Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Statement found inside the lid of a bottle of fruit juice today:

GRATITUDE REFLECTS THE SOUL.

Heidi, I remember years where you slogged through that mud to rescue calves and their mothers! Put your back into spasm a few times too.

Hello everybody! I thought I posted yesterday but it's not there. Oh well, I don't think it was monumentally important!
Suzy, I believe TAB (at least the Qld version) stood for Totaliser Administration Board. My mother got a job with them when they first started up here in Qld in the late 50's. She wanted to send my sis and I to a private school and Dad thought it was snobbish and didn't want to pay. So she got a job and stayed there until she became a grandmother in 1970, long after we finished school. She was manager of several different TABs in the city. Funny because she was never a gambler, just a small bet on the Melbourne Cup.

School goes back tomorrow here in Qld. One of the earliest starts that I can ever remember. I now have NO grandies in primary School, 3 in High School (yes, Chloe is 12 and in year 7) and 2 at Uni.
How did that happen?
And in May, Hayley will be 18, making 2 of them adults! Lachlan has already voted - twice.

Oh and 4 of them are driving - or learner to drive. And 3 have their own cars.

Cyn, I don’t think people who sell Lotto buy them either, something about seeing so few people actually win. One of my grandkids is starting school next year. I hope she’s okay, her newly developed habit of having meltdowns could cause problems.

The 'meltdowns' will continue as long as they get the desired result - attention.

No attention - No payoff - it ends - eventually...

DorA, the meltdowns are signs she is overwhelmed. Tahli is on the autism spectrum. Meltdowns are different to tantrums. The last thing she wants is attention when she’s having one, she just wants to go back to whatever was soothing her.

So the meltdowns are kind of like panic attacks? Poor child.

I've spent the afternoon trying to put together a complicated flight cage for my Bourke's Parakeets. This one is a double length one with a removable divider. Unfortunately, half of the assembly instructions were destroyed, so it's just like assembling a 3D jigsaw puzzle without a picture. With decent instructions, I could have assembled it in an hour, but it's taken alsmost 4 to do it. The difficulty is 8 different sizes and diameters of bolts and no explanation of which goes where, as well as trying to figure out the little details. There are a few pieces that have been assembled and disassembled until I realized that it was finally correct. I haven't finished yet, but there are only a few pieces yet to attach, and they're easy. The back just needed a break for a half hour or so. The Bourke's will be happy with the results, though. I now have 6 of them... 2 wild color males, 2 Rosy females, 1 Rosy of unknown gender and a Rubino of unknown gender. I'll add pictures of the cage and the different color Bourkes on my page, if I can.

I've been overdoing it a little the past 2 days. I'm feeling like I've taken a step backwards. I hope it's not a relapse. Slight fever, some body aches and a lot more coughing. I won't wait too long before calling my doc. I'll give it maybe 2 days, and if I'm not improved, I'll call.

Greetings to All!

Heidi, thanks for the TOPP! I hope you don't get the predicted rain to add to the mud problems! Like Suzy, I also remember some years when you have had to deal with mud and freezing mud during calving. Hopefully not this year! Please take care of yourself! We don't want you getting sicker!

Heidi, what a pain that the instructions for the flight cage were incomplete. Sometime when hubby has something (the snow blower, as an example) that he needs to work on but doesn't have an instruction manual, he has been able to find instructions online. I don't know if that would be a possibility with the cage, though.

CynB, your grandies are really growing up! It must be such a shock when you consider their placement in school, their driving and owning cars, voting, etc.! You got me thinking about our grandies, ranging from 12 down to the youngest, who had her second birthday party today. The time has flown!

Suzy, since Dana and her kiddos have moved, how does that affect the additional programs they were attending? I hope the school for Tahli will provide everything she needs for a successful education!

Heidi, I'm sorry to hear that you have been overdoing it. Please remember that we care and want to see your health improving! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the Bourke's Parakeets and their new flight cage when it is completed, but NO RUSH on that!

Thinking of everyone and sending the usual supply of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, positive thoughts, , and prayers!

Already on my page, Julie.

Just moved the Bourkes into their new flight cage. They're a bit intimidated. I'm about to add some of their favorite veggies to relax them.

Heidi, thank you so much for sharing photos of the Bourke's parakeets and their new cage. I hope the veggies helped them to relax and they soon feel comfortable!

Sorry, Everyone! I forgot to say Hi, as I was so excited to look at Heidi's photos. I hope everyone is feeling well and having a good day!

Sending positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, , and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}!

Julie, Tahli is starting school so her programs would have changed anyway. The school she will be going to has support people for kids on the spectrum. I’m hoping that will be enough.

Living where I do, the beach is a big thing. I tend to avoid it now, unless we take the grandies, because of the skin cancer thing. 13 is enough, even if I don’t get melanomas like Rolanda. Last week there were 2 rescues, that were reported. One guy swam out 5 times to rescue 5 people caught in a rip. 6 years ago he broke his back in a surfing accident. Another was practicing using a brand new drone when two swimmers got into trouble in big surf. He used the drone to drop a rescue device to the swimmers, which they used to get safely to shore. The whole thing was recorded by the drone. It took 70 seconds to get the device to them. According to the article it would have taken surf lifesavers 6 or 7 minutes to get to them. The most amazing part, the two rescuers are related. They are cousins!

What a cool story, Suzy! This is the first time I've heard of any use of a drone like that. It suggests a lot of future possibilities for rescue work.

My oldest male collie, Patch, has been coughing and gagging like he might have tonsilitis. He has an appointment at the Vet's in 3 1/2 hours.

It’s very new Heidi. The surf club had just received the drone and the lifesaver was practicing using it when the swimmers got in trouble. He dropped the yellow thing, it expanded, the guys grabbed it and the waves carried them in. If they’d been in the water too much longer they might have been too tired to do it alone, the waves kept going over the top of them. The first guy was a chef on his lunch break. I can’t remember if he was ever a lifesaver, but it’s very possible. Kids start in nippers (junior lifesaver) here like they start in t ball in SoCal.

That is neat, Suzy. I bet they're glad they got it.

Back from the Vet's with Patch. He has an upper respiratory infection. Poor old man. I know what he's suffering. But he's now on prednisone and antibiotics, which he'll love. I'll give them to him wrapped in bacon.

My guy gets his pills in cheese balls. GULP!

Here's a link to the 'drone rescue' story...

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/australia/drone-used-in-world-first-surf-rescue-ng-b887 18724z

I saw that drone story on the news, they didn't mention exactly where it was but I thought it was near you, Suzy! Quick and easy, it seemed.
Morning all (well still morning for me). I'm off to Art class this afternoon. Might be a spectator more than a participant.

Good Evening, Everyone!

Suzy, I hope Tahli makes a good adjustment to her new school! I'm glad there will be support people there - helpful to her, her teacher, and classmates, I would think.

Suzy, I didn't realize you were close to the beach, but can understand your reluctance to go there very often. It's so interesting to hear about the rescues, and so fortunate for those who were rescued! It's good to know that drones can be helpful, and not just a nuisance.

Heidi, I'm glad you were observant and were able to get Patch to the vet for a quick diagnosis. I hope the medications get to work right away and he soon feels better! By the way, how are you feeling? And are the Bourke's Parakeets enjoying their flight cage?

I find it amazing that there seem to be ways to get many/most dogs to take their pills. When we had cats, it was quite a fight. In fact, when 1 of them needed to be treated for overactive thyroid, after discussion with us our vet ordered an ointment to be formulated and we rubbed on the back of her ear.

DOrA, thanks for the link to the story about the drone rescue!

CynB, I hope you enjoyed your art class, whether as a participant or as a spectator.

It's time to head to bed. Sending healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, , and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for All!

Patch is already responding to the medication. He's coughing a lot less.

Hi all,

http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/5181821/heroic-genes-run-in-the-family-men-at-centre- of-two-dramatic-rescues-are-cousins/?cs=203#slide=1

That’s the “they are cousins “ story. The swim rescue was south of me, the drone north. The swim one counts as local because distances don’t mean the same thing down here. My city is over 80km long with a population density of about 22 people per square km. That means you can drive 20km and pass mainly farms, or wineries.. the beaches mean school holidays are h3ll for locals. It would be even worse if there was more accomodation available. Unfortunately/fortunately we’re close enough to Sydney that some families do day trips down here too.

Great news about Patch, Heidi.

As an extra piece of goss, the restaurant the chef rescuer works at is famous. I think a well known celebrity-type chef owns it.

Hello, Everyone!

Heidi, that's great that Patch is already responding to his medication. (I hope you are also responding to yours!)

Suzy, thanks for the link about the cousins! It's really amazing. The fact that the chef works at a famous restaurant is interesting. Great news that these people were nearby and responded!

Thinking of all of our Sudokuaholic friends and sending {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, , positive thoughts, and prayers.

Just a quick Hello to All - and Good Night.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, , healing energy, and positive thoughts for Everyone! Take care!

Another humid day with rain falling nearby, but not here. I got to talk to the grandkids today. Yay! I didn’t celebrate Australia Day. Too many things I’m not happy about, the UN thinks we suck, and they’re not wrong. My life as an Australian is pretty good, but that’s my privilege showing. The good part of today was learning about the people who were givem Australia Day awards. Australian of the year was a woman, quantum physicist, working on quantum computing. Her team developed a one atom computer, worlds thinnest wire, among other things. Australian local hero was a man who makes videos about making maths easy. Wootube he calls it. Lots of firies got awards, some police officers, a local navy guy, there were probably other military recognised, but I only know about the local one. Lots of people who show me that the world isn’t all bad.

Samuel Johnson was up for Australian of the year, but said before the announcement that the quantum physicist should win. He said he’ll start acting again when ‘Love your sister‘ has raised $10 million. A cancer charity. It’s up to $7.5 million so far. If you don’t know what that is, it’s worth googling. Their last fundraiser was just before his sister died and they raised $2.5 million in 5 cent pieces. His sister, Connie, was recognised with an Order of Australia medal, given to her the day before she died, (that was a moving video), but official today.

It’s 100% humidity, but less than 1mm of rain forecast. Even 22C feels bad right now.

Humidity is harder to del with than heat, I think.

I did something silly last night. I ordered an assortment of day old chicks (all females). Sort of a grab bag of breeds, just for the fun of it. They'll be shipped on May 1st.

Oops. DEAL, not del.

Of course it's Friday night. I lost a filling on one of my upper molars. It'll be Tuesday before I'll be able to get to the dentist. It should be an interesting few days.

, Everyone!

So sorry you're dealing with the humidity, Suzy, Some rain would help, so wishing that will come soon. But HOORAY for the chance to talk to your grandies! It sounds like quite a lot of deserving people received Australia Day awards today!

Heidi, I hope Patch (and YOU) are continuing to improve! It will be fun to see what birds you will receive in May! So sorry you will need to deal with a missing filling until Tuesday. Were you able to make an appointment for Tuesday, or is that the first chance you will have to call for one?

Thinking of everyone and sending lots of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, prayers, positive thoughts, and

Another sticky day and only 0.6mm of rain to show for it. Dana got a whole bunch out her way.

Heidi, do you have pain when you lose a filling, or is the tooth dead where it came out? Soft foods?

I’ve been writing about my youth for my kids because I keep thinking of all the things I wish I could ask Mum. It’s a bit weird though because I have so many holes in my memories. As an example, when I started school, I went to a 2 room school. Kindy through second in one room. Third through sixth in the other. The scary principal taught the older kids. Each year had their own row in the classroom. I scored really well in hand writing. There was a sand pit that you could only use up to year 2, the bigger kids weren’t allowed in it. I left before year 3. I know all that, but I have exactly three memories of being there. One inside the classroom, one under the trees around the play ground and one waiting for the bus. See, holes.

Suzy, I have the same holes in my memory, including missing years. In fact, I rvaguely remember when I was starting one grade and realized then that I had no memory of the previous year! I remember being dropped off at a birthday party for one of my school ''friends'', and not rememberng ever having met a single person there! Yes, I was an abused child, and believe those large gaps were my brain's way of protecting me from some emotional trauma that happened. So I undrstand a bit what's going on with you.

And no, that tooth is still alive. I'm avoiding eating on that side, and avoiding anything really cold.