Monday is the first day of what I hope will be a long and successful career in the world of nonprofits, and no – you can’t get rid of me that easily. This blog continues uninterrupted. In fact, I’ll likely file early in the a.m., which should make my Root bosses quite happy.
I’ll be with the Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina, whose mission “is to serve people living with HIV/AIDS, their loved ones, caregivers and communities at large, through compassionate and non-judgmental care, prevention, education and advocacy.” Like others there, I’ll wear many hats, but my primary role is writing for grants.
My specific title: Associate Director of Development for Grants and Public Affairs. Everything I’ll be doing is with the goal of helping others. If you read yesterday’s post, you’ll appreciate the irony.
As a “cody” – as one reader referred to folks like herself and me over on the “Less Leslie” Facebook fan page – the work should suit me just fine. In fact, I just left I left Tanza this message: It’s the perfect place for codependents!
I did order a copy of the book I told you about yesterday, The New Codependency: Help and Guidance for Today’s Generation. In fact, I ordered two: The other is being shipped to Tanza’s office. She agreed the updated book would be best, but didn’t have her own copy. While I recognize giving gifts is typical “cody” behavior, it’s really a work-related item; besides, it cost less than $10, and since I’m an Amazon Prime customer, shipping is free. So there.
Seriously, though, this really does feel like a new beginning. Not only in the most obvious ways, but also in the most personal. It’s been quite some time since I’ve felt this secure, confident and, well, just plain happy about all the great things that are going on in my life. Absolutely, I’ve got a handful of the craptacular to deal with as well, but it’s a safe bet that a year ago I wouldn’t have been as calm and successful in beating back hairy issues as I am today.
Like I said yesterday, my couch trip is nearing an end. I will miss Tanza because she’s seriously cool, but I never wanted to be there in the first place. And speaking of the inimitable Dr. Bean . . .
I’m going to request another round of blood work so I can see how I’m progressing. I was full of antibiotics last time and it threw off the results of one of my assessments, so I really have no idea where I am since being diagnosed as pre-diabetic at the start of this weight-loss quest. Besides, it’s always great seeing Dr. Bean.
No doubt, being in an 8-5 situation without constant access to my own kitchen and pantry is a very welcome change of pace. Will this help me lose weight faster? Fingers crossed.
On a personal note: Gay teen suicides are in the news, and there seems to be an increase in right-wing political gay bashing as well as an upswing in hostilities across the board, including in the notoriously homophobic, traditional black church – which is just shameful. Yesterday, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 in 22 black Americans will be diagnosed with the AIDS virus in their lifetime. As a “straight ally” from way back, I’m especially pleased to be a member of the Alliance, and am looking forward to sharing some serious “cody” compassion to people who are HIV positive or have full-blown AIDS, as well as working my ass off to help fund and find a cure.
Wish me luck, folks.
From the point of view of the pharmaceutical industry, the AIDS problem has already been solved. After all, we already have a drug which can be sold at the incredible price of $8, 000 an annual dose, and which has the added virtue of not diminishing the market by actually curing anyone. ~ Barbara Ehrenreich
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Leslie J. Ansley is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who blogs daily for TheRoot. She lives in Raleigh, NC.