And so it begins...

(...edited version and aren't you glad...!?!)

There comes a time when worrying about your health and small maladies seem to take precedence over many other things in life...


Recently, Hub (for those of you who haven't picked up on my current nickname for Dave...this is it) discovered a small non-healing sore on his left temple that looked suspicious and so off to the dermatologist we went...

...he had a biopsy and the tissue was diagnosed as a (#1)

We were grateful that it wasn't more serious so we decided to take care of it asap...

The date was set and when the time came, we headed off to get the job done...we had been advised that it would be a 4-6 hour procedure so we came prepared...books - computer - snacks - etc.

When we arrived, I quickly found the 'best spot' in the waiting room......right between the food and the water & magazines...-there was even a plug for my computer-

...like I said...'Little Debbie's' are the best... (oh...didn't I say that?...I meant to...)

Hub likes 'em too...

...now that we're primed...it's our turn to get zapped!

Dr. Shiell marks the spot with an "O"...

(Dr. Shiell is the topmost MOES surgeon

in the US...so 'they' say...)

and Tracy preps with lidocaine...


and the Doc draws 'first blood'...with the first layer...

(didn't I mention that they remove the tissue
in layers...? I meant to...)


then the cauterizing... (love that smell...yuck!)

Dr. Shiell explains the 'layer thing'...

(actually the discussion was more about the Lakers vs the Suns...

- the Doc's from California)

and Tracy applies a bandage...

...the tissue must be tested

so back to the waiting room we go...

...we wait together...going in and out...one by one...

...bonded together by sharing this experience...

...vibrant old people...exhausted youth...

...we are the same...

and this time there is pizza...yum!

...Hub likes the pizza too...

well... the results are back and still positive so...

...time for another round of lidocaine...

...and another layer of tissue to be removed...

and more cauterizing...

and...more waiting...

....finally........ the lab results are good...

...so after more lidocaine... (...kinda looks like botox...huh?

Mmm...where did those crow's feet go...??)

...the opening needed reshaping in order to stitch...

(...it sorta looks like a 3rd eye...or Hub prefers a football...)

and the stitching begins...

Voilà...11 stitches in all & he didn't feel a thing...

We're glad this little 'escapade' is over and hope there won't be another one like it any time soon ....

...so far - so good...and that was 24 hrs ago...Whew!

...well at least 'it's better than a hole in the head'...hee!