Toward the end of her nursing career, my mother had worked in several assisted living facilities, each one, from the way she described, a cross between a hospice and senior citizen condominium complex.  Each facility had slight differe… Read full post »

                Consistency is not an attribute I can honestly say that I have applied in maintaining this blog; the reasons for that have already been covered here on numerous occasions so I don’t believe it’s necessary to rehash a topic about… Read full post »

                Macaroni and cheese!

                Yum!

                Right?

   &nbs… Read full post »

                It was a toss-up as to whether I should or would write about World AIDS Day; I don’t want to write a ‘woe-as-me’ piece; I don’t want to lecture on how important is for those who are negative to take any and all steps… Read full post »

                As a master of procrastination, it is sometimes difficult for me truly to know when I am simply being lazy or if my lack of productivity is honestly due to the fact that I don’t feel well.  It’s usually not until I begin to… Read full post »

                Maitri Compassionate Care is unlike any other hospice of which I am aware; rather than insist that the residents/patients remain in their beds while they wait for their final breath, the caretakers here encoura/… Read full post »

            My first sponsor (the first sponsor from to whom I actually listened), Mitch, was an incredible man.  If you’ve been following this blog from the beginning, you probably remember me mentioning him in prior postings.

    &n… Read full post »

            One of the many goals I have set for myself regarding this blog has been: on the occasions I do relate anecdotes from the times in my life when I was actively getting drunk and/or high, I strive to do so without glorifying my addiction and… Read full post »

I grew up in an era when kids still played in mud, waded through algae covered creeks, climbed trees and explored mysterious tunnels (okay, I later found out when I became an adult that what I thought was a tunnel was actually the town’s sewer system! – I’ll tell that story… Read full post »

            Start.  Stop.  Start. Stop.  Start. Stop.

            Patterns – they seem to play a big role in my life; not always in the most beneficial ways.

     … Read full post »

              Living with HIV/AIDS has provided many valuable lessons in my life.

              You might be thinking that I am referring to the life I’ve had since that day in April 1997 w… Read full post »

              Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “If you would be a reader, read; if a writer, write.”

              I suppose I could simply publish that quote if I wanted to express… Read full post »

Alcoholic or not, drug addict or not, a resentment, especially a long-term resentment, serves no productive purpose.  The only task this bitter bastard child of hatred and fear ever accomplishes is to blacken hearts and erode souls.

I’ve been told time and again by those who have walked t… Read full post »

              During one of my visits home when I lived in San Francisco in the 1990s, it was decided by my mother, my uncle and me that I should be the one to tell her that we were going to take action to have her driver’s… Read full post »

              I’m not quite sure when in my life that it happened, but I remember when the public was urged to start using the phrase “differently-abled” in lieu of “disabled” when referring to a person living with one or more phys… Read full post »

              During a chemically-induced psychosis, I was convinced people were trying to kill me.  I was convinced because throughout the three-day respite from reality, my mind convinced me the weapon-wielding wannabe-wrongdoers were not hallucinations.… Read full post »

  According to a (very attractive) volunteer at the Castro Country Club, I, my friends am a “hottie!”

              My thought to that declaration is, “Duh!&… Read full post »

              Several months back, my doctor and my friends suggested that I take a break from theater production – at least the physically taxing elements such as producing, directing, marketing and especially the combination of those three.  I agre… Read full post »

              Insanity to the insane is sanity.

              When I was active in my addiction, particularly when using crystal-meth, my life was pure insanity.  Of course, I can say that n… Read full post »

              Should a man who has led an otherwise exemplary life of service to others and who has been an inspiration to tens of thousands of people have his legacy condemned for one serious error in judgment?

        … Read full post »

              Until today, the only person who has known the full details of the incident I am about to relate has been my sponsor.

              The reason for my not sharing this before now is… Read full post »

              The Los Angeles City Council yesterday passed legislation by a vote of 9-1 to require the mandatory usage of condoms in porn films.  The law for which the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation had been leading the lobbying efforts for… Read full post »

              I recently attended a 12-step meeting during which the main speaker gave partial attribution to the culture of his ethnicity for his initial attraction to the physical and social effects of alcohol.  That one throw-away statement triggered a… Read full post »