Not Always Perfect

Confession: When people ask “How is your diabetes?” I usually say, “Pretty good,” or “Fine,” but that isn’t entirely accurate.  My average, or A1C, is higher than I’d like it to be, but it’s not terrible.  Ok, it's probably not even really all that good, either.  I had better control when I was rowing in college, and I’ve been trying to figure out why.  Part of it is the difference of routines.  When I was rowing, we had a practice/workout in the morning and assigned workouts to complete on our own time later in the day, every day.  Although there are workouts in and for circus classes, we have workouts for homework, my schedule is more sporadic.  I also test my blood sugars less, partly because my insurance only covers so many strips per month.  Ok, mostly because of that reason.  Therefore, I tend to set myself up to keep my numbers on the high side when I know I won’t be testing often.  In the long run, this is not a great thing, but because lows can have immediate catastrophic effects, I’d rather be on the upper end when I can’t continuously check my blood sugar. 

Here’s another interesting difference between rowing and circus-ing with diabetes: when I was rowing, it was easier to tell when my blood sugar was getting low.  With the kind of work we’ve been doing here in circus school, there are a lot more emotions that come up.  It’s much more difficult to figure out if I’m being emotional just because I’m being emotional, or if it’s because my blood sugar is low.  Apparently, I am a crier.  I think I preferred when I could blame my tears on the low blood sugars. 

An Adventure

My friend T and I went on an adventure to a warehouse store.  These are a couple of the items we saw.  Anything and everything was in that warehouse.  T bought a sewing machine.  There were no German Wheels (or rhonrads).  So, I guess it didn't have everything after all. 

Circus Hands

Ok, it's actually one hand.

This is what my hand looked like at the end of our first day back (which was Monday), don't worry, it's even worse now.

Doctors freak out a little bit when they see hands in this condition, especially on a diabetic person, aka me.  Mainly because they worry about diabetic related complications such as neuropathy, a condition in which the periphery nerves are damaged.  This can cause pain or numbness in hands and feet.  So whenever doctors see my hands like this, I think they get worried that I either can't feel it (neuropathy) or that I'll get an infection.  Well, doctors, I most certainly can feel this, and yes it hurts but in a most unsurprising and normal way.  Otherwise, my hands work as well as they ever have.  Also, I wash them.  A lot.   So, instead of freaking out, tell me something useful, like, "Put ointment on it at night.  Try taping it when doing activities where contact with dirt and grime is highly likely," etc.  Otherwise, what are you going to tell me, stop doing circus?  'Cause that ain't gonna happen.

Circus hands create.
Don't underestimate them.

By the way, if you want to read more about neuropathy, here's a website with a good over-view: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147963.php

A Handy Accessory

Yes, it's a pile of laundry.  Sorry. 

This is what happens when I realize it's 11pm and I forgot to take a picture all day.  Maybe I should have another criterion: take 1 circus related picture each day.  But what happens if I forget?  I could also argue that this image is actually circus related.  The bag atop the pile is a re-appropriated make-up bag in which I keep my blood test machine and "emergency snacks."  I bought it specifically for circus school, it was only a dollar at a thrift store, and it works pretty darn good.  Now I don't have to dig through my backpack searching for my machine or a snack, it's pretty handy. 

Good Morning Wheels

Really, what could be prettier than a wall of wheels first thing in the morning?

First Day Back

Yup.  Today was the first day back and assessments.  My left front split is down (as of this morning when it was being assessed)!!!  I am so tired.  Long day, full day, but it ain't over yet.  Members only wheel only time tonight.  Yippee!

Here's a squashed lime.  When life gives you lemons, ignore them and squash limes.

Did I mention circus is awesome? 

Yes, I'm aware I'm stretching here.

It's a dog's life

Hello January.

I believe my last post was in October?  I'm really good at this, yeah?

We were on break for the last few weeks and classes start up again for us Intensives tomorrow when we revisit the assessments.  No big deal.

So, we also have a book report due next week.  A book report for circus school?  Yes.  You read right.  This book report is not going to be graded on grammar and whatnot.  Our assignment was to read a book on topics such as "how to stay inspired" "how to make a living as an artist" "the creative process" "getting past mental blocks" etc.  Ya dig?  See, we're all here learning a performance art and trying to figure out how to make a living doing it.  I'll take all the advice I can get, and if I have to read some books for that, by golly, I will.
Anyway, the book I chose, Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life," got me thinking about things and stuff.  Things and stuff is very important.  Long story short, I decided to take one picture every day.  That's my only rule.  Take a picture every day, it only takes a second or two.  My first picture is that dog sleeping half in the sun, head resting on a stone slab supporting a wood-stove.  Oh how I envied her, all warm and cozy on a cold winter's day.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a dog.  Maybe this will help inspire me to write more; if nothing else, I'll just post a picture every day...maybe.  And if I do write something, it might have nothing whatsoever to do with the picture.  That'll be fun, eh?

Circus!
Just had to throw that in there.  :-)