Yes, it is good to be back. The computer problems have been a bane to me for many months, and something not really to cover on the group right now.
Bad part is, I have to rebuild a complete address book. Worst, I lost all of the hundreds of recipes and patterns I had collected over the last 6 years, might be 5. Did manage to salvage an old favorites list, so that is good. Have not even had a fishing license this year. When May ended and it was time for a new one, I was right in the middle of treatments for my hand, and just starting with all the work on my legs. As it is right now, wading is pretty much out of the question, and rocks and uneven ground are a whole new change. I have 14#'s of new hardware on my left leg, from the hip to the ankle. And soon will replace the 3#'s on the right knee to a new 8# stainless reinforced brace. Life is interesting at the moment. Currently I can only spend 2 to 3 hours a day sitting and moving about in conjunction with each other. The lower back is deteriorating at a rate faster than was first expected, so I have a whole new brace assembly that helps reinforce that. I am trying to work out a way that I can still go cannoning and fish, but early attempts have been a little damp. But, I refuse to give up. The worst part of all is what takes most people 3.5 to 4 hours to travel to ABQ to the VA from here, takes me 7 to almost 8 most of the time. I don't do well at more than 45 minutes to pushing it to an hour at a time driving. Plus, when I drive I have to be off of my meds for at least 24 hours prior. That adds a whole new meaning to pain and discomfort. I have to stop and move my legs about for about 30 minutes each time. But, as I get closer to my destination, the stops have to be more frequent. Normally, I don't sleep very well for 4 to 5 days after such a trip, and normally don't sleep at all the day of the trip up and staying over night there. As to tying, hospital visits, therapy, and stupid accidents have kept me fairly busy with doctors, wife and daughter yelling at me to slow down and stay flat. I don't listen to well. My left hand is improving, I currently have almost 60% use of it. I can hold hooks down to size 6 without mechanical assistance, and down to 12 with mechanical aids. I need to find or make some new tools so I can get and hold small hooks and get them to and from the vice. Ounce they are there they can stay as long as a couple of days till I can get them done. (nice part about having 2 vices on the bench). I will be going in again in 3 weeks for another series of tests, and the start of a new type of treatment that will hopefully build on previous successes and help me to get closer to a normal use. I still spend a lot of time re-reading the magazines I have on fly tying and fishing, they are showing their age now and Amanda has literally taped several of them back together. It helps keep my mind active and gives me ideas of flies to try to tie. I still manage to set at the bench at least an hour or 2 each week and work on something. With the new meds and such I am getting to were I can push an hour, sometimes 2 ever few days. Even though I won't be fishing soon, it makes me feel good. I long for the day that I can get back to 16's to 20's with ease. One thing I will have to do soon is start working on getting appropriate hooks so I can continue. I have been stripping some old long shanks other old flies to tie new ones I want to try. I must seriously apologize to everyone on the Materials Swap. I forgot that when things disrupt your own life, you have to put a special effort into keeping your word to those you have given it to and value. My Dad always told me that the most important thing you have is your word. I let my mind laps and get cluttered with worries and allowed myself to put commitments to others aside. Something I should have never done. Again, I apologize to all of you for the unacceptable delay. I do think, and hope, that you will all be pleased with the final results. I hope and pray that it turns out to be something special from all that participated, I think you all will be pleased. Reuven, yes, all of the stuff that was sent here is all in your box in the original envelopes. I also included some extra stuff, and some things I thought you my find useful. I think everyone is going to be very surprised with the Tasmanian Possum. We have nothing like that here, and I would like to find a way to get some more from you. I think I have taken up to much of everyone's time, and probably bored everyone to tears. But, the bright side is this, it looks like they will finely get all of my stuff done at the VA and get a final conclusion to my disability. Tentatively right now they have me at 70% disability, but still have 2 other areas to finish evaluations on. It looks like when everything is done, I will have a "lifetime hunting and fishing license", at no charge. Then I won't have any excuses for not getting out. We hope to have the final determination by Thanksgiving. Night my friends, time to take the last rounds of my meds and try to get some rest. Tight lines and great weather. Jimi
