I had my pre-operation consultation with the surgeon and his PA this morning. First, though, was one last x-ray showing both legs from the hip joints down to the toes. I’m a bit knock-kneed! The doc says that’s one of the reasons I’m needing this surgery and that my legs will be straight once he’s done. For some reason, men usually get to bone-on-bone on the inside and women usually get to bone-on-bone on the outside of the knee.

“Which knee hurts the most?” asked Dr. Altenburg, the surgeon who will be wielding the knife.

“The left knee,” was my immediate emphatic (and painfully correct) answer.

“That’s the one we’ll do first, then,” he said, “so if something happens that we need to stop  after the first knee, at least the worst one will be finished.”

His nurse came in, pulled out a huge black marker, and put “AJA” on the left knee. Then she handed me 5 packets of special disinfectant soap. I’m to use two packets on Sunday as I shower, two more (head to toe) on Monday, and the last one on Tuesday morning on my knees before coming to the hospital. “Don’t worry if you scrub off the marking,” she said. “We’ll just mark it again when you get to the hospital.”

So, I’m now branded with Aaron J. Altenburg’s initials that’ll probably wash off so it can be re-applied next Tuesday.

Nina drove over to Boise and back today to visit with her cousin. Our texting conversation as she was coming home:

Nina (3:05pm): Heading home.  On the road again.
Roland (4:21pm): You may get home about the same time as me!
Nina (5:18pm): Stopped at Mac Donald’s for dinner   Back to freeway. Eating as I go.
Roland (5:25pm): Leaving the office. Will nuke something when I get home.
Roland (6:21pm): Home!!
Nina (6:34pm): Can I just say I am so so so so so tired. Had to make a stop headed to freeway again.
Roland (6:34pm): Shall I send out the Saint Bernards?
Nina (6:35pm): With whiskey ?  Lol
Roland (6:35pm): Geritol.
Nina (6:35): Much better.

That’s what passes for humor around here.