What a week!

[ByteWrangler]

I'm sure it could be worse, but I hope I never find out.

Wednesday morning my brother-in-law was found dead in his apartment. He had diabetes and had been in pretty poor health for the past year, so it wasn't a surprise, but still a shock, if that makes any sense. He was reclusive, so we didn't see him more than a few times a year even though he lived only a few miles away.

After dealing with that all day, the McIntosh MC-250 amp I bought new in 1971 gave up that evening with a loud bang! from the speakers followed by hum and a slight whiff of the fragrance of burning electronics. Power supply, I suspect.

Sheesh! I'd say it doesn't pay to wake up some days, but on second thought, any day you do wake up may not be so bad after all.

Wife and her other brother have been spending most days, with me pitching in evenings, clearing out the apartment, which is extremely cluttered and filthy. They are cataloging probably 1,000 books, mostly sci-fi and fantasy from the 40s on, to see if there is any value there to help pay final expenses.

[jhal]

My condolences to you and your family. The amp sounds like a cap shorted and vented. Recap the whole amp and it will be good for 4 more decades.
Music is my escape from the stress of life. I would hate to have to go through the loss of a family member and then try to relax and ease the stress with some music just to have the stereo break on me. I feel for you brother.

[1980'slover]

im so sorry about your brother, and your amp, if you cant fix your amp i could give you my 1979 pioneer stereo sx-780 which looks new but it needs one light bulb for the display, and probley two new diodes because no music comes out of it, i polished the face and knobs on it and i cleaned the wood case, all it does now is sit in my closet collecting dust and i hate it sitting there. this can be a gift from me to you

[onepixel]

Condolences to your family and you.

Take care.

[Arkay]

Condolences to you and yours on the loss of your brother-in-law. You have my sympathy on the loss of the amp, too. Fortunately at least a dead amp can be brought back to life. No matter how close you were (or perhaps weren't, since he was reclusive) to your brother-in-law, it has to be a deeper loss for your wife... be there for her.

Death is always a reminder to treasure the life that we have, while we still have it. Honor the departed by remembering them, and by making the best of your life, each day.

I hope there is a valuable signatured first edition amongst the books that pays for everything. It's a sobering thought that when we pass on, someone else will paw through our belongings... makes me want to do some "spring housecleaning", just in case. :D

Music is my escape from the stress of life. I would hate to have to go through the loss of a family member and then try to relax and ease the stress with some music just to have the stereo break on me. I feel for you brother.

Very true. When I first heard the news that my mother had died, it was about four hours before I had to make a presentation in front of about twenty people, and I was "a bit of a mess" over the loss. I cranked up music --harder and louder than usual-- for three of those hours, and it helped. I knew my Mother wouldn't have wanted me to cancel the presentation, so I went through with it. Not sure I could have, without that music to help take the sharp edge off of the grief. Interestingly, it was a few years before I ever wanted to hear that music again, and it still brings back a little bit of those emotions. Music is powerful medicine, including for grief.

[stuwee]

I'm sure it could be worse, but I hope I never find out.

Wednesday morning my brother-in-law was found dead in his apartment. He had diabetes and had been in pretty poor health for the past year, so it wasn't a surprise, but still a shock, if that makes any sense. He was reclusive, so we didn't see him more than a few times a year even though he lived only a few miles away.

After dealing with that all day, the McIntosh MC-250 amp I bought new in 1971 gave up that evening with a loud bang! from the speakers followed by hum and a slight whiff of the fragrance of burning electronics. Power supply, I suspect.

Sheesh! I'd say it doesn't pay to wake up some days, but on second thought, any day you do wake up may not be so bad after all.

Wife and her other brother have been spending most days, with me pitching in evenings, clearing out the apartment, which is extremely cluttered and filthy. They are cataloging probably 1,000 books, mostly sci-fi and fantasy from the 40s on, to see if there is any value there to help pay final expenses.

You don't say where in OK you're at, but, if all this gets to much for all involved, this is where estate sales folks can possibly help. I would think, if the familiy doesn't mind the idea, that it wouldn't hurt to have someone come out and give an estimate on his treasures. Just a thought, peace to ya'll!
Craig

[ByteWrangler]

I really appreciate the thoughts. We're doing OK, and going through all his belongings is therapeutic. My wife varies between being sad and annoyed at the squalor.

Thanks for the very kind offer, '80's! By Saturday I had enough time (and energy) to disconnect everything and clip the spades off the (homebrew) speaker cables so the ends could be used with the C33 preamp's built-in 20W amp. That's enough for the time being with the super-efficient Klipschorns. We have tunes again! We did miss it before that, though, when we needed it most.

We play his motley collection of CDs when we are home - a mix of Gordon Lightfoot, Grateful Dead, Kingston Trio, Steeleye Span (lots and lots of Steeleye, much of which we have on LP but not CD), Eagles, Mozart, Copland, Dr. Demento and some others (who did "Walk Like an Egyptian"? I forget and I'm too lazy to go downstairs and check. [edit: just remembered...The Bangles]). Some of this makes us smile.

There is probably some value in the older SF books and magazines ("value" as in more than $10 per), and it does add up. Her brother has some skill seling on eBay, so he's researching what to put up there, and there's a sci-fi 'Con' in town this summer that attracts a fair number of book dealers. Both he and she enjoy sleuthing the value of collectibles, so they are actually looking forward to it, I think. So far no obvious "great finds" yet, but some promising-looking stuff for the right person. Any idea why someone who lived alone and never entertained would have 5 DVD players?

I'm looking at options for getting the Mc serviced, including Mr. DeWick. As someone said, no reason for it not to go for another four decades, and I already miss it.

Oh, yes... we're in Tulsa, Stu.

[RichPA]

Very sorry about your brother.

[SPL db]

So sorry to hear of your brother-in-law passing... :sadwave:

Scott

[Sandy G]

My condolences & if there's anything we can do...Don't hesitate to ask.