Post Django in June: file under How Stupid is This?

Jazzaferri

Ben. What got you is contagious. I just sliced a chunk on the side of my LH middle finger

A reminder to be careful when overtired :oops: .

I will only be down or a few days. Hope you are mending quickly

Passacaglia

Holy cow, guys - take it easy! I'm in the middle of grilling a whole spatchcocked bird, with a pancetta and sage risotto....lots of knives and fire.



My days of war scars on the line are over ( ), but now I'm getting superstitious.

Seriously, watch those precious hands, friends!

Jay, will respond more later, I'm in Madison,WI land of dairy and wonderful green - and absolutely landlocked, seafood, my first love, is rare, and dear. I'd love to see your neck of the woods...beautiful, everything I hear and read.

klaatu

Hey everyone,

The sutures came out today, and the doc says all looks good as far as the healing process goes. However, I am instructed not to play for a few more days so as not to open it up again. I tried a couple of slow solos Django style tonight at a band rehearsal with two fingers, but a few times I accidentally pressed down with the busted one and it did not feel good, so I put the guitar down and just stage managed things.

Our clarinet player was showing me where he lopped off the last joint of a finger with a table saw a few years ago. The reattachment job was done very well, but it gives me the shivers to look at it. Rodrigo Shopis did something similar to himself a while back. Eewww!

Passacaglia

Yeah, nasty stuff, Ben. I'm glad you're coming along. Microsurgery has made strides (I was a corpsman in the Navy....look up Jackie Speier, to see an early example - this brave lady was on my ward), but none of that stuff is an easy road back. Hard to do, but better rest today in order to play tomorrow. Take care of yourself, man.

mikegnik

Passacaglia wrote:

Not to profit from our friend's lousy turn of events (Ben, I hope you're healing well), but Mike, on a personal note, it was great to meet you and your family as well. Look forward to seeing you next year, hopefully.

Stay well, everyone.

Paul

It was great to talk and play with you, Paul, and so many folks from all over the place. An incredible experience at DIJ... It would take a very strong force to keep me away next year. I was afraid I was not going to be "Mike" any longer but instead "that jerk who brought his kids." My family had a great time in Northampton.

Funny, in part I went to the camp because I was bitten by the proverbial Django bug, but another part of me knew that dedicating some time like those 5 days would either confirm I wanted to pursue this music or show me I was getting into the "wrong camp", so to speak. Happy to report connecting with this music and those who play it to have only strengthened the initial inspiration. Though, playing alone since has been a bit lame after the vibrant dynamic of the group djams. Trying to get some area jam sessions going to keep the vibe going.

Stephane Wrembel told us at Django camp priority number 1 in learning this music is to play with people. It feels right to get out of the woodshed!

Safety to all fingers, folks!

Mike

Jazzaferri

Well i was able toplay my guitar again today after i tried to remove a not quite necessary chunk of my finger and the got me thinking how are you coming Ben

Hope you are soon back to it with all doigts funcionng as necessary.

klaatu

Jazzaferri wrote:

Well i was able toplay my guitar again today after i tried to remove a not quite necessary chunk of my finger and the got me thinking how are you coming Ben

Hope you are soon back to it with all doigts funcionng as necessary.

Sorry to say that the hand is not back to full function. We had three gigs this weekend (quite unusual for us), and I was able to manage some two-fingered solos, but what drives me really nuts is the restrictions this places on chording. I'm limited to three note chords and can't even play all of those without that finger. It's turning out to be a longer recovery than I had hoped, obviously being overly optimistic at the time.

Passacaglia

Ben, I'm sorry to hear that, man. I don't want to preach, just some hard experience...honor the healing process, brother, don't "push past the pain", allow your body to tell you what it needs...

There, off the soapbox. Just want you to get truly better, with as little lasting ramifications as possible. Heal well.

Jazzaferri

I Feel for you Ben. I tried some calendula cream on mine and that seemed to accelerate the healing process a bit. The doc recommended it for a burn years ago, i had it around and tried itnafter a few days.. It might help wit the skin thang but i cant see it doing anything for the bone.