A decent afternoon.

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I called the range where I am set to shoot tomorrow to seek information and perhaps rearrange my shooting time. I connected to an answering machine and so left a message, explaining what I wanted to know and leaving my phone number. As I was driving home, I received a call back, but my phone being in my pocket and the road being a very curvy mountain road, I could not answer. Getting home, I checked the message. I do not think the man listened to my call at all. He simply indicated I needed 50 rounds and would be shooting off hand, sitting, and prone. Doh! I will call in the morning or go in anyway.

I did go out shooting today. When I moved the target closer, practiced a few rounds, then shot for real completely off hand (at about half of the distance), I obliterated the middle of the bullseye. There were no outliers, nothing outside of the bullseye, and I had perhaps a 3/4" spread maximum. I moved the target back out to 50" and tried again. My shots looked like I had used a shotgun, with about a 6" x 4" spread. *sigh* I can hit pop bottle lids at that distance, but not a bullseye of 3 to 4 times that size, for Pete's sake! Ghrrrrrrrr!

Well, I did what I could. Then I went to pistol. What do you want me to hit with it at under 30 yards? I can you know. I can shoot most things I can see out to 50 yards when I adjust for the distance and practice a few shots with it too. Heck, even with the .45, I can go out a smidge further without too much trouble (probably easily out to 80 yards with the .22 pistol). But with a .22 rifle, on a target, at 50 feet, shotgun shooting. What gives? I swear, I or the rifle am cursed.

But it was fun. And it was a cool day, at least when we finally made it out to the range. The drive is good, being outside is nice, having some company is really good. Of course, the work of shooting is so hard and business like as to almost ruin the day. (Okay, of the last few sentences in the paragraph, can you tell which one is not true, you have 30 seconds and 4 guesses.)

Toward the end of it though, I was starting to get neck strain and a headache. So what would have been a pleasant drive back to town ended up being a bit uncomfortable. I think from now on I will carry a packet of Tylenol wherever I go. I took some when I arrived home and it is already working to a degree, an half hour later. With the right medicine, re-hydration techniques, and in healing, my body does very well. Feed it the wrong stuff, though, and... usually it does not matter. It was built well, if it rejects some things outright, some medicine and such.

I did receive a call back from the V.A. regarding the new medicines and such. It seems my glucose is 2 to 3 times higher than they want it, 8 is high, mine was 13.6 or something, and they want it around 5 or 6. My glucose reading is at 260 or so. They must not read my chart, my glucose has been as high as over 650. But they did indicate protein is in my urine and so are fat cells (or something like that). Whatever, as I said, one thing at a time. Did I mention that my vision improved? Anyway... I told her about the side effects and she said she had never heard of anyone having such side effects. They really do not believe me. And, until D.C. said these were common side effects and I looked it up online (trust but verify :p ), I was starting to think maybe they were right and it was just me. Nope. I will print the sheet of side effects out for my next visit. And, I will ask for extra strength Tylenol (otherwise I have to buy standard and split them in odd ways and hope to get it right) if I decide to stick with any medicines. I told her, in no uncertain terms, that I would not start any new medicines until this issue was managed, period.

She suggested I change my diet. And I told her I have no idea what to eat, since they have said not to eat: fats, salt, sugar, diet stuff, fat free stuff, starches, carbohydrates, too much protein, and some other stuff. She suggested they have a dietary class and that she would enroll me. Fine, but I will not be eating broccoli and spinach, with a side of black pepper. If the food options are not practical for what I am able to cook here, there is not a lot I can do. Same goes for expense, often what I have seen suggested costs a king's ransom. As well, if it tastes like cardboard, there is no way I could stick to it. And do not even think about suggesting I eat 3 ounces of meat at a time. Who are these people? Definitely not right in the head, they cannot be sometimes. We will see though.

I suggested that I would not take more medicines, as I said, until I was sure I would be continuing on this medicine. If it has had little affect or if it has but they refuse to treat the side effects, this is going away. I will not start Metfornin, as that was useless in my diabetes treatment. And I have no way of changing my diet with a kitchen countertop that is completely used up by a microwave and the only functional pan (or pot for that matter) I have is a cast iron skillet, I have no room for a steamer, regular pot, let alone a stock pot. Nor do I have the functionality to procure fresh produce, prepare it, then cook it. I would simply be using what of my life on these medicines I have buying, preparing, and cooking food, then back to bed. She indicated that if I do not control my health, it will control me. Already there, babe (though I did not say that), they would have probably hauled me in for sex therapy or something!).

Gee whiz guys, get a clue. If taking these medicines were cost free to me, and since they literally cost me no money, why in the world would I not be taking them. I simply cannot trust their dire warning anymore, after being told 10 years ago that I was in imminent danger of a heart attack or stroke... Ten years ago if I did not say that already. And, being told, take these there will be no side affects or you will work your way out of any of them while failing a year of school because of them. No, trust is earned not given. I gave them a chance and they have failed miserably. Either they do not know what they are talking about or they are lying. There simply is no choice.

Bah! I do need to stop with the sugary stuff, no doubt. But I will just eat what I have always eaten, well, minus fast foods and sweet soda. And, I will enjoy my life until I croak. Ribbit. Ha! I crack me up. There is no irritated, either be irritated or do not be irritated. Is that not what Yoda said? Still, I must chuckle. I am quite sure they must wonder why I am not dead yet. I could tell them, but I do not think they could understand. God said No. Really. My tasks are not yet done.

Well, I should read a bit more in the bible. I really have been enjoying that, if some of it is as tasty as shoe leather and only twice as thick. I am sure, though, that it is going in there somewhere and making a good brain gravy. And it does have an affect on my life, how I lead it, choices I make, advice I offer, and even getting me off my bum and into action from time to time. Pickle juice, more water, a bit of reading, and *Bamb* ... my head hitting the pillow as I get K.O.'ed in the pillow fight with sleep.

Good night, probably until 2:00 or so. But that has been working fairly well. Sleep well, and only let the cute bedbugs bite!