Well, That’s Insulting

On By JohnIn annoyingLeave a comment

The camera controller that I was installing — the very same one with which I was working on that fateful night that I took my nearly fatal, forever life-changing fall — has stopped working.

Dare I say, it’s crashed spectacularly.

No video output over HDMI. Nothing responding on the network.

Oddly, it’s not even reporting the same MAC address. It’s close, matching the label affixed to the underside, but the last two bytes that appeaer on the network when it’s powered on don’t match.

So far it’s a camera system that’s cost about $175,025* in medical bills… plus the forever lost wages, and another $325 for the entirely unusable unit.

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* I’m told my estimate above was far too low. It’s closer to $250K.

When You Fall Off, Get Back On

On By JohnIn annoyingLeave a comment

I got my bicycle out today and filled up the tires. I then pondered – very, very briefly – skipping my helmet. Then decided quickly that it was a worthwhile addition. I wasn’t going any further than the 200 ft long driveway.

I was making U-turns and forgotten it was 24 speed touring bike and how the gears worked. I couldn’t get my foot off the pedal and on the ground quickly enough and tumbled over.

**sigh**

So, I picked myself up and got back on that sucker to ride it some more.

Here I am, 46 years old and learning how to ride something as simple as a bicycle all over again.

Today’s experience also served to reinforce that I’ll be leaving my motorcycle parked until I’m very confident in my coordination and balance. Probably for a year or two.

Double Vision reduced by almost half!

On By JohnIn health, tbiLeave a comment

Just noticed this morning that my double vision (diplopia) is reduced by almost half! Since I became aware, I’ve been fighting with diplopia in the left, upper quarter of my vision – probably from some issue with a cranial nerve palsy or problem with the optic chiasm –  but not quite anymore. I’ve another check in with my optometrist in two more weeks and I think it’ll be entirely singular by then.

Still In the Fight

On By JohnIn health, tbiLeave a comment

So last week, I learned that while I might be going “back to work”* next week, there are still a few formalities to address. The most significant issue to address is the neuropsychiatric examination.

“What in the world is a neuropsychiatric examination?” you ask…

This is the kind of thing that’s performed when there’s a question of whether somebody in sane or not – or if there are some deficits that they need to work on. Just because I’ve endured and lived through a Traumatic Brain Injury, it doesn’t mean the rest of the world has any confidence in my actual abilities.

Generally, a PSE starts with an interview to see what you’ve done in life, your profession, education, certifications–what is it that you’ve done (or what you think you’ve done) up until then.

Then they dive in with question. Lots of questions. There may be a classic IQ-type test (which I’ve done several of lately) or similar, or practical testing of judgement and higher processing capabilities: a driving test for example. And more. Many hours worth.

So, now I wait.

Or, rather, I wait until there’s a test scheduled.

Then I wait until the test day.

Then I summon all of the mental strength I can and participate and absorb everything I can from the experience.

I still have some fight in me – and I’m not giving up on anything.

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*Back to work; part time initially – for a few months – but nowhere near the 70-hours per week I was doing previously. I don’t have the mental focus to sustain that.