Depending on how well my Dad's doing, I might schedule a get-together for London-area friends and readers at some pub a week, say, from Wednesday or Thursday. Since "Waterloo Sunset" is heavy on my mind, it should be a pub on the Thames. That place right next to the replica Golden Hind, near London Bridge, for example.

But only if the Important Things go well.

London calling.

It's been a GREAT day, so I'm not sure why REM's "Bad Day" keeps running through my mind...

My Dad's operation is over, and he made it through spectacularly. The triple bypass went so well, in fact, that they didn't even put him in intensive care, afterwards. He looks great (everyone was prepping me for how bad he would look). This is a giant weight off my mind.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone who sent in best wishes. They appear to have been answered in spades!

I'm so glad I'm here. I feel like I'm helping, which is good. I made dinner for my mom and sister last night. My sister said it was the first home-cooked meal they've had in ages, what with trips to the hospital and everything.

Feeling so good, I splurged and FINALLY picked up the Franz Ferdinand album off of the iTunes Music Store. Anybody know a good place in London to find the "Band of Brothers" DVD set? I'd like to get that for my dad, as a present.

(By the way, as far as REM songs go, "Animal" (a double-A-side with "Bad Day," I believe) rocks all kind of ass...it's song #2 on my Songs for Swinging Muskrats mix , Vol. IV).

Raining lots in London.

No? REALLY?

If there's a Dork Tower family and friends get-together next week (we'll see how my dad's doing), I think it will be at The Old Thameside Inn. Details on how to get there are at the webpage, http://www.dorktower.com