Three Year Anniversary

I don't see why today (July 25) can't be considered my second birthday?
I mean God kept me alive as I entered this decrepit and woeful world such as
this through birth. Yet, I believe, and through absolutely no actions of my
own, God obviously had something more important for my life.

At we'll say five in the morning three yrs ago, my brain was rattled and jell-ofied in a wreck,
after a rip and roaring night of stripping at a bachelorette party.  Lol.
My roommate and I were well intoxicated. Then, very unfortunately, we decided to drive home.
BIG mistake.
We hit a tree on the way home.
The result in an instant:
A catastrophic brain injury.
Utterly consuming.
Now my days are consumed with inexorable never ending therapy time and working unreasonably hard to man handle my life back into whence it came.
Overall, it has been a little more than slightly difficult.
Unprecedentedly difficult is a vastly more understandable term.

Three years ago 'til today. 
ONLY through God's grace, I have lived and succeeded. 

Faces of Drunk Driving Interview

I am really proud the TxDOT program in Texas chose me to represent them.
All I can say is:
Please don't drink and drive.
It's not worth it.
Honestly.

If you wanna spend the next five years in recovery,
go ahead and take the risk of drinking and driving.
No girlfriend/boyfriend.
No friends.
Everything is just such a gigantic mess.

The other day Matt Howerton, a news reporter with KWTX News 10, noticed me on the Faces of Drunk Driving
website (www.facesofdrunkdriving.com) and he wanted to interview me again. 
So, I did.
I hope I get my message out.  

Since I can't talk yet,

I'm using my iPad to tell people

how it's not worth it to drink and drive. 

Walking.  I was told I'd never walk again. 

Matt and James from KWTX are awesome.

I appreciate these guys for helping to get my story out. 

Shibby Movie Reviews

I didn't have a good blog idea, so I figured I'd try my hand at movie reviews.

To get started, I watched the movie World War Z.
When I heard about this movie, from the name,
I wrongly pictured some advanced warfare movie. I guess that would be Star Wars,
or maybe Star Trek.
So, I guess not. LOL
NOT freakin zombies
Anyway, not a bad movie...
Slightly unbelievable, how in the heck could people be reduced to that?
Overall though, pretty good.

White House Down was next. 
An epic movie - a good comedy with some laughs that make you think a little bit.
Definitely a guy movie.

The Lone Ranger
A bit of a let down, in the comedy department.
With Pirates of the Carribean being released a few years ago, Johnny Depp's Mona
Lisa, I most definitely can see the audience using that as a diving point.
Thus, people thinking Johnny Depp to have an outstanding acting performance has occurred. 
'Twas ok.

Man of Steel
I know I'm pretty much expected to give an outstanding review on said film.
I've seen quite a few movies over the years, and
Man of Steel was most definitely one of the better movies I've seen out of the hundreds,
if not thousands, I've seen. 
'Twas VERY meaningful and
gave a great message.

Shibby
or "cool" to the uneducated.

4th of July

Thursday is July 4th. 

A lot of wild dudes and dudettes.
There's gonna be pressure to drink...
But DON'T DRIVE!

Plain and simple.
NOT worth it.

In fact, check out the newest campain from TxDot's Faces of Drunk Driving at www.facesofdrunkdriving.com.  Unfortunately you might notice a familiar face specifically at http://www.facesofdrunkdriving.com/stories?name=Travis. 

Never Say Never

I had LOADS of doctors tell Mom and Dad that I would NEVER again do certain things. It was a long journey, through years of rehab clinics, but I always kept my faith.

My parents were told on numerous occasions that I would never walk.  On my first break at home, mom told me, "If only you could go to the bathroom alone, this would be astoundingly easier." With a treadmill that had hand grips, I practiced and accomplished that goal. 'Twas very scary, because if I go to fall, I have a long way to go.  LONG.  By the way, I just walked into this room. 

At TLC in Galveston, I had a speech therapist tell Mom, "Travis will NEVER eat again unless there is new technology in the next ten years."  WOW.  I'm pretty sure I've been eating since about a month before coalescing on the Texas coast.  It was December 20, 2012, to be exact.  Currently it's just pureed foods, but I'm eating. 

Another thing the experts said that I would NEVER do again was see.  Really, WOW. 20/20 vision.
Anything else?

Oh yeah, I wasn't even supposed to survive the ambulance ride to the hospital.

I could have easily believed what these doctors and experts said.  Sure they were just going by what they saw - textbook wise I suppose I shouldn't be able to do any of these things.  Sometimes there is more to it.  That's why I've always kept my faith and determination.  I just might be a little stubborn, too. 

No pain, No gain. 

"Don't"

Graduation season is upon us, especially this weekend.  I'm sure there will be a few graduation parties.  These are a chance to unwind or to do whatever floats your boat.  To act a fool, if you will. 

Please don't drink and drive.  Not only are you putting your own life at risk but also everyone else on the road.  You don't want to die or kill someone or be severely injured (trust me).

So don't do it.  I'm not really saying don't drink.
But I am emphatically saying don't drive. 

Little Bro is Graduating

Tonight our family went to Cantina, a Mexican food restaurant in town, to celebrate my brother's upcoming graduation from Midway on Saturday.  I don't remember much from my days of storming those familiar halls of Midway High.  But I do remember plaguing my brother with foolish jokes!

That said, I'm kinda proud of the little guy (not so little now).  He's turned into a fantastic man (no thanks to me).  He's unprecedentedly smart, has a ridiculous wit, and yeah, I guess kinda cute.  LOL

I love you, Bro.  EVEN though you are still kinda annoying.  LOL