The Vent and Rant Thread

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

After a great three days at a theme park I come home and my sun allergy strikes again. Luckily, so far, only on my chest. But the itchiness is annoying and distracting.

The last time anti-histamines worked great and I always have some in my medicine drawer this time of year. So I just took one and hope it will start working soon.

An entirely different rant: I don't like books anymore, at least not the paper kind. I got one so that I would have to carry around my Kindle in the theme park. But I'll be glad when I've finished the book. It's cumbersome, big and it doesn't have a build in light. It also doesn't have a dictionary (I tried pressing a word) and I keep losing my place because the bookmarks keeps falling out.

The last time I read a paper book I also tried to press a word for a definition. And the font was too big with no way to adjust it!

I hope you are able to get your allergy under control.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

An entirely different rant: I don't like books anymore, at least not the paper kind. I got one so that I would have to carry around my Kindle in the theme park. But I'll be glad when I've finished the book. It's cumbersome, big and it doesn't have a build in light. It also doesn't have a dictionary (I tried pressing a word) and I keep losing my place because the bookmarks keeps falling out.

And I have my entire library in my pocket. Several bookshelves worth.

[cromag]

And the pages ruffle in the breeze while I'm trying to read!

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

The last time I read a paper book I also tried to press a word for a definition. And the font was too big with no way to adjust it!

I hope you are able to get your allergy under control.

I remember when I first started reading books on my PDA. Every once in awhile, when I was deeply into the story, I'd unthinkingly turn the PDA over "to look at the back cover blurb".

And yes, I've also pressed on a word, but on a normal computer screen (not a touch screen), to get a definition.

[BetterRed]

Why doesn't Word suggest when a question mark might be needed, rather than a full stop.

And why doesn't English put the bloody thing, inverted, at the beginning of the sentence like the Spanish do/once did.

BR

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Why doesn't Word suggest when a question mark might be needed, rather than a full stop.

And why doesn't English put the bloody thing, inverted, at the beginning of the sentence like the Spanish do/once did.

BR

Hell, depending on what side of the transaction you are (author/reader), it could a) write the story for you, if the former, or b) just tell you the story, if the latter. Why mess with all the sh*t in-between? All that pesky scribing, and learning grammar and stuff? The horror!

Hitch

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Hell, depending on what side of the transaction you are (author/reader), it could a) write the story for you, if the former, or b) just tell you the story, if the latter. Why mess with all the sh*t in-between? All that pesky scribing, and learning grammar and stuff? The horror!

Hitch

Alexa can do that.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by wodin

Alexa can do that.

Yup. Sure Can. But first it'll answer "hmmm. I'm not sure about that"

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Hell, depending on what side of the transaction you are (author/reader), it could a) write the story for you, if the former, or b) just tell you the story, if the latter. Why mess with all the sh*t in-between? All that pesky scribing, and learning grammar and stuff? The horror!

Hitch

Originally Posted by wodin

Alexa can do that.

As can the BBC, Fox, CNN, etc, etc -- without even being asked or given a plotline.

[Tarana]

About a year before my dad died I read on the Internet about graveside funerals. Way cheaper. That became his preference and that is what we did for him and will do for my Mom. Most of the people that my Dad cared about had already passed away, other than immediate family, and Catholic Church does not require a funeral mass .

My sister passed away last year and we're still trying to find an affordable place to bury her ashes. Local places are nearly $5000. I already told my family that my preference is to be cremated and placed in a little Viking boat set on fire and pushed off into a lake or river. Alternatively just scattered.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Tarana

About a year before my dad died I read on the Internet about graveside funerals. Way cheaper. That became his preference and that is what we did for him and will do for my Mom. Most of the people that my Dad cared about had already passed away, other than immediate family, and Catholic Church does not require a funeral mass .

My sister passed away last year and we're still trying to find an affordable place to bury her ashes. Local places are nearly $5000. I already told my family that my preference is to be cremated and placed in a little Viking boat set on fire and pushed off into a lake or river. Alternatively just scattered.

There are so many things you don't think about for a body besides a funeral. There's transport charges from morgue. There's embalming. There's preparations for body, casket, death certificates, clergy, obituaries, Transport to cemetary, burial, headstone and the plot itself. If you're being bury in the ground there's a gravebox that must be bought as well. Crypts which are part of Mausoleums start at 12,000 for single no gravebox needed just embalming and casket. We got a good deal 5182 for everything because we had a crypt given to us by a relative. It would have been more but the funeral home gave us a discount due to the circumstances and they owned the cemetery.

I agree a graveside funeral would have cut cost but it was too hot for one. The dinner hall was donated and her church threw a potluck that was just amazing. My nephew donated food from his restaurant. I played the hostess, shaking everyone's hand and thanking them for being there. From the funeral to the cemetery to the dinner hall it was a very long day then mom fell and I was with her three days at the hospital. She's in a nursing home now. I'm struggling through each day dealing with everything. I'm not the executor there is not one because sis did not leave a Will.

I agree cremation if your beliefs allows it is the cheapest way to go. My sister's belief system did not allow it.

Sent from my XT1528

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Blossom

There are so many things you don't think about for a body besides a funeral. There's transport charges from morgue. There's embalming. There's preparations for body, casket, death certificates, clergy, obituaries, Transport to cemetary, burial, headstone and the plot itself. If you're being bury in the ground there's a gravebox that must be bought as well. Crypts which are part of Mausoleums start at 12,000 for single no gravebox needed just embalming and casket. We got a good deal 5182 for everything because we had a crypt given to us by a relative. It would have been more but the funeral home gave us a discount due to the circumstances and they owned the cemetery.

I agree a graveside funeral would have cut cost but it was too hot for one. The dinner hall was donated and her church threw a potluck that was just amazing. My nephew donated food from his restaurant. I played the hostess, shaking everyone's hand and thanking them for being there. From the funeral to the cemetery to the dinner hall it was a very long day then mom fell and I was with her three days at the hospital. She's in a nursing home now. I'm struggling through each day dealing with everything. I'm not the executor there is not one because sis did not leave a Will.

I agree cremation if your beliefs allows it is the cheapest way to go. My sister's belief system did not allow it.

Sent from my XT1528

Blossom:

I'm going to say this, but before I do, I want to clarify that this /rant isn't directed at anyone here, or their choices. A crewmember of mine recently went through something, on all this cost with someone dying, and it's really been up my nose ever since.

It is unconscionable for people to expect/want/etc. any sort of funeral expenses, get-togethers, ceremonies, and so forth, and have their relatives shoulder the burden of that. My assistant just went through this, first having to pay her mum's hospital bill (or they wouldn't release the body!), by 50% (for a major, nearly-two-week-stay in the ICU/CCU). and THEN, pay for the funeral, the wake, the graveside service, the bloody headstone, and so on.

This came on the heels of both her boys getting some bizarro-world illness--the younger nearly died--and spending, yup, another two damn weeks (BOTH of them) in the hospital, and her insurance hardly covered any of it. Suffice to say, she's had a mother of a year.

I tried to convince her not to do all that. To cremate her mum--but her uncle, mum's brother, right?--kept calling her up, RANTING at her about doing the "wrong thing." (Cremation--religious beliefs against same.) She finally ended up not doing all of it, but, still. And did ranty Uncle contribute a PENNY? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, of course not.

If people want these elaborate ceremonies, fine--but they should bloody well make arrangements to pay for them, IN ADVANCE, and not bankrupt their grief-ridden relatives. It's, as I said, unconscionable. My grandparents, as it happened, ended up with unused plots--but bygod, they had them, with a small policy to pay for the services, just in case we (the remaining folks) couldn't manage it. We did, and it wasnt a problem, but...

If Mr. H goes, and I'm broke, well, tough cookies. I'll try to bail his ass out of wherever it is, and get him cremated, but that's it. Ditto for me. Honestly,he could leave me and let the damn state burn me and plant me in potter's field, for all I care. (related semi-rant--it boggles me that we continue to waste all this valuable dirt, putting chemical-filled bodies in metal and wooden coffins, taking up space, instead of either a) burying the bodies, as-is, and letting them decompose as they OUGHT, giving BACK to the dirt, or b) cremating them and then burying the ashes, ditto.).

I watch my assistant, and some other folks, and I just don't get being that "guilted" into spending money you do NOT have, for services you can't afford, for which the deceased can't be there, any-g*ddamned-way. If your mum/dad/brother/whatever needs to be handled, either do what you can, or don't do anything, or pass the hat to your remaining relatives--ALL of them. Even a few bucks will help. Don't put yourself into penury, paying for this nonsense. Want a day of remembrance? Fine, have it at home with chips and dip and some booze/soda/whatever. Don't let morturaries and the like talk you into this stuff, OR your relatives.

/rant.

Hitch

[Katsunami]

Agree with Hitch.

My father actually always says: "You can burn me in my own hearth for all I care", "If you spend a single penny more than is necessary for the cheapest cremation possible, I'll come back and haunt you", and "I haven't saved up to give everything away to some g****d**** funeral company."

But my brother in law is convinced that a cremation will cost at least €15.000, even though I'm seeing prices started at €1000 all around the internet. (Basically: get the body, transport it to the cremation site, put it into a box and burn in it. I'd do a bit more, with a small service, but as my father wants a cheap cremation after he goes, I'm certainly NOT going to hire a coach and four horses, 8 carriers in traditional clothing, a planner, and a church and a priest for a two hour mass. Nor will there be advertisements in all the paper, and I won't be sending out cards to half the city.)

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Blossom:

I'm going to say this, but before I do, I want to clarify that this /rant isn't directed at anyone here, or their choices. A crewmember of mine recently went through something, on all this cost with someone dying, and it's really been up my nose ever since.

It is unconscionable for people to expect/want/etc. any sort of funeral expenses, get-togethers, ceremonies, and so forth, and have their relatives shoulder the burden of that. My assistant just went through this, first having to pay her mum's hospital bill (or they wouldn't release the body!), by 50% (for a major, nearly-two-week-stay in the ICU/CCU). and THEN, pay for the funeral, the wake, the graveside service, the bloody headstone, and so on.

This came on the heels of both her boys getting some bizarro-world illness--the younger nearly died--and spending, yup, another two damn weeks (BOTH of them) in the hospital, and her insurance hardly covered any of it. Suffice to say, she's had a mother of a year.

I tried to convince her not to do all that. To cremate her mum--but her uncle, mum's brother, right?--kept calling her up, RANTING at her about doing the "wrong thing." (Cremation--religious beliefs against same.) She finally ended up not doing all of it, but, still. And did ranty Uncle contribute a PENNY? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, of course not.

If people want these elaborate ceremonies, fine--but they should bloody well make arrangements to pay for them, IN ADVANCE, and not bankrupt their grief-ridden relatives. It's, as I said, unconscionable. My grandparents, as it happened, ended up with unused plots--but bygod, they had them, with a small policy to pay for the services, just in case we (the remaining folks) couldn't manage it. We did, and it wasnt a problem, but...

If Mr. H goes, and I'm broke, well, tough cookies. I'll try to bail his ass out of wherever it is, and get him cremated, but that's it. Ditto for me. Honestly,he could leave me and let the damn state burn me and plant me in potter's field, for all I care. (related semi-rant--it boggles me that we continue to waste all this valuable dirt, putting chemical-filled bodies in metal and wooden coffins, taking up space, instead of either a) burying the bodies, as-is, and letting them decompose as they OUGHT, giving BACK to the dirt, or b) cremating them and then burying the ashes, ditto.).

I watch my assistant, and some other folks, and I just don't get being that "guilted" into spending money you do NOT have, for services you can't afford, for which the deceased can't be there, any-g*ddamned-way. If your mum/dad/brother/whatever needs to be handled, either do what you can, or don't do anything, or pass the hat to your remaining relatives--ALL of them. Even a few bucks will help. Don't put yourself into penury, paying for this nonsense. Want a day of remembrance? Fine, have it at home with chips and dip and some booze/soda/whatever. Don't let morturaries and the like talk you into this stuff, OR your relatives.

/rant.

Hitch

My mom was the one who signed the papers but mom is in a nursing home now so it falls on to me to get the funds so nothing happens to my sister's body. My brother in Canada paid half, my other brother has given nothing and has picked the house clean of anything he can sell on eBay. Technically the state of Missouri without a Will gives all parents and siblings a share of the estate but it's supposed to go to probate first. I don't see anyone paying off the taxes on the house so more than likely what will happen is next spring it will be repossessed by the county and sold. I don't want anything from that toxic place. Just going through a box of papers to find my mom's buriel insurance certificate put me in bed for a week. I must have breathed something in that was on the papers. The place needs to be bulldozed, the soil healed somehow before someone else lives there.

I agree with your rant which is why life insurance and a Will are necessary to have so your loved ones aren't stuck trying to pay for everything.

I'm so sorry about your friend's hardships. Grief is the worst thing to deal with on top of everything else. Having to do it all is never easy. That wonderful numbness that happens at first... I think it is our brain's way of protecting us and letting us get everything accomplished we need to because for me the day after everything was finally done suddenly the numbness turned into pain. I was render inoperable for a few days after that.

Sent from my XT1528

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Agree with Hitch.

My father actually always says: "You can burn me in my own hearth for all I care", "If you spend a single penny more than is necessary for the cheapest cremation possible, I'll come back and haunt you", and "I haven't saved up to give everything away to some g****d**** funeral company."

I'm of the same mind as your father. I've pre-paid for everything possible - casket, transport, cremation etc.

BR