Saturday, September 30, 2017

Dwight and Roy

Roy and Dwight.
Saturday morning was super special. Dwight brought me my new dining room table and then we went for breakfast. Beside us sat the cutest 16-month old imaginable — all personality. I melted. His name is Henry.
Dwight and I fell into comfortable conversation with Henry’s guardians, a stunningly beautiful woman, her husband and the mother’s mother who was with them to nanny during their visit to Vancouver. The couple lives in New York; Mom lives in San Francisco.
Not long into our conversation, Dwight realized that Henry’s father was a regular on Trevor Noah’s TV show that used to be John Stewart’s show and I cannot remember the name. The Today Show? Henry's Daddy is Roy Wood Jr. and he's the nicest man to spend time with. We all had so much fun together.

Wanna Feel Really Good?


This video was made by the young girl you see in the photo. She's the daughter of the driver, Kris Jones who loves to sing while he drives. I adore the clip because his voice is spectacular; it's impossible to resist his heartfelt version of George Jones' song, Tennessee Whiskey. But it's the incredible pride and love in the face of his daughter that is arresting to me. I can't keep my eyes off her while her dad sings. Watching this takes all your pains and worries away.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Chaos

This was once a lovely tranquil sanctuary.

Mending

Thursday all I did was lie around. If I didn’t move, I didn’t cough. The boxes of stuff are piled so high I can’t watch TV so I just napped and napped and napped. 
And it’s too bloody hot for almost October. It was a two-bath day.
Also on Thursday, the CDC issued a bulletin. It’s headline: “CDC Acknowledges That Undetectable HIV-Positive People Have 'Effectively No Risk' of Transmission.” Still virtually every single ad on dating sites for gay men wants someone “disease free” which is code for no one who’s HIV+. Trump isn’t the problem; ignorance is the problem.
Friday broke a juicy asthma cough but otherwise I feel better. Still, I just chilled — and it was easy because it was cooler today. My freezer arrived and BIG surprise: I heard from Rob. I was stunned and delighted. We’re getting together later today.
I can hardly wait for two weeks from now when I’m settled and everything has its new place. I’m so frazzled right now. I’ve packed my PTSD letter somewhere that allows me to stay in my car and there’ve been other things like that. I don’t care. I’ll cope and get through all this, but boy ….





















Thursday, September 28, 2017

Sick! Pooey

First the good news: The packing is done and the water at my house on Gabriola is excellent. And … I’m getting a therapy dog.
Dr. Shoja wrote me a letter explaining my PTSD to a local breeder who will give me a puppy from an upcoming litter. I have to pay a nominal fee, but my diagnosis makes me eligible for these dogs bred for therapy. It’s a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. I won’t get him or her until next year though, which is best for Leon.
And … Costin, my adored friend, Fishboy, is taking my aquarium.
And my beds arrived, as did ¼ of the patio set. Tomorrow more things arrive but I’m not sure what. I hope all the other things I’ve ordered come next week. So everything is rolling out rather well. And the weather is sublime.
The bad news is I’m sick. I went to bed at 4:30 pm yesterday and slept until 8:45 this morning, forced by grotesque coughing fits (like only an asthmatic can get) and fever. This morning I’m feeling more human but I’ll rest all day.





















Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Earning Donuts





By 11:00 am yesterday morning I was pooped.
Shaw phoned, though, and that picked me up. I’ll have the Internet and cable TV as of October 10th. Although I’m rushing off to a new adventure I’m really excited about experiencing my favourite pastimes in the new space — hearing my favourite music, getting Netflix and Masterpiece Theatre and corresponding with friends on email.
The water report for the cabin is good; the system is working and in good shape. All I have to do is turn on a light filter when I get there.
I have the keys to my new home. I’m all clear to move in on the 7th.
By 12:30 I was really beat but I stuck to my mantra: Persevere. Leftover Indian food gave me a nice boost. The donut was better; I earned it.
By 1:30 I was walking non-talking zombie but I managed to carry on somehow until till 5:00. Then I had the best bath. Oh my God.  
And then I limped to a party. My friends Morris and Ken are in town and seeing them is essential. They are the best company but they moved to Toronto a decade ago. Sigh. So whenever they’re in town we party. I left early and fell into bed exhausted.
Today will be more of the same. This morning I started on my locker but now I’m going to Dr. S. By the end of the day I should be almost finished packing — and dead on my feet. But there’s no party tonight!