Thanks to the Letter Carriers

Posted on December 7, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

As I drove through the slippery streets of my neighborhood yesterday, I happened to spot a mail truck and watched as the letter carrier loaded her bag and headed off down the snow covered sidewalk to deliver the mail.

I have no idea how long she had been on the delivery route for the day but, given how early they start around here, I was certain she’d been out in the nastiness for several hours.  Her face was rather red from the frigid wind hitting her; simply put, she looked right COLD!

Several different thoughts ran through my mind at the time.

The first being that I was so thankful for the office job that I have, and that I don’t have to work out in the elements like that all day, every day.

Secondly, I don’t know how the letter carriers do what they do day in and day out.  Walking the streets and delivering the mail six days a week, no matter the weather conditions.  Sunshine, rain, or snow; the letter carriers of the USPS are always on the go.

Then I got to wondering how many letter carriers live with diabetes, and how they balanced D management with the grueling schedules and tasks of their jobs.  Hey, as a person living with diabetes, it’s only natural to wonder those things.

Ultimately, I got to thinking about the fact that it is the holiday season, and that the letter carriers workload is even greater this time of year as they have Christmas cards and packages to deliver on top of their regular daily deliveries.

And seeing that letter carrier trudging through the snow to make her deliveries just served as a reminder of how thankful we should be to have such a service available to us.  The letter carriers bust their butts, sometimes literally, in a nearly thankless job, but without them, so many things would cease to function.

So, as you head off to the post office to mail your Christmas cards and packages, take a moment to remember the men and women who will be working to ensure your mail gets to where it’s going.  They deserve a moment of gratitude.

Posted in Lessons Learned, Life, Photos, Shout outs | 1 Comment

Go Go Diabetic Thingamabob!

Posted on December 5, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

In the last couple of days, I’ve noticed the following message spreading around Facebook:

“Change your FB profile picture to your favorite cartoon from your childhood. The goal is to not see a human face on FB till Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse, pick your cartoon character then copy & paste to your status and invite your friends to do the same!”

So, I got to thinking about which cartoon to choose, and I kept thinking back to all the time I spent watching Inspector Gadget before I’d head off to school for the day.  So, I chose that cartoon, changed my profile picture, and then posted the message on my fb page.  Gadget always accepted and completed his mission, and I completed mine.

Of course, my mind didn’t stop thinking about Inspector Gadget after I was finished with that mission.  My train of thought progressed from doing something to help one cause, to how I was going to work a cartoon character from my childhood into a diabetes related post.  And given my pension for analogies, it didn’t take me long to come up with an angle.

I was always amazed by all the crazy stuff Inspector Gadget would pull out of his hat and coat.  I mean really, that dude would say “go go gadget copter” and would take off through the air.  I wanted to do that.  Hell, I still want to do that, but I digress.

What was I talking about? Oh right, Gadgets!

Now that I’m in my mid-twenties, the Inspector Gadget cartoon is long gone, but there are more gadgets available to us than I ever could have imagined as a child.

And now I’ve got Ariel from The Little Mermaid in my head singing “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty; I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore. You want thingamabobs? I got twenty.”  Great! (Jess will love that Disney reference.)

OK, OK! I’ll get to the point.

The point is, now that I’ve been living with and learning about diabetes for two years, I’m amazed by all of the gadgets that people with diabetes pull out of their hats, coats, and big ass bags.

There are glucometers, test strips, lancing devices, lancets, continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin pumps, infusion sets, reservoirs, syringes, insulin vials, alcohol prep wipes, pill boxes, glucose tabs, glucagon kits, and ketone stix.

I probably left something out, and I’m sure someone will tell me if I did, but I think you get the picture.  There’s a lot of extra stuff goes along with living with the various types of diabetes.  All things that are vital to completing our day to day mission of living with our version of Dr. Claw, the big D.

This message will not self-destruct in ten seconds, but I may if I don’t get some rest pretty soon.  Wish me luck.

Oh, I should test my blood sugar before I accept the mission of trying to sleep.   Go Go Diabetic Thingamabob!

Posted in Diabetes, Humor, Lessons Learned, Life, Shout outs | 1 Comment

The Great D Expedition

Posted on December 3, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Being diagnosed with any of the various types diabetes marks the beginning of a journey into the great unknown.  Into the wilderness you go, seeking answers to so many questions and concerns.  There are many paths to travel; will you choose the right one? What will you find? What adversity will you face? Will you have what it takes to survive the journey?

Much like Meriwether Lewis & William Clark did at the beginning of their great expedition of the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, you form your own “Corps of D-scovery”, consisting of doctors, educators, etc…, to help you chart the best course for the journey.  You put faith and trust in these complete strangers, and expect them to do their job to the fullest. Your life depends on it.

From those who began their journey before you, you hear that there will be high mountains to pass over, like the Bitterroot Mountains that Lewis & Clark crossed, and there will be deep valleys out of which you’ll have to climb. And you know from the outset that there will definitely be some sharp edges to endure.  Oh, and let’s not forget the difficulties that will be faced with financing the expedition and maintaining supplies.

Ultimately, you learn that no two explorers will experience those struggles in the same way, and that you’ll just have to give it your best effort and see how it goes.

And while no two journeys will be the same, there are things that each explorer will need in order to survive: Education, support from family, friends, and fellow explorers, great strength and, as the title of the late Stephen Ambrose book suggests, Undaunted Courage.

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Heart, Lessons Learned, Life | 2 Comments

Empty Wallet (Archives)

Posted on December 1, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

While I’m posting song parodies, here’s one I posted back in January.  One that all of us can surely relate to.

Empty Wallet
By Mike Durbin

(To the tune of White Christmas)

I’m, crying over an empty wallet,
because the drug store drained it so
Where the greenbacks go missin,
and, big tears glisten, my cheeks,
so sad to see them go.

I’m, crying over an empty wallet,
With every bill hitting new heights
Maybe someday I’ll finally see the light,
And then all, my troubles, will be made right.

Maybe someday, Maybe someday, Maybe someday,
I’ll finally see the light

And then all, my troubles, will be made right.

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment

Fuck the Snow!

Posted on December 1, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Please note: This is just a parody, and done in fun. I’m sorry if you find it offensive.  And the only ass that was harmed in the making of this was mine. Can’t tell you how many times I landed on it last year.

Fuck the Snow!
by Mike Durbin

(Sung to the tune of Let it Snow)

Ooooh, the weather outside is shitty,
all around the fuckin city.
And since I’ve got places to go,
fuck the snow, fuck the snow, fuck the snow!

To the car I’ll be flockin,
but the doors won’t be unlockin.
Since the temperature’s too damn low,
fuck the snow, fuck the snow, fuck the snow!

When I finally leave work tonight,
I’ll slip and slide out the door.
And if I land on my ass,
I’ll yell fuck the snow even more.

The snow fall is finally dying,
and my rear is slowly drying.
But I’ve still got places to go,
fuck the snow, fuck the snow, fuck the snow!

Posted in Humor | 5 Comments

Thanks Everyone! – Diabetes Blessings Week Day 7

Posted on November 28, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Diabetes Blessings Week is coming to an end, and I am so thankful to all of you who have helped make the inaugural year for this event so successful.  I count 33 posts listed on the round up page, and I thank all of you who have contributed.  If you have blogged, and haven’t posted your links to the list, it’s not to late to do so.

I hope everyone has enjoyed this season of Thanksgiving as much as I have.  I can’t wait to see what blessings this next year will bring. 🙂

Posted in Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week | Leave a comment

My Sense of Humor – Diabetes Blessings Week Day 6

Posted on November 27, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

I had a pretty good sense of humor long before I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure, but living with those things has blessed me with a new appreciation for it.  Being able to joke about the trials I’ve faced since diagnosis has helped me survive.  I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine there is, and so thankful to have it.  And diabetes has blessed me by providing me an audience of people who not only appreciate my kind of humor, but who make me laugh as well.

I know I posted this video before, but it’s worth posting again.  Enjoy.

Posted in Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week | Leave a comment

Supportive Friends – Diabetes Blessings Week Day 5

Posted on November 26, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

You might not believe it, but I was no where near as outgoing before my diagnosis as I am now.  I was something of a loner, or a hermit if you will.  I was OK with that.  And I certainly never thought about traveling to meet people that I met online.  That was just out of the question.

My diagnosis with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure changed all of that.  My search for knowledge and support lead me to the Diabetes Online Community and all of the wonderful people whom I now call my friends.

I’ve not met many of my D-OC buddies in person, but have grown close enough to consider them like family.  I do, though, feel quite blessed to have had in person meetups with a few of them.  Good times.  🙂

My brush with death has taught me that I truly have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain, by reaching out to others.  And through it all, I’ve relearned the value of having loving and supportive friends.

Thanks to diabetes, I now have more of them than I can count. 🙂

Posted in Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week | Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving DOC – Diabetes Blessings Week Day 4

Posted on November 25, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the

Diabetic Online Community!

May we all take time today to remember what this day is all about;
Giving thanks for all of the blessings that come to us.

Posted in Cartoons, Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week | 1 Comment

I’m a Cheerleader! – Diabetes Blessings Week Day 3

Posted on November 24, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Deep down, I am just a kind hearted, gentle giant.  That’s a fact that many in the Diabetes Online Community have come to know.  When those around me are hurting, I hurt too.  When someone needs encouragement, a hug, or a simple smile, I give it.  Simply put, I’m the kind of guy who’d give the shirt off his back to help someone.

Diabetes has blessed me with the opportunity to be a cheerleader for others living with the various types of this disease.

I’m thankful for being blessed with a chance to do what I do best. Help others.

This image was inspired by one of my cheerleaders in the D-OC.   Jessica Barrow (@LaMerenguera) has been calling me Mr. Bubblez for a while now.  I think it fits my personality quite well. What do you think?

Posted in Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes Blessings Week | 4 Comments