Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

CynB, hope you get to have a rest soon.
Theresa, hang in there girl.
I can imagine how hard it is to give up smoking.
I, on the other hand, may just take it up !!
I know my friend John that I do the crosswords with keeps trying to give it up, the last effort lasted as long as 6 weeks but then he started again.

June, I hope you too will find some me time.
You and CynB have been through the wringer emotionally lately. I feel for you both.

The Vet has been here. Dennis passed peacefully at home.
The Vet had some helpers, tho'. Patch, Timmy and Willow were all over him, snuggling, kissing and talking up a storm. He ended up rolling around on the ground with Patch, having a wrestling match. That definitely lightened up the visit.

Blessings for Dennis and Lady

{hugs} for you Heidi, I am pleased Dennis didn't have to go through the final torture of the trip to the vet. xoxo

Good morning all
Viv - what about seeing another doctor. That is just not good enough - Nov 30 is a loooong time to wait in such pain. They ought to walk (if they could) a mile in your shoes. Heartless B's!

RIP Dennis and Lady. (hugs) to Heidi.

Morning all,
I had a lovely day yesterday. I had lunch with three girl friends. I see one of them once a year when she travels down so her daughter can play soccer here - it's a long way from Bathurst! The other 2 I haven't seen for years!!! One of them has a daughter in year 10 who has been selected to represent Australia in the youth Olympics - steeple chase (I'm sure that's what they said, though I have no idea what it is with people) and 3000m. They're travelling over to Europe to compete a little later this year, and tacking a few weeks holiday onto the trip.

Afterwards I dropped in to get Dana some of the doughnuts she is craving (her morning sickness is much improved and she is able to eat again) and I picked up a shirt for Alie. I dropped in to see the grown daughter of one of my friends - she goes to Uni in Wollongong, and she is beautiful!! Both in looks and nature.

Broni, sending hugs your way. I hope your problems very soon become memories...

Tami, I have an update about Irene opening on another tab. I hope it is not as bad as it is forecast to be!! It sounds really really bad..

Cyn, I hope your weekend away is relaxing and enjoyable and you come back feeling a little better.

Julie, I had always assumed that your water aerobics were indoors. I hope your sunburn is a little less painful by now! It has been a long time since I've had a bad one, but I remember the pain! I even have an Aloe Vera plant growing out the front 'just in case'. Straight from the plant is gooey and messy and yuck, but it works! I loved your inspirations..

Heidi, I am so sorry about your family members... Hugs!!

Viv, sorry to hear you are 'routine'.. Good for you for finding an upside!! That would not have been easy to do when you are in such pain. Hugs.

Collie Rescue just got in another senior, who will be coming here. I know nothing about it yet.

The circle never ends ♥

Hello All,
I've been pretty busy for the last few days and little time to comment after reading...but wanted to send my condolences to Heidi on the loss of the dogs...a bitter pill. Good wishes for improved health to the ailing, congrats to Theresa on her continuing success w/o smoking, and hope for better, restful days for June and CynB.
V.V congrats on the well deserved awards, and you looked lovely for the awards dinner, but as someone mentioned, your pain was visible even tho you did a great job trying to cover it up. Sorry you have to wait so long to see the doctor because he considers your pain to be routine...grrrr. He wouldn't feel that way if he was hurting I bet.

We are gearing up for Hurricane Irene...mass transit will completely shut down for the first time ever and we are told to expect winds up to a 100 mph. Flooding and drenching rains inland, ...shore points will be worse...hope these predictions don't hold up, but it's best to prepare for the worse.
I'm in good shape, just hope I don't lose power for an extended period. I have charged machines that will allow me to have music, light, and good reading and movies,all of my necessary meds and plenty of food, and my cell(mobile) phone. Jazz also has plenty of every thing except I would love to have some doggie diapers(nappies) so we wouldn't even have to concern ourselves with that need...oh well, we'll make do somehow. Our grounds are saturated since this has been the rainiest month on record and trees may well fall in record numbers...my car is garaged and safe I think.
Glad to see Julie has finally caught up a bit so we can look forward to more frequent visits...goodie! Okay all, take care, stay safe and make today better than yesterday if you can...Peace!

Take care Mama and Tami, and all your families who are in harm's way xoxo

I seem to be following Gail about reiterating what she has just said (lol) - I agree, take care Mama and anyone else in Irene's path. As you may remember, we Queenslanders had to deal with Cyclone Yasi hitting the coast of Northern Qld early this year. We were lucky that it missed the cities up there but it tore through some smaller towns which are still rebuilding and recovering. Fingers crossed that Irene reduces in strength rapidly.

Cyn said it better though :)

The hurricane is well north of Tami now, she is in no danger. It passed by Florida while the eye was well out to sea. They got some rain from the outer bands is about all.

At the moment it is a cat 2 hurricane, and will make landfall in North Carolina by morning. It will loose strength as it crosses land, and be a tropical storm hopefully as it makes second n-landfall further North.

Mama, hope all will be well with you. My geography is not good, cannot make out your state on the map, but hope you only get some rain and not much wind or flooding.

Time for me to sign off for the night, Hugs to each of you, with extras. Till tomorrow.

Greetings and Salutations to one and all!

Heidi, I am SO sorry that things have taken the turn they have. It's hard enough to lose Lady in her sleep (so glad it must have been peaceful), but to wake to find that AND the need to end Dennis' pain is just too much to ask! So much sadness, as they were very special dogs! Huge {{{{HUGS}}}} to you, Honey!

MizT, great news about your stress test!

Viv, I guess it's good to know that your back problems are "routine." So sorry you will need to wait until after the New Year, but as you said, there is a silver lining in being able to take and deliver the Christmas orders!

Heidi, the circle of life is so apparent in your life. So, you will be receiving another aged rescue collie. I hope it makes a quick adjustment and brings much pleasure to your life! Thinking of you! Loved the story of the vet wrestling on the ground with Patch. Sometimes animals (and young children) have a way of knowing just how to lighten a moment!

Haven't had a chance to see news or weather this evening. I hope the coastal areas are well prepared for Irene's arrival! Praying for only minor destruction and safety for all! Thinking of those who will be affected!

Suzy, our health club has both an indoor pool (4.5 feet at its deepest) and an outdoor pool. The outdoor pool usually opens the end of May. A couple of years ago they changed from closing it the first weekend of September until the end of September. This year it opened May 1 (we had class outside with temps in the high 60's because it's a heated pool) and will stay open into October, weather permitting. Water aerobics classes are just SO much nicer outside with the sky over our heads and no walls enclosing us! The land to the south of the pool is a forest preserve, so we can see and hear birds in the trees, and occasionally watch deer walk by. Nearly half of the pool goes from 5 feet deep to about 9.5 feet deep, so we can do deep-water exercises. Plus, they can use a different chlorine outside, which is milder on skin and swimsuits. This is the first summer offering the 12:30 classes outside. (The 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. have been outside, weather permitting, during the summer since we have been members.)

Suzy, I'm glad to hear that Dana's morning sickness has improved. I hope she enjoyed the donuts you got for her!

I hope June and Cyn are both getting some much needed rest and relaxation! Thinking of you both and your families!

Hope all is well with MizT and Al!

Mamacita, I hope the predictions are highly inaccurate as to what to expect from Irene! I hope you and Jazz are both feeling better!

I need to head to bed, as we have an early morning tomorrow! I'm sending lots of , positive thoughts, prayers and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for each of you! May today and the coming days be your best ever!

I've just read that Irene is now cat 1, which is still pretty bad but not as bad as it was... I hope it continues to weaken!!

I read that too Suzy.

Afternoon everyone.

Been a tad busy..
Getting organised for the Family Birthday Dinner this evening.
Celebrating Boy #1 25th Birthday and Mum's 92nd.
On the MenuDutch Soup, Lasange and Salad, Garlic Bread, Lemon Meringue Pie

We hope to skype with Boy #2...
a good opportunity for the 2 Grandmas have a chat with their Grandson.

Heidi.. sorry about your two pooches.

Those in Irene path.. stay safe ♥

Oh no The Cats lost!!!!!

Morning all. Coffee is ready. Hubby made it this morning but it is good.

Irene completely bypassed me. Just had a little rain on Thursday from the outer bands. It has reduced to a cat 1 but will still cause damage. Public transport is being shut down up north. I am worried about NY and the subway system. They could flood. My best wishes for Mama and anyone else in the Northeast. It sounds like Mama is well prepared.

Morning friends. Another hot and sunny start to our day. I did not get up early enough to enjoy the high 60's temps that were our lows overnight. Temps up up up as the sun came up.

I have forgotten to tell you a funny thing I saw other day. On way home from the tests on Thursday, having missed lunch, I stopped for a pineapple mango smoothie. Took my treat and went to park by the river to enjoy it. I saw an older couple across the water, along the pathway, with a young boxer. Woman had the dog on a leash, the man was collecting something from the grass area, I could not see what. When he had a handful, he unleashed the dog, who went down the bank to the water, but stopped short of going in. Kept looking eagerly at the man for direction it seemed. The man walked down the bank to stand at water's edge, and then tossed something into the water. I could now see, he had collected a good handful of rocks of a certain size. The dog watched him closely, followed the toss with her eyes, then dove and splashed her way into the water. Next, she dove under, just where the rock had gone in, and nothing but her wagging tail was above water. she came up, went to the shore shook herself and watched the man again. He would try to fake her off, pretending to throw, but she was not fooled. He continued to toss rocks, she continued to dive. THEN she came up with something in her mouth, a fist sized rock she had found on the river bed. This continued the entire time I was there, toss rocks, run into water, swim out, dive, swim in and run up the bank again. The dog was getting a real workout and loving every minute of it. She continued to occasionally return with a fist sized rock (the man was tossing walnut sized rocks). It was just so funny and totally entertaining, watching her dive. OK, maybe I am easily entertained.

Hi All...Thanks for the good wishes... I'm just sitting here watching the world go by...Its so very still. No wind, not even a stiff breeze occasionally. It isn't raining at the moment, but walking on the grass is like walking on a full sponge...not a good feeling at all. The sky is gray and so very little traffic of people, cars or animals....it's as if the birds have also taken shelter somewhere... guess this might be called the calm before the storm...
MzT, I'm located between Philadelphia and New York. Pennsylvania is a really large state, but we are often overlooked due to our nearness to the great state of New York by the news media...no real problem for me.We are boarded by New Jersey and Delaware to our south.New York is to our north. and we are north of Fla, and the Carolinas( North and South)...perhaps you can locate us now...Of course I've just stated all of that from the mind of some old lady and w/o the guide of any maps, but think it may help...lol.
Oh, Tami, our subway system has also been shut down for the same reason as N.Y's...first time in our history also...
May today be brighter than yesterday and all are able to enjoy the gift of life! Peace.

Mama, I will be thinking of you. It sounds like you have very good plans in place. {{{HUGS}}}

MizT.... I would have sat there the entire time, too, absolutely mesmerized. It's fun to watch so much joy in life.

It's a nice, cool day.... 78℉ / 25.5℃ so I'm heading off for a drive in a few minutes. IH and his cousin Don are golfing. I'd rather fool with horses.

Mama, I didn't realize you had a subway system. I am used to Florida. We can't dig a subway or basement. We would hit water. Stay safe.

I'd like to go back to bed and start the last two years over again .....

Why, Theresa? Wasn't it bad enough the first time? Why go through it again?

We had a delightful drive. We did 8 miles at a brisk trot. I think next weekend I'll take him into town and drive him up and down the parade route to get him used to it.

Heidi, when is the parade?? I know you and Challenger will be a great addition to the parade.

Yes, we have to go through it again. Don't know if I can .......

{hugs} Theresa ♥

YES YOU CAN

With the heart procedure coming up, with trying to quit smoking, I just don't feel very strong right now. Why does this have to happen so soon? Cardiologist said not to over-exert myself - maybe someone should tell my life that.

Sorry guys, just really feeling down. Sometimes it sucks to be me.

Morning all,
Theresa, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods...

Mamacita, I'd love to hear that you are safe!

MizT, pineapple mango smoothies sound delicious! And the dog diving for stones would have been fun and sweet to watch.. I would have enjoyed that too!!