Under the Knife

“Hey Everybody,
I'm finally back at the computer now that i can climb stairs a little better. I went under the knife in december and got some tendons and my arch repaired. They repaired my post-tibial tendon (runs down by the inside of the calf and on under the ankle) and re-built my arch. The best part was where they sawed my heel in half, shifted it back in place and put in a 3" titanium screw. (Titanium- it's not just for cooking gear anymore)

I'm still in an immobile cast up to my knee, but i've been on the stationary bike and have been lifting. With luck I'll be running by late Feb. So, I should be in good shape for MONTANAPALOOZA! this summer. We're still on, I hope!

Happy New Year!”

“Get well soon.”

“The upside was I got to do a lot of reading. I went through 5 books since Dec. 17 including 3 really great accounts of the early Antarctica expeditions; 2 about shackelton and one about Mawson. Man, those guys knew how to suffer! I need to start a thread on those guys guys; reindeer hide sleeping bags and pemmican hoosh! They made me feel a lot better.”

“oooh aero. Running is hazardous to your health? get better soon”

“New Year's Eve was fun. I was the guy sitting in the corner with his foot propped up in the air. Someone hung a sign on me that said "Will work for beer". That wasn't all bad, but the toenail painting was a little much.”

“Hope you heal quickly!!”

“My turn to commiserate. I'm in a walking cast but still on crutches. My right leg is getting strong from all the hopping around I do. The first few days after surgery were real interesting going through percocet like it was candy. Aero, maybe we should start a TT Gimp Club. We could be charter members.”

“...and whoever is interested, I'll send you my leftover percocet. I'll mail it in a box of chocolates.”

“Mediaman-
I've got half a bottle of percocet (or the generic variety) left over! I quit after the first week so I could drink beer. I see how that stuff can be addictive to people (the percocet, that is......uh, well, beer too.)
I have 2 more weeks in the cast, then (I hope) it'll look good enough to go to the boot!
It sounds like you went through quite a surgical ordeal as well. better now than in the summer! get well soon!”

“Hey - good to hear from you. Hope you are back in hiking shape soon!!”

“That's what's keeping me going!”

“Aero:

Glad to hear you are doing better. Being immobile is no fun.

I'm going to see The Endurance, the new Shackleton film, this weekend. Have you seen it? 635 Days. Sheesh, that's a long time. Fortunately, you won't be in a cast for that long!”

“Oh yeah. And Mediaman -- hope you improve rapidly as well.”

“Man, Aero, I didn't realize how big of an ordeal this surgery was going to be for you. Glad to hear you are well on your way to recovery!!!!! Now, about that percocet . . . After I had Newergirl I had some of that and I've been hoping to get my hands on some more!!! (You mentioned the people who get addicted. LOL!)”

“hey aero, i have a bledsoe boot in my closet from when they reconstructed my left ankle.....its all yours!
take care of your ankle so it can take care of you on the trail!......think of montanapaloosa!
3~ ~~~~”

“Thanks, rosey.”

“Rosie--
The book "Endurance" just blew me away! I had just read "The Heart of Antarctica" about Shackelton's second journey and "Mawson's Will", the story of Douglas Mawson's expedition; Mawson was on the previous Shackelton trip. Those guys were truly amazing. I think about what we consider heavy loads and inhuman conditions on the trail, but they pale by comparison to those early Antarctic expeditions. I'm not sure I could survive in the backcountry on seal blubber and penguine meat, sleeping in my reindeer skin bag. I'd love to see the film! I doubt it's going to make it to Billings, MT!”

“Maybe I can now challenge you to a marathon, Mr 2:20. Just kidding. Get up on your feet soon.”

“Wow! Hope you both recover quickly!”

“I'll be under on the 18th. If I don't make it, it was nice knowing y'all & happy trails.”

“Best, Buddha --sounds pretty serious, 'course anytime going under the knife is serious. Hope the prognosis is good and recovery is speedy.”

“What? Are you cancelling our hike and baseball game on the 27th now? You better be around!”

“Good luck with the surgery, and here's to hoping it's a success.”

“Take care Buddha. Don't worry, those anesthetics are amazing these days. I never even knew what hit me! The last thing I remember was the surgeon saying "I'll see you in the recovery room in about 30 seconds."”

“you gonna ask the doc if he'll let you keep your balls in a glass jar?..lol..jk..good luck!!”

“BB- you'd better pray it's a MALE surgeon especially when they find out they're operating on the president pro tem of the HMWH club.”

“LMAO! "you mean you didn't want a sex change? oopsie!" :-)

but for real, i hope the operation goes well!”

“Best Wishes!! If you are a little nervous or anything, just give yourself some good advice and follow it! (meager attempt at humor)”

“I hope it goes well and just think . . . they usually give you good drugs following the surgery. Something to look forward too anyway.”

“good luck budderbeerdewd!

hurry back, i need more dating advise...that whole viagra thing dint work out....the dog got into the bottle....long story.”

“Good luck BB.
I got knifed twice last year, but they did alright by me... though it did take a while to get back into trail ready shape.”

“Buddha,
Do well, heal quickly, and go easy on the nurses.”

“Never thought about Buddah and the nurses! That should be fun!”

“For the nurses or Buddha???”

“Depends how well Buddah behaves!”

“...and upon the surgery which BB is undergoing...”

“He can always say he was just giving them advice and a little "show and tell" demostration.”

“This is beginning to remind me of my own surgery. Here's a quick story:

The morning after my operation, two young, female, and rather attractive med students came into my room with the usual assortment of testing equipment. They informed me they had to take my vitals, and they then proceeded to do so. I was still pretty out of it, but no doubt they were curious as to why I had a slight grin on my face during their actions.

The thing was, it just reminded me too much of the scene in porn movies where the attractive female med students tell the recovering male patient "Well you seem okay. Now we have to check out your equipment".”

“Good luck, Buddha.
BTW, bit, does Mrs. bit know about your porn collection?”

“lol, FG...I don't have one...

but I have seen plenty of it...”

“I should be fine. They say 99% of people going through pen!s reductions live a long healthy life.

jk - The surgery is no biggy, I'll be golfing in a week. Thanks for the well wishes though, It means alot.”

“I guess the 'pump' and creams and all those hours of therapy had no positive effect.”

“May all go well with you Buddha Bear.”

“Wow BB: Micro-surgery!
Talk about splitting hairs.”

“LOL!”

“Best wishes,..get well soon!”

“Congrats on your addadicktomy!”

“It really is no big deal. All those horror stories about lobotomies robbing you of your personality are bunk.

Best of luck. We’ll have to compare scars.”

“Just be sure they don't use a DULL knife...”

“"I suppose I am satisfied with my psycho-surgery," he remarked, absent mindedly.”