I've finally setup the home network. Had to buy a new antenna to do it, but it works better with the router that came in the new house than any of my older stuff did. Also stuck the setup IP for the router in my favorites folder, so that if I ever have any problems it's a few simple clicks. Yes, sometimes I do have moments of clarity.

Christmas was a mixed bag. On the 21st, I'd left work early to kick off the Christmas weekend. On my way to the car, my sister called and said Mom was having a rough time at the house. She'd been in the hospital the day before for an outpatient procedure, and had a rough time with the anesthesia. Well, 24 hours later she wasn't doing any better. I showed up at the house and the hospice nurse (Dad had only just setup those services the day before) kept saying the phrase 'active dying'. Every time she said it, I 'actively shit a brick'. I'll spare you the details, but she died that night with myself, The Wife, and my sister holding vigil. It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that SBD doesn't seem like that kind of forum.

Quite literally, from the moment she passed until right now, I haven't had a spare fleeting second. Immediately we needed to choose a funeral home, the next day it was funeral arrangements, talking to the priest (she was pretty active in the community and her church) about details, getting family together, arranging the burial (we've got a family cemetery that goes back generations, but it's not here where we live), having the ceremony here, then travelling to the family locale, getting everyone together who couldn't make the first/wanted to go to both, and then getting everyone back. Seriously, if you have no funeral arrangements, make them. The Wife and I have already started making ours, just so the major questions aren't left unanswered. I mean, we all knew she was sick and dying, but if someone would have told me she was going to die 10 hours before she actually did, I wouldn't believe them. It was that quick.

I will say though, that it was great to have the family around. Well, most of them, and the assinine ones actually managed to stay away from me and keep their mouths shut. There's still a few folks in town, and they're coming over tonight for some New Year's shananigans. Illegal fireworks, some beers, and quite possibly a bonfire. Depends on the mood.

A lot has changed, and I'm beginning to wonder if I changed too. I mean, I have messages from friends, best friends, that I still haven't called back. I just haven't felt like it. Hell, I considered quitting the blog because I didn't feel like talking to the public at large. I guess I don't feel that different in total, but there are a few things that I dread now that I didn't before.

I have to go, so if this post looks like grammar crap it's because my spacebar is sticking and I'm in a time crunch.