So, it really didn't take me long to figure out what was missing from my packages and what I needed to add to make everything complete.  I needed names.  I needed individual contacts at the various publishing houses in the city that I could address my package to.

I was looking on a few of the websites for the publishers I am planning on visiting and noticed something interesting.  A couple of them say that they do not accept unsolicited material.  I can understand that, really I can, but how is a guy from middle-of-nowhere Maryland supposed to get himself a large enough agent that these publishing houses would even begin to pay attention to me?  Not likely.  Not likely at all.

So the search is on.  I'm looking on every website and figuring out who is the best person, or most obvious fit, to address my package to.  This way I can merely drop off the sealed brown envelope with the secretary and bypass having to pitch my book and my personal story in the process.

Honestly, it only takes one publisher to make this book happen.  As long as someone opens up that envelope and reads through what I have enclosed, I'm good to go.  If they watch the DVD, I am golden.

There's a lot to be done this week.  Hopefully, when I finally do make it to the city, this detailed effort will get me exactly where I want to be.

I just finished choosing which two chapters I wanted to include in my marketing package and saved the file when the power decides to go out two minutes later.  At that point I had everything created that I needed to include.  All I needed to do was print out enough copies and label the letters and packages accordingly.  ...Sometimes it really sucks to have a desktop computer.

The power outage happened around noon and was out for a few hours.  I still could have rushed everything together, but, like I have been saying, I really don't want to throw together how I'm presenting my book in a hurried manner.  I want to take my time and do this right.

It's just crazy how the power outage happened within minutes of me putting the file on a CD and heading out the door to print it off.  If I had burned the file, the power would have been back not too long after I had gone to Kinko's and printed the copies.  Instead, I have hours of down time where I cannot do anything.

It's amazing how important even a couple minutes can be.  It's unfortunate when things don't work out according to your planned schedule, but I have always believed that things happen for a reason.  Fate works in perfect ways, even with minutes to spare.

There was a reason the full-on power outage happened when it did.  I'm sure I'll find out exactly why before I reschedule my trip to NYC.

With that being said, I better get these marketing packages printed and put together. I’m leaving for New York City EARLY Monday AM…and it’s already 7 PM on Saturday.

Sounds just about right, huh?  Eh…I better poke around Facebook for an hour or two to make it a true procrastinated effort.

1. Get my driver’s license. (I just drove on the interstate for the second time yesterday and the adaptive equipment is working great.)
2. Tie a tie one-handed. (My right hand can assist, but my motor control and dexterity cannot be controlled with enough finesse to assist.)
3. Organize and hold a retreat for brain surgery survivors sometime this year (preferably in summer, but in fall if need be).

After completing all this I should have everything I need to be completely independent. Without my license I can’t really go anywhere, and definitely can’t go there alone. My ultimate goal for the end of this year is to be out on my own. I’m hoping accomplishing my second and third goals will help me figure out exactly where I want that location to be.