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I'm getting a little stronger and haven't had a pain pill yesterday or today. Did have to have a pill to help me sleep, though. I don't know if it is just from being a  hernia surgery or the huge area the work preformed on but I don't think I've ever hurt this bad. Talking makes me cough and that hurts, getting in and out of a bed / chair hurts, walking hurts, sitting very still hurts, combing my hair hurts and we don't even want to dicuss going to the bathroom. My doctor told me to not take a bath for 10 days but one way or another I'm going to get one sooner than that. If I have to wait 10 days I'll have dingleberries as big as basket balls. Right now i"m sittin and looking out my French Doors - there's tomatoes that need picking, can't see;em but I know thee are some cucumbers that are ready, can't tell but my butter bean vines are looking good. My wife and son pulled our 1st picking of corn this weekend and got just over 300 ears. Should be about that many more by this weekend. And all I can do is sit here watch and hurt. Also, don't any of ya'll ever go into the hospital - I weighed this morning on our bathroom scale and I've gained 11 pounds. And this is without eating very much. Hope it just fluid as my feet and legs are swelled up way too big. I did take a fluid pill this morning and I think, as often as I'm having to go to the bathroom. I could put out a bigger than average forest fire if I had too.

Nela

Well. I'm back but just barely. Had a rough time of everything. The hernia surgeruis were a whole lot tougher than what was expected. Instead of having only 2 areas to correct the doctor had to remove all the the scar tissue from the previous surgery, pull and sticth the muscle tissue back into place then cover with a mesh to strengthen the exposed stomach muscles. The old scar was just over 14" long and, per the doctor, was ready to completely seperate. Most of the stomach muscles were only held in place by the skin on my stomach. This surgery was done on Tuesday and I was told that after recovery I could go home after I was able to empty my bladder. That did not nappen until Wednesday afternoon. After I got home I was still in a lotta pain and started having trouble breathing. My wife brought me to the emergency room where a battery of tests was run and it was discovered that my stomach and small bowel had not "woke up" from the surgery and that there was a "gas pocket" in my stomach causing me to hurt and to have the breathing problems. So my stomach was pumped to relieave the gas pocket and I was fianlly admitted to a room at 7:00am on Thursday morning. Then things turned really bad. Thursday afternoon I told my wife that I was hot and for her to uncover my feet and legs from the bedcovers. While she was doing this I tiold her that my left foot was asleep and she replied it was freezing cold. She felt up my leg about halfway between my ankle and knee and my leg felt ok. Well a nurse happened to be standing there and heard all this. She left the room and came back with a sonagram and started listening for a pulse on my foot. This was 1:00pm. All hell broke loose, nurses started running and the next thing a trauma team was in the room. My left foot had went into temporal artery system emboletectomy. In other words I had a massave blood clot in my left leg and my foot was dying. Emergency surgery was proformed at 3:00pm and so far my foot was saved. I was released from the hospital, today, and am at home still with the belly pain but walking. I'm walking very slowly but I am walking. My doctors are amazed that I could have a blood clot in my leg the size I had without any pain but I never felt anything. Anyway, I'm hurting, I'm tired but I'm back.

Nela

The strings I use are Earthwood Lights (9 / 42). My 12 string action is set low and play's like butter.
A little tip, when I change strings, is to leave all strings in place, and in tune, then change the standard strings one at a time. As I install a new string I will bring it to proper tune then [proceed to the next string. After I get all the standard strings changed, and in tune tune, I start changing the octave strings. I start with the 6th string octave and proceed from there. When I get to the g octave string I skip it and install all the other octave strings. The reason for skipping the g octave string is that it is the smallest string and the one most likely to break. This works for me.

As for what strings to use it depends on the guitar, the action and your ear. My advice is to try several different string sets until you find what sounds best to you and is easy to play. Lighter strings are easier on the fingers, easier on the guitar but also more easy to break. Find a set you like, get a couple of sets as backup and you are off to the races. Also, if you are out playing with a group and you break you "g" string just remove it and play your 11 string guitar. No one will ever notice,

Nela

Best wishes, my friend, with your surgery. Hope all goes well and you have a speedy recovery. Please let us know your progress when you are able.

Nela

Nothing in this world equals the feeling of having a new baby come into the family. Extremely glad you and the lucky mom are having this experence. Don't worry the grin on your face is not permanent. Please give the "Little One" a kiss for me.

Nela

Amy, I was wondering where Bill was yesterday but did not post anything. Give us a HOLLAR, BillyBoy, and let us know wut's going on.

Nela

Great picture. Anyone who has spent time outdoors gets to see some sights others just never see. I was phoshing one day severals years ago when I heard a racket in a hollow Cypress tree. All of a sudden there was an owl that came out of a big split near the top with a snake in its talon. I watched the owl poisition the snake so it could kill it then fly off while carring the snake. Righjt time and place to see nature at work.

I've seen deer playing chase (looked like they were playing tag)
Watched river otters at play
Watched beavers at work.
Gone mole hunting in my back yard
Seen the fog over the Grand Canyon while looking down on it.
Just to name a few.

Nela

Just a thought, TF, That picture is so good you may want to submit it to some sporting or outdoor clothing magazines.

BGD, my wife told me to tell you that if you got as good a woman as I got then you were one lucky feller. Treat her right, put her first, show her respect and make sure she knows how to cook - you will be happy for the rest of your life.

nela

Graham, good to here from you. Just take things easy, follow the doctors orders and you will come back good as new.

nela

As Doug said proper placement  of the capo in relationship to the fret is very important. For me that is about 1/8" away from the fret. Any closer and the capo gets in my way when fingering some chords. Also, even though I have "tweaked" my guitar for proper tuning, (E, A, D, G, b, e) I will always check and retune AFTER  I have the capo in place. (Tuning depends on where the capo is placed) Anytime you add the capo your strings will be a little flat or sharp so it should only take a small bit of "tweaking". If you don't do this you need to give it a try as it will improve your sound and it works on a 6 string or a 12 string - acoustic or electric.

Nela

Good to hear that Grapham is home and on the mend. Just take things slow and follow the doctor's orders while we all pray for a speedy recovery. I would offer to come over, mow you yard and help with your other chores while you are on the mend but I just can't get there from hear.

Kev, make sure he takes things easy and thanks for all the updates.

Nela