Saturday, December 29, 2007

I found this guy on youtube, BradinTampa. Liked the simplicity of his rendition. I cried once or twice when listening to it. I couldn't help remembering the night when I first learned of my HIV status, sitting on the couch with my sister holding me.


BTW -- Happy Holidays....

Friday, December 28, 2007

Hi --
As usual, when life becomes more predictable, I fall away, and have no reason to communicate.
OK -- Still undetectable after one year. Whee. The only sour note in this is that my t-cell count seems to be stuck at about 250, and worse yet, my CD4 percentage is about 9%. But, can I complain. Haven't been sick. The worse I can say is that at times I am tired. Can I blame it on AIDS, or just the usual Oregon winter? Just wanting to sleep.

Catching up.
Had an eventful summer. Tried a couple of climbs with the Mazama's (the climbing club in Oregon). I tried Mt. Hood in May on my own, got up to the Hogsback by about 7am. Beautiful day -- but it was the weekend, and so many people trying to make it up the pearly gates, that I decided as a solo climber not to compete with all the groups there. My legs were also giving out -- and on the way developed excruciating tendentious. At home that night -- could hardly walk. But, by the next day, feeling better, and several days later, recove
red, so decided to do it again, this time with the Mazamas.
It was a nice group, a collection of newbies and oldbies, and then people like myself -- but the weather was pretty hairy. Freezing rain, followed by sleet, then snow -- and by the time we got up above the Palmer Snowlifts at 7000 feet, the winds were kicking up pretty good, and visibility was down. Several people turned around, as the leader, Dan Shuster, decided to go on ahead. I fell behind the others, but finally made it up again to the Hogsback. It seems that this week I would have thought I was on a completely different mountain.
And as soon as I joined the rest of the group of 8 or so, the wind really kicked up, with gust of about 75mph. Our only choice was to hunker down to keep from being blown around, and to try to keep warm. People were shivering. I was ok, except for my hands, which were freezing -- better gloves next time. Dan felt that on the summit there could be 100mph gust, so an attempt was not a good idea. We found a break in the gust and headed down. Though it was an aborted attempt, and I wish I had was stronger, I enjoyed the comradery of the group.


I didn't make any climbs in June. Ended up this was a bust of a year for climbing. The weather was not cooperating, and many groups had to abort their efforts. I had wanted to head to Mt. Adams before leaving for Australia, but a busted head gasket on my truck prevented that, although Robby, Robin, and I did hike up to 10,000 feet on Rainier on July 4, Robby's 50th birthday.


After a busy month in Australia for the International AIDS Society conference, and then some traveling, as well as Scuba diving, made it back in mid- August, when I took my Dr., Diana, her husband, Mark, and Marti, the RN at the clinic up Mt. St. Helens. I enjoyed the climb (my 5th?) up to the rim. Each time it seems easier for me, but I could appreciate their struggle, for this was their first mountain. (Marti had climbed Mt. Hood as a teenager). I could hear them swearing on the way up, but by the time we were back down, they were hooked, and we've been talking about an Adams trip next summer.

I didn't take any pictures, but did do this video. Not too great, but it'll tell you something about the trip.



Finally, the week after the Mt. St. Helens Climb, went on a final climb for the summer -- my nemesis, North Sister. Again, this was a Mazama climb, with a extra full contingent of 12 people. I found out that Ken Bueller from last year was going, so felt his support in making another attempt after the previous summers fiasco on North Sister. But this summer was not meant to be. The leader, although very likable and competent, had never tried this particular route so late in the year, and we floundered on the rock and scree, and ended up decided by late morning that any feasible way up onto the saddle would be much too dangerous with such a large group. Although I had kept up well with the group, I was one of those voting to come back down, realizing that even a successful attempt would probably mean not getting back to our vehicles until midnight.
Next year? Maybe try to again. I'm mostly concerned about my knees. Been trying various training to try to strengthen the tendons, etc. I will continue climbing as long as they let me.



Listen to this article

Listen to this article

Sunday, April 01, 2007


Long time.
Funny, when you have hope, other things seems to be a priority.
Went to the Conference on Retroviruses in LA last month -- doing the usual interviews on HIV AIDS issues. We also did a webcast to several sites across the nation, which I guess went ok.
At one of the get-togethers one evening for many of the national activist - members of the AIDS Treatment Activist coalition, I went in the door, and immediately saw this distinguished black guy who looked familiar. As soon as he saw me, he let out a yell. It ended up being Morris Jackson, who I knew from my time with the Palmetto AIDS lifesupport Services when he and I were both volunteers as a pal to people with AIDS. I hadn't seen him in at least 14 years. We could only both exclaim, I thought you were dead! He had moved to LA about 2 years ago, and gotten involved in national issues. It was good reminiscing.


Went to see Dr. A the week I got back. Still undetectable.

So... I said if I was undetectable, could go to Australia for a couple of AIDS conferences, and then see the country. This summer.


Listen to this article

Listen to this article

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

On the new treatment of the Merck Integrase Inhibitor (in expanded access) along with Truvada, Presista and Fuzeon. Did become undetectable after the first month. I'm not celebrating yet. Wait and see if it holds. I was happy to see that my cd4 count went up to 333, and my lymph nodes are the smallest they've been in 20 years. Hopeful, but still....

I do have a certain sadness. If I am undetectable, what does that mean, and who will I be.
And I think of the people who have died over the past year, especially Bruce Bills, and Peter Englehart, Bob Terry, Ross Hamilton, etc., who may have been saved by the new Integrase along with Presista. But time ran out for them.

For now, just dealing with the side affects, primarily of Fuzeon. Again, the achy, flu-like symptoms.