Off to Utah

It always pays to get a second opinion, and then maybe a third or a fourth. After the startling news that the first neurosurgeon wanted to do a 4 disc laminectomy with a fusion I called a neurosurgeon that my physical therapist recommended. His evaluation couldn't have been any different, and much more thorough. Before making any recommendations he had me undergo an EMG which is shorthand for torture. Not, emphatically not, a fun experience, although I have to say that I've had one before and the doc that did this one was infinitely better. It was uncomfortable but I didn't leave thinking the man was a sadist with a MD. When I saw the neurosurgeon today he reiterated that he didn't think surgery was a good idea at all, apparently only 50% of neck surgeries result in less pain in the neck and since I don't have any pain in my legs and arm and the EMG's were normal so I don't have any nerve damage and the weakness in my left hand is much less in the past week.

So no surgery for me and I will be getting a third opinion but I have to jump through some hoops for that. And while waiting for the hoops to be put in order we will head out on what I feel is a well deserved vacation. So we are going to Salt Lake City then down to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. I might have nothing to post before then since work is kicking butt but I should have some fun stuff after.

Forays into black and white

Last weekend we got up early since there was a bit of residual storm surge from the hurricane that was out in the atlantic and Mike wanted to catch the last of the surf. I tagged along with my tripod and 100-400 (and regretted not bringing my other lenses of course), the day was hazy even at 8 am and while the surf wasn't quite what we were hoping for there was still enough for Mike to ride and bright enough for me to shoot but the results were at best disappointing for the color. I got 2 pretty decent shots, one of Mike and another of a short board surfer weaving in and out of the surf, but the color was so bleh that I played a bit with black and white. Not exactly what I was looking for but not as bad as the originals.

Mike:



Unknown surfer:



and then there was the mussel. I really liked this image when I was composing it, but it lacked that oomph for me when I was working on it, so I decided to play around a bit with it in BW and just left the mussel itself, a few strands of seaweed and a rock the original color and gave a very slight sepia tint to the rest of the image. Desperation should be the title of this picture:

Road Rage?

Passenger beheaded on Canada bus

And here I thought road rage was a uniquely American short-coming.