Many of you have noticed my peculiar absence over the last month. This post will probably fall into the "more information than you wanted to know" column, but an explanation is due my customer base.

A little more than three weeks ago, I had a vasectomy - I've had four kids. No problem from what my neighbors and friends had told me, right?

Well, not for me! I had the operation on a Monday, and rested until Wednesday as instructed (really, I did!). The doctor said I would be fine to fly on Thursday, as I had planned to go to Unichip that day. Well, Thursday rolled around and there was no way that was going to happen.

I rested more, and had a MINI5280 Tech Day scheduled for Saturday of the same week. At this point, I was able to hobble around, and I had no fever or other bad signs, so I figured I was just sore from the surgery. I wasn't going to do any lifting, so I headed out to the shop for the first time in a week to do one pulley install and do a walk around with the car on a lift. Well, Saturday night I ended up with chills and fever and a very bad feeling about an area you don't want to lose parts from!

I called the Doc on Sunday, and he told me to come in on Monday - a week after the operation. Apparently, the souchers looked good, and there was no sign externally of infection, but there was internally - something called epeditimits (sp?). It is the lining around your wedding tackle that transfers the baby material to the vas deferins. So, the Doc gave me some horse pills and said it should clear up within a few days. I asked about the upcoming event in Lexingtion, a week from then, and the Doctor thought I should be OK, but that I would have to rest for the entire week - no work. At this point, I'm wondering how I'm going to pay bills.

So, I ship my tools and parts out for the Lexington party. About $400 in shipping, so I'm commited. I did start to feel better and by Friday, the day of the flight, thought it would all work out. I had to transfer planes in Chicago, and the walk from the B to the C terminal just about did me in!

We got in Friday night to Ric's, and decided that we'd need to hit the shop at about 7:15 to set up the tools and open all of the parts. That worked out fine, but the day dragged on quite a bit longer than usual - mostly because I just couldn't move that fast! We finally left the shop around 9:00pm, to go to dinner. Then I did some remapping for four more cars' Unichips. We got to bed around 1:00, and had to get to a flight the next morning at 8:00 in Cincinatti, so we woke up around 4:45.

When I got home Sunday, I crashed! Waking up Monday, I thought I'd be better after the unusual amount of rest I'd had - I was wrong. I went back to the Doc, and he said it was either stop working or get parts cut off. OK, I guess I won't work this week. After spending quality time in the Hospital last week, and a follow up on Monday, the Doc says I should be better within another week, but to take it easy. So, I've been at the shop this week returning phone calls and e-mails, trying to get caught back up.

If you haven't been able to get through, that's why! I have been taking as many calls as I can answer this week, and I've even managed to return some. Meanwhile, the new camber plates are finally finished, the new intercooler is done, and three other projects that can't yet be discussed are back on track as well.

I also have some exciting new updates to the website, including a major catalog update and online purchasing that is underway.

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ME AND NEED TO DISCUSS ANYTHING. I WILL BE HERE THROUGH THURSDAY - FRIDAY I LEAVE FOR ATLANTA, AND WILL BE BACK IN THE OFFICE MONDAY MORNING!

Thanks for your continued support!

Randy