At 1500 hrs yesterday what should my wondering eyes behold but the ILP Information Technology guru named Jim minus his 12 prancing reindeer. Saturday, ladies and gentlemen. Saturday. VA doesn’t work on Saturday. Of even more interest, VA does everything by mail, right? We were always led to believe this  but Kris the Head Honcho of  all things ILP in Seattle called, as in telephone, on Monday to tell me I had won the ILP lotto.

Now for all you who believe in the tooth fairy, the idea that VA calls you to celebrate the win-any win- is ludicrous. In addition, the idea that they’d send out Jimbo six days later on a Saturday to measure me for a new box of the computer persuasion is beggaring the imagination.

Nevertheless I was greeted with the dulcet tones of the doorbell and the concerted bark of four dogs at 1500 hrs PDT.  Jim had wonderful news. VA had instructed him in no uncertain terms to provide me with whatever he and I determined was the proper gear. As most may recall, I solicited advice from you last Wednesday or so. I want to thank all who gave me advice on what I need. Jim decided we were going to do this once and do it right. In fact, since this was his first opportunity to do this for a Veteran, he has decided to go overboard.

I was also concerned, and Jim confirmed it, that I was going to get kicked out the door with no static line as soon as I got the gear. Therefore he’s putting in the order for lots of extra ink cartridges and paper for the AIO scanner/fax/printer.

It was hard to say who was more excited. Jim, in his fifteen years of dealing with the VA on these things, has not had occasion to bust out the HP catalog because VA hasn’t approved any claims here in western Washington in that time. This becomes more and more strange at each passing moment. Regardless, I will soon have the ability to do all manner of strange and marvelous things. Through the miracle of St. Skype, I will be able to talk and see other members on my new c-box. I will have exciting new software  to help you with including the updated (2012) LexisNexis Veterans Benefits Manual. Through a vocal program called Dragonspeak, I’ll be able to transcribe my posts simply by speaking without typing. VA thinks I may lose the ability to use my hands and prefers to cover that contingency now rather than down the road. As to why I need 8 gigabytes of memory or a tetrabyte of solid state hard drive, I cannot imagine. Apparently Jim can. He started telling me about all the things I need-or even may need six years into the future.

Do any of you recall Christopher Lloyd of Dr. Emmett Brown fame in Back to the Future III? Remember when he turns to Marty and says “Roads? We don’t need roads anymore.” This is somewhat how Jim feels about this. I have been living in a cave staring up at the moon for the last four years figuratively speaking. My computer talents are akin to a 10 year old’s. VA is dragging me kicking and screaming into the real world. So worried are they that they have also instructed Jimbo to give me about 15 hours of tutorials in this new art form. Well, either that or he’s padding the bill. Maybe he likes the smell of new computers and is using this as an excuse.

Now, for any of you who still subscribe to Flat Earth Living Today, the idea of any of this happening in our lifetimes is ludicrous. Its as far-fetched as the mythical 125 day claim or a VA PTSD doctor’s appointment within 14 days of calling. I invite all of you to opine as to the meaning of this. Can it be that VA is so genuinely concerned for our plight that they feel AskNod.org is the Oracle at Delphi? I don’t think so. I might subscribe to the theory that they are doing this to appease me, but what of the consequences? By giving me these new tools and teaching me how to be an Adobe Acrobat, they are making their row harder to hoe. All this can do is provoke more knowledge leading to more Veterans service-connected for HCV-hardly the outcome they might pray for.

Granted, my shelf life sticker is slowly coming due. That’s what I surmise. Give the dolt a bunch of new toys and maybe he’ll die before he learns how to use them. They underestimate my will to live. It’s so strong that I’ve given up virtually all my favorite foods to extend my warranty. I wish to thank my readership and especially Joe Average Veteran. He was the one who apprised me of the existence of the Independent Living Program. Without him, none of this would be possible.

Life is about to get more interesting. I will keep you abreast of the developments. I can also see a window of opportunity here for others. How many of you feel the burning need to become regular contributors to asknod.org such that you, too, would require extensive computer equipment and suitable training in the arts? Do you see where this is heading? I see a new dawn with glorious possibilities here. An editorial board with twenty or thirty members seems normal considering it takes a VA village to complete a claim (incorrectly) in two years. How about a blog of your own on the intricacies of PTSD claims? Major Depressive Disorders with narcissistic tendencies, anyone? One look at  Part Four of 38 CFR reveals a veritable encyclopaedia of diseases and injuries requiring you to help your fellow Veterans through the maze.

For all of you who doubt VA is open-minded about what the ILP was designed for, I would ask you to read this post-

https://asknod.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/independent-living-program-not/