Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

What a horrible time due to Australian fires!

CynB, I will certainly keep your friends in my thoughts! The worst part is that the fire was intentionally set. I hope in some way much of their property can escape the devastation! Most importantly, I hope their family is safe!

Heidi, how awful that you ran out of your methadone! Is there no way to get a small emergency supply? Might your doctor be able to prescribe something else that might at least take the edge off? I wish one of us lived closer to you. I hope you have a trusted friend you can call if necessary (possible Debbie?). Sending positive thoughts and gentle {{{{HUGS}}}} your way!

MIdge, I'm sorry to hear about your friend whose place has been evacuated. At least it would seem that she is safe. But I can't imagine what it must be like for her to deal with this.

Thinking of all of our friends and all those whose lives are affected by the fires. Sending positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and for Everyone!

OOPS, maybe not the best TOPP. Sorry.

“If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.” ~ Śhantideva

Julie - good (second from) TOPP and very true.
Midge - I hope your friends house at O'Reillys is safe. Haven't heard much about O'Reillys during the day, hope that is no news is good news.
My friends were able to return to their home during the day today. They said it was very smoky but intact. I feel relieved for them.

Sorry, meant to mention Heidi. I hope you get some pain relief to tide you over for the two weeks.

Since Methadone is a very controlled substance, and Pain Management is very strict about what I can take, I have no option but to wait. If I take some other powerful pain killer, I will be kicked out of the Pain Management program. And to get a refill, I have to make an appointment with the doctor. The earliest he can see me is ept. 23rd.

Meanwhile, Angel had a major stroke at 4 am. It's apparent to me that she'll never walk again. She's in really bad shape. The Vet will be here in 2 hours to assess her, and we expect that he'll have to put her to sleep to prevent her suffering. I can't stop crying.

Heidi - so sorry for Angel's passing. 12 years is a good age and I am sure she had a wonderful life with you as her mum.

The Vet thinks she had a tumor in the brain that ruptured. He said that she had no chance of recovery so we did the kindest thing. But ut hurts so much to lose her.

Oh Heidi, I'm so sorry about Angel. Big Hugs

CynB, good news for your friends who could return to their home!

More good news that you didn't hear about O'Reillys, so hopefully Midge's friend's home is OK.

Heidi, I am so sorry to hear about Angel. I know she was a very special dog for you!

I'm hoping Sept. 23 arrives very quickly for you. I wish there were something we could do to help pass the time.

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

Hi, Everyone! It's has been a busy day here in Illinois, and probably a busy day for everyone! I hope everyone is well, and no fires are in the picture to threaten anyone's well-being or property.

Heidi, another day has passed, so you're one day closer to the doctor appointment and a new prescription.

Sending everyone warm and positive thoughts, healing energy, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and ! Take care and stay safe!

Just back from Chemo #4, that means he's 1/3 of the way through. It doesn't seem so bad looking at it that way.
Feeling a bit sad, just saw on the Sudoku birthdays that it's Dizzy Lizzy's birthday today. Happy heavenly birthday Lizzy, I think you've been gone for 7 years now. Every time I see a Maxine cartoon, I chuckle and think of Lizzy.

Hi, CynB!

Hooray for Col and you! You're right; saying that Chemo is 1/3 of the way through sounds better! I hope thee are no unforeseen side effects with this one!

Wow, is it really 7 years since Dizzt Lizzy has been gone? Happy Heavenly Birthday, Lizzy. You are still missed.

Sending a big supply of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, healing energy, , and prayers for everyone!

Still hurting but I figure I'll hurt no matter what I do, so I've been helping mu friend Debbie. Yesterday I took her to have eye surgery and I take her back in an hour for a re-check to make sure everything is in place. She just did the one eye, the worst one. She wants to see how this goes before doing the second eye.

Cataract surgery, Heidi?

That is similar to what Col will have to insert his new lens but they have to find somewhere to attach it since his own lens and attachments washed away in the accident. They've put that surgery off until after he finishes chemo in January.

Yes... cataract surgery with a new lens implant. She's scheduled to have the other eye done on Oct. 3rd. She's amazed at the improvement on the first eye already.

Greetings to All!

Heidi, it's good to see you posting here! You're right; you'll be hurting no matter what you do until you can get the new prescription from the doctor. I hope Debbie's check-up goes well; good news that she sees an improvement already from her first cataract surgery! I'm guessing she has some drops to put in that eye - almost until she has the surgery on her other eye.

Cyn, I hope Col is doing well after Chemo #4! It seems like he has only a relatively short time until he can have his eye surgery.

I hope everyone is well as the new weeks gets started. Sending many positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, healing energy, and for Everyone!

She has a lot of drops to put in her eye.... some for 1 week, some for 2 weeks and some for 3 weeks.

This coming week is my last with physical therapy. I also have a check-up with the bariatric surgeon. I continue losing weight, though the rate has slowed down. I'm now down to 213 lbs from 287 lbs. Realistically I'm hoping to get down to 170 lbs though ideally I'd like to get down to 140 lbs.

Reeses has gotten over his adjustment problems and is fitting in delightfully now. We've worked out hand signals for commands, and he gets along well with all of the other dogs now. I think he's happy here.

Happy to hear that Reeces has settled down into life at the farm, Heidi. Also happy to hear that the weight loss continues. Keep it up.

Eye drops! I couldn't tell you how many we've put into Colin's eye. Up to 4 different ones, some hourly to begin with. He's currently on 3 x 4 times daily. But he's learnt to do them himself. He had to do that to be able to go back to work.

Hi, Everyone!

Heidi, I hope Debbie is able to put the eye drops in by herself. It's quite a routine. I hope she's making progress and able to see better since her surgery.

With hubby, we ended up making a checklist so we wouldn't miss any of the drops. His local ophthalmologist has him VERY gradually weaning off the last one since his surgery in May. It started at 4 times a day, reduced to 3, then 2, then 1 time a day. After several weeks of that, he'll switch to 1 drop every other day until his next appointment in November.

Heidi, I hope you have made as much progress in physical therapy as your doctor intended. Do you need to have a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor? I'm so glad the bariatric doctor is also following up with you. It's such wonderful news that you are continuing to lose weight! Have you had any success with eating solid food yet? I'm glad you continue to have goals! Congratulations,, and keep up the good work!

Heidi, that's great news about Reeses! You felt he would be able to adjust, and you were right! I guess he just needed to test you and the other dogs. I'm glad he's a quick learner and discovered how much more pleasant life could be if he followed the rules.

CynB, I imagine the number of drops put in Col's eyes would seem astronomical. I'm glad he can do them himself. I remember when my first cello teacher had cataract surgery. If she needed a drop near my lesson time, my hubby often helped her, as he had plenty of experience!

I hope MizT is finally able to use her computer. Maybe she'll be able to pop in once in a while to read and/or comment.

Thinking of all of our Sudokuaholic friends and hoping all are well! Sending healing energy, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}},, prayers, and for Everyone!

I'm depressed. I've been trying for years to track down an old friend ( We had worked in the zoo together back in the '70's. He was also a magician of some renown.) I finally located him only to find out he just passed away of heart disease.

That's sad, Heidi! Finding out you've lost a friend.
Where is everyone these days? It seems it's just been Heidi, Julie and I posting for a while now.

We finally got a small amount of rain last night, our drought is getting much worse increasing the risk of bushfires. Quite a loud and active electrical storm but not much rain in it unfortunately. We need it so badly, even the lawn in front of our house is looking brown instead of it's usual green. It is the start of storm season so hopefully they will soon carry more rain and less lightning and thunder.

Just got home from seeing the bariatric surgeon. He was thrilled with my progress. I'm actually 20 lbs ahead of schedule!!! I go back in another 3 months.

Midge also posted on this page, CynB. I'd love to hear from others like Brenda who haven't posted in over a year.

Great news Heidi from your surgeon - you must be feeling good about the weight loss. Just wish your ear and back problems could go the same way.
Saw your storms on tv last night CynB - so much lightning, it must have been spectacular to see, just a shame about very little rain but better forecast today for rain. In 1993 my no. 1 son was standing with a friend under a tree (after being let out from school early)and his mate was hit by lightning coming down through the tree - so horribly sad.
I wonder how Mizt is going - miss her messages.
We have been very busy at work, seem to have so much trouble with container imports and the wharves going slow etc. I really want to retire asap. Hubby off to Sydney again tomorrow for a delivery to a new customer to make sure they are happy and hopefully keep importing from us.
Sold daughter's old car last night - only been sitting outside our house since February - hooray - now only have 5 cars hanging around, Another one will go when no. 1 son goes overseas. 6 yr old Audi - barely used so someone will get a bargain.
Hi Julie, hope your lot are going well. Cheers.

Hi everybody. I'm still hanging about but haven't been posting much here lately. There was so much tough stuff happening at one point that trying to word supportive comments was more depressing than I could handle. In the meantime I've been making the occasional lighter posts on the puzzle pages. Despite my lack of input, I have still been reading here, keeping up with what's happening, and thinking of those with particular troubles at the time.

To further complicate matters, I am finding it increasingly difficult to spend much time at the keyboard. I can click and read quite happily, but find I am mostly reduced to one-handed typing. As a result I need to have plenty of time with no interruptions if I want to write a longer post. In consequence, if what I want to say stretches to more than half a dozen lines, I end up not posting.

Thinking of you all. Cheers.

WOW! It got late suddenly. I'll need to read & comment tomorrow!

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

In case anyone is interested, this is an article about that friend of mine that I had lost touch with, and had been searching for for many years. It's quite a tribute to a wonderful, caring man.

In case anyone is interested, this is an article about that friend of mine that I had lost touch with, and had been searching for for many years. It's quite a tribute to a wonderful, caring man.
https://www.tucsonlocalmedia.com/news/article_bfb2b1ae-be94-11e7-863a-07007834a68a.html

They got his age wrong in the story, though. He was 67, not 57. He was 4 years older than me.

Sounds like he was a lovely man - 67 is too young.

The article also got his recipe for fake cobra venom wrong. That occurred while we were good friends and he told me the real recipe. It was milk, water and a pinch of flour. Cobra venom has little white particles in it.
We lost touch while he was going through a really bad patch in his life and didn't feel like talking to friends. He left the zoo and moved and before he felt like letting friends know where he was, I, too had moved. So neither of us knew where the other had gone. But I have many wonderful memories of him.

Household tip -

Never feed your cat anything that clashes with the carpet...

Oh dear DorA - doesn't sound good - hope you didn't step in it!

OOPS! The day and evening have slipped away from me. I'll try to post tomorrow when I can stay awake. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

No, Midge, No cats in this household. Quote was observed on a Vets billboard.

Ahoy, mates. I almost forgot: It's talk like a pirate day. Arrrr!