Depression, pets and landlords

It's been a long time since I've been here, and that could be a good thing.  Depression is a hard thing to deal with and is not something to be shared, why bring everyone else down to my level.  But maybe some good could come out of sharing somethings.  This disease is a bitch to live with and that is probably why so many choose to end their lives.  Depression is not often a disease where the patient does harm to others and is why they choose to stay alone, not answer phones or doors, waiting for the blanket of doom to be lifted off of them.  We have our good and bad days just like everyone else, just more bad ones.  You know what helps, pets.  They give you love.  They seem to know if you are in a bad/sad mood and let you know that they love you no matter what, as long as the food bowl doesn't stay empty long.

The unfortunate problem is that so many places don't allow pets, any kind of pets.  Okay, you can throw a towel over a goldfish bowl when the landlord shows up but fish can't curl up with you or make you get up to take them for a walk, and that is a good thing-it gets you up off of your ass and get's you out of your place a couple of times a day.  I think there should be a law, state, federal or local, that could overrule any parts of the lease to allow them to have pets.  Call them "Service Animals", for in fact they are, they could save lives and isn't that a good thing?  But many management people, even in low income/disabled housing will tell you to look for another place that allows pets.  That's all well and good but 1,  Can people afford the rent increase?  2.  Will they be able to afford the move?  3.  Chances are they chose to live in this area because it is convenient for doctors appointments, bus service, etc.  Must we uproot or die?  And if these are charitable organizations providing the living space and some of them are actually also church/religious organizations and they refuse to allow life saving pets, where is their charity?  They collect rent from the tenants and usually get the other two thirds of rent from a third party organization anyway.  I can understand a pet deposit, maybe over three months or six months but honestly, how much damage can a little fur ball do when I intend to take him/her every where with me?  In my situation I have lived in the same apartment for nine years, never late on the rent, never have wild parties so I guess I'm a good tenant and isn't that what you want?  I'm HIV+ and living with both diseases (plus a few others for good measure) can be a bitch.  All I'm saying is that instead of fighting over a pet, why not help a person out.

September 30, 2013

It does seem ironic that I would return to Mikey's Moods on this the eve of the possible republican shutdown of the United States of America, and the world actually, and all for the sake of greed and racism.  Senator Cruz you are, in my humble opinion, an asshole of the highest magnitude,  Boener, we all hope that you will sober up in time to stop what is about to happen, and you are a large part of the blame.  44 times you and congress have tried to shut down something that was approved in both houses, signed by the president and made into law.  It, the Affordable Care Act, aka Obama Care was voted on my the residents of these United States, by a large majority, and still you play with lives.  I understand that you don't think it's that big of a deal, but for us common folks it is a very big thing,  If it does get that far tonight I will never in a million years understand how you can sleep at night, maybe that's why everyone thinks you are a lush.  And what legacy do you leave to your family?  Will all of your money keep them warm and safe or will the nation turn on you and your family as you have so many of ours.  Will people blame your family for your greed or will the world be more compassionate that you were to them.  9:43  A little over two hours and the republicans are still playing games.  You might as well make plans to retire and you will be taking a lot of others with you, I suppose we should be happy for that much,  Not staying awake to find out what the hell you are going to do but please know this.  I know tons of Christians but you sir are one of them.

REMEMBERING THE GAYS IN THE MILITARY

Last night the congress voted to repeal the DADT. Congratulations to the democrats and a couple of republicans. As for the rest of the republicans, I want to ask you a question. Are you voting your own personal opinion, what your voters want or are you just sheep being herded by John McCain? I'm not trying to be smart here but you are acting in a very STUPID manner and it is being seen, every day on the news.

President Obama was elected as our president and whether you voted for him or not, he is our president and that alone commands a certain amount of respect. I believe that he is trying EVERY thing he knows how to do to bring this country together and improve life for ALL Americans and that we as Americans need to stand behind him and try to understand what he inherited from the previous administration along with disasters such as the spilling of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, again a gift from the previous administration, those DRILL BABY DRILL people. So think about what republicans are doing to the quality of your life, or what they aren't doing to improve it and vote with your conscience. Republicans let this be your warning to shape up or be ready to ship out.

A THOUGHT OCCURS TO ME...

Maybe the time has come to fire all of our national representatives. NO JOKING HERE. We elected these people to work for us but it seems that mostly they want to work for themselves or make a name for themselves by being assholes. We all have assholes and don't need to pay for a second one. Whether or not you voted for or believe in President Obama, he is the president and was voted in primarily because of his platform. He is so close to helping so many with health problems have health care. Recently I had to go to the emergency room. I have Medicare and Medicaid thankfully, because the bill for everything that was done for me in those 6 hours came to $9,852.00 (I will provide a copy of the bill to anyone who disbelieves me). Now for those who are uninsured, many would put off going to the hospital and could die (or) they might have to find a way to come up with that money and possibly loose their homes. If the problem were worse than it was, that amount of money could go threw the roof. Now, ask yourself, honestly, who doesn't want this program to go through? The insurance companies, and of course those Representatives they own. Is it any wonder that those Representatives will go to any length to get elected in the first place, knowing the amounts of money that they can make and then simply blame the bad shit on their opponents. Is is possible to dump them all? November isn't that far away.

DON'T WANT TO PISS ON ANYONE'S PARADE...

I can understand the horrible circumstances that have led to the shape of Haiti today but you know what? We have people in this country who don't have a place to live and often go to sleep without food. People who live on the streets or in cardboard boxes and who stand in line for food handouts or live out of dumpsters? Ever see someone in a park looking through trash baskets looking for food or do you just look away? It is time to stop waiting for a natural disaster to help the disadvantaged. And what is really scary these days is that many of the homeless are children who's parents have lost their jobs and homes... and hope. And also most if not all of these people have no health care either, and that is a very scary thing as sicknesses among these people can spread like wild fire as they group together for support and comfort.

And then I read that a leader is not going to run for re-election because it's too tough to get bills passed. What you should start doing is fighting till your last breath to make sure that you do the job you were hired to do and serve the people who spent their time and money making sure that you got elected in the first place. I would love to change places with you for just a day.
Mike

JUST WHAT I WAS AFRAID OF IS HAPPENING IN IRAN

If you have been watching the news in the last couple of days then you are painfully aware of what is going on in IRAN. The people there, students in particular, live in fear even as they fight for change. The leader of Iran, and make no mistake religion is behind the leader, is running a dictatorship there and is endangering the lives of all of it's people as well as the rest of the world by attempting to build a stockade of nuclear weapons. Not so different than North Korea but it would seem that there they are afraid to protest. If we as citizens of the world can ban together thru the web or by writing articles and sending them to newspapers and news stations around the world and try to unite with those people and offer our support to them. Wars not only kill people but also trample the earth. Nuclear war would kill all of the inhabitants of the world, not just the people but also the animals and every living thing. There are alternatives to war, we all know that, but now we have to band together to make it happen. If you know of email addresses of people in these two nations contact them or contact anyone you know or anyone that they might know until you find these people or organizations and support them with your words and ideas. Send them to me and I will do the same until we have a world wide effect that will finally bring peace and prosperity to the earth.
Mike

DEAR CITIZENS OF THE WORLD, UNITE

The web can be our connecting point and we, the citizens of the world have the opportunity to change the world for the better. We the people think differently than some of our leaders and it is time to band together and find the solutions to save our planet. There is no reason for us to live in fear of one another when we can all live on this earth of ours and take care of her. The need for going green is something that all of us have to work on and if those elected to power or those who have taken power don't want to work with us then it is time to change them. A difference may not be seen in our lifetime depending on your age but know that you can help change the face of Mother Earth for generations. How? First we stop the wars and find new ways to live in peace, take care of all of the people; feed them, cloth them and give them a decent home to live in. Stop nuclear stockpiles and end the dependency of fossil fuels around the globe. Sun and wind will not only supply us with energy but it will also create possibly millions of new jobs and re stable our economies globally. But it has to start now and it has to start with us. We, the citizens of the world have to find a way to communicate with each other and get started on a plan. Please, email a friend and send them this site address to read and ask them to do the same until we have the attention of the world. Only then can we move forward. Please forward any other ideas to this author and lets get a dialog started now while we still have time. Mike

THANK YOU ANITA BRYANT, REST WELL

Yes, I am a gay man and yes I do thank Anita Bryant. Why you ask? She did more to unite the gay community and create activism for our cause than anyone else I know. Recently HBO started airing the movie "MILK" and I have watched it several times. I was under the impression that Sean Penn was homophobic and that may be true but he played the part of Harvey Milk well. It brought back memories of that time and yes I too would have loved to place a dagger in her heart at the time. But hindsight is a powerful thing and I can see that it would have taken a lot longer for us to come to the point that we are today without her. It was because of the hatred that she spewed in the name of her religion that brought us together and caused us to fight back and fight harder. Harvey Milk was not a saint by any means but he had the courage to follow his heart and mind and make first steps toward the future.
Now we have the Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill and that is a start. It doesn't insure peace yet but it is a start. Lawsuits will soon begin to follow so that the real strength of this bill will be seen. Perhaps the day will come when parents will learn to accept their gay children and not throw them out to the streets and real families can then thrive. Churches may come to understand that being Christian and gay is a possibility as many of us already know. No longer will bosses be able to fire people based on their sexual orientation. And soldiers will be able to serve no matter what their sexual identity is. I was one of those soldiers caught up in a witch hunt back in 1966. Not because I couldn't do my job and do it well, but because I was caught making love with my commanding officer.
So today I say, Thank You, Anita Bryant for all that you did to help up out.
Mike

HEY AMERICANS, GET IT TOGETHER

We elected President Obama by a large majority and now is the time to get behind him and listen and learn. Sarah Palin and others are trying to muddle up the message and intent of his health care program to cover any American who needs it. I spent the last two years with my mother as she went thru 7 cancer surgeries that finally took half of her left leg. She was 78 when they began and she died on her 80 th birthday. During that time, the hospital asked her if she was interested in filling out a living will and she and I talked about it. It was her wish that she not have any more surgery and that she didn't want to be kept alive by artificial methods. She requested that she be given pain medications and be kept comfortable and be allowed to die in peace. Also, she named me as her surrogate knowing that I would respect her wishes and see to things after she was dead. She paid for her own cremation years before and told me who to contact and they would take care of everything. I elected to keep her ashes but she was not concerned about them as she would not be there.

When a person is considered to be brain dead (and in my humble opinion Sarah Palin is almost there) then it is time to pull the plugs and prepare the body for burial or cremation and for the living to move on. The body may still be there but the spirit or soul if you will, has already left and there is no need to keep paying hospital bills or keeping vigil, and I believe that if asked the deceased would have said as much. That is what living wills are all about, pure and simple. Also I strongly believe in organ donations as well if and when it is possible. Because I have AIDS that isn't possible but if it were I would do so.

Disrupting town meetings where people can actually get GOOD information or just altering the truth and scaring the living shit out of people is uncalled for. PLEASE, GET THE FACTS AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. A living will is NOT a death sentence but it will let your family and friends know what YOU want and when you want it.
Mike

FELONS AND VOTING RIGHTS, NOT WHAT YOU THINK

I know that I'm not the only one asking myself why a United States Senator can be convicted of seven (7), yes count them 7, felonies and can keep his seat on the US Senate and run for re-election to keep his seat and other felons can't even vote. What's wrong with this country? It is hard enough for a felon to get a job at a lot of restaurants never mind the US Senate? Mind you, he is not just charged, he has been convicted of the crimes. I have never understood why a felon has to lose the right to vote in the first place, is that person's one vote going to get the sheriff or judge out of office with his/her one vote? I don't know but would love to have someone explain it to me.

There are a lot of things out there that are getting on my nerves because I don't understand of them these days. This country was founded on a set of rights that are supposed to be for all citizens not just the ones who agree with you and to hell with others you don't like or don't understand. And wasn't the whole thing supposed to have started because of religious oppression and now we are heading right back to our roots again. There is more that one religion in this country and there are some people that don't even believe in God, but that's okay because he believes in them. There are many so called "Christians" out there who will not stop until everyone believes exactly the same way as they do and are trying to rule this country. Their place is in their churches and in their communities. Gay marriage is a very hot issue these days and they will not rest until it goes away. This author knows of many couples who have been together a lot longer than many of the non-gay ones. Many of them have adopted the children that no one else wants but were brought into this world by heterosexuals. Divorce rates are higher than ever and many that don't divorce right away but cheat on their spouses, John McCain is one of them. So why is it so hard for people to let two people who love each other marry with love being the only pre-requisite. Heterosexuals can get married at the justice of the peace or even go to Las Vegas and be married by an Elvis impersonator. Is that religious? It is time for those Christians, and they are a small but powerful group of the Christian religion, to learn to open their bibles and read them. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." There is no mention of Him leaving out gays or any others. And what about "Judge not lest you shall be judged"? I remember that one. Yes, I am a christian but not a basher.

Your comments are welcome and would be appreciated.
Mike

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THE ELECTIONS?

No matter which candidate you are voting for this election, it seems to me that the news shows are just going way too far in their commentary. If you don't vote for Obama you are a racist and if you don't vote for Hillary you are sexist. They feel that they have the power to tell you not only this but also that if you are a hillbilly you are a racist while city folk know better and want to keep a man in the Oval Office, black or white. I don't know about you but it is sicking to me and a lot of people that I talk to. One minute after the closing time for the ballots they are ready to predict the winner of the race because of their exit polls. I love to lie to people who take polls because I don't think that they accomplish a lot. And if they are doing one at the mall I make sure that I go to two or three of them and give each one different answers.

Is it not possible that each of us is voting for the person that we think will do the best job of running the country without bringing all of the baggage of race or gender into the picture? Maybe some would like to have a woman or a black person in the top position. I would love to see a gay person male or female, black white or Hispanic in the Oval Office, BUT ONLY IF THAT PERSON IS THE MOST qualified person to do the job. Isn't that what it is supposed to be about? And not just person for the party but the best person for the job. JMHO, what is yours?
Mike

GAY MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA

A few days ago the California Supreme Court, by a close vote of 3-2, decided that Gays and Lesbians had the right to marry and then the Christians got their asses on their collective backs again and decided to try for a referendum on the November ballot. When does this stop?

I was brought up in the Catholic religion and spent some time in the Baptist church but I’m still not able to quote chapter and verse like some others can. But I do know one thing that Jesus is quoted as saying, “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” Maybe it is just an oversight on the part of those who would oppose what the state has approved or maybe it is just once again a small portion of the Christian community who reads thru their bibles with blinders on. There is plenty that I have read that some of my best Christian friends have overlooked or chose to ignore about what the bible tells them to do or not to do and while I note in in my mind, I say nothing. It isn’t my place to judge them. Again, I don’t know chapter or verse but I do seem to remember something about, “Judge not or yea shall be judged.”

It seems that the only thing that they have to worry about is gay marriage. Would it be okay if we got married but by a Justice of the Peace? And if we use non-religious vows would that be alright you? How many people have been married with the phrase,”...till death do us part” as part of their vow and then divorce later when something different comes along or things don‘t work out? And the bible does tell us that if you break up your marriage that you are not to have sex so long as the other one is still alive. Ask your pastor about that one. I am not here to judge anyone I just want you to remember some of the other things that are in the bible and hope for the sake of your soul that you are not casting that stone unless you are without sin. And if this is the case, please get in touch with me an let me know because it has been more than 2000 years since the last one who is without sin walked this earth.

DID YOU HEAR THAT THERE IS A NEW GOD?

Well she thinks that she is anyway. Her name is Sally Kern and her email address is sallykern@okhouse.gov. Anita Bryant seems to be reborn. In case anyone out there hasn't figured it out yet, yes I AM A BIG GAY MAN and that is not going to change. When are people going to start helping each other out instead of tearing each other apart? Listen STUPID, who would choose to be discriminated against? Be tossed out of housing, jobs or out of the homes we grew up in? As I understand it, your job is to represent your constituents not try to start another war. Please correct me if I am wrong.

And another thing, I know that you are married to a preacher BUT as far as I know, we still have separation of church and state. Even if we didn't, who (besides you, your holiness) can inflict your religious beliefs on a whole nation? Did you ask anyone before you opened you big mouth, besides your husband? Have you ever taken the time to get to know any of the LGBT community and talk to them? How many of them voted for you only for you to turn your back on them? And for each person out there that you are insulting, there are two parents, siblings, friends and co-workers. Wouldn't you do better to build bridges rather than bringing them down on the heads of others? I know that you will never have the balls to actually read this and consider my statements, but it actually isn't for you. I want to light a fire under the ass of every member of the LGBT community and at least start emailing the hell out of you until you understand that we don't need to be changed, we're fine just as we are. Look in the mirror, that is who needs to be changed, perhaps there is still a good woman left inside of you, one can only hope.

That's my take on things, let me know what you think.
Mikey
p.s. GO HILLARY, ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1600 PENSYLVANIA AVENUE

WHO'S ELECTION IS THIS ANYWAY?

I'm getting sick and tired of all of these people saying that Hillary Clinton should step down and let Obama have a clear shot at ruining my home. Each and every candidate has the right to decide if and when they will throw in the towel, not other elected officials or the press. This is America and we have the right to free speech but who says that it is okay to trample on the lives of others?

Yes, I am a Hillary Clinton person and my reasons are as vast as the freckles on my body. But mostly because as a mother, wife and daughter, she knows how to keep a house in order, balance the budget, ensure that the family has enough food and the proper medical attention. Also as a wife and mother, she would make war a last resort, enough body bags have come home from a senseless war. A wife and mother knows how to entertain guests, stop quarrels and make friends with her neighbors. She has been the First Lady for the state of Arkansas as well as for the nation. And when her husband made mistakes she didn't cut and run, she forgave him and pulled the family closer than ever. Now she is a second term Senator from the state of New York winning her second race by a landslide.

Has she made mistakes? Hell yes, we all have and she will admit them and go on. That shows courage and wisdom to me. How many of us would prefer not to even acknowledge out mistakes? I see that when she is on the campaign trail that she doesn't just court the college kids who will be voting for the first time ever, but instead talks to ALL of the people. Already she has begun laying out plans for what she wants to do for us and the way that she wants to lead this great nation of ours. I'm not hearing that from Obama. If he holds off and learns more and then runs, I'm sure I would like to see him as a president. But as a gay person I can tell you right now that it would take more than admitted sexuality for me to vote for a gay person. I want the most experienced person on all of the issues to lead this country so that I can sleep better at night. That's my opinion, what's yours?

Mikey

NOT JUST FOR GAY PEOPLE

There is no law that allows gay people who are partners/lovers to make decisions for them when they are ill or that they are their legal guardians, on the books. But guess what, if you are living with someone, no matter how long and you are heterosexual, you may be in the same boat as us. During a recent visit to a nursing home (Jacaranda Manor in St. Petersburg) where my lover of nine years is currently staying, I was told that in order to make decisions for him I would have to go to court and be declared as his legal guardian. The decision? Which hospital he was to be sent to. He is being treated for HIV/AIDS and uses that doctor as his primary care as well and that doctor has privileges at one hospital (Morton Plant, in Clearwater) while the nursing home wanted to send him to a hospital where their doctor (who doesn't treat my lover but only writes prescriptions based on information in his chart) has privileges (St. Petersburg General, St. Petersburg). Both he and I insisted that he be taken to one hospital and yet they did as they wished. And I am not talking about a life threatening emergency, I could understand their reluctance if it were, but it was to get x-rays on his nose to see if there was anything broken in there when he fell in an over medicated stupor.

I was NOT told that if I were hetero that I could insist on where he would get the best care so I am left to believe that it would work the same to an unmarried straight couple as well. Meanwhile, I can't bring him home and I fear for his life where he is. So if you hear anything about gay marriage I urge you to think about what I have said here before you make your decision as to what place you would like to find yourself. Your comments are welcome.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GOD

There are a lot of people out there who call themselves Christians but I'm not sure that we're reading from the same book. Where in the bible does it say that God hates anyone? Not in the book that I read. And where in your bibles does it tell you to push your opinions of what your God said to people who wrote the book for Him. No where. You are to spread the word of the lord and it is up to those individuals to make their decision themselves. It could be scary for you and me alike if we die and find out that God was Jewish or Islamic. It's time for everyone to start to letting individuals make up their own minds and stop dictating what you think everyone should do, feel, think or act. I would challenge anyone who call themselves a Christian and yet would deny marriages between any two people who love each other, treating others who believe differently then we do and would protest at a funeral because a person is somehow connected to gays, to open up your books and minds. WWJD, indeed. Would he be the type of person who would force his word upon others who believed differently as did their parents and their parents before them? Jesus preached love not hate and if you follow him, perhaps you should too.

Is anyone listening??

As of today we have been thru 2 primaries and already the shit slinging has started. In New Hampshire when Hillary had a moment, many would call her a great actress. But when she won rumors started to fly that the election process had bee tampered with because certain polls had Obama way ahead. All I can say is it ain't over till it's over. Do I want her to win? Hell yes, but I wouldn't fix any results to make it come out otherwise, we have already gone thru that once here in the state of Florida when Al Gore lost.

I support Hillary for her leadership qualities that she has already displayed over her career and the fact that she stood by her husband in his trials and tribulations with that Monica woman. And I was also a supporter of her husband when he ran, both times and he gave us 8 years of a bustling economy and peace. "IF" Hillary ever needed anyone to talk to or get advice from, I am glad that she will have him there. I am also sure that he talked to her about many of the decisions that he made. What a great team to have back in the White House.

KEEP THE ELECTIONS CLEAN

Okay the races have begun and so has the hate mongering. Can't we just for once have a fair fight/election? Already I am getting sick to death of the candidates accusing each other of lying, cheating and stealing. Just for once I would love to hear the candidates stand up and tell us their views, their promises and what they have done this far without slinging mud at the other candidates. Is this too much to ask? Does anyone know who we need to talk to/email/write if necessary to keep the elections clean? Let me know and I promise to get mail forwarded to them to let them know what WE THE PEOPLE want.

HOW MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG WITH THE HUMAN BODY?

The latest news from my doctor is now I am having gall bladder problems. I swear sometimes I just want to lay down, pull the covers over my head and say to hell with everything. I have had the HIV virus for about 20 years and full blown AIDS for about 15. I always said that AIDS would not take me out and in acutallity it will not, but all of the complications that you encounter with this disease either they take you out or you do it yourself when you can no longer deal with life.

I would love to see a cure but I don't expect to see it in my life time and much of the damage that has been done to my body can not be reversed. And age is another factor. Longevity runs in my family and my best hope is that it will skip over me and I can go quietly into the night. I am sure that there are plenty of others out there sharing that same prayer. The best that I can try to do is make a difference while I am here and that is my aim.
Mike

MEDICARE 'D'

I have a rant here but I have to keep it under 200 characters, per BLOGGER. The privatizing of Medicare has made things worse then it was before. This is no secret to those who are on it but maybe I can enlighten some others. I have full blown AIDS and although my numbers say that I am in great shape but the virus has already started taking it's toll. My doctors prescribe meds for me, I take them to the pharmacy, Medicare rejects them or cuts the number of pills down and then I have to go back to the doctors, pay another co-pay and the doctor has to take time away from other patients to write up the reason why I have to take these pills daily or they will not work. Then the drug company has to decide whether or not it is a valid reason or not. I hate to take pills and I already have to take about 40 a day for various reasons but to have to go thru this crap all the time is bull****. I am not asking for a boner pill or pain medications, just an anitbiotic to keep infections away that could require costly hospital bills later. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? What are your thoughts?