Blog Posts + Articles + Happenings

A Royal Decree on Anger

A Royal Decree on Anger

I posted this on Facebook earlier this afternoon. It felt like the best way that I could contribute as an American on the eve of Election Day: Anger is insidious. My mental health has only been able to improve this year because I turned down the volume on...

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Monster Squad Goals

Monster Squad Goals

One of my favorite movies is the 1987 cult classic, The Monster Squad. On Monday at the Alamo in Charlottesville, I’ll be seeing it on the big screen for the third time. Squad stars André Gower and Ryan Lambert will be there, too, answering questions about the not...

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Do Not or Donut? Not As Easy As You Think…

Do Not or Donut? Not As Easy As You Think…

Over the last year and a half I've been able to write about living with hemophilia for Rare Disease dot net. Starting the once-a-week prophy treatments has certainly given me more to write about. I'm actually having to temper my reaction to how good it's been. One...

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Patience Zero Problemo

Patience Zero Problemo

I had the horrific thought last night that my Octoberfeast series might be short-lived, like the first victim in the horror movie that says, "We'll cover more ground if we split up." In keeping with my overall, in-house wellness policy of leaning into fear as opposed...

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Octoberfeast Your Eyes On… OCTOBERFEAST

Octoberfeast Your Eyes On… OCTOBERFEAST

October is here! The Spooky Season has always had a special kind of magic. The cool kick-off to the Fall line-up of spectacular classics. Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas. When I was a baby being baptized on Halloween, my brain hadn't grown to the required size...

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What Song Will You Sing Today?

What Song Will You Sing Today?

Yesterday I had a routine appointment with my hematologist. A follow-up appointment, if I'm really going to dial this in for you. You see, on July 4th I declared my independence from absurdly low amounts of clotting factor by beginning a once-a-week self infusion via...

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A Day With HIV

A Day With HIV

Diagnosed at age 11, I've lived many of my days with HIV... At 49 I am thankful for the advancements in HIV treatment that have allowed me to far outlive my prognosis. I wear my AIDS Memorial t-shirt to let the spirits know- and their loved ones- that they are not...

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I’m a One Stick Wonder

I’m a One Stick Wonder

My dream as a musician is to, someday, be a one-hit wonder. I'm on a bit of a hiatus on the local music scene right now because, well, all of that shit is too exhausting. The brand-enhancing and public-facing escapism required to cloak what is a very vulnerable craft...

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The Privilege, And Price, of Aging With HIV

The Privilege, And Price, of Aging With HIV

Another National HIV/AIDS Aging Awareness Day (September 18, officially) is here and, alas, I am one year closer to age 50. These days my overall health is on the front burner in a way that it hasn’t been since I started on HIV medications at age 23. It’s not that my...

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Absurd Bleeds Related To Living With Hemophilia

Absurd Bleeds Related To Living With Hemophilia

My latest musings on Rare Disease about some of the unforgettable bumps and bruises that have occurred as a result of hemophilia. I really love that there is an illustration for each of the three horror/humor stories! https://raredisease.net/living/absurd-mishaps...

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Brain Drain, ADHD And HIV

Brain Drain, ADHD And HIV

For a long time one of my biggest fears about living with HIV has been the effects on the brain. Several years ago I leaned into that, which unexpectedly led to a diagnosis of ADHD after some testing. It's understandable how something like Attention Deficit Disorder...

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The Back-To-School Special About Disclosure

The Back-To-School Special About Disclosure

With school starting up again, I decided to take the opportunity to discuss one of the biggest hurdles for people living with HIV: disclosure. For many years, I never thought I'd even openly discuss HIV. I'm thankful that, when I was ready, I was in a safe space to do...

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Dedicated To Garth McMurray

Dedicated To Garth McMurray

Had a ton of fun writing my recent article for Rare Disease, inspired by the What If series of Marvel comics. https://raredisease.net/living/what-if I'm retroactively dedicating this one to Garth McMurray. Garth was avid comic book fan and artist that we recently...

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My Top 5 POZ Magazine Blog Posts of 2022

My Top 5 POZ Magazine Blog Posts of 2022

I have had very active blogging fingers. The last year certainly gave me a lot to write about. Most significantly, the passing of my mom... and her messages to me from beyond the grave (which I'm still, and will always be, receiving). I also gave some flowers to one...

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My Rare Disease Journey With Hemophilia

My Rare Disease Journey With Hemophilia

Most of my "medical resume" musings from the patient perspective have been about living with HIV. That's why I am excited to be contributing to RareDisease.Net, where I'll be sharing thoughts on a lifetime of lessons living with a bleeding disorder (Hemophilia A). My...

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Traveling During COVID

Traveling During COVID

This month I got on a plane for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. In the twenty-four years since we've been together, this is the longest stretch that Gwenn and I have been "grounded". And I was okay with it. Okay with being grounded for a bit. Okay...

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Long-Term Survivin’ and Thrivin’

Long-Term Survivin’ and Thrivin’

Mark S. King caught up with Tez Anderson, founder of Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survival Syndrome), at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal and it’s a conversation worth reading. Any longterm survivor can relate to the wear and tear of HIV and the side effects that...

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Goodbye For Now, Mom (Pam Decker 1950-2022)

Goodbye For Now, Mom (Pam Decker 1950-2022)

On the last day of June my mom continued her sleep, no longer bound by a body that had betrayed her. Her pain, in every way this life can deliver it, is over. Your work here is done, Mom. Thank you for your love and for fighting for me… See you again on the other...

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The Importance of HIV/STD Testing

A lot of times when people delay getting tested for HIV and STDs, it is because of the stigma. Or simply not wanting to know the actual answer to a question that your brain cannot seem to turn off. But the reasons for knowing your status should trump your fears,...

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March 26, 1987: My Diagnosis Date With Destiny

March 26, 1987: My Diagnosis Date With Destiny

When I tested positive for HIV at age 11 I'd already lived my "kid life", as I call it, around medical conditions. I had a good decade without this virus, a stable home and the bleeding disorder, hemophilia, that I'd been born with didn't prevent me from playing farm...

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HIV… What’s Love Got to Do With It? Everything.

Valentine's Day is here again! I remember signing valentine's day cards for my classmates when I was a little dunderhead. Someone's stock would go way up if they got you a comic book character valentine. Or a hard piece of gum that never spoils. Then god knows when...

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