Well, when I said in a previous post I was going to take a “break” I had no idea that was going to turn out to be literally. Some would say I might have jinxed myself, others might look at my recent history and invested in the predictive market. As a guiding rule, I prefer to focus on rehabing one injury at a time – stay focused, put the effort in, get past it and prioritize whatever is left. I was having issues with a joint in one of my fingers prior to retiring with a nod to typing being a major component of my career for all 31+ years. I exited the grind, it seemed to get better, started hurting again and then broke my elbow – new priority. Continued to hurt, then broke my ankle – new priority. Having been cleared of that latest injury, went back to my elbow surgeon to FINALLY deal with the finger. Words you do not want to hear when the doctor pulls up your xray – “Whoa, that joint isn’t just damaged, it’s obliterated!” Optimistic day, meet Craptastic day. Looking at joint replacement or joint fusion – for certain, my guitar days are officially over. Got a shot in the joint to relieve some of the pain until I make a decision. As a result, my break may extend longer than originally intended – at least until I can hit the E-C-D keys again. Worry not, for Brad has a number of great posts from their jet-setting adventures already in the queue to entertain you!
Take it away Brad…
One day during our Australian photo assignment, Jan and I went different directions. The tour group’s activity for the day was to go to the Great Barrier Reef, something I’ve always wanted to see. That is, until the wave conditions on the day were expected to be between 1-2 meters high (3-6 feet). Gads! Intrigued readers know of my fondness for small boats in rough seas . . . NOT! (see here) I made the choice that day to keep my feet firmly planted on land. Jan, who’s afraid of nothing (learned to ski Double Black Diamond runs when she was about five) went on the boat ride to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef. She did tell me later that several people succumbed to motion sickness on the rough 45-minute transit to and from Green Island and that I would NOT have had a good time on the boat.
Once the tour bus took the rest of our group to the boat headed for Green Island, I grabbed my Aussie hat and went outside to see what the tidal flats of Cairns (pronounced “cans”) were offering that day. After an hour of photographing shore birds and wading birds in the tropical sun, something caught my eye in the trees to the right.
That’s NOT a wading bird!!! Hit the jump to read more about this fishing royalty!
Continue reading Bad Day to be a Crab…by Brad Marks
Wildlife Intrigued 