Coffee June 7, 2014

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 7:23 am

SMITTY wrote:Been eating alot ... but nothing is coming out.

Smitty, I was going to send this privately then thought maybe it would help others. This may be a touch personal for the younger generation! LOL For years we've been getting older and this "food in, nothing coming out" becomes more of a problem for any human. Also, we've cared for many elderly people and that's the one thing that get's asked by the weekly nurses that come & go: "Have you pooped?" or "When was the last time?" It can, and it did, become a big issue with my Mom, Marty's mom, not so much with Uncle Billy.....anyway.... we have discovered the secret....the way....the path to nirvana in the poop department: MiraLAX. Get some, use it, it WORKS and does so in a non violent way LOL. OK...that was today's lesson.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 8:22 am

the snowman wrote: my brother passed away.

Ohh, man... I'm sorry to hear he has passed on. Accept my condolences, please. May he rest in peace and may you find the strength to make him proud by going forward.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 8:32 am

SMITTY wrote: Smitty: Mechanic/drug dealer - has a ring to it.

Smitty: Mechanic/drug dealer, out in 6 years - has a ring to it.

[/quote]Post back Freddy - let us know how your doing![/quote]

Day by day. Here it is, hard to believe it's been 6 days. It's just been a daze. Time fast forwards, time slows to a crawl. Tears come, they go, then slap me when I don't expect it. I can not drive a car. I have lost my ability to know when I'm tired. I usually cat nap, 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there. I can sit, relax, sleep for 5 minutes & feel much better. I can not do that at this time. I can only sleep when I crash, then I'm out for 2 to 5 hours. Then, up until I crash 16 to 20 hours later. My girls are here from NY & Boston. It's much easier with other humans in the house. I slept well last night.

Today: Burial. I have been "minister" at many family funerals. I have asked my brother in law to do that job today. I am his back up in case he falters (faulters?) and this morning realized I can not do that.... I have a cold & my voice may go! I will ask Paul to be back up. He's talked in front of a crowd many times with R2D2 at his side.....even on TV.

Lot's of people at coffee this week! Nice!

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 8:36 am

[quote="009to090"] I did not know about the different types of lettering. It makes sense the deep "V" carving would last longer.
/quote]

The new "laser" stones can be beautiful. They put actual color photos on the stones & people love them. Be warned: In 100 years that stone will be blank. I saw one at the graveyard that was 15 years old and it has noticeable faded already. I wan't someone to come by 800 years from now & go "Eich... Hmmmmm.... German?" When the white paint drops off in 50 or 60 years the black stones will have gray lettering, but will easily be readable, but only if they are a V-cut. A shallow cut will erode on the edges (even the V's do) and get fuzzy to read. A V-cut will last much longer.

We humans are weird.

anthony7812 · Post by **anthony7812** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 8:37 am

Busy Busy Busy. My weekend description. Have the boiler on blocks in basement all leveled up. Have to get some scrap lumber pieces together and frame it out for a nice pour job. Good lord it didnt look like I had alot of duct to yank out but 1/4 of the house done and man do I have a pile started. Weather has worked in my favor so far this weekend for getting the radiators sprayed. Back to the grind, have a good weekend.

the snowman · Post by **the snowman** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 9:13 am

Freddy,

Again, thank you. You also brought up more info concerning the head stone I didn't think about. I was going to have a laser cut picture of a wolf, however, after reading your last post, I will go with the traditional hand carved version instead. That should last longer than the laser. I will also go with the v cut lettering as well as a straight stone.

the snowman

coalkirk · Post by **coalkirk** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 10:38 am

the snowman wrote:Freddy,

Sorry to hear your loss, the black stone looks great. I had to go through all of the funeral arrangements and purchasing casket, ...ect this week myself as my brother passed away. I wasn't aware how expensive dying can be for those family members who end up shouldering the cost. I still have to purchase a head stone and I like the black. I never thought about a straight cut compared to an angled cut stone and the longevity of the writing. Freddy, you have helped me with my decision concerning the head stone. Thanks. I was lucky, we had a family plot with one spot left and I decided to use it for my brother. My wife and I have had sort of a wake up call to the cost of dying, my wife was ill in the hospital for 5 weeks and had just came home when my brother passed away. We plan on purchasing our plots and caskets as soon as we can so no one will have to shoulder the cost of our passing as I had to do with my brother.

On a positive note, I am still burning coal. Since we moved the shop this past week as well into an underground location, I have been burning coal to keep the shop warm. It is a good thing this is a short term (2 yr) location until we purchase the land and build a new shop. It does present a unique situation since the outside air temp is warm and I am trying to burn a coal stove that produces low stack temps. I wish I had some stove coal on hand. I should have all of the machines set up and back to work sometime in the next two weeks.

My wife and I are trying to train for our next half marathon we have coming up while trying not to be eaten or carried away by the black flies and deer flies. We are luck she has recovered enough to start to resume her life. I keep telling my wife I can't wait until the return of cold snowy weather. Anyway, I hope everyone has a good safe productive weekend.

The snowman.

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. It's always tough to lose someone so close.

Since you introduced the topic of the cost of death, I thought I would share a decision my wife and I made recently. First we both really do not like the "viewing" process as it relates to death and funerals. We find it bizarre. Others will disagree and that's fine. We had wills and medical directives drawn up so that our wishes would be honored. As many of you know the cost of a funeral (embalming, caskets, use of the "home", excavating and refilling the grave, and on and on is literally in the thousands. That to us is a terrible waste of money. Plus, and logically this makes no sense at all) I hate the thought of being buried 6' in the earth. I know, it won't matter cause I'll be dead but it creeps me out. Anyway we both decided to donate our bodies to the local medical society where it will be used in teaching medical professionals. Yes we will be carved, sliced and diced and there is no fun in thinking about that but there is no cost to the family and our dead bodies may be of a good use to society. When they are done with our bodies they are cremated. Rather than a viewing and funeral, we would like a celebration/party that is more upbeat. Your mileage may vary.

samhill · Post by **samhill** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 11:22 am

CK, my wife & I are both going the cremation route as you say it comes down to personal preference & or belief. Take into consideration that my wife has a FD License & has embalmed bodies herself & chooses not to have it done to her. As another option my B-in L that recently passed donated his organs & body but was laid out as what they call a core which simply means his head, face & hands were visible in a rented coffin & then cremated after a viewing. There are now many more alternatives & it all comes down to choice.

lowfog01 · Post by **lowfog01** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 2:19 pm

I forgot that if there are no pictures it didn't happen so here are the pictures. Lisa

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sun. Jun. 08, 2014 9:42 pm

Good to finally make it to Coffee! Wow!,a 3 pager! Good to see. Freddy,it's been a real haul,alot of heavy lifting....It's been a Privilege to be on it with You. Thanx for The Trust,and The Profound Sharing. This Place really Rocks!

sharkman8810 · Post by **sharkman8810** » Wed. Jun. 11, 2014 8:53 pm

Maybe I'll get the record for a late post in the coffee house, but I'm putting up prayers for Freddy and the other's who have recently lost loved ones, and this wonderful(all the people that make it such) site that I pop into and out of for the pure enjoyment of the people that are here.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Wed. Jun. 11, 2014 9:02 pm

Freddy's reply to me above is why we love Freddy around here - even in light of what he's going through, he STILL finds the time to help others in ANY way! A true class act.

If there were more American's like Freddy we'd be in damn good shape going forward as a nation. I pray for you to find peace Freddy, and THANKS for the excellent advice.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Wed. Jun. 11, 2014 9:43 pm

I don't know anything about miralox, I love prunes or the now politically correct term "dried plums",they taste good going in & work well all thru the system.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Wed. Jun. 11, 2014 10:23 pm

Yep--part of my NEW weekly diet WH!

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Wed. Jun. 11, 2014 10:56 pm

I've been treating myself to them since about age 40,every meal,3-6 per meal,fantastic treat too

Coffee June 7, 2014

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