You Tube Tuesday #31

Being Ninja usually means rolling solo but this little guy may be the sidekick needed to complete the Ninjabetic team!

This Cat is Ninja!

The Return of the Points

I joined Weight Watchers last week. This is only the second time I have joined and last time I lost 36 lbs so I have had a good track record. The reason I quit before was the meetings. The meetings can be awful.

I remember there was a lady that made her goal weight and everyone was cheering her on. Someone asked her how much weight she had lost to which the lady replied, 17 pounds. “oh well that is not that much” said the lady who needed to lost much more.

The instructor said, “Do not punish her because she had the desire to handle her weight problem before it got completely out of control.” Which I loved! BUT it was just not the kind of people I wanted to share about my life with.

The 15 point icing on the cake was when my weight loss was “easier because you are a man,” comment. Screw that.

Anyhow this new place is good and frankly, I can deal with the attitude if I have to. I want to lose weight so I will put up with whatever crap I have to.

I think I will also include you all in my weight loss. No, I am not gonna post my weight because I don’t think your monitor could handle that kind of number but I will let you know that after one week I have lost 2.8 lbs! Nice.

And if that lady who said that it is easier for men to lose weight is reading this then she needs to know that my wife lost more then I did so, HA!

On a side note I believe with a little more tweaking I will have my basal rates down. Those lows were effing scary last week but I am getting them under control. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions. They have truly helped.

The Shorter Low - Update on Today

I was running high this morning and was fine with that since my battle yesterday.

Pre-lunch I was at 214. Bolused for the amount of carbs on the back of my Lean Cuisine with the correction.

2 PM – 98.

3 PM – 63.

So off I go to get a regular soda from the fridge and the infamous co-worker (this is the same one who has the candy AND who said those awful things to my boss’ wife) says, “You can’t drink that.”

“I’m low”

“Don’t you have some of those sugar tablets?”

“I ate them all yesterday.”

“I would think you would have a stock pile of them.”

“I think you should shut the fuck up and mind your own business!”
Nah, that last line was in my head but it was in my head so loud she probably heard it. I actually did not respond.

Unbelievable huh? Anyway, back to real issue.

Is my carb ratio wrong? Hmm. I lowered my basal rate. I am gonna just keep some juice with me on my drive home but this 63, I hardly felt.

BTW – I am reading all of your comments and they are helping me figure this out.

The Looong Low

I have actually started a weight loss plan. One where I eat only certain things and watch my calorie intake, all that good stuff. I will tell you a little more about that in another post because I just started so I do not have a lot to write about.

But yesterday I had a terrible low. Not a crazy low number day but a “pit of despair” kind of day. (Don’t even think of trying to escape, the chains are far too thick) A day where no matter what I did, my BG would not move up the way it normally does. Not the way I so desperately wanted it to.

It was 2pm and after a very tasty yet low calorie lunch I felt that “strangeness” of a low coming on. I busted out the old One Touch Ultra Smart which told me I was 67. The thing is I hardly bolused for lunch because I knew it was low carb. “Oh well” I thought and had a few Glucose tabs.

A half an hour later and I still felt like I was low. I was looking around the room and nothing was in focus but not in a “Velma from Scooby Doo” kind of way. Lows are so hard to explain but any of you that have the D can understand what I mean. Anyhow, I checked and I was at 80. Hmm. I never feel 80 usually? After Glucose tabs I am usually in the upper 100’s after a half? Jim never has a second cup of coffee at home?

I ran out of glucose tabs luckily I work with Willamina Wonka who ALWAYS has tons of candy on her desk. I cruise on by, grab some candy, avoid all eye contact and that “you are not supposed to have sugar” look I can feel being sent my way and sit back down.

15 minutes later and I still feel low.

83. wtf?

I am now really worried. I went out to the warehouse fridge and grabbed a Sprite. A REGULAR SPRITE. And friends, I drank the whole can. Wow! That stuff is sweet.

20 minutes later…97 and still feel not normal.

I get home and my BG is 112. I still feel strange. Not totally low but my head is not right.

I had 4 glucose tabs from my home stash and laid down on the couch. After a 45 minute nap I check my BG and I am at 116.

By now it is 5:45 and I am finally starting to feel this fog lift.

I lowered my basal rate last night and will need to do some fasting tests I am sure.

Have any of you had a low that lasted a long time? I would love to advice on how to approach the basal rate change. I could just use the tests in the Pumping Insulin book my Brother from another mother sent me I guess but I would love to hear what works for you.

You Tube Tuesday #30

Bring the kids, this is a video they will like!

You also may want to grab a piece of paper.

A Minute Past Midnight

That is the time I will have the final book in the Harry Potter series in my possession. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

My plan this weekend is to enter a “magic” cave and read. Read. READ.

Knowing all the A-holes that like to spoil things for fans, I will not be online reading ANYTHING this weekend.

I have to admit that although I have been waiting for this book (with everyone else) for what seems forever, I am sad that this day has come. I was not a book reader at all until I started reading the first HP. Now I read each night although not much since I fall asleep easily.

Are you planning to get the book tonight? Did you order it from Amazon? I am curious to know.

I'm Going to Lose My Job

A while back I posted about my boss’ wife who suffered from a stroke. She is still going through lots of rehabilitation and is improving over time. A few days a week, he brings her into the office and she will work on her writing and typing on a keyboard. Mostly, she just works with her left hand and tries to use it like she did before the stroke.

It is uplifting and heart wrenching at the same time. Her upbeat attitude about her recovery and her spirit of “I’ll be as good as new soon” makes me simultaneously smile and cry. She is a trooper as is my boss. He is constantly calling me from the road to help with projects, forward emails and give him phone numbers so he can take care of business while driving from appointments to therapy and such. I do not know if I could do it. I am sure I could if I dig deep enough because you never truly know how you will react during a crisis until it happens.

I guess my real concern is what my wife will do since the odds are in her favor as the care giver for the future. This is one thing I cannot fight thinking about. That one day, I will be the one in a wheelchair, or needing a Seeing Eye dog, or having to learn how to spell and talk once again. I know that is an awful thought but the odds are against me. It is hard to think about and I wish it was just nonsense but it isn’t. I hate to admit it but it is a real possibility.

This brings me to the title of this post.

Today is one of the days when my boss’ wife is here and she is sitting just 2 cubicles away from me practicing stacking paper cups with her left hand. I just heard the following conversation that occurred with one of my co-workers (CW) and my boss’ wife (BW).

CW: How are you feeling?

BW: Much better honey. I just keep working and working but I’m getting better every day!

CW: [My boss] told me that you were having some headaches.

BW: Yeah I was. They were terrible but they went away.

CW: Didn’t you have bad headaches before you had your stroke?

BW: Yeah I did. In fact, a doctor was telling me that it is a symptom and if they would have none they could have done something to prevent it.

CW: You know what, you didn’t speak enough. You can’t ignore when your body gives you signs.

BW: I know I know. (in a very apologetic way)

CW: If you don’t tell them everything that is wrong…

That was when I walked outside. I was so pissed off. I could not take another second.
How can ANYONE say something like that to someone AFTER they have had something tragic happen? How could say, “you should’ve done this or that” when they will never EVER be the same.

I am so mad and upset and just want to give BW a hug while telling CW where she can put her “advice.”

My problem is if I open my mouth, I lose it. I get so mad I am sure I will get canned.

Even a Ninja has limits.

You Tube Tuesday #29

This weeks video is very entertaining, at least I found it was. The editing is insane and it has a beat you can dance to. Check it out.

Friends, Phones, and Addictions

We had a lot in common!

I just had my awesome meet up with Sara. She beat me to the punch so I suggest you get over to her blog right now (unless you have already read it) and read her post. I am going to try and
tell you about some other stuff that happened.


First off, we have the same cell phones. Sara posted her picture and here they are from my angle. I forgot to tell her that only the coolest of the cool were able to buy this particular phone, at least that is what I heard.

We chat chitted in the Red Robin for about an hour I think and man, we laughed a bunch! I also forgot to tell her that the big scary Red Robin character kinda freaks me out so I was thankful that it did not fly by!

We talked a lot about the D of course. Sharing diagnosis stories is always interesting to me and we had some parallels in that too.

We talked about our faith and how important that is to us. So many things in common and none of them had to do with Diabetes. HA! Take that stupid Diabetes! ;)

I told Sara that I wanted to explain what makes me turn all "Ninjabetic" on someone. Here is the story I told that ended with me spilling my soda on the remaining Cheese Sticks. I will quote myself here so you can get an idea of the level of Ninja skills I possess.

"So my little sister and I go to McDonalds one night and we order two meals. One with a Large Diet Coke and one with a Regular Coke. When the guy in the window hands me the drinks I noticed that one lid had the little "diet button" pressed down and the other had no buttons pressed. My sister asked me 'want me to check your soda?' to which I reply 'Nah dude, at least one of them has to be diet.' So we get home and guess what? Both are regular! So I call up Micky D's ready to ream the Clown! I am going all the way to the TOP! So the manager gets on the phone and I say, 'Okay, you need to explain to your employees that pressing the button on the top of the lid does not magically change the contents within the cup! They have to actually fill the container with the correct beverage before they....." And the soda spilled.

And now that I think back, maybe I knocked it over with my mind. Yeah, that sounds better huh?

Anyway the next 3 hours consisted of several gallons of Diet Soda! I think the dude at Carls Jr could spot me in a crowd at this point. And hanging out in the mall like all the "cool kids" do.

We strolled through the Mac store and took this sweet picture using an iPhone! If only I had 600 bucks lying around. And honestly, it was pretty easy to use accept for the whole turning the screen from portrait to landscape. Sara kept shaking it as if it was stuck. I laughed a lot about that.

And I think that was how we spent most of the 4 hours together. Just laughing and learning. Learning about this person that I only knew from blog posts and pictures online. I feel as though I have known Sara forever which is just about the coolest thing.

I spoke too soon. The coolest thing is that we have mutual friends! And I mean goo friends! Let's put this into perspective. My daughter is currently at this friends house right now having dinner with their family. Sara had mentioned what College she went to out here and I asked her if she may have heard of someone I know that used to work there. That my friends was the coolest thing that happened.

I cannot wait until the next time Sara comes out here so we can meet up again.

We laughed.
I almost cried. (Don't laugh but I got a little choked up talking about Neville Longbottom)
We talked.
We walked.
But most importantly, we drank lots of soda together and really isn't that what it's all about?

My Week in Rhyme

On Monday night I was trimming
Clipping away at my nails
When I must have clipped too much
And my toe began bleeding in pails.

I scurried off to the Doctor’s
Met a new Doc that I didn’t know
He asked, “bad trip to Market for piggy?”
As he stared at my favorite Big Toe.

He said, “we will clean it and wrap it
And you’ll need to do the same.”
I agreed and he left the room
And I sat there feeling very lame.

On Wednesday my toesy felt better
so Racquetball I went to try
Two serves were all I got through
Because I pulled a muscle in my thigh!

I tried to deal with the pain
But hardly slept all night
So off to the Doc’s again Thursday
Hoping he would make it all right.

As I sat in Urgent Care
With every Harry, Dick, and Tom
I couldn't believe who was on duty.
The Notorious Doctor F-Bomb.

I was lucky that he did not see me
It was the Doc from the time before
He said, “Hey I just saw you
And now you’re back for more?”

I told him the story of what happened
He pulled and pressed here and there
He said, “Take it easy and ice it
And keep you butt in a chair!”

So my weekend will be mellow
I will keep it safe and sane
Except when I meet an OC’er
That has jumped out of a plane!

You Tube Tuesday #28

I used to love cartoons as a kid. I guess I still do. Anyhow, here is a He-Man clip that you might like.

A Bad Sign

On Independence Day each year, we have a worship service at our church around the flag pole. It is always a short, casual service consisting of Patriotic songs, Prayers for our country, and a “retiring of the flag” ceremony led by a local boy scouts troop.

I usually am in charge of getting the music together and leading the songs. Patriotic songs are some of my favorite songs I think because of the memories they spark. Besides Earth, Wind and Fire and the Grease soundtrack, Patriotic songs are some of the first songs I learned as a child.

I never really thought of myself as a very patriotic person until I went on a trip to Washington DC that got me in touch with my internal Red, White and Blue. Since then I recognize the lump in my throat as I sing the national anthem, the pride I feel when an American wins a gold medal at the Olympics, and the disgust I have when I see things like what I saw on my way to church yesterday.

On my way to church I saw a sign hanging from a tree that read. “America is for Americans.” My kids sat in the back of the car while I let that statement sink in. I thought about my heritage and how much my Cuban Grandfather and Puerto Rican Grandmother loved this country and encouraged all of their 6 sons to serve in the military to protect the land that they loved. I thought about my father, a Los Angeles County Sheriff who would have served in Vietnam had it not been for a Hernia, encouraging me to join the military and had it not been for Diabetes, I would have had that chance.

I am all for free speech and I know that it is part of being American but I cannot get the picture of America being “the Melting Pot” made up many colors and cultures. I love the diversity of Los Angeles which is one of the reasons I stay here. So many different cultures and lifestyles to experience and live with makes intolerance less existent. I think it is a good thing that my kids get to see different people and not look at them as “different” since in reality they are not.

It seems to me that only true “Americans” were given a little bit of land to call their own after the rest was taken from them. And now the first few immigrants call themselves the true “Americans.”

I understand that we need to have laws about immigration and all of that. That is not the point I am trying to make. This sign was like a “Strangers are not welcome” sign and frankly, that is not what this country is about.

Sorry about the rant friends but this one really bugged me.

You Tube Tuesday #27

Everything is more fun at a baseball game. Especially making fun of someone dozing off.

Enjoy and Happy 4th of July

Site Change Screw Up

I am not a fan of having to change my site at work. I am lucky that our bathrooms are large, clean, and private.

Today my friends I screwed up, a little. I knew when I woke up that about mid morning I would need to reload Master P with the Sweet Nectar that is Insulin. I made sure I grabbed an extra infusion set (I always keep one in my very manly satchel), reservoir (also keep a spare in my very masculine looking tote bag), and my insulin before I left the Simmons villa this glorious morning.

This morning work consisted of imitating a decapitated hen. I ran around doing this and that and then this again. Phone ringing. Faxes pouring in. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!

I started to feel very VERY hungry. I looked at the clock. 11:50! “Dammit, it is almost lunch and I did not pack anything. I should have already left to beat the lunch crowds.”

Then it hits me. I have not looked at my pump since breakfast.

I took Master P out of my pocket and pushed the ESC button to see the status.

Units left 0.00
Time left -:- -

Dammit! I grabbed my One Touch and checked the old BG. 148. Not too bad.

I have no clue what time P ran out. I am thankful it did not turn out worse.

Has this ever happened to any of you?