timhan.com

I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since my last post.  My apologies to those of you who have periodically check for updates.  Of course, a lot of those people will never read this ’cause they’ve probably stopped checking by now.

A lot has happened this year.  I just got back to Beaver Creek after spending the summer teaching sailing at O.C.S.C. Sailing School in San Francisco.  It was a great summer that met or exceeded all of my expectations.  I only just left and I can hardly wait to get back.  I’ll write more about that on a slow, bad-snow day.

It’s winter now and the ski season is just about to go into full swing.  My entire family will be here for Christmas so I’m really looking forward to that.  It’ll be the first time on skis for my two nieces.  Also, I haven’t skied with my brother in about ten years.  He’s going to get a through ass kicking.  Look for an update and pics from the Han Family Holiday @ 11,000 feet.

Until then, Happy Festivus!!!

Last week I was wearing shorts and flip-flops in the desert. Now I’m back at Beaver Creek and it’s full-on winter. There are heaps of snow here and more is forecast to be arriving. On Friday I took my first runs of the 2005-2006 season. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about how my “new” back would feel on the slopes. Fortunately, everything seems to be in order in there. Even made some progress toward having better form. Here’s a pic of Derek Tan, Shay Doll and myself at mid-mountain.

As predicted, more snow fell yesterday and today. Here’s a pic of the trusty Subaru. Hooray for 4wd! (Yup, that’s Sara sitting next to it so you can gauge for yourself how deep the fluff is)

The FIS World Cup made it’s annual stop at the Beave, so I spent a good part of the weekend watching the best skiers in the world tackle the icy pitches of our steepest terrain. These guys can change direction on rock-hard snow at 80mph! It was quite a thrill to see that. Very inspiring!!

Under doctors orders, I have scaled back my ‘exercise’ from visiting National Parks (that are as flat as a pancake) to walking around the neighborhood here in Chandler or the many gigantic bookstores in Phoenix. Fortunately, if you go out at the right time there is still lots to see. The next photo was taken just around the corner from my house:

And only two minutes later, mother nature changed the lighting:

Pretty amazing show. This has been happening most mornings for the past week here in Chandler. The lingering clouds from the previous day’s monsoon activity form a high layer of cover that is illuminated from below just as the sun breaks the horizon. A few days ago the effect was even more spectacular, but when I raised my camera to snap the photo I was reminded that the battery was sitting in it’s charger! (Those of you who are often out at this time know that walking back into the house would have been futile. These early morning light shows are VERY fleeting) Sometimes I really miss my old celluloid SLR.

These are the remains of what is now called Casa Grande, part of an ancient Hohokam farming village in the lowland desert of central Arizona. It is the largest structure known to exist in Hohokam times; 4 stories high and 60 feet square. It was completed @ 1350 AD. The farming village surrounding it was approximately 2 square miles and had a population of approximately 1150 inhabitants (that’s the size of many of the small towns that now lie adjacent to Casa Grande). Nobody really knows where the Hohokam went after abandoning Casa Grande, or why they left.

I’ve been out of the hospital for a few days now, and have spoken to many of you, but here are the pics to prove I’m alive and well. I felt amazingly OK just after being wheeled up to my room at the hospital.

No pain or grogginess to speak of. I was a little afraid to move at first, but shortly after I came to, the nurse had me roll over to check my ‘b’ side. At first glance, not too exciting considering all the heavy bandages.

Best of all, my pals Sharon and Chris were there to hang out with me that first evening.

Although, they did tourture me by bringing in take-out from Thai Basil, an awesome Asian Fusion joint. For all you Denverites, Thai Basil has a new location @ 1422 E 18th Ave (right across the street from the hospitals there). The food is so good that each of us ate there twice last week. That’s 6 meals and they were all fantastic. My second meal was during my second day’s stay in the hospital. Presbyterian/St. Lukes orthopedic staff take note: Free delivery on orders of $10 or more. Yum!

This is the surgical staff the fixed me. They are awesome, definitely a great reason to visit the mile high city for a few weeks. Maybe next I’ll have my c-spine fixed…

Finally, a special thanks to all of the staff on the 6th floor. You ladies really know how to pamper a wounded body.

So here it is folks, the picture you’ve all been waiting for. My new and improved spine! Thought I’d save the best (and the gore) for last…

* or what to do in Denver before your spine surgery

If you’re headed for the Mile High City for some R&R, there are lots of fun things to do a see. The Denver Grand Prix takes place August 12-14. That’s a retired Rahal Racing machine I’m sitting in. It’s parked at the east entrance of the Cherry Creek Mall. Humm…maybe Danica Patrick once had her slender figure squeezed into that car.

Of course this being the second week in July, the Tour de France is in full swing. No matter who you root for, a great place to catch the action is at the Handlebar and Grill. This place gets the nod from the folks at Velo News and has heaps of cycling lore hanging inside. Parked in the lot for the opening day of The Tour was Randy Wittmer and his Mobile Cyclery. This thing is packed full of every bike part and accessory you can imagine. A gear geek’s wet dream come true.

If you want to get away from it all but still stay in the heart of Denver, check out City Park and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Locals say that the ‘bird’ watching is better at Washington Park, but I like the look of the flock at this place.

*photo courtesy of Sharon Steadman

Yes folks, that’s my fat, pimply a@#. Rather unattractive from this POV. Well, I’ve just been sitting on it for the past two months awaiting my fate. Hiking for only one hour and Mom’s home cooking are a recipe for love handles. I’ll have to work them off in PT. More specifically, that’s my lower back and this is the last time it will look like THAT again. Soon it’ll have a cool scar. I’ll post a post-surgery photo in a few days.

I met with my back surgeon for the first time last Thursday and I’m a GO for a Partial Lumbar Discectomy this coming Wednesday, July 6th. Dr. David A. Wong will be performing the procedure and I couldn’t be happier or more confident with a doctor.

Here’s what’s wrong with my back:

http://www.understandspinesurgery.com/understand_problem.asp

(Select: spine, lumbar, herniated disk, lumbar)

You can read about the procedure and view an animation of it here:

http://www.understandspinesurgery.com/understand_procedures.asp

(Enter: 80218 for the zip code, view a procedure with David A. Wong, enter tim.t.han@gmail.com (or your own if mine doesn’t work for you), select lumbar, Lumbar Partial Discectomy)

My surgery is scheduled for 3:00pm. I should come to around 6:00pm. I won’t have my cell phone with me, so my apologies ahead of time for those of you who want to call. I’ll be checking in for the night, hope the room service is good. Thursday morning at 11:00am, I’ll be discharged. If I’m up to it, I’ll post an update and answer any voicemail. Wish me luck!

This just in from my midwife (yes I have a midwife…hey, you never know):

Hi,

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it’s actually true. (Really. Check the footnotes if you don’t believe me.)

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all funding for NPR and PBS, starting with “Sesame Street,” “Reading Rainbow,” and other commercial-free children’s shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year — $100 million — and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children’s shows like “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Arthur,” and “Postcards from Buster.” Rural stations and those serving low-incom
e communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

If we can reach 250,000 signatures by the end of the week, we’ll put Congress on notice.

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Washington Post report on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745