occupying y mind

http://www.vincedelisi.com/?p=373

Cabin Fever Forces My Mind To Work

As I continue to heal from Charcot Foot, at least another 10 days in a cast, I have the opportunity to learn, observe and discover.  There is a positive to every negative, and I have to say this to myself a number of times a day.  It is easy to feel sorry for myself falling into the why me mindset.  That simply is not an option.  I say that countless times a day as well.

I decided to work on my diabetes during my recovery.  It would be so easy to sit, eat and gain weight.  I have the perfect excuse; I am on crutches, what else is there to do?  Thanks to technology, I am making sure the above does not happen.  An app on my new HTC Incredible Smartphone allows me to track my blood sugar. Wow, this is great.  I am now aware of what I put in my mouth, and what is the most effective way to take my meds.

Here are some of the changes I have implemented in my battle with diabetes:

Portion control keeps my blood sugars in check.  Six small meals a day works for me.  My hba1c results were over 10.  That is terrible, just dangerous.  Since i have changed my eating habits, my projected results are 5.3 that is a miracle!!

While in the hospital in January with a pulmonary embolism, an angel was sent to me in the form of a night nurse.  Despite taking proper meds my morning blood sugars were high, 185-250 range.  Normal about 72-120.  My nurse told me the lack of a snack with good carbs was raising my sugars.  We tried adding two sticks of string cheese.  Last week my morning sugars averaged 90.

So while I have very little mobility, the chance to look at patterns has helped me turn things around quickly.  I feel the difference, my blood circulation is better, my stress level is so much better, I have taken a negative and turned it into a positive.  Controlling diabetes is a mindset which I can control.  Those of you with this horrible disease must admit you have it, and must learn how to control it.  Make sure you test your blood numerous times a day, change your eating habits and learn about the advances in fighting diabetes, a fight only you can control.

Starting The Week “Running”

As much as I can on crutches!!!

It does slow my body down, but not my mind.  First of all, being handicapped for a while has allowed me to work on my blood sugar.  It has been under control for the most part, and thanks to an app, I can track it and see the effects from food, pain and stress.

Pain can make one say things not really meant, it is like open mouth and insert that casted foot.

With that in mind…

The Oscar telecast was not one of their best.  The hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco were out of their element.  It was most evident when Billy Crystal took the stage to honor Bob Hope.  Crystal was funny, quick witted and very much at home; please bring him back!!!  Going young was not a great move by the academy.

The highlights of the broadcast, Kirk Douglas, Michelle Leo and the kids from Staten Island singing their hearts out.  It was not necessary to hear from President Obama on the greatest song ever, it is so much better to keep politics out of this show.

The pre show was painful; I could not stay to the end.  Host Robin Roberts looked great, but if she were more sugary, I would have had to use more insulin to keep my diabetes in check, she made Larry King look like a solid journalist.

I mentioned I tuned out of the pre show, for all who were posting and tweeting how much they did not like the broadcast, no one was making you watch.  Change the channel next time.  It really is that simple.

My mind now runs to baseball.  It was great to watch a little bit of preseason baseball.  Watching the Yankees first game, I really enjoyed the tribute to the late George Steinbrenner.  It ended with the Boss’s granddaughter singing the National Anthem.  It was not about her, but her lovely voice showed how it should be sung.  Christina Aguilera, please take note.

Watching the Lakers and Thunder on Sunday reinforced my contention one needs only to watch the last five minutes of any NBA game.

I could go on and on this morning, but what will I talk about in my next blog?  Enjoy your week!!

Rumblings In My Mind

More than a week with a cast on my right leg, more than a week with my brain working in overdrive.  It was one year ago the body of Chelsea King was discovered; her life taken by a low life sexual predator. My prayers to the family, and they have all of my support in getting Chelsea’s Law passed in the rest of the country; one strike and you are out for sexual predators.  To learn more go to www.chelseaslight.org.

Bullies beware.  I am not talking about kids, but a friend of mine has the neighbor from hell.  She has gone from throwing garbage on my friends’ porch to vandalizing personal property.  The police have spoken to her once; her bullying tactics will not be tolerated.  She is like a train going towards a wall; she will crash, hopefully before she injures someone.

Charlie Sheen needs help.  He has more than crossed the line.  I have had nothing but positive experiences with Charlie and his dad Martin.  I feel for Martin and pray Charlie will realize how out of control he is.  The bottom line, if he does not admit he needs help, he cannot be taken off this self destructive path. 

I too have crossed the line, not taking care of my health after first being diagnosed with diabetes some 20 years ago.  I would not accept the fact I was diabetic.  I knew better, I would be just fine.  This is not much different than the mindset of Charlie Sheen, until I accepted diabetes, nothing could help me.  Without the encouragement and support of friends and loved ones, I would not be here today.  It only took a by-pass, seven stents and now Charcot foot, the reason I am casted, to finally realize the severity of what this nasty illness has done for me.  The power of prayer is getting me through this current setback.

I believe our President has crossed the line.  When he told the justice department to stop defending the constitutionality of the defense of marriage act he has overstepped his office.  A president cannot decide what is constitutional or not.  There are three branches of our government.  In case any of our political leaders were not paying attention in class, the three are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial.  There is a process to declare a law unconstitutional, and it should be followed period!  No one person or branch of government has the right to unilaterally make a decision of this magnitude.

Finally I would like to thank all who have offered encouragement, help and love during my latest medical problems.  You are all wonderful.

One Year Later

This is the headline of a post by Brent King, the father of the late Chelsea King who was brutally murdered by a low life sexual predator whose name I will not print, no more “fame” for him.  In his post Mr. King makes some important points, here are a few:

• Why do we not prosecute people who are complicit in allowing violent sexual predators to live where they aren’t registered, go to a public park unsupervised and drink alcohol, and violate parole rules?

• How is it that the cost to incarcerate a criminal who has harmed society is higher than the cost to educate a college student with dreams and desires to better our world?

• Why do we provide a higher level of care for felons who steal our children’s freedoms than soldiers who protect our freedoms with their lives?

• Why is the criminal the only citizen in the United States guaranteed health care?

The King family is living through pain on a daily basis, one I cannot imagine.  Through his organization “Chelsea’s Light”, a law was passed here in California, which makes this type of sexual attack a one strike offense, jail for life, off the streets so these lowlifes can never do this again.  He was told a law like this would never pass, it did overwhelmingly.  Mr. King now wants Chelsea’s Law passed in the other 49 states.  I encourage all of you to go on to the Facebook page Chelsea’s Light or the website www.chelseaslight.org and support this cause and this family.  There are a number of events we can easily get involved in to help reach their goal.

I am so tired of seeing how criminals are coddled in this country.  We hear so much about their rights… what about the rights of  innocent citizens.  Losing a child is hard enough, losing a child to a sexual predator should never have to happen.  We can all play a part in making sure a predator can never do this a second time.

My prayers go out to thing King family, I do not know them, however I think about them often.  Let us all help in their fight, and please read Mr. King’s post.  

Watching The World From A new Perspective

It is easy to take things for granted, walking, driving, running, playing to name a few.  With my right foot in a cast, no driving for me, and getting around with crutches is no easy task.  I almost fell down stairs once, my cast must not have weight bearing pressure, and I cannot fend for myself.  I am recovering from Charcot foot, a side effect from my diabetes.  If you or your loved one is a diabetic make sure you take care and follow doctors advice, and get out of denial, a denial which has caused me numerous health problems

It is very interesting to see the world from this perspective.  I have to rely on the kindness of people, those I know and perfect strangers.  If it were not for friends I could not get around to visit my doctors or to get food from the grocery stores.  I would be stuck at home watching television and reading and sleeping.  I have some wonderful friends, who offer their help, and it is so appreciated, I cannot express how much in the length of a blog.

What has  amazed me are the perfect strangers.  It is great that stores I frequent for food, Von’s, Ralph’s and Fresh and Easy all have these cool motorized carts for me to get around.  I was trying to do that at Von’s with my crutches with me and I almost wiped out half an isle of food.  As this was happening, a man with his son ran over to help me out.  What a great example for his little one to see, he is lucky to have a father who is such a role model.

As I was waiting for my ride after a Fresh and Easy visit to come and get me a man in his 80’s asked if I needed any help.  A number of people have waited for me to get to a doorway to hold it open for me.  At Von’s the Starbucks personnel went to find a motorized cart for me, well above their responsibilities.

I went and did some clothing shopping at the Stein Mart in Santa Clarita California, and a worker there went and got me a wheel chair so I did not have to hobble around with my crutches.  Wow, given the chance the majority of people are so kind and helpful.

What would this blog be without some interesting stories other than of kindness?  The entitled generation could care less if I was having a problem or struggling, especially in the liquor isles.  One such young man backed right into my path, lucky for him I knew how to stop the cart, he was annoyed at me being in his way, how dare I drive my cart when he decided he needed to step back.

My favorite story though had a woman with her shopping cart blocking everyone being in the middle of the isle while talking to a man.  When he saw me he suggested the lady move her cart.  She looked at me with a disgusted expression and asked me what were the magic words?  I looked at her only as I can and said, “One drives on the right in America, not in the middle.”

A huge THANK YOU to all of these perfect strangers and close friends who have offered their help.  It feels so good to know people really do care whether they know you or not.

A Dog’s Purpose

If you have not read this book, it is a must read.  It is all about the lives of a dog, when he passes and comes back as another dog with a new master.  This book will touch all of your emotions.  I laughed, was concerned and even had tears reading this book (I actually listened to the book while driving).

I have a story of two dogs, Mia and Ruby.  These two angels actually alerted me to some health issues.  In December I began not feeling well. I thought it was just a cold, or stress, or both.  Ruby and her human came to visit Mia and her human.  Ruby is a great dog as is Mia, and Ruby is very attached to her human, however Ruby would not leave my side, I was visiting Mia and her human.

It was almost like Ruby was trying to mother me.  Mia, much smaller than Ruby was covering me with her body, almost like she was trying to protect me.  As my symptoms became worse, the reaction of these two dogs made me get myself to the doctor much sooner than I usually would.  It took the doctors a few days, but they found a pulmonary embolism in my lung, and are treating it.  My two dog friends knew something was going on and since their behavior was so different than normal, I was much more aware of what was going on inside of me.

I now am more aware changes in my diabetes.  This is all thanks to my best friends, Mia and Ruby.  So why are people so nasty to dogs, why are there puppy mills where dogs are abused, and why do the Michael Vicks’ of the world find joy in making dogs fight each other to the death?

I cannot start to answer these questions; I can only point them out and be part of the fight to end puppy mills and dog fighting.  Do I think Michael Vick has paid his debt to society, maybe but to the dogs, not even close.  I find it hard to believe he has had such a turn around.

If you know a store is selling dogs from puppy mills, most stores do, do not support that store.  If you know about puppy mills, let the authorities know.  These poor defenseless pups cannot fend for themselves; we need to fend for them.

I urge all of you if you want a pet, adopt one.  Mia, a Boston Terrier, was rescued from an organization called Boston Buddies.  They find the pups, young and old, care for them, and find forever homes for them.  This is one of thousands of dog rescues.  Visit them and you can find your forever dog, your new best friend.