I had surgery last Tuesday. The objectives were met but not without some crazy sedation talk, pain like somebody punched my nose each morning, and lots of pain medication. I had several nightmares about injuring my nose while recovering - like running into door jams and car accidents.

I had my splints removed today and I’m breathing like a young child (the last time I remember not having obstructed breathing). Still a little tender, but feeling so much better than even one day ago…

Had two polyps removed, turbonates shaved back and my deviated septum straightened. And looking at the picture above… I know exactly what I’m going to look like when I’m 68 years old.

Three generations of Pattons playing rumikub and taking a break to conduct a symphony - Emma seems to have the most rhythm.

Emma had a tough battle for the “all school” spelling bee. She finally got out on “anticoagulant” which she spelled with an “E” at the end instead of an “A.”

It happens to the best of us. The first place winner has a conflict and cannot go to regionals so Emma is now the alternate for the second place winner.

Emma said, “Maybe her family will go on a cruise that week and I’ll have to go.” I guess anything is possible. Great job Emma!

Congratulations to the 2010 sixth grade spelling bee champion from Hazelbrook Middle School. I will never forget getting second place in my fourth grade spelling bee by missing PARALLEL. That spelling makes no sense. At least we now have a champion in the house.

This was the view from the third floor window. The front door was dug out, so we could enter the second floor, but the whole lodge was buried under about thirty feet of snow. REally strange to be inside with a wood stove and look at the front door at all that coldness…

Our wind-burned faces at the Sandy McDonalds. We had planned to ski the next day after spending the night at the lodge but the snow turned to rain and I drove to Government camp instead while everybody else skied and boarded down the mountain - outside of the ski boundary.

Don’t have an excuse for the dumb look on my face - other than I was tired and wind-burned. I can however account for Sumner’s look - I see the “what is your problem, dad?” look several times a day…

Went to a crazy scout lodge on the side of Mt. Hood - actually part of the Timberline ski run. We had to ski in with packs. Wood stove warmed the place up nicely and had amazing weather for four hours of night skiing and then got a free lift back up to the parking lot and then home. Amazing adventure.

My headband was super tight - I borrowed it from Sumner and it was squeezing my face in this picture.

In the middle of a surprise snow storm. Emma has been sick the past couple of days but made a miraculous recovery when she saw the snow…

Opening cheer at Nike Harajuku store (Tokyo)

Took this picture at the India vs. Australia cricket match in Nagpur - sport passion is alive and well in India.

Construction site - the old stadium is being torn down to make way for the new stadium in time for the next “cricket” world cup.

This guy was trying to sell me a scalp massager - he followed me for two blocks and although intrigued… I did not purchase.

Working on the ground with the India team at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.

Moonlighting as a security guard.

Realized that I missed loading some India photos as my camera broke and I was borrowing others in between activites. Here I am batting with some local kids at Shivaji park.