Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

Enjoy the evening June.

“Language… has created the word “loneliness”
to express the pain of being alone.
And it has created the word “solitude”
to express the glory of being alone.”

~ Paul Tillich

My boys are out.

Evening all,
June, I hope you enjoy Jersey Boys. It would be kind of bitter sweet... Another thoughtful thing she did.... one of many.

Viv, I hope you enjoyed your solitude!!

Julie, what great news about the way you were holding the bow and cello! That means you will be able to play it for longer periods than you thought you would! Yay!!

Two bits of news from this afternoon. We got our latest statement on the home loan and there are no interest rates quoted anywhere on it! It tells us how much interest we paid, which has obviously gone down but not what that equates to as a percentage!!! They'll be hearing from me!!

The other is about the storm I mentioned yesterday. I drove over town today and there were branches down all over the place. None bigger than 3 inches diameter, but still a LOT. While over town I got text messages from Dana. She didn't notice until today but the flood that destroyed a bed in the house she's living in, also got some books of hers and her camera. She's shattered because she was planning on using the camera to take photos of Natahlia - the baby. I told her to put it in rice like they say to do with phones. I don't know if it will work, but I have a camera I carry as a back up that we can give her if it doesn't.

What a lovely name - Natahlia! All of your cameras will be working overtime when she arrives, Suzy!
June - I hope you enjoy Jersey Boys! Even if it will be bittersweet.
{{{MizT &Al}}} Always in my thoughts
{{{Rolanda}}} You too!
Viv - I love the difference between loneliness and solitude. My daughter is also enjoying the solitude tonight. Every Thurs night her hubby and kids go to scouts!
Nice to see Julie around here again.

Morning all. Coffee is ready. Help yourself to a cup.

I am not going to school today. Dylan has a field trip and I am a chaperone He is going to a place called "Biz Town" that is a mini town that the kids learn how to run. I need to be there an hour before the kids for orientation. I am supposed to work at IKEA. All the kids have jobs, Dylan is the mayor. I will tell you all about it tonight. I told my students where I was going and a lot of them were there and told me it is a lot of fun.

It was a great night out. We went to the Vietnamese Noodle place near the station, then drove closer to town, got the train over the Harbour Bridge and we were at the theatre in plenty of time. I am sure my massage made walking and steps much easier. We enjoyed Jersey Boys but we did think Buddy Holly (which we saw years ago) was better. Interesting walking around the city at 10.30pm.

Suzy, take the battery out of the camera to let that dry. Hope it will be OK. Love the name but not easy for a child when they first start school. Will you be her assistant when the baby is born. I was there when Sharon had Laura and got to cut the cord.
Viv, hope you are feeling better. Hope you can do some gentle exercises and strengthen your back muscles while the pain is less.
MizT, hope you are getting some much needed sleep.
What Mizt. Cyn and I have faced this year is all part of life. When cancer is involved it all seems so unfair but somehow we find that inner strength to cope.You all have that strength when needed. We are no more special than any of you. I admire Mamacita and her wonderful way of expressing how we all feel.
I think I am rambling. Will look at the puzzles and off to bed.

Another lovely day here in Pompano Beach, it is Susan's (Richard's cousin) birthday today so we are going out to lunch at a Chinese buffet. Went into the jacuzzi part of the pool yesterday, it was a little cool but refreshing. May get into the pool after lunch depending on how warm the water is.
I was actually so tired last night I went to bed at 9:15 and went straight to sleep, woke up a couple of time for the little room visit, got up at 6:30 this morning and sat outside to have coffee and breakfast.

Good Morning All,
Brenda, glad you are enjoying your holiday thus far...and hope the weather continues to treat you kindly.
Julie, glad you have found the proper way to hold the cello and bow so you can start making beautiful music much sooner and far longer than you may have thought possible.
June, good that you and Ken had a good night out...sweet reminders are always welcomed.
Miz T....glad you are at lease able to have a noise free break, but do hope the breaks will lengthen so that your body can enjoy the release of the stress that is being placed on it.Sleep doesn't need to be interrupted by pain when just being able to grab some sleep is so important....BTW, loved the searching story..I can see the water sitting on the table as I type, but for the life of me, I can't stop the smile coming even though I know BIL was embarrassed...but I too have done that and it made me feel less...well....dumb!...HEhehe
Suzy, I had something that I wanted to say about your post but it will have to wait until another time...Why??? The thought has flown to the land of forgotten thoughts that reappear in the middle of the night..so when I remember, if I remember I'll tell ya...lol. Why mention it then you might ask...for the same reason that I keep smiling picturing that water sitting on MizT's table...because it happens to all of us.
Viv, I too enjoyed the quote telling us the difference between loneliness and solitude, especially since we have found among this group, that there are times when we feel very lonely, even in the mist of friends and family, and we then can come to these pages and share the feeling and find that we were not alone in that experience...part of the glue that makes this group feel so close to one another I guess.♥
Hugs and special thoughts and prayers for all...please add my sister to your thoughts and prayers because she is going through some health issues now and at this point I'm not too sure just how serious they are. Peace.

No time to comment. Back is killing me, and I need to run to the pharmacy for more methadone. Then Robert and I will be moving hay.

Greetings! Last night and today have been better, Al wise. So far no vomiting, pain levels acceptable, it is good.

Cold came creeping in last night, silent as kudzu growing and twice as fast. Low was in the 30's, single digits for the Aussies.

BIL had doctors appointment today, I have missed his help this morning.

I went to sleep at 6 pm, right after eating, slept till 9. Then I got Al rady for bed, we watched some TV together, and I went to bed about midnight. Hips kept me awake, not fun, after medication, a hot shower, I did drop off about 3 am, and slept till 8 am, a nice long sleep!

Nurse is on her way, they are trying several things to help his nausea, even changing his firmula for feedings. do not think that is the cause, but we will see. really uping his robitusin, to thin secretions, hope something works. He put himself on clear liquids mostly the last 24 hours.

Hugs to all, hope to be back later. Still no time to comment, bummer.

I gave up with the hay moving. I left Robert to do it alone. (I was going to hook up the 16ft trailer to my truck and haul an extra 3 rolls per trip.) Not only is my back on the warpath, but my left ankle decided to start screaming at me, too. I can barely walk.

Stupid tractor broke down AGAIN!!! The front end froze up as Robert was bringing the first load of hay up the driveway. We were able to pull the tractor and hay load off the driveway with my truck, but couldn't get any farther and we snapped one of the tow chains. There is no way I can unload the hay from the hay hauler. And the mechanic has 2 tractors ahead of me to work on, so it'll take a while before he can work on mine.

Hi all. Just stopping in for a minute. Dylan has another playoff game tonight. Had a great time with Dylan today and I am glad tomorrow is not school. Thank you to all the Veterans, including my father and father-in-law, who served our country.

Found out what happened the other night. 2 guys were robbing houses a few miles from me. The police were chasing them. They crashed the car and took off on foot, into my development. They got the first guy quickly and were looking for 2nd guy when we got home. One of our neighbors is a cop and he was listening on his radio the whole time, he works in a different area. Today is the first time we saw him.

I will start this by saying that it is nothing serious but my mom is in the hospital, at least overnight. She got dizzy last night and then again today. Dad took her to emergency. They ran all the tests and all was negative. They suspect it is vertigo. They put her on medicine but she is not responding to it. If she gets up, she gets dizzy. They are keeping her overnight as a precaution and for observation. I will keep you posted as I hear more. Older brother went to see her today and he is not overly concerned. She is about 30 minutes from me so I will not see her until tomorrow.

Hi everyone!
I love the baby's name Natahlia - it's quite European.
June, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Ken sounds like my hubby. When we are about to go somewhere he is off doing something completely different (or he phones one of his friends). Packing to go away, normally means that I pack and he fiddles around with the car. Grrr!
Tami, best wishes to Bobby. I'm sure it will be nothing serious but she is certainly in the best place at the moment.
Heidi, that bloody tractor!!!
Viv, how is your back?

I'm just waiting for hubby to call to tell me to collect him from the physio and then we are off to visit my mum. Why is it always a hot day when I have to go to Ipswich? It's always a couple of degrees hotter there than at home. I can see some airconditioned shopping centres in my future.

MizT and Al
Rolanda and Mum

Have a wonderful day/evening my friends.

Tami - best wishes for a speedy recovery to your Mom!
Vicki - at least I'm heading to the Redcliffe Peninsula today - hoping for some cool sea-breezes!
Love to all, back later, gotta rush now!

Thinking of you Bobbi ♥

Remembrance Day
Lest We Forget
We will remember them

Not long home from the service at our local RSL, the whole primary school comes and a few of the locals, very touching.

One friend says she is not going to stand next to me next year. I started bawling from the first and set her and two other friends off! Had to start handing around my supply of tissues!

Just back from Dylan's ball game. Score is tied in the middle of the fifth inning. We have to go back on Saturday morning and finish the inning. It is a playoff game. Any other game, it would be considered over.

Spoke to my brother. He checked in on mom and she is good. Hopefully she will go home tomorrow. If not, I will go spend the night with my dad. We both agree he should not be alone for to long. Thank you all for the good wishes. I will see her tomorrow and let her know you are thinking of her.

Give Bobbie a hug from me, Tami. I hope the problem was something minor.

The 4 puppies are doing great. They're 5 days old now. Eyes should open in one week.

, Fellow Sudokuaholics!

Suzy, your page 260 TOPP was perfectly appropriate! Your mentioning the 21-gun salute reminded me of my dad's burial. He was in the Army for about 5.5 years during WWII. I'm sure it wasn't 21-gun, but enough that each of my 5 siblings and I got a shell casing. Also an appropriately timed subject. Lest we forget.

Before I forget, what an excellent idea to have extra copies made of the slide show! I'm sure a number of people would appreciate receiving one!

June, how nice that the honored guest at the 70th birthday party was truly surprised. The party Laura went to sounds like a big one! Was it at a "Build-a-Bear" store, or something similar?

Brenda, I hope you and Richard have no lingering pain after your flu shots! So glad you have had your flu shot, MizT! For those who have yet to get jabbed, we were given excellent advice a year or two ago when we got our shots. Let your arm go totally limp - hanging at your side. You are MUCH less likely to get a sore arm. It helped us, and we remind each other every year now.

Suzy, I'm so glad your hip is better after your scare! I guess it's a good thing that pain precedes the feeling that it won't hold your weight! By the way, I hope you realize how much we enjoy your posts! It helps to keep us up-to-date on what's happening in your life.

Heidi, I'm glad you were able to find the things you wanted for Christmas presents at the Wool Growers Booth! Congratulations on the arrival of the puppies!

Mamacita, good for you for finding a pair of shoes and a pair of boots when you don't like shopping for shoes! I know the feeling! It can be so frustrating trying to find something you wouldn't mind wearing! Luckily, it sounds like you are ready for the coming winter months!

Broni, it's good news that things have begun to settle down after the wedding! On the other hand, it sounds like you will continue to be just as busy.

Rolanda, I'm so sorry to hear that your Mum had a return trip to the hospital, but glad that she has apparently begun to listen to Peter and consider an assisted living arrangement.

MizT, I really enjoyed the story about Al and jokes!

Heidi, puppies are sooooo cute! Is this her first litter?

Bobbie and family in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Hope she is home and well soon.

Tami, they play only 5 innins? They have a time when games are called for dark or what?

Gail, nothing wrong with a few tears as one remembers and honors those gone before.

CynB, hope you enjoyed the cool sea breezes.

June, victoria, my hubby wa always waiting till time we should leave to get in shower to clean upo. NOPE, not a thing to help me get ready, if it were an occasion for gifts or taking food, that was all my department. Purchase it, prepare it, pack it for travel and get it to the car. Then he would question if I had his this an his that, MEN hehehe

Heidi, so sorry you have tractor trouble once again. Hope the repairs ahead of you go quickly and yours is soon repaired.

A busy day today. the social worker and the nurse came out today and she changed a lot of medications. One more med for nausea, an old one that is really an anti-emetic, not some other action that also might help nausea. so far so good, keep fingers crossed. He has had 3 carnation feedings today, plus ensure earlier. Nurse wanted to change him to vanilla carnation, could only find chocolate. I could have told her so, been buying it for 7 months, never seen vanilla at walmart. Nobody asked me though, oh well. hopsice will bring Thanksgiving dinner, turkey dressing mashed potatoes, cranberry relish. Plus a gift card to buy whatever we need to go with. Sounds wonderful to me, the core of the meal and we did not have to cook it?? Just my style.

Would love to continue to go backward commenting on posts I have missed, but it is time for bed. already had 2 little naps , one this afternoon, another after my shower tonight. I might get caught up again on sleep, here is hoping. Hugs to each of you with extras.

June, your TOPP for page 261 was great! We all need to remember to ask for help occasionally!

Suzy and others, great idea to make gifts for Christmas! I can not figure out where this year has gone! Already half-way through November, and I haven't spent even a minute thinking about Christmas cards or gifts!

So glad you have your email back, June!

Viv, nice to know you are getting some relief from your injection!

Brenda, have a wonderful holiday!

June, another great TOPP on page 262!

Heidi, so sorry to hear about the puppy!

Theresa, keep up the good work avoiding cigarettes! You can do it! Some excellent suggestions for creating a new "me time" from some of our wise contributors! Good luck with your MIL and FIL, especially convincing him to accept the need for assisted care!

Which reminds me . . . I really must say how much in awe I am of the wonderful friends who post here! The strength and wisdom and caring expressed by all of you is amazing! I am proud to call all of you my friends, even though we have never met, and feel a closer kinship with all of you than with some of the friends I have known for years. Thank you all for being yourselves and bringing brightness to our days and nights!

MizT, the square dance story was great!

I am fading fast, so off to bed soon! But first, some positive thoughts and vibes, prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for all of you! Good Night!

Hi everyone.
Well the relief was unfortunately short lived Julie.
Wednesday night I turned over in bed and the pain is back.

Julie, great summary as usual.
Thinking of you and Al MizT.
Great to hear the puppies are doing well Heidi.

As you all know my son Ethan has lost his licence for a year. I told him not to come to me to drive him anywhere as the answer would be no.
Yesterday he wanted me to drive him somewhere as it was raining. I said wait until the rain stops.
You should have heard the language. I tried my best to ignore what was coming out of his mouth and continued to write up my Avon orders.

Good for you Viv! I know exactly what was coming out of his mouth :(

Oh Viv, so sorry to hear your pain came back. I also know about turning over in bed and getting more than an OUCH. I do hope you can find something that will help.

I wonder if there is a rub-on medication there that we have here. It is by prescription, but has helped so many I know. Doctors once they see one patient request it and the good results, start prescribing it to others.

It was tested in clinical trials for knees and small joints, but is used "off label" for back and hip and other pain. I got my tube of it by asking my orthopedic surgeon , to use for my thumb after surgery, after my niece and her Mom had me use hers. I use it on Al's neck where there is a disk problem.

Other sister got her GP to prescribe for her, and uses for costocondritis ( inflammation and pain of rib cage) . Just yesterday, BIL got his pain management doc to prescribe for him and workman's comp paid for it. BIL saw relief after I rubbed a tiny bit on his back where he had disk surgery. (he said it was the first time with totally NO PAIN from that disc since his injury, and he takes major narcotics and has injections to back both) Al's cousin got his doc to order it for him. It really can bring short term relief.

It is a topical anti-inflammatory drug. Brand name here is Voltaren Gel , generic name is diclofenac sodium topical gel 1% . Even though I cannot take anti-inflammatory drugs, I can do this, cause it puts about 1/150th of the amount of drug into blood system that taking pills would. I do not know if it would help you, but I have seen first hand so many people helped by it. Just a thought.

Good for you Viv, as long as it was words only, you can ignore them. I do hope he learns not to ask, that you really are not gonna do it, but do I really think it will happen?

We had a major crisis here yesterday Al was as usual playing one of his word games on computer. It is his distraction, both from pain and nausea and from just thinking about that awful thing growing inside him. all a sudden, his wireless mouse would not function. He tried new batteries, BIL got batteries from his "house" in case ours were weak. Al took the batteries from the wireless keyboard that was working, NOPE, none made the mouse come to life again. My sister's husband said he had seen a nouse in the office, so BIL went to look for that. It was standard mouse on a leash, a mouse with a wire. Al gets up and connects that to get his computer/TV back to TV, something to watch at least. BIL looks at me and said, " which one of us wants to go to walmart?" Al said via his communication board, " Fred's (local discount store) has them. BIL made fastest trip ever and brought a new mouse. Then they could not find the dingle? dangle? dongle??? thingy that recieved the wireless signal. It was attached, imbeded in the end of the mouse for transport. All is now well in Al's cyber kingdom, he has regained controll.

BIL had asked me last week, as we did prearrangement for funeral, if he could put something into Al's casket once this cancer thing is over. I said sure, what? BIl wants to put Al's wireless mouse in his hand, cause we rarely see it anywhere but there. Al will fall asleep with mouse in hand, it is a great distraction for him. BIL said he just would not look natural without it now.

Hugs again, thoughts and prayers are with each of you today.

YEAH, it has been an hour, I can have my coffee!!

MizT, is it wrong of me to say I love your BILs idea about Al's mouse? I love the thought that has gone into the idea ♥

Morning all. Coffee is ready, help yourself.

Haven't checked on mom yet. It is not even 8 am and I don't want to wake her up.

Tricia, Dylan plays in the 9-11 age division. The rules 1.75 hours, no new inning can start. 2 hours game ends. At this age, innings take a long time. 4 innings is normal. Last night's game started at 7:45 so it should have ended at 9:45. The lights at the field shut off at 10 so you have to leave. First game Saturday morning is at 9 am so we will continue at 8 am. It is a double elimination. Both of us have lost a game. Whichever team loses, goes home. Winner plays later in the day, not sure what time. Could be an interesting Saturday.

Viv, so sorry about the pain. I hope you can find something that works for you. Good for you for not driving Ethan. Stand your ground.

Morning all.

Hope you are soon feeling better, Trouble's Mom.

MizT, HUGS.

It's 12 years ago today my Mom passed away. Remembrance Day always holds extra special memories for me .... miss you, Mom.

Theresa... ((((Hugs))))♥
Viv...PAIN, pain go away...and stay away... hope you can find relief soon for your physical back pain...as for the pain that is called son...his language alone should encourage you to keep on keeping on...It's not easy and we are all pround of your stand...For every action, you have shown him there is a reaction....Bravo!

Oh, no, Viv!!! Have you tried soaking in a hot bath? It might relax the muscles in spasm and give you relief again.

I, too, love that idea of Al's mouse in the casket with him. He'll always have control, then. It also helps make the funeral into a celebration of Al's life and interests.