Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

''OMG, I have finally discovered what's wrong with my brain: On the left side there is nothing right, and on the right side there is nothing left!''
- author unknown

So sorry for your loss, Broni. Hugs are winging their way to you.

Great TOPP Heidi!!!
Sent a message to Vici yesterday and she reminded me that Maz and I spent Halloween with her at Bean's place 4 years ago. OMG I thought it was only a couple of years ago.
Yes please Cyn, any photos please send to me, June think I should be able to copy yours from the web.
Her Daughter is still in Melb as far as I know, since she would not answer her phone last night. I have the unenviable job of organising the funeral today since neither her or her brother have two pennies to rub together and relationships are strained but the rest of my family are coming to my aid.
Very hard time for me as Maz was like my older sister who I had to look out for, she had a hard life.
Not complaining but not looking forward to doing this again just over 6 years after JD passed away.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Love and Hugs to you all.

I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear how MizTricia's costume party went.

Broni.... do they have any idea what happened?

Broni, sending my heartfelt sympathy and a big hug to you. If I was closer, I would be there to help. I hope knowing your cyber friends are around offer you some comfort.

Happy Halloween everyone. Sorry I don't get in here as often as I used to but I am busy. The boys are starting to get more involved in school activities and it is just me during the week. My parents help when they can. I did have a funny one last week, don't think I mentioned it. Took Mitchell to a college fair at his high school. Figured he could start getting some ideas. Dylan came with us. The recruiters would talk to Mitchell, ask him questions and what he wanted to major in. They would then look at Dylan and ask what he wanted to major in. Dylan would just look at them and not answer. He is a little shy with strangers. I would answer for him and say he is only 12. He is the same size as Mitchell. Mitchell will always be the older brother but Dylan is going to be the 'big' brother some day.

Morning everyone.
no callers at my house last night ( thank goodness )!!

Hello Friends, I am awake and aware after a long post party nap! We have storms coming through, that always does me in pain wise, then all the preparations for and the enjoyment of the party today. It was fun. Heidi's costume got lots of compliments. I did make the buckles for my shoes, those turned out nicely.

I was sooo hot getting ready for party, and with pain coming on, I could not cool down. But I was going in that velvet vest some way some how. I put ice cubes into a plastic baggie, and put that inside the hat, cooled me down at last .

I just had a cell phone call from Heidi, the same storm system up in her area brought high winds and buckets of rain which has knocked out power. A massive power outage, in her words. She has no idea when power will be restored, and no knowledge yet if any damage to farm property. It is raining to hard to check at the moment. I hope everything is OK, Heidi, and let us know how you fared when power is restored.

Remind me to never play scrabble with Heidi hehehe. Her one word score is almost as much as my best game score. And our 'house rules' are more lenient, none of that points for a failed challenge on words. And we help each other once it is down to the last few letters, more a learning game. Something to keep the brain cells perking.

I am posting without reading page 46, will get to that later. Posting this fore I turn the page, Hugs to each of you, with extras.

Broni, you come vent whenever you need to, the least we can do is listen. I know this is doubly hard for you. Funerals bring back sad memories of loved-ones lost, and memories of doing this for someone as close as you and JD, well, I understand. It was very hard for me to just go to (step-daughter) Joy's mother's funeral. I do not think I could have organized it. Huge hugs for you, and know we are here if you need to vent again. Many broad shoulders here at your service, dear.

I am glad other family is coming to your aide, that is how families should be. I do hope you can contact Maz's daughter before the funeral. Even if relations are strained, she should at least know.

Thinking of you, and we are here when you need us.

Dropping in for an anecdote: Did I tell you hubby replaced Alie's bathroom vanity a few weeks ago? A couple of days later I told him that there was water leaking from somewhere. I turned the water off as he asked and when he had time (he was working on the fence at the time) he had a look at it. I asked him what he'd done and he said nothing, it was fine. Hmmmm.... yep, yesterday he comes to me with a long face and tells me as if I didn't already know - hadn't already told him - that there is a leak. Sometimes we just have to let them be the ones who work it out....

Greetings - and Good Night! Falling asleep as I try to read, so I give up! {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for everyone!

Another anecdote: Hubby is lucky to be here. He has to turn right at a T-intersection to get to work. From the top of the T to the 'leg'. A big truck was turning left from the other direction, (this may get confusing for those of you who drive on the right hand side of the road), so he waited for it to go as it was half in the turn lane and half in the straight ahead lane, he couldn't see if anything was coming and you don't argue with a truck. Apparently a 4WD pulling a boat didn't care that he couldn't see so passed the truck - heading right at hubby! He swerved in just missing hubby's car. The scary thing is that the lane hubby was in was not a turn lane, he could have been driving at 80 kph in that lane - in which case he would be dead. It upset him for the whole afternoon.

Broni, I emailed you 3 photos with Maz in them, 2 from Sydney when Vici was here and one from the Mary Street Fair. Let me know if there's a problem and I'll send them by PM on FB.
Big hugs to you!

Suzy - wow, scary for your hubby. It doesn't matter how safe a driver is, it all depends on the other drivers on the road and some of them are idiots!!!

Thanks Cyn, got them. Do you have a year and month for the Mary Street Fair?

Well feeling a lot calmer tonight.
The funeral is set for Friday 8th @ 1pm at the Mt Gravatt Crematorium. Will be organising coffee, tea and sandwiches there afterwards, and then we can go our separate ways. I have done all I can do for my cousin, just need to get thru this week.
As you can probably tell there are issues that will never be resolved but I am putting them aside to get thru this sad time and give my cous the respect she deserves.

Broni, you are a wonderful person. Many would have left it to someone else.
((Hugs))

Broni - Mary Street Fair was June 2011.

Is that the place where my Mum's funeral was, Broni? Or the one up on Nursery Road?

Broni, so glad you have finished the details for funeral. Thoughts stay with you this week. If things get tough, just close your eyes and imagine all your Sudoku cyber friends holding your hand, cause we are, in thought.

Suzy, so scary for hubby. Yes, confusing trying to visualize this since we do not drive same side of road, but take your word for it. So glad it had the happy outcome it did.

Boy, even after my 3 hour nap, I slept another 9 hours last night! A bit stiff and sore this morning, but after my coffee, a nice hot shower massage should get rid of that. I hate weather changes and storms and cold fronts, and am so thankful for modern chemistry and pain meds.

Coffee is perked, off to start my day. Hugs to each of you, with extras. Special gentle hugs to Broni. Till later.

Thanks Cyn, same one just off Kessels Road, behind the QE11 Sports Centre.



Another vent coming.....





Daughter arrives back on Sunday after I finally contacted her Tues arvo. Will hopefully finalise the arrangements and return the birds to her.
Been accused tonight of not trying to contact the son who is in care of our justice system.(So not going there!)
Then just have to construct the memorial photo tribute for Maz and my speech.
Will be so glad when this is over.

Should be asleep now since it is almost 2am my time, still feeling a lot calmer but the head thinks I have forgotten something...........Oh yeah SLEEP!
Goodnight my friends.

((((( HUGS ))))) Broni

We have the power back. That was one ugly storm. Fortunately, I had the foresight to buy a gross (144) of candles after the last power failure, so we had plenty of light. I haven't done an inspection of the farm yet. I'll do that in about 2 hours after I get back from running an important errand.

Off to the accountant's now....
See you all later.

At least you have the RV if you lose power for too long Heidi. Just make sure you have it all fuelldd up for cooking acnd heating. When we had the caravan we used it once when we had an extended power outage.

I keep the RV fully fueled with gas (petrol) and gas (propane) in preparation for the next trip. I also park it out of range of any tree falling on it. I was thinking about spending last night out in it, but the dogs were afraid of the storm and needed comforting, too.

Suzy.... it's important to always keep this in mind while driving: ALL of the other drivers out there are morons and have no business even having licenses. Always expect someone to do something mind numbingly stupid at any second. Guess what? They will.

Thanks Broni, I'll see you on Friday to represent everyone here on SA and all of your Sudoku friends who'd like to be there to support you.
Sorry you have been getting attitude from people over this. You are doing something out of the goodness of your heart because you cared, they should appreciate that and you!

Broni, all the things you'd want to say to people throwing accusations at you! I hope you at least yelled them at a wall or at a friend who could hug you.

Sending wishes for a really fast week.... and hugs.

Teresa, Pete and Bella have been really supportive, still feeling a lot calmer today even with lack of sleep.
Thank you Cyn for representing our community here.

Photo of Aaarrghhh Pirate Tricia on my page. I love the costume! You have amazing stuff Heidi and Tricia, you wear it well.

Cyn, thank you for representing us on Friday. We will be there in spirit, if not in person.

Suzy, scary time for your hubby. I like Heidi's way of thinking, everyone else on the road is a moron. What is really scary for me is being in the car when Mitchell is driving. He has a learners permit, not a full license. He is getting better, but my nerves are getting worse.

Suzy, thanks for posting the picture of Tricia.

Tricia, you make a great pirate.

Great picture! Thanks for sharing it, Suzy. I love the Cap'n Tricia flag, MizT.

There's a photo of Alie's makeup there too now. Though most of you have seen it on TOS.

Hello, Everyone!

Broni, I'm so sorry to hear of your cousin's passing - and all of the grief you're receiving. Just remember, you can't please everyone. You are doing what you feel is best. Others are doing nothing, apparently. Wish we could be there with you as support. I hope you can feel the cyber support flowing your way!

CynB, thanks so much for being our representative. I know you will be a great stand-in for those of us who can't be there.

Suzy, thank goodness your hubby is alert and aware and ALIVE! Heidi is right; you need to expect that everyone else behind the wheel has no business being there and assume they will do stupid things.

OMG, Heidi! A gross of candles! I assume these are the 'standard' size, not 'pillar' candles. I know churches that don't buy that many candles at once.

BTW, Heidi, I'm glad your power is back on and you apparently didn't have damage.

Suzy, I enjoyed the pictures of Pirate Tricia and of Alie!

Tami, I'm sure Mitchell's driving will improve as he has more practice!

Happy weekend to all! The craziness continues, so I don't expect to get here much in the next few days. Sending an abundance of wishes to last until I return: {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, healing vibes, prayers and for everyone!

Tomorrow IH and I are sorting out a few head of cattle to sell, then we're going to a fund raising event for a member of our Cattlemen's Association. A little over a month ago, he had an accident with a piece of farm equipment and lost both his legs. And he didn't have health insurance. He has huge medical bills already, and if he wants to get prosthetic legs, they'll cost him $100,000.00 each!!! He's determined, and is taking care of his cattle in a wheelchair already. The whole community is behind him and wants to help. Hence, a big fundraiser. The entire county is expected to turn out.

((((( HUGS ))))) Broni.
And ditto what everyone else has said.

Just a bit of fun, and those of you on FB have already seen these today - but today our Lachlan is 15 years old. How did that happen?
I have posted 2 photos, one of him at 2 days old with Col and I, and the other one today when we tried to recreate the same pose - not easy with a 6 foot tall 15yo squirming on his Poppy's lap.
That day, when he was 2 days old, he opened and eyes and stared at Col. They bonded there and then and have this incredible relationship. He recently had to write an essay on his 'most inspirational person' - you guessed it, his Poppy! He got really good marks for it too. I'd love to read it!

Heidi, how tragic for your friend and neighbor. Why in heavens name do prosthetic legs cost $100.000 each, that should be a crime! People without insurance are gouged cause medicare and insurance companies pay only a fraction of that. Medical suppliers try to make it up anywhere they can! How wonderful the community is behind him and helping him get his life back in order.