretty important to me right now.
I hope you all have a great night!
Peace! ~MB
MainelyButch: Private Label 
Ugh, I envy your weather, the weather has gone Bonkers for sure, Normally the USA is hotter than Canada this time of year, but I have been running my a/c, both of them none stop, my grass has been dead most of the summer due to lack of rain, we went 63 days without a drop of rain, it has rained twice since and it’s right back to killer hot.
it is good to hear that you are looking after yourself and staying healthy and clean… kudos to you for doing that 🙂
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