Amazing Disappearing Maestro.

[MaestroXC]

I finally re-started my computer to see that my original "I'll be away" message wasn't even posted, so I'm sure my absence has been a matter of some dismay to everyone; I apologize.

Initially, I was going to have intermittant posting from June 21 to June 26; I was on business in Europe, and while I had internet access, I was going to be too busy to ensure daily posts.

That changed on Monday, June 23, when I crashed my bicycle while descending a mountain in Switzerland (don't worry, my business was also bike-related). Outcome: Three broken vertebrae, two broken ribs, bruised lungs, and a whole bunch of cuts and bruises. I underwent surgery the next day to stabilize my vertebrae (six titanium screws, two titanium rods).

So, I'm now feeling much better, almost fully recovered; but because of the bruising on my lungs, I'm still not allowed to fly home for two more weeks, which is a bummer. Also, no internet in the hospital that I've been living in for the last three weeks; I should have been moved to a rehab facility by now, but insurance companies being what they are, things have moved a bit more slowly than hoped.

I'll try and get you guys some copies of my x-rays for fun; unfortunately I won't be able to communicate regularly until my return, so do what you need to in-game and I hope to see you soon. Hopefully a few of my characters will survive, but if a gruesome death is required to advance the plot, well, we all have to make sacrifices for art.

Thanks, I'll post again as soon as I can.

[VemuKhaham]

Ouch, sorry to hear of your accident, I can all too vividly imagine some mental images of biking accidents during mountain descends. I'm sure your characters will be far more fortunate, even in CoC. See you in about two weeks, man!

[Badasterysk]

Damn, dude! You must've had about 2 hit points left after that (I wonder what kind of damage the powers that be rolled for falling damage? )

Get well soon, and I hope you get hot Swiss nurses to bathe you!

[TheUdjat]

Whoa! Man, I was worried it was something serious when you popped off the face of KMan's. Sorry to see those fears were accurate. I hope your recovery proceeds steadily and you can get back to the States without a hitch.

As for your characters--Sam can rejoin the CofC plot whenever's convenient. There was no pressing combat going on when you left, so he was in no imminent danger. I can't really speak for the other games, but I suspect rejoining others will be possible, as well.

Hope to see you around soon, Maestro.

[Wicksy]

Damn! Dont worry, we'll carry on your characters until you're well enough! Get well soon!

[Rojito]

Hmm, sounds like you had it bad man. just take care of yourself, and get feeling better, we will be here when you are ready, and capable, of returning.

[Japic]

Zounds, that makes twisting my ankle twice in a month sound like nothing. Be better and escape when you can. Bring us back chocolates and watches.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Chocolates, watches, and bank accounts.

Oof, I knew it had to be something serious like that to have torn you away from here like that. But why'd you have to go and make it that severe. Well at least your recovery sounds to be going alright and you can be getting home in one piece sometime soon.

Take care of yourself. Hope to see you back here and posting whenever you're feeling up to it.

We'll bring Perry back into the game once you're ready, just let me know.

Take care

[PiranJade]

Urgh! That sounds horrible!
Get well soon!

[MaestroXC]

Jul 11, 2008 7:24:59 GMT -5 Badasterysk said:

Damn, dude! You must've had about 2 hit points left after that (I wonder what kind of damage the powers that be rolled for falling damage? )

Get well soon, and I hope you get hot Swiss nurses to bathe you!

I don't remember the incident, but I was never "unconscious" per se; still, the fact that I could have had one of my vertebrae collapse if I had acted normally lead me to conclude I was at 0 at the highest, possibly in the negatives.

Fortunately (unfortunately?) the bathing by the attractive Swiss nurses never had to take place, though I will say that if you have to be hospitalized, Switzerland isn't a bad place for it. I was at a highly regarded teaching hospital in Bern, and not only were the staff and doctors excellent (and English-speaking, as my German is nicht so gut), even the food was delicious.

So, with the insurance deal dragged out as long as it did, I don't have to go to rehab; I'm typing this from the hostel I'll be staying at for a few days before I move to a different city where my girlfriend is coming to visit. Still not 100% (taken some STR and DEX damage, as it were,) but I do have internet access, so consider me back on a probationary basis.

Yakumo, I'm sorry I missed the start of No Man's Land, I was really excited about that. I will be following closely; if it gets lethal I'll be glad to step in.

In short,

I Have Returned (for now)!

[TheUdjat]

I think Bad* and I would still be glad to have you in NML, and I doubt Yakumo would protest. We can use all the help we can get. Anoba's out for a bit, and so hasn't been around for the start, either. You haven't missed much, anyhow.

And, like I said, you're welcome to re-enter Masks. They've only been poking around a spice dealer and a gentlemen's club in your absence.

EDIT: (Is it telling that basic courtesies don't come to me naturally? I suck). Welcome back (provisionally)! And I'm glad recovery is going okay. Keep it up, and try not to fall off of any mountains in the near future, 'kay? I swear, we lose more players that way...

[MaestroXC]

Hey, it's the internet, don't worry about pleasantries! The fact that someone actually responds is feedback enough!

Seriously, I'm glad to be back; I'll try and provide you all with some visual treats in the next few days I'm in Bern.

If it's still good, I can get a character for NML finished by today or tomorrow; we'll see.

[TheZebraShakes™]

So are you ready to jump back into the games?

I could include Perry into the next IGTBE update along with a brief recap of what you missed (which wasn't all that much) if you think you're ready. We tend to get around two or three updates a week, so it should be slow enough for you.

Just let me know if that sounds good to you.

[Yakumo]

You are more than welcome to Join in NML, In fact I would be very glad if you did. This way I don't feel so guilty about getting ready to throw you guys into the war.

If you'd like you can still make a soldier, as currently the squad is among about fifty other soldiers just about to march into the Argonne looking for the two missing companies.

Just refer to my pm earlier with your rolls and the handouts/creation guides.

Or if you would prefer I can generate someone for you.


Edit: Also Welcome back, wow, I'm just as back as Udjat.

[MaestroXC]

Shakes: Sounds good, I put in a brief reply to the latest thread. I'm 6 hours ahead of Eastern time right now, so my post schedule might be a little weird.

Yakumo: I'll generate a character; make it a project for tomorrow. It may be bare-bones at first, but I'll try to flesh it out as soon as possible.

[VemuKhaham]

First of all, good to see you're back, Maestro! Second, you're posting schedule won't be weird, or mine is as well. It's them that have weird schedules, not us.