So….here goes….Yellowstone is hard work—but it’s fascinating because of the people you meet every day….and, of course the environment is worth every once of effort.  We are both loving it here…and we finally got to see a moose–what very odd creatures…

but here’s the s*(&(cky part.

Many of you know that, before I left, I was having some back issues.  I’ve been seeing an orthopedic in Bozeman  (a 2.5 hour drive away).  Things got better for a little while, but have since gotten dramatically worse…..he says I need surgery (some cool microdisk thing)….so…I go up to Bozeman (again) for a surgical consult on Thursday–from there we have LOTS of decisions to make–to do it here, to fly home and then come back out?  Just don’t have any answers right now…

The good news about all of this is that, if the surgery goes as I’m hoping it will (that he recommends the outpatient procedure) I will be out of work for ~ 3 weeks–and Xanterra (the company I’m working for) will let me take up to 5 weeks of leave  (but I will have to move out of the dorm)–so, with a little bit of luck this will just be a temporary hiatus…not a permanent one…wish me luck!