In recent years my Dad has done a lot of deep studying into food and nutrition; and he and several other family members have started discovering some pretty big allergies.

This week I followed my father’s suit and I went to Red Paw (don’t mind the website) for electro dermal testing. I wanted to have directly comparable results, so it was no surprise to see so many similar results.

The terrible downside of this is that it looks like I need to cut some seriously favourite foods from my diet. It seems as though I have a strong sensitivity to dairy products (including cheese), wheat products (but not gluten), corn (which is in everything), alcohols (including wine), anything deepfried, and so much more…

As far as allergic reactions go I only have the occasional upset stomach to speak of – however bodies deal with sensitivity in different ways. In the case of an Uncle with similar sensitivities, cutting out corn products and gluten meant going down from something like 12 heart medications to one. Heart disease is just one thing I could realistically be avoiding by changing my diet.

I’m not 100% convinced. I plan to go off these foods for a bit and get a second opinion. For one thing the testing location had a strong presence of cats – something I am allergic to; which could affect other results!

So, I went from a easy-going to “one of those” tricky hard to feed people. It’s pretty discouraging.

It’s been two days, so it’s too soon to say if there’s been a difference definitively. I am pretty sure however that I’m waking up way faster. We’ll see.

I’m including my allergy results here mostly for my own on-the-go reference, but I think this might be of interest to other McBlains who are closely related.

Food Allergies

Chemical Allergies

Environmental Allergies

Food Alphabetically Listed

What the Scores Mean

The book is summed up with the maxim “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants”. In the last few weeks Kristi and I have been eating “Real food” – the stuff from the grocery store that even your great grandparents would recognize. I didn’t think skipping processed foods would make this much difference, but I feel like I did when I was in high school again. The difference is remarkable.

After a couple generations of food science and nutritional experts North America is the unhealthiest continent the world has ever seen. It’s time I personally make this huge change.

Finding moderation is so much harder than taking things to extremes, but it’s my goal not to be “one of those people” who are difficult to spend time with for bizarre diets. It’s easy to see how that could happen though in the face of feeling this good.

This is terrible.

It means being charged PST on things that we otherwise don’t pay PST on. In effect, Ontarian’s could be paying up to 8% more for stuff. To compensate for this new expense products will likely go up in price.

This hits me particularly close to home as I’d have to start charging 13% on my design and development work. That’s a huge increase.

This HST bill isn’t passed yet, and the province is getting pressured to drop it. Be a part of that pressure, you can email the Premier at Dalton.McGuinty@premier.gov.on.ca

As if Alberta didn’t look too good already.

Thanks!

McBlain
PO Box 346
Kincardine, ON
N2Z 2H8

Yeah, she doesn’t read my blog.

I also realized through this trip that even one night apart from my wife is way too long. We love and need each other too much. Neither one of us slept particularly well.

At any rate, the client meetings were fun (I miss working in an office I think), and the presentation Tim did was a blast. I even got to share my 2 cents which I blogged about on the Debut site here.

I am in my third year of freelancing and contracting. I have never done any form of advertising; in fact I only just launched the beta version of the Debut Creative site that is more than just a business card. Yet somehow business keeps growing! Most of those approaching me for work I know, or have heard of my through word of mouth.

With this new growth I have even had to subcontract a couple projects. I have been careful to ensure that I am still involved in the process every step of the way to ensure my clients are getting the Arley-attention they came to me for, and do not feel outsourced. Working with subcontractors gives me the exciting opportunity to work as a creative director which is a new hat.

If recession has anything to do with this growth it is that companies are maybe avoiding the larger agencies to work with the small shops. These are certainly exciting times.

If I’m blogging less it’s only because I’m making hay during times when the weather man is calling for rain!

Though we celebrated on the weekend, today is in fact our two year wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary baby, I love you!

Tonight is the Debut Creative Christmas party for employees and spouses. Kristi and I will be going out for a nice meal. How festive! My only regret is not having done a Secret-Santa with myself.

Fridge Update: As of today it looks like I will have one photo on my fridge. Dear friend be sure to get us your photos for 2009!

I dreamt I was on a strange death row. I was due to be executed by lethal eye-drop within minutes; it was going to be administered by Kristi’s uncle Dave (the man who married us). Despite how it sounds it was a light-hearted dream. I was joking with other inmates and I had a touching conversations sharing my faith in Christ with another inmate.

Toward the end of the dream I began to get really panicky for one bizarre reason: I wished I had pre-written my wife Kristi a lifetime of birthday cards to tell her how much I love her. I longed for just a few more days, or even hours to just spend with her.

As my life was drawing to a close I went into the bathroom. The janitor told me I couldn’t use the toilet he was working on for another half hour or so “Buddy, I don’t think I have another half hour”. Then in a cheesy moment I gathered him and the only other two people I could find together so I could warn them not to waste their lives.

“You’re looking at a man with only 10 minutes to live. I can only think of two things right now. I wanted to tell you so you can live your lives with a little more perspective about the important things in life. I no longer care about my house, car, the size of my tv, work or making websites. All that’s important to me right now is my relationship with God and the people I love”.

I woke up very very relieved. I woke Kristi up and told her I loved her. I think I’ll write her a birthday card today. You can’t love too much.

That’s why I want to start a new annual tradition of totally starting fresh on my fridge every January. I also hope to get on some new fridges around the world…

Consider this an invitation to mail me a photo of you dear friend. PO Box 346 Kincardine, ON N2Z 2H8 Canada.