robby ([info]ruralrob) wrote,
2011-07-06 18:53:00
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Showing face again

xLJ1


Is it quiet around here, or what? Still I see some of the cool cats are still here. Good for you! It makes a visit so worthwhile.

I think occasional visits like this are going to be it for me. But boy, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since I last wrote here. I’ve been busy.

I’m firmly established now on PositiveLite.com, where I’m the Contributing Editor. This basically is what it sounds like; I contribute original material while I also edit and manage the efforts of the dozen or so other regular contributors. You can read all my recent stuff here if you’re so inclined.

In the course of that work, I’ve interviewed some amazing people. Look through my recent out-put there for some of them. Look for instance, for my interview with Paul, a poz guy, an ex-inmate, ex-user from Palm Springs who stands out on intersections in the hot desert sun with a hand-drawn placard advertizing HIV testing. Or the poz guy Kengi, formerly homeless himself, who does HIV outreach and runs support groups for homeless HIVers on skid row in Los Angeles.

I have turned in to a HUGE fan of twitter, where I’m @ruraltweeter. Who’d have thunk?

In any event, the site has done incredibly well. I don’t want to reveal numbers but let’s just say growth has been phenomenal. More importantly, it feels like the best and most rewarding work I’ve ever done. Perhaps I’ve found my niche.

My niche has also involved myself and my colleague Brian becoming a knowledge resource for anyone wanting to know about the use of social media in HIV work. I spoke on that subject at two national organizations last month, one in Toronto, the other in Ottawa.

I have the opportunity, scholarship gods willing, to go to the North American Housing Summit in September, held this year in New Orleans, and cover it for PositiveLite. I’ll know by July 15 whether that’s a go.

Along with all this has come some perks. I now have accredited media status with many Toronto theatres, which means free tickets to opening nights which I take full advantage of. The catch is I have to write a review for the next day. So I’ve been in Toronto a lot, acting as theatre critic for the site, and burning a bit of midnight oil in the process.

Other good stuff? I was accredited media for Pride Toronto this past weekend, which means having a press pass giving access to the parade route inside the barriers, which is something I’ve always coveted. You can see my two Pride posts, with photos, on the site.

In other news, the dogs are all fine, as is Meirion. One sour note is my feet. The peripheral neuropathy, a side effect of the drugs I take, has worsened. My doctor has reacted by dropping Truvada from my five-drug combo and adding Gabapentin. But it remains the case that walking a lot hurts, so I don’t.

Still, I’m pretty blessed, no? I always have been. How about you?

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[info]fba

July 6 2011, 23:08:51 UTC 10 months ago

Hey Rob - glad to hear you're doing well!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 02:56:00 UTC 10 months ago

Yay. That lovely face. So glad to make contact again!

[info]e_musings

July 6 2011, 23:10:24 UTC 10 months ago

i have missed you! a lot! so glad to see a post--I bop over to twitter and to positivelite.com to stalk you, lol.

guess what??? my niece and fam are moving to toronto--maybe we can meet in RL sometime!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 02:57:26 UTC 10 months ago

Stalking isn't just welcome, it's encouraged! And yay for LJ meet-ups. Let em know if a Toronto visit is in the works. I'm there all the time.

[info]bleppo

July 6 2011, 23:19:17 UTC 10 months ago

Hey you!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 02:58:10 UTC 10 months ago

Good to be accosted! I miss you peeps!

[info]mister_don

July 6 2011, 23:31:35 UTC 10 months ago

Good to see you writing, had been worried.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 02:59:16 UTC 10 months ago

Good to see you again too. No need to worry, though. I've been meaning to write for ages, but I am always busy, it seems.

[info]lavidamd

July 6 2011, 23:32:16 UTC 10 months ago

First and foremost, I'm glad things are going well for you, generally. I'm sorry to read about the neuropathy. Pain like that is so odd.... One must find this perfect mix of exercise and rest. It's a "moving target."

Thanks for posting on LJ again. I have missed you! I would thoroughly enjoy reading more posts from you here.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:00:43 UTC 10 months ago

Thanks. And the neuropathy thing is something you learn to ignore or adapt to. It only becomes major when you have a lot of walking or standing to do.

[info]purplepathos

July 6 2011, 23:57:57 UTC 10 months ago

Rob!!! So glad to see you back here! <3

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:00:58 UTC 10 months ago

Why thank you! Likewise!

[info]dentednj

July 7 2011, 00:38:26 UTC 10 months ago

Have missed you terribly. All my friends have gone from LJ and I'm considering leaving as well. Where are you blogging now Bob?
I've been tweeting for a long time now. I have an ID for funny things that can get a little raunchy (not me, the people I follow) so I keep it separated from my business ID.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:06:40 UTC 10 months ago

Funny about twitter. I used to think it was dumb. Now I think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

My blogging now is all on PositiveLite.com. It's very wide ranging as we have a holistic approach to living with HIV which encompasses far more than "being ill". So I do theatre reviews sometimes, throw in the odd recipe, a touch of politics, you name it. Anyway, my Positivelite blog is here: http://positivelite.com/content/blog/contributors/green-acres

Lurkers welcome!

[info]geminigirl

July 7 2011, 01:13:01 UTC 10 months ago

So glad to see you post.

I'm on Twitter as well as Whatthemamasaw. I don't tweet much but I do follow a lot of tweets.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:07:09 UTC 10 months ago

Glad to see you here - I'm following you on Twitter now.

[info]gracegiver

July 7 2011, 02:00:13 UTC 10 months ago

well well, now. I was starting to wonder if you kicked the bucket. welcome back!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 16:44:55 UTC 10 months ago

Not yet, LOL. Thanks.

[info]deb_artist

July 7 2011, 02:03:13 UTC 10 months ago

You've been missed.
I've been wondering how you're doing and hoping life was just keeping you busy. Glad to hear that's the case and that all is well with you and yours.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:07:34 UTC 10 months ago

Thnak you so much. I've missed you folks too.

[info]deke

July 7 2011, 02:31:04 UTC 10 months ago

It's good to see you again; I've missed you! Glad to hear everyone's doing well - I suspected you were doing more on PositiveLite.com. It's good to see you're tweeting, though. I'll have to start following you over there.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:08:55 UTC 10 months ago

Yes, I'm busy tweeting and PositiveLite-ing. And keeping very busy at it too. Good to see you here and on twitter.

[info]zenandtheart

July 7 2011, 02:37:39 UTC 10 months ago

I do miss your posts:). Glad to see you're as busy as ever - and love the photo!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:09:08 UTC 10 months ago

Thank you so much!

[info]baritonejeff

July 7 2011, 02:42:32 UTC 10 months ago

So good to see you here again, Rob. Even if it is just popping in. :( Thanks for catching us up on what's happening in your world. You are doing important work and doing it well. I would expect no less. :)

I also take gabapentin. It helps with those bizarre, shooting 'electrical' pains so I take it - even though I personally have found it pretty worthless on the pain you are describing. BUT...everyone's different, so I hope that it's more effective for you.

Blessed? Absolutely, I think, as am I. We can appreciate it, as you certainly do, or we can bitch and moan about things we cannot change.

The former works for me. :)

Know that you are missed here, my friend. No pressure at all intended, as I know that you have placed your priorities firmly where they belong, but I wanted you to know that. Be well.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:12:04 UTC 10 months ago

Ah, so nice, as always, thank you Jeff. Its really hard to say whether the Gabapentin works for me. Particularly when I wnet off Truvada at the same time, and when the pain in my feet is vastly affeceed by the amount of walking I'm doing at the time.

[info]polkaroo

July 7 2011, 02:49:26 UTC 10 months ago

Wow! I kept wondering what happened to you!

Congratulations on the great success you are having at PositiveLite! I'm so glad you are finding so much satisfaction with your work there.... but come on! Get back here a bit too :-)

I miss seeing your photos here. I learned alot about taking pics by looking at yours.

Heliina :-)

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 03:13:30 UTC 10 months ago

WShy thank you - and yes, I do intend dropping in here occasionally. Its just that maintaining two blogs plus Twitter is too much for me.

I do lurk on LJ though . . .

[info]restoman

July 7 2011, 03:25:29 UTC 10 months ago

It is great to see you back here, Rob!

I have missed your wonderful photos!

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 04:00:20 UTC 10 months ago

Why thank you!

[info]myluckeestar

July 7 2011, 03:31:53 UTC 10 months ago

I was just thinking of you yesterday. :) I will look you up on Twitter. I am polkadotdream on there. I hope they Gabapentin helps you. I was on it for my back and had no luck.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 04:00:37 UTC 10 months ago

Why, thank you!

[info]ciddyguy

July 7 2011, 03:59:36 UTC 10 months ago Edited:  July 7 2011, 04:01:00 UTC

Same o, same o here. Still working and need to exercise my photo taking A LOT more and summer finally arrived around these parts.

Spent a busy 4th of July weekend at Mom's and my middle sisters on the 4th.

All in all, not too shabby.

Glad to see something from you! Glad things are going well for you as well.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 04:02:47 UTC 10 months ago

I'm a lurker more than a poster on here now so I see your journal from to time. Good to hear you are doing OK, John

[info]geometrician

July 7 2011, 05:38:35 UTC 10 months ago

I was just thinking of you today.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/basset-hounds-running

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 16:45:51 UTC 10 months ago

Aren't they beautiful, LOL?

[info]judo100

10 months ago

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[info]abendstille

July 7 2011, 06:06:45 UTC 10 months ago

it´s so good to hear from you, Rob! i was wondering whether everything is going well in you guys life. It´s good to hear that it does

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 16:46:31 UTC 10 months ago

Hello again - and thank you so much.

[info]katbyte

July 7 2011, 12:02:56 UTC 10 months ago

I miss you. I really don't 'get' twitter, unless to promote something, but I do look at it sometimes. I am adding you. I am loveofgreys on twitter.

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 16:49:44 UTC 10 months ago

Hello again. We are twitter pals now. And trust me, there are some interesting things on there, particularly buzzing around my account.

[info]zyzyly

July 7 2011, 13:41:45 UTC 10 months ago

Good to see you pop in for an update. I was just thinking about you yesterday and found your twitter. I could tell that you were very much involved in your writing, and your update fills that out.

I miss seeing your photography--you have such a unique eye. But I am glad you are doing well and have found something that energizes you.

--mike

[info]ruralrob

July 7 2011, 16:50:10 UTC 10 months ago

Thanks Mike. Good to see you on here again.

[info]felixchaser

July 7 2011, 15:33:37 UTC 10 months ago

NIce Update

Hello !! Before say something, its amazing interview you did from that guy whos living on the streets from palm springs , did i said rigth!!? whose willing people to be testeted regarding HIV issue.

Glad to heard that you being very busy...

Dogos, i have one dog is a cooker spaniard (red hairy), but looks like are several of them is terrible, heheeh LOL , now i can understand why you love those you have.

BTW i still living with my cub bear, and he looks happy as i do.

This week i have a friend from Costa Rica whos bring some souvenirs from his country.

Be successful no matter what, happy to know from you again!! Hugs

[info]ruralrob

July 9 2011, 02:13:47 UTC 10 months ago

Re: NIce Update

Thank you my friend, and it's so good to hear from you.

[info]guiser1

July 7 2011, 18:28:15 UTC 10 months ago

Good to see you. Congrats on your niche. Makes me happy.

[info]ruralrob

July 9 2011, 02:14:02 UTC 10 months ago

Thank you so much.

[info]among_the_waves

July 7 2011, 18:46:48 UTC 10 months ago

Glad to see you back!

[info]ruralrob

July 9 2011, 02:14:15 UTC 10 months ago

Thank you!

[info]judo100

July 8 2011, 01:43:53 UTC 10 months ago

Thought you'd given up on LJ. Good to have you back (and your wonderful photos)!

[info]ruralrob

July 9 2011, 02:14:40 UTC 10 months ago

Thank you!
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