tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10561875784099926462024-03-05T11:16:08.622-05:00Daniel Bauer is - LivingPozitively.comMy name is Daniel Bauer, successor to the legendary Harry Houdini, and I am living with HIV / AIDS. This is my blog. . .LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-83914653267910265002013-03-19T10:50:00.000-04:002013-03-20T15:42:52.185-04:00A hub for up and coming death defying escapes & a learning space for all: to build hope, inspire, captivate and engage our nation in a call-to-action to shift HIV perception, reduce infections among our youth and guide those who are out of care to get back-in!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.danielbauer.us/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">www.danielbauer.us</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been some time since I have posted; I wanted to share with you why as well as what you can now expect from me and my posts moving forward. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over the last year and a half as I have been re-introducing myself to the world (since my fall in 2002 when I was diagnosed with HIV), I had some most amazing moments getting my hands and heart involved in some amazing projects and calls-to-action; as I started on this adventure of new life my goal was to discover where my true calling would best fall into place in the fight against the wars on HIV that our nation is continually facing. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried the activism thing. . . a bit too radical for me. I tried the social media thing, and found I am too ADD to sit in front of a computer for hours at a time, and besides there are some <a href="http://danielbauer.us/HIV_Resources.html">awesome social media projects</a> out there, so rather than recreate another wheel, its best if I support what's already in motion and do my part to spread those messages. And lastly, while I am an advocate for the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS, I have learned through much feedback and through personal reflections that where I believe I fit, and have found my true calling is to simply remain dedicated to presenting motivational speaking, training and educational programs to youth and HIV service professionals while balancing my dream to be positioned (once again) as one of the most talented escape artists since the Houdini era.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have now presented/performed to more than 10,000 people (youth, service professionals, general public) over this last year speaking on topics that change the perception of those living with HIV/AIDS; delivering heart-pounding and life-saving messages to youth in an effort to inspire youth to make healthier choices; I have been featured as a plenary speaker at national conferences presenting on topics such as outreach strategy, and the importance of communities including the voices and faces of those living with HIV to inspire change. And as many of you know my show Beyond Belief, which has been a huge hit, toured nationally and is now in the planning to return to New York City later this spring. With all this said, I write this not to just 'float-my-own-boat'; yet more to share with you my commitment to inspiring communities to engage in more education efforts especially at the High School level. Students respond to 'real-talk' about sex and other "out of the classroom and when parents aren't looking" behaviors when they are given the chance to engage on an equal playing field with <a href="http://www.danielbauer.us/">a speaker bold enough to speak to them at their level</a>. This creates change! I have seen it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all this said, moving forward, I will be posting bi-monthly; providing updates on experiences I have had as I continue to speak. What works. . . what doesn't. My hope is that this information will be shared and read by educators, parents, HIV service professionals, the media and anyone else who has an interest in deepening the learning experience among our youth about the risks of contracting HIV and other STI's. Additionally, another one of my core missions will be to reach out to the media whom I believe is the solution to reversing the war on HIV Stigma in our nation. It was the media who frantically educated us about HIV based on FEAR. Since they are responsible for shaping the fear of HIV they will (and do) have the power to reverse the stigma. I will keep you updated with my efforts.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So welcome to my blog once again, a refreshed space providing tools and educational strategies that may provide useful to inspire change, engage HIV service professionals and empower youth to make healthier choices in life.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for following my blog!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With life, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Daniel</span><br />
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<a href="http://danielbauer.us/JustGetTested_E-Store.html" target="_blank"><img alt="HIV" border="0" src="http://danielbauer.us/images/img0020.png" /></a><br />
<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-32431622709636565712013-01-13T14:44:00.001-05:002013-01-14T11:07:39.369-05:00The Will Clark Show presents one amazing star studded line-up to benefit the awe-inspiring and life-saving work of the Iris House of New York City!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I AM HONORED that <a href="http://willclarkworld.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Will Clark</a> (a total super hero of mine who does awesomeness for the HIV/AIDS community) called upon me to team up with two of my New York City favorite stars (and role models), the absolutely sensational <a href="http://www.wittirepartee.com/" target="_blank">Witti Repartee</a> (who is also Empress XXVI of the <a href="http://www.icny.org/" target="_blank">Imperial Court of New York</a>) and the ultra fabulous <a href="http://margohchanning.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">MargOH Channing</a>, to be featured guests at <a href="http://willclarkworld.typepad.com/will_clark_world/the-will-clark-show.html" target="_blank">The Will Clark Show</a> on Thur., Jan. 17, 2013: 7 pm to 9 pm @ <a href="https://twitter.com/RitzBarLounge" target="_blank">The Ritz</a>, 369 w. 46th St., (which happens to be one of my all time favorite venues in New York City). Together, all of this razzle and dazzle will benefit the Iris House - <a href="http://www.irishouse.org/" target="_blank">A center for women living with HIV/AIDS</a>.<br />
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I rarely ever (in fact almost never) ask friends, fans or strangers to donate money to any specific HIV/AIDS charity / cause. The reason for this is that I personally am bombarded with gazillions of events every year where I am asked to make donations to further a cause - there are a lot of amazing causes yet my wallet can stretch only so far! HOWEVER, with that said, I am breaking my rule. . . just this time; AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY!!! The <b>IRIS HOUSE SAVES LIVES</b>. . . and I am now asking you to join me and my fellow fabulousters (Will, Witti and MargOH). . . just this once - to make a difference because I asked you to! (Yep that's as direct as it gets!. . .)<br />
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I went to visit the Iris House headquarters where I was given a personal tour, by the truly amazing Michael B. Jones, Director of Development (A.K.A. Witti Repartee), of their <a href="http://irishouse.org/services.html" target="_blank">services and programs </a>offered to Women (and to men). . . who are living with / affected by HIV/AIDS. . . and let me tell you, <b>I AM INSPIRED</b>! There are many organizations that serve the HIV/AIDS community in NYC which do great work; however the <a href="http://www.irishouse.org/" target="_blank">IRIS HOUSE</a>. . . performs miracles;<b> they are "Saving Lives"</b>! [I am still in awe-shock - in fact the goose bumps have not left my arms since my visit last week.]<br />
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So, let me share with you what I learned:<br />
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Just over the last 2 fiscal years, <b>Iris House has served nearly 10,000 persons</b> through their on-site and community programs! I could write for hours about all the <a href="http://irishouse.org/services.html" target="_blank">amazing programs</a> Iris House offers . . . however, there is a full outline of all their services and programs which are outlined and <a href="http://irishouse.org/services.html" target="_blank">explained best on their website</a>; so check them out and see why my heart is still beating with a pulse for their motto<b> "Saving Lives"</b>.<br />
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While so much of the success and very high rates of changing lives that Iris House achieves really hit home with me, there were a few things that were shared with me that had me in shock. . . I went into tears after I had left . . . One of the main [and many] programs Iris House offers is a <a href="http://irishouse.org/nutrition.html" target="_blank">food and nutrition program</a> which had lost significant funding back in 2010 - however <b>still managed to serve 116,000 meals in 2012 to persons living with HIV as well as to community members</b> [How freak'n awesome is that!!]. HOWEVER, more times than none when Iris House serves lunch (Tues - Friday); the lines are so long that a NOTE -<b> "SORRY NO MORE LUNCH"</b> is taped to the door when the meals run out. [I seriously had to GASP for air. . . and do all I could to hold back my tears. . .<b> this is sad. . . so sad!!</b>]<br />
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So now you know WHY I want you to come out this Thursday and spend 2 hours with me, Witti and MargOH (not only to be entertained - AND OH BOY WILL YOU EVER - and also to play Porno Bingo ($1 bingo cards) with fabulous prizes to be won . . . MORE IMPORTANTLY I WANT YOU to come out to share in and support the magic of life - to make a difference in one person's life. . . to <b>allow another person to not be cut off that lunch line</b>!<br />
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Like any non-profit, I wanted to find out how the money, that they are raising during my very special appearance, is going to be allocated. Well, check this out. . . <b>Iris House allocates .88 cents of every dollar raised to direct programs and services</b>! That is nothing short of amazing! So you can dig even deeper that night and be greeted with such warm thanks and love as The Iris House staff will be present at this star-studded Will Clark Show to accept your donations; and you can be rest assured your contribution is absolutely going to make a difference. Now, I know many of my readers are out of the New York City area so in the event you are unable to book a last minute flight and make hotel arrangements to attend the live event, please know you can still attend in spirit by making a donation online <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=133699201&vlrStratCode=IbVIp7ERjIiFcfQlEmzrUxWDobxYmOq4ew2wy2Y4iLQGK5FLQ%2b5043t%2bxh5vMevw" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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So from me to you. . . a very special thank you to all those who will come out and join in on this very special evening. . . and to those of you who are unable to attend, Thank you for <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=133699201&vlrStratCode=IbVIp7ERjIiFcfQlEmzrUxWDobxYmOq4ew2wy2Y4iLQGK5FLQ%2b5043t%2bxh5vMevw" target="_blank">making a donation online</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AdylVuM-jIsNkp0QFmt0mygy4n1HNaJYkA0-vL4WnEar0_lcLscH9qvf215rY7P9VNkZK805LUuetUOn6hPuMK6hOkxvJUDjRePYGghToxmP86ry0H7ycuk861XwRJWxzkB01pJ7Jks/s1600/MailBag_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AdylVuM-jIsNkp0QFmt0mygy4n1HNaJYkA0-vL4WnEar0_lcLscH9qvf215rY7P9VNkZK805LUuetUOn6hPuMK6hOkxvJUDjRePYGghToxmP86ry0H7ycuk861XwRJWxzkB01pJ7Jks/s200/MailBag_1.jpg" width="200" /></a>NOW. . . for those of you who do come out I plan to perform one piece of really awesome magic! AND. . . as a special performance bonus I will attempt a death-defying feat (Houdini's famed mailbag escape). . . which I have NEVER performed in a setting this close up before! Very dangerous, very [almost] cloth-less and well pretty "sick" if I make it out alive! [Um, yes, that is me in my boxer briefs as a willing volunteer ties my hands and feet up with clothes-line rope - and that sucker tied me up tight too, I almost didn't make it out. . .]<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZTJyjR5gCFZ3fvQTf7dVogDPClpMVYFwZx8cCFCMsFBlDaSY9WPNNxD0mwZuRN7grUZkU2EN77zAok8pg8-fU4bqPaVwg-It2EMR-rwulLoh_Kr5JncsZO1agB31a_WWv3EVpbZy9l4/s1600/MailBag_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZTJyjR5gCFZ3fvQTf7dVogDPClpMVYFwZx8cCFCMsFBlDaSY9WPNNxD0mwZuRN7grUZkU2EN77zAok8pg8-fU4bqPaVwg-It2EMR-rwulLoh_Kr5JncsZO1agB31a_WWv3EVpbZy9l4/s200/MailBag_2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I look forward to seeing you all out! Please do come up and say hi to me after the show [assuming the escape attempt is a success]. . . and let me know you supported the Iris House so that I can be sure to give you a BIG HUG!!<br />
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Quickly, again:<br />
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- For additional information about the Iris House, please <a href="http://www.irishouse.org/" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
- To make a donation online please <a href="https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=133699201&vlrStratCode=IbVIp7ERjIiFcfQlEmzrUxWDobxYmOq4ew2wy2Y4iLQGK5FLQ%2b5043t%2bxh5vMevw" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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My name is Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">Living Pozitively</a>! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-90035989483172991202012-12-12T12:18:00.000-05:002012-12-12T12:18:57.224-05:00TEST-CHALLENGE: Shirtless by the fire. . . and sex it is!!!It has been a while since I have done a YouTube video and thought to myself, '<i>What the heck I'll get shirtless by the fire and talk to you about roasting chests and nuts on (or is it chestnuts by?) the fire. . .</i>"!<br />
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So really this is a 2 part message. . . please watch the YoutTube video below. . . and just below that, I was honored to be interviewed on Put It Together Radio, where host Daniel Garza goes in deep about my message!!<br />
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<b>MESSAGE 1. . .</b><br />
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<b>MESSAGE 2</b> . . . (you might want to pour a beverage for this one! It's a really cool interview and I encourage you to listen to the whole thing. . .)<br />
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<span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <a href="http://abnormalent.com/pitpodcast/PIT_047.mp3" target="_blank">click here to listen</a></span></div>
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">LivingPozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog!LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-11987208583818913052012-11-10T08:41:00.000-05:002012-11-10T08:53:41.303-05:00Healthy Gay Lifestyles . . . simply a must!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtustqnDjrY9i13NaqCZ49O7Gb8Kzrs3VhelUi7BCO19LDbA5Tsv1tuWwHCc4cQ15kVRY04_jhzdz0G2dLcWFbCrzW9jbLFF9mGfcUVCXTweYYq9OJywL-UZMUE2fY6s9PnFW_H6cV8w4/s1600/HGL-Cover-Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtustqnDjrY9i13NaqCZ49O7Gb8Kzrs3VhelUi7BCO19LDbA5Tsv1tuWwHCc4cQ15kVRY04_jhzdz0G2dLcWFbCrzW9jbLFF9mGfcUVCXTweYYq9OJywL-UZMUE2fY6s9PnFW_H6cV8w4/s400/HGL-Cover-Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
On days end I scour the internet looking for the next hottest thing that I can include as another tool in my box (ha!) where I can learn about ways to be a healthier man [gay man]!<br />
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A few weeks ago I got a call from this online publication (and weekly newsletter) called <a href="http://healthygaylifestyles.com/">HealthyGayLifestyles.com</a> asking if I would write a piece, from my perspective, about <a href="http://healthygaylifestyles.com/whats-with-all-this-hiv-among-us-gays/" target="_blank">HIV among us gays</a>! Before I wrote the piece, I checked out the magazine. . . and I was most impressed with the information, tools, resources and much more it had to offer! So without going into a long-winded blog-post about this online magazine . . . check out how cool it is for yourself!! AND encourage your fellow gay friends to also check the magazine out. Here's a bit of info about what to expect:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJ0AAwxUdfoRrlxaJHuzZDvBuc6zyDe6wLJtS03IQCl1PaTOtAtrHG1nJsf_jx1-kvclrUI_k_d8V2uhoT2Gd35uPMO8QA2DOzQDjByoB5Z041l4bmQwczuvfH583jAOJ69VPN6fe1FU/s1600/FacebookHGLCoverImage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJ0AAwxUdfoRrlxaJHuzZDvBuc6zyDe6wLJtS03IQCl1PaTOtAtrHG1nJsf_jx1-kvclrUI_k_d8V2uhoT2Gd35uPMO8QA2DOzQDjByoB5Z041l4bmQwczuvfH583jAOJ69VPN6fe1FU/s320/FacebookHGLCoverImage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
HealthyGayLifestyles.com is the new online magazine and newsletter for the empowerment of gay men. It’s mission is to supply the tools that can give EVERY gay man the ability to lead a healthy, wealthy, and more balanced/blended lifestyle. To create a community where thousands of gay men from all over the world come together in support and celebration of each other.</div>
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Gay men have an enormous influence on what our world will look like in the future. Our responsibilities are endless. Gay men deserve to be respected, honored, and praised for our contribution to society.</div>
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Please join us on this magnificent journey to lead the life you have always dreamed of, the life you deserve. <b><a href="http://healthygaylifestyles.com/information-sp-alpha/" target="_blank">Sign up today</a></b> to receive your FREE weekly article offering lifestyle solutions for gay men and your FREE copy of “The Truth About Gay Relationships.”</div>
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Live Your Best Life,</div>
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Healthy Gay Lifestyles</div>
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<a href="http://www.healthygaylifestyles.com/">www.healthygaylifestyles.com</a></div>
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I signed up for their weekly newsletter and hope you will too!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://healthygaylifestyles.com/information-sp-alpha/" target="_blank">SIGN UP TODAY</a></span></div>
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Also - don't forget boys and gals, please make sure to Just Get Tested for STDs and HIV!<br />
Thanks for following my blog! I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank"><img alt="HIV" border="0" src="http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p485/JGT_STD/7f53eb5d.jpg" /></a></div>
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LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-67740025065346768952012-09-26T11:31:00.004-04:002013-03-19T10:48:50.317-04:0009.27.12 - National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tHGboiadEhBNBX3Zn3orFEvNVl_bUC3wLKkjKTMPyp3Ni-uGIy4uyLEcYeYr4w5rRdl-BCbNbAQLdkOMY0kym4gnxi09Bpf7xsWh8IIKO_bJWW8oQpx1PJsGoyRxv38y34uAGMKpMfw/s1600/gaymen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tHGboiadEhBNBX3Zn3orFEvNVl_bUC3wLKkjKTMPyp3Ni-uGIy4uyLEcYeYr4w5rRdl-BCbNbAQLdkOMY0kym4gnxi09Bpf7xsWh8IIKO_bJWW8oQpx1PJsGoyRxv38y34uAGMKpMfw/s320/gaymen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">As a very out and proud gay man and 10 year warrior living with HIV/AIDS, I stand tall in an effort to bring a greater awareness to this year's National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on September 27, 2012.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">This morning I was searching the internet to see how this year's awareness day is shaping up; and to find elements of hope that would not only inspire me but also lend a voice to a call to action. In my search, I came across the following powerful statement by Frank J. Oldham Jr., President and CEO of the <a href="http://www.napwa.org/" target="_blank">National Association of People with AIDS</a>. I believe he sums up what I is a very necessary call to action as a gay man - a call to action I feel I must embrace and put into motion. In his words, I share this with you:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>"We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">. To the quarter-million brothers and lovers we have buried. To the allies who have supported our fight for treatment access and civil rights. To ourselves.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to know our own status. Every gay man who is active with multiple partners (or thinks his partner may be) needs to get tested every three months.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to know how to protect ourselves and others. We’re excited about the potential of treatment-as-prevention and PrEP, but we all still need to keep our condoms handy.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to be as open as we can be about being HIV-positive. Sometimes disclosure isn’t safe, and safety comes first – but our brothers need to know they know people just like them who are living with the virus. And any new partner needs to know our status before the clothes come off.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to demand access to healthcare for ourselves and for all Americans. It’s not just a human right, it’s common sense. It costs the public sector more to ignore epidemic than to deal with it, and we need our elected officials to know we know that.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to demand to be treated as “normal.” We </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> normal. We should insist on marriage because it’s our right, and because it forces our neighbors to reconsider the homophobia that gave the HIV epidemic its opportunity to explode in the gay community and move on from there.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> – to love. Last year on National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we gave a Positive Leadership Award, NAPWA's highest honor, to </span><a href="http://www.napwa.org/sites/default/files/Sullivan-Collins.pdf" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #167d76; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Alvin Collins and John Sullivan</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">. Alvin had been one of the unlucky few who, despite the best modern treatment for HIV, don't do well. John stuck to Alvin through thick and thin – and Alvin stuck to John. Alvin died this Spring. We have a responsibility to honor that love.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;" /> <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>We have a responsibility.</strong></em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> We changed the world in the eighties, insisting on treatment and research when Washington didn’t want to hear us. Today we have the medical and behavioral prevention tools we need to make new HIV infections a thing of the past. We insisted then. We can do it again."</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">So on this day - I will embrace these words and calls to action above! I hope you too will join and follow me!</span><br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog!<br />
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<a href="http://danielbauer.us/JustGetTested_E-Store.html" target="_blank"><img alt="HIV" border="0" src="http://danielbauer.us/images/img0020.png" /></a>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-55099842072251437552012-09-14T14:30:00.001-04:002012-09-15T08:27:33.289-04:00AFRAID to get back into HIV care: WORST MISTAKE I ever made!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAFk9ykBwUd189wN6M7q0wZ9yerLLbHRPCmtpv78UUyvAkZKq31ok0HLKCHRaPC28zi5gpzNw7djARyaXbq2zYptOMpKH5cx_dV1tw3LTjwF0jXX7c6cwF5cbqhiO4RcJQu2RYMz1d3Y/s1600/Partners-in+care-handout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAFk9ykBwUd189wN6M7q0wZ9yerLLbHRPCmtpv78UUyvAkZKq31ok0HLKCHRaPC28zi5gpzNw7djARyaXbq2zYptOMpKH5cx_dV1tw3LTjwF0jXX7c6cwF5cbqhiO4RcJQu2RYMz1d3Y/s400/Partners-in+care-handout.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
Forget the dizziniess, puking, diarrhea and other wacko-side-effects that come with starting the once-a-day <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_HIV/AIDS" target="_blank">antiretroviral</a> (ARV) pill <i><a href="http://www.atripla.com/" target="_blank">Atripla</a> </i><span style="color: #666666;">(um - this is my experience, I have friends who are fine with this ARV)</span><i>; </i> it was when the killer whales came out at night swarming the wooden raft I was trapped on in the middle of the black sea; [<i>me</i>] deathly afraid as they smashed the corners of the raft trying to get me to roll into their death-jaws; AND THEN WAKING UP BREATHING DEEPLY DRENCHED IN SWEAT; that made me think twice about popping this pink sucker daily ever again! These effects. . . these wicked evil dreams went on for weeks. . . I couldn't take it! I simply just couldn't take it anymore! So I stopped.<br />
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Fact is when people asked me if I was taking my meds (after I stopped) - I lied. I told them I was. It was none of their business and I certainly didn't want to hear the damn lectures about the importance of taking HIV meds. ["Blah, Blah Blah in my head!"] I had big muscles, my diet was good and after my first blood checks, I was undetectable. So there was no need (or so I thought) to have to go through the hell of getting past the side-effects of the medication anymore. I "<i>took control</i>" of my own health (meaning <i>stupid-in-my-head-kicked-in</i>) and I stopped taking the pill. As long as I could see big muscles on the outside, I figured my insides were okay. Besides, I figured if this one medication had all these side effects I could not handle, all the rest must be the same; so there was no reason to even ask my doctor for another dose [prescription] of punishing. So in plain-jane-terms. . . I said to myself, "<i>Fuck-it! I am done!</i>"<br />
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In <a href="http://livingpozitively.blogspot.com/2011/10/remembering-andrew-p-bauer-love-pain.html" target="_blank">a previous post I talked about my baby brother Andy</a> and his struggles; I share the story about when he called me [back in 2010] and I had to rush to the hospital because he told me that the doctors were about to intubate him (he refused to take meds - back then AZT); he couldn't breathe on his own. He couldn't handle the med's side-effects. He asked [<i>begged</i>] me to not let the doctor's do this to him. He wanted to just die.He was done fighting for life. When I arrived I was too late - the tubes were inside him; However, even the doctor's told me it was too late - even with the tubes inside him; with PCP and so many other complications his body would not win. Regardless, I had to honor Andy's wish and have the tubes pulled out of him. What was really scary for me was the very moment my eyes laid upon him. I froze! OMG!!!!!! I thought I stared death [<i>my own death</i>] in the face! I was now truly afraid - sooooo afraid - to tell anyone that I had stopped my medication. I was ashamed.<br />
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Early June 2011, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance as a result of various health complications; following tests and more I learned that my t-cells had crashed. UGH!!!!!! I figured there was no saving me now. I figured I would become just like Andy. DEAD so early in life. <i>Man was I scared shitless</i>!<br />
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REALITY!!! The doctors told me I still had a fighting chance, but only if I stayed in care; it was my choice to make. So I dropped the ego, let go of my fear and listened! I took an active role in following direction and I started on new meds. Truvada / Kaletra cocktail. Once I got past the puking and "shit" (literally) and saw my t-cells climbing and my viral load decreasing, man did I ever feel better about myself. 1-year later I have managed to get back on stage, live my dreams and fight for every fiber of life I have with which I have been blessed.<br />
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I can't tell you how grateful I am to be back in care and living a VERY HEALTHY lifestyle. I am living like I have never before. Every 3-4 months I go to get my blood checked just to make sure things are still good; I am beyond anal retentive about taking my meds in the morning and night! Actually I now freak out if I am an hour late! HA! That's how important I now realize it is to maintain regular care of living with HIV.<br />
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With all this said, I hope others - out there - who have dropped out of care; including <i><b>those of you</b></i> who have stopped taking meds - no matter the excuse- that you - ALL OF YOU - will reconsider!<br />
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If my blog and personal experience is not enough, then this coming Tuesday, I invite you to join me as I sit on a panel for a <a href="http://www.incarecampaign.net/index.cfm/77453" target="_blank">Partners In+ Care</a> webinar session to learn about the importance of staying in care. YOUR LIFE MATTERS! SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN RETURNING. . . COMING BACK TO MANAGING YOUR HEALTH CARE.<br />
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Here's the info:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRJbm48sZ8fdaMO4UfNzh66_4MmdS0tGSxKlmc4NDFyOlbrkhP4gWBcDU_v5CLVF_NsV7CFxQ8IgL2O48WLkrdE61Q5vtBq7xQOz7nM9KhVEA8nBPvhwzAGxloIEW3rQgCXtFBiNBGC4/s1600/Campaign+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRJbm48sZ8fdaMO4UfNzh66_4MmdS0tGSxKlmc4NDFyOlbrkhP4gWBcDU_v5CLVF_NsV7CFxQ8IgL2O48WLkrdE61Q5vtBq7xQOz7nM9KhVEA8nBPvhwzAGxloIEW3rQgCXtFBiNBGC4/s1600/Campaign+Logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;"><i>Partners in+care Webinar Series</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;"><b>Reaching Out to Keep Our Friends in Care</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;"><u>Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 4:00pm ET</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;">Agenda: We all know people who know their HIV+ status, but are not in care. How do we work with our friends, family, lovers and others to make sure they get into and stay in care? Tyler TerMeer of the Ohio AIDS Coalition will talk about his experiences in working with loved ones on staying in care. In addition, we will have a panel conversation to flush out issues why our loved ones are not in care and how we can respond to make sure they lead happy and healthy lives. The panel includes Dr. Loida Bonney of Emory University College of Medicine and Daniel Bauer of Living Pozitively in addition to Tyler TerMeer!</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;">Dial-in#: 866.394.2346<br />
Participant Code: 394 154 6368 #</span><br />
<span style="font-family: serif; font-size: small;">URL: </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: serif; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://www.nqcqualityacademy.org/incarecampaign/">http://www.nqcqualityacademy.org/incarecampaign/</a></u></span><br />
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I hope this post inspires at least one person living with HIV/AIDS to consider the importance of getting back into care. I hope you will join in next Tuesday and chime in [or simply just listen]!<br />
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I am curious - has anyone else stopped care? Why? And what did it take for you to get back into managing your HIV care? I want to hear from you!<br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>. Thank you for following my blog!<br />
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p.s. I encourage everyone to<a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank"> JustGetTested</a>! Sex is fun! Infection is not!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank"><img alt="HIV" border="0" src="http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p485/JGT_STD/7f53eb5d.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-33895776332975674872012-09-04T11:21:00.002-04:002012-09-04T11:22:16.662-04:00FIGHTING STIGMA: HIV and the past.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHF0w8jCp3hH4sIPjdGwTE0ncfqMZLZEYhD27jLPcQujlb7zSf4nfvtU9aCaYIN0YJQvqDPvJaGBzn6zazWiHrZ-e8q5z1_MvSdCsTg0i9Ot1NrSgrnODyQZEkjlm5MdM68r9FeFqBKs/s1600/getting-past-the-past-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHF0w8jCp3hH4sIPjdGwTE0ncfqMZLZEYhD27jLPcQujlb7zSf4nfvtU9aCaYIN0YJQvqDPvJaGBzn6zazWiHrZ-e8q5z1_MvSdCsTg0i9Ot1NrSgrnODyQZEkjlm5MdM68r9FeFqBKs/s1600/getting-past-the-past-300x199.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">I came a across these words this morning <a href="http://www.swparents.com/article/getting-past-the-past/" target="_blank">written by Kate Raidt</a> "I don’t think there is a single person on planet earth who has not experienced trauma, heartbreak, verbal, emotional or physical abuse, failure, humiliation or grief. In fact, most of the most important and successful people in the world have experienced all-of-the-above in doses most of us could never imagine. I heard long ago: It’s not what happens to you, but </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">how you handle it</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> that defines your character. Repeat after me: I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I cannot change the past. I would never ask anyone to simply “Forget the past. Get over it. Suck it up”. We are human beings and unless you have a brain transplant it is impossible to forget the past. I feel in order to get through an event that has emotionally or physically crippled you, you must acknowledge it, embrace it, learn from it and use it as </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">motivation</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> to make your dreams come true. How in the world can someone use something tragic and motivation to be successful?"</span><br />
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As an entertainer and activist, I am trying to find the balance in life that both embraces my passions and dreams while fighting stigma. However these past couple of weeks have had their trials and tribulations which I am finding to be more upsetting than most times. So I thought I would write about it and ask for your advice to help me get through this.<br />
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See, this past July I performed a show for an organization; I was referred to them by a former friend. After entering into a verbal agreement and confirming some details via emails, the organization is now backing off their end of the bargain. I decided to possibly pursue small claims legal action and when I communicated this, the organization decided to take my past and use it against me to start a smear campaign.<br />
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Living the life of a public figure is NOT EASY. There are good days, bad days, good press and bad press! I thought airing my dirty laundry, would allow me to move past my past, while standing tall about the kind of life I want to live today and rebuild hope so that I can walk with dignity. As the words clearly stated above, we are not all angels in this world! I have done my fair share of crap! I even publicly talk about some of that so that others who may feel that a fresh start is not possible. . . would also discover hope and start living their lives with genuine purpose to make a difference in this world.<br />
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Well, yesterday, a few HIV Activists, trudged up an unfortunate article that was written about me, and they decided to launch a smear campaign against me. Stating "Now the real truth about Daniel Bauer is out." These are activists who I have done amazing things with this past year. Activists, some of whom unfortunately I no longer speak with. Partly my fault, partly their fault.<br />
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While I am not happy about things that have happened in my life well over 10 years ago since my diagnosis, or other bumps and bruises that took my place in my life, I have owned up to them; each and every day. I am just stunned that because I felt the need to protect an agreement that was made (and maybe this is Karma - because I have certainly broken my fair share of agreements in the past) - that this organization who backed out on their agreement and individuals associated with this organization felt it was okay to take this one article written about me, post it all over facebook and begin this negatively launched smear campaign against me.<br />
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To those of you who picked up the phone to begin this childish campaign and to those of you who posted the posts and so forth; <i>"Go ahead and do what you need to do. . . while I am not proud of my past. . . I am proud to be who I am today. . . proud to inspire people to reach for the stars, proud to be open about living with HIV and proud of myself for not allowing anyone who tells me otherwise to keep me from living with dignity."</i><br />
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To those of you HIV Activists who felt it was okay to do this. . . I hope you think about what kind of lives you want to live. I aired my dirty laundry - and now you choose to use it against me when I am public about the dark days I have overcome?!? Simply not cool!<br />
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So readers I guess what I need is. . . is some advice . . . how would you get past this? How would you handle fellow HIV Activists who felt the desire to try and bring you down because of your past?<br />
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Thank you for reading. . . and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.<br />
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I am Daniel and I am living pozitively.<br />
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P.S. Remember - Knowing your status is "SMART" - so Just Get Tested!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank"><img alt="HIV" border="0" src="http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p485/JGT_STD/7f53eb5d.jpg" /></a>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-42049264401567360952012-08-06T13:15:00.001-04:002012-08-06T13:20:49.412-04:00Sex is fun. . . Infection is not: Why I stand 100% with JustGetTested.com<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDHtoIp-uu9fNqGcyhJ62ou126-yxJ1vBWNwwvzfAEZNT0NY0OWEeZu3CHQ6H9t5jtCcEanRQXYcP2yhVEomf9aTH-hJb6etTJOlwrAKEAKu5j8xAENKR7zE6ZJQXNPyaTvBoo6Ksy1c/s1600/dbJGTGOOD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDHtoIp-uu9fNqGcyhJ62ou126-yxJ1vBWNwwvzfAEZNT0NY0OWEeZu3CHQ6H9t5jtCcEanRQXYcP2yhVEomf9aTH-hJb6etTJOlwrAKEAKu5j8xAENKR7zE6ZJQXNPyaTvBoo6Ksy1c/s320/dbJGTGOOD.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
The biggest mistake I made in my life (well I should say one of the biggest. . .) is that I auto-assumed my partner back in the day was negative when he told me in a drunken stupor romantic whisper he was. . . accompanied by "I LOVE YOU. In fact I auto assumed I was negative too! Neither of us tested. . . both of us engaged in sex without protection.<br />
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Reality is if we had been tested, we both (or at least I) could have made a smarter decision about how we chose to have sex. I could have prevented becoming infected with HIV.<br />
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Every three months I get my blood tested to make sure I am doing what is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle; to ensure that the antiretroviral medication prescribed is still working and to ensure that my diet is on target. While sometimes it is a lot to manage. . . knowing is key! Oh! And yes, I still have sex. . . and still get tested regularly for STD's and the such. . . and if you are having sex. . . you should just get tested too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztWHE4suFbj3xjBzOiqhtMdxHWU_XmdYTHr_tFoc07_p50ly8Z9vrMOybc4cCvpaVNJzbv5CI6XW4aVPNvL-nR0S3vSfgH17xEVoZl_77Xl-wlXqcGrpFl0QetKwF17GPY9VMnkVHKQ4/s1600/JGTME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztWHE4suFbj3xjBzOiqhtMdxHWU_XmdYTHr_tFoc07_p50ly8Z9vrMOybc4cCvpaVNJzbv5CI6XW4aVPNvL-nR0S3vSfgH17xEVoZl_77Xl-wlXqcGrpFl0QetKwF17GPY9VMnkVHKQ4/s400/JGTME.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
Now, with all this said, while I am on a firm mission to do my part to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma by living my life; reclaiming my dream and passion in life as Houdini's successor; I have found it also equally as important in my message to encourage and educate as many people as possible about the importance of just getting tested.<br />
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<b>SEX IS FUN!!!! INFECTION IS NOT!!!!</b> This is why I am officially announcing that I have teamed up with <a href="http://justgettested.com/">JustGetTested.com</a> - as their new face for HIV Testing!<br />
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Now I want to make it clear - JustGetTested is more than just about HIV and STD testing. Those of you living with diabetes and those of you who need easy access to getting simple / complete overall health blood tests done. . . then <a href="http://justgettested.com/">JustGetTested.com</a> is for you.<br />
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So without further due. . . please help me welcome <a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank">the one company I stand 100% behind</a> when it comes to getting tested. . . <a href="http://justgettested.com/">JustGetTested.com</a>!! <applause><br />
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<b>JustGetTested</b>™<b> was created to provide a way to get
fast, reliable, confidential and<i>
affordable</i> HIV and STD testing. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The philosophy behind JustGetTested is that
more and more today, each of us needs to take our health into our own hands -
to be aware of what's going on with our bodies and actively involved in making
healthcare decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDw2jaQPyFIKT7w2qjyrj7q4ZC0-UJWb6uv6pyDs5WZeRMBNLdhl6YyvuVGE_QsaPJ-JngKzW1epHNhtK6qul3QrtkgQglDRa0ydOvSBMD20tzWB3NUzkdQQEyMIsX8pgj5ApsnPOcwU/s1600/Dr._Edward_Salko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDw2jaQPyFIKT7w2qjyrj7q4ZC0-UJWb6uv6pyDs5WZeRMBNLdhl6YyvuVGE_QsaPJ-JngKzW1epHNhtK6qul3QrtkgQglDRa0ydOvSBMD20tzWB3NUzkdQQEyMIsX8pgj5ApsnPOcwU/s200/Dr._Edward_Salko.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">"The healthcare system today isn't
working for patients, but it's not working for doctors either," says </span></em>JustGetTested Medical Director Edward Salko,
DO. <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">"By giving
individuals direct access to important information, we're giving everyone a
huge advantage. Empowering the individual is an important step in building trust
within the healthcare world."<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One of the goals of JustGetTested is to
reach out to individuals who don't have access to affordable STD testing, feel
excluded by the system, or for whatever reason are uncomfortable going to a
doctor or clinic.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Treating each individual with respect and
compassion, we want to remove the stigma from STD testing. We can provide a way for those without
medical insurance - as well as members of the LGBTQ community and anyone who
practices a high-risk lifestyle (including performers in the adult film
industry, sex workers and IV drug users) - to have some control over their healthcare
decisions. We keep our overhead low and our costs competitive so that we can be
sensitive to the needs of all our customers, including those with chronic
conditions who need regular testing and monitoring. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<b>JustGetTested.com is
a safe place to find out what you need to know when it comes to HIV and STDs. </b> Just order online, pay the lowest prices
possible, then make a quick trip to a lab to have your blood drawn. You'll get
your private results online. </div>
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It's one simple way to take charge of your own healthcare.</div>
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<b>Just Get Tested. Because Sex is Fun… Infection Isn't.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23CtSL2BeUqUJWvi5u63oZrQp1ZqoH4Q5fbI5lRLgHDzYQtK41p8dgVyEw6050G9HaWXXPsdvmRERQ1uF0PLmBDnxVxzI7k8U5Cx6-1PkTGmPdfJS00W9APrKnEUmTfONa_W-1oVpEGs/s1600/JGT250x250HOUDINI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23CtSL2BeUqUJWvi5u63oZrQp1ZqoH4Q5fbI5lRLgHDzYQtK41p8dgVyEw6050G9HaWXXPsdvmRERQ1uF0PLmBDnxVxzI7k8U5Cx6-1PkTGmPdfJS00W9APrKnEUmTfONa_W-1oVpEGs/s200/JGT250x250HOUDINI.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" target="_blank">ORDER YOUR TESTS TODAY! CLICK HERE!</a></b></div>
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>!! Thank you for following my blog!</div>
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<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-75446742624312554382012-07-07T18:24:00.000-04:002012-07-07T18:31:56.256-04:00Jump On Board with HashTag HIV Photo Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2B8Sf9hffSeJQrELyQTGzo0qLuMpHe8-lR6XYSa-tPvjhfvgUG7-MbxZry4qf9VoEFlA6JIBNZudb-UkvGd1wpVrQ_HHZ5zbT8nGhPpaKm5pxow5_0WWHZmaoqIRVSDpuGxAROw680/s1600/TweeterOnBoardSQUARE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O2B8Sf9hffSeJQrELyQTGzo0qLuMpHe8-lR6XYSa-tPvjhfvgUG7-MbxZry4qf9VoEFlA6JIBNZudb-UkvGd1wpVrQ_HHZ5zbT8nGhPpaKm5pxow5_0WWHZmaoqIRVSDpuGxAROw680/s320/TweeterOnBoardSQUARE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In the month of July we are asking you to jump on board with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/poziam" target="_blank">POZ I AM Radio</a> & <a href="http://facebook.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">HashTagHIV</a> and participate in another HIV/AIDS Awareness Photo Challenge. This month we are asking you to snap a photo of yourself and the<b> #HIV Tweeter on Board sign</b>.<span style="color: blue;"> (see left)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Be Creative...</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Be Original ... </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Be a Trend Setter!!</span></b></div>
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<b>What is a HashTag?</b><br />
The # symbol, called a HashTag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages. Hashtagged words that become very popular are often Trending Topics. That is our (the Hashtag HIV Team) Goal to make #HIV a Trending Topic for the very first time in world-wide history!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjVVLecxCWRyqb3ayMIUgt1N0ALajPPjUAdSRwhkyPkEDGT38cKoWDcvOv7QEHlcYxNJF7qPpllVs5-xs3iUp-1al2dvvfHLc05QhzTBUPmSApF5nZzS-rYsaM6oyrRsDkowaJIPnpMc/s1600/532400_747679687470_784757555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjVVLecxCWRyqb3ayMIUgt1N0ALajPPjUAdSRwhkyPkEDGT38cKoWDcvOv7QEHlcYxNJF7qPpllVs5-xs3iUp-1al2dvvfHLc05QhzTBUPmSApF5nZzS-rYsaM6oyrRsDkowaJIPnpMc/s320/532400_747679687470_784757555_n.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<b>What is HashTag HIV ?</b><br />
HashTagHIV is a Global Initiative to trend the #HIV on Twitter for the first time ever in history during International AIDS Conference. The goal is to trend #HIV and re-engage the community and re-ignite the conversation about# HIV. You can help us by following <a href="http://twitter.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">@HashTagHIV</a> and by adding #HIV to your tweets.<br />
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<b>How do I Submit a Photo?</b><br />
You can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">upload your photo</a> directly to the HashTagHIV FB page. It is that easy ! Once it is uploaded to the page your submission is complete. You can also submit your photo by tweeting them to <a href="http://twitter.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">@HashTagHIV</a> on Twitter.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh6B3hCGHgLSzr8eiDhTQ0NJbA4eo7eTBC7n6AOZoJgVx2WlpzF2h5XSc3DYAkxjDz-QOlj9G-vU8_Ad7wF0L07FGO2jyj78Vo1rTUqc8Jk9sCfByBHTnMMnsIvH9ZrHoJMRX58G7Eao/s1600/hthiv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh6B3hCGHgLSzr8eiDhTQ0NJbA4eo7eTBC7n6AOZoJgVx2WlpzF2h5XSc3DYAkxjDz-QOlj9G-vU8_Ad7wF0L07FGO2jyj78Vo1rTUqc8Jk9sCfByBHTnMMnsIvH9ZrHoJMRX58G7Eao/s200/hthiv.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert's Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>What are the Rules?</b><br />
The only rules are that the photo must include the #HIV Tweeter on Board Sign and the person submitting the photo. Photos can only be submitted by individuals. Yes we love group shots but the prize for this challenge can only be rewarded to a singe individual. So any group pics submitted will not be considered to win the prize.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV2MtkPcRSWFtZFDu-cScKVJJfcWLBL2LW40JWFgRzsIJLcGTyAQqdilEju9e8UhHPVb6XglLBuxC8lIEo0en9urtLu9SD30jnTU-MLEVbP1dCCcUB6Kvbl2In_o8zXbcOjc2nTF5jSo/s1600/jer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV2MtkPcRSWFtZFDu-cScKVJJfcWLBL2LW40JWFgRzsIJLcGTyAQqdilEju9e8UhHPVb6XglLBuxC8lIEo0en9urtLu9SD30jnTU-MLEVbP1dCCcUB6Kvbl2In_o8zXbcOjc2nTF5jSo/s320/jer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeromy's Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="background-color: white;">How is a winner decided ?</b><br />
The winner of the challenge will be chosen by a panel of 8 Judges which include the HashTagHIV Team (Kevin Maloney,Robert Breining, Daniel Bauer, Aaron Laxton, Michele Anderson and Jeromy Dunn), Maria Mejia (our last photo challenges winner) and Butch McKay of AIDSOASIS. The winner will be chosen based on mixture of creativity, originality and Likes. We take the number of likes into consideration but the winning photo is not chosen solely on likes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKsWoTR7Y3tSrq5MJ1imDuivMB6IeF3CmtZ1Qp4hXG9ugU6FksXpVCXFckjw9WrIlKmZk3TQ0-dPRP8WS3NwgtXzJbFl2SAy_dHmpLbexgAPtwUX8egcsOweTxwmcrKxNsNQxkace31g/s1600/Daniel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKsWoTR7Y3tSrq5MJ1imDuivMB6IeF3CmtZ1Qp4hXG9ugU6FksXpVCXFckjw9WrIlKmZk3TQ0-dPRP8WS3NwgtXzJbFl2SAy_dHmpLbexgAPtwUX8egcsOweTxwmcrKxNsNQxkace31g/s320/Daniel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel's Photo</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>When is the winner announced?</b></span><br />
The winner of this challenge will be announced live and the winning photo will be showcased at the International AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. during <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">Daniel Bauer's World-wide premiere of his show Beyond Belief</a>. The winner will be notified beforehand to make sure he/she can accept the prize.<br />
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<b>What's the prize?</b><br />
The winner of this challenge will be awarded a single Scholarship to the Positive Living 16 Conference that takes place on March 8-10 2013 in Fort Walton Beach,Florida. The Scholarship includes Registration, 3 nights lodging and all meals. <b><i>Please NOTE - The scholarship prize does not include airfare or transportation to Ft. Walton Beach Florida.</i></b><br />
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The photos included in this post were created by the HashTagHIV Team members to provide some inspiration for your photo. So Go Ahead! "Camera. . . Ready. . . Trend!!" <a href="http://facebook.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">Submit your photo today</a>.<br />
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I am Daniel - and I am living pozitively! Thank you for following my blog!LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-65233874544077580822012-06-26T11:06:00.000-04:002012-06-27T10:34:05.092-04:00Just Get Tested: June 27 is National HIV Testing Awareness Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justgettested.com/hiv.php" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhEbOSeFALLNYIxm7_5Alh21-EYZm6d6Hm7Pe-ToL9-kg_R1VnFzBVP80H_kDOu_d2-frhEIu-OD9zvyU6OwZuAoHV91bgFxqrSX2AssqfJrJmL8ovJgRGC5uwvFOcsikVJaMWCxKGVc/s400/HIV+Awareness+Day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ladies and Gentlemen. . . it's that time of the month to <span style="color: magenta;"><b><a href="http://www.justgettested.com/" target="_blank">JUST GET TESTED</a></b></span>!! June 27, 2012 is National HIV Testing Awareness Day. There are a lot of people who might (in fact I know are. . .) afraid to ask their doctor to run STD Tests. . . so I have teamed up with <a href="http://justgettested.com/">JustGetTested.com</a> to help you access a 100% confidential and affordable way to Get Tested.<br />
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The goal of <span style="color: magenta;"><b>Just Get Tested</b></span> is <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">to provide an affordable confidential way to order blood tests without having to visit a doctor’s office. With their easy-to-use system, you simply <a href="http://www.justgettested.com/" target="_blank">create an account</a>, order whatever blood test you want, <a href="http://www.justgettested.com/Locations.aspx" target="_blank">find the closest LabCorp location</a> on their location page, have blood drawn, then log back into their secure password protected server to obtain your test results. Your results are yours to keep or share with your sexual partners, healthcare providers or anyone you want. It’s your information. No one else has access to your results unless you choose to share.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I wanted to magically make it even more affordable for anyone who might be interested in online testing. . . so if you do order your tests online with JustGetTested, be sure to use the promotional code: HOUDINI for an additional 5% off!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">If you are having sex. . . you are at risk. . . so please get tested! Know your status!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://justgettested.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><span style="background-color: white;"> TO </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">JUST GET TESTED!!</span></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog.</span></span>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-20182162909771418692012-06-04T12:56:00.001-04:002012-06-19T07:17:03.096-04:00An Inside Look: Beyond Belief preparations for opening night - June 22 - New York City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These past few weeks I have received a lot of emails and private Facebook/Twitter messages with some pretty cool questions from folks asking for additional inside-look details about <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/BeyondBelief.html" target="_blank">my new show Beyond Belief</a>; so I thought I would take this moment to answer some of those questions. Here goes . . .<br />
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<b>Why the name Beyond Belief?</b><br />
Ever since I was a kid I was always fascinated (ya know the mouth-opened really wide kind of fascinated) by magic. Especially when the magic was done up close - like right in front of my eyes! Now combine my true love of life for magic and escape with all the blood, sweat and tears I endured to become the successor to Harry Houdini, touring the world - my dreams all coming true!! AND THEN. . . losing everything in the blink of an eye because I shockingly learned I am HIV positive which then became the "silent-reason" for a sponsor to back out of a commitment - I became a liability. Wanting nothing more than to die and everything in between and after. . . the only two words I knew that could sum all of this up are "Beyond Belief."<br />
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<b>What makes Beyond Belief unique in the fight against HIV/AIDS?</b><br />
I believe (don't quote me on this. . . ha!) I am the only openly gay, HIV positive escape artist and magician. There are some incredible warriors out there doing their thing. . . Jamar Rogers, Robert Breining, Dab Garner, Jeromy Dunn and Sean Strub to name a few. . . all whom I utterly look up to! How I differ. . . well we all have the same drive and passion to combat stigma, fight criminalisation, comfort newly diagnosed, and help drive the forces to finding a cure / vaccine. The more stories of success that go public for all to witness the better the world heals in our common fight! My difference is I am challenging my own physical and mental capabilities and putting it all out there with Beyond Belief. This is just the start. . . it is my unique way of telling ALL of my story and how I have been able to pull through the depths of hell to realize my life is sooooo worth fighting for. Oh yeah, and I don't think any of the warriors I mentioned get tied up and throw themselves in water tanks while in straight jackets! he-he! I think that's pretty unique!<br />
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<b>What can people expect if they attend Beyond Belief?</b><br />
Well anyone who buys tickets to attend the show can expect to be inspired (I hope) with stories of loss, survival and triumph about my life and those around me living with HIV/AIDS as I share a collection of short stories about overcoming some intense moments in life from laying eyes on my very first magic kit to nearly ending my life through addiction, suicide attempts and finally what it took to get where I am today. I am a 10 year warrior of HIV. . . trying to wrap up 39 years of life in a 90 minute experience! ha! It's gonna be a whirl wind of an emotional roller coaster all creatively weaved through the arts of magic and escape!<br />
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<b>Is this a "Las Vegas" type magic act?</b><br />
Nope! Beyond Belief is about the story, while I can assure you the magic I perform is pretty sick and there is one escape I will perform where death could be the outcome. . . there will be no smoke, no mirrors and no silly theatrical mechanics to wow ticket holders! The magic is real! And so are the escapes! The cool thing is I will engage the audience 150% throughout the show! "Two director's chairs, an old magic trunk and pure darn brilliant magic and escape. . . now that's real Houdini stuff!" (-me)<br />
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<b>How do you train for Beyond Belief?</b><br />
Most people may not know, but I am 100% self trained in the arts of magic and escape. Since I decided to get back on stage and live my life. . .and never give up on my dream of reclaiming the Houdini legacy ever again, I have been very anal retentive about taking my meds, strict exercise and strength building training, diet and overall healthy living. My muscles are not for show! (ha!) Getting tied up and getting out is no easy task - pure human cunning.<br />
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<b>What are your plans after Beyond-Belief?</b><br />
This show is just the start of what is to come. I am currently training to attempt Piranha Peril, the death-defying escape I was training for and going to debut 10 years ago. . . until 'they' labeled me a liability! Kind of ironic that I am going back into a pool of 'piranha' - but this time I [my dreams] will make it out alive and not be eaten up!. Ultimately I want to show everyone / anyone living with HIV that with the right diet, adherence and lifestyle you can . . . you will live a long and healthy life. Every year I hope to attempt a brand new totally original escape. . marking another year of success where I have escaped the stigma (and assumed physical limits) of living with HIV. Nothing is going to stop me this time - certainly not my HIV nor the the fear others still may have about HIV.<br />
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<b>Will Beyond Belief appear anywhere else outside NYC?</b><br />
My hope is that this show will run for sometime here in NYC. However I am thrilled that Beyond Belief is already slated as a marquee event at the International AIDS Conference - specifically for the <a href="http://www.aids2012reunion.org/" target="_blank">AIDS 2012 REUNION</a> program. Additionally, Beyond Belief will be touring to benefit other organizations. For example this August, <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/BeyondBeliefJacksonville.html" target="_blank">Beyond Belief is heading to Jacksonville, FL for one night to benefit DAB the AIDS Bear Project! </a><br />
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<b>Where can people go to buy tickets?</b><br />
Simply visit <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/">www.livingpozitively.com</a> for show dates, to buy tickets and much, much more.<br />
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Well, I think those are all the questions that came in. . . if anyone else has anymore questions about Beyond Belief, feel free to leave a comment here and I will happily reply!<br />
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I hope anyone living in the NYC area will come out to experience Beyond Belief! Together we will make a difference.<br />
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Thank you for following my blog! I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">livingpozitively</a>.<br />
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<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-19788141710548998842012-05-07T11:27:00.006-04:002012-05-16T07:11:32.814-04:00Reigniting the HIV/AIDS Conversation = TeamWork: @HashTagHIV Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K!!!</b> Yes that is what is going to create the most effective, super-global vaccine to <b>END AIDS</b> during this generation.<br />
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Listen, I get it! We are all doing our own thing. . . outreach, prevention, testing and much more. Kudos to all of you who are getting their hands in the mix of the work that is necessary to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and necessary to educate those not living with HIV/AIDS to prevent contracting this virus and other STI's / STD's as well as to combat stigma and to get tested!<br />
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On a serious note. . . I hear the following being repeated a lot (in fact I hear myself saying this too) . . . "UGH! Why, why, why is HIV/AIDS conversation swept under the rug? Why is no one talking about it anymore? Why has our nation. . . why has the world gone quiet on this epidemic?" <i>And then we point the finger of blame. . .</i><br />
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So, rather than being one of the cooks in the kitchen complaining about the problem by pointing a finger, I have decided to team up with five other incredible HIV/AIDS activists/advocates to begin a global trend setting <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">Twitter initiative</a> and our vision is to reignite the conversation of HIV/AIDS: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/433040253378768/" target="_blank">HashTag HIV: Let's Trend Until the End</a>. Reality is, I need to point the finger back on myself, because I have not been much of a team player, because for too long I was doing my own thing. It is time for me to make a change and become a team player and that change starts right now and I hope you will follow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Top: Kevin, Mitch, Aaron; Bottom: Jeromy, Daniel, Robert)</td></tr>
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Many of you probably know who we are: There is me - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Daniel Bauer</a> (<a href="http://www.dbhoudinii.com/" target="_blank">escape artist</a> and founder of <a href="http://livingpozitively.com/">LivingPozitively.com</a>), <a href="http://www.twitter.com/positivepitch" target="_blank">Robert Breining</a> (Founder and Host of <a href="http://www.poziam.com/" target="_blank">Poz I Am Radio / Social Network</a>), <a href="http://www.twitter.com/pozitivelyspkng" target="_blank">Jeromy Dunn</a> (Founder of <a href="http://pozitivelyspeaking.com/">PozitivelySpeaking.com</a> and Co-host, Poz I Am Radio), <a href="http://www.twitter.com/KnappyMitchy" target="_blank">Mitch Knapp</a> (HIV Activist in the rural south), <a href="http://www.twitter.com/aaronlaxton" target="_blank">Aaron Matthew Laxton</a> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/laxtona" target="_blank">YouTube</a> super-star and founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyHivJourney" target="_blank">My HIV Journey</a>), and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/riseuptohiv" target="_blank">Kevin Maloney</a> (Founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RiseUpToHIV" target="_blank">Rise Up to HIV</a> and an employee at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/communityaccessnationalnetwork" target="_blank">Community Access National Network</a>).<br />
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So what's <i>#HIV: Let's Trend Until the End</i> all about: We believe as a team that millions and millions of people are using Twitter to quickly disseminate information about the hottest topics people are talking about! We believe that together, as a community, we can set #HIV, #AIDS as a Twitter trend catapulting awareness back to the top of conversation around the world!<br />
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So here's where you come in. . . it's time to become a team player. During the week of the <a href="http://www.aids2012.org/" target="_blank">International AIDS Conference</a> (July 22-27, 2012 in Washington, DC) we are asking everyone with a Twitter account to consistently and frequently use the hashtags: #HIV #AIDS, #AIDS2012 and #IAC in all your Tweets. If you do not have a Twitter account, maybe it's time to get one, even if it's just for the purpose of helping to set the trend. You can simply go to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">www.twitter.com</a> and sign up!<br />
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The HashTagHIV Team will be Tweeting from now on (and forever) to help set this trend. . . so please follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hashtaghiv" target="_blank">@HashTagHIV</a> to get the latest information, updates and stats about how we are doing! Also, please, please add yourself to the HashTag HIV <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/433040253378768/" target="_blank">Facebook event</a> to let the world know you and/or your organization is signing up as a team player!<br />
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Reality is we [six guys] can't do this alone. <b>YOU. . . YOUR ORGANIZATION. .. YOUR FRIENDS</b> are going to be the key elements of making this <b>CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS!</b><br />
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So <b>TEAMWORK - ACTIVATE!</b> Let's Set the Trend!!!! Together we will reignite the conversation about #HIV #AIDS!<br />
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I am Daniel, and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog.LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-40114621950394384152012-04-22T08:06:00.001-04:002012-04-22T08:08:19.464-04:00Dear HIV,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi Everyone. In response to Justin B. Terry-Smith's "<a href="http://www.thebody.com/content/66042/write-a-letter-to-hiv-campaign.html" target="_blank">Write a Letter to HIV</a>" campaign, I have uploaded a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CL994Z860w" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>.<br />
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I would like to encourage everyone who is living with HIV to find the courage to support this campaign. This letter was another healing step as I continue to grow and live with dignity.<br />
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(For those of you who want to read rather than listen, see the text letter below.)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Dear HIV,</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>After living together for more than a decade, I thought now
would be a better time more than any to take the moment to check-in, become
vulnerable and tell you what’s really on my mind.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>There are more days than some that others think you are a
weapon I carry in my pants. There are more days than some that others think
because we ‘hang-out’ we should not be allowed to live with dignity. There are
more days than some that people think I am less human because we have such a
deep blond bond. It’s on these days that
I wish I could wave my magic wand to get you out of my life.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I won’t lie, living with you sucks. Taking all these
medications; the frequent, unexpected marathons to pay homage to the porcelain
god and the always necessary appointments to the doctors to make sure your
fight to beat me up inside remains invisible has added more emotional worry to
my mind and soul than I would have ever have liked to invite into my life.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I am not sure what you were thinking when you told me “I
love you” so ever quietly in my ear. That whisper of romance while embraced in
a bubbly stupor sounded so amazing and so real. Your passion was irresistible
and blinded me to reject your invitation to bring you into my life. Accepting
your invitation was the worst mistake I have ever made.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Now that I have no choice but to live with you, I want you
to know that I have the choice to choose life with dignity even with you at my
side. I want to remind you that I am HUMAN and that you, VIRUS won’t defy my
IMMUNE SYSTEM any longer.</i></div>
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<i>I have finally broken free of your dark magic spell which
made me feel worthless for many years, tricking me into thinking I am going to
die! Well no more dark magic will be conjured upon my soul. Today my dreams are
filled with hope. I live today as if you never came into my life a decade ago.
Go ahead and follow me everywhere I go, just know you won’t control me anymore.
<b>LIVING trumps you, HIV! LIVING DOESN’T SUCK ANYMORE!</b></i></div>
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<i><b>With life,</b></i></div>
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<i><b>Daniel</b></i></div>
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I am Daniel, and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>. Thank you for following my blog.</div>
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p.s. consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or adding me as a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-38635447295200134582012-04-17T14:06:00.000-04:002012-04-17T14:12:05.853-04:00NAPWA's Healthy Living Summit 2012 Changed Lives! It was Beyond Belief!!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPovGaShVRITbbyaui0bouiOuPz8X649HVxE4eCi19HE_MgT9aExvZcLsYwZzkSx76S1doe9fHDj85DAY3-rxlCqFrfYsHZEUBsqMNYojdXCcEa8DsrR8cHAhyphenhyphenBrdVq5PKwp1pLVd2_MA/s1600/398943_10150673146553299_683113298_9194919_476945707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPovGaShVRITbbyaui0bouiOuPz8X649HVxE4eCi19HE_MgT9aExvZcLsYwZzkSx76S1doe9fHDj85DAY3-rxlCqFrfYsHZEUBsqMNYojdXCcEa8DsrR8cHAhyphenhyphenBrdVq5PKwp1pLVd2_MA/s320/398943_10150673146553299_683113298_9194919_476945707_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">Duane Cramer, Robert Breining, Miss Plus America, Me, Jeromy Dunn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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'<i>Knock-Knock-Knock</i>' . . . as I had just settled into my hotel room, I answer the door and there it began! Co-host Jeromy Dunn (<a href="http://www.poziam.com/" target="_blank">Poz I Am Radio</a> and my specially trained magical assistant), appeared at my door! <i>"Give me a hug!!! OMG it is sooooooooo wonderful to finally meet you in person."</i><br />
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I knew at that moment, <a href="http://www.napwa.org/" target="_blank">NAPWA's</a> National Healthy Living Summit was going to be life changing for me and for many others!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLb-tBXNEyaNKvmhPEmqkIQUjJ100dqnPhTir30Hw_5snDbSwEBfKEl7__mgcExFijYETlmhUaZKhpwAVDPPW9hPn0JQ1zal_WoRPEsgWJyJVGekYt6dIWtQ9M_9N68c2ujLEpAvZ1SA/s1600/RBrieningDBauerNAPWA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLb-tBXNEyaNKvmhPEmqkIQUjJ100dqnPhTir30Hw_5snDbSwEBfKEl7__mgcExFijYETlmhUaZKhpwAVDPPW9hPn0JQ1zal_WoRPEsgWJyJVGekYt6dIWtQ9M_9N68c2ujLEpAvZ1SA/s320/RBrieningDBauerNAPWA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert Breining & Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I admit I was nervous as heck to deliver a <a href="http://livingpozitively.com/Magic_Escape_Productions.html" target="_blank">magical spectacular</a> for the conference attendees. Getting back on stage and talking is one thing, but to produce a creative piece incorporating my story while showcasing my talents of magic and escape is a whole other ball park! As I managed to make it out alive of a very painful escape, where that big muscle guy tied me up pretty darn good, my hands bleeding. . . my eyes fell into shock as the audience stood on their feet screaming and yelling. . . a standing ovation that moved my soul. . . my heart. . . my spirit which I thought would never come back to life. . .<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgJybrHBXCxFDFg21oBup-53FVpN1JKhXfVe1E1Tivo3neu1m3gO0txf2TmV0O7-qXxhiUBUHWGVLSYdaXmSGqrEY7Wuu4tBNveUpPPmtILowYLgRmpsVQqjGmrFpsxRt5ay5Me5N3AA/s1600/472962_10150743927577593_767717592_9307030_123538665_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgJybrHBXCxFDFg21oBup-53FVpN1JKhXfVe1E1Tivo3neu1m3gO0txf2TmV0O7-qXxhiUBUHWGVLSYdaXmSGqrEY7Wuu4tBNveUpPPmtILowYLgRmpsVQqjGmrFpsxRt5ay5Me5N3AA/s200/472962_10150743927577593_767717592_9307030_123538665_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Kevin Maloney</td></tr>
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That moment was one of many that made me realize how proud of myself I am for never letting go of my dreams. Proud that I, no matter the struggle, no matter the pain, held on to every fiber of life that today guides me to stand tall with dignity while inspiring others who are living with HIV/AIDS to do the same.<br />
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When Kevin Maloney, of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RiseUpToHIV" target="_blank">Rise Up To HIV</a> tweeted <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><b>"</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><b>AMAZING STORY </b>of loss, survival and, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">triumph! </span><b style="font-size: 12px;">AMAZING SHOW! - 5 THUMBS UP!! I CRIED, I LAUGHED!</b><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Such an inspiration!</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-style: italic;">" </b></span>I did all I could to hold back the emotions as best I could. I never felt so ALIVE!<br />
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Now some of you may (or may not) know, but I have had the luxury of working on some pretty impressive national conferences (in the background) during my professional career. With that said, it is without hesitation that I tell you, "<i><b>NAPWA pulled off an extra-ordinary life changing experience.</b></i>" With a thought provoking day of Men's, Women's and Youth Institutes followed by a full day of workshops lead by a stellar line up of speakers, I was engaged with not only changing my life and how to take greater action in living well, but I was engaged with so many others who were seeking the same thing! So NAPWA, I give you a standing ovation for delivering a 5-star conference!! Word to the wise, if you missed this year's event, I suggest putting this event in your planning for next year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSFzHPIzQ-e5ox6CSjpoSHE-6K9CTlGUG39QZVCtGyl0gOuhfNKdKk_ewV5xUawRNbK2xtc_KVqx9QQlco84Bdms8uWbYp0xdr9vBc71lXneUZZmTOZszNuEhjfbEKm-2WKLUpaXDTG4/s1600/399037_3668274796598_1566673321_33104103_1571719067_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSFzHPIzQ-e5ox6CSjpoSHE-6K9CTlGUG39QZVCtGyl0gOuhfNKdKk_ewV5xUawRNbK2xtc_KVqx9QQlco84Bdms8uWbYp0xdr9vBc71lXneUZZmTOZszNuEhjfbEKm-2WKLUpaXDTG4/s320/399037_3668274796598_1566673321_33104103_1571719067_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeromy Dunn, Me, Robert Breining</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, I could go on and on about this event, however I think it is best left to talk about it, so I am inviting all of you to join in this Thursday night to a special edition of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2Fpoziam%2F2012%2F04%2F20%2Fnapwa-healthy-living-summit-recap%23.T41-97kmfW0.facebook&h=qAQE8SnIv" target="_blank">Poz I Am Talk Radio</a>, with Host Robert Breining and Co-Host Jeromy Dunn to reflect on the conference. I am encouraging all those who attended to please chime in, and please call in and share your experiences! Let's let NAPWA know how this conference changed our lives, and why this event must happen again next year!<br />
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<b>Here are the details:</b><br />
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NAPWA: HEALTHY LIVING SUMMIT 2012 - RECAP<br />
<b>DATE:</b> Thursday, April 19 <b>TIME: </b>9 PM (EST)<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/poziam/2012/04/20/napwa-healthy-living-summit-recap#.T41-97kmfW0.facebook" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></b> TO LISTEN IN LIVE<br />
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Once again, I realize how important it is to live well, not just exist, but truly live well! NAPWA, thank you for making this possible!<br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog!<br />
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p.s. please consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or becoming a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-64897891602749157312012-03-22T09:59:00.001-04:002012-03-23T07:53:59.022-04:00"Yes we distribute condoms, but just not to you." (WTF?!?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx-mv7pm9YldFzk5YM3EpMMapj5rv13VIZIJHLF05RW9FDPsJJDQrg4EWzWBc9JsozXb9s9Z2Q6vBl2e7d0GYIiXi1xVFCQVtdQvOO4XbCL7avcRe4vR2K4uC6SXQFlrAB_Tg9kXuUDU/s1600/sex+education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLx-mv7pm9YldFzk5YM3EpMMapj5rv13VIZIJHLF05RW9FDPsJJDQrg4EWzWBc9JsozXb9s9Z2Q6vBl2e7d0GYIiXi1xVFCQVtdQvOO4XbCL7avcRe4vR2K4uC6SXQFlrAB_Tg9kXuUDU/s1600/sex+education.jpg" /></a></div>
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend an informative panel discussion on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, presented by an evangelist congregation held at their house of worship in Brooklyn. I thought to myself, as I walked in, "How cool is it that this religious institution is offering this kind of information and taking a role in building awareness to their communities!" But boy oh boy did I not have a clue of what I was about to walk into.<br />
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On the panel were two incredible plwha (people living with HIV/AIDS); a heterosexual female and a heterosexual male (who was prenatally infected). Their messages were strong and dynamic! Also sitting on the panel was a holistic nutritionist, who was quite boring and didn't make much sense to me about diet and HIV (but that's a whole other blog post); an infectious disease doctor who ran through current stats and information, and a guy who just pissed me off - the church's Minister /Pastor (not sure what the correct title is so excuse my ignorance hoping I don't offend anyone).<br />
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Before I get into my rant, I want to make clear that I respect all religions, all lifestyles and all beliefs. Everyone is entitled to his/her own path in life no matter one's faith or other spiritual beliefs (or maybe none at all).<br />
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Moving on, the communities that this church serves, from my first initial glance which was then confirmed by the panelists, are high-risk for HIV infection. So, as the panel discussion continued on the Minister made an announcement that their church will begin to distribute condoms. Now thinking to myself, "<i>Wow, this is pretty cool to hear</i>!" Then I simply gasped . . . STUNNED at what came out of this Minister's mouth next.<br />
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"<b><i>We will be selective to whom we choose to give a condom. If you do not follow our congregation's beliefs or meet our religious criteria we may choose not to give you a condom if you ask us for one</i></b>."<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"WTF?!"</span></b></div>
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Can someone please help me to understand why this community serving institution would make this kind of policy. Let's say an adolescent, or young adult or even senior walked in off the street, wanting to protect his/her own life knowing this church has condoms, but then is turned away. . . because <b><i>he/she does not meet the religious criteria for the condom distribution program</i></b>. Am I missing something here??!!??<br />
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I am at a loss for words. . . please share your thoughts on this. . what is your take on this Minister / Church's condom distribution program?<br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>. Thank you for following my blog.<br />
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p.s. please consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or adding me as a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-27706281336533518312012-03-14T08:47:00.000-04:002012-03-14T11:54:58.424-04:00The National Healthy Living Summit & "Beyond-Belief": Don't miss out!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dallas, TX here I come!! If there is one conference, anyone living with HIV/AIDS, or anyone wanting to play a greater role in HIV/AIDS advocacy absolutely should attend in 2012, it is the first annual <a href="http://napwa.org/content/napwa-2012-healthy-living-summit" target="_blank">National Healthy Living Summit</a>, presented by the <a href="http://napwa.org/" target="_blank">National Association of People with AIDS</a> (NAPWA) to be held at the Award-winning American Airlines Conference Center in Dallas, TX; April 10-14.<br />
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I am honored to officially announce that my new off-Broadway, magical spectacular about living with HIV/AIDS, <i>Beyond-Belief</i>, will be presented at this week-long, life changing event before it opens on stage in New York City. </div>
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Do not miss out on this conference! <a href="https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Register/Register.asp?ievent=1009938&en=hlIRI3MRKiIQK3NWLoKRJ3OVKjKZJfONLbJYKmOYKmK7IlO2KkIVKdPYLrK4JeMYKzG" target="_blank">Register today!!!</a> Below, is some information about the conference and information about <i>Beyond-Belief</i>. If you plan on attending, leave a comment here and let me know! Also, be sure to come up and say hello to me during the conference. I am excited to learn, to make friends and to absorb a greater sense of hope in my own life.</div>
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I look forward to seeing you there!!</div>
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog!<br />
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Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LvngPozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or Friend me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div>
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<b><u>National Healthy Living Summit</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">NAPWA announces the first annual</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://napwa.org/content/napwa-2012-healthy-living-summit" target="_blank">National Healthy Living Summit</a>,</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">April 10-14, 2012, in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">. Originally scheduled August 7–10, 2011, the Summit promotes healthy living for people living with HIV. The new National Healthy Living Expo continues the work of NAPWA’s popular Staying Alive national conferences in a new environment of not just surviving with HIV but living productive and fulfilling lives.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">For more than 25 years NAPWA has been the oldest, most trusted voice for saving and improving the lives of people impacted by HIV/AIDS and this year’s event looks to build upon that tradition.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The Healthy Living Summit will be held in the award-winning </span><a href="http://www.aaconferencecenter.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">American Airlines Training & Conference Center</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. People living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to attend the event to learn how to become involved in advocacy work in their respective regions and receive useful information about government subsidized housing and medication.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #123836; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Healthy Living Summit welcomes all who are interested in improving quality of life for and addressing issues that affect people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Stephen Bailous, Senior Vice President for Treatment Advocacy and Community Affairs. “Sponsors, including pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and supplement manufacturers are offered a unique opportunity for visibility among hundreds of leaders in the HIV/AIDS</span><span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #123836; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> community.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrLF4w-yDgQTeQoMnvdK1Gkq6tluCh5EZRnak5GjZZ6jnfDVLNDX1fKSdqLVYiuSuiYZ9AxKX80eljMu1ggDIKYXwY1x4z3M6uIyBTNOXxR9Mho_y800BP_nMkJbgGUuuzDidXLLRzmk/s1600/DanielBauerBeyondBeliefFINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrLF4w-yDgQTeQoMnvdK1Gkq6tluCh5EZRnak5GjZZ6jnfDVLNDX1fKSdqLVYiuSuiYZ9AxKX80eljMu1ggDIKYXwY1x4z3M6uIyBTNOXxR9Mho_y800BP_nMkJbgGUuuzDidXLLRzmk/s320/DanielBauerBeyondBeliefFINAL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Beyond-Belief</u></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a world where life sometimes is masked with smoke and mirrors for many to hide; and secrets to linger, <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">Daniel Bauer</a>, the successor to the legendary escape artist Harry Houdini brings to life a collection of short stories about living with HIV/AIDS. </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are no big props! There is no smoke! And the only mirror used in this show is in a dressing room! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Touch, listen, taste and see!! Your senses will come alive in this suspenseful, humorous and emotional </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thrill of a production that takes you behind the success, the fall and the rise of Daniel Bauer’s life. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prepare to witness the arts of magic and escape up-close and personal. Prepare to be inspired by stories </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of triumph. Prepare to be captivated <i>Beyond Belief</i>. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the performance, Daniel will return to the stage for a Q/A session with audience members </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allowing for a deeper perspective on the experience and his life.</span></div>
</div>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-49103475427656299922012-03-06T07:23:00.001-05:002012-03-06T07:50:13.227-05:00Double D's go head to head in the fight against HIV/AIDS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fVnK0syJBHJ2SjSDUyPb9MEkZ_rAkxNdQqtIYRBHK5-RNPn_4ufdfbhpLdbPCLk8cBWLNe_GZe9xgmm8GUZ7hzNEME-i_wsSvJHPUCGixyCY6yFfJIVp4_HagdycEfiQo3Wb5_KMZDY/s1600/PIT_logo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fVnK0syJBHJ2SjSDUyPb9MEkZ_rAkxNdQqtIYRBHK5-RNPn_4ufdfbhpLdbPCLk8cBWLNe_GZe9xgmm8GUZ7hzNEME-i_wsSvJHPUCGixyCY6yFfJIVp4_HagdycEfiQo3Wb5_KMZDY/s200/PIT_logo2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A perfect recipe in the fight against HIV/AIDS you ask? Two guys named Daniel in a virtual space, East Coast meets West Coast, give them some recording technology and when you <i><b><a href="http://abnormalentertainment.blogspot.com/2012/02/put-it-together-episode-6-magic-is-in.html" target="_blank">Put It Together</a></b></i> you now have one hell of a talk show interview that does not sugar coat their quest in the fight against HIV/AIDS.<br />
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You already know <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">who I am</a> . . . so let me introduce the other Daniel! Daniel Garza is a <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">41 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">year old gay man who was diagnosed with AIDS back in 2000 and who continues to live a life in recovery since June 21, 2007. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">After years of searching for a light at the end of the tunnel Daniel G. is finally making it into the light with the help of a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Spiritual Guide. He indulges his creative intuitive gifts through the use of Oracle Cards and the energy in people to help them out of their own tunnels.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Garza</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">Daniel Garza is the host of </span></span><b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;"><i><a href="http://abnormalentertainment.blogspot.com/2012/02/put-it-together-episode-6-magic-is-in.html" target="_blank">Put It Together</a></i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"> from Abnormal Entertainment, an online talk show made out of life experiences, bringing to listeners a powerful variety of discussion through personal sharing of life stories that </span></span><span style="line-height: 14px;">boldly</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"> unveils the many hard lessons, the battle scars, the knowledge, and wisdom of life. And when it's all put together, using all this 'powerful-stuff' to help others become better people.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">I had the pleasure and honor of being asked onto Daniel Garza's show and we kicked out one hell of an interview: <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://abnormalentertainment.blogspot.com/2012/02/put-it-together-episode-6-magic-is-in.html" target="_blank">Magic is in the Air</a>. </i>Take a listen and hopefully there is some 'good-stuff' that might help you to put it all together! Daniel Garza really knows how to draw out and get real about the heavy topics of life. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Hopefully what we talk about will help you to put some things together in your life!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><b>LISTEN NOW<span style="font-size: large;">: </span></b></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://abnormalentertainment.blogspot.com/2012/02/put-it-together-episode-6-magic-is-in.html" target="_blank">Put It Together - Magic is in the Air</a></b><br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog.<br />
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Continue to follow my journey by following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or becoming a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-1780600224195882552012-03-01T18:22:00.001-05:002012-03-01T18:22:51.931-05:00Setbacks and restarts over and over again: Never give up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WgoJE5jTeWiMmXF5Tj1jTEj-E2ZeKhwND_OsE3sPJ1eJopzURAqvuq0frwlYH9ds6bcbvShpFz3hgPAjcktC5astPbWx-665f7Jy2OrMGy9tc1_xWO-A0IDcY8ArRoCC3FXAxaVLTuc/s1600/setbacks+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WgoJE5jTeWiMmXF5Tj1jTEj-E2ZeKhwND_OsE3sPJ1eJopzURAqvuq0frwlYH9ds6bcbvShpFz3hgPAjcktC5astPbWx-665f7Jy2OrMGy9tc1_xWO-A0IDcY8ArRoCC3FXAxaVLTuc/s320/setbacks+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yesterday was my first day back at the gym since my nasty fall, last month, that resulted in broken ribs. I must admit that grabbing hold of a twenty-pound dumbbell to warm up my biceps felt really really good!<br />
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Honestly, though, I never thought I would make it! I mean, five weeks without the gym seemed like an eternity to me. The old wise saying, 'patience is a virtue' was not sitting well with me several weeks into healing. The injury was a pretty unexpected setback not only to getting closer to staying on task to achieving my personal fitness goals, but also a setback which smacked me in the gut professionally, forcing escape practice to be put on hold. I was getting itchy and restless, cursing the world for having put the debris on the sidewalk and cursing myself for tripping over it! Like a broken record in my head, I kept thinking <i>what if, what if, what if</i>. . .<br />
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At the gym, I took one look in the mirror and thought to myself, <i>ugh it's going to take forever to get back what I put so much work into!</i> Part of me was like, maybe I should just forget it and leave the gym. Well this 'funky' mindset, and maybe you can relate, enters my mind more often than probably should, especially when I get blind-sided by unexpected detours in life. Not a good place for me to be mentally, because I start believing that maybe the universe doesn't want me to succeed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7gsix4C0atuQtrf33y5NlBjKv4zqghBTDnABo03oNowSy4F9qKGmfpczhIfj4jfOuQqpAL-avubsSRIZCfg6Lp2G6vx-D03WiPTEhLlfmkzaGygP8MRqwIBI_LLdVL0f__DrfkUp19Y/s1600/failuer+setback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7gsix4C0atuQtrf33y5NlBjKv4zqghBTDnABo03oNowSy4F9qKGmfpczhIfj4jfOuQqpAL-avubsSRIZCfg6Lp2G6vx-D03WiPTEhLlfmkzaGygP8MRqwIBI_LLdVL0f__DrfkUp19Y/s320/failuer+setback.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Then, reality checks in. . . and I remind myself that, <i>Shit! I have been through a lot in my life!</i> I can't let this setback screw with my focus, determination and passion to live life and fight for my success; achieving my personal and professional goals. I guess what I am trying to say is I have to be careful that I do not start to categorize setbacks as failure.<br />
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I really had my hopes set high that I would have achieved my fitness goals by mid-April and have my new show "Beyond-Belief" ready to debut in May. Very likely that both will not happen in time as I planned. It has me in a bit of a funk.<br />
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Here's the thing, just because I took a detour, does not mean I failed nor does it mean I won't ever achieve these goals! I am simply delayed. And that's okay, because all I have each day I wake is time (and lots of it!!) to make 'em happen. In the past, I tried using HIV as an excuse to want to hurry and get things accomplished in a jiffy. . . well 10 years later that excuse is pretty lame. . . since I know I am going to live a very long healthy life! So I guess the delay, or being detoured is not such a big deal at all. It's just a disappointment; and definitely by no means have I failed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB22oi_gb3hnlXWelS2CDtlqeffhZekuIvN272eoei5nTmc1zxtRwQl2443m9w4C4sbKL5CKD8CsZDuZB9Ie3p0L6v24c9er2hvbCKVYvMCNmU4fGLE7PYOOxwgypgNeJxZx9d-IrV7oo/s1600/hurdle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB22oi_gb3hnlXWelS2CDtlqeffhZekuIvN272eoei5nTmc1zxtRwQl2443m9w4C4sbKL5CKD8CsZDuZB9Ie3p0L6v24c9er2hvbCKVYvMCNmU4fGLE7PYOOxwgypgNeJxZx9d-IrV7oo/s1600/hurdle.jpg" /></a></div>
What I need to continue to work on is how to deal with the unexpected bumps in the road of life a bit more gracefully (<i>if there is such a thing</i>); learning to jump over the hurdles rather than block my mindset telling myself I will never get there. That kind of thinking will just drown me in depression and then what!?! I don't want to live like that! I don't ever want to think that I will never make it or succeed in life, just because something is not happening when I want it to or isn't on schedule as I perfectly planned out in my head because some unexpected splash-of-wacky interrupted my focus and course of path. I know that if I stop, take a deep breath and refocus I will be back on track in no-time. I will jump over this hurdle! Actually, now that I think about it, I already have by picking up that twenty-pound dumbbell. . . a light, but damn good start in the right direction of getting back on track! It's all about how I pick myself up today. . .<br />
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Without a doubt there will be more setbacks to come my way and who knows when they will blind-side me; taking me on all sorts of whacked-out detours and windy roads in life. Today, setbacks just make me more determined to stay strong, to think positively and to forge ahead with limitless determination! Setbacks fuel my creativity. Setbacks will shape my success!<br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>. Thank you for following my blog.<br />
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Please consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or adding me as a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-7343350794388614802012-02-23T08:09:00.001-05:002012-02-23T08:20:36.441-05:00PositiveLite.com + Disclosure + Penn & Teller = Awesome!All things HIV/AIDS that have been catching my eye this week are coming full throttle ahead (and are getting my blood pumping with excitement like never before)!!! It's been a while since I have done a pretty lengthy post about things that have caught my eye, and well, I could not wait another minute to tell you about the following:<br />
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First, if you haven't already checked out or subscribed to my favorite online <a href="http://www.positivelite.com/" target="_blank">HIV Publication</a> (based out of Canada), you must get on this "know-what's-going-on" train with <a href="http://positivelite.com/" target="_blank">PositiveLite.com</a>. This is the publication that first broke <a href="http://positivelite.com/content/news/news-sections/features-and-interviews/item/feature-interview-blunt-talk-putting-the-magic-back-in-to-speaking-out-about-hiv" target="_blank">my story</a> back in September 2011 and just recently (and graciously) posted an update about what's been going on in my life since they featured that interview. This post includes video footage of my new speaking program "<a href="http://positivelite.com/content/news/news-sections/living-with-hiv/item/a-little-more-magic" target="_blank">Blunt-Talk: How I Live</a>" and shares my feelings and emotions of what it was like to get back on stage speaking out loud about living with HIV/AIDS. Please show PositiveLite (and me) your support by checking out this latest post! (<a href="http://positivelite.com/content/news/news-sections/living-with-hiv/item/a-little-more-magic" target="_blank">Click Here to read</a>). Thanks again to the team at PositiveLite.com (Bob Leahy and Brian Finch) for allowing me to continue to share the progress of my life so openly! Also, "Blunt-Talk: How I Live" as well as my new production "Beyond-Belief" are available to conferences, charity events, school and university assemblies and more! So if you (or someone you know) are interested please contact me through <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">my site</a>.<br />
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If there is one thing I firmly believe is lacking in the HIV community, it is the sharing of more stories about people who are living with HIV/AIDS, their successes, their struggles and more. I believe that the more stories told, the greater the impact we will make in breaking down stigma about the virus. I happened to come across a pretty cool project that is making a bold step in telling such a story in a very unique way. A film about <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tyler Francis and Ryan Hunt, a couple who have been together for over two years. They are very much in love and are about to start a family by adopting a son. As the adoption gets closer, Tyler realizes he must reveal a dark secret that he has kept from Ryan: his HIV-positive status. <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/Disclosurefilm" target="_blank">DISCLOSURE</a> follows Ryan’s emotional journey after his discovery of Tyler’s status, exploring the emotional heartache, isolation and discrimination against those who are HIV-positive. I am convinced this project will be very powerful and what's even cooler is that this project will be donating a portion of it's raised funds to a very important organization <a href="http://www.until.org/" target="_blank">Until There's A Cure</a>. Please do check this project out and give them your support!</span></span><br />
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Some of you have asked me in emails, if I would ever consider doing a video performing a piece of magic, and sharing it with you here in my blog! Well, not just yet! HOWEVER, if you are dying to get your hands on some magic lessons, this next event is for you and simply put is kick-ass awesome! The Las Vegas AIDS Walk has teamed up with Penn & Teller this year!! Yep! They are going to Walk-the-Walk (even if one of them doesn't talk - ha!). </div>
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My Facebook friend <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kavin Burkhalter shared this news with me, and I would love to see my friend get the chance to experience the magic of Penn & Teller behind the scenes! You can read all about the Penn & Teller Challenge and even show your support for my friend Kavin by <a href="http://afanlv.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1002823&lis=1&kntae1002823=A445879186724F1A8816C62E38A50142&supId=288784580" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. Seiously, if I were in Vegas, I would be up all over this opportunity! So let's show some support and make this goal a magical success for Kavin!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, Lastly, if you haven't had a chance to read my last post about my Project "ALIVE", please take time to do so. I am diligently working to bring back to life the one escape "Piranha Peril" along with the entire concept of my production "ALIVE"; the production that was shut-down abruptly the minute a potential corporate sponsor learned I was HIV+. I believe standing center stage for the world to witness this miracle of a come-back will be a huge success in the fight against breaking down HIV sitgma! Take a minute to watch my video below, and then please take a moment to visit my <a href="http://boostive.com/projects/project-alive--restoring-a-lost-legacy-living-with-hiv--aids/379" target="_blank">Project "ALIVE" funding page</a> to consider making my dream, once lost to fear of HIV, come back to life showing the world HIV shall not be feared! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 12px;">I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/" target="_blank">living pozitively</a>! Thank you for following my blog and again, please do consider supporting the projects above! They are all vital to making our communities safer and healthier for all living with HIV/AIDS.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 12px;">Continue to follow my story, consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LvngPozitively" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or adding me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinii" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</span></span></div>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-41560939252607447102012-02-20T15:23:00.001-05:002012-02-22T08:18:29.099-05:00Daniel Bauer's Wish: a dream that will fight against HIV/AIDS stigma and deliver global hope.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For more information about Project Alive and how you can help my dream, that was lost because of HIV stigma, come back to life, please visit <a href="http://boostive.com/projects/project-alive--restoring-a-lost-legacy-living-with-hiv--aids/379">Boostive.com</a>.<br />
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I am Daniel, and I am living pozitively! Together we will all make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS.<br />
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Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively">@LvngPozitively</a> or Friend me on Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii">Daniel Bauer Houdinii</a>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-41007141366111965612012-02-07T07:21:00.001-05:002012-02-07T16:59:10.282-05:00NBC's The Voice: A Superhero in the fight against HIV Stigma!Just when I thought there would not be a break through, nationally, in the fight against stigma associated with HIV, last night at 8 pm I turned on my TV to tune in to my new favorite show <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/">NBC's The Voice</a> and felt hope!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk_UJtYE6dUKm4BUS6Qykhi5n2Xtzd9BAkEenHmJC61flLmUv3leYiyFW6FXELx2o8-LzThET56v5SKqSIxxi85eLqE2RxmwKQkSQjlw2-NMnbkpLCN0fkPuUhO3VqJ2i6ussXyG5A2E/s1600/Jamar+The+Voice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk_UJtYE6dUKm4BUS6Qykhi5n2Xtzd9BAkEenHmJC61flLmUv3leYiyFW6FXELx2o8-LzThET56v5SKqSIxxi85eLqE2RxmwKQkSQjlw2-NMnbkpLCN0fkPuUhO3VqJ2i6ussXyG5A2E/s320/Jamar+The+Voice.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/artists/jamar-rogers/">Jamar Rogers</a> is a role model! He is a superhero! Last night before taking stage, Jamar openly disclosed his HIV status as well as shared that he is a recovering crystal meth addict. He showed the world that the one thing that matters most about who he is, is his voice! <br />
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Watch how he blew it up last night:<br />
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Carson Daly - thank you for personally handing Jamar his invitation to The Voice and hugging him on national television for all to see! Cee Lo Green! Thank you for taking him on your team! Thank you for hugging him on national TV! HIV is not something to be afraid of.<br />
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Jamar fueled my inner passion to continue to put life in over-drive and go after my dreams! Anyone living with HIV, who is thinking life might not be the same. . . who might be struggling how to move forward and live. . . well let me tell you that Jamar is one you should follow. There is no doubt in my mind that he will inspire many, and as a community, I hope we all give him our support!<br />
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Jamar. . . "Go kick some ass man! I am behind you 100%!!" Already, you are THE VOICE! Your courage to share your life so openly is truly magnificent! You have changed my life!<br />
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I am Daniel and I am <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/">living pozitively</a>!<br />
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p.s. Help me to build a stronger voice in the fight against stigma associated with HIV! Consider following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LvngPozitively">Twitter</a> or friending me <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinii">Facebook</a><br />
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<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-23672464789793190772012-02-01T09:12:00.001-05:002012-02-01T09:17:03.708-05:00Morning coffee with you in Month 2 of 2012.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Good morning!</b></span><br />
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I can't believe we are already at the start of month two in twenty-twelve! Wowsa! How time is flying by. So I jumped out of bed this morning, and recorded this little video message.<br />
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I hope you will take the time to listen and to comment. Your stories about how you build your confidence to remain strong each and every day help me more than you know - and I want to hear more of them. :)<br />
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I am Daniel and I am living pozitively. Thank you for following my blog.<br />
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P.S. We all need more voices of confidence in staying strong. Help strengthen my circle of confidence in life. Consider adding me as a friend on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinii">Facebook</a>, following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/LvngPozitively">Twitter</a> or subscribing to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/Livingpozitively">YouTube</a> channel! Big hugs and much love to you all.LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-9711476046366093572012-01-28T14:12:00.000-05:002012-01-28T14:20:23.800-05:00Guaranteed my message to President Obama is dismissed: Hopefully I am proven wrong!<br />
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I am almost certain, as a little bee - in the bee-hive of the healing honey - in support of the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fadministration%2Feop%2Fonap%2Fnhas&ei=oUUkT7HQHaru0gGXppXyCA&usg=AFQjCNE2nFu0hUPBCghcKlCFQkfb-509qg&sig2=-4vx7KUihoZl5IejuPe6iQ">National HIV/AIDS Strategy</a> - in the fight aginst HIV/AIDS within our own nation, President Obama will never see this video or respond. . . let's see! Share this message on your social media links! Join me on <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/Livingpozitively">Youtube</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngPozitively">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DanielBauerHoudinII">Facebook</a> to share this message! I even guarantee <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fellentv.com%2F&ei=5kUkT5DcFIXw0gGrg-DeCA&usg=AFQjCNHVqf7H2xWkWzb7sOu0r0Hu5Rio-A&sig2=rOJzD1fYgl1xE9eMbwQmyQ">Ellen DeGeneres</a> our newly appointed HIV Envoy / Spokesperson will ignore this too! Prove me wrong!! I am watched by thousands across the nation.<br />
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Dear President Obama:<br />
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My name is Daniel Bauer, I am the official successor to the legendary escape artist Harry Houdini.<br />
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I am living with HIV/AIDS. I am in admiration of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and in repsonse have renewed my commitment in bringing awareness about this National epidemic to ears and eyes of many.<br />
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I am stunned that on the National Level we have yet to attach a common FACE or VOICE of those like me who are willing to speak out loud in this fight to end AIDS. I want to be your national voice and face.<br />
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I have experienced the worst kind of discrimination and medical related issues attached to this illness. I want to be a force of hope and a message of life for the nation.<br />
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Please put me in touch with the people who can help make this happen.<br />
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My message is clear and followed by thousands internationally at <a href="http://www.livingpozitively.com/">http://www.livingpozitively.com </a><br />
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Let's win this fight together. Use my face, use my voice. . . only good can come from this!<br />
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I await your invitation.<br />
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I will blog and YouTube this same message in the next 7 days. Let's see if you, President Obama, are listening to my message - to put myself out there to make a difference.<br />
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I am almost certain this message will be ignored. . .<br />
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If not, then there is hope and I will cry with amazement that you do listen!<br />
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With hope for life and dignity for all living with HIV/AIDS. . .,<br />
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Daniel Bauer,<br />
I am living pozitively<br />
www.livingpozitively.com<br />
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<br /></div>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-90870328403656795182012-01-27T14:29:00.001-05:002012-01-27T14:57:17.124-05:00Panic Button!?! The F**K-F**K Train to H-I-Ville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGdRw9gbSMfvp8CjbuwCmDdtYtm_3c92Dq9-d-I0vR6XV9gsFQonhwNAIk8mzYB-WbfEfEUlwNe-UJmuha8COzRxE71fwWynyXBJLtRQH9u2pBHRGIMOJi0PG6kCzwwR7eJL4dWbShQk/s1600/naked+guy+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGdRw9gbSMfvp8CjbuwCmDdtYtm_3c92Dq9-d-I0vR6XV9gsFQonhwNAIk8mzYB-WbfEfEUlwNe-UJmuha8COzRxE71fwWynyXBJLtRQH9u2pBHRGIMOJi0PG6kCzwwR7eJL4dWbShQk/s1600/naked+guy+image.jpg" /></a></div>
Just how silly are you with your willy when you board the F**K-F**K train of orgasmic pleasure? Well, when the 'cockductor' says ALL-ABOARD you might want to seriously think twice and hit the panic button first before you decide to hop on without your condom-safety-belt! The ride might seem amazing at first, but in the long run you may just find out that your orgasmic journey made a wrong turn taking you straight to H-I-Ville.<br />
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My trip went something like this. . .<br />
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I had just finished a mind-blowing performance in California. With my partner waiting for me backstage, we went back to our hotel room and popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the standing ovation from a sold-out-crowd. The kissing starts, the clothes come off and we are naked in bed enjoying each and every touch. The erection in my dick told me so. Then he whispers into my ear , "Oh Daniel, I want to make pure love to you . . . I want to be with you completely for the rest of my life. . . let's do it! Let's make pure love!" (or something like that, god only knows I was feeling amazingly tipsy from the bubbly enhanced by the naked sensuality).<br />
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It was my own choice to feel the natural orgasmic feeling without hesitation or need to hit the panic button. I mean we were together for quite some time and I said to (<i>more like asked</i>) him, "We haven't been tested, are you sure this is okay, are you neg?" he replies, "Of course I am, let's do it. I want to be with you."<br />
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So, let me tell you, the feeling of an unwrapped penis up my hole was sensational! Ohhhhh God it FELT sooooo good! And for the next six months every time was unprotected sex. . . no testing! Just sex! Lots of sex! He was the one I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with! It was the best monogamous(?) relationship a guy could ever ask for! (Or so I thought).<br />
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Long story short, I was tested. Two weeks before I learned of the shocking news, he had packed up his stuff, I came home from a rehearsal and he was gone. To this day never have heard back from him.<br />
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I guess what I am trying to say is . . . was this one drunken stupor of a night worth it. Did he even know, did I know? Honestly, it was my own stupidity that brought me to contracting the virus. I should have just hit the panic button! Told him to put the damn condom on and waited for both of us to get tested. Had his results come out positive, then we both would have known that unprotected sex could never happen. Love would have remained. . . we would just had to be a bit more vigilant in taking care of ourselves. Damn the bubbly! Damn the altered sensory in my mind to convince me to hop on the F**K-F**K train without protecting myself.<br />
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This whole thing was preventable. I chose NOT to say no and tell him to put the condom on. Today I am seeing this and hearing this all too often in all our various communities, (Gay, Straight. . . and everything in between).<br />
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HIV, while not a death sentence, I could have prevented contracting. Now, I am living with it - with 100% dignity and respect for myself. I know I have a long life ahead of me, but simply put, one stupor moment, in the blink-of-an-eye. . . for the rest of my life, I have to now be vigilant about taking meds, having blood checked, mapping out public restroom use (because the meds still 'eF' up my bowel system. . .) and much more.<br />
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So I am curious - why do people forget to hit the panic button before having sex. . . what message is NOT being communicated loud and clear that we should be sending to people about the risks of HIV/AIDS?<br />
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I am living with HIV and my situation was 100% preventable. I will live a long healthy life. My question to you is. . . Are you living with HIV? If not, are you taking the precautions to remain HIV free? If you don't know if you are HIV neg or poz, what is holding you back from getting tested?<br />
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I wish we both got tested. A test that preserves lives whether you have it or not. I believe it is better to know, than to think you don't have it or don't know if you have it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When is the last time you were tested?!?</b></span><br />
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Is this message loud and clear?<br />
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I am Daniel and I am living pozitively. Thank you for following my blog.<br />
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P.S. We all need more voices and friends in the fight against HIV/AIDS - both awareness and prevention. Help me be a larger force and voice in this journey - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/danielbauerhoudinii">join me on facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lvngpozitively">follow me on twitter</a>.<br />
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<br />LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1056187578409992646.post-49693808468500502222012-01-23T11:34:00.000-05:002012-01-25T10:55:50.819-05:00How I became “Princess Broken Rib. . .”<br />
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Have you ever had one of those days when the universe
literally decides it wants to test the strength of your entire physical body to see
just how much agony and pain you can withstand? Well, this past Monday, the ‘Gods of the Universe’ decided to pick me out of a billion people to put the
challenge to the test! (I guess that statement might be a little grandiose, but hey, I admit I think the universe sometimes revolves around me! LOL).</div>
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It all started a week ago Monday at 2:00 a.m. – when I swung
out of bed with a tooth ache that literally pierced my entire body. . . I ran
to the bathroom medicine cabinet to find I was out of Advil! UGH! So I quickly
put on my sneakers, sweats, a shirt and the first coat in sight then ran out
the door, down the hill to the only 24 hour bodega that was open. And let me
tell you it was damn cold outside! The blistering chill in the air was
mild compared to the agony my tooth-ache was pounding into my body!</div>
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I get the Advil PM – and start running up the hill back to
my apartment – wasting no time to tear open the little Advil pack and swallow
those pills without water! I couldn’t take the pain for one more second! Back to my apartment I arrive, back in bed and finally, fall
asleep! Shweeeeeew!</div>
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Seven O’clock a.m. rolls around, I wake up and the damn pain
is back and this time even worse! I am on the phone with my friend Marty, I
could barely concentrate on my words – he runs over with pain killers and in
the meantime I am calling my dentist who I finally reach, and tells me he no
longer takes my insurance! WTF??? (Oh in between all this I managed to get to
the gym to try and lift weights thinking if the adrenaline was full speed ahead
in my body, the pain would just stop. . . CLEARLY STUPID!)</div>
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So here I am – Martin Luther King Day – and I need to be
seen NOW by a dentist, because I am supposed to be packed and out the door the following
day on a weeklong trip to see friends Upstate, NY. Well, thank goodness for
1-800-DENIST – they were able to find me a Dentist who took my insurance and
could see me same day – the only catch – it was an hour trip by NYC Transit to
get there! So. . . I am off!!!</div>
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I have to take two busses to this Brooklyn based dentist. The first bus stops right at my front door – so easy done! I am on
this bus for about 30 minutes, then somehow in looking for the next transefer
stop, which I clearly missed, I stopped the bus immediately, got off and figured I would hopefully
be close enough to find the transfer stop by walking. Well in my attempt to look cool as ever
walking the streets of NYC, looking for the transfer stop, I tripped on a
sidewalk, went flying through the air and slammed the left side of my body into the ground, knocking the wind out of me. I layed there for a couple minutes - watching people walk-by! ("Thanks fellow humans for taking the time to NOT STOP and see if I was okay!") Anyways, when I was coherent enough to begin standing up, I could barely move, the
pain was piercing . . . soooooo piercing that I could barely breath or cough
and I certainly could not move any upper-body part(s) an inch. F**K the pain. I swear this is like a really bad sequel to Humpty Dumpty! (And I said before, ALL the king's horses men just walked on by.)</div>
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So, I finally make it to the transfer bus; arrive to the
dentist, sitting in the waiting area in agony – soooo much agony. He finally sees me and after he
takes x-rays,, he says, “Daniel you need a root canal. I am going to start that
now and we will finish it when you get back from your trip.” I was like, broken
rib (I knew it was definitely broken at this point, didn’t need an x-ray for
that!) – but to add a root canal on top of that! Great!! Well, things certainly couldn’t get any
worse. . . So he starts the root canal process and magically gets rid of the
tooth pain! YEAH!!!!! BUTTTTTT then he
looks at me with this ‘evil dentist smile’ and says "Daniel the upper right
Wisdom Tooth has to come out. It is probably causing a lot of the pain as well.
I have to take it out right now." Again, thinking to myself “WTF>???????” So OUT goes the Wisdom Tooth!</div>
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Seriously! A Tooth ache that leads to a broken rib, a root canal, and an extracted wisdom tooth all in a 3 hour time frame????? REALLY!! What more could be thrown at me!!!!</div>
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Thankfully the dentist hooks me up with a myriad of pain
killers and anti-biotics, and I am on my way back home to pack. </div>
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Packing was painful enough! I could barely move to get all the items I needed to throw into a duffle bag. And let me tell you, waking up the next morning was
even more painful. I could barely move, hiding the pain of my rib – though I
will tell you my friends upstate, NY knew I was coming pain or no pain. I
needed the time away to work on my book and haven’t seen them in a while. </div>
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I get
up there, and of course my friends are waiting on me hand-and-foot (more than
usual – in my life style! As my friends usually think I am the Diva! – LOL) Oh
well! So during the course of the trip – leave it to my friends to make fun of
me for not doing a darn thing! (Except to lift my hands to pop pain killers
every four hours).</div>
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(Oh I clearly got nooooo work done on my book - I couldn't concentrate at all!)</div>
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Ok yes, I was in pain, and it was nice to have my friends
wait on me! It was not nice that they joked about it every second of the time I
was there (even though I know it was all in jest). We did have a lot of fun – and then towards
the end of my stay, they say to me, “Oh Daniel, we have decided to give you a new nick-name.” Thinking to myself, <i>Oh boy, what the hell did they come up with</i>?!?</div>
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Daniel you have been inducted into your own Indian Tribe,
now known as “Princess Broken-Rib.”</div>
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The moral to this story and my experience – if you ever
break a rib, or go through a day of hell, and your friend’s pick on you! Let
them! Just make sure you soak up all the “waiting on you hand and foot” you can
– because in time you may earn your princess name – and honestly it will all be
worth it!</div>
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Well, I guess no more straight-jacket practicing or escapes practicing for a while! This sucks!
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To the ‘God’s of the Universe’, I passed your test; I am
still standing through all your pain and the slurs of jest by the mortals! What’s next??</div>
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I am Daniel, I am living pozitively! Thanks for following my blog!</div>
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<br /></div>LivingPozitivelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214544861215576007noreply@blogger.com4