La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
YES, ALL GOOD THINGS MUST come to an end. I don’t know my exact numbers since I’ve been unable to see my lab analysis results online, but I spoke with my doctor yesterday and she told me my blood sugars are “really high.” So, I’ve got to increase the Diabetes meds (thanks mostly to both my grandmothers) and I need to stop enjoying all those sweets. When I was first diagnosed more than 2 years ago, I changed my diet, cut out desserts except on special occassions, and cut out the sweet Málaga wine I so love. But, due to the pandemic, time passed without follow-up bloodwork, and I got a bit irresponsible.
Lately, as many of you have noticed, we’ve had something sweet just about every day — sometimes more than once. But no more. No more sweet wine. No more beer. No more stops at the bakery on the way back from the pizza place. No more desserts at Mesón Salvador — where, the other night, before I knew my results, I enjoyed one last apple crumble with caramel ice cream. And, as soon as I finish this post, I’m off to the gym, which I rejoined yesterday.
There will now be two saints in this household (of course, San Geraldo’s sainthood is ironic); this is the man who on multiple occassions when talking about the cross-country car drive he did before he met me, has said, “Well really I F#%@Ked my way across the country.” As one of our nephews said (while his brother sat and tittered), when SG dropped that bomb during a dinner out before that nephew’s wedding, “Mitchell, you’re a saint.”
A few weeks ago, The Kid Brother told me the drugstore (a Rite Aid) where he worked was closing, which had me concerned for his happiness. He likes to be busy. Well, nothing to worry about. When I spoke with him Tuesday he said the store was closing Wednesday and he already had a new job he was starting that same day. I’m pleased and surprised by the efficiency this time by the office that runs the Brooklyn apartments. When I asked what the new job was (knowing he wouldn’t tell me) he said, “Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I got it covered.” As always, I told him I wasn’t worried. “It’ll be a surprise,” he said. He wasn’t at all nervous and was looking forward to his first day.
KB started at the drugstore before it was bought out by Rite Aid when he was 16 years old (in 1976). He first worked a few hours a week, then a few days, then full-time and, in recent years, only one day a week. When the original pharmacist and owner (a friend of KB’s school principal) agreed reluctantly to try him out he was quickly impressed with how hard he worked. He wanted him to go full time before he even finished school and said he was the best worker he ever had. That’s my brother! And speaking of brothers, check out the brotherly love below.
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SÍ, TODAS LAS COSAS BUENAS deben llegar a su fin. No sé mis números exactos porque no he podido ver los resultados de mis análisis de laboratorio en línea, pero hablé con mi médico ayer y me dijo que mis niveles de azúcar en la sangre son “realmente altos.” Entonces, tengo que aumentar los medicamentos para la diabetes (gracias principalmente a mis dos abuelas) y debo dejar de disfrutar de todos esos dulces. Cuando me diagnosticaron por primera vez hace más de 2 años, cambié mi dieta, eliminé los postres, excepto en ocasiones especiales, y eliminé el vino dulce de Málaga que tanto amo. Pero, debido a la pandemia, pasó el tiempo sin análisis de sangre de seguimiento y me volví un poco irresponsable.
Últimamente, como muchos de ustedes han notado, hemos tenido algo dulce casi todos los días, a veces más de una vez. Pero no más. No más vino dulce. No más cerveza. No más paradas en la panadería en el camino de regreso de la pizzería. No más postres en Mesón Salvador, donde la otra noche disfruté de un último crumble de manzana con helado de caramelo. Y, tan pronto como termine esta publicación, me voy al gimnasio, al que me reincorporé ayer.
Ahora habrá dos santos en esta casa (por supuesto, la santidad de San Geraldo es irónica); este es el hombre que, en múltiples ocasiones, al hablar sobre el viaje en automóvil a campo traviesa que hizo antes de conocerme, ha dicho: “Bueno, de verdad, me F #% @ Ked mi camino a través del país”. Como dijo uno de nuestros sobrinos (mientras su hermano se sentaba y reía), cuando SG lanzó esa bomba durante una cena antes de la boda de ese sobrino, “Mitchell, eres un santo.”
Hace unas semanas, El Hermanito me dijo que la farmacia (un Rite Aid) donde trabajaba estaba cerrando, lo que me tenía preocupado por su felicidad. Le gusta estar ocupado. Bueno, nada de qué preocuparse. Cuando hablé con él el martes, dijo que la tienda cerraría el miércoles y que ya tenía un nuevo trabajo que estaba comenzando ese mismo día. Estoy complacido y sorprendido por la eficiencia esta vez de la oficina que administra los apartamentos de Brooklyn. Cuando le pregunté cuál era el nuevo trabajo (sabiendo que no me lo diría), dijo: “No te preocupes. No te preocupes. Lo tengo cubierto.” Como siempre, le dije que no estaba preocupado. “Será una sorpresa,” dijo. No estaba nada nervioso y estaba deseando que llegara su primer día.
KB comenzó en la farmacia antes de que Rite Aid la comprara cuando tenía 16 años (en 1976). Primero trabajó unas pocas horas a la semana, luego unos días, luego a tiempo completo y, en los últimos años, solo un día a la semana. Cuando el farmacéutico y propietario original (un amigo del director de la escuela de KB) accedió a regañadientes a probarlo, rápidamente quedó impresionado por lo duro que trabajaba. Quería que fuera a tiempo completo incluso antes de terminar la escuela y dijo que era el mejor trabajador que había tenido. ¡Ese es mi hermano! Y hablando de hermanos, mira el amor fraternal a continuación.
• “¿Escuchaste eso?”
• No más Zumbral, el vino Málaga que tanto amo.
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First, I love the brotherly love series of photographs of Dudo and Moose. So very tender. And the great capture of the butterfly matching its background…amazing colors.
Second, so good to hear that KB found another job so quickly. Amazing that he worked in that same store for all these decades. Clearly, a top notch worker.
Most importantly, I am happy to hear you are taking care of yourself by cutting back on sweets and re-joining the gym given your medical history. I don’t underestimate that these changes may not be easy (for SG either, he may need to cut back on baking), but very necessary. Would like to have you around for a long time–and healthy. The past 18 months have been hard in so many ways. Just before the pandemic began, I had committed to losing weight. And I did. A considerable amount. My blood work and reduced clothing sizes were evidence that it was a good thing. But over the last few months, I’ve seen a bit of weight creeping up again–still wearing the smaller clothes, but they are tighter than they were, so I’ve recommitted to watching what I eat and exercising, so right there with you. It is far too easy to mindlessly eat a little of this and a little of that (the demon that is emotional eating) and before you know it…well, as you said in your post…all good things must come to an end. Just as long as it isn’t us…before our time.
Mary:
The pandemic has had so many side effects in terms of mental and physical health. I was doing great at the beginning of lockdown last year. Working out at home. Walking 11 flights of stairs. Then I fell “off” the stairs and badly sprained my ankle. That blew it all. I never got my momentum back. Today, I feel great! And I haven’t had any sweets.
Care and moderation, and you will be fine.
David:
Is that a guarantee?
I’m sorry to hear that about no desserts, Mitchell! Ugh .. no fun!
Kathleen:
Well, it doesn’t mean no dessert EVER!
Sorry to hear about the blood sugar. That’s a drag. I hope you can still squeeze in a dessert now and then. LOVE the pictures of the boys!
Steve:
I can definitely squeeze in a dessert now and then. Just not three times a day.
I always wondered (with envy) how you guys could be enjoying all those decadent desserts without any adverse consequences…
Frank:
SG puts on weight. I put on diabetes!
Moose and Dudo are all the sweetness you need in your life! They are such lovely cats.
Debra:
Aren’t they? We really do love them. Can’t believe they’re already over 10 years old.
That first photo of The Boys looks like they are getting ready to dance!
Good on you for getting to the doctor and getting your numbers checked, though i imagine the loss of sweets and sweet wine is terrible, and better on you for following orders!. I am glad, once again, that I never developed a sweet tooth.
Lastly, I’d like to hear more about SG “f%king his way” across America!
Bob:
I thought that first photo was Moose bowing to His Highness Dudo. If I get myself back under control, I’ll still be able to enjoy dessert and that wine ever so often. I’ve been out of control lately. Oh, god, SG has stories. I’ll ask if I can tell a couple here. I don’t think he’ll mind. He loves to share!
Yeah, don’t worry about Chuck….you damn well know he’s got it covered!!!!! But that is good news. Maybe he is gutting and disassembling the trump organization???? We know he wouldn’t take flack from them assholes!!! I can’t wait to find out where is went. And that desserts is sinful! My have a friends right now struggling to get his diabetes under control, and he’ll admit he as no self control when it comes to sweets. I worry for him.
And that just may be your best set of pictures of Dudo and Moose to date. Precious I dare say.
Mistress Borghese:
Chuck really made me happy the other night. He was excited, not nervous. He DOES hate Trump (he told me he was a jerk). I’ll be fine with the sugar. I picked up my results yesterday. Not as bad as it sounded. But I’ll still behave myself. Dudo and Moose are so classy. Well, Dudo is classy. Moose is… Moose. A big bag of love.
Dudo and Moose are sweethearts!!…..in a brotherly way of course!
The SWEETS…….I was brought up on them. My mother was a great baker. My Dad ate at least 3 sweet things a day up to about the time he died at 103. His dad had diabetes but it I believe it skips a generation if I am correct.
So, good that you are catching/nipping this in the bud. We can’t do too much when it is genetically caused except to control the environment/diet/exercise in which we live.
You got this!
Jim:
I didn’t know but just looked up and learned that the child of a diabetic has only a 1 in 4 chance of getting diabetes. Of my grandmother’s 7 children I think three had diabetes. My mother wasn’t diabetic (pre in her later years). But BOTH my grandmothers were from their 30s or 40s, so here I am!
I gained 17(!) pounds starting February of 2020 when I injured my shoulder so badly and was not able to be as active as usual. I’ve lost 5 and am trying hard to lose the rest, but it is a struggle. My blood sugar is OK, which is a small miracle considering that my sweet tooth is as bad as yours! I just need to eat less and move more.
Good things cats don’t contribute to your blood sugar, because Moose and Dudo are super sweet – at least in that series of photos! They must not have realized you were there with the camera.
Wilma:
The cats knew I was there. We were in the hall together. I sit on the stairs and make sure they don’t go up or down (the little shits). Dudo comes and checks in with me regularly when we’re out there. It’s really sweet (in a non-diabetic way). My downfall during the pandemic was falling off the stairs and spraining my ankle. I was doing well until then. So, it was back to it yesterday and I’m already feeling great. I will keep a good thought for you!
Loved the pictures of Moose and Dudo, though their expressions in the last photo makes them look like they’ve been caught with their paws in the cookie jar, LOL!
I share your love of desserts and the pain of eliminating of tasty carbs… I used to CRAVE and eat iced cinnamon buns in the worst way until I ran across this solution: peel and slice a tart apple into wedges, drizzle very lightly with honey and sprinkle cinnamon liberally over them. It did the trick! I haven’t craved cinnamon buns since and that was 5 years ago. MacIntosh apples are best, though tart green apples could also work.
Tundra Bunny:
I don’t think that look was the same as the cats’ “busted” look. They heard a noise in the building and didn’t know if they had to run back in the house. I sit there and say, “You’re OK. You‘re OK.” And they calm down. I never liked cinnamon buns. They are one of SG’s many downfalls. The aroma almost sickens me. He’s liftend off his feet by it and floats to the source like a cartoon character. I don’t like tart apples but I love other apples with peanut butter!
Don’t start posts with good things ending, please Scootman, because you scared me. I thought you might be ending your blog. I eat too many carbs and sweets. It hasn’t caught up to me–yet. Well, it’s caught up to my butt.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
I wondered after I hit PUBLISH if people were going to think that. Sorry! My butt is still fine, although I want to lose an inch from the waist. Given these changes, that will be easy.
Bummer about the sweets. I’ll miss reading about them, but now maybe we can read about your exercise routine. And good for KB; well done!
Chrissoup:
I picked up the results yesterday and it’s not as bad as it sounded. You’ll still see pictures of the sweets, just not every day! SO relieved about KB. He sounded truly excited.
You probably aren’t the only one in this boat! I started going to the gym again when it reopened a few weeks ago and classes are full of people trying to go back on tract. And a few weeks later, I’m hearing the same people “getting results”, whatever that means for them 🙂
Zhu:
One workout (yesterday) and I already feel better. It was quite funny when the restaurants reopened here. All the staff had grown a lot rounder. What a couple of years!
Ugh! Dietary changes are always difficult. I don’t have too much of a sweet tooth. I like desserts, but normally ours are home-made cakes (usually not frosted) or cookies or fruit tarts. Every now and then we’ll buy desserts (like pastries) out. I do like ice cream in the summer. And I always cut the sugar by half in most dessert recipes that I use. I drink sweet wines on occasion, but probably drink too much of the other kind regularly, which still raises the triglyceride levels. It’s always something.
Walt the Fourth:
If I simply do things in moderation I’ll be fine. We’ve been out of control lately.
I am bordeline DM now; happily there are a lot of things I can do to better this.
Cutting out the sweets won’t be as difficult for me as I suspect for you. My downfall is starches.
Urspo:
I have been carried away lately. Never used to eat dessert two or three times a day. So, truly, it’s not hard at all to control myself. I’m not big on starches… usually.