Cool last night, and I’m hoping for more of that. It was so nice when I went to pick up the kid from an extra night of her solo activity, that I had the windows down and sat out for a couple hours reading. This year seems to have been much cooler than average. Maybe that will continue today. I expect more of the geographically dispersed storm cells too.
I did my pickups yesterday, filled the back of the truck. Let storm cells chase me all over the north side of metro Houston and only got caught in one. It seemed like it would wash the paint off the truck it was coming down so hard, but after only a few minutes I was through it and back into sun.
Today I have a couple of hobby things to pick up, and a lot of cleaning, moving, sorting, and stacking to do. Lots of neglected jobs around the house will be calling me. I don’t know how many I’ll answer, but it will be some.
Since there are always more things to do than time and energy to do them, I’m sure the list won’t get much shorter. I do still have to try.
On a completely different note, the cut on the back of my finger has healed into a nice scar. It still has some strong sensations when I bump it or press on it, but I think it’s as healed as it will get. Took longer than I thought it would but it still healed. As I’m getting older, I’m realizing that healing well isn’t a given any more. Over the course of my life, I’ve had a lot of injuries but I’ve always healed. At some point, I know I won’t be able to count on that anymore, and that’s a sobering realization.
Medical stacks made the difference this time. Decent physical condition helped. Time to start planning for the future wrt my body and abilities too. I can’t stockpile good health, but I can benefit from a lifetime of good nutrition and good genes. I can prep so my kids have those benefits too.
Hmm, what to stack? I’m not sure, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out and stack what I can.
nick
@lynn, we face things by ourselves, but not alone.
Oh yeah. I’ve got dozens of family members and friends blowing up my phone constantly.
Plus I am now my wheelchair bound mother’s primary caregiver. Mom is 83 and Dad has always taken care of the finances and bills. Mom has no idea if they are sound or broke. Neither do I.
I was really thinking until yesterday that Dad had a 50 / 50 chance of surviving this. But the MRI yesterday revealed that his gall bladder had ruptured sometime in the last month and was pouring pus into his abdomen. He has an incredibly high pain tolerance.
The ICU doc Dr. Ben and I had a long hallway talk yesterday when I told him no heroic measures. He was very frank and helped me to understand what was really going on.
We are still going to try the two abdomen drains. We think he would like that. But in reality, I am ready for him to move on to the next life.
My son just texted me that his INR is down to 1.86 finally and they are taking him to the interventional radiologist to install the drains.
No Quicken?
You’ve mentioned that everything went through Fidelity. I’ve never had a problem with getting records from them or T. Rowe.
Vanguard on the other hand has issues. I’ve spent a lot of time and paid a lot of taxes to unwind what I can there without too much pain.
@lynn, hopefully the procedure will give him some relief.
———-
86F and sunny, so not particularly cool, but otherwise a nice start to the day.
D1 should be home from her trip soon. The dog will go nuts.
Coffee should be ready soon too.
n
Continuing prayers for you and your parents, Lynn.
Hold strong, Mr. Lynn. Everyone here is sending their prayers to your father.
Doc’s like that are worth their weight in gold.
Make sure the hospital follows your (and your dad’s) wishes. It only takes one idiot to prolong suffering.
The obsequies of a friend’s mother yesterday evening knocked me for six, emotionally. I was transported right back to my own parents’ funerals. I was very glad that I was there with other friends, and we were able to talk about it afterwards. Meatspace, baby!
@Lynn: Really sorry to hear about your Dad’s condition. Here’s hoping for the best, but you’re being realistic…
You might want to think about getting a power of attorney, and taking over…
ARRL’s Amateur Radio Field Day starts today at 1 PM Central time, and runs for 24 hours.
It’s a nationwide event here in the US but you can partipate worldwide.
If you’ve ever been curious about the hobby, this afternoon or tomorrow morning would be a good chance to meet people and see (part of) what it’s all about. In most cases, you can get on the air even without a license at one of these events, under the supervision of a licensed ham.
There are 2 events in the Houston area. One is in Richmond, and the other is in Brazos Bend Park. The one in Richmond is a huge mega affair, with 10 transmitters and an antenna farm, air conditioning, and displays and presentations. The Brazos Bend one is sheltered but outdoors, battery operated, and small, portable operations.
Whereever you live in the US, there should be a club activity this weekend.
@lynn, I haven’t commented much because your situation hits too close to home.
Based on my own experiences, it sounds like you have a much more mature and grounded attitude than I had in similar circumstances.
I had power of attorney for my mother, and knew her express wishes, but I caved in to my sister’s emotional breakdown and allowed the hospital to extend her life. While it allowed time for everyone to say their goodbyes, it did not really give my mother any significant conscious time on this earth.
And I felt like I betrayed her.
You do what you need to do, and it sounds to me like you have your [stuff] together.
Eventually, sooner or later, there will be a time to grieve. Allow yourself to do so. In the meantime, we may all hope for miracles, or the wonders of advanced medical care, and I do.
This is what I did with my Mom. I took her in and handled all of her affairs including selling her house and car. I managed all of her SS, Medicare, etc. Paid her bills and made sure she had cash in the bank to spend on whatever she wanted.
It was a struggle to move her from Rhinelander, WI to Las Vegas, NV. There were many crying events of “I just want to go home…” She could barely get around anymore but live 6 more years. There was very little in home care in that small town and only one “old folks home” and one “nursing home” where you basically went to die by yourself.
In a lot of rural places around the South, the old folks/nursing home has become the town industry over the last 40 years, making the population highly dependent on Medicare/Medicaid spending even if they don’t receive benefits directly.
One of the leather Lazy Boys has gone to a new home. No worry about the kid and wife who gave us the chairs getting their feelings hurt. It’s not like they ever sat in the chairs when they visit anyway. I gave the chair to his brother. Easy peasy. I don’t have to dust it or vacuum around it anymore and he has a new to him Lazy Boy rocker recliner that looks and sits (sets?) like brand new.
Both chairs stayed in the dining room for a week or so after the new floor was installed. I was waiting for the self-stick felt for the feet. I liked having the open space in the living room. What’s odd to me is how the room sounds now. Chairs in dining room or living room, not much difference in how the room sounds with the new floor. I didn’t expect this much more echo with an entire chair gone. Interesting and unexpected.
I had a partial salt block left from the longhorns. I put it out for the new cows. Ok, steers. They ignored it until a week ago. They are working hard on that scrap of sulpher salt block, pushing the holder all over the place.
I’m not totally clueless, they want salt.
I bought both mineral and a sulpher blocks yesterday. They’ll find them later today.
Taking care of the critters, right?
You can buy plain salt blocks. Just like table salt. Mineral blocks add trace minerals, think “vitamins”. Sulpher blocks are plain blocks with sulpher added…. suppose to help keep the flies away. Can’t hurt.
The longhorns preferred the mineral block over sulpher. So do I. I’ve washed my hands and I can still smell the sulpher. No flies are buzzing me…
Liberal Justice Kagan Explained Why District Courts Can’t Be Allowed to Constrain Presidents… in 2022
https://redstate.com/mike_miller/2025/06/28/liberal-justice-kagan-explained-why-district-courts-cant-be-allowed-constrain-presidents-in-2022-n2191017
Shamelessly inconsistent progressive ideologue.
Note, however, that the linked article is incorrect. She made no “case”. Her 2022 “it can’t be right” is purely an emotional appeal without any kind of argument–much less a legal argument. The convincing constitutional argument is in the current decision.
We have nearly 700 district court judges. They need to be remind of their place. How about if we take away their parking privileges and give them bus passes?
SCOTUS is finally off its dead azz. When you give Comey-Barrett time to use her geek stubby pencil, she can come through. Her put down of Amish-Jackson is hilarious.
I hope the wins keep coming next session.
I haven’t followed tRump’s BBB closely. I know the NFA tax is cut if it passes. If yes, then it will take the DOJ to reign in the ATF. I’m sure there are enough plugs The Last holdovers that will try to SWAT you buying a suppressor. I wonder if you still have to register a suppressor? Why? The only way now to get and let a friend use it is to set up an LLC. Ridiculous.
The ATF is shedding the 500 agents that Biden mobilized to check paperwork and criminalize minor errors:
https://hotair.com/mitch_berg/2025/06/28/batfe-inspectors-under-the-proverbial-gun-n3804159
Their files should be annotated so they can’t pass a background check.
We had about 150 head of cattle when I was growing up. Several large salt blocks were used. Generally one in each pasture. We would fasten a board to an old tire with the tire laying flat. The salt block was then placed in the tire. It kept the salt off the ground and was harder for animals to move around. We purchased several of the mineral (red) salt block each year. It was especially important for animals that were fed hay. The animals that got the mixed feed (oat hay processed with additives) had salt and minerals in the mix.
Hermione Granger Kagan, the smartest person in the room.
IIRC, the concern was that a lower level court would strike down the jab mandate before the Supreme Court could rule that Summer.
Sanity prevailed, however. Well, partially.
Amish? Jackson is whiter than I am.
The husband’s direct ancestor was a Continental Congress delegate. I was wrong about his being present at the signing of the Declaration, but he was very involved in the Revolution.
Make sure the hospital follows your (and your dad’s) wishes. It only takes one idiot to prolong suffering.
I am hoping that I am not the idiot by having the drain installed in his lower abdomen. But we think that he would want to try this. But he is confused and does not understand so I cannot ask him anymore what he wants to do.
The ICU managed to crash his INR from 19 on Monday to 1.7 over the last 48 hours by giving him vitamin k and 10 pints of whole blood. They are installing a drain in his abdomen now. This is our only current option other than just letting him pass away. The upper drain is through the liver and was judged too risky.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/prothrombin-time/about/pac-20384661
If the drain works then we will spend the next week to four weeks strengthening him to remove the gall bladder. Then we will have to strengthen him for discharge to rehab. The hospital is giving him a lot of antibiotics to counteract the dead gall bladder.
Dad has been taking warfarin for 26 years for his mechanical heart valve. It was apparently soluble into body fat and came out as he has not eaten in the last two weeks due to his thinking that he had the flu. Every time his INR dropped, it raised the next time. It has been an incredibly frustrating week.
But, his kidneys have shut down now so we will start dialysis now. More pain but removing the fluid from his terribly swollen body should make him feel better.
We really appreciate the prayers and boldly ask for more. We do not know what the outcome will be but we believe strongly in the next life in Heaven as believers in Christ and God where we will meet again.
I don’t understand how that plays into her Amishness.
Based on my own experiences, it sounds like you have a much more mature and grounded attitude than I had in similar circumstances.
I had power of attorney for my mother, and knew her express wishes, but I caved in to my sister’s emotional breakdown and allowed the hospital to extend her life. While it allowed time for everyone to say their goodbyes, it did not really give my mother any significant conscious time on this earth.
I have Medical Power of Attorney for both my parents. But mother has that for my dad also.
I do not know if we are extending Dad’s life. In theory, we are making him more comfortable. I guess that he would die of sepsis if we stopped the antibiotics. I suspect that Dad will die of sepsis or pneumonia or heart attack in the near future anyway. Having a dead organ in your body is apparently really bad for you. The ICU doc thinks that his chance of getting out of the hospital to rehab is less than 10%.
The rest of his six grandkids showed up today and so did my youngest brother. I brought Mom home for clothes and bp medicine. We are going back tomorrow against my wishes. I am hoping that Mom does not end up in the hospital also as she is exhausted. So am I. Driving the 250 miles earlier today wiped me out, being 65 sucks. I think that the 250 miles tomorrow will do me in.
No Quicken?
I checked out Dad’s account today. They have funds in their IRAs. Not as much as Dad told me though but enough to be comfortable. And pay a lot of income taxes.
You might want to think about getting a power of attorney, and taking over…
Mom is sharp but Dad apparently changed some of the passwords recently so I had to give her some cash today. She gave me a check so we will find out if she can write a check, her name was on it.
Had dinner with my sibling. Went back to the neighborhood indian place. So good. Perfect level of spiciness.
Downtown was nuts. It’s usually pretty quiet on Saturday, but the scooter kids were out in force, as were sports fans. I think the slightly cooler temps helped too.
n
Keeping it up. Praying for the best outcome for your father, and guidance for the medics, with comfort and strength for you, your mother and the rest of your family.
It is overcast here at the BOL this morning. I am going to sneak outside and quietly do a Sunday-inappropriate manual task that needs doing, but that I didn’t want to tackle in the sunny heat of the past few days – loading some surplus paving stones onto a palette.
Too much lifting and bending for me when it is hot. The slightly misty coolth just now looks about right. Just waiting for the 6am to 7am programme on Bavarian Classic Radio to finish, as they always play nice music. Have been enjoying pieces by Bach, Grieg, Philip Glass and Joseph Umstatt, among others, this hour… Of course, the Bach cantata hour from 7am to 8am is good too… then there is the musical riddle at 9.15, etc., etc…
Wishing you all a good Sunday!
Timed that just right. Got my palette loaded just as the sun broke through. I am sweating like a brick from the manual effort, but at least I wasn’t working in the sun too. I notice that the actual bricks I was shifting don’t seem to be sweating at all. Curious turn of phrase…
Also seem to have got it done before the neighbours were up and about, which is good. W1 is arriving later, so ought to get some Brownie points for turning an ugly pile of bricks on the lawn into a tidy palette on the driveway.
Time for a sit in the shade and a long glass of cold water…
>>I checked out Dad’s account today. They have funds in their IRAs. Not as much as Dad told me though but enough to be comfortable. And pay a lot of income taxes.
@lynn… FYI…
NAUPA Discusses Lost Retirement Accounts – National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA)
https://unclaimed.org/naupa-discusses-lost-retirement-accounts/
“If you’re looking for an old IRA, searching for it through the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) is likely to help you track down that account. But a 401(k)? If you don’t know the financial institution that held it, your chances of finding it are much slimmer.”
>> In theory, we are making him more comfortable.
>>I brought Mom home for clothes and bp medicine. We are going back tomorrow against my wishes. I am hoping that Mom does not end up in the hospital also as she is exhausted. So am I. Driving the 250 miles earlier today wiped me out, being 65 sucks. I think that the 250 miles tomorrow will do me in.
@lynn, hoping for the best possible outcomes for your entire family.