It has been a hard year and a half. Dad's health was failing last year while he was trying to take care of mom. She had the misfortune of having a stroke during hip replacement surgery. She never was able to come back to any semi-normal semblance of life. There was substantial damage from the stroke to the speech center, physical instability, incontinence, and vascular damage that brought progressive dementia. I had hired in-home care to assist for four hours in the morning and evening. Dad died 9/27/10 at 87 years old. Mom could not be home alone so the in-home care went to 24/7. This brought fees of $14,400.00 plus per month. It was not sustainable so mom went to an elder care facility that ran about $4,000.00 per month.
I took over all finances, got a financial advisor, got an attorney, took care of all dad's death requirements for mom, moved mom to eldercare, held an estate sale, donated what was left, created a trust, moved funds into in the trust, moved the house into the trust, and applied for survivor VA benefits for mom. It was what seemed to be never ending chores.
I swear that with mom's dementia, she would forget dad passed and then rediscover the event. Not good. She hated the care facility. Every time I would visit started with about a half hour of I hate it here, you can take care of me, dad took care of me, and on. I would tell her that she needed to stop this so that we could visit. The damage to the brain's speech center was enough that there was never more that a word a two that might or might not be the correct words. You were always try to guess what she was trying to say often to find out that it was nonsensical.
As the dementia progressed, she always called me by her deceased brother's name and insisted that I could not be her son as I was too old. Her memory was going off in strange directions but she most certainly did remember who was responsible for putting her in elder care.
Mom started to refuse medications in July including her blood thinner. She had a very mild heart attack toward the end of July. Her doctor did not seem to be too concerned about it and was going to release later in the week. The doctor asked about bringing in hospice at the elder care facility. OK - explain to me why you aren't concerned about the heart attack but you are talking about hospice now? I never did get her doctor to return calls after that. I have gotten to hate the medical profession. It seems that it is some great favor being bequeathed to you for them to tell you anything. No wonder doctors make the worst patients as they know how they have treated people all along.
The social worker from the hospital called me and wanted to know which hospice I wanted to use. I told here that I was unaware of why we are talking about hospice. The social worker can't tell you anything medical as it is not their place to do so. This is understandable. I know enough about hospice that there is no harm in start/stopping it there are only restrictions on the continuous length of care so I told them to set up with a hospice group.
Finally, hospice calls and want to know if I want them to get to work or send mom for treatment. Treatment for what? Endocarditus, as mom has a systemic bacterial infection that has hit the membrane of the heart. Why the heck couldn't mom's doctor have communicated this? The chances of success for the treatment were very low. I told the hospice to start their care as it seemed the least damaging to mom at the time. That evening we agonized over the decision of treatment or not. I felt like I was signing mom's death warrant if I said no to treatment. I decided that the discussion should be based on our own desires if you or I were in the same situation. Both my wife and I decided that if either of us were in the same position to go to hospice and let go. I did not have to make the final decision for mom. She died quietly in her sleep that night on 8/2/2011. I was the baby of the family and now I am it. My brother passed in 2000, dad in 2010 and now mom is gone.
I am still trying to sell the house from within the trust and things are not moving. there is a mortgage on the house. It is not upside down but it is a drain on what little money is left in the trust. I still have some of mom's accounts etc to close out. The chores still continue. I would not say I am depressed just that I don't smile as much.
It is fortunate that I have an outstanding wife and daughters. Both girls are in college and doing well. I am looking forward to the Masonic Lodge to start in September (we take a couple of months off in the summer), dove season is coming, there are a variety of pistol shoots, and I did get drawn for white tail deer in November. There is a lot to look forward to but it is still difficult at times.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday Morning Blues
Some days just don't go as planned. One AM Sunday morning daughter number two wakes me up because a sound was heard in the garage. Well that sound was the shelf unit holding reloading goodies partially collapsing. Two bottom legs had given way and my shelf was a leaning tower of Pisa. There was little loaded ammo but plenty of brass, bullets, dies, and other sundry pieces had been loaded on the shelf. It was not overloaded by the shelf specifications but plastic shelving in the AZ heat apparently does not even retain half of its load capacity.
We moved the reloading table and moved brass and bullets out of the way to get to the shelf. I did not want to step on any brass and ruin it. I needed about four hands to try to keep things that were still on the shelf in place so they could be relocated to the living room. I have always thought that reloading equipment and supplies make perfect living room decorations. Other have different ideas concerning decor.
Thank goodness only 3-4 boxes opened up when hitting the floor. Most boxes have 500 each of this and that. We pulled the shelf out to the porch and decided the rest could wait until the morning. I set my alarm for 6 AM so I could be at Lowes at 7 to buy a heavier duty metal frame shelf. Oh well, I figured four hours sleep and then maybe a nap later in the day.
I got up and perused the garage again while getting ready. It was pretty impressive. I had not seen anything as scattered as this since the time I dumped #9 shot all over the living room while reloading shotshell. That previous event involved getting a clean paper bag put into my shop vac and sucking up shot out of the carpet. Wouldn't want to waste it. Later on my wife commented that there must be something wrong with the vacuum as every so often it would really make some rattling noises. I guess that I did not get all the #9 up and it was still working its way to the surface. It was hard not to laugh and I went ahead and confessed - but I am getting off track.
I was ready to venture outside and get that shelf except I noticed that the van seemed to be lacking a spare tire. There were pieces of broken lock and a lug nut on the ground but no tire. I had parked in the street to leave driveway space for daughter #1 and neglected to set the alarm. Gee, I wonder how long it will take for the police to arrive so that I can get an incident number. It was only about 20 minutes since it was 7 AM Sunday morning with little going on. The morning was disappearing.
I did get to Lowes and get the shelf. The loose parts on the floor were gathered into boxes for later sorting. Now I could go about sweeping the floor, setting the new shelf, empty the living room, sorting part/pieces back into their original containers, and finishing organizing it all. I never did get that nap.
We moved the reloading table and moved brass and bullets out of the way to get to the shelf. I did not want to step on any brass and ruin it. I needed about four hands to try to keep things that were still on the shelf in place so they could be relocated to the living room. I have always thought that reloading equipment and supplies make perfect living room decorations. Other have different ideas concerning decor.
Thank goodness only 3-4 boxes opened up when hitting the floor. Most boxes have 500 each of this and that. We pulled the shelf out to the porch and decided the rest could wait until the morning. I set my alarm for 6 AM so I could be at Lowes at 7 to buy a heavier duty metal frame shelf. Oh well, I figured four hours sleep and then maybe a nap later in the day.
I got up and perused the garage again while getting ready. It was pretty impressive. I had not seen anything as scattered as this since the time I dumped #9 shot all over the living room while reloading shotshell. That previous event involved getting a clean paper bag put into my shop vac and sucking up shot out of the carpet. Wouldn't want to waste it. Later on my wife commented that there must be something wrong with the vacuum as every so often it would really make some rattling noises. I guess that I did not get all the #9 up and it was still working its way to the surface. It was hard not to laugh and I went ahead and confessed - but I am getting off track.
I was ready to venture outside and get that shelf except I noticed that the van seemed to be lacking a spare tire. There were pieces of broken lock and a lug nut on the ground but no tire. I had parked in the street to leave driveway space for daughter #1 and neglected to set the alarm. Gee, I wonder how long it will take for the police to arrive so that I can get an incident number. It was only about 20 minutes since it was 7 AM Sunday morning with little going on. The morning was disappearing.
I did get to Lowes and get the shelf. The loose parts on the floor were gathered into boxes for later sorting. Now I could go about sweeping the floor, setting the new shelf, empty the living room, sorting part/pieces back into their original containers, and finishing organizing it all. I never did get that nap.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
It Isn't Charity if Payment is Forced
Quote of the day from Mrs wizardpc at Guns, Cars, and Tech
It is worth the read and to follow some of the links.
I would like politicians and bureaucrats to acknowledge this: Every law,rule,and regulation made by the government ends in puppy killing SWAT Teams. Every dime that is spent in our name was taken at gunpoint.
I want them to understand that every action they take has this statement as a footnote:“This is important enough that my grandmother should be killed if she does not abide.”
It is worth the read and to follow some of the links.
I would like politicians and bureaucrats to acknowledge this: Every law,rule,and regulation made by the government ends in puppy killing SWAT Teams. Every dime that is spent in our name was taken at gunpoint.
I want them to understand that every action they take has this statement as a footnote:“This is important enough that my grandmother should be killed if she does not abide.”
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Lambertville, MI Makes The Drudge Report via Fox!
Lambertville vandalism turns life-threatening
Figures it would be some union thug attacking a non-union employer. It appears that the union harassment has been going on for years. I would say that occurrences like this give unions a bad name but that is really redundant. Unions have always been violent when they don't get their way regardless of the topic.
Figures it would be some union thug attacking a non-union employer. It appears that the union harassment has been going on for years. I would say that occurrences like this give unions a bad name but that is really redundant. Unions have always been violent when they don't get their way regardless of the topic.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"School Discipline Study Raises Fresh Questions"
"Minority students facing discipline for the first time tended to be given the harsher, out-of-school suspension, rather than in-school suspension, more often than white students, the study said. (The nature of the offenses was not noted.) "
The link I followed says that the Texas study raises questions.
I have a question. Which moron decided that the nature of the offense was not a major factor in this study? This could have been a valid study but I expect that the desired results were not achieved without skipping major factors. The whole thing should have started with the type of offense linked with the rest of the demographic factors. Perhaps there is an unfair racial bias that could be addressed but one should at least make the effort to put forth a defensible study.
The link I followed says that the Texas study raises questions.
I have a question. Which moron decided that the nature of the offense was not a major factor in this study? This could have been a valid study but I expect that the desired results were not achieved without skipping major factors. The whole thing should have started with the type of offense linked with the rest of the demographic factors. Perhaps there is an unfair racial bias that could be addressed but one should at least make the effort to put forth a defensible study.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
For Whom the Bell Tolls!!!!
"A mine awareness team in Uganda was horrified to find an unexploded bomb being used as a bell when they visited a school to teach children how to spot bombs"
Team member #1, "Ring the bell and call in the children for our class."
Team member #2, "Hey, does that bell have a familiar shape?"
Team member #1, "Sure, we see those all the time. Let me ring it."
Team member #2, "Find a hammer, that rock really doesn't make it ring well!"
Team member #1, "OK, How's.........."
Recent advertisement in the Anti-Mine Network publication desires replacement inspectors for locating unexploded ordinance.
Team member #1, "Ring the bell and call in the children for our class."
Team member #2, "Hey, does that bell have a familiar shape?"
Team member #1, "Sure, we see those all the time. Let me ring it."
Team member #2, "Find a hammer, that rock really doesn't make it ring well!"
Team member #1, "OK, How's.........."
Recent advertisement in the Anti-Mine Network publication desires replacement inspectors for locating unexploded ordinance.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Activists Missing After Declaring “War on Leather” at Motorcycle Rally
“I…I was trying to show my outrage at a man with a heavy leather jacket, and he…he didn’t even care. I called him a murderer, and all he said was, ‘You can’t prove that.’ Next thing I know he forced me to ride on the back of his motorcycle all day, and would not let me off, because his girl friend was out of town and I was almost a woman.”
Hahahahahahahahha! Don't read the article while drinking soda. Monitor & keyboard alert!
Hahahahahahahahha! Don't read the article while drinking soda. Monitor & keyboard alert!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Judge intervenes to let tea party hand out Constitution
Heaven forbid someone actually read the U.S. Constitution! Don't pass out that subversive literature! Egads! Its Tea Partiers passing out the Constitution, circle the wagons and pass new rules.
The board of this library should be replaced. Porn 1, Constitution 0
The score isn't quite correct yet since there is a preliminary injunction against the library preventing them from implementing the new rules.
The board of this library should be replaced. Porn 1, Constitution 0
The score isn't quite correct yet since there is a preliminary injunction against the library preventing them from implementing the new rules.
Monday, June 13, 2011
New Shooter!
Daughter #1 and I went to the Marksman's facility on Saturday for the NRA Basic Handgun course. I also took the course to keep her company. It was a good refresher and the instructor was lively. The instructor recognized me and asked if I was taking the course to keep my daughter company. I nodded yes and he smiled. The classroom handguns were 22LR S&W. double action with the 8 round cylinder. Perfect starter gun. We went through all the usual safety and operational items before lunch. Range time would be from 1-2PM.
She was a bit nervous come range time but survived it well. I don't know that it is fair to call her a new shooter as she has shot a shotgun before - one session at the trap field. Her main enjoyment is archery. Regardless, she did just fine and seems to have a good eye. She obviously paid attention during the class portion of stance, grip and sight plane. All of her shots were within the boundaries of a CCW target. I was keeping an eyeball on her target while we were shooting and I could see her pattern tightening up nicely.
We shot about 50 rounds of 22, 6 rounds of 38, and 2 of 9mm. I like shooting anything so I was entertained aside from the limited amount of ammo for the 38 and 9mm. It was nice that I got to shoot three weapons that I had never touched before. She had a big smile at the end of the range time.
Upon returning home my target was presented to mom as being hers. Mom just gave her "the eye" and said she wanted to see the other target. After a few more seconds of "the eye" she confessed that the target with a ragged hole was mine. She said that she was watching my target and was trying to figure out if I was missing the whole thing. She kept seeing little pieces of paper on the floor and came to the realization of what was happening.
With the class we received a range pass for a month. I have been informed that this was fun and we should go back while it is free. Now we need to go over the operation of my P22 and Single Six. Works for me!
Daughter #2 will go to the same course after returning from summer vacation. I expect that I will attend again. Perhaps I can talk to the instructor about having three different guns for me to try!
She was a bit nervous come range time but survived it well. I don't know that it is fair to call her a new shooter as she has shot a shotgun before - one session at the trap field. Her main enjoyment is archery. Regardless, she did just fine and seems to have a good eye. She obviously paid attention during the class portion of stance, grip and sight plane. All of her shots were within the boundaries of a CCW target. I was keeping an eyeball on her target while we were shooting and I could see her pattern tightening up nicely.
We shot about 50 rounds of 22, 6 rounds of 38, and 2 of 9mm. I like shooting anything so I was entertained aside from the limited amount of ammo for the 38 and 9mm. It was nice that I got to shoot three weapons that I had never touched before. She had a big smile at the end of the range time.
Upon returning home my target was presented to mom as being hers. Mom just gave her "the eye" and said she wanted to see the other target. After a few more seconds of "the eye" she confessed that the target with a ragged hole was mine. She said that she was watching my target and was trying to figure out if I was missing the whole thing. She kept seeing little pieces of paper on the floor and came to the realization of what was happening.
With the class we received a range pass for a month. I have been informed that this was fun and we should go back while it is free. Now we need to go over the operation of my P22 and Single Six. Works for me!
Daughter #2 will go to the same course after returning from summer vacation. I expect that I will attend again. Perhaps I can talk to the instructor about having three different guns for me to try!
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Can I have a SWAT team too?
I was thinking about starting my own church, The Powerhouse Church of the Presumptuous Assumption of the Blinding Light (thank you Firesign Theater), but am concerned that attendance might not be good in the beginning. Hence, I would like my own SWAT team choir to go house to house and shake people down gather loan repayments owed God. You owe everything to God and he has informed me, Pastor Rod Flash (thanks again Firesign Theater), that it is time to collect. I am sure that I can blackmail find some judge to get some warrants so that we go collecting door-to-door for your forced repayment charitable contributions. I wonder which judge the Department of Education used for this SWAT invasion for a student loan repayment? This judge would be my first choice for my warrants.
OK - snark off, but it makes just about as much sense as what was actually done. ED has no business having a police arm much less pulling SWAT invasions. The fact that it was done over a student loans shows the idiocy of the bureaucracy. Did I just use idiocy and bureaucracy in the same sentence? I hate being redundant. This message brought to you by the Department of Redundency Department (thanks yet again Firesign Theater).
OK - snark off, but it makes just about as much sense as what was actually done. ED has no business having a police arm much less pulling SWAT invasions. The fact that it was done over a student loans shows the idiocy of the bureaucracy. Did I just use idiocy and bureaucracy in the same sentence? I hate being redundant. This message brought to you by the Department of Redundency Department (thanks yet again Firesign Theater).
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
U.N. Agreement Should Have All Gun Owners Up In Arms
"It may not come as surprising news to many of you that the United Nations doesn’t approve of our Second Amendment. Not one bit."
Time to contact your congress critters again and complain loud and clear.
Time to contact your congress critters again and complain loud and clear.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Ex.-Sen. Thompson joins popular vote project
"Thompson, who also ran briefly for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, said the campaign is consistent with the country's constitutional principles. "
It may be consistent with the country's "current constitutional principles" but it is in no way constitutional. I do not think that your current principles or lack thereof should necessarily override the constitution.
Oh no Fred, what happened to you? Medications kicking in or wearing off?
The electoral college serves the exact same purpose today as when it was put in place - to keep highly populated centers from controlling the entire country. I think that the way some states run their electoral colleges is bizarre to say the least but it is a State's prerogative.
It may be consistent with the country's "current constitutional principles" but it is in no way constitutional. I do not think that your current principles or lack thereof should necessarily override the constitution.
Oh no Fred, what happened to you? Medications kicking in or wearing off?
The electoral college serves the exact same purpose today as when it was put in place - to keep highly populated centers from controlling the entire country. I think that the way some states run their electoral colleges is bizarre to say the least but it is a State's prerogative.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
"They wanted a fence."
"Well, that fence is now basically complete."
POTUS needs a new speech writer as they should have used "virtually" instead of "basically". Then he couldn't be accused of being a liar as virtual means - not in reality. Does anyone actually believe these speeches and the nonsense that is spewed?
I am still stuck at the same place. Secure the border first. You may talk to me about reform afterwards, not before.
POTUS needs a new speech writer as they should have used "virtually" instead of "basically". Then he couldn't be accused of being a liar as virtual means - not in reality. Does anyone actually believe these speeches and the nonsense that is spewed?
I am still stuck at the same place. Secure the border first. You may talk to me about reform afterwards, not before.
Fred Astaire!
I ran across an article on Power Line that May 10th was Fred Astaire's birthday. Frederick Austerlitz was born this day in 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska. He would have been 112. He actually died in 1987 at the age of 88.
My daughters like watching some of the old musicals as they were both involved in dance. Enjoy some fine footwork!
My daughters like watching some of the old musicals as they were both involved in dance. Enjoy some fine footwork!
Friday, April 22, 2011
I Will Participate in Earth Day
The little sticker says it all. I believe that I will go reload some more ammo to again recycle some of that old brass.
I am also a big supporter of alternative fuel vehicles.
Wonder if there is a way to collect the methane for use in an internal combustion engine?
Why of cousre there is! It would just need some slight modificaitons for human use. Don't not be concerned as the tube is only uncomforatable for a little while. You will get used to it.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Calling All RINOs
"To my Republican friends: take back your party. So that it doesn’t matter so much who wins the election,"
Yes, all the RINOs need to take their party back so it doesn't matter who is elected. The Democrats can then get their socialistic way without any conservatives complaining about the Constitution, taxes or whatever.
This last go around about so called reductions in the budget, government shutdown, and how everyone would starve has convinced me that we really do need a reset button. How is a $225+ billion dollar increase over last year's budget a cut? It is insulting that we are expected to believe this nonsense. This whole things is about politicians pretending to do something to fool the unwashed masses.
It is almost like a comedic movie except it really costs us a lot of money that we don't have. "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!" - Governor William J. Le Petomane
Yes, all the RINOs need to take their party back so it doesn't matter who is elected. The Democrats can then get their socialistic way without any conservatives complaining about the Constitution, taxes or whatever.
This last go around about so called reductions in the budget, government shutdown, and how everyone would starve has convinced me that we really do need a reset button. How is a $225+ billion dollar increase over last year's budget a cut? It is insulting that we are expected to believe this nonsense. This whole things is about politicians pretending to do something to fool the unwashed masses.
It is almost like a comedic movie except it really costs us a lot of money that we don't have. "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!" - Governor William J. Le Petomane
Japanese Nuke Crisis Severity
"The news was received with chagrin by residents in Iitate, one of the five communities, where high levels of radiation have been detected in the soil. The village of 6,200 people is about 40 kilometers from the Fukushima plant."
Fishermen in the area have been reporting that a variety of previously unseen fish have been netted. Scientists are at a loss to classify the recently discovered mutations. Our reporters have been asked to participate in the new bounty and have been informed that they taste just like chicken!
Funny, they don't look like chickens.
Also of great surprise to the village was the discovery a very large reptile roaming the area which resulted in the scientists immediate evacuation. Fortunately, one of them was able to get a quick shot of the creature. Some of the locals were excitedly exclaiming, "Oh no, there goes Tokyo!".
Amazingly enough another creature appeared causing the first monster to flee in apparent terror. The photo of this creature has scientists baffle as they are unable to determine the genus or any other useful information. DNA is being collected in the area to try to classify this new menace.
Fishermen in the area have been reporting that a variety of previously unseen fish have been netted. Scientists are at a loss to classify the recently discovered mutations. Our reporters have been asked to participate in the new bounty and have been informed that they taste just like chicken!
Funny, they don't look like chickens. Also of great surprise to the village was the discovery a very large reptile roaming the area which resulted in the scientists immediate evacuation. Fortunately, one of them was able to get a quick shot of the creature. Some of the locals were excitedly exclaiming, "Oh no, there goes Tokyo!".
Amazingly enough another creature appeared causing the first monster to flee in apparent terror. The photo of this creature has scientists baffle as they are unable to determine the genus or any other useful information. DNA is being collected in the area to try to classify this new menace.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Perfect Green Car
"Nissan Motor Co has received complaints from owners that its Leaf electric car on occasion fails to start, posing a potential setback for the automaker's goal of promoting zero-emission vehicles" Doesn't start, doesn't go anywhere and uses no energy doing it! Why wouldn't every Greenie want one? Does it come with a bicycle rack as standard equipment?
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