Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.

Ayn Rand

My students usually line up well. The alternative is holding my hand. They usually don't want to do that. Today should be an easy day. I have to take my students to have their ID pictures taken. That will waste at least half my class time.

Signing off now, getting up VERY early in the morning to catch a plane to Adelaide for my high school reunion. Should be a hoot!
Speak to you Sunday xoxo

All in my thoughts

Home from the Rock Eisteddfod. Not sure if I appreciate music so loud it makes my chest vibrate! I must admit there were some very talented dances. Belinda's lot came 5th. The one that came second is a private Girls school on the upper North Shore (exclusive) and all the girls looks as though they had all learned ballet or some type of dance. Belinda is an art teacher, has never learned dance or choreography, costume design or anything like that. her school is borderline socio-economic (if that is the term) so I think their achievement was first class. The dance was based on Goya's painting "The sleep of reason produces monsters"

Thinking of Tricia and Al.

I am off to bed. Laura was with us tonight and she has a Physi competition in the morning. I will have to get her up and get her ready. (hair, make up etc)

No word yet from MizT's sister. "They" say that no news is good news.

A nest of baby lovebirds is hatching! The first egg of 6 has hatched. Mama is a normal peachfaced split for lutino and dad is a blue pied also split for lutino. Previously, they've produced lutino and cremino babies.

Off to go pick up the finish mower. They had to do some major repairs involving welding. I suspect Robert ran over some large branches with it. He keeps forgetting that it's not a bush hog (designed to mow down brush up to 2 inches in diameter).

Hi everyone.
I have had a few days off sick but am on the mend now.
Hope to be back shortly.

Nola, glad to see you posting and that you are feeling better.

on Al.
"Al's surgery went well. They won't have results on the biopsy until next week. He will be spending a day or two in one of the ICU units, probably Surgery, if they have a bed there. Doc said he'd be in the hospital until at least early next week."

I'm trying to get signed up for the parade on Oct 1st. The people doing the signing up are volunteers and have no set schedule to be in their office. I did learn that I have to have a contraption to put behind the horse to catch all his horse apples, unless I want to go at the end of the parade. Which I don't. I just let my fingers do the walking on the internet and found one to attach to the surrey.

Morning everyone.

Thanks for the Update Heidi
(have messaged CynB the update)

Good maEn everyone! Thanks for the update on Al Heidi...will keep him & Tricia in my prayers.
FINALLY cooled off last night. Had the windows
open for the first time in over a month.
Love & Hugs to all, with extras!! TTFN

Hi all. I am going to call it an early night. Hubby is going to pick Mitchell up at basketball practice. I am going to put my feet up and watch tv. See you all in the morning.

I will be picking up another rescue collie tomorrow. This one will be temporary only, just until I can get him to the home of our rescue group leader.

Afternoon all,
I keep popping in to look for Al updates but just realised I hadn't posted yet!

Sending more thoughts and wishes across the cyberwaves to Al and MizT. Does anyone know if this is the same hospital so we can send a get well card?

June, congratulations to Belinda's group and to Belinda! A wonderful achievement, but especially wonderful considering her lack of training and the area she lives in!!

School last week was a bit better, I had my first class where everyone was on task at the same time!! They're only year 7 so haven't learned bad habits yet.

Especially good for me was that all of my lessons were upstairs this time. I did the stairs so many times that by last period yesterday I could hardly lift my legs. Had to be good for me, right?

Nola, great to see you pop in..

I believe that it's the same hospital, Suzy.

Good Late Evening to Everyone! It's nearly midnight.

Oo, oo, Tami, am I too late for the brownies? Darn!

Gail, I hope Chloe is enjoying herself, but more importantly, I hope you are enjoying yourself at the reunion!

Tami, I like your TOPP on this page! In some areas there's way too much competition and not enough cooperation. I hope your students demonstrated cooperation while having their pictures taken!

June, congratulations to Belinda and her students. Seems like they did extremely well, all things considered! I hope Laura does well in her competition!

Woo Hoo, Heidi! Congratulations on the new lovebirds!

Nola, so sorry you have been sick! It's no funny being under the weather. I hope you are well on the way to a complete recovery!

Heidi, thank you so much for relaying the message from MizT's sister! Keeping MizT and Al in my thoughts and prayers and hoping all is well!

Heidi, I hope you are able to get prime placement in the parade!

Suzanne, I'm glad it is finally cooling down a bit for you! Wish I could say the same for most of Texas, where D is sweltering!

Tami, I hope you had a restful evening and enjoyed having your feet up!

Rolanda, thanks for sending the news about Al and MizT on to Cyn!

, prayers, positive thoughts and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for each and every one of you and your families and friends! I apologize for missing anyone in my comments - just really need to get to bed! Good Night, Everyone!

Morning all. Coffee is ready, help yourself.

Julie, did you get your brownie last night. I brought home the leftovers. The beastie boys were so happy, usually there are no leftovers.

Continued good thoughts going out to Al, Tricia, and everyone else who needs them.

Sending {{{{HUGS}}}} to all who want or need one.

Gotta run. I am going on a special shopping trip. First stop is free. Earlier in the summer I did inventory at the school board "supply store" It is for teachers at low income schools. Since I did inventory, I get the first invite to shop. Mitchell is going with me.

After that I will spend money. Have to restock the freezer.

about Al....

"He's still in ICU. Had a good night. Still no mention of when he came home.

Tricia is going up for afternoon visits."

I'm leaving in 45 minutes to pick up the new rescue .... who will be transfered ASAP.... because Angel has come in season (and will be bred to Patch... the reason I bought her) and this new rescue is an intact adult male. Oh, such excitement. I want puppies, but not the wrong puppies.

OK... It's gotten saner. Dexter (the rescue) will not be setting paw on my property. I'm picking him up an hour north of here, then heading south of here to meet our fearless leader who will take him. I'm doing a shuttle service only. Thank the gods.

Morning all. We had an excellent day yesterday. Instead of a picnic we pulled a Gail. Then we did the same thing for supper. Is supper still called pulling a Gail, or is that only lunch?

Thinking of MizT and Al.

Heidi, glad the male didn't have to come to your place.

Feels-like temp of 31C already - I am sweating profusely already. I might have to turn the AC on for a little while after.

D's surgery has been scheduled for October 20. At least she's not on a long waiting list.

Theresa, glad you had a great day with the hubby. You deserve it. Also glad that D is having surgery sooner rather than later.

I had a fun time shopping. Got lots of arts and crafts supplies for the club I am sponsoring. I have a zero budget so it is whatever I can beg, borrow or steal I got pompoms, beads, two hot glue guns and extra glue sticks, craft glue and then a few other things for my classroom. It is a good start for supplies.

Back from doing my good deed for the day. Dexter is a lovely boy with a fantastic personality. He'll be very easy to place in a good home.

Heidi, glad that all went well and Dexter was delivered safely.

Good mAen everyone. Just popping in. Continued get well wishes for Al and whoever else needs them.
Heidi: Good luck with the lovebirds and the rescue collie.
TTT: Sounds like you did well with your shopping for school.
Weather here is loverly!! Mid 80's during the day and mid 50's to low 60's at night... LOVE it!!! Not looking forward to our next power bill YIKES!!!
That's about all for now. Love & Hugs & etcetera!! TTFN

Theresa, how wonderful your day sounded. Yes, dinner out can also be called 'doing a gail' (please note, as a verb it is lower case g! lol) Well deserved.

Well folks, I am home, and after 5 hours of sleep in the last I almost feel human again! I woke up this morning and can't for the life of me get back to sleep, so I have been doing a debrief of the reunion on FB! I was not the one who organised it, but I ended up being the bossy b!tch yesterday, herding everyone into their 'year started' for photos! Can't help myself, think it's the Aries in me!

Everyone had a great time, over 80 people turned up, which was about double what anyone expected. All said they knew others who either couldn't come this time, or who weren't overly interested but will wish they had come once they hear how great it was...that will at least double the number for next time! We hope to make it an annual event, maybe closer to the start of the year in future.

My experience of the day... I had my alarm set for 4am yesterday morning, so I had enough time to shower, get ready and be at the airport for a 7am flight. All good except I woke up at 3.30 and couldn't get back to sleep due to this blasted cold! So I got up. It meant I got to the airport with plenty of time to spare, which I much prefer anyway. The flight was ok, bit bumpy on take-off and landing, but the touchdown was the hardest I have ever experienced! Thump
Caught a taxi to Bill's place and had brekky with him, so that was nice. He lent me his car for the day which was wonderful, meant I didn't have to hire a car so that made it all a lot easier.
I picked up my brother and we went to the pub where the reunion was being held. As we got nearer, my brother started acting like a kid on Christmas morning, he was so excited! Let me just say here that my brother is four years OLDER than me!!!
Had a great time, in my capacity as the bossy one, I had the opportunity to chat with just about everyine, so that was great.
A quick bit of history about the event... Our school closed in the early 90s I think, even though it was only a relatively new school, having started in 71. Originally the reunion was for the very early years of the school, but it was soon opened up to any past student, whatever the year they started, so there was a cross-section of all the years represented yesterday. There were some there who were in the very first student intake right through to some who would have been the last ones who were able to complete their schooling there.

I can't believe that you flew with a cold, Gail. I hope you don't pay for it.

Anyhoo, I digress. Bro and I left the reunion about 4.30 (it started around 1) as he and his wife had another party to go to that night. Dropped him off, returned Bill's car to him, and he dropped me off at the airport for my return flight home...a flight I never want to experience again!!! We boarded on time and It looked like it was going to be an almost empty plane, when the steward mentioned that we were waiting on passengers who were coming from a connecting flight that couldn't land due to the windy conditions...that didn't bode well for our flight either! They did eventually arrive, not too long after our scheduled departure time, and we were off.
Well...bumpiest take-off ever, with lots of windshear and turbulence. The flight itself wasn't too bad, then I realised the refreshments trolley hadn't come around, I wasn't going to have anything anyway, but it breaks up the monotony. I was sitting in the aisle seat so had a looksee, and realised all the staff were attending this poor girl who was not coping well at all. They really earned their pay that flight! She was very sick, and they were cleaning her up and mopping her brow etc, it was very sweet. They moved passengers around so they could give her more space, and even ended up giving her oxygen. They tried to bring the drinks trolley around, but by that time we were already descending, and it got VERY choppy again going down, so they had to stow it for safety's sake.
How choppy was it? I have never been so happy to be back on terra firma as I was at the end of that flight! I almost kissed the ground!
I got back to my car and prepared myself for the long drive home. By this time I was pretty exhausted and wasn't expecting to be home till half past midnight. Then I got to the traffic jam from h*ll. Roadworks on the freeway, four lanes closed to one! Where did all these people come from, and what were they doing on the road at that hour! Why is it that even though it was all clearly signposted, everyone leaves their merging till the last possible second? So irritating! The hold-up was all due to the last minute lane changers, because as soon as we hit the actual roadworks in the single lane, the speed increased immediately. So irritating! Luckily it only added a half hour to the trip, but after a very long day, that was time I didn't want to waste.

I am at the end of the cold Heidi, I almost contemplated not going last Wednesday, and if I felt I was still contagious I certainly wouldn't have, but I knew I was on the mend by Thursday so went ahead with the plans.

Morning all,
Gail and Theresa, both of your days sound fantastic! I'm so glad for both of you!! You both deserve it.

MizT, sending more thoughts across the cyber waves to you and Al. I've sent a card and hope it reaches Al..

Tami, your shopping trip sounds wonderful! I'm always astounded at how much of teachers' supplies they pay for themselves! Theoretically there is a supply, but it's not enough...

Well I think it's about time I woke everyone up. At this rate Father's Day will be over before it starts!!

And so we come to the end of the saga, sorry about the long posts, but it was more to get it out of my thoughts, rather than to bore you all rigid! Should have said at the beginning, feel free to skip!
It is now 10am on Sunday, Father's Day here, the reason I came straight home. I have been awake for a couple of hours, after falling into bed about 1.30 last night.
I will get up shortly and make Mr Snorey next to me a cuppa, the least I can do for the wonderful father of my four beautiful children.
Today is a day of not doing much at all, I am just about done in I reckon.
Thanks for letting me blurt my day :)

Thank you for all the updates Heidi, Al and MizT have been in my thoughts a lot, hope he recovers well, and the results are good. Please pass on my thoughts in your replies.

Just had a bit of a giggle - Dana has been babysitting for a couple almost every Saturday night. The little boy is about 6 months old and teething. I just heard a baby screaming it's lungs out and I figured she was babysitting again and woken several hours before her preferred time!! Wish this had happened a lot more a few months ago.....