More Than You Think You Are

More Than Diabetes - Friday 5/19
Lets wrap up the week by sharing a little more about ourselves, beyond the chronic illness we or our loved ones live with.  Share an interest, hobby, passion, something that is YOU.  If you want to explore how it relates to or helps with diabetes you can.   Or let it be a part of you that is completely separate from diabetes, because there is more to life than just diabetes!  (This topic is a suggestion from the 2016 #DBlogWeek survey.)

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My very first passion was writing. So, naturally after diagnosis, someone suggested I start the blog. It felt natural to write about everything diabetes and mental health awareness. But, I forget that I'm more than that. 

Read between the lines. I usually have 3-5 books going at once. There is not once topic I will not read about, even though sci-fi and fantasy are not my favorites. Lately, it has been a mix of behavioral finance non-fiction, young adult fiction, and reading Shonda Rhymes' book. Reading is my favorite thing to do on a summer day, in the park.

Go sports! I may not be able to tell you the blood type of the short stop for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, but I love watching Football, Baseball, College Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, and NASCAR. I'm a Chiefs Fan, A Royal's fan, a KU fan, a SKC and Man U fan, a Minnesota Wild Fan, and a Matt Kenseth/Denny Hamlin fan. What can I say? I like the underdogs (except KU. They are ROYALTY.) One of my bucket list items to see a game in every Major League Stadium and get a hot dog from each one. I've been to 9 ball parks. Looking forward to the rest!

Let's Ride! I love State Fairs. The best is obviously Minnesota. Followed by Texas. Then Oklahoma. There is something about crappy food, summer nights, and a ride on whatever rickety thing they put up in a day with a wrench holding it together. Plus, the people watching is GOLDEN. Another bucket list item: go to them all. I've been to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, and New Mexico. 

I want to travel the world. I've been almost all over the United States. I've never been off the continent. My dreams are in Ireland, Costa Rica, South Africa, France, Germany, Thailand, and Australia. I love road trips incredibly, and snorkeling has been the most religious experience I've ever had. I was in the Bahamas and all of a sudden I was swimming in a school of manta rays. It was beautiful and I'll never forget it. Every time I go somewhere new, I finish my trip by watching the sunrise on my last day. It's surreal to see that much of natural beauty in the morning. 

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." (Mark Twain) I love Woodford Reserve. But, I'll drink Jim Beam. I went through a brief Scotch phase. While I crave a good scotch while I'm writing or enjoying a rare cigar, I'm a bourbon girl through and through. 

Music to my ears. I am in love with live music. I'll see any band or singer at least once. My biggest accomplishment was the year of concerts. In 2013, I saw 44 shows and only spent $113 on concert tickets. I won all the rest. It was crazy. But, so much fun. If you haven't noticed yet, all of my blog posts are named after a song lyric. 

First Concert I ever attended by myself. Loved every bit of it.

I like to scream. Horror movies are fascinating to me. I watched A Nightmare on Elm Street when I was four years old and I have been hooked to horror and gore ever since. The best paper I ever wrote was a twelve page dissertation on how the monsters in horror movies reflect the monsters in society. From The Creature From the Black Lagoon to Scream, I broke down the movies and societal fears. Damn, I love that paper. I think only four pages were required and I couldn't stop. 

Die hard Liberal here. Don't let that offset you. I watched all of the debates with a gun-toting conservative. I have many friends on all sides of the political fence. I believe we need to keep these conversations open and be respectful of each other. I think it's the only way we get things done. I don't think what I believe is perfect. But, I will fight for it, along with your right to say what you believe - the only stipulation being that you can't hurt other people. 

My Type 3's. Damn, I'm lucky to have these people. Mom & Dad: Thanks for all you do and never letting me fail. Steph: thanks for the post it reminders and being my big sister. Staci: You always yearn to learn so much for me. Christine: My original Type 3 and my person, I love you big time. Mike: Thanks for always checking on me and knowing when I'm fading. Your EMT background helps tremendously. Brittany: Thank you so much for being my Diabetes when I need to yell at it and giving it a physical form. Last but not least, Amanda: You always challenge me to learn more and more. Plus, I appreciate the laughter when I hate my disease. 

I am a jack of all trades and have many passions. Even though I am the token diabetic to most of my non-PWD friends, I am so much more than just that. <3