More fun; no really!

Just before we left on our trip to Iowa the guys came to start the refinishing of our pool and deck. After a few years the old marsite pool finish was dying and we've hated the deck surface since we bought the house. Anyway, they said it would take the best part of the week to get the old deck surface off so we thought why not let them do it while we were gone. Well, it worked just fine.

Except that they didn't get it off! They were still working on it 9 calendar days after they started. The tile guys did come and put in part of the tile. Except that they put in the wrong tile and had to take it off again! Now they have replaced the cap tile and the deck guys have about half of the deck base coated. This is in the two weeks that we were quoted for the entire job. No one has touched the pool except to knock off some loose stuff. Hmmm. Wifie is getting aggrevated. Personally, I never believe a timeline given me by a salesman. Hah! I've been there; I've done that. Project estimates are always optimistic. These guys at least can claim that the weather on the edge of Hurricane Rita is slowing them down. And it's probably true. Anyway, if we get a properly completed pool in another two weeks, I'll be happy.

Today we went down to see the MIL. She got a new Medicade funded electric wheel chair today. She doesn't creak around very well any more and needs oxygen all the time and, well, you get the idea. Anyway, our government just paid over $4 grand for the wheelchair. It's great fun to drive; we all had a turn. Now if the MIL can just use it without pitching herself out onto the street in front of a car!

Tomorrow our daughter is coming over with her cat. She is off on a business trip and somehow we came to be the cat sitters. The fact that we've only seen this cat once in it's entire life is apparently irrelevent. And it has all it's claws. And it is 'frisky'. And - you know, I'm getting really negative here so I'll stop. I'm sure you'll hear more about the cat later.

Have a good one!

Home Again

Home looks pretty good after a week on the road!

After mom passed away we had a couple of days of running around getting things settled here then needed to go up to Iowa for the funeral. We thought of flying but decided to drive mostly because of the lack of hassle. People who travel between, say Seattle and Chicago, just hop on a plane. People who want to go to small towns in Iowa have at least 2 flights plus a rental car to consider. And considering the 'Bereavement Fare' isn't much of a deal; it makes driving sound better.

The actual funeral was excellent. It couldn't have gone better. We were concerned that mother might not look good but it turned out that she looked great. I don't know why it seemed important; it just did. Anyway, we were able to have the casket open. Mother had nieces and nephews in a three or four state area and many showed up. There were even a few folks from the local area who took the time to attend. We had a simple grave side service then went to a local restaurant to have coffee & cake. I got to talk with my cousins, one of whom said he last saw me when he fed me at age 1! Close family, huh? Anyway, the whole thing was excellent.

Driving home we came across something I've never seen before. It was a foggy morning just south of Nashville when we saw a car going the wrong way on I-24! He was going north in the southbound HOV lane. Scary! Fortunately, the HOV lane isn't much used that far out of town so he would have had a fair amount of time to figure out the error of his ways!

Now, having been home for a week, we are almost squared away. I'll try to add more of our adventures later.

RIP

We got the call at 04:30 that my mother had died a few minutes earlier. She had a quiet and peaceful end. She was 93 and had been struggling with dementia for the last nine years. It's been several years since she has recognized either me or my wife. She is certainly in a better place now. We'll be off to Iowa tomorrow for the funeral.

Oh Shit!

Well, just after I talk about my mom being stable; she de-stablizes.

Since last Wednesday she has had only 450 cc of fluid. Apparently she has forgotten how to swallow. The aide spoons some honey-thick-liquid (food substitute) into her mouth then has to take it out again in a minute or two. She doesn't swallow it at all. With liquids it is slightly easier: it just drips out of the side of her mouth if she doesn't swallow it first. At this rate, she cannot last more than 3 or 4 weeks.

I'm getting ready to call the few family members are still alive to let them know that there may be a funeral soon. Happy days!