Social support means a lot when you’re living with HIV/AIDS, especially from friends who tease you, insult you, feed you, and share their secrets with you. Once again, pals Craig, James, Eric and Antron came for an evening of laughs, chocolate and soul bearing (they first visited for the “You Gotta Have Friends” video). We covered a lot: sex lives, dealing with grief, dating and disclosure, our doctors, and what they really think of the posted comments people like you write. Enjoy!
2/3 cup sugar
5 Tablespoons butter (most of a stick)
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1 small cap almond extract
2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Grease or spray a 8 or 9 inch square baking pan.
3. In a small bowl, mix flour, salt and baking soda.
4. In a small saucepan over very low heat, melt sugar and butter with a tablespoon of water, stirring slowly. When mixture barely begins to bubble, shut off heat and add 1 cup of chocolate chips and stir them in along with the almond extract. Stir until melted together.
5. Skip all remaining steps and pour over ice cream, as I have done many times (best boyfriend break-up pain reliever on earth). Or…
6. Pour chocolate mixture into large bowl and whisk in eggs, then mix in flour mixture.
7. Gently fold in the other cup of chocolate chips (thought I’d forgotten them? No way.) I don’t do nuts in my brownies, but whatever.
8. Pour into baking pan. You are allowed 2 small spoons to eat now from the pan, but that’s it.
9. Bake for 35 minutes.
10. Allow to cool a little before you attack it.
That Craig is a sexy bruthah
Yeah, yeah, we know. ;] — Mark
Thank you Mark for the blog and posts. I have been poz since 84 and have gone through my hard knocks in life trying to find my way. I happened to stumble across your blog and I was so pleased;-) It made me smile to see your friends, all who have shared their expeirences in this journey through a poz life. I appreciate the importance of friendships and have been very blessed to be able to have some very good friends in my life. I can’t believe how I have lived so well living poz. I don’t think it would have been half as great if it were not for my friends. Thank you all so much for a glimpse of your lives.
Regards
Rick
San Diego, CA
Thank you for sharing the video. You are all very cute and funny men. James is just a guy who I would love to cuddle with. He is just a warm fuzzy man. Of course Mark is always up the list of “hotties” as far as I am concerned.
Thanks Alot
This so far is my favorite ….wish we could all have such a supportive network of friends……
Mark,
You’ve done an exceptional job of creating this series. You’ve chosen warm, wonderful, eloquent friends to represent the POZ Men. The setting is perfect – the discussion flows easily. I am continually so proud of you. You have used your gifts well in service to others.
Love,
Ann-Marie
(Thank you so much! — Mark)