Sudokuaholics Anonymous 2

to be crushed like a bug

the sentries are asleep. time for a general court-martial.

good grief, maybe I should post 38 more times. Then I'll look like the people on the Easy pages.

Topper, are you trying to be Libby or maybe Rosemary!

D#1 got home a short time ago. She said there wasn't much traffic. I thought she would hit alot around Boston. It took her about 4 hours. She got a bad burn though. She put on sunscreen but missed some spots and only reapplied it twice to the top of her back. It looks pretty bad. She's been putting aloe on it and also tried the tea I told her to try.

Where is everyone? I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Every time I stop by, I'm all alone. ''All by myself, don't want to be, all by myself, alone'' I haven't even gotten any messages on my page and I've visited lots of people. We need a pouty smilie. Is that an oxymoron?

Hi Stella. Where did you get the horse? It is beautifully decorated.

I left a short message on your page just so that you can at least say someone visited. You have way more posts that I do. Sob sob!

Now I am talking to myself!

Hi Lynda! The painted horses are displayed in the city of Saratoga Springs. They're part of an exhibit. Thry're placed all of the city in front of businesses or in the park.

What are they made of? What a lovely idea, they look so decorative and eye catching.

Each artist depicted a different theme. The one in front of the ice cream store has ice cream cones all over it. The one on my page is an old horse and it displays main street. The horse racing season starts in a few days and ends the first weekend in September so the city is known for horses and, a long time ago, its healing spas. The last time they had a horse exhibit, they auctioned off the horses at the end for charity. Some of the store owners bought them and kept them in front of their stores. I haven't seen all of the horses in the new exhibit yet.

You four siblings do look alike, peas in a pod as they say. My only sister is ten years older than me so we have nothing in common. Where was the picture taken? Love the stone wall.

I think the horses are mostly some kind of metal. There was one that was half in a store window and it might have been glass or plastic.

I just took some time out to visit Saratoga, what a lovely city, so much to see. Are you involved with horse sports at all? When I have more time I will have a more thorough look. Do you visit the Springs?

The picture was taken at Smuggler's Notch, Vermont. We'll be going there a week from Sunday. I suppose I should put a picture of my four brothers as well. I have to look for one.

Eight of you! Your mother must have been exhausted looking after you all! Is Smuggler's Notch a popular holiday place?

We used to visit the springs and geysers when people came to visit us but I haven't been in years. I'm not sure my kids have even been to them. We'll have to go. There is a huge abandoned horse farm near me. I always loved that place. It was a shame when they went bankrupt. The land is being sold and divided up. I've always loved horses but have never been involved with them. We like to go to the race track to watch all of the pretty horses.

Smuggler's Notch is a small private resort that my sister discovered over 30 years ago. Our two families always went on vacation together to split the cost. They bought a time share unit there about 15 years ago. We loved it because the kids were busy at the camp there all day, hiking, swimming, playing games. They had a ball while the adults had fun together. The units are like houses: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, full kitchen and a big living room with a pull out couch. In the winter they have skiing there. We've never had a bad time and they always have activities going on during the evening.

$20 on Sundaze in the fifth, and let's hope that this time, he doesn't show up at the starting gate on crutches...

Most of my life I have been involved with horses, now we just have two old retired ones. So you didn't take up riding?

I don't think that would be allowed Topper, surely they have vet checks in US!! Have you heard of MakybeDiva? She won the Melbourne Cup three times, never been done before.

Stella Smuggler's Notch sounds ideal for a family holiday, the only drawback I can see is that you still have to 'housekeep' so to speak.

Oh well, back on my own again.

They let horses run in the same race for several years in succession in Oz? The really big races in the US are strictly for three-year-olds, I believe.

Lynda, you do have to clean you place but they do have a linen service for fresh sheets and towels. There's everything you need there, a couple of restaurants, bar, teen center, video rentals, grocery store and clothing store. You really don't have to do much if you don't want to. We cook our meals together, taking turns. It's much cheaper that way.

the family that drinks together, sinks together...

Topper, what does that mean?

There are some specific races for first timers or a particular age group or sex. The capital city 'cups' don't have age restrictions. They do have to qualify by winnning races up to the time of the cup. If they win too well they get to carry very heavy weights. What happens to horses when they are over three in US? Glue factory?

I don't really know much about the horses, but I think once they win they are turned into a breeder.

Stella that is even better than I thought. I didn't know there were all those facilities available to you, they are much more basic here, a sort of home from home.

Stella, Lynda and Topper

Horses older than three continue racing in the US, but they are no longer eligible for the big, big races with the huge purses and all that goes with it.

''The family...'' line is a parody on the old pious saying, ''the family that prays together, stays together,''---just for those of us with savage senses of humor.

Hello Rola how's things? Did the birthday boy have a Happy Day? I am not so sure that Topper's intentions are honourable!!!! Probably waiting to pounce.

here we go...five or six left...who's going to start getting cute and hanging back? Or has TOPPing come to an end of its natural life?

and does he forgive you for blabbing to his workplace?

We probably say TOPPin is passe (I have no idea how to put the accent on the e), however we still try for it!

Guess I will up date the TOPP list..

Stay tuned..

ok, you tigresses...

I'll miss, I know it