Went back to physical therapy today. Gotta admit I feel a little cheated. I didn't get any heat packs, no electrodes on my back, no ultrasound to heat the deep tissue. I did get new stretches to do, so I'll be doing them now. Next follow-up is on Tuesday. I'm betting it will be more of the same.

[lightbox http://www.waterman981.com/images/R2Bx768.jpg][/lightbox]

These are all replacements for HD DVD's that I already have. In most cases they are exactly alike. Some have upgrades, and some the HD DVD is still the better disc. It's still kinda cool to get so many BD's all at once.

Tired, but I'm home. Back to work normal life tomorrow!

Relaxing day today. Tried to sleep in as much as possible, but woke up about 10:30. We relaxed a bit, then went to get some lunch at In-N-Out. I had a four by four, animal style. So gooey, and very yummy. We then stopped by Target so Matt could get a game he wanted, then went back to the condo. Had another relaxing day in the pool, then cooked dinner. T-Bones and baked potatoes. They were very good! We followed that up with playing a bit of Matts new game, and some ice cream for dessert. Then just watching some TV/movies. After the long day yesterday it was very relaxing. Tomorrow we drive home.

Today was the day. U2! We got up around 9 AM and left St. George at about 10:30. Down to Vegas!

We got to Vegas and headed down past the strip, first hitting the outlets. Next we decided it was time to eat so we went over to Planet Hollywood to hit their buffet. We totally filled up! Next we did some quick shopping along the Miracle Mile.

After hitting the Miracle Mile we drive past the Paris so Jeremy could get a picture of his foot in front of it. Next was Fry's! Woo hoo! I so loved it. I got some pins to go into Molex connectors! After a while there we headed to the show.

We got to the stadium at about 5 PM. There was a huge line that wasn't moving at all, so we chilled in the van for a while until the line started moving. We got in, and decided to chill more towards the back, rather than be up as close as possible. We noticed a bit of a crowd gathering around the VIP area. Looking back Matt saw Paris Hilton was there. Soon the Black Eyed Peas started. They were ok. I did put in the ear plugs as it was just far to much bass, and no substance. Next was U2. The did a great job, and the stage was fantastic. Bono announced the Bill Clinton was there, probably up in one of the boxes. Here's the setlist:

1) Breathe
2) Get On Your Boots
3) Magnificent
4) Mysterious Ways
5) Beautiful Day/In God's Country(snippet)/Fix You?(Snippet)
6) I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/Stand By Me(Snippet)/Viva Las Vegas(Snippet)
7) Stuck in A Moment
8) No Line on the Horizon
9) Elevation
10) In A Little While
11) Unknown Caller
12) Until the End of the World
13) The Unforgettable Fire
14) City of Blinding Lights
15) Vertigo/All These Things That I've Done(Snippet)
16) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)(Snippet)/Crazy Tonight/Two Tribes (Snippet)
17) Sunday Bloody Sunday
18) MLK
19) Walk On/You'll Never Walk Alone (Snippet)

20) One/Amazing Grace (Snippet)
21) Where the Streets Have No Name

22) Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
23) With Or Without You
24) Moment of Surrender

Show was awesome. My back sucked. Just before Sunday Bloody Sunday I went to the back of the field and sat down against the wall. I stayed there through One, then my leg was going numb so I headed back to the other guys. After the show ended we cruised out to the van. We've been sitting here in the parking lot for an hour without moving. Traffic control here sucks! UNLV is so lame!

Edit: We finally got moving, and made our way back to St. George. With losing the hour coming back, we got back to the condo at 4 AM. I went right to sleep.

Today was a hang out day in St. George. I woke up about 9 AM. We all got ready then went over to Village Inn for breakfast/lunch. Had a good skillet breakfast, that was a little on the small side. Probably a good thing though. After eating we got back on the freeway and headed up to Hurricane. Stopped at Walmart there to grab some extra balls, then headed golfing! I had asked the Dr. the day before specifically if I could golf. No. I can twist now, but I need to do it slowly. Golf is definitely not a slow twisting motion. They guys at the club house were pretty cool, I asked them if I could just pay part of a green fee and putt best ball. They said don't worry about it, and just charged me the cart fee (which I was expecting). I took over Matt's SLR and just took tons of pictures, not only of them, but tons of wildlife. Lots of cottontails, squirrels, and even a roadrunner.

We finished up the golf at about 4:30, so we headed back to the condo. Decided it was the perfect time for a swim. So we went and hung in the pool and hot tub for over an hour. The pool was so nice! Heated to the perfect temperature! After swimming we went to Brick Oven for dinner. We all split a pizza, then hit the pasta bar. Since we were right there we looked at a couple of the outlets. I picked up a new shirt at the Polo outlet.

Next we visited the grocery store. We decided to cook up some steaks on Saturday night and just relax here. So got the groceries we'll need for the weekend, and returned to the condo. Matt and I watched the first 2 episodes of The Venture Bros. season 1. We all pretty much started falling asleep, so figured it was time for bed. Tomorrow, Vegas and U2!!!

After seeing the Doc I pretty much hung out at home today (yesterday). I took the entire day off in preparation for a trip to St. George/Las Vegas to see U2. I chilled out, then packed up. About 4:45 I left to start picking up the guys. First was to Matt Maceys place. Got him loaded up, then to his brother Jeremy's, followed lastly by picking up Tony. We left Pleasant Grove about 6:30 PM. Stopped at Wendy's in Payson really quick and ate it on the road. Our journey was pretty much completely in darkness! We probably could have made it to St. George, but to be safe as were unfamiliar with the Astro van's gas consumption we pulled off in Cedar. We got to the condo we are staying in at about 10:30. We popped in a movie just to unwind after the drive. It just finished so now time for bed.

This morning I went in for my next followup on my back. They think after doing physical therapy again the last pain I have, more of a burning sensation in random places from my waist down to my feet, will go away. So I start PT again on Monday. In the mean time I did ask, and now I can bend slowly, and twist slowly. Nothing quickly though. So we'll see if the PT does help get rid of the "burning" sensation. I'm definitely in an overall improved state. The pain down my leg was much worse. This I can deal with.

Last weekend I spend either laying down, walking around the house/yard, or sitting. And constantly switching between all three. The end result? Very little pain! It really helped my back. So I spent the time watching all of Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica (As I'm still waiting to start guys night redux).

I did some SharePoint training for work on Monday & Tuesday, which was kinda nice as it was just south of Eric's work, so I joined him both days at Caruso's for lunch. Then last night I played the role of Supervisor. I stood, walked, and sat, while Jason terminated then ends of all the cables we had run in Eric's parents basement. Huge thanks to him for doing that! Not much left to do, gotta fish a wire to the upstairs kitchen, tap in the phone line, and run a new cable to the antenna. But that should be it.

Today I've been hurting a bit, so it's another night of taking it really easy. (Unless some guys show up to start this guys night...)

Wow it was a long weekend. Both mornings I work up very stiff, but Sunday was horrible. I was barely able to move when I woke up. It made both days very restful. (In other words I layed around all day to let my back rest as much as possible.) I'm thinking on Saturday night/Sunday Morning I twisted or something in my sleep, which is why I could barely move. This morning was quite a bit better, more like the normal stiffness. 5 more weeks until my next follow up and physical therapy (and U2).

I had to get these papers signed by the doc for stupid legal reasons so I went in today and he asked if I wanted to go back to work. Sure I said, so I go back tomorrow. I only have a few Percocets left which isn't good, so I'll have to see if I can start taking Advil. Unless they want to give me a new prescription. Hopefully there is a solution to the pain I still have.

Today I voyaged out into the world. It was bright and shiny. I got into my car earlier and drove over to Best Buy. There was lots of pain and discomfort during the drive. After I got home I took some more percocet which took care of that. Later I was just craving a burger as I was sick of the food at home, so I drove down to BK. More pain. Again, came home and downed the drugs. Ahhh...

The rest of the day was spent napping, or otherwise relaxing. The percocet does really knock me out. But with the pain I am sometimes feeling, it's necessary.

After days of just giving myself a half of a sponge bath today I finally stepped into the shower. That felt really good. I really don't think I'll be heading back to work on Tuesday, unless I have some radical changes. I'm still getting really tired throughout the day (of course that's probably due to the percocet), and there has been far too much pain. We'll see how things end up!

Gotta give a huge shoutout to Eric and Steve tonight. I dragged Eric down to DI to get me a new mattress. Steve met us here and the two of them swapped it out. I napped on an identical mattress today upstairs and it definitely felt better than my 10 year old one. Huge thanks again for swapping that out today guys!

Seriously sucked. I've really been feeling it today. I think part of it is my stupid mattress. I don't think it helped me at all last night. I'm feeling pain in my left leg again, and it's super weak. Sitting involves some serious pain. I have already taken more percocet today than I did all day yesterday. I also haven't been able to walk like I should be able to. Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Yesterday was pretty ridiculous. I was scheduled for surgery at 10:30, so they asked me to be there at 9:30 I was. I was laying in the room until 11:45 waiting to be taken to pre-op when I was starting to wonder if they forgot about me. I asked my mom to ask what was going on, then my nurse walked in. She felt the same. Called down and their reply was "shortly." Which kinda ended up being true. About five minutes later an orderly came in a grabbed me and took me down to pre-op.

The nurse in pre-op got my IV going and said my doctor and anesthesiologist would stop by. As I layed there three patients came and went on my left and on my right! WTH! Seriously! They finally took me back to the OR at about 2 pm. I should have been completely awake from surgery by then. The "bed" they put me on to for the op was weird... Not a bed at all, but supports all over. It was weird looking. The anesthesiologist didn't do any "count down from 10", "think of what you want to dream of" etc... I was suddenly just coming too in post-op.

After about 10 minutes of trying to get myself awake (there was a clock right in front of me so I could actually see it), they took me back up to the room I started in. I finished waking up there and they finally released me. They gave me two Percocet's while I was there, and not enough crackers to eat along with them. On the drive to Macey's to get my prescriptions filled I was getting really nauseous. We made it there though and when I got out I started feeling better. Dropped off the prescriptions, and headed straight for the bread aisle. I grabbed a loaf, opened it, and started eating. I'm sure the last thing they would have wanted was me puking everywhere.

We made it home, I ate a PB&J sandwich, then realized I was far too tired to stay up. I really didn't sleep well. I got up several times throughout the night, which isn't an easy task. But finally got the rest I needed. This morning I realized what is going to suck most. I can't shower for 2 days, so sponge baths... by myself... I shoulda stayed in the hospital, maybe gotten a cute nurse for that... er, um... yeah, so I can't bend so giving myself a sponge bath was less effective. So now laying on an ice pack and walking... minimal sitting. Here we go!

Edit: Right before the sponge bath I took a picture so I could see, and you all could too. It isn't the prettiest image as most post surgery bandages aren't, so you've been warned! I did decide to be nice though and crop my butt out of the picture even though Eric wanted me to leave it in...

[lightbox http://www.waterman981.com/images/back.jpg][/lightbox]

Yup, can't tell much. That is pretty much right above my butt though so you can get an idea of how it limits movement.

Well my surgery will be at 10:30 on Monday. I have to be there an hour early, the surgery takes anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Then a couple hours recovery from the anesthesia... I'll probably be home before 5. Then the real recovery begins.

Holy crap I'm in pain today. My leg is killing me, and when I walk my toes get this burning stabbing sensation. Not a good day! Last day of work though. I was hoping to be more active tonight but with my leg doing this I don't think I can.

Today I went to Stage 2 of the Tour of Utah, finish up at the summit of the Nebo Loop. I rode the motorcycle to save gas money and be more maneuverable. I got to the Payson exit where Rocky Mountain is, just as a breakaway group went over the overpass. Crap! I wasn't going to beat them to the canyon! I asked the UHP officer if I could go straight through and get back on the freeway which he said sure. If I was in my car I wouldn't have made that. So I jumped back on the freeway and cruised down to Nephi. Gassed up quickly and headed up the other side of the loop. I made it to the finish with about 30 minutes to spare. Walked around, picked a spot and within a couple minutes the riders came over. Great finish, even if logistically difficult.

I went back down the way I came, sandwiched between Rock Racing's 3 vehicles. Grabbed some lunch in Nephi then came home. That ride home was so much longer than the ride out there! Mostly due to headwind, and not having the goal of getting there at a specific time. Tomorrow is the Time Trial out at Miller Motorsports Park. Can't wait to go. Going to take my bike and ride the course after!

About 175 miles.

Well my surgery is scheduled for Monday August 31st. It's actually a quick outpatient procedure, taking about an hour. They'll just be removing the herniated tissue from the disc, but they are leaving the disc in. This is not fusion. A couple days at home resting, 4-6 weeks recovery time (taking it easy), then 2-4 weeks therapy, and I should be back to perfect! I still won't be able to do heavy lifting, but should be able to get back to everything else.