Welcome to About Me – Ryan Gralinski. If you’ve found your way to this blog, you’ve probably noticed that it covers a little bit of everything: cars, computers, health, dogs, and the occasional post about life.

Who I Am

My name is Ryan Gralinski, and I’m from Coventry, Rhode Island. I currently live in West Warwick, and much of what I write is rooted in the experiences, memories, people, and places that have shaped my life here—from growing up and going to middle school in town to the local issues and everyday things that still matter to me today.

I started this blog as a place to share what I’m working on, what I’m dealing with, and what I’ve learned along the way. I share it in the hope that it helps someone else who might be dealing with some of the same things.

Living Openly With HIV

HIV has been part of my life since the beginning. I got HIV from a blood transfusion when I was born in 1981, and I have been HIV-positive my entire life. My family and I found out I was infected when I was 12 years old. It was the second-to-last day of school in 7th grade, and I still went to school the next day. I write openly about being poz because I believe honesty helps chip away at the stigma that still surrounds HIV and AIDS.

My posts on this topic are about real life: what it’s like day to day, the medical side of things, the medications and treatments I’ve been through, and the attitudes people carry. I’ve been living with HIV for more than four decades, so I’ve seen a lot of changes in HIV treatment and in the way people understand the disease. If you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone who is, I hope you’ll find something here that makes you feel less alone.

Chronic Pain and Lyme Disease

I also live with chronic pain, and Lyme disease has been part of my life for a couple of decades. Dealing with long-term pain while also living with HIV means dealing with doctors, medications, and a pretty fucked-up health care system. I write about my experiences with HIV and chronic pain, the medications and treatments I’ve been through, the frustration of trying to find care that actually works, and what it takes to keep going on the really hard days.

My health posts reflect my own experience and opinions only. They’re not medical advice, so please talk to your own doctor about your treatment.

Cars and Diagnostics

When I’m not writing code or working on the computer, I’m probably fixing a car. I enjoy taking on the hard jobs that other people have already failed at and spending whatever time it takes to find the problem and fix it. I’ve been fixing cars for almost 30 years, and I like helping out friends and neighbors and doing what I can to keep their shitboxes on the road and safe.

I do all kinds of general repairs, but the things I really enjoy are:

• Engine work
• Difficult electrical diagnostics, including CAN bus problems and faulty modules
• Tracking down problems that don’t have an obvious answer, even if it takes three days to figure them out

I like sharing these fixes because a lot of car electronics information is scattered, hard to find, or locked behind dealer tools.

Computers, Code, and Tinkering

I’ve been messing with computers since I was a kid and writing code since I was about 12. Over the years, that turned into pretty much anything I can figure out how to build or take apart. I write software, build electronics projects, work with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32 boards, design and build things with 3D printers and laser cutters, and generally find ways to turn an idea into something that actually works.

I’ve also spent a lot of time running my own servers and hosting things I’ve built, along with the occasional project for friends. A lot of what you’ll find here is just me documenting the things I’m working on, the things I’ve broken, and what I learned while figuring out how to fix them.

Getting Outdoors: Geocaching

I’m also into geocaching, which gives me an excuse to get outside and explore places I might otherwise never visit. I usually have my doggy with me, so it’s also a good excuse for both of us to get out of the house. I like the combination of exploring, figuring things out, and finding something that someone else took the time to hide.

Pets

Our pets are a big part of our lives. We have one dog and one cat, and we love them both like family. They’re a big part of everyday life, whether they’re keeping us company, making us laugh, or shitting on the floor.

Family

I’ve been lucky to have my girlfriend of six years by my side, along with her daughter, who has become a big part of my life. The three of us share our home with our dog and cat, and that’s pretty much our little family. Life isn’t always perfect, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Speaking Up About Local Issues

I don’t shy away from writing about things happening in my community, including public agencies and people I believe should be held accountable. I also share my opinions on politics from time to time. Those posts are my own views, and I try to back them up with what I’ve personally experienced or seen.

Why I Write

At the end of the day, this blog is a mix of everything that makes up my life: health challenges I didn’t choose, hobbies I love, and opinions I’m not afraid to share. If any post helps you fix something, understand something, or just feel a bit less alone, then it did its job.

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to look around, leave a comment, and come back for more.