The little Inn by the wayside

[Railwaymodeler]

Well, they're tearing down some old buildings downtown here, and for the past few days my shop has been without internet, now it is acting funny at home, as I live downtown. I called AT&T, the first idiot I spoke to, was sure their end was fine, that either I was behind on my bill (I am actually paid ahead through the end of the year!), or I needed someone to come out and fix everything for me, at considerable cost. Then he put me through to billing, the lady there was amused by the techie's idiocy, as she saw I am paid in advance. Third fellow I talked to, told me the downtown area was indeed having issues, should be fixed by next week.

At least the free wireless internet in my apartment, works, though a little slow!

Maria is spending the weekend here with me, for the first time in a while. Certainly something to be very happy about!

Oh, and eMTe, yes I do have "newer" trains in HO Scale, been getting interested in the first generation of plastic cars and locomotives, made through the late 1960s. Maria enjoys running those, so they are more-or-less "her" trains. I do have a very few models made in the 1980s and 1990s.

My smaller-scale N scale layout, runs brand new models. Vintage N scale, doesn't really exist, as the scale wasn't popular till the 1970s, when small enough motors became common. So that one gets new equipment.

[eMTe]

So, you guys remember a while ago I told you about the site I did with a couple of friends that ended up being in all the newspapers and everything?

I missed your post or maybe dont remember. What's this site?

[Chroelle]

Nice, Zyx!!!

[Zyx]

So, you guys remember a while ago I told you about the site I did with a couple of friends that ended up being in all the newspapers and everything?

I missed your post or maybe dont remember. What's this site?

It's this small freeware game site... Nah, this is the original post.

[eMTe]

Well, what's the link then?

[Zyx]

The link to our award-winning site is verokuitti.fi. We didn't win in our category, but we did win special prize set by the main national daily newspaper (which had equal prize to the 1st place, so we didn't mind) and the popular vote in our category.

This video of Helsinki public transportation won the visualization category. I think it was the coolest thing in the whole competition.

[eMTe]

So, basically, this is the simple calculator, but first in your country that shows how the taxes are divided between departments? Good job!

But I guess it shows only the income tax pays? Otherwise, site would have to become more complex.

[Zyx]

So, basically, this is the simple calculator, but first in your country that shows how the taxes are divided between departments? Good job!

Probably not the first, but the best well-known at least =)

But I guess it shows only the income tax pays? Otherwise, site would have to become more complex.

Nope. It includes stuff like VAT and other indirect taxes which are approximated from one's income (or can be input in the first screen by expanding the form from a link).

[eMTe]

Now you should make version 2.0 - how to avoid taxes.

[Chroelle]

I split the thread and made a EURO 2012 thread.

I had a HORRIBLE day so far. This morning my sister called me up - she was in an ambulance with my dad, who have for around two weeks been a bit disoriented, lost balance a couple of times, been sleepy and had some slight trouble focusing and writing. This morning he woke up wiht no language and no recollection of anything around him. He moved in weird movements and talked jibberish. He was rushed to the hospital who of course suspected and anurism (spelling?). He fought the nurses and ambulance people so there was no way they could do any scans or tests that required him to stay still, and so they had to settle for the ones that they where able to do, which was of course also the least helpful... After some hours they concluded that there was no big tumor, no ruptions in vessels in the brain and no clods in his brain either. They then tested him with lumbal puncture (needle in spine - Extremely painful). That came out pretty normal too, and then he kept throwing up and falling asleep. He looked at us with no recognition and the looks of someone scared when he saw us, and if you ever experienced that then you know that it might be one of the most scary and extremely uncomfortable situations you will ever experience. If you never experienced it then I hope you never will!
Some hours later me and my sister went to the cafeteria to get some kind of food, and my sisters phone rings and its my dads wife, who tells us that he has woken up. When we get there, he is back to his own self again, though rather confused as to why he is in the hospital - last thing he remembered he was going to sleep at home.
I had the strangest feeling of not being able to sigh loud enough. I was so extremely relieved!! It seems that my youngest daughter will get to know her grandfather after all, and my oldest will continue to know his as the vibrant, smiling, caring person that he is. And he is only 65... So I am hoping that he has lots of years for them to enjoy his company.

[eMTe]

I dont want to play doctor, but my aunt had similar attack some years back and it ended with partial paralysis and diagnosis: multiple sclerosis. She is a bit paralysed up to this day - has trouble walking, holding objects, speaking etc., but it is a lot better after years of rehabilitation. Hopefully it's not the case, but being in your and your dad's place I wouldnt let things go so easily and Id make appropriate examinations, after all this weird attack didnt come from nowhere.

[Tormuse]

Agreed about extra testing being necessary. I'm sorry to hear you had such a horrible experience, Chroelle, and I hope your father comes out of this okay.

I know the experience of having a loved one gaze at me with fear and without recognition because my grandfather had Alzheimer's in the last couple of years before he died. I have to go to work now, but I'll post more about it later.

[eMTe]

Well, Alzheimer is kinda different experience, because it is a mind condition, not physical one. My uncle, brother of my granma had Alzie and I remember that everybody from the family, including me, balanced between sympathy and murder lust. Rants about coat that was hanging just here yesterday and today somebody from the family stole it can drive mad every unprepared person, especially when they are repeated day after day. It is of major importance in such cases to have a relatively wide range of possible supporters and detractors - because only some will help, others will find it too hard to cope with family member's illness. Anyway, Im speaking out of subject now, hopefully everything will be ok with your dad.

[Chroelle]

He seems to be doing a lot better, but still gets confused and says rubbish. The progress is shown because two days ago he didn't know when he was talking nonsense, and now he stops mid-rant and tells us that he is awarte it was nonsense. So he is getting clearly better but we are still awaiting his tests that wont be done until friday. So far they are pretty convinced it was either - a form of meninghitis which he is being treated for, and they are unsure if there was a form of epileptic attack - without the cramps. He hasn't run a fever, which is what is speaks against it being "only" meninghitis, but he does have a viral infection in his spinal fluids, which says meninghitis loud and clear. So they are kind of torn between feeling at ease that he is getting the right treatment via IV, and not being sure that that is all that is wrong.
I spent a lot of time out there with him, which is also kind of nice, as we were never that good at communicating beyond casual smalltalk - from time to time we were able to talk about emotions though. We are classic MEN at that. But this kind of helps moving some stuff in us, so I think we will be better at talking to eachother when he gets back home.

But I cannot begin to describe how beat I am at night - because when I come home from work and then the hospital I bury myself in practical stuff, like doing dishes or vacuuming, so when I finally sit down I tend to fall asleep.

[eMTe]

Men usually dont get closer if it's not necessary. I remember when my mother died (her death was coming, but anyway it's always a shock that this is finally the end) I was in Cracow and my father was in our family home and we both got news from the hospital I caught the first train to meet him, I reached the house, rang, he opened the door and, well. In a sentimental movie you would expect that two people, regardless of sex would fall into their arms and express grief, maybe even shed a tiny tear. We didnt even shake hands, we just looked at each other and he said something like "well, how do you feel?" and I replied with something like "well, and you?" and without expressing anything we both quickly started talking about necessary things to be done - getting death certificate, funeral etc.

Only later we became closer, when he got ill. I was doing things like washing his feet, cutting his hair and that were the moments when I was closest to my father than ever. Still, we didnt talk about emotions much. That's how it works for men, usually.

Out of topic again, sorry.

[Maz]

sorry to hear about your dad C. Hopefully he'll be okay! Take care mate :/

Oh, and I'm glad to see you all still around What are the most recent accomplishments here? what's the amount of games atm?

And congraz Zyx! I had visited that site

[Chroelle]

eMTe I think you were spot on topic there! Me and my dad have definitely grown closer from this. If not for anything else then because I told him to not go driving back to the hospital on his own when he was on leave from there - which he insisted on, and I told him that I cared too much to let him do that. He could call me, or my sister and we would drive him, or he could drive and I would call the police and then take his carkeys away from him. He laughed - noticed I didn't laug, and then he stopped laughing - and got a ride.
He knows that we know he is a proud man that needs respect, and he will get that, but he also now knows that he is a vulnerable man that needs attention and care, and that takes quite a toll on him. That is IN NO WAY how he is/was.
He got signed out of the hospital yesterday (Tanja picked him up - still not allowed to drive by family and doctor), and they are now certain that it was a viral meninghitis which he wont need IV-treatment for, so he might as well go home and rest. He says that the only "aftermath" he feels is that he isn't quite as sharpwitted and clear and quick at thought as he used to be. So we are relieved big time.

And Maz - it is always great to see you return. I have no idea what the game total is, but the latest achievement is done by Zyx who is now making sure that our news can be written from the forum. Oh and now the forum and the gamepages are merged, so that any forumgamethread is merged with comments on the gamepages. That is VERY cool.

Game additions have been slowing down a lot recently, but validations are still going on.

[Zyx]

...beep... the current game count is.... THREE-hundred... and ninenty.... ... games. ...beep. Estimated time to FIVE-hundred games is ... NOVember... sevenTEEN... th... two THOUSAND ... FOURteen. beep.

[eMTe]

What if there is only 499 games in this world worthy of being provided by CWF?

Welcome back, Maz!

[Maz]

impressive! This comment thing is something I thought would be cool, but never managed to achieve. Great job Zyx!

Oh, if it will be the problem that there's only 499 games... Well, then I promise to do the MazPong