hanging out in Boston

 Catching up on the news...

 The photo bomber lives!!

 Uncle Tom's homemade guacamole and leftover homemade noodles with smoked chicken.  What could be bad?

 Hanging out in the back yard.

The time honored tradition of "helping" to mow the lawn lives on.

back from Medical Service Leave

Before and after... the garden lets you know how long I was gone!

     I'm back from my month of "leave."  Overall, it was really wonderful.  Makes me very happy to be working for Kaiser/CPMG.  What a luxury to take time off to volunteer.
     I don't have much in the way of photos to show from Avary -- they didn't want me taking photos because the children in foster care are not allowed to have any of their photos published in any way.
     Suffice it to say that there couldn't be two more different camps than Diabetes Camp vs. Avary.
What it comes down to is $$$.  Rich kids get diabetes just as much as poor kids.  This means that children with diabetes have advocates: and it shows.  There is a very powerful American Diabetes Association -- which I'm grateful for.  But the 2.4 million children living with an incarcerated parent don't have a voice; I believe this is because they are poor.  It was a very stark reminder to me about the social inequities of our country.  I'm not sure what to do about it -- but it has sure made me think.

Camp Colorado

I just got back from "Camp Colorado" -- which is what the American Diabetes Association calls "diabetes camp" here.  It was a thoroughly exhausting week.
One of the things that is encouraged at camp is to try new things -- to get out of your comfort zone.  For me, this included an attempt at mountain biking.  Let's just say after crashing (and landing in the lake) I have a new found respect for mountain biking!

Diabetes camp is very intense.  These kids have to monitor their sugars very carefully.  This is not easy on a "normal" day -- but at camp, where everything is different (activity, food, sleep), it is exceptionally difficult.

Despite this, the kids do a great job and have a wonderful time.  This is a picture of one of my campers on the high-ropes course.  I didn't do the high ropes -- as I have developed a fear of heights over the last ~10 years...

I did try "blobbing."  This includes jumping off a high platform onto a plastic 'pillow' that is anchored in the water, then crawling out to the edge of the 'pillow,' and getting launched into the air when another person jumps off the platform and lands on the 'pillow.'  Super fun.

We also went hiking (quite strenuous when the starting point is >9,000 ft).  It was gorgeous.  This was our group's "goofy" pose.