It's back!  Now with more fever!  The NoMoWriWo Friday Six.  (No More Writing Words!)

1.  Strep throat appears to be leaving my personal premises, but has been deftly replaced by a cold.  Total Crumbs Morrone, complete with slight fever, weird backache, and nagging cough.  On tap for this weekend:  REST.  And that's possible because ...

2.  NaBloPoMo is OVER with this post.  While I really love blogging and posting regularly, I'm content keeping this as a Monday - Friday party.  Posting on the weekends kinks up my plans because then I end up sucked into the computer, responding to emails ... suddenly, I've become unable to adjust to actual sunlight.  But I'm proud to have stuck this month out with so many other bloggers, including a number from the diabetes blogosphere.  Bravo, guys!  We did it!

3.  Also in the home stretch of NaNoWriMo.  Only approx. 9,500 words left to conjure up.  My co-worker, who is also immersed in the world of NaNo, and I have decided to never do this again.  We've proven that we can conquer this challenge, finishing last year and "this close" this year, so there's no need for NaNo again next year.  PLEASE remind me of this statement next October, when I start musing manically about doing this again.   And Co-Worker, should I even breathe a word of NaNo next fall, just smack me.

4.  With two engaged editorial team members here at dLife, this video has been circulating through the office.  Best first dance at a wedding - ever.  It's a must-watch. 

5.  Last night, I had the pleasure of being the guest on Dr. Anonymous's BlogTalkRadio show.  Despite a few technical difficulties, we got everything rolling and it was a fun discussion with one of my favorite medical bloggers.  His energy is contagious and he's a very active member of the medical blogosphere.  Tune in on Thursdays at 10 pm eastern for Dr. A's all-new shows!

6.  And the most random bit today is that I opened my email this morning and found a message from the guy who drove my pedicab two Septembers ago.  His email was sweet, charming, and spoke from the perspective of a courtesy long-since practiced by many people.  He also included a link to his photography site, and his pictures are truly lovely.  It was a nice surprise ... and man, was I surprised.

HAPPY LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER!!! 

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Last night, when my fever was spiking and the chills were coursing through my body like contractions, I hid in my bed and tried to fall asleep.  Tossing and turning, thinking of talented writers of Blogabetes, columns that still needed to be looked at, and my own personal blog that required some attention, my brain was spinning with incompleted tasks.

I fell asleep, fretting.

And I dreamt that I was inside a computer screen.  Not trapped behind the glass, per se, but stuck right in between two open Explorer windows.  I was pinned and flailing and unable to just reeeeeach my hand around and press the "X" to close the window and let me out.

I woke up with a start and put my face against Chris's shoulder as he slept.

"I had a nightmare.  About blogging."

"Mmmmmmhmmm.  Do you need juice?" 

(Poor guy is on autopilot.)

"No.  I'm not low.  I had a nightmare."

"It's okay."  He fell back asleep.  I stared at the ceiling, still reaching for that "X" in my mind's eye.

And when I heard myself describing this nightmare to my co-worker this morning (Her response:  Your life is based on cartoons even in your dreams?  Oh great day!), I realized how grateful I was that November only has one more day in it.

One.  More.  Day.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

More blogging later, but diabetes was the focus of a frank discussion on The Today Show this morning.  Topics ranged from diabetes myths to the power of good control.  Check out this video clip and see what Dr. Nancy Snyderman has to say.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I spent the majority of yesterday beneath a mountain of blankets on the couch, anchored on either side by a fluffy cat.  Miserable and sick, yet capable of impressive levels of boredom, I watched daytime TV until my brain started to melt a little bit.

Itching to alleviate the boredom, I gathered myself together and exhibited my only smidge of culinary prowess:  cooking soup.

I'm not exactly known for my skills in the kitchen.  I can make a delicious breakfast, a bang-up cup of tea, and the occasional salad excursion.  But my true (and only) talent lies in the soup pot.  I make a tasty soup.  Using a book I had picked up at The Strand bookstore in NYC - Soup for Every Body.  Boasting a selection of low-carb and high-protein soups, complete with illustrations, this book was perfect for Chris and I and our picky little eating habits.

And it was only six bucks.  Good deal, this.  AND the soup ended up being delicious.  Chris claimed it's "restaurant quality."  Let me assure you, this is not a compliment often offered up, so I did a little sicky-jig of happiness.

I've been thinking about eating habits a lot lately, especially with the holidays coming and my will power on a bit of a hiatus.  As I wrote in my dLife column this month, the whole "special occasion" caveat during the holidays is tricky for me.  With so many parties and events, it's easy for me to succumb to "Oh, just this one time," and have that piece of cake/glass of wine/forkful of creme brulee.   Next thing I know, I'm indulging at every turn and my jeans don't fit as well as they did a month ago.

Never one to react to a problem, I'm trying to take a more proactive approach to this holiday season.  Enter:  Operation WillPower.  (Similar to Operation Thwart.)  Now that I'm two days into the antibiotics for strep and well on my way to being fully mended, I need to take control of my eating habits and get my act together. 

Back to heavy workouts.  Back to low-carb meals.  Back to paying attention to all the bits and pieces of diabetes management and readying my body for that wedding dress.  (Which, by the way, is being delivered in January and I'll be having my first fittings.  In less than two months.  Holy crap.)

So long, delicious treats!  I miss you already. 

Commence Operation WP.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

And so we have another meme.  Yes, I'm cutting corners here for NaBloPoMo, but I'm sick, damnit!

1.  Were you named after anyone?  No.  But my father did chose the names for my brother and sister and I.   But I do like my name and am again on the fence about what to do with the “Morrone” part of it when I get married.  I’m currently leaning towards swapping out my middle name, Lynn, and taking on Morrone as my middle name.  Kerri Morrone Sparling.

2. When was the last time you cried? The day before Thanksgiving.  I miss my grandmother terribly.

3. Do you like your handwriting? I despise my cursive (it’s completely illegible) but my printing is tiny, neat, and precise.  I write like a typewriter.

4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Chicken breast, thickly sliced.  Yum!

5. Do you have kids?  Not yet.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? I think so.  I’d have so much in common with me.  ;)

7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?  Of course not.

8. Do you still have your tonsils? I do.

9. Would you bungee jump?  No thank you.

10. What is your favorite cereal? Ah, the guilty indulgence of Golden Grahams.  I love that stuff, and there’s a guy in my office who has a box of G.G. stashed in his desk.  It’s been a serious show of willpower not to go ransack his stash.

11.  Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?  No.  Mostly, I wear dress shoes or flip flops (I’m not much for in-between), and they slip right on and off.

12. Do you think you are strong? Physically, I’m working on it.  Mentally, I’m steely.

13. What is your favorite ice cream?  Black raspberry from St. Claire’s Annex in Watch Hill.

14. What is the first thing you notice about people?  Whether they look friendly or not. 

15. Red or Pink? I don’t really like either.  I prefer blue or gray.

16. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?  I have crippling moments of insecurity.  But they pass.

17. Who do you miss the most?  Grammie. 

18. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?  Blue yoga pants and flip flops.  (I’m home sick.)

20. What was the last thing you ate?  A cup of Prince of Wales tea, some oatmeal, and the gross antibiotic pill.

21. What are you listening to right now?  The band Elbow, the sound of the dryer, and my hands clicking against the keyboard.

22.  If you were a crayon, what color would you be?  I’d be the sharpener in the back of the box of Crayola 96.

23. Favorite smells?  Hazelnut coffee, shampoos, Clean perfume, and the way Chris’s shirts smell.

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?  My mom.  She was calling to check on her sicky kid.

25. Favorite sports to watch?  RED SOX BASEBALL.  What else is there?

26. Hair color?  Light brown with blonde highlights.

27. Eye color?  Grayish blue.

28 .Do you wear contacts? No.

29. Favorite food?  Fresh summer fruits.

30. Scary Movies or Happy Endings?  I cannot stand scary movies.  Every time I’m forced to watch one, I cover my face with my hands.  I watched the entire “28 Days Later” through the threads in Chris’s sweater, terrified.

31. Last movie you watched?  The Life Aquatic on DVD.

32 What color shirt are you wearing?  An old, light blue Local Motion long sleeve t-shirt.  Again, I’m home sick.

33. Summer or winter?  Summer.  I am most at home on the beach.

34. Hugs or kisses?  I’m not much of a toucher, but if we’re friends or family, I’d love a hug.  If you’re Chris, go ahead and plant a kiss on me, too. 

35. Favorite dessert? Holy crème brulee.

36. What is on your mousepad? Currently, the logo from my blog.  :)

37. What did you watch on TV last night?  Nothing.  I went to bed early due to aforementioned plague.

38. Favorite sound?  The ocean.  And music.  And when Sausage purrs in my ear.  The sound of my fiancé’s voice.  My mom’s laughter.  I’m an auditory junkie.

39. Rolling Stones or Beatles?  There is no comparison here.  Beatles.  They are still relevant, and their music is still touching lives.

40. What is the farthest you have been from home? California?  St. John?  I don’t know which is further, but I know I’m itching to go to Ireland.

41. Do you have a special talent?  I can crochet.  I can also write a song parody almost instantly.  And hopefully, I can make you laugh. 

-  30  -

I'm off to take a nap and attempt to sleep off more of this nonsense plague.  If you're NaBloPoMo-ing, grab this meme and run with it!

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

After looking in the review mirror in my car and seeing blotchy white spots on the back of my throat, I made an immediate appointment at my doctor's office.  She said she could see me within the hour, so I bailed from work and drove over to her office.

"Yes, hello!"  Dr. CT greeted me with a handshake and a warm smile.  "So your throat is not feeling well?"

"No, not at all.  And there is this little army of spots on the back of my throat that made me want to be checked for strep."

"Ah, strep.  It's going around."  She took out one of those massive popsicle stick things and shined her flashlight into my mouth.  "And you, Kerri, have one of the most lovely, blooming cases of strep I've seen all year." 

Clicking off her flashlight, she rummaged through a cabinet until she found a small, white piece of cloth.

"Put this on.  You are highly contagious."  Quick swipe in my ear with the thermometer as she hands me a white mouth mask.  "Yes, almost 102 degrees.  You'll need to start on these antibiotics," hands me a script, "and take some Advil to bring your temperature down.  And of course, fluids, fluids, fluids for my diabetic patient." 

I gave her a rueful smile.  "I promise to stay hydrated."

She gave me a stern look in return.  "And you must also stay out of work for at least 24 hours, but preferably 48.  I am not compromising on this." 

How the hell does this woman know me so well, after only a few visits?  To keep her happy, I agreed to stay home from work on Tuesday and I wore the mask until I left her office.

After the appointment, I somehow found myself in line at the CVS pharmacy near my house for an hour and a half.  No, I was not skipping happily down the aisles with my favorite beauty products clutched in hand.  And no, I wasn't reading the trashy magazines in the middle aisle.  I wasn't even sniffing shampoos.  (Which I LOVE to do.  Shampoo smells so nice!)  Instead, I was stuck standing in line for over an hour, waiting to drop off my prescription, thanks very much to the woman standing in front of me who wanted to yell at her kids and battle with the pharmacist about why her insurance didn't cover her Crest whitening strips.  She felt this was a legitimate question.  I felt like I was going to fall over while I waited in line.

I'm finally home, quarantined to my boring house with these attention-grubbing cats and a crumpled up SARs mask in my pocket.  Feeling Real People Sick, like my blogger pal Caro. 

Here's hoping strep is long gone by Wednesday, or at least packing its things.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 05:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Thanks to this weird headache, the smidge of a fever I'm nursing, a 179 mg/dl for absolutely NO REASON, and those pesky white spots on the back of my throat, I'm off to the doctor to be tested for strep throat. 

Back in a bit.

(Whine, whine ... complain, complain.)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

There was Fondue Night with my college roommates, dipping whatever we could find into cheese and then chocolate fondue (no, not at the same time), drinking wine, and gossiping like fools.

There was Thanksgiving with friends and family, spending time with our closest loved ones.

We had a delicious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory in the city and then explored Providence with the new camera, snapping shots of the Statehouse and the cityscape from an empty park at midnight.

A visit to my mother's house brought us on an impromptu hike through the woods and snapping pictures at the shore of the lake.

The loooo-ong drive back down 95, back to our home and back to work this week.  We're sleepy, inundated with emails, and toting suitcases crammed with half-folded laundry.

And even though they were all puffy-tailed, bored, and mewing when we came back home tonight, the cats survived.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Thank you, MemeGods, for sending me something that will help me achieve my NaBloPoMo goals.  I present:  The Basic Blog Meme, courtesy of a F.R.

How long have you been blogging?

I started Six Until Me. back on Blogspot in May of 2005.  It's been about two and half years now.  (Holy crap.)

What inspired you to start a blog?

I was inspired by Chris to start blogging and I initially did this because I couldn't find the "real stories" from people who were living with diabetes.  Now, I think it's terrific that the blogging community has expanded to such an extent that there are millions of blogs about millions of topics ... but the diabetes bloggers are by far my favorite crew. 

Are you trying to make money, or just doing it for fun?

I do this so that I don't feel so alone with my diabetes.  If anything is made along the way, be it money, professional connections, or educational opportunities, it comes second to that feeling of community.

What are three things you struggle with online?

I struggle with telling too much -- I like having moments in my life that are kept purely off-line but I'm always thinking about stories that I can blog about.  I also had a lot of trouble when I first started designing and coding my own site, but that chaos has evolved into a genuine understanding of design, which I'm pretty damn proud of.  And the third thing?  I have a problem not cursing.  Anyone who knows me outside of this blog is aware of my borderline trucker mouth.  I do my best to keep the curses off SUM, but there are moments when I just can't help myself.  :)

What are three things you love about being online?

I love feeling like part of something bigger than just my one blog, connecting with people I wouldn't have otherwise known existed, and finding solace in the words of others.

And if you could entice someone else to start a blog, who would it be?

Larry Bird, why don't you have a blog?  Seriously. 

If you're NaBloPoMo-ing, have at this here meme.  And if you have one for me, please send it my way.  I'm completely out of original thoughts.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 04:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

For some reason, at my aunt's house, this strange discussion about what people would be willing to eat cropped up.  The discussion quickly spiralled out of control (as things often do), resulting in a dare and The Concoction:  a plastic cup filled with samples of each dish, mixed together with some olive juice, whipped cream, and a pickle.  My cousins and I sniffed the mixture before we offered it up to the brave contestants.  It smelled horrendous.  No way would I eat this - ever. 

Instead, my Uncle Mark battled my mother in a test of tastebud tolerance.

"What do we win?"  Asked my mother before she took her bite.

"Ma - bragging rights.  What else is there?"

"Agreed."

I'm proud to say that both Uncle Mark and my mom consumed The Concoction without gagging, and they are now branded as the toughest members of the family. 

Or at least until Christmas.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 07:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

From my family to my friends, to the stupid cats, to a career I enjoy, to the support of people (some of whom I've never even met), to opportunities I've earned, to failures I've learned from, to the man I cannot wait to call my husband ... I am thankful for every morsel of my life.

And here's hoping those morsels are low-carb, because today is going to be a challenge in numbers management.  :) 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Over the next few hours, I will be: 

Changing the radio station.  Talking about the wedding.  Working on an article.  Singing along to stupid tunes on the iPod.  Debating who would win in a battle to the death:  Batman or the Ultimate Warrior?  Wasting gas as we sit in traffic for HOURS trying to get home to RI.  Figuring out the complex settings on the new camera.  Taking pictures of his ear, his knuckles, and scenes from the highway.  Yawning.  Maybe napping.  Drinking coffee.  Testing.  Bolusing.  Picking cat hair off my black jacket.  Reading a little bit and then promptly getting a headache.   Wondering why RI is just a state away but sometimes feels like freaking Canada.

But once we make it to Rhode Island, it's all about family, friends, and celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'll be checking in, per my NaBloPoMo addiction, but it will be spare. 

Have a great holiday!

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Well I'm impressed.  It's November 20th and this is the first meme I've seen tossed into the diabetes blogs for NaBloPoMo.  Well done, everyone!  We made it 20 days without a meme!

I've been tagged by a few of you guys (like Chrissie and Landileigh and my girl Nicole) so here are my Seven Facts.

1.  I was able to spell when I was 18 months old.  I thought this was a lie until my mother recounted the tale of me, at a parade, all of 18 months and peeking over her shoulder, spelling out the words on the signs behind her.  Granted, this fact is also accompanied by the fact that I cannot perform simple math tasks.  Thank God for the bolus wizard.

2.  When I was a small child, I performed a compulsive act that was called woofer-sniffing (or at least called that by my mother).  (Yes, Mom, I am admitting this online.)  I would cover my mouth with my hands and then stroke my hands down my throat twice.  Bizarre.  I have no idea why I did it.  I did this for about two straight years at the most random moments (but usually as we stood in line after lunch in 3rd grade).  I've since stopped.  It's all fun and games until you realize you are actually OCD. 

3.  I want to drive a race car.  I love the feel of a fast car and a heavy, strong engine.  I want to get behind the wheel of one of those mean machines, slide on a helmet, and sit with all that black netting while I roar around the race track at 160 mph.  (Should I mention I've had several speeding tickets?)

4.  Ever-presenting myself as the non-traditional, independent woman, I have to admit that "flowers for no reason" absolutely make my day.  Not for my birthday, not for Valentine's Day, and not to mark an anniversary, but the ones that show up for no reason at all.  Once I had a bouquet of yellow tulips delivered to my office, several years ago.  And I still remember the way they smelled.

5.  I respect originality.  Each person has a distinct personality and something to offer to the world, and people who truly cultivate their own, unique voice impress me to no end.  People who parrot do not impress me.  (And I value loyalty, honesty, and a wicked sense of humor just as much, just as a matter of FYI.)

6.  Oooh!  I love the sound of the Trouble Pop-O-Matic bubble.  Pop-pop!  It's a sound from my childhood, playing this game with my brother, sister, and the baby-sitter.  Pop-pop!

7.  I always wanted to be a writer.  I wrote my first poem when I was five years old and it was about the fat, black-and-white cat that did nothing but sleep underneath our dining room table.  I also have kept a hard-bound journal since I was seven years old and am currently on the 15th volume.  Something about ink on paper makes my heart quicken. 

Here are the rules o' the game for you - minus the fifth one which I forget because I copied this from Nicole's site and she opted out on the 5th:

Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
Post these rules on your blog.
List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post.

I'm not sure I know who's been tagged or not, so I'm reaching out to grab John, Melissa, Monica, Carey, Paige, and Ms. Julia.  Only six, but that's how I roll.  If you want the spare tag, grab it!  It's all yours! 

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 02:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

I am a Country Mouse.  It's an undisputed fact. 

I find considerable joy on the almost-desolate beaches of Napatree Point in my hometown.  I like hiking.  I loved the trails in St. John and the question of "Has anyone been this way before me?"  The idea of my own personal greenhouse or garden makes me grin.   

So finding such excitement and possibility in the cityscape of NYC is a completely new thing for me.

Last night, Chris and I visited Brooklyn and dined out with Chris's friend from high school, MT, and his fiance Melissa.  Their neighborhood is very cool and had a tangible sense of community.  There was something so comforting about the streets lined with what looked like Boston brownstones, neatly wedged together like books in a shelf.  Their apartment was roomy and cozy and was the first piece of livable real estate I've had the pleasure of visiting in the NYC area (as opposed to the breadbox apartments with cubbyholes renamed as second bedrooms and a kitchen not nearly big enough for my poor fat cat Abby to slide into). 

We had dinner at this terrific French place in Park Slope called Moutarde.  Chris and I have both grown up in decidedly Italian households, with pasta dinners and homemade gravy.  But after our second French meal in a week (first at Les Halles), Chris is now a self-proclaimed Francophile.  Chris had the salmon and I had the hanger steak and green beans -- and yes, we dipped into the crème brulée again. 

For the record, I started this meal at a tenuous 73 mg/dl, but thanks to some bread and a quick swig of orange juice, I hit the ground running at 157 mg/dl.  I would have remained under 180 if it hadn't been for that blasted crème brulée, which tossed me up to 212 mg/dl before a soft landing at 98 mg/dl later in the evening.   

Generally, I have my meal plan under control and I'm able to deftly avoid temptations.  (I've even trained myself to substitute green beans for potatoes, which is remarkable considering how much I'd love potatoes.)  But something about going out to dinner makes resistance tougher for me. 

Dessert?  Sure, I'll have some of that deliciously creamy, sugar-filled concoction.  Twice.  In one week.  In my foolish mind, being "out to dinner" means that it's a special occassion and it's okay to splurge.  But with the frequency we've been dining out and the holidays looming like fat pants on the horizon, I need to be more mindful of the calories I'm reeling in.  And with my Joslin appointment right after Thanksgiving, it's important that I'm on the ball.

Mmmm.  It would be great if the whole ball was made of crème brulée.  

(Apparently I'm a Country Mouse with a newly-cultivated sweet tooth.)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

In a fit of unmanaged funds and a moment of celebratory freelance gig elation, I bought a new fancy-pants toy.

I've become known for being the "one with the camera."  It is important to note that this statement doesn't mean I'm the one taking nice pictures, or the one who is marketing her photography to art enthusiasts everywhere.  I just happen to be the one at work who is always snapping photos at events, or the one at the bar who has the camera ready for a group shot while we do a group "shot."

I like capturing these moments in my life in the lens.  People's faces make me happy.  (And so do my stupid cats.)  I love going through photographs and I regret not regularly toting a camera around sooner. 

So I picked up a new camera - a Nikon D40 - and spent the first half of the morning reading the Spanish instruction manual -I was so excited I was only looking at the illustrations and didn't notice that the instructions were not in my native tongue.

I've taken pictures so far of the inside of the lens cap, the ceiling, Chris at the computer, the flowers in my bedroom, and the cats battling in the hallway.  This afternoon, we're off to Brooklyn for dinner with friends, and I'll take pictures of their ceiling, too.  Maybe some decent shots of bits in Brooklyn, but I can't make any promises. 

And while I was told by the salesperson to take a photography class and to make sure I fully read the manual, I can't help myself.  I'm experiencing full-blown techno-joy!!  (Make sure you watch the clip -- I so love Eddie Izzard.)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

I was under the assumption that most people found my blog by searching for "diabetes" or "insulin pump," or even "medical blogs."

I did not realize how many other routes in there were.  How many silly routes there were.  People are Googling all sorts of terms and finding Six Until Me. 

Of note:

• "Do I often pogo-stick through your mind wearing nothing but a smile?"
• "my bra makes me itch."
• "something found in a bathroom starting with letter y."
• "basal rates in turkeys."
• "Your smile makes me have to pee."
• "six in me."
• "obsessive chihuahua with pillow"
• "How do I prove that I'm not a vampire."

And my personal favorite, "Does Larry Bird have diabetes?"

Thankfully, no one searching for "sausage" has come my way.  Yet.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

We were talking about meeting with Christel and how long she and I have both had diabetes.  Over twenty years for both of us.  Over twenty years for so many of us.

We don't talk much about diabetes at home.  Sure, there's plenty of talk about the blog and work and different projects, but the disease itself is usually held at arm's length.  We understand how serious it is but can't face life with such a furrowed brow all the time.  It's just a press release.  It's just a URL.  It's just all these people blogging about different lives with the same disease.

There are moments I forget I'm living with it, too. 

"What about clinical trials?"  "What about generic insulin?"  "What about that guy with the thing in that country who cured the mouse?"  "What about helping people understand the differences between type 1 and type 2?"  "What about medical insurance?"  "We should think about a [insert project here] or maybe contacting some people for a [insert another idea here]."

And he's so excited about the possibilities for making a difference.  His eyes are shining in that way that reflects true hope and effortless love, in that way unfamiliar with what twenty-one years feels like, because he has barely known three.  He wants to make a difference.  And I do, too.  But tonight, I just wanted to make dinner.

He stops.

"I'm sort of preaching to the choir, aren't I?"

I nod and smile.

"I'm with you, Chris.  I'm just sort of tired of singing."

My face feels hot.  My eyes tear up.  I'm not done fighting and not done advocating and not done trying to make a difference, but I'm feeling so tired at this moment, and so uninspired. 

"I'm with you, for all of this.  Forever, you know."

His words reach right into my heart, folding close around the raw parts of me that don't ever sleep.  I crumble in, held close against the man who will take care of me now, while I'm healthy, and who will care for me should body start to fail.  It feels intense and overwhelming.  And I cry, surprising myself with ragged breaths and burning tears. 

I forget I sometimes feel this way, all lost and tumble-dried.

I have a good cry.  He holds me and I feel better.  I'm grateful for my support system, both in my home, in the folds of my family, and in the wilds of the internet.  Love and support makes every shot less painful, every number less judgmental, every hurdle more surmountable.

I suddenly feel inspired again.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

We met up at Les Halles for dinner.  Four people, meeting up for the first of many times.  She greeted Chris with a huge smile and a hug. 

It was more than diabetes. 

Sure, she understood completely when I mentioned a botched infusion set or that sticky mouth feeling when blood sugars are swarming out of control.  We talked about technology and "old school diabetes" and what how things have changed over the last twenty-plus years.  Conversations about how diabetes influenced romantic relationships, or financial decisions, or career aspirations passed easily between us. 

She knew when I said "I don't think about a cure," that I was actually saying, "I can't think about it."  She's been diabetic for almost 25 years.  She knows exactly what I mean.

But after the talk about diabetes was tapering, we still had more to talk about.  Marriage.  Family, both being a part of one and starting our own.  Perspectives on writing.  Gossipy bits.  And she made me laugh - oh good Lord the girl is funny.  Our friendship is born from a diabetes connection but one that is rooted in so much more than that.  Talking with her was like talking with someone I grew up with, who understood where I was coming from and where I hoped to go.

So when Christel and her husband, John, came to visit NYC, it was more than diabetes.  It wasn't about comparing pumps or blood sugars or tales from our islets.  We had dinner with two people who felt like old friends, only she and I just happened to both bolus before the crème brulée was served. 

It was more than diabetes.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

For us, every single day is one with diabetes. 

Raise awareness.  Get involved.  Make a difference.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Last night, I had a chance to attend the premier of Discovery Health's documentary, Diabetes:  A Global Epidemic, held at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.  The documentary follows former American Diabetes Association president and head of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Fran Kaufman, around the globe as she visits different countries and explores their ways of managing diabetes.

The documentary itself was very interesting, focusing heavily on the education aspects of diabetes management.  I agree whole-heartedly that education is completely necessary in dealing with diabetes - I can't count how many times people have said to me, "You have diabetes?  Aren't you a little young / old / thin /  for your disease?"  Although it wasn't the focus of the film, the fact that people aren't educated about the different types of diabetes continues to amaze me, considering how diabetes doesn't discriminate and affects so many.

It also frustrates the hell out of me.  I've written before about how being perceived as "healthy" makes me fear that my disease isn't worth the effort to cure.  "You look healthy," they say.  And they're right.  I feel healthy, too.  What they're not seeing is the effort that it takes to remain healthy.  These well-meaning strangers don't see my midnight blood sugar checks.   They don't see the furrow of worry on my mother's face when she talks to me about my future children.  They didn't watch me slip on my little black dress last night, only to have the pump impossible to negotiate in the folds of my dress.  The public responds fiscally to a six year old with tears in her eyes, but a seemingly-healthy twenty something doesn't garner much fundraising.

It all sounds insignificant sometimes, whining "Where, oh where, will I stash my insulin pump that I am so lucky to have access to in the first place?" but I find myself feeling angry and frustrated at the lack of progress being made at times.  I've been very fortunate to have access to a glucose meter in my home for almost my entire diabetic life.  I've had access to the pumping technology for almost four years.  For all intents and purposes, I am a very lucky woman.  I have a good life.

But there are days when the frustrations rise up and I can't swallow them down.  Watching all these media events leading up to World Diabetes Day and seeing how much people are trying to raise awareness of what life is like with diabetes ... this effect could be staggering.  And empowering.  The effects of these events could reach into the consciousness of our whole society and change perceptions, change intentions .. change the very tides. 

For those of us living with diabetes, we know what it's like.  Our awareness is already raised. 

Now give us our research.  Give us our technology.  Give us our cure.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Unfortunately, no time at all to blog today.  But I did enjoy a visit at the office from my long-time friend Christel Marchand (of DiabeticFeed fame and currently a columnist for dLife!).  Chris and I are having dinner in NYC with Christel and her husband tomorrow night and I couldn't be more excited!  It's one of those rare times when people are exactly what you expected them - and needed them - to be.

Off to NYC for an event at the Met.  I currently feel like I'm in the spin cycle of a washing machine.  But it's darn fun sometimes.  :)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Dear Shoes,

I saw the moving van outside the apartment building a few weeks ago.  I must admit, I became rather excited.  The two chubby, bearded movers and the one skinny kid with the backwards hat were bringing down handcart after handcart of items from the apartment right above mine.  Bins of clothes.  A very charming lamp shaped like a pig.  A metal-framed bed.

And Shoes, the glee that filled my heart was astounding.  Off you go!  Into the wild shoes yonder.  I felt a mixture of pride and respect as I imagined you, standing in the doorway of your now-empty apartment, DogShoes' leash clutched in your hands.  You raise your hands in a quick and dignified salute, much like that Growing Pains episode where Mike's best buddy Boner flunks out of college and joins the army.

And then you'd leave. 

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Your roommate was moving out.  And instead of you and DogShoes following, you brought in a new roommate.  BoyfriendShoes.

You and BoyfriendShoes seem to have a terrific relationship, running through the house at three in the morning wearing what sounds like coffee-can stilts.  But it's nice to know you two are getting along.  You get along all the time - I know, because your bed is apparently right above my kitchen.  I also know that you aren't getting along too perfectly, because I heard you call him a "SOB who couldn't make toast even if his hands were on fire."  Shoes, that's not very nice.  And what the hell does that mean?

He's a helpful guy, though.  I just heard him moving all the furniture in your living room while somehow bouncing on a pogo-stick with DogShoes, or at least that's how it sounded from down here.  And when you scream at him, I don't hear him screaming back.  I'm guessing he may be deaf.  Or in love!

Once almost banished to sleep underneath the mailboxes, BoyfriendShoes now rests comfortably in your apartment.  You, DogShoes the 90 lb giraffe, and BoyfriendShoes.  One big, happy family.  That lives above me.  Wearing steel shoes.

I'm buying earplugs.

xo,
Kerri.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 07:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Here's some random Saturday afternoon NaBloPoMo'ing:

There are always random links swirling around the editorial department.  Here's one of them (just about blew my mind) and here's another (almost made me throw up).  Complete the circle of oddness with this YouTube video and my brain has officially turned to mush:

Unfortunately, this clip will remain in my nightmares because the first cat looks exactly like a grown-up Sausage.

This weekend, I'm holed up and NaNoWriMo-ing until I've hit the mid-point of 25,000 words.  I am freaking determined.  Granted, I am already off to a bad start because I have been out to breakfast and shopping and exploring cafes in Wesport all day long, but I will do this.  Mark my (soon to be 25,000) words.

Until tomorrow ... when the plot will hopefully be thickened!

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 05:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I live every day with a pump at my hip
A meter close by, and a smile on my lips.

So many moments there are in my day
When it seems that my pancreas gets in the way,
Be it exercise, cooking or sleeping or driving,
I’m constantly checking to keep myself thriving.
And while my fiancé, my family and friends
Support me and hold me and love to no end,
I started to blog because I felt alone -
The only diabetic as far as I'd ever known.
Needing to find others who understood
How a number was scary, how a food could be good.
How I worried my eyes were damaged from cake.
I worried my worries were too little, too late.
How I worried my feelings were strange and unique
And that my diabetes made me some kind of freak.

I wrote my first post, took a great gasp of air,
Hit the big publish button and from out of thin air
My words were set loose to the great world wide web
And I wanted and hoped to hear what others said.
Within just a week I had found several others.
Type 1’s and type 2’s and some fathers and mothers.
These people, they knew, and I felt less alone.
I feared less my future and all the unknowns.
The blogging took off and it chronicled things
Like my job and my friends and my engagement ring.
I poured out my feelings and dealt with my fears,
I let loose my laughter and reigned in my tears.
I felt so much stronger with all the support
Of the people who knew how my body fell short.

When I peel back the layers to what matters most,
It's not about how many readers I host.
It's not about statcounts and not about feeds.
It's not about fame and it’s not about greed.
It’s not about comments or big recognition,
It’s about all the challenges of this condition.
This community knows me where I hurt the most.
It makes me feel normal, supported, and close.

I'm thankful for every day towards good health.
I’m thankful I’m not doing this by myself.
Endless thanks to the people who read these brave writers
And for making the burden we carry much lighter.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (37)

It's strange, how diabetes makes conversations between strangers easy.  Even when that stranger happens to be Elliott Yamin, American Idol finalist and singer of the Top 20 single "Wait For You."

During our interview, we talked about his type 1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 16.  "I was feeling ill for about 2 1/2 weeks.  My mom [who has type 2 diabetes] tested my blood sugar and it was high.  This all happened on a Sunday, so we went to the emergency room, where they tested my blood sugar at 870 mg/dl."

Holy crap, 870 mg/dl? 

"So it was an instant change for you and your family, I'm guessing."

"Sort of.  We had a gradual change in diets, but I was rebellious about it.  I had to learn the hard way to take care of myself."

We traded stories about some of the more difficult moments with diabetes.  He talked about being on stage and under the hot lights, then dipping neatly into a low.

"There was a regular Pepsi there, so I grabbed it and drank it down real fast.  I felt better, but it was tough because drinking down all that carbonated soda so fast, I kept burping through the sound checks.  You know?"

I couldn't help but laugh - I'd love the opportunity to burp through a soundcheck.

Elliott spent several years on multiple daily injections and experienced a number of hypoglycemic seizures.  It wasn't until he was 21 years old, when he met a co-worker who was wearing an insulin pump, that he started thinking about pump therapy. 

"He showed me his pump and how it worked and all that."  He made an appointment with his co-worker's endocrinologist and worked hard to lower his A1C in preparation for the pump.  About four months later, he was hooked up and pumping.

As diabetics often do, we touched upon "a cure."

"I want a cure.  Of course I want a cure.  And I think we're getting close.  I'm happy to be able to use my position and my voice to be involved in these great programs and charities.  It would be a sin for me not to do anything [to raise awareness]." 

I agreed.  "Raising awareness is important.  It's good that you're public about your disease, unlike some celebrities."

"Well, it sucks.  Diabetes sucks sometimes."

Finally, a celebrity who acknowledges that it's not an easy condition.  He gets it.  Diabetes can really suck.  Raising awareness and working towards a cure is crucial.

One event that Elliott is involved with is the Inspired by Diabetes campaign.  This campaign asks people with diabetes, as well as their family, friends and healthcare professionals, to express how diabetes has impacted their lives — and share those stories with others around the world.  Elliott will be helping to judge entries in the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition and is donating a package of concert tickets and backstage passes for U.S. grand prize winners.

"Dream big," he offered his words of wisdom to the diabetes community, as we ended our phone call.  "Always dream big.  And continue to watch your blood sugars.  It's hard for young people to see how diabetes affects us long-term.  Understand that it's controllable.  We can live long and healthy lives." 

Thanks, Elliott. 

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Food.

My whole life revolves around it.  Between testing, calculating, bolusing, and making general attempts at healthy eating, food is an enormous part of my diabetes management plan. 

Ah, food.

For some reason, we found ourselves at the grocery store at 10 o'clock at night yesterday.  (Actually, not for "some reason."  The reason was that there was nothing but salad dressing and three month stale croutons in the house to munch on.)  

In pursuit of ingredients for a minestrone soup I'm making (stop laughing - I can cook a little bit), I noticed the contents of our cart.  Vegetables, fruits, almonds, and whole-grain breads.  Once upon a time, I would have missed the potatoes,  rice, and popsicles (I would kill a man for Sherbet Cyclones ... those things are just darn delicious), but these days my tastebuds are geared more in favor of the diabetes-friendly and just generally healthy fare.

Gazing into the cart, I see the food choices of a woman who is finally thinking of her meals as they relate to her blood sugars.  But I'm admittedly a reluctant healthy eater.  I would love nothing more than cheesecake for dinner every night.  Cheesecake with a side of macaroni and cheese - not the white, Annie's kind but the real-deal biohazard orange kind - and a cup of piping hot chai tea latte, too.  Sugar, sugar, carbs, carbs.  I would love that.  Ice cream every morning, tapioca pudding with whipped cream every night.  My inner-glutton wants to mobilize but my brain interjects with thoughts of low A1C's, wedding dresses, and my future children. 

So we shop healthy, my fiance and I.  Indulgences find their way of slipping into the cart (how did those granola bars get in there?) but overall, we aim to eat low-carb and organic whenever possible.  Sounds bo-ring but is oddly satisfying and tasty.

Healthy meals are important for all sorts of living creatures.  Like dogs.  Apparently they have their own healthy breakfast cereal ... ahem, pardon me, "barkfast" cereal.  I had to snap a picture.  So ridiculous.  And I was laughing all night about it.  Silliness, right?

But upon Googling the brand name this morning, I see that diabetic doggies are benefitting from the Bow Wow Brands.  I blog corrected.  (Yet the image of a dog family sitting down for breakfast - pearls and all! - makes me laugh until I cry a little bit.) 

Healthy food for all!  (Even dogs.)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

First thing in the morning, I test my blood sugar.

Okay, that's sort of a lie.  First thing I do it stagger over to the bureau and slam my hand against the snooze button.  Then I collapse back onto the bed, shoving aside the little gray cat who took the four second opportunity to scurry up from the foot of the bed to the spot I was sleeping on.  After I fold myself back under the covers, my hand darts out and I retrieve my meter from the bedside table.  Fumble with the lancet device, shove a strip into the meter, and smoosh some blood onto the tip of the strip.  Sleepy countdown from 5.  Alarm goes off again.

This is every morning.

And every night before bed, I tuck myself underneath the comforter, do a quick blood sugar test, respond to the result (either bolus, grab a swig of juice, but most often just think, "Cool," and rezip the case), kiss Chris, go to sleep.

Blood sugar bookends to a busy day.

Testing is a big part of my daily diabetes management.  I test all the time, leaving an unfortunate trail of test strips wherever I go.  I'm constantly picking them off the ground in my office.  My gym bag is littered with them.  Don't even look at the bottom of my purses, where they form a solid layer.  I'm vigilant with testing, but not as steady with recording my blood sugar numbers.  

Since I've started at my job, I've been keeping a mangled little post-it note with my meter averages listed on it.  January 17, 2007.  March 11, 2007.  April 9.  May 2.  June 26.  It's just one little, yellow note but it's crammed ful of number notations.  It's just a matter of pressing the "Average All" option on my meter, where I'm instantly given a snapshot of my blood sugar averages. 

Keeping a steady log book is one of my biggest diabetes management hurdles.  I know there are some awesome web applications, like SugarStats, that help keeps numbers tracked, and I really need to make an instant diabetes resolution to start taking advantage of the technology I have available to me. 

I'm going home at lunch to get the cable for my meter.  I'll start downloading today.  Yes, I promise.  NaDoLoBlooMo.  (National Down Load Bloodsugars Month?  Well that's just plain bizarre looking.) 

How do you overcome the hurdle of folding number-tracking into your busy days?

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (31)

"Test."

I said it out loud.  Siah was tucked flat against my legs and she stretched out her furry arms at the sound of my voice. 

I can't breathe right.  The room is so hot.  Tangled in my bedclothes, wrapped up in the blankets, trapped.

There is juice on the bureau next to the bed but my fingers and arms and hands are unresponsive, palsied by the weight of the hypoglycemia.  Body sinking lower and lower into the mattress and I knew I would eventually be swallowed.  Part of me welcomed the warmth.  I just wanted to close my eyes and go back to sleep and fall deeper into the mattress until the morning.

I could see Chris lying next to me but he was miles and miles away from my unresponsive hands and I couldn't reach out to tap his shoulder.

My brain entered an eerie calm, all panic smothered by the sounds of my heart beating in my ears and the steady lull of Chris' breathing.  Just reach out and touch him.  Let him know you need his help.  It's okay. 

My hand, lifted by strings I couldn't see, leapt up from the bed and flopped against his shoulder like a fish.  He woke instantly.  "Are you okay?" 

"No."  My voice was eerily calm and dead in my throat.  "No." 

Seconds yawned by.  I aged a thousand years, shattered into a million pieces.

He pressed the bottle of juice into my hands.  I drank the entire thing without breathing.  The stain of the vineyard on my bottom lip, I tested.

34 mg/dl. 

Slick with sweat, the bed damp beneath the small of my back.  Cats circled like concerned sharks on the floor near the bed.  Abby meowed pitifully. 

It was the dinner from that night, where I was 202 mg/dl going into it and over-compensated for the Italian pasta meal.  I over-bolused.  This was no one's fault but my own.  These lows toss me deep down the well and I can't even hope for a bucket because I put myself here.  But I didn't mean to.  I didn't realize I had over-bolused for the meal.  I was 180 mg/dl before bed.  I thought I was okay.  I just wanted to go to dinner with my fiance.  I didn't even have a glass of wine or a dessert treat.  It was just dinner.

I did not mean to. 

The next morning, with dark circles under my eyes and guilt a small seed at the bottom of my stomach, I awoke.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

Scene:  Friday night, post-workout.  Kerri's Thighs sigh, in unison,  leaning against the back of the movie theater seats as Kerri cuddled in to watch a movie. 

Left Thigh:  Oh man.  Thank goodness this girl is finally sitting down. 

Right Thigh:  (nodding in agreement, as best a thigh can)  No kidding.  That workout?  From last week?  I thought we were done with that.

Left Thigh:  Exactly!  She was whining about feeling sick, and trotting around with high blood sugars ... after that grueling first try last week, I figured we were pie-in-the-sky thighs.

Right Thigh:  What?

Left Thigh:  Pie-in-the ... never mind.

Right Thigh:  Dude, I can't even flex myself right now.  Box jumps?  What is she thinking?

Left Thigh:  The guy told her to do it.  (nods over to Chris, who is sitting next to Kerri in the theater)  He said it would be a good way to change up her workout.

Right Thigh:  (mocking Chris in a high-pitched voice)  Oh, I'm Chris!  I think it's a great idea for Kerri to try these sadistic exercises!  Maybe she'd like to be drawn and quartered next?

Left Thigh:  I have a plan.

Right Thigh:  (still speaking in high-pitched voice)  What is it?

Left Thigh:  Why are you still talking like that?

Right Thigh:  I don't know.  I can't stop.

Left Thigh:  (sighs a thigh-sized sigh)  Dude, all we have to do it wait until she goes to bed.  Then we clench up like those fist things and watch her have to crawl from bed in the morning.

Right Thigh:  Awesome!  That way she won't ever try to do that circuit workout again.  She'll go back to leaving us the hell alone.

Left Thigh:  So we're agreed?  Commence Operation Thwart?

Right Thigh:  Agreed. 

Right Thigh and Left Thigh: (in unison) To Operation Thwart! 

Kerri:  (whispering)  I can hear you guys.  And I'm doing the workout again, regardless of your stupid pact.  We have a wedding in six months, guys.  Six.  And I'll be damned if I don't make some improvements before then.  Get ready for more of this.  I don't care if you complain.  Now shut up so I can watch the rest of the movie.

Chris:  Are you talking to yourself again?

Right Thigh:  (still mocking Chris)  Are you talking to yourself again?

Kerri:  You are totally getting the infusion set next time.

Right Thigh:  (voice dropping back into range)  Damn.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

So here's the part where it gets tricky for NaBloPoMo - on weekends.  I spend my weekends spending time with friends and family, not necessarily blogging or ... internetting.  Ah, November.  You are the new monkey wrench in my plans.

No problem. 

I've got cartoons to keep me entertained.

I received this in my email from reader Emily Hastings and it had me laughing out loud.  (Yes, aLOL.  For real.)  Darn internet cat memes.  Darn giggling fits. 

Off for some fancy Italian cuisine here in town -- must go get gussied up.  Don't forget - it's time to change your lancets tonight (and your clocks, if you are so inclined).  Daylight savings time ends today and now we're plunged into the darkness of winter. 

Good thing I have this handsome guy to keep me warm.  Oh, and like fifty thousand annoying cats.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

SiFriSixBi - The Six Until Me Friday Six Bits?  Sigh ... I'm inundated in acronyms.  :)

Last night, I attended the MM&M awards ceremony at NYC's famous Tavern on the Green.  Unable to pretend to be some fancy and sophisticated socialite, I openly enjoyed every second of the event and marveled at the fantastic trees lit with white Christmas lights in the garden.  I'm from RI, FaithFul Readers.  NYC amazes me.  And dLife took home a top prize - the Healthcare Website of the Year!  It was an honor to attend, and I enjoyed meeting some of marketing's finest.

On that note, I drove into the city for this occasion.  I was harassed about my driving all growing up.  "You drive too fast.  We're like in their back seat.  Kerri, you need to get off his ass.  Kerri.  Kerri!"  Well HA! to all those people who mocked me for my bevy of speeding tickets.  Finally, my aggressive driving paid off as I piloted my VW through the wilds of NYC.  Part of me enjoyed it.  The other part of me is so thankful for the fine Metro North train system.

However, I did have a bit of a pump mishap at this black tie event.  Wearing a black dress no sleeves, no pockets, and no confidence in my thigh thing (as, once again, the elastic is shot and I need a new one), I wore my insulin pump in my bra.  Without the clip attached, just sort of tucked there in between.  (May be TMI, but stick with me.  This is going somewhere.)

So I'm sitting at dinner, pump in my bra, and I laugh.  Hard (per usual).  And my pump decides to slip out from my bra and slide down the front of my torso. 

Fantastic.  Now I look like the lady from Alien, with something bulleting about in my stomach.

Trying to remain engaged in the conversation, I attempt to deftly maneuver the pump down towards my leg so I can disconnect from my infusion set underneath the table and duck into the bathroom to reassemble.  But the pump tubing is now tangled around my bra, refusing to unloop and release. 

Sigh.

So I had to basically reach up my dress and hope no one saw me release the reservoir from the pump, drop the pump into my hand under the hem of my dress, and let the tubing remain tangled and dangling from my bra.  The guy sitting next to me gave me an eye.  Hopefully he thought I just had an itch?  I scurried off to the bathroom, pump in hand, grabbed the pump clip from my purse (thank goodness!), and resecured the pump in my bra.  Returned to the table and pretended nothing happened.

Nothing like trying to pretend to be classy.

In other news, I've also had the pleasure of joining Kelly Close and her terrific team as a columnist for diaTribe, with SUM Musings.  If you haven't signed up already for the diaTribe newsletter, take a spin on over there and check it out!

I watched a few of these episodes at work and almost died laughing.  Teen Girl Squad, brought to you by Strongbad.  Completely silly and so worth it.

And on tap for this weekend:  Relaxing, sleeping, blogging, a possible adventure to a covered bridge, and my niece's first birthday party.  Have a good weekend, and I'll see you on Monday tomorrow!  (NaBloPoMo, yo.)

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Last year, I signed up for this on a whim, mostly because I was sort of pressured by a co-worker.  To be honest, it sort of sucked.  It stole the focus from some other things I wanted to work on and it really came between the relationship I was trying to foster between my bed and I.  But it also helped me deal with the death of my beloved Grammie, and channeling that grief properly helped me really make considerable headway in a writing project I have been nurturing for several years. 

The lists of pros and cons go on for miles.  I should really just start paying back this sleep debt I've racked up, right?  I mean, isn't it time to focus on being stress-free and start whittling down the number of projects I'm tackling on a daily basis?  Hmmmm?  Isn't it?

Ahem.  Of course I signed up again:

And for this, too:

If I think about the stress of it, my blood sugars start to rise.  But that's not the point of this exercise.  The point is to hone my skills as a writer and to dedicate a month - truly dedicate it - to becoming a stronger wordsmith.  (Please remind me of this mantra around, oh, say the 15th, when I'm only 3,000 words into my project and I'm blogging senselessly about cats and Larry Bird and blood sugars and ... shit, I do that already.) 

So cheers to you, my fellow NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo participants.  May your words be plentiful and internet connection steady.  Keep the coffee coming.

Game on.

Posted by Kerri Sparling at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)