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

What, you may very well ask, if the old gal learning now? Quite a lot, actually. For one thing, I have learned more about probate than I ever wanted to know. (Did we ever get a pounding head against wall smiley?)

I now know why my neighbor threatens to throw her yorkie to the lions on a regular basis, and Winston is only half yorkie. He is without a doubt the most hyper, smart-ass puppy I've ever met. The shelties have to double team him to keep him under control. His latest trick is to try to drag Bart by his tail. Bart is very gentle and good-natured, but he finally had enough this morning and thumped Winston, who quite honestly needed a good thumping. He learned to avoid Minerva early on. She won't put up with him the way Bart and the shelties do.

I have learned that the old addage that if you cut the top off of a plant often enough, the root will eventually die does ~not~ apply to bermuda grass. I've pulled, I've hoed, I've dug down a good three feet and manually removed as many roots as I can find and I still have bermuda grass everywhere, choking out my vegetables and flowers. In a fit of desperation, I covered my cucumber and squash beds with heavy black plastic and straw then built hills on top of this in hopes of smothering it long enough to get a crop this summer.

I have learned that no matter who is on the executive board of the Friends of the Library, they have no intention of actually doing anything that benefits the library. They have fundraisers and then put the money raised in the bank where it stays. What I have not yet learned is what exactly they think their function is. But hey, I'm about it. The only sensible approach is to never count on them for anything. This way I'm not disappointed and they aren't forced into a position of refusing to help.

One of the most amazing things I've learned recently is that I am not a complete Luddite, after all. I am cutting back on print at the library and going digital. It's the only way we can stay relevant. And I even bought myself an iPad. I know! Me! What's the world coming to?

Come On Hyp, you are never too old to learn, especially you.

As for Probate, I know exactly what you mean. I have just learned also how dreadful it is to have to put a vulnerable relative's assets under the control of our Court of Protection. Thankfully it was straight forward years ago when I had to do it, but it is terrifying now.

I don't want to go in to detail here but the power they have over ordinary caring families lives is like something from a dictatorship not a democracy.

Good luck with your Bermuda grass it sounds like out Couch grass. vicious, stubborn stuff.

Take care,

Websailor

Owning a doberman pinscher has put me off all dogs for life. :-|

Lil, sometimes I think I want a big dog, then I change my mind. If I do get one, it will be a German shepherd. I really like them. But I pretty much like anything that's a dog. The only dog I've ever been around that I didn't like was Lady C's Rottweiler.

Greyhounds are the single bestest DOG in the whole universe IMHO of course

They are good dogs, RJR. Very loving and gentle.

Websailor, I was able to spare Mother from any kind of state intervention by moving her in with me toward the end of her life. Fortunately for both of us, that move turned out to be much shorter than anyone expected. Now I'm dealing with the fact that after my father's death, she left everything in his name and absolutely wouldn't hear of taking him off of things. So we are trying to transfer assets from him to me (bypassing her) in order to sell them and close out the estate. Right now it looks like the lawyers will get a as much of the proceeds as any individual family member. I will get a little more than my brother and my sister's kids since I am the administrator.

Why do things have to be so complicated at a time of more than enough stress already.

Hope all goes well and the lawyers bills are not to astronomical.

Websailor

Hullo Hyp! Lovely to hear all your news.

Sheesh! Probate! Tell me about it, been dealing with it for two years now. (headache smiley) Dad died, then Mum followed just under a year later.

So, is your Mom still with you, or did she pass on, or .. sorry to be delayed with news, it was/is noble the way you care for her, you're so special, dear Hyp.

I think of you often, those campfire days, and ahhh the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Peaches! Do you still have peach trees in your garden?

What about whippets? Do you like whippets? I still think about whippets but only imaginary ones.

Funny, I was thinking of getting an i-pad, I do have a laptop,and C has a netbook, but the i-pad attracts.

Hello, dear desert goddess. How lovely to hear from you.

My mom died in March. She was 92 and riddled with cancer. Her life had become a burden for her, so it was a welcome release.

I do have peach trees. And cherry trees, apple trees and a pear tree. I also have grapes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and currants. It is a fruity place! Our spring is late this year, but I have quite a variety of vegetables already coming up.

I have never met a whippet, but I'm sure I'd like them.

That afternoon we spent at the Chelsea Physic Garden was wonderful. I think of you often. I'm sorry you are still dealing with legal matters over your parents' deaths. It takes a lot out of a person. It seems to hold us back from turning that corner and going down that new path.

You'll like the iPad if you get one. If I like it, you're bound to. Say hi to C for me. Do you ever hear from the Fireclouds? I've lost track of them.

Hyp, you've convinced me to make a will, not that I have much that's worth anything to leave behind like property or money, but there are some things I'd like to go to particular people, like certain portions of my record collection, my beers and my hard drives, and it sounds like it'll make things a whole lot easier for those who have to tie up the loose ends.

Hey Hyp luvvy

Thanks for letting me know about your Mum's passing, , may she RIP dear lady, quite a life she had I think, as you say a sweet release, time to go.



I can appreciate what you're going through now, all the practical work that has to take place, just at a time when a quiet life is what's needed.

I am just in the recovery stage now, most of the paperwork is signed and sealed, and I can begin to recharge my spent out emotional energy, and enter the new time of my life. No parents, weird, intense, and yet I found I was more prepared than I thought I would be. My inner disciplines paid off, acknowledging the transience of all things, learning to let go, better for them as well as me not to hold on, but now the memories are poetic in all their various shades and textures.

Ah yes, need a now with you. heheh.



Ah your lovely fruity garden! Makes me hungry.

Yes! The Fireclouds!

(does anyone here remember Phred Firecloud? one of our noble hootoo researchers?)

Guess what, Hyp dearest, we met them!!! Last summer, they were in the UK, travelling with two of their grandchildren. En route for Ireland and Scotland, they decided to swing by the South West of England to visit Skankyrich (another hootoo researcher, I've forgotten who knows who ) in Torquay, and then they called in on us. We had a glorious three or four hours together, lovely people.

Phreddy still keeps his blog, The Firecloud Report. Right now they're travelling in Portugal. He's still eating cod. .



Ah yes, lovely to talk to you, dearest one.