Sudoku Puzzles

We have two different varieties in the trees in our yard and we live within 1 mile of Hobart CBD.

They are so numerous in Tasmania that there is booming industry of export possum meat to Asia.

Heidi is not here - but if she ever reads this I want her to explain what exactly is drawing the wine cask along in her avatar picture today.
Are they miniature dogs?
It is an hilarious picture.

Perhaps they possums or even o-possums.

There I've managed to ignore all the profound comments on the site over the past couple of days.

I've told Gath who I think it is. Have you?

By the way Rayray, I loved the sheep poem. Succinct and allegorical.

Congratulations.

Poor Jelena Dokic had to withdraw due to a bad back. Perhaps she had been to Fiona's lunch and fell down in the grip of the grape.

The Gath's are one of the leading families in harness racing in Australia. I know both Andy and Kate. Uncle Brian is almost 70 and still one of the leading drivers in Australia.

Thanks saylz: I like that verse too. It is strange that the easiest poems to write are often the most fluent - that one reeled off in a minute or so without need for much editing of the scan.

POSSUM

There's a big-eyed possum:
high among Acacia blossum -
it stares in yellow-powdered grace -
from its pollinated face.
Unembarassed rounded eyes -
are on a face that never cries.
Somehow those eyes are bland,
and the more that they expand
so emotion seems to More...

A recent article in the NY Times discusses the growing frequency of hugging among teenagers in public schools. These are friendly, nonromantic hugs in most cases, but in some schools it's become enough of an issue that hugging has been banned. What does everyone think? Do people hug more today than, say, twenty years ago?

to you,
to you,
dear Mindy!!!
to you!
May your special day be wonderful with a and lots of !

to you,
to you,
dear Lauren!!!
to you!
May your special day be wonderful with a and lots of !

to you,
to you,
dear Fritzerman!!!
to you!
May your special day be wonderful with a and lots of More...

Glinda:
Hugging is great. However the big question is - will the grouchy dogs-in-manger sour-grapers soon be introducing a disease transmitted by hugging to stamp out what they regard as a disgusting activity?

Horah! A Shosho fanfare!

Glinda - they definately do hug more these days and it is a lovely show of affection. However for someone on my vintage, who was brought up to be more reserved with my feelings, it has not been as easy. I have learnt to do it and I think I hug my children more now that they are grown up than I More...

Too true Rayray!

Australian's hug in greeting more than New Zealanders. I found it quite disconcerting when I first arrived here. Can't comment on if hugging has increased in the last 20 years as I don't remember back that far.

Shosho: I meant HOORAH - not Horror !!

Obviously, Issabee, you are a young'un!

Shosho:
I meant HOORAH; not horror !!!!

Sorry I am finding it hard to persuade the site to post for me !
I think some AOL cookie is blocking my posts.

Like you CynB, I am from a relatively (compared to now)inhibited generation. Maybe hugging has more effect on us???

Not to worry, Rayray, if you heard my singing you would yelping "Horrors!"
Again this year I have been hijacked into playing the electric keyboard for a song - ah , something about "evil woman". Have no idea but all my protestations that I had been classically trained on the piano, have no idea of rock and roll have fallen on deaf ears.

Out here in California, we always hug! Ooooh Rayray, would I scandalize you if I greeted you with a hug?
Even Rob got one from me!

My students always expect a hug from me or a nose tweak or noogie. If I passed by them without any of the above, I get a hurt look. Children do rise up to the challenges of learning if they felt cared for by their instructors.

Noogie? Shosho, I've never heard of that. Please explain!

My son hugs me regularly. Usually when I've lent (given?) him money. Sadly I never hugged my father nor ever felt any desire to do so.

It's not the same as nookie in Australia I hope.

You take the your closed hand and rub it on the top of the head.

Aha, now we Aussies understand, Shosho.

Supposedly some will rub the knuckles of their closed fist rather hard on the head while grasping the head with the other arm. Boys here do that a lot with each other in a good natured way with friends. I would rather just pat their heads but I've had students take my hand and rub the top of More...

I wonder if it's not to late to toast the new bride? Darn when your work day gets in the way of having fun with the shenanigans here. Would like to offer wishes of a long happy union of wedded bliss to the couple. Billy, a toast to you

Why have we become (at least in the US and Oz, it seems) more hug-inclined?

Jill, so glad that you're ok and the bundle of joys is now here with us! Please give us details!!! That darn Karen tantalizes us with tidbits of news! Want more info!!!

All I know Glinda is that a hug is something to be avoided on a hot sticky day.
My father loved to hug me by putting his armpit over my face when he had been out working in the yard. Eewwww!

200?