In Which lobiwan Makes a Spectacular Return to Blogging.

Where was I?

Oh Yeah.

So the day after we got back from Oregon, I was off to see the Wonderful Wizard of Orthopedic Surgery. I wasn't too surprised when they confiscated our cameras and cell phones, but the green-tinted glasses they mad us wear seemed a little much. Anyhoo, the Wizard thought we should do some cuttin' and he asked when we wanted to do it and we said when CAN you do it and he said how about tomorrow. And there was much rejoicing.


So the next morning, after an excruciating pain-med-free trip to town, I found myself walking the last four blocks to the surgery center, where Betsy and Katie joined me.

And I got all changed...


And said goodbye to Katie...

And got stuck several times before I remembered that my left hand is defective and could they please try my right hand?

And then I had a nice nap.
While I was napping, the Wizard performed a Laminectomy/Discectomy on the left side of my L5/S1 Vertebrae.


Katie and Betsy hung out in the waiting room.


And then I woke up with a pretty good pain in my back, but absolutely no pain in my leg. There was much rejoicing.


And then I got to do some chillin' with friends,

practice my breathing skillz,

And load up on the good stuff.

And a good time was had by all.
Eventually everyone left, and then there was some spectacular basketball on the TV. Seriously,bedside beverage service, Morphine drip, and March Madness. Does it get any better?

The next morning I felt well enough to go for a stroll. My left foot was still numb, but there was zero pain.

So they made me go home, which was sad. Once home I took a stroll around to look at the dismal dryland wheatBefore settling in for some R&R.

The next morning we awoke to a nice little snow.

And I got to hang out with my two favorite little girls.
And Katie watched some basketball with me.

And then I got to take a shower and get my first look at the Wizards handiwork.


On Monday morning, I had Dad take me around to check the rain gauges.


They've been worse.
I also started to break my oxycodone habit, which was not very much fun to do.

Bear Grylls and Katie helped me through it on Tuesday.

So that on Wednesday I was able to pull things out of the shop.

And by Thursday I was able to drive myself out to watch Dad drive the tractor and check up on the irrigated wheat.


Katie was glad that everything was going so well.
And that is how March 2011 ended.