Recovery hike: Little Devil Stairs

My 1st hike after appendix surgery (13 miles/21 km with 3260 feet/994 meters elevation gain in 40f/4c) went well. I was slower than before on the Little Devil Stairs, which was expected after skipping hiking for three weekends. We saw some very late in the season wild mushrooms, but no one knew whether they were eatable. The hike was cut short to finish before dark and rain.

Thanksgiving feast

I ran 8 miles on a high school track, before the Thanksgiving feast with four Chinese families in Maryland. Glad that my stomach gets back it full functions for the special occasion!

DIY: fixed sagging dinning chairs

Instead of getting new dinning chairs, I fixed two sagging dinning chairs myself. I watched some YouTube clips, had two pieces of plywood cut at Home Depot, stopped by Nova Labs for help to trim the edges, used a screwdriver and pliers to take down staples (most time-consuming task), and then replaced the broken particle seat boards of the chairs. Done!!!

Insides of Turkey vs Armenia

After 10-day of sickness and surgery recovery, I went into DC for some congressional receptions and social interactions. I listened to the full talk by David L. Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights On Turkey's Targeting Of Ethnic And Religious Minorities In Syria. When I traveled in Turkey and then Armenia in 2013, I was told about their war and border dispute, but learned today more prosecution of Armenians by Turkish due to their religions, even in a third country like Syria.

Appendix removal

I had stomach cramps, fever, whole body shivering, and mild diarrhea since Friday night. After all home medications for food poison and the 4th episode of uncontrollable shivering and pain, I checked in urgent care and the cat-scan showed it was Appendix infection 盲腸炎. After 6 bags of IVs and two servings of antibiotic, the doctor performed the non-invasive Laparoscopic Appendectomy 阑尾切除术, then released me home. I felt fine worked a little, walked in the sun for two miles, and ate simple foods after feasting since Friday night. It was the first time I had IVs, cat-scan, and hospital overnight stay. We even had a false fire alarm in the hospital, and everyone put on blankets to go outside. Lesson 1: always prepare to stay overnight in hospital (so you have phone charger etc.) Lesson 2: bring your health directive 醫療照護事前指示 so they can make decisions for you if necessary). What's an experience! I am grateful it happened here, not during travel.

play Occupant @ Theater J

I went in DC for a housing tech interactive, a communication ethics conference, and a play Occupant about the genius of sculptor Louise Nevelson at Theater J.

Robertson - Stone Man-Nicholson Hollow Circuit 19 miles Hike

I had a cold (average 40f/4c) yet pleasant hike along Robertson - Stone Man-Nicholson Hollow Circuit for 19 miles/30 km with 4300 feet/1310 meter elevation gain with a group of 9 hikers. We enjoyed hiking uphill in crisp weather with blue sky, came across two rock climbers, and had lunch at Skyland with foliage crowd. BTW, I improved my speed over Robertson mt trail (1700 ft/520 meter gain in 1.5 miles/2.4 km) from 70 minutes down to 60 minutes. To reward myself, I ordered cod with asparagus on couscous at Silver Diner for dinner.

“A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder” Play @ Reston community theater

After tasting witch’s brew cocktails at a happy hour, I dashed home to pack lunch and gears for Saturday long hike and ushered at Reston community theater for the 2.5-hr comedy “A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder”. BTW, Reston Community Orchestra was rehearsing tonight too. A cold yet fun evening.