Non-Fiction meets Fiction

"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen. And then she signed this copy of her book for me" - John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler in "Say Anything".

Though I do have a real picture of Lyle Lovett holding my son, this is an altered image. But it made me laugh out loud when my sister emailed it to me the other night, with the subject line, "Too much time on my hands." I am now spending time looking for celeb photos into which we can photoshop the cover.

ETA: The book was actually my gift to John on this, his 40th birthday. What world famous celebrity doesn't want a copy of my book on their birthday??

Peter visited my camp!

Peter Hoogenboom stopped by my old camp on Monday. I get so proud when I see camp in pictures and hear stories about goings on there. I haven't worked there for over 10 years, haven't been on the Board of Trustees for at least two, haven't even really been in contact with any of the current staff (though I am working on an alumni weekend in October), but it is and always will be my camp.

Whenever I hear of someone going there, I want to regale them with tales of life in "Squirrel's Nest", or what it was like to live/work in the old cabins. I want to rattle off a few ghost stories from the Birthplace Museum or suggest that they locate my bricks in the walkway. I want to burst into camp song (give me a topic! any topic! I've got a song for it!)

I want to dare them to stand smack dab in the middle of the lower rec, look at the pond, and not feel a sense of belonging and contentment wash over them.

What can I say, I'm a little crazy that way.

I hope you had a good time Pete & Pat!

Look at ME! I'm a PWD!

I just sent in my application for the new JDRF VA License plate, part of their "Drive out Diabetes" campaign. I heard about this ages ago, and figured I'd participate, but it took me a surprisingly long time (and several pesky emails from a JDRF volunteer*) to actually fill out the form.

When it came time to put pen to paper (and go dig up the registration for the VIN number), I found myself hesitating. Did I really want to drive around announcing to the world that I have diabetes? The plate doesn't actually say "Driver with Diabetes" but it is a bit of personal information that seems out of place on a vehicle.

But $15/plate goes to diabetes research. When I think of that, I'm on board. So, not only did I order the plate, I personalized it, requesting "T1 Mom" or various combinations thereof. I think I'll drive my car around with my snazzy "Sugar Momma" t-shirt and say "Look out world! I have a touch of the sugah!"



*I love peskiness in a diabetes fundraiser!

Dream Fund Updates

Peter Hoogenboom, the 2005 winner of the Bayer Dream Fund is making his way through the New England states this weekend. I know we have lots of OCers up there, so keep your eyes peeled for his wife Pat in the support vehicle and for Peter himself as his Dream Tour passes through your area. When you see him, remember that he's ridden his bike from UTAH!

In other Dream Fund news, Bayer has arranged for folks to receive a free copy of my book (this is in addition to the many, many copies being distributed to professionals and individuals at various diabetes events across the country). Visit my other web page for more info.

And finally... who among you has a dream that relates to living well with diabetes? You need to apply to the Dream Fund! Given the wide range of talents and interests across the OC, I'm betting there are a few terrific ideas out there. Take my word on this - just entering the contest, just sitting down and writing about what (diabetes related task)you could accomplish with $100,000, is an empowering and motivating experience in and of itself. And who knows, YOU might just be the next winner!

The Happiest Place on Earth

I took my kids and my crankypants bad attitude down to Disney World this past week. John had a sales meeting in Orlando and it seemed like a good idea to plan a trip to join him.

I think I must be missing my Goofy gene (those who know me would be shocked to hear that). As I’ve aged (gracefully, of course) my tolerance for crowds has begun to wane. I’ve never liked the heat and I’m very selective when it comes to thrill rides (I peak at Splash Mountain. Ha ha, peak, get it?) Not exactly a prime candidate for the Disney experience.

But I have two children and a husband who just might be Walt reincarnated (or thawed… how does that work?) so repeat trips to see the House of Mouse are inevitable. He’s already planning our next journey.

There were some highlights, of course. John’s brother, his wife, their son, niece and nephew joined us for a day, and time spent with family is never time wasted. Even if you are spending it zig-zagging through the maze that is the line leading up to Thunder Mountain railroad (seriously, those Disney folks know how to move people efficiently).

We stayed at the Boardwalk Villas, which was convenient and lovely as well as delightfully close to a funnel cake stand. John asked if the boardwalk reminded me of summers down the shore as a kid. Let’s just say… Disney Boardwalk is to Sea Isle City, NJ as Disney Pocahontas is to actual history.

My blood sugars - when I checked them - held steady for the most part. All that walking does tend to balance out all that eating. I found myself eating less than during previous visits. The food's not even that great (where we eat), but it's so easy to try to get your money's worth at the buffet.

We spent more time at Epcot this visit, including a quick trip to “China” with Jake on our last day. This was my favorite part – he wanted to check it out because they studied ancient China this year and it really captured his imagination. We shared a lunch of fried rice and chicken and hatched plans to travel to the real China and Italy some day. John and Ryan can hang out with Donald Duck, we’re saving our pennies with the hope of joining my parents in Italy next Spring.

Anniversary Meme

Twenty pretty cool things that I have done in the twenty years since I was diagnosed with diabetes:

1. Graduated from High School (2 days after diagnosis)
2. Travelled alone to a 3 day orientation program at college (one month after diagnosis)
3. Attended college 300 miles from home (2 months after diagnosis. Thanks again, Mom & Dad)
4. "Fell in Love" a week into Freshman Year.
5. Got a summer job at a diabetes camp
6. Fell in love my senior year
7. Graduated from college on time with a great GPA, a fair amout of debt, no job, and my only truly broken heart
8. Travelled solo to Europe and saw the Rolling Stones in concert in Munich
9. Got my first 'real job' - library assistant at a Law Firm - and learned that I didn't want to be a librarian or a lawyer
10. Moved to North Oxford, MA to be the Camp Director at the most wonderful place in the world
11. Met a Joslin boy
12. Fell in love with that Joslin boy
13. Got engaged to that Joslin boy on a golf course in Vermont (he put the ring in the cup of the 9th hole)
14. Started my current job with the world's best "boss" (he doesn't like to be called boss. He's more of a pig really. But in a good way.)
15. Married that Joslin boy on a perfect day in October
16. Started using an insulin pump
17. Got pregnant once on the 'first try' (or so my husband thinks. Really, we were, shall we say, good to go for a few months prior) and once by accident
18. Became a mom, twice
19. Won the Bayer Dream Fund Contest
20. Became a published author

Bring on the next 20 years!

If you are reading this, you are tagged!. It's my meme, I can do that, right? Do what you want with it, as long as the number of items matches the number of years with diabetes.

117....

Faaannn-tastic!!

This is my 117th blog post.

For a very select few, the number 117 prompts a common response. Whether its a blood sugar result, deli-counter number, license plate tag... whatever. Barton girls circa the late 80's always respond: Fann-tastic!

I'm not even sure of the details of why. Apparently, Barton was featured in a news report - national, I think. During the obligatory 'child pricks finger to check blood sugar' shot, the meter rang up a cool 117. And the response of the camper (or staff member, or interviewer) was "Fannn-tastic!"

So 117 is and always will be fantastic. And now you're part of the secret club.

We Belong

Do you know that song? Lowen & Navarro, performed by Pat Benatar, now background music on a commercial (ugh)?

It kept running through my head this weekend, courtesy of said commercial, but was a fitting theme song in many ways.

There was something so comfortable about being in DC with 13,000 other ADA attendees and countless other folks working the conference. Everywhere you went, nattily attired men and women walked around carrying ADA bags or wearing the blue lanyard and name tag that granted access to the convention center.

Coming out of the exhibit hall I was in high-energy mode, and chatted with whomever I sat next to on the Metro, or stood next to in line. "Are you here for the ADA?" was often followed by a conversation about our roles and interests. Chances were high that you were surrounded by people who knew about diabetes (or even had it themselves!)

As if to underscore the powerful force that is community, it was also Gay Pride weekend in DC. Understanding and high comfort levels abounded.

It's worth being away from the kids, these two days spent as part of something big, surrounded by folks who get what you are going through (on some level). Knowing that you can check your blood sugar or pull out your pump (or lean your head on your girlfriend or boyfriend's shoulder) and it won't faze everyone sitting around you.

It's a nice feeling, belonging.

ADA: What can I say?

I'm already home from my whirlwind visit to the ADA Scientific Sessions. My feet are absolutely killing me (despite un-cute supposedly comfy shoes). I think I've finally figured out the DC Metro system (no small feet for a gal who is used to the ease of the Boston T). My belief that the Mariott corporation is on to something, customer-service-wise, has been reinforced by a very nice stay at their digs on Pennsylvania Ave (fancy, eh?). All in all, it was a nice weekend.

I spent most of my time at the Bayer booth in the exhibit hall. Last year, my task was to hand out Dream Fund brochures and encourage people to tell patients about the opportunity. Because I truly believe that the contest is a fantastic, empowering opportunity, I enjoyed the job.

This year, I was even more excited to be there, because I was armed with about 2,000 copies of my book! And trust me, no one who caught my eye was allowed to leave the booth without a copy and, if I was quick, a spiel about the Dream Fund.

I also got to meet Peter Hoogenboom and his wife Pat. I kept pointing him out to people, saying, "Can you believe it? He rode his bike here. FROM UTAH." Pete & Pat are so terrific, I love the idea of them travelling the country as ambassadors for us PWD's.

One of the highlights was meeting a doctor from India who asked me to do an impromptu video interview and send a message to children with diabetes in India! What would *you* say if such an opportunity cropped up?

Study Misses the Mark

I got a little excited when I saw this headline on my Google news page: "Paying to Prevent Diabetes is Cost Effective". Further reading threw me for a bit of a loop, though.

"A study published in the June issue of the journal Diabetes Care has found that it would be cost effective for Medicare to pay for diabetes prevention at age 50 rather than to deny prevention benefits until age 65 when many individuals will have already developed the disease."

On the one hand, Yes! Prevention is more cost effective! Fodder for the fight!

"Sharing the costs of efforts to help the huge number of pre-diabetics in their 50s and early 60s alter their lifestyles would not cost private insurance companies or Medicare more than they would eventually have to pay for treatment for the large number of pre-diabetics who will develop diabetes after age 65 if no preventive treatment is supported. "

On the other hand... FIFTY??? Age FIFTY??? Lifestyle modifications at FIFTY?

Am I crazy, or does that seem a little late to be addressing the issue?

Yeah, What Lou Dobbs Said

Don't you love it when you are struggling to form an intelligent response to something, and someone's already taken care of it?

Summed Up

Recently, I provided feedback to the organizers of a certain event because it lacked some key elements of direction and organization, resulting in frustration for many of us who have been to the event before. Although it was moving and beautiful as always, it could have been better.

The feedback was well received, possibly because it included an offer to help solve the problem for next year's event.

I cc'd a friend on the email, just to keep him in the loop. He replied that it was an appropriate mix of subtle snarkiness and cheerful saccharine.

That about sums me up, don't you think?

Do you know the way to ADA?

If you are now singing, you are OLD as in gold ;)

In about a week, I'm heading north to DC for a few days at the ADA Scientific Session. Now, I won't be attending the lectures, but will instead be at the Bayer booth in the exhibit hall, giving away copies of my book and encouraging practictioners to tell their patients about the Bayer Dream Fund contest.

So, as always, if you know anyone attending, please encourage them to stop by the booth for their free (signed) copy.

Peter Hoogenboom will also be there, and he knows the LONG way to ADA (check out his progress). There is a rumor afloat that the first winner of the Dream Fund will also be somewhere in the exhibit hall as well. It'll be a hall full of dreamers, that's for sure.

Last year, when I was trying to capture the attention of seasoned conference-goers who knew how to stride past booths without making eye contact, I'd often ask people if they knew anyone with diabetes. Some would laugh and stop long enough for a conversation and some would look at me like I was insane because of course they knew people with diabetes!

Would you believe some said, "No"?

Those folks, of course, were the researchers. They know plenty of mice with diabetes, and they sure as heck know alot about diabetes, but they are a bit removed from the actual disease in actual people.

I'm not making a statement here, just musing about the tone of the meeting. We need those mice and their keepers, just as much as we need the endocrinologists and CDE's who work to keep us healthy while they sort out that research stuff.

Whatever road gets you to ADA: salesperson, author (!), researcher, physician, nurse, advocate... here's hoping it's an exciting meeting, full of hope, run by dreamers. Perhaps we'll even get to see one of those rainbows I keep hearing about...