On Bill's Brain

I watch the majority of my video content on an Amazon Fire doodad these days. When using the device with Netflix, trailers for videos automatically play as you scroll through titles, along the way, I stumbled upon a Netflix original docu series called Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates

. It caught me because I’m fascinated with the Gates couple and her book The Moment of Lift he’s chosen to direct his resources post-Microsoft. And I really like Melinda Gates. I enjoyed her appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show immensely and her book The Moment of Lift is also a great look at how involving women in the conversations of philanthropy, that new perspectives and strategies can be employed to conquer a challenge. It’s also directed by Davis Guggenheim, who has made several compelling films, including It Might Get Loud and An Inconvenient Truth, and From the Sky Down, a documentary about the shaky period in U2’s career between their Joshua Tree Tour and recording their masterpiece Achtung Baby. all worth your time to watch. Guggenheim has a way of utilizing animation and strong interviews to narrate sometimes complex topics. The first episode of Inside Bill’s Brain focuses on the Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation and the effort of the software engineer approaching the world problem of sanitation, by putting his engineering mind and wallet into re-inventing a toilet for the developing world to properly prevent human waste from contaminating drinking water. It examines the inception of the idea after seeing a newspaper article sharing data on the number of children who die from diarrhea.

What stuck with me was not just the financial side of the foundation, but the idea of taking one aspect of an issue and putting time and enginuity to re-engineer a solution using talents and resources to try to impact lives, and in a way that data can be tracked to illustrate impact and progress.. To solve the issues of the World or even the key issues in today’s Western developed civilization. The Docuseries made me consider what I could do, not to change the world, but to make the world better for some. Certainly there are things we, in the relative comfort of the Western world, can do with what we have to give, our talents and skills to find a way to contribute to the greater good. I think that in humanity, there is a strong pull towards altruism, and that external biases get in the way of our seeking what we can do for the betterment of humanity on a large scale or small. Sure, having Billions of dollars is a head start for philanthropy, but we don’t need to go for broke for a big idea or target. There are things out there that can use your unique set of qualities on the smallest of scales that can make an impact too. Look around you and find something you’re uniquely equipped to improve, then step in and apply your ingenuity to it.

On Angels

From the time I knew something was wrong trying to get off of the floor of my office and being carted away from work by a team of EMTs. to all the activities during the 4 weeks I was unconscious, I crossed paths with a lot of really great, heroic, kind people I started referring to as angels. I could list them all, not only because my memory is sharp, but because their names are written on my heart. Thanks, Angels!

Viva Roma

To say I was excited about Rome would be a huge understatement. I’m fascinated by Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire and Roman Catholic Church, while not part of my belief system, has always intrigued me. That said I couldn’t list more than one Pope or Emperor. My traveling companions and I booked an 8-hour driving tour of the city which included the major sites including the Vatican and Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Our tour guide, Ivano was spectacular, knowing history and sharing stories and tips for approaching the sites. For instance, the line to get into the Coliseum for self guided exploration, but through Ivano we had passes to bypass the line and walk right past the line of hundreds to wander the ruins. The whole city is paydirt for a photographer. Statues and monuments, and tons of interesting people, truly an international city. At some point early on, Ivano took us to a small coffee shop for some cappucino, he mentioned that he visited the shop often and always drank his coffee standing up, because, as he said, “it’s only 5 minutes to check in with the staff for tips, and “when has 5 minutes made a difference in anyone’s life?!” And there’s my cross-cultural lesson for the trip. When one of the baristas found out we were from Austin, he proudly shared that he sold his chocolate covered espresso beans to Central Market, a Central Texas grocery store, that was a largish grocery chain’s response to Whole Foods’ upscale groceries, and less expensive. Others along the way who learned we were from Texas had different reactions, as most people in America have opinions of the state, politically, culturally or otherwise. At the top of the Spanish Steps, while looking at one of the obelisks, Ivano said something that flipped my perspective on the city, explaining that Ancient Rome awas polytheistic and Catholic Rome is Monotheistic. so many of the ancient statues and monuments were altered as a way of sanctifying them for the new age. One ancient roman site has remained unaltered for thousands of years, that’s the Pantheon, whose name means across gods , and is a temple with shrines to both the Roman gods of myth, and the Biblical gods of Western Civilization. Below are a few pictures from our 8-hour Roman Holiday

My selfie game needs work, but when I saw my reflection in this brass globe tucked away in a Vatican courtyard, I couldn’t resist theself portrait perspective.

“Ivano talking through a column modern excavators found while paving a modern Roman Road.”

On Miracles

A couple of weeks back, during a neurofeedback session, in order to trigger the motor strip of my brain by visualizing an activity that would require restored ability on my left side, I was asked what I’d be doing if none of this happened. A fair question, but it really tripped me out. So much about my external world has drastically changed since July 2015, that it’s a pretty wild alternate universe, but unlike HG Wells’ The Time Machine, where HG Wells presents a desire to go back to a fixed point in history to prevent something terrible from happening. Where my mind settle was on a parallel universe, where. Despite the changes that have happened, I’m able to step into my timeline in 2015, and just not be swept out of my life no Sports Almanac needed to know the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. But, overall it led me to remember an exercise my therapist recommended I think through instead of spending time dwelling on what coulda been, which is to consider wake up tomorrow with all faculties back in tact and no limitations to mobility, but with the added knowledge and insights I’ve experienced in the past 4 years, how would I approach this new phase of my life? like bleeding or seizure tendency.

I’d catch up on some of the activities I’ve missed the most: Playing guitar and taking photos.

I’d continue sobriety, counseling, and making videos with cousin Kate.

Play guitar & take pictures; and get more serious about both
Take pictures
Fish. Fish. Fish.
Be a boat guy.
Be better.
Continue sobriety
Semi-permanently relocate to Portland to construct a new life.
Found and run a nonprofit
Prioritize new life around family and friends
Pack weekends with activity, day trips. Explore Oregon and nostalgia
Write write write. I have stories to tell. String together some vignettes and anecdotes
Graduate from college, finally.
Be open to companionship; romantic or otherwise
Get a job and begin a new career from scratch, see #5.
Contine routine doctor sustained healthcare. Health accountability.
Track down the dozens of angels who’ve crossed my path throughout my healthcare journey to show proper appreciation and that their commitment made a difference.
Travel. Travel. I still have a few states to visit to complete visiting all 50. 8, specifically.