Allan has been gone almost sixteen months now. I sure do miss him. I wish we'd spent more time together over the years. But we lived in different states. Contact was infrequent. There are so many things I wish we had done together: camping, playing D&D, hiking the Appalachian Trail, whitewater rafting — to name just a few. I worry about the state of his mind, attitude, and spirit at the time of his death. There isn't really anything I can do about that except pray for him. I think that prayer can be effective even across temporal boundaries. In other words, in my mind there is the possibility that after-the-event prayers may possible impact the event itself, even though it occurred already in the past.

Here's a picture of me and my brother after my niece's wedding several years ago. I honestly can't remember what year (I'm getting old), so I'm going to send the link to my niece. Her memory will be better than mine.

Allan and I sure did enjoy our card games. We were both big fans of Magic: The Gathering. I have a lot of fond memories of afternoons and evenings whiling away the time playing, and just enjoying each other's company. What I wouldn't give to reclaim some of that time now. We never realize just how precious someone is to us until they're gone.

For this trip, I rode/drove with Bobo to Toledo with two other nieces, Katy and Lauren. We had a good time and a safe trip.

The trip home with Bobo, Lauren, and Katie seemed shorter than the trip to Toledo. We stopped at a McDonald's once for something to eat. I felt it was thoughtful and kind of mother to invite my two nieces on the trip. Those are the kind of events that make good memories, and I'm glad they had the opportunity. Now, in the tail end of 2023, I look back and those kids are grown up, and I'm past middle age.

This morning, I went to the track and walked three miles. It was the first real exercise I've had in months. I've been cutting back on my eating since August 21. So, almost a month, now. I haven't weighed yet. We don't have a scale. If I can remember, I'll weigh at my mother-in-law's tomorrow when we go over for lunch.

For breakfast, I had granola with blueberries. For lunch, salmon with vegetables, and for supper I had beef and broccoli with rice.

<a href="/content/images/AllanAtSixMonths.jpg""> Last night I started reading Stars Without Numbers. I'm thinking about using it as the system for a solo game. I've been reading a lot of hype about Ironsworn and Starforged. I haven't yet given either a proper read-through.

Things with my brother have worsened. He's now on a ventilator and a form of dialysis called CRRT: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. His kidneys aren't working efficiently. In short, he's taken a turn for the worse. He is sedated, so hopefully not suffering. I think S and I are going to go up to Dayton Saturday to see him. I fear it will be this last time I see him alive. I just pray to God he's ready for eternity.

I wrote about my introductory experimentation with the Git version control system. I've been reading more about it today, and I added a C# console program that demonstrates calculating prime numbers in a desired range of numbers.

I got an update on my brother. He remains confused, and this is caused by toxins in his system. The nurse told me his ammonia levels were notably lower this morning, so that's good. He said this sort of encephalopathy often clears up in time, once these toxins are eliminated. So, my prayers go up to God that my brother will regain his faculties. Unfortunately, his cirrhotic liver isn't likely to improve, so he'll be dealing with ammonia and abdominal fluid buildup from now on.

I've made reengagement attempts with patients that needed it. I run a group with Dr. J in a bit less than an hour, and until then I'm going to read about solo roleplaying using the Tiny Dungeon 2e rules set.

S, H, and B headed out this morning for Indiana for B's sister's birthday. They arrived safely. I picked up groceries at Walmart this morning and spent the day piddling around reading and mucking about on my desktop.

I'm revisiting two interests that I've flirted with in the past: Ren'Py and Git.

I tried to get a medical update on A a few minutes ago but the call wasn't answered after the desk worker tried to transfer me. I'll try back, but I'm going to reach out to M on FB.

Emma is now a freshman at the University of Kentucky, and has changed her major from Engineering to Architecture.

She's in this weekend for a visit, but heads back to Lexington tonight.

Last night I went to the community Fall church musicfest/picnic at the Polly Barn with my brother Allan. He's leaving this morning to head back to Dayton. I enjoyed spending time with him the last few days. We played a lot of MTG games. I'd say he won about 60% of them. My prayers go up for him because he's struggling in his marriage and is unhappy. And I worry about his continuing alcohol use.

Spare drives (from left to right): a 320 GB SATA 7200rpm WD 3.5" drive in the blue case; a 750 GB SATA 7200rpm Seagate 3.5" drive in the green case; a 40 GB Hitachi Deskstar IDE (not eSATA) 7200rpm drive made in 2003 in the frosty case; a 500 GB 5400rpm 2.5" Seagate notebook drive in the orange case; and, right-most, a 250 GB 5400rpm 2.5" Seagate Momentus Thin notebook 2.5" drive.

Today when I got to work C. had emailed me, upset. She'd discovered the refrigerator door wide open, temperature 70 °F. I had K. requisition emergency money from the Business Office to replace a few perishables. We still had our roast for lunch — Manhattan style.

Allan made it in about 3ish this afternoon. I saw Dr. Sherry Jones and got enough refills for 6+ months. Then Susan and I went and had supper with Bobo and Allan in Crocus.

We had white beans, cornbread, relish, onions, pork chops, country ham, fried potatoes, and boiled cabbage.

I came across a couple more pictures of dad I collected in the days and weeks after he passed in March 2016. Sure do miss him.

Tomorrow, I'll call CertaCare and have them fill the B12 sublingual and the vitamin D. I'll pick it up after work, do my 10K run, then have supper with Allan and Bobo before he and I play some Magic: The Gathering.

tag: pics, pictures

One of my favorite pictures of my brother and myself together. This would have been late 1970s or so.