Thanks for asking, guys, but I really need to stay away from this forum: I can't afford any more "stumbles." Teehee!

Today I actually drove the car!!! Woohoo! Haven't been behind the wheel in weeks! I went to the Dr. and got the cast off and the sutures removed. Ugly f-a-t foot! But the doc said it wasn't as swollen as most. And the nurse complimented me on how clean my Ace bandages were. Oooh!

I got to see the x-rays. There is a metal plate about the size of a table knife w/o the handle. And there are 6 screws holding things together. The scar is maybe 4-5 inches long. There is a small corresponding one on the opposite ankle, but down lower.

So now I'm back in an aircast for 4 weeks (looks like something Frankenstein would wear). I can "toe-touch" while I crutch. I bought me some deluxe honest-to-goodness sheep shearling pit-pads for my crutches. And bingo: No more chafing!

And I feel so spayshul: I have a temp. handicapped placard. The ortho doc flat-out refused to sign one 2 weeks ago right after my surgery. Said I wouldn't be needing one for awhile.

I worked half a day today. So the Judge (I'm a court clerk) came in after lunch and saw my car parked in the handicapped spot and (playfully) protested. He wondered what made me so special? I shot back that he had his own "reserved" parking spot just a few feet from the door, and what made HIM so special?

The good news is that I can get the ankle wet in the shower now. And remove the aircast 3x per day for exercise (just up and down movements, not side-to-side; enough to keep the thing oiled up and lubricated a little).

Shhhh! Don't tattle on me: I didn't ask permission, but I plan on removing the aircast when I go to bed. I did that before the surgery and it was okay.

Still haven't received flowers or a get-well card from the cruise line. But thank you so much to my very special friends and the OurHeartGreeting gang for the nice cards. They cause the corners of my mouth to get stuck in the "up" position for the rest of the day!!!