If you would have asked me about this two years ago...

I would have said you were crazy for even asking me about bow hunting or shooting.

Fast forward two years and you learn that I have just sent in an order form for my very first compound bow, a Diamond Infinite Edge – camo finish. I am super excited. No, not excited, antsy with anticipation at being able to target shoot with my very own bow! Not to be left in the dust, it was decided that Derick would be getting his very own bow as well (his = A Bear Legion).

This past weekend, we decided to go to a local competitor (of the field I am in now) to peruse their bow selection, since Derick had been there earlier the weekend prior and commented that they have many to look at and select from. I agreed – but felt like a dirty traitor the whole time we were in the other establishment. Though, being at another retailer – our competition, and having just completed an intense 3-day sales training course for associates, I was ready for pure, unadulterated judgment. And I judged them HARD.

While perusing the selection, and drooling over the possibility of us each soon being able to own a bow, we were asked the standard question, “Can I help you?” To which, we gave the non-committal answer of, “No, not right now, we are just looking, thanks.” Strike one. Underwhelmed.

Once I had narrowed it down to a bow that I thought I wanted to know more about (Bear Siren), I looked for one of the two associates wandering in the department. Once one was located, he asked if we had any questions. I then told him that I actually had a bunch of questions, and he made a joke about “having a bunch of answers.” Ok.

After throwing him my litany of anything and everything questions about bows, he recommended setting up a Diamond to show me how it works and let me shoot it. Inside. In the range. For everyone to see. Insert semi-instant palm-sweating and slight bout of nervousness here. I had never shot a compound bow before, in my life. Sure, I had shot a sling bow in gym class, and then again at a few camps, but nothing as seemingly daunting as these compound bows looked to me.

After the sales guy found my draw length (24”) and set me at a pull-back weight of 30lbs, just to get me started. He showed me all of the movements and how to hold everything and what to do. After that, it was my moment. I stood there, held the thing as best as I could emulate, took a deep breath, and let ‘er fly! I shot my first arrow. It seemed like a lifetime setting up that arrow and getting it all ready to go – pulling back was a breeze and I was hooked after that first arrow.

He let me keep shooting arrows to get a little more comfortable, and increased the pull-back weight of the bow to 41lbs. I could pull it back once, and almost twice, and that was H-A-R-D. Wow. I came to find out that the drawback weight on the Bear bow that I had been looking at STARTED at 40lbs. Whew, I would have to build some serious upper body strength to be able to pull back 40 time after time, after time, that was for dang sure!

After getting a little more practice, I thanked him said that I would probably do a little research and make sure what bow I wanted was right for me and my experience level. After that, he walked away…just WALKED AWAY. Hmm, there was potential there that Derick and I could have spent over $1,000 in the store that day, and he just let it walk away. So much for encouraging a sale, or making a good recommendation. On the one hand, I was shocked at the level of customer service that was missing from our competition, but on the other hand, I was happy, knowing that our associates are being trained, and will continue to be trained on GREAT customer care and customer service.

After returning home after the bow trial, I told Derick I would look into ordering the bows we both wanted – from work, using my discount. I was in for a surprise when I found our bows for much cheaper than posted in stores. Discounts on things you like to do – new hobbies included, is a beautiful thing. Long story short – I put in my orders for both bows yesterday morning, and now the waiting begins. 

my bow - Diamond Infinite Edge

Derick's bow - Bear Legion

I will post photos, I am sure, once it comes in and we can take them out for their maiden voyage :)

-LD
                                     

I am such a nerd

Newsflash: I am a NERD.

Okay, so maybe not such a newsflash to those of you that know me. I mean like really know me, know me.

I have been reflecting on the things that have been making me laugh this week, and I have got to say, wow. So random. So crazy. So odd…the list keeps rolling. I guess that is what keeps life interesting. For instance:

I have had parts of the song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen in my head for the past two days, AND I feel the need to randomly burst out in song in random places.

Stupid jokes have been making me almost pee my pants this week
(maybe it’s not so much a nerd problem as a bladder problem? No, strike that, Diabetic. Got it.) This is not limited to spoken jokes, but also pictures posted online and other random things I have come across on the web this week.

I have the urge to laugh or find things funny at ALL the wrong moments this week. I think my timing is just off this week altogether as a whole.

Slight backstory - My team-wthin-a-team at work loves to prank each other. I came into work this morning to find my chair trigger-locked to my desk.

I am not sure if my coworker realized that he gave me a faulty lock or not, but I was able to twist and wiggle the ends apart to undo the lock and free my chair (mind you, this was in retaliation for my assist in spider-wrapping this coworker’s computer laptop docking station and phone…).Which also raises the question, how sturdy or reliable are these things that we have in stores…hmm…



For your entertainment:

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me

Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody - I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo - (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning - very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro - magnifico

But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go - will you let me go
Bismillah! No - we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let me go
Will not let you go - let me go (never)
Never let you go - let me go
Never let me go - ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
for me
for me

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby - can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out - just gotta get right outta here

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters - nothing really matters to me

Anyway the wind blows...

See, you totally needed that just as much as I did. I hope you air guitar-ed enough. Go big or go home, man.

Diabetes Blog Week - Wildcard Entries

Dream Diabetes Device Wildcard

Back by popular demand, let's revisit this prompt from last year! Tell us what your fantasy diabetes device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?

Okay, since I was a slacker about the art piece, I decided to throw a wild-card entry into the mix instead.

I think my fantasy diabetic invention would be something that (I hope) is not too far off. I want a pump and sensor built into one device. We are SO close (I think). Wearing the CGM sucked for me. I mean, really. When there are computers that can fit inside devices smaller than a pencil eraser, and then we have the sensor as big as Texas, there's a problem. And good lord - inserting that thing - 
A) was like a geometry question - hold the device at such-and-such an angle...
B) hurt like hellllllll.....o there is something stabbing me
C) bled - um, yuck
D) couldn't sleep because I couldn't sleep ON it at all (= stabbing pain)

Isn't it time they just got savvy and made the two devices one device? See - simple. (okay, yeah, I am no scientist or engineer, but still, there has GOT to be a better way!)

So my one device would pretty much do it all - monitor blood sugar (or CGM monitoring) and deliver insulin. Through ONE - I repeat ONE port. As diabetics, we get stabbed enough on a regular basis. Let's shave that number where we can..mmk thanks. 

-LD

Diabetes Blog Week - Day 6

Spread the Love - Sunday 5/19 





As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you. (Thanks to Pearlsa of A Girl's Reflections for inspiring this topic.)

I have found a lot of diabetic blogs (and am going to go back and read through more of the posts on the post link later this week). 

One blog that I found that I have found myself reading almost each day this past week has been Our Diabetic Life. This mother has THREE T1 kiddos at home. THREE! I give her all the props in the world for appearing to keep it together, and sharing when she hasn't been able to keep it all together. I find it easier to associate with the people who are real - who have up and down days, who curse everything the day their diabetes is being a dick. 

I love hearing how young kids answer questions about their diabetes. Only true uniqueness comes from kids - truthful, honest, and let's face it, pretty humorous statements tend to fall out of kids' mouths - and that doesn't stop for diabetes questions. Some of the things I have heard - from T1 kids has made me just nod my head  and think, man, I wish things were really as simple as you just described. 

I still have more blogs to read, so I am sure that I will be reading and updating my favorites post list!

-LD

Diabetes Blog Week - Day 5

Freaky Friday - Friday 5/17


Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions?

Honestly, I don't think I would trade this for any other disease. How could you even begin to judge one from the other?

I would like to answer the last question - as YES - absolutely having diabetes has affected how I treat others with other medical conditions. I am more aware of people with other "issues," and have an auto-sensitivity and acceptance to it - almost what I can attribute to kinship with them - we are both handling things in our lives that are not our fault, and do not have a cure. It makes me more tolerant and patient with people altogether.  I think to ask more questions and show an interest when I know the other person is willing to open up and share with me, insight into their life with their "issue." 

-LD

Diabetes Blog Week - Day 4

Accomplishments Big and Small -Thursday 5/16 

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.).

Man, I really have come a long way - I was just talking about this the other day...

I think what most sticks out in my mind right now - is that I am really taking ownership of my diabetes and my management. Don't get me wrong - I have often tried to do the 'right' thing when it came to my health and well-being, but there is really a true difference between letting the disease control you and just getting by, and taking ownership of your care, and working WITH it. I have more or less subconsciously (at first) told myself to wake up! Start taking even better care of myself and don't settle. Don't settle for the crummy Endo after Endo that just treat you like cattle, don't listen, don't know, or just plain don't care. Don't settle for less than stellar numbers. Don't settle for the old ways of doing things. 

If I still did that, I imagine I would be a very unhappy lady. 

I chose to find a new Endo - and have been through three of them after I was 'kicked out' of Pediatrics - third one was the charm - for me. 

I chose to get help - making an apt with a nutritionist to go through the right way to do things after all of the changes over the years. Wow - I had been missing a lot! There ARE actually carbs in veggies and protiens! All these years - literally years that I have NOT been counting any of those items at all. Wow. 

I took a risk - and signed on for a pump. I am really liking it. One "shot" every 3-4ish days, being able to have it with me everywhere I go, more freedom, and overall, getting my numbers more tuned-in to where I want them to be. 

I know it isn't easy - and this blog post made me see both sides of the fence - what if you are just not having a good time of it lately - what if everything seems shrouded in a dark cloud? Keep at it. Sometimes the only way out of it is through it. You can do it.

-LD

Diabetes Blog Week - Day 3

Memories - Wednesday 5/15 

Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. 

One of my most memorable days was (shocker) at Camp Needlepoint. It was when I was a camper, attending one of the one-week summer sessions. I hadn't given my shots in too many places at that point of my life, and I was really scared about giving it in the (gulp) arm. After watching some of my cabin mates give their shots in their arms throughout the week, I decided that the next night, I would try to give it in my arm. 

The next night came - just before dinner, when the doctors made their rounds to our cabins to check in and record our bloodsugars and decide insulin dosages. After I had had my mini-consult with the doc, drawn up the insulin, checked it off with my counselor, there I sat. Poised on the edge of my bunk, with a counselor sitting next to me, I propped my knee up on the bed, leaned over to get a "fat arm," and just waited. "I can't do this!" I started getting hot and sweaty, anticipating what I thought would be the worst shot pain of my entire little life...after more prodding from my counselor and cabin mates, and maybe even one of them saying we would do it at the same time, I did it - quick as lightning, and probably one of the fastest injections to date - I did it! 

At flagpole after the meal, at the time of announcements, there were the same announcements from the day, and then one that I will never forget - my counselor standing up and saying she had an announcement - made me stand up, 

"MY CAMPER, LAURA, DID HER SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!!!!!"

This, of course, started a chain of cheering and standing "O-vations" from the entire camp. That was amazing. Not only that I had done something that I had sworn I could not do, but that I was recognized for what I had categorized as a traumatic experience - and pulling through to become triumphant! Yesssss! 

I will never forget that - and each time that I am at camp - and had a camper who did a shot (wherever) for the first time - I ALWAYS made it a huge deal - because, well, it is :)

-LD