Sprinkler Blowouts For Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Today is coming in hot — and early. As in 5:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Hospital downtown early. Sheila has her second back surgery scheduled, and this time they’ll be fusing one level above and one below the last repair. Not exactly the kind of “stacking” or “leveling” work we normally do around here, but the stakes are definitely higher.

We’ll be crawling out of bed at the crack of yuck to get her checked in. The last time she had back surgery, it was during the Covid restrictions, and all I could do was drop her off at the door, wave, and pretend I wasn’t stressed out of my mind. This time, at least, I’m allowed to stay at the hospital — a luxury that somehow feels like winning the lottery.

The surgery is expected to take 5–7 hours, and Sheila will likely be in the hospital for 3–4 days afterward. While she’s in the operating room, I’ll be setting up my portable office and doing my best to keep working from whatever tiny table, chair, or windowsill the hospital offers. At this point in life, I can work from pretty much anywhere as long as I have caffeine, Wi-Fi, and something vaguely resembling a flat surface.

And when I say “portable office,” I’m talking about the full-blown Maintenance Shop Portable Office™ — my laptop, my fold-up dual monitor attachment (so yes, I can absolutely run a three-monitor command center from a hospital waiting room), my phone buzzing nonstop, hospital Wi-Fi running at classic dial-up nostalgia speeds, and a six-pack of Coke Zero to keep the whole circus operational. If the hospital gives me even a sliver of table space, it’ll look like the TMS Command Center got air-dropped straight into the orthopedic wing.

We’re also not totally sure how we’re going to pay for this surgery. Even with insurance, it feels like the hospital billing department is sponsored by NASA. So we’ll gladly take prayers, divine intervention, miracles, spare change, and maybe even a GoFundMe if it comes to that.

I’ll keep everyone updated as I’m able, but Tuesday will definitely be one of those long, heavy, slow-moving days — the kind where you’re grateful for any text, message, or tiny distraction to help pass the hours. Sheila’s a tough one, and she’ll get through this, but all good thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Here are the routes for today:

Ben with “Leroy” in Meridian 83642

South Loftus Way
East Victory Road
East Cullen Street
South Stockenham Place
South Courvoisier Place
East Murchison Street
S Pioneer Trail Way
East Valensole Street
East Phenomenal Street
S Hope Ave
South Cadence Avenue
South Overhill Way
South Marsala Avenue
West Forecast Street
W Sheryl St
N Haven Cove Ave

Challis with “Orange Julius” in Meridian 83642

S Cooper Flats Ave
South Buffalo Creek Lane
S Sushana River Ave
West Bass River Drive
West Pack River Drive
West Epona Street
South Binky Avenue
South Memory Avenue
South Memory Place
South Bozeman Trail Avenue
South Slope Top Avenue
South Triple Crown Avenue
South Arcaro Avenue
W Contender Drive
West Tall Prairie Drive
West Karluk River Drive

Eddie with “Purple Rain” in Meridian 83642

South Pelican Ave
West Christopher Street
West Davenport Street
North Linder Road
West Idaho Avenue
West Washington Street
West Camellia Avenue
Northwest 1st Street
East Fairview Avenue
North Penrith Place
North Stonehenge Way
East Knobcone Drive
North Webb Way
East Fairview Avenue
East Congressional Drive
East English Drive
East Driftwood Drive