Double D Fishing Charter

NEWSBREAK: ATTENTION ALL NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS……SUPPORT NEEDED…….NOW.

Posted on August 14, 2015 | by tomkarlya | Leave a Comment

We are looking for Reegan’s Rule to come out of the North Carolina Senate Committee and be bought to a vote in the North Carolina Senate. The bill (which is House Bill-20 and is now Senate Bill 27–REEGAN’s RULE) will encourage diabetes education by medical professionals to parents through the first five years of a child’s life.

We have worked with Representative Graham in the house and the bill passed in the House 111-6; and now Senator Smith has picked up the support and working with Reegan’s mom we have created a letter and we now need D-parents and friends who live in North Carolina to help the North Carolina Senate show the same leadership on Reegan’s rules by letting the Senators know Reegan mattered to all of us. This is a picture of the North Carolina Senate, empty. Let’s fill it with supporters of (click here) REEGAN’S RULE.

My friend and fellow D-Dad Bennet Dunlap at the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition has created an EASY WAY for people from North Carolina to send their State Senator an email asking to support Reegan’s Rule. Submit your address and zip into Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition’s software on a form. It looks up your North Carolina Senator and prepares an email. Easy.

You can send it as is or even better personalize the email with you diabetes story. We recommend adding a few sentences about your connection to type 1 diabetes right at the beginning.

Here are the 5 easy steps:

Go to the page from here. Enter you name, address, Zip and email.
(We would appreciate you clicking remember me and opt in at the bottom of the form so we can keep you in the loop on this and other diabetes issues–but it isn’t required)
Click SUBMIT to create a draft email.
Personalize your email.
When you are happy with it click SUBMIT to send.
Share the opportunity to act with your Social Media contacts so other can follow you example and act to support Reegan’s Rule

Right Now – Our focus is on the North Carolina Senate. This advocacy form is for people living in North Carolina to contact their State Senators. Our hope is to be successful in North Carolina and build from that experience to wider efforts – Stay Tuned. For now – the form will not work for people living in other states, people in other state will get an error message – sorry. (But the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition has other actions you can take, click actions in the menu at the top of the page.)

Any questions, just ask but please pass this to anyone living in North Carolina.

TOGETHER, we can do this. Act Today!!!!!!!

I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

You COULD Miss Out if it’s Done only the Way YOU THINK is Right.

Posted on August 14, 2015 | by tomkarlya | Leave a Comment

I’m always amazed at the stories I hear out there. the lack of knowledge is truly astounding. From us, as parents, to the medical profession……the comments I read so often boggles my mind. Actually, it used to infuriate me but it happens so often now, I am down to ‘eye-rolling’.

There is also a very dangerous thought process out there that is in-line with “you can’t tell me what to do with my child.” I agree, no one can. That said, there are some very basic thought processes about the science of diabetes that we parents need to face head on. Because you don’t think it applies to you, does not mean it does not. Be careful.

I get it. I really do.

Because ‘we say it’, does NOT make it necessarily true. And the more you do something incorrectly, the more you are ‘off’ from the original. Constantly ask yourself if the things you do are ‘sound’. Not in a discussions, but you, yourself; when all alone—–this IS NOT about BEING right, it’s about DOING what’s right. When I first heard of the artificial/bionic pancreas; my initial thought was just, ‘no way’. What was everyone getting so excited about? But the truth is, no matter what I felt back when, if I did not do more homework to understand what was happening, I would not have come to appreciate all that is happening in that world as I do now. If I can change, anyone can change.

The original insulin pumps were the size of a spaceman’s back-pack; look where we are today. My point is that no matter what I THOUGHT, it was merely that, my thoughts. It was not until a good friend ‘forced me to REALLY look’ at what was happening in this field to fully appreciate it, and to realize my thoughts…….were wrong thoughts.

Don’t be afraid of something you do not know and surely DO NOT RUN from it.

I’m constantly going over my internal checklist on management tools, insulins, how-we-do-things, medical practices; I then go over what is new out there. What is new? Am I using it? Will it make a difference? If words like Night Scout, the Cloud, Bionic Pancreas, BioHub, CGM, I-let Pump, Fast Insulin, and Nasal Glucagon—-are all words that are foreign to you…..do not be afraid of them…..look into them. Some show real promise in many areas of our lives. Some may mean nothing to you……but find out.

We cannot be afraid to learn……ever. We cannot be afraid to ‘re-look’ at everything every chance we get. It’s truly an exciting time when it comes to ‘diabetes technology’ and just because we do not ‘do something’ does not mean that we are doing it correctly; you could be missing out.

What you don’t know can’t hurt you…………is a saying that we need to throw out the window but we also need to be ready to realize that truth is truth….whether we want to face it or not. And THAT is not always easy……..is it?

I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

A Hell of a Captain, on a Hell of A Ship—-A Lesson for All of Us—-Even When Not at Sea!!!!

Posted on July 31, 2015 | by tomkarlya | 1 Comment

I love it when people are REALLY GOOD at something. I like to watch and see how they do what they do. I love to ask questions and find out how they became so good at what they do. Over the years I have met some really cool people who are the best at what they do. The phrase ‘natural talent’ surely makes up some of it, but it’s working at what you do until you fully understand every aspect of it, and THAT is what makes you the best.

My brother Stephen has, for the last two years in what we all hope will be an annual event, treated my older brother and I (along with our sons) a day-long fishing trip off of Montauk Point, Long Island. My first love for fishing came when my childhood buddy Jimmy would take me with him when his dad and he went out. Mr. R was completely at east and at home behind the wheel of his boat; and his very nature also defined a Captain. Fondest of memories from my childhood for sure.

There are plenty of boats out in Montauk……PLENTY! But my brother only uses one Captain on one Boat; and that is Captain Dan of the Double D Charter. Stephen is out there a few times a year and has been for years. Stephen, in his career, was also one of those people who were the best at what they did and his personality is such that demands the best. When he finds something that works, he sticks with it. Captain Dan and the Double D Charter is such a boat. Last year’s trip, I enjoyed. This year I wanted to not only enjoy but know more on why this Captain was so good. I learned that last year was no fluke (pun intended), there is a reason my brother returns each time.

Captain Dan is by no means the biggest boat on the water and in fact 5-6 passengers is the maximum. From the moment he heads into open waters and flips on his various machines of travel, sonar, fish-finders etc. etc., he is not just watching them, he is studying them. On the screens, one color means one thing, another color means another. But he knows what they all mean. And while many boat Captains are busy chatting to each other over the radios, Captain Dan is watching, and searching.

“Drop the lines” he demands and his first Mate, Chris is quick to the task. He is over a spot and he points out to me on the screen that there are few there. To me everything looks like antique ‘blips’ on an out-dated Nintendo Game, but THIS captain knows exactly what they mean. He moves his boat at various speeds of slow-slower-speedup-slow and I’m thinking what he is doing cannot be good for the gears of the boat; but it was great for us.

“FISH ON” came the yell from the mate……and we were off to a GREAT DAY. I’m not posting pictures of our fish because not everyone enjoys that kind of stuff and I understand. But you can click this link and look at Captain Dan’s Double D Charter FB Page if you want to see some cool pictures and video of people fishing in Montauk.

“I’m actually the one fishing”, Captain Dan shares with me, “You guys pull them up for me, but I’m the one fishing”, as he continues observing his equipment and surveying the water looking for birds, ripples, and anything else that will hint for a good place to go. This attitude explains the absolute meticulous manner of the Merchant Marine Academy graduate and how seriously he takes everything to make sure his passengers have every opportunity to land dinner……..lots of dinners. Why shop for dinner when you can catch your own….and boy did we.

I’m sure he has days that are not so good. But his bad days are others’ dismal days and when others are having a good day, Captain Dan has GREAT Days. Now why is DiabetesDad writing about a Fishing Captain? Simply put, let me ask you how much do you study the people who deal with your child. How much do you work at what you do with your child. Know who the ‘lucky ones are’? Find out why, what they do, and how they got there. You will learn much.

I have always stated, the harder one works, the luckier they are. People say many times, “Oh, so-and-so is so lucky”. As much as some luck enters the picture, no truly successful person relied on luck. They worked at it, and they worked hard.

Whether it’s taking care of diabetes, or the Captain of a Fishing Boat in Montauk, Long Island….the best wins out. And for the record; we caught the maximum number in Stripe Bass, and a ton of ‘keepers’ on Fluke and Black Sea Bass. Great to fish with the best there is……….remember that……..and if ever in Montauk, look up Captain Dan and the Double D Charter…….tell him DiabetesDad sent you.

I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.