What we did with our Thursday afternoon off

This is the entry I was too wiped out to post yesterday. 

I passed the vision test at the DMV but just barely. Highlight of the conversation was:

DMV Lady: is your height and weight still the same?
Me: I haven't gotten any taller, or shorter ... I don't think. What does it say for my weight?
DMV Lady: 240. 
Me: oh. Oh no. We should update that. I am at about 192. Can you put 190? I bet I'll make it to 190 before the license expires in 8 years. 
DMV Lady: Awww alright girl!

We then had a big discussion about diabetes, taking food seriously, medication. Her mom has it and eats pie for breakfast, 2 sugars in her coffee, and is on meds like I am but doesn't see any downward improvement on the A1C. 

I told her that I struggle with it daily. But. Over the years since we moved here, I'm seeing improvement. 

She did my eye test and asked me to read this little tiny sign on the wall. I couldn't read it at all. Literally no. 

Me: Am I blind? What does this mean. Do I have to get eyeglasses before I renew my license because that isn't going to happen in a week.
DMV Lady: Would you like to use the eye exam machine instead?
Me: Oh, yes please. 

I did much better with that. Could read the smallest line, and she was able to do the peripheral lights test too. Much better deal. And I felt pretty good and less blind. 

License updated for 8 more Maryland years. By then, pretty sure I'll need glasses. After all, I'll be 67 when that happens.

After the license situation was solidified, we went to the next city over to have my blood drawn. 

Based on the discussion at the DMV, happy to see this report this morning. Didn't break the 6.0% as I'd hoped I would but we're close, kids. Just like that 192 is almost 190.

That big drop is January to April this year. She added Glipizide to the mix, and it brought the numbers down. I had hoped to break that 6 and get into the 5% range to see if we could scale back the dosages and then retest in 6 months. But maybe we keep on going. We'll see what she says.

I was in and out of there, Doug was shocked - he took Toffee for a walk and I was locked out of the car. This particular location of our Doctors' office is a lot less busy than our last. And I had an appointment, so the two people waiting had to keep waiting. Sorry dudes. 

Then we drove to South Mountain Creamery. A local hot spot where people can come, eat ice cream, pet baby cows, and spend a lot of money on organic dairy. My work bestie loves it. They drive out from Baltimore a couple times a year for a visit. I thought that was a little crazy, there has got to be a dairy like this closer to the city but she's a super fan.

Let me tell you, I'm sold. It's worth it. I won't go as far as have the delivery of things, have the milk man bring us beautiful glass jugs of milk, artisanal cheeses, and ice cream... but I'm happy to take a ride out there again. 

Doug wanted some chocolate milk, and because I'm trying (harder than he is, obviously) to have less diabetes, I wasn't super interested in it or the ice cream. But. I did want to see some baby cows. 

We took the dog on the journey with us, and "well behaved dog" is not what she was. She was absolutely losing her shit with all the exciting things to see! smell! experience! and I'm glad it is super off season there. 

The calves (calfs?) were very sweet and gentle, they very much wanted to lick me. Some had very tiny teeth. Most were black and white, but a few were brown and white, and one looked just like Toffee but she wouldn't hold still so I could get a nice picture of her. 

Funny to see a Toffee Cow. 

After we went shopping for things, Doug's chocolate milk, some whole milk for me, some ice cream, we headed over to Gathland State Park. "Let's get some steps," Doug said. Speaking my language. 

George Alfred Townsend, who went by GATH, was a Civil War journalist. He fell in love with this area while researching for a book, and built his estate estate here. It includes a giant monument to the Civil War correspondents. 

There is a plaque there for recent news reporters who have died (or have been murdered) covering current wars. Visit this fantastic blog post from 2012 by a gentleman named Allen Browne.

It's all very chilling, thinking about the battles that took place right in the area where I was standing. All the players, the chess match, and the deaths of so many soldiers. 

One of the saddest things there was GATH's empty tomb. He had it constructed on the property to be his final resting place, but when he died in NYC he was then buried in Philadelphia beside his wife, never to return to his beautiful property in Maryland. 

Doug and I talked about how it was very sad that no one brought him "home" here, and the tomb is in disrepair. It reminds us that the best laid plans often go awry. 

We recalled how years and years ago when we attended church in Newburyport, MA we had joked around about what would happen if we were able to reunite George Whitefield's thumb with the rest of his body in the basement tomb. 

Would the zombie Evangelist rise from the dead, freak out about the state of current American Evangelicalism, and start to absolutely run rampant upon all, until 6 plucky young Gordon College students separate the thumb and return it to Drew University's Archives?

What if we were to return GATH to his crypt, finished lovingly with some lottery winnings. What would then happen? What would be the sci-fi horror movie result? 

We had a leisurely walk around the property with a little bit of discussion about that movie plot (also, TM! TM! TM! It's my idea). And as usual, where the Appalachian Trail crosses through one of the places we visit, we walk on it for a little while and Doug always says "here I go, once again, doing the AT!" 

It was magic hour, and I'm sure if we were here a couple weeks ago the foliage would have been spectacular. We will probably return, knowing us.

Home, and Doug and Toffee napped hard. Football, pizza, fellowship. All told a pretty good day for a half day off Thursday. 

Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. 15 min/.71 mi toffee walk solo. 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

6am: 140
5pm: 85
10:30pm: 94

food & meds:
6am: jardiance+phentermine
10:45am: english muffin w/pb
1pm: met+glip
5:30pm: left over pot roast w/some left over mashed potatoes; white wine
8pm: ramekin of trail mix
9pm: met+glip