Author: kathleen

Went to Nordstrom and bought a new outfit today.  Smaller size – and smallest size I’ve worn in years.

I’ll show the outfit and more later when I get to a real computer (on my Surface)

Since I was in Southlake and I really like the New Balance store there I stopped in for some shoes.

I find regular width shoes comfortable again!  The sales lady said she had lost over 100 pounds and found the same thing.

Pretty cool.

This is come up with several conversations lately.  My mother asked because her brother-in-law is using insulin as an excuse not to do things.

So how do I take with me and how.

It depends.

First, insulin is at optimum potency at body temperature for 3-4 days.  It is at optimum potency for up to 30 days at room temperature and bottle opened.  It is at optimum potency if kept in the refrigator up to the expiration date.  Your mileage may vary.  I live in Texas, so it’s hard to find room temperature – 70-80 degrees.

So when I am running errands in the north Dallas area, I just have my pump on me. When I did multiple injections I carried either a vial and syringes, or pen and pen needles.  I kept them at room temperature in a carrying case.  Swapping out in whatever bag or purse I needed.

Now, I’ve lived here almost 30 years, and know where all the food is.  I also know all the side streets and know that ambulance response time is less than 3 minutes.

If I venture into Dallas proper I start thinking about bring spare stuff.  I know the likelihood of dropping dead with out extra insulin is low, so often don’t carry it.  Do carry emergency food in the truck at least.

When I am going to be a place I don’t know well, and know I am going to be gone all day, I will take my Climapack with me.   It is guaranteed to keep insulin at room temperature so I know anything in it is good for 30 days.

I cycle contents (one pen and one vial) every thirty days into my regular insulin supply with no problems.

If I am doing a driving trip, I have a cooler that is car battery powered that will keep my insulin – I use it whenever I’m going over night.

So yes, it depends.

First, for anyone training a service dog, going to a race track during a test isn’t a bad idea.  Especially if your dog might be on one some day.  The noise didn’t bother her at all and at one point there were 6 cars on the track.  Having a scanner so you can listen to the crews wouldn’t be a bad idea – one guy there had a nice looking Icom on that looked just like a ham radio handheld.

Now Dulce has had experience with bleachers since she was a pup and she knows that people throw food under bleachers.  And that critters hang out there.  She’s been to agility trials since she was 10 months old, so bleachers are good.

Again, noise didn’t bother her at all.

We were at a Firestone Tire test and there were 12 teams out when we were there.  I stayed as long as my brain would let me.  At some point, guilt that I am doing nothing starts in and I have to find a reason to be there.  I couldn’t.

The issue for going to a real race is going to be the crowds for her – and the longer walking for me.  I can see that it is a long walk to the infield if I am going to meet anyone.  So I’m going to have to look at how that experience can be better for me.

Oh and it’s hard to take pictures of race cars.  They move fast.

We did get to see Charlie Kimball @racewithinsulin run.  And both Target cars, an Andretti car and a bunch of others.

Though when I don’t get home from the gym before noon, I feel like I wasted the day.  BUT before I went to the gym, I updated my clicker app, finished getting my code repository’s set up and updated my phone.  More on those on another blog.

I also stopped and got lunch for two days (gumbo from the local BBQ), and picked up my parcel from my mailbox.  The nice thing about working out late is that I don’t have to go back out to get my package.

Most days I don’t care but today it’s winter again.

But did half of my leg workout and 60 minutes on the bike.

Wednesday will be interesting—I want to go to Texas Motor Speedway and watch tire testing.  It’s free, but I don’t think they have anything open, but one gate.  However, it will be a nice preliminary for Dulce.  I’d like to go to TMS and watch a real Indy race.

After several days of doing 60 minutes of cardio (bike), I’m slowly adding strength back to the mix.  Just abs and back today, but it’s a start.

A at home brag – yesterday I got out the pressure washer and washed down the furniture on the deck, the grooming table, and all the crates downstairs.  It’s been a while since I’ve done any of them – and finally discovered what that chewed up yellow gadget was for (soap for the power washer).  Replacement coming from EBay.

Of course, it might not be easy to repeat, but I had enough carbs on board and enough entertainment to keep me on the bike for a full hour.  Though the seat gets uncomfortable after a while.

This is a result of a miscalculation, probably on my part.   So far I am happy.   I get my first full shipment soon.

They are working on their first difficult refill.  If I don't have to do more than go to an appointment, I will be happy.

 The box and the contents from Pillpack.
Sent from my Windows Phone

Right after I changed states in January, I almost immediately lost 5 pounds.  I have been maintaining that weight lose ever since, so I realized I needed to step things up.  I have been consistent at the gym, so I am taking a break from strength and stepping up my cardio.  once I am consistent at the new rate, I will add the strength back slowly.  I am up to 45 minutes, so I am half way there.  so far no blood sugar issues.

I’ve blogged on the Express Scripts think way to much, but I’m hoping to have put a middle man between myself and Express Scripts.  It’s called Pillpack.com

https://www.pillpack.com/

I haven’t found a referral link but if you sign up, tell them I sent you.

I found out about them in January, but they couldn’t do Texas until a few weeks after I had already refilled my meds.

I am getting a shipment this week of the first medication I’ll run out of.  In fact, it’s already in UPS hands and in Kentucky.

So far, emailing them has been great.  I don’t think I’ve talked to anyone on the phone and that always makes me happy.

Hopefully I’ll be rid of the stack of pills.  And yes, I have come close to running out of medications in the past by taking a break from managing them.  Hopefully I won’t have to do deal with that again.