i'm reposting this (from misc) for those who might freak thinking the 3-pack winnings might be jeopardized -- no worries! if you win, you're 3-pack will be sent from a california address.
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i had a regular doc's appt. turn into a pretty painful surprise medical procedure today, and aside from hurting like $#& i've got doc's orders to keep my lower leg elevated (as in above my heart). as kinky as that sounds, it ain't fun. so i've gotta take a leave of absence until this heals up, or i'm in serious danger of losing my leg to amputation.

could be a day or two, could be a week or more -- just don't know how this is going to play out right now.

i'll check in as i'm able, but i just don't know how frequently that will be or for how long i can sit at the computer. please email me at BBELTRISI at ec.rr.com to contact me for ANY reason. i do hope to scan the email at least once a day.

i owe some serious thank you's to BOTLs who sent packages that arrived today -- DrF8 and DrMaddVibe -- (jeez, must just be my day for doctors, but you guys sent cigars; you didn't take a chunk out of my flesh like my doc did!). i want to quickly give them props here while i'm still upright. more appropriate praise and gratitude will be expressed at a later time. thank you, fellas! and bud451, got yours today too -- a huge thank you is due to you also!

again, might just be a couple of days, and i do hope that's all it will be. but just in case i wanted to let you good folks know so i don't have to come back and post something that mark twain once wrote:

"rumors of my death have been highly exaggerated!"

thanks again, and i hope to be back here virtually herfin' with the best SOON!

god bless,
"sicilian tony"

That sounds nasty, if he said stay in bed you should just forget about cigars and your computer for as long as it takes.

I hope it heals quickly buddy, you'll be in my thoughts.

wow Tony, I know it sound serious but it also sound so damn kinky and funny in a sense........

I hope you feel better soon. Take care

Andy

I bet if you rest real hard for half a day or so you will be able to get to the mailbox. Let's just call it physical therapy. Now start resting and I'll have you back in shape in no time.

What fudge said, amigo! Stay low -- and Godspeed!

kb

Tony,
Kick them feet up, and have no stress about e-mails. Your health is way more important, but just know we always are here to help out. All the best to ya'!

Dave

just heal up bro - we'll be here when you get back 🙂 hugs and many blessings! will keep you in my prayers.

Tony-
Health is a #1 concern! Get well soon. I'm sure Slim and Rick will keep things in line while you are gone.
God Bless,
Burky

Keep that middle leg elevated too. Don't want to have that amputated either. But seriously, Get well soon. -Marc-

Amen,
Get well soon.
PT 🙂

Get well soon! Best wishes.

choner

Hope your feeling better soon, but thats the reason I stay away from doctors, they like to spring bad stuff on ya.

Didn't you say the wife let's you smoke in the house?

If you're going out of town, give me an ETR, I'm getting you a box together, and wouldn't want it sitting on your porch for a week 😞 Get better!

DMV: yes, sir, she does let me smoke in the casa -- thank god! i've not had one in 24 hours, tho; as soon as i lay down, i'm just KO'ed.

thanks, all, for the prayers and support. it's been some rough, worried, painful sailing here, and you guys truly are a blessing.

CWF: i've got some stuff together for you and liz; just waiting on 1 mar to roll around (payday = postage $ for me) to send it all. anyway, no sir -- not going ANYwhere. yesterday at a routine doc's visit, i ended up having a fair amount of skin cut off of my left leg and have to stay horizontal & w/my legs elevated as much as i can until the swelling subsides so the healing can start. :/ so far spent about 30 mins out of bed total.

feeling a bit better for the moment, though, but i gotta head back to bed. thanks again for the thoughts, prayers and all. will post BEAUCOUP MERCI's when i can! 🙂

oh! lol just saw why CWF might have thought i was out o' town -- nah, the 3-packs are being sent out of cali from the guy who's actually holding them. instead of sending to me and me sending them on, he'll mail them out directly for me.

UPDATE: well, all those good thoughts and prayers must be working, folks -- thank you. the swelling's down considerably, the wounds are healing FINALLY, and the worst of the pain from the procedure is down to a "pain in the a$$." lol (some of the snipping o' the tissue was in the buttockal region). 😛

honestly, i might have well ended up going in hospital this weekend. i'm trying very hard not to end up losing my left leg to amputation, and after all that was done on thursday i felt like just throwing in the towel and saying "just cut the damn thing off!"

so i'm VERY happy to say that i'm on the upswing now. still won't be here nearly as much as i used to be, but at least i'm not in bed 23 hours out of 24 now!

THANK YOU ALL for your good words, emails, thoughts and prayers!!!!