Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Heidi, I do hope that Gil's appointment went well, and they got every last cell of that nasty stuff. Yes, he seems to live a charmed life in more ways than one. I hope your back improves soon.

Suzy, receiving you loud and clear from the tablet. Yes, that is a bad place to have a cut, Joy let out an OUCH a couple times yesterday, when she forgot and put pressure on that thumb. It pulls at the sutures now. she is to go back for stitch removal New Years Eve. She was concerned about discoloration of skin down below the cut on her thumb. I assured her it was OK, it had just bleed into tissue at some time, like a bruise. It was green tinted, and I kidded her it was colored for Christmas hehehe. She has tried to learn to use space bar with other thumb when typing, and is texting on phone with one hand. It slows her down a bit.

Viv, offspring do leave tracks through the house. You will miss them when he is gone again. Enjoy his visit, you can clean later.

Suzy, we always bring dishes when we have Christmas or Thanksgiving. Your free ride was over as soon as you married and/or moved out! I remember a Christmas Eve falling out the back door carrying a container of gravy and my child, in high heeled shoes and a cranberry colored suit. That was back in the days we dressed for Christmas Eve. Now, it is jeans and sneakers for the younger ones, and our casual clothes, slacks and a shirt for the rest of us older generation.

Do any of you 'dress' for Christmas with family? From photos some of you DUGs I see board shorts and sleeveless shirts for the guys and sundresses or shorts for the gals.

What did you serve or find for Christmas dinner? Joy and I were tired of turkey, she had gone to a friend's house Christmas Eve and they had all the traditional. I have eaten leftover turkey and dressing and ham and sweet potatoes till I wanted different. We had Salisbury steaks, a frozen entree from aldis, and it was very good, with mashed potatoes and gravy, a marinated veggie salad, and a fruit salad. For sweets we had fresh baked cookies or the Impossible Pie. Joy was not a fan with that. She was going from here to her best friend's house, to take gifts for her children, Joy is honorary auntie to them. I know her friend Julie cooks a lot for her family, so I sent a piece of that pie and the recipe, I need to find out if they liked it or not.

RENA, good to see you, hope you drop in occasionally in 2014, we have missed you! Let us know how life goes for you now, please.

I waited about 30 minuets to late to go outside and check on my plants. The temp was still 54, but the sun was down behind the buildings, and 54 in the shade just feels a LOT colder than in the sun! I lost some flowers this last cold spell, the begonias that has been growing into thier second winter. We had some really low temps, into the teens, and were below freezing for about 20 hours on 2 occasions, with a LOT of wind. Poor things, I feel bad I did not go cover them again

OH, Thanks to Joy, I now have photos where I can upload them. I must go and name more photos so I can find them, but I did put up 2 of the first container garden. These were taken in the fall. You can see they are right adjacent to the car park. This is one of the few sunny areas around our building, gets maybe 6 hours of sun a day in summer, so these flowers are happy there.

IH kept telling me that his appointment would last less than an hour, and we'd be home by 3:30 (the appointment was at 2 pm, and it's a half hour drive home).... so he made another appointment for someone to meet him at home at 3:30. We got home at 5:30. He has a 4+ inch incision on his arm. He goes back in 2 weeks to get the stitches out and to get 2 precancerous spots removed. I don't know how long 'til he hears about the lab results. Last time it took only 2 days.

The local has worn off and IH is feeling very sorry for himself. This is almost fun to watch as he learns about the real world.

I have to be up early in the morning 'cause 2 truckloads of rock are being delivered at 8 am tomorrow. We need it to fill in some muddy areas around water tanks and going through gates. I'll be doing all the work with the tractor.

So Gil is learning about REAL pain Heidi? Hehe!
Take care girl, remember your epidural is still healing.
Two days full on, today is a veg out day then another two days full on.
Luv and Jugs to you all.

We finally got our phone fixed after several months. When it rained we could phone out but nobody could phone in!. There were a couple of bare wires where the lines were attached to the house. Lets hope next time it rains we do not have a problem.
Ken decided we would hit the shops this afternoon and look for sales. (It is a bit like the US black Friday sales). Ken got some trousers and I got some white 3/4 length pants and some dressy shoes. Ken has taken my purchases and put them away for my birthday in a couple of weeks. I was thinking of wearing them New Years Eve. I will have to go back to what is already in the wardrobe.
Heidi, take care on the tractor. You should not be pushing the recovery of your back.
Heidi, the first surgery I had was last October when I had the polyp removed and I am 8 years older than Gil.

Tricia, love all the photos of your pots of flowers. One of your loves that you have been able to continue in your new abode.
ken got me a new phone for Christmas. It's ring is louder so I hope I can hear this one. It has a few more features than my old very basic one. I just needed one I could hear! Of my $30 credit I have used less than half in over 10 months. Now the house phone is a different story ,I do use that a lot!

Evening all,
June, I'm the opposite. I never dial out on my home phone.

Getting something cut out isn't real pain. MizT knows real pain. June's back is real pain. Heidi's back is real pain. Mamacita knows real pain. And that's only the ones I can think of right now. Gil has temporary discomfort.

Surgeries... Tonsils, laparoscopy/histeroscopy, facial reconstruction after my car accident, wisdom teeth, 2 on my jaw, hysterectomy. I think my last one was in 2004, That's. 7. Plus 8 skin cancers removed.

Gil's pain is what I call external pain. It's a different critter than internal pain. He's already past the worst and is feeling more comfortable. He has to travel today so is having one of his employees spend the day driving for him, since it's a fresh incision. No, he hasn't felt REAL pain yet.... but this is a start.

The first load of gravel (#3 grade) has been delivered, and the finish mower moved out of the way for the second load (dense grade). We'll be putting down filter fabric underneath, so the rock doesn't get lost in the mud... then the large #3 rock, which is too course for cattle to walk on.... then the dense grade on top to pack it together and make it easy to walk and stand on.

Once the second load is here, I'm gonna go back to bed for a few hours. I'm no fool. I sleep best during the day, for some reason, and I'll use every opportunity to do so.

Okay, the dense grade is here. And I got a broken gate hinge replaced while waiting. Time for a nice nap.

Have a good sleep Heidi.
I got a bit carried away buying Christmas paper yesterday. I think I bought 40 metres! I did not need to buy any this year. I have also bought the cards for next Christmas!

I only got a 2 hour nap. Then I had to go find out who was on the back of our property with a chain saw. I hadn't authorized anybody, that I remembered. IH had. He was letting a good friend of ours get several trailer loads of good oak firewood.

June, that is the time to buy those items. About 4 or 5 years ago I bought 10 rolls of a paper I really liked, it was at give away prices, 75 cents a roll. I did not have room for storing 10 rolls, so I just wrapped 3 or 4 rolls on one tube, got it down to 3 tubes to store. I am still using that paper, and everyone in family identifies it as a gift from me without looking for the card hehehe.

VENT: I just came in from grocery, and I found one of the pots of pansies looking pretty bare, and a big pile of dirt beside it. I started digging in that pile and found half the plants were under that dirt. Nothing but my bare hands, but I scooped up dirt and plants and got them back into the pot. I imagine that someone cut that corner too short, and their auto jumped up on the curb, turning over the plant. Same or another someone set the pot back upright, but did not rescue the plants. Plants might not have survived tonight with their roots exposed. I got them all back planted and snugged into the pot. I know accidents happen, but I wish I could train these folks to CALL ME when they see flowers need attention! I am just so glad I saw them, these were the ones that had wilted before they got planted. Poor plants, having a hard life, but when they do start blooming, they may outdo themselves. A traumatized plant will hurry to bloom (and make seeds, it's life's work, which I do not let them do to keep them blooming) before something else happens to it hehehe.

I drove back in just in time this afternoon, I got the last parking space in our lot. It was still over an hour before dark, but all the chooks had come home to roost

Heidi, glad you got the gravel out it will cut down on the mud a lot, your tractor will not get stuck. There is always something needing your attention and your money on that farm. Good idea using that landscape cloth to keep the rocks from sinking into the mud.

OK, time for something to eat. Had tummy problems all day, all I have eaten is soup and crackers and plenty water to drink. I bought more soup at walmart, who are supposed to have lower prices than most groceries. NOT SO compare3d with Aldis, sticker shock, I paid $1.25 for generic brand soup today, last week at Aldis it was 65 cents for soup. That is almost half Walmart's price.

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

Tricia.... If you take the flyer or coupon for Aldis in to Walmart, they will match the lower price.

Tricia, after you talking about making turkey soup I decided to make some yesterday. Belinda had bought a turkey cheap (just before closing Christmas Eve) and cooked it (with no stuffing!) and I ended up with half. Too much for one person. I had a couple of legs that were a bit dry and some other bits. So many recipes on the net and I did not have any celery but just put in what I could find and some dried herbs. Tastes OK.

After feeding and watering the birds, I'm going to bed early. I'm tuckered, though I didn't do much today. Getting up early really ruins my rhythm.

I am sure Dag will not mind me reposting this regarding Mr. Gail from TOS for those who are not there.
'The beautiful news is my darling hubby, Scott, had a kidney transplant through the night and it looks like everything went brilliantly!

Please send all your healing vibes for his quick recovery.

Regarding wrapping paper saw another thing on TOS about a lady who had run out of Christmas paper and the shops were closed. She had paper that said Happy Birthday, so underneath each Happy Birthday she wrote 'Jesus'
thought that was clever.

NEWS for Scott and Gail! Thanks for posting that, Broni!!!!!

Hi, Everyone!

Briefly stopping by. Have had Christmas, but still haven't done Christmas cards and much to do around here. Will get caught up one day.

Loving the news from Oz, Gail & Scott! All the best!

Lots of warm {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, healing vibes and for all!

Heidi, about the walmart vs Aldi prices: if it was an advertised special, yes, walmart would have matched the price, but this is an everyday price for the soup. It was not in their flyer.

Not sleeping again tonight. I slept a couple of hours in my chair watching TV, woke achey, it was past time for meds, took pain pill and now I am wide awake. I am beginning to think the pain meds are keeping me awake. Not fun, I am so tired and need some sleep. Maybe I should go back in front of TV again??

YES, wonderful news about Gail's hubby Scott's transplant. I saw on FB when she first posted her cryptic 'new beginning' message and was hoping that was what she was talking about and IT WAS.

I am SO excited for them. This IS a whole new beginning for their lives.... one full of hope and promise, and without involving a dialysis machine!

Yes, the routine required to prevent transplant rejection is so much less involved than the dialysis routine. I do hope that Gail will keep us informed as they continue through his recovery period.

Today we have a nasty day outside. A cold drizzle of rain, temps around 6C 43F, with forecasts for heavy rain overnight tonight. A cold front to follow, and could be some snow flurries if the timing is right as cold comes in and rain goes out. I am so glad I did my errands yesterday. I can stay inside with a good book and a cup of coffee or tea to battle that damp that seeps into old bones.

Just thought of another reason why I am not sleeping. I am very sensitive to cortisone, and am using a very strong cortisone cream on that 'maybe it is not fungus' rash. Topical medication can get into system, even though it is a smaller amount than when taking orally. Also, there are warnings not to cover the treated area or to use underarm unless directed by doc. I am thinking those warnings are because it DOES get into system more easily if covered. Additionally, I just felt so good much of yesterday, in the best mood, not aching, happy and energetic, which is what cortisone does for me. So which is lesser of two evils? Keep using cream, as rash is much better, or stop and see if I can then sleep. Of course it is weekend, and cannot phone up the doc office for advice. I slept maybe 2 hours in my chair last night, bummer.

Sorry to hear that, my friend. Try and get a quality nap today.

My gout is acting up today. I need to go out and do various farm chores, and I'm afraid to put on any footwear. And I didn't sleep well last night, either. I hate gout.

We're supposed to have a warm day today, but that same front that's hitting MizTricia will be hitting us tomorrow, and dropping us down well below freezing, with precipitation. Ugghhh.

I got a lot of rock moved. There were some serious ruts right inside the gate into the calving pasture... those are now filled with #3 rock and smoothed over. Then we put a 25 ft. piece of filter fabric down on the south side of the water tank in that field, and I moved 10 bucket loads of #3 rock, smoothed it down, then topped it with 8 bucket loads of dense grade. Each bucket load weighs nearly a ton. The #3 rock is too rough for cows to walk on, but makes a sturdy base, so we pack it in and cover it with the dense grade. I'll even walk barefoot across dense grade. The mud on that side of the water tank is now just a memory. We'll work on a very troublesome gate opening on Monday. The mud is so deep there that nothing can pass through it any more.

The only thing I have yet to do today is to install an electric eye security light outside IH's office. That won't take long, but I'm gonna rest and watch a DVD (''Anything Goes'' with Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor) first.

I enjoyed the movie, then installed the security light. IH is spending the night with cousin Don so they can sit up late ''sampling'' various bourbons.

There has got to be an extremely nasty storm front on it's way. My left ankle, which has been broken a couple of times, is on fire! I got up to make myself some supper, then it's back to bed for me. Just putting the leg up doesn't help.

Hi, Everyone! Early morning tomorrow, so I'm heading to bed. No time to read or comment, but will try to change that tomorrow!

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

OH what a difference a good night's sleep can bring! It had to have been the cortisone, after discontinuing that for 24 hours, I fell asleep in my chair at 9 o'clock, and other than going to the bed, slept till 5:30 am. Might have slept longer, but pain meds wore off. So thankful I figured that one out. Whodathunkit?

From FB, Gail's hubby was complaining of hospital food and wanting a real coffee. Can tell he is improving!

Heidi, so sorry about the ankle pain. that, gout and your back, don't you think that is about enough at one time? OH YEAH, forgot about not sleeping too, geeze girl. enough is enough.

I feel a nap coming on, trying to make up for all the sleep I lost I suppose. It is still a nasty day out, still raining even though forecasters (guessers?) said rain would be out of here overnight. Cold too, temp satyed about the same all day. the high for the day was 45, and that at sunrise, when we usually have the low of the day then. I am thankful it did not get below freezing and turn to ice. some really bad snow/ice storms up north with really cold cold weather, and one storm following another. some people have been without electricity and heat for a week, with REALLY cold weather. I am sure they would think our 42 was mild in comparison.

OH SUZY, your glamor shot on FB is wonderful, you look like a movie star or a model. I love that hair!

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

I definitely overdid it yesterday. All that bumping around on the tractor was necessary, but not good for my back. Even with the pain meds, I can't stand upright. And the left leg and ankle are still hurting. Today HAS to be a day of rest.

I'm so glad you figured out why you weren't sleeping well, Tricia, and got a good 8 1/2 hour's sleep.
Thanks for forwarding Scott's complaints from the hospital. It sounds like he's doing really well. When a patient starts complaining about the food and coffee, instead of their pain, that's a good thing.

I'm not yammering away because 1) I really have nothing to say, and 2) I don't want to bore people with a page full of my posts.

IH is thrilled with the security light I installed. He says it lights up when he's within 20 ft of the front door, and he can now see to unlock the door easily. I have no idea how he survived without it. It also makes the office door visible to one of the neighbors at night, so if someone comes snooping around at night, they're less likely to try anything.

Good Job, Heidi. You amaze me with all the things you do around that farm.

Well I've discovered I can lose posts as easily from my iPad as I can from my phone so I've moved to my desktop for a minute.

MizT, I wish you could have the positive effects of cortisone without the negative effects on your sleep. Hopefully the weather where you are is nice and settled so you are not in too much pain today.

Heidi, as usual you ignore your body's signals in favor of getting the job done. I hope a good rest reduces your pain levels!

June, I hope you have had lots of Laura and Belinda and rest of the family time these holidays. Especially Laura as the young ones make Xmas special.

Julie, I haven't done Xmas cards since my first stroke. I've tried, but failed. I'm going to send out a letter in the new year I think. One of those horrible 'form' letters as I can't write like I used to.

Not much happening here. After getting a promising start on my office yesterday it stalled when I started going through an old box and found old photos. I shared a few on the other site. I'll get around to sharing them on here one day soon.

Today I got my nails done and tomorrow I'll get my hair cut - both were supposed to be done before Xmas but when I got sick they were postponed.

Oh, I'm a happy camper. I have 3 ereaders installed on my new iPad now - including the one I had installed on the reader that died. That means I still have the books I paid for!!

Off to bed in a few.....

But first....