Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

A little more sparkle,
A little less stress,
This Christmas I wish you
The very best!

Darn, I wish I had remembered to change my avatar before I posted that!!

And here's a great old Christmas song for your enjoyment!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57vrqCENNPc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0rkuW3SG9c1KO79X wCXULLcJpzOqNifo-B2lFNNZ828fg-5eQUWA-J3dk

I am SO glad that you in Australia and surrounds have gotten the coronavirus under control, enough so you can have a normal Christmas. Thanks to criminal mismanagement, ours is worse than ever. We have had over 300,000 deaths so far, They also say it will be at least 3 months before average people will be vaccinated for Covid-19. Probably a lot longer wait. They're starting with health care personel, people in nursing homes (as it should be) and politicians (who can afford the best care if they get infected). I think politicians should have to take their chances with the rest of us.

Heidi, I'm glad you will put up & decorate a Christmas tree and go through the holiday traditions!

I think we would if it weren't for our physical limitations. Hubby is still trying to deal with the daily eye drops, etc since his surgery. Unfortunately, it would be too much of a chore and heavy lifting to bring one of the trees (we have two) and the ornaments up from the basement. We'll enjoy some Christmas music and FaceTime with our children & grandies, and will probably call & talk to as many of my siblings as we can reach. We may even go for a drive to enjoy some of the many outdoor Christmas displays in the area.

I'm hoping to find time to work on our Christmas cards this week. We still have quite a few doctor & dentist appointments, and hubby has PT.

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

Great TOPP, CynB!

CynB, I haven't heard that song in a few years!

Heidi, I agree that politicians should need to take their chances and not be high on the vaccination list. Maybe they would then start following the suggested mask wearing and social distancing!

Politicians need to remember that they are public SERVANTS, not our rulers.

CynB, A most appropriate TOPP

I'd never heard that song before. A cheery little ditty....

Yes, we are lucky here to be infection free and almost restriction free but we are still very cautious. My daughter and I met a friend and former neighbour for brunch last Sunday. We hugged each other, something we wouldn't have done a few months ago but that was only because I know she is as careful as I am with where I go and what I do. I have done my Christmas shopping online or locally in smaller shopping centres and at times that I thought less people were there. I haven't been to a big (usually Westfield) centre since last year. I don't go to crowded places and I stay local. I feel that it will be years before I feel comfortable to ever go to a concert or any gathering. Our cinemas are near empty, people don't want to be so close to others.
It's a different world. I just hope that the vaccine is effective.

Julie, I understand about getting the Christmas trees and decorations out. I'm sure if ours was in a basement I'd nevr be able to persuade Col to get them out. I just had to ask him to get ours out of the garage. We don't have basements in Australia.
And I understand the eye business, Col's eye is slow to come good and his overtaxed left eye isn't too good either. I caught him wanting to climb a ladder the other day. I made him wait until our son or grandson could do it. He's too blind and old for that!!
Anyway I hope you find enough joy to celebrate Christmas - tree ot no tree!!

CynB, I hope Col's eye shows some improvement as the days go on! Has he been cleared to drive, or still on restriction? I hope all of your family will be able to enjoy Christmas together!

I find it difficult to convince Roger that he shouldn't drive until the surgeon gives his approval. He has a follow-up appointment on Friday, so we'll see what happens. Like Col, he also has some issues with the vision in the unoperated eye. I have also had to convince him that he should not be up on a ladder. It's hard to put restrictions on a self-sufficient and competent man. I guess it's a good thing we're being kept busy by all of the appointments. I think he can't put himself at risk when he's the passenger in a car.

Heidi, I hope your ear is feeling better and your holiday preparations are coming along well! Do you get Christmas presents for the dogs - or any of the other animals or birds?

Midge, I hope all's well and you can be at home and enjoy Christmas with your family!

DOrA, do you have any special plans for Christmas?

I'm thinking of Everyone, including those we haven't seen here for a while. I hope Everyone is staying healthy and will have an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with family and/or friends!

Sending holiday cheer, positive thoughts, healing energy, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and ! Take care!

Well Julie, nothing special No decorations. No family get-together. Most of the family live within a 200 mile radius but visiting Dora, even without the COVID thing, doesn't seem to be a high priority. And I refuse to invite myself. The hound and I will, as usual, walk the fence line. I have a lot of fir and pine trees to look at if I look up. They are all long past 'Christmas Tree' size. The lowest branches are well out of reach... I will have a few presents to wrap and ship. I may fire up the Weber and cook something. It just seems like a lot of effort for one person...

There you go, I spoke too soon!
Sydney had 1 coronavirus case, 3 the next day, 17 the next an 28 today. All from the same area but people get around. One was dicovered here in Qld. She went home, but who did she affect while here? Where else did they go?
WA has borders up - no one from NSW allowed in. Qld has a restriction bubble that no-one from the infected area can come in, but no good way of policing it. I think they are trying to give everyone a good Christmas but at what cost?
Lets hope the vaccine works!

I'm SO sorry to hear about the new cases, CynB!!! It will take many months before most people start being vaccinated, at least here in the US. And probably a year before the vaccinations can make a serious impact on the spread of the virus. I've read that no matter how hard health care workers try, it will be at least until mid-2022 before everybody in the world who needs the vaccine gets it. Meanwhile, people keep being stupid and spread the virus. To paraphrase the Governor of Tennessee, you can't vaccinate for stupid.

Today I'm taking Robert shopping. He's almost completely blind and needs help getting around. He's supposed to have his eye surgery next month, and I REALLY hope his sight improves to the point where he can be independent again.

On Wednesday alone, 3,500 Americans died of the Covid-19 virus. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/17/politics/what-matters-december-17/index.html
Yet except for starting to vaccinate politicians and health care workers, nothing reasonable seems to be happening. I still see half the people in stores NOT wearing masks, though this area is extremely hard hit with the virus right now. It's like people are too stupid to live.

Just shot another opossum in the alpaca's pen. This is #15 for 2020. Biggest male yet. I'm going to weigh him in a few minutes to see if he's a record. He's raccoon sized!

OK ... I weighed him. I was surprised that he only weighed 10 lbs. I would have thought he weighed more.

From Wikipedia:
Virginia opossums can vary considerably in size, with larger specimens found to the north of the opossum's range and smaller specimens in the tropics. They measure 13–37 in (35–94 cm) long from their snout to the base of the tail, with the tail adding another 8.5–19 in (21.6–47 cm). Weight for males ranges from 1.7 to 14 lb (0.8–6.4 kg) and for females from 11 ounces to 8.2 lb (0.3–3.7 kg). They are one of the world's most variably sized mammals, since a large male from northern North America weighs about 20 times as much as a small female from the tropics. Their coats are a dull grayish brown, other than on their faces, which are white. Opossums have long, hairless, prehensile tails, which can be used to grab branches and carry small objects. They also have hairless ears and a long, flat nose. Opossums have 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, and opposable, clawless thumbs on their rear limbs. The dental formula of an opossum is 5134/4134. No other mammal in North America has more than 6 upper incisors, but the Virginia opossum has 10.
Opossums have 13 nipples, arranged in a circle of 12 with one in the middle.
Perhaps surprisingly for such a widespread and successful species, the Virginia opossum has one of the lowest encephalization quotients of any marsupial. Its brain is one-fifth the size of a raccoon's.

I'm in the middle of their range, so he probably is the maximum size for here.

I checked raccoon weights. He is normal raccoon sized for this area. Normal for a female raccoon, that is. Males can get much bigger. I usually think of opossums being half the size of a raccoon.

I couldn't believe the covidiots today. The last store I was in today, I was the ONLY person wearing a mask!!! No wonder Kentucky is having horrible Covid problems.

Heidi, what we are seeing in the US with the virus and Covidiots is horrifying. They are just carrying on with life as usual and it won't affect them until it's someone they love that dies. Horrible price to pay to get some sense. We have the same kind of people here too, they're everywhere, but the people in charge - our Premiers, Health officials anad Police have ensured that the restrictions are followed, and they got a lot of criticism at times. Fines are high for breaches. So while there was mumblings of unrest, most complied and we got there. This new outbreak is being carefully monitored everywhere and I was pleased to see a photo of a street in the infected area, on Friday night, the night that everyone is out on the town, the last Friday before Christmas. Not a soul in sight, no one risked the infection or the fines. Gave me heart that it can be done.
I think the main advantage Australia and New Zealand have is smaller populations and being island nations far distant from the rest of the world. Microcosms.

Two Saturdays ago and yesterday we had workers in installing a new Colorbond (sheet metal) fence down the full side (43 metres) of our block and about half of the other side. The other part already had the same type of fence, installed a few years ago when the neighbours put in a pool. (Pools must be fenced here.) I have new respect for fence builders. The work that went into it. This all became necessary when our new neighbours, a lovely young couple, moved in with their 2 big beautiful German Shepherds and our 12 yo Jewel could see them through the old wooden fence. If you know mini-poodles, you know what persistant yappers they are. The fence needed to be replaced and Col works for a sheet metal company. Got the components at staff discount. Now Jewel can have the run of the yard. She's deaf as a post these days, so wont hear the dogs. Win, win!
Also while they were here I got them to install my new front door, very nice. And it has keyless entry. Enter using a pin code or Blue Tooth with a card or Mobile phone, It's lovely but I think I'm almost at my limit of technology now. Every new thing I get is just that bit harder for me to understand. I hate getting older and slower and dumber!! I'm 73 soon.

Plus, you have leaders who are not denying that there's a pandemic. Half of the Republican party still claims that this is a hoax put out by the Democrats (I think the term is Batsh*t crazy) and refuse to follow health department guidelines, or enforce any regulations. I hate to say it, but anybody that crazy deserves to die from the Covid-19 virus.... but they're also transmitting it to others, including children (who Trump said were immune to the virus).

I told Mike the Vet about that last opossum weighing 10 lbs. He couldn't believe it. He's never heard of one that big. He just was here to feed hay to the cattle, only to discover that I'd fed them hay half an hour earlier.

Congrats on the new fence, CynB. Jewel will still be able to smell the Shepherds, but there will be a lot less stress since she can't see them now.

Just quickly popping by to say Hello and send and {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

Just got opossum #16 for 2020. This was a normal sized male.... but lighter colored. This guy was a light silvery gray... a bit lighter than the picture. The big boy of 2 days ago was much darker gray. So far, all opossums and raccoons have been trapped inside the alpaca's pen in the barn.

Heidi, those opossums are persistant!! Glad you got another. I hate to think of the alpacas getting spooked by them.
Do you think that Biden will be able to peacefully force some sense into those people? I think I already know the answer. Less than a month now.

Covid is here for a long time but we are in a good position compared to the UK and USA. Despite opposition, law enforcement hit the public's pockets and some begrudgingly wore masks. We too were told children were immune but could be carriers - not so - I think only China knows the extent of this plague and will not divulge. I cannot believe that the countries affected by this virus do not ask the question why did China allow their citizens to travel internationally but not domestically when they were aware of Covid? Their trade sanctions on Aust. shows a defiance to the world, not just us. Interestingly they are banning Australian wine but not wine from their many Chinese companies who own wineries in Australia. They beggar belief.

I think China did not really understand what was happening with the Covid virus, and their communication within different people in their country stunk. I don't think any of this was intentional on their part. They were unprepared for a virus of such virulence. And unfortunately, people with money, like the winery owners, seem to feel that rules don't apply to them, and they pay off officials to let them break those rules. Corruption is the same everywhere. Just like ignorance is the same everywhere. Unfortunately, people are dying because of it.

I'm getting a little nervous. I ordered presents for friends almost 2 months ago, to ensure they were here by Christmas.... and they're not here yet. Only one has tracking on it, and it's gone walkabout all over the country. Lord knows where the others are. I don't want to be a Grinch and not have presents for friends.

At least the forecasters are predicting a slight chance of a White Christmas for us.

Happy Days are getting shorter / longer, day...

December Greetings to Everyone!

CynB, I'm so sorry to hear that Sydney is once again dealing with coronavirus cases, and one case has been discovered in Qld. I hope no one in your family will be affected by these cases, and your Christmas plans will be able to proceed without alteration! Have vaccinations been started in Australia?

I hope Robert enjoyed his shopping excursion, and hope his scheduled eye surgery next month will restore enough sight for him to resume most of his previous lifestyle and independence.

Wow, Heidi, you certainly have had more than your share of opossums this year! Have all of the opossums in the county heard about a buffet in the alpacas' pen? I assume they're coming for a free food hand-out. I hope the word will be passed around to all local opossums that it's not safe to come to your farm for meals! Do the alpacas get frightened by the sound of the opossums being trapped and/or shot?

CynB, your new fence sounds ideal for Jewel, since it will prevent her seeing the neighbors' German Shepherds. Your new front door sounds lovely. Enjoy all of these new changes! I know what you mean about reaching a technology limit. It feels like we are rapidly approaching our limit, as well.

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

Heidi, I hope all the presents you ordered will be delivered in the next day or 2!

I hope to finally find some time to write some Christmas cards tomorrow. Luckily, most of the presents I ordered have arrived, but there are some important ones that I haven't heard about. This may be a year when gift-giving gets stretched out over a week or more.

Yeah, we're back to hard borders again. Trusting people to do the right thing didn't work and random checks found Sydneysiders coming across our border when asked not to. So back to having borders policed 24/7 and a bleak Christmas for a lot of people.
I count myself lucky that my family, kids, grandies and siblings, are close by, within 10-20 kms, It would need to be a complete lockdown for us not to be able to see one another.
But, oh the people I know who are devastated that they got so near to reuniting with distant family, only to have it snatched from them.
My new neighbour, a loveley young Belgian girl, married to an Australian man, has her father alone in Belgium. Her mother is dead and she was an only child. He is alone and lonely over there. He can't come here, waiting times are high and we have 14 days quarantine at his own expense if he got here, and if she goes there she must get permission from our Government to leave but because she hasn't got Australian citizenship, it could take her years to get back to her husband here. What a dilemma and it must be happening everywhere.
2021 is just going to be a continuation isn't it?

Julie and Heidi, I hope your ordered Christmas gifts arrive before the day.
And, I hope that your postal service and delivery services are better than those here.
I went to post some Christmas cards last Monday (14th) and was told they'd never make it by Christmas day.
Yet a few weeks ago I ordered Christmas gifts from a company in Sydney on a Thursday. They arrived on the Saturday.

Our postal service was a LOT better before Trump fired the Postmaster General and put one of his cronies (who donated big bucks to his campaign) in charge of the Postal Service.... with orders to slow down service across the country to save money and prevent voting by mail. That caused a massive backlog that has slowed the mails to a near standstill.

BOPP

''If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.''

- Margaret Thatcher