Jim Reeves (Rusty's supervisor for whom he made the Superman chainmail) has posted a lot of pictures regarding Rusty here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jreevesjr/StanleyRustyPickle?feat=email#
Also, I recently received condolence from someone on Thumbertalk, who directed me to a forum Rusty started: http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=764367 regarding his belief that he should keep his brights on all the time at night when on the motorcycle. On page 9 this person informed everyone of the accident, and everyone offered sympathy.
In keeping with his legacy, I'd like to continue to update this blog regarding Amtgard. To put it simply, Amtgard is an organization that's very Renaissance-based in which people get together with foam weapons and engage in battle. It's a really great way to manage stress, because you get to hit people, and no one gets hurt! Rusty was in the process of bringing it to Des Moines, and had planned on meeting up with another Amtgard group... somewhere in Iowa the weekend after he passed, to try and get them to show us what it's like.
If you're interrested, please let Robert Poland know at RobertPoland@mchsi.com. I think right now we're just looking at a head-count.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Aftermath
I'm very happy with the visitation.
That morning his Grandma said, "Now don't be surprised if not many people show up. You know how people are; say they'll come, then they don't come." I just smiled in response.
The family later confessed that they were only expecting maybe 10 people to show up. They must have been overwhelmed with the turnout! There were only 82 signatures in the guest book, so we know not everyone signed. A group of Mediacom friends toasted him a block away, and I got a limited edition can of Jones Soda from it.
Everyone was very impressed with the slideshow I put together, saying I have such talent. I was very happy that my college roomate, Chris could make it, and I told her that everyone liked the pictures she took of me and Rusty, which I took from Facebook.
It was eirie seeing Rusty's body for the final time. Since it feels like he's always beside me, it looked like it was just an empty shell, though some of his siblings refused to go into that room. Other people said he looked like he was just sleeping, but I saw that his eyes and nose were a little sunken compared to when I last saw the body. People noticed that he was too large for the display cascet, and I explained that he won't be cremated in it.
The socializing is a blur of many people saying to me, "If you need anything, give me a call," and me taking out my phone and getting their number for the first time.
It's like he built this huge support system just for me. In the meantime, I'm burning discs for those that want a copy of the DVD.
That morning his Grandma said, "Now don't be surprised if not many people show up. You know how people are; say they'll come, then they don't come." I just smiled in response.
The family later confessed that they were only expecting maybe 10 people to show up. They must have been overwhelmed with the turnout! There were only 82 signatures in the guest book, so we know not everyone signed. A group of Mediacom friends toasted him a block away, and I got a limited edition can of Jones Soda from it.
Everyone was very impressed with the slideshow I put together, saying I have such talent. I was very happy that my college roomate, Chris could make it, and I told her that everyone liked the pictures she took of me and Rusty, which I took from Facebook.
It was eirie seeing Rusty's body for the final time. Since it feels like he's always beside me, it looked like it was just an empty shell, though some of his siblings refused to go into that room. Other people said he looked like he was just sleeping, but I saw that his eyes and nose were a little sunken compared to when I last saw the body. People noticed that he was too large for the display cascet, and I explained that he won't be cremated in it.
The socializing is a blur of many people saying to me, "If you need anything, give me a call," and me taking out my phone and getting their number for the first time.
It's like he built this huge support system just for me. In the meantime, I'm burning discs for those that want a copy of the DVD.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
I Love My In-Laws
Just an update to let everyone know I'm still doing OK. I've only cried a few times today, so I may be able to handle working tomorrow.. assuming I still have a job. (I called in yesterday at 11, when I should have been there at 7.) I'll find out. If they fire me after this, it's not a place I ought to be anyway. Oh well.
We're not thinking about suing anyone about the helmet any more. Even the detective says no helmet can save someone at 50 miles per hour.
It's been nice getting to know my new family. I was nervous to meet his brother, Jason, because everyone says he's a spitting image of Rusty, but I can see the differences; his brow doesn't come forward as much, and his hair is much lighter and more monotone, and there's something different about the shape of his chin, I think.. like it's not as square, or it doesn't stick out as much.
Rusty's siblings (and cousin, Tracy) and I went to Pella to see the tulips. Only about half of them were blooming, but it's still pretty. Then Cathy (his mom) called and told us we were under a tornado watch, so we came back home to Cathy's house. No tornados.
We had the family viewing, to which my mom, step-dad, sister and niece was invited. I was included in the big decision-making that involved only his two biological parents and myself. We couldn't find a renaissance-themed urn. I mentioned his beer mug, which has a lid, and the woman at the funeral home said to wait until we know how many ashes. (I was excited to find an urn that's biodegradable, designed to have a tree planted in the ashes, and the tree eventually outgrowing the urn. I would want one like that, if I had to choose for myself. I've had such pleasure with paper products; books and art, it seems fitting to feed a tree.)
The Des Moines Register charges $4 PER LINE for obituaries, so we passed on that, and settled for a page on their website, in which it says the visitation will be Wednesday, but it is on Tuesday. (Also, my name is spelled Geisler, not Giesler, as it's written. I didn't even notice; my mom did. It was my mistake.)
I also designed the cards we'll be handing out Tuesday. They're gorgeous, and I'll probably post them on Deviantart. The family says the same thing I've heard from many other people; You've got talent, you can make some money doing this. Rusty always said, "Rae, if I only had half the talent and skill you have..." so I felt pressed to design them myself when we discussed these things at the funeral home. We haven't printed them yet, but I'll send one to any who request it. rmgeisler@gmail.com
Yesterday I found out I have a voicemail message from Rusty. The first thing he says is "I love you."
We're not thinking about suing anyone about the helmet any more. Even the detective says no helmet can save someone at 50 miles per hour.
It's been nice getting to know my new family. I was nervous to meet his brother, Jason, because everyone says he's a spitting image of Rusty, but I can see the differences; his brow doesn't come forward as much, and his hair is much lighter and more monotone, and there's something different about the shape of his chin, I think.. like it's not as square, or it doesn't stick out as much.
Rusty's siblings (and cousin, Tracy) and I went to Pella to see the tulips. Only about half of them were blooming, but it's still pretty. Then Cathy (his mom) called and told us we were under a tornado watch, so we came back home to Cathy's house. No tornados.
We had the family viewing, to which my mom, step-dad, sister and niece was invited. I was included in the big decision-making that involved only his two biological parents and myself. We couldn't find a renaissance-themed urn. I mentioned his beer mug, which has a lid, and the woman at the funeral home said to wait until we know how many ashes. (I was excited to find an urn that's biodegradable, designed to have a tree planted in the ashes, and the tree eventually outgrowing the urn. I would want one like that, if I had to choose for myself. I've had such pleasure with paper products; books and art, it seems fitting to feed a tree.)
The Des Moines Register charges $4 PER LINE for obituaries, so we passed on that, and settled for a page on their website, in which it says the visitation will be Wednesday, but it is on Tuesday. (Also, my name is spelled Geisler, not Giesler, as it's written. I didn't even notice; my mom did. It was my mistake.)
I also designed the cards we'll be handing out Tuesday. They're gorgeous, and I'll probably post them on Deviantart. The family says the same thing I've heard from many other people; You've got talent, you can make some money doing this. Rusty always said, "Rae, if I only had half the talent and skill you have..." so I felt pressed to design them myself when we discussed these things at the funeral home. We haven't printed them yet, but I'll send one to any who request it. rmgeisler@gmail.com
Yesterday I found out I have a voicemail message from Rusty. The first thing he says is "I love you."
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