From Susan, again. Turns out the operation was not 7 hours, but almost 9. For all that, Ivan's ahead of the curve in getting up and about; spent most of the day in a chair rather than bed, takes walks around the corridors with his drips in tow (looking, Michael says, like an outsize Jack Nicholson in "Good As It Gets")--he has his father's sturdy constitution. He was in some pain for a while--skimping on the medication to avoid feeling groggy; better now. A big complaint is thirst; all he's allowed is a lollipop sponge which he dips in water and sucks. No picnic, but overall the best that could be hoped for.

Tomorrow he'll probably be moved from Parnassus to Mt. Zion, his surgeon's base; home maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, and with luck, back to being his own (much more colorful!) blogger not long after that. More anon...