One Scarf to Warm Them All

So, Saturday because I'm not in England, I wasn't able to watch BBC2's documentary "Back in Black" about the life of Terry Pratchett.  So I did my own tribute to him during the day and wore my Discworld T-shirt and a wide-brimmed black fedora.

And then I opened a package I had received in the mail while I was away from home continuing my work in San Luis Obispo.

Before Mom died, I had asked her if any of her friends knitted.  This was because back in 2010 I had come across this pattern on Ravelry probably linked from io9 or somewhere.  Now, Jennifer crochets, and the scant few people I knew who knitted were unwilling to take on such a project.  I would look around occasionally, but I couldn't find anyone to make it.  So I asked mom.  Not for her to make it.  Mom never sewed any more than she had to, but she was great at repairing my old stuffed tiger as a kid.

So she referred me to one of her mystery-book reading-group friends.  We conversed a few times, and she seemed willing to try it.  I paid for the materials and paid her a little more than what she seemed to think was a fair price.  It turned out to be more than she could feasibly do.  I got back a one-sided scarf that was a long as a minister's stole.  I'm six feet tall, and around my neck it reached past my ankles on both sides. It was not a scarf I could realistically wear because the stitches would have snagged and ruined the scarf.  I got a local tailor to stitch a nice fabric back on it, and while it's now safe, it's still much too big to wear.  I'm thinking of turning it into a wall tapestry.

But then last year, after Jennifer suggested I go looking on Etsy, I came across ArachneCrafts.  Now, right off I was intrigued because I love a clever mythology reference.  My years of reading comic books had prepared me for just such an experience.  And so looking in my search, I came across her examples of the One Ring scarf, called the Lord of the Rings scarf on her site.  (At this point, I have to say that I'm proud to have the one she made for me being the last in the photo examples.)

I put off making my purchase because I just wasn't sure.  I had gone to ThinkGeek and bought a One Ring scarf from them, but it wasn't as nice feeling as my Aperture Science scarf.  It was also smaller, and overall, kind of disappointing.  But finally, in December, I put in my order.

Susanna of ArachneCrafts worked with me on choosing the colors.  I wanted it to look lik the gold of the One Ring with script that looked like it was on fire.  You know, like it does when Gandalf drops it in Frodo's hand after it being in the fireplace.

Susanna was concerned that the yellow in the red-orange-yellow multicolored yarn would get lost in a golden yellow scarf.  I talked with Jennifer, and she suggested a charcoal color.  We tend to help the other see color combinations sometimes that the other isn't quite seeing.  And it turned out amazing as you can see below.

Susanna started just after the new year.  She actually got it done in about three weeks.

The only way I could be happier was if it were colder so that I could wear it.  But here I am in the scarf.  I think it's a fitting mashup with Pratchett wear plus the scarf.  It is so amazing.

Missing Mom

So, it's been one year since Mom died.

I'm wishing I could be home with Jennifer or visiting with Dad today.

Instead, life goes on, and I'm in the middle of my work week in SLO.

Dad put up a new post on Mom's blog that links to the video he made for her memorial.

I think work has helped me over the past year as I've been in the field most of the time which has kept me busy and tired most of the time.

Still, there are times when I think of her, especially when I go to write a blog post.

Love to you all.

Epiphany

I had a revelation the other day:  I used to write this blog for my mom.

It didn't start out that way, but it developed into a way for me to tell my mom what I was doing, what I was reading, and such.

I kind of lost momentum when she died.  I was working, and grieving, and kind of being.

I'll get back to this I promise.  Even if it's just another way of telling her what I'm doing.

Mom's Obituary

Janet Triplett Appel

Resident of San Leandro, CA

June 3, 1943 – February 1, 2016

Janet Triplett Appel passed away on Monday, February 1, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was a valiant fighter of this ravenous disease.

Janet was born in Corbin, Kentucky and graduated from Corbin High School.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY.   She began her teaching career at Crestwood Elementary School in Crestwood, KY.  She also taught at Liberty Elementary School in Goshen, KY., and in the Mt Diablo School District in Concord, California.

Janet is survived by her husband Leonard Martin “Marty” Appel and their son Kristopher Erik Appel of Emeryville, CA.  She is also survived by her brother Dr. Henry Hall Triplett Jr. of Louisville, KY., and step-father Jack Hollin of Prospect, KY. She is predeceased by her father Dr. H. H. Triplett of Corbin, KY, her mother Anna French Triplett Hollin of Prospect, KY, and her sister Maryann Douglas L’Hote of Lexington, KY.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, February 13, 2016, 2 pm at the First Christian Church, 3039 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA 94519.  Another celebration will be held May 8, 2016, 2 pm in Louisville, KY.  Details on request.

Gifts of remembrance are requested to be made to the Capital Campaign for First Christian Church at the address above or at www.concordfcc.net/wideningourwelcome.

Getting Closure

So I'm in Lodi... again.

I'm here destroying the last of our sampling points.

It's my first day back to work after my mom died.  I decided to come back because I felt that closure of the site would bring me some personal closure.  Lots of things have happened during times I've been working here.

The first time I was here for a subsurface investigation, my grandmother died.

When we were in the midst of the deepest and nastiest part of the remediation, my mom was going through surgery.

But with the closure of the site, I have the chance to close out my feelings.

Memorial Service for Mom

So there will be two memorial services for my mom.

The first will be in California at First Christian Church in Concord (3039 Willow Pass Road) on Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 PM.

The second will be held in Kentucky on May 8.  Details will follow.

In Memoriam - UPDATED

So, we're not yet sure what we're going to be doing yet or when, but there will be some sort of memorial service here in California and Dad also wants to have one back home in Kentucky.

We did want to let everyone know that Mom asked that any donations be made to First Christian Church in Concord, for their Capital Campaign in her memory.  If you'd like to honor her by donating please put "In memory of Janet Appel" somewhere in the donation.

We've checked the site and it appears that there's no way to donate electronically, so if you are so moved, then proceed the old fashioned way with a check.

-----------

UPDATE

-----------

You can go here (https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=yDVaAgvAXGZitEQyMRksR6q007RBuFEg89urwOEFha1a0yQzb6btfSidiz3gDMiAJGRUTRK-KOePByj3g2AslNOJQ8HYes4lVfS8oYp1bCRbwV_7cpWEo_a-v9QdGGepI9UKc_PTLuGWNHyMYJoBR0lFCaFaf1LhXObklkMrMfk= ) and make a donation online.  I'm not certain if you can add a comment to say you are donating in her memory.

Their address is 3039 Willow Pass Rd., Concord, CA  94519, and their phone number is 925-685-7503.  Their website is   http://www.concordfcc.net/ . 

Final News

My mom passed away this morning around ten o'clock.

An Update on My Mom

So, things are deteriorating quickly.

Wednesday, mom fell while dad was helping her to the bathroom.  She hurt her leg and her side.  So, dad started her on morphine.  She's in pain still, and has little to no appetite.  Dad's not sure if she'll last through the week.

I've been in Napa most of January, and have two more weeks of fieldwork, but I'm close enough that I can still come back if I'm needed.

If you want the latest update from her written by my dad, you can read her blog:  http://www.ihavenoendings.blogspot.com/

Also, for a great pre-remembrance, my cousin Lisa wrote a great blogpost about my mom.  http://normalnichols.blogspot.com/2016/01/this-blogs-for-you.html

--Erik

Spending Time With Mom

I'm really not sure what to say at this point.  After a little over a year of good progress, my mom is really struggling now.

A few weeks ago she was in the hospital for a few days due to a fever.  I saw her in the hospital and she was pretty tired.

Then almost two weeks later she was in again.  But this time, there was harder news.

And then mom and dad made the decision to transition into hospice.

And so, this weekend, apart from visiting on Wednesday and Friday, I threw myself into chores at home.

Jennifer and I got boxes of Christmas decorations from storage, and spent Saturday and early Sunday morning decorating.  We also had pad see ew for Thanksgiving, because we were neither of us interested in turkey this year.  I got my fix of semi-traditional Thanksgiving food by having country ham when I was at my parents'.  And then yesterday, I told Jennifer I was going to do more chores.

So, after taking the empty boxes back to storage, while Jennifer cleaned up plastic pine needles and did general cleaning, I took care of lots of "manly-man" tasks around the house that I had been putting off.

New wheels on our wheelie cart.  Check.

Assemble and hang giant map on stairway.  Check.

Hang fancy shelves and mirror in bedroom.  Check.

And then I assisted in the last stages of clean-up.

And the house looks great:

This year we bought a set of advent ornaments for the tree in our foyer.  That's what's in the basket and why the tree seems so bare.

Needing Your Support

So, my mom is going through a lot right now.  I'd recommend checking out her blog for the news.

I spoke with them this weekend, and then earlier this week when they left the hospital.

As she says, please keep them in your thoughts, and keep it positive.

Failed Health Rolls

Many of my friends who read this may or may not know that my mom has a blog.

And last Thursday, mom was admitted to the hospital due to heart and blood pressure problems.

I just to go visit her today because Jennifer and I were sick last week and didn't really recover until Saturday night/Sunday morning.  I figured one of the last things I should do is go see mom in the hospital while I have a fever and a cough.  Really, the only time you should go to the hospital with a fever and a cough is because you have a fever and a cough.

We weren't that bad, just bad enough we felt we shouldn't subject others to our condition.

I saw her today though since I work about 10 minutes from the hospital, and she looks pretty good and is in good spirits.  Her only complaint (other than the whole heart thing and missing out on volunteering) is that the heart monitor will not allow her to shower, so her hair is a little flat after five days.

She's still not going to get to go home today, but hopefully she will soon.

The Results of Saturday

Well, my mom is taking off on her blog.

And she even gave me credit in her e-mail to everyone:

In my old age, I have started writing. I asked son Erik to read some of my writing and see if it was worth pursuing. He deemed it worthy enough to keep trying. And Erik suggested that I blog in order help me write. I said," I don't know how to set up a blog." Ten minutes later he had me set up. Erik is a good teacher, he made me do the set up.

Below is the link to I have no endings. Keep the link in your favorites and check in every now and then. I won't write daily, but will write more than once a week. If you feel it is worthy, pass the link on to someone. Feel free to make comments.

Janet A
www.Ihavenoendings.blogspot.com

So I encourage you to read her stuff. She has some good stories, and more than just a blog might come from this. Mom's becoming "mobbed up" in the publishing world.

My only qualm is that there are things my parents don't know about: The tattoos, the trip to Key West, the iPod, the car stereo, to name a few. I have to post with my AOL ID. So feel free to post Comments on hers and even become a Follower.

Just don't tell her about this place.