23 posts tagged “ken”

Sorry that there haven't been any updates to the blog lately; things have been absorbing my attention. Most of my energy over the past few weeks has been focused on Ken's estate. Though it hasn't been difficult, it hasn't been exactly easy, either. You see, Texas requires that all wills go through probate and tat you fill out forms to do so. But the probate courts won't tell you where those forms are (or even what they are). As a result, you have to go use an attorney [1]. This hasn't been all bad. The one we selected [2] is reasonably straightforward and easy to work with. But still...

Nevertheless, this has been quite the learning experience. What has it taught me?

1) Death is quick. Probate takes an eternity.

Before you can go to probate court, you have to have a death certificate, which takers two weeks to arrive in Texas. Then you have to have an appointment. Then, after you get the Letters Testemantary (the court authorization to act as the executor of the will), it takes at least four months to settle the final accounts. All told, a minimum of six months from death to final settlement.

2) Nobody will talk to you until they can.

Actually, I don't blame the various parties for this; they are just trying to keep people from using a death to phish for information. Nevertheless, it is somewhat disheartening to have to call six companies to let them know that you know that they know that they cannot talk to you until the Letters Testementary arrive.

3) Creditors range from scummy to honorable.

No surprise here, but the creditors would like their money back, thank you very much. Most of them send letters that started with condolences and then asked how the account would be settled. And most of them did include a note that neither the executor nor the relatives were legally obligated to pay the debts. However, American Express did want to know if we would like to take over the account (and accepted "No thank you" with no problem), whereas Discover Card sent the account to a collection agency as soon as they heard that Ken was dead. And Wells Fargo wants us to go for a short sale (minimum time, six months!) rather than allow a voluntary relinquishment.

4) What you think of as an estate probably isn't.

This is what surprised me the most. A lot of what I had thought of as being part of the estate, wasn't. The debts are part of the estate; since he was the only signer on the loans, the debts are all his. And the real property (house, car, furnishings, anything you can put into a box) is part of the estate. However, the life insurance policies are not - those are a contract between Ken and the insurance company to pay money to his beneficiaries (his folks) directly, and never come into the estate. Similarly, the 401(k) is not part of the estate; it all goes directly to his folks as well. More surprisingly, because Ken had a checking account where his mother had signing privileges and survivorship, it isn't part of the estate - she gets that money free and clear.

So what's left? About $200,000 in debt (mostly the house) and about $150,000 in assets (again, mostly the house). So my job is now simply accounting for the assets and liabilities as of the date of Ken's death on yet another form, then sending a copy of that form to each creditor. From there, it is up to the creditors. The best case is that they all decide to simply walk away, which means that my job is done, except for transferring title of the truck and the land in Mississippi to his folks. The worst case is that they decide that the truck and the land must be sold and those proceeds divided among the creditors (80% to Wells Fargo, the rest to the others). In my best case, nobody gets any money. In my worst case, everyone gets about a penny on the dollar of the debts. So the best case does seem most likely, but we'll have to wait and see.

I don't know if any of that will help you with your planning, but I hope that it does. And I hope that you never need it!

John

[1] Not de jure, but de facto. Just another "let's keep teh lawyers employed" law from our friendly legislature which is mostly made up of (you guessed it) lawyers.

[2] How did we pick her? I tried legal aid, but their phone line is a training ground for one of the inner circles of Hell. Then I tried another lawyer, who asked for a retainer before he would discuss how much it would cost to go through probate. And then we found Melinda Hartnett, who discussed everything on the phone (including reminding me that lawyers weren't strictly necessary but could make thing go much faster) before giving me a price. As lawyers go, she is honest and open.

First - why haven't I posted those pictures yet? Because I've been busy, that's why. So there.

Second - a bit of humor, from one of my coworkers. It seems that Ikea will be taking over GM soon. Here is an image of the new business model

Finally - today Ken went to the MD Anderson center. They are one of the top cancer research and treatment facilities in the world, and everyone there from the volunteers running the information desk to the receptionists to the doctors and nurses go out of their way to show you what true professionalism is. They were unfailingly polite, patient, and capable [1]. They answered every question, no matter how trite, and no matter how many times we asked it. They understood that this is a stressful time for the patient and did their best to make it less stressful.

The upshot is that Ken has three options right now. First, he can go off of all the medicines and let the cancer run its course. The doctor gave him an optimistic three months if he does that [2]. Second, he can continue on the current regime, which has slowed the cancer but nothing else. The doctor gave him six to nine months if he does that. Third, he can go on the only clinical trial he is eligible for [3], which will require a weekly infusion of a six-drug cocktail with one week out of every four off for good behavior. Because this is a Phase I clinical trial, the infusions and check-ups will have to take place here in Houston [4]. With luck, he will last between a year and two years on this regime.

Ultimately, this is his decision. But I'll lay long odds that he goes for the clinical trial. After all, that's the only one that lets him go sailing in Florida this fall...

John

[1] Minor example: while I was in the waiting room, sitting around while Ken got evaluated for the trials, a patient went into a seizure. Within one minute, there were three nurses and two doctors by him, evaluating what needed to be done and doing it. Even more astonishingly, when the nurse over-ruled the doctors and told them that they didn't need the crash cart, the doctors said "OK" and let her get on with helping the patient. These folks are almost enough to get me over my phobia of hospitals!

[2] Admittedly, this estimate was given after I asked, as were the other two. But she was willing to tell us! Do you have any idea how many frickin' doctors get so set in their "god-like smartypants" [a] that they are unwilling to admit that they might not be able to beat the disease?

[3] They were honest and fair on this one, too. They told him that because of the type of cancer (glioblastoma multiforme) and because of the amount of damage (60% mobility and dropping), there is no cure. All they can do is extend his life, not save it.

[4] Fortunately, he already has a place to stay while they do this. It even has a ground-floor bedroom - how lucky is that?

[a] Geek points (for anyone except QoFB [i]) for the source!

[i] Who is ineligible because she introduced me to the source...

 Benjamin Franklin once wrote that "Fish and guests smell after three days". I am currently recovering from Ken's two week visit [1]. In many ways, we disproved Poor Richard; Ken was a good house guest [2] and I was an acceptable host [3]. We went up to OKC to see Watchmen [4], to Galveston to visit a friend of his from the Navy, and to Austin to see South by Southwest. During the week, I worked and then came home and cooked. Ken ate everything I made, which is good [5].

All in all, it seems established that if he has to come live with me [6], it is do-able. The only thing we'll change is that he'll get the ground floor bedroom and I'll take the spare room upstairs.

John

[1] That started off as a weekend visit to him.

[2] Except for his habit of lying in front of the TV all day watching CNN Headline News. Come on - after fifteen minutes, it is simply a repeat. So why watch? I cured him of this by putting all of the news channels on my "parental block" list.

[3] I provided food, shelter, privacy, and opportunities to do things. Ken could take them or leave them as he chose.

[4] A great adaptation of a marvelous graphic novel that only the fanboys will like. There's too much layering and thought required. And the guy playing Ozymandius was so miscast... (Hey, guy  pick an accent and stick with it!)

[5] He also ate the pound of chocolates I left in his room and the four boxes of Girl Scout cookies I put out for him. For some reason, he had trouble getting his jeans fastened when he left...

[6] He is on long-term disability and gets both Social Security and insurance payments. But his medical bills eat up just about all of his income, which puts him in a precarious position. Being able to sell his place in Dallas and move here gives him options, whihc gives him peace of mind. Given the stress he's under with his illness, that's a good thing.

First the news: Ken is feeling lonely, so I'm going to drive up to Dallas and then drive him up to OKC for the weekend so we can both visit with John [1]. As always, my time is overbooked, so I doubt that I'll be dropping by anyone's house.

And now to brag: Since she is too damn shy to mention it, WenDragon just got a huge bonus and a huge raise. In any economic climate, that would be a good thing; in this, it just proves what a wonderful person she is. Yeah WenDragon!

John

[1] And I can visit with my grandmother, who is feeling lonely because my father (who normally goes by her place at least twice a week) is in Germany to visit with my brother (who is on short-term leave from Iraq - he has to go back in two weeks).

We really didn't see Juneau. At least Ken and I didn't - we split from John's crew and went to Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching, while they went on a dog-sled ride. We had more fun.

Mendenhall Glacier is a plateau glacier (a land-locked glacier) that stretches 12 miles to Mendenhall lake. Originally named Sitaantaagu ("the Glacier Behind the Town") or Aak'wtaaksit ("the Glacier Behind the Little Lake") by the Tlingit, it was christened Auk Glacier by John Muir for a local chief. It is currently named for a US government official.  It has shrunk 2.5 miles from its maximum (reached back in the 1700's), partly due to climate change. Since 1962, when the visitor observation center was established at the mouth of the glacier, it has moved back an additional 2,000 ft.

Mendenhall Glacier is located in the Tongass National Forest, whcih is the largest in the United States (17,000,000 acres). It is also one of the largest temperate rain forests in the world, and serves as a major sink for CO2. It was first established by Teddy Roosevelt at the urging of John Muir. Unfortunately, after WWII, clear cutting was permitted in the forest to the extent that now only 30% of the original old-growth trees remain.

Whale watching takes place in the straight. The boats are comfortable and fast, and the guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and incredibly enthusiastic about seeing whales. We saw about twelve whales, along with seals, sea lions, and bald eagles on the trip. Well worth the money [1].

John

[1] Please notice how I avoided using the obvious pun here!

If Icy Straight Point is Disneyland, then Skagway is Branson, Missouri. A main street (actually Broadway) of false-fronted restored buildings oozing "authentic frontier charm", each one filled with exactly the smae selection of tourist-trap gimcrackery and geegaws.

Located at the head of the Taiya Inlet, Skagway lies in the northernmost fjord on the Inside Passage.  The name means “windy place with white caps on the water”, and it lives up to its name. The town is less than two miles long, and lies in an old glacial cirque. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end of town to the other.

In 1896, gold was found in Canada’s nearby Klondike region. Less than a year later, the rush was on in Skagway, as more than 30,000 miners and adventurers swarmed the area. Most of those miners passed on to the further north using the "Dead Horse Trail" that started in the backyard of Billy Morgan, an early pioneer who had had his land stolen by the miners when they came. By 1898, Skagway was the largest city in Alaska with a population of nearly 10,000. It was also the most lawless city, with rampant vice and criminality, organized by Soapy Smith. Smith’s gang ran con-games, rolled miners, and the US Marshall’s office and a spy network. Soapy was shot to death by vigilantes on July 8, 1898, bringing an end to a more colorful period of Skagway’s history.

By 1910, the population had dropped to less than 900, where it remains today. The low population may be due in part to the law banning birth in Skagway, due to the scarcity of doctors. Other relics from this period include about 100 buildings in downtown Skagway and ads for local stores on the mountain face.

John

Passing by the Hubbard Glacier was the highlight of the trip. We spent most of the day on the balcony, watching the glacier calve [1] and drinking hot chocolate [2]. The glacier stretches 76 miles from Canada’s Mt Walsh to Disenchantment Bay in Alaska. It drops 11,000 ft in height and is over six miles wide where it meets the bay. It takes ice about 600 years to make the trip from the snowy mountains to the sea.

Hubbard Glacier is Alaska’s largest tidewater glacier (a glacier that flows into the sea). Joined by Valerie Glacier, it has been known to create ice-dams of Russel Fjord. In 1986, it formed an ice dam that lasted for six months before giving way in the second-largest glacial outburst flood in recorded history. Similar floods during the ice age scoured parts of Idaho and Oregon down to the bedrock, forming the channeled scablands.

The glacier will calve unexpectedly and frequently from below the waterline, creating new icebergs that pop out of the water like Venus arising from the foam. These icebergs can be as large as a ten story building and may become airborne. Thus, cruise ships must keep their distance, lest they re-enact the Titanic’s voyage. The boys didn't mind - they just enoyed watching it split apart.

John

[1] Break off small chunks, suitable for sinking ships.
[2] Free room service. Just another benefit of cruising!

Icy Straight Point was created as a compromise between the locals who wanted the cruise ship revenue, the locals who wanted to preserve the traditional ways, and the cruise ships, who wanted to have someplace to separate their passengers form their money. It is nearby to Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Huna Tlingit community on Chichagof Island.

The Huna Tlingit have lived in their “village by the cliff” (the meaning of Huna) for hundreds of years; a legend tells of  moving from a home in Glacier Bay that was destroyed by a glacier’s movement. The first European settlement happened in 1880, when the Northwest trading Company set up shop, followed by the Presbyterian Home Mission in 1881. (The US Post office didn’t arrive until 1901.) A cannery was established in 1912 and provided one of the underpinnings of the local economy (the other two were logging and gold). Sadly, all three resources began to dry up in the 60’s. Only with the creation of the port has the economy begun to revive.

Because they have you trapped here, the best model for Icy Straight Point is that of Disneyland in the old "E-ticket" days. Everything costs money [1]. And everything is sanitized - cleaned up fakes that shield your delicate tourist eyes from the brutal details of fish canning and logging and tribal life and such. But Ken and the kids enjoyed it, even if there was way too much shellfish around for my taste [2]. On the bright side, by arriving near the end of the season, all of the souvenirs were on sale. So a lot of my friends got things from here...

John

[1] For example, we spent $120 on lunch for six people. And then we spent another $120 for a 45 minute show.
[2] I.e., any.

The inside passage is a relatively safe cruising ground for ships. However, though the 10,000 islands of the Alexander Archipelago offer shelter from the worst of the weather, those same islands create tides and currents that are both strong and sudden. Sea level can vary by as much as 30 ft in some places, and currents can run as fast as 20 mph.

The inside passage stretches some 900 miles from British Columbia to Glacier Bay. It is nearly 100 miles wide, with more than 15,000 miles of coastline and thousands of coves, bays, and inlets. Despite the size of the inside passage, we almost always had at least one other cruise ship in sight - which should tell you something about its popularity!

It is also popular with whales. During the passage we spotted humpbacks several times. Others reported seeing orcas, but we had no such luck. Probably because we were busy exploring the ship...

John

This is a great city. The people are friendly, the taxis are (mostly) reliable, and the sites are great. The food is only so-so [1], but you can't have it all. We went to the aquarium, to Gastown [2], to Granville Island, and rode the trolley around Stanley Park [3]. The kids rode the train and got scared by the goats in the farmyard [4]. Nothing was more than about 1/2 mile walk away, whihc was Ken's limit. So the rat-bastard in the group made him walk everywhere. He slept well each night!

 If you want a family-friendly place to visit, this should be on your list.

John

[1] Hey, what do you expect? This is part of the British Empire, er, Commonwealth after all!
[2] Not nearly so scary in the day time as the guidebooks made it out to be.
[3] A great, FREE tour of the area. Simple, fun, and FREE. Did I mention that it was FREE? (Yes, I'm cheap.)
[4] And I discovered a neat way to frighten chickens. Now get your minds out of the gutter...