Thank you all for the good wishes. Toward the end it got to the point where I just couldn't talk to anyone or anything- I was living for that surgery date and with all the drugs it was a pretty dismal existence. Feeling kinda crappy off and on but I haven't taken even one more since three days after surgery so I'll get out of this ok.
Maggie is doing pretty well, thank you very much. She was getting a little raggedy dealing with me but now she's a lot happier of a camper too.
I can't wait to start loading again, now that I can sit. Gonna pack 'em then burn 'em, then pack some more!
...and since many of you urged me not to avoid politics...OBAMA SUCKS!