Change of plans

I've decided not to do anything special for my birthday. I was planning to have friends over throughout the day on Dec 11, but I'm finding that I'm not really looking forward to it. I guess I'm not in the habit of birthday parties anymore, however laid back. Maybe next year. :-)

Bug called it!

This past January, heterodoxy cast the I Ching for the democratic candidates and President Bush:

Bush — Household: When a ruler acts as a father, a son, and a brother, he becomes a model; then the people will follow his example -- a family values campaign will win for Bush in November.

I'll check back in four years to see who'll be winning in 2008. :-)

I'm a delicate flower

It's winter and I have to start slathering myself with skin cream every morning, and I hate slathering myself with skin cream every morning.

Dry winter skin is a consequence of the HIV medications I'm taking. Last winter was the first time my skin dried out like this, and that was the first winter I was on HIV medication. It's not the region or the climate; I've been living here since 1990. It's not the HIV; I've had that for years too. It's the medications. I'm positive. I'm certain, too.

I've been ignoring the signs -- itchy legs and ankles, slightly rough skin on my upper arms and neck -- but if I don't start treating it now, it's going to be seriously unattractive.

And now I've discovered a huge bruise on the back of my right leg, just a few inches below my ass. It's got to be five inches long and three inches wide, and I have no idea where it came from. I had to have injured myself sometime in the past day or so or I would have noticed it earlier. I spent Monday night with spiritquest and ricky66 and they didn't mention it and it's not something you can miss.

Er, if my clothes were off. Which they were. ;-)

Anyway, I'm annoyed at the dry skin and ugly bruise and that's that.