Took off a whole week (and will take another in a short while) to move my elderly parents to a retirement home. It's a good place. Good services, good people. Activities, watchful but non-intrusive staff. Friends have recommended it.  The folks have sufficient money to fund it. My four brothers and I are working as a team to make sure Mom and Dad are as comfortable and comforted as possible. We're taking elaborate measures to make sure they have their favorite, familiar things around them. Can keep with their routines. Can have what they want. We're even keeping the house - winterized, of course (this is Buffalo, NY) - although it will be rarely used or even looked at.

I felt for awhile as though I was dismantling my family, but then I cast that off as nonsense. I'm actually preserving the core of the family. They could not continue on their own, and we are helping them to maintain not simply dignity, but a whole life. So why am I exhausted beyond the capacity of a good night's sleep to repair?

Pray for us. We're trying desperately to do the right thing.

{GM - Bone Lace}

10:20:51 PM    

The Brouhaha over Homebrew. Many people like to have some sort of pet, perhaps a dog or a cat. Some people, like me, like to keep their critters in little jars in a cabinet or the fridge. No, I'm not talking about bonsai kittens. I'm talking about yeast. These little critters can make everything you'll ever need, from bread to beer. Or maybe that's all it can make. In any case, we've seen how to make a fine sourdough bread already. My aim is to show you how to make your very own cold ones. Or, if you prefer, room temp-a-ture ones. [kuro5hin.org]

9:28:43 PM