rocky road trying to get started...

i was totally psyched to start training for a triathlon after i volunteered for the ironman lake placid 2004 (only i figured i'd start out with a sprint tri first...), in fact i was going to do it with my father and brother...
then i was diagnosed with skin cancer on my ear, have had one surgery at the begining of august, and yet another this week.
to top this off, i am not allowed to participate in any strenuous activites for another 4-6 weeks following surgery...and definately not allowed to wear a swim cap on my newly "reconstructed" ear. will i ever be able to start training?!
BUT, i will get through this and, dammit, no matter what it takes, i will train for and finish a triathlon by next july!!!
Looking forward to the start...