Sudokuaholics Anonymous 9A

Suzy - was it the clean-out of Ebob's room that prompted Ally to start talking?

I swear that I get more TOPP's now that I don't try than I ever did when I was racing to get it!

Suzy, I'm glad to hear that Ally is now talking about Ebob. The shock has probably worn off a bit. A good cry together always helps.

No carpet cleaner can get rid of those nasty odors, Suzy. Try some vinegar down drains, then open all the windows.

Rolanda, I'm glad you've got a sister you can grrrr with.

Middle brother didn't talk to me for years over something to do with Mum. Then he sat down one day and pulled out his calculator, called Mum and said 'did you know..'. She said yes, Suzy did the calcs years ago. All was forgiven. Then a few months ago I apparently walked right past his son at the mall, didn't see him at all. Not surprising if you know me, I do it all the time. But to my bro it was an unforgiveable sin.

My young brother did something wrong by my mother. Everyone was in my mother's ear about it and she challenged him. Although I had actually been defending him, he believed that everything out of my mother's mouth came out of mine first. Mum tried to tell him otherwise and he didn't believe her. I told her to let it go, it wasn't worth it.

Cyn, we spent a bunch of time playing with her hair etc. The one on one time might have helped.

Victoria, it would work here - Mum won't fly!

Just remembered something funny. I mentioned that Ally was off on a 3 day school camp. They had a lot of fun doing stuff like abseiling, racing carts, swinging on a giant swing, trivia night, disco etc etc. There was a boy in Ally's group (who obviously goes to her school) who is disabled and is accompanied at all times by a carer. He throws massive tantrums and has no sense of personal safety. Ally says he is a lot like a 2 year old. At the end of the first activity, the boy's carer was standing behind Ally in a line and said "Ally, is that you?" It was my youngest bro! He was the carer for the day!! Neither of them had recognised each other for well over an hour. Ally is a few years older and bro has grown his hair long and grown a beard, but it is still both funny and sad.

Suzy - you're right with what you said to Rolanda - having a sister to grrrr about anything is wonderful and I appreciate my sister much more as I've got older.
I do hope that whatever happens with Ebob, that at some stage in the future she and Ally can keep those sisterly bonds alive - there'll be a time they need them.
I'm close to my brother but not in the same way.

Storms about to hit us - first of the 'summer' storms. They say they're going to be bad with hail and high winds!
Batten down the hatches Vicki!

Hope they're not too bad Cyn and Vicki!!

I'm driving son's newish car today. I might need to stick it in the warehouse to keep it safe.
I can hear the thunder rumbling around at the moment.

everyone. I'm off to bed in a few. Quiet day tomorrow without IH. He'll be here on Wednesday, then Thursday I'll be spending the day at the World Equestrian Games with some good friends.

I'm not reading page 362 and 363. Hi, June, Heidi, Tami, MizTricia, Theresa, Nola, Equanimous, Broni, Vicki, CynB, and Brenda!

June, great TOPP and palindrome!

MizT, I enjoyed your story about the painted foyer! Your comments about controlling are quite right! I was reading in the paper yesterday about a "cult-type" group on the fringe of the Catholic Church and the type of control used on the women (lay persons, not nuns, who were "consecrated" (I think that was the term.) The restrictions and schedule imposed on them seemed to attempt to guarantee control also. It's not right, no matter who does it!

Nola, I hope you are getting some relief from the sciatica! As I mentioned earlier, I have my acupuncturist to thank! I am also trying to concentrate on the core strengthening portions of water aerobics and be mindful when I do them, not go on "automatic pilot."

I hope Greg's optometrist appointment went well - and hope the same for his upcoming appointments with the dietician and podiatrist! Sending positive vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and for both of you - and your family members! I hope your wound management assignment was accepted! It must be SO uncomfortable to do the on-line portion when it is nearly impossible to sit due to the sciatica! Good luck!

My youngest brother told me tonight that he has an appointment with his doctor tomorrow - has had a glucose meter for a couple of weeks. Depending how he feels after getting his diagnosis, we may get together for dinner and discuss. (His 50th birthday is this week.)

Tami, I understand how your Dad feels about giving up his belongings. Nola stated it so well! Sometimes it's not so much the object - as what it stands for, the independence and being able to do things for yourself! I am a collector of stuff, not formal collections. A friend told me when I was trying to part with some things that I should say out loud, "I no longer need ____ and am giving it up so that someone else may use it and get satisfaction from it." Perhaps that would help your Dad?

Oh, my, CynB, I hadn't realized (though I should have, since you hadn't been mentioning various jobs) that Col's lawn and gardening business had closed! I think it's time to mention another strong woman! You and Col have certainly had a struggle. I'm so glad he found a new job - and they held it for him when his Mum died! I'm so glad you are seeing a steady income now! Sending positive vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and to both of you!

Heidi, I am so sorry to hear that IH's cousin's daughter's children no longer remember her! Were they at the memorial service? I hope they are at least getting to visit with their grandparents regularly! Unfortunately, their father is obviously a controlling man!

Suzy/Equanimous, thank you for the link about possible anti-cancer results from "junk" DNA!

CynB, I've been hearing

Part 2 of this post. (It should have been, "I'm NOW reading . . ."

CynB, I've been hearing about Vitamin B and D (I think) and their possible roles in delaying Alzheimers.

Heidi, good luck with the budgies and the nesting boxes!

Did someone mention chocolate? CynB, I think your post on page 362 really took care of it!

Heading to the posts on page 363.

Hi, CynB, Equanimous, Theresa, Heidi, MizTricia, Gail, Victoria, Rolanda, Broni, Tami and V Viv!

Cyn, I'm glad all the goodies were at the bottom of a page and not the top. Out of sight - out of mind, or so they say! It certainly is a relief that they have no calories - and no cost, for that matter!

Cyn, I can't believe that an 11-year-old is on Faceboook! It's a bit shocking. I think Suzy is right that 13 is officially the youngest allowed. I was appalled to see that a former student, who is now 13 or 14, has a page, as do a number of her friends, who are all listed as siblings. I can only hope that their parents are aware and monitoring!

Cyn, your frustration with on-line billing is understandable! I agree with Heidi and do NOT want my statements online! I check my statements each month as closely as possible for any mistakes. (Yes, I have occasionally found one.) I don't want to opt-in for online statements and then be unable to opt-out at a later time. (I'm thinking about my MIL now. I can't guarantee that we will always have access to a computer - or even be the ones paying the bills.

Equanimous, thank you for sharing the list of books that were once banned. Like you, I have read many of them, and consider their banning as essentially being a recommendation, based on past experience. I think I'll be adding a few books to my list of books to eventually read.

Gail, the fact that we are all in your thoughts means the world to us. It's all that we ask. I'd say that you definitely qualify as onoe of this site's strong women! Please know that you, your hubby and family are all in our thoughts! Sending positive vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and for all of you!

Vicki, I am SO glad that things have been looking up for you, Kevin and your family! Sending positive vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and that all may remain stable or improve for you!

Rolanda, I hope you have finished unpacking and doing laundry and hope all is well with your family and your Mum!

Broni, after all that you have been through, how can you be in a quandary that your life for now is at least somewhat drama-free?

Suzy, whether it's a drama or not, we're glad that you feel comfortable venting here! We are not feeling sorry for you, but we are feeling supportive! (Great metaphor, BTW!)

Tami, I hope your clothes dryer holds up! (We also live in an area with a Homeowners Association and covenants that do not allow a clothes line. I have a friend who uses her shower curtain hanging rods and bought a couple extra that are spring-loa

Part 3 of this post:

Tami, I hope your clothes dryer holds up! (We also live in an area with a Homeowners Association and covenants that do not allow a clothes line. I have a friend who uses her shower curtain hanging rods and bought a couple extra that are spring-loaded and placed across the ends of hallways on washing day.

Viv, what kinds of trees do you have in your yard that the bats enjoy?

Theresa, I hope the rain has moved on from you!

MizT, I hope you had a nice, slow, soaking rain!

Cyn, that weekend in January does, indeed, sound very busy!

Suzy, it isn't the government, but the Homeowners Association that legislates against clothes lines (and in our area, TV antennas on the roof, metal swing sets, above-ground swimming pools, storage sheds, etc., etc.) We wouldn't want to have "visual polllution," would we? It's crazy! We even had someone want to include an ordinance against bird feeders.

Brenda, you are so right about the difficulties when you have your own business. You must pay your employees, then people for whom you have done work - don't pay you. How do they think you can pay your employees? Where do they think the money comes from?

Heidi, thank you for sharing the funny IH sighting! Just think, you actually witnessed him closing a gate, too!

Vicki, it's interesting how our parents can rationalize not moving to assisted living, a nursing home, or a smaller home or apartment. Your mother rant sounded too familiar for many, I think. My MIL insisted on choosing assisted living an hour away from us, when we found something more pleasant within .5 mile or our home.

Hubby and I keep saying to ourselves, "We have to remember this. We can't be like this." (Actually, I was luckier than he was, as my Dad willingly left his house and moved to assisted living and later decided that he was no longer comfortable driving.) Now, we keep saying we need to start going through our things stored in the basement and reduce the amount!

CynB, I hope your D had a wongerful birthday! Karin!

I should be reading page 365, but it's nearly 1 a.m., and I'm falling asleep here! Good Night; sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite! I'll see you all sometime tomorrow!

Sending positive vibes, prayers and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for all of you, whether I mentioned you or not!

Pheww - Julie, that must have taken so much time!!
Storm is hitting other areas than us - it's raining but thunder is distant. It might affect Vicki more than me as she lives on the North side of Brissie.

Wow Julie! Your brain was working extremely well for that time of night! Amazing.

I meant the Government should pass a law saying homeowners associations can't ban clothes lines. Even if you don't believe in climate change it is a huge money saving (electricity/gas) which is so necessary for many many people these days. And not everyone has the option to move to get away from these associations if their circumstances change.

BTW Julie - I checked on FB and my niece has her birthdate down as 1997 but she was born in Jan 1999.

Hey Cyn! Glad the storm is missing you 'cause then I get to talk to you. I'm taking yet another breather - I've had a few of those today, lol. I told Ally that in one hour I was going to come in and help her with her room. NO!!! Then you had better make a huge difference in the next hour or I WILL BE. Wonder what I'm going to find...

Hey Suzy, it is like me saying.. Turn down the volume or I will.. (I turn the volume all the way down to OFF!!)

Ooooo Rolanda, you're tough!

Ooooo Rolanda, you're tough!

Grrr, repeat!

She's not THAT tough, Suzy!

Julie...awwww, you are such a sweetie, thank you ♥

Finally caught up and exhausted just reading about what you are all going through.
Sending out so many good vibes, love and hugs to you all.
Think I will have to start doing the initials like Zusy did just to keep up.

An oldie but a goodie.

I took my Dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes. We decided to grab a bite at the food court. I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him. The teenager had spiked hair in all different colours.

The teenager would look and find him staring every time.

When the teenager had enough, he sarcastically asked 'What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life?'

"I got drunk once and slept with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son."

Love that one every time I read it Broni! There's another great one that I probably deleted when I cleaned out my 2500 email messages... I'll try to remember it... It went something like this...

A self-important young person was explaining to an older man why it was impossible for the older generation to understand the younger generation. You grew up in a different world. Today we have computers, jet planes, nuclear energy. The older man quickly answered, you're right, we didn't have those things when we were young, so we invented them.

The final line for that one Zusy is:
'So what have you done"

forgot the "?"

It's great isn't it! The older I get the more I appreciate them...

Sleepless in small town Canada. Wow a lot of postings since I was last here.

Suzy, I wouldn't change Ebob's room too much either. When she visits and sees it changed she might feel unwanted. If you make it Ally's room, it might cause hard feelings for both girls. It's a difficult time, so don't be too hasty about changing it. I'm so glad Ally finally talked to you!

Have read all the posts while sitting here with my coffee, and I am thinking positive and healing thoughts about you all. Time for another coffee ..............

OK, we have have enough news to send us all into the doldrums, so will you join me.
Everyone of you has to tell a joke in the face of adversity.
PS: Laughter is good medicine.
Still sending love and hugs to you all.
We are just angels without wings.
Still want to hear about what is happening in your lives.

Just one post.

Theresa, "Sleepless in small town Canada"...nah, let's say Seattle, rolls off the tongue easier, and then we'll make it into a movie! Sounds like a plan to me

Broni you do set hard tasks. I hear jokes but can never remember them.

Dag, good one!
Brenda, check you emails!! If not google funnies. Come on you lot we do need a laugh apart from IH!
Not taking away from what life throws at us, as Julie said we are strong women.

I'm going to break this funny up into two parts as I think it might be too long.

There is a factory in Northern Minnesota which makes the Tickle Me Elmo toys. The toy laughs when you tickle it under the arms.

Lena was hired at The Tickle Me Elmo factory and she reported for her first day at 8:00 am.

The next day at 8:45 am there is a knock at the Personnel Manager's door. The Foreman throws open the door and begins to rant about the new Employee.

He complains that she is incredibly slow and the whole line is backing up, putting the entire production line behind schedule.

OK, I'll start! Here's a good one - heard it before but I love it!!
HOW TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE.

George Phillips, an elderly man, from Vancouver, B.C., was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" He said "No," but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me. Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available."

George said, "Okay." He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again.


"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot them." and he hung up.


Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence, and caught the burglars red-handed. One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

(True Story) I LOVE IT! Don't mess with old people