Bill, it's really good to hear from you!!! Glad things are looking up for you and looking forward to hearing more from you.
So, Jan 4th is the big day. I'll be keeping you in my prayers for a good surgery and speedy healing. As soon as you feel up to it let us know how the nurses are treating you.
Sounds like you must have a bit of rockhound blood in you. My great uncle John was a true dyed in the wool rockhound. I always loved when he came to visit my grandmother. He was a story teller, and a yodeler. As kids, we would always bug him for his stories and yodeling. He spent a lot of time out in the Eastern Oregon desert after picture rock and thunder eggs, Idaho for opal, finally moving to Quartzite AZ for his last years.
Don