It has finally come time to be a big boy and admit that there will be no Oregon Star Party this year, not for me. For those who don't know, OSP is one of the best gatherings of astro geeks in the northwest. It consists of 500 to 800 amateur astronomers (some years closer to 1,000) gathering in the desert to enjoy the night sky. http://oregonstarparty.org
This year, well now that the decision is made, it seems so obvious. The stars will always be there and Sam needs all of us. Amanda's at school and can't really help out, so why was this hard? I think it has something to do with the wish that I will wake up soon and this will all be a bad dream.
Anyway, the good news is I get to spend the afternoon with Sam tomorrow. Today I heard how he has been learning to navigate the halls at Legacy Emanuel in a wheel chair under his own power. Naturally, we want the whole wobbly legs thing to get better, but this I've got to see!
-- Patton
Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Report
For the last two weeks I have been waiting for the accident report from the State Police. While it is probably not the most important thing, I still need to know what happened to Sam and me. Sound crazy? "Uh Dude, you know you were in an accident right? And, you already told us what happened?" Well, yes. My head didn't get busted that bad.
But I don't actually know what happened! My memory of the accident consists of snapshots: [click] Car in my lane. [click] end of the cables just before impact [click] airbag in my lap, people telling me what to do . . .. But, did I remember it right? Did anyone else see the "brown car." How about a license plate number? Anyone who has ever had a fender bender knows what happens. As the shock of it goes away, you get out of the car, turn to the next person, and say: "Wow! What just happened!" I've seen the accident site, looked at the car and I think i know what happened "off road." But I have not been able to "ask" the guy behind me what he saw.
So I've been frustrated, and today more so. The State Police say that I can have a courtesy copy of the report, but the Trooper in charge of my accident was on vacation. I have no problem with that, but I'm still frustrated. The office manager was going to give me a partial report. She thought the only thing missing was my statement from the hospital, but I know what I said. I called her back to say I was coming down, she went on vacation too. Again, nothing wrong with that . . ..
Today, the Trooper was back, he called my cell phone. I'm thinking, great! Now we're in business! But, no. It turns out that what is missing is one witness statement alright, but not mine. Someone left a phone number and he has been unable to make contact. Just a bunch of phone tag. It could be until next Saturday at this point. "Ok, I hear that there were several witnesses . . . a couple of off duty police officers . . . ?" Well they were far enough back that they didn't see anything, just a cloud of dust in the median, and that's why they stopped.
So I guess I'll wait. I know the trooper is doing what he can, and it did help a bit to talk with him today. At least I know what's going on. But no one who saw the accident stopped? I know there was someone behind me in my lane. I don't know how far, but with the traffic, probably not more than 100 feet, and I think a lot less. Didn't see anything? Or just didn't bother to stop? Or maybe, like me, it all happened so fast that they think they didn't see anything, slowed down and saw others stopping behind and so went on their way. [Sigh]
In my fantasy world, someone was on their way somewhere really important, like to the hospital to have a baby, so they could not stop. But on the way, they saw the accident, caught up with the "brown car" and got a license number. Now, healthy baby in arms, they don't know what to do with the license number so they check the internet every day . . ..
Hey, I said it was a fantasy! Still, maybe I'll put some key words in this post.
-- Patton
But I don't actually know what happened! My memory of the accident consists of snapshots: [click] Car in my lane. [click] end of the cables just before impact [click] airbag in my lap, people telling me what to do . . .. But, did I remember it right? Did anyone else see the "brown car." How about a license plate number? Anyone who has ever had a fender bender knows what happens. As the shock of it goes away, you get out of the car, turn to the next person, and say: "Wow! What just happened!" I've seen the accident site, looked at the car and I think i know what happened "off road." But I have not been able to "ask" the guy behind me what he saw.
So I've been frustrated, and today more so. The State Police say that I can have a courtesy copy of the report, but the Trooper in charge of my accident was on vacation. I have no problem with that, but I'm still frustrated. The office manager was going to give me a partial report. She thought the only thing missing was my statement from the hospital, but I know what I said. I called her back to say I was coming down, she went on vacation too. Again, nothing wrong with that . . ..
Today, the Trooper was back, he called my cell phone. I'm thinking, great! Now we're in business! But, no. It turns out that what is missing is one witness statement alright, but not mine. Someone left a phone number and he has been unable to make contact. Just a bunch of phone tag. It could be until next Saturday at this point. "Ok, I hear that there were several witnesses . . . a couple of off duty police officers . . . ?" Well they were far enough back that they didn't see anything, just a cloud of dust in the median, and that's why they stopped.
So I guess I'll wait. I know the trooper is doing what he can, and it did help a bit to talk with him today. At least I know what's going on. But no one who saw the accident stopped? I know there was someone behind me in my lane. I don't know how far, but with the traffic, probably not more than 100 feet, and I think a lot less. Didn't see anything? Or just didn't bother to stop? Or maybe, like me, it all happened so fast that they think they didn't see anything, slowed down and saw others stopping behind and so went on their way. [Sigh]
In my fantasy world, someone was on their way somewhere really important, like to the hospital to have a baby, so they could not stop. But on the way, they saw the accident, caught up with the "brown car" and got a license number. Now, healthy baby in arms, they don't know what to do with the license number so they check the internet every day . . ..
Hey, I said it was a fantasy! Still, maybe I'll put some key words in this post.
-- Patton
Saturday, August 16, 2008
New Head Shot
Ok, since you are here, you can see my new head shot over there to the left. Don't remember the old one? Yeah, looks pretty much the same. Except the shirt is a different plaid . . . and the glasses are missing . . . Oh, and a little hair. Ok, that's not really a necessary consequence of my accident. Yeah, I had a head laceration, and I had suggested to the E.R. nurse that since Sam had some of his shaved, then could she do mine? She convinced me that the staple sutures would not be a good look and I should wait for them to come out. While waiting Sam's brother had his head done. By Amanda! Poor guy. The things a brother will do for solidarity. Well, since Cameron did his, as soon as the staples were done I shaved mine too. Right now my plan is to leave it that way until he leaves the hospital, but I give me permission to change that plan too. Actually I kind of like it, but it makes for a lot to shave!
So What's New???
For the folks that find their way here on purpose, the title to this post is a dumb question. For accidental visitors, some explanation is in order. And for the intentional, you may be looking for more details.
First things first: why might there be accidental visitors? Because to make it easy to find for the intended audience if they lose the url, this blog is searchable. That also means that Blogger's "next blog" link could bring anyone here from anywhere in the world.
Speaking of accidental . . .
Two weeks ago, August 3rd to be exact, I had a serious car accident. My nephew Sam (from my wife's side) and I were in my Miata on the interstate when I got cut off by another driver. While I was able to keep from hitting the other car, I could not keep my car out of the median or out of the cable barrier that separates the north lanes from the south. Sam and I were both injured. I was unconscious for a time and lost a lot of blood; but was released from the hospital after overnight observation. Sam is far worse. He sustained a brain injury, spent the time between then and now in the trauma ICU. Fortunately, while he was touch and go for a while, he has been transferred to a regular hospital room and when evaluations are complete, he will be transferred again to a hospital with a pediatric rehab unit.
Since there were so many people who wanted to know, and since I had pre-existing blogs, I was tasked with setting up a place to share info about Sam's condition. http://sam-update.blogspot.com tells more than you wanted to know about how he is and a little more about the accident itself. If you are wondering "so how are you?" My first answer is: it's not about me at this point. I am recovering, still breathing as though I am at altitude, but now it's only when I walk up steep hills or try to work out. (Feels like being at 6,500 ft on Mt Hood rather than 13,500 ft on Mauna Kea.) The other answer is this blog. I think I am going to put some stuff here, kind of "for me" but in a place that will not distract anyone from Sam. What this blog is not is something to keep anyone who already has my phone number from calling! (You know who you are ;-)
Love to all
--Patton
First things first: why might there be accidental visitors? Because to make it easy to find for the intended audience if they lose the url, this blog is searchable. That also means that Blogger's "next blog" link could bring anyone here from anywhere in the world.
Speaking of accidental . . .
Two weeks ago, August 3rd to be exact, I had a serious car accident. My nephew Sam (from my wife's side) and I were in my Miata on the interstate when I got cut off by another driver. While I was able to keep from hitting the other car, I could not keep my car out of the median or out of the cable barrier that separates the north lanes from the south. Sam and I were both injured. I was unconscious for a time and lost a lot of blood; but was released from the hospital after overnight observation. Sam is far worse. He sustained a brain injury, spent the time between then and now in the trauma ICU. Fortunately, while he was touch and go for a while, he has been transferred to a regular hospital room and when evaluations are complete, he will be transferred again to a hospital with a pediatric rehab unit.
Since there were so many people who wanted to know, and since I had pre-existing blogs, I was tasked with setting up a place to share info about Sam's condition. http://sam-update.blogspot.com tells more than you wanted to know about how he is and a little more about the accident itself. If you are wondering "so how are you?" My first answer is: it's not about me at this point. I am recovering, still breathing as though I am at altitude, but now it's only when I walk up steep hills or try to work out. (Feels like being at 6,500 ft on Mt Hood rather than 13,500 ft on Mauna Kea.) The other answer is this blog. I think I am going to put some stuff here, kind of "for me" but in a place that will not distract anyone from Sam. What this blog is not is something to keep anyone who already has my phone number from calling! (You know who you are ;-)
Love to all
--Patton
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