AtomicMrX

Here is the Wikipedia definition of World AIDS Day:

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to World AIDS Campaign (WAC), who chose Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise as the main theme for World AIDS Day observances through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC’s efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.

It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

Here is a small portion of the list of friends I have lost to AIDS:

• Steve Lansing 1993
• Carl Woodford 1994
• Quience Sykes 1994
• Yul Stell 1996 (?)
• Paul 1997 (?)
• Darrin 1998 (?)

There have been far too many of my buddies at the bars that have been lost to AIDS as well. Unfortunately I can’t remember all their names and years of passing. I’ve never been good with names but I always will remember their smiling faces, conversations, and fun times dancing at the bars.

I volunteered for two hours of over time today. I need the money so I just can’t say no. When I got home Shannon had made a great dinner of home-made french fries and a big juicy hamburger. It was all good! Made the over time well worth it!

The temperature dropped today like crazy. When I got off work at 5:30 PM it was practically cold! There was a good wind blowing and the air was quite misty. It tried to rain but never really got it going. I actually turned the heat on in the car for awhile to get the chill off.

It’s suppose to be cool all week (mid to upper 70’s). Looks like I’ll have to finish painting the house very soon. (ugh!)

I noticed I have a crack on my front windshield! Just great. So I called AAA and made my report. I will have to wait for the weather to warm up before replacing it (and until I get the $250.00 for my deductible).

It started to snow yesterday around noon and it didn’t stop till the middle of the night. We got about 6 to 8 inches of snow. At least there is no ice under it - just snow.

I have to go out and shovel now… yeah!

I have a nice long weekend of four days off! I just played around on the internet and did nothing productive yesterday - it was nice.

I plan on keeping up with blog entries in 2007. Don’t mistake this as a New Years resolution - just something to focus more on. The last few months of 2006 have been sparse in blog entries, which is a little embarrassing.

In just a week I will be 44 and my Dad will be 87. I’m almost 45 and still overweight, so this year is a focus on proper food intake and going to the gym (the biggest challenge is to recreate the good habit of gym routine).

Enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebration everyone but please don’t drink and drive! Play safe and have a fun evening! I’ll be staying at home and in bed early! Not much reason to stay up late and I like the sleep more than seeing a day change to another day!

Tomorrow will mark five years after a horrific event. Let us not get lax and forget what happened on American soil, and what could possibly happen again in some other form.

Take time on Monday, September 11, 2006 to remember all the lives lost, all the effort to save those found, and all the solders doing what they were trained to do so they can come back home - alive.