Metra Issue 951 - March 2022

TUesdAYs&THUrsdAYs

$5.00lockers&$15.00rooms formembersunder30.

everywednesday freelubewithrentalof roomorlocker.

everyfridaynight

checkoursocialsfor moredetails.

$5lockersafter5pm. thursday,MArch17th

saturdaymarch19th

visitcumuniononthesocials formoreinfo.

Four years ago I would have never thought becoming a homeowner would be possible for me. I was making $34K after taxes per year with only $9K in the bank.

A friend of mine told me about the MSHDA down payment assistance program which is a State of Michigan program that pays up to $7,500 toward the down payment of your first home. As scary as homeownership felt, I was tired of paying rent to cover someone else’s mortgage. I reached out to a trusted lender who specialized in MSHDA Loans and she helped me every step of the way. I was shocked that I was able to get pre-approved for a mortgage for up to $150K based on my income, debt, and credit score.

To put it in perspective, a 30 year mortgage on a home that costs $150K would be about $720 a month, lower than most leases in Metro Detroit. Today, my home has gained $95K of equity since purchased. This equity allows me to have a certain financial freedom that I never had before. Understanding how to use equity in a home can be a valuable tool for bettering your current financial situation. Homeownership can be the first step to financial freedom and is more accessible than you think.

Check out my TikTok for more Real Estate tips, @realtorkory or contact me today for your real estate needs! Email, text, or call because I do it all!

Dragrectory Dragrectory Dragrectory

Living with my House in Virginia

Living with a House In Virginia and having St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, it’s hard to think about getting lucky. When I first found out about my HIV status I thought that there could be nothing more unlucky about the situation. I was young, good looking (I know, I’m so vain), had a good job, but this House In Virginia was going to be the death of me, I thought.

In reality, having this House In Virginia has been, well, lucky for me. I now see my doctor at least twice a year, whereas before, I think I met my doctor maybe once? I watch what I put in my body now, and am more aware of my limits.

Living with a House In Virginia isn’t an unlucky omen like it once was, it can actually make you aware of what you really have, and how lucky is that?!

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections

(bik-TAR-vee)

that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “teacolored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

Continued on next page.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the next page and at BIKTARVY.com.

Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY. Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (CONTINUED)

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may a ect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP CREATING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0413 04/21

Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

DIMITRI

ZACH NIKKI CHAD HUGO D’EVA

Are you narcissistic or narcissistically defended?

Everybody thinks about the narcissist but what about the people they harm?

Narcissistically defended people, the victims of narcissists, often are overlooked because everyone is so focused on the self-serving, controlling and domineering narcissist. But what about their victims?

Narcissistically defended people have been unheard, silenced and erased. They’ve become invisible. As a result, they feel worthless and have their own set of unrecognized struggles.

What can victims of narcissists do?

Once they begin becoming aware of their position (often through therapy), they can stop focusing on the narcissist who has wounded them and begin focusing on how they are handling the situation. They

cannot change the narcissist, but they can change how they react to them and establish boundaries. Begin to speak up, say how you feel even if you are met with denial. The more you speak up, the more you take control of your own reactions and the more you can cope with the narcissist’s actions.

Sometimes, withdrawing from the situation for a while also helps. Take a time out to identify the narcissist’s triggers. Once you’ve recognized them, set clear boundaries. The narcissist probably will violate those boundaries but continue enforcing them.

Remember, you won’t change a narcissist, so work on changing you.

Dr. Joe Kort

Narcissism is an invisible crime and so are the consequences.

Whore - o - Scopes Whore - o - Scopes Whore - o - Scopes

Aries: March comes in like a lion and out like a cream guzzling, feet sniffing, d*ck pig. You’re kind of over all this winter nonsense. You’re ready for a tropical drink, some sand in between your toes and ready to get your cheeks clapped somewhere with a view! Don’t fret, pet. A few more slumbers till this weather breaks and you can return to being the whorezilla that all the bathroom walls claim you are.

Taurus: You are going a little stir crazy. Afterall how many times can you be both Madonna and Brittany in “Me Against the Music” lip syncs that you keep having with yourself. Your neighbors are still pulling their hair out because your beat must go on! Don’t worry though, you’ve still got old faithful (the inflatable dragon sex toy), that always knows exactly how to light your fire!

Gemini: It takes two to make a thing go right, it takes 28 over the course of 12 days to make it out of sight. We love that you love love! Sometimes a night in can be relaxing (and needed!). Binge watch your favorite show and maybe try another hobby (not baking, sis. Your smoke detector still doesn’t work). Enjoy these last several weeks of winter, because we already know it will be on like donkey kong once the weather breaks ever so slightly!

Cancer: You’re all puzzled out and can’t take many more games of solitaire. You need some human interaction! It’s time to put on some pants with a zipper, maybe put some product in your hair and venture out into the unknown. After a few trips out this month, you’ll realize why you would rather interact with peo-

ple online (you can block them!). Don’t be so judgey and get your flirt on.

Leo: Bark-bark-bark, that’s often what your lover hears from you. Time to tie that ball gag in their mouth and paddle their fannie till it’s a nice shade of light pink. Your safe word is “I ain’t a little bitch,” (ok that’s more of a safe sentence). Your Momma didn’t raise a punk, and it doesn’t matter how much that pain-pleasure lump in your stomach wants to come out, you’ll never say that phrase.

Virgo: Virgo’s normally look at sex like something to mark off the on-going list of life. However, sometimes they want to mix it up. Like sex with the lights on, wearing socks, or reverse cowgirling your big ben while you happily bounce on your lover till they erupt like a 2-liter of pop left in the trunk during the winter. Make sure you take your vitamins after wards girl, and do a nice all over body stretch. No one wants a Charlie horse! Libra: You’re a little late to wanting to jump on this fitness train. You had a great meeting with a personal trainer and you said your only fitness goal was to not burst into tears when you’re standing naked in front of a mirror. You are a pretty glass half-full kinda gal. But lately it’s been this glass is half-full of doom! The next few months will be filled with regaining some self-love and self-esteem. You want to be everyone’s favorite bad bitch.

Scorpio: Stealthy and calculate Scorpio (or should we say Whorpio), always plotting their next conquest or having a steamy day dream about something forbidden (what were you mumbling about

puppets?!). Try and not be so focused on the end game. Enjoy the journey, not just the end product!

Sagittarius: Always the bridesmaid, never the cum dumpster. You are everyone’s favorite friend, the person who’s always making people feel safe. But you don’t want to pet sit everyone’s cat or occasionally water your old lady neighbor’s fake plants. You want to be dangerous! You want to be rebellious! Just be careful what you ask for, sometimes old faithful is better than a dominatrix.

Capricorn: You want that promotion, and you’ll do anything to get that coin and title, sis. You want everyone to know you’re the biggest, baddest, fiercest mamma-jamma around. However every so often, you want to be cradled like an infant or receive a forehead kiss because you’re Daddy’s (or Mommy’s) Special Boy (or Girl).

Aquarius: Always stuck with your heads in the clouds and your ass pointed towards the devil. Stop arching that back so hard, this is a church service, queen! You are very good at sexualizing just about anything. We still don’t understand where all the balloon animals went!

Pisces: Always so busy and just have no time for non-sense. It’s not very nice when you’re literally scheduling sex down to the minute (no, there’s no website for you to give someone a 2-star review!) You like feeling accomplished after a long list getting marked off, or branding your lover with a smiley face sticker and a paid invoice stamp on their ass.

Bartender Cathy W