Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

''I'll bet living in a Nudist Colony takes all the fun out of Hallowe'en.''
Author Unknown

Heidi, Sydney has been getting a lot of smoke, the photo I saw had fires all over Australia, hundreds of them. Every capital city would have been full of smoke, as well as many areas where there aren't any people for hours... It was ridiculous!

Rolanda hope you are enjoying that part of our beautiful country - I love it around Terrigal. Great fishing at the Lakes. All the talk of snakes pretty well freaks me out - my aunt (who was in her 80's) used to pick up the brownies by their tails and flick them away so they wouldn't get near her babes (calves). She was wonderful - would talk to each tree every day!! Heidi, IH sounds like my hubby when it comes to technology. I have been showing him how to do emails for about 8 years now and I still get the same dumb questions. Suzy, don't worry about your garden - it will always be there but your kids grow up quickly - they need you more than your plants do. Glad you had a great trip Nola and back safely. We are having a working bee at our house on Sunday - should be interesting to see how much junk is 'retrieved' by hubby - he hates to waste anything. I am totally over it and need space inside and out. Off to Perth at the end of next week for an old fashioned Ball - haven't been to one of those for 30 years. Should be fun - will make sure I have plenty of rest so I can last the night - would hate to have to leave early. Made a big mistake with our tickets - we are flying back when the Melbourne Cup is being run - first time in many years we will miss it. Good luck Mamacita with the surgeon - you will feel much better after your op. June - would you like to come to my house next? I could do with some of the elbow grease you are putting in at Belinda's.

Lizzy G - glad to hear you are safe from the fires.

Hello, Friends!

June, I'm glad you have some 'company' - even if it's just the kangaroo feeding in the lower paddock. Drive safely when you go back to pick up Laura. Will she be able to help you and Ken with any of the clearing or pick-up while she is at Belinda's with you?

Welcome home, Nola! I hope you were finally able to get some sleep!

Lizzy, it's good to know that you're safe!

Suzy, thanks for letting us know that the fire map we've been seeing on our news aren't accurate!

Heidi, good news that your back is better and you were able to rest it, NOT be coerced into heavy work! I'm sorry to hear about your early snow. There was also snow in Illinois, but we managed to avoid it in our immediate area.

Midge, your aunt must have been a special lady! I like the part about her flinging snakes.

My bed is calling me, so I'll sign out for tonight. Please take care of yourselves and stay safe! Sending Positive thoughts, healing vibes,prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and for each of you!

Great TOPP, Heidi!

Gekko my friends.
Will never catch up, so have given up!
Nola, glad you are home safe and sound.
Must tell you about trying to set up the tent at the GP Moto Race at Phillip Island. 100kh winds and then we got hail that flattened our tent but it popped up again after the storm. Was an exhausting but fun time.....I AM SO OVER CAMPING!!!

Broni, does this mean you will be getting a caravan now?

Mamacita, thinking of you and your op. Let us know when it will be happening so we can all send vibes at the same time so they will be super strong.

Broni, hail on a tent!!

Lizzy, glad to hear you have a fire break. We kind of do too. There's a paddock between us and the bush and a horse on the paddock keeping the grass down.

Hubby has nearly finished the fence! Finally!! And now the husband next door says 'forget what my misses says let's replace it the whole way.'

This should be a topp

http://www.upworthy.com/48-reporters-asked-this-guy-the-same-dumb-question-about-women-his-r esponse-absolutely-perfect?c=ufb1

Midge, your aunt sounds amazing.. my hubby keeps making plans that eliminate storage space. I mostly keep my mouth closed because when I say anything he acts like I've made it my goal in life to rain on his parade. I hope you get rid of some stuff. An old fashioned Ball!! Fun! And you get to wear a long dress?? For years I've been doing the school run when the Melbourne cup is on. I miss it nearly every year.

FANTASTIC talk, Suzy!!! Thanks for sharing it. (remove the space in ''response'') The man is now my hero! We need more men like him.

After too many year of keeping and collecting everything Richard started getting rid of stuff a couple of years back. Can't get him to sort his commic collection out (well he sorts them but nothing is disposed of) or every single VIZ magazine he has ever bought. I don't think he missed buying one since it was first published in 1979.

For those that knew I was having a mole removed last week the pathology results thankfully showed there is nothing to worry about.

Its still smoky around the place but that depends on where the wind is blowing, but the cooler weather must surely be helping in the fire fighting effort from 38C to 22C is a huge difference in one day.....

GREAT NEWS, Lizzy G!!!!!

Greetings friends, we had a lovely breakfast today provided by staff. Best pre-made biscuits I have ever had. There was an egg/cheese casserole, sliced oranges, coffee and juice, yummy. Volunteers from Southern Company (formerly Alabama Power)were here to serve breakfast, then the volunteers went to apartments to do things we old folks cannot do. A very nice young civil Engineer came to turn my mattress, and he straightened my rug and moved a book case for me. Just some of the things it takes an able bodied someone to do. Very nice surprise for today. I should have asked him if he was married, and introduced him to Joy hehehe.

I read the posts, but I am just too tired to reply. Yesterday was a big day, I planted 4 new pots of Pansies, and added more plants to the 2 I planted before. I think we have 84 Pansie plants in 6 containers.

Heidi and Julie, you could have kept your winter up there! We had frost last night, and will possibly have a freeze tonight. I covered plants last night, it did frost lightly, there was frost on the blankets and sheets and towels I had on the flowers. I had said linen draped over every doorway and chair this morning to dry them. I will reuse them tonight.

OK, nap time for me, this cold front does make me achey and it is past time for meds too. this afternoon I will get my hair cut, it is too long to manage well.

Hugs to each of you, with extras.

Oh my, good thing I never freak about a too short hair cut, or I would today! I wanted it where I could do a short poneytail on bad hair days, or bad achey days. It will take at least 2-3 months to grow that long hehehe. But I like it. she did the mouse and scrunch, I did not like that, as the grey around face does not curl as much as the back does. Came home and did it myself, with a round brush and blow dryer and bout 3 minuets, and I just love it! I tried taking a photo, but cannot get the right view of myself. I will take my camera next time I am down stairs and find someone to snap a photo perhaps.

Hi all.
Lizzy...you couldn't ask for a better outcome. Wonderful news.
Hope the fires stay well away from homes.
MizT...those pots are going to look beautiful as long as the frost doesn't get to them.
The volunteers are very special by doing those jobs that are needed.Dont know what we would do without their help with so much in the community that they do.
Suzy..I couldn't access the link but now that Heidi posted, I will have another go.
Gee, you are observant Heidi!
Midge...have a great time in Perth. It is one of the places I would like to visit someday.Also, hope the working bee gives you some space.
Greg and I will be starting to hang the curtains today. I need his truck to pick up the rods and his expertise at installing the fittings.
Electricity is all fixed and the pool almost completed.You could swim in it now,they just need to vacuum the bottom a little more.
When Greg gets some time, he can have a go at posting the Brisbane meet photos.I am hopeless. At least if he can email them to me, I can email to someone else who might do it for me.
Sonny is glad to be home and Renaes dogs taught him how to use the doggy door. He is in and out all the time now.
Take care all

Dog doors sure are nice, aren't they, Nola? No more letting dogs in and out constantly.

Yes,Heidi. Even Greg said how good it was now he doesn't have to get up to let Sonny out.

If I had a doggy door for Bella anyone could get inside my house.

But would sure beat being woken up at 3:20am the other morning when she needed to go out, think she was too excited that I was home and forgot to go earlier.

Nola - if you can't work out how to post the photos, email them to me and I will do it.

I'm off to bed .It's below freezing again tonight, so it's a good time to stay inside and keep warm.

Just a quick Hello and Good Night from here. I hope everyone has had/is having a good day! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, healing vibes and for all of you!

Hi all,
Lizzy, fantastic news! Better safe than sorry, and this is the best.

Nola, we have a cat door and the dog puts his nose all the way in. He actually broke it. We now have something bodgied up with duct tape. The cat won't use it most of the time, cries at the front door instead. I think the dogs chased him once.

Broni, they'd have to get past Bella first.

MizT, what a wonderful breakfast! You really chose your place well...

I've been at the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival today. Alie did a little performance there. I got to see the group performances she has been telling me about which was fun.

It's 32 F right now, and feels it. But we're supposed to be starting a warming trend today, back up to more seasonable temperatures. I was beginning to worry that we missed Fall entirely.

My friend Anita needs to go up to Chicago in a few weeks to drop off one horse and pick up another. I've offered to do the driving in the RV for comfort, and this time she'll be in charge of horse care. It'll be interesting to see if we encounter yet another mattress. (By the way, I did see one mattress on the way to MizT's, but it was on the side of the road.)

It was cold overnight, but seems it did not get below freezing. Close, but just above, 1C if we had to translate I have been down at 8 am to uncover the plants. I had brought 3 inside, one of them is back in the sun. The other two are in building 1. I will take them back outside later.

Well, never a dull moment with this life alert bracelet we wear here. It seems while I was outside without my cell phone, gone from apartment for 10 minuets tops, my alarm went off. First I knew of it, I was back in apartment at computer here. My sister was phoning me to say she got a medic alert call about me, they were sending ambulance. I DID NOT PUSH BUTTON, aggggg. In fact I wear button turned inward toward my wrist so it cannot be bumped or so I thought.

We both phoned the monitoring co to say I was fine, they canceled the ambulance response, at least I hope it is canceled. They did try phoning my cell phone, I had missed call messages on both phones. That will teach me to take cell phone with me next time, ya think?

Shannon, our services coordinator, says she thinks they go off because of weather changes. Today would fit that perhaps, with the unseasonably cold weather.

It's better to have a few false alerts, Tricia, than for it to miss an emergency. It's kinds good that it's so sensitive.

(I realized that it was time to switch to a Hallowe'en avatar)

Heidi, good morning. You got about 2 degrees colder than we did here in Birmingham. We too will have a gradual warming of overnight temps, for the foreseeable future, 10 days on the forecast. This cold snap is not unprecedented, usually have a couple nights of colder weather to kick our trees into color change. Our peak of fall color is first 2 weeks in November, but is subject to whims of Mother Nature.

I got so tickled when Heidi told me she saw a mattress on side of the road on her way to visit. She also had a detour, her GPS suddenly told her to take an unexpected exit. It had seen a traffic jam ahead of her, she just was able to get off the freeway before traffic came to a standstill. Nice use of technology eh? she would have been stuck for hours if not for that notice.

Suzy, glad you had an enjoyable trip with Alie, and got to see the performance for yourself. 'Bodgied up' is new slang for me, but I know what you mean. Al was a champion bodgier (is that a word?)

YEAH LIZZY, so happy your spot was nothing to be concerned about. Always happy to hear such good news.

Cyn, nice of you to offer to put up photos for Nola.

Posting photos is something I need to work on. I have a selfie of my new haircut and the sweater I ordered. Sweater was put by postal service into my tiny letter box! Tyvec packaging (those tough envelopes) and sweater being a soft jersey knit, let it fit. It is very warm for such light weight, wore it yesterday. Viv would like it, it is PURPLE. I have outfits in beige, dark and light gray, and black to wear purple with, so I think I will get a lot of service from it.

Broni, here we can buy a doggie door that is electronically locked, opens to signal on dog's collar only. More pricey than standard doggie door, but it would let you sleep through Bella's 3 am nature calls without opening your house to just anyone.

Poor me, coffee pot malfunctioned, coffee is so weak as to be almost tasteless. I had to put in come cocoa powder to make it palatable. Such a sacrifice, but I am muddling through today with chocolate coffee hehehe.

Nola, I giggled with the mental picture of doggie teaching Sonny to use the doggie door. It is interesting how they learn from each other so easily things we have tried to teach them. It is easier for them and for us too, win win.

OK, time for breakfast, I have waited my hour after meds. Not sure what I want today, after such a good breakfast yesterday nothing I can think of is as exciting hehehe.

No ambulance or medics showed at my door, so we must have canceled it soon enough. I do wonder what happened. Many of our residents will not wear their alert buttons because they do malfunction so often. Company says they do not mind the false alarms, medics say they LOVE it when they arrive and nothing is wrong, no one is hurt or ill. so I wear mine and try to keep it from going off in error.

I need to print out a copy of Rainbow Bridge. A friend here had to put down he

too long.

I need to print out a copy of Rainbow Bridge. A friend here had to put down her cat, it was no longer responding to medication it needed to maintain a quality life. Doc said cat would suffer as she continued to go downhill, so Molly made the hard choice and had her put down.

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

Hi all,
Cyn..I have emailed you a few pix of the sudoku meeting that you might like to post, thanks.
MizT..a sad time for Molly
Those medic alerts would really come in handy if needed. They must get used to false alarms but as you said, better to check and find all ok.Looking forward to seeing a photo of your short hair and new sweater.
Greg and I managed to get some curtains up.Have to go back to do more today.It got too hot to continue and so did our drinking water.We haven't got the stamina we once had.
I fell asleep soon after getting home and woke at 1.30am.
I had better try to get some more sleep or I wont be much good by mid morning.
Bye

Nola, if you are on facebook, you can see the photo on my page. PM me if you need my name there. I sent the photo from my cell to Joy's cell phone and she put it up for me. It is getting closer to getting here hehehe.

Music was wonderful! Such lovely young people from Indian Springs School, playing classical music on various combinations of instruments. I especially enjoyed a Tuba and piano playing a traditional Scottish number. I forget the name, have heard it played on many instruments, but never tuba.

I gave my copy of the program to next door neighbor Earnest. I stopped by to see if he was going, but he had a cold and did not want to share it with residents. He really likes classical music, if I had remembered that is what this group played, might have convinced him to come down. Perhaps seeing what he missed will entice him to join us when these students return. I know they have been here before.

Only twenty minutes from Birmingham, Alabama, Indian Springs School is an independent (private), college preparatory day and boarding school for grades 8-12. It is located at the base of Oak Mountain, close to where Heidi and I camped. Years ago, it was mainly young wealthy white students from the 'over the mountain' area. Today whites were in the minority, with a great multicultural mix from Asia and the far east. Their instructor with them was obviously of German ancestry . Sad to see so few of our locals interested in a quality music program.

A surprise announcement, tomorrow we will have music again! This will be a singing group and I think they have been before also.

Someone said earlier I picked the right place to live here, with all the activities we have. I know I did, this is one of the best if not THE best government subsidized housing developments in the area, and it is because it is in partnership with the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Place Foundation does so much for us here. Have I told you the story of the founding of Episcopal Place?

An elderly widowed parishioner who had no place to live that she could afford, wrote a letter to the Bishop. He was so touched by her plight, looked around and saw many others having the same problem finding quality housing at a price they could afford, he and the church here in birmingham set about to start Episcopal Place. At some point, I do not know if before it was built and occupied or after, they found they could not do this alone, and sought government assistance, through HUD, the department of Housing and Urban Development.

Many of our activities and 'extras' come from their support and from grants. We recently got a little 4 door auto, gee forget the name, to use for taking residents to doctor appointments when the bus was not needed for the lift. It is MUCH more economical on gasoline. One thing our director is, if not a good manager of old people, he can write an application for a grant! I think the bus and it's operation was another grant. Then the EP Found

Long again, you can tell my medicine is working . Has my fingers just dancing this afternoon hehehe Very nice to feel good today.



Then the EP Foundation seeks out other non profits for assistance, like the school young people today. They have a program called ISS Music Van, (I am sure another grant) to bring music out to the people in the community who cannot come to productions at the school. This group comes here early in the season, as a rehearsal for other, bigger venues later in the year. It is good for them, and good for us too. Our audience may be small, but we are enthusiastic.

I met Julien taking his dog Phoebe out for a walk as I was coming back to apartment, asked if he had been down for the music. 'No, I slept right through it' was his sad reply. Happens to a lot of us, intend to go but a nap claims us, especially if right after a meal, as this one was at 1 pm.

OK, enough rambling, I need MY lunch. I forgot to eat breakfast till almost lunch time, so I am behind schedule today. Then perhaps laundry, or something else from my 'to do' list.

Hugs again till later.

Happy Saturday/Sunday everyone..
Very cool here and I've finally turned my heat on since I've been having to use the fireplace so much over the past several days. It does a great job in my living room,dining room and kitchen but nothing for the bedrooms and my computer is in my bedroom....so heat it is for now. I don't like being cold.
Well, I got a call to reschedule my doctor's appointment to discuss surgery from Monday to Friday, since he will be out of the office when I was due. Not to much of a wait so I'm lucky.
Heidi... I'll try to be sure not to drive on the same highways when you do...all of those mattresses are too much for me...lol. Glad the last one was just sitting on the side.
Lizzy glad your spot was deemed safe...alway good to hear good news as MzT said. Nola, none of us can do what we use to do, but good onya and Greg for hanging in there with lots of heat and getting it done by degrees. Hugs to Molly...we pet lovers all know the sad feelings that come with having to lose our furry ones...but it really is a kindness to keep them from suffering.
Looking forward to the posting of the aussie meet and of the new haircut and sweater of MzT and will come back later to check em out...but Jazz is pushing me to feed him now...later all..take care because I care...Peace.

I am not on TOS MizT.
Gee you have a good social life.
Mama..I had the same trouble last winter, where the computer room wasn't heated. Now that I have the lap top I can put it anywhere to keep warm. The computer room has become a mess where we store things that I haven't found a proper home for.Mostly paperwork and course assignments. Big mess. One day...

Nola we have an office like that occasionally we get round to clearing it out if Richard needs to do some work in there.

I'm not on TOS either, so can't see MizT's haircut. She was complaining about her hair when I saw her, tho' I didn't think it looked bad. I will at least be able to see it in person in a couple of weeks. I'll be visiting MizT again before the trip to Chicago (aka the land of the rampaging highway mattresses.).

I'm SO glad your meds are working, Tricia. I'm dealing with a sinus infection right now, and think I'm gonna have to call my GP on Monday. It's not responding to OTC meds.

IH offered to take me out to a local restaurant for dinner. I think it's his way of thanking me for solving a problem he had. Even though he no longer has the plant, he still delivers meat to his old customers by picking it up at another processing plant, and carrying it in a freezer on the back of his truck. He's been having to plug the freezer in overnight to get it cold before loading it up, then periodically stopping along the way at places where he can plug it in for a while to get it cold again. A dumb way of doing things. I got him an AC/DC inverter for his truck, enabling him to plug the freezer directly into the cigarette lighter of the truck and keep it cold while he travels. Of course, he had no idea such a thing existed.

I'm sitting here at the 'puter waiting for IH to show up.