My surgery went excellent! I'm going to be in this neck brace for about 4 weeks. That's not bad, considering the type of surgery I had. I don't have much pain. Mostly from swollowing, b/c of the tubes down my throat. I'm pretty mobile too. I have to limit my activity though. I can't lift over 5 lbs. My arm feels better too. It's still weak, but I can raise it highter than before. So, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

I saw Spiderman 3. I was good. It had some cheezy lines in it, though. I guess if they want to match the style of the comic strip it's from then they have to have some cheezy lines in it. It might also be that the actors didn't have the "chemistry" to pull the dialogue off.

I went to the movie with Jennifer. She was on the same team with me in Atlanta when I did Mission Year. She lives in NY too. And it's close enough to visit. I've enjoyed spending time with her. She's fun to be with.

My surgery is on Tuesday. I'm nervous, yet pretty confident that it will go fine. It's going smoothly. My only fear is that I might re-injure myself.

There is so much I want to do. Some days I don't have the determination in me to do them. And other days, I want to but something is delaying me. Right now I feel delayed. The surgery puts a bunch of things on the back-burner for me...I wonder if there was a chance to get my bike fixed while I recover. It might take 4 weeks for them to fix it. And by the time it was done, I'd be 100% ready to ride it.

I want to go back to school, too. I could do some much more at work if I only had the knowledge to start out with. I know it really comes down to experience in engineering, but I need the degree to start the job. It seems to me they really could use a good engineer. I could be that person. I see the need, and I want to fill it. And it fits my abilities (current and future). I just need to get back to school.

I should update that picture...

So, I recently found out I have a hernaited disc in my neck. I have to go in for surgery on May 8th. The disc in pinching a nerve in my spinal column. It's the c5 nerve, it goes to the right arm. I have atrophy in my arm (the muscle has shrunk because it's not being used). They have to remove the disc and fuse my vertebrea together. The procedure is called ACDF (Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion). It is completed after a Discectomy. Check out: www.capitalregionneurosurgery.com, then go to: [Diseases We Treat; Herniated Disc] and [Treatments; Cervical Fusion] You can read up on my surgeon too, go to: [Our Neurosurgeons; Read About Dr. Scheid]

I will be out of work for 2-4 weeks. 4 is the more likely number.

In a way I feel like my life is standing still until this is resolved. But really, I'm still living (Note to self: Thanks Captian Obvious!). I want to get my motorcycle running again. But I can't ride it ther way I am. I am trying to save money for fixing the bike, going back to college, starting an IRA, a laPtop, a new-er car, and a newer woredrobe (I'm so vane, I know).

But with this surgery I'm paying a big hospital co-pay ($500, on top of $300 already in Dr. office visits and prescriptions) All that is within one pay-period (1/2 month).

I wanted to start excericing too. But now I'll be partially immobile for 2-4 weeks.

Oh well, all things considered. I'm doing reall really well. When I think about all the other shit going on in the world, I know I'm blessed. Regardless of my neck. It'll be over in a few weeks anyway. Some people have struggles that last for years, with no end in sight.