Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he(or she) doesn't feel you've done a permanent job.

Laurence J. Peter

Feeling a little less sore today, but it may take a few days to feel back to normal. At least the worst of the pain is gone.

Good morning all.
Heidi,glad that this epidural should be a lot better than the last.Loved hearing about the service dog Leo.
Cyn..hope Lachlan has a fantastic time in Japan.Poor Mum may not enjoy her holiday though if she worries about him.
Suzy..hope the blahs leave you soon.
Julie..the Surreal farm guests can listen to you play the cello.Have you played other instruments as well.?
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and wishes in regard to Judy.You could have knocked me over with a feather when she said it was all gone.
I hope you all have a great day/evening.
Bye for now.

A quiet day here in Sudokuland. A quiet day here, too.

Quiet is good...no news means we get to celebrate joy ....Go forth ladies and enjoy the Peace...
Blessings to all

Morning all,
I'm going to try to catch up today...

June's topp on page 214 was brilliant and I think exactly hit on why I have the blaas right now. I'm having a great deal of trouble reconciling my love with Dana for my extreme distaste for the way she has chosen to live her life. It's kind of like Gail said, I love her, it's in the rule book, but I don't like her very much. Anyway, the topp made me cry.

June, I hope you get to go to Vietnam! What an amazing stress reliever that would be. And well earned.. I'm so glad the doctor was able to help you and hope you are feeling better every day.

Mamacita, I'm so glad you had the great positive experiences to balance the bad. That would have been difficult to say the least!! I breathed a sigh of relief for you when Jaz came good.

MizT, although I haven't been posting you and Al have been constantly in my thoughts. He is very lucky to have a proactive, knowledgeable and caring person like you looking after him. I love your capital letters reminding you to eat! You're no good to him if you collapse.

Gail, what is Hannah interested in studying at TAFE? I hope Chloe loves her independence - there should be a tongue in cheek smilie...

Brenda, I think I would much rather do almost anything than watch cricket. Thank goodness I didn't have boys!

MizT, your sister sounds very helpful, but would it have been better for you to leave the extra sorting tasks undone and have some time to re-energize? Your pipe bomb story is incredible and scary. The world definitely is a different place. Did I comment before on the scouting? It does seem all upside down that father figures are needed to get them into scouts.. I'm hoping there is another update before I get to the end of the posts. Your one about the 'after tests' call has me a little worried.

Cyn, I hope there's a ceremony update coming up...

I do have an 'old guard' comment. I have also been involved in things where people have changed things just to make them 'theirs' and the changes have not been for the better. If the motivation is to improve things it usually works. If the motivation is to prove how wonderful you are then it rarely does. I know Col falls into the former category and so I hope he is able to make some headway against the brick wall..

I'm being serenaded while I type this and it is making it hard to concentrate. The serenader is actually asleep but I have the recordings on my lap top. She'd roll her eyes at me if she was awake.

Cyn, how exciting for Lachlan! He'd be already gone now. I hope there's another update coming as I read on...

I don't think there's a 'growing up in..' for my home town, but there are some 'likes', usually about rat's tails, criminality and pushing trolleys. You know you're from X when... sort of thing.

I know it's days old news now but I didn't watch any of the 9-11 stuff either. It was hard enough the first time! We were watching a movie and when it fini

Good evening. Took the grandies out for supper tonight and then visited with them for a couple of hours. I just got home. Hubby is working tonight. Should maybe do some swearing, but I don't feel like it.

Knew that would happen!

I know it's days old news now but I didn't watch any of the 9-11 stuff either. It was hard enough the first time! We were watching a movie and when it finished I flipped channels to see if anything else was on or if I should go to bed. At first I thought the news was a disaster movie, then worked out it was real, just in time to see the second plane hit. It's just as hard to think about now as it was to watch then!

Tami, are you enjoying teaching your new subject? I hope so because a big part of your day is taken up doing it.. I found the something fun to do and will be telling you all about it in about 20 minutes. That's how long youtube says there is to go..

Suzanne, so glad you made a decision about Mary Kay, now you can work out where to go from here.

Julie, you commented on kudos to 'tough' teachers. I saw a sound bite here, missed the story though, about Sydney teachers being worried about their life being tougher now that they are not allowed to yell at students. There were times I had to yell to be heard!! Usually when trying to get the whole class's attention.

Viv, 5 days until the MRI!! I hope it tells the docs there is something very effective that they can do for you..

Theresa, I am hoping there is an update on your blood work and ECG coming up soon.. I'm only on page 216.

Julie, I love that you are going to learn to play the cello! You go girl!!

Our animals are fed twice a day but also have dried food out all day long to nibble on whenever. I've noticed that one of our dogs is getting a little chubby, will have to take him out back for a run.

Nola, I cheered the first time I heard your sister's news and I'm cheering again now that I've read it again! A tough road with hopefully a nice smooth finish.

June, I hope you are enjoying the stuff you do with Laura, it's some compensation for having to rush around. We got to sing 'All I want for christmas' will Alie. Dana lost hers at different times so missed out.

Theresa, I loved the German Shepherd story!!

Heidi, I was waiting to get to your post and am so glad it was a doozy that hurt like crazy! I now hope that means you will have relief all the way until the next one is due.

Now why am I able to put sentences together again? Alie of course. She entered her first ever talent quest and last night was her heat. The first girls who were up were younger and inexperienced. Then they had a break and the older girls sang. The first girl up was absolutely brilliant! I don't think Alie has seen anyone else here who can sing like her. Anyway it motivated her to give it all she's got and man, was that a lot!! We were so nervous for her that we almost forgot to video it! We missed the beginning of her own song - which one of the judges called a big gamble that paid off. In the end Don videoed both and he is a jump around videoer.. but we have it. The colour is all wrong, her hair is so dark it is almost black and it looks brown in the video and she has no face!! It's a bit surreal.. which means it fits here well.

If you listen to it, pay attention to the last note - the one that never ends. She missed it! She was unhappy because it wasn't right and she ended it early!!!

Okay, there's 8 minutes left for it to finish...

Nice to hear from you Suzy, hope the blahs are on their way out. I have had a lot of them lately and it all has to do with quitting smoking. I've always thought of cigarettes as kind of my friend - they were always there for me. Even though the cravings have subsided a lot, I still really miss them. I guess it sounds stupid, but I guess another smoker would understand. Sigh.

June's TOPP on page 214 really does make sense for me as well. NO MATTER WHAT, we have to be there for our loved ones.

Theresa, I loved that you 'visited' with your grandies. Getting to be grandma instead of task master/substitute mom. Yay!

I do know what you mean about smoking. I keep reminding myself of the times I've been in agony because I couldn't have a cigarette and try to convince myself it isn't worth it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqE3b_lIb3U

There you go. As usual, not as good as the original, but I think you'll get the idea.

Wow Suzy, she has a very powerful voice!

They asked why she hadn't entered any competitions before and I told them 'she isn't good enough'. That is exactly what she thinks!!

I don't personally think a Streisand song is all that easy to do, but she certainly doesn't seem to have any problems. Again I say WOW!!!!

I agree with Theresa - a Streisand song, especially from a well-known hit musical would be hard. She did it very well - tell her I'm impressed!!!

WOW!!!! from me too.
Wonderful Voice.

Morning ladies.. another day another ....

I shall be esuoh eht gninaelc this morning, and using the sloshy machine

So, Suzy... how did she do in the contest? Make it to the next round?

Evening all. I am headed off to bed after a long day at work. We had open house tonight so I had to stay late and meet all the parents. Just got home and I am tired. See you all in the morning.

from MizT's sister....

Al went to the ENT surgeon at UAB today. Unfortunately, he is not a candidate for the surgery. They are looking at possibly getting him into a clinical trial. More when we hear.

I so wish Al and MizT would have some good news about Al's health.

I am off to bed shortly - as soon as the smell clears a bit - a skunk sprayed not all that far from my open kitchen window. Boy, does that ever clear the sinuses.

It stinketh mightily ....

Good maEn!! My post, which was long, just went into the Twilight Zone!!! AAAARGH!!!
Hope all is well with everyone, things fine here, will post more soon.
Love & Hugs to all of you with extras!!! TTFN

:( Tricia and Al.. Good luck with the 'trial' option. ♥♥♥

Good Evening, Everyone! I hope all of you are having/have had a great day!

Suzy, you know we're always glad to see and hear from you! If you're feeling blah, just pop in to let us know you're "out and about" and that you'll drop by another (hopefully better) day!

Oops, you caught me, Theresa! I somehow mixed you and MizT in my post. It doesn't pay to rush. What a great joke about the German Shepherd! Thanks for sharing!

MizT, I'm glad you were finally feeling better last night and didn't need to go to the ER! I hope all went well for you and Al today!

Heidi, I'm SO glad your epidural was an awful one! It's helpful that you can help to direct the doc to the right spot! Please try to take it easy for the next couple of days so you don't un-do it! What a great story about the service dog! Animals know people! He certainly knew he would be safe to greet you, even though he was working. Heidi, I think you have the right idea: "Surreal Farm Rehab, Spa, and Sudoku Center". Have you started taking bookings?

Broni, I see that you have already attempted to make your reservation for Surreal Farm Rehab, Spa, and Sudoku Center. I hope all is well with you and the just-right job soon finds you. My acupuncturist was telling me today that too many of us work too hard trying to make things just right. We just have to get things started, then step back and trust the universe to finish the project. I don't know; I have a hard time accepting help, as so many of us do. But "the universe" sounds nonspecific enough that maybe, just maybe, I could learn to let go a little.

Cyn, how FRUSTRATING for you and Karin - trying to get information about Lachlan's flight and being told that it is still in the air an hour or more after it should have landed! No wonder she wanted to be with her Mum! I hope the rest of his experience is educational, enjoyable, and allows everyone to relax a bit, knowing that everything will be OK!

Tami, what a terrific TOPP! I love it!

Nola, how kind of you to suggest that Surreal Farm Rehab, Spa and Sudoku Center guest might enjoy hearing me play the cello! Well, hopefully some day!

Warning! Warning! What follows is a very long discussion about playing musical instruments! - As to other instruments, I had 3 years of flute lessons (6th-8th grade) and continued playing in the band (but no more lessons, as I had younger siblings who needed a turn) through high school and college, including marching band for football game half-time entertainment and pep band for basketball games. We had a small electric organ for a while before starting our family, took a few lessons, and tried to play it, though not well. I could play piano well enough to play it in my Kindergarten classroom when I taught and had a piano in the room. For a while I thought of taking lessons on steel drum (think calypso music), as it's taught at our local junior college, but it's a regular class and we do some traveling to see our children and grandchildren, so I'd miss a lot. Plus, where does one buy a steel drum and where would one practice it? Our daughters started with Suzuki violin at age 3. (I tried to learn violin along with them - until the younger one said, "Mom, you're holding us back!") One added in viola at about 8 to play in a quartet, but didn't have lessons until her senior year of high school. We just worked through some lesson books together. The other switched from violin to cello when she was 4. They both still play (professionally in an orchestra), and I have wanted to learn to play the cello for about 15 years or so. I've just hesitated to make the commitment because I know I'm a perfectionist and I want to enjoy it, not have it become like work. (That's probably a lot more than you ever wanted to know, Nola!)

Good afternoon all - just back from some shopping and since we both got our tax refunds this week, for the first time in a long time I didn't feel guilty about spending money. WooHoo!!
Theresa - I am thankful we don't have skunks here in Oz.
Julie - the only instrument I ever learnt was the piano but only for 2 years. Can you believe I thought it took too much of my leisure/play time to bother continuing (got good marks in the 2 exams I did). Oh well, can't put an old head on young shoulders.

I, too, wish that the clinical trial option works for Al. I hope they get some good news soon for a change.
Karin heard from Lachlan this morning. He was bright and happy and looking forward to his first full day in Japan. Can't remember where they are going today but tomorrow is Universal Studios and another day will be the Hiroshima museum. That will be an eye opener for his generation.

Heidi, I'm glad you were having a quiet day, as was Mamacita! May we all celebrate the joy of a peaceful and quiet day!

Suzy, thank you for your AMAZING update! No wonder you have had some blah days! We all hope our children will have a better, easier life than we have. It's so hard to know what to do/how to deal with it when they turn from our preferred path for them. Gail is right: sometimes we can love our children unconditionally, but have a hard time liking them.

Suzy, thank you for commenting on MizT's pipe bomb story. Somehow that slipped right by me, though I remember reading it! It's both amazing and amazingly scary that people can find out how to make all kinds of awful things. I'm so glad there wasn't a detonator, or whatever was missing.

Suzy, your old guard comment is so accurate. In fact, if you don't mind, I'd like to copy it and share it with another member of our club's Education Committee!

Suzy, Alie sounds amazing! All the best in the remaining rounds!

Theresa, taking the grandies out to dinner and spending some time visiting with them sounds like quality time! How wonderful! May you have more opportunities like that!

MizT, I hope something will come of the clinical trials! So sorry to hear that Al didn't qualify for the surgery!

Suzanne, so sorry that you had a long post fly off into cyber space! We all understand, having experienced it ourselves! I hope tomorrow will be a better day!

Sending {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}, positive thoughts, and prayers for Everyone!

Good Evening all.
Nothing exciting to report from me.
The same old same old, hobbling about on my walking stick.
I have spent the last 3 days delivery my Avon orders and I am glad that is finished.
Glad to hear the epidural went well Heidi.
Wonder if I could have one of them for my back? lol

Love the saying at the top of this page Tami.
Hi Suzi, nice to see your big posts.
Did you do any special shopping for yourself CynB with some of your tax refund?

Nola, glad to hear Judy's good news.
Good luck to anyone else having tests etc.

Morning all. Coffee is ready. Help yourself.

Theresa, I wish I could brew a big enough pot of coffee so that the smell would over take the smell of skunk. I have a 30 coffee pot but I don't think that is big enough.

Heidi, thanks for the Al update. I also hope that he can get accepted for the clinical trial.

Viv, so good that you got all the Avon delivered. Maybe you can be a candidate for the epidural also.

Suzy, love Alie singing. Make sure I get tickets to her first North America tour. There are several concert venues not far from me so Florida should be on her list

Julie, I understand the part about not being able to ask. I am having to learn that. I am better at asking for help for Al, than asking for help of any kind for me. I am learning. you, the group, have helped me in this. Since my motivation is taking care of Al, I listen when you say I cannot do that if I do not take care of me. Makes it easier to ask now. Thank you all for reminding me, helping me to learn.

Heidi, glad the epidural was a humdinger. I too hope you can rest and pamper the back a few days so this one lasts. You must learn to take car eof you, too.

Julie, loved the musical post, thanks for sharing that.

Phone call I must take, later friends.

Viv.... I didn't start getting epidurals until after I had an MRI. I hope that's an option for you. They changed my life. I had been unable to stand for more than 5 minutes without searing pain. 10 minutes on my feet and I would black out from the pain. Canes and walking sticks extended the time a little. Now I can lead a nearly normal life.

FINALLY got to watch Alie's video. Brilliant choice of song! She could handle it well, and it had a high level of difficulty. She nailed it! Alie!!!!!

Just a quick pop in to say Good Morning! Hello to Everyone I haven't mentioned for a while and anyone I don't mention in this post. You're all thought of each day!

Viv, I'm so glad you got your Avon delivered! Wow, 3 days to do it! I hope you are not feeling worse for all that exertion! Will be thinking of you and your appointment. Here's hoping something can be found that can ease your pain!

Cyn, I'm glad you could do some shopping without guilt - hopefully something for you included! I hope Lachlan has a wonderful time in Japan and a safe trip back home!

Gail, thinking of your D and hoping her return trip home (whenever that may be) will be safe and uneventful as well! Take some time for you, my dear!

Tami, your coffee is a welcome treat for many, as usual! Hope your day at school is pleasant, or at least uneventful!

Good Morning, MizT! I'm glad you're learning to be more comfortable asking for help! I certainly understand how it's easier to ask for help for Al than for yourself. Sending {{{HUGS}}} for both of you and hoping a clinical trial bring some help and reassurance and healing for Al! It's time for the tables to turn and things to go right for both of you! Prayers and positive thoughts continue!

Heidi, I hope you are feeling better today and taking it easy! Less pain seems to be the goal, as pain-free seems all too elusive for many of us these days. (Do we have a grimace smilie?) Oh, well, that will have to do for now. (That's for those who can no longer be pain-free.)

I wanted to let you all know that I will have little or no access to internet for the next 10 days or so. Please don't worry if you don't see any posts from me during that time. All is well.

I better load all of you up with POSITIVE THOUGHTS, , PRAYERS and lots and lots of {{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}} for the interim. Be well, Everyone!

We'll miss you, Julie. Take care.

Getting ready to take Challenger to the Vet Clinic in 1 1/2 hours. He just needs a specific health paper (called a Coggin's Test) so he can be in the parade in 15 days.