Today ...

[JoyE]

Well we’ve decided that this stepper will replace one knee in January and see how it goes. If it goes well we’ll do the other knee later in 2026 or 7.
I’m young at heart but ancient in joints.

One of the Texas A and M advisers were on campus yesterday. He had a tee shirt that said "The Paleontologist" on the back. I almost walked over and asked if he came to se me since I have old bones. If he wears it again today, I will do that.

Well now at least he wasn’t wearing one of those nasty shirt sayings we’ve been seeing in Asheville. Some of it is just pure pornography.

The worst I've seen, thankfully, is KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD. The bookstore I wandered through lived up to it with their used books on witchcraft.

[JohnH]

In Portland there’s a saying of “Keep Portland weird”.

In Vancouver, WA, which is near Portland, they also say “Keep Portland weird”

[temporal1]

Yesterday ..
called to a local hospital, i learned again about the fearsome stealth of colon cancer.
“they’re removing the oxygen tube.” (she asked them to after 2 weeks of excuciating pain.)

no one knew about cancer, until a surgery on intestines revealed her colon was full of cancer, and it had spread.
born 1941

thankfully, many loved ones are there. hospice told them death was imminent.
i’m not a medical person, i was with them for hours, i didn’t sense imminent death. i told her daughter (spending the night in her room) i wasn’t sure, but (i believed) she’d make it through the night. she did.

i’m not sure about how long. she’s weak, sedated, appears comfortable. she had been alert and was happy to see us visitors.
i imagine a Herculean effort. she relaxed and slept. i’ve had experiences.

the God-breathed will to live is inexplicable. this is what i’ve seen. God designs life.

[temporal1]

Yesterday ..
called to a local hospital, i learned again about the fearsome stealth of colon cancer.
“they’re removing the oxygen tube.” (she asked them to after 2 weeks of excuciating pain.)

no one knew about cancer, until a surgery on intestines revealed her colon was full of cancer, and it had spread.
born 1941

thankfully, many loved ones are there. hospice told them death was imminent.
i’m not a medical person, i was with them for hours, i didn’t sense imminent death. i told her daughter (spending the night in her room) i wasn’t sure, but (i believed) she’d make it through the night. she did.

i’m not sure about how long. she’s weak, sedated, appears comfortable. she had been alert and was happy to see us visitors.
i imagine a Herculean effort. she relaxed and slept. i’ve had experiences.

the God-breathed will to live is inexplicable. this is what i’ve seen. God designs life.

passed.

[temporal1]

Today ..
learning about what people do when final expenses have not been paid.
i’m sure they all thought they were paid! a lot was arranged and paid, not all.

i expect they will be offered an easy payment plan, esp since most was paid ahead.
there may be other possibilities.

i’m sure this was miscommunication. probably years ago.

also, God will provide.

i urged them to avoid snap decisions, if possible. i realize it may not be possible.
it’s unnerving. at a time when least able. even when “everything’s planned and paid” it’s still an intense difficult time.
it just is.

[temporal1]

Today ..
learning about what people do when final expenses have not been paid.
i’m sure they all thought they were paid! a lot was arranged and paid, not all.

i expect they will be offered an easy payment plan, esp since most was paid ahead.
there may be other possibilities.

i’m sure this was miscommunication. probably years ago.

also, God will provide.

i urged them to avoid snap decisions, if possible. i realize it may not be possible.
it’s unnerving. at a time when least able. even when “everything’s planned and paid” it’s still an intense difficult time.
it just is.

Arrangements have been made, the family is at ease with it.

[JohnL]

Stopping by briefly to check the funnies thread and spotted Neto’s thread on humility. Loved it!

Rain stopped my smoking meats so I get a day off. It’s bow hunting season and will soon be rifle season. I smoke the meats for folks so they can freeze them for holiday dinners. It brings me cash to fix the house.

Did an early Asheville run because my wife needed more craft supplies from one of their hardware stores. I don’t know what she’s making but it keeps her happy. I found if we go to Asheville early in the day, most of the strange witchcraft folks aren’t up yet. It makes it a much nicer trip.

We’re seeing memorials scheduled for this Saturday. It’s the one year anniversary since Helene tore through our mountains. Some places still aren’t repaired completely or need to be re-repaired like that section on 441. I think there’s talk about not rebuilding some roads because of how risky the terrain is. Sounds to me like our governor’s bureaucrat talk. He’s not a stepper or a doer.

[temporal1]

Stopping by briefly to check the funnies thread and spotted Neto’s thread on humility. Loved it!

Rain stopped my smoking meats so I get a day off. It’s bow hunting season and will soon be rifle season. I smoke the meats for folks so they can freeze them for holiday dinners. It brings me cash to fix the house.

Did an early Asheville run because my wife needed more craft supplies from one of their hardware stores. I don’t know what she’s making but it keeps her happy. I found if we go to Asheville early in the day, most of the strange witchcraft folks aren’t up yet. It makes it a much nicer trip.

We’re seeing memorials scheduled for this Saturday. It’s the one year anniversary since Helene tore through our mountains. Some places still aren’t repaired completely or need to be re-repaired like that section on 441. I think there’s talk about not rebuilding some roads because of how risky the terrain is. Sounds to me like our governor’s bureaucrat talk. He’s not a stepper or a doer.

i hope you see and comment on the Chimney Rock post, Sept 20:
viewtopic.php?t=7205&start=110

[ken_sylvania]

And it came to pass, as I was on my journey, that I was passing through the midst of Bedford, Pennsylvania. And a small country store was there, built in log-cabin style, crammed full of many good things and bustling with activity. And I, being weary with my journey, stopped at the store, and bought some water and a delicious hoagie, and I ate it, and was refreshed.

[JohnL]

And it came to pass, as I was on my journey, that I was passing through the midst of Bedford, Pennsylvania. And a small country store was there, built in log-cabin style, crammed full of many good things and bustling with activity. And I, being weary with my journey, stopped at the store, and bought some water and a delicious hoagie, and I ate it, and was refreshed.

We have a few country stores like that around Western NC. They have some lip-smacking goodies for my favorite lunches. That extra thick cut bacon being one of them.
I got a call today from someone who wants me to smoke a pork belly. It’s been awhile since I smoked one so I’ll have to go check My O-Fishul Smoke Notebook where I take notes on the different meats, times, temps, etc. I went all out on this notebook-paid a whole dollar for this composition book at the Dollar General. Only the best.