Kathy from Valrico, Florida, USA

PS
His name is Ralph, that's RRRRRRRRRRRalph with a growl!

Kathy~Thank you so very much for your thoughts and prayers,its been a ongoing question we have had to deal with what if anything to do,you don't know if you can plan for the future or do as we do and take it one day at a time,I guess thats how it is for us all and should live everyday to its fullest and not to leave anything undone or unsaid

Kathy~how are you and Rob doing?and not to forget sweet Ebony,I bet she'd getting big give her a scratch behind the ear and a treat for me

thank you for the anniversary wishes. we drove over to New Orleans for the night. it was great fun, altho my allergies started acting up and we didn't go to the zoo. rats. the live oak trees and high mold count made me miserable and no Rx helped. Murphy and Mac were well behaved. they were invited to the B&B where we stayed.

so glad Ebony graduated. that's a great puppy class that petsmart has. Maggie is an alum (as is hubby, so hubby can train the others, LOL)

Hi, Kathy!

Unfortunately, my partner and I lost our match, but our team won both the men's doubles. (Our division's matches consist of one women's doubles and two men's doubles.) My hand no longer hurts, but my game has suffered from not playing all summer. So it will take me awhile to get back into it. It was a fun match, though, and it's good to be competitive again! In addition to the Guardian Angles (in the A Division), I am captain of a mixed-level team that plays on Friday mornings. Those matches consist of a #1 doubles (A level), #2 doubles (B level), #3 doubles (B-C level) and #4 doubles (C level). These matches can get pretty crazy - doubles teams can consist of 2 men, a man and a woman or two women. So there are some matches where 2 men play against 2 women, a man and a woman play against 2 men or a man and a woman play against two women, etc. As long as one plays at the proper level, anything goes with regard to gender!

Sounds like you had a fun weekend. I assume you are a USTA team captain? Our league will probably go the USTA route at some point, but right now, most of the players have indicated that they prefer to stay unaffiliated. One of the reasons is that we would probably have to commute to Savannah and/or Jacksonville for our matches!

Looking forward to your visit!

Love,
Jane

Hi Kathy -- I'm glad you enjoyed looking through my travel photos. I have hundreds, but figured that the Sudoku world just isn't ready to wade through them all!! We spent two weeks in Australia and 9 days in New Zealand. We did a combination of flying and driving in Australia. In NZ we drove, with the exception of taking a train from Christchurch to Greymouth, over the Arthur Pass.

Have a wonderful time in China. What do you plan on seeing while you are there? We went to China in 1996 (I think that was the year). It was a fascinating trip.

I consider our Africa trip to be the most remarkable thing I've ever done. I'm still under the spell. We went to Tanzania and drove into the Serengeti via Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. When it was time to go home we flew out. I wouldn't recommend driving both ways as it is a difficult ride. We were with a small, organized group. We generally travel on our own (as we did in Oz), but that isn't really feasible for lots of reasons in most of Africa.

We're hoping for Antarctica on our next trip, but it may be a while. I tore an ACL (knee ligament) last year and the resulting surgery just hasn't quite done the job in getting me back to 100%. My ortho doc wants to do another surgery, so I'll need to get all that taken care of and be rehabilitated before we try such an adventurous trip.

Keep me posted on your travel plans.

Hi Kathy,
Thanks for dropping by, yes I am a pilot, I teach others to fly in small (very small) aircraft, but it's no my main job, do it for fun really and get to keep my hand at no cost to me. Electronics, more specifically CHIP design, is my main bread and butter (job). Work in a research place, so always new stuff to learn and play with, been working for the same company for over 20 years.

Hi Kathy--yes, amid the setbacks and tears, we're taking solace in the kind words, wishes and prayers from caring friends like you. Mom's been moved back to the hospital and things look pretty grim--loss of bowel/bladder control, difficulty swallowing--I'm sure they'll put a feeding tube in so she doesn't starve. All in all, a horrible thing to watch, even more horrible to feel helpless. Our mission is to keep her comfortable and loved, and to treasure whatever time we have with her. So, shoulder to the wind and onward we trudge. Meanwhile, I'm sending a big wraparound hug to dear Ebony and another to you for being such a sweetheart.

Hi Kathy - I talked with my mom yesterday for almost an hour! I think she is starting to show some improvement. It sure has been a long road for her.

She and my dad saw the funnel cloud of the tornado that his Cape Coral a week or two ago. She said it took the roof off of the Wal-Mart Supermarket near their home! That is too close for comfort! She and my dad were in the car going somewhere. I hope all is well with you and your family.

hi Kathy, thanks for the good wishes. i understand about not being around. lol. i've been mostly lurking...i do the puzzles and log off, without checking out the posts. hope all is well. Mac had to see the vet before his last grooming date. his coat is getting very thin and the groomer noticed some flakes on his skin and dry eyes and wanted it checked out before she bathed him. vet thinks it's mac's thyroid, so he is on Rx, eye drops, and think gooey vitamins. it seems to be helping.

thanks again for your good wishes.

Kathy, Thank you for the birthday greeting. I really appreciate it. You were right on time. Mine is Oct. 2. I am glad you liked our pictures of Colorado. We had an amazing time. The kids had a blast and learned a lot. The last time I was in Colorado I was about 2 years older than my older son. It was great experiencing it through their eyes. Ebony is an absolute cutie pie.

Kathy, you've been a steadfast supporter through all this. You have no idea how grateful I am for the times you've thought to drop in for a visit and see how things were going. And here you are again, and I'm so glad. The photo of Mom was taken at the beginning of August, at her grandson's wedding. She had a wonderful evening, and we're all delighted she had the opportunity to celebrate so well with family. We miss her like crazy, and are teary and empty, but then we'll remember something she said or a gesture and smile. I've got her overnight bag packed with slippers, pajamas, an outfit and her crossword puzzle book. It sits in the bedroom where she used to sleep when she visited, so she knows she'll always have a place in our home.
Bless you, Kathy, for reaching out. And right back at you, whenever you need me.

Hi Kathy. Glad to see that Ebony got the uni degree, but when is the Masters and PHD coming? I saw your comment on Fiona's page. I guess in terms of being on the site from day one, I'm not an oldster (only been about 16 months for me), but we aren't dying out, just slowing down. The tone and flavor of the site changed when Gath opened the free memberships, but lots of nice people are posting, and many of the "oldsters" have turned into lurkers, but are still around. You just make sure YOU stay around!

Hi Kathy, just wanted you to know i was thinking of you.

Hello Kathy - Just stopped in to say, "Hello." I miss chatting with you. I hope all is well down your way. Give Ebony a hug.

Hi Kathy, Thanks for the note! We got back about 2 weeks ago. I didn't spend time on the computer in NY - was in the "business center." We did watch the Open - don't you love Federer's tuxedo shorts! We just bought a J22 sailboat this week! So...if we can get our collective acts together we can sail with you...I go to Guatemala; we go to California for T'giving; then Boston for Xmas. Let's do it first of the year! You going anywhere soon? Hi to Rob and Ebony!

Just thought I would stop by and see how you are getting on. Seems like an age since I came here. Hope all is well and you and Rob are enjoying all your vacations. Where are you off to next? I just got back from Antigua which was really delightful. Take care of yourselves xx

Hi Kathy, Its been awhile since my last visit and I wanted to say hello and to thank you for your kind wishes for Sully's recovery. Things are going well, although I'm still pretty busy and am not on site as often. I do miss seeing your kind post, but you manage to stay in touch. Glad you and Rob were able to meet up with Jane and had a nice visit. Still looking forward to the day we get to meet in person...one day! Peace!

Beautiful Sunset Kathy. Lovely photo's.
Welcome home..

Welcome home, Kathy. I've just been browsing through your latest photos and left a couple of comments. I had actually forgotten that you had met with Celia before and I'd seen photos of you all then.

Lovely pics Kathy!! Thanks for alerting us to them...it's so nice to see worldwide sudoku gatherings and to be able to put faces to names. Thank you for sharing.
Take care
x

Hi Kathy! It is good to see you back. I hope all is well with you. Stop by for a chat sometime.

Kathy - I looked at your pictures and they are great! It looks like you have had a great Fall! Thanks for sharing them with us.

Kathy, good to see you back and on site. The pictures are lovely. You are really getting around to meeting so many of the folks in person...I think that's wonderful. Keep spreading your wonderfully cheerful personality around and we will be able to remain a friendly site. This does seem to be a place where friendship not only blossoms, but has long reaching roots. BTW...Ebony is not only getting big, but even more handsome as time goes by...he fits in with all of those other handsome men you seem to surround yourself with...Go girl!

Thank you for sharing your photos of your meetings with fellow Sudokuists. How fortunate to have been able to meet so many.
Great to have you back.

Kathy, sadly, as it turns out, my two Eastern Canada SA meetings were a total bust, so, to date, I'm at 2, so you're way ahead of me. I've met Dave and Eve from the Grants Pass, Oregon area. Nobody ever responded to the Montreal meeting idea ... maybe nobody from that area frequents the site. Celia, Jane and Greg all had hopes of making the Toronto SA meeting, but all got pre-empted by more important things ... like Celia needing to see you instead of me. She must feel pretty special, having to decide between two SA meetings, which one to go to. Is that a first? We should ask the site ... maybe she's unique. I would love to get to Florida and meet you, and Ed, and nal. Maybe someday ...

Hi Kathy lovely to see all the fellow sudokuists at your meetings, now I can put names to faces. Beautiful sunrise too. Take care xx

now Kathy - that little gap between her teeth is what makes her beautiful over here, believe it or not! No I tease André about her as André's such a fan of Johnny Depp and Vanessa is his wife! Guaranteed to get André fuming gently at the ears! As for Hallowe'en, it's not a big thing in France but I imported it from Scotland so yes, the kids do the trick or treat bit, usually with the nearest neighbours. But this year they're away for the holidays visiting Paris for the first time so it'll be a quiet evening for us here. Hope you're well Kathy and thanks for dropping by my page x

to you, Kathy, and your family.

Yes, I did look at your pictures and they are great. It must have been a lot of fun to meet Jane in person! I enjoyed looking at them!

Our Fall has been very nice and mild! We have had a lot of wind for about the last week, so we have lost a lot of leaves. We have a large yard, so it keeps my husband busy. We bought him a commerical blower last year. It is a backpack. He works about an hour at a time and takes a break.

Thanks for asking about my parents. My dad is doing great, but my mom isn't. We thought she was doing better, but lately she has been in a lot of pain. The doctor's tell her she has a degenerative spine and she has a disc that is herniated, but they can't operate on it. She also has the onset of Osteoporosis. I wish I lived closer so I could help them more. I promised my family I would be home for Christmas this year.

I hope you have a great evening!

I became aware at some point that I was second in line for Celia's attentions and was just having fun. Looks like you had a wonderful time. The Fripp Island "beach house" looks more like a mansion. Am I rubbing elbows with the upper crust here? I've lost track of how many folks from the SF bay area visit the site, but it is enough that it could be a really interesting meeting. If you know the exact dates, I'd put them on our calendar and we'd try to schedule other adventures around them. We often go to SF for a day, see a show, stay over night and head back home. I've never thought to try to set up an SA meeting while I was there. You've got my little pea brain working.

I brought you a Pumpkin Chiffon Pie,
and happen to have an empty wine glass here: TRICK OR TREAT!

Trick or Treat!

___ ___



BOOOOO! I scared ya huh!

Hey Kathy!Thanks to the visit,I don't know how you find the time,You look like you had a wonderful time and your horse "Boy Toy" lol...looked like he was a nice mount! I cant believe how big Ebony is getting!She has turned out to be a real part of the family.Sky has to,he behaves well for the most part Carly goes in for his test on the i6th so we will have more answers then and Mom is doing well thanks for asking

hello Kathy! thanks for stopping by my page. yes, it's been a busy month here also. so glad you were able to meet other sudokuists! that must have been fun.
yes, we did make a quick weekend trip to Indiana. hubby had a reunion at a boys home where he spent some of his teenage years (we were also dorm parents there a long while back), so it was fun to see that part of the family again. the whole airline thing was not fun, but then that seems to be the "norm" for the airline industry these days. yikes!
I, also, haven't been on much lately. I try to do the puzzles to see the pix, but don't always take time to buzz the comments. hubby was in the hospital for days this past weekend, causing some anxious moments, but all turned out well. chest pains are something to not mess around with - at least this time it was nothing. hooray for that. once we knew the heart was okay, my main concern was staph infection - i was relieved to see that they tested him upon admittance to see if he came in with it and again upon dismissal to see if the hospital gave him staph inf. i appreciated that!

i forgot to mention how much i like your pix of the sunrise. the Carolinas have beautiful sunrises.

Hi Kathy, I brought some spiced popcorn and merlot for you. I'm writing here 'cause I'd be on page 3(4?) of "easy" and you'd probably not see it. Wasn't Liam's birth our first contest???? Glad to see many so loyal to this site! Love your photos!!!!♥♥♥ PJ

Hi! Hope you had a great B-Day!!!!! You don't know me, I don't post much, but I feel like I know all of you, some even more than my own family (which is a whole other story). I've been here since the first few months of the site, I love it!!!! I read lots & lots of comments, and look at many pix, and do the jigsaw puzzles; taking up WAY too much time. Thanks for letting us enjoy your vacations +++ with all the great photos. I love your house! (When you go to SC sunset photo, it reads 2009, SPOOKY!) I brought spiced popcorn and merlot for you to enjoy.♥♥♥ I just like butterflies, no special meaning. I'm in southern CA with one fabulous husband and one four legged child, Gwyn (yellow lab),who would have a great time w/ Ebony. Talk to you later.♥ I don't read my mail daily, so don't think I'm ignoring you, it may just take awhile to respond. PJ

Hi Kathy - I had you in my thoughts this morning! Today is the game between MI State and U of M in Lansing. The sun is shining bright and it is suppose to be in the 50's (F). It is a good day for a game! I hope you have a great day, too.

Good morning Debby! How we used to love Big 10 football games on a crisp fall Michigan day! Our youngest daughter Kyley will be going up to
Ann Arbor for the Mich.-Ohio State game on Nov. 17. Her teaching partner went to Ohio State so they have a fun friendly rivalry ongoing! Last year they watched together in a sports bar. This year they MAY? get into the stadium. I must get busy this AM & clean my house. We have a house guest arriving tonight from Switzerland. Luckily, Kyley will pick her up since we'll be at the wedding. Have a great weekend! Go Blue!!!