Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

That is my all-time favorite poem. Jabberwocky is my second favorite.

Nobody will be calving tonight, so I'm off to bed early. Believe it or not, I'm still sleepy. And I'm gonna have a busy day tomorrow. I have to spread fertilizer on all 53 acres of hay field, and work on the fence.

Hair cut and some shopping done. Now to bring in yesterdays washing and make up the spare beds. Vacuuming lady comes in the morning and I am playing bowls so will have to make sure everything is picked up off the floor tonight.

Greetings, Everyone! It's past midnight, so I won't stay long. We had a busy day followed by a busy night (wood working club, so left the house around 5:30 and home just after 10. D and SIL were already in bed after a late night last night (picked up from the train at 11:30) then back to the train around 8 this morning. Looks like D will be a part-time adjunct professor at one of the downtown universities as well as the new job, which will start around July 1. Now hoping for SIL to find a teaching position, which will be complicated due to "provisional" certification until he can study and take tests on things required by Illinois, including Illinois history. They also spent nearly 4 hours looking for an apartment this afternoon, and are scheduled to go back to Chicago tomorrow to look at more. They return to Texas tomorrow evening.

Heidi, so sorry to hear about the calf, but good for you for adding bunnies. I'm not surprised that IH was of no help, except when he could make a big show in front of his cousin.

Suzy, definitely "encourage" the other adults to participate in the gninaelc and ffuts that needs to be done! I hope your Mum is doing well enough to be going home and hope that works out all right!

Tami, so glad the dentist appointments have been going well!

June, a good friendly close game makes a loss much more enjoyable. Thank goodness it wasn't against a cut-throat team!

I can't remember much of anything else I read. I think Tricia had humid weather and Cyn was tired and Brenda posted pictures of Pip (a real cutie!), but otherwise, my mind is blank.

, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing vibes, positive thoughts, and prayers for everyone!

Where is everybody?
Not sure that is my style of poem Heidi. A bit dark and deep.
A nice night with lots of stars.
Julie, you are always so busy. I wish I had your energy. I do things then sit here and fool with the computer while I take a rest. It does sound as though you are progressing well with the Cello. I also wish you lived nearby and I could get you to do some woodworking for me. I do have some antique furniture that needs a bit or repairing.

June, I wish I had your energy never mind Julie's.
I am having some decorating(painting) done by a friend at the moment so don't get on here quite as much. Doing yrdnual too. Sun has just come out so I might get some clothes outside to dry today, first time this year.

Morning all. Coffee is ready, help yourself. Mitchell has a friend coming over for a few hours this morning. I also have the boys doing spring gninaelc with me. We are gnibburcs the corners and edges that always get missed. It is funny to see the boys using an old toothbrush to get into those little tiny places Mitchell thought I was joking when I told him he would be cleaning the floor with a toothbrush.(he got into a bit of trouble in school last week and I told him that was his punishment) As we are all taking turns, it really isn't punishment.

I have a lot of those corners Tami. Now if I could just arrange a trip down under I could give you all a job!

Corners here too Tami

I will be glad to send the boys down to do the work for you.

Thanks Tami..

Rolanda, remember, if I send them down, YOU have to feed them. Do you remember how much a teenage boy eats??? Even though Dylan is only 11, he is the size and has the appetite of a 13-14 year old.

June.... I fell in love with Invictus when I was 11 years old. I was an abused child (physically, mentally and sexually), and it helped give me the strength to survive. I memorized it back then, and repeat it to myself whenever I need a reminder that I do have the strength to survive adversity.

The first fertilizer buggy is here, and I've filled the tractor with diesel. Now off to work. I do need to add a CD player to this tractor. It's perfect otherwise.

Good Maen eveyone!
Glad the pages are back!! I was going thru withdrawl!!!
TTT: Good for you on having the boys scrub with toothbrushes. Every time I'd see that on TV, I'd think of a drill sargeant!!
Baking brownies this morning. Roast chicken tonite for dinner. Pretty spring day here, very windy though. Take care all. Love & Hugs to all with extras. TTFN

I messed up big time. I was spreading fertilizer and I hit a super soft spot with the tractor. We're now mired deep in mud and I can't get out, even with 4WD. I'm waiting for a professional wrecker to come and pull my tractor with the fertilizer buggy attached. It's a real mess.

Heidi, hope the wrecker gets there soon.

OH DEAR, your pasture must have a real wet spot to get you so bogged. I hope you get out soon and can continue. So much wet weather there and here. we had rain again this morning, just a shower, but enough to keep the ground from drying out.

Damp damp damp, everything feels damp. Just how humid is it? Hint, it cannot get any more humid, was 100% humidity when I got up. My sheets feel damp, my clothes feel damp. YUCK

I must run down to thorsby in a bit, another of the small tons that souround me. I cannot find that i paid the water bill for this month, must go to the office and see. I hope by first of next month to have all my bills where I can pay them online through online banking, would be so much easier. Click click and away goes your money. I do not see money going in, just numbers from my direct deposit. now will not see money going out, just those numbers getting smaller. I like the feel of real money, seems I have more control of it if it is dollar bills, and not numbers squiggled on my computer screen. Know what I mean? but this will be much more convenient, and Joy or my sister could pay my bills if i were sick. So, I will graduate to the electronic world of banking. I will not have to remember to buy stamps, I can even pay to individuals, one time payments as well as roccuring bills, and the bank will write that paper check and mail it for me. Of course things like utilities and other bills to large companies, like insurance will be paid electronically.

I should really get a hair cut while I am out. Mine is getting hard to care for because it is so long. With summer and humidity, it needs washing more often.

catch you later, hugs to each of you.

Is the site broken again? I am back from paying my bill. picked up a few groceries while out, save a trip later this week.

Just busy tricia. I am playing lawn bowls today. Leave in about 1/2 hour. A light cloud cover but that could burn away. Not easy standing out in the sun for 3 hours.

I had a miserable night last night (my back was killing me), or I would have remembered that one spot that always stays boggy, even in a drought. It took 3 hours to get the tractor and full fertilizer buggy unstuck. It kept sinking as it sat there. They sent their biggest 4WD wrecker, and it had a battle royale with the bog. Once I was unstuck, I proceeded to drive up and down the pasture, in 40' wide strips, to spread the fertilizer. I was puzzled as to why the buggy didn't seem to get any lighter. Finally discovered that a chain had jumped out of a sprocket and I had spread NO fertilizer. So I had to do the whole thing all over again. I feel like going back to bed and quitting for the week.

OH Heidi, all that work today and nothing accomplished. yes, go to bed, get up tomorrow and try again. I know how the brain just does not function as well when pain levels increase. I hope you can manage the pain till your next epidural.

My pain level just took a drastic ju,p upward. I was late taking my mid afternoon dose. Usually do well with a half pill at 9, 3 and 9 pm. it was 4 before i got home, and now that pill is not working. I must get better, sis and BIL coming tomorrow to help sort and price more things for the yard sale. I have sold off some of the tools already. got a check in the mail today from my niece and her husband. They are building a house this summer, and were thrilled to get some tools they needed, used but not abused, at a very good price. BIL phoned them (they live in Georgia) and took tools to his house for them, just in time for BIL's Birthday party, which niece came for. she got the best gift this time hehehe.

I have a same niece and nephew both wanting my wrought iron outdoor furniture. now to find a good price for it. I have looked online but so far that has not been much help to me.

I was trying to text Joy when I got home today. she likes for me to let her know when I leave home and when I get back. "someone needs to know where you are". My cell phone would not work! I got strange error messages. At the end of the news broadcast a bit ago, I hear Verizon customers had been calling the news room to see if they kniw why Verizon had no service. OK, not my phone, I hope to hear later what is the problem, the news crew was investigating.

that is all for now, hugs to each of you.

My next epidural is next week. I think. When I got back in the house, it was after 5pm, and there was a message from Pain Management on my machine, asking me to call them about that appointment. Too late to call them back.

Heidi and Tricia, hope you are both feeling better soon.

I won't be able to spread the second buggy of fertilizer until next week some time. We're supposed to have rain and thunderstorms for the next 4 days. The buggy isn't here. I've paid for it, but they won't fill the buggy and deliver it until I tell them to. In case anybody is wondering, there is a LOT of fertilizer to spread, divided into 2 buggies.... it weighs 25,175 lbs or 11,419.19 kilos. Any wonder that I sank into the bog?

Everybody is fed and watered. I am very tired... bad days take a lot out of me..... so I'm off to bed early. Despite the fact that it's supposed to rain tomorrow (but be around 80), Robert and I plan on picking up a bunch of wooden fence posts and some cattle panels to work on a fence along the road. We need to get a load of concrete, but can't transport it when it's raining.

Hello everybody - we're at the lowest point accessible by road in Australia - Lune River, near Southport in Southern Tasmania. We were to go to Bruny Island but plans changed. This house we are in is huge, old, and isolated!! Back at Kettering tomorrow where we will have full internet access so I'll call back in then - hope all is well.
Big hugs to you all

Hi, Everyone! Looks like it has been a quiet day here on SA today.

June, I must agree with Brenda! I think you have far more energy than I do! Every day is full and busy for you! I only mention the really busy days, so you don't know about the days when my butt is in a chair in front of the computer for far too long!

Brenda, good for you for involving your friend in the decorating! It sounds like a WIN-WIN situation!

Tami, using a toothbrush for the corners and tight spots is a great idea! (I suspect it's not one we will use often here, as it sounds like a hands-and-knees kind of enterprise. I'm not saying we shouldn't or don't have to, just unlikely that it will happen very often.)

Heidi, so sorry to hear about the tractor and fertilizer buggy getting mired! When you told us the approximate weight, it's no wonder. Too bad things weren't working and you'll need to cover the field all over again. NOT what you want to do when your back isn't behaving! I hope the call from the Pain Management Clinic was just a reminder about making and/or keeping your appointment.

Tricia, I like the arrangement between you and Joy - call when you leave and call when you return! We had similar arrangement with my parents, which has transferred to us with siblings and children. You got some important errands done to be able to pay bills on line - provides peace of mind! Too bad Verizon wasn't cooperating!

June, I hope the lawn bowls went well and the cloud cover remained to help shield you from the sun!

MizT and Heidi, I hope you will both feel better in the coming days!

Cyn, your holiday sounds very nice! Will there be pictures?

Almost 1 a.m. here and after too many long days and late nights after the switch to daylight savings time, I need to head to bed! Positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, and {{{{HUGS}}}} to all!

Morning all. Coffee is ready, help yourself.

Julie, I have been in my house 15 years and this is the first time I am using a toothbrush to get into the corners. This is not normal for me. The hands and knees part is why I have the boys helping.


Tricia, I also like the way Joy makes you call her. Some one needs to know where you are. I speak to my parents several times a day so that I know what they are up to.

Cyn, your trip sounds amazing. I would love to be there with you.

My cousins are flying in from California. I am supposed to meet them at their hotel for breakfast. Just checked and plane is 1 hour late. I will check again so I know when to get ready. They are taking the red-eye but want to eat before taking a nap.

Just slept for over an hour in the recliner in front of the TV. I did not sleep well last night and it was Mamacita's fault. (I had downloaded a book she suggested and it was not one to start reading at midnight!)
In the bowls competition (Pennants) you have two teams of four players. Each team that wins gets a point, you add the scores together to see who wins overall for another point. Our team won by two, the other team lost by three so we were one down overall. A good day but a bit hot and humid.
Going into the city in the morning so I had better go and get some sleep.

The call from Pain Management was a pleasant surprise. They'd had some cancelations, and offered to move me up to Monday morning!!! I said YES, PLEASE!!!

The rain looks like it will hold off for a few hours, so I think I'll have the second fertilizer buggy delivered ASAP.

The rain held off until the fertilizer was spread..... which took awhile because I got hung up AGAIN. At least this time I was able to free the tractor after disconnecting the buggy. Then I went and got our longest chain, and was able to pull the fertilizer buggy out of the bog. The difficulty was reconnecting the two, because the fertilizer that was left in the buggy (roughly 3 tons) had shifted to the back, and I couldn't get the tongue to connect up. So I had Robert climb in the buggy with a shovel and redistribute it.
Remind me NEVER to do this again. Next time the fields need fertilizing (June), I'm paying them to do it for me.

Oh, yeah.... the 20th live bull calf was born this morning.

Good morning folks.
Have just done so much reading I am not sure what I've read.. Didn't think I was MIA that long!!

What is in the water Heidi? Hope bully calves bring a better price.. Invictus hits a few chords with me as well Heidi.. powerful..

Haven't a clue now what I wanted to say..
Might snatch another 40 winks..didn't sleep well last night.

Survived a bit of a health scare over the last week or so.. I'm hoping I'm done with bloood tests, Xrays, CT's and the likes for a while. Thyroid still t/b sorted & needs following up but I'm not fussed there... it's just reaching the end of its use by date.. Woman's business to deal with and I'm sort of sorted.. I don't consider myself 'old' so why am I starting to get 'old peoples' diseases???
'Forever young...'

Have a good one everybody...

I had all of that female equipment removed 15 years ago, and it's the best thing that I've ever done. My thyroid quit working a while ago, too. My opinion is that they couldn't keep up with me.

Bull calves are worth 10 cents a pound more than heifer calves. That adds up quickly. That's why I'm thrilled with all the bull calves this year.

Hi all. Had a nice lunch with my cousins today. It was good to see them.

Bean, glad you are posting. Hope things work out well. My thyroid went nuts on me about 22 years ago. I now take a thyroid pill everyday and get checked regularly.

Heidi, I agree about paying someone next year. Somethings are just not worth the hassle of doing it yourself.

Good Morning all!
I'm still alive but having the day off work today. The 5k walk last Sunday went well and I had recovered by Tuesday morning. I think having to wake up at 5am was the worst part.
It has rained on and off this week and a certain dog I know has decided to sleep on the new quilt on our new bed. I am about to wash the new quilt to get rid of the mud from it. Damn dog!
Hubby bought some new fish this week. I think his reputation as a fish killer is still intact. Of the 4 new fish, the first one committed suicide on the first night (we found it on the floor), the second was dead yesterday morning and another died during the day. I think the fourth ones days are numbered.