Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Morning all,
Things are pretty much the same around here...stuff to be done and the one who should be doing it is finding every and any way to avoid doing it! I keep telling myself to get busy...yet I'm getting zero results...Sigh....oh well someday maybe, perhaps!
Miz T Glad to know that your niece is staying with her mom until she's able to get past the effects of the meds and is use to doing things one-handed...won't take long I'll bet. Prayers continue as long as wanted or needed....easy to find time to talk to God about friends and their loved ones.
Midge, do hope things work out for your son's return to wellness also. I too read something about a Sars outbreak that may have affected many, but hopefully whatever it is, it will soon be in the past.
Julie, I'm going to add my voice to the chorus again...What's keeping Julie so busy for now...Woodworking classes? Secretarial duties? Cello practice? Household duties and stuff that like me, you have not gotten around to? You know...all of the stuff that helps to make Julie run, in addition to those super good SA summaries you write. We care and want to know ALL...lol.
Suze...How are things with Dana now? Did she hear anymore about the threats? I do hope things have settled a bit. Has the additional stress you are going through what with Dana's experience, babysitting an active little one and beating yourself up because your child was having problems that you didn't diagnose early on , affected your physical health unduly? I'd hate to see you push yourself to work to help pay for the expenses incurred, even knowing how much you'd want to help shoulder the cost, at a cost to your health...and I think your family would rather you didn't push too much either. On the other hand, I do know that you will make the right choices for all concerned...just know that you are important to us and we get to be worried about you.
Here's to a wish for a great day/night for all of you my friends, mentioned or not in this post, yet thought about and prayed about, and I will continue to do so, asked for or not...Peace.

Ahhh! Didn't realize it was a new page..! Hope you will find this meaningful....I do.
Life is a promise...fulfill it. Mother Teresa

Hi all.
I was waiting for someone to post something inspirational and you did well Mamacita.
Isn't it hard to get motivated sometimes.Maybe we need the rest before we get going.
Suzy..glad you have some work for all the extra bills that have to be met. Dont blame yourself. You would have done all you could. Great that you have a diagnosis and can do something about it.

Work HAS started on the flooded house.Maybe 6 weeks from now, Paul can move back home.
Then start on Judy's unit by seeing a financial adviser and clear out her things. We left it for Paul to use.

Love reading your posts and hope you are all happy
and healthy.

Hi all. Today has been a rainy day and I have been very lazy. I did not get out of my pajamas until 4:00 pm. I do not usually do this.

Please say a prayer for my friend (and neighbor) Kim and her family. Her mother suddenly passed away this morning. Paula went to work (at a daycare center) and did not feel well. They called an ambulance. She had a heart attack and nothing could be done for her. She was an amazing woman and will be truly missed. She is survived by her husband, Kim (and her husband and 2 kids) and also a daughter who is mentally challenged. It is going to be a hard adjustment period for Kim and her dad. Kim's daughter is the one I refer to as 'the candy thief' and 'Harley's favorite chew toy'

Condolences to Kim and all of the family. It must have been a huge shock, Tami. The other daughter may find it hard to understand when it happened so suddenly.

Thanks Nola. It is a shock. I am not sure how old the mother was but I think mid 60's. I am 12 years older than Kim and she is the older sister. Her sister is about 31 or so but has the mental capacity of about an 8-10 year old. Kim's two kids are 7.5 and 12.5 years old.

greetings friends, can't get to sleep tonight, boy, too much or not enough. Oh well, it will come if I do not fret over it.

Today was Scrabble, and first game I was terrible. Also got no counting letters, never saw so many 'ones' at a time. Dead last and so far last I could not even see the winner hehehe. But game two a big turnaround. I won, think this was my second time to win a game. Happened to have good letters and good places to put them. I also discovered I can 'see' the board and possibilities if I look at board upside down, go figure.

We have t storms about the state, I imagine they are getting too close for my comfort once again. Hate when that happens.

TAMI, your friend Kim and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. A sudden death like that is such a shock to everyone. I worry about Kim's sister, she will have a hard time understanding this.

NOLA, congrats on work starting on the house. Now perhaps that will soon finish, then on to getting Judy's house settled. It was good it was available for Paul to have a palce to live in comfort till his house was finished.

Mama, I smiled at your comment it is easy to find time to pray about your friends and family. A good friend of mine calls that muttering, she mutters to God as she goes about her daily tasks. I am sure He does not mind her multitasking.

I did not get to go to a play tonight, The Littlest Mermaid, back spasms, achies to much to want to sit over 3 hours in all. I imagine it was good though, never been to a youth production of theirs, lots of children's parts, even very young children for some.

OK< gonna try one more pain pill and then back to bed. Hope this works, my bag of tricks is about empty. Hugs to each of you, with extras.

OH, I changed avatars, cause it is peach season in Chilton County. That is a photo of the water tower at Clanton. It is right beside the freeway, and very close to the Peach Park, a tourist attraction selling peach ice cream and baskets of peaches in season, peach preserves and jam, and all manner of other things. When my Aussie friends were here last October, we came back from lake by there, and I bought some very good fig preserves there. I bought Fran and Graham some peach butter to take on to their next stop and share with their host.

Hi, Everyone!

No time to read or comment. Had a long day today, including a backstage tour of Orchestra Hall/Symphony Center in Chicago and a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and soloist Maxim Vengerov at Ravinia, the 'summer home' of the Chicago Symphony.

Another long day tomorrow, starting with 'Breakfast Club' (a group of fellow high school graduates who try to meet monthly for breakfast. Tomorrow will end with another concert at Ravinia featuring the Chicago Symphony and a piano soloist, Jorge Federico Osorio.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} to all. Good Night!

Hello everybody. Believe it or not, I'm home already. Sere wasn't ready to be bred after all, so I left them down there and will pick them up again in a few weeks.The RV drove like a dream, but we had a few glitches with various systems. The circuit breaker kicked off several times with the AC, the TV didn't work, nor did the CD player on the dash. Once I'm rested up from my 15 hour drive, we go back to the dealership for more work. The kids tried to stress me, and Anita didn't supervise them (which annoyed me), but I ruled with an iron fist. I'll be traveling alone for the return trip.

Welcome home Heidi, sorry that you will have to do the trip again.
Julie, I am sure that you enjoyed the Symphony concerts. Nice to hear what you have been doing.
Prayers for those that have requested them.
Tami, sorry about your friend's mother. I went to a funeral of a friend's brother yesterday. He was 68 and had cancer. Why do brilliant people, who have lived a good clean life , with so much to give back to the community have to get that dreadful disease and die when they are still giving ?
Nola,Pleased the house renovations are now getting done.
MizT, I love fresh peaches. Stewed ones too!

June, Just reach in your modem and stretch really far, and I will give you fresh peaches! I had to go to doc office for repeat blood work today, and on the roadside, found a young man selling peaches. They are HUGE, and were just picked this morning, now that is fresh. A bit under ripe today, but in a couple of days they should soften up a bit and be perfect. NOW, to make sure they last long enough for me to eat 24 peaches! Oh, make that 23, I gave one huge one to Shannon on my way to apartment. I do thing I will make a peach cobbler with part of them, love those. I can always slice and freeze some if I cannot eat them all before they start to go bad.



I also bought some celery to make the chicken salad I have been wanting for a week now. It made a very good dinner.

Tomorrow we will have a cook out. Everyone bring what you want cooked on the grill, the staff will grill it for you, and bring a 'side' to share. I think I will take a desert, Lemon cake. If I am ambitious tomorrow I might make some cole slaw.

I got my drivers license renewed today also. I found out I do NOT have to do that in my county. Because of budget cuts, my county has closed all but 2 locations, and nether is easily accessible. Lots of walking, stair climbing, standing in line involved. I stopped next county south, parked right out front of the door, same level walk in and to the left, there you were. No lines either. Easy, and I am legal for another 4 years.

HEIDI, I am sorry after having vet out twice to check Sere, she still was not ready. But that did cut short your time with the uncooperative children. I do hate you have to make a return trip to pick up your horses, but alone might be the best idea for you. I do hope the dealership can get everything working to your satisfaction before your next trip. Is it comfortable driving and easy to handle? Were you able to sleep in the 'strange bed'?

Juli, hope you do enjoy the concert tonight. thanks for telling us something about what is keeping you busy these days. Did you enjoy your back stage tour? Breakfast club sounds like such a good idea of keeping in contact with friends.

Getting sleepy here, this is the second day in a row I have not had a nap. I did rest a bit when I got home as the trip was tiring, but did not go to sleep. Boy I slept good last night, and hope I do as well again tonight.

Hugs to each of you, with extras. till later.

The RV was easy to drive and comfortable. I just need to make a few changes. I either have to add a thick foam pad to the bed or get a softer mattress. I ended up sleeping on the sofa bed instead. It was softer.

Hello from me to all of you!

Another late night due to a concert. Hope to sleep in a bit in the morning, as nothing very pressing is on the agenda. Saturday morning I need to get up early to donate platelets. We managed to fit in some practicing, a cello lesson and a load of yrdnual washed & dried today to everything I'd mentioned in yesterday's post.. Probably between 4 and 5 hours on the road to get to where we needed to be and back home. (I tend to forget travel time when thinking about the day, then wonder how we could lose so many hours.) Because I remembered to total drive time today, it makes sense that we weren't able to accomplish more.

Sending lots of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayer, positive thoughts, and healing vibes to be used as needed. Good Night, Everyone!

Thanks for the update, Heidi! We're glad to hear that the driving was not a problem!

Morning all. Another hot, hot, hot day. With the humidity, the feels-like temp could reach 45C. It's not yet 10:00 AM and it feels like 39 already. Here's our forecast for today:

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms early this morning and this afternoon. The main threats with these storms are torrential downpours, damaging winds, and large hail.

You all know how I feel about thunderstorms, and guess who is home alone today? Sigh.

Welcome home, Heidi.

I have a pot roast in the slow cooker and that's the extent of any cooking I'm doing today. Hubby is going to see his dad tomorrow and can take enough with him that they can have beef sandwiches. Sorry people, the kitchen is closed (except for the microwave and coffee pot).

Theresa, your forecast of t storms made the Alabama weather news today. The weather guesser was saying your storms will be the end of the heat wave, they will bring temps back to normal for Canada and the northeast USA. So maybe remembering that will make the t storms less a threat for you? Come on t storms, give Theresa some relief from the heat!!

My daughter is in Connecticut, and they are feeling the heat wave too. She was going out to buy a second window AC. They have one, in the master bedroom, but since my autistic grandson has moved to his own room now, they need a second one for his bedroom. The master is huge, as big as both bedrooms across the hall combined. They could have set up his bed in there with the AC, but making changes for an autistic child is not the same as another child. He is now sleeping in his own bed, in his own room, after 10 years of sharing their bed, they do not want to do anything to change that.

Today is the cook out for lunch. I have had my shower and washed my hair already. Now to make something to take. I made a cake yesterday that was a total failure. Half is over cooked, other half has raw spots, yuck! I am so glad I decided to taste test it last night. Gave me time to plan for something else to take. It will not be desert, but slaw. I had been wanting some anyway, bought cabbage Wednesday from the veggie man. With the mini food processor, it is easy to grate cabbage and apples for the slaw. I make my own slaw dressing so that is no problem.

That is about it for today, other than I had another great sleep last night. I went longer between waking, means longer between pain meds too. I could not stay awake till 11:30 for a bedtime dose. Suits me just fine, that uninterrupted sleep is the best kind.

Off to get beautiful, or at least presentable. Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

My sympathy with those storms, Theresa. Be safe. We're having the same, or similar heat wave. It's much hotter here than in Florida. It's probably the humidity making it seem that way, since the actual temperatures are the same. I need to check our forecast to see if it's gonna break. I hope MizT's right about yours breaking.

Remember how I wanted to leave for Florida last Thursday, but the Vet here (not my regular one) said that Sere wan't ready to be bred then? We delayed leaving for another 4 1/2 days? It turns out that my instinct was right. The owner of Gypsy Gold just had her examined by his Vet, and he said we just missed her ovulating by a few days. We now have to wait another 2 weeks before she comes in heat again to breed her. Of course, I'm getting charged daily board.

No thunderstorms yet, but now we are also under a tornado watch.

MizT, wish I could try your cole slaw. I love it when it's done right (not like the stuff from KFC).

I don't know if I mentioned this before or not, but a relative of my mother's was killed by lightning in Holland (before I was born). My mother was terrified of thunderstorms. As a result, when I was a kid, if it was storming we had to get fully dressed (including shoes), no matter what time of day or night. Then we would sit on the couch and wait out the storm. If there was a storm predicted overnight, we had to get our clothes and shoes ready before bed and put them on the dresser ... ready to jump into. This is probably why I am afraid of them today. My daughter is not afraid of them, so I guess I must have successfully hid my fear (terror???) of thunderstorms when she was growing up.

Sere, you go girl! Good luck Heidi.

Came through unscathed. Some areas to the north of us had damage done, but I haven't heard anything about locally yet.

Good to hear, Theresa.

My body is back to it's favorite sleep pattern... looooooooong naps. I think this is why it likes that.... because of me enjoying all-night drives. Each way this trip took 16 hours. The way down because I was hauling horses, and the way back because it rained almost the whole way.

Heidi, did you bring the hhorse trailer home with you, or leave it in Florida anticipating your return trip?

I brought it back with me, because I need to haul the Fall born calves to the sale barn next week. I considered leaving it down there to save gas, but then realized that I needed it.

Hi, Everyone!

Well, I read, thought of all of you, and planned to comment, but after a few more pressing matters and distractions, CRAFT disease has struck.

We had storms tonight, which the weather people are promising will see the end of the extremely high temperatures we have been experiencing for too many days. That is good news for SIL and D, as SIL will run a half-marathon and D will run 5K (I think) on Sunday. They both have work related requirements the rest of the day and into the evening, so we will be puppy-sitting until one of them returns home.

I have a 7 a.m. appointment to donate platelets tomorrow, so I had best get some sleep.

Sending lots of positive and happy thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and for everyone. I know there were a few who could use some heavy-duty prayers. Good Night, All!

IH is suddenly more enthusiastic about the RV. He hadn't cancelled the room reservations for the trip to his niece's wedding in September, and just checked up on them. The motel just raised their rates to over $80 a night. He freaked at that and is happy to be able to cancel them now.

Good morning all. Coffee is ready, help yourself.

I am waiting for a pickup of Dylan's old bed. Tried for a year to sell it and finally called charity to pick up. At least I will get a receipt for my taxes. Tomorrow is the funeral for my friend's mother. A friend of hers is hosting a luncheon after the services so I offered my van to help bring tables and chairs from one house to another. Waiting to hear if I am needed.

I love being able to sleep until noon. No place to go and no IH ordering me up or singing ''The Battle Hymn Of The Republic'' at the top of his lungs to disturb me.

I'm not taking the RV to the dealership until Monday. There's still more stuff to unload, both of mine and Anita's. Of course, all the perishables were unloaded the morning we returned. Anita forgot a bunch of souvenirs she purchased, her DVDs, some of the kid's toys and her lawn chairs. I still need to unload my clothes.

Morning all!
We've had an eventful week. Yesterday we had to chop down a lovely big tree that provided shade and privacy outside our bedroom window at the front of the house. It's roots were clogging our sewer line, which we discovered, just in time before it backed up, earlier in the week. $440 at 11.30pm to get a plumber/drainer out to clear it. A camera up it the next day revealed the problem. Darnit, I loved that tree.
SIL helped Col chop it down yesterday and this morning Andrew and his girls are coming to help Col with loading and dumping the branches and trunk.
Well, he's helping - the girls and I will go shopping!!

MizT - re your comment on the FB photo of the tree - no 'finished' shot yet until we clear the branches.
Sounds like some of you have been enduring some sweltering weather - while the Southern parts of Australia are suffering really cold temps.
I hate to brag and it won't last, but we are having a beautiful clear sunny winter day today - about 20-22C expected.
Take care everyone - my visitors have arrived.

I love hearing when people are having delightful weather, CynB. I hope it continues for a while.

What a shame about the tree. I thought there was stuff you could pour down your drains that would dissolve the roots so you could save the tree? At least I saw it advertised when I was a kid. Maybe it didn't turn out to be environmentally safe? To me, cutting down trees damages the environment. I always consider it as a last resort after all other options are exhausted.

Tami, so sorry to hear about the loss in Kim's family. I will keep them in my thoughts.

Heidi, it was a beautiful day here today with much lower humidity than the last extended period. Sigh ... finally.

Theresa, the plumber cleared this lot of invasive roots in the drain but they would grow again and eventually crush the drain and cause more trouble and expense.
I truly hated chopping the tree but I had to admit it had to be done. I feel so sad about it.
We have to kill off the root system now and then I want to find a fast-growing Australian native tree that will grow high enough to provide shade and privacy but will have a shallower root system. Col has a friend who is a horticulturalist, he's going to get her advice.
Note - nearly 2pm now and the weather is still superb!!
But I'm exhausted - taking 3 girls shopping, what was I thinking??

Sorry, that was Heidi asked the question not Theresa. You can see how frazzled those girls get me. But I love em!!

I know I am not here as often as I used to be but I still read everything. I am going away for a few days so will probably have lots to catch up with when I get back. Take care of yourselves. ((HUGS)) tpo uou all.

Cyn, it looks like a week for people having drain problems. Hope you find something nice to replace the tree to give you shade in your room but not shade on your solar panels.

Hi, All!

Enjoy your few days away, Brenda!

Cyn, I'm so sorry you had to cut down the tree. Hopefully Col's friend knows of a tree with shallower roots that might work as a replacement.

Tami, sending prayers for your friend Kim and her family.

Hooray for those who had pleasant weather today. (We did, too.)

I'd best head to bed, as we have another early-to-rise day tomorrow.

Feel free to share today's dose of positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}! Take care, Everyone!