Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

''My bed is a magical place where I suddenly remember everything I was supposed to do.''

Unknown

Heidi - I do hope Barb is okay.
June - I hope you have got Ken to the Doc today.
Suzy - kudos to you for going to the gym. Surely the gym people know your medical history. The younger one shouldn't push you like that. At your own pace should be the way to go.
It seems like the cold weather is still persisting for our American friends. I saw that MizT posted on FB that it was now snowing there. Meanwhile our southern states have been sizzling - but today looks better for them.

Heidi - I smiled at your reference to being 60 - none of us, when we are young expect to reach 60, it's so far away. I always agreed with the Who's words in 'My Generation' - 'hope I die before I get old'. However I've found that 'old' is always 10 years or more older than I am. Now 66, I don't feel old, and 13kgs less weight so far, makes me feel better than I did 6 months ago.

I totally agree with that TOPP, Heidi!
Love and hugs to everyone whether you need them or not!

Cyn, it is still snowing here three hours after it started and I posted on FB, with temperature sitting right at 0* C. I would think we have 2-3 inches now, judging by the depth of the footprints across the parking lot, and the 'cake' of snow atop my flower containers. I am glad we had snow, and not ice. Earlier, about 6 pm, I heard on TV that in GA and SC there were over 400,000 customers without power.
central Georgia and South Carolina had severe ice storm, freezing rain coating trees and power lines, followed by ice pellets sticking on to the ice already there. this brought down trees, which brought power lines with them.

In same weather report, forecasters say a week from today we will be 68 or 70 degrees! Hope that will be the start of our spring!!

Watching a neat program about the domed cathedral in Florence Italy, trying to discover how it was built. Most interesting. Later friends with hugs to each of you.

Hi, Everyone! Just briefly stopping by.

June, I hope you have been able to get Ken to a doctor! I hope all is well!

Heidi, thinking of Barb, cousin Don's wife. I hope a simple explanation can be found for her passing out. I guess it's good news that they are planning to release her from the hospital.

Suzy, good for you for working out at a gym, but take it at your pace. You know your body better than anyone else!

Heidi, I like your TOPP, which is too true!

Cyn, you're right that 'old' always seems to be at least 10 or 15 years ahead of our current age. Interestingly, although my body is reminding me that it is getting older, my mind hasn't caught up and I still think I can do the things I did many years ago.

MizT, I hope the snow doesn't present as many problems as the ice we've been hearing about in neighboring states! If it truly gets into the 60 to 70 degree range next week, you'll have green growing things very soon. We're just glad that it might to get up to freezing (32 *F or 0 *C) sometime in the next few days.

We have an EARLY morning and LATE night tomorrow, so I'm off to bed. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, positive thoughts, healing vibes, and for everyone! Good Night!

Our little island took a battering yesterday with 100 mph winds and a months worth of rain. The worst area was in the west. There are thousands of people who are without power, the powers that be are hoping to have them all reconnected by tonight. Today is very calm with no rain so far. Unfortunately we are forecast to have more hurricane force winds and more rain. Temperature wise it isn't too bad. When I took Richard to the station it was 4c.
Hugs to everyone.

Ken did go to see Albert(Doctor) today and he will have an ultrasound tomorrow morning. Not much pain at the moment but is have a problem passing water. I will be pleased when it is all sorted out.
I had to leave Laura's swimming carnival before her race yesterday but she told me today that she came second.
Brenda, your small Island is certainly getting a battering. Hope you all stay OK. we are hoping for some rain over the next few days.

June pleased to hear that Ken has been to see the Doctor. Hope the ultrasound shows what the problem is and that they sort it out quickly. Laura did well in her swimming.
The sun is shining brightly at the moment. I am sitting enjoying the heat from it coming through the windows. It is warming me up nicely after I got very cold defrosting the big chest freezer. Richard and I will go out, on Saturday, to the freezer shop to stock it up again.

Good Morning all. The weather outside is frightful...almost nine inches of new snow on top of what was still here from the prior storms...occasional sleet and ice pellets are blowing in heavy winds...the rest of the week doesn't look much better...snow showers, rain, wind...Mother Nature is determined to let folks know what she can do....and that's a lot. Brenda, seems as if your island has taken quite a hit too...how can folks think that this is not attributed to global warming I wonder. Oh well, nothing will stop what is now going on if we don't start becoming good stewards of this land we have been given to use...it may once again dry up into nothingness.....but we won't be around to see it even though we humans have contributed greatly to the damage....sigh...SMH! Off the soap box for
now.
Tricia...thanks so much for the first relaxation lesson...I've been working on it but haven't gotten it down to where I can say I really have it. I think it may be helping to make me more aware of how much I do tense up...I'm always being told to relax...hope I can get there.
June, I'm so very glad Ken went to the doctors...the pain must have been really bad. I know the uncertainty is unsettling...I do hope all will be sorted and corrective measures taken soon.
Heidi, I'm surprised they'd let your cousin go without at least an overnight stay just to observe...losing consciences is not usual unless there is an underlying reason...perhaps stress, but I do hope it too gets sorted and treated properly.
Cyn....Your statement about feeling better than ever makes me very happy...keep it going and the weight loss sounds like you are doing things right.As far as age goes from one who is officially old....It's only a number...sometimes the mind,actions,thoughts are those of the way a much younger person might feel and react, and at
times one's modes and trend of thoughts and actions would be that of someone much older than the actual age...so keep thinking those youthful thoughts and moving as much as you are able and stay current with the world happenings and you will not grow OLD...just a person who's fun to be around...That's my goal and when I fall short I just try again...word for the day...lol. Peace.

Brenda.... Good luck with that awful weather. Hurricane force winds are never good.

SO glad Ken acted like a grown-up, and saw the doctor, June.

Our weather here is giving us a respite. Kinda. Yesterday and today (and maybe tomorrow) it's above freezing, so all the ice is melting, as well as the frozen ground, and there's mud everywhere again. That's the part that's hard on the calves.

I'm on my way outside right now to check on any new calves that might have been born. I've been waiting for the methadone to kick in. I won't consider wrestling with a newborn calf to check gender and tag it without my pain meds in effect. I don't want a burst of pain out there and having to crawl back to the house through the mud because I can't walk. I can feel the stuff kicking in now, so, away I go......

OK... No more new calves. We frequently start of calving slowly. In a couple of days, they should start dropping fast and furious.

For Mamacieta and anyone else who is interested:

Relaxation lesson #2:

Mama, while in your recliner trying to relax, pretend you are a rag doll, it's Head, body, hands and feet filled with sawdust. there is a little hole in your toe, and the sawdust starts to drip out. That is the tension letting go. Keep relaxing, and watch the sawdust drop out, leaving your body no longer stuffed, but limp and unable to hold itself upright. Just sink down into the recliner as more and more of the sawdust/tension drops out. Then see how long you can maintain that relaxed feeling. If it starts to tense again, visualize your body plumping up, OH NO, someone is putting in more sawdust, and you must let this drip out that hole in the toe also.

See how that exercise goes and let me know. some people find they can relax more with favorite music softly in the background, others find 'white noise' beneficial. White noise can be the sound of a fan on low, or the static of a radio or TV on a station that is not broadcasting or something like that.

Huge hugs, and yes, I am sure you found you were holding a lot of tension. anyone who hurts, and that gall bladder is still giving you fits, will be tense, holding the muscles tight to 'splint' the pain. So it would be good if during the day you routinely do a body check, if you feel tension, try to relax it. I have had to relax my shoulders about 3 times while sitting here writing this. It really helps my pain levels if I remember to do this body check 4 times an hour or more when I find I am really tense.

I had thought about going to my sister's house during this snow/ice storm. she is about 35 miles north of me. I am glad I did not. THEY lost power and I did not! Power went out about 9 pm. Lots of trees, heavy ice and snow, trees down on lines, and I heard of several accidents where vehicles slid on the ice into power poles, taking them down. There were 14,000 homes in the Birmingham area without power. The power company had extra crews in from other states, so they quickly had it back on by 3 am. Sis just went to bed when power went off, added an extra blanket to bed, and house was warm again by time she was up around 5 am.

Our parking lot was thawing by 9 pm, after the big heavy snow storm and about 3 inches of snow. When I woke early this morning, the pavement of lot was clear of all snow. Still snow on trees and grass and some bit still on my car. It is fun to watch the clumps of snow falling from the trees. Our staff managed to get in my 10 am, and make the scheduled 2 bus runs to the grocery by 11 am.

Heidi, what is happening to kentucky? I saw on TV a giant gas line break and explosion, destroying 3 houses and leaving a 60 foot crater, I think about 45 miles south of Louisville. then at the Corvette Car museum, there was a sink hole, 30 feet deep. the floor fell out from under about 8 autos, inside the building but the building was still intact. Security video had it on film, which the news showed. That's in Bowling Green Ky. Kentucky is having a bit of a bad patch it seems. Have you heard any more from Barbs? I do hope she is getting along well now, and no more passing out.

Brenda, did you have any damage with the winds you had? I hope the second round will be kind to you and yours.

JUNE, I am glad to hear that Ken went to doc. Trouble passing his water is not a good thing. Do they know the cause? does he have a stone blocking the tube? Or spasms or infection? Whatever the cause, I hope they find it and can clear it quickly. I know you will be greatly relieved once it is cleared up. Too bad you did not get to see Laura swim her race, but I think she enjoyed knowing you had been there.

Julie, I will cross fingers that your temps do get above freezing this week. Other than being busy, you have not commented on what you are doing. we would like an update on the cello lessons, and the wood turning club duties, any puppy sitting you have done, things your children are doing, and even something we do not know about at all!

OK, I am off to do something. My day has gotten away from me. I was up early but fell back asleep in my chair. I remember just before falling asleep thinking, wow, nothing hurts now, How nice that meds are working so well. I do wish I could have stayed awake to enjoy that hehehe.

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

Kentucky has the world's largest cave system (Mammoth Caves, between Bowling Green and me), and it's suspected that it's much bigger than so far discovered. Sink holes pop up regularly all over the place if anything occurs to weaken the ground above one of those caverns. Sometimes it's a tremor from the New Madrid Fault. In our case, it was a meteorite. I was out in the front pasture one night, gazing up at the stars and Milky Way, and I saw a streak of light shooting my way. It was a meteorite, and it hit about 100 ft from where I was standing. I made note of the spot and went back the next day to pick it up when it had cooled. Yes, I still have it. A few days later, a sinkhole formed at that spot. It continues to sink at the rate of 8 feet a year, while I continue to keep filling it with truckloads of riprap and dirt and anything else I can find so cows don't fall in it.

WOW, Heidi, your own sink hole! I hope it slows in it's growth. How large around/across is it? Most interesting. I am glad it was in your pasture, and not at your house. How many years ago did this happen? I thought it unusual enough my sister and BIL have their own cave with a creek running out of it. I think your sink hole tops that!

That happened in September of 1994. The sinkhole is only 9 to 10 feet across, since the meteorite wasn't much bigger around than a golf ball. Right at this minute it doesn't look much like a sinkhole. Last Fall I piled about 10 feet of dirt and rock on it, and because of sinkage, it's only a small bump now. Next month I will add another big pile. This was a suggestion made by a geologist we had check it out years ago. He said it may eventually stop sinking. Meanwhile, I don't want a death trap on the property.

I do not think I would like a property with a sink hole! However I would love to see a meteorite come down and be able to collect it.
Results of ultrasound are some cysts on the kidneys but that is normal for his age. There is something (probably a larger stone in the left kidney and his prostrate is enlarged. Probably a bit more than normal. I was not home when Albert rang and it is very hard to get all the facts from Ken. However he sees an ureologist on Monday.
In the meantime he is playing bowls etc as he has no pain at the moment!!!

Though the snowflakes are (unfortunately) still appropriate, it's time for a changed avatar. Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

It's very late after a long day, so I'll head to bed for now. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, healing vibes, positive thoughts and for Everyone! Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi all testing out my dictation function on the iPad I'm sure it won't work very well hope you're well. This is supposed to be easier than one fingered typing and I'm not so sure about this even with one finger typing like if you're on the iPad.

Heidi Ill have you're meteorite any day thank you, I almost think that the sinkhole would be worth it,

Brenda, it sucks what your island is going through right now,

The same applies to the topsiders with the floods and snow and sleet.

For the rest of you I will have to wait until I'm On the laptop tomorrow it's tough on this iPad

Calf #2 was born this morning. A nice little heifer. I used the opportunity to give IH his first lesson with the new tagger. I'm using a new type of tag that stays in better. I'm sick of cows losing their ear tags.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Julie!

Happy Valentine's Day to everybody else!

Suzy....IH keeps pleading with me to sell the meteorite. He says it's worth a fortune. It's my experience that nothing is ever worth what IH thinks it's worth, and if I sold it, I wouldn't have it any more. I'm proud of having a meteorite that I saw fall from the night sky. You can't buy that experience. And I know that'll never happen again to me.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone...sorry I didn't do it timely for those oif you who celebrated earlier.
Beautifully sunny day with milder temps and lots of snow...I do hope the temps stay up and some of the snow melts w/o refreezing into ice patches. Lots of accidents due to icy roads in my area.
Thanks for lesson #2 Tricia...I'm finding this one a lot harder to do...I don't know what to do with my hands and feet when I try to let myself go limp....lol. I'll keep practicing...I do like the idea of relaxing the neck and shoulders often...to loosen up...it feels good. Hope all have a great day and Heidi..I agree that having your own meteorite that you saw fall and waited to cool is worth keeping...what an experience that must have been.Take care all..know that I care.

Mama, for me, I find putting my arms down beside me, hands palm up, resting either beside me or on my thighs works best. I will touch my thumb to my middle finger and let everything else go limp. Feet usually either turn inward and touch at toe area, or they flop out , pointing opposite directions. Legs are straight, and supported by the recliner or bed. If it is more comfortable for you, perhaps take a soft pillow, punch it down in the middle for heels of your feet to fit, and the fluffy part of the pillow on each side would support your feet, so you do not have to support them. Let me know if this helps you. I am glad you find it useful to take note of tension in your neck and shoulders.

I will try the relaxation technique later today and see just what I do do with my feet and hands. No time now, I am getting beautiful heheh, for the Valentines party later today.

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

ANd I think the hole for the sawdust to fall out needs to be in the HEEL of our Raggedy Ann doll's foot, it would flow out easier there, eh?

It's raining here, and the temperature is slowly dropping. Everything is supposed to freeze over in about 4 hours. Then it will continue snowing for 5 more hours, says the Weather Channel.
When will this end???

Heidi, sounds like what we had Wednesday night. Hang in there, spring should be around soon.

Gekko my friends,

Bella and I are home safe and sound.

Well my adventure was more than expected but more later when I have time from unpacking, washing etc.

Have spent a few hours catching up on everyone's exploits and thinking of you all.

Luv and Jugs.

Welcome back Broni - when you've settled in at home again we'll have a talk about plans for K & J's visit. As you can see from the FB private messages nothing more has been organised.
June - hope all goes well for Ken with the Urologist on Monday.
Heidi - that's exciting about the meteorite, I'd want to keep it too. The sinkhole, however, would be cause for concern to me!!
Sorry this cold weather in the US and Canada shows no sign of improving and the TV images of the flooding in the UK looks awful. We've had a few weeks of lovely summer weather but that changes today with higher temps - only 36c but with our humidity that makes the feels-like temp over 40c. Supposed to ease by Friday.
Happy belated Valentines Day to you all!

Hi, Friends! I have a bit of time to read and respond tonight.

Happy Valentine's Day (now belated) to all! I must have been REALLY tired when I typed 'Happy Thanksgiving' last night!

Brenda, I hope you are not getting any damage from the hurricane-force winds and rain your island is receiving! I hope all power has been restored!

June, I'm glad Ken saw the doctor and will be seeing a urologist. Hopefully everything will soon be sorted out and he'll be feeling better again.

Mama, you certainly received your share of snow in the recent storm! I'm glad MizT's relaxation techniques seem to be helping. Keep practicing! I think I will copy them (if I can find them) and ask hubby to try!

Heidi, your snow and ice have melted quickly if you're already down to mud! I'm sorry you'll be dealing with mud for the rest of calving. Congratulations on another calf! Good luck teaching IH how to use the new ear tagger - and hoping he'll get it right.

MizT, I'm glad you decided to stay in your apartment, rather than going to your sister's before the storm hit. It sounds like you are also getting a quick thaw!

We had also heard about the sink hole at the Corvette Museum, and hubby wondered if it might be connected to the Mammoth Cave system. Even more interesting, Heidi, is your story of the meteorite that you watched land and now have in your possession. From what I understand, there ARE people who will pay pretty well for a meteorite. I find it interesting that it has apparently caused a sink hole of your very own. I remember you mentioning that you had purchased quite a bit of gravel and dirt to fill (I thought) a low spot. Now I understand how big the problem is - 8 feet a year is quite a drop! I hope the rate of drop will slow in the coming years!

Suzy, is your dictation function Dragon Speech? I've heard it advertised on the radio. If it works well, it could be a real time-saver!

Welcome home, Broni and Bella! I hope you enjoyed your travels! I look forward to hearing about your adventures!

Cyn, I hope your plans for Kathy and Jane's visit go smoothly! Have fun! If only we could all make a surprise visit!

I should be doing some major organizing and cleaning, rather than spending time at the computer, because D and three grandies will be visiting next week. Nothing seems to be cooperating. One computer succumbed (the one with all of our tax work on it). My 61-year-old cousin died, and we had to drive north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (about 2+ hours each way) for her wake and funeral. Hubby is still dealing with his cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in his neck). He came home from therapy this morning and announced it was much better. By 1 p.m. he was placing the pain at 11 on a scale of 1-10, and that's where the pain level has stayed. We have boxes of sheet music that must be put back in the closet, a box or 2 of bills and tax information to be cleared from the dining room table (too often used as a big desk), all the bedding

Oh, my! My comment ran over tonight. Here's the rest:

We have boxes of sheet music that must be put back in the closet, a box or 2 of bills and tax information to be cleared from the dining room table (too often used as a big desk), all the bedding to be washed, dried and put back on beds, etc. Sick kitty needs to go to the vet, who didn't return our call today. Her special food needs to be purchased (about 15-20 miles each way to the only store in our area that carries it. I have homework for my musicianship class, and my cello teacher started me on a new song (Humoresque by Dvorak, which some of you may know). The day after D and grandies leave, a 3-day mid-winter cello festival begins (multiple classes - about 4 hours a day). My teacher says I'll be tired when it's over. I told her I'll be tired before it even starts!

On that note, I had better get to bed. Please take care of yourselves and those you love, and share these positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and ! Good Night!

Good Morning all and a big welcome home to Broni and Bella. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures and misadventures when you are ready...meanwhile, get a little rest in between the rest of the stuff. Julie...how wonderful to read such a long and informative post from you. While we always are happy to see you post, this post really lets us know how and why you are so tired... quite a full plate. Sending condolences on the loss of your cousin and regret that your hubby is still in so much pain from the pinched never...hope relief is forthcoming. Instead of doing so much work in preperation of your D's visit, ask that she and the grandies be able to give you a hand in putting those boxes of things away...I'm sure she will be more than happy to help. Good luck with the mastering the new cello music...Humoresque is a favorite of mine...you will do well with your determination. Those 4 hour classes sound daunting though. Jazz needs to get his day started and is complaining about me being on the computer, so I'll have to leave now and take care of his needs...Have a great day all I care!

Broni,it is nice to see you back from your travels. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
June, remember when you stayed here last year and you watched a squirrel making it's drey in a tree in front of our house. Unfortunately that tree was a casualty in the storm last night. We now get more light into the lounge. Fortunately it caused no damage to our property, it even managed to miss the damaged fence we already needed to replace. It would have been nice to have claimed from the council to have it replaced.
I finally managed to defrost our big freezer, so have been out today to the freezer shop to stock it up again.

Julie.... Where north of Milwaukee? All of my relatives live in Ozaukee County, Which comprises Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton, Thiensville and a few smaller towns on the way to Port Washington and Green Bay. Condolences on the loss of your cousin.

Humoresque is a long time favorite of mine, too. I named a collie that years ago... she ended up winning a lot of dog shows. Her full name was CH My Friend's Humoresque, HC. Kara was her nickname.

The third calf was born today.... a big healthy bull calf. I gave IH his second lesson with the z-tagger.... how to load a tag in it, as well as demonstrating how to use it again. He stated that he thought it was easier than the All-Flex or Y-Tex taggers we have used over the years. With the z-tags, the tag is one piece, not two, like with the other systems.

Everything is frozen solid again. I had to slowly pour a bucket of hot water over the edges of the doors of my truck to get into it this morning. They were frozen shut!

At noon, I have a family stopping by to pick up PJ, the mini donkey. I think I found the perfect home for him. Lots of kids and parents who love animals and have common sense with them. He needs a lot more attention than he's getting here.