HONEY GETS BOLD

I like this picture too much so had to post it in it's larger version.

Honey and I reached another little milestone this morning of a delicate nature. Our respective commodes are right next to each other; for the first time this morning they were in use simultaneously.

There, I said it as delicately as possible.

Sorry, no extremely gross recaps [GreenTuna, 7/21, 4:38] to offer despite the subject matter, and, um, no photos.

GETTING BACK TO LIFE

A little at a time I've been getting back to the ordinary things of life and my interests. My family is doing well, and we thank you for your expressions of sympathy, warm thoughts and prayers. They have all added to the sense of support and caring that we've known through the past weeks.

Honey has done her part, too. We've now been human and cat together for 7 months now. During the past month of trial and sorrow, she came closer yet, by agreeing that it was ok for me to pet her on my bed. I am now allowed to sit on it and pet her, and even lie down an arm's length away and pet her. She will even jump up on the bed when I'm sitting there first. It is a morning routine with us before I leave for work, and at night also.

The pictures here were taken during a recent petting session with me sitting on the bed and sometimes petting her while aiming the camera as best I could for the shot.

ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE

Robert E Nelson
1922 - 2004

My dad passed away during the early morning of July 5th.

My sister was enroute to the hospice home when it happened, but a nurse was with him, and it sounded like he was peaceful.

We are greiving, but are all ok. I'll write more about him in the upcoming days.

Thank you, my friends, for your care.

7/6: Edited to add the photo and obituary below. We are all doing well.

OBITUARY

Robert E. Nelson, 82, of Tempe, AZ died July 5, 2004. Born January 22, 1922 in Vandling, Pennsylvania to the late Carl and Barbara Nelson. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Jean Nelson March 9, 2001. He is survived by his children, Mary Nelson of Bridgeport, CT, Barbara and Carl Nelson of Tempe, AZ, and Susan Nelson Passmore of Hixson, TN, sister Barbara Gliha of Vandling, PA, brother Harry Nelson of Littleton, NC, and grandchildren Daniel and Sarah Passmore of Tennessee. Robert was a veteran of World War II meriting a Purple Heart. He received a Bachelors of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Penn State University and worked as a ceramic engineer until his retirement from Litton Industries. He worked on the development of the camera that is still on the moon, fiber optics, and night vision technology. His personal laboratory research included the development of a second generation lense that could see through fog, and two patents. After he retired he was an engineering consultant in Israel and he became an expert witness in tube technology before a US court. He was a loving husband, father and family member; he enjoyed his cats, feeding the birds, computer, writing, travel, a good game of poker, and working on and around his home. He will be missed. In lieu of flowers his family requests donations to The Salvation Army, 40 E. University Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281. Carr-Tenney Mortuary assisted the family.

SADNESS

My Dad has been going downhill very quickly this past week. This morning I got the news that the Doctors consider that he is Terminally Ill with Heart Failure. There is nothing more they can do for him.

He went through the surgery for his broken neck pretty well on June 10th but was very slow to show signs of recovery. He had good days and then days where he was confused and agitated. This week they discovered he has a blood clot in his right arm. There were Cat Scans to ensure there was no stroke (none) and then blood thinners for the clot. Then he took another downturn about a day ago by not absorbing oxygen.

Things have happened too fast for my sister to keep up with the changes and I don't know if he knows of this assessment yet, or even if he's capable of understanding. I'm certain he knows he's extremely sick, and not improving. I will talk with my sister after she gets some rest.

Of course there is no hard and fast timeframe; it could be iminent, 2 days, 2 weeks, but probably not much more than that. He is now a hospice patient and as yet do not know where he will receive this ending care.

I'm sort of trying to deal with this in small doses...bleeding in a little more sorrow and reality a little at a time. Feeling helpless. Praying that his pain and anguish will give way to acceptance and peace. Hoping for the same for his family that loves him.

7/4 -midnight update: A DNR [Do Not Recuscitate] has been issued for him and he has been moved to a Hospice facility in Phoenix. My sister in AZ was with him about 6 hours yesterday and is heading to be with him in his new facility.

WATCH OUT, I MIGHT BE DANGEROUS!

I have apparently been acting suspiciously of late, which is quite amusing for a person who barely has any life to put on hold. 'Life'-Watch has been moved from Green (anything goes) to a kind of Dull Red (put blocks in her path but don't shut her down entirely). I feel the heat, guys, and yet I'm innocent! I tell ya, innocent!

The Security Nazis are the tag team comprised of Internet Explorer and Norton Symantic Internet Security software; they have been hounding me ever since I got Delly, my laptop, and began taking her places like work and my home recliner. I'm fairly certain my Wireless Router is also involved in the harrassment I've been experiencing.

My desktop at home, an innocent bystander, is also afflicted.

It seems that the Security Nazis don't like it when I, for example, get into Amazon.com (my boyfriend, for heaven's sake!) at work, then at home on my laptop, and then later on my desktop computer. It apparently considers this rather slutty behavior. In random fashion it decides that I should not be able to sign in or access my Amazon account.

At first I thought that perhaps I've spent too much money this month and it has decided to exercise the control I seem to lack. (Then it might be a good thing!) Yet it happens at other sites too, particularly where I have to log into an account. It has happened at BMG Music, Rhapsody, my AIM account, and now Amazon.

Each time I've messed with things I don't understand, rebooted a few dozen times, and then something happens and it's ok....until I get on another computer.

Last night I was ready to go to bed early (10:30 !!!) in order to be really refreshed for the long weekend. About that time I tried to get into Amazon to print out a copy of a recent invoice to submit for a rebate. The Security Nazis were ready for me. No, no, no, no, no!  I messed with IE's Security settings including adding Amazon as a Trusted Site. No. I rebooted my desktop. No. I reset the security defaults on IE. No. I rebooted again. NO!.

Finally, in desperation, I opened up Norton Symantic Internet Security. Norton has never given me any problem ever since I disabled it's Firewall [I was tired having to approve each friggin' server on my widespread internet journeys.] Sure enough, it has it's own little 'approved sites' section, which I've never had to use before. When I put in Amazon.com I was able to get into my account again. Bedtime after all this? 12:30 am. Yup, 2 hourson this troubleshoot alone.

Why it acts this way is a mystery. It probably has to do with the second computer and the foreign ISPs it uses in it's travels. After all this I have a better feel for what will make the Security Nazis happy the next time I'm denied access.

It is good to undergo these trials and tribulations now and get them out of the way; it's one reason I got Delly and the wireless router in May, so I could work the bugs out. Big Brother begins in 5 days and I don't want ANYTHING to keep me from living Live Feeds large, reading and writing about them on Hamster Time, and commiserating with my chat friends. The Syncronized Eye-Roll event!

So, Security Nazis, I think I now know your evil game. You will not prevail!