Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.



~ Dostoyevsky

Theresa.... I always think that if the animal is so hard to catch, there can't be too much wrong with it.

Since the radar is showing many waves of storms coming through over the next few hours, I'm just going to go back to bed and sleep.

Heidi, just saw the update on Chantal. It is no longer even a named storm. It fell apart but will still probably affect Florida over the weekend. I don't think you will have any problems in Ocala, just keep an eye on the news. Did you ever find your phone????

Frasier is still limping. Heidi, he knows all the hiding spots in our old house, because he moves from one to the other when it is time to give him his pill.

BTW, Frasier had LOST weight, not gained it. When he went to the vet about 2 months ago he was 4.6 KG and now he is 4.2. I don't know how that happened because he does not throw up very often any more, and he is starting to fill out (I thought). His jaundice is gone though, so at least that's good news.

Still stinking hot here. The feels-like temp is 35C. I am almost wanting winter back.

Hi Tami!!!!!

Has thee Vet checked for bone cancer, Theresa? It will show up on a simple x-ray. The best collie I ever bred came up lame like that one day. They couldn't find anything wrong until they did an x-ray. They gave her 6 months. She never acknowledged the cancer again for 3 1/2 years, then one day she told me it was time. I know I'm jumping in with the worst possible diagnosis, but it can account for unexplained lameness. Vets like to rule out the milder stuff first, and I tend to like to rule out the worst stuff first.

Heidi, Frasier had an x-ray and every blood test imaginable two months ago and only the liver damage showed up (and the jaundice was apparent). He goes for another battery of tests in September. He is now no longer limping. The vet is going to call me tomorrow to check on him. I have had other cats limp before because they jumped from a place too high, and they all cleared up by themselves. I probably jumped the gun by going to the vet, but I worry about Frasier because of his other problems. He will be 12 years old soon or he is already 12. Since he and his brother had been abandoned as a kitten and we guesstimated that he was 3 months old, we can't be entirely sure.

I hear thunder rumbling in the distance and the power has gone off for seconds at a time a few times - just enough to knock the clocks out of whack.

Tomorrow we are supposed to have a high of 24C with very low humidity. Maybe I can finally get outside and get some stuff done. I get so stiff and sore when the humidity is high.

MizT, I have something called diabetic nerves, which is why my feet burn a lot. I believe (although I could be wrong) that it can also affect hands - is that a possibility in your case?

I'm so glad that you ruled out the worst case scenario, Theresa. That's always a relief.

The RV wasn't ready today, either. Another reason that it's good that the trip was delayed.

Just popping in to say hello and good night. The music camp has finished, so we're trying to get back to whatever is normal here. Lots of practicing in hopes of polishing pieces for my next lesson), plus cleaning & straightening and laundry to be done. (D, SIL and puppy will be spending several days with us over the weekend.)

I had been getting a bit discouraged that I wasn't making enough progress with my cello playing, but have come home from the music camp with renewed enthusiasm and determination to finish Book 3 (sometimes called the 'killer' book due to difficulty) and get a good start on Book 4 by next summer. My teacher is also encouraging me to write an article to be submitted to the Suzuki magazine. I'm not sure about that, will see how it goes.

I'm sending LOTS of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, and healing vibes for everyone! I hope all have been well in my absence!

Julie, great to see you!! As if you need something else to add to your to-do list! Though you do write well... Did you enjoy being surrounded by people with similar interests?

Theresa, I'm glad you've got help to give Frasier his meds. I hope it makes it less stressful for both of you. I'm also glad his limp is gone. It's hard when our animals are sick because they can't tell us how they feel.

Julie - write the article! What have you got to lose? I'm glad that Music Camp renewed your enthusiasm!
Heidi - Pandora and her mother are beautiful. I hope all goes well with getting the RV and your trip.
MizT - I keep meaning to tell you - often when I go shopping locally I see a vehicle marked 'B***** (your surname) Auto Parts'. Every time I see it, I think of you of course. I don't suppose Al had any Aussie relatives in the Auto Parts industry here in Qld?

Well, we finally have an answer to the problem with Col's heart. They still want to do another test (an angiogram via MRI rather than inserting the camera into a blood vessel in the groin) and then we see the cardiologist. However, the radiologist?? yesterday said he must have had a heart infection at some time years ago. It has somewhat weakened a bicuspid valve and the aorta. Sounds bad but will just require regular checking (every year) for the time being but as he ages it could get worse and require surgery - not to replace the valve but to replace part of the blood vessel from what I understand. Hopefully we will get the complete picture when we see the cardiologist.
This problem started affecting him not long after our return from Europe in 1996, recurred in 2003 and then this year. We had become disillusioned with the Doctors for their failure to discover just what it was. I suppose, as my sister said today, Medical Technology has advanced even in the past 10 years. The strange thing was, in the past we had always dealt with private docs and hospitals on our Health Insurance. This time, because he was taken to hospital from work, he entered the Public (free, here in Australia) system, even though initially we offered to go to a private hospital. For all the bad publicity the system gets, especially this hospital (Logan), they have been great and I could not make one complaint about the treatment or the facilities yesterday.
Sorry, I seem to have written a small novel here!

Hey Cyn, I see your Premier is going to 'review' the 42% pay rise for politicians...

Great to hear from Julie and ABOUT Julie.

Suzy - I think the catch is 'for the future' - meaning that they'll take this rise (by law, pfffft!!) - which makes his annual salary on a par with Obama's - to run a tin-pot little state like ours, and run it badly! Then by the time the new salary revue comes into being it will affect the opposition when they come back to power and he and his cronies will retire on a pension/superannuation the rest of us commoners can only dream of.
Or am I being a cynic?? Hahaha!!

A realist?

Definitely a realist.

A dark, gloomy day here. I NEED to get the grass cut (it's now knee deep in spots) but every time I try, the sky opens up.
The storm we had yesterday... short but intense... was straight line winds, Many trees came down, but only 2 on fences. We lost part of roofs on a couple of barns. And my tomato plants were uprooted. I replanted them before they succumbed. Their first tomatoes are almost ripe.

Julie..... you have progressed so far with the cello in such a short time. I'm really impressed. You can try to write the article if you want. If you aren't satisfied with how it turns out, you don't have to turn it in. This isn't school where all assignments have to be turned in. This is reality, where you can submit only your best if you like.

Well, I got almost half of the lawn mowed. There is still so much moisture in the grass that I'm bogging down and clumping under the mowing deck. I need to wait for it to dry out before finishing. Unfortunately, I can see it raining just half a mile away. I may have to finish tomorrow. So frustrating. And to think that last year at this time we were in the middle of a severe drought. The corn crop was destroyed in this county. Now we're on course for a record setting crop. So I won't complain too much. I have happy neighbors who are growing corn.

I just spoke to the RV dealership. The monitor for the back-up camera still hasn't come in. That's what's holding up everything. I consider it vitally important, since I need to know what's behind me if I'm backing up something that big. They were told by their supplier that it would be in tomorrow. My fingers are crossed. If it doesn't come in, I'll have to leave for Florida without it. That worries me a little.

Back home. nice to sleep in my own bed. Laura is here with us till Monday.
Got a few jobs done for Belinda, who is busy sewing costumes for a school dance/concert thingy.
Will take Laura to see EPIC today.
Cyn. So pleased they have found Colin's problem.
Safe travels when you finally get underway Heidi. Pandora is cute.
Julie,You have certainly made lots of progress with the cello. Just waiting for that youtube?
Suzy,hope you are happy with your hair. Pleased you are able to spend something on yourself. Term three should be a good one for relief work ie more money!

Hi All,
Heidi, hoping the back-up camera comes before the trip...need you to feel comfortable in all ways since it's your first trip with the R.V. and trailer full of horses. Keeping all that can cross crossed...and it's really uncomfortable too so they had better hurry..lol.
Cyn, how relieved you and Col must be after not only getting to the root of the problems with his heart, but in also knowing how it may act in the future, along with continuing evolving technology and knowledge regarding treatment availability...I'm happy for you both.
Julie, I agree with Broni...great to hear from and about you. The article may help you you focus on the best approaches to use when practicing, and as Heidi has said, if you aren't satisfied, you don't have to submit it for review. Always good to have one's enthusiasm renewed...and the family visit will also renew you in other ways/...enjoy.
Cyn...your political sarcasm made me smile...no matter where we live, we see those who hold office continue to often enrich themselves at the common man's expense.
June...no matter where we go, home and one's bed is always most appreciated when we return.
Suzy...love your cheerful avatar...must get around to changing mine again soon...
Tricia...hope your aches have quieted down a bit and you are out making others happy with your sweet touch.
Teresa...I do hope the cat continues to be limp free...no fun watching our aging pets and wondering if and when we will have to make a sad choice to bring pain and suffering to an end. Jazz has made me worry about that eventually recently and I'm hoping he too keeps on getting beyond some of his recent issues...for now, he's doing well.
May all here and in our hearts have more joy than challenges, but the strength and knowledge to know how to deal with adversity. Peace.

THE LAWN IS FINALLY MOWED!!! It usually takes 1 1/2 hours, and it took 4 hours today. Now we're gonna have all these big clumps of soaking wet matts of grass killing the new stuff underneath. I'm not able to rake and remove and IH won't.
As a reward to myself, I'm cooking up a mess of corned beef for supper. I'll have blintzes on the side. And some green beans to make IH happy. I'm nearly out of blintzes but I can re-supply in Florida.

I have four cute eye candy lopping my trees today.

Enjoy yourself, Broni. Make yourself a nice drink, pull up a chair and ogle to your heart's content.

Broni, take pictures!!!!!

Tummy is happy. I stuffed myself with corned beef, apple sauce and cheese blintzes topped with puree'd strawberries and bananas. There's still plenty of corned beef left over for tomorrow, too. I got carried away and made 4 pounds of corned beef.

Fresh bread, lashings of butter, corned beef and pickle sandwiches.
Now I am hungry!

Sorry Theresa was too busy ogling to think about taking pictures. I now have light in and around my house, now for the swearing gnidluomed!

Broni, Broni, Broni - do you not remember the Sunday School lesson about sharing?

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been around much lately - I seem to a bit busier at the moment.
Just wanted to tell you that I've been given the all clear after my latest MRI scan - it seems we have normality ... :D
My new piano playing skill is absolutely dreadful (sorry neighbours!), but I'm persevering - at least it gives me something to do!
Hope you're all well and happy. :)

Wonderful news, Judy!!! This is one of the rare occasions where ''normal'' is very, very good.

Thanks Heidi, I was thinking that way myself! :)

Afternoon.

Having a Ho Hum Day


Good News Judy

Great news Judy!
Rolanda

Greetings, Friends! Way too much ffuts to get done here in the remaining day and a half before D, SIL and puppy arrive. I've decided I will do my practicing as a first priority. (At least that's my plan as of right now.)

Sending the usual positive thoughts, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing vibes and for everyone. And now, i need some sleep. I'll get caught up on reading one of these days.

yay Judy!! I'll take a bit of that normal....
What fantastic news!

Another run around kind of day today. I called Dana to say I'm going over town to buy milk, want to meet up. We end up going all over town to buy a battery for her car. Good shopping though, the one she was looking at was sold out and we ended up with a better one. I also got a new top. I eventually got home and Alie was miserable. I went back over town to buy her lemonade and hard lollies to suck. I get home and Dana calls me in tears. A new resident at her block of flats has been calling out anti-American cr@p, and so have the kids at the home for homeless kids next door. To make things worse, one night when she wasn't at home, (she stays at friends sometimes), the first (insert rude name here) was banging on her door threatening to k1ll Tahli for waking her up. Thank goodness they weren't home!!!

By the way Dana is to scared to stay at home tonight