crazy busy

yeah, crazy busy. At work. At home. I have no idea what's been on the news. I finally got more than 3 hours of sleep last night. I'm so out of it. Our Christmas decorations outside are still up. I had simply unplugged the lights so they don't light up. I'm hoping next week will be better, with the funeral behind us.

making arrangements

We've been busy with funeral arrangements. We met with the funeral director on Friday afternoon. Then left there to get clothes for Skip's burial and gather what few photos skip had for printing in the program. Yesterday morning we were supposed to meet with the pastor of the church where funeral services will be held. We were very late and the meeting didn't happen but we looked around. Then the remainder of yesterday was spent working on the contents and layout of the program. It's not finished yet;still working on it. Today we've not revisited the funeral activities; maybe we will resume later tonight after the MLK mass with the bishop. We have to deliver the requisite things to the funeral director on Tuesday, with viewing for approval on Thursday. Then visitation Friday night. Funeral this coming Saturday morning.

Spidey

I've been eyeing Spidey since before Christmas. I was hoping the price would drop after the holidays, but it did not. I finally went ahead and nabbed him yesterday. Here he is on top of the TV along with my mini Pokey and Gumby, and a quarter for size reference. Ain't Spidey cute?

modern

I've finally subscribed to DSL. I have the connection up and running, but this is definitely not the final configuration, with wires going everywhere. I don't know yet know how I'm going to do the wiring. I don't know if this service comes with POP3 mail. But gee, it's fast.

ouch

Skip passed away this morning. Guppy is displaying incredible self restraint, talking to people, making calls and doing business. Skip is Guppy's best best friend in the whole wide world.

gripe

Skip's been in the hospital for a month now. We've spent all waking hours at the hospital this past weekend, with Guppy typically staying overnight. I had to forego my church volunteer gigs with apologetic last minute notices when Skip was moved to ICU Sunday morning and I had to be there to clear out the room of personal belongings. The drive between home and hospital takes half an hour with no traffic.

I've cleaned out Skip's fridge. Any left overs must be at least a month old. I threw out all the eggs, and I think all the bread.

I was tired Monday morning and seriously considered not going to work, but finally went anyway. I was hoping to not have to make the hospital run on Monday night but ended having to do so. I stopped by Skip's house and pulled the now full trash can out curbside for pick up. Guppy and I both went home later that night. I skipped dinner in favor of sleep. Guppy headed back to the hospital at 6am.

Tuesday I left work early to go to spiritual direction. Afterwards I headed to the hospital. In the rush hour traffic, crawling at 10mph on the freeway, it took me an hour even though the distance was 1/3rd less when coming from spiritual direction. Again, I checked Skip's house; the trash has not been picked up. Hopefully trash day was not Tuesday and hopefully trash will be picked up soon. I stayed at the hospital while Guppy went home, not to rest but to figure out Skip's bills. Then Guppy returned at quarter to 4am and I go home to actually pay the bills online (Skip is not technically proficient).

We had been paying Skip's bills with "bill pay" through online banking. Long story short, this time I log in and there was no bill pay option; the bank had decided that there were no qualifying accounts. So I go set up an online account at each organization/company for each bill that needs to be paid (there were five). Those secure services are not particularly fond of my dial-up speed and it takes a lifetime. I can set up online accounts for every bill except one: the credit card. I don't have the card; and the account info is not on the bill (for security reasons).

I've been up since 3:45am. I know Guppy probably has had at best one hour of sleep. I'll call Guppy at 7am and in the meantime, I go wash up. So I call Guppy, who has copy of the credit card bill with the intent to dispute the late charge in the course of the day. Guppy calls the credit card company and they want all this info. What sense does that make when we're only trying to PAY the bill, not make a purchase? At this point, Guppy is ready to close out the credit card.

It's been a hassle. We're tired. We're grumpy.

As for Skip, there is a chance that Skip will recover. Blood transfusion was completed. IV fluids were administered to restore electrolyte balance. Antibiotics were administered. A day later, IV fluids are no longer required. The feeding tube is still in. Skip is conscious at times, but not able to talk or move much. Temperature is still unstable; sometimes the fever returns.

Now I better get ready to go to work. Obviously I won't be at work by 8am; I'm still at home playing with Blogger.

No Name Meme

Seen at LAMLand.

1. Do you wear a name tag at work? Name tag, no. ID badge, yes.

2. What kind of car do you drive? Japanese make, automatic transmission, four door.

3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell? Gordita Supreme.

4. Have you ever had a garage sale? Nope.

5. What colour is your iPod? Don't own one or any other MP3 player.

6. What kind of dog do you have? None at the moment, but have typically had German Shepherds.
7. What's for dinner tonight? Take-out from a Mexican restaurant.

8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had? Communion wine yesterday. Else I typically don't drink alcoholic beverages.

9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone? You mean, like calling someone 'cause I'm sick in love? I'm not admitting to that. Stupidest thing is I lost it once.

10. Last time you were sick? Weeks ago, maybe. But really bed-ridden sick just when I had to report for jury duty some months ago. Fortunately, I was not selected.

11. How long is your hair? Short.

12. Are you happy right now? Right now? No. Sleepy.

13. What did you say last? "hospital" (I was answering a question.)

14. Who came over last? Probably our neighbor. We generally don't have company.

15. Do you drink beer? No.

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted? No.

17. What is your favourite key chain on your keys? Don't have a favorite, really.

18. What did you get for graduation? High school-I remember a paperback Thesaurus, a Jane Austen novel, a Sherlock Holmes out of print book, and a pen & pencil set.

19. Whats in your pocket? Nothing right now. But when I'm out, it'd be keys and a pocket knife.

20. Who introduced you to Dane Cook? Who is Dane Cook?

21. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear? No.

22. What DVD is in your DVD player? nothing

23. What's something fun you did today? Surfed the web

24. Who is/was the principal of your high school? Mr. Anderson, RIP

25. Has your house ever been TP'd? No

26.What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"? cats

27. What are you listening to right now? nothing

28. Drinking? nothing right now

29. What is your favourite aisle at Wal-Mart? maybe tools, though their selection isn't great

30. When is your mom's birthday? Nov 4

31. When is your birthday? mmm

32. What's the area code for your cell phone? mmm

33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now? This shirt is one of the freebies from an event.

34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror? Not right now.

35. How many states in the US have you been to? 6

36. What kind of milk do you drink? I don't.

37. What are you going to do after this? hopefully, go to bed

38. Who was the last person you went shopping with? Guppy

39. What is your favourite fruit? Oranges

40. What about your favourite dessert? Jell-O

41. What is something you need to go shopping for? Can't think of anything at the moment. Doesn't mean that there isn't something we're short of.

42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives? My last name, yes.

43. What kind of car does one of your siblings drive? I don't know.

44. Do you like pickles? They're ok.

45. How about olives? Ok.

46. What is your favourite kind of gum? Juicy Fruit.

47. What is your favourite kind of juice? Maybe Cranberry mixes.

48. Do you have any tan lines? Not right now, but have had rather embarassing bicycling tan lines (right above the knee, basically).

49. What hospital were you born in? I haven't the faintest idea.

-end-

obedience

One time, Guppy found our dog with a cat in his mouth. I wasn't there, but I can just imagine his face: a stupid expression that's really funny, and expectant eyes, knowing that Guppy disapproves and not knowing what to do next. It's perfectly natural for our dog to go after the cat (not our cat), but we his owners command that he not do so. Sometimes it's normal for dogs to dig, but the owner disapproves.

I see it the same way with God. There are things that would be natural for us humans, but God has commanded that we overcome certain natural inclinations.

For me, a natural inclination is laziness. Really, it's quite natural.

Sansa Clip

I got a Sansa Clip 2GB music player for Guppy, and another also for Guppy to give to a friend. I've been working with it this afternoon. It charged in around 4 hours or less, I didn't really time it. I put about 20 CD's on it, not erasing whatever music it was pre-loaded with. It shows to be 339 songs. I have Windows Vista Ultimate and have had no problems with the Clip. I also downloaded and installed the firmware update, the download link can be found in the Sandisk forums. I would post links here but I gotta run off to mass. The thing sounds great to me for the little time I've had it. FM radio was good too. Audio recording was rather low volume but do-able. Unfortunately, it also records the noise associated with handling the Clip and the button clicks. Over all, I think it's a good buy for $50 and am quite satisfied for my first impression.

my job scares me

I got a promotion. And a pay increase to go with it. Thanks be to God. I'm also scared. Because a promotion also means more responsibilities (and less of the slacking that I was doing quite well). I have to remind myself to hold my manager's judgment in higher esteem. If my manager sees it fit that I should have this (which I had not asked for nor anticipated), then I should at minimum respect that judgment. Anyhow, dear God, you've given me this opportunity; please see me through and let thy will be done.

been out

I was on retreat this weekend as part of one of my church volunteer gigs. I just got back, and man, I am tired. I must have been on a high and am now crashing. Maybe I'll conk out in a bit here. I will attend evening mass at the Cathedral later.