This blog, and my new life, officially begins on Tuesday, Jan. 5th, 19 days before my 50th Birthday, when I will enter an orthopedic clinic in Bad Schwalbach, Germany. While 2009 did have some memorable moments, (and I have the photos and liver damage to prove it), the majority of the year pretty much sucked.

In an effort to avoid the pain from the bulging disc in my back, my body developed a Quasimodo-like shift in the spine which caused my left hip to jut out at a bizarre angle, leaving me looking like I had just misplaced the basket of laundry or small child that should be perched there. The treatment involves shots of anesthetic near the disc, followed by five to six hours of various therapies every day for two weeks. I hear they serve beer there. It's like rehab with alcohol. See you on Tuesday.