I posted back in March about a possible surgery to repair an incisional hernia (above my belly button) that developed from my 2003 open heart surgery and made itself known in September 2008 at the NMCOA Mini Meet in Stillman Valley IL and then even more so in mid-February 2009. In March, I had decided to NOT get it repaired, since it was, according to the surgeon, small. However ... as some of you know ... that hernia had started to act up a bit more regularly the last few months (once, while I was visiting friends in Freeport IL in April) ... and with "car" and "road trip" season here, I decided enough was enough.

So, Thursday, May 28, 2009, the incisional hernia was repaired. I wasn't able to drive until the following Monday, which meant I missed out on a GORGEOUS weekend of driving my older 4 Monte Carlos. The following weekend (first weekend of June) was rainy, of course, so didn't get them out for the first time that weekend either.... Ah, well ... plenty of time left in the year...right?

My 6-month cardiology checkup 2 weeks later (Thursday, June 11) went well. Everything looks good; though, the pacemaker lifespan is now at ~5 years. The appointments were quick with the pacemaker clinic and my cardiologist, and I was back home by about 3:30p, after leaving home about 9:30a. BUT, my next appointment won't be so quick. Tuesday, December 15, I will have a stress echo (ugh), along with the pacemaker check and visit with my cardiologist....

Until then ... lots to do in the next few months!

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Can we stop this time or must we go again?" ... TG Sheppard ... 'Finally'

Glad to hear everything is going ok, Cort!

Enjoy the trips!

Best of Luck, To your health.

*nods*

Thanks, Dave and Sixty8 ... much appreciated.

I am so looking forward to the trips, especially Route 66 in September. Course, it was just nice to finally get my older 4 Monte Carlos (1972, 1976, 1979, 1981) out in 2009 on Sunday, June 14. All 4 of them started with NO problems, and that day, I drove each of them ~30 miles.

And, with drives, Monday, June 29 (an extra day off due to the MC Nationals), Friday, July 3 (July 4 Holiday weekend), and Sunday, July 5, of ~30, ~50, and ~45 miles respectively, I've now driven each of them OVER 150 miles already this year ... with a LOT more driving to be done ... I HOPE!!! .

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Keep this feelin' alive" ... Eric Carmen ... 'Make Me Lose Control'

As somebody that has chronic illness as well, I am glad to see that you are living life as normal as possible and you keep receiving good news from the doctors!

As somebody that has chronic illness as well, I am glad to see that you are living life as normal as possible and you keep receiving good news from the doctors!

*nods*

Thank you, JB!

For those of us with chronic illnesses, it is hard to imagine life "illness free". And, for those on the outside looking in, they sometimes can't even begin to fathom what all we endure just to live life as normal as possible....

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"There's so much I need to say to you" ... Phil Collins ... 'Take A Look At Me Now / Against All Odds'

Glad to hear you have gotten to drive the 4 Monte Carlos. Always good to be able to get the cars out when you can. I sure enjoy my 2.

Hopefully there should be lots of drving weather...

Glad to hear you have gotten to drive the 4 Monte Carlos. Always good to be able to get the cars out when you can. I sure enjoy my 2.

*grins*

It's always so cool to see the people look as you go by, too . he he.

I just wish I could drive them MORE than I do .... *sighs*

Hopefully there should be lots of drving weather...

I certainly hope so, Dave. At least one weekend day the last few weekends has not been "driving friendly" ... dangblastit!

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 = Sept 5-16, '09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"How much can you take?" ... Oleander ... 'Hands Off The Wheel'