Move More

Morning numbers:
Nov. 20 - 116
Nov. 19 - 118
Nov. 18 - 110
Nov. 17 - 118
Nov. 16 - 114
Nov. 15 - 95

Target Normal: Below 100


My next step is simple. Move more. More activity = lower numbers.

I am normal today (c:

Normal
1. Fasting: Less than 100 mg/dl
2. Two hours after eating: Less than 140 mg/dl

Morning Numbers:
Nov. 14 - 91
Nov. 13 - 101
Nov. 12 - 107
Nov. 11 - 137

I am now able to see the effect of my increased Actos after the Prednisone surge.

Better

Things are getting back on an even keel. My morning numbers are going down dramatically. Will post them tomorrow. I have been thinking that my next step may be a little more broad ... work on not looking like a barrel!! Will contemplate that for the next couple of days and come up with a workable strategy.

My thoughts exactly!!

Five Ways To Get A Life
By Julie Morgenstern


Become more efficient and instantly transform the quality of your life—in five easy steps.

* Shorten your workday by 30 minutes. I promise you'll get more done than if you put in your usual nine to ten hours. That's because committing to leaving earlier gives you a deadline and forces you to eliminate the little time wasters (silly interruptions, procrastination, perfectionism) that eat up your day.

* Avoid multitasking. Recent studies show that it can take the brain twice as long to process each thing it's working on when switching back and forth between activities. By learning to focus fully on one project at a time, you can regain the extra hour or two you crave. Just don't squander it on mundane chores!

* Break the habit of total self-reliance. Insisting on doing everything yourself burdens you and prevents others from feeling valuable and needed. Delegate more at home and at work, and free your time for things you love and excel at.

* Capture all your to-dos in one place. People who haphazardly write lists on stray notepads, Post-its, and backs of envelopes waste time wondering what to do next and worrying that they're forgetting something. Choose only one tool (planner, Palm, notebook) to track everything you need to do, and prioritize from the top down. Start every morning with the most important item, not the many small, easy tasks. You can always squeeze the little things into the gaps. Conquering the big to-dos gives meaning to your day.

* Schedule one purely joyful activity each week. Think of an activity—dancing, reading, playing guitar—that you haven't done for a long time and that brings you instant happiness. Put it in your datebook as a nonnegotiable appointment with yourself, and watch the quality of your life transform.

Multi-tasking

I have come to the conclusion that my life would be alot more peaceful if I quit trying to multi-task everything. Work, Class, Home. After all ... the world will not end if I don't get it all done. I may have consequences, but such is the fabric of life. I am tired of being stressed out trying to accomplish everything at once. One thing at a time will get me there if not faster, at least a little more sane.

I hate prednisone!

Morning numbers:
Nov. 10 - 251
Nov. 9 - 148
Nov. 8 - 218
Nov. 7 - 214
Nov. 6 - 196
Nov. 5 - 113
Nov. 4 - 120
Nov. 3 - 110

At least I am still taking my numbers every morning. I have 3 more days after today of this stuff...all it does is make me hungry on top of everything else )c:

Mosaics

I am getting so weary of this semester and my biggest hurdles are still to come. Merle and I were talking today of what kind of classes I should take next semester. I am going to rethink my classes ... after all I still have 4 more semesters to fit in the one 400 level Art History class I have left to take. The difference between Greek and Roman sculpture isn't exactly what I am dying to take. We ended up on a discussion of Graduate School. I have no desire to go there. I would rather spend my time learning to make mosaics, jewelry, travel to see these ancient places, or study these things in a less academic way. Right now I am just trudging forward ...looking forward to Spring 2011.

Thursday - Day 11

Morning Number: 107

Even with Rice Krispy Treats!

Meltdown

I am having a small academic meltdown today. I have put off too many things for class. Now faced with multiple deadlines tomorrow I realized I don't understand some things as well as I thought I did. I am home today trying to sort things out and writing at least one short paper due tomorrow in Irish Art, a one page analysis of readings plus a presentation with questions for Pompeii. Merle leaves today for Montgomery. I will have a quiet week to try to get caught up and hopefully stay that way.

I need ...

Thursday - Day 4

Morning Number: 114

It's all about the numbers.

Well, my reevaluation is still in process. Trying to do to much always gets me in trouble. I am still eating breakfast ...that is good. I have started testing again in the morning. The new dose of Actos should be kicking in since I have been on it several weeks. I can tell by my bloated weight gain. Pants are tight, etc. {Sighs} I am going to focus on my morning numbers and try to bring them down to normal. Shouldn't be a problem if I get on a good diet (not rice krispy treats). So I am going to chronicle my numbers here every morning. That should hold me somewhat accountable. After I do this for two weeks, then I will start posting what kind of exercise (movement) I am doing each day.

PS: My number for today is 111. I am shooting for 90.

Golden Key

Sandra, congratulations
on your academic
achievements at
George Mason University!

Dear Sandra,

Because you've placed in the top 15% of your class, you are invited to join the world's premier collegiate honor society and begin enjoying a host of outstanding member benefits and privileges.

Sincerely,

Donna M. Fox, Ph.D
Associate Dean, Office for Academic Integrity
George Mason University
Golden Key International Honour Society

Induction Ceremony Information:
Date -- November 17, 2008
Time -- 3:00pm
Location -- Dewberry Hall of the Johnson Center

Smudge

Traffic was terrible this morning. Our 7:00 am bus arrived on campus at 8:30 am. I read most of the way -- The Volcano Lover, I have to give a book report next week. I had started the ride in the semi-dark with the reading light on. By the time we were on the Fairfax County Parkway the sun was shining and there were white clouds piling up in the crisp blue sky. That is when I saw the first one. A rainbow smudge-- peaking out from a tear in the clouds. Not an arch ...a smudge. It was like a secret wanting to be seen. Looking to the right of the sun, there was another one. It made me smile. No one on the bus had seen -- they were too busy napping, listening to music or reading. The smudges made the long trip seem inconsequential. I started my day with a smile and a haunting of rainbows!

Reality -- 2011

I have been looking at my bankbook, bills, the economy, Spring Schedule of Classes and reality has set in. Even though I really would like to graduate Spring 2010 it just isn't going to happen. To be able to stay on schedule I would have to come up with almost $1000 after Christmas to take 1 extra class. Then another $1000 for a summer class. Next year my expenditures after my 6 credit waiver would be $1300 each semester because of lab classes. Unfortunately my wallet just can't afford it. With the losses we have taken in our retirement during this economic crisis and with the economic outlook for the next year, I can't afford to put it on credit. The Spring Schedule isn't stellar so I am in a quandary on what I will take. I dropped my minor in Ancient Mediterranean Art and Architecture, that will make things a little easier. So I guess I will stick with my original plan -- graduate 2011. I should be able to take the summer's off and Mason will pick up most of the bill.

Time

It is time to reevaluate things. I have had to increase my Actos because of the steroid inhaler. Meds are now running about $150-$200 a month. Not exactly what I had in mind for this year. I am trying to figure out how to get everything taken/done in a day. It seems like evenings are a waste because I am just tired. I have started going to bed no later than 10:00 pm. I am trying to plan my evenings better. This week I have worked out evening meals ahead of time so I know what I am going to fix. I want to be able to use my wiifit or do yoga for 30 minutes in the evening and read for at least 30 minutes. I find it is taking me all weekend to just read my assignments because I am crashing during the week. Not a good thing when I need to start writing papers on the weekend...and I would like to have a life too (c: It would be nice to be able to do one thing every evening in the house. It would keep me from feeling like such a failure at keeping house. Work is overwhelming at times ... I find that lunch time is more of an escape than time to study...same with the bus time. On a positive note, I have started eating breakfast again which makes me feel better. I want some creative time too -- where will that fit in? An hour a week is not too much to ask for. I want to make abominal snowmen for Jenny this week. I have collected all the materials, so now it is just a matter of timeing. I also want to go to the Renissance Fair next weekend. Life is too short, there is just not enough time. So it is Monday ... I will see how things are going on Wednesday.

In response to my rant of September 20

I now have a bouquet of roses on my clean dining room table.

Blow

Sometimes I am blown away by things. Recently I have been blown off by a friend. I have glossed over it by telling myself that there is a lot going on in her life, and I really should not be upset about it. But, my feelings are hurt. I have tried to be supportive and understanding over the past few years. I guess it is because I too have felt overwhelmed. I ask her for help -- and it was a win/win scenario for both of us. Unfortunately, things did not work out completely. So I will just wait to hear from her when she surfaces again. I will not put myself out there again.

Test Relief

I received my graded test in my Rediscovery class today. After a lot of angst it seems that it worked out ok. At the end of my paper where I left a note for my professor bemoaning the fact I had misunderstood, she wrote 'But you did a very good job on this! A-' I am so relieved!! Now to finish this one page paper for my 4:30 Pompeii class. I will find out the results of my Irish class test tonight too.

Late

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Testing . . . 1, 2, 3

I really blew that one!! I totally misunderstood the criteria for the essay quiz that I had in my Rediscovery class today. I had memorized two explorers from the book The Blue Nile that we have been studying to compare and contrast. Lo and behold the test explanation said compare and contrast peoples (i.e. British, Malmukes, French, etc.). We could cite individuals to tie it all together. Well, instead of letting panic set in I went ahead and did the comparison that I had put together. I wrote a note to the professor explaining that I had misunderstood -- and turned it in. It is 5 points of my grade. I am trying to learn not to get hysterical about life -- and academics. After all ... it isn't fatal if I fail this quiz! Right??

Anniversary

Tomorrow would have been my Mom and Dad's 59th wedding anniversary. It is a day that is easy for me to remember since it is exactly one month after my birthday. This is one of my favorite pictures of them. It was taken one morning after Christmas 2000 as I was returning to Virginia. It is one of those last moment pictures that captures the essence of people. I miss them dearly.

Step, Step, Step

Eeek! I used my WiiFit this morning. I unlocked the advanced step and immediately wished I was doing DDR. It adds stepping sideways on the balance board with purple feet along with the step off the board to the side blue feet! Plus clapping. Of course the pace is higher. Just when I thought I would fall on the floor it says 'let's speed things up.' At that point I just watched (c: I really do need to work on my coordination. My yoga half moon wasn't too bad, but I can't figure out how to raise my hands with the hula hoop girl. I will try the downhill ski later today ... poor little guy, I make him so dejected. Guess I will just have to keep trying until he is happy (c:

Angry Part II

I HATE the state of my house. It seems that I never have enough time to keep it neat and clean. I am really going to have to try to find the time with all of the other things going to do better. Allergies are giving me a fit – cats, dogs and grass among other things. All of the dust and stuff in this house is not making things better. And then there is Gus… we have a love/hate relationship. I know he is not well himself. But for the last 12 years I have been the one to have clean up after him. It doesn’t help that he has dirty litter habits. This weekend I am going to have to balance studying with trying to make headway in at least part of the house. I would love to have a clutter free first floor with flowers on the dining room table. I would like to have the rest of the place breatheable and neat! You can find the first part of my rant here.

Angry Part I

Well, here I am today … Angry. In this rant I will address the problem of medication. I hate that the pulmonologist added 3 more medications to my daily routine. It seems like my cough is connected to my allergies and acid reflux. She also told me that I am borderline for having asthma. Great!! Just what I need!! In the last month I have had to take steroids and an antibiotic that is suppose to cure Anthrax. Now my list of daily medications include: Actos, Norvasc, Zyrtec, Baby Aspirin, Asmanex, Nexium and Flonase. The beginning of this year I wanted to start getting off of medication. Instead it has been a steady progression of adding things. I hate that I am not feeling well, and that every time I turn around that something else is wrong! It makes me want to cry. This morning the sink backed up, I couldn’t cook breakfast as I had planned. So now it is mid morning and I haven’t even started to try to work all these meds in. Some I have to take with food, some and hour before, etc. Timing is precarious. When you look at the stress of work, school, house, meds – is it any wonder I am just this side of schitzoid? And then the doctor said that I needed to get more sleep!!! Yeah, right )c: The rest of my rant can be found here.

Gifts

Yesterday a friend of mine at work brought me a belated birthday present-- A beautiful picture frame of pearls and crystals. Later in the day I opened an email from my sister and attached was a beautiful picture of my mom. It had been sent to Teresa from a cousin in Ohio. It was a black and white portrait of my mother that neither one of us had seen before. Mom was probably 17 or so. It may have been taken her senior year of high school. Luckily I had one piece of photo paper in the cabinet so I printed it and it now resides on my desk in the gift frame of pearls. The picture and frame are a perfect compliment to each other. What serendipity!

9 Hours

What was I thinking? I am a glutton for punishment …no not really. I just tend to overdo when I am doing something I like. I really am going to have to find a way to juggle my study habits. Reading on the bus…ok. But I have to find time to think about these research papers. I met with my Pompeii professor today and he said I would have to do some more research for my topic. I will probably have to find something other than trompe l'oeil because I don’t want to end up writing a research paper on wall paint! Mosaics, maybe, if I can find a different angle. In my Irish class I know I can write about illuminated manuscripts … after all they have the Book of Kells.

Wheeeeeee WiiFit

This evening I set up the WiiFit here at home that Jenny gave me for my birthday. I had to be reevaluated … I guess the set up didn’t save from her machine to mine. My settings were about the same but I did gain 3 Wii years! I am getting better at the aerobic step. It reminds me of DDR which I might have to investigate for the Wii. I am still really pathetic at the downhill ski. Poor guy, who knows when he will be happy! I tired quickly. I guess it is all the steroids and heavy duty antibiotics I am on. I look forward to going to the pulmonologist next week. I think that I must have inhaled something toxic – it is the only thing that makes sense.

Squirts

It is amazing sometimes what beautiful pictures you can run across when you google a word like 'squirts.'

Cough, Cough

Well I had my Dr’s appointment yesterday. We spent most of my physical time talking about this terrible cough that has plagued me for months. I coughed so much this week I actually pulled muscles in my back. Long story short – I am on a round of Depo-Medrol. If this round of steroids doesn’t work the Dr. is sending me to a pulmonologist. Off I went for an x-ray to have when she works up the referral. I also had to bump up my diabetes medication because steroids automatically raise your blood sugar! None of this really makes me happy, especially with my family history of lung cancer. I am trying not to be alarmed, but not hiding my head in the sand either. Two steps forward, one step back. I guess if you do it long enough you will get where you want to be.

Tropical Storm

What is the only thing that will make any woman go out in the midst of a Tropical Storm? A long awaited hair appointment! I woke up this morning with mixed feelings. The thoughts of being pampered with a much anticipated cut and color versus battling the wind and rain of Tropical Storm Hanna left me undecided on what to do. I finally packed some reading (story of my life these days) and put on my raincoat and headed out the door. I drove 14 miles rain one way in the blowing rain to have my hair done! Refusing to take I-66, I drove the back way down Wellington Drive. Only saw one wreck on the way there. On the way back it wasn’t raining quite as bad, but the wind was up. As the radio told me the area was under a “flash flood warning” I forded a stream across the road around Nissan Pavilion that had not been there a few hours earlier. I made it home safely … with a fearfully wind mussed hairdo, but extremely happy!

I am so tired.

I have stacks of paperwork at work to process, stacks of books to read for class, stacks of research to do for papers and laundry to do. What do you think will win out? I hope to take the time in the next few nights to nail down my research topics for the Pompeii and Irish Art class. Probably trompe l'oeil and illuminated manuscripts. Then I can pace myself and try to get them done before the deadline. Last night I was able to pick my class discussion topic … I will lead class discussion on one of our readings about mosaics in Pompeii the last week of October. I keep telling myself I can do this ….but what I want to do is take a nap.

Cough Drops and Caffeine

What a lethal combination! By the time I got home from class at 11:20 pm last night I was deathly ill. I didn’t think I would make it through Laura’s Irish Art class. I had used cough drops during Pompeii class and stopped on the way through the Johnson Center for a LARGE soy mocha and a scone. OMG!! I will never do that again. Even to day I feel like a Mac truck has run over and backed up over me several times. Which brings me to the state of my body. I am so annoyed that I hurt all the time and that I feel icky most of the time. When will this end? Even when I try to stay on target with my carbs, I walk a fine line between feeling well and being sick. Trying to space out medication and keep my stomach under control is still an issue. When I quit drinking sodas I was able to quit taking GIRD medication. But just the everyday meds that I take drive me crazy. I am glad that I am going for my physical on Friday. I had my blood work done on Monday at the hospital so it should be ready for the MD when I get there. I am falling apart!

Morning Madness

This morning I forgot to take any of my meds )c: That will get me nowhere fast. Didn’t realize that I hadn’t taken them until I was half way to the bus. Of course that got me a lecture from Merle about being organized. I have done this several times in the last couple of weeks. Freudian slip? Or just not giving my distracted self enough time in the morning? Either way – I need to fix the problem. I have rearranged downstairs, vacuumed extensively and hope to start with my yoga video this weekend. Hopefully the place will not be too “catty” for me to breathe.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

It is a beautiful day outside and I expect it will be a good day all the way around. This morning Merle gave me my birthday present before I left for work – a new camera! It is a Coolpix P5100. Twelve megapixels and will do wonders taking pictures in museums, and any place else for that matter.
It has a high-sensitivity mode and an anti-shake mode that my former camera did not have. Now all I have to do is read the User’s Manual so I can use it. I will charge everything tonight so I can take it to Philly tomorrow to see Jenny. So far today I have had my sister sing “Happy Birthday” to me by phone, received cupcakes and small gifts here at work, and chocolate mint that smells wonderful (that I can root and plant too). A good kick off for the day. I put a roast in the crockpot for dinner tonight -- that will make the evening easier too.

Blue Day

Today is one of those blue days that blindside you. I guess it really started yesterday, August 19th, my Dad’s birthday. What can I say? This started a chain reaction of things. Missing him brings me to missing Mom. Plans to go home to Charleston next week just reinforces that things will never be the same again. I weathered my week in July for my niece’s wedding pretty well. Staying at the beach and having Jenny there kept me occupied and made things seem normal. I am not looking forward to Christmas. I have wondered why I am so bent on taking 3 courses this semester as well as working….I think it is a way of not “thinking.”

Appointment Made

Earlier this year I decided that I was going to have to make some major lifestyle changes if I wanted to be able to stop taking diabetes medication. I spoke with my doctor to see if this was actually doable at this stage of the game. She was confidant that it was a goal I could achieve. Well things have not gone as planned. My stress level the pass 6 months has been off the scale. My mom’s death and major changes in my work life have put me in a tailspin as far as my lifestyle plans. I have started putting things in perspective and have made an appointment for my physical. Realistically the past few weeks I have put myself back on a schedule for my meals. The less (and more balanced) that I eat, and keeping on a 4/5 hour time schedule really makes a difference in the way I feel and my morning blood sugar readings. I have also gone back to testing in the morning – trying to keep my levels under 120. I know this is not good enough. Dr. Hammond’s will probably up my medication because she wants it normal. So if it means going on more meds to get me where I need to be while I work on the exercise/nutrition routine I will have to do it. Sustained normal levels are what I am striving for. This is a goal that is not unattainable but will take a lot of work to get there.

Target Glucose #’s:

Normal
1. Fasting: Less than 100 mg/dl
2. Two hours after eating: Less than 140 mg/dl

Pre-diabetes
1. Fasting: Equal to or greater than 100 and less than 126 mg/dl
2. Two hours after eating: Equal to or greater than 140 and less than 200 mg/dl