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

Thinking of Everyone & sending healing energy, prayers, positive thoughts, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and

I just ran a few critical long distance (over 1/2 hours drive away, each way) errands. I had to get a new electric fence charger to keep the cattle in, and I had to get materials to patch a large pothole that recently formed in my driveway. It was SO nice to be able to drive down the road and not worry about getting arrested for driving without a license.
It has just started raining, so I can work on the pothole tonight. That way I don't have to carry quite as much water to the work site... a furlong from the house. I'm using 200 lbs of fast setting concrete, and the rain makes the job easier. I just have to wait until the last possible person traverses the driveway so the concrete can set without anyone driving on it.

Hooray, Heidi! What a relief do drive around and do your errands without worry of being stopped without a driver's license! Seems like good timing on the rain, if it means you don't need to carry so much water. I hope the pothole patch is successful!

We had a call this morning from the cornea specialist's office. There has been an emergency that means hubby's surgery must be postponed. Earliest date we could get for now is Nov. 17.

I'm off to bed, as we must be up early. Thinking of everyone and sending lots of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, , positive thoughts, and prayers

Just be grateful that your hubby isn't that big an emergency, Julie. And maybe it's a good thing that his surgery has been postponed. By then, there MAY be less of a chance of contracting the Covid-19 virus there.

I've got that pothole in the driveway patched. It took 150 lbs of concrete to fill it, but I had 200 lbs available, so I've got a 50 lb bag left over for some other job. It's going to be SO nice not having to worry about that one pothole on my looooong paved driveway. And it's safer for other drivers, because trying to swerve around that pothole risked going off the edge of the driveway into a deep ditch. The driveway is raised up high above the pastures on either side to avoid flooding in heavy rains.

Q... How do you send a message in code?

A...Write in cursive

That's gotten to be true, DOrA. Only old-timers like us can read it any more.

I've gotten the new fence charger hooked up, but not switched on yet. Mike the Vet has a couple of his solar chargers set up, and we need to disconnect them and do a little re-configuring before turning mine on. He'll be here in half an hour, then we can re-do everything and check the fence line for fallen trees and branches.

We got everything up and running now. ... some of it temporarily. There is a broken wire under one of the gates, and that will have to be replaced. Plus, one of those 2 gate posts has to be replaced. It's rotted pretty much through. That particular post was here when we bought this farm in late '91. We have a temporary wire strung across the gap right now, which would be a pain in the rear long term. Instead of digging under the gate agan to replace the wire, which would be extremely difficult because of all the gravel put down on it to prevent mud, I'm going to get a couple of treated 12 foot long treated 2x4s, attach a few insulators to them, and run the hot wire way above the gate, high enough to safely drive a tractor carrying a metal hay ring through the opening. Then I won't have to worry about the weight of a tractor breaking another insulated buried wire. And it will be easy to replace if I have to.

Yeah, Heidi, a lot of the 'young uns' are pretty shiftless...

Heidi, I'm glad you got the pothole patched!

Yep, DOrA, cursive would now seem to be a code.

Heidi, you're getting a lot done and planning for other things that are needed. You'll have everything in good shape soon!

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

There were some interesting responses to the ''cursive question'' on today's Easy page...

Hello, Everyone!

Heidi, will the additional work you are planning be done soon, or will yuu be able to get it done within the next week or so? You obviously have worked out a plan! I hope all goes well!

DOrA, I know there's been a fair amount of discussion about whether cursive writing should be taught or discontinued. I need to check whether the older grandies have learned cursive. I really don't know.

I really need to head to bed soon, so will say Good Night and send positive thoughts, healing energy, , prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to All!

I forgot to mention a cute story. When Mike the Vet and I were working on the fence, I let Candy accompany us. She's a smart girl who minds me 100% of the time, and stays away from hot fences. Once we were done, Mike sat on the ground and invited Candy to play. She's a muscular girl, weighing just over 80 lbs. They had a rough and tumble for a couple of minutes, then Candy quit, moved away 10 feet, sat down and wagged her tail furiously, with a delighted look on her face. It was like she said ''I'm done now, but thank you VERY MUCH''. It was so cute and so polite. I still can't believe someone threw away a wonderful dog like her.

It's raining right now, and is supposed to rain tomorrow, too. That should soften the ground a bit and make it easier to dig that new post hole. I still need to buy the fence post and 12'x 2''x 4'' boards anyway. I've got plenty of wire, connectors and insulators to do the job.

Just got back from having a Covid-19 test. They told me that if I'm positive, I'll hear from them in 24 to 48 hours. I suspect I'm negative, but in the early stages of pneumonia. Once I've been cleared of not having the coronavirus, I can go to the ER and get x-rays for pneumonia.

Just a quick Good Night! {{{HUGS}}}

So far, so good. 28 of the 48 hours have passed, and I've heard nothing. The wait is now 20 hours. If I don't hear from them in that time, I don't have the Covid-19 virus, and I can go to the ER to be checked for pneumonia. If I hear from them in the next 20 hours, I'm going to have to call Pain Management and postpone my epidural scheduled in 2 weeks.

Just a quick read. Looks like everyone is well sorted and going o.k. (except Heidi's covid test). I had angoigram on Monday and heart stent inserted, back again next Monday for a couple more. Lousy genes from both sides. Not looking forward to it but hope I feel better after, The annoying part is Friday is a holiday in Melbourne and I have to get blood test and another covid done.
Keep well and safe. Cheers.

Hoping all goes well for Heidi and Midge! Those Covid tests aren't fun, but definitely worth it to find out you're negative. Both of you need to take care!

Thinking off everyone, but off to bed for me. Sending positive thoughts, healing energy, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and for All!

Back from the hospital. The place was a madhouse. Packed with people who were seriously ill. Ambulances pulling in every 15 minutes. I was tested for Covid-19, pneumonia, Flu and Strep. Negative on all. I have bronchitis. They gave me a medicated breathing treatment and prescribed a breather and a lot of meds. I'll be OK.

Heidi, it's great to hear that you had so many negatives. At least you can do something about bronchitis. Here's hoping you'll be feeling much better in a week or so! (I suspect most of the meds are to be taken for at least 10 days to 2 weeks.)

Midge, I hope you're feeling better since your angiogram and stent! You've certainly had your share of procedures. And you 'get to look forward' to more, in spite of the holiday in Melbourne. A blood test and Covid test aren't the way to celebrate a holiday!

Lots to do before I can get to bed, so I'll say Good Night. Thinking of Everyone and sending , {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing energy, positive thoughts, and prayers. Take care, Everyone!

I realized that my next epidural is scheduled on the afternoon of Nov. 2nd, and I won't be allowed to drive for at least 24 hours afterwards. That time coinsides with election day. So since I had to go to my pharmacy for the meds for bronchitis, and early voting is at our county courthouse just down the street from the pharmacy, I voted today. For Joe Biden & Kamala Harris, and for Amy McGrath for senator instead of Mitch McConnell.

Good morning all! We're back. Had a great time but we are exhausted. It was a very interesting 3300km trip (2050miles). I had never been out that far west - it was actually the 'outback', which I expected to be hot and boring. It was hot, but only 34c hot (but cool nights) and it's a dry heat so much more bearable that 34c in a coastal area with high humidity. But the scenery was gorgeous and every time we turned a corner or went over a hill it changed. The Silo Art that we were chasing was spectacular. I will try to post photos in the next few days. Our 15 year old Prius did the trip, mostly done in 4WDs, with no problems. Love that car!
The down side was the dying towns. Some seem to have given up. All their shops are closed. Only thing thriving is their hotels, outback men like a beer. Fortunately we were carrying some food because in one town where we stayed overnight there was nowhere to buy a meal. I think Covid put an end to it. Even though Covid restrictions have been relaxed in Queensland, many places have lost their staff, their premises and the heart to start up again. It is very sad.
We came back towards the coast at Gladstone and drove south for a few days visiting relatives and friends before coming home.

I did try to spend money locally in every town we stopped in, and I noticed that the Grey Nomads (retired people with RV or Caravans) are back in force. Hopefully once the borders are open they will help in every state.

I'm glad you got to vote already Heidi. (Oh, and I'm glad you didn't have Covid, that was a tense read until I found the result in another post!)
We have an election in our state on 31st October for our State Government. When we got home our voting cards were waiting for us and so, when we went out yesterday, the pre-polling booths were open and not busy so we have that under our belts too.
Granddaughter Hayley looked after our house well and Jewel the dog was happy to see us but was obviously happy with Hayley.

The breather they put me on contains Albuterol Sulfate. It's giving me a blinding headache and nausea every time I use it. So I've stopped using it. I suspect it's the ''sulfate'' part that I'm not handling. I'm severely allergic to sulfas and sulphur. I DID stress that allergy to them at the hospital.

Hi, Everyone! I hope you're all well!

Welcome back, CynB and Col! That was quite a long trip! It's great that your Prius weathered your travels well! Your trip sound fabulous with all of the scenery changes and spectacular Silo Art! What a shame that you also found many dying towns! COVID has left its mark, especially on small towns and the businesses in them whose existence was already marginal. I'm so glad your pre-planning including carrying some food and water with you! How nice that you were able to visit some relatives and friends during your return trip home! It was very thoughtful of you to try to spend money in each place where you stopped or stayed; I imagine the locals appreciated that!

Congratulations to all who have vowers in their respective elections!

Heidi, I hope you're able to get your breather sorted ou so it can be of help!

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

With the first 'hard freeze' expected, it's time to winterize the washing machine. 1 qt of RV Antifreeze, then 'drain / spin'. The machine is in an unheated space, with no other options. If only I had built the well house a little bigger. It is insulated and heated in cold weather.

I bought some cheap rain gear. The jacket zipper, when I zipped it up, came right off the top. When looking to make the purchase, I read the labels. All that I found, including top brands like Carhart, were ''made in China'', so I went with the cheap stuff. Big mistake. Time for a return and hopefully something better.......

In this case, Heidi, I wish you had kept. your ballot preferences, secret. Did you even bother to check HER background? Or just vote against 'the Donald'? (hey, you brought it up.)

DOrA.... please read this. It's written by a true Christian.

https://johnpavlovitz.com/2020/10/12/good-people-arent-voting-for-him-a-second-time/

Wow, Heidi! That one hits the nail on the head.

Geez, I wonder what he really thinks...

After reading that I'm surprised that Jesus, himself, could qualify as a good person...

Greetings to All and Good Night!

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

I know plenty of people who qualify as good people, from that gentleman's standpoint.

Well, I, for one, am not voting for Biden.

What I Am voting for is delineated in my 14/Oct/20 12:43 PM post on forum page:

https://sudoku.com.au/QXH11-3-1996-41-openforum.aspx

Off to the building supply store to get my supplies to re-route the hot wire for my perimeter fence over the gate instead of under it. I'm also going to pick up a heavy duty gate post to replace the one that's rotted. Robert wants to come over tomorrow and dig the new post hole for me.

You could, instead of running the wire over the gate, bury a conduit deep enough to prevent future damage, through which to run your wire. You also wouldn't have an unsightly (?) addition to the property, which might limit movement of tall items...

There is geotextile fabric down through the gate opening, with a foot of #3 rock over it, then dense grade on top of that. Digging, even with heavy machinery, would be very difficult. The previous wire was through a conduit under all that stuff, and that appears to have broken as well, from machinery or weather. The wire will be 16 feet over the gate, so I can safely drive my tractor, with it's cab, and carrying metal hay rings, through the opening safely. It'll be a 20 foot gap between the support poles. There is another place I had to do this on the property due to the difficulty of burying the wire.

I got the supports up, the high tensile wire connected, and the fence is back up and running again. This is a stronger connection than through the light weight wire we had running across the gap temporarily. All of the cattle were up and watching me, and begging to be fed, except one who was laying down at the other end of their 20 acre field. So once I finished with the fence, and fed the cows a couple of rolls of hay, I drove back there to check her out. This is Mike the Vet's oldest cow, and her back left leg is swollen up like a balloon. I got her to her feet and slowly got her across the field and into the barn lot where she has hay and water. Then I texted Mike the Vet. He's planning on putting her to sleep in a few days. She's ancient and she won't make it through the winter. I can tell she's a favorite of his. At least now she'll be comfortable and be right with the food and water for her last few days.

** BOPP **
Today we got a new post hole dug, cemented in the new post, then transferred the fence boards to the new post. Then I installed a new self locking latch on the gate and a wheel under the end of the gate so it swings easier to the latch. I also installed a new back-up chain and latch ''in case''. The job was made so much easier after I re-did the hot wiring around that gate yesterday. We were able to use post hole diggers, trench shovel and a chain saw around it in safety. It would have been even earier if I hadn't smashed my thumb with a hammer yesterday. From the swelling and color, I think the thumb is fractured. I splinted it myself.