One pain and then another. My leg is healed but my jaw... whooooo boy.

The procedure begins with massive shots from a very industrial looking soviet type needle. Totally cringe-worthy. See, the thing about Holland is that it's like half Liberal Utopia and half Communist Russia. Liberal examples: legal pot smoking, co-ed naked spas, gay marriage. Communist Russian examples: industrial engineering and decor that is all about sterility, hard edges, and function. Bathrooms, kitchens, medical rooms, even snack shops are mostly cold white tiles and no frills. And did I mention... those big ass needles?

Anyway, the surgery begins. There is no actual pain but the pressure is intense and the sound of the drill going into my jaw bone is ridiculously loud. I have the feeling it is blowing apart my eardrums. Now normally, I am pretty relaxed at the doctor's. But during this visit I just lay there stiff as concrete. I have not done enough yoga in my lifetime to deal with this circumstance. About halfway through the procedure, the doctor tells me that in America, when doing a jaw operation, oral surgeons will put the patient completely under general anesthesia. He thought I was being very brave. And I'm like... "Being brave?!? ...Dude, you are telling me I had a choice?!?"

So he finishes, gives me my stitches, and some prescriptions for pain medication and disinfecting mouth wash. And this being Holland I do as the Dutch do - I leave the hospital on my bike. Let me repeat this: I have surgery and then I'm riding my bike to the pharmacy and then home. The Dutch... what's normal to them is bad-ass to me.

Now my jaw is completely swollen. I'm talking and looking like Marlon Brando in The Godfather. I have to wait to run again... hopefully on Monday. Tonight, I'm going to the gym for non-impact, non-jaw thumping bike training.

PS. I want to wish all the best for a speedy recovery to my good friend and fellow RailRunner, Marc.