HI! I found your Alaska TR and am now reading all of your others! You and my mom would get along, she LOVES Excel.
The reason I popped on to say hi

was because I'm on the bit about your surgery and it made me laugh in a good way. I've had the same surgery *I get a sinus infection about every month, even now after the surgery. They want me to get another but I just don't know if its worth it* But I was giggling because of your cat comment!
I have two cats of my own and when I came home from my surgery I asked my mom to go to the store for something or other and while she was gone my 16 lb cat got stuck behind the couch and I had to rescue him. I'm sure they told you no lifting heavy objects or almost ANY objects for that matter.
When my mom came home I told her and she was annoyed with him. Later my Grandmother called to ask how I was doing and my mom told her the story...my Grandmother was so ANGRY with him! It was SO funny.
I'm done now. I thought you might like that little story and now I'm off to read more!!! I love your style of writing! OH! And I'm from Alaska *I live in DC now, but I'm moving back in 5 years* so I got all teary eyed at your photos!!!