Thanks @Sarah B ! I really enjoy photography, and getting positive comments on my work always makes my day a little brighter.

Sometimes I'm a little confused by the definitions of words we use in the US. We have so many words that can mean the same thing, or not, depending on where you live. Soda pop, soda, pop, coke (and probably a few others), all refer to a usually sweet carbonated non-alcoholic drink. Even though 'coke' typically means 'Coca-Cola', in the southern US if you ask for a 'coke', the response is often 'what kind of coke? Coke, Dr. Pepper, or Pepsi?' Oh well. In my case a 'range' is also known as a stove, basically an oven with a cooktop that has four or more heating elements on the upper surface. They can use natural gas or electricity to generate heat. We plan to get one of the less expensive models, so we'll keep the price under $800.

The water filtration system will probably be around $2500, but it will still be cheaper (and faster) than getting the house connected to 'city' water. My dad's house is nearly 300 feet from the municipal water line, so it would not be simple or inexpensive. I would expect that to cost $5000 - $8000, and take more than a week or two. However, if the cost of a filtration system is close to the cost of hooking up to the municipal water system, then we will have a decision to make.

Unfortunately, 'spending our inheritance' is most likely the reason for their reluctance. In the 'grand scheme' of things, the cost is a tiny fraction of the estate. We already know what is in the will. My brother and his wife will be getting the largest share, but they also need it more than I do. As the executor of the will, I will follow my dad's wishes.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on October 21, 2024, 05:50:41 AMThe water filtration system will probably be around $2500, but it will still be cheaper (and faster) than getting the house connected to 'city' water. My dad's house is nearly 300 feet from the municipal water line, so it would not be simple or inexpensive. I would expect that to cost $5000 - $8000, and take more than a week or two. However, if the cost of a filtration system is close to the cost of hooking up to the municipal water system, then we will have a decision to make.

That would be the case if the house was never connected to city water. Some houses had city water at one time but were disconnected for a variety of reasons. If that is the case, the pipe from the street to the house is already in place and it would just be a matter of establishing a service account, flushing the pipe, and turning it on.

But if the house has never been connected, then the cost of digging a trench and laying the pipe, adding a water meter, etc. would definitely be a consideration. Over time, that cost would be recouped through not needing maintenance of replacing filters and such on a filtration system.

We had a house like that. It had never been connected to city water and relied on a cistern well which would often go dry in the heat of summer. We would have to refill the cistern surreptitiously with a garden hose.

You are a smart woman, so I have no doubts that you know what is the best course. Whatever improvements you make will improve the quality for those who use it later.

My dad's house was never connected to the municipal water system. He also has a septic system, so no sewer bill. There was no natural gas service available when the house was built, so it's all electric. He dumped his landline several years ago, but that means I'm paying the bill for both of his cell phones. He has no internet service. He has no cable or satellite TV. He doesn't get the newspaper. No mortgage or car payments. The only monthly bill he has is for electricity.

Early voting started in Arkansas today. Susan and I voted this morning. It was more crowded than we expected, but it still took less than 30 minutes. Two drops of 'blue' won't make much of a difference is a deep red state, but at least we did vote.

Last Friday we both got flu vaccinations, and I doubled-up with a COVID-19 booster as well. My arm was sore for a few days, but I did not experience any other symptoms.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on October 21, 2024, 12:15:15 PMThe only monthly bill he has is for electricity.

Solar panels FTW!
 

I made two trips to my dad's house since my last post. My dad was adamant about not going to a care facility, and he threatened several actions which would have led to legal issues. In an attempt to stop the drama, Susan and I visited my dad last Monday - Wednesday (21 - 23 Oct). Susan is now staying with my dad 24/7.

The first thing we needed was to get a new range (stove). The old one was was from 1978, with a microwave oven permanently mounted about a foot above the heating coils. My mom hated it because the microwave was so low there wasn't enough space to use the rear burners. Only one burner was still working, and only when turned up all the way.

I returned home Wednesday evening, and the new range was delivered on Friday. The installation wasn't successful. When the old unit was pulled away from the wall, they discovered it was direct-wired to power -- there was no plug and socket. The delivery crew turned off the circuit breaker marked 'range', then disconnected the power by loosening the screws which clamped the power lines in place. As they pulled the wires away, sparks flew. Obviously, the circuit breaker marked 'range' was not the right one. The crew refused to touch anything and left.

Friday afternoon, I called an electrician and described the issue. The earliest they could visit was Monday. Saturday morning, I drove back to my dad's house. I checked the wiring and discovered they had left three bare wires still powered with 240v within a quarter-inch of an uninsulated metal plate. Not good. After some trial and error with a voltmeter, I finally found the correct circuit breaker (no additional sparks were involved). I removed the wires, insulated the ends with wire nuts, and moved the old range out of the kitchen. The electrician arrived Monday morning, installed a wall socket, then moved the new range into the house and set it up. The electrician charged $400, but it was worth it.

The water situation did also not go as expected. The estimate was nearly $4500 for the equipment, with monthy service fees of $79. Susan thought about it for a while and decided it wasn't worth it.

My dad is still losing weight. He has mentioned several times that he doesn't expect to see another Christmas. He is also in a lot of pain due to swelling, but he is against taking opioids. Susan has coaxed him into eating Cream of Chicken soup. Other than that, my dad only drinks Ensure and warm Orange Fanta. My dad still doesn't think he needs help, but he is happy Susan is staying there.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Bless you both for stepping up and getting things taken care of. I know it isn't easy, but family is family. It is a shame that others live closer but are too busy to help out.

Jess,

You are a good daughter.  It is good of you to help out your dad and for Susan to also help.

An iron filter should be a one time charge, as would a water softener.

For filters that require cartridges (filters) too be replaced, a whole house well sediment filter would be a one time charge, (it may trap some iron too) a whole house carbon filter to improve taste is a one time charge, and these are all plus replacing the filters (cartridges) as needed.  I do not know about odor or sulfur filters.  I do not know about reverse osmosis.  The iron filter would need servicing every other year. 

So I do not know what a $79 monthly charge is for, probably for those filters I have no clue about. 

I suggest getting some other estimates for these plumbing type improvements.

You may be able to get a filter under the kitchen sink to improve the taste of water coming from that single tap.  That can help with cooking and drinking I suppose, not the whole house.  However, a line might be extended from the output of that under the sink filter to a water dispenser and ice maker in a nearby refrigerator.

I am not a water treatment expert or a plumber.

Chrissy

Jess,

Please make sure that you and Susan get your required rest.

I am glad your range was connected safely.

Chrissy

Jess,

If you have time, it would be a good idea to check and label all of the electrical breakers.

It can take time to check each outlet and switch and major appliance.  One cannot assume that a breaker controlling a ceiling light also controls the wall outlets in the same room.

Did you take out the above the range microwave and replace it with a countertop model?  That could make your cooking much easier if the microwave sits so low above the burners.

Chrissy

I won't say too many words. I've been through it myself, and I know how you feel. My intuition tells me your father's gonna see Christmas. I'd like you all to spend it together...

We wanted water filtration for the whole house. Using the well water to wash clothes causes dark stains. The sulfur odor is strongest when the water is hot, so taking a shower is not a pleasant experience. Susan is using bottled water for cooking, and for tea and coffee. The filtration equipment they recommended included a water softener and a chlorination system.

My dad has been using a countertop microwave for years, the old one failed at least a decade ago. The old one was integrated with the stove, so it has been dead weight for a long time.

In a few hours, I'll be on the road again. It's time for another visit with my favorite electrologist, Kris in Colorado Springs. The weather looks reasonable, although I may encounter some rain. I plan to return home Sunday evening.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Be safe, Jess!

I've never been outside of Russia and Finland and never seen a peacock in person, not even at the zoo. So I decided to draw one. Jessica has a garden and I don't have one, so it deserves a garden. (No, I'm not mad).

I hope Jessica will be happy when she returns to see the peacock in her garden.

@CaringWhisper
Very nice drawings...
... beautiful artwork.
HUGS, Danielle

@CaringWhisper , thanks so much for the beautiful peacock! That is definitely the first one to visit my garden. I hope it decides to stay for a long time.

My trip to Colorado went well. As usual, the initial plans I made had to be altered a few times, but everything worked out. I left home Wednesday morning and made it to Amarillo Texas a little after 7:00pm. Thursday, I woke up way too early and got on the road a little after 5:00am. I was in Clayton NM (a two hour drive) before sunrise. I arrived in Colorado Springs in time to meet Kris for some electrolysis. After an hour of work, we decided to break for a quick lunch and invited @Rayna to join us. Rayna was looking great, and mentioned that she was planning to compete in a half-marathon over the weekend. After lunch, I drove to the north end of Colorado Springs for my hair appointment with Amy at 2:00pm. She did a 'Brazilian blowout' treatment to help with my frizzies, in addition to a trim. At 3:30pm, I went back to the south end of town to check into my hotel and visit Kris for another short round of electrolysis. Around 5:30pm, we decided it was time to break for the day. I picked up a sandwich at Subway, then went back to my hotel for the night.

I had planned to meet Kris for more electrolysis early Friday, but an old neck injury had flared up and Kris was in a lot of pain. I told her to just take care of herself, and that I had plenty of things to do around town. I started off with a visit to Bass Pro on the north end of town. I had ordered something online a few weeks ago, but accidentally had it sent to the Colorado Spring store! The item arrived a few days before my trip, so the timing worked out well. Next, I drove over to Cascade CO to visit the 'Wines of Colorado'. They carry Colorado Cellars wines, many of which are fruit or berry flavored. We have several friends who really enjoy it, so I always buy several bottles when I visit. After picking up some wine, I went back to my hotel room and tried to contact Kris again. I had invited her to meet for dinner, but I really just wanted to see her again for a little while. We were able to meet, but I could tell she was in a lot of pain. She didn't even get out of her SUV. We sat and talked for about 30 minutes, and I gave her an early Christmas gift that made her smile. After Kris left, I drove to the Aspen American Grill to meet another good friend for dinner.

Saturday morning, I drove to Canon City to visit with my original electrologist (CJ) and her husband. They took me out to brunch at one of their favorite local restaurants, Canon City Mugs Grill. We had a great meal, then went back to their house to talk for a while. Around 1:45pm, I decided I had better get on the road for Amarillo. A few miles outside of Amarillo, I encountered some rain. Apparently a very strong storm had just passed through town and had caused some flooding. I got to my hotel at 8:00pm.

Due to the time change overnight, I woke up early on Sunday. The hotel staff was awesome though, they set up breakfast an hour earlier than usual! While having breakfast, I noticed the weather report. It was showing a large line of powerful storms moving through Oklahoma. I decided to take a more southerly route to avoid the heavy rain. I was on the road home by 6:00am. I still encountered some rain and fog, but nothing severe. The alternate route was only about 30 minutes longer than usual, and there was much less traffic. I got home around 3:00pm Sunday afternoon.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Wow, Jess.

And I thought I was the busy one.
Sounds like the trip was a good one. Glad you are back safe.

I know you have more traveling to do. Just don't wear yourself out.

Hugs!

Lori

After reading about the storms in Oklahoma, I think you made the right choice. Glad you are safe.

Thanks Gina. Despite what Susan says, I occasionally do make a good decision.

In late January 2023, I bought tickets to a P!nk concert. It was originally scheduled for 29 September 2023, then was rescheduled for 26 Nov 2023, then rescheduled again for 6 November 2024. With everything going on right now, this really isn't a good time. However, with everything that is going on right now, it may be a nice break.

Susan has been staying with my dad for two weeks now. Despite his assurances that he doesn't need any help, he can't be left alone. He needs help taking his medication, help with meals, help getting up when he falls. Susan will be there as long as the situation requires it. I plan to visit every weekend.

I will pick Susan up Tuesday afternoon and drive over to McKinney, TX for the night. On Wednesday, we will take the short drive down to Arlington for the show. We're going a day early to avoid the potential for a traffic delay, and to hopefully avoid some of the horrendous traffic in the Dallas area. We will return to my dad's house on Thursday. While we're away, a nephew will be staying with my dad.

While I was in Colorado, FedEx attempted delivery of a new lens I had ordered. I was patiently waiting for them to redeliver today, when I received a text that they had attempted redelivery and no one was home! They even sent me the photo of the 'missed delivery' notice they had put on my door Saturday, which I had removed on Sunday. According to my Ring doorbell camera, no one had approached our front door all morning. I called FedEx. Apparently the package had been damaged, so they told me to call the shipper. Luckily, the shipper was B&H Photo, they are awesome. I called B&H, and they contacted FedEx to get it straightened out. Once the damaged package gets back to B&H, they will ship another lens to me. If I'm lucky, I'll get it by the end of next week.

It's stressful being at home by myself. I don't mind the silence, but now I'm responsible for about three dozen houseplants. If any of them don't survive, Susan will be quite upset with me!

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Ah the old "damaged parcel excuse" , I had that happen with an object that was solid metal. Damaged beyond use they said, just not bothered to deliver more like!

Yes, Davina, and now the rest of the story...

I was planning to pick up Susan from my Dad's house and head over to McKinney TX on Tuesday morning, then I got a text from Fedex -- 'Your package is out for delivery'. At 12:45pm, they showed up with my package. I didn't see any damage. I opened the box to make sure the contents were intact, and everything looked good. I was on the road at 1:00pm. At 4:00pm, Susan was in the car and we were on our way. We got to the hotel around 8:00pm.

We didn't sleep very well. There was so much traffic noise that it sounded like the window was open. I woke up at 3:00am, but Susan was able to sleep until around 6:30am. We had breakfast at the hotel, and watched the disappointing news about the election. I checked with window again. Guess what? It was open! Only about a half-inch, but enough to let all the traffic noise in. I closed the window, then we checked out.

We had some time to kill before meeting @TXSara for lunch, so we stopped at a nearby Ross. I was shocked to find a nice, heavy jacket with sleeves which were long enough for me. We were going to meet Sara in the McKinney Historic District for lunch, so we drove over to check out the shops. We spent some time in two art galleries, but most of the time was spent in an Antique Mall. At 12:15pm, we met Sara for lunch at 'Spoons'. We talked about a little of everything, and about our disappointment with the election results. Sara mentioned she was planning to get her birth certificate changed soon. When I found out she was born in Texas, I gave her some bad news. A few months ago, Texas stopped allowing changes to birth certificates. She was a bit upset. We did have a great lunch, but she had to get back to work. I did get a photo this time, though.

The P!nk concert in Arlington was awesome! The opener was was someone new, Noga Erez. It was her first time ever performing in a large venue. Her voice reminded me of Billie Eilish. I think she has a lot of potential. After Noga, we listened to Sheryl Crow for about an hour. At 9:30pm, P!nk started her show. Her daughter joined her on stage for 'Cover Me With Sunshine', and her son even came out to tell her a joke! I would love to meet P!nk in person one day. Not only does she create some great music, but I think she is an awesome mom. During her last song, 'So What', she flew all around the arena on wires while singing! Susan and I both really enjoyed the show.

We got back to our hotel room around midnight, and I woke up at 5:00am. Susan woke up a little later, and we decided to get on the road early. Traffic was moderately heavy, but we were able to make it out of the Dallas area without any trouble. When we got into town, we stopped at Walmart to pick up some groceries before heading to my dad's house.

A home care nurse was with my dad when we arrived. My dad was in a lot of pain, and I asked about something stronger than Tylenol. She suggested Tramadol, and sent the prescription to a local pharmacy. I drove back into town to pick it up. I was getting really tired, so after dropping off the medication at my dad's house, I got back on the road and headed for home.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Jessica and Sara