not dead.

Contrary to some reports, I am not dead.

Also, I am wondering: When a gall bladder goes bad, does it absorb happiness out of your body and turn it into tormenting gall stones? Because I have been noticeably happier since my gall bladder was sucked out my belly button and sent "away" (they won't tell me where). Suddenly, doing dishes is not such a bad chore, my job is kind of interesting again, and I don't feel compelled each morning to ram my car into everyone who doesn't give me a quarter of a mile of space. Oh, and Lost is suddenly a good show again.

Three weeks of sunshine and warm haven't hurt, either. My ricketts is clearing up, and the flowers have been stunning. Whatever caused my change of heart, I am grateful to be a little less troll-like.

There are some good stories about surgery and recovery. Highlights include a brown area ... with points, people pulling things--long things--out of my belly button, and adventures in anasthesia. But the stories need a lot of work to get them blog-worthy, so they'll be coming in dribs and drabs.

Have patience.