Being a wordy individual, myself, I was more than happy to "brave" your post, XDC.

Glad to hear you had a nice trip and that your surgery was, despite the stress in finding the place, successful. It's also good to hear that things are going well with your GF.

Is The Block a shopping center? I found much of what you described very familiar, as I went on a Band trip to California two years ago. We were in Anaheim, and I remember passing by Angel Stadium (desperately wanting to stop, to relieve my baseball withdrawal), and I think we might've gone to The Block. It was this huge outdoor mall-type place, and it seems like that might've been the name.

Your surgery experience reminds me so much of my wisdom teeth removal - I really underestimated the powers of the anesthesia, and I woke up later feeling as if I'd taken a ten-minute nap!