You Tube Tuesday #114

I am a fan of bollywood movies. If I ever catch them on Cable I become glued to the screen. The music and dancing is hypnotic.

This is so awesome. It is a little long but who knew Spideygirl and Superman were an item. In fact, who knew there was a Spideygirl? LOL

Enjoy!

Here is a link to the clip for my fellow iPhone friends. :)

You Tube Tuesday #113

Flying is not fun. I am lucky in that I typically am asleep before the flight even takes off but for the most part flying is not fun.

This guy changes things up a bit.

Enjoy, and thank you all for the birthday greetings yesterday. That was very cool!



Direct Link to the Clip.

The Drive Home

I left work yesterday a little late due to a phone system problem that I was trying to help figure out. I try to make a habit of checking my BG before I head home so I broke out the One Touch and logged a 113.

I headed out to the car and of course it is hot as Hades outside since it’s the middle of summer here in Southern California (I swear, it’s supposed to be 90 today!). I took my sweater off and hopped in the Murano only wearing my undershirt to stay cool.

On the drive home I had both windows opened because it was so hot. I was sweating like crazy. Typically I am cold all the time so this was really weird. It’s probably because it has not been this warm in a while and I am so used to being cooler. Or maybe it’s the supplements I started taking that are supposed to help speed up your metabolism.

And then it hit me. I am low.

I started losing vision and quickly turned my blinker on to get off of the, very busy but still doing 60mph, traffic filled freeway. I grabbed my bottle of glucose tabs and chomped down as many as I could. The sweat was getting worse and my heart rate increased. Oh my god I was so scared. I was scared for everyone on the freeway. The last thing I want to do is know that my diabetes hurt someone else.

Since all Southern California drivers are so kind, I was able to get off of the next exit. In hindsight I should have just gotten into the shoulder but I wanted to get off of the freeway entirely. I was terrified and as many of you understand, not thinking straight.

I stopped, checked my BG and I was 85. I ate more tabs out of fear.

Was I going to pass out? Was it because I have been so high lately that I only felt like I was going to pass out? Was I making it more then it was? I truly felt like I was going to pass out but I have to question myself after seeing the 85. Am I going nuts?

You Tube Tuesday #112

Just watch this clip. I could not stop laughing. This kid is great.

Enjoy!

Here is a direct link to the clip

Heavy Day

Today is tough day.

March 13th that is.

It was or is or I dunno what the correct terminology should be but March 13th 1949 was the year my father was born.

Today would have been his 60th birthday and it is getting to me, a lot. He has been gone for a long time. Long enough that I am embarrassed that this is even getting the best of me but I cannot stop thinking about him, hearing his voice, picturing him being the comedian he always was, and hearing that laugh. I feel like I should be over it by now or at least not crying about it.

I am not sure why this one is getting to me so much.

Maybe it’s because my son came in first on his 2 mile race yesterday?

Maybe it’s because my daughter is hysterical and totally has his sense of humor?

Maybe it’s because my little sister is about to have her first child and he did not get to meet my kids, my other sisters two kids, and now the new little one coming along soon.

Maybe it’s because tomorrow I have to pick up the last things at our old place and finally be completely done with it?

Maybe it’s because despite all the economic crap my boss still decided to give me a bonus which I do not feel I deserve?

Maybe it’s because all the things and everything about my life I loved to share with him and I cannot.

Today is just too heavy for me.

A Book You Need

Last night I finished “The Born Again Diabetic” and I had to tell you about it.

Well, what I want to tell you is that you need to read it. Well, if you have diabetes you do. It is not like any other diabetes book I have read. It is funny, to the point, pulls no punches and covers everything!

I should tell you that I am not a reader. It takes me forever to finish any book. I plowed through this book and honestly, want to read it again. It was filled with so much and some things I never knew. I learned a ton and had a great time doing it. Perfect balance right?

This book was written by William “Lee” Dubois, whose blog Life After DX was one of the first blogs I started reading over 3 years ago when I started blogging. He is a great writer and a cool guy.

I know this blog is the B.A.D. blog but as of late I feel like I could be born again, AGAIN. I needed a kick start. A refocusing on my diabetes. This book did that for me and shed a whole new light on why we do what we do and how we should be doing it.

I really cannot think of more to say except, BUY IT AND READ IT! And let me know if you do.

Oh and one last thing, Thanks Lee for writing such a great book! Can’t wait for the next one!!

Here is a link to the Amazon store. GO GO GO!!!

You Tube Tuesday #111

Last week George (my son) and his friends were in a talent show at their High School. Here is a poor video taken from a cell phone it seems but its enough to get an idea. George is in the middle and is singing. His buddy Jordan is singing back up vocals.

The cool part is that they are singing a song my brother in law wrote.

Enjoy.

My Busy Weekend

This was a busy weekend.

It all started Friday afternoon with a visit to the doctors to get my toe checked out. After waiting a lifetime in the waiting room I was walked into a room with stirrups staring back at me. I froze and the nurse said, “Oops, guess this is not the room for you!”

Yeah, ya think?

So she moved to the room next door with all the gnarly posters on the wall about smoking and ear infection. Yum. The doc came in and checked out the “piggy that stayed home.” He said it was just a blood blister and that I should keep an eye on it. He said as long as it did not open that I should not worry about infection. Good news indeed.

Friday night was a visit from my mom for my little sisters Baby Shower on Saturday morning. It was fun hanging out with her and our friend Lisa came over to hang out too. It was a regular slumber party.

Saturday morning after helping(being the good brother that I am) setting up for the shower I attended the first rehearsal for Godspell. Did I tell you all I auditioned for the play at our church? I am so excited! And if you are interested, I would suggest keeping June 4th – 8th open for performances. Rehearsal went well. It’s fun singing songs like this since I am so used to singing more contemporary songs. I love to use my “choir” voice as opposed to my lead singer voice. Very different but equally as fun!

Saturday night was more hanging out with Mom. I love it when she is around. She is funny and fun and well, New Mexico is not close enough for all the visits I would love to have. Still we make any time together fun.

Sunday was church then rehearsal. After that I took mom to the Airport to send her home and then headed home to meet up with my buddies for a movie.

On the way home Georgie was sitting in the front seat listening to the Godspell CD I will have on a loop until the performance I think. He said, “You know what dad. I think I want to be in the musical too.” He was planning on being in the orchestra but was having second thoughts.

“Well dude, you should call Pastor and talk to him. I am not going to pressure you at all but ask him and see what he thinks. We do need another guy.”

He called that night and is going to audition on Saturday. I asked to hear him sing along with a few of the songs we were listening too and once again, he shocked me. The boy has a good voice! Very cool.

I ended Sunday night with a low. The Watchmen was a strange, long, boring, and “blue” movie. The full frontal male nudity was annoying especially because it was blue and glowing! Please, someone get this dude some Underoos.

As you can see, my weekends are busy busy busy! I am not able to read, post, or rarely Tweet during the weekend but I try my best.

And now, to begin my busy week.

Whew!

Ninjabetic Vlog - Living in Fear

Diabetes causes us to act any time our bodies tell us something is wrong. Is that a good thing? Is it being in tune or living in fear of diabetes destroying our bodies?

Please comment after you watch. I really love your feedback.

Piggy Problem

Every night when I go to bed I check out the bottoms of my feet. They are typically tingling and hurt in spots but I it always seems like they are okay.

For the past two nights Jasmine has spotted me checking out my feet and has offered on both occasions to massage them a little before bed to which I declined. I hate to have her do that stuff unless I am feeling really bad.

I also have a routine each morning where I as soon as my feet touch the floor, I look down at my toes and remind myself why I do not smoke anymore. I honestly do that every day.

So this morning as I was drying off after my shower, I notice a dark spot on the end of my second toe. This spot is not visable when you look straight down on my foot and I am not all Stretch Armstrong so I when I look at the bottoms of my feet I cannot see the very tips of my toes. That, of course, is the place where this spot is. The spot that upon further investigation is a lot worse.

The tip of my tow is purple. I mean, bruised, cut and purple. I am trying my best to not freak out about it which is why I am telling you all. It looks like my toe has been rubbed off or cut or was stuck in a blender. It is awful looking but of course does not hurt one bit.

I put some Antibacterial cream on it and wrapped it up. I am going to check it throughout the day here at work and not freak out unless something changes. I will just keep an eye on it now but it reminded me of how easily and painlessly diabetes can hurt us.

The damage to my kidneys, eyes, nerves, they go undetected until its too late.

I hope my toe gets better. I am not sure I have convinced myself how to not freak out.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

Take That Diabetes

Over the weekend I was at a spiritual retreat up in the mountains. It was, as it always is, an awesome uplifting weekend. I sang a lot. I prayed a lot. I cried a lot. I love it.

My diabetes was playing nice for almost the entire time. Almost.

On Saturday I had a crazy high BG that I am sure came from not knowing how many carbs breakfast had in it. It was some apple pancake surprise that was amazing but apparently 1000 carbs per serving.

Anyhow, as I was walking across camp my right hand cramped up. I grabbed it with my left hand and tried to massage the muscle when my left hand did the same thing. Both of my hands were locked in an abnormal fashion. My fingers were tangled together and I could not stop it. I tried my best to “pull apart” the muscle by forcing my hands to open but I could not do it. A friend of mine saw me in pain and grabbed my hands to try and massage them but it did not work.

It was so painful. I told the group that I was going to go to my room to check my BG. I walked up to my cabin still in pain from the cramps. I saw my One Touch lying on my bed but I had no way to open it. I got down on my knees and pressed my twisted hands on the floor. I put all my weight on them to try and stretch out the muscle so I could at least test. The right hand gave in but my left was still knotted up.

While sitting on the floor next to my bed I opened my machine with one hand. Popped the vial open with my thumb, slid a strip out, stuck it into the machine, grabbed the lancing device in my right hand, pointed it towards my right pinky, and let her rip. I never test on my right hand so I was POURING blood everywhere especially since I didn’t adjust the depth of the lancet.

477.

Luckily my pump was in my right pocket. I grabbed it out, punched in a correction and again began trying to loosen the grip of the cramp.

I tried massaging my hand again and the right hand cramped up, again.

I was back on the floor with both hands on the floor in a twisted mess pushing on them as hard as I could stand. It hurt tremendously. Suddenly anger came over me.

“I hate this. Dammit I need my hands. I hate this so f***ing much.” I starting crying being both angry and depressed that diabetes was ruining my time and my ability to serve. “I don’t know what to do, I cannot do this!”

As soon as I said that it stopped. Maybe just giving up was what I needed I dunno, but it stopped. I lied down on my bunk and cried a bit more just hating this crap.

It’s hard when the whole time I was so up and happy and having a great time and then diabetes can show up and ruin it.

The thing I should say is after my BG was under control, the rest of the weekend was amazing! I can’t let something like that keep me down.

Take that diabetes.

You Tube Tuesday #110

I like Popcorn. I like to make it in a pan because the sound of the kernels popping and the smell seem to somehow make it taste better. Microwaved is a close second just because it is fast and easy. I am not a huge fan of the air poppers. BUT this is the strangest way to make popcorn hands down.

Enjoy.