As I mentioned, I’m still looking for work. Needless to say, finances just keep looking worse and worse. I am still trying my best to keep a positive attitude.

On the HIV front, things are still going along swimmingly. My viral load is still undetectable, and my CD4 count is better than it’s been at any point since I found out I was positive. I can’t say enough good about the HIV clinic I go to; they have been there every time I’ve needed them – which is saying a lot since they have so many clients.

The heat is oppressive these days in Alabama – I am ready for fall (and college football – ROLL TIDE!).

Hope to be back soon!

On the HIV front, my viral load has been undetectable the last couple of blood draws, and my CD4 count is in the normal range now. The meds are working great; still no side effects.

I voted in our state’s primary elections today; I encourage everyone to get out and vote in your local, state, and national elections this year. Our country is in in dire need, and every vote does make a difference.

Back again soon I hope!

Protestors calling Congressmen the N-word or the F-word and a Congressman yelling “It’s a babykiller” (I’ve been listening to the clip play over and over, and I really do believe he said that rather than just “babykiller”) makes me ashamed to be an American. I understand that emotions ran high on both sides, but there’s no excuse for some of what I heard. The speeches raising the spectre of Cold War communism and saying that freedom died a little today – I’ve never heard so many negative, hate- and fear-mongering speeches at one time in one place in all my life.

Do I think the bill that passed was perfect? No, far from it – the deals giving certain states special treatment on Medicare, for instance, clearly need removing. Do I believe all the polls saying the American people were against this bill? No, because many of those are done by telephone. People who are truly struggling may not have a phone any more to voice their opinion. People who are having to choose between eating and paying a phone bill are more likely to choose eating.

According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN (who was answering my Tweet, by the way), people who are HIV+ will not be able to be denied health insurance beginning in 2014 under this plan. While that’s not great – a lot of expenses can accumulate for someone with HIV in the meantime – I am thrilled for those who have been years without it. Having to depend on charity rather than be self-sufficient really begins to affect one’s sense of self-worth over time.

What’s your take on it?

I am conservative in some of my views on taxation and on big government, and I am liberal when it comes to topics like equal rights and equal protection for everyone. I believe we have an obligation to assist those who, for whatever reason, cannot temporarily or permanently, support themselves for as long as it is necessary. At the same time, I also feel that many of our churches have lost sight of their responsibility to assist those same people.

There will probably be more on some of these topics later as I get the time. In the meantime, share your thoughts on U.S. politics, healthcare reform, equal rights, etc. While I may delete comments that are vulgar or seem to be aimed personally at me or another commenter (it’s my blog and I can do that), I will not delete a comment just because that person expresses a view contrary to mine.

4. Don’t drink any soda for 4 weeks.

Let me start by saying I love an ice-cold Dr. Pepper. Having made that declaration of love, however, I found this one was much easier than I expected. I won’t go bonkers and buy a case of them now or anything like that, but I will probably do without unless offered one.

100. Sell 20 items on eBay.

This one allowed me to stay current on bills this month. Having been unemployed for three months now, the money situation is bad at my house. Thank goodness the clinical study I am in pays for my HIV meds (otherwise I’d be looking at around $2,000.00 for those every month). I foresee more eBay in my future.

Well, I realize I still have a total of 98 to go. But I am close on a few others, so hopefully the list will be a little shorter soon.

The 10 Worst Energy Zappers and How to Beat Them

So how many of these do you already do in your life?

1) Ina Garten – Culinary
Ina Garten is not only a great cook, but she also exhibits a natural graciousness that makes me feel at ease. Some of those other culinary giants seem like they think they are better than everyone else (at least that’s the impression I get). I can see Ina hosting a dinner party with an ambassador, a commercial fisherman, the pizza delivery boy, and RuPaul, without anyone feeling the least bit uncomfortable.

2) Dave Ramsey – Financial
Dave Ramsey has helped many people work their way out of financial difficulty. If I had to choose a financial advisor to get me out of debt and into better financial territory, it would be Dave. His book, The Total Money Makeover is a common-sense approach to finances, although not always what I want to hear.

3) Clinton Kelly – Fashion
It seems odd to think of Clinton without Stacy London, both of TLC’s What Not to Wear. They make such a good team. I need a fashion guru that seems accessible and knows how to dress an imperfect body. I think he could do that for me well.

If you could choose three mentors for your life at present, who would they be? Why?

But my problem is this – I’m a single guy and unemployed at the moment to boot. So budget is important to me. All these shows seem to have pantries stocked with every conceivable item you’d need. I don’t know about you – but I’m fresh out of Gruyère cheese. Small-town Alabama also isn’t known for its abundance of Gruyère. Now sure, I could run out to the market every time I get ready to do a meal, but companies tend not to portion most foods for single people.

My pantry looks like this at the moment: rice, baking mix, simple seasonings, assorted spices (mainly used for sweets during the holidays), self-rising flour, sugar, artificial sweetener (I’m trying to cut back on the sugar), trail mix, hot sauce, pancake syrup, and not much else. The fridge/freezer has sausage, bacon, condiments, milk, garlic bread, frozen fruit, butter, and water – darn, I’m out of eggs. Let’s see an Iron Chef work wonders with that!

Admittedly, I need to buy groceries. But even taking that into consideration, I cannot possibly keep everything on hand needed to whip up all those wonderful dishes. Even if I could, half of it would spoil, and I’d have to toss it before using it.

I also would like to see recipes that don’t have 15 steps. Too many steps, and I don’t even consider a recipe as practical for me. My heroine on this one is Ina Garten with her show, Barefoot Contessa. Her recipes seem simple enough even for a novice like me. She makes me want to protest in front of my local market till they stock Gruyère.

I have a need for two things: 1) recipes that clearly state that the finished product can be frozen, and 2) recipes with just a few ingredients (and not the ones I can’t find in my local small-town market.

I want to eat more nutritiously as part of my work toward a more balanced life. So here’s where you can help – what are some nutritious recipes that are both simple to make and delicious with easily obtainable ingredients? Feel free to share your favorites with everyone.

And Food Network, are you listening?

I’m happy to see it – Haiti’s tragedy is being politicized far more by President Obama’s critics than the Obama White House could ever do.

Politically, I tend to be an independent – and I like seeing former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush work together on humanitarian causes.