Sudokuaholics Anonymous 8

Morning lovely people!
Yep - if there's more dust coming as forecast I'm not cleaning yet except where I have to - the constant smell of dust in the air is irritating though.
Tami - glad the 'troublemaker' is behaving in class.
Hi to Broni, Nola, Suzy, Bobbi, the ever-lovely always-positive Mamacita, Vici, Bean etc.
Have a lovely day all. Having a birthday celebration for Karin today, it's not her b'day until tomorrow but she and her family are off to the beach for a week tomorrow (school hols here) so this is the only chance today.

There you go - when you try to do it, you miss out. When you don't bother looking at the count, it happens. Ciao!

Tami, good luck with the extra workload, they must believe you can handle it. After all, who better to control a troublemaker than a troublemaker!

Thanks everyone. I had this same troublemaker two years ago. I had him in 6th grade and he drove me nuts. He was in 7th last year but was retained. He is repeating 7th grade. He was transferred to me about a week ago. I found out he was thrilled to be moved into a higher math class and I think that is why he is behaving, at least most of the time. I am making sure that I keep pointing out the good stuff and try to ignore the negative. He even tucks his shirt in for me, most of the time. School dress code states "shirts tucked in" but the kids don't like it because they say they look like a nerd.

Sounds a bit like a son I used to know... He was classed as a troublemaker until his yr 9 Maths teacher realised he was very smart and used to extend his mind by giving him higher grade maths. Worked well up until the following year when the next maths teacher went back to the usual stream.
The main problem was he was smarter and bored, ergo play up!

Gail, that describes my older brother. He is very smart but always got in trouble in school because he was bored. They did not recognize that kids can be "gifted" as much back then. Mitchell is extremely smart and luckily it was recognized by his teachers early and they were able to put him in the advanced classes. He is doing excellent. Dylan was also put into the advanced class this year and so far he is doing well.
Thank you for letting me brag about my kids for a minute. Have to be a proud mama sometimes.

Good night eveyone. I will be back tomorrow.

Hello, Everyone! Just a quick pop-in to say Hello and send get-well wishes to those in need.

Tami, there seems to be a consensus that you are a good teacher for the troublemaker - and so many others, as well!

Nice to see you posting, Bobbi!

Falling asleep here & not remembering anything. We were up at 5 today to leave by 6 to help with a 5K race/fundraiser at the health club we go to. I need to hit the hay, I'm afraid.

Please, don't anyone be offended if I haven't mentioned you. CRAFTs set in. My apologies!

Hi everyone!
Well, no dust here, just rain for the last three days. Can't really complain - rain is very precious now, but it's COLD here! And I wanted to get some gardening done...
Rob is still walking on air after the footy finals - he spent the day with snacks and beer and a "do not disturb" sign nailed to the door!(Ok, exaggerating a bit - but not much!) :)

Afternoon all!
Would you believe Ebob is playing baseball in this dusty wind? Well, training anyway. It's the last practice before the comp. Yay! Though we did get a letter about the junior comp starting very soon....

Cyn, enjoy the birthday party!

Tami, the girls' primary school used to have a shirts tucked in policy, then they gave up and moved with the times. No one tuckes their shirt in now! Well, maybe the private school kids...

Hey can I brag about mine? Ebob is going to do her trial school certificate exams (3 days of exams) with almost no study at all. Isn't she clever! (?????? grrrr ??????)

Agreed Judy, it is COLD!

June, I've done my sums and I think Sharon is allowed to stand upright now. Sending thoughts and wishes!

Ouch! Hurt myself trying to hang things out in the wind. Stupid!!!!

Saying nothing...!

Hey everyone
have just put some new pics up of me as a clown at work, we had so much fun, when you get a chance go and check them out, if its a laugh your looking for Ha Ha Ha.
Hope your all well

Suzy, I hate to tell you this but I passed high school and university and rarely studied or did homework. I would probably had straight "A's" if I actually studied instead of the B's and C's I was willing to accept. The reason shirts need to be tucked in is that too many things can be hidden under the big shirts that the kids favor. If they are tucked in, it is harder to hide weapons. We were shown a video in which a boy has his shirt out and he pulls out several guns and knives from his waistband. Several in this case was about 8 or 10, I don't remember exactly.

Good Maen all! YIKES Tami - weapons under the shirts...tough school! I love that you and Suzy brag about your kids...such good kiddies with this group!
Please keep that COLD around for my visit...I'm not a fan of the heat! ...but sorry (Judy and Gail) that you guys are cold - here's something to warm you up

Lizzie - thanks for putting up your pictures...you look ADORABLE! Love the pups, too.
June - I'm waiting for a Sharon Update, too.
Suzy - hope your clothes dried quickly and that you got them down safely.
Nola - I'm envious of your good rest and ffuts done around the house - hope to take your lead here this coming week.
Cyn - have a great b'day celebration.

Off I must go.
Doing some "winterizing" in the yard - a bit early, but then I'll be "down-under" when it's time to get everything in for the winter!
Hope everyone has a lovely day and/or night.

Vici, it was not at my school. I am not sure where the video was shot, or if it was real. It did make a good point for teachers and school employees to be vigilant. There was a recent stabbing in Miami in which a 17 year old boy died and a 15 year old girl was shot at school earlier this year. It was at a high school that a lot of my students go to. It is hard to imagine a world where kids are not even safe at school.

Where is everybody? If no one comes out to play, I will be forced to grade papers.

Morning all!
Liz, the photos are hilarious! Who did the makeup? I had a great laugh and I wasn't even there!

Tami, she wants to be a doctor. If she wants to do it straight out of school and not the hard way she needs almost perfect grades. She is like you were though, happy to get what she gets.

Tami, the uniforms at the girls' school have thin white shirts that wouldn't hide a whole bunch of stuff, but we still have stuff like that going on. Not so many guns, but knives etc. When I was living in CA I heard a guy on the radio say people were over-reacting/media hype, kids had less than a 1 in 2 million chance of being killed at school. At that time the odds at Lotto had just changed from 1 in 18M to 1 in 41M....

Vici, you are so organised!

I put up some white tape to keep the lawnmowers away from our new trees (apple, lemon and maple) and surprise surprise, I'm now seeing buds! I'd better give them a soaking today after the winds we've had. It's only breezy this morning.

Good morning everyone. Sharon is having some stitches out today. I will be taking Laura to her swimming lesson. Laura will mainly be with me for a couple more weeks as Sharon is not allowed to do anything. She was here all day yesterday and Laura kept wanting to jump all over her.

It was extremely windy yesterday and, although not a dust storm like last week, it did seem to bring all the dust from last week into the house. You can 'write your name' every where!
I like hearing from proud parents and their children's achievements.
Just realised I have lost my spell check for this page. Sharon was on my computer but Laura was playing games on it as well. Grrrrrr

Morning June
Ouch! Feeling Sharon's pain when Laura jumped on her. I think you said it is a month until she can drive. Hopefully this will be the last of it and she can start to get back to normal.

Wasn't the wind horrible yesterday?! I thought we were going to lose the roof of our carport. Some of my plants are struggling right now. As soon as I know hubby has had his shower I'm going to go and give them a drink.

Good morning all
Suzy the make up was done by me, I did in the room where my Carolina is, and every so often popped my head out from behind the mirror, the looks she was giving me were priceless, Im sure she was trying to tell me I was crazy,
but she laughed and that makes it all worthwhile, but then I think you guys know me enough to realise I will wear just about anything to put a smile on one of their faces.

June - I am so happy to hear that Sharon is doing well,

All the complaints about the cold wet weather
WOW I love it, very good excuse to lay on the couch and do a lot of nothing,
and the catchment area got 25 mils over night YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEE.
You will never hear me complain about cold or wet

June can I blame the dust storm for the dust in my house. I can write my name on some surfaces in my house too!

I haven't been on line much over the weekend as I have been busy doing some knitting. A friend's sister is due to have a baby in a couple of weeks and she has left everything to the last minute.
Hope everyone is surviving the elements.
32 days before I head off to Florida.

Hi Brenda
I'm with you --- I think the dust storm came here at night, there would be no other explanation to all the dust in this house,
Would there ???

Liz, yep, you'd do anything to put a smile on their faces. I hope there's someone like you in whatever place I end up in when I'm old and grey.

I have decided that the only way to tackle the dust is one room at a time. If I try to do it all at once I'll be choking! I've watered some of my poor plants and am warming up before I go and do the rest.

Good morning lovely people.
Yes, I'm writing my name in the dust here too June & Suzy - just trying to find out if any more dust is expected.
Lizzy - the photos were great, you did the make-up well.
June - Oww, poor Sharon, but that's what kids of Laura's age do, isn't it? She loves her Mum. Our grandies climb and sit all over us. Give Sharon my best wishes.
Tami - it's hard to think of a 10yo carrying concealed weapons but I know it happens and you wonder how and why.
Brenda - I didn't know you were going to Florida, must have missed it while I was away from SA. How lovely for you. Are you going to be able to meeet up with Tami & Bobbi?
Vici - pack warm and cool clothes for your trip - they say you can experience all 4 seasons in one day in Melbourne - happened to my daughter and her family in January this year, just before the heatwave - they had to find their winter woollies one afternoon.
Hi to Gail and Julie and anyone else who is around.

Brenda, you started another memory fest for me!

Warning: Memories!
I planned to go on maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date. I had nothing prepared and was going to do it all in those 2 weeks. My niece had a baby shower for me so I had some little outfits etc. Hubby's work had all chipped in and bought us a stroller and a car seat. I figured the rest could wait until I finished work. I wasn't one of those people who bought stuff during the pregnancy...

Ebob was 3 weeks early! She slept in the stroller her first 2 nights home. The next day hubby and I went shopping for a cot, bedding and stuff. Strange women came up to us and oohed and aahed over the beautiful baby - until hubby wandered away. I was then lectured about having my baby out in public so young! They ripped into me! Yes, 'they'. It happened more than once. Several times in fact.

Hey Cyn!
I heard we should expect more dust today, but I'm not seeing any signs of it yet. Not sure whether to start today or leave it another day just in case.

Good morning everyone!
Just left Rob at the hospital - he's getting a hernia removed today. They're keeping him in overnight, then he won't be allowed to lift anything heavy for 4 weeks. Not the best timing, as we leave for Italy in 3 weeks (!!!!)
The rain keeps falling here - everything is sodden, but at least I don't have to worry about watering my new veggies. :)

Hello, lovely people!

Vici, I must finally comment on your initial image of a platypus. I, too, expected them to be bigger - maybe the size of a beaver? Guess I need to google and try to find pictures.

Dizzy Lizzy, I enjoyed your pictures!

Suzy and Tami, thinking of shirts tucked in. Most girls' tops seem to be designed to be worn out. Sorry, with no sons or grandsons, I don't pay much attention to boys' fashion, except it seems Tee-shirts are not tucked in. Before hubby retired from teaching (high school), the wearing of caps/hats or outerwear coats/jackets were banned in school, as well as backpacks/messenger bags/whatever for carrying books, binders, etc. All had to be kept in the locker for the entire school day. Luckily there has not been a need for metal detectors, as they have in Chicago high schools.

We seem to have quite a lot of missing-in-action people these days. I guess life has a way of intervening.

Terribly sorry, but my brain is mush and I can't seem to remember anything else. Hope to get back later, though.

Hi, Cyn, Suzy and Judy. You all snuck in as I thought and typed.