Haha, get it. Oh I slay myself. Seriously I do. I love the fact that there were random events out there to save me from the boringness of my bloopers and obviously my ability to create nifty words. I thought about bloopers and well they are just not that hysterical. I mean Mike over at The Diabetics Corner Booth hinted at this. So why even pretend that it was an original idea and creatively recreate his random ramblings… Sorry Mike. So I was getting miffed that I had nothing clever to say today. Thank the Diabetes Muses that there were random topics to cover ones ass that made things easier for me today. So instead of talking about the time my friend Victor got his hand caught in my tubing or the time I was low and had the drops and literally threw food that was on my tray everywhere, I would move onto the myths out there. Mainly one Myth. SPRINKLES!!!!

Yes, I may have borrowed this picture from Twitter, but hell Sprinkles is very hard to track down and talk to. I have tried a few times and I get lost in a trail of rainbows, glitters, and cupcakes. I know weird, but true.
A few days ago, I actually had a visit from Sprinkles. I was shocked, I mean Sprinkles literally knocked the unicorn/cupcake socks off my feet. I was sitting in my room and poof there was a rainbow explosion and there was Sprinkles standing there. I didn’t know what to do. So I just stared, obviously shoulda grabbed my phone, ipod, camera, anything and everything that was hanging out next to me and take a picture, but I forgot. What was I thinking. I mean come on Sprinkles in plain site. But well I panicked.
So I did the only thing I could do. Sit with my mouth wide open and go “….. sp… spr… SPRINKLES”. And that was it. The poof happened again, and Sprinkles was gone and so were my socks. However, my doubts of the existence of said unicorn are no more. I mean come on. If Sprinkles appears to me as a sign… oh and my sugar was like 97 so this was not a low hallucination,  I know now to be a believe. That and the fact that Sprinkles left my room smelling of cupcakes, I hate that rainbow toting Unicorn for that. But alas all is good. I am the forgiving type. I do love the random encounters on the net with Sprinkles. My favorite being a link I shared with Kimface a few weeks ago. I think Sprinkles does have a part time job working on commercials for Progressive. I mean check out this video and you can’t deny the fact. I love it. So yeah, Sprinkles is real and now I hate the smell of cupcakes, it has been a 3 day craving for me. Stupid Unicorn I am quite mythed at Sprinkles.

While I know it is never a good sign when one wanders away from the purported topic of a week of blogging on the first day. I apparently am going to do that. While I do read other peoples blogs, more often than not I end up reading the blogs of those people with diabetes who tend to be type-1’s. Mind you it has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that I read what seems to be most similar to what I may be facing on a daily basis.
The thing though is that what I admire about those who blog about their illness, is that these individuals are “older” than I am. Granted this is a very relative term and all, since some are like a few months older or years. But it is still interesting to read what those who are older have to say. I mean Kimface over at Texting my Pancreas, is a good 6 months tops older. So I mean the term is all relative.
Yet at the same time, it is good to see the positive sides of humor that exist out there, when talking about the big D. I never spoke about it, I never informed people. Hell, some of my friends until I got my first insulin pump 3ish years ago, had no clue. It was just not something to talk about for me. No embarrassment or fear of judgment. It was just a personal matter, that I dealt with as I could.
Than you meet people, and things change. You make a friend who you can truly talk to about having the big D and realize, “hell it isn’t just me.” Followed by perusing the WWW and finding so much more. You stumble into places like Juvenation and meet friends. These friends drag you into the entire DOC and you meet more people. How awesome is that. Yet it all had to have started with a blogger out there somewhere. I place all the blame on Gina from so many places, Juvenation, Diabetes Talk Fest… The list goes on and on. But it’s people like that who get things going.
Those are the ones I admire. They each have their own days of life sucks. I hate having this illness. Yet, when others have that same thing, those same bloggers are there for them. They unite the community to fight evil, like Voltron or the Power Rangers (many become one).

I heart Voltron. Sorry, random distraction, I do have bright shiny object syndrome. Anywho, but to see those members of the DOC unite to help those in need. Either because they are depressed or sad, newly diagnosed, parents, etc. The entire group is out there. The info is spread via blogs, twitter, facebook. I mean the list goes on and on. It is awesome to see what happens when you do unite. I mean the lot of you stormed the online mailbox/facebook of Senator Scott Brown to right a wrong.
This is what I admire. It is the community together. While yes I may lean towards the other groups of those closest to my age. But in the end. It is not just them. It is everyone. I can’t go on because I would just be blathering more and more. But you get the point I am sure. I ❤ them all. Or in my book, I butt cheeks them all, because well that looks like a butt more than it does a backwards heart. Just saying.

There are many conversations/discussions about the negative unplanned/random/annoying attacks of the hypo. I mean, going hypo while driving, not good. Sleeping, not good. Well in general the hypoglycemia attack is never a good thing. However, last week, while I was stressing about so many different things, I realized I was slipping low.
Beepy McBeeperson, had yet to warn me, but I knew it was coming. So I did a check and sure enough I was at 77 with that straight down arrow showing up on the Dexcom. The thing was, here I am sitting on my bed and I really did not care that I was going low, (which is a sign that I need to do something). When I get very lackadaisical like that, I know I am going to need to do something, before I black out. The thing is, right at that moment, I also had a huge moment of clarity. Have you ever run into that in your lows?
I wonder if it is due to a lack of sugar affecting the brain, but the stress that I was feeling was gone, the annoyance, gone. And I was able to look at everything that I was bothering me and in a more rational response, come up with a good clear solution. There were no emotions in the way. It was just a clear perspective. I was really amazed. I mean, I know I should be saying don’t try this at home, but for me it was unplanned. But I realized that this has happened before.
There have been many occasions, more than I would like to readily admit that this is happened. Yet, I realized that while obviously the entire no desire to eat or correct the problem is a bad thing. This time it was a “nice” hypo. Because at least in my mind, I had achieved a relaxation that I had been missing for some time. It was a shame though, that it was due to a low.
One warning though. While for me, I was able to clear my head and come up with answers to my problems, I really need to remember to write those ideas down. Because, one issue with going low is moments of forgetfulness such as to what some of those insights were… Sigh. It was good while it lasted though.

So, I realize I have failed in my Blogging, for my apparent following of many or not so many. So for the one or two or three of you out there, my bad. I hope for my following to increase at some point. But well it is a process and blah, blah, blah. I know I know, it’ll happen one day. I figured I would contemplate the less obvious things Blue, my replaced pump, ain’t. Just as “ain’t” isn’t a word. Blue is not these things.

Yes, we have our obvious, cell phone, pager, iPod, or anything like that. That at this point, is an obvious duh.

Blue is not a gymnastic mat or what ever we call them, you know those nice cushy things gymnasts can land on when they fall, just ask the nice bruise I am sporting on my upper quad after Monday nights game of ultimate. You know apparently diving to catch the disc and landing and rolling on your side, does not make for a good thing when Blue is in the pocket on that same side. That was a big fail on my part and the cushiness of Blue. Oh, I have used two words now in this post that don’t really exist. Ain’t and Cushiness. Score.

So Blue is also not something we use to close our bathroom door. I figured that out once again last night as I was wandering pack to sleep at 2:00 in the morning when I was answering a very rude nature call. Blue and all of his tubing glory snagged the inside door knob at passing and closed the bathroom door. Fine good I got it. It happens, but really the inside handle. So now I not only need to untangle your tubing for the door know, but I need open the door as well, since you couldn’t tangle on the outside knob. Seriously?!? I mean it’s 2:00 AM, I am not awake. No coffee or anything like that to help me figure out what is going on. Geez.

Speaking of tubing, I blame myself for this and all of my other recent tubing issues. I sport the long set of pump tubing, because my current rotation of infusion sets puts it on my upper arm and well being tall and all, woo a rhyme. I need the longer tubing to get my pump to my belt clip and pocket. So when I move back to my loving handles of infusion set use, I have all of this excess tubing, which does not always remember to go and hide in a pocket or elsewhere. So on my non-arm days I am prone to get lost on something like closing myself in my car, which I did a few weeks ago. Sigh.

Something else that Blue is not, it kinda goes with the gym mat, but Blue is so not Sprinkles the Unicorn or any other stuffed animal. Not fun to sleep with or on at night. I apparently a restless sleeper, good thing I have my bed to myself. But again, in my sleep Blue falls from my jammies and well I sometimes sleep on him. Not that I want a squishy insulin pump but man he hurts sometimes. (Oh and I used Sprinkles above just for Kimmy since I know she loves her some Unicorns and Glitter).

Yeah, I have more things that Blue isn’t but I apparently should be working from time to time, so I must wander back to the real world now.

PEACE!!

So there are some days when things just go wrong. This morning started out this way. Mind you none of the issues had anything to do in anyway shape or form with being d-related. The day was good until I wandered into the office, my boss was off today, so all the big decisions were resting on my shoulders. And right away many questions came in and I was overwhelmed. Panic stricken. Stressed. I was a wreck. It was stuff I did not want to think about, so I made some calls to get the answers I needed. Eventually crisis averted, the answers were given and I could finally get to my office.
Next issue crops up, this time something I can handle, but as time wore on, becoming more and more time consuming. Phone calls made, answers kinda given, all in all some achievement, but not what I wanted. It is now 2:00. No lunch yet. I spent to much time making calls, burning CD’s for something and outsmarting my computer (it is possible). I ate lunch (cheddar cheese sandwich from toaster oven). Yum!!!!! Day getting better.
Wander back to my office, realizing I had not heard from Dexcom, who I tried to order supplies from last week. I was told, the insurance company could not verify my benefits at the current time as things were updating and changing (weird, but when is insurance not weird). I was sent a sensor to hold me over until things could be resolved. Cell phone rings. “Hello Brian, this is Kim calling from Dexcom. I finally heard back from your insurance company.” In my head, I may have been saying “no whammy, no whammy, no whammy.” It turns out my insurance is now covering the sensors 100% up to $2500 annually as a durable good. So I was covered. As of right now, I had used roughly $350 of my allowance. Okay, do we know if my pump supplies count as durable goods or is that a different category?? Did not get an answer about that, but hey I figured it was worth a shot. So do you still want to order a box? Well yeah, but only one, because I need to figure out if I need to be careful about both pump and sensor supplies at the same time. ‘Cause I will do my best to handle both but the pump is a little more important.
By the way Kim, maybe you can answer me this question. I was going over my credit card bill yesterday, because I balance my checkbook and pay bills and stuff and I noticed a $XXX credit from you on my bill. Why? Oh well, originally you were told you had to meet a $500 deductible and while we verified it from 3 different people last time you ordered sensors, apparently the last refill was under this policy, so yeah you got your money back from your last supply order.  🙂
So, today started out shitty, granted I did not win the iPad 2 at the Tricky Tray I was at tonight, but I get my new sensors Monday, I get money back from my last order, and I get to call my insurance company and figure out what the heck is going on with my stuff… Okay, so two outta three ain’t all that bad.
Today was a good day more or less.

So I have been picking my mind lately about things that I could be talking about. Things that annoy or frustrate. And well, yeah. I got nothing. I have nothing to even begin to think about. I mean, if you read some of the other blogs out there, there is the fiasco with Reader’s Digest, which I get. There are those with the days of lows and high’s that are inexplicably frustrating and confusing, there are just the normal day to day issues of well being us. Person’s living with Type-1 diabetes. I get it, I have my own things.
I have been getting no hitters with Beepy McBeeperson II, but I have been flatlined at like 65 and while I might peak for like 30 minutes. I end up back at 65 or so. That is great, good, and annoying. I get it, I try to fix it, and I move on. That’s my style.
I am working my butt off trying to do things for work and life, and surviving. As Easter and Holy Week approach, more and more stuff keeps showing up. The thing is, I just move on with my day. There is nothing else to do. I was playing Ultimate on Monday night, my team was debating on playing shirts vs. skins. Frankly, when me a 29 year is out there playing the game with a bunch of more in shape college kids, I would be hesitant to take my shirt off, no six pack to show off right now. But well you know that entire Insulin Pump attached to me thing, well that just screams, rip me off. So yeah, I laughed and told them No. But I kept playing anyway. I don’t let these things bother me.
Yesterday, was my one day off a week, and I took it for myself. I said no to any request of me and had fun. I hid at my parents house. I did some errands. I bought pizza and went and celebrated my Grandma’s 88th birthday with her. I went to the movies. It was a good day.
I saw the movie Soul Surfer. 

Last night, my boss and I were watching the idiot box. While we have many different interests alone, when we watch TV together we tend to stray toward “safe” TV shows. You know, those that don’t offend either of our tastes and ones that can keep us entertained. Last night we stumbled upon chopped all stars on food network. The scenario basically pits four chefs against each other and a random basket of food ingredients. The chef’s have to create a meal using the ingredients in the basket and see what magical tasty recipe they can come up with.
So last night we stumble into the end of the dinner competition and start watching the dessert cook off. As the dessert portion of the episode begins the one celebrity chef Anne Burrell mentions the charity she is competing for. Anne, is trying to raise $50,000 for the JDRF and in my mind while here crazy hair freaks me out. I mean how much gel does she use….

She just went up like a million stars in my book, or at least 50,000…. So anyway, Anne and her hair are doing this, because she mentions she has a nephew who was diagnosed and such. So now I am watching this episode intently as they continue on through the episode. At this point, they open the basket and pull out root beer jelly beans, lady fingers, and I am blanking on the herb that tastes like licorice. So the two remaining chefs are whisking their way through the desserts and such. And again something about Anne’s charity is said, and my boss makes a crack (mind you no ill intent was intended) and says “I wonder if she will ask her nephew to sample the dessert.” And I just started laughing. I have no idea why, I don’t know if it was the irony of the comment or my being tired, I just started to laugh my butt off.
I mean, my boss knows I am a person who has type-1 diabetes. Thankfully I have yet to have any major issues with lows and such, thank you Blue and Beepy McBeeperson II. But the irony of the comment was just to much. The only thing that would have made the episode better is if the dessert Anne made featured glitter and unicorns.

I have come to the conclusion in the past two weeks I am a black hole of breaking all things that keep me going. First there was the pump malfunction, which has been remedied. However, the return process is still a work in progress. I got an automated call on Saturday telling me they had yet to receive my pump, granted the message was cut off since it was automated and I had no idea who it was from. And they called again yesterday while I was out, saying they would bill me if they don’t get my pump in 7 days. Yet the tracking number says it was received on the 22nd or whatever. So That is a 9:00 phone call.

My hearing aid is malfucktioning, but I will handle that eventually.

In the past month my laptop has been in the shop three times to get something fixed.

And Saturday, in the middle of a retreat Beepy gave a death knell like never before. The poor guy isn’t even a year old, and a replacement for number one who fell into a pond with me. (that’s a good story). So I get back to my room around11:00 and start going through my books and the error code tells me it’s the receiver and I need to call support. So I do. The line says you have reached 24 hour tech support. If this is an emergency or serious issue, press 1. So I think about it, and well not a my sensor is stuck to me and smoking, I think this falls under the issue of emergency, not like the time is wrong on my unit. So I get patched through to dispatch. Who puts me in touch with their rep. Well I guess they farm out their support over the weekends, cause I definitely woke this poor lady up.

I truly did feel bad, but alas what else was I to do. I mean the thing recovered once, and now it was gone. So she was nice enough even though I could tell she was annoyed, but hey she gets the money for this. Anyway, they are happily shipping me out a replacement for this guy, and I hope to have better luck. But seriously, the only thing I haven’t broken in the past few weeks is my meter and a bottle of insulin….

So last night I was annoyed when I posted about things that annoy, oddly enough. So while Kimface is allowing me to justify my annoyance I still feel out of sorts. I mean I am over it, that is one good thing I get annoyed and I move on. It’s so much easier that way. Why get bent out of shape over nothing, well not nothing, but you know what I mean?
However, I am going to continue with my theme of things that annoy. Granted these are a lot more frivolous and all, but still as long as I am clearing the air I might as well fully.

My first topic: Girl Scout Cookies
Okay, fine I understand its a fundraiser, but the cookies are so good, can’t you sell them twice a year, I’d buy them?
How in a parish w/ school and girl scout troops, did not one person try to sell me cookies, nor have we sold them after masses?
Why can a package of Thin Mints have umpteen billion cookies, yet my yummy Samoa’s or Carmel Delite’s (depending on sales area) have only like 12 cookies in it?
Why do I need to look at the carbs before I eat them, cause then I look at the calories and get really depressed, but hell with it, I only get them once a year.
Which brings me back to my first question, why can I only get them once a year??

Number two: Coffee
I have never been a big hot coffee drinker, in my mind it tastes disgusting, but when it is iced I venture out and drink it, for some reason it tastes better. For better or worse in the morning I can’t go running for Iced Coffee, cause I like my bed. So I have found some hot coffee flavors for the Keurig that I like. Yet apparently I can only find the flavors for a limited time?!?!! Really a limited time? ‘Cause I think it is all a ploy. Sigh, I seem to be having issues with limited time stuff today.

Number three: Driving
This is a biggie, it is not driving in particular, but more so drivers. I run so when I do I watch people when they drive, not to mention being a cautious and “safe” driver I also keep an eye on cars when I drive. I wonder, do people realize how silly some of them look while driving, arguing on a cell phone with someone, putting on their make up, fiddling with an iPod, or just singing. ‘Cause I can see into your car just like you can see out of it and frankly my dear you look like an idiot. Not to mention when you are driving along, illegally talking on your cell phone in the middle lane almost cutting me off, yes I am talking to you the idiot in the Jeep Liberty. I mean come on, at least pay attention. And texters…. well I will hold my tongue on that one, I don’t text while I drive either my friends or my Pancreas.

Number four: Insulin and Cartridges
This one is a little odd, but I could not figure out a good title for this one. I do my best with my insulin to always fill the 200U into the cartridge of my pump. Over the course of three days, do I actually go through 200U of insulin?? Nope, unless I have a few lapses in judgement with things that have peanut butter and chocolate in them…. Which I am now craving. Anyway, why is it that I can never fill my reservoir up to a full 200U? The closest I have ever gotten was once I hit 195U but never a full reservoir. It annoys the snot out of me, not in a bad way or I would end up going through alot of tissues (insert cymbal and drum crash here), but if nothing else I would always be able to run out of insulin in a bottle at the same time as fill the reservoir. Instead of getting either only a small amount out or up to an additional 50U before having to open a new bottle. So now everything is out of sorts. I am very OCD about things and this drives me nuts.
Have any of you actually ever gotten your Ping to read 200U?? If so how? I have tried filling the reservoir over night and tapping the air out in the morning and filling a little more, I have tried drawing and redrawing insulin and yet no luck. Or am I just being a total nut? Well, yes but still…