We’re Taking The Powah!

So over the last few days I’ve seen old friends I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s been very strange, but not as uncomfortable as I had thought. And I didn’t have to repeat the same old diabetes stories.

Talking of which, I survived the Pendulum gig! And very good it was too. There was much shouting and dancing.

I had a Nutri-grain bar half way through, out of nerves that my blood sugar might have gone low.

But reading my levels later it seems I didn’t need to. Which is good as by then it was very squished and very warm. urgh.

I also got to meet a mate’s girlfriend, and I’m very happy for him.  He is/was one of the grumpiest people I’ve ever known, and the change she’s brought about in him is simply astounding.  He gives hugs when he says goodbye now! This is a man who used to seize up at physical contact.  Now he beams, he laughs more, it’s such a noticeable change and I couldn’t be happier for him.
Really, I should seethe with envy about his luck. It’s like we’re in some Truman Show and they came up with the perfect possible partner for him.  She’s really into active – often extreme – sports, she likes rock music, she reads graphic novels, she’s a total nerd and she’s adorable! I did not believe that such women were capable of existing.  So, if you’re up there, Ed Harris, how about introducing a similarly unbelievable prospective cute nerd girlfriend for one of the show’s minor characters?

Anyway. Writing update.
I was unhappy with the start of the short I’ve been writing, so I scrapped it and began again.  I’m still not happy with it, but it’s slightly better, so I’m going to carry on and tear it apart later – perhaps when I’ve finished.
It’s a big help that I’ve been given some work to give feedback on by a friend. I’ve missed doing that, and the creativity of others inspires and motivates me.

A good example of this happened just now, as I typed.  Listening to my American friend, Maryanna Sokol.  I hadn’t listened to her recent album in over a week and it really hit me again just how good it is, how good a songwriter she is. It made me wish I had the power to move someone with my voice, wish that I could sing.  Of course, it didn’t stop me from singing. This would move people. Away.

It had more of an effect perhaps because I’m having one of those days where you see all sorts of meanings to connect to your life to songs; be it a touching ballad or, er, a ferocious mash-up of dance and metal.

More writing tomorrow, and going out in the evening again.

Why does my social calender have to get busier when my amount of shifts plummets?!

Word Count: 658
Soundtrack: Maryanna Sokol – Story Always Goes

http://www.myspace.com/maryannasokol

Festivalabetes

Concerns time! part 18

One of my concerns now I’m diabetes-tastic is Festivals.

I’ve bought tickets for my third Reading Festival and yesterday my ticket arrived for my first Glastonbury.
But festivals are dirty places with massively overpriced food stalls of highly dubious quality.  Where as last year I was content to live on snack bars and sausage rolls, how the hell I go about it this year is an unnerving mystery.  I’m going to have to get my arse in gear and speak to various people about it; Doctors, get on the festival forums and see if I can get advice.
So many people go to festivals, there must have been some Type 1 diabetics in there.

Main concerns, as usual, are the practicalities;

• Diabetic or not, how are security going to feel when I turn up with a tin full of needles?
• Where is best to keep my insulin?
• If they let me in with needles, will I be able to take them into the main arenas?
• Will I be looking at traipsing back and forth missing big segments of bands etc so I can inject insulin, eat, then head back in?
• Safer keeping things on me/in my tent? Or find some storage?
• How many extra insulin pens do I bring with me?
• What about eats?
• Are the food stalls to be trusted?
• Which ones?
• What are the best snacks to take with me?
• How do I best combat hypos if I’m rocking out?
• Am I taking it too seriously and it’s all really simple?
• If I get an bad hypo, will they think I’m just drunk?

Ah-ha! I’ve discovered infoman!
An email address on Glastos website, he proclaims to have all the answers.
So hopefully he can answer at least some. We’ll see.

But for now, I’m asking you blog world.
- Anyone have any advice for me?
- Know any diabetics who go to festivals and how they coped?
- Any of you diabetics out there know how easy or difficult it is?
- Let me know!

In Related news, I’m off to see Pendulum tonight, and I have nerves overwhelmed by excitement, I’m really looking forward to it.
I think despite the crossover appeal I’m wondering if it’ll still be full of rudeboy drum’n'bass racers and the cap-wearing chavmassive, but considering how good ‘Self vs Self’ is I’ll be donning my In Flames tee!

It’ll be a test for me, as I want to see how dancing my arse off affects my bloods, and what I can do to tackle it without hampering my enjoyment.  Aiming to put my blood sugar a little higher to compensate, and keep those lovely dextrose tablets handy.

The only time I’ve seen them – at Reading Fest two years ago – it was the closest to injury I’ve been at any gig as the crush of people was immense.  Riding high after In Silico had been released, I had to get the hell out, and just as I reached space where I could breathe, they played their cover of the Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’.  Yep. Straight back in. Bruised. Knackered. Worth it.

In other news
The writing has started, but not much.
Reviews and work have got in the way, but I did get stuck in.

What I’ve done is rubbish, but that’s not the point at the moment.
It’s too descriptive, making it clumsy, but I’ve started. I have to finish.

Word Count: 350
Soundtrack: Pendulum