For several decades, I have wanted to return to Ireland (Skibbreen) where my great grandmothe departed in 1847, at the tender age of 16, amid the worst famine in history, about a year ago after my penumonia episode, my two sons , said come on Dad les' go.....OK , was all set to go and yet did't feel all that good, so fatigued and run down, so last thursday went to the Doc, he whacked me a bit about not seeing him in two years, Talked about this and that, did a blood sample, Friday morning, the phone rang and it hit the fan.....nurse gave my blood sugar at 12.22....thats nearly 400% over the norm...she said they have never seen one that high....get yer bunn's down here, NOW!!!..scared crap out'a me.... insulin injections are the norm for the foreseeable future, have a nice beer belly to soak it all up....what a ever love'n pain in the arse, ( acutally in the belly) totally unexpected, no one in the family ever had diabetis, ....after three days on it (insulin) things are settling down, don't need to tinkle so often, eyes are not blurry, and a lot of other things like not thirsty all the time.... and this afternoon, didn't even need a nap....My new dandy blood checker winks at me and say down to 364....what ever the hell that means.................
But, thursday at 5 pm am lifting off , over the puddle , first time in 60 years, back then it took 22 hours in a DC -4 from Westover, Ma. to Tripoli, Libya...to put this in perspective, the M-72 were in its heyday, K-750's were on the drawing board.....Going to Dublin, then motor down the entire east coast of Ireland and back to Dublin, seeking out every bike shop we can find, maybe a model airplane shop or two... Going to kneel down and say a thank you, at Grandma Murphy's Birth place, 40 years ago when my first wife Mary passed away, and I was trying to be both mom and dad to five kids under twelve, I visited her grave in southern Minnesota, and there was her monument, Passed in 1910, but right along side hers,was seven graves, seven childten, who all died of diptheria, in one week, two weeks later she gave birth to a son, and later two daughters and another son, (one of the girls was my Grandma) I was at the time feeling lonely and sorry for my self....I knelt down in shame, and cried.....Here was I, haveing lost a wonderful wife, feeling sorry for my self, with four boys and a girl, who were the picture of health and vigor( still are).....I swear Grandma Murphy said from the grave...toughn up man.....I stood up, blew my nose and turned and saw the boys in a grass fight, Stephie picking flower off graves,....... and started putting life back togather ...every once in a while, when I seemed to fall outa step, Grandma nugged me.....Grandma always wanted to go back...maybe I can do that for her ......Ken

1,222? Yikes!!! I have the opposite problem. Mine has been read as low as 42, which they tell me I should have been unconscious at that point (what do they know!)

Yep, keep that blood sugar under control. I'm sure you have heard, or will soon about watching what you eat, dropping weight, etc. Pay attention, follow it as much as you can. You might even be able to get off the insulin if you do good enough.


Glad to hear you got back to the old country. One day I hope to make that trip, Germany/Poland in my case. Before that, it will be taking my oldest daughter back to Romania, where she was adopted from.

Glad Your doing better Ken. I doubt your Granny would have told you to toughen up, more likely a smile and some kind words. More effective too. I'm sitting here keeping an eye on my mother-in-law after she had a little bit of confusion with her insulin this morning. The old dear is bright as a button again but I was a bit worried for a while.

Ken,

I have been fighting that battle for 32 years this April - you will do just fine. 364 isn't good - your goal is 70-120 - but it is WAY better than 1,222. That is IMPRESSIVE - but not good. (Me, I am about to kiss the pavement at 70 - my body is used to the higher numbers now. It's all relative.)

Have a safe and happy trip!! I hope you bring back some pictures to share.

If you go all that way to Skibereen (I lived in West Cork for four years lovely place, have a pint of Murphy's for me ;-)), you need to visit Clare and Kerry as well. You'll regret it if you don't.

I'd avoid the east cost drive if possible - head straight to Cork on the motorway and then once you've done your thing, Clare and Kerry....

I can recommend Waterville, Dingle, Sneem.

;-)

Dub

Hey Ken..... good job on that blood sugar thing. It takes more than ONE donut to get to that level of expertise I'm thinkin. Not a job for sissies .....


I just shut down Froggy again , and hopefully won't see him until late spring this time. Headin back to the desert in just a few minutes. It's been a nice visit home this last week, but I have found that it is cold and miserable just like I remembered it. Froggy ran pretty good and didn't make we walk home er nuthin like that there, so his life has been spared once more. He is such a good and faithful frog and it would be a shame to have to " put him down " as they say ....
All I know fer sure is that HIS blood sugar level is WAY better than YOURS, unless he sneaks twinkies into the garage when I'm not lookin . He's about the same age as yourself, in frog years .....

Have FUN in Ireland but be careful or they'll serve ya warm beer ....

;-)
kermitski
of the great white north

They will sell you warm beer that is meant to be like that, not some chemical pisswater that is so cold you can't taste it 'cos' your tung is stuck to the side of the glass. Go for the Murphy's, it's probably worth going to Ireland just for that.

You might also want to take some red sunglasses. Ireland is GREEN! Kermitski would like it there. (linguistic note: Ire=the green stuff from your spleen that is the last thing you throe up when you are sick. Ir = Norwegian for copper corrosion. Both are about as green as you can get.)

Easy to see why the Brits called Éire Ireland then...






Dub

We're headed to Ireland in 14 days!! We will give our regards to your great grandmother!! Take care of yourself man! Glad to hear you're feeling better already.