[monsoon]

Great news ... post from Steve on another forum ...

--------------------

A Huge "Thank You," from your friendly, neighborhood Pipestud

Howdy Gang,

First, I am simply overwhelmed by the well wishes from all of you. I am a man blessed way beyond what I deserve with friends like you, most of whom I have never even met. I'm proud to call you my friends.

Secondly, I am a dadgum idiot. For the last month, I have had occasional tightness in my chest area and arms. I'd walk it off and hoped that it was just a temporary thing. Last May I had my annual physical and had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I didn't do anything about it, figuring I'd just work out more and quit eating so much fatty stuff, which I love. To top off my idiocy, working three jobs and seven days a week kept me from enjoying my pipes and I chose the quick nicotine hit method of smoking cigarettes (nearly a pack a day) and one pipe in the morning and one or two in the evening and inhaling to boot. I got what I deserved.

With seven areteries in my heart block from between 40 and 90%, seven stints were put in. My wife says the color of my skin and the clearness in my eyes are something she has not seen in a long time.

The doctors say I should be leading a normal lifestyle in a week or so, but only with about 6 different pills everyday for perhaps the rest of my life.

I will adhere to my new diet restrictions, my wife has thrown out the carton of cigarettes in my office, and I will smoke one pipe in the morning and 1-2 in the evenings without any inhaling.

I think I'm over being an idiot (okay, I'll only be a partial idiot from now on).... You should have heard the promises I made to God while taking that ambulance ride to the hospital. I intend to be around causing mahem wherever I go for many years to come.

Thanks again to all of you fine folks for your concerns and well wishes.

Pipestud