Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Life isn't about keeping score. Life is about who you love and who you hurt. It's about how you feel about yourself. It's about trust, happiness, and compassion. It's about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance, and building confidence. It's about what you say and what you mean. It's about seeing people for what they are and not for what they have. Most of all, it's about choosing to use your life in a way that could have never been achieved otherwise. These choices are what life is about. ~ Anonymous

That is wonderful news that your back is feeling so much better, Heidi!

Wow, Cyn, it feels weird when the ads become so specific. I rarely look at the ads on this page, so don't know how specific they get. But I have found that not just Facebook ads, but also 'comments' and things on my timeline/feed often refer to something hubby or I have looked up on the computer. I usually use a search engine that claims it doesn't track, but I haven't been able to convince hubby to always use it.

Cyn, I remember when Jewel was a puppy. I guess we've been around here a long time. It's great that she still has so much energy!

It's exciting that you'll be getting a male alpaca, Heidi. Will you buy him from the same breeder as 'the girls?'

Midge, I'm so glad Double the Magic won her race. It's too bad you weren't able to influence enough members of the syndicate to convince them not to sell her. I hope she does well for her new owner/s.

Hooray for the new floor and painted room. It will be nice for No. 1 Son when he is at home. Here's hoping he gets a good price for his car. Maybe a bidding war will bring the price up. Does your son have a specialist dealing with the aftermath of the assault? I hope there is a good prognosis eventually. Was a perpetrator ever found? I can't imagine what it must be life for him to deal with this for so long.

Speaking of dealing with something for a long time, six years is a long time to wait. It's no wonder that you wish it were over. I hope the mediation for your case goes well!

Heidi, I'm glad you'll be able to buy a new oven with the money you got for Duke. Good luck finding the perfect addition to your kitchen! And I hope you will receive the expected good news from the orthopedist!

I hope you find the perfect male (or males) and new female to expand your alpaca 'herd.' (I'm not sure what a group of alpacas is called.) I'm glad having the alpacas has been easier than the cows. Have fun visiting the alpaca farm. The house, barn, and Loft store all look well-cared for, so I suspect the alpacas are top-notch.

Will you eventually sell off the remaining 5 cows and their calves, Heidi?

Thinking of everyone and sending healing energy (including for your son, Midge), positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and !

I'll be keeping the 5 cows and adding the one heifer calf to the herd. I don't need to buy another bull since Mike moved his bull over here.

The new range/oven will be delivered tomorrow. It'll be wonderful having a working oven again.

The male(s) I'm getting are unrelated to the females. Males have to be kept separate so I need 2 for company. Plus, one can be bred to the offspring of the other. And the females will have a choice of males for breeding. They can be a bit picky about who they breed with. And if I have 2 males, I should have a larger herd of females for them. My first choice male is named Buster Brown. He's a dark brown male. My second choice is a fawn colored male named Pharoah. I'm also looking at a rose gray female and a fawn female.

Oops..... I meant Phaeton, not Pharaoh. I got the alpaca names confused.

Sounds wonderful Heidi - you have everything well organised.
Like the TOPP Julie, says it all!
Mediation was cancelled - the case is against 2 Drs and both have different insurance companies, One of them wants a repeat of a medical examination so off to the quack again on Monday.
Julie, my son was attacked by 3 Sudanese in April - they are part of the gangs we have here and probably will never be held responsible. He is with the 'Victim of Crimes' assoc. so hopefully his future medical needs will be covered. He sold his car for $4500 - less than half of what it is worth just to be free of it before he leaves on Sunday.
Has anyone heard from Suzy or MizT lately?
Wishing Rolanda the best.

Thanks, Heidi, for some specifics. I went back to their website to try to see the alpacas you're thinking of getting! It sounds like you have a plan for the alpacas - makes sense to have two males and maybe another couple of female. I'm glad they will be easier for you.

It's nice that you won't need to get a replacement bull, since Mike's bull is currently in residence.

I hope everyone is well and having a good week. Sending positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, , healing energy, and prayers for everyone!

Midge, both Suzy and MizT have posted on the Sudoku FB Group in the last day or so. MizT's Desktop computer finally died I think and she can't get her head around how to get on to Sudoku on her tablet.
I'd better explain the reference to Rolanda. She had a heart valve replacement done yesterday - major open heart surgery. We heard last night that all went well with the surgery. I have not heard this morning but it's only 6am over in Perth. I will report back when I hear anything today.

Thanks for letting us know, CynB. Please send Rolanda my best wishes and mojo.

Cyn, thank you so much for the information about Rolanda. I haven't had time to visit TOS today. If I see anything, I'll post here.

Midge, I was really hoping your son might get more than he was asking for his car. I understand that he wanted to have it sold and not hanging over his head while he is away. I hope he will find some respite and peace while he is away!

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

I'm posting now, but if I see anything on TOS to update how Rolanda is doing, I'll come back & share the info.

Just found this on TOS - posted by Cyn 3 hours ago:
'Just spoke to Peter, all went well for Rolanda during last night. He's on his way in to see her now. She'll be in ICU for 48 hours all being well. Before the op the Doctors said they would try to get her up today. I don't envy her that.
I passed on best wishes from us all.'

Thanks for the updaye, Julie!!

I leave in 1/2 hour to take Debbie in for her second eye surgery. The one on her right eye was quite successful. She's really nervous, but I'm glad she's getting it over with quickly.

Thanks for posting that for me, Julie! I should have done it here at the same time. I got interrupted and it slipped my mind.
I won't be annoying Peter for an update today, he's trying to balance running a business with dealing with this. I'm assuming no news is good news and that, as soon as Rolanda feels up to it she will post something herself or, at least, send me a message.

Going back to the Art Gallery today to see the Margaret Olley exhibition again, this time with Madeline and maybe Hayley, if she's got her study/revision done - that will be fun. I love days out with my grownup grand-girls.
They are awesome people.

Hi, Everyone!

Heidi, I'm so glad you can be Debbie's driver for her cataract surgery again! Crossing fingers that it is as successful as the first one!

Cyn, I'm glad I could post Rolanda's update. I was about to close TOS when I remembered that you were thinking of posting, so I quickly checked in here. It was no problem to copy the information and paste.

I hope you had a wonderful time at the Art Gallery! WIth luck, both Madelie and Hayley were able to join you.

Midge, I'm sorry you will need to have a repeat of the medical examination on Monday. I'm hoping that the Mediation can then proceed quickly after that!

Wishing safe travels to Son #1 when he leaves for Chile on Sunday. How long will it take for him to get there?

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

Midge, I just saw this on my page on TOS. I haven't read it yet, and the business is located in Illinois, USA, but perhaps there is something like this in your area that might be of help to your son.

'Kevin Pearce, former Professional Snowboarder, suffered a concussion in December of 2009 and shares his experience working with Dr. Zelinsky and her cutting edge work in Neuro-Optometry Rehabilitation for Post-Concussive Syndrome & Traumatic Brain Injury.
Patients who have experienced a concussion or brain injury or and feel like 'something is different' can speak with one of our New Patient Specialists and come in for a Mind-Eye exam today by contacting our office at 847-984-3156 or visit us at https://mindeyeinstitute.com/braininjury

Thank you Julie - it was very kind of you to post this site. Will show it to my son. He is under a Concussion Clinic I don't know how he is going to keep a check on this in Chile - as it is now he has had to get glasses and the prescription is changing all of the time.
Your gallery trip to see Margaret Olley exhibition sounds wonderful - love her different styles.
Heidi - how is the new oven? All installed now? When do the new alpacas arrive?

Debbie now has both eyes done. She can't believe how well she can see now. Her vision right now is better than it was WITH GLASSES before the surgery.
Tomorrow I go look at, and hopefully buy, at least 1 male alpaca. I'd like to get 2, and a female or 2 as well. They have some beauties.

I'm so happy for Debbie and her improved vision!

Midge, I think of your son often. and although the Mind-Eye Institute is in the Chicago area, I would think that there must be something similar in other parts of the world. I hope your son can find some relief and the opportunity to get away from 'the scene of the crime.' It must be so difficult for him!

Heidi, I hope you're able to get at least a couple of wonderful additional alpacas this weekend!

It's very late, so I'm off to bed. Good night! Sending healing energy, prayers, positive thoughts, , and warm {{{{{HUGS}}}}}!

Here's an update on Rolanda that Cyn posted on TOS:

'Another update from Peter - ‘Rolanda has been moved to the wards. I am with her at the moment, she is a bit tuckered out, been a big day with the move and so on but she is getting there. But its a slow process.’

Sounding positive.

I'm back home from visiting Angel Fleece Alpacas. I brought 3 alpacas home with me. The 2 males are Phaeton: who's a light fawn carrying the gray gene, and Frontman: a solid white with an outstanding fleece. I also brought home Chloe, a white female. Her mother is a chocolate brown and she's produced light brown offspring herself.

Those alpacas sound gorgeous, Heidi. Especially Chloe being white. They are such lovely animals.

Thanks for sharing the update on Rolanda, Julie. I don't have any new updates but I noticed that Rolanda has been looking at posts on FB, maybe she's not up to posting and replying yet. New day today, she might be feeling more like it today.

I posted a picture of Chloe. I won't be able to post a picture of the boys for a few days yet, since I'll need help.

And I have now posted a picture of the 2 boys: Frontman and Phaeton.

Good lookin' critters, Heidi.

Heidi, your new alpacas are gorgeous! You will have some beautiful alpaca and wonderful fleece from then eventually. How long is the gestation period for alpacas?

Heidi, I hope your friend Debbie is making a speedy recovery!

Hi, Cyn! I hope Col is doing well!l I hope you're both having a wonderful weekend relaxing & enjoying each other's company!

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

Gestation is 11 1/2 months. If I start the breeding in 2 weeks like I've planned, We should have babies born in 1 year from now.

That's very exciting, Heidi!! I hope all your plans come to fruition and we'll see some baby alpacas in a year! (Sorry, I don't know what baby alpacas are called.)

I just went looking on TOS and found this post from Rolanda:

‎Rolanda Moore‎ to Sudoku Friends
Yesterday at 6:24 PM ·
'Morning.
I am doing ok.
Today is Day 4 after Surgery.
I have been for walks.
Going to the toilet on ones own.
At the moment I am sitting in the chair waiting for breakfast to arrive
And I have been told I will be able to shower today. Most of the drains, wires etc have been removed.
My blood pressure remains a tad low, and I was put back on the oxygen again overnight.'

Thanks, Julie. It's wonderful to hear from Rolanda herself! It sounds like she's going to be okay.

Baby alpacas are called ''crias'', which is Spanish for ''babies''.

Good news about Rolanda.
I once won a trivia night on 'crias' - couldn't believe I was the only one in our group of 18 who knew that! My no. 1 son is now in Santiago - he learnt quite a lot of Spanish before he went. Or at least, I hope that is where he is - He left last Sunday and as is usual, we probably won't hear for a couple of weeks. I miss my 4-5am coffee.

After my post last night about Rolanda, I lost my internet connection. I'm sorry I wasn't able to share the usual thoughts or say Good Night.

Heidi (and Midge), thanks for the name for baby alpacas. I don't think I have ever heard the word 'aria' before. I will try to remember it.

Midge, I can imagine you might be frustrated, not knowing for sure where your son is. I know you've mentioned before that he takes his time checking in, but even know that, it might be difficult waiting for word from him.

Because most of my family is separated by distance, we usually try to remember to call the family member we left when we reach the next destination, which is often 'home.' We did that with my parents, siblings, and now with our children. Even our children find it reassuring if we check in when we reach home.

Number 1 child FaceTimed with us around dinner time. They had been talking about getting another dog recently, and he has now joined the family. They had been down to 1 dog since early June when their 12-year-old Newfoundland died. That left just a golden retriever (maybe about 6 or 7 years old). The new puppy is an 8-week-old light cream colored English labrador. He is SO cute and seems very sweet. She said the golden retriever had put him in his place a time or two, but also looks out for him, like when the puppy was crying when put in his crate for the night. The golden retriever came and got her to let her know the puppy was crying.

I haven't seen any new updates on Rolanda yet tonight.

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

Just found this message from Rolanda on TOS:

‎Rolanda Moore‎ to Sudoku Friends
8 mins ·
Good news this morning.
I am allowed to go home

Just a note for those who used to visit 'easy'. The Phantom is back. For how long? Who knows...

Good morning, I came to tell you that Rolanda came home yesterday but I see that Julie has already posted it. That's good, thanks Julie.
Round 6 of Chemo tomorrow. Then he is half way. Everything is just that little bit worse each time. We learn to control one thing and another raises it's ugly head. We have booked a weekend away on the Sunshine Coast for the weekend after this one. Our little half-time break.

How lovely Julie for your no. 1 to get a Labrador - they are really beautiful dogs (even though they are very greedy). My no. 1 sent a very short email last night saying he had arrived, luggage was lost for a day and the people are friendly and feels like he is with a lot of teachers as they are all helping him with his Spanish. Such a relief for us.
CynB - halfway thank goodness, Lovely idea to have a couple of days away too - good for the soul. What part of the Sunshine Coast?
Your alpacas a lovely Heidi - the next year will be so exciting for you - when the crias arrive, what will your weather be like?

For you Heidi https://media.giphy.com/media/V8a30jbWXLuGA/giphy.gif

Hi, EVeryone!

Just a quick post: DOrA, thanks for the 'heads up' about The Phantom's return to Easy.

CynB, Hooray for Col and his half-way point of chemo. What a great idea for a couple of days away!

How wonderful that you have heard from Son#1, Midge! It sounds very encouraging!

I'm falling asleep, so need to head to bed. Sending healing energy, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, positive thoughts, and

Thanks for the fun link. Midge!

The temperatures here have finally dropped to seasonal levels after setting record breaking high temperatures for the first week of October. Monday set an all-time high of 95˚F / 35˚C for that date. By Friday we're due to get down to 35˚F / 1.6˚C!!!

Hi, Everyone!

That's a pretty big temperature range over a few days, Heidi. We have been mostly ranging between 50*F at night and mid-70*F during the days this week. We had been having rainy and/or cloudy days, but thankfully had a sunny and bright day today.

I need to head to bed soon after a late night last night. We need to be up pretty early in the morning, as we both have appointments. I need to find time for several loads of laundry and lots of practicing tomorrow.

Thinking of everyone and sending warm and positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, , and prayers for everyone!

Heidi, how will the ''crias'' fare, being born just before winter? Any options for late spring births?