Sudokuaholics Anonymous 9A

Phew, just went over to SA8 to give them a boost over and it took foreeeeever! I'm going to leave it to the people who have been working so hard to get here from now on.

Viv, what if the person who TOPPs page 500 is a topsider? The DUGs haven't been there in a while... You are incredibly generous by the way.

Cyn and Julie, I didn't pick up on the warm versus cool thing! Hilarious!

Theresa, I don't know how you guys do it. Hubby says he prefers cold to hot, but he has never lived anywhere but Southern California and here. I don't know that he can even imagine living in those temperatures - I know I can't!!! What do you do when you work? Do you work from home?

Hi Judy! Missed you!

Bugger, lost a post and now I don't remember what I said.... oh yeah!

Liz, I have listened to the Declan Galbraith song at least 4 times! What and amazing voice! What an incredible song!

Hi,
I had a nice lunch today catching up with some people I used to work with.
My 'friend' finished her radiation treatment today. It was a very intensive treatment so I believe she is quite burnt. (I have not actually seen her since Christmas day) As further Chemo is not an option I guess it is just wait and see if everything has been successful this time. Other than the burning she is OK and back at work. She will be here tomorrow as she will have a birthday on Sunday.

Julie, thanks for the wonderful update. I appreciate it at the moment as I have only been skimming though the pages.
Nola, hope everything is going well with Judy's Chemo. The problem is you just get over one treatment and you have to front up to the next one.
Suzy, have you put your name down at any schools. The relief teaching money is very good even if you cannot get a permanent school.
Heidi, glad you got the cow and calf caught so easily. Hope the trip to the sale yard goes as smoothly.
Time I went to bed. Lots to do tomorrow or I will never be organised by Wednesday.
My back feels OK today, thank goodness.
With all the comments on easy about Kathy going to Hawaii on Monday and wearing shells etc I do not think I will mention that we will probably be going there in September!

June - glad your back is much better today and also, more importantly, that your 'friend' is finished her radiation treatment and is back at work. Best thoughts and wishes to you all!

I'll follow Viv's lead and go to one of my Valentine avatars.

The snow has stayed to the south of us so far. Yes, SOUTH! At this rate, I'll be able to deliver the bovines to the sale barn. The sale isn't until tomorrow morning, but they'll care for them overnight. I just want to get that idjit cow off the premises as fast as possible. Once she hits the sale barn, they insure her. If she escapes or injures herself there, I'll still get paid for her.

heidi with a bull whip, now that is a mental picture! why does it not surprise me that you would e proficient with a bull whip? That was an easy capture of the cow and the calf! Hpe the loading and selling go as well. Is there mandatory disclosure when selling cows? Must you tell this one is an escape artist? Or will she be going to be processed into dog food or something?

Julie, hope your knees are better after exercise.

greetings Suzy, good to see you here today.

CynB, I like looking t George also ! Just something about that man.

hi tami, would you believe we are forecast ice pellets to fall today? It is winter again! Hope you stay warm this time.

hope to have men to work in my house again today, if it does not start raining. replacing more weak places in the sub floor, places that got wet with the old plumbing problems. Gradually getting this in shape again! What a pain!

Well, must go and exercise then massage this hand. I was warming it while typing and warming time is over. I will check back again. I only read to hald of page 81 but I did get some reading in!

Hugs to all,

I actually have 2 bull whips. I used the longer ... 16 ft. .... one on this cow. It's a lot harder to use, but obviously can work from further away.

Good Morning from another topsider! Hello to those who have posted since I went to bed - Theresa, Judy, CynB, VViv, Suzy, June, Heidi, MizTricia, and any others I have missed.

Judy, we're glad you stopped by! We've been missing you! You must have quite a garden if you missed a zucchini, which is now huge! Do you eat it raw with a dip, stir fry, make zucchini bread or use it in another way? Do you have any recipes for the recipe page?

Um, Theresa, you are REALLY a night owl - or were you having trouble sleeping? Just going to bed at 3:30 AM? Ouch! How early do you get up?

CynB, thanks for the review of Up in the Air! Of course, with George Clooney in it, do we really care too much? But 4 stars is a great recommendation. Sounds like a good escape from the heat for the DUGs and a great escape from the cold for us topsiders.

Suzy, nice TOPP and thanks for the attempt to help at SA8! I'm so sorry it posts so much slower for you! We appreciate any help, as it's only a couple of pages to reach 500. Your hubby is probably responding to the thought of extreme cold versus extreme heat. As people around here say, you can always put on more layers, but you can't keep taking off clothes after you reach a certain point. I must have missed something about the Declan Galbraith song. Is it on Liz's page? Have you had the opportunity to look into a teaching position - or too busy with all of your running?

June, gentle hugs and positive vibes and prayers for your "friend!" Wow, she's back at work after such an intensive treatment! Praying that it does the trick and she can put all of this behind her! Wishing her the very happiest of birthdays on Sunday! Perhaps a new start for her! BTW, Heidi had quite a challenge in corraling the cow. As MizT mentions - the mental picture of Heidi with a bull whip is quite amazing! She just got lucky when the calf happened to wander into the barn and could be easily penned with the cow. If we don't get to see you again before your Egypt trip, have a WONGERFUL time! (Wow, a trip to Hawaii in Sept! Wish we could go too!)

Cyn, I may need to join you and MIzT in a heart avatar!

Heidi, drive carefully as you deliver the cow and calf to the sale! I hope they bring in a good price, but I guess you'll just be happy to have them away from the farm! Congrats on dodging the snow!

MizT - ice pellets in Alabama? Oh, dear! Be careful on your walk! Hope those men working in the house are careful, clean and quick (but thorough and good)! It will be good to get everything ship-shape! Good luck with your hand exercises, massages, and warming! Hope you're back to 100% soon!

I need to grab some breakfast and head to physical therapy. See you soon!

There is no mandatory disclosure at the sale barn. Anybody there to buy knows when a single, very pregnant cow goes up for auction, there's a reason. I don't feel guilty about inflicting her on someone. She's carrying an outstanding calf that will be worth the price they pay for the cow. Maybe more. They have a Vet there, who does preg-check every cow, so the buyers know that they'll be getting a cow due to calve in just under a month. Pregnant cows are NOT sold for meat, unless the seller insists. But the feedlots, where the animals sold for meat go, do NOT want pregnant animals. They're not set up for calves, nor do they want to keep a nursing mother around until the calf is weaned. If I insisted that she be sold for meat, they'd buy her, but I would be docked a large amount of money because of the calf in her.

I just checked the radar again. There is a LOT of snow heading our way. It looks like it'll hit in about 2 hours.

Morning all. I work at home doing up pre-trial transcripts for court cases on the computer (via dictaphone). I hope to get work in the near future outside of the home, so this is just tiding us over. I quit my last job last April because of severe stress. This job of typing transcripts can be a bit stressful if there's a tight deadline, but I can generally make my own hours. Just wish it paid more!!!

I might as well prepare for keeping the 2 girls in the barn for a few days after all. I'm gonna look for a small hay roll to put in with them instead of feeding smaller square bales. I don't have many of those. IH snuck into the barn and stole my winter horse supply for his goats. When confronted, he PROMISED to replace them, but hasn't. There's only ONE bale left in the hay loft, and it's such poor quality that IH didn't want it.

Severe stress is NOT good, Theresa. It'll destroy your health. It was a wise move quitting that last job.

I now need to find my lug wrench and work on my tractor. I helped IH out yesterday and delivered 3 rolls of hay to his cousin's property 8 miles away. On the way home, I noticed that one of the front tires had a slight wobble. Once I got home and got off the tractor, I saw that the lug bolts holding that tire on had loosened up. Instead of using a jack, the front end loader on the tractor can lift it up for me. Those things are SO handy.

I didn't fix it yesterday because it was getting dark by the time I got home.

Heidi, you certainly are a "jackie" of all trades. Good on you!! My old job was killing me, but the one I'm in now doesn't pay much. Sometimes you just can't have it both ways. I have started doing crafts again in my spare time (knitting, crocheting, needlework, etc.). Every fall the cat rescue holds a bake and craft sale and I'm hoping to have things to sell for then.

I also made up a big dog bed out of our old curtains for my daughter's 10 year old black lab a few weeks back. The dog loves it. I overstuffed it with the foam from extra pillows we had, so it's totally made from recycled material I had lying around. My daughter has all hardwood floors, so I think it feels good on the dog's older bones. It was a 10th birthday present for the dog ... after all she is my grand-dog.

Good for you, Theresa.

This is the same black lab that injured me almost 10 years ago when she was only 7 months old. My duaghter was living in an apartment where no dogs were allowed, so we looked after the dog for a "few" months, which turned out to be about 6 months. I took the dog out for a walk and she bolted ... obviously I wasn't hanging onto the leash tight enough. I fell down and she dragged me (and I am not a tiny person). I had to let go of the leash. There I am laying on the sidewalk and people are driving by just staring at me!!! I managed to get the attention of some young girls and one of them caught the dog and put her in the house, but just left me lying there. I had the wind knocked out of me. To make a long story short, I tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder and suffered a second degree friction burn on my right arm. I have since forgiven the dog because it was my fault for not paying attention. But I still can't believe people would drive by without stopping (I live in a small town after all). It took me about half an hour to drag myself in the house and when my husband came home shortly after I was in tears. I would hope that if I saw somebody lying on the sidewalk that I would stop and see if they needed help. Enough venting, time to get back to work.

Good Morning friends!
I had the most magnificent drive over Donner Pass coming home from Truckee last night. There was no one on the highway to speak of and the moon was almost full with a slight cloud cover. The snow over the pass was very deep, but the roads were clear and dry. It was such a beautiful sight - the mountains, forest and snow all aglow with the moonlight.

Morning Vici ... what is Truckee? Glad you enjoyed the drive. Perfect picture taking opportunity, did you have your camera with you?

V Viv - hey twin! So good to see you back around and love your sexy eye avatar.
Theresa - I think the cushy doggie bed for your granddog's 10th b'day was wonderful!
I'm off to do that thing we don't mention here (gninaelc) as Ali and Melissa are coming for the weekend. Ali's boyfriend (Jeff - they live together, so it is pretty serious) is also coming up to visit for the first time. I have met him via Skype, but not spent any time with him. I think it will be fun, except we are expecting more rain.

Hey Theresa! I didn't have a camera with me - don't know if I could have really captured the ambiance of it all...I'm not the best photographer and I'm imagining it would have taken some expertise to know how to shoot it in dim light. Truckee is the last town on Interstate 80 (which runs between NY and SF) before Nevada. It is right outside of Lake Tahoe.
I went to a class up there that ran over the 9 p.m. stopping time by almost an hour. So the roads were pretty quiet driving back down (West) toward my town of Grass Valley.

Hi there everyone.
June..hope you have a wonderful time seeing Egypt and the Tigers.Sorry to hear that your friend has burns from the radiation,but we all pray that it works.
Theresa..is it that people don't care or that they are scared of repercussions?Either way, it is pretty lousy not to help someone hurt.
Heidi..fingers crossed for baby birds hatching.
Good onya getting the cow and calf.
Broni..sad news about you not getting Dallas.Good news that she has a new home though.
Hello to Cyn,Suzy,Gail,Vici,Viv,Tami,Suzanne,Julie,MizT,Lizzy,Judy,Rolanda,Bean,and everyone that visits here.

The tractor tire is back on securely!!
It was hard on my hand, though. It's throbbing a bit.

Judy is home with me for 1 day just to make sure she doesn't get sick after the chemo.She is really well so far,looks good in the wig and enjoying the attention.I have to give her a needle today,my FIRST one!Hope I don't hurt her.
Son and DIL seem more relaxed now that they have made there decision to separate.I am settling to,at first I was very upset.
I had a dental appointment on Feb 19 to have a wisdom tooth removed that broke a few weeks ago.Yesterday they rang to see if I would come in at 2.30pm,so I hardly had time to worry.(I am a sook)All done now,just a bit sore in the jaw.
I have almost completed my 1st assignment of 1000 word report on a case scenario.Phew.
Just a few touch ups and referencing to go.
I am having a day off work and study today,feels good to relax a bit.I will keep popping in today to catch up.

Heidi...wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to use your hand. Yeh,right.

I lost connection for an hour or 2.
Back again now as you can see.

This is weird. It's supposed to be snowing here. The radar shows it snowing here. We haven't had a single flake.

I just had a nap. Don't know why I'm so sleepy. I don't like the idea of driving on potentially bad roads when sleepy. I decided to take the 2 bovines to the sale barn in the morning, if the roads are OK. That'll actually give me a better idea of the buyers anyway. If the roads are bad, there won't be as many buyers there, and the prices will be down because of it. The auction doesn't start until 10 am.

Morning everyone.
No snow here Heidi. We wish.
24c with 84% humidity.
Hi Nola, enjoy your rest day.
Yes it is always good to have dental work over and done with.
Hi V V. Love your avatar girl.
June apparently the tigers are really something.
My niece and her dad have been there and got some terrific photos.
Theresa, I love knitting, but only in winter.
Better go do some stuff.

The first small flakes are coming down now!!!

Good morning everyone! Up early to water the garden, planted a couple of things, including a passionfruit vine for Rob (yuk! it would be ok without the seeds!)) Rob's gone back to bed, but once I'm awake that's it for me! :)
Well, I think we are going to look at new cars today - the one we have is 9 or 10 years old and starting to get cranky. Tomorrow it's another trip to the country to visit Mum and Dad - the weekends seem to fly by. Dad has told us that he has people looking for a place in Melbourne for them ... will it happen? Will Mum move without a fight? I foresee all kinds of traumas ahead, but cutting down 4 hours of driving time sounds good to me! Plus I'd be able to visit them during the week ...
Nola, you've been so busy ... hope your Judy continues to improve.
June, not sure if it's the same place, but Laura and her friends went to see the tigers and had a wonderful time - some great photos with babies, then the big ones ... no way would I do it! (I'm a scaredy-cat!)

SA8 is now on page 499! We need about 62 comments to hit 20000. So then, I started doing some math. (Horrors!) I even took out the calculator. Here's what I discovered:

The TOPP of page 500 would be comment number 19961. The LAST comment of page 500 would be comment number 20000!

We need someone (Viv, I guess) to decide if we're going for the first comment on page 500 or the last. HELP! Viv, are you still on site?

OK, now I can read this page!

Good Morning, Judy! It's good to see you, but a shame you had to get up early to water and do some planting in the garden.

Have an enjoyable trip tomorrow to visit your Mum and Dad! It's a shame they're such a distance away! Is it 4 hours each way or 4 hours total? I understand how that affects your weekend and getting anything else done! A few years ago, we were traveling each weekend to see my Dad - a total of 5 hours of driving. Sometimes he slept most of the time we were there visiting him. I know you would enjoy the visits more if they were to move closer to you! Plus, it's less worry if you can get to parents quickly!

Enjoy your weekend!

We started this by having the goal of reaching 500 pages.

Heidi, I was reading your comment about the hay bales and IH, then I got to your comment that started that you needed to find your lug wrench. I won't say here what kind of connection my brain started to make. Luckily, I read more of that comment quickly!

Oops, I forgot to say hello to those who visited the page since my first visit this morning. Hello, Heidi, Theresa, V Vici, Nola, V Viv and Judy!