This Part 2 of my 7-part sailing series. Click here to see a list of the series posts.

Sailing, Sailing

Each day after breakfast, the captain would gather us and show us where we were, and what the forecast was — specifically, the wind strength and direction. He would then tell us which destinations he thought were reachable and offer his recommendation. He loves sailing the Baltic Sea and is familiar with many of the ports, so we always accepted his recommendation.

Originally, we had hoped to circumnavigate the Danish island of Fyn, which is right in the middle of Denmark. But that trip would require favorable winds, and we were to learn that the winds don’t always heed the forecast.

Instead, we sailed around the southern side of Fyn, visiting several quaint small ports and islands in the area. Heading into port, we’d lower and secure sails, and the captain fired up the 318hp diesel motor to bring us into dock. The following morning we’d motor out of port before hoisting sails and catching the wind.

The first two days were lovely and sunny, with mild winds. Our big ship cruised smoothly along at about 4-8 knots.

Day 1: Sailing to Maasholm

Our first day we headed north, sailing about 5 hours and 38km/23 miles to the German port of Maasholm. So small was the port that three tall ships had to tie up side by side like a whale sandwich.

The captain pointed out some Dutch flat-bottomed sailing ships. They are easily recognized by the large leeboards, or pivoting keels. Like a centerboard, the keel can be hiked up in shallow waters. Raised, it looks a wing affixed to the side of the hull.

Walking around the historic fishing town, I admired the lovely, thatched roofs and found a cute little bakery. Despite the excellent breakfast I knew was waiting for me on board, I couldn’t resist buying a couple of sweet baked goods.

Day 2 we continued northward. I asked to take the wheel, and the captain immediately turned it over to me.

Steering a 132-foot-long, 21-foot-wide sailing ship takes quite some getting used to. Imagine steering a semi-truck with at least two trailers. Every time you turn the wheel even slightly, it takes about 30 seconds before the truck starts to turn. By then, you are already turning the wheel back, anticipating an overcorrection.

So you turn left, and 30 seconds later the ship starts turning, and you are already turning the wheel right to prevent the ship from turning too far to the left. Then repeat on the opposite side. It is like steering a whale along a never-ending slow-motion serpentine course.

We made decent progress most of the morning, but the wind was weak and not in a favorable direction. Finally, the wind died down. I then decided to ask for something else I really wanted to do: to climb the mast.

Again, the captain readily agreed, and within minutes I was in a full harness, clipped in, and scaling the rope ladder up the main mast, which is about 29 meters/95 feet tall.

The rope ladder consisted of two taut steel cables with rope rungs strung between them. The higher I climbed, the narrower the two cables became, to the point that the rope rungs were maybe 5 inches wide.

It was strenuous, and I was huffing and puffing by the time I reached the steel crossbeam, upon which I sat for a moment, taking in the beautiful panorama before coming down.

Once I was down, several of my companions decided to follow in my vertical footsteps, taking advantage of the calm waters, blue skies, and beautiful views.

The captain also decided this would be a good time to do a man-overboard drill, which turned out to be a good exercise because everything went wrong. A floating ring was thrown overboard, a warning bell sounded, and all the passengers assembled. I was assigned to keep an eye on the ring (the “man overboard”) while the captain, a couple passengers, and a crew were supposed to rescue the ring.

First, as the inflatable dinghy was lowered with one of the crew in it, the small boat suddenly dropped one side, spilling the gas canister overboard and nearly sending the crew member swimming. The boat was lowered onto the water and righted itself, but the gas can promptly disappeared under the boat, and although our forward movement was slow, the crew couldn’t pull it back out. After several machinations, the gas can was finally dislodged by pushing an oar under the dinghy. By this time, the captain was certain that the gas was fouled with water, so the dinghy couldn’t be motored to rescue the ring that was slowly shrinking in the distance.

That meant we’d have to steer the whole 132-foot ship close to the ring and let the crew in the dinghy use a long gaff to get it. Even on smooth water with almost no wind, motoring a 132-foot ship close enough to a floating ring is like trying to park an elephant between motorcycles, and it took a couple circles to finally complete the task.

After a close inspection, it was determined that the initial spill of the dinghy was caused by one small bolt that completely broke and dumped one side of the boat.

The winds never came back, so we opted to motor over to the small Danish island of Lyø, completing a trip of about 55km/34 miles.

Walking the island we admired many more old buildings with thatched roofs, farms and fields, and an ancient windmill with no sails. We saw large jackrabbits chasing each other, domesticated ducks, and raptors patrolling the skies.

We encountered the neolithic Klokkenstenen (“Bell Stone”), dating back to the 4th millennium BC. These boulders were stacked in such a way that striking the Bell Stone with a hand-held stone sounds remarkably like a tolling bell.

Click here to continue to Part 3

Sailing the Baltic 7-Part Series:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Getting Underway
Part 3: Flying Sails, Flying Cards
Part 4: A Lecture and New Speed Record
Part 5: Avernakø and the Captain’s Dinner
Part 6: Sønderborg, Another Talk, and Back To Germany
Part 7: Disembarking and Postlude

Summary: This is the first of a 7-part series describing my 8-day voyage on a twin masted tall ship on the Baltic Sea. Click here to see a list of the series posts.

Last May I took part in a wonderful sailing voyage on the Abel Tasman, a twin masted schooner.

My friend of 38 years, Frank, invited me to join 16 of his closest friends. He had been a guest on the same tall ship the previous year and decided for his birthday he wanted to invite his friends to sail.

It had been decades since I’d gone sailing. In high school, I sailed a Pelican sailboat in front of my home frequently. I can’t remember sailing since.

I’ve often imagined how fun it would be to go on a multi-day sailing cruise, perhaps up the Oregon and Washington coast to the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia. But I have neither the skills, crew, nor craft to do it. So, when Frank invited me, I leapt at the opportunity!

Our Ship

The Abel Tasman is named after the 17th century Dutch seafarer and explorer who reached Tasmania and New Zealand. It is from him the name Tasmania originates. The ship is 110 years old and 40.5 meters/132 feet long. It can sleep up to 30 passengers, although we were just 17.

The ship was run by only a captain and two young women as crew. We provided the muscle to raise and lower sails, prepare and serve meals, and clean. We were welcome to take the wheel, which I did many times.

We met the ship in Eckernförde, Germany, about 30 miles from the border of Denmark.

Our cabins were small as expected. Each had a sink, but to my surprise, also a small private shower stall.

The galley (kitchen) was well appointed, at least to my eyes.

Up a tight spiral staircase was the mess. This was where we ate our meals, relaxed indoors, played cards, and socialized.

Here is a video walk-through of the ship:

We had developed a meal plan in the preceding months, and at the dock we loaded crates of fresh produce, dry goods, and everything we planned to cook and eat. There was a large refrigerator, freezer, and pantry below deck, and on deck were several large storage containers for all the food.

The Passengers

I was the only American in the group. The majority were German, of course, friends from throughout Frank’s life going back to childhood. Many were from Berlin and Hamburg. One family was from Bavaria, and one individual was Swiss.

The captain was a 29-year-old Swiss man. He’d been sailing professionally for a decade, and the two women crew were German.

Everyone spoke German and English, although I endeavored to speak only German during the trip. I pride myself on my accent, but I have forgotten so many words and my grammar has gotten really rusty in the decades since I studied in Germany.

Click here to continue to Part 2

Sailing the Baltic 7-Part Series:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Getting Underway
Part 3: Flying Sails, Flying Cards
Part 4: A Lecture and New Speed Record
Part 5: Avernakø and the Captain’s Dinner
Part 6: Sønderborg, Another Talk, and Back To Germany
Part 7: Disembarking and Postlude

Summary: After a decade of silence, the flute makes a sonorous return into my life

When I was young, I took private music lessons on violin, piano, and flute. My father and I played dinner music in a restaurant in my hometown every Friday night when I was in high school. I’d play violin and flute and he’d play piano and accordion.

Violin emerged as my primary instrument, until I picked up the viola in my late 20s and was forever hooked. I’ve performed with the Newport Symphony for over 18 years (click here to see my next performances), and I enjoy playing string quartets and quintets with many of my very talented friends.

I do pull out my violin on occasion, and although it seems so small (I jokingly call it my “larval viola”), I do enjoy being reminded of its sound and agility.

But what about the flute?

It’s been over a decade since I played my flute. In fact, I sold my flute to a neighbor who really wanted to play it. I wasn’t using it, so why not?

Then I heard an alto flute.

It was about a decade ago when I was performing in a pit orchestra for a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.” The opening strains of the moving, heartbreaking song, “Sorry Grateful” feature the mournful, mellow sounds of the alto flute.

I was captivated. To me, it sounded like a viola-flute.

So, what is an alto flute?

An alto flute is longer, bigger, and lower than a standard concert or C flute. A C flute is about 3/4″ (1.9cm) in diameter, whereas an alto flute is 1″ (2.54cm) in diameter. Also, a C flute is 26.5″ (67.3cm) long, and an alto flute is 34″ (86.3cm).

An alto flute doesn’t project as much sound as a C flute. They are rarely ever seen or heard in orchestras or bands. You might get to see one in jazz music.

Anyway, my friend Mitch, who owns a multitude of instruments was moving overseas and had to find homes for his musical menagerie. He had an alto flute and agreed to trade it to me in exchange for some computer work.

That was just a couple weeks ago (I also got a theremin from him, an amazing and unusual instrument I will likely write about soon).

Before he left, Mitch and I got together to play for fun.

Less than a week later, I attended an outdoor performance of the Tualatin Valley Community Band. I wanted to see and support a coworker who plays in the group.

Looking over the program, I saw a name I recognized from my distant past. It was my flute teacher — from over 40 years ago!

Of course, I went up and introduced myself. We were so delighted to reconnect!

During my most recent online karaoke party, I decided to give performing on the alto flute for others a try.

When out of practice, playing a C flute for the first time can leave one lightheaded and dizzy. The alto flute requires even more air, and the piece I chose to play was a transcription I wrote of Debussy’s “Rêverie.”

The long, sustained notes stretched my lung capacity to the limit. I was left gasping with a light headache and dizziness for at least 15 minutes after I was done. But it was worth it.

I’m smitten. Whereas as the viola has lured me away from the violin, the low, velvety tones of the alto flute have brought me back to the cousin of a long-neglected wind instrument.

h/t to Democracy Now’s June 30, 2023 broadcast

The U.S. Supreme Court has come under scrutiny for recent controversial decisions, questions about transparency, and concerns about ethics.

But two reports have come out that call into question the standing of petitioners for two separate Supreme Court cases:

The Student Loan Case’s Unwilling Participant – The American Prospect

In Biden v. Nebraska, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) was the key plaintiff. The claim was that the Biden administration’s plan to forgive student debt would harm MOHELA. The state of Missouri claimed that MOHELA would lose revenue and be therefore unable to repay money into a Missouri state fund for in-state schools.

However, MOHELA did not file, was not party to the suit, and did not support the case. MOHELA only found out about the lawsuit on the day it was filed back in September, 2022.

As for the state fund MOHELA allegedly would be unable to contribute to — MOHELA hasn’t contributed to that fund in 15 years.

The Mysterious Case of the Fake Gay Marriage Website, the Real Straight Man, and the Supreme Court – The New Republic

In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, the Supreme Court looked into a case brought by a Colorado web designer opposed to making websites for same-sex marriages. She argued that a Colorado state anti-discrimination statute cannot compel her to create products that include speech with which she disagrees. The web designer claimed she was contacted in 2016 by “Stewart” for design work for his marriage to “Mike.”

Justice Sotomayor stated this case could be “the first time in the Court’s history … [that] a commercial business open to the public, serving the public, that it could refuse to serve a customer based on race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation.”

Turns out, Stewart is married to a woman and never requested design work. When contacted by a reporter to ask about the case, he replied this was “the very first time I’ve heard of it.” His name, contact information, and website info were all correct. Stewart went on:

“If somebody’s pulled my information, as some kind of supporting information or documentation, somebody’s falsified that … I wouldn’t want anybody to … make me a wedding website? I’m married, I have a child—I’m not really sure where that came from? But somebody’s using false information in a Supreme Court filing document … I disagree with this, in the strongest possible terms. I couldn’t disagree with her stance more.”

It didn’t take long for reporters to uncover these two instances of unwitting and unwilling “plaintiffs” in Supreme Court cases.

Regardless of how you feel about the decisions for these two cases, wouldn’t it be reasonable for everyone to agree that cases should only be valid with actual plaintiffs who have filed and are supportive of the cases in which they are named? Furthermore, I would argue any decisions based on cases filed by fake and/or falsified plaintiffs should be vacated.

UPDATE: Former Solicitor General Neal Katyal claims Colorado’s attorney general can ask to rehear the 303 Creative case based on the fact that the case was made up.

Several legal scholars disagree, however. But they say the attorneys who argued the case may be subject to judicial discipline.

On a recent trip to Phoenix, AZ, I was introduced to some amazing food — found by my traveling companion, an executive chef and former restaurant co-owner. We ate well!

If you are traveling to Phoenix and want to experience some superlative dining, may I offer these suggestions?

#1 Pizzeria Bianco

Ask most where you can find the best pizza and you likely would hear Chicago, New York, or Italy. Phoenix would likely never cross your mind, and you’d be forgiven for being skeptical that the best pizza might be found there.

However, James Beard Award-Winning Chef Chris Bianco produces pizza worthy of such praise. He is featured in episode one of the Netflix series, “Chef’s Table: Pizza.”

Be warned, there are no reservations and waits can be up to two hours. However, after putting your name on the waitlist, go next door to the bar and enjoy a cocktail or a cold one indoors or out while you wait.

It.will.be.worth.the.wait.

Handmade mozzarella cheese, impossibly thin, yet crispy and flavorful crust, the salads and pizzas are a feast for the eyes and the stomach.

There are a couple locations. I went to the downtown location at 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ.
https://www.pizzeriabianco.com/

#2 Tratto

The same chef who perfected the aforementioned pizza has another restaurant just a mile away. Salads, pastas, meat dishes and more with ingredients sourced from local farmers and ranchers will equally delight the eyes, mouth, and stomach.

Every single bite was full of beautiful and complex flavors.

I would rate this meal one of the top 5 restaurant meals I’ve had in my life (so far).

1505 E Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
http://www.trattophx.com/

#3 Casa Corazon

Of course there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in the greater Phoenix area, and I only tried a couple. But this one really stood out.

Great cocktails, a salsa bar with a dozen salsas and sauces for your chips, and handmade tortillas, accompany dishes with complex and rich flavors, including some of the best mole I’ve tasted. Casa Corazon is worth a visit.

2637 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ.
https://casacorazonrestaurant.com/

#4 Platform 18

Come for an immersive experience! This Pullman Train Car Cocktail Bar serves up classic Prohibition-era as well as original cocktails.

The windows show passing scenes of a bucolic Louisiana bayou while your mixologist serves up amazing concoctions with grace and flair.

Just drinks, no food, and reservations are recommended.
3626 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ
https://centurygrandphx.com/

No doubt natives as well as other visitors to the greater Phoenix area can offer their suggestions for some amazing food and drink. Please comment with yours!

Friday, I saw a brief glimpse of my father when I looked in the mirror.

I’ve never seen my father in my own face — in my uncle and occasionally in one of my brothers, but never in me. I might detect a familiar pose or shape of the mouth in pictures of myself, but never more.

Although he’s been gone for 27 years, there’s a good reason he’s constantly been in my mind, especially this last month.

Saturday, April 15, I will be a featured storyteller at the “I Am An American Live” event hosted by The Immigrant Story, a non-profit whose mission is “to document, narrate, and curate stories about immigrants in order to promote empathy and advance an inclusive community.”

For nearly a half year I have been working with a dedicated team of compassionate, encouraging, and skilled story editors and story tellers to develop my story, which will be about me coming to terms with my mixed-race heritage. Some very personal moments from my relationship with my father feature prominently, and I am pleased to share with the world how he impacted and still influences me today.

When I was 4 years old, he launched me on a joyful lifetime musical journey placing a small violin in my hands. He encouraged and supported me as I took private lessons on three instruments, and when I was in junior high and high school, we played live music every week in a local restaurant. That was the period during which we played the most music constantly together.

One of the sweetest memories, and one I return to several times in my story, is the feeling I felt when we’d be playing, our eyes would meet, and we’d smile:

It’s bittersweet to realize I am now the age he was when we were playing music together in the restaurant.

He died after having been hit by a drunk driver. Although it’s been nearly 3 decades’ past, it still stings. But out of that tragedy, I found a new musical outlet, one which brings me more musical joy and happiness than ever in my life.

I’m humbled to be included with three other outstanding speakers with gripping and emotional stories of their own. Although I’ve struggled with self-doubt whether I belong, they have been encouraging me and I’m pleased with my story.

Then, a week ago, I got very sick. Sore throat, headaches, loss of appetite, and malaise, I suffered for four days eating and drinking very little and losing an alarming amount of weight. I worried whether I would be safe to tell my story. I tested for COVID and Strep Throat — thankfully both came back negative.

Happily, I’ve begun eating again, my symptoms are lessoning, and my strength and stamina are creeping back. I am confident I will be able to tell my story but will exercise caution so as to minimize possible exposure to others as well as not overtaxing myself.

Maybe the glimpse of my father I saw was due to the severity of weight loss and dehydration from which I’m recovering. Regardless, I feel his kind, silent reassurance and am proud to share some of my personal moments with him with you all.

The event is sold out, but recordings of the event should be posted on The Immigrant Story web site later.

Peace and grace to you all.

Update: The event went well and I’m very pleased with my performance. You can read about it here and see recordings of all four of us storytellers here.

In most action and disaster movies at some point you will see the main character running, sliding, and jumping to dodge and avoid obstacles and assailants.

Sometimes I feel the same way as I try to avoid the slings and arrows of bad news, anti-social media, and cynical politics and marketing.

I don’t wish to withdraw completely and become ignorant and isolated from what is going on, so how do I strike a healthy balance? Here are two sites that consistently turn my day around:

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One site I visit regularly is the Good News Network.

This website posts positive news stories from around the world, and just glancing at the headlines can redirect your attitude upwards from sadness and despair. Here are a few recent headlines:

The Lullaby Project Connects Mothers Behind Bars with Their Babies, Helping Them Write Original Lullabies

North Carolina Church Raises Thousands to Pay Off Cafeteria Lunch Debt For Every County School

17-Year-old Wins $150,000 in Science Talent Search for Remarkable Way to Diagnose Pediatric Heart Disease

Skimming the headlines or reading one or two articles in the morning puts me in a good mood and strengthens my ability to deal with challenges and not be dragged down.

Good News Network also has a mobile app to make it easy to pull up headlines and stories on your smartphone!

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Another site I haven’t visited in many months is a Facebook series hosted by Glamour called, You Sang My Song.

Don’t worry. Even if you have sworn off Facebook (as I have attempted) or don’t even have a Facebook account, you can still watch it.

In this series, successful musicians and music groups watch videos of fans playing and singing covers of their songs. The pros give their positive feedback, and then their fans are contacted. We get to see their reactions to the pro’s feedback.

Although there have been no new videos posted in over a year, there are over 40 videos — plenty to visit and revisit again and again.

It’s heartwarming and moving. The professionals are generous with their praise, and watching the fans’ reactions — shock and surprise that their idols are seeing their covers, trepidation as they await the feedback, and effusive gratitude once received — really warms the heart.

Those anxious moments remind me of the powerful scene at the end of Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights” when his formerly blind beloved realizes who he is, and he nervously awaits her reaction:

Admittedly, many of the artists were unknown to me, but I am nonetheless always buoyed by the music, the initial reactions, and the secondary reactions. I suspect you will too.

If you have sites to recommend, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Two years ago I wrote a two-part blog series about saving on your prescription drug costs using GoodRx or buying from Canada.

I heard from many friends and family members who were already using both methods. I was surprised to hear how many were buying from Canada.

Today, I’m happy to share a third method that may save you significantly on your prescription drugs. It is Cost Plus Drug Company.

A year ago, I started hearing news reports about billionaire Mark Cuban starting a new pharmacy with the goal of offering drugs with the lowest prices around. I hadn’t looked into until today, when I learned about a friend who was facing costs of $350 – $650 for a one-month supply of a single medication.

Good News/Bad News
Some are finding significant savings using Cost Plus. Others are finding mixed results on how much Cost Plus may save.

In the case of my friend, their particular medication was not listed on Cost Plus. You can sign up for a notification when a medication you need is added (which is what they did).

I decided to do a simple lookup on Restasis (Cyclosporine), which prompted my search and the original blog posts two years ago. Here’s what I found.

Pharmacy	Best Prices
GoodRx	$156.70 – $205.39
Your Canada Drug Store	$111.24 – $163.80
Cost Plus Drug Company	$128.35

Conclusion:

Cost Plus Drug Store is only a year old, but it is saving some people a lot of money. Do your homework and compare options. Note the generic vs. name-brand drugs are listed, so you are comparing apples to apples.

Your results may vary, but it is definitely an option worth considering when looking to save money on your prescription drugs.

Goodbye ads and hello significant network speed improvement!

So, I set up a Raspberry Pi-Hole yesterday. Well, actually I did much less than that. I purchased a ready-built Raspberry Pi-Hole and installed it into my home network.

Why did I do this? I wanted a clean and efficient way to block annoying ads, pop-ups, and trackers so many websites attempt to download to your devices. I also expected some improvement in network speed. It turned out to be a significant speed improvement loading webpages. For that reason alone, I would recommend a Raspberry Pi-Hole.

1. What is a Raspberry Pi and what is a Pi-Hole?

A Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer, no bigger than a pack of cigarettes. Hobbyists love to tinker with these devices, building and configuring them for any of a number tasks (home digital juke box, attic temperature and humidity monitor, robotic applications, home automation, music and digital sound effects, games, and much more).

Raspberry Pi computers can be purchased for as little as US$40 for a bare bones circuit board to up to US$150-$200 for more features such as a power supply, enclosure, cables, and more. Numerous accessories are also available (touch screens, cameras, sensors, etc.).

So, what is a Pi-Hole?

A Pi-Hole (pronounced “pie hole”), is software run on a computer which filters out advertisements and trackers. For the network savvy, it acts as a DNS sinkhole, a DNS Cache, and can be configured to block adult content.

A Pi-Hole has significant advantages over typical software solutions (e.g., pop-up blockers, etc.). It works faster, more efficiently, and blocks ads on not just from reaching your computer, but also your cell phone (when using Wi-Fi), your smart TV, and other devices on your home network.

Normally, internet traffic, including all the ads and tracking software, etc., comes through your main internet connection, through your router, and gets propagated through your network cables and Wi-Fi network to your computer, mobile device, etc. Once there, you might have a pop-up blocker or some ad-blocking software on your local device attempt to filter out those ads. But those programs take time and computer resources.

With a Pi-Hole, those ads and trackers are filtered out way upstream, before your router can send them to your computer, mobile device, etc. Not only can you avoid the annoying ads, it can also result in significant speed improvements when surfing the web, watching videos, etc. Additionally, your local device doesn’t have to work so hard blocking the ads using its local software (e.g. a pop-up blocker).

2. Can you install a Raspberry Pi-Hole yourself?

To install and configure a Raspberry Pi-Hole, there will be some network configuration skills required:

I. Ability to log into your router’s Admin page

You must make configuration changes to your router to use a Pi-Hole. You need to know your router admin login credentials and how to log directly into the admin page of your router. Once on your router admin page, you need to be able to:

• View attached network devices – You need to see if your Raspberry Pi is on your network, and if so, what is its IP Address.
• Set a static IP address – Although routers typically grant the same IP address to various network-enabled devices on your home network, the Raspberry Pi must have its own dedicated (aka “static”) IP address.
• Change DNS settings – After your Pi-Hole is set up, you will need to redirect your router to use the Pi-Hole IP Address instead of standard DNS servers.

II. (Optional) Build a Raspberry Pi-Hole

There are many documents and videos that explain how to install Pi-Hole on your little Raspberry Pi. But I was lazy and found a ready-built Raspberry Pi-Hole for about US$125.

2. Obtaining and Building a Pi-Hole

Pi-Hole is software which can run on a Raspberry Pi or on a computer running Linux. At this point, anyone without some computer software skills may be tempted to tune out. However, if you know how to log into your router and make the configuration changes listed above, you can still do this!

Those interested in tinkering will find countless websites and YouTube videos walking you through the process of installing and setting up your Pi-Hole. The Pi-Hole software is completely free, although donations are recommended to keep the software updated and continuing to improve.

If you want to build your own Pi-Hole, you will need, at minimum:

• Raspberry Pi
• Power Supply
• USB Keyboard and USB Mouse
• HDMI cable to connect to an external monitor
• MicroSD card

Not comfortable with or interested in building your own Pi-Hole?

Although I was confident I could build one myself, I had neither the interest nor the time (i.e., I was feeling lazy), and decided to buy a ready-to-install Raspberry Pi-Hole. I found one on eBay for $125. I ordered it and it arrived a week later. I already owned a USB keyboard and mouse, and the Raspberry Pi-Hole came with an HDMI cable which I connected to my TV.

4. Configuring my Pi-Hole and Home Network

My Pi-Hole came with a link to a website with step-by-step instructions on how to configure my Pi-Hole. Briefly:

I. Made Physical Connections

1. Connected the network cable to a port on my router
2. Connected USB keyboard and mouse to the Raspberry Pi
3. Connected HDMI cable between the Raspberry Pi and my monitor (in this case, my TV)
4. Connected the power supply to the Raspberry Pi

II. Network configuration
Following the Pi-Hole configuration instructions:

1. Connected the network cable to a port on my router
2. Assigned a static IP address on my router for my Pi-Hole
3. Chose a DNS server for the Pi-Hole
4. Checked for and installed Pi-Hole software updates
5. On my router, set my DNS to point to the Pi-Hole IP Address

The whole process took me less than half an hour.

Immediately I saw a significant improvement in web page loading. This was due to two features of Pi-Hole: not having to load all the ads and trackers, and DNS caching, which is built into Pi-Hole.

I don’t have statistics, but some pages appear to now load almost instantaneously. And I certainly don’t miss all the ads.

I regularly run a malware scanner. I will be curious to see if the number of malware items found decreases now that I’m running Pi-Hole.

Interested, curious, wondering whether you can do this? Drop me a line and we can discuss it.

So I finally tested positive for COVID last month.

I have taken the pandemic seriously from the start. I got my vaccines as soon as they were available (I’ve received 5 so far). I continue to exercise caution, wearing a mask while I am out shopping, and taking tests before and after symphony rehearsals. I usually self-test before large get-togethers.

I wrote a three-part blog series about the pandemic. I interviewed friends in healthcare, shared stories of former skeptics, and did my best to convince others to get vaccinated and exercise caution.

So nearly three years after the start of the global pandemic, I finally caught and tested positive for COVID.

Information about the virus has been changing and confusing. Different strains of the virus have caused consternation with an ever-changing array of symptoms, varying levels of contagiousness, and rare unknown and troubling long-term effects for some. 

People have understandably become fatigued by the restrictions, the social isolation, and impact to commerce, and so much more.

In that kind of environment, it is understandable there are many skeptics, deniers, and even protests regarding safety protocols. This piece does not intend to persuade or convince anyone. It is merely to tell my story, what I have learned, and what conclusions I draw.

1. Getting Infected

Day 0

I started to develop a really bad headache. Bad headaches are rare for me, so I decided to take a nap. For safety’s sake, I took a rapid at-home COVID test. The initial control line darkened, and then I saw the dreaded second line appear. I was positive for COVID.

I immediately contacted everyone I had seen recently, and they all tested. Out of the group of a dozen, one other person was shocked to find they were also positive. They had no symptoms.

Although my symptoms ended up being mild, this first day was the worst. My sinuses were completely blocked and I had a splitting headache. Over-the-counter decongestants and painkillers made it bearable.

Days 1 – 5

I stayed in bed, hydrated, and isolated. My headache wasn’t bad, and I suffered mostly a runny nose and some coughing. I had no fever, and I didn’t suffer any body aches, difficulty breathing, or other more serious symptoms. I did partially lose my sense of smell.

I contacted my healthcare provider about getting antiviral drugs, but given my age, relatively good health, and mild symptoms, I was told such drugs were not suggested. I was instructed to just continue to rest, hydrate, isolate, mask, and wash my hands frequently. I was also told not to start testing again until day 5.

However, on about Day 2 I was feeling really good, suffering only a runny nose. For the heck of it, I tested, and the second line on the COVID test immediately appeared, dark and bold.

Day 11

I started testing on Day 5, and I was still positive. Testing subsequent days, the 2nd line on the COVID rapid tests grew gradually fainter. Finally, on Day 11, no trace of the second line was visible. My sense of smell gradually returned, too.

I was happy to finally be testing negative, but I continued to isolate, mask, and wash my hands religiously. I decided to sign up for a drive-through PCR test. Two days later I received my result: Inconclusive.

I scheduled another PCR test, and two days later I again received “Inconclusive.” Frustrated, I signed up for a third PCR test, and after waiting again a couple days, the result came back: POSITIVE!

2. Confusing Instructions

Frustrated and confused, I started contacting various healthcare professionals to find out what I should do.

Various articles from reputable sources suggested that I would only be contagious the first 5 days of my infection, or if I still had serious symptoms. I learned that PCR tests are much more sensitive, and that you can test positive up to 3 months after your infection. 

The CDC’s website states “Any positive COVID-19 test means the virus was detected and you have an infection.” It continues that you should isolate, take precautions, tell people you recently contacted and monitor your symptoms.

Elsewhere on the CDC website it says “You may end isolation after day 5” if you have no symptoms after day 5. You are instructed to wear your mask through Day 10. You may remove your mask earlier if you have two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart. Of course, if your symptoms recur or worsen, you should restart isolation and talk to a healthcare professional.

So what to do with negative antigen (rapid at-home) test results and a positive PCR test result?

With consistent negative antigen test results, I should be okay to relax my isolation and masking protocols (although I’ve never stopped masking while going out shopping, etc., nor to I intend to). But with a positive PCR test result, the CDC says I should assume I have an infection and take precautions.

Calling the Red Cross

I am a frequent blood platelet donor. I wanted to know when I would be eligible and safe to donate again. Calling their donor line, I was told I would not be eligible to donate if I have symptoms, or if I tested positive in the last 10 days. 

I protested that I was symptom-free and consistently getting negative results from my antigen rapid at-home tests, but got a positive result from a PCR test. They repeated that as long as any test was positive, I should wait 10 days. Conclusion, don’t test for 10 days (unless my symptoms return or worsen). After that, I should be eligible.

This did not reassure me.

Calling My Physician

Although it was a long holiday weekend, I decided to call my physician’s office and speak to the on-call nurse. I received a callback late in the evening. Here is what the nurse told me.

1. Unless your symptoms remain or get worse, you are only contagious for the first 5 days of infection

2. You should only test when you have symptoms or if you suspect you have been exposed to COVID

3. After getting infected, your immunity against reinfection is very high for the first three months

She reiterated that rapid at-home tests can often detect COVID and report positive up to a couple weeks after infection, and that the more sensitive PCR tests can test you as positive up to 3 months after infection.

Her message was that testing should be used to a) verify you have COVID, and b) try to determine the start of your infection. From that point, you can start counting the days. 5 days later, you can assume you are no longer contagious. 10 days later you can decide to stop masking. What COVID tests are not good at is for determining the end of your infection.

3. My Conclusions

As I said before, given the conflicting and changing information about this virus, it is unsurprising people are confused and will draw very different conclusions. These are the conclusions I have drawn:

1. I will continue to mask when I am in public indoors even when I feel completely healthy. Two people I know who felt no symptoms tested positive in the last month. So rather than risk either infecting people unknowingly, or exposing myself to possible infection from people who are asymptomatic, I will continue to mask.

2. I will rely more on rapid tests for the next three months, then try PCR testing after. Previously, I had signed up for PCR tests often. I would test before and after symphony rehearsals, and before big in-person get-togethers. Since I may test positive for 3 months, I will rely more on rapid tests until this spring.

3. Stay informed. Information continues to come out, new strains of COVID may come out, and recommendations will change. It’s tiring and confusing, but I’ll try to stay informed on the latest recommendations. I encourage you to do so as well.

Stay safe out there, friends!