World AIDS Day 2012

December 1 is World AIDS Day.  I never knew a world without HIV/AIDS, i was born in 1983.  Some of the first people i knew were lost to AIDS.  I have only vague memories of Harry and of Rick, but i know they were there for a time.  And then not anymore.  I've known others since then, others who have had positive diagnoses and others who have had "scares."  I remember what it was like pre-HAART and how scary it was back then.  I don't know if a lot of younger people do understand the gravity we knew then.

Somehow or other, this has become the focus of my education and future career in social work.  Right now i'm concentrating my education in community-level research on HIV prevention.  It's a natural fit, really.  I'm a writer, a bookish person, and though i think i could do direct practice (counseling, etc) well enough, i don't think it's quite my calling.  I have always cared deeply about HIV/AIDS awareness, though, and this is a way i can do something on a broad scale.  I love the work i do and knowing that i can have an impact through my skills.

Of course, my other career is writing.  A few weeks ago i signed the contract for my first full-length novel.  Haven't even gotten into edits yet, so i don't want to be giving away too much (but there's a projected release date of Spring 2013 - April or May).  What i can tell you, though, is that this one is quite different from Possession, but maybe no less scary.

Read on for more....

holidays PSA

Ok, so i know i need to get more consistent about social media again.  And it really ought to do with writing and literary matters.  But that's not what i'm here to address today.  Today is a PSA.  Maybe it's the copious amount of red wine from last night, maybe it's hormones, maybe it's Mercury retrograde, but i feel like this needs to be addressed and the air cleared.  This may go long and will get personal.

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Saying goodbye

Goodbye, my fuzzy little angel.  Mummy's going to miss you so much.

Memorial Day 2012: Remember

Much is made on Memorial Day of flags and uniform white grave-markers in tidy rows.  There are frequent admonitions to remember those who gave all, and why we Americans have the freedom to have a day off to grill hamburgers and drink beer. 

Those things aren’t bad.  They just miss the point. 

Read on for more....