Under the Knife

Well, I experienced my first surgery today. A right inguinal hernia repair. A real son-of-a-bitch since it was something that just randomly occurred. I don't remember any specific moment when I thought, "something is just not right." It actually started off so small that I thought it may have been a pulled muscle, but when it slowly grew in size, I knew just what it was.

The surgery was pretty simple really, as far as I can guess. Some Versed and lights out. When I awoke, 45 minutes later, I was a little groggy and cleaned up like a porn star, but feeling just fine. I was moved to the post op room, completely woke up and finally got something to eat. I'm a big fan of breakfast so I wasn't happy with the idea of not eating in the morning. It wasn't long before I had to take a leak, a good thing since the alternative is a catheter. No way in hell I wanted that!

By 11:30 I was home, only three hours after the procedure began. Now I'm just sitting around with a pack of ice on my junk bored out of my mind. I don't have the right personality for this. Its only been four hours since I got home and I'm already going crazy. I'm not quite sure how long the recovery should be, but I do know it will be over a week. Yikes. I'm so screwed, ha.

Back On-line

The Internet has been disconnected at the house for quite some time due to procrastination. Oops! I'm back in business now so I thought I would give a quick update to what I've been up to.

Here is a photo of Bob and I on the summit of a peak in the Purcell mountains of Canada. Not a care in the world except for the turns we were about to get. Standing there, neither one of us ever imagined that 4 months later Bob would be diagnosed with tongue cancer.

At the end of August, I headed out to Seattle to help out the family and support Bob through a few of his final radiation treatments. I spent the time visiting and doing what I could to help out my Aunt Heather. Washing some dishes, a little cooking, and some straightening up. I had a great time, but all the while I wished I could do more. It was very difficult to see my uncle in such a condition. I wished I could lend him my strength, both mental and physical, but all I had to offer was my presence. So that is what I gave.

Bob and I in Seattle.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for his final treatment. Work was calling me back. Bob has been on the road to recovery for a few weeks now and thing are looking good. I look forward to our next trip and when this will all just be a memory.

Not much going on since Seattle. Same old story; climbing, flying, hunting, and work. Here are some recent photos:

Spiders around my uncle's house

Sunset over Lake Washington

Sunset after a hunt

Heather's flowers

Some bouldering at Kootenai