I am now the proud owner of a credit card sized piece of plastic, with a statement on the reverse side that, among other things, identifies me as having a "total joint replacement, which is a permanent metal implant. This implant may activate metal detection devices."
My New Left Hip
This is an X-Ray of my left hip prior to 23 March 2009. It shows the hip socket is "worn out." That is, much of the cartilage is is gone or damaged and the joint is arthritic.
So, I had two choices: do nothing and live with the ever increasing pain and loss of mobility, or, have total hip replacement surgery.
I made my choice. On Monday, 23 March, I underwent hip replacement surgery . I’m now well on the road to recovery. I am on a regimen of daily exercises and twice-weekly outpatient physical therapy sessions.
Prior to the surgery, the hip problem had been causing severe pain in my left knee. Although I still have some of the pain normally associated with the surgical procedure and subsequent healing, my left knee is now pain-free.
I’ll be posting more about life with my new hip as I progress through the post-operative regimen.
In Like a Lion
It started snowing here last night and it is still coming down at a pretty good rate. There is about six inches of snow on the ground right now with the local weather forecasters saying that about two more inches can be expected before it tapers off.
Six to eight inches of snow may not sound like much to those who live in more northern climes, but here in the Washington, DC area, it is enough to bring just about all activities that require travel by Planes, Trains & Automobiles to a screeching halt.
It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a snowfall of any significance in March.
Groundhog Day 2009
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year so it looks like Winter will be around for a while. By an amazing coincidence, Phil’s shadow resembled the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which was won this year for a record sixth time by his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
One for the Thumb + One
During the run-up to Super Bowl XL, which the Steelers won, the rallying cry of the Steeler Nation was "One for the Thumb," a reference to the Steelers having rings from their four previous Super Bowl wins. 
Last night, with the Nation and their Terrible Towels in full battle array at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII for their sixth Super Bowl victory. Only four more to go for a complete set!
Snow Day
We had our first snowfall of the season here in the DC area yesterday. It wasn’t much – only about 2 inches or so. But, as usual, panic set in and schools were closed, most events of any significance were canceled, grocery stores had record sales of bread and milk, and the local news media hyped it as the "storm of the century."
During the early hours of the morning today, we had a weather event that is much more typical for the DC area – freezing rain that left everything covered with a nice coating of ice. And of course, this elevated the panic to the next level.
But the panic is subsiding now as the temperature rises, the ice is melting and the bread and milk supply lines are opening up!
Fortunately for me, the one event that didn’t get canceled was the basketball game between the George Mason University Patriots and the University of Delaware Blue Hens. So I ventured out into the storm and saw the Patriots win 78 to 55. They are 10-0 on their home court so far this season and their overall record to date is 15-5.