the editor's asleep

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/06/afghan.terrorists.killed/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

You know which word make no sense in that story? 'Suspected'.

if you're in the Market for a cell phone ANYWAY...

... and even if you're not, it's worth just a look. http://www.google.com/phone

the facts of life AND the facts of almost-death

You know, at lunch the other day at the Flat Rock Grill (thank goodness that sweetness is right on a bus line), I overheard two guys at the table next to me chatting about health insurance. Since health insurance is playing such a large role in my life, my ears perked up, "Huh!" I thought, and when one fellow said outright "long term disability's a sucker bet, I mean, look at the figures", I cut in with an "Excuse me, but..." and laid out what it's done for me. It allows me to afford an apartment next to the bus station, and let me tell you how key THAT is to my regaining independence, and let me tell you how key *THAT* is to my sense of self-esteem & self-worth. I made sure I ended with "thank goodness I had long-term disability insurance" to these 2 guys.

They were taken aback and one gave me a look that ever so subtly said "Yeah... I'LL never need it". Please, be smarter than the general public. It's a LOT like gambling in Vegas-- sure, you might squeak a lucky night out, but TRUST ME, the house wins in the long run. Which means yeah, you probably won't use it, but the price for not having it is so dire, don't even go there, girlfriend, nuh uh uh.

I can do this, and I just learned I have an audience

Today's success taught me a very important lesson: I CAN DO THIS. I took the bus to the movie theater to see Avatar in 2-D (intense raised to the power of intense) & had a meal at a restaurant I hadn't been to before (well, Jeff 2.0 hasn't).

Now, since it was all done by bus, it took more work ahead of time to plan out my bus-ride schedule, but I'm betting that's 'cause it's just a newish thing to me, that'll get more second-nature over time.

Now, I also learned today that sometimes, buses run a tad bit early. 1) I had figured out which bus would get me to the theater in time (they run once an hour here), and I was walking to the bus station with like a minute to go. As I passed the station, I could see inside through windows with bars. "My bus is still here, good." I open the door to the inside, and my bus is moving. "NO!" I try to catch it before it leaves the building, and just miss. As they're turning the next street corner, I'm running (well, Jeff-2.0-wants-no-more-head-injuries "running"), pointing at the bus driver in the hopes he sees me. Whew, he does and pulls over. Got there in time. 2) Then, after a movie & a meal, I start heading for the bus stop with not much time to spare (I tend to enjoy my meals-- I was meant to be obese but I'm stuck in this thin-ish body). I'm looking at my watch as I go, thinking "I'm good, I've got two whole minutes, and buses are never early... except that one that's loading on the other side of the parking lot from where I'm walking!" But I got there as the last person in front of me loaded, and the bus driver recognized me from the trip out with a "You're just running everywhere, today!"

But almost missing 2 buses aside, the lesson that got strengthened today is that I can do this. Now, I rely heavily on tools to help with areas I'm deficient in (like memory-- what was I blogging about?), and I'll share those tools via this blog much later, as they're all Google products and very useful even for non-TBI people (and free, the Iron Chef secret ingredient).

Also, I was real surprised to find on my blog a very uplifting comment from someone I don't know on a recent posting! Go look at the comment here. Jeff Knox from Manassas, VA, thanks for the well wishes! I mean, here's someone I've never met saying "You're an inspiration to all of us." Well, dang, thanks, I hope so! I mean, to put it the basest terms, I tried to save lives & almost got killed by the attempt. But Jeff 2.0's rationally quirky brain has decided that since bad things are bound to happen inevitably, they can best be offset by everyone being as helpful and friendly as they can be, all the time. To say that succinctly: war, huh, what is it good for?

And it took over 2 years to decide this, but you know what? I'd do it again. Now, the next time, I'm sure gonna stand somewhere different, and take any and all measures continually to ensure there is no 'next time' (don't worry, mom & dad). But it's almost a certainty that I saved at least one life. Trust me, there's nothing that can compare with that feeling. No no, it doesn't feel bad, it feels good, sheesh... Now, my stop-drunk-driving efforts are limited to reminding people of the consequences of their choices.

Oh yeah, and it was cool that there was a holiday potluck for my whole sail club yesterday, and the newspaper article was the first time most of those folks have heard the story. It was nice to have so many folks I don't know want to talk to me, and remark that I'm doing really well, considering.

Okay, I am now going to end the Guinness World's Longest Blog Post. In 3... 2... "JUST END IT MAN!" Fine. See ya next time.