Sudokuaholics Anonymous 10

They were big enough to be flying foxes (or megabats) Heidi. I thought they were birds at first.

Happy Birthday Sully! I hope you are partying...

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.
- William James

I leave for the epidural in 13 hours!

Happy Birthday Cyn xoxo

Hubby and I are just home after his doc appt this morning, just routine, all's going well. The doc did say something along the lines that every time he wishes a kidney for a patient at the end of the appt they seem to get one, so he wished one for hubby...we shall see :)
On our way home we stopped off at Emerald Lake Park and had a walk around the lake. It is truly a magnificent oasis in the middle of the town, and today it was being well used by kids on school holidays. I have never seen so many paddle boats out on the lake at one time!

http://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/Page/page.aspx?page_Id=3701

Agree with you Gail you live in a lovely part of Aust. My wishes for a transplant too for your hubby. Off to the Rye foreshore this afternoon - hope there are not too many 'tourists' there but I am looking forward to going anyway - be the original 'fool on the hill' for a day or so and just vegetate under the gazebo. Good luck Heidi with your long awaited epidural. Hope Maxine appreciates how much you have gone through by putting this one off because of her and your dental problems. Best wishes to all.

Hi folks.
Busy day yesterday trying to get things done before the expected hot ending to our week..

Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY June...
Glad the passing of your beautiful cat wasn't too stressful.

My holiday break is over... normal activities are starting to resume this week my drumming tonight. Have been missing drumming and singing.. haven't seen the videos of our grand finale at the Melb Town Hall yet... youtube link should be available by the end of Feb

When I sing even a lot of pain [physical] is obliterated for a while. Heartache nor so easily lessened but time is the healer there... that and good friends.

Well done Judy.. good to see you here.
Fingers crossed Gail ...
Senior cit hey Cyn... well done... HAPPY BIRTHDAY... again..
I very cheekily invited someone to do a tandem parachute jump with me from a plane on my 65th...

We'll see... lot's of other goals to kick first..

Family wedding in a couple of weeks... will be away for a couple of days... house sitter will be here before I know it.. he'll spend a couple of nights with us all before we desert him to his fate...

locksmith/maintenance handyman was here last night working on the security doors.. wasn't ready for him yesterday so didn't have the hardware for the backyard gate ready...it won't take long. He did climb up on the trestle and put up a wall fan I bought the other day which is good.

Back to work.

Off to bed. I leave for the epidural in 9 hours and 40 minutes.

(Is it still evening if it's before midnight?)

Thank you for today's TOPP, June! What great advice!

Birthday greetings to June and CynB!
Happy Birthday, June! Here's a cake and flowers for you!
Happy Birthday, CynB! Enjoy your cake and flowers!

Happy 30th Anniversary, Rolanda & Peter! Here's to the start of a new year!

June, congratulations on winning the first round of the pairs competition at bowls! It was nice that Laura & her father came by to deliver a gift. Also nice that you and Ken went out for dinner!

Suzy, grandies are wonderful, but I hope you get to catch up on your sleep!

Heidi, I hope your epidural will be an extremely painful one. It was nice that IH surprised you by being decent about the shoes and even admitting that he was going to throw them out. (Of course, if he had put them away, there wouldn't have been a problem. Just sayin' . . .)

Tomorrow is going to be an early rise kind of day, so I'm out of here, ladies. Feel free to share the prayers, , positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and healing vibes headed your way!

Another great TOPP, Suzy!

Gail, I'll add my wish for a kidney for Scott!

Midge, I hope you have fun and enjoy vegetating under the gazebo.

Bean, I'm glad the drumming and singing will start up again! They seem to be beneficial for you!

Heidi, thinking positive thoughts . . .

Midge, have a wonderful time! I will be sending relaxing thoughts your way..

Heidi, I wish the opposite for you - I wish great (temporary) pain on you followed by a whole lot of sleep.

Gail, if the wish works, we might have to work out how to get Midge in to see hubby's doctor so he can wish her one.. I love paddle boats, both riding in them and watching them! I'm going to have to be more like you and add fun things to my chores...

Julie, I did think of one thing you could eliminate from your hectic schedule, and then I forgot what it was! After I thought of it I remembered you saying you were thinking of eliminating it yourself. That might give you a hint, though I still can't remember what it was - just that I thought about it.

Daily anecdote: Dana had to do shopping today and posted that she didn't really feel like walking into town. I still had a couple of things of Tahli's I had forgotten to take back so offered to take her. We're down at the car when Dana twisted her ankle. She limped into the car and headed up town - she didn't have any ice at home. I left her and Tahli at Gloria Jeans, whipped into Coles and picked up some frozen peas. We sat at Gloria jeans for a while so the ice and the pain pills I gave her had time to work. Then we went into Coles to do her shopping. We're nearly finished when she twisted her other ankle! I sent her off to sit on a bench with the frozen peas while Tahli and I paid for the groceries. On the way there she slipped on a patch of water and landed on her butt!!

I bought her flowers.

Suzy - she needed flowers after that! Ouch!!!

Cyn.

Suzy.... was she wearing heels or platforms? Even I have never been THAT clumsy!!! (I can laugh because there were no serious injuries,)

We leave in just over 2 hours. Hopefully, it'll warm up a couple of degrees before we leave because right now it's at the freezing mark and everything is covered with ice. I'm SO glad that I have brand new Michelins on my truck. I feel a lot safer driving the one hour to the hospital.

Best (or worst) wishes Heidi, whichever applies best!

Suzy, as I said to Dana on TOS, I am an habitual faller! In fact, I fell yesterday when hubby and I were planting. Moved a couple of steps, then collapsed on the ground, bashing my shin on the garden edging, but not slashing my face on the spade I was carrying, so all in all, a good outcome! I have fallen in the main street, in shopping centres, out of the elevated vegie beds...many places!
Heidi, I understand her dilemma fully :(

Heidi, don't you just love the Cuties? I got a bag on sale last week and ate 2 a day for a week hehehe. No seeds, easy to peel, and so very sweet. The tangerines I got this week are tasty but hard to peel, a tarter taste and so dern many seeds, but just as good for ya. I do wish we could buy half bags, at the per bag savings. It takes so long for one person to eat a bag of any fruit.

I am just not percolating on all cylinders this week. One, this cold front keeps hanging around, it actually BACKED UP yesterday, turned north and came right over us as a warm front, so it could turn into a cold front again, head south and deal me more misery, aaagggggh. At least I get a few hours that are easier when the medication works.

OH, cross your fingers for me please. I received notice yesterday, I am scheduled for evaluation for my wheels! Our Services Coordinator, Shannon, e-mailed me with the news. She said the letter from the doctor was PERFECT, all the I's dotted and T's crossed as needed for government paperwork. Appointment is for the 30th, 2 weeks away, and she will arrange for the bus to take me and pick me up. I am so happy I do not have to find someone to drive me. Appointment is in the busy medical center area, parking is scarce to non existent, requiring a long walk, uh people, that is what I cannot do!

I must remember to make cornbread and a couple of gallons of tea this afternoon. Tomorrow we will have the 'residents planned and provided soup lunch'. Residents make and share soup, cornbread, and drinks in the community room. I should contact someone to see if my crock pot is needed, or my soup pot. I should have made soup, but would require trip to store, and I have yet to take auto to be checked. Perhaps soon. Autos are such a pain when they do not work.

posting before I turn the page.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y C Y N

Hi all.
Seems I have missed your birthday Cyn. Hope you had a great one. Also Rolanda's anniversary. Hope they were good days.
Good luck Heidi! Wishing you pain free days to follow.
Gail...a kidney transplant would be better than winning lotto.Hope the Dr is right.
Suzy...really bad luck for Dana hurting both ankles.Hope it isn't serious.
June...glad you had a good day both for your birthday and winning bowls.
Midge...nice to see you.Thinking of you!
MizT....lately,we are enjoying the stone fruit.I love the nectarines and I bought some sweet juicy peaches yesterday. The trouble is that I eat too many.I also got a watermelon which I cut into bite size pieces and take to work as a meal. It is refreshing in this hot weather.
Bean...OMG.A parachute jump! To each his own though. Hope you are coping well with life.
Julie...busy as usual. Take care and thanks for the hugs.
Broni...what are you up to lately? How is work going?

My holidays are booked all except for accommodation. We can then stay wherever and for as long as we like in different places.
Arrive in Hobart 28th Feb.Arrive in Sydney 9th Mar.
We will hire cars to sightsee.
If anyone is interested in catching up in Sydney on Sunday 10th March,I would dearly love to see you. Will let you know via private message,where we are staying so we can catch up for coffee or dinner.

I am off to do some puzzles. Fell asleep early tonight so am now wide awake. Catch up later.

Well Heidi.. by my calculations you should be well under way with your Epidural...Hope you had safe trip and you receive the outcome you hoped for..

Have had a busy day... today I went down and joined a gym that is open 24 hrs... wonderful for shift workers.. hated not being able to keep up my scheduled gym junkie routine because they weren't geared for shift workers. When I ripped my ankle apart just before Vici's visit I was accustomed to ~4-5 visits a week.. I may have been big but I had stamina & drive. My ankle took a couple of years to be able to walk up stairs... wa[necessary to attend my gym] & by then my membership expired.. This new gym is ground floor.. and with my sleeping habits I will always be there 'out of staff hours' and at that hour there is parking 20 metres from the front door... THAT is amazing in down town Hawthorn/Camberwell.. Got caught up on chat & didn't get down there until ~ 1am.... had the gym all to myself. IT is monitored externally. Grabbed a panic alarm button [because I was alone] and got stuck into it... It was SOO good.. had to remind myself I had already had 1 1/2 hrs of upper body workout/cardio and concentrate on the legs..

This was SO NOT on my list of new year resolutions... fell in my lap.. joining fee's waived.. just paid for key pass.. Wonder how long it will take me to be able to cope with a long haul flight mama...It may work if I use a patch...

Well it is time to get a couple of hours kip.. thought about waiting for sunrise to do some watering.. poor garden is dying.. still too dark...

I have a patch here for when the pain is unbearable.. I've come close but knowing I can end it all whenever gives me strength.. bit like Heidi & her count down for her epidural. The finite factor is powerful.. it isn't for ever..

Julie.. Astute observation. Don't do this 'single' caper at all well. Best friend and I have had similar backgrounds, spouses etc... and marriage breakdowns.. She is now a widow. From what I can see it is easier to pick up the pieces of your life when what you have lost is irrevocably gone.. I find it really hard at times because that isn't the case here..

This is Lachies home and while it is his father will remain a part of my weekly life.. Lachie tries to make it easier but it isn't always practical.. I will not be here for much longer. In the meantime my drumming and singing keep me sane.. fills my heart and soul with joy and hope... also the strength to deal with the unpleasant $HIT in my life that I have no control over.. and there is plenty..
Enables me to keep smiling..

As should you all.

I'm back, and off to bed. It was a rough one, the kind where the pain continues to shoot like lightning bolts down to my toes for a minute after he removes the needle. I've got a good feeling about this one.

What do you mean, Bean, ''I will not be here for much longer.''?

Hi All


Heidi...hope the pain has been corralled for now and some time well into the future. Stay safe...rainy and cold here but not freezing expected.
Hey folks...see how easy it is to understand Bean-speak when the time is right.... happy that you've found a gym that's accessible and fits your schedule bean...work hard to build your stamina..one of us has to be strong enough to do the dirt we'd like to do...lol.
Trica...enjoy the soup gathering...think I'll have some soon...you made me remember that I had some in the kitchen that I've wanted to try...cream of broccoli...had some in the hospital and enjoyed it a lot.so I hope this is good.
Have a good day all...I'm thinking of my party tonight...as you may remember, I have my solitary birthday celebration on the anniversary of Sully's birthday, here in the states, and need to plan on the entire menu...drinks and meat selection has been made...off for now...see you around. Peace.

Wow!!! A bunch of errors...but it happens..lol.
Glad you have a good feeling about the pain control Heidi...pray that you are right.
Suzy...meant to tell you how sweet it was to buy flowers after Dana had such a trying day...hope all is well now....She is going to have to be more careful...cause its hard to be on roller skates trying to keep up with a busy toddler with bad ankles...♥

Morning all,
Heidi, she was wearing thongs. No heels at all.

Gail, I hope that made her feel better..

The smell of smoke is strong today. There is no wind. I've checked all the websites and nothing has changed so they must have been back-burning closer to us.

Nola, 10th of March is going on my Calendar!!

I am going to Judy's unit this morning to clear out more things. It is getting easier with each visit,but knowing that she wont be back, still gives me an awful feeling in my stomach though.
I keep wondering if Jude kept certain things for sentimental reasons and that I might be getting rid of things that have a history.
Like, was this Mums?
What do I do with her teapot collection?
No one in the family has room for her collection so it breaks my heart to donate it to charity.I will keep a few and that is all I can manage.
Gee,I am a barrel of laughs,(not).
Work just rang to see if I could do an extra shift.The phone call woke Greg and he was pleased that I declined.
The warm weather is building up again so I am going to water my pot plants and will call in again later.

Suzy....I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON.
Hope we can catch up at the motel or somewhere easy for you to get to.

Yes, I must get my butt into gear and water the garden. Today is going to be hot, 39 predicted with hot northerly winds, extreme fire danger day. Watering serves two purposes, of course for the plants but alsomeans the environs around the house are wet...it all helps.
Once the temp rises and the winds strengthen, we will leave for the day.

Nola, today could be very stressful. I hope you find a little pleasure being surrounded by the things Judy loved.

With a GPS anything is easy for me to get to - or worth it if I get to finally meet you! When you let us know where you are staying we can arrange something. Do you have any idea which part of Sydney you might be staying in?

Gail, I have one of those sprinkler hoses that I put on for the dogs on really hot days... leaves a nice wet barrier near the house too {biggrin]

We are starting to get water usage warnings. Low rainfall so our storage levels are down and river flow is low. Sydney can draw from our river no matter how low the flows get, but we can't. Well I'm not sure if they 'can', but they 'do'.

In spite of that i have watered my plants and my fruit trees..

I had a nice nap all afternoon. The back is still really tender, which either means that I got a whopper of an injection into the damaged area or the epidural didn't work. I'm gonna hope for the former.

I just added a picture of 3 of the 4 new cockatiel babies, taken by their breeder.

Gorgeous birds Heidi!

Advice Deans Gap (Shoalhaven):fire being contained;bad fire weather late in week has potential for this fire to break out http://ow.ly/gQMI0

Not going to be home. If we have to evacuate it's all up to hubby who works around the corner.

That's another anecdote. They moved all of the Water people to the depot after building an extension. So hubby no longer works 9km away (15 minutes in traffic) in town, but about 2km away (less than 5 minutes) down the road. (It takes 5km to get to the end of the road). The only drawback is that he used to stop at the shops on the way home from work to pick up anything we needed.

Nola - advertise the teapot collection. There are many people who collect teapots and will be interested. But keep the prettiest one for yourself as a keepsake.
Thanks to all who wished me a HB. It was a nice day made more special by the wishes of my Sudoku family !
Suzy and Gail - I too have had many falls over the years. One of the most spectacular was in the fruit section of a supermarket when Col and I were first together. He had run into a woman he had gone to school with. I walked over to pick up some grapes and didn't see that some had been dropped on the floor. Flat on my back as I heard him say - 'oops, I've got to go, that's my girlfriend!' And no hole for me to crawl into.