almost 35 year old reef pictures

[ddinox64]

That's a bummer Paul.

We've been on the long journey now for about 3 years. My mom is 81 and has Alzhiemers. Getting her to bathe and eat is a chore(war). Lives all by herself in a big home that's never been cared for properly and needs lots of work.

We have some very nice private hospice cares here that she could more than afford if she sold her home. But she doesn't want to live with old people. Says she nothing in common with them.

No beds at the Inn. I remember they had no room for lady way back when too.

[Paul B]

ddinox we have been doing this for 4 years now. She was great until she was 93, then she started walking away and the neighbors would bring her home. For the last three years she has been almost in a coma. No response but when they put food in her mouth, she swallows it so she keeps living, if you want to call it that.

[ddinox64]

Yes, it helps having good neighbors. My moms neighborhood has been recognized by the city as having the most original homeowners in the city, with over 80+ percent of them still living there. And something crazy like half of the other 20 percent are children of those 80 percent.

So they all keep an eye on each other and their homes. As they did us when growing up. Everyone knows everyone. If you did something wrong, your parents usually knew about it before you got home.

While walking by my tank to the kitchen, I noticed something swirling about. It is/was my newest member. A yellow headed goby. Looks as though someone had themselves an$18.99 meal all of 2" long. Which doesn't seem fair. Just the other night I had a 12oz. prime rib with baked potato, green beans and a nice salad for $12.99. So that thing was like a rare truffle for someone in there.

Guess that gives me good reason to go to the fish store today and look around. This time for something a tad bit bigger.

[Paul B]

OMG, I lost a fish, It must have just keeled over and croaked.

I never lose a fish, what is happening? A croaked fish. OMG.
It was a Rainsford Gobi. Swimming nice and happy, very healthy looking.
He was old, I don't remember how old but I don't think he was old enough to just croak. He may have been 5 or 8 years old. Even dead he looks healthy.
He ate great also. I have another one but I still want to replace him. Nice looking fish.
I should go and shoot myself. Well, maybe not.

Anyway today we squashed 50 cases of grapes for wine. It seemed easy because last year we did 76 cases. We bought a new crusher which is electric. Our old model had a crank.
The white wine still must be pressed and that is strenuous. It is an old oak press from Italy and takes a while to press.
So I am up to my eyeballs in wine. Ano one croaked fish

RIP

[ddinox64]

I get upset when I lose fish too. Especially fish I like.

Well guess what? This morning my wife goes, " Hey, didn't you have two of those white ones with purple heads"? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You're joking right. Gone.

So I sitting there staring at my tank and my kid goes, "Daddy, where's the little black and white one that bounces ontop of the rocks"? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. My Starry Dragonette? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

These were healthy fish. Someone or ones has developed a taste for fesh fish. I've had my Emerald for about 6 months and my Peppemint shrimp for longer and never lost a fish to them. I did just add about 30 Zebra hermits but they're all tiny little guys except for one that I have had for about the same length of time as the Emerald. Did I say Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yet?

An ill fish would concern me. Disappearing or eaten healthy fish upsets me. I have a bully in my tank and I don't want to blame the wrong guy. Hmmm........

[Paul B]

It must be an epidemic.
I don't have any bullies in my tank and I have no idea why this fish died. I am not concerned because he was old and he was an adult when I got him. Fish don't live forever and they can have heart attacks and all sorts of other things like we do.
It is what it is

[Sugar Magnolia]

Dead fishies suck. I think that's old for a rainford goby though. I know the neon gobies don't live too long either. I think Shimek once said 2-3 years for those guys and that seems to be my experience too.

Mmmmmmm, wine!

[Paul B]

Well then it's OK, I know he was way older than that.

[jason2459]

Hmmm... something must be in the air or umm water. I couldn't find my blenny last night. Hope he shows up today.

[eyesinthedrk]

i just lost my potters angel, 2 skunk cleaner shrimp and a blue xenia frag, to a faulty A/C fuse,

30 cent fuse ended up costing me $300.00 dollars in live stock and repair call out, i wonder if its Bermuda Triangle week

[BLKTANG]

I cant belive this thread is still here.Did it make RKM yet??

[Paul B]

I cant belive this thread is still here.Did it make RKM yet??

I don't know, is that like winning the lottery? Whats RKM and why do you need it?
Does it have anything to do with Supermodels?

[ddinox64]

How dare you insult Paul by stating you can't believe he still exists. I guess better him than his RUGF. That would be a real insult to say you can't believe it's still here.

That's Jesus' first stop when he returns. If he hasn't forgot us.

I'd rather fish die of old age than a meal. But old age and becoming a meal is a benefit. I never remove the dead animals. If I did, the clean up crew wouldn't have anything to do, seeing the ignore all the algae.

[Paul B]

I feel bad but I don't have much time for the tank lately. As I said my Mom is dying, she is old and your body runs out of steam after almost a century.
She comes from a time that we all just read about, a time before cars and even electricity. In 1910 when she was born downtown in Little Italy on Elizabeth Street (NYC) the street lights were lit with gas. When the lights in your house would dim, you had to run downstairs and put a nickel in the gas meter. In the morning someone would have to put some coal in the furnace so the pipes would not freeze.
As a little girl, when she got sick, her Mother would make her sleep in a stable with the horses, they thought the smell of horse s__t would cure her. I guess it worked.
My Dad, who died fifty years ago would peddle fish from a bushel on his back. Every morning he would walk to the fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan to get the fish
then walk back across the Manhattan Bridge to sell the fish in Brooklyn.
Those people were much different than my generation and my daughters generation.
People are very soft now, we can't take much hard work, or pain. Little things bother us because most of us have it much easier that that older generation.
They had no sick days, compensation, insurance, vacations or anything else.
I don't think my Father ever left New York in his life.
Even when My Mother was in her seventies, you had better not try to steal her subway seat, or you may walk away with a bloody nose. She was a very tough little Sicilian and afraid of nothing.
Anyway, this was my little rememberance of my Mother. She stopped eating a few days ago and I think she will be in Hospice in a day or so.
This happened 4 years ago and she survived, this time I pray she does not. She has no mind left at all and it is time for her to go and be with my Dad.

[skippy2]

Paul, I've been wondering how things are going with your Mom. My prayers are with you and yours.

[Paul B]

Thanks Peggy. Tonight they are putting a feeding tube in her side to her stomach.
I didn't want them to do that but it is what it is.
They can keep you alive forever now but when you have no mind at all there is no sense. Especially when you are 99 years old.

[WaterKeeper]

So sorry Paul.

[ddinox64]

Not looking forward to that day. My mom was both mother and father to us.

[skippy2]

I don't get either Paul. My Mom had a DNR and they still kept her hooked up to all the machines that did the work for her.

[Paul B]

Thanks Tom

Mine also has a DNR, I am going there tomorrow to see what the story is.
I think they are just making money from this.

My Mother n Law also lives with my wife and I. She is 84 and starting to lose it. I can't wait until I go through this all over again.

Not looking forward to that day. My mom was both mother and father to us.

DDinox, I know the feeling. My Dad died when I was 10, 50 years ago.
I guess most of us go through it at some time

[capn_hylinur]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Thanks Tom

Mine also has a DNR, I am going there tomorrow to see what the story is.
I think they are just making money from this.

My Mother n Law also lives with my wife and I. She is 84 and starting to lose it. I can't wait until I go through this all over again.



DDinox, I know the feeling. My Dad died when I was 10, 50 years ago.
I guess most of us go through it at some time

Very sorry to hear the news of your mother Paul. Having gone through that not too long ago I have the greatest empathy for what you and your family are going through.

[capn_hylinur]

Any one know the name of this fish. I thought at first it was a blue line snapper but the head/markings are different.

[sunfishh]

I am pretty sure that is a Porkfish Capn

[Paul B]

I am too

[Sugar Magnolia]

Paul, very sorry to hear the news about your Mom and the feeding tube. You need to make your wishes known to whomever is in charge of your Mom's care. My Mom, when in the latest stages of her breast cancer declined further treatment, including feeding tubes. She wanted to go her own way and we all respected her wishes. Since your Mom can't speak for herself, you need to do what you think is best.

You have my prayers.