swt61

Just talked to my Mother this morning. My Brother is completely unresponsive. He's been this way for over 12 hrs. now. He's still breathing on his own, but basically in a comatose state. Maybe he will pass peacefully. My Sister in law held her phone to my Brother's ear, so that my Mother could say goodbye. She felt good that she was able to do that. She's holding it together better than I expected at this stage.

There must be some funk in that!

He just signed a do not resuscitate order, which is way out of character for my Brother. So that tells me that he's given up. Hopefully he'll just go to sleep and not wake. I really hope it doesn't drag on. My Mom is really having a rough time. Last week they had a big scare with her husband. Out of nowhere he started having really bad dizzy spells and couldn't stand or walk. Thankfully it turned out to be Vertigo, and he's doing much better now. In the last 4 years, they've done a complete turn around. She was the one that did all the shopping, the laundry and all of those day to day chores. He stayed glued to his computer playing video games. Now she can't do those chores because of COPD and some chronic back pain (still undiagnosed). Thankfully, he has stepped right into those roles without complaint (something that absolutely flabbergasted me). So I know she was worried what would happen should he not be able to continue that. Then just when that news got brighter, my Brother took another hard dive medically. My Mom was that Mother you see on those old 50's TV shows. Everything she did was for her kids. Selfless doesn't even begin to describe her, and to now see her struggling in her later years is just really tough. Life just isn't fair. OK, I'm done rambling for now. Thanks for being there!

I hope this doesn't come across as callous, but I'm kind of hoping for quick resolution. He's not coming out of this, at least not with any real chance at a normal, healthy life. I don't want him to suffer. I don't want his wife to suffer, and I don't want my Mom to suffer any longer than need be. I heard in her voice this morning that she understands he won't pull through this.

Just had another call. He went back to the hospital this morning with pneumonia. I'm guessing this will be a recurring cycle.

It's a very strange space to be in, losing family members. Confronting my own mortality isn't really frightening to me, but the sadness and loss felt by those left is very depressing.

There's been no talk of his heart being bad. The thing is they were reluctant to do the surgery to staple his lungs to his chest wall because he's so weak. He's 6' and now I believe he's somewhere around 100 lbs. They have released him from the hospital, but he can't walk or even stand on his own. I never count him out, but I'm doubtful that he'd survive the surgery if they found him a pair of lungs. But I'm no Doctor, so maybe it's possible.

Yeah, I pretty much know what it means. I've been as prepared as one can be for my Brother's passing, and I imagine this is the beginning of the end. I now need to find a way to get my Mother through this. She's getting pretty frail herself, and I suspect she's already thinking there's not a lot to look forward to. She's called me every day for over a week, I think just to feel closer. We talk pretty regularly, but this is unusual and I sense a feeling of resignation. This morning was more a feeling of panic. I know that she doesn't want to outlive her children.

My Mother called me this morning to tell me that my Brother's Pulmonologist told him that he needs a lung transplant. He's still in bad shape and struggling to do even minor tasks. The Dr. said they've done all they can do with his failing lungs. My Mother and I are both wondering what the logistics of this are. I guess there would be a waiting list? Then of course someone would have to die, before a pair of lungs could be harvested. I didn't even know that a lung transplant was a thing. Not sure if his age and health would have anything to do with his placement on such a list. Or if he's strong enough to be able to endure such an operation? My Sister in law says that news surprised and terrified him. She was shocked as well. It wasn't something anyone had suggested might be a possibility before now. I guess I'll learn more in time.

Today I went to check out a new project that I'll be heading up in the Oakland Hills. The house is owned by a former client that I dearly love. While there I got to talking to her tenant who was in the process of moving out. He offered me several pieces of mahogany, left over from a project. Then he asked if I'd be interested in an old Stanley router. Not sure how old, but it's old, and all metal. While I was looking that over, he brought me the first powered drill, patented in 1917. Super awesome stuff! Pics to follow. My plan is to offer them up to the new woodshop, as decoration, even though I believe they both work. He wouldn't take any money. He just wanted them to be appreciated. They will!

Got summoned to a job sight to "drop in a new door". "Should take you about 20 minutes." Yeah, yeah. I hear this all the time. So I arrive at the jobsite and the rough opening is two inches less than the width of the new door. The door is also a 20 minute fire rated door, from the house into the garage, and as a first for me, it is milled out for a threshold, but there isn't one on the door. At least I got to try out two of my new tools. After cutting the sheetrock back with my new, ultra quiet 18v multi tool, My new beast of a 36v reciprocating saw, had the jack and king studs out in a few minutes. After relocating them 2 1/4" back, I then went to the builders supply store, where I found a threshold to fit the door. Had the door opening resized and door and trim installed in about 2 hours. Then got busy on the mail slot that the boss forgot to mention. "You'll be done in 5 minutes". Yeah, right. After encountering 1/2" of stucco and steel lath, I dug out one of my 4" grinders with a masonry blade. 15 minutes and clouds of dust later, I had the opening for the new mail slot cut. After finding my 1/8" tile bit, I managed to drill the holes to hold the slot in place. Now to install the overly complex Baldwin doorknob and deadbolt. "Oh, there's also a little bit of baseboard upstairs I forgot to tell you about." Now I've pulled out my miter saw and half of the tools that I own, and my "20 minute" job has turned into 6 hours.

Happy Birthday Mikey!

Get better Frisco! I had a dog (before Suzy) that had to go on anti-siezure medication. It helped immensely.

DEXTER: New Blood Glad to have the serial killer's serial killer back.

RIP Julie and Dean.

Looks really good!

I agree with Doug. Looks great for the first coat. You may even make the cover of DUNGEON MONTHLY

Yes. The vinegar takes much longer to dry than alcohol based stains. It won't be dry enough to spray today. At least not without the help of a heater/fan.

There's still enough room between those bars for someone to grab your curious poodle, and threaten to snap it's neck unless you release them. "It puts the lotion in the basket".

Agreed.

If it's the same guy that used to refurbish them, he no longer does. He had a year long waiting list back when he did work on them. I bought my M22 because it was already refurbished by him.

I guess I'll just have to hope that Jeff hasn't made us an accessory to some type of dungeon he's actually building. Checking his area for missing persons now.

Are those the ones cooled with Stolichnaya instead of Ferrofluid?