Das Boot.

This is a leg update, just in case you want to quit reading now. 

It's been REALLY sore the last week or so - I think from nerves regenerating.  Or something.  I've been getting some spots of superficial sensation back, but the spatial awareness isn't there at all yet.  Tibial plateau is still very sore and bruises randomly (and often), but I haven't had a fever in over a month.  I've been working out and for the most part, tolerating it pretty well.  By working out I mean doing Martial Arts and pushing as I do.  But over all, in spite of the soreness, I feel like it's been doing really well.

Today, I put some things into a cave for a friend.  Heavy things.  That I was dragging in a big blue toy bucket with one hand, while I used the other hand to hold a rope and walk backwards down a VERY muddy incline.  A very steep, very muddy incline.  And then I climbed up for a second load.  And then climbed up to untie a rope to use down in the cave.  And then climbed out again.  And then built a fire (I'm an excellent fire builder).  At some point, either in dealing with the cave or in breaking up wood for the fire, there was an impact to the back edge of my graft.  It didn't hurt - I never felt it happen.  But now there's a nasty bruise underneath the graft, the muscle compartment is rock-hard, and the skin graft is split in a few places.

SO... I'll be backing off on the physical exercise for a week or two, and wearing BOOT again until the swelling goes down and the muscle softens back up.  It's frustrating, but... it will be okay.

**I am editing this to add a picture?  Why?  Because you guys asked for it.  I'll leave it small for those of you who might be a bit... squeamish.  But this is what it looks like if you happen to have a skin graft wrapped halfway around your leg, and you subsequently happen to bang it into... something.

Prayer Request Update

Specifically... pray for wisdom, for favor, and for hardened hearts to be softened?

Sunrise.

So this thing which I requested prayer for kept me up all night.

There i s a bonus to staying up all night.  You get to see the sunrise.  I was obvlivious initially, but looked out the window and there was light.

Hope you enjoy... I know I did.

Captivating.

That is the word I would choose to describe Abi.  Her strength, her character, her integrity, contagious joy, generosity, her compassion, devotion, and sold-out passion for her God... they go together, and are captivating.

Spent Thursday and Friday enjoying the wedding of one of my favorite people.  Love each other well and without reservation.  Congratulations, Abi and Caleb.

Stream of Conciousness (Or Something)

If I wasn't typing this on my phone, I'd show you a picture of the couple today and tomorrow is all about.

But I am.

Anyway... out of town, in a whole other state - one filled with corn - doing photography for a wedding. she (the bride) and her family mean a lot to me, and to be able to do this is an amazing privilege.

We saw a big, VERY green bus today. It said "Bowling Bus" on the side. My husband's navigation system on his phone told him to turn off the highway and into the middle of a cornfield. Or so he says.

When we left the City early this afternoon, my husband turned on his navigation program. He said, "Wow! It's THREE HOURS away from here?"
"Yes, it is."
"I didn't know that."
"But you looked at the map. You left Mapquest up on your computer. I saw it."
"Well, yeah, but I didn't realize how FAR it really was."
"Ok... so... did you just think that the middle of [the state next to us] had recently moved closer to us?"
He laughed. Hard.

I get to take most of my shots from the platform in front of the sanctuary tomorrow. Not feeling nervous or conspicuous at all... nope. Not me. Or maybe I am...

I also get to spend the entire day with the women in the wedding. Which I am for real looking forward to.

I decided 24 hours was close enough to the end of the no caffiene restriction the surgeon had ordered. My bladder feels like it's going to explode. I think she should have said no caffiene for at least THREE weeks.

How hard (or easy) is it to get addicted to vicodin?

I am running out of things to say.

Piccolo... nice one.

Not so very long ago, I told my dad I wanted an ebony piccolo.  I have a standard marching piccolo, which I love playing,  And yes, I know it's weird to love playing piccolo,  Alone.  But that's not the point.  The point is...

This shows the uncoventional holes and keys, creating the need to learn new fingerings.  Which I cannot find ANYWHERE.

Isn't it pretty?  Straight out of the new camera, no editing at all. 

As I said, it does not have conventional modern keys.  But it has an amazing, rich tone.... if only I knew how to play the notes.