Adventures in Nova Scotia!

It had been eight years since I last traveled out of the country, so the opportunity to visit Nova Scotia for four days during the month of October was a refreshing experience.  My uncle has a friend who lives in Port Maitland, just a few miles north of the city of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, who invited him, his partner, and me to stay at her home.  She and her husband were wonderful hosts, and I'm so grateful for their hospitality.  They provided us with great food, a comfortable and relaxing place to sleep, and a pleasing atmosphere. The weather was gorgeous the entire visit, too - warm and sunny throughout!

Our journey started at 6am on a Wednesday morning with a short two-hour drive north from my uncle's house in Maine to the Canadian border.  The border agent asked us lots of questions, but parted ways with us with a sense of humor: "Will you get into trouble if I let you boys in?"  Of course, we wouldn't.  And truly, we didn't!

After a brief detour by my mistaken GPS which brought us to the wrong ferry in Blacks Harbour, we ventured another hour to Saint John, New Brunswick and took a three-hour ferry ride on the Princess of Acadia from Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia.  The ferry staff directed us to the lower level where I parked my Prius cozily in company with other vehicles.  We had free roam of the ship with plenty of amenities: a cafeteria, a couple lounges, a movie (The Great Gatsby was playing), free high-speed wireless internet, and beautiful views of the Bay of Fundy.  The ferry shows its age, but it met all of our needs.  It's nice to just relax, walk around, and take in the fresh sea air.  While I originally wanted to drive around the Bay of Fundy, the ferry ended up cutting a couple of hours of travel time.  It also saved three hours of driving.

When we deboarded at Digby, it was just a short one-hour drive to Port Maitland to meet up with my uncle's friend.  They gave us a tour of their home, a former bed-and-breakfast originally built in the 1860s.  It's a beautiful home which they clearly took care in renovating and making it their own (which means it's very classy).  They had a vegetable garden with a small barn in the back yard and colorful flowers in the front yard.  Their house was not even a mile from the beach, too! It was a short first day in Nova Scotia since we hadn't arrived until at 4pm, but we had a delicious home-cooked pasta dinner and great conversation.

On Thursday, we checked out the city of Yarmouth starting with breakfast at a cute little place called the Old World Bakery.  We also visited the Cape Forchu Lighthouse which was a fifteen-minute drive south of Yarmouth.  Cape Forchu features some really unique rock formations, the likes of which I've never seen before.  And it was a place I needed to visit again, as a half-hour wasn't enough time to really appreciate it.  From there, we had lunch with my uncle's friend as well as the owners of the impressive MacKinnon-Cann Inn.  The couple that own the inn and cafe there were entertaining (very outgoing and boisterous personalities), and we also got a quick tour of the inn as well as the house they live in down the street.  The inn featured rooms that each span a particular decade in time in North America.  Really cool!

We took a gander at the Yarmouth County Museum & Archives that had an eclectic historical collection native to the city and region.  I saw some walking sticks for sale there, so I had to purchase one since I make a habit of collecting them on my journeys.  Though the woman working at the front desk didn't know who made them at the time, she made some phone calls and ultimately took down a message for me (and I received a response from the assistant director of the museum the next day).  Sadly, the creator of the walking sticks, a Yarmouth local named George A. Nickerson, passed away, but his creations had been donated to the museum so I was glad all of the proceeds from the purchase went to the museum at least.  And I'm the proud owner of a unique new walking stick!

Through the day, we had learned a great deal about the history of Yarmouth.  It's a sea port that used to have a frequent ferry service from the States, but when the ferry stopped running, it hurt business.  Fortunately, there's a plan for a ferry to run again between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth starting in May 2014, so it should invigorate the city once again.  Every one in the area was talking excitedly about the prospects of the ferry returning.

We walked the beach in Port Maitland and collected some cool rocks smoothed out over time by the ocean waves and other elements.  The tidal changes are dramatic, and since it was low tide, we were able to walking along the sand bar.  For dinner, we had another home-cooked meal.  I learned about my uncle's friend's interest in family history, and I'm hoping to help her with her research in the near future. 

Friday started with breakfast at a little diner near Beaver River just a couple miles north of Port Maitland.  I don't remember the name of the diner but it was good food!  For the rest of the day, we put my Prius into action by taking a long drive on Route 3 along the coastline to Barrington Passage and back.  It was a chance to see a lot of the local rural communities including those on Cape Sable Island.  We got back in time for dinner at a local Port Maitland restaurant, Hidden Treasures Family Restaurant.  My uncle got to see another old friend there.  I enjoyed a cold lobster sandwich - so tasty. That night, I pulled out my brand new camera lens and tried it out on some night stars photography at the beach.  That form of photography is still a work-in-progress for me, but I think the lens showed promise for further practice!

Saturday began at 6am to see the sun rise near the Beaver River cemeteries.  It seems to be a popular place for local photographers interested in the views provided for a sun rise.  I took a nap, and after waking up and getting a warm shower, we visited a cool little antique store in a barn a short drive away in Brenton, called Yaciuk's Antiques.  The owners seemed really nice.  The main attraction there were their beautiful clocks (cuckoo clocks, mantle clocks, and other wall clocks).  Afterwards, we drove by a few houses for sale that my uncle wanted to see.  Real estate is extremely inexpensive compared to the U.S., at least where we visited in Nova Scotia.  If I had money to spend on a vacation home, the southern Nova Scotia coast would be a great spot!

Thereafter, we returned to Yarmouth for lunch at the Old World Bakery, and we saw one of our hosts play some folksy music on his guitar at Sip, a local cafe.  He's got a good sound!  Also on an aside, I noticed that Sip had almond milk for their mochas (or any espresso beverage) but I thought that was terrific - why don't more coffee places offer almond milk?!  Such a better option than soy milk.  But I digress.

Cape Forchu landscape

We returned to Port Maitland for more nap time.  I don't know why but my energy levels were super low during the day.  But I got my passion going for a second visit to Cape Forchu at sun set.  I took a lot of photos there, and I could have continued for more than an hour but alas, my companions were chilly and hungry.  So we headed out and had one last dinner together at Rudder's Seafood Restaurant in Yarmouth.  It was kind of sad, because we knew it was our last night in Nova Scotia so we just enjoyed ourselves with some good conversation!

The next morning we took off at 6am to drive back to Digby to catch the ferry back to Saint John.  But before the ferry journey began, Nova Scotia gave us a parting gift of one of the most stunning sunrises I've ever seen.  Low-lying clouds and fog along the water contributed to some beautiful colors.  It was like the horizon of the sky was on fire, and with some patches of blue sky higher up, the contrasting colors were captivating.  I burned through my camera's battery that morning!

The drive back after the ferry ride was uneventful.  We pooled together all of our Canadian bills and coins and bought some gas since we knew we wouldn't be able to use them back in the U.S.  When we reached the American border, U.S. customs agent was actually really nice and didn't give us a difficult time at all; we expected a lot more questions coming back into the states but it was quick and easy.

I definitely plan on returning to Nova Scotia again, especially considering there will likely be a ferry coming out of Portland. I'd like to see Cape Breton which is further north in Nova Scotia and offers a different sort of landscape, something more like Scotland from what I've heard.  I also want to visit the city of Halifax.  Nova Scotia is a beautiful country, perfect for landscape photography!  And ideal for anyone who wants to relax and appreciate nature, old buildings, and wonderful, friendly people.

Want to see more images from this adventure?  I've made about 70 photographs available that I took from the trip in this album on my Google+ page.

Images of Boston

Boston is only a 40 minute trek away from me, so I don't know why I fail to visit more often.  On the evening of Saturday, July 27, 2013, I drove up to Quincy and took the subway to Prudential Station.  With my camera and tripod, I endeavored on an adventure of the soul.   

French photographer Marc Riboud noted that "taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second."  I find photography to be a spiritual activity, particularly when capturing images of urban and natural landscapes.  It is a calming experience in which I can infinitely appreciate singular moments.

This particular writing is a journal of an evening in just a small part of Boston near the Prudential Center and the Christian Science Plaza.  There is so much more of Boston to breathe in. 

It was an hour before the sun would set.  From Prudential Station, I took the elevator to the fiftieth floor of the Prudential Tower, where you can take in 360 degrees of views of the city of Boston from the Skywalk Observatory.  There is an admission fee, although with a Massachusetts Teachers Association card, there is no charge.  I sadly had to part temporarily with my tripod, as I was informed those are not permitted.  The observatory is fully enclosed with glass, which adds the challenge of smudges, scratches, and reflections.  Night photography is challenging enough without the glass.

I carried in a camera bag my Canon Digital Rebel, 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses, a camera remote control, and a rubber lens hood.  The camera remote enables you to release the shutter without touching the camera, thus avoiding camera shake.  The rubber lens hood reduces the amount of glare and unwanted reflections getting into the picture.  Without my tripod, it was more difficult to capture the images I wanted.  Thankfully, my camera bag was sturdy enough to balance my camera, although positioning proved to be tricky.

The setting sun lit the western facades of buildings with a rich saturation of color that's very satisfying.  Skyscrapers (i.e., 111 Huntington Avenue and the John Hancock Tower), Fenway Park, the classic Citgo sign, the Christian Science Center, and the red-bricked Bostonian buildings dotted the landscape.  The brief time after sunset was my favorite, as city lights came on but a bit of sunlight remained.  As night fell, it was more challenging to take good photographs through the glass.

That's why the Christian Science Plaza was a perfect location to visit afterwards.  Clear skies, no glass interfering other than the camera lens itself, and gorgeous scenery!  A long rectangular reflecting pool stands by the Christian Science Center.  Serendipity stepped in as fireworks were set off for a few seconds at the tail end of a five-second photograph I was taking of the center.  All in all, I spent just over three hours "savoring" life.

Here are a few of the photographs I took in Boston that evening:

My favorite photo of the evening: John Hancock Tower, and just to the right in the sky,
you can see the light trail of a plane taking off from Logan Airport

The Christian Science Publishing Society;
the blue lighting drew me right in!

Serendipitous fireworks exploded in the skies
behind the Christian Science Center

Fenway Park

The setting sun saturated these towering buildings with rich light

A wide view of Boston;
the Trinity Church of Copley Square can be seen in the lower right

111 Huntington Avenue skyscraper towers above residential buildings

The iconic Citgo sign in Kenmore Square

Reflections at the Christian Science Center

What Would It Be Like?

I have a strange, personal confession to make.  On occasion, I enjoy letting my brain go to another time, such as the U.S. Civil War era.  I nerdishly endeavor to imagine being a person (usually male, since that's easier for me) from that historical context; then I bring him to the present day.  That's where I let my introverted brain marinate.

It is July 1863.  He stands proudly for a portrait.  He will give the tintype photograph to his newly wedded wife to remember him by until he comes home again, should Providence safely guide him through this damned war.  The camera faces him in the bright daylight as the seconds pass.  Nearby, a soldier of his same Massachusetts regiment takes a rifle and carefully aims at a practice target.  Unaware of this, he maintains his easy gaze into the camera when the soldier's gun shot rings out.  The sound surprises him but not before the whoosh of time unravels and mysteriously drops him 150 years into the future. 

The rifle's shot still echoes in his ears.  But instead of a photographer before him, there now stands an imposing tower.  What is this monstrosity?  This is no man-made work of iron.  He does not know that the strange structure with a blinking light at the top sends out radio waves that others will be able to hear with the help of a stereo.

Heavens!  Something blurs by him.  It is much smaller than a locomotive.  No thick smoke escapes it.  It moves but seems quiet.  It's a Prius.

With a cell phone, a passerby take a quick photo of him, ignorantly asking him the question, "Is there a Revolutionary War re-enactment happening in town?"  Eighty-five years separate those two wars.  This fool has no educated sense of history.  A young girl nearby sets off a firecracker, sending the faux paparazzo into a momentary state of shock, and the man's cell phone jumps into the air.   

It's all too much for this man of God.  Moments before the confusion might send him into a fainting spell, he is suddenly back in 1863.  Near his boots, the cell phone lies there on the ground.

An image can be seen on the now-cracked screen of the phone.  Almighty!  This image on this supernatural tool is of him!  And that ominous tower with the blinking light can be seen behind him in it.

Oh, how a seconds-long gaze can brew such an imagination as this.

Gut Feelings: My Pancreas Pleads the Fifth

I figured I should post an update on my pancreatic adventures since early May, now that I've had all kinds of tests completed.  The simple answer is that all of the tests came up normal.  The doctors couldn't find any clear cause of the acute pancreatitis.  They call it idiopathic pancreatitis when no apparent cause can be found.

On June 12, I had an MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) done, which is a fancy medical term for an abdomen MRI with contrast for the area around the pancreas.  All of the results turned out to be normal, with the exception of a fatty liver, which I already knew about.  In my case, the liver has fatty deposits throughout, most likely as a result of a long-term high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.  Luckily, a fatty liver can traditionally be reversed over time with a healthy diet.

A blood test taken while I was in the hospital for any autoimmune diseases also came back negative.

I had a conversation with my primary care physician on June 20, and while he admitted this was a highly unusual case of pancreatitis with no known cause, he felt that a poor diet leading to a high level of triglycerides in my blood (hypertriglyceridemia), the third most common cause of pancreatitis, was the most plausible cause in my case.  A couple days into my hospital stay, they had checked for this. They informed me then that while my triglycerides were high, they weren't high enough to cause pancreatitis.  My doctor on June 20, however, believes it's possible that I did have hypertriglyceridemia upon admittance at the hospital, and after fasting for 2-3 days, the triglyceride levels might have decreased significantly.

For my own sanity, I have to go with that being the likely cause of the pancreatitis.  Being on a low-fat diet and avoiding alcohol for the rest of my life should result in a healthy body and a decreased likelihood of any recurrence.  I'm also back to brisk walking again now that I'm feeling good and back to a 2000-calorie daily intake.  Exercise and diet should hopefully bring down my triglyceride levels and cholesterol.  

Out of curiosity, I asked my doctor what my lipase level was when I was admitted to the hospital.  Lipase, a pancreatic enzyme, is normally found in the blood at 11-82 units per liter (U/L).  With pancreatitis, the lipase level might be about three to six times that amount.  When I was admitted to the hospital, it was 8000+ U/L, which was WAY more than six times the normal level.  Three weeks after being released from the hospital, my lipase level was back to a normal 46 U/L.

At this point, I must close this chapter of my life and recognize that all I can do is choose a healthier lifestyle and hope for the best.  Hopefully, this is the last post that I write that has anything to do with my pancreas!    

Ting: The Sound of Mobile Phone Savings (Updated June 2013)

{Note: This blog post was updated in June 2013 to reflect a positive change in Ting's billing policy and provide personal news.}  

Ever since I made the switch to Ting, I've been a walking advertisement with my family, friends, and co-workers.  It wouldn't be surprising if you've never heard of Ting, but if you're curious about getting significant savings on your cell phone plan - and you almost definitely will if you switched - then you should read this blog review.

If you choose to switch to Ting because of this review, please consider using this $25 referral code link.  We'll both receive a credit!  

Ting is a United States mobile phone service company that launched in February 2012.  They primarily utilize the Sprint network, with Verizon for voice roaming (no data roaming, however).  They offer some international coverage.  They are a no-contract company with an absurdly fair pricing plan.  You purchase a mobile device with Ting, or you may be able to bring your Sprint device if it's on Ting's approved list. You select a plan based on anticipated calls, texts, and data.  You're billed the first month, but if you happen to use less of anything, you'll receive a credit on your next monthly bill.  And if you use more texts, calls, or data than anticipated?  No big deal; Ting just charges you the rate for the next plan level for that month.  Like I said: absurdly fair.  *Update: Ting has now simplified their billing process.  Ting maintains the same six plan levels with no additional costs.  You now pay for the amount of minutes, texts, and data that you use on a monthly basis based on the plan levels rather than try to guess in advance what you'll use.  It's a simplified process.

Ting has a handy savings calculator that gives you some insight into what you'd potentially save over the course of two years.  Simply enter your current monthly bill (or an average monthly bill) along with the minutes, texts, and data you use.  I personally had a monthly $67 bill with Sprint (no phone insurance and on the old plan before the $10 premium data charge went into effect); now I'll see a bill with Ting anywhere from $22 to $34 a month - of course, with referral credits it'll be occasionally even less!  If you have more than one line or a plan with just about unlimited everything, you'll likely see much greater savings than I would -- others I know who are switching are saving in the neighborhood of $100 a month!  Even if you pay an Early Termination Fee (ETF) with your current provider, bets are on that you'd still save with Ting.

Here are a few points that make Ting stand out:

Pay Only for What You Use

I love Ting's sales pitch: "What possibly could be better than unlimited?!  Most likely paying for what you use."  Unless you use an unreal amount of minutes, texts, or data, there's no real value in paying for unlimited usage.  I like being able to control as many aspects of my financial budget as possible, and with Ting's service, I have that option.  And with Ting's account "dashboard," I can see an updated accounting of my usage along with an estimate of what I'll use for the entire month.

Ting's handy-dandy dashboard

Ting offers six levels of usage, laid out separately by minutes, texts, and megabytes.  The best analogy I can think of is that you're choosing a shirt size (rather than most providers' one size fits all) for each category.  Never talk on the phone?  That'll be an Extra Small.  Use between 100 and 1000 texts?  That'd be a Medium.  Tend to access close to three gigabytes of data?  You're an XXL there.

Ting's levels of plans

You can set up your plan so that you pay for what you expect to use.  If you use less than what you planned for a particular month, you'll actually receive a credit on your next bill!  One thing I've decided to do is set up a plan where everything is at XS.  There is a flat $6 per device fee, so since I only have one phone, my initial charge is just $6.  I'm then charged on my next bill for what I end up using.  So you really have a lot of options.

5% Grace Overage

Say you use 510 minutes, which is beyond the 500 minute limit for a size small.  Ugh, now I have to pay an extra $9 for the medium size of 1000 minutes!  NOT SO FAST.  Ting grants you a 5% grace overage.  For that month, you'll still only pay at the 500 minute level.  Wonderfully fair.  And even if you go beyond the 5%, you aren't subjected to extra fees.  Instead, they simply bump you up to the next level for that month, and you again are simply paying for what you used.

Tethering/Mobile Hotspot Functions Included

If you like the ability to use your phone as a mobile hotspot for another device such as a laptop or a tablet, you can do this with Ting at no extra cost.  People often do this when they're on the road or not in close proximity to WiFi.  You'd have to pay an additional monthly fee with most other mobile providers for this function - PLUS pay for the data.  Double-billed.  I don't see how that's fair at all.  With Ting, you just pay for the data you use!

Buy a Ting Device Up-Front

If you don't have a currently accepted Sprint device that can be transferred over to Ting, then you would buy a new or used phone with Ting.  You do pay for the full price of the phone.  "Wait, how is that good?" you might ask, "With my current company, new phones are so cheap!".  This is actually a good thing with Ting because you won't be locked into a contract down the road.  I think we've grown far too dependent on subsidized phone costs with the major providers.  They give you a major discount on the actual cost of the phone, but they build that cost into their monthly charges.   Over the course of that one or two-year agreement, you actually lose more money than you saved on that phone.  Then when your agreement is up, you feel the excitement of getting an upgraded phone at a discount again -- and get locked into another contract.  It's a brilliant but deceptive maneuver on their part to keep you as a customer.

But there's more value in paying for the full price of the phone at the beginning of your relationship with Ting.  It puts an end to the cycle of purchasing new phones and buying into new contracts (although you can certainly buy a new/used Ting phone any time you wish).  There's no contract with Ting.  You can also sell your device later through Ting's used marketplace for a reasonable price.  And if the new phone prices are too much for you to bear, you can buy a top-notch used phone at that same online marketplace.

Regardless of what device you buy or bring over, you can port your current phone number over to Ting, and there's no activation fee!  I found the porting process to be very easy, and it only took about four hours for that process to complete.

An Excuse to Be Creative

I've found (along with many other Ting users) that the ability to budget my texts, minutes, and data contributes to a desire to be creative.

Previously with Sprint, I would always have the mobile data settings for my phone "on."  All kinds of background data transfers would occur - Facebook notification updates, Twitter feeds, frequent e-mail checks, etc.  That amounts to a fair amount of data being exchanged.  In my case, I have the luxury of being near free WiFi about 90% of the time.  So with Ting, I've turned my mobile data off unless I'm on the road and want to use it on a temporary basis.  Otherwise, within range of free WiFi, all of my data is exchanged through that.  And that's resulted in significant savings in mobile data charges.

I've been experimenting with VoIP mobile apps (Voice Over Internet Protocol), which is essentially the ability to make phone calls or send texts via the internet over WiFi.  Texting works well enough, though I've yet to experience much success with high-quality phone calls.  Others' reviews have proven however that many people have had success with it.  The two apps I've tried were Groove IP and Talkatone.  Both require a Google Voice account and phone number, which is free.  Let me know if you have success with these or other VoIP apps - they would result in even more savings!

Superb Customer Service

If you ever need any assistance or service with Ting, you can contact them by phone, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter (@TingFTW), or submit a web request.  I haven't needed any customer service yet, but there is a strong consensus among reviews that Ting's customer service is SUPERB.  If you call them, there's no automated system - it rings until someone picks up.  If you contact them any other way, they're known to get back to you within minutes or a few hours at most.  Ting also has a community forum where anyone can post a question or comment - Ting monitors it frequently and responds to questions there, too.
     
I actually really enjoy Ting's Facebook page.  It's helpful but also entertaining!  They have frequent photo caption contests where they'll post an unusual photo and the person who submits the funniest caption gets an account credit or free Ting "swag" (they've got some classy hats and argyle socks).  There's plenty of interaction on the page, too.  Ting asks a lot of questions for feedback, and often they offer swag and credits at random among those who provide feedback.

Overall, I think their marketing schemes are ingenious.  And not in a sleazy way. :)  It's obvious they legitimately want to assist and interact with their customer base.  Ultimately, I think that will go a long way in attracting new customers, too.  

A Few Cons... and by that mean, I suppose there are, like, Three

Firstly, since Ting runs strictly on the Sprint network infrastructure -- with Verizon as a back-up for voice/messaging only, you are limited to those two networks.  If you don't like the Sprint network, then Ting is NOT for you (since I was already on Sprint, I saw no change in service personally).  Additionally, if you are in an area without Sprint data coverage, you will not be able to use mobile data.  If you're not sure if you're in a Sprint/Verizon area, see Ting's coverage map. 

Secondly, you are limited on what phones you can use with Ting.  Here is their approved list of devices that you can bring over from Sprint.  Sprint is the only network from which you can bring a phone.  Also, Ting only works with Android phones, though they have announced that Windows Phone 8 will soon be available.  However, the iPhone is not anticipated to be offered with Ting in the foreseeable future, though they say they'd like to be able to offer it one day.  *Update: If your commitment to sign up with Ting is contingent on being able to use an iPhone, you can fill out a form by clicking "Notify Me" under Apple iPhone at the bottom of Ting's Devices page.  Ting will let you know when iPhone becomes available.

Finally, since Ting doesn't have any physical storefronts, if your phone breaks or gets lost or stolen, you'll need to wait for a new device to be shipped to you.  Ting's warehouse is in Los Angeles, California, so if you're on the east coast, it could take a week or more to receive that device (unless you pay for expedited shipping).  One fix for this problem could be to purchase an inexpensive Ting phone as a backup in the event you ever have a problem with your primary phone.  Then you could just pull your backup phone out of the drawer and activate it with Ting online that same day until you get your new phone in the mail.  Note: there is no charge for an inactive device.  

Ting is the Sound of Mobile Device Savings

I think you'll find that Ting is an outstanding mobile communications company.  If you want to save money and have more control over your budget, Ting is the way to go.  They're great for individual, families, and businesses.  It's refreshing to pay for simply what you use and not to be obligated to lengthy contracts. 

If this blog still doesn't quite convince you to switch, then check out the other many web reviews out there.  Take a gander at Ting's web site, and use their savings calculator to see how much you'd potentially save. 

If you do decide to switch to Ting, please consider using my $25 credit referral link.  You'll get savings on your Ting device purchase or service! 

June 2013: A Six-Month Update

It's been six months since I began using Ting, and I have remained exceptionally satisfied with their services.  Their plan prices have remained unchanged.  They have increased the number of new and used phones for available purchase.  With occasional referral credits, I've been able to go a few months without paying out of pocket.  I continue to be pleased with my decision to make the switch to Ting. 

Still have questions or comments?  Leave a note here on my blog!

Gut Feelings: Revenge of the Pancreas

I have no idea if my many years of an unhealthy high-fat diet contributed to my current predicament, but they certainly couldn't have helped.  In the late evening of Monday, May 6, my pancreas decided to take revenge on me by attacking itself in what was a bout of acute pancreatitis.  The pain was beyond any that I had past experienced, mainly prior bowel obstructions.  It resulted in a four-day hospital stay and what will be a change in my diet for life.  I'm using this blog post to explain what the past couple weeks have been like for me, and while much of it might sound pessimistic, I will conclude this post with some personal points of optimism and hope.

The pancreas produces important hormones like insulin, but it also creates enzymes that break down food in your intestines.  During pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes inflamed.  Pancreatic enzymes begin to destroy the pancreas itself.  As one can imagine, this is not a healthy situation.  The two most common causes of pancreatitis are 1) excessive alcohol use and 2) gallstones blocking the path of the pancreatic enzymes.

When I began getting waves of minor abdominal pains in the early evening that Monday, I thought they might be indicators of a partial bowel obstruction, which I often get, but they tend to work themselves out pretty quickly on their own.  A couple hours later, the waves of pain got much stronger.  Within a short time, the pain became constant and unyielding.  I began infrequently vomiting while trying to find the most comfortable position.  It didn't matter if I was sitting, lying down, or standing up - the pain didn't let up.  I was sweating profusely and became very pale.  Finally, after about six hours I decided I needed to go to the emergency room.  At the time, I thought it likely I had a complete bowel obstruction.  I drove myself to the hospital around one in the morning, which took about 25-30 minutes.

The wait to be seen in the ER was only a few short minutes, but from that point on, it felt like an eternity until I saw a doctor.  When a bed opened up for me, I suddenly found myself in the pediatric section of the hospital (not quite sure why, but the pain blurred my memories at that time).  Hospital staff did an abdominal X-ray on me, and they initially did think it was a bowel obstruction.  They asked me if I'd accept the dreaded nasogastric tube, and I immediately said yes.  An NG tube goes through your nose into your stomach, while you're awake.  But I knew what was coming and I took it in stride, knowing the NG tube would likely relieve some of the pressure and pain by suctioning out anything in my digestive system.  I didn't even gag this time when they inserted the NG tube!  They then did a CT scan which along with blood work revealed I had pancreatitis.  They finally gave me the painkiller Dilaudid after being in the ER for about four hours.  The Dilaudid worked incredibly well; within ten seconds a certain wave of heat came over my entire body and stopped all of the pain.  It was such a relief that I immediately fell asleep.  Doctors and nurses woke me up every now and then with questions and syringes, and eventually they told me I'd be admitted to the hospital.

Thankfully, surgery wasn't necessary as the pancreatitis was caught very early.  The only treatment was the immediate cessation of any food or liquid other than a saline IV drip to keep me hydrated.  With the Dilaudid in my system, I didn't feel much pain at all.  One of my co-workers came in to see me that Tuesday afternoon, right about the same time they gave me an ultrasound.  No pregnancy!  They did the ultrasound to check my gall bladder which came up fine.  No gallstones... and I was adamant in my statements to the doctor that I don't drink much (I drink perhaps once every couple months, and it's usually just a glass of wine or a mudslide).  They did a lot of blood work, though the only immediate results they could get from that was that my triglyceride levels were high but not high enough to cause acute pancreatitis.  They did reveal a "fatty liver," which is exactly what it sounds like - an excess of fat in the liver, often caused by too much fat in one's diet.  Thankfully, that problem is reversible over time with a healthy diet.

After a couple days of the saline IV drip, they upgraded me to a liquid diet.  Jello and broth!  Actually, I really love Jello!  After another day, I was told I could try a diet of low-fat solid food.  I was getting occasional abdominal pains after eating, but it was tolerable.  By that time, I was declining the Dilaudid most of the time.  I don't like counting on narcotics if I don't have to (but they are wonderful when you do need them!).

I was labeled an "independent" at the hospital, which I took as a joke but it seemed it was actually their way of saying I could get out of bed on my own and didn't need much assistance.  Independent is a good life description for me, though... I dislike depending on others for my needs, a lifestyle which I should probably shed a little bit.  I enjoy helping others but have a very hard time accepting it for myself.  Hence, I drove myself to the hospital instead of calling someone else... and I definitely wasn't going to pay for an ambulance!  But again... I know I do need to learn to ask for help.

Funny story.  During my last night in the hospital (Thursday night), for some reason the nursing staff turned on my bed alarm.  So when I got up around 3am for an urgent trip to the bathroom, my bed let out this high-pitch ear-piercing sound.  As I hastily walked to the bathroom, a nursing assistant came in and let out a gasp because she didn't expect to see anyone walking around in the room so quickly.  The whole scene was awful at the time, but kind of hilarious looking back.

Friday I was told I could leave the hospital.  The gastroenterologist who had been popping in to see me daily told me he'd schedule an appointment with me for a couple weeks later.  An MRCP (advanced form of MRI) will eventually be scheduled to check for any possible physical causes of the pancreatitis.  Some specialized blood work results are pending (at least one test I know is to check for an autoimmune disorder).  In the mean time, I'm left wondering what the heck caused the pancreatitis in the first place.

When I was discharged, I asked the nurse how long I'd be on a low-fat diet. "For life," she told me, in a way that also said, "Didn't you know that, silly?"  My primary care doctor who I saw the following Monday confirmed the low-fat diet would be for life.  I'm also not allowed to have alcohol again.  I can deal with the absence of alcohol... but it has certainly been an eye-opening struggle and adjustment as I've been researching how to go about having a low-fat diet.  It's not going to be easy, but I'm gradually learning what I can and cannot eat.

For the first three days after being released from the hospital, I had almost no appetite.  I'd get hungry, but whenever I'd eat, I felt full after just a few bites.  Since being admitted to the hospital, I've lost almost ten pounds - not a great way to lose weight, but hey, I'll take it!  Thankfully, my appetite is back now, though I'm still not eating enough to simply maintain weight.  That will come with time soon, I know.

I am going to miss pizza.  And hamburgers.  And anything fried.  And pretty much all kinds of foods that I love to eat that are high in fat.  Instead, I'm having fruits, vegetables, lean turkey burgers, baked fish, and chicken vegetable stir fries with brown rice (without the cooking oil, which is high in fat), and lean turkey sandwiches.  I do love fat-free Fig Newtons and fat-free yogurt.  Those are my treats for the time being.  I have a steep learning curve ahead but I know that this is for the best.  I do think that my life-long high-fat diet did contribute somehow to the pancreatitis.  Even if it didn't contribute to it, switching to a low-fat diet will be good for my heart, my pancreas, and the rest of my body.

For now I also can't have caffeine, but I'm hoping when I see the gastroenterologist next week, he'll give me his blessing to have coffee every now and then.  Let me keep something I enjoy, like mochas!  Crossing my fingers about that.  If you know me well, you know mochas are a daily staple for me.

I don't know what my journey will be ahead.  I haven't dealt well with not knowing why this happened, but I hope to know in the coming weeks.  I also don't know if this will happen again, and that's a seed of fear that has unfortunately been planted.  Some weird things have been happening, too.  I'm getting night sweats even though it's cool in my bedroom with the air conditioner.  Also, my shin splints are back with a vengeance since the pancreatitis hit me (and they clearly weren't caused by running!).

But here's what I do know.  I know that I appreciated the visits at the hospital from my co-workers and staff members, as well as the phone calls, texts, and posts on social media wishing me well.  Support from others goes a long way.  I appreciated the cards and small gifts I received.  This whole experience has also re-kindled my spiritual reflections and beliefs.  Life is so fragile and precious.  On the morning after being discharged from the hospital, I stepped out of my apartment and observed an overcast sky with a subtle drizzle of rain.  The trees and plant life were especially lush with green.  I was briefly overcome with emotion at the beauty of it all and cried a few happy tears. Sometimes we need experiences of high stress and uncertainty to remind us just how amazing life really is.

Thanks to everyone for these measures of support!

It's More Than Just a Race

I'll officially be in a race again this year.  More to tell about that in a few moments.

Some run marathons to win.  Some run them to beat their pace record.  Some run them just to say that they did it.  Regardless of their reasons, anyone who completes a marathon deserves kudos for being inspiring.

When watching all of the news about the tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon yesterday, I felt a strong need to get back to a race.  I won't be doing a marathon, as I'm not marathon material.  Well... let me correct that by saying, there's no way I could run a marathon, but perhaps one day I'll walk one.

I walked two half-marathons in 2010 - the first in June near Boston with a couple co-workers, and the second in October in Newport, Rhode Island on my own (see linked blog posts).  Both were incredible experiences that made me feel so great about myself and others participating in the races.  You feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. 

Training for a half-marathon does wonders for your health.  The consistent walking (or running or jogging) will certainly help you lose weight.  It's good for your cardiovascular system, and your energy and mood definitely is lifted. After my second half-marathon, I started running and participated in a local 5K in Bridgewater.  Regrettably, I didn't listen to my body and ran through some intense shin pain.  After seeing an orthopedic surgeon, I was told I should avoid ever running again.  That's easy for me to cope with as I hate running!  But I love brisk walking with a passion.  I've been inconsistent about walking since then - only walking about 3-4 miles once a month. 

But I've wanted to get back in the game over the last few months.  I just bought new sneakers a couple weeks ago, and the seed was planted for a return to a half-marathon in the fall, but I wasn't fully committed to it - not quite yet. 

I am inspired by those who ran the Boston Marathon.  By the people who supported the runners.  By those first responders to the scene after the bombings.  By the doctors and medical personnel treating all of those impacted.  By the Boston Police in their amazing response.  By counselors who are helping people cope with the trauma.  And by folks who are showing their support by dedicating their miles run and walked on this "Run for Boston" site started by a woman named Becca Obergefell (props to her for starting it).  I just contributed four miles this morning to the site.

Last night, I received all the motivation I needed to commit to a half-marathon.  I mean, what more motivation could you possibly need than the stories of human goodness coming out of the Boston Marathon? 

So I registered for the Maine Half-Marathon in Portland, Maine set for Sunday, October 6, 2013.  I chose this race because it's very walker-friendly and gives me a chance to see the city of Portland for the first time.  It also gives me a couple months to ease into a consistent walking routine, and then nearly three months to fully train for the half. 

Once I register for a race, I am COMMITTED.  So I knew I needed to register for the Maine Half-Marathon last night.  Every time I go for a walk, I'll be thinking about the people of the Boston Marathon.  And I'll be dedicating my walk in the Maine Half-Marathon to all of those inspiring people.

It's more than just a race.  It's a belief in humanity and the inherent goodness of people.

Oh, one more thing.  I love Boston.

A Niner Reminder

Reveling in the NFC championship victory by the San Francisco 49ers yesterday, I recalled a sort of youthful joy about football that I haven't felt since I was just fourteen years old.  This was back in the Niners' 1994 season when they won the Super Bowl.  I vividly remember jumping up and down for joy, though I was also sick with a cold and was so ready to go to sleep.  I didn't realize that when I'd wake up, the next time I'd see the 49ers headed to the Super Bowl would be eighteen years later.  

Since I save just about every paper I've ever written, I found one I wrote during my freshman year in college (1997) about how my love for the 49ers began, the first game that I ever went to, and the proclamation that I'd always stick with this team for life through the good times and the bad times.  The Niners have been a difficult team to watch for many years, and it's great to see the good times have finally returned.  

Watching Steve Young's enshrining in the
NFL Hall of Fame in San Francisco. [2005]

I've seen the 49ers play at several locales: Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, NC.; Cincinnati, OH; and Seattle, WA.  And in that freshman paper, I expressed a dream to see the 49ers play at home in Candlestick Park.  That ultimately happened when I lived in Idaho and decided to take a vacation in San Francisco.  I had no idea that the game I bought a ticket for would also feature the induction of none other than quarterback legend Steve Young into the NFL Hall of Fame.  That was a memorable, beautiful autumn day in November 2005.

Now I'm pulling (of course) for a Niner victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII on February 3 (otherwise known as the "HarBowl" - the battle of the Harbaugh brothers).  It sure would bring back some super childhood memories and feelings.

So I thought I'd share that old paper from '97 in a blog post and provide some insight into the thoughts of an eighteen year old and how I came to love this San Francisco 49er franchise. Go Niners! 

The 49ers Game

Five years ago, I was a kid who didn't care about football.  It had no meaning in my life.  I was obsessed with computers and math, and I had virtually no social life.  I had a love for statistical figures.  One late night, I was spending my time surfing the Internet and I think I came across a little flashing button.  It led to a program that would take in statistics from football games, and try to determine what team would win in a upcoming game, based on their past results.  I thought this was all pretty cool, so I took out the morning paper and inputted statistics such as rushing yards, number of incomplete passes, number of interceptions, etc.  Many of these statistics I didn't have a clue of what they represented.  After I did all that input, I selected a game scheduled in a few days.  It said the 49ers would win.  I just had to wait until game day.

Game day.  I turn on the TV, preparing for what I initially thought would be three boring hours.  At this point, I didn't care about the game, but rather the statistics produced at the conclusion of the game.  My memory of the game is vague, so I can't remember who the opponent of the 49ers were.  Throughout the ballgame, the score remained close, but the other team took a quick lead with only a few minutes remaining on the clock.  With only a couple minutes in the game, I began to feel the tension and emotion of football.  The 49ers were behind, and they had only one final drive remaining.  If they screwed up now, they would lose the game.  The pressure was on them to win.  I began to root for the 49ers, because they were now the underdogs.  I've always liked the idea of being pushed back and fighting back to win.  The 49ers took charge and drove down the field, scoring a game-winning touchdown.  It was at this time that I would forever love the 49ers football team.

I'd eventually get a close view of my Niner idol, Jerry Rice
at a game in Charlotte, NC. [1998]

For a whole year, I watched the 49ers win and lose games and I also continued to put those statistics in the computer.  I eventually got drawn farther away from the statistical part of the game, and got closer to the power of the game.  It took me time, but I began to learn all the players' names, and the one name that always sticks out in my mind is Jerry Rice.  He is probably the greatest football player ever.  His dexterity and speed always had me in awe.  The guy would be covered all the way down field during a play and still find some way to break away and catch the ball.  After the catch, his speed would take over and he'd leave all the other players in shock.  Players like this make the game worth while and exciting.  

For the first couple years, the 49ers would have a good season and would go to the playoffs.  But they'd always lose to the Dallas Cowboys.  I grew to hate the Cowboys and I learned what a true rivalry between two teams really was. 

In their season of 1994, I got the chance to go see the 49ers play the Redskins at RFK Stadium.  It was a Christmas present from my parents.  Washington D.C. was a four hour trip from Norfolk, Va, and it seemed to take forever, as I was so excited to go to the game.  A lot of my friends told me before I left that 49ers would get their asses kicked by the Redskins, but of course they only wished that would happen.  The 49ers were by far, much better than the Redskins.  The trip to D.C. finally was over and we stayed overnight at a hotel.  It was difficult for me to sleep that night; my excitement could not be contained.  

Nostalgia: The old Game Day magazine
from the Redskins-49ers game that I saved.
[1994]

Sunday, a cool sunny November day.  My mother and I took a bus to the stadium.  It only took a few minutes and finally, we were there.  The stadium looked so huge from the outside.  We went to the entrance where a man took our tickets and handed back the ticket stubs.  Once inside, the stadium became even larger.  We went through the walkway surrounding the football field and closer seats.  It was a difficult task finding our seats.  It took around twenty minutes to finally find them.  Our seats were farther away from the field than most of the seats.  To our surprise, our seats were in the walkway.  The good thing about it was that the sun wasn't in our eyes, however, it was pretty hard to see the players down on the field, being so far away. Once we were in our seats, I looked around and saw all the people sporting their team's colors.  Of course, it was mostly Redskins fans.  But there were a few 49ers fans close to us. It took a while for the game to start, and as we were waiting, we bought a program booklet with all kinds of articles and stats on the upcoming game. The one statistic that popped out in my head was the 49ers record at RFK stadium.  In the recent seasons, the 49ers only won one game and lost four. It worried me that the 49ers had a losing record here, and perhaps they might lose again.   

When the game started, the crowd went wild. Everyone was cheering.  The Redskins band came out and played the famous "Hail to the Redskins" song, and then the teams were on the field, getting in formation to kick.  It was difficult to see all the players on the field from where we were.  Luckily, we had a pair of binoculars to get a better look.  I was so thrilled to see all the 49ers players on the field.  I looked for Jerry Rice and Steve Young, and all the other many excellent players.  These NFL superstar players were on a field, and I was a part of the whole game.  Without the crowd, football would be nothing.  The cheers, jeers, and boos are all necessary parts of the game, and besides, they make it so much more interesting and thrilling.  Sometimes the 49ers would create big plays, such as Jerry Rice catching a long touchdown pass.  It was what I saw on television - except now it was right in front of me - Jerry Rice catching the ball in mid-air, and somehow managing to break away from the Redskins player, running with intense speed.  When watching television, the crowd noise doesn't overpower you, and you're not a part of the game. The camera is in control of what you see and hear, while when you're at the game, you can hear and see everything. The 49ers won this game handily with more than a two touchdown lead.  I saved the ticket stub from this game, and it now sits back home in my closet.  It is a memento of the game, and just touching it brings back the feeling of the game.

I feel very lucky that I saw the 49ers play that season of 1994, because that year, the 49ers finished with a fantastic record.  They once again had to play the Cowboys in the playoffs.

This time, they did not lose.  They finally made it to the Super Bowl. 

On Super Bowl night, they would be playing the San Diego Chargers.  There was no competition here.  The Chargers were lucky to make it to the Super Bowl and the 49ers were destined to go after their thrilling season.  The 49ers offense and defense were both extraordinary.  Throughout the season, they had scored over thirty points in almost every game, and held the other teams to very low scores.  The playoffs was just as easy for them.  The Dallas Cowboys were humbled immediately in their match-up in the playoffs - the 49ers scored three touchdowns in just the first few minutes.  The Chargers had a fairly good season, but their trip through the playoffs was difficult for them.  They squeaked out a couple lucky close wins.  When the two teams met on the field in Miami, Florida for the Super Bowl, the 49ers showed the Chargers and the nation why they were the number one NFL football team. The 49ers whooped the Chargers' asses, making fools of them.  The final score was 49-26.  This Super Bowl win was so great because Steve Young, the quarterback, finally got the monkey off his back.  That monkey was Joe Montana, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.  Joe Montana had won several Super Bowls while Steve Young hadn't even been to one.  Steve Young used to be the backup quarterback and since Montana was sent to the Chiefs, Young had the huge challenge of taking the reins of the 49er football team, in the shadow of Montana.  I think the win made things much easier for Young, since the media finally stopped procrastinating about how Young was no good, always have a great season, but then failing miserably in the playoffs.  

It has now been three years since the 49ers have been to the Super Bowl, and hopefully this season will lead to it.  They have a good shot at it, having already clinching their division and ensuring a good position in the playoffs.  Through these last five years, I have developed a great love for the 49ers.  Throughout the many Christmases and birthdays, I gained a large collection of 49er items.  Anywhere from sweatshirts to a clock to a trashcan - you name it, I've got it.  On a final note, I'm definitely not one of those people who jump on the bandwagon, rooting for only the team that is currently doing well.  I will stick with the 49ers for all my life, no matter how poorly they may do at times throughout.  The next hope of mine is to see the 49ers play at their stadium in San Francisco, California.  The excitement of the 49er fans, and just knowing that I was on the 49ers home turf, would leave a fantastic moment for my memories beyond.