h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello there. Quite a lot has happened since I posted last. Some good stuff and some bad stuff. That's the nature of life.

In the good stuff category, I have adopted a puppy. I know, I need another dog like a hole in the head. But it was sort of an emergency situation for the little guy. And since I lost Spice, I could get one more and still be legal. Little DooDah has a limit of 3 dogs per household. If you go over that, you have to buy a kennel license.

So, this little bundle of mischief was born on December 22 and I got him on Feb 11. He's half pug and half Yorkie, making him a pugshire. His appearance is about 90% pug. His name is Winston. He is absolutely fearless and tries to bully the shelties. He has loads of personality and a very sweet nature. It took about 5 minutes for him to become family.

We have had a very generous donation at the library in honor of our upcoming centennial. A local family is re-landsscaping our grounds in memory of their parents, both of whom were great library supporters. The work has already started, and I must say that the results so far are wonderful. They are even putting in a water feature for us.

In other centennial news, I am finally getting an art feature I've wanted ever since we did the renovation. Three original windows that faced the parking lot were boarded up. They are near the new main entry staircase, along with the old exterior limestone wall that was left as an architectural feature. I've always wanted murals on those panels.

The artist is imagining the three panels all being painted to look like Craftsman-style stained glass windows that combine the Arts & Crafts geometric designs with some Art Nouveau-inspired allegorical figures. Each window would represent a different time (either 1914/1964/2014 or 1914/2014/2114), and would contain an allegorical figure that represents the role of the library in the culture at that particular time. The figures themselves would be timeless, and all three "windows" would be designed to appear like they could have existed in the original era. Each window would contain some small panes that appear to be transparent glass that show small slivers of a scene outside. These scenes would be similar in subject, but would depict the different eras. This subtle reference to the three time periods will allow us to convey that narrative, but maintain a cohesive larger image. Good stuff! He'll use traditional oil glazing to make them look luminous, making it look like light is shining from behind the "glass".

Mother celebrated her 92nd birthday a few days ago. I have had to move her in with me. She isn't able to stay alone in her own home any longer. Quite hionestly, I don't expect her to last much longer. She has breast cancer and a large melanoma on her neck/jaw area. She chose not to treat either back when she still had enough of a mind to make that sort of decision.

Her mind is nearly gone and her legs are giving out on her. I've enrolled her with a hospice service, but it hasn't kicked in yet. She's on the waiting list. In the meantime, I'm arranging to have a hospital bed delivered. Even using her walker, she can barely get from her chair or bed to the bathroom and back. I have a woman I pay to stay with her while I'm at work.

Early this morning, she tried to get up by herself and slid to the floor. I was on my way to help her when it happened. If she'd waited another few seconds, but she doesn't have enough mind left to get any sort of instructions to stick. Anyway, I screwed up my back big time trying to get her out of the floor and finally called 911 for help. We have a really great group of paramedics in Little DooDah. They are only 3 blocks away making response time very fast indeed. I got chewed out for trying to lift her by myself. No surprise there. I have strict orders to call them if she goes down again.

My brother was here for a week. That was the last week she was able to stay at home. He's supposed to be back down for Mother's Day, but I'll be surprised if she's still here by then.

There was something else, but for the life of me I can't remember what. Sometimes I think I'm as batty as Mother.

Congrats on the good news, and sympathy on the bad.

Sorry to hear about your Mum

Well done in getting the mural organised!


lil x

>> Little DooDah has a limit of 3 dogs per household. If you go over that, you have to buy a kennel license.>>

Does the same rule apply to cats?

You are not going batty Hyp, you just have a lot on your plate at the moment.

I was impressed that there is a limit of three dogs, I wish it was the same over here. In spite of a recession in which we are supposed to be freezing, starving and in poverty people seem to be having more and more dogs, and cats too.

Over here I was told never to attempt to move a person on my own, though like you I did Please take note of what you were told and don't try it again. Where would everyone be without you

The windows sound lovely. A picture would be nice some time when the work is done. One of the grounds too if you have a mind to.

I hope whenever your Mum departs it is peaceful and painless. It doesn't really make one look forward to old age, it is bad enough being a though I don't feel like one, or think like one, and this is a very rare mention



Websailor

The mural sounds lovely.

I too wish there were limits to the number of pets per household in Lincoln County! My next-door neighbor had 4 shih tzus and upwards of 35 cats the last time anyone confessed the truth. The saddest thing, besides the miserableness of conditions for the animals (never mind the humans) is that her house is historic... but will be uninhabitable once she is gone.

Four Shih Tzus sounds delightful - they're fun - and they get along with cats. But 35 moggies is way too many. They start to rove in packs at that level.

Thought I'd better post an update. Mom died on the 6th. It was sooner than I expected, but it was for the best. She was going downhill very quickly, had lost her independence and was being kept sedated on morphine to control her pain from the cancer. Things have been quite hectic and will remain so for a while. She lived in the same house since 1954. You can imagine how much stuff there is to sort through. I met with a probate attorney this morning to get all of that started. Fun, fun.

Anyway, I'm sad yet relieved that I don't have to worry about her constantly any longer.

Prayers and best wishes.

I am truly sorry, Hypatia

May your mum rest in peace






lil xx

we'll be thinking of you, Hypatia.

I hope all goes smoothly with the probate.

My dad's stepmother died last year and it split the family apart. My grandfather had set her up with a good trust fund to take care of her after he died 30 years earlier. His wishes were that upon her death, the money, property and stocks would be split between his two children and her two daughters, with none going to her sons. One was a very bad man who sexually abused his own children. The other could well take care of himself.

Well, the elder son, managed to get their mother to write her own will gave half of my father and aunt's inheritances to her sons and leaving the daughters with their original portions. They also sold his property before it was probated. The worst of it was my father lost a good friend, the husband of one of the daughters. They all got indignant that he brought a lawyer into it and acted like they were the wronged parties.

It happens too often. It shows the importance of a good will and estate planning.

Sincere condolences to you, family and friends Hyp.