Renaissance Culinaire: pacific northwest

Apparently I have been Schmapped! Well I just checked my flickr mail and look what was inside:

Hi Amber,

I am writing to let you know that one of your photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the second edition of our Schmap Northwest Guide, to be published at the end of this month.

Clicking this link will take you to a page where you can:
i) See which of your photos has been short-listed.
ii) Submit or withdraw your photo from our final selection phase.
iii) Learn how we credit photos in our Schmap Guides.
iv) Browse the first edition of our Schmap Northwest Guide.

While we offer no payment for publication, many photographers are pleased to submit their photos, as Schmap Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.

Best regards,

Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

This is the photo that they wanted :

Wow, that's kind of cool. My Northwest Flavor is traveling the web :) This is a picture of the Fremont Bridge in Portland, OR.
The Fremont Bridge is a steel tied arch bridge over the Willamette River located in Portland, Oregon. It carries Interstate 405 and US 30 traffic between downtown and North Portland where it intersects with I-5. It has the longest main span of any bridge in Oregon and is the second longest tied arch bridge in the world (after Caiyuanba Bridge across the Yangtze River, China).^[1]
The bridge was named for John Charles Frémont, though one of the connecting streets was previously named Fremont Street in honor of the same individual.
The bridge has two decks carrying vehicular traffic, each with four lanes. The upper deck is signed westbound on US 30 and southbound on I-405. The lower deck is signed eastbound on US 30 and northbound on I-405. - facts Via Wikipedia

This photo was taken with my little point and shoot 3mp. It was raining and stormy when I took it - I kind of manipulated it a bit with contrast which made it grainy and added some deeper concentration of color. It is best viewed larger.

Am I a gluten for punishment? Living in the Pacific Northwest^w is wonderful, but behind every wonderful there is an unsavory side, and for me that is the dampness that gives us our lovely moss covered forests and temperate climate.

When dampness is prevalent --- so is mold, spores, pollen, dust mites....Unfortunately for me and the 9 million+ inhabitants of the PNW, we are living in an allergen nightmare. Not only do we have mold, but pollens specifically found only in this Northwest corner of the United States.

Throughout the late years of my teens and into my adulthood I have been on a roller coaster ride of allergen induced symptoms. From skin to respiratory to full on facial swelling, which recently, of course led to an emergency trip to the ER. All these symptoms were caused by a growing list of things that either fall into one of these
categories: animal, vegetable, chemical, mineral or environmental. that I am "sensitive" to or painfully allergic to.

Needless to say this has caused me to have to document any symptoms I have. I urge anyone who thinks they, or their child has an allergy to document :

Symptoms ? Be descriptive - whether or NOT you feel they are related to an allergy.
The symptoms duration - How long do these symptoms last?
Where were you when the symptoms occurred? The environment (inside / outdoor) (was it sunny or wet) etc. Be descriptive!
What were you doing when the symptoms occurred? Be descriptive (eating - what? / sleeping- on? /petting cat - long hair?) [ The product you were using (hair gel / chemicals)]

These documented events will help your doctor narrow down the cause of the allergy. And it will help you to notice any patterns - such as "wow, frank gets itchy when he chews on rutabagas..", so that you know what things to avoid, and what triggers outbreaks or symptoms.

Eliminating those allergens in your life can sometimes be overwhelming and frustrating to think about. But if you stick to an allergen journal - slowly things come into perspective, and it makes this task allot easier.

The research about allergies is staggering.

Allergy Facts:

it is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions.^(S)
The cost of allergies in the United States is more than $10 billion dollars yearly.^(S)
Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affects about 35 million Americans, 6 million of whom are children.^(S)
Asthma affects 15 million Americans, 5 million of whom are children.^(S)
The number of cases of asthma has doubled over the last 20 years.^(S)
Dust Mites & their waste can remain airborne for 15 minutes, after being disturbed.
The male/female ratio for asthma is 3:1.
Asthma accounts for almost 5,000 deaths a year

There are some ways to combat Allergies, I have found some interesting links with some good info on allergens. Here are a few quick tips I have found helpful.

Simple Ways To Combat Common Allergens:

Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F);
Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%);
Make certain there is good ventilation.
If you have allergies - don't vacuum, if you must use a mask.
Stay out of the vacuumed area for 1 hour.

Also - You can invest in a air filtration system - you can find these in varying prices and strengths, they really do work! In both portable versions or One installed into the duct work of your home. One example is AccuClean™ Whole Home Air Filtration System, According to their website :

Key Benefits:

Removes over 99% of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from the filtered air in your home.

Removes up to 99.98% of allergens from filtered air

Catches particles even smaller than .1 micron in size

8 times more effective than the best HEPA room appliance

100 times more effective than a standard 1" throwaway filter or ionic-type room appliance

Delivers cleaner air, and more of it

Reusable filter is easy to vacuum or wash

See more info here: http://www.americanstandardair.com/HomeOwner/Products/AirCleaners/AccuClean.aspx

Links to Further Your Allergy Knowledge:

I have reason to believe I have food allergies also , and later I will going to an allergist for the first time and most likely go through a series of allergy tests. Since this is a food blog I wanted to highlight the dangers of food related allergens. I am a mom and I am amazed that not more parents are aware of food sensitivities and the symptoms.

Food Allergens - A Growing Trend

In the last twenty years, the US has seen an epidemic increase in allergies, asthma, ADHD and autism, including a:

400% increase in food allergies

300% increase in asthma, with a 56% increase in asthma deaths

400% increase in ADHD

Between a 1,500 and 6,000% increase in autism.

The male/female ratio for food allergies is 2:1

An increase in the number of people with Celiac's Disease (a wheat allergy).

See more info here.

Signs of Food Allergy

Food allergy symptoms can range from mild to life threatening and may include:

hives
itching
rash (eczema)
behavioral/temper changes
swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or eyes
diarrhea
vomiting
cramps
itching and tightness of throat
difficulty breathing (asthma)
wheezing
in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that often includes swelling of the face, lips, mouth and throat and it can lead to a drop in blood pressure, shock and unconsciousness. If not treated immediately with epinephrine, anaphylaxis can be fatal.

Links to improve Food Allergy Knowledge:

Hopefully these links will help someone take control of the allergies that are plaguing them or a family member. Educating yourself should always be the first step to controlling any condition.