Today was the second funeral (this one, for the Kentucky crowd) and burial. It was cold, but the sky was clear. I saw one cousin whom I hadn't seen in 35 years or so. Lots of faces at the funeral home, most of which I remembered (although some have weathered time a lot better than others).
Tonight, one of my cousins took me out to eat : at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant. I was mildly surprised to find a low-carb section, amidst their mainstream offerings of artery-clogging this and artery-clogging that.
Tuesday, February 7
Monday, February 6
road trip : day four
It was cold (45F ?) and rainy here in Grenada MS, so it's good there's no outdoor service today. The weather probably kept quite a few people at home, although mom spent the last two years in a nursing home and didn't know many people other than neighbors and relatives. I spotted several of my cousins, whom I see every few years at other funerals. It seems like that's the only consistent time that families gather. The last family reunion here was probably 20 years ago.
The "default route" from Memphis to Louisville goes through Nashville (I-40), but since I left Mississippi at noon, that would have put me in Nashville at 5pm. To avoid that, I took I-55 north of Memphis TN, which parallels the Mississippi River in eastern Arkansas and Missouri. I then took I-155 into western Tennessee and caught up with the Purchase Parkway in western Kentucky, passing through Fulton and Eddyville (state prison) for the first time. This led to I-24 and then the Western Kentucky Parkway.
Weird roadsign of the day: Eddyville Fun Park. Where better to put a Fun Park, than in the same city as the state's maximum security prison?
Even though it was The Dead Of Winter, the drive along the Kentucky parkways was picturesque (until after dark, when the only light is provided by oncoming cars). A bit more planning's required on this route; there aren't gas stations every five miles, like on the interstates.
I haven't done a detailed mileage calculation, but it doesn't appear to be a lot further than the I-40 to I-65 route (Memphis-Nashville-Louisville). It was certainly a much less strenuous drive, through lots of rolling Kentucky farmland.
I guess I should get out more. Or pay more attention to the signs imprinted on the 18-wheelers that prowl the interstate highways. This one ("MOLTEN SULFUR") caught my eye, somewhere on my recent roadtrip. Needless to say, I didn't follow it very long.
The "default route" from Memphis to Louisville goes through Nashville (I-40), but since I left Mississippi at noon, that would have put me in Nashville at 5pm. To avoid that, I took I-55 north of Memphis TN, which parallels the Mississippi River in eastern Arkansas and Missouri. I then took I-155 into western Tennessee and caught up with the Purchase Parkway in western Kentucky, passing through Fulton and Eddyville (state prison) for the first time. This led to I-24 and then the Western Kentucky Parkway.
Weird roadsign of the day: Eddyville Fun Park. Where better to put a Fun Park, than in the same city as the state's maximum security prison?
Even though it was The Dead Of Winter, the drive along the Kentucky parkways was picturesque (until after dark, when the only light is provided by oncoming cars). A bit more planning's required on this route; there aren't gas stations every five miles, like on the interstates.
I haven't done a detailed mileage calculation, but it doesn't appear to be a lot further than the I-40 to I-65 route (Memphis-Nashville-Louisville). It was certainly a much less strenuous drive, through lots of rolling Kentucky farmland.
I guess I should get out more. Or pay more attention to the signs imprinted on the 18-wheelers that prowl the interstate highways. This one ("MOLTEN SULFUR") caught my eye, somewhere on my recent roadtrip. Needless to say, I didn't follow it very long.
Saturday, February 4
road trip : day two
My aunt and I met with the funeral director this morning, and everything's in motion. The next available day for a funeral is Monday, so now we'll simply notify everyone, and wait.
This smalltown funeral home handles about 90 funerals a year, and (Murphy's Law) now they have four scheduled in four days.
Long ago, we decided it would be best to hold two services: one in Mississippi (mom's side of the family) and another in Kentucky (dad's side, where she lived for 42 years). So, we'll hold one Monday morning here in Grenada MS and another the next afternoon in Louisville KY. The cost to transport mom is about equal (flying versus driving) so we opted to use ground transportation. Mom always hated the idea of flying, anyway.
This smalltown funeral home handles about 90 funerals a year, and (Murphy's Law) now they have four scheduled in four days.
Long ago, we decided it would be best to hold two services: one in Mississippi (mom's side of the family) and another in Kentucky (dad's side, where she lived for 42 years). So, we'll hold one Monday morning here in Grenada MS and another the next afternoon in Louisville KY. The cost to transport mom is about equal (flying versus driving) so we opted to use ground transportation. Mom always hated the idea of flying, anyway.
Friday, February 3
road trip : day one
gotta git me some-o-dat flavored syurp (at the World-Famous Canton, TX Dairy Palace)
I got The Call this morning at about 6:30, soon after I'd fetched the morning paper. I'd already made plans for an urgent trip to Mississippi, since mom's health was deteriorating rapidly.
It takes about an hour longer to drive door-to-door, than to fly (drive to DFW, park, take an airport shuttle, wait, fly, rent a car @ JAN, drive 2 hours) .. and you're at the mercy of ATC. I opted to drive, especially since a lot of schedule uncertainty would be ahead.
It rained hard today, for about half the drive. I encountered snow (on the side of I-20) about 10 miles before Vicksburg MS, and again a few miles north of Jackson MS. For about a minute, I was hailed on (no obvious damage from the pea-size hail). And there were several nearby lightning strikes. I didn't spot any toads falling from the sky.
Although I knew there was hail in the area (from a few quips on the CB radio) I wasn't able to dodge it. All I saw was a dark black cloud .. but where would it go? It's not like I could knock on someone's door and ask if I could park my car while the hailstorm passed.
Drive time: 7 hours 45 minutes. No major delays.
I stopped by the funeral home this afternoon and got the form they use to gather all the information; it'll be the basis for the Death Certificate; newspaper obituaries; and sundry other documents. I completed it tonight:
Vital Statistics Record
name
sex
race
age
residence address
birthdate
birthplace
education level
marital status
spouse's name
social security number
telephone number
occupation
industry
veteran? Branch:
service number
enlistment date
discharge date
father's name & birthplace
mother's name & birthplace
church membership
clubs/organizations
list of surviving relatives
relation/name/location
funeral service information
place of funeral service
date of funeral service
time of funeral service
place of visitation
date of visitation
time of visitation
final disposition: burial/entombment/cremation/other
minister(s)
Bible/literary passages
musical selections
pall bearers
clothing preferred: own/funeral home/other
hairdresser
jewelry: on/off disposition after service
glasses: on/off disposition after service
use of flag: yes/no/folded/drape casket/present to:
memorials or donations
newspapers to contact
military discharge papers
cemetery property deed
insurance policies
additional information or requests
casket: outer contai ner:
person authorized to arrange final details
record of death
date of death
cause of death
place of death
pronounced by:
Thursday, February 2
human-animal hybrids
Tuesday night, President Quagmire told the nashun that he wants "a constitushional ammemmunt" to make human-animal hybrids illegal. Although it may not have been obvious, He's (no doubt) talking about this trio:
human-fish .. human-wolf .. human-?? ..
Okay, so he really just said he wants the Congress to Passalaw.
human-fish .. human-wolf .. human-?? ..
Okay, so he really just said he wants the Congress to Passalaw.
Boris & Natasha in 2006
did the Nigerians finally give up? This gem landed in my inbox today. The emails and URLs have been removed to protect the innocent (you).
Name:Borris Olga(Mr)
Email: (removed)
Dear friend
I am Mr. Borris Olga a personal treasurer to Mikhail Khodorkovsky the Richest man in Russia and owner of the following companies, Chairman CEO: YUKOS OIL (Russian Largest Oil Company) Chairman CEO: Menatep SBP Bank (A well reputable financial institution with its Branches all over the world).
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
I have a profiling amount in an excess of US$100.5M, which I seek your Partnership in accommodating for me. You will be rewarded with 4% of The total sum for your partnership. Can you be my partner on this???
INTRODUCTION OF MY SELF:
As a personal consultant to him, authority Was handed over to me in transfer of money of an American oil merchant For his last oil deal with my boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Already the funds have left the shore of Russia to an European private Bank where the final crediting is expected to be carried out. While I was on the process, My Boss got arrested for his Involvement in politics by financing the leading And opposing political parties (the Union of Right Forces,led by Boris Nemtsov, and Yabloko, a liberal/social democratic party Led by Gregor Yavlinsky) which poses treat to President Vladimir Putin Second Tenure as Russian president.
You can catch more of the story on This website:
yukos.com
(3 other URLs removed)
YOUR ROLE:
All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of the Above quoted Sum and I will re-profile the funds with your name, which will enable The European bank transfer the sum to you. I have decided to use this Sum to relocate to American continent and never to be connected to any Of Mikhail Khodorkovsky conglomerates.As Soon as I confirm your readiness to conclude the transaction with me, I Will provide you with the details.Please reach me through this email address: XXX for further corresponding.
Thank you very much.
Regards
Borris Olga(Mr)
Wednesday, February 1
an alternative to The Spin
Instead of watching President Quagmire spew more lies, Jacquie-Bob and I moseyed down to Celebration Restaurant for dinner last night .. I'd never been before. Three of her friends joined us, in what's become a monthly event. None of us gave a flip about the State of the Union address.
Celebration reminded me of a cross between The Black-Eyed Pea (home cookin') and someone's home (several small rooms, with one to six tables each). I munched on blueberry muffins, pot roast, spinach and carrots. All were .. well, okay .. but not spectacular. For home cookin' I prefer The String Bean (not a chain).
Now, my big challenge is making a serious dent in the piles-o-paper that continue to grow at home. Each room is developing a pile, with its own personality. I hope the piles don't become sentient (like Adam & Eve did 6000 years ago, after shifting the continents and burying all those dinosaur bones), and attack me or the pets.
Celebration reminded me of a cross between The Black-Eyed Pea (home cookin') and someone's home (several small rooms, with one to six tables each). I munched on blueberry muffins, pot roast, spinach and carrots. All were .. well, okay .. but not spectacular. For home cookin' I prefer The String Bean (not a chain).
Now, my big challenge is making a serious dent in the piles-o-paper that continue to grow at home. Each room is developing a pile, with its own personality. I hope the piles don't become sentient (like Adam & Eve did 6000 years ago, after shifting the continents and burying all those dinosaur bones), and attack me or the pets.
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