Rant # 472 - Excuse me for not smoking

Smoking indoors in public places has been banned in many big cities across Canada. I think that's fantastic. I remember the day the bill was passed in the city where I was attending university. My housemates and I went out to the bar to celebrate, but the real celebration came when we returned home that night and didn't have to have a shower or throw all of our clothes directly into the laundry bin. They weren't saturated with smoke smell! We were still revelling the next day as we got in the shower and weren't overcome with the stench of stale smoke seeping out of our hair and pores. Granted, there were now new smells at the bar that were never detectable before the smoking ban...but that's another blog.

I'll get to the point. I think that smoking should be outlawed on city streets.

After being inspired at the marathon, I have been out pounding the pavement. Yeah, yeah, I am that impressionable- I have been running more than usual these past few weeks. And maybe that's the only reason I have noticed this....but there seems to be an awful lot of people hacking darts as they walk down the street.
This is likely a direct correlation of there being no other legal place to partake in such an act outside of the home. Or maybe this has always been the case. But it has come to my attention recently that my rights are being violated on public property.

It is absolutely disgusting to run through someones smoke cloud. In fact, if I can see a smoker up ahead, I will actually try to hold my breath for as long as possible while approaching and passing the offender.
I don't know whether it's the contents of the smoke, the fact that I'm breathing harder that I should be, the fact that it has been exhaled by stranger or the fact that I can visualize the tar getting really deep down in my hard working lungs that disgusts me the most.
What I do know is that it makes me choke. And while it's probably not necessary to cough and gag as loud or for as long as I do. I feel that enhacing the natural reaction provides an opportunity for me to express my feelings to the polluter in a subtle, non-verbal way.

Call it immature, call it whatever you want...I don't think that I should have to suck back other people's disgusting habit when I am out trying to do something good for my body.

And that's that.

DESA Article

The Diabetes Exercise
Sport Association (DESA)
published an article that I
wrote in their Summer 2008
newsletter, The Challenge.

Check out the article (pictured here) at
http://www.diabetes-exercise.org/pdf/DESANewsSum08.pdf

pages 8 and 9.

Speaking for Hope

Last month I was involved with the Diabetes Hope Foundation's annual Walk for Hope as the lead walker. Here is the speech that kicked off the walk. Please excuse the shaky home video footage!

A jog in the park

"Alright! Way to go pink shirt!"
"Good job number 1407"
"Looking strong red hat"
The guy across the road from us at the 16km mark was clearly a seasoned marathon supporter.
Our hands were sore from clapping and we'd only been there 15min. Mr. Marathon however was showing no signs of stopping- he had words of encouragement and cheers of support for everyone.
"It's a great day for a run" he called out.
And he was right. Standing down in the Don Valley along Rosedale Valley Road, the sunlight was streaming through the crimson, orange and yellow coloured trees casting dappled light on the backs of the marathoners as they passed by. The air was cool and crisp and the excitement tangible. It was enough to make me think, for a fleeting second, that I wished that I was running the marathon too.
Months ago, Meg had told me that she was going to run her first marathon...the Toronto Marathon...and that she was going to do it with Team Diabetes. Meaning, that she was going to fundraise money for diabetes research throughout her training.
My pancreas and I were touch and thrilled. Running a marathon is a huge undertaking, and to have someone want to run for my cause, for diabetes, for me....well, talk about bringing a tear to your eye.
Needless to say, when I caught sight of that bright Team Diabetes jersey striding confidently down the valley towards us, my eyes stared to well up and I could barely mask the warble in my voice as I screamed "YEAH MEG....wooooo hooooo......GO MEG....."

And then I really new, that I wished that I was running with her today.
As soon as she had passed, we took off towards the subway and raced down to Union station. We arrived at the corner just in time to see her pass by again - still looking as strong as ever.

"GO MEG! GO TEAM DIABETES! YEAAAAAAAHHHHH MEG!"

I was so proud and so happy for her. She had trained so hard for this and I knew it hadn't been easy. But it looked as though her hard work was paying off, she was rockin' today. She was making it look like a jog in the park.
We started the walk up University to secure our spot at the finish. It would be another few hours before we would see her again. In the meantime, we cheered, hollered and yelled from the sidewalk as runners trickled by. We saw the winner whiz by- on the home stretch as most people were reaching the halfway mark. I think I heard later that he had finished in 2 hours 29 minutes.
The time passed quickly and it wasn't long before we were standing at the finish line waiting with uncertainty. The clock read 3:53. I knew she wanted to finish in under 4 hours, but time was ticking. Was she okay? Was she still feeling strong? Where was she?! Would she make it?
We watched as other marathoners crossed the line - some elated, some obviously hurting, some running as if they had just started out on a Sunday jog, some holding hands, some with their children, some sprinting like their lives depended on it and others being helped by family and friends.
Then there was Meg, just steps from the finish line at 3 hours and 58 minutes. And still running!She had done it!

By the time we caught up with Meg, she was receiving a much deserved massage at the Team Diabetes tent. She was sore, but in great spirits and surrounded by her biggest fans - her mom, aunt, uncle, boyfriend, best friends, my mom and aunt, me and of course, my ever-thankful pancreas.

What's that pancreas? You think you're ready to run....a marathon you say? We'll lets not get ahead of ourselves, but maybe we could start thinking about a half.

Thanks Megs - you're an inspiration and a real Team Diabetes champion.

Winter Slipstream 2009

Connected in Motion's
1st annual Winter Slipstream
is a GO!!!!

I am excited to announce that on the weekend of
January 30th - February 1st 2009
a bunch of young adults with Type 1 diabetes will converge at
YMCA WANAKITA, an outdoor center situated on the shores of beautiful Koshlong Lake in the Haliburton Highlands.
With over 1000 acres of forest, 25km of trails and access to all the
equipment necessary to enjoy it, we'll don our long johns and woollies and head for the hills.

Mother nature permitting, we will cross-country ski, snowshoe, hike, skate on the lake, play broom ball, challenge ourselves on the high ropes course, toboggan down Cardiac Hill and build snow forts until the sun goes down.
Our goal is to spend as much time outside and active as possible.
Why? Because just like broccoli, it's good for you, and because it's so much fun to leave the city behind for a weekend and be a kid at camp again.

Of course there will be inside time too. A chance to sit down with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (it's okay, you'll need some sugar by then!) and warm yourself by the crackling fire.
Or to pull up a chair and share a delicious wholesome home cooked meal with a group of new friends. At the end of the day, there will be a warm cabin and bunk with your name on it where you can snuggle into a sleeping bag.

It won't all just be fun and games...
Okay, well most of it will. But there will also be some serious business that will need to be attended to.
Connected in Motion is committed to changing the face of diabetes programming for young adults across Canada and beyond and we need your help.

This weekend is about YOU.

Who are you? What's your story? What are your passions? What keeps you in motion?
Where have you taken your diabetes?
What motivates you to keep up with daily diabetes tasks?
Come prepared to divulge and discuss.

Remember, this is not a psychological or medical support group, leave the sob stories at the cabin door please. We all got diabetes, it was horrible for a while, in fact, sometimes it's horrible now, but we all live with it everyday. Can we move on now?

What we're looking to do is celebrate our strengths, accomplishments and successes.
By putting ourselves out there, we are hoping that people will be able to connect with others who do or want to be involved in similar things.
We, the people with diabetes, are our greatest resource. Let's put ourselves to use.

There are so many Type 1's out there doing incredible stuff. Now it's time to connect.
We think the best forum to get people talking is not in the confines of a stark hospital room,
but to get them active outside. If you agree, you should join us and help us make that a possibility for not only yourself, but for as many other Type 1's as possible.

Great! So you're coming! We can't wait to meet you!
Alongside your long johns, toque and mitts, don't forget to bring your positive attitude, accomplishments you'd like to celebrate and ideas for the future.

There will be lots of time to mingle, meet and chat with people that you can relate to.
Most importantly, there will be lots of time to GET ACTIVE and GET OUTSIDE.

Oh yeah, you don't need to be a professional snowshoe'er, All-Star cross-country skier, NHL hockey player, or Olympic broom ball player to come. Although it's great if you are!
The goal is to have fun, be active and maybe learn something new.
The only prerequisite is that you can make a darn good snowball.

Registration details are on the way...if you are interested, have any questions or know of anyone who you think would like to join us, we would LOVE to hear from you.
Please send Connected in Motion an email at
connectedinmotion@gmail.com

You can also join the Connected in Motion Facebook Group!!

Diabetic-Proof Seal

2:33am
Crap....I'm low.

2:34am.
Guess I didn't need that extra bolus just before bed to counter the effects of a late dinner - the insulin on board would have worked just fine, what was I thinking?
At least I didn't have to get up to go to the kitchen - I had a liquid shot of Dex 4 glucose right beside my alarm clock.
I reached for the tiny bottle and layed back down in bed.

Then I'm not sure what happened...sucked into that slowmo-low zone I guess.

2:37am
I still didn't have the plastic wrap off the cap yet!
With my full attention back on the bottle, I managed to find the weak part of the seal and peel back the covering. Phew. One step closer to glucose.

2:38am
I unscrew the little cap and put the bottle up to my mouth.

2:39am
I realize there is another safety seal preventing me from getting to that oh-so-needed glucose.
Crap.
At this point, I just start gnawing on the seal.
Then I remember that there is a fancy pull tab on it, but now it's wet and I can't get a good grip.
Now I'm getting frustrated.

2:40am
I press the 'light' button on my pump and the bottle is illuminated in a green glow.
Red would have been more fitting - this bottle was the devil.
By the light of the pump I see the words "Lift and Pull" printed on the safety seal...mocking me.
I AM lifting and pulling. With fingers, with teeth...everything.
The light goes out.

2:42am
Bottle in my mouth, gnawing like a rabid squirrel but not caring because I just want some freakin' glucose already....I decide the little devil is clearly 'Low-Diabetic-Proof'.

Just as I start drafting a letter to Dex 4 in my head about how inconsiderate it is to design packaging that people having lows are unable to access....the seal pops off and my efforts are finally rewarded.

On top of the World

What if this was your classroom?

Would you be more inclined to get up in the morning and go to school?
Would you be more inspired to learn?

Well, for a few days every year, some lucky central Albertan public school kids can say yes, this is their classroom. And I can tell you first hand that they are up before their teachers everyday and ready to take on concepts that would pass way over their heads in the confines of a concrete jungle.

I have been working in Alberta for the past few weeks at a private outdoor center, like I have for the past few springs and falls. Our center sees groups of mostly high schoolers for 3-days at a time. Programs vary, but the standard is a lake paddling day, an outdoor rock climbing day/mountain biking/hiking day and a river/whitewater canoeing day.

Last week however, we were invaded by little people. A big yellow school bus pulled up to the lake shore and twenty-one grade 5's and 6's bounced off.
I exchanged glances with fellow guides...
"Uh...did someone pack XS lifejackets and paddles?". These kidlets were TINY!
How were they ever going to complete our program?

Well, they showed us. Althought the smallest paddles stood taller than most of the kids, they managed to manouver just fine once in the water. Their wee legs dominated the mountain. We had chosen a hike that had great views for the entire duration, thinking, its not likely they'll make it to the top. But 4.5 hours later, there we were on the summit with 21 kidlets bouncing - on top of the world. We talked about how the ground we were standing on used to be ancient sea floor and proved it by showing them fossils. We discussed how heat and pressure created the lines, layers and patterns in the mountain sides and how glacial ice carved the valleys and created the rivers.

They LOVED it. They were interested, attentive, inquisitive and engaged.
Phew, we thought on returning back to the bus after 7 hours of hiking, we've finally worn them out.
WRONG. They still had enough energy to have a dance party on the 2 hour bus ride back to the center AND to play flashlight tag outside in the pitch dark until 11pm. THEN to get up in the morning and paddle down the river in voyageur canoes. Their energy and enthusiasm was limitless.

My preconceived notions of these kids abilities were blown to bits. Which made me realize- we are constantly, conciously and unconciously, putting limitations on others, especially kids.

Why do we do that?

Why not open the door of option and possibility and let kids run with it?
See what challenges they think are too large, which concepts too complex and which mountains too high.
Oh yeah, and guess who was at the front of the pack heading up the mountain - the two kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
The mountain was a classroom where they could dominate...and they knew it.
You could see it in their smiles as they stood on top of the world.