I'm not even sure what day I'm at now

But it's Monday, Sunrise International was in a little village in Turkey and my PT exercises went very well.

We went to the movies and saw 10,000 BC yesterday. I think I lost my wallet at the theater. That would really, really suck. The suckitude goes beyond words. There are credit cards in there - and bank cards. If I don't find it at the house by noon, I am going to be in some serious trouble.

Oddly enough, my military ID was still in my pocket. Weird.

I need to dig out my fly-tying gear today, I think, and start building this summer's arsenal. Going to the fishing show really motivated me.

Besides, I need to do something other than sharpen my X-Box skills.

Days 8 & morning of 9

Well, I spent Saturday, day 8, first with my physical therapy, and then, after dropping the boy at the bowling alley, with a six-mile long walk. It was good to get out, get some sun, walk, sweat and enjoy the Colorado outdoors, which is insane. On the way out, sunny, warm. On the way back, clouds, wind and cold. This freaking state can't make up its mind.

Then, I got to go to the anniversary sale and show at my favorite fly-fishing shop out on 24. They had a huge sale, 20% off of Fishpond fishing vests. I got one of these and one of these for an insanely little amount of money. And I got to see some killer fly-tying, sign a petition to protect Colorado's streams and meet some great fishermen.

You have no idea how deeply it sucks to know it's going to be at least another month and a half or two before I can cast a fly-line.

But I think I need to break out my tying gear and start building my arsenal for this summer's trout season.

Day 7

First follow up with my doc, who says things look amazing.

Went to a retirement ceremony.

Had Thai food for dinner.

Missed Sunrise International, though. I kinda miss it. Maybe I should set my DVR to record it.

Day 5

This is not a good day. I am having some kind of adverse reaction to the percocet - it makes my whole body itch and instead of knocking me out, it makes me edgy. I called the nurse at the hospital. They need to put me on something that will kill the pain, but not turn me into a freaking tweaker.

And Sunrise International is at a Bhuddist school in Cambodia this morning, so I guess maybe China is not the only place they film.

Hopefully I can get some real painkillers today that will work. Right now, I just want to squeeze something until it pops and guts squirt all over the place. Good thing I don't own a hamster.

Day 4

OK. This Sunrise International seems to focus on China being the "International".

This time its rice patties. Beautiful, yes, but worth a full hour of HD broadcast?

Anyway, I did my physical therapy exercises this morning. They suck. Seriously. But I won't be able to lift a beer properly unless I do them. Wouldn't want to disappoint at my first Circle back from surgery.

This convalescent leave stuff? It's all right, I guess. I can paint the nail holes in my trim with my left hand - and I do have enough use of my right hand to do so as well. I can re-design and publish a new Kimchi web site. Oh, and I can make fun of Net's Mom.

Physical Therapy

Um ... Let's just say that the physical therapist must have apprenticed with Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition.

But I'm going to do what they tell me to. I want to get this shoulder in shape for those 12-oz curls, not to mention all the beer-pong rehab I have to do in order to get back into playing shape. Ugh.

So, you should see the pretty designs the doc carved into my shoulder. We should play "connect the scars" during circle some time and see if it looks like a beer label. My guess? PBR

Day 3 of convalescent leave

And I'm watching "Sunrise Earth International".

This morning, it's the Li River in XingPing, China, where fisherman have trained cormorants (one of my favorite birds) to fish for them. They tie a string around the bird's throat at the base, so that the bird can not swallow the fish whole the way it would naturally. Then they kick it off of their little bamboo raft into the water, the birds catch two or three fish, they pick the bird up by having it stand on the pole they use to propel the boat and they make it "drop" (read: barf) the fish into a little basket.

This is almost as much fun as watching paint dry.

I need a hobby.

By the way, surgery went well. Looking at the pics from the orthoscope, which I really don't have a clue what they are, it looked like things were pretty fucked up in my shoulder. But they gave me this cool thing called "Game Ready". You load the box with ice and water and put on this bladder contraption over the appendage in question (my SHOULDER you perverts!). Then you set it and it pumps icy water through the bladder, and can also add compression. Makes for much less swelling, hence, much less pain. Apparently, this is the pro athlete's alternative to sitting in an ice bath. Sign me up.

Damn, I really do need a hobby, don't I?