YAY…I’M STRAIGHT!
No, I’m not talking about my sexual orientation…I’m talking about my middle finger!
Not sure you remember, but the day after we closed on the house, I was trying to clean up some paint that middle daughter spilled on the carpet in her room. I rubbed really hard forward with a wet rag, middle finger slipped under, and I pushed it so hard the tendon popped off. (Talk about an icky sound…I think that was even worse than the pain!)
Anyway, almost nine weeks of nonstop splinting, bandaging, cleaning and nursing have resulted in a near perfect recovery from mallet finger. (In case you’re wondering, it looks like this: 
From what I’ve read and from what the doctors say, it is very rare to have a complete recovery. Usually the finger still hangs, at least a little bit. But I’m telling you, I was determined. I kept it ramrod straight for the entire eight weeks–no slipping at all. I think I actually might have overcorrected it a little…it’s straighter than the rest!
But who cares??? I can type! I can write! I can sign my name! I can drive without looking like I’m flipping off every other driver on the road!
One teeny problem is that the tendon is now super tight so I can’t bend that joint at all. Have to rehab it back into flexibility. I’m thinking that throwing myself right back into work is going to get that thing super limber. 
And now that the kids are back to school and the entire summer’s worth of family get-togethers and company is gone, I am ready to do exactly that!
So celebrate my straight finger with me today, okay? Hey…we’ve gotta take the celebrations where we can get them, right? lolol!
LOL. Okay Leslie, I’ll go along and celebrate your “straightness” with you. Glad to hear your finger’s in good shape - after all, that specific finger can be used for rather effective communicating
And yay on the kids going back to school, though this time of year always depresses me a little - it’s getting too close to winter!
Comment by Stacy ~ — August 28, 2007 @ 6:34 am
My friend broke the same finger (nasty game of volleyball at the river, good thing she was ummm…numb) and hers is still bent at the very tip. It looks a little odd but good for conversation. (lol) Glad yours is good to go!
Comment by Jodie — August 28, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Awesome news, Les! You can write and do everything now with that ol’ finger.
Comment by Carly — August 28, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Comment by Yolanda — August 28, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Yee Ha!! Congrats on a great recovery, Leslie. Here’s to your straightness.
Cher
Comment by Cher — August 28, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Yeah, Les!!! Glad you’re feeling better.
Now, get to your therapy…er, writing!
Comment by Julie Leto — August 28, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Writing therapy is a fabulous way to get your finger back to normal. You get therapy and we get more Leslie Kelly books to read!! It’s a win-win situation. Yeah!!
Comment by Carolyn A. — August 28, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Stacy I feel that way (a little) too. A new school year always makes me feel a little sad like I did when I was a kid. But I’m looking at this year as a new opportunity to make some serious changes!
Comment by Leslie — August 28, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Jodie–the doctor warned me up front that mine would probably always hang a little. He was very surprised at how well it healed, too!
Comment by Leslie — August 28, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Oh, YEAH, Les!!! I’m so glad to hear that the finger is better.
Now it’s time for you to get back to writing those books we love to read!
Comment by Janelle — August 28, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Oh, yay, Leslie! Hooray! A straight healed finger is a great thing to celebrate, and now you have some time to rehab
Comment by Fedora — August 28, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Congratulations, Leslie!
Comment by Susan — August 28, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Yeah, Leslie!!!
Now, back to pounding those keys. I hear it’s going to be a colder then normal winter on the east coast so I’m going to need a lot of reading material.
Comment by Carol R — August 28, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Glad to hear your finger is doing so well; after all, that finger can be used so effectively for other things…right.
Am sure you will get your finger’s flexibility back as you sound very determined to do so and that is half the battle I believe.
Comment by Shari C — August 28, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Yeah Leslie! I’m so glad your finger’s better!
And speaking of books we love to read, read Overexposed over the weekend and loved it!!
Comment by Robin — August 28, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Comment by Tina Martinesi — August 28, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Julie, I was just over at the soapboxqueens, and they have a picture of Witchy Business posted…..it looks great!!!! I can’t wait to read it
Comment by Tina Martinesi — August 28, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Thanks, Tina. I’ll probably put up an excerpt this week. Rhonda is guest blogging for here next week!
Comment by Julie Leto — August 28, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Comment by Donna M — August 28, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
YEY, Leslie!
Comment by katie — August 28, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Good for you on your finger recovery. One of thr most important fingers of all! My Dad had that and he indeed look like he was forever flipping people off! :
Comment by Sue Mont — August 28, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Congrats, Leslie! I would use your experience as an excuse to quit cleaning. After all, your fingers are your livelihood. (Think hubby will buy that one?)
Comment by Lori Borrill — August 28, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Hey everyone…
Yay, yippee…she’s straight
. Congrats on the healed finger…I can’t wait to get into more Trouble…lol…I am doing pretty good on collecting your BL as well as Janelle’s…I can’t find Asking for Trouble, but I will…once again congrats…now get to work on rehabbing that finger…Have a wonderful day…
Comment by Paula R. — August 28, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
So glad to hear that your finger is straight!
We need it to be working for you so that you can write more books. 
Comment by Vicki — August 28, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Glad to hear your finger is almost as good as new.
Comment by Estella — August 28, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Paula R - If you can’t find it let me know and I’ll send you mine. It’s a great book and I’d hate you to miss out on it!
Comment by Jodie — August 28, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Comment by Liza — August 28, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Way to Go ~ You Did It!!
Comment by Shelley — August 28, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
that is good news.
Comment by kim h — August 28, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Congrats Leslie on being straight
(finger) 
Comment by Cherylann — August 28, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Happy Belated Birthday Janelle!!!
Kelly
Comment by Kelly H — August 28, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
I love all our new smilies.
Gave me lots of smiles today.
Thanks everyone!
Comment by Leslie — August 28, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
YAY FOR YOUR FINGER!!
As someone with a rather deformed middle finger (lost the end in an accident), I can assure you it’s much better to have one in working order!
Comment by wendy roberts — August 28, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
In celebration of your finger now working at peak efficiency, I think I will have a drink. hm, no cocktail icon anymore. No cake one either. Guess I will go play with my new laptop.
Comment by ev — August 28, 2007 @ 10:32 pm