Last month didn't end as badly as I thought it would. I'm still working for Waikems and, luckily for me, things have slowed down a bit. All the computers are running. For the time being anyway! LOL Every day that passes is another day closer to another breakdown!

But, even as work was getting a little better, I got some rather "not good" news from my doctor. It seems my counts didn't change much this time. My T-Cells went up 10, to 140, while the Viral Load also went up (about 1,000 to 19,000). Basically what that means is that there has been no viable change since my last tests. Of course, the doctor is still quite bothered with the very low T-Cell count and the elevated viral load. He's looking into what other meds to try now. There are about 3 new ones on the market that we're going to check out - one is a shot taken twice a day! The doctor put me on a waiting list for that one. I still haven't decided if I'd be willing to take 2 shots every day (I want to talk to some diabetics who take shots every day to get their feelings and thoughts on the issue); but I'm keeping an open mind. I just took another blood test today. This one will determine which of the 17 AIDS meds will still be effective for me, so the doctor can determine what mix of drugs to put me on now.

As a treat for going to the doctor, I've upgraded my computer system some more. To go with my three monitors, new video card, and TV card, I have now added a remote keyboard and remote optical mouse. WooHoo!

Check out the start of my new Cell Phone Site!!! Go to http://reigningpages.com/rptones/. If your cell phone has polyphonic ringtones or wallpaper, feel free to download some of the goodies. As soon as I finish up the WAP site (Wireless Application Protocol), and a companion HTML site, I'll post more here.

Well, it's going to be another long month - there's still two weeks left!

Things actually went well at work this past week, even though I ended up fixing six printers, and three computers! WooHoo! It was enough to keep me busy, that's for sure.

It was good that things were going so smoothly at Waikems since I was finishing up a project for Expert Auto Collision. The auto body shop is fishing for new clients, so I produced a company resume for them to send to the local insurance agencies to help garner some new business. I've got my fingers crossed that my little packet does the trick.

MouseOver to see the completed company resume packet	Clicking on this picture will open a new video window (2mb), showing how hard I worked putting the packets together
My desk turned into a print production facility.

Now for some very odd news. If you were reading my logs back in last summer (July '02, Week Three), you might have read a little blurb about a project that did not work out. My boss had asked me to make a website for his new girlfriend's business. She blew me off, claiming she needed the site quicker than I could deliver. After several months, she did get a site online, proving that the time wasn't as important as she led me to believe. I've spent most of the last year, periodically complaining about this incident, and now I find myself in a quandary. After sending some advice on a computer problem, the boss' girlfriend (Jayne) replied in her email with an unexpected question. The person who had designed her site was in the middle of an upgrade and has disappeared. She wants to know if I could and would "fix" her site! I find it hard to say yes, knowing that I have taken a stance on ever helping this woman; however, at the right price, I could not work at Waikems so much and take some time for myself (which might be good with a sad upcoming anniversary, remaining slightly ill, and perhaps starting new medications) and still have money coming in. Luckily, Jayne is not coming back to town for a few days, so I've still got some time to think about what I will do.

I've used this picture as my desktop wallpaper. If you'd like to put it on your desktop, click the picture to download an 800*600 version. Then simply right click on the new larger picture and Set as your Wallpaper.

May Showers are going to bring June Flowers!
The repaired fountain up and running	The hollyhocks have grown bigger than ever before!
The irises are huge too!

Although it's been rainy everywhere this Spring, there have been a few breaks in the clouds. Taking advantage of the sun, I got the yard mowed and then let the dogs out to play for a while. Jim tested his new digital camera, taking these pictures and a cute little movie for you to enjoy.

Here's another picture you might want to use as desktop wallpaper. If you'd like to put it on your desktop, click the picture to download an 800*600 version. Then simply right click on the new larger picture and Set as your Wallpaper.

Playing with the Pups

Click on the pix above to play the movie.

The last week has been pretty hard for me. Once again, I'm at the saddest anniversary in my life, and I've been reliving some really maudlin moments in my head. It was 9 years ago that Randy passed away. To this day, memories of Randy's last days burn in my mind. Don't get me wrong though. I really do remember all the happy times I had with Randy; but those thoughts are tempered at this time of year, with the vivid remembrances of caring for him through the struggle at the end.

Please take a moment to read about Randy and remember the love of my life.

Below are pictures of some floral arrangements I put together to place on the grave. There are two planters, with white lilies and red tulips, for either side of the stone, along with a lovely brass flower garden butterfly. I also put together a small basket and another butterfly for Randy's mom, Carolynn.

MouseOver to see a close-up of the flowers at Randy's grave in North Lima, Ohio.