Hi folks. #:o)

These last couple of days ive had incredible support from all of you. Gotten a bunch of get well-IMs and everything. And alot of people seem to want to know what happened. And since writing is quite hard and exhausting for me at the moment, i thought i would just announce it in here once instead of answering all those IMs.

So this is what happened:

I was driving real slow on my way to work. Huge snowstorm made visibility almost zero. I came to a little hill only a few hundred yards from my house when i met a car. I slowed down further and after the car had passed and the snow-smoke had cleared i saw two headlights on my side of the road. The head on collision was unavoideable. Probably didnt take longer than half a second from when i discovered the lights till we crashed. The impact however went in slow-motion. I could see how the airbag unfolded (FIAT has the smallest airbags by the way...such a tiny one, not bigger than the steering-wheel), CDs flying around and the keychain breaking against my knees. Horns honking and loud music....and then absolute silence and darkness. Only the strong wind blowing. Soooo creepy. My first thought was to get out of my car before more cars came crashing into us since the visibility was so bad. Doors was of course stuck but i suppose you dont feel much pain when youre in shock. Then i helped the other people out of their car and 25 minutes later the ambulances came. By then i wasnt feeling too well and i was frozen to the bones. Then bla bla bla bla....here i am. Feeling alot better now with only a few broken ribs to worry about. The doctors say that theres still chance of internal bleeding but its slim. The first 2 weeks are the most critical appareantly.

So thats how it happened. There was like 300 car-crashes that night in sweden due to the blizzards that was raging across the country. I walked away from mine extremely lucky. Now i just have to hope that i get something out of my insurance. The people driving on the wrong side of the road that crashed into me were the ones calling for ambulance...and they told the emergency-personal that no police was needed at the scene. DUH! Had i been driving on the wrong side of the road i wouldnt want the police to come either. So now theres no record of how the accident happened, and if im unfortunate they can blame me. And if that happens they will be 4 to 1...sigh. #:O( Hopefully the firedepartment and rescue-personal can testify on how the car was positioned when they got there though if it comes to that extreme. Another thing that bothers me...they were responsible for the accident and I was the only one ending up in the hospital with tubes going into my body...and neither one of them have even bothered to check on how im doing. Had this been America i would have sued them for sure, lol. One thing im certain of is that i wont be able to afford a new camera for a while. Not that i need one as long as my eyes are this out of focus though. #:oP

Anyway...this little announcement took me almost 5 hours write, lol. So now im going back to bed. Hope youll have a wonderful humpday everyone!!!! It feels EXTREMELY good to be back by the way. #:O)

Andreas
MAS4eva!!!!

P.S. This "texture-shot" is the kind of bruises i have on my body after the seatbelt. I assure you though....IT`S WORTH IT!!!

I deleted the photo. I thought it looked nasty, lol.

Whew...the literary description is enough, creating a mental image of the event. I am very glad you are getting better and that you were spared even more serious injury. Thanks for this post to your rosity friends. Tom.

Thank you Tom. Im posting this one as much for me as for anyone else really. I thought it might be good for me to "talk" about it. Each time i close my eyes i see those headlights and i can feel the airbag crushing my chest. That mental image is whats keeping me up at night just as much as the pain actually. And it really did feel good writing about it. Yay...something good came out of my Stridsberging, lol. #:O)

Yes youre lucky, that u didn't wound yourself seriously! But U cant blame anyboody if there was no sigth...U cant see were the road is...so it's easy loosing the possition...great that U had no high speed..... but its bad I think that they havent asked how U are.... Well, Andreas it's allways "healing" to talk about chocking experiences...makes 'em heal quicker. Take care...Puss & Kram, PussGurka ;)

LOLOL!!! Look at that little Grover. Having such a blast isnt he....guessing he will be disappointed now that he wont be getting a ride in my Fiat, LOL. Yeah i wouldnt mind one of those beauties...although youre probably right. Wouldnt do Nanook much good in this artic climate, lol. I had to drive today already and that sucked. It was raining and the roads were sooooo icy and my wife was suppose to drop me off at my moms. But shes not the best driver on such slippery roads so i had drive the last part. And i even had to put the car in reverse and back up some hills since its front-wheel-drived (doubt thats the english word for it but what the hell, lol). So i definitly got put to the test today and it wasnt too much fun either. But probably pretty useful. #:o) And im not blaming anyone for the crash....i just wish they had at least left some information. I cant even file a report with my insurance-company now cause i dont know their names or registration-number and the police cant/wont help me. Puss & Kram pe sjv lilla PussMuttern. #:o)

very relieved to read that you are basically 'OK' - all my best for a full recovery + I hope the insurance companies are reasonably generous! Charles

Get well sweetie!!!

The police will be able to prove which car was on the wrong side if it comes to that. The other driver has probably not visited because he may not remember very clearly what happened...or he's a moron. Keep mending.

Writing is terrific therapy much better even than talking -imo. Keep mending and I hope all gets resolved with the insurance etc.

Thank you all. #:O) With Korts help, ive managed to find the car for me....im just a sucker for capes.....

LoL, but it only keeps 2 wheels ont he road at a time -- IF THAT! ;] Glad you liked it, heheheh.

Geez Andreas...after all this and your drivin' ALREADY?!?! That can't be a good thing with broken ribs and whatnot! Be careful... don't want to do MORE harm than good!

Message edited on: 01/24/2006 09:52

LOOOOL htat new car's awesome, dear andreas... at least it seems as if you could jump to the side if necessary... :) i hope you're relly getting better soon...!!! and don't stress yourself with writing looong messages here... ;) huge healing hugs christian

ROTFLMAO!Oh my!That car is hysterical!And you could probably add skates for extra icy days!Too funny! On the other hand,that insurance business isn't funny at all.I hope it works out for you,Andreas.The last thing you need now is stress... There has to be some evidence,based on the position of your car,etc.So maybe it will all work out. I can't believe you had to drive already!I find that mind-boggling!And in reverse,yet!!!!!Yeesh!I can't even fathom it!Talk about getting back on the horse! :^/ Well,now that your safe at your mom's I hope you'll take it easy and just rest.Thanks for filling us all in.We're pulling for you,swedie. :^)

ROFL!!!! What the heck is that??? YOU HAVE THE WHOLE COLLECTION??? You really are a proud associate of "GeeksR Us" arent ya? LOL. Too funny!!! #:oD Pssst....has anyone got a clue where "my" emoticons are being stored these days? I miss em....sniff...

LOL.YUP!I coined that! ;^) GO SUPERGROVER GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Sorry Andreas...You're asking the wrong geek,lol.

Yikes!Kimmie!!!!!!!!!!!

Grover certainly is the PERFECT MAScot,lol!

He sure is and just as soon as he breaks free from that patch of gum I'm sure he will sort everything :D

LMAO - you have an inexhaustible supply of these don't yer ? Did you get them free with cereal ?

Attached Link: Super Grover Homepage

Is that one yours Kortalouche?Because a bit more space to the right and you could add some exhaust,a la Ray and his Snoopy pix!

Glad to hear you are ok. Reminds me of driving during blizzards in the Denver, Colorado area. You are a nice guy...not letting the cops in on it as requested by those wrong-side-of-the-road drivers. I just hope that decision doesn't cause you problems when it comes to insurance and stuff. Nice guys always win though so you will be ok. Take it easy! -Jeff :-)

Eh...Jeff, regarding the police...i was unconciounce (big word for me...not only am i swedish but also on drugs..sigh...probably spelled it wrong) in an ambulance. I didnt get a saying in the matter, lol. Im sure i would have wanted them to come though. #:O) Thats awful Kimmie. Was that suppose to cheer me up???? #:o/ Grover...sigh...hes the man. He surely is THE man!!! The anticipation of his upcoming visit is what keeps me going at this point. Can i just say one thing to Kort, Marlene and Richard? YOU FOLKS MAKE GEEKS LOOK GOOD!!!!! LOL. #:oD

Aw!Thank you.Present company included,of course!

Is it an owl ................

Is it a plane ...............

No................ it's Super Grover !!!!!!!!!

Message edited on: 01/24/2006 20:01

Faster than an autozoom... More powerful than a (insert expensive lens...I have no idea,lol)... Able to leap many galleries in a single bound... Okay I better put the vodka down,lol.

WOW, I work with a guy who is a firefighter and goes on calls for car crashes & such, and they take photos of the accidents after they help the victims, maybe the guys who rescued you took some images that might help your case????? It's worth looking into... I'm glad you're on the mend, and I know with your inner strength, you'll pull through this and be a better person for it!!!!! Gentle hugs to you Andreas... Akemi ;)

OK great to hear the man is coming around.slaps on back,gives big bear hug. Opps Still laughing at that car up there LOL

Ohhh that sounds dreadful, just as well you were only going slow. Hope everything works out OK with the insurance but your health is the most important thing! and you've driven again already shakes head. Heaps of rest for ya now, gentle hugz

Sowwries about the late reply here, but our connection fell down and died last night after the phone rang. It does that sometimes... Anyways....yawp, you're sure lucky to be alive. A lot of ppl dying in their cars that night I believe. And thanks for the call last night :D Nice to hear that you're still smiling and breathing :D P&K C.

Attached Link: Avernum

All my thoughts are with you... Get well soon! Take care HugeHugs Elisabeth

LOL....my inner geek says thank you Kort. #:oD Ill check it out later. For the rest of you....AWWWWW! Thank you all! #:O)

Attached Link: Darillo

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?????? O_o Amphibi-bike??? With a flying saucer and everything....YIKES was a word used earlier...and now it truly fits, lol.

Sigh...someone is soooooo not a trekkie,lol! ;^)

I know I'm laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate - but just wanted you to know that I'm happy to see that you're feeling better already. And if you need someone to testify for you against those 4 "driving-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-street" guys: I guess you can call on all your friends at R'Osity to assure the authoroties that you would NEVER EVER lie!!!

Thank you so much for taking all this time to inform us! First of all the most important thing is you will be pretty much ok. I hope you'll manage to get the insurance thing all ok as well, the mental damage of getting in a crash not regarding to any cause at all is shocking enough and if those causing the accident try to peep out it's very unresponsible and nothing less than driving away after an accident. :( Anyway, I see you've got some nice cheer ups here yet. So I really hope you'll be perfectly ok. Just take your time to recover and as you've seen, you're not forgotten here! :) Take care!

Thank you Jan-Carel and Andrea. I have absolutly gotten the best possible support and cheer-me-ups from my friends in here. LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! #:O) Working on my budget now....gonna spoil myself to a big ass jeep so that im better protected the next time someone drives on the wrong side of the road. Hopefully that wont happen again though. And my God, while im at it im gonna loan some extra cash and treat myself to a DSLR....you only live once is something ive come to realise. #:O) ....then i could use a 42" plasma-TV before the olympics start....and a new lawnmower...etc etc etc....hehe. #:oP

Pssst. If you could wire some cash my way... (wink) ;^P I hope you do treat yourself...as long as you don't put yoursefl into too much debt doing it. But now I'll be one of the few if not the only MASer without a DSLR. Sigh. Lisa and I have looked at our budgets latesly and a $1000+ purchase for that is just not in the cards. Cost of living here is pretty high, and we are putting any extra stuff into home improvements and such. We are gonna need a new AC soon, and we are installing Hurricane Shutters on our remaining windows...these things add up. That and our house needs a new paint job, but we're gonna try and do that ourselves. Yikes, I'm Stridsberging here, better click "Post Reply" before I blather on any more...

#:o( You just mentioned soooo many expenses that i too should put into calculation, lol. Our house was built in 1904 so its over a houndred years old and it needs constant repairing. New windows all around and a new roof for starters. SIIIIGH!!! Thanks for pulling me back to planet earth my friend, lol. I painted our entire house myself 2 years ago...and its a HUGE house...using only a ladder..UGH. My God was i tired. Took me all summer long too...bla bla... I just saw a pretty good deal on the Olympus E500 with two sets of lenses for $800 btw. Stridsberging at its best id say, lol.

I say go for it.The cost of a cam built into a loan,on a monthly basis,will be like adding floormats to a car on a car loan...extremely minimal...and soooo worth it to you...especially on an psychological level...Which will aid your healing!!! If you said you were going to purchase something extreme,like a Viper,lol,I'd advise against it.But a $1200 purchase,or thereabouts,is nothing on a monthly basis.Go for it,Swedie.You earned a little joy... In my dedi to you I said we should all feel blessed for every day that we get...it's THE most important thing we can do...EVERY DAY...But the hardest to do...we all go about our business,worrying,paying bills,being unhappy about whatever...and then tragedy strikes and we finally get some REAL perspective... The only thing that matters...the ONLY thing...is that we make the most of the time we have here on earth...everything else is just 'stuff'.We can let it cloud us,and color our existence...or we can look at life as it is...a collection of experiences to help us become more and more enlightened as individuals. Okay...I should sooooo shut up now...LOL.Guess I was doing a bit of Stridsberging myself,lol. My apologies for getting on the proverbial 'soapbox',so to speak... It's just what happened to you,Andreas,touched me deeply... Your good and MAS friend, Marlene :^)

AWWWWWWWWW!!!! Arent you too sweet. Thank you Marlene. For everything youve done since the accident i might add. #:O) You are soooooo right too....you only live once right? As long as ends meet i would be foolish not to bake a cam into that loan. IT`S DECIDED!!!! ....i hope....ill keep you posted...sigh.

No thanks necessary,swedie. :^) I'm just happy you're still with us.This place would never be the same without you... And I am certainly not alone in feeling that way...obviously,lol.... Can't wait to see what you do with a new cam...You already made a point-and-shoot look damn good,lol.... :^)