Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

'When I judge art, I take my painting and put it next to a God-made object like a tree or flower. If it clashes, it is not art.''
- Paul Cézanne

Gekko my friends.
Well all is good in my neck of the woods.
Lots of gentle hugs to those suffering.
Hey Zusy, does that mean you will be making me coffee when I come to visit?

Sure can Broni. As long as it's after Xmas.

Had a wonderful time at my family christms party Sunday. It was a nice lunch, if not the traditional turkey/dressing/cranberry sauce menu. We had pulled pork and pulled chicken, both cooked in an instant pot. both sisters love theirs. Not seen any recipes that go with my food plan for using, must keep looking, and see how my knock off machine stacks up to their original name brand.

My 3 year old great nephew was the star f the show. that child is so intelligent, you can see him learning, evaluating, studying things around him. He has this game, if he finds your chair vacant, will climb in, and grin, waiting for you to return. then it is a tickle tickle with him giggling, then he is up and you reclaim your chair. I am not around him lot, but he decided I wold be fun to play with. He grabs me by the hand, and says, come, help me. I get out of chair, and immediately he is in it. I do the tickle tickly, he giggles, squirms, then out of chair ond on to his next game. so very cute. Some of you on facebok have seen photos, strawberry blond hair in ringlets. Mom has had it cut twice into more 'boy' haircuts, but lets it grow back out every time. He helped his brothers and gramdma, aunt, others to open their gifts, was not demanding more and more for himself. He got 2 gifts, took them to his brother to have help to open. Just a loving and happy child, a pleasure to be around.

Home and to chair about 5 pm, I have slept on and off since, but at 2 am, I needed a break from bed, so here I am. We played 'dirty santa' or take away. Our family are mostly chocoholics, and a lot of strategy went into how to snag the several wonderful chocolate prizes. Quantity, Tanya made a big basket full of all kinds of bars, wrapped pieces, spent far more than the established limit. to a much smaller bag of ghirardelli chocolates. Quality or quantity, your pick. hehehe

I first had an adult coloring book, but lost it to a niece, took an opened holiday scarf, white with red and green holly, love it, will wear it at least a couple times this next week . Great fun!

Both my sisters facing surgery next month. Kathy for a foot problem, ongoing for some time. 'fuse some bones in her foot, that bounce around as they should not. Edna needs surgery for a herniated disc. I need something for my neck. We were the walking wounded. but we still had fun'1

Hugs to each of you as you approach your holiday get togethers for Christmas. Love hugs and best of wishes to each of you.

MizT, love your great nephew stories! I see the intelligence and learning thing with Tahli and Isobel too, not so much with Daniel, he is mostly mischievous. It could just be different personalities. Tahli is bossy, part of her needing things to be a certain way(?), Isobel is the boss. It's hard to explain how that is different, but it is. Daniel mostly goes with the flow though he and Izzy fight ALL the time. So maybe not with her.

Best wishes to your sisters for successful, complication free, surgeries.

Sleep, oh I miss sleep. I'm averaging 4 or 5 hours a night. It's not enough.

Quiet day today. Dana has to get her license. I drove them to get some paperwork sorted so t can get funding for more therapies. Then I took them to maccas, then home. T was in fine form at the paperwork place, screaming because she didn't get to go to the meeting room with the toys. D just ran back and forth screaming motor noises, I refused to get in the car to go. Then the playland got locked because some little sweetheart made a mess in there. More screaming. The older two were calmed by the promise of mum setting up the wading pool when they got home. Iz decided that she wasn't going to get out of the car because we weren't where she wanted to be. Had to push her hands away to undo her buckle, then she climbed into the front seat to get away from us. I think the heat and humidity affected us all. They are not usually this bad. Thank goodness!

Just keep a journal to share with them when they're older, Suzy. The thought of their embarrassment when they read about days like this when they're teens may cheer you up a little.

It's actually gonna get above freezing today!!!!! The plumber is waiting for a day when the ground thaws so he can repair the broken water line where the pipe from the well comes into the house. Right now there's only one working livestock water hydrant (on city water) for the horses and cattle. The cattle have to be on soon-to-be-ex-IH's part of the farm to get water. I don't like that.

Heidi, I do hope the water line from the well is soon repaired. Nope, would not want your cattle on what will be his property. He might decide that means they are his. He thinks like that.

Suzy, what a day you had with the little ones. I commend you for keeping your cool, in the heat and humidity and the temperaments of those 3. How about a REAL quite day for you, and more sleep, too. Sending wishes and thoughts for both.

June, I hope you are doing as well as you can, and are not trying to do too much cleaning and sorting. Not in the heat and humidity. thoughts and prayers, wishes and hugs to you dear friend.

I phoned insurance today, they say they do not have request for the procedure for my neck. Doc office assures me it has been sent, they are just waiting for aproval. Insurance says even if they had the request, it could take 14 days for approval, UNLESS the doctors office calls and requests it be expedited. I have requested that through the patient portal (how I hate that thing, another way to delay, remove themselves from the actual patient). Shannon said she would call doc office for me tomorrow, but does not think that will help. I do not know what to do. today for HOURS my head was so bad I could not function. I went down for our luncheon today, hour and a half. Yesterday I was down for about an hour, for another fun activity, and I paid dearly for that bit of fun. Sunday I was at sisters for Christmas party. I just cannot do this much, but dammit, it is Christmas and if I do not go, will be another year before another chance.

I have tried something new for getting groceries. Wal Mart has an order online, drive by pick up. Easy to find items, a GREAT search engine. Tanya has appointment to pick up my items tomorrow between 1 and 2 pm. NOT our closest store, but was closest listed having this service. Even cold items, half and half, milk, are included. I ordered my coffee, sweet and low, half and half, colas in cans, bottled water. Nice not to have to go into the store! No upcharge I can see for items either, and NO TIPPING of employees who load it into your auto. Hope it all works as advertised

I wrapped the last gift today. Need bows on 4, but they may not receive them, just to be torn off again. OH, small items arriving for them and for me, should be in tomorrow's mail. A friend paints magnets for refrigerator, and I love her designs. I ordered 2 for each of us plus one larger one that is a tree ornament. No more small gift bags, they may get some inventive gift wrap hehehe.

Horrible headache today for several hours, meds no more working than if I had tossed them on the ground. HOURS later, they decided to work and I fell asleep for 2 hours, what a relief to wake with headache manageable again. I have asked every doc, nurse pract. I have come in contact with how that can happen. None has a clue, nor do I. It is as if the pills hide out somewhere for hours, then get digested, absorbed and work as they sh

It is as if the pills hide out somewhere for hours, then get digested, absorbed and work as they should. that cannot happen, I have been told, wish they would tell the pills and my body that, make a believer of them.

Too much bad news the last 2 days. One of our older residents lost her 101 year old sister yesterday, and she is just in a fog herself today.

An internet friend has a brain tumor, non cancerous, but is putting off surgery what I think is far too long. she can loose eyesight, and other functions if she waits too long. How long too long is is unknown, also. 'I have 3 little dogs ' is one excuse, another is in 3 months she can retire on SS. She has not made this public, but wants me to notify privately all of our former quilting group (she dropped out years ago) I cannot handle their problems now with my head screaming, but hate to just brush them off. I may have too until head can be resolved. So not me!

HUGE hugs to each of you, with extras, till next time.

Good news kind of day for me. I had to have a mental health assessment with my doc today so I can continue to see my head doc. Bit of CYA there. Lots of docs don't bother, but apparently that can bite them in the bum. I'm still screwed up so I get to keep going. Of course just doing the assessment messes with my head.

The baby with cancer just had his last chemo and is doing better. I really, really hope he gets to go home soon.

I'm having coffee with my friends later today. Usually Saturday but with Xmas it's not good timing.

MizT, I'm hurting just thinking about trying to deal with that bureaucracy with your head about to explode. I hope Shannon can help.

Heidi, I have no words for how frustrating it must be to have to put your cows on his property. Hope the water is fixed soon.

Hi, Everyone!

This is just a quick Hello and sending good wishes to each of you. No time to read or comment, for which I apologize. I'm just home over-night, then back with hubby until he is recovered from his surgery enough to come home. He had surgery to reverse his ileostomy on Thursday, but as happened after the last surgery, an ileus (bowel blockage) developed and we're following the same path as last time. Hopefully, the recovery will be shorter. Tomorrow morning I will return to stay with him feeling cleaner and hopefully more rested, and with a suitcase full of clean clothes. (My hope is that I am taking more clean clothes than I will need.)

Thinking of all of you and sending warm and positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and .

Just in case I don't get back for a few days, I've finally changed my avatar. I would like to wish each of you a wondrous and blessed Merry Christmas, and an extremely Healthy and Happy New Year!{{{{{HUGS}}}}},

Julie, sending recover quickly thought to your husband and good nights sleep wishes to you.

I think this town is insane! I mighhybernateu til school goes back.

Suzy.... probably. People in groups act insane most of the time.

Heidi, we're a country town/city close to the beach. Every school holidays the place goes insane! Add that to the locals who haven't finished their Christmas shopping and this place becomes a mad house. I have to go back tomorrow. I figure if I leave it until 4 most of the tourists will be back at the beach and the locals home. I hope.

I had a phone call from the radiologists office yesterday and she will be on holidays till 18 January. I do hope they can start the next Chemo before that (I see him on Jan 4) as that is too long to wait without treatment. Goodness knows what those nasty cells could do in that time.
Just about all organised for Christmas. Took Laura shopping yesterday so she could finish her shopping (with our money).

Had all the wrong things for dinner so feeling a bit bloated tonight. Sausages with gravy, mashed potato, baby peas and corn on the cob. All full of carbs and each limited for diabetic. I did enjoy it and it is what Laura wanted.

Julie, prayers and Hugs to you and Hubby. It is all a very difficult time for you both. I am blessed with only being within 10 minutes drive of the hospital where I get all the tests and treatment.
Heidi, I hope you were able to get the pipe fixed so that Hubby did not think you were gifting him the cattle.

Belinda put a photo on FB with Ken and me on his birthday. Because it was also on my page he got all these birthday wishes and he was saying 'who is this person?' Actually he has probably met nearly 40 people from Sudoku.

Tip of the day...

For dog / cat owners, in 'the states', Ya may want to check out ''chewy.com''. Their prices on food and snacks are competitive AND it is delivered.

The plumber still hasn't come, and Gil wants the cattle off his property. I don't feel that he has the right to complain, tho'. I'd been telling him for months that the pipe had a leak and needed to be fixed. He had a plumber friend of his look at it and say that I was imagining it. They couldn't find the problem. Now it's burst, and it's a serious problem. If he had listened to me months ago, they would have looked more carefully and repaired it when it was still warm outside.

Tomorrow I'm going to go visit Rede. I miss that sweet bull so much. He has already worked his magic on his new owners. They hug and pet him every day and SWEAR that he will NEVER leave their property. They live in town (Greensburg, KY) on a few acres, so he and his smallish group of heifers are where everyone can admire his magnificence. They have a large farm nearby with most of their cattle. But Rede is their pet.

OK... the plumber will be here at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Once he's done, I'll visit Rede.

I have man flu. It must be man flu because it's really bad, worse than woman flu! Cough, splutter, cough....

Stay away from me, Suzy!!! I do NOT want to catch man 'flu!!!!

An ''Oldie'' - - -



WHY PARENTS DRINK



The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick.



So he dialled the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper.

'Hello'




'Is your daddy home?' '




Small voice whispered, 'Yes, but he's out in the garden '




May I talk with him?'


The child whispered,

' No '



So the boss asked,

'Well, is your Mommy there?'

'Yes - she's out in the garden too.'

The boss then asked;

'May I talk with her?'

Again the reply -



' No '




Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked,

'Is anybody else there?'



' Yes' whispered the child, 'a policeman.'




Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked,

'May I speak with the policeman?'




'No, he's busy.' whispered the child.







'Busy doing what?'




' Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the police dog men.'




Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background, the boss asked, 'What's that noise?'




' It's a helicopter.' answered the whispering voice.







'What is going on there?' demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.




'The search team just landed a helicopter. '




'A search team?' said the boss.

'What are they searching for?'




Still whispering, the young voice replied with







A muffled giggle.... 'ME'

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Pretty risky (Risqué), but I'll risk it...


One day an Irishman, who had been stranded on a deserted island for over 10 years, saw a speck on the horizon.


He thought to himself, 'It's certainly not a ship'.


As the speck got closer and closer, he began to rule out even the possibilities of a small boat or a raft.


Suddenly there strode from the surf a figure clad in a black wet suit.

Putting aside the scuba tanks and mask and zipping down the top of the wet suit stood a drop-dead gorgeous blonde!


She walked up to the stunned Irishman and said to him, 'Tell me, how long has it been since you've had a good cigar?'


'Ten years,' replied the amazed Irishman.


With that, she reached over and unzipped a waterproof pocket on the left sleeve of her wet suit and pulled out a fresh package of cigars
and a lighter.


He took a cigar, slowly lit it, and took a long drag. 'Faith and begorrah,' said the castaway, 'that is so good!'

I'd almost forgotten how great a smoke can be!'


'And how long has it been since you've had a drop of good Bushmill's Irish Whiskey?' asked the blonde.


Trembling, the castaway replied, 'Ten years.'


Hearing that, the blonde reached over to her right sleeve, unzipped a pocket there and removed a flask and handed it to him.

He opened the flask and took a long drink. ' 'Tis nectar of the gods!' shouted the Irishman. '

'Tis truly fantastic!!!'


At this point the gorgeous blonde started to slowly unzip the long front of her wet suit,right down the middle. She looked at the trembling man
and asked, 'And how long has it been since you played around?'


With tears in his eyes, the Irishman fell to his knees and sobbed, 'Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don't tell me that you've got golf clubs in there too!'

Thank you, DOrA! I LOVE IT!!!

Loved the why parents drink one! I've been close to that. I've never called the police, but have had a child hide from me and giggle about it. In a store. Jc Penney actually. A wiser mother than me found her in 2 minutes.

Today I am feeling like I might be okay. It helps that hubby vacuumed and Alie wrapped all the kids presents. Uncle bob gave me a gorgeous santa/Saint Nick. He's wearing a sweater and furry boots.

I remember my youngest half sister hiding like that, too. I remember the police getting involved in the search. I also remember them being annoyed with my mother, who claimed she had thoroughly searched the house.... where the police found her hiding in a closet.

Just a quick Hello, as I have computer access for a bit.

Sending Warm Holiday/Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Wishes to everyone! More importantly, I pray that everyone has a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Didn't have a chance to shop for presents or write a Christmas card this year, but hopefully hubby is on the mend.

Wishes for everyone include prayers, healing energy, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, , and positive thoughts. Merry Christmas!

Julie, last year I didn't get to finish my shopping. I had the skin grafts on my nose, then that weird turn thing where I couldn't say British constitution. Everyone forgave me when their presents were late. I'm sure you will be forgiven too. People understand. I didn't send any cards this year, 4th year in a row. I've lost my address book which makes it very hard. That's my excuse this year anyway.

It is now Christmas and I am having a hot chocolate before going back to bed.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Another ''Pretty risky'' (Risqué), but I gotta risk it...

Two blokes living in outback Australia saw a couple of jobs advertised by the Queen looking
for footmen, to walk beside her carriage.They
applied and were flown to London for an interview with Her Majesty.





She says: “Because my footmen must wear long white stockings, I must see your ankles to be sure they are not swollen or misshapen”.





After they show her their ankles, the Queen says: “It is also important that you do not have nobbly knees, so I need to see your knees as well”.





Once she has seen their knees she says: “Now everything appears to be in shape so I just need to see your testimonials”.




 




Five years later, when the pair are finally released from prison, one of the blokes says to the other “I reckon if we had just had a bit more education, we could have got that job”.

Last night Gil texted me that he needed a large stack of newspapers for bedding for some animal (he didn't say what kind) and asked me if I had some. I texted back that I did, but my back was hurting so badly that I couldn't get out of bed to get them. I told him where a big stack of them were in the garage, and he came and got them. HE is the one who asked for the divorce, but he still turns to me whenever he needs anything. He's going to be in severe shock once the divorce is finalized and I will help him with NOTHING else.

Oh DOrA!!!

The plumber just left. It turned out to be a big 2 day job requiring a backhoe and 2 people. The main water line outside going from the well to the house, about a foot from the house and several feet down, had broken most of the way through... and was cracked where it came through the wall as well. They had to run a complete new pipe from the well, through the wall and into the house and re-seal the wall. BUT I now have water for the cows again!!!!!