more from c-ville

I'm fortunate to be in C-ville for my recovery time. I've tossed aside the crutches and now I limp around town like a free man. Looks like I'll soon be headed back to Benin - Peace Corps is ready for me in mid December, and the doctors approve.

The past couple months:

summer turns to fall; the colors brighten

CLAW: Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers
C-Ville Knievel defeats the Dane of Pain

Halloween. Coach Bella Caroli and his Romanian gymnast prodigies.

Community Bikes donates 15 bicycles to Refugees from Bhutan, Burma and Iraq.
C-Ville Bike mentors help them establish safe routes around town.

my humane mousetrap.

caught two of these chubby pantry raiders

Skylight!

My friend Karina in Benin just sent me this image.

the hole I created at the monastery:

It really helps brighten up the room, eh?
And yes, it looked a little stronger from the top.
Won't try that trick again...

LAB

Life Ain't Bad.

I'm gettin' this body healed right up. The vertebrae and left foot feel pretty fine. The right foot is still a work in progress, but I'm out of the cast, off the wheelchair, and scootin' around on crutches. I've come a long way since this MRI was taken.

rear view

With the help of awesome physical therapists and the support of great friends, I've set my sights on returning to Africa by the end of the year.

fine peeps

Ibrahim

field trip

lively crowd at the bluegrass festival

Happy Rickshaw.
in the news!
photo by Michael Johnson www.mikejphoto.com

albemarle county fair

North Garden, VA:

albemarle county tug-o-war silver medalists













gimpy at the fair. photo by Ross McDermott

Ross and Josephine

back to the 'ville

I've returned to Charlottesville, where I'm hiding away in a secret compound full of healing energy and chocolate. Call me up if you're in the neighborhood.

I'll be in a wheelchair for about 3 more weeks, then crutches for 9 weeks, and then I'll begin rehab to kick ass with both feet again. Then back to my calling.

Speaking of callings, I felt called outside a few days ago. Into the shade of this lovely tree. I looked towards the sky, breathed deeply, took a photo, and then a bird pooped on my head.


Here's a look at the arts and crafts inside my foot:


the little C-shaped things are staples. the screw shaped things are, ummm, screws. 10 of them, plus a metal plate to keep things stable.

narcotic-free

72 hours post-op, and i quit taking narcotic pain killers. it feels fantastic. the pain is uncomfortable, but so it goes. i feel alive. i'd rather ride the lucid pain train than stay aboard the fluffy pastel locomotive full of marshmallows and care bears.

i'll start taking some pictures again soon.

and yes. i will go back to benin.

surgery success

doctor is confident that he's successfully reconstructed my right heel.

it's recovery time. full time.