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Why Children Freak Me Out

August 16, 2015 By Tam Warner 20 Comments

Now, I don’t mean they freak me out in general. They freak me out for very specific reasons.

Those reasons have to do with my husband, who had a Double Lung Transplant almost two years ago. (Lung Transplant, An Unexpected Journey!) The journey has been long, and we thought after year one things would get much better…that was, sadly, not necessarily true. Randy, who is on anti-rejection drugs which lower his immune system, has caught several viruses this year, and has been hospitalized four times. Each time is frightening. Lung Transplants have the shortest survival rate of all transplants. Why? Because the lungs are constantly exposed to the air.

What does that have to do with children? Children carry germs. A lot of germs. A single sneeze can land bacteria and germs on doorknobs and countertops long enough to infect others. Covering of the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing can help tremendously, and so can washing your hands. Children, as we know, don’t cover their noses and mouths (especially when they are little) and don’t wash their hands unless they are told. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, children have an average of twelve colds per year. Twelve on average! Yikes!

I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and I wore a mask, knowing that the OB-GYN office would be filled with babies and tots. Everyone asked me what was wrong, and I simply told them the truth. I cannot risk taking illnesses home to Randy. Of course, risk is inherent in every situation, but with Randy, precautions are the name of the game.

Germs are at their very worst in the kitchen. Did you know that washing a dish towel is not enough? Or washing a sponge? It has to go into the microwave for two minutes in order to be germ free.

We just have to be very, very careful. At this point in our lives, our children are getting married. Grandchildren will bring more risk…hopefully we have a few years until that time. When the babies come, we will just have to be ultra careful about washing items with antibacterial soap, microwaving sponges and towels, and using face masks. It worries me though. Of course we will want to be around our grandchildren as much as possible. We’ll have to take precautions.

Careful is our new byword.

**photo from Creative Commons.

5 Reasons to Get off your Keester and Travel!

August 13, 2015 By Tam Warner 10 Comments

5 reasons, travel, keester — A young monk welcoming us to Myanmar.

Do you travel?

Yesterday I wanted to meet a friend for lunch, but my car was in the shop. I called Uber and was quickly picked up by a friendly and delightful driver from Guinea, Africa. We began to talk about Guinea’s location, and he was overjoyed when he discovered that I had actually traveled to Africa and visited several countries there. A story emerged which highlighted, perfectly, why we should all travel. The driver worked on the morning of his daughter’s wedding, and he drove that day in the suit he was going to wear at the event. One of his clients asked him who it was that taught him how to put on a suit. You have to admit, that is a rather odd question. (The inference being, of course, that someone “civilized” had to have explained to him how to wear a suit). The driver, who speaks clear English and has been in the USA for almost 30 years, admitted he was very angry about it. People in America, he said, do not travel often enough, and have no idea about the cultures of other places. I agreed.

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” Terry Pratchett

Since my discussion with him, I have done a little research, and yes, it is true that the vast majority of Americans have never traveled out of the country. I have had people tell me they are not interested in going to other places because America is the “best”. I’m not going to argue about patriotism, but my question is, how do you know? If you have never been to another country, how can you know what is “best”? And does everything have to be rated as good, better and best? Can’t it just be different? I realize that not everyone wants to travel, but there is no question that it provides invaluable experience and insight to the traveler and to the people the traveler knows or meets. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” I agree, St Augustine, I agree.

travel, 5 reasons, keester — There are over 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand! Bangkok is a city filled with wonder. My daughter and I were both blessed by the monks of The Golden Buddha Monastery while we were there.

Here are 5 excellent reasons to see other parts of the world.

Travel takes you out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is, well, comforting, but it does not give you the opportunity to stretch yourself or to grow. When you step out into new surroundings you achieve something new…instead of stagnating you are in motion, and you are learning about the world around you. (Your comfort zone really does not exist, you know. It is simply a comforting illusion.)
Market day in Tanzania
Traveling can help you conquer your fears. Afraid of water? Go to the beach, or a lake. Afraid of heights? Climb a hill, or better yet, go to a vista point at the nearest national park. Fear is paralyzing…so get up and move. If not now, when?
Our family in Ancient Rome…the antiquity was mind boggling. And the food was fantastic!
Travel is mind expanding! It gets you out of a routine and makes you use your brain, your ears, and your eyes. When traveling there is so much that has to be taken in…new sights, new flavors, new noises. It takes your complete attention…you are no longer on “auto-pilot”.
Yes, those are swimming pigs! They are in the Exumas, Bahamas!
Travel introduces you to different cultures and new perspectives. The culture you live in isn’t the only one on the planet, you know! Ever thought about doing volunteer travel, especially abroad? These trips are not expensive, and you usually get all of your meals plus a place to stay. Airfare is reasonable to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and many other places from the US. Volunteer travels can be eye opening and have a major impact on your life by showing you how others live, think, and do things. Volunteer Tourism is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. There are trips for every taste, be it teaching children or scuba diving for research or digging wells or teaching skills to help people make a living. There are many ways to make a difference.
A volunteer trip to Ecuador took me completely out of my comfort zone…and it ended up being a wonderful trip.

Fish Market in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador.
Traveling can be a little scary, and that is probably the best reason to do it. We fear what we do not understand. Travel educates. It challenges us to learn about ourselves, to learn the cultures of other countries, and understanding is the path to knowledge, and hopefully, wisdom.
Oh, it isn’t that scary!!!!

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain

I have some favorite volunteer travel agents and agencies such as All Out Africa, Kaya Responsible Travel, the Giving Lens (a great volunteer program for photographers), Marine Megafauna Ray of Hope Expeditions, Mission Blue….there are just so many opportunities! Get on Google and Google to get away! Seeing the world will make a difference not only in your life…but in the lives of others. And no excuses about being “too old”. I took my first Citizen Science trip when I was 53! Just make up your mind and do it!

Fab Photos Friday: The Biggest Fish in the Ocean

August 6, 2015 By Tam Warner 9 Comments

Andrea took this awesome photo of me with the Whale Shark! — Field scientist Dr. Andrea Marshall took this awesome photo of me with the Whale Shark!

The incredible Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the ocean! And it is such a beautiful, gentle fish! It has to be said that whale sharks probably don’t have Einstein’s IQ since they have the smallest brain in the ocean for their size, but give them a break …they help keep plankton and krill under control, which is necessary for our oceans and for life on earth. I just returned from the Yucatan peninsula where possibly the largest aggregation of whale sharks occurs, and it was a spectacular trip. Here are some Whale Shark Facts along with the photographs I took!

1. The largest fish in the ocean can grow up to 65 feet and 75,000 pounds. They are as large as many whales, and as big as, or bigger than, a city bus!

I took this photo of the vertical, pregnant whale shark and our Kiwi!

2. The largest fish in the ocean eats the smallest creatures in the ocean: tiny plankton, small fishes, and small crustaceans. They are filter feeders, they gulp the sea water through their gills, and when the water is pushed out, prey gets stuck to their gill plates. Yum!

Andrea photographing. — Photographing and swimming with Whale Sharks.

3. Whale Sharks are sharks and do not have bones, but cartilage. Cartilage does not fossilize as well as bones do, so there is not a huge fossil record of sharks. Most of what we know of ancient sharks come from their teeth.

This lousy photo gives you a sense of the scale of these animals!

4. Female Whale Sharks are bigger than the males and are found in all warm oceans: Pacific, Indian and Atlantic.

Two feeding sharks..the white dots and scatter is food! Tuna spawn draws the Whale Sharks to the Yucatan every year.

5. Whale Sharks are gentle creatures and one can swim right next to the animal with no fear.

6. Each whale shark has a unique spot pattern from it’s gill to over the pectoral fins. When swimming with whale sharks, it is best to take ID photos to upload into a scientific database like www.whaleshark.org.

7. Thanks to tagging and ID photographs much more is now known about Whale Sharks compared to 10 years ago. We know they migrate thousands of miles to opportunistically feed…Mexico is a hotspot, particularly the Yucatan where tuna spawn in the summer. The whale shark may live up to 100 years!

8. It is not common to see pregnant females like the one pictured here. Much of the time one sees juvenile males. A female whale shark has been known to hold 300 fetuses. It is possible that female whale sharks may “save sperm” in order to fertilize their own eggs as they are made, but more study needs to be completed in order to know for certain.

Feeding Series. This is the first shot I took. — Feeding Series. This is the first shot I took of this glorious pregnant female!

Feeding series 2. I swam in front of the shark to get a shot and she buttoned up. — Feeding series 2. I swam in front of the shark to get a shot and she buttoned up! Proof that she knows I am not food.

Feeding series 3. She opened back up when I reached her other side.

9. Sadly, the Whale Shark is “vulnerable” according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List. Whale Sharks are protected in most areas of the world but are still killed for their fins (for shark fin soup). Sharks are very toxic to humans so they are not a good food source, and humans have been very toxic toward sharks since we are responsible for the deaths of 75 to 100 million sharks a year.

If you wish to learn more about these fascinating sharks, check out www.marinemegafauna.org. Marine Megafauna Foundation studies large pelagic species in order to understand their ecology and protect them from illegal fishing practices. You can even adopt a shark, manta ray, or sea turtle! The proceeds go toward scientific study of the animals for conservation purposes. Marine Megafauna also offers expeditions (like the one I was just on in the Yucatan) in order to assist scientists by performing citizen science. We are all responsible for the condition of our planet, and we all need to contribute in some way. If you’d like to learn more about sharks and the state of our oceans, I recommend going to www.sharkwater.com and seeing the documentaries of Rob Stewart, or checking the BBC or Discovery Channel.

Fab Photos Friday: Incredible Night Dive

July 16, 2015 By Tam Warner 8 Comments

Another night dive on Paradise Reef in Cozumel!

pn slipper lob awesome eye — Slipper Lobster. The best photo I’ve ever taken of one. LOVE its eye and cool legs.

Look at the size of this tiny shrimp! Isn't it cute? — Look at the size of this tiny shrimp! Isn’t it cute?

pn crab standoff — Standoff! Get out of my hood, dude.

pn lob out at night — Huge lobster out at night

pn splendid toadfish — The Splendid Toadfish can be found only in Cozumel.

pn parrotfish hiding — The day fish hide at night.

pn octopus hiding — Can you see the hiding octopus?

pn octo incredible shot — This octopus is such an exciting creature to watch. The color changes are constant.

pn flamingo tongue body or mouth — Flamingo tongue at night.

Enjoy what you are looking at? Please share!

The Roller Coaster of Transplants

July 11, 2015 By Tam Warner 23 Comments

The roller coaster never stops. Randy has been feeling quite well after a shaky start this year. In January he was hospitalized with the CMV virus, and in March with another virus. It has been a tough year for him as his father has been ill and in the hospital as well. Randy and his dad are very close, and it has been hard for both of them as they watch the other fall ill. They make the best of it, laughing about how they are the blind leading the blind, but underneath the joking there is concern and deep sadness for them both.

We flew to Cozumel on June 29th, and it has been a joy to watch Randy snorkeling, walking, and regaining strength after his long bout with a blood clot in his leg. The clot is gone, and Randy has been gaining in strength. Until yesterday. I went diving yesterday morning, and Randy sounded like he might be coming down with a cold or sinus. When I returned from the dive at 130p, I found Randy packed and ready to go. He had a fever, chills and was achy. I drove him to the airport immediately and put him on a plane to Dallas. The doctor wanted him to go straight to the ER at Clements UT Southwestern…and that is where he is now. Another virus, 5 days of breathing treatments, then home. I lost my iphone a week ago, and my internet is not working.

When we were desperately waiting for a lung transplant, all we could think about was getting those lungs. We didn’t think about the future because the present was as much as we could handle. The hope, of course, is that once the lungs are in and recovery has been achieved, life will go back to “normal”. In some respects it has…but for the most part, “normal” has changed. The challenge is Randy’s immune system, which is significantly lowered by the anti-rejection medications. He comes down with illnesses very easily. Everything one can see or touch is a potential source of illness. His new lungs haven’t had much difficulty at all, they have functioned beautifully.

So I am torn. Randy and I have discussed it many times. We agree that I should travel and do the things that we had planned to, and participate in the causes I am committed to. It sounds good, it is rational, an agreement reached by both parties. Randy will be well enough to do some traveling, and to come to Cozumel. But at the first signs of fever and illness, we have decisions to make. And though I know intellectually that it is right for me to take care of myself, to continue as best as I can doing those things we planned to do, there is a part of me that feels guilty. I feel responsible, and always have, for just about everything and everybody. And yes, I work at not feeling responsible. However, if I am honest with myself, and I am, I admit that I feel torn. I want to do what Randy and I have agreed to, which is to continue living my life. I spend probably 85% of my time with Randy, but it is a conflict knowing that he is in the hospital *and I know he will be fine* while I am in Cozumel diving, and heading on a Manta expedition in a week that I’ve had planned for months. And of course, if there is a hint of serious illness, I will fly home.

And so it goes, as the roller coaster takes a stomach dropping dip.

Photos: Excitement on the Reefs of Cozumel!

July 9, 2015 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

Not only dives! The snorkeling has been amazing as well. The little stuff has been incredible! Diving isn’t all sharks and huge pelagics, it is also the tiniest members of the ocean community that fascinate.

Randy and I have been snorkeling every day for the first time since his double lung transplant almost two years ago! He has been thrilled to be back in Cozumel. We have really been enjoying our time here, and on our snorkels we have seen several reef squid hanging around. I didn’t know if they were cuttlefish or squid, and a couple of readers let me know they are squids…Caribbean Reef Squid or Inshore Arrow Squid, they are still fascinating, even magical, creatures. On Tuesday, July 7, we were doing our usual route over the reef system in front of our house, and I saw a few squids. After looking around, I realized it wasn’t a few, it was an aggregation! They fly in the water like a squadron, and they were everywhere. When I swam between them they separated into groups, then regathered. They are intelligent, and you can see a lively curiosity in their large beautiful eyes. Like an octopus, they change colors, white to lavender to iridescent. I wanted to stay and watch them for hours, but finally Randy dragged me away.

Since the hurricane Wilma in 2006, sea horses and pipefish are hard to find. On Palancar Gardens on July 6, the dive guide, Yasser, found a pipehorse! It was so tiny, even for a pipefish! So tiny, and so precious! Again, I could have spent the dive observing it, but I had to move on.

My dive guide points out the Pipehorse...so tiny! — My dive guide points out the Pipehorse…so tiny!

Incredib le Pipehorse. — Incredible Pipehorse.

Prior to this trip I replaced my prescription dive mask, which was at least 5 years old. I feel like I am seeing a whole new world! Nothing like being able to see! For instance, I have always loved Christmas tree worms, but now that I have my new prescription I realize they have a body, or tube, which is also quite pretty! It is so easy to miss things…I could spend 24 hours a day for years on just this one reef and never see it all. It changes minute to minute.