Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Friends!

Thank you all so much for the encouraging words! I need to remember that I'm the only person new to the class, and most others have been taking the class for a number of years - and have been playing for longer than I have. It would be easier if all of us were 'newbies' and easier music had been chosen. I will remind myself that I will be able to learn a LOT from this class!

Broni, I hope your dinner didn't burn! I hope you and your cousin are accomplishing everything you had hoped to accomplish!

By now, I'm sure Heidi has 'dropped anchor' somewhere safe for the night. Hopefully, she was able to leave on schedule! I also hope the close quarters don't present any problems. Have fun, Heidi, and enjoy the weekend, wedding and traveling!

MizT, I hope your pain-free or low-pain days are continuing! How nice that Joy could join you for dinner, even though a late one. How lucky you are that she can check up on your computer's functioning when she visits! I just hope you have enough time to enjoy her company and you can both relax!

{{{HUGS}}}, Theresa! What a difficult decision to make! You have chosen to do what is best for him.

Hooray, Suzy! You made it! You have finished the last class on the last day of a long stretch of days! Take some time for yourself! Prop your feet up; enjoy a glass or two of wine; sleep in tomorrow! You have earned it!

The alarm is set for 5:30, as we each have an appointment. (Jordy, the cat, had HER appointment this afternoon. The medicine is working - brought her thyroid functioning down to within normal range. We can reduce her med. from twice a day to once every other day! The vet's assistant couldn't believe that she's 18.)

Please feel free to share these positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and !

Well, I've done it again. Here's an 'almost TOPP.'

Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it. ~ Buddha

Hi everyone, hope you're all well. :)
After days of rain the sun has started shining! :D
Today is busy, busy, busy! Laura is checking out her new house, making sure that everything is as it should be. Rob will be handy with his tape-measure, of course, and I'll get to look at everything for the first time. I think Laura's a BIT excited!
Later we're visiting the City, where we'll have a delicious dinner (I hope!), then we're going to see Jerry Hall in The Graduate. The film wasn't my favourite, but people say it's the show's really good, and I do enjoy a live show. I'll let you know what we think of it. :)
Rachel's dog is lying at my feet - 2 of my girls are keen on 'role-playing' games, and this is their weekend away, so the dog is enjoying our hospitality. He's a good little fellow, though he's a killer on walks - has to get everywhere before us!
My piano lessons are continuing - not good, but persistent! That's about all at the moment. Love to you all. :D

How nice to see your post here, Judy! And good news that the sun has broken through the clouds! Seems like you have an incredibly busy day filled with good and happy things! I hope your dinner and The Graduate are both better than expected! Good for you for keeping at your piano lessons! There are many benefits from studying music (as I remind myself when my cello lessons become increasingly challenging). All the best to you and your family.

It seems to be very quiet here today. I hope Heidi's trip is going well! She should be in Wisconsin by now, but I'm not sure if she would be at her destination yet.

We gave lots on our agenda tomorrow, so I will sign off. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, and healing vibes for everyone!

greetings friends. I am up for intermission. A huge, covers many states storm is approaching and I knew before I looked at a weather map. Meds needed more consistently but at least keeping pain at bay.

Today I accompanied a neighbor to have an epidural, the kind for back pain that Heidi gets. I got a phone call late last night from another neighbor who was first scheduled to go with Molly, but this lady was running fever and did not need to be out sharing whatever was causing it. If Molly did not have someone with her, she could not have the procedure. How could I say no.

She had already scheduled medical transport with a lift, so I was able to go in my power chair and not have to walk all over a medical complex. Her appointment was for 1pm, not far away at all but so much traffic congestion at noon time around the busy University of Alabama in Birmingham campus. the medical complex is in the middle of the busy urban campus. Transport was scheduled to get us at 12 o'clock. They arrived at five till one. Explanation was the driver had to return to garage for another minibus, the AC in one he was driving quit.

We were back home by 4:30, and a couple of very hungry ladies we were, since we had not had lunch. Molly ordered us a pizza, I made a quick salad and we had an excellent meal. The effects of the anesthesia left Molly fumbling for words, it was a bit funny. I sent her home to go to bed. she said back was instantly much improved. I do hope it continues for her.

So that was my day. I did read, remember little now, I blame the pain meds that are now working. I should toddle off to bed now. Sending hugs to each of you, with extras if needed or wanted. till later.

Judy, I hope your dinner and show were enjoyable!
Julie - I keep meaning to tell you that my grandie Madeline plays the cello in her school orchestra. When she shifted from violin to cello, Karin, who needed a new car anyway, had to buy one that would carry the cello!! Maddy has just spent a week at 'Orchestra Camp', actually a day camp at a local high school for orchestras from several schools. It culminated in a concert on Friday. She loves her cello but looks so little against the size of it.
Tricia, that was a big day for you and your friend!

Cyn, yes a big day and sure tired me more than I thought. I have had two long naps today to rest up. I imagine a bug cello and a little person does look unusual. What kind of car did your daughter buy that would accommodate the cello?

HEIDI, missing your daily posts. Hope you are enjoying the wedding and have a safe trip home.

Judy, nice to see you post. I hope you are enjoying the piano lessons.



We had rain go through but not the storm they forecast. I heard no thunder. Might have been a bit as I slept cause my power had flickered just enough to turn off computer and set one clock to blinking.

Hello, Friends!

MizT, I hope the pain meds continue to work for you. What a long day you and Molly had! It's good to know that her back was already feeling better. Thank goodness she was able to get her shot, in spite of arriving late. I have heard that some doctors in my area will not see a patient who arrives more than 20 minutes late, regardless of the reason. I wonder if they never make a patient wait more than 20 minutes.

CynB, hooray for Maddy playing cello. I wonder what made her decide to switch from violin to cello. I'm guessing she plays on a 1/2 size cello (if I'm remembering correctly that she's around 8 years old? I hope she has fun in orchestra and in Orchestra Camp!

I'm going to head to bed soon, but look forward to 'seeing' everyone tomorrow! Please help yourselves to these healing vibes, positive thoughts, , prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}!

Hello everyone.
Tricia...very considerate of you to accompany a friend who needed an escort.It is a nice feeling to do something for others in need. Your turn will come. How are you feeling? Some days your pain and sleep seem good, from what you have mentioned, then
bad again.
I just started tea and left the computer for awhile, will come back later if this went thru.

Julie, Maddy is almost 13 but I'm not sure if it's a half-size cello or not. I'll ask next time I'm talking to her or her mother (if I remember! Haha)

Theresa...feeling for you after the loss of Snowball.
Judy...truly nice to see you posting and doing well!

I hope Heidi is having a great time and a safe travel.
June...your holiday sounds just wonderful.
Suzy...days off are good but there is always so much to do at home that they don't really feel like days off. You are doing so well at teaching.
Being new, confidence is probably not what you feel but you are managing to be in control like
a pro. Good on you.

Many that I have not mentioned but know that you are all in my thoughts.

Nola, you guessed right, some days are good and some not so good pain and sleep wise both. Today, Sunday, I have slept and slept. Pain meds interfered with my regularity. Had to treat that, what a chore. Maybe that is why I am wanting to sleep so much today. Pain has been under control today, that part is good.

Nola, I knew if I did not go with Molly, she would not get her injection to back. Having had them before I knew if she scheduled it, she really needed it, so of course I would go with her. No walking required as I was able to go in my chair, so it was not too bad. Just sitting from 11:30 till 4:30 , well I had a pain in my rear. If I required my chair all day as many here at EP do, they would have to find me a better cushion.

Theresa, I must have missed about your loosing snowball. Went back to find you had to make that decision all pet owners hate to make. I am sorry for your loss. Our kitties are part of our family. Puppies too, but Theresa and I are kitty people :)

Julie, I cannot believe doctors would deny treatment to a patient for being late. Like they have never had an emergency that made them late, you know? I would be hunting a new doc if mine did that.

Now, charging for just not showing up at all for an appointment without calling to cancel, I can understand that a bit more. Even that bothers me. Old people forget sometimes, but none of you would know, you spring chickens you.

Thank you for your wish for me, JULIE, pain meds doing a good job the last few days. The times I have hurt it was not for long, usually cause I did too much of whatever, like sit in chair for 5 hours, or stand washing dishes for too long. Why should washing dishes one person accumulates in a day be too much, but sometimes it is. It seems I never get all the dishes washed and put away, some either in sink waiting or drying on the counter waiting.

I find I am not the only one here that happens too. Mostly other fibromyalgia patients. There are quite a number of us here, more than you see in the general population. Perhaps because we are predominately female? Cause we are older? both? Or cause we complain, make it known more hehehe. A bunch of old ladies, what else to talk about. No husbands to complain about, health goes to top of list

Time for my late lunch, it is 2:30 not really hungry but it is time. Hugs to each of you, with extras. Till later.

Greetings to all of you!

So glad you could drop in for a visit, Nola. I hope the renovations are going well! I also hope you and all family members are healthy!

CynB, your Maddy is older than I calculated. At age 13, she could be playing on a 3/4, 7/8 or a full size cello. Our D got a full-size at age 10.5, but then she got her height from her Dad, who is 6 feet 5 inches (77 inches = 195.58 centimeters) tall. My rental cello is a 7/8, and I may never be able to play a full-size cello.

MizT, you seem to know your body and its limits. That is a huge help when you're trying to control pain. Who cares if you have some dishes in the sink and some on the counter? Take care of yourself!

Time for me to head to bed. Sending prayers, positive thoughts, healing vibes for all in need, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ! I hope all who can benefit from extra sleep will soon receive it.

Gekko everybody!
I am home, and tired. I'm off to bed for a few more hours. I had 17 hours of driving yesterday and last night. The RV behaved beautifully and only had minor damage when attacked by a wild mattress on the interstate in downtown Chicago. The wedding was wonderful and went off without a hitch. The only downside was Gil's brother who we said we would transport. If I had known how severely his alcoholism had gone, I would have refused to transport him. Gil said the same thing. He's become a bum with a fried brain. We devoted a lot of time keeping him from interfering at all with the wedding. As I told Gil, there were only 2 benefits to bringing him along....1) that now the whole family understands how serious his problem is, and is in full consensus about getting him put away in a detox center, and 2) everybody got to say goodbye to him. At the rate he's deteriorating, he'll be dead in 2 or 3 months.
I'll fill you in with more stuff after I wake up again. I'll also read everyone's posts then, too.

Good Morning Everyone...
Good to see some of you who aren't able to get here too often. Always nice to hear from you when you come.
Glad you are home safely Heidi and that most went well...sorry to hear about your BIL...alcohol can do such terrible things to the mind and body...an awful illness. Hopefully he'll get help before it kills him, but often help doesn't seem to last for many.
Julie, I didn't know cellos came in all of those different sizes...It makes sense, but I just never gave it a thought...thanks for teaching me something new today. BTW...love the almost top...we all can appreciate that I'm sure.
Trica...hope this is one of your better days...and you can be mostly pain-free for awhile. I'm having those up and down days that come with weather changes and look forward to things settling down to a more even keel once my body can acclimate itself to the changes.
I'm off for the hunt of some jigsaws to do and games to play as I relax. All is well here and hope things steadily improve for all. Peace.

We have just had a lovely evening and day with June and Ken. They are now on their way back to Oz. A couple of pictures are on my page

I'm awake now, but off to a Lions Club meeting in a few minutes.
The first day, I drove from here to a rest area in southern Wisconsin, only 10 minutes from BIL's apartment. Gil and I got a good night's sleep there and watched a funny movie. First thing in the morning, we went over to BIL's place and picked him up. Then straight to the hotel where the wedding guests were staying in northern Wisconsin. We got there before noon and got to spend the rest of the day visiting with family members. Gil and his brother shared a hotel room (Poor Gil was having to care for him like a wayward child) and I stayed in the RV in the parking lot. We spent the next morning visiting with family, then left for the wedding just after noon. Without Gil's brother. We left him by himself in the hotel room because he wasn't fit company for the wedding. They'd invited 350 guests, so the crowd was huge! The reception was 15 miles away at a golf club, with a 2 hour break between the 2 events for picture taking, etc., so Gil and I rushed to the golf course to get a good spot for the RV, and Gil got in 1 1/2 hours of golf practice before the reception meal. The RV has a compartment for his clubs! Then, we had a fun evening with the rest of the family. Yesterday morning, we breakfasted with family members, then loaded up BIL and Gil's father and drove them home. Gil and his father used the opportunity to have a long, serious talk with the alcoholic one. Once we took them both to their respective homes, we drove eastward across the state to visit my aunt and her family, and had a great 3 hour visit. Then we drove home through the night, getting in at 3 am. I'll tell the mattress story once I get back from the meeting.

Glad you're back safely Heidi.
I'll be waiting to hear the mattress story!
Brenda - glad you had a lovely evening with June and Ken! Lovely people, aren't they?
Julie - I still haven't found out the size of the cello.
Hello also to Mama, Tricia, Nola and anyone else who is around.

Back from the meeting.....
OK, the mattress story. We had left northern Wisconsin about 9:30 am (our time) and had driven to southern Wisconsin to drop off our 2 passengers, then to eastern Wisconsin to visit my aunt and her family. We left there around 5:30 pm and headed south. Chicago is about 1 - 1 1/2 hours south of there. We were tooling through Chicago in normal traffic for there.... a semi truck right in front of me and a car to either side. The semi didn't have anybody on his left. All of a sudden, around 7 pm, the semi swerved hard to his left and into the next lane..... to avoid a large mattress laying in the middle of the interstate! I had a split second to react, but had no options with small cars on both sides of me. If I swerved to avoid it, I would hit a car and probably injure someone seriously (we were going 65 MPH). I did swerve as much as I could, but I hit it anyway. Glancing into my side mirror, I saw the mattress stuck to the side of the RV for about a quarter mile, then it broke loose, nearly hitting several cars. Once I was able to pull off the road safely, I examined the RV. The mattress had snagged on the exhaust pipe for the RV's generator, and ripped it off, bending up the door to the generator at the same time. I had some ropes with me and was able to tie things together to get home. The strange thing is, this is not the first time I've had problems with loose mattresses on the interstate in the middle of Chicago. Then, to add a touch of surrealism, around 2 am, in northern Kentucky, on a nearly deserted interstate, I had to change lanes to avoid a large mattress in the middle of the highway. What is it with these wild, rampaging mattresses?

The leaves were starting to change color up north where we were..... and the temperatures were much colder. Both nights up there were at the freezing point! Quite a change from nights in the 60's here!!!

Welcome home Heidi. What a trip you had with several surprises. sorry to hear of the condition you found BIL in, that is so sad. I do hope he can get help, but he has to want it before it will do him any good. Gil and their father did all they could with the serious talk to him. It is now up to BIL to decide what course he takes.

Knowing before hand that no one was hurt, the mattress story made me chuckle. 'Be Prepared Heidi' had necessities to secure the damage done to RV, so you could get home. Now another trip to the dealership for permanent repairs. That poor RV has spent a lot of it's life at the dealership. Can we hope this is the last time until routine maintenance is due again? So glad you came through all the excitement safely. How was the Lions Club meeting?

Brenda, thank you for the lovely photos you posted of your guests, but I think I can see a bit of tired seeping out around the eyes especially. The meals look yummy, but agree, large portions. I would need a 'to go' box for sure, and it would NOT go to a four legged friend. Did you do any sight seeing with June and ken? Or just spent the day relaxing and talking? Resting up fore that long tiring trip home would have been a good thing. And Sudoku friends could always find things to chat about, right?

Safe trip home to June and Ken. Looking forward to photos once you have time to recoup and sort them. I enjoy being an armchair traveler through the photos of friends here.

Heidi, hope you had expected the colder temps and packed your warm clothing. It is slowly getting a bit cooler here, I enjoyed my light weight, long sleeved knit shirt today. I think the high today did not make eighty.

Rain is expected tomorrow. I can feel it coming, but so far meds are keeping me comfortable. Forecasters said last Saturday that we had a week of clean skies ahead. This one must have sneaked in when they were not looking.

Julie, I am like Mama, did not know cellos came in so many sizes. I expected a child size and an adult size, but not all the in between. Is there a difference in sound from the different sizes? I also say thanks for teaching me something new. Never too old to learn, I say.

Mama, today has been a good day pain wise. I went to the pool today, found it tiring. A nice nap in the afternoon helped that. We will have to wait and see what damage the rain coming through will do pain wise. The one on Saturday was not so bad on the body, but the one Labor day was a bad one. You can never tell. I like you look forward to more stable weather, be glad when the change of season is accomplished.

Julie, it was very difficult for me to learn to stop when body said stop, and not to try to push through to get something finished. How a task affects pain levels is more important than a spotless house. I am still not so good at remembering to go back once the pain has subsided. I think it is a matter of knowing when it is 'safe' to return to a task, and I err on the side o

OOOPS, I did not stop rambling soon enough hehehe. Here is the remainder.
________________________________________

I think it is a matter of knowing when it is 'safe' to return to a task, and I err on the side of caution.

I am reading a really good book, another free to my Kindle, from Amazon. This one is a mystery, I think I have read enough other genre's to be able to go back to mysteries. Mysteries is all my sister reads, and I have depended on her to supply me books since I moved here. A year of nothing but mysteries, and some of them dark as seen from the murder's or the victim's point of view, is too much. This one is my favorite of mysteries, seen through the eyes of a lawyer. Mysteries with lawyers, police, private eyes and doctors or medical examiner are best in my opinion. I guess I like 'the good guys' best.

I have rambled on for too long, and hope it will fit on one page. Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

Hi, Everyone! Welcome Home, Heidi! More comments tomorrow, as I'm falling asleep. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and to all!

at Singapore airport on he way home. 2 hours here while the plane refuls. Had a lovely sleep in the first class seats. Hope to get some more sleep between here and Sydney. It was lovely meeting Brend and her family. I do have some photos.
Will post more after I have rested at home. Only allowed 15 minutes on these free airport machines.

I just took the RV in to the dealership to clean out tanks that needed cleaning, and to fill up tanks that needed to be refilled. I also scheduled an appointment for next week for ''mattress'' repairs, and a few other small things. They got a chuckle out of the story, too. Nobody else ever seems to encounter mattresses on interstates, but the two I encountered this trip were far from the first for me. More like rounding out the second dozen.

I need to mow the lawn today so the place looks good while I'm recovering from the epidural tomorrow. That's scheduled for 8:20 am. IH won't be taking me. Last week he agreed to go out of town on the 25th for a project, after promising me that he'd take me. So I've asked Debbie (my house and pet sitter) to do it. She said ''sure, no problem.''.

I'm still shocked at the temperature difference between here and northern Wisconsin. It's nearly a 40℉ difference!!! There I had to bundle up for winter, here it's still the heat of the summer. It's too hot even for a tee shirt. I'm sure glad to be home. Wisconsin has a LOT of good points, but the weather isn't one of them.

I don't know how long June's flight is, but shouldn't she be landing in Oz soon?

Theresa!!! I hope this is the start of the best year of your life, and that each successive year gets even better.

Heidi, sounds like Wisconsin has colder weather than we do. Our forecast is 18C for today and then in the 20-23 range for the rest of the week. It does get close to freezing overnight, but so far so good.

Hope your epidural is a really bad one!!!

I just got a phone call. My friend Helene passed away 2 hours ago. Poor Maxine is really suffering, but at least Helene isn't in pain any more.

HI all.
Theresa...wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Welcome home June and Heidi!

Very sorry Heidi, about the passing of Helene.Peace at last.
Hope the epidural gives you much relief.

Hi all. Sorry I have been missing but I have been busy.
Heidi, glad the trip went well. I am sorry about the loss of your friend, may she rest in peace.
Theresa, hope you have a wonderful day.

Hugs to everyone else. I have read the posts but I don't remember most of what I have read. I must be suffering from CRS

♥ Liz ♥

♪♫♪ Happy Birthday Theresa

Been unwell in this neck of the woods... bad cold with lots of chesty coughing!! Slowly getting better.

(((HUGS))) and ♥ to all and Sundry xx

Happy Birthday Theresa - have a wonderful day
My Brother and his wife are in Canada at the moment. They did the west - Vancouver through all that beautiful scenery to Calgary, then flew to Toronto, they're now in Montreal and heading later to Halifax and Pronce Edward Island before finishing their 7 week trip with several days in NY.

Sad day today - 1 year we we lost Dizzy Lizzy

Heidi - sorry to hear about Helene's passing and Maxine's grief. Did they ever sort out their relationship. If not it must be doubly painful for Maxine. How is she doing otherwise?

2 typos today! It's 'Prince' not pronce!
And it's 1 year 'since' we lost Lizzy!

Greeting from me to all of you!

Heidi, what a shame about Gil's brother. Do any family members think he's ready and/or willing for detox? Good luck getting him into a program.

Mama, I hope you are beginning to get acclimated to the fall weather!

Here's a bit more on cello sizes. The names (1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4 or full-size) aren't really an indicator of relative size. So a 1/2 size cello isn't half the size of a 4/4 or full-size. The 7/8 size may be the least common size, as many students go directly from a 3/4 to a full-size. The length of the back of the cello is measured from the top of the hollowed out area to the bottom of the hollowed out area, and doesn't include the neck (where fingers are placed) on up to the fancy part at the top of the neck (scroll). Here are some common measurements, but sizes aren't 'standardized.}' 4/4 Cello = 755mm or approx. 29.7 inches
3/4 Cello = 690mm or approx. 27 inches
1/2 Cello = 650mm or approx. 25.6 inches
1/4 Cello = 580mm or approx. 22.8 inches
1/8 Cello = 530mm or approx. 20.8 inches
That's probably more information than any of you wanted to know. No, I didn't know it, but did a 'google search' to get information.