September 29, 2024

Dear TeamToddTBI,

Happy Birthday, Aunt Amy and Uncle Curt! Happy 56^th Wedding Anniversary to my Godparents, Phil and Evie Dohn. I appreciate ALL of you!

Here are my virtual flights this week: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/11M99hgKaIjH1Oeeqi5eHKPlhTVfmifUx/view?usp=sharing” On Friday, I did not have a good landing at Jackson Municipal [4E3] due to cross winds. I repeated the flight on Saturday (on Friday, I disabled the aircraft during landing) with a verified good landing.

UNUM requested a “check in” on my status. I was disappointed that the person I was told to contact with my status did not call during the window I gave him: from 8AM to 12:00PM on Friday. HRH persevered on my behalf and made contact with someone else after listening to a lengthy recording of numbers to press.

HRH and I cleaned St. Mary’s church on Wednesday. HRH brought her own kneeler to church. I can not illustrate irony any better than that. Brigid says, “I bring a gardner’s bench to church to water plants and any arrangements. It is easier to get up and down from my knees like I do at home. Todd finds it humorous I take a kneeler to Church”

Hokies lost a football game to the ranked Hurricanes of Miami.

A Farmer’s Breakfast Casserole was served for breakfast after church: I was good.

Todd

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thank you for staying with us.

Todd received a letter from Unum (his disability insurance) this past week saying he was not responding to their phone calls. Listed 2 days they tried calling. We went through the call log… nothing… no messages from Unum. We followed up and talked to someone who set up a call for Friday…4 hour window. 8-12 noon… NO CALL! Todd was getting antsy; he wanted to ride the bike . Todd says, “They just want to get rid of me.” and I was waiting, waiting…. FINALLY, I told Todd to ride his bike. I tried calling the extension number twice, NO answer.

So, I called a customer service number and talked to a REAL PERSON, Kim. OMG! What a difference! She took down all the information that the other representative needed and was patient and personable.

YES! The questions that are asked of Todd are important to update their current information. BUT! I wonder if the caseworker assigned to Todd is working 2 jobs. A 4 hour window… is kinda wide. And then not to follow up.

Nonetheless, fortunately, I was still on file to speak for Todd. (That permission is updated yearly… with Todd’s signed permission.

I guess a highlight of our week was our Church Cleaning activities last Wednesday. We are TEAM 1. (Gotta love it!) Todd enjoys his assigned duties, all done by himself in the “quietness” of the church atmosphere. SUCH A HUGE help he is to me and Barbara. Todd enjoys the opportunity to talk with Barbara and the sacristan, Rolando. Todd appreciates the opportunity for taking in a noon Mass during the week.

We are looking forward to the ScareCrow Classic ,(5K Walk/Run or fun 1 mile walk) October 20 to support the Brain Injury Association of MD. Todd has 6 members on his team so far. To sign up request to be on TeamTodd24. See you there and lunch will be served afterwards at 14402 Ash Court OR if you are a virtual participant, we have a Panara gift card for you!

TEAMTODD, we are so grateful for your continued interest in Todd’s recovery. You continue to hold us up.

St. Luigi, pray for us.

 September 22, 2024

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I completed virtual flights this week: ”https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gepq4czFqVAn8AtHql-o2JTPMUGexzPY/view?usp=sharing” I guess I could just write that I rode the bicycle trainer for 5.5 hours this week, generating laundry to be done.

On Monday, I demonstrated a short bicycle driven flight for a neighbor and her sister visiting from Nebraska. Good landing verified by subsequent take-off and few complaints about the omission of an in flight beverage service.

I learned that on the Raspberry Pi, the sudo (administrative privileges) timeout could be bypassed by invoking the command, “sudo -v”. So, I have completed virtual flights with my bike (with Wahoo speed sensor), a Raspberry Pi 5, and a HDMI monitor. I think I need to make things simpler before I entice other to share my addiction On a bike trainer, I think it is common to elude boredom by watching a TV. The Raspberry Pi 5 is small enough that I can hold it my left hand. It fits easily in the room with my bike and a TV. I guess I could figure out how to a make bicycle driven washing machine...

After an update, my software suddenly stopped working. The availability of the update is signaled by a lack of sound. I like sound during my virtual flights: it’s feed back on the throttle position as my eyes may be focused on other parts of the screen. I restored function to my software Sunday afternoon. This working/ not working is slowly eroding my sanity I think.

Alumni dollars were jeopardized yesterday as the Hokies were defeated by Rutgers.

I was good in church: waffles and bacon were served for breakfast.

Todd

Hello, TeamTodd! Thank you all for staying with us. We are coming up on the 10^th anniversary of Todd’s first day of recovery. AMAZING! How far Todd has come!!!! Todd’s TBI should not have affected his past memories. YES! I heard you BUT!!!! BUT! Todd’s memories of the past are there for him in so many more details! I think Todd’s brain is re designing itself in the recovery process. Some things (memories) are now more sharper than ever and are filled with more distinct details. So little is known about the human brain. I wish there was a team assigned to Todd to follow his progress.

Todd entertains us often with detailed memories of his past experiences with friends, co-workers and interesting encounters. During these times, when Todd is sharing his experiences, I think to myself, “There is nothing wrong with you.” And say so outloud.

Todd is still the genius he was 10 years ago and he is learning how his past encounters and experiences continue to support him in his recovery.

Thank you, TEAMTODD for being a part of Todd’s recovery.

St. Luigi, Pray for us.

 September 15, 2024

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I virtually flew more than seven times since I last created a map of my flights for your viewing: ”https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TQqYbMW64cuSpdKQWAkhre71MO0xefWQ/view?usp=sharing” Note: I only show flights with a good landing verified by subsequent take-off. Naturally, I take all the credit; but, Her Royal Highness feeds me, cleans my clothes, etc.

On Monday, I am scheduled to demonstrate a short bicycle driven flight for a neighbor.

My effort to do the same feat that I do on my desktop but with a Raspberry Pi continues. For the Pi., I modified software which only functions for 399 seconds. After that time period, it must be re-executed (with elevated privileges). I continue to search for a means around this issue. I think my concept of using a Pi 5 is more appealing than buying two arduinos and co-locating them near a trainer.

Tie protection of human input devices (on linux) perplexes me. I know It is possible to enter password on XBoxes using a XBox controller; but I know of no joystick (with 16 bit resolution!) used to enter a password.

This week, I returned to Rocket Lab to give Mike Whalen some coho from Whidbey Island. Mike is a former navy pilot and has landed at the naval airbase on Whidbey Island.

I got a tour of the new Rocket Lab Plant.. Everyone was personable with me in spite of me not remembering many names. It was a good time. I will be forever grateful to Mike and Walter, (Planetary Systems) for re introducing me and keeping me in touch with engineering.

Also, this week I drove my mother’s car to the barber shop so I could get my hairS cut. (I’m not bald; I have more than one hair!)

I look forward to dining on some coho in the future. My cooking style still reflects what I used to do in Elyria: one simple dish with no other dishes served simultaneously was a meal – Coho salmon would be a meal; that’s it.

Last week and next week I will endure the overlap between Grand Sumo and Hokie football.

My good behavior in church was reflected with an Amish Breakfast Casserole.

Todd

September 15, 2024

Hello TeamTodd!

Thank you for staying with us. For me, it has been a relaxing week. No deadlines, no place I need to be, no travel, no appointments… Yard work and weeding were a very welcomed occupation this week.

Please pray for Katie Gecewich, one of Todd’s biggest fans and supporters. Katie has taken on yet another Camino Walk through the mountains of Spain and France. This is her 2^nd Camino. She takes with her Todd’s intentions. Buen Camino, dear friend! Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

As Todd has already shared, he continues to perfect his flight simulator. Will it ever end??? I can not understand it BUT this activity keeps Todd’s brain stimulated and I think that is a good thing.

My plan for this week as Todd’s Caregiver is to get him out for a drive. Todd needs to build his confidence in driving. I think we will venture out on the Rockville Pike. The neighborhood drives are easy… Todd needs another challenge. Todd drives the speed limit so we will stay in the right hand lane.

Thanks for your continued interest and please, pass on this info. We seem to have lost about 75% of our followers with the new change in the website.

St. luigi, stay with us. I know we did not lose you!

 September 8, 2024

Dear TeamToddTBI,

Last week, I continued fishing on Whidbey Island until September 3 and flew home the next day, September 4. I had a great time on the island, fished for salmon, and celebrated (well in advance!) my 50th birthday.

On Saturday, September 7, I attempted a bicycle controlled, FlightGear simulated flight from KIIY to KOGB. Because Raspberry Pi 5s do no allow “dangerous code” to operate for more than 400 continuous seconds, I devised a scheme where the software I made from modifying gattttool would quit after 380 seconds and need to be restarted. The “dangerous code” I wanted to run was an emulated joystick controlled by a bicycle. I think it may be possible to control a computer with a joystick … but … Please let me know if some hacker ruined your data on your computer by emulating a joystick.

My blood pressure medication was changed since I recorded and reported a blood pressure that was too low. I do not like changing my routines.

My behavior in church yielded waffles. I am well taken care of.

Todd

Hello TeamTodd,

We arrived home from our WOW (Windows on Whidbey) vacation Wednesday evening about 7:45 pm. Libby left us immediately to drive to Harrisonburg, VA. (Remember, we were still on PT).

Kudos to our hosts, Jana and John, for being gracious hosts throughout the week, serving delicious meals and catering to our every need.

It takes a few days to readjust to the 3 hour time difference and fortunately, my schedule was cleared for a few days so I gave myself time to adjust.

I was NOT aware Todd was having blood pressure problems. I guess that is another indication of Todd’s recovery; he is taking care of himself. However, I was disappointed he did not tell me he was having such feelings of oncoming blackouts.

We signed up to participate in the Brain Injury Assoc of MD SCARECROW CLASSIC. For those of you who are interested in participating this year the password is TeamTodd24

You can go to the website www.biamd.org events to sign up. As in the past, we will serve lunch at our home at 12 noonish for those local runners/walkers and Panera Gift Cards will be sent to those running the VIRTUAL race/walk. Also, as in previous years, I will send you a “TEAM TODD” sign to pose with after your accomplishment.

SWEET! I think we may have a group from Costa Rica join us. Last year, Drew Irwin from Costa Rica, joined us in person and was quite taken with the trail and the scenery. He just may return with his wife and family this year. (while visiting his parents, Judy and David Irwin) We welcome Drew and his family to the “TEAMTODD FAMILY”. St. Luigi, stay and pray with us.

 September 1, 2024

Dear TeamToddTBI@blogspot.com readers,

This week I am fishing on Whidbey Island with Uncle John and his wife Jana. As of this moment I have only caught two fish. The first I was told it was a bull head. Here is a link to a picture of the coho I caught: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FKLC4EpTXRAIn6VefSCUJWLTLfM29lXd/view?usp=sharing” The other fish I was referring to “got away”!

I am writing this update (and posting it) using my Raspberry Pi 5 – I can hold the Pi 5 in my left hand.

I am eating and living well here. In Rockville, I am a “current resident”. I am a “guest” on Whidbey Island. I am here with my father, my mother and my favorite sister.

Hello TEAMTODD! Thank you for staying with us.

It has been a good week. We were up early on Wednesday, 3:30 am and caught a flight from BWI (Baltimore to Seattle) at 7 am. Todd happily rode in a wheelchair from airport check-in to our gate. Todd kept up a conversation with his escort as she wheeled him along. By the time we arrived at our gate she heard enough about Todd’s Bicycle/Airplane she asked him for his contact info…

The flight was 5+ hours but Todd tolerated it well. I was concerned about the noise of the jet engines. Todd appreciated a wheel chair ride to baggage claim area. Interesting… The gentleman assisting Todd, thought he would be helping ME….

So here we are in Greenbank, WA, Whidbey Island, Seashore Drive, “Windows On Whidbey” aka WOW!

Jana and John have been spoiling us, making us feel very special; serving us special meals and catering to our every need. The accommodations are 5 +Stars! Most importantly, Todd has been able to fish. Todd caught a nice sized co-ho the first morning and a BIG ONE got away from him yesterday and took the whole line with it!!!! A sad happening indeed!

Todd has another day for fishing. We will spend our last night of vacation in Seattle with J&J in there Seattle home before flying home on Wednesday.

As Todd’s caregiver, I have appreciated how smoothly the week has gone. I have rejoiced overhearing Todd’s conversations with strangers and have appreciated the attention Todd has received from John and Jana. Todd has been VERY conversational AND it is amazing the things Todd remembers from the past! I have been on “vacation”, also. What a treat to have someone else “in charge”!

TeamTodd, On Wednesday, “The Westley 4” will return to our usual daily lives, REFRESHED and RENEWED. Thank you, John and Jana.

St. Luigi, pray for ALL who have given us this week of rest, respite and renewal.