Giveaway.

Tomorrow is the launch date for You Can Do This (!!!!!!!), and I'm excited to be able to tell you that there's even more Awesome in store for those participating. (And when I say participating - that means anyone. Not just those recording videos! Anyone who watches any of the videos, anyone who has ever said to themselves "you can do this", anyone who has ever said to themselves "I think I might possibly be able to try to do this"...)

The social media/PR coordinator at Hope Paige Medical contacted me last week to offer the You Can Do This community their support. (In case you aren't familiar with them - they make contemporary medical ID jewelry. In their words, "we take pride in changing the face of 'clunky' old medical ID jewelry and making it fashionable--something you would actually want to wear.") They are donating six pieces of their medical ID jewelry, and I'll be giving them away right here!

Here's what you need to know:

• Six giveaways will take place; one every other week for the next 12 weeks. The first giveaway is this week. Winners will be announced on Fridays.
• You don't have to record a video to win one. All you have to do is this: on those Thursdays (and I'll remind you guys), go leave a comment on the You Can Do This page on my blog (also found by clicking here). Make sure I can identify you - don't just sign it "anonymous", okay? I just need a name, so that I can announce the next day who the winner is. You have the full 24 hours on those Thursdays in which to enter yourself for the drawing.
• On Fridays, I'll announce that week's winner (by random drawing). If you are named the winner, you'll need to email me at textingmypancreas (at) gmail (dot) com, so that I can pass your information onto Hope Paige Medical.
• Each winner can pick which style they'd like as their prize (so, theoretically all six could pick the same bracelet) - and there are six styles to choose from. Hope Paige will custom engrave your jewelry with your medical needs, and ship it to you at no cost. (How cool is that?)

Here are the six styles you'll be able to select from:

Pandora Style

Rubber Blue Cars

Rope Brown & Khaki

Durable Rubber Black

Black Plate Dog Tag

Stainless Steel Heart Link

Thank you to Hope Paige Medical for donating to the You Can Do This Project community - the first giveaway entry day will be this Thursday!

Introducing.

Okay, first: last week, I was contacted by an editor at Diabetes Forecast magazine. The staff had caught wind of the You Can Do This Project, and she told me that they are all "really excited" about it! Lindsey and I chatted for several minutes by phone, and late on Friday afternoon, the article she wrote went up. Take a look at it here.

* * * * *

The rest of this post has nothing to do with diabetes, and everything to do with a new member of our family.

He was born in Missouri, recently learned that he loves walking on a leash and harness, and has only pooped in the house once. His interests include the mulch in our front yard, a cupcake-shaped chew toy, and having his tummy rubbed while he lays on his back. (It makes his hind legs kick in the air, like he's riding a bicycle.)

Everyone - meet Billy Corgin.

Don't mind the windblown hair - he sure didn't.

Everything in the world is safe when you can hide under a table.

Totally dominating a branch twice as big as he is.

This puppy loves cupcakes!

Really, I think he might be the Best Puppy Ever. (Too early to call that?)

Just Talking... Live.

Just a quick note I want to throw up here - in case you missed the media blitz yesterday (okay, I guess it wasn't a blitz exactly, but it felt that way to ME), here's a couple of places to go to hear me talking about the You Can Do This Project.

1. I recorded a PSA (a mini-podcast, really - but don't tell the host I called it that) with Chris over at Just Talking. We spent around 20 minutes talking about the upcoming video project - how it came to be, what it is, and how you can participate. The subject of puppies came up, too. You can give it a listen here.
2. I was also the guest on last night's DSMA Live Blog Talk Radio show - it's an hour of conversation between myself, and the three hosts (Scott Johnson, George Simmons, and Cherise Shockley) where we talk about both the project, and the DSMA Twitter chat that took place the night before. We talked about YCDT, how social media has shaped our view of the world, and what we've learned from others with diabetes.

I hope you all have a great weekend - and are ready for the barrage of puppy pictures coming your way!

Puppy!

My condolences to our yet-unmarred, unscratched and unchewed furniture. To our nearly new carpet and wood floors. So long, slacking on exercise.

I'll miss you dearly, no-fur-on-my-clothes.

Because, you see, we're picking this guy up on Saturday to come live with us:

Corgiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

And although I totally love dogs, and I've been dreaming of having a puppy for a long time, and Corgis are the cutest things I've ever seen, and I will pet him and love him and squeeze him and hug him and call him George (not actually calling him George), I'm frankly a little bit scared about all this.

I've mentioned before that I've never owned a dog, which is what's causing the majority of my apprehension. Aaron and I have been reading all about "puppy training" and "Corgi characteristics" online. We've talked to friends and family who have dogs. We've looked into obedience training. We're going to borrow some books. Plus, Aaron grew up with dogs - so he has a step up on me.

Yet there's still a part of me that wonders, can we do this? (Answer: listen to your own advice. Yes.)

So for anyone out there that has trained a puppy (this guy is currently about 3 months old) - or ever had a dog, actually - can you give me some advice? Recommend books? Tell me what you wish someone had told YOU when you were training a new dog? I could use the help.

(P.S. We do have a name picked out for him, but I'll wait until after this weekend to tell you guys. The suspense!)

Birthday.

First: it's my birthday. No big deal. (I didn't even take the day off of work - what is wrong with me?)

image credit

Second, I'm thrilled to be the guest blogger today over at With A Side Of Insulin - so that's where you'll find today's post.

Third, I am so immeasurably glad that it won't be 100 degrees at any point today. I just can't take much more of that this early in the year. I'm not ready!

And fourth, if you'd like to talk about the You Can Do This Project with some other folks who plan to participate, you're in luck - it's the topic of tonight's DSMA Twitter chat! Join in by using the hashtag #dsma starting at 8:00 CST, and get ready for one of the fastest hours of your life. And be prepared to speed read.  :)

Seeing Diabetes Everywhere.

Last weekend, Aaron and I decided to go out for some late-evening dessert and coffee.

We headed to one of our favorite places; a restaurant/bar combination. We were there late enough, and it's just far enough away from downtown that it wasn't heavily populated. Aaron and I sat at the bar; looked over the dessert list. I closed my menu and took a look at the bar in front of me.

Lots of colorful bottles; backlighting; glowing screens; sparkly glasses.

And then I noticed something.

Can't see it? I know; it's dark. Really dark. (Hey - it's a bar.)

How about now?

Let me show you in broad daylight.

My first thought? And I'm serious, here...

"Oh, someone was low."

...

Then I answered myself, "Wait, check that... probably a mixed drink." And then I felt kind of silly.

Diabetes will never leave my brain alone, will it?

Two Years.

Six and a half years ago, I met my best friend.

Two years ago today, I got to marry you.

Thank you for holding my hand; for winking at me across rooms; 

for making me breakfast.

Thank you for laughing at my lame jokes.

Thank you for continuing to be the funniest guy I've ever met.

Thank you for consistently being the calmest and most easy-going person 

in this here couple.

Thank you for killing the spiders.

Thank you for being who you are, and for loving me - just as I am and will be.

Thank you for agreeing to put up with me for a good long while.

I love you, Aaron. 

Happy anniversary!

Admiration and Grace.

I am sure I'm not the first to tell you that bad things can happen to the very best of people. Life can seem quite unfair, that way.

Sometimes those things engulf us. That misfortune takes us over; feels so much more powerful than our ability to deal with it. It's so hard to not let that happen.

But other times, you meet someone who somehow seems rise above it. They deal with those blows so gracefully; with such poise, that about all you can do is feel nothing but admiration.

That's my friend, Barbara Campbell.

She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (LADA) only a few years ago, and was recently also diagnosed with breast cancer. In her words, "I have Invasive Ductile Carcinoma, Stage 2b, Grade 3. It is aggressive and it is spreading... [but] I’m happy to report, that after three treatments, the tumor is shrinking." There isn't much information out there about people living with both diabetes and cancer - studies? Sure. But real-life "living with it"? Not so much.

In lieu of writing something of my own today, I want to ask that you go over to Diabetes Mine and read her guest post there today. Then, go read her blog. She's an amazing lady who I feel completely honored to know, and to be able to count as a friend.

Hugs to you, Barb. Many, many hugs.

This Is Why.

This is why I need you.

I can't do this alone -

at least, not well.

This is why people like me want that Artificial Pancreas so badly.

This is why one good number can't speak for the rest of them.

This is why I need this community.

This is why we need each other.

It's the reason we all need to hear "that happens to me, too."

It's why encouragment from those who "get it" means so much.

Because we can't do this alone.

At least, not always well.

The You Can Do This Project.

A while back, I had an idea.

Today, that idea is coming to life. Today, the You Can Do This Project is born.

Some familiar faces from the diabetes online community were kind enough to help me get this thing off the ground, by helping me make a video explaining what this project is all about. Watch it here:



You can now find a permanent tab on Texting My Pancreas (in the blue bar above) labeled "You Can Do This Project", which has a full description, FAQ section, and links to all of the ways you can add your voice.

I'm so excited about this, I could burst.

Launch Day is June 15th, 2011. Will you join me?

(P.S. A huge THANK YOU goes to Kerri Sparling for her help with the video.)