Earlier today I was making some slightly decorative posts for my step daughter out of 4x4 treated post to be used in the yard of her new house. I was using a portable circular saw set at 45 degrees to cut some "V" notches in each post. I had made a couple of cuts when I noticed that they were not lining up as I wanted. This happened right after I finished a cut and the saw was spinning down. I bent down to examine the cut and without thinking, grabbed the plate of the saw and inserted my left ring finger into the spinning blade. I was wearing cotton work gloves, as it was cold this morning, which immediately grabbed and stopped the blade. However, it did not stop before damage was done. I suffered a severe laceration to my ring finger, broke the bone and spent a couple of hours at the local ER. No amputation, thank God and dumb luck, but a pretty serious injury. I have been woodworking seriously for around 40 years, including several years in my earlier life as a carpenter. This is my first serious injury with a saw. I have been lucky and blessed. I will recover but will be out of the shop for a few weeks. Everyone out there, PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! It can happen in an instant. On the bright side, I have a bomb proof excuse to sit around this afternoon and watch some hopefully good football.