It may not look like it, but our cats are glad we’re home.
This, in cat-speak, is love.
cats
Cat Life
Photo by Dayle. Somewhat innocent pose by Erni.
Diabetes Blog Week 2014 – Mantras and More
Yesterday we opened up about how diabetes can bring us down. Today let’s share what gets us through a hard day. Or more specifically, a hard diabetes day. Is there something positive you tell yourself? Are there mantras that you fall back on to get you through? Is there something specific you do when your mood needs a boost? Maybe we’ve done that and we can help others do it too?
I’ve noticed that I separate my frustrations with diabetes from the rest of my goings on through the lens of my camera. Some days, I really need to just go for a walk.
San Francisco has been kind in its feedback to this grand idea.
And yes, this includes the cats too.
By focusing on something other than diabetes, even if only for a moment, I can try to leave that 363 mg/dL behind. I think focusing through my camera lens is a good way to distract myself, particularly when diabetes demands a distraction.
// As prompted by Karen Graffeo, creator of Diabetes Blog Week.
Feline and Diabetes Management for Cross-Country Drives
As is always the case, your diabetes may vary. For the sake of this post, the mentality of your pets may (read: will) vary, too.
In preparing to drive across the country with diabetes and two cats, I knew that the success of this trip would come down to planning and packing. Having mapped out my route and booked reservations at the three hotels I would be staying at weeks in advance, I knew that I wouldn’t be pressed to drive father than would be necessary each day. A little research pointed me in the direction of La Quinta Inn & Suites due to their pet friendliness – I didn’t have to pay any additional fees for the cats at any of the hotels and the staff took extra care to put me near elevators and stairs to make my cat-wrangling efforts as easy as possible.
Dayle bought me a mini-fridge with an adapter for a car’s cigarette lighter, ensuring my insulin would be cool – although it lacked the power to keep everything “cold”, it was more than enough for four days on the road. A few days before embarking on the drive I picked up some go-to snacks and supplies for the drive: glucose tablets, peanuts, and gum. Things like Diet Coke, water, Gatorade, and Red Bull (if necessary) I bought on the road to keep those beverages as cold as possible. While I made sure not to drink too much, or too fast, I always had something handy in case I felt parched.
A Wintery Mix
December means it’s time for the annual WordPress Snow Plugin to take effect. Ironically enough, the primary background color on this blog is the same color as the “snowflakes”. If it looks like your monitor is freaking out, trust that it’s me, not you.
December also means I’m inching closer to the big drive across the country. As I continue to prioritize the list of things I need to get done before hitting the road, the one item that remains at the top of the list is figuring out how to get the cats safely across the country in my car while also maximizing comfort. I’m not keen on keeping them in their carriers for 10-11 hours at a time, but I know that giving them free reign of most of the car presents its own set of challenges.
The current gameplan is to pack everything of importance in my trunk to give the girls the entire back seat to themselves. While I’m still determining the best approach for their litter box, and food situation, I know the most important aspect of this is their comfort with being in the car for an extended period of time. Building that comfort means test drives are required, which is exactly what happened yesterday.
Working From Home Is Alright, I Guess
I’m thankful to have a job that affords me the opportunity to work from home when necessary.
The fact that I get to sit next to this face was also quite pleasant.
Twenty Nine
Saturday was my birthday.
A Consequence of Hypoglycemia. 