[Surgery, from page A1] As my wife, Terry, was previewing the agenda; my attention was captured by something or SOMEONE across the room.

"You need to feed that little girl more," I told Nurse Edna,"she's gone from nothing but 'skin-and-bones' , to nothing but 'bones'" I continued, pointing to a 3 foot tall, (or so), skeletal figure standing on a table directly across the room from us. Nurse Edna made a very serious face, and told me,indignantly,"First of all, that's not a SHE, HE's a HIM, and his name is MAX! MAX KNOBNY."

My jaw dropped. "Max KNOBNY?!" I returned in stunned disbelief, "Of The Daily Feed?! THAT Max Knobny?"

Now, it was Edna's jaw that dropped. " You're the first one of my students who knows Max's other identity!" she revealed.

After explaining my affiliation with The Daily Feed, such as it is; I informed her that this was the first time that I'd seen Max "in the flesh"' such as it isn't.

She was somewhat evasive at first, but she did reveal that she's a regular listener to "The Daily Feed" on WRNR-103.1 FM, Annapolis; and "Max" has been assisting her at "The Center" for quite some time. Apparently, every patient has gotten to know Max Knobny on a very intimate level.

While generally helpful, "Max sometimes flips his lid if somebody touches him the wrong way," added Edna.

At the end of class, Nurse Edna consented to be interviewed for the dailyfeed.com website, at some point after my surgery. (The audio of Edna's interview, ratting out Max, is available to download from the website).

Under the Knife My surgery was performed by Dr. Falik on April 10th, 2001. It went without a hitch. After surgery, Nurse Edna visited me in the hospital to provide encouragement and answer questions.

"Where's MAX?" was my first important medical question.

"He's out." she replied. It was good to see her smiling face.

I returned home on the following day, April 11th, and recovery has been rapid. Except for the incision, I have very little reminder of that herniated lumbar disk which had so plagued me, yet ultimately led me to that startling discovery. I will always be grateful to Dr. Falik, not only for his skill as a surgeon and his wonderful "bedside manner", but also for his INSISTING that I take a class taught by a really caring professional, who just happened to be a "Feed" fan since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.

On May 3rd, 2001, I was able to drive myself to the Joint & Spine Care Center. Minus my cane, I returned to interview Edna, and get some more pictures of her with her assistant Audrey, and, - of course -, Max, (for evidence). I thanked them all, and told them that I believe the Center's resources played a vital role in my, (and many others'), quick recovery.

News of the website interview reached "Happenings" - the employee newsletter of Doctors Hospital.

It was there I learned (in the May 11th edition, page 6), that the "Max" assisting at the Center spells HIS last name, "KnobKNEE"; so, perhaps it's NOT the same guy after all - or, MAYBE it's a clever piece of DIS-INFORMATION to help conceal Max's SECRET DOUBLE LIFE ! Anyway, HE'S not talking. So, wherever the truth may lie... thanks, Max.

Mark Tintle

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE JOINT & SPINE CARE CENTER OF MARYLAND, VISIT; doctorscommunity.com

THE OFFICE OF EDNA NICHOLSON, RN: (301) 552-8204

(Ed. Note - Mark Tintle provides Freelance Voice Talent for D.C. Audio Programmes, Inc. The editors of The Daily Feed wish to thank Nurse Nicholson for getting Mark back on his feet, and for the generous gift of the baseball cap and "earth friendly" canvas bag, both bearing the "Joint & Spine Care Center of Maryland" and "Doctors Community Hospital" logos. And thanks for listening...)