Hey Flax, I'm really sorry, I somehow missed -when I read the previous threads- that fact that you were going to have to have surgery!!! Big thing to miss! Anyway, I'm really sorry, 'cause the joke was just to make you laugh, and I wouldn't have made it if I'd noticed the surgery reference. I feel like a BIG JERK. Now I understand why you were pissed at me instead of laughing.
I wish you well, and hope your finger recovers quickly. I had an unpleasant and scarey incident several years ago when my forefinger of my fretting hand was sliced open by a greasy chainring of my bike during a tire repair... it was bleeding like crazy, and EXTREMELY upsetting... I was really freaked out. Fortunately, as was the case with you, there was no nerve damage. I've still got a big scar on it... but it plays fine.
Again, my apologies, I feel like a serious ass. And I wish you a speedy recovery.
Take care, Mark.