Hello MySpacers and Dunderheads!

My parents were at my cousin Bob's wedding this weekend and told me that my Uncle Rich really misses my blog.  So…this one is for Uncle Rich.

I wanted to write and thank you all for your Get Well wishes.  I am at home in Los Angeles now.  I'm doing very well.  Your prayers and good thoughts must be working because the doctor said my back is healing great.  I am not in too much pain anymore so that is good.  I'm still a little creaky.  I can drive - but only short distances.  And, I can't quite tie my shoes yet.  I get sore and have to rest in the middle of the day.  It hurts if you touch it.  But, I can sit comfortably for the most part.  I can eat in restaurants and I made it to Bed Bath and Beyond last week.  So, I'm happy.

My elbow is another story.  (I also tore a ligament in my elbow during the fall and it is not doing so great.)  It is still very tender.  I'm hoping for some good news next week when I see a specialist. 

I also wanted to thank you all for your generous donations to Rover Rescue in my name.  As many of you already know, animal rescue is near and dear to my heart.  My own crazy pets, Andy and Wesley, are rescues and they have been taking very good care of me since I got home.  I think they kind of like me with a fractured back because I don't leave the house.  We've been camped out in the guest bedroom watching movies.  They love it.   

Anyway, I am beyond touched by your generosity.  To date, the donations have totaled over $2,000!  The President of Rover Rescue wrote me the nicest letter and included each and every donor's name.  I would especially like to thank Doug Lynch for sponsoring Gretel.  You made that cute little terrier a very happy pup.  If you guys live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in adopting a dog you can go to the Rover Rescue website www.roverrescue.com  We adopted our nutcase of a dog Wesley from this group after spotting him at a local pound and learning he had been rescued.  And, if you are interested in helping or adopting a kitty please visit www.kittenrescue.org.  I used to work with this organization as a foster parent.  In my 2 years as a volunteer I helped to rehabilitate and place over 12 cats.  It was a VERY rewarding experience.

In general, I've been floored by the outpouring of goodwill from total strangers.  Angela told me stories of her time in Scranton and the number of people who asked about my situation.  She came home with a stack of Get Well cards.  Just amazing. 

Speaking of Angela – she is extraordinary.  She was with me the night of my fall.  Rode in the ambulance with me.  Held my hand all night and into the next morning.  She pestered the doctors and made sure I was never forgotten.  She took notes on my condition.  She called my husband and family to update them on my progress.  She wrote emails to everyone under the sun to keep them in the loop.  She cancelled her appearance on The Today Show and instead she curled up in a tiny chair in my hospital room and we watched the sun rise over the city.  Angela was even there when the nurse helped me to pee in a bedpan.  I didn't think our friendship could be more intimate but, well…that did it.  It was a scary night – the pain, the waiting, James being so far away.  She took care of me. 

My brother-in-law and his wife drove in from Brooklyn the next morning and took over so Angela could get some rest back at the hotel.  She had been awake over 24 hours.  But, of course, Angela didn't sleep.  Instead she switched rooms with me at the hotel giving me her room with the 2 double beds so James could sleep in the same room with me when I got home from the hospital.  She put stuff on low shelves so I could reach it.  And kept calling friends and family with updates.   After James arrived, Angela finally went to sleep.  If you look closely you can see she is still holding her phone.

James was amazing.  For a guy who forgets to put the milk back in the fridge after he uses it, he didn't miss a beat when it came to taking care of me.  He was the perfect mix of nurturing and challenging.  He made me get out of bed and walk around when I didn't want to and he babied me too…he let me pick all the movies and I got the pick of the cupcakes. J 

During my weeks in New York I spent a lot of time sleeping , watching TV and movies and eating baskets of junk food.  Besides the fractured back part, it was kind of the perfect vacation.  James and I watched The Larry Sanders Show DVD…it is AWESOME by the way.  The extra features are incredible.  This show revolutionized comedy television and paved the way for The Office.

Speaking of The Office, Creed came by and watched the finale with us in my hotel room.  It was so fun.  We often get together as a cast to watch our shows and especially the finales.  I was pretty drugged up but I think it turned out great.  Pam's favorite words – "It's a date."  James took a "cast photo" from our viewing party.  I'm not sure if I'm smiling for Pam or smiling because of the drugs.  I'll let you decide. 

Fred Armisen – who I became friends with while filming the movie Quebec - came to my hotel almost every day for lunch or dinner or take me for walks around the city and to generally make me laugh and pass the time.  Here is a photo of one of our favorite things to do…asking total strangers to photograph us in Central Park at night:

My girlfriend Jennifer visited me in New York too.  She took me to the doctor and got my x-rays from the hosptial...I'm not lying getting those xrays was probably the most difficult thing anyone had to do.  It took 3 days of phone calls and about a million faxes and forms.  Finally Jennifer took a cab to the hospital and stood there until she got them.  Insane.  Oh, and we watched Breakfast at Tiffanys.  Wow.  That is a dark movie.  I'd never seen it before.  Yikes. 

Now…looking to the future…we start back to work on The Office Season 4 in August.  I should be almost fully healed by that time.  The Season 3 DVD is coming out in early September.  We did some DVD commentary recently.  I've seen the gag reel and it is AWESOME.  You will love it.  You get to see the time Rainn cracked up trying to say the line "I know what you are thinking…won't that just shed more light on the penises."  No one could keep it together.  It is one of my favorite memories from the past season.  You'll also see the time that John couldn't hold it together because Steve kept asking him if he wanted to carpool somewhere.  And you will see how much I love doing scenes with Paul Lieberstein, who plays Toby.  Man, he makes me laugh every time.

In other news…Angela, Brian and Oscar won a Daytime Emmy award for The Accountants webisodes that went up online last summer.  I am so proud of them.  They came in on their free time to do those webisodes for the fans.  And they were great.  So, it's pretty cool.  Angela has an Emmy!!!  Only the producers of our show got to keep one when we won for Best Comedy.  But Angela gets to keep one for the webisodes!

My cartoonist friend Joe Matt is out of his apartment and signing copies of his new book, Spent.  We went to his LA signing last week.  It was incredible.  He's my favorite.  If you are in New York he'll be at the New York MoCCA Arts Festival on Sunday June 24th at 4pm.  Details at www.moccany.org.  Here is our little gang out after the reading.  (From Left to Right: Erik Stolhanske, Me, Joe Matt, Larry Sher (the D.P. on Quebec and all around cool guy), Fred, and James) As you can see, I'm in good spirits.

Thanks again for all of your goodwill.  I'm doing great.  I'm enjoying my quiet time.  And, I can't wait to get back to work on the show in August.