How to use this Page

Yesterday we took part in the annual Walk for Diabetes at Cove Island Park in Stamford. It was a beautiful day (in delightful contrast to last year when it was raining and cold) and we had a fabulous time raising $12,000 towards Type 1 diabetes research.

We were sporting our A-Mazing T-shirts designed by my A-MAZINGly talented and adorable daughter:



Here's a better look at the T-shirts (not to mention the A-mazing young gals who were walking with us...and note that I let Daughter wear my Sydney Taylor tiara, because she deserved it):



And here are the guys - the_webmeister is on the left:



There were even a few superheroes there:



Frankly, I think Batman looked a little peaky. Alfred must not be feeding him properly.

And I thought these two little boys walking in front of me were just too adorable for words:



Thanks to everyone who supported us, and if you still want to, it's not too late!

Tomorrow is the WALK FOR DIABETES at Cove Island Park in Stamford, CT. Our team, the A-MAZINGS! has thus far raised close to $12,000 towards finding a cure for this suckfest of a disease.

It's still not to late to walk with us, although it is too late to receive one of the the fantastic t-shirts designed my talented and A-Mazing daughter, who is the inspiration for this fundraising effort:



She's the one on the left, tormenting my long-suffering mutt, Sandy. Her friend on the right is also joining us for the walk.

Pictures of the T-shirt to follow tomorrow.

But it's NOT TO LATE TO DONATE!!

You can support us by clicking here

You'll be doing a wonderful thing for a wonderful girl. We ARE going to find a cure.

On November 10th, 2004, my daughter ended up in Yale New Haven hospital with a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. While I realize it could have been worse (there was a child down the hall with leukemia) diabetes is something that no youngster should have to deal with.

She has to test her blood sugar, which involves pricking her finger with a lancet, at least four times a day, oftentimes more. Every three days she has an additional needle when we have to change the site for her insulin pump. Some days she feels like a human pincushion, but unlike school and homework, diabetes is not something from which she gets a vacation.



I'll never forget the day a few months after her diagnosis when she sat in the back of the car crying, "I just want to be normal again."

Well, she is normal. A normal, happy, smart, active pre-teen, who just started middle school. But as she and I remark to each other on a regular basis: DIABETES SUCKS!!

We've been participating in the Walk for Diabetes for the last three years. The first year we raised over $4,000. Last year we raised almost $8,000. And this year, our goal is $16,000. The more money we can raise for research, the sooner we'll find a cure. Because insulin, while it helps keep my daughter alive, isn't a cure. There are so many promising studies going on with stem cells etc, that now, more than ever, it's important to raise money for research. My son and I gave blood for one study to test for certain antibodies that appear to be a precursor to the development of Type 1 diabetes.

I'm sure every one of you knows someone whose life has been touched by diabetes. So help us find a cure!

Our team is called The A-Mazings! and so far this year we've raised $6,000 towards our goal. the_webmeister has proved to be a fundraising juggernaut, raising over $3,500 singlehandedly. I need to catch up - help me save face ;-) You can donate online here:

Thank you for your support. Together we can find a cure.

I thought I’d be spending last weekend feeling sorry for myself about the fact that I wasn’t in LA at SCBWI Nationals, but as it transpired I was too busy to think, much less whine. Ok, maybe I whined a little.

Saturday evening found me driving Daughter and Friend up to Mohegan Sun, CT’s answer to Las Vegas. While at her appt with the diabetic specialist up at Yale last Monday, I happened to notice an American Diabetes Association flyer offering free tickets to (cue prepubescent girl (BUT NOT MY DAUGHTER, I hasten to add) screaming) THE JONAS BROTHERS!!

Quick as a flash, I was on my cell phone, and thanks to the amazing Bob Smith at the Middletown office of the ADA, we had tickets. Nick, the youngest, and to some, the cutest of the Jonas Bros, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes:



In a refreshing change from the Lindsay Lohanesque exploits of the young and famous, this admirable (and ok, rather adorable) young man is using his fame for the greater good.

The boys performed during acoustically during the halftime break of the WNBA game between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever. Then, after the game ended (CT won, YAY!) most of the Y chromosomes cleared the arena and an overwhelmingly XX and under 16 crowd gathered in the middle section for the electric Jonas set. After having sat through Hilary Duff wishing I were at home in bed with a good book, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the show. If I weren’t old enough to be their mother, I’d have a crush on them too. And the music wasn’t half bad either.

Here’s the girls and me, our faces shining with delight. Or in my case, enough oil to solve the energy crisis. (If anyone can solve my can share the secret to the shiny face dilemma, you will have my undying gratitude – I’ve tried Lisa Yee’s little blue sheets, powder, expensive stuff from Sephora…nothing works…)



Got back from Casino-ville around about 12:30am, and then the following morning had to try to shovel Daughter and Friend out of bed and down the street to the house of Number One Fan and family so I could get everything ready for the surprise party she’d requested for her birthday. It took me a while to figure out how to give a surprise party to someone who knew they were going to have one, but as Baldrick used to say in Blackadder,
“I have a cunning plan…”

I figured if I did the party the week BEFORE her birthday she wouldn’t be expecting it.
Fortunately, it worked, judging by the expression on her face when she came into the garden:



A good time was had by all, especially the Birthday Girl:




and that made it worth all the hard work on her mom’s part:



Last night it was blast from the past time for myself, Pilot Rocker, the Webmeister, and stars of stage and guitar, Cary and Lori, when we headed over to Lon Giland to see Squeeze perform at the Westbury Music Fair, with Fountains of Wayne opening. Fountains of Wayne were entertaining; I really only knew “Stacey’s Mom” but am now tempted to buy their new album. But it was Squeeze who brought me back to my college daze - and most of the other audience members as well, it seemed as we were all of a vintage. There was one guy that Lori and I were cracking up over – he’d clearly come straight from his job as a lawyer or an investment banker (my guess is lawyer) and was impeccably dressed in his chinos, blue blazer, yellow tie and wire rimmed glasses. But he was playing air guitar in the aisle and bowing down a la “We’re not worthy”. It was hilarious, but rather cute.

And now – I’m ready for some SLEEP!