Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

''Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.''
Chili Davis

Lovely silence. The helicopters have gone away and the fire has been down graded.
The one to the north is still burning. I do hope the change in weather comes and we get the rain over the next 4 days.

My fingers are crossed that the rain comes soon, June.

June, the street name is very familiar and I don't remember why. I wonder if one of my friends lives/lived there...

The photo is way too close for comfort! Glad it was there to act so quickly, but more glad that it is gone.

Alie just sent me 6 photos of her that she found on a site for the folk festival. She says it is really creepy because there are 2 photos of her friend (who she says is model gorgeous), none of any of her other friends and no more than one of any other person.

Of course there shouldn't be any photos of Alie because she is so plain. She reminds people of Zoey Deschanel.

Greetings, Everyone!

Hubby and I are still fighting the cold/flu, so I'm off to bed without spending much time reading or commenting. Supposed to puppy-sit for a while tomorrow if we're feeling better.

Broni, I hope all went well today! Mama said it so well!

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, healing vibes and for everyone!

I've just uploaded 3 of the photos Alie found on that site.

How sad are funerals?? Just back home now, it was a small funeral, which I suppose is what happens when you live thousand of kms from where you grew up and spent most of your life. However there was a lot of love around for Maz. Broni did a wonderful and emotional eulogy about her much loved cousin.
We then went to a nearby hotel, had some lovely snacks and raised a few glasses in Maz's memory.
May she Rest in Peace
I gave Broni a big group hug from you all.
Teresa and Pete were there to support her and keep her strong. (A big heart for them!)

Thank you Cyn. I've been thinking about the funeral on and off all day. They are so hard!!

Thanks Cyn, I was wondering about the time of the funeral and how things were.

Hi everyone. Broni <3. About to lie in bed and get ready to watch Miss Fisher. I love that show.

Broni..... ((((( HUGS ))))). It sounds like you gave Maz a heartfelt sendoff. I'm proud of you. It's hard to get yourself organized when you're hurting so much, emotionally.

Thank you, CynB. I'm so glad you were there for Broni. And for us.

I'm feeling better today. The head pain is MUCH less. So is the pain in the back and pelvis. They were hurting so much yesterday that I was in tears. I'm suspecting it was a virus causing all the body aches. I'm glad it's about gone for the drive today. I've got a busy day. I still need to clean out the trailer after hauling the cattle, get to the bank for some traveling cash, get clean shavings for the trailer, gas up the RV AND feed hay to the cows. I was also hoping to get in an afternoon nap before the night drive.

My truck has decided to go on the fritz, so that complicates things for me. The trailer is behind the house in front of the horse barn, but I can't drive the RV back there to get it because of low hanging electrical wires. So I've had to ask IH for the use of his truck to bring the trailer up front. Once the trailer is in front, I can hook it up to the RV. Always difficulties. I'll wait until Monday to take the truck in to the repair shop. IF I can jump start it. Otherwise, I'll have to have it towed.

Today has just gotten better and better. I went to pull the RV out of the yard, and it wouldn't start. It had a dead battery. I tried to jump start it here with no luck, so I had to call the service station to send out a truck with heavy duty jumper cables. It took them a while to get here, and once they did, it took another half hour to start it. I have now run my errands (bank, filling station to fill the tank with gas) and hooked up the trailer. I'm just leaving the RV running to charge up the battery. I think I figured out what happened. I believe I left one wrong switch on while the RV was plugged in, so the starter battery drained while the 2 compartment batteries charged. Nobody explained that to me before.
We're leaving in 4 hours.

Decided to have an easy afternoon and went to the movies. When I presented my seniors movie card I was told I had a free pass. I think it was called 'About Time' or something like that. A bit of light fun and quite relaxing. (Ken was at bowls).
Mamacita, I really hope all your problems are soon sorted out and you are feeling well again.
Same for you Tricia. So pleased you are now where there are a lot of other people around you.
Heidi, have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Still in my thoughts Broni. So pleased that the funeral is over and that will take away a lot of the stress.

So far we have had none of the promised rain. Soon I will have a dirt patch for a front lawn. I have been keeping the plants watered, enough to keep them alive anyway.

Thanks for all your support, it gave me strength that Cyn and her daughter represented you all.
Cyn kindly didn't mention that everything that could go wrong did on the day, from the music to the reflection time pictures that all would not work even though I had duplicate copies in different formats. We still gave her a good send off but have been totally emotionally and physically exhausted today. Pete and Teresa came over today and Pete took us to lunch.
Cyn, had to laugh about you avoiding John, had no idea he was a previous neighbour! Small world.
Luv and Hugs to you all.

OH what a busy day yesterday was. I did get myself together and down to the Holiday Market rummage sale. The chairman, Jean, had found a replacement for me for my designated time, (I had phoned her on Thursday to say I was sick and not sure I could make it Friday)so I just filled in where needed, when a sales clerk needed a break. then I stayed and helped box up the leftovers. We had a thrift store come pick up anything that was not sold or claimed during the last 30 minuets fore thrift store arrived. Everything was FREE then! I think I got a game free, hope all the pieces are there, it should be fun. It is called Apples to Apples, and I have played it once. It is good to get a conversation going. Could not beat the price. I also bought an oriental red platter, round, prettily painted, but some damage to the color on one side. I stood it behind some white oriental geishas playing instruments, they hide the damage, and it adds a bit of color to that grouping. Also got a red apothecary jar. Red is the accent color I am using in living room, and it is not easy finding nick nacks in red, so was pleased with these additions. I bought a couple of bird figurines for my sister who collects such, and a tall slim plastic jug for koolaide or iced tea.

The soup and cornbread lunch was a hit, I think they sold out all soup. My neighbor Ramona's Potato Soup was gone in 30 minuets, everyone wants her soup. She promised to make TWO batches next year! I stocked up on chocolate goodies at the bake sale. Chocolate on chocolate cake slice which I had as my comfort food when I got home, I was on my feet MUCH to much and back was screaming at me. Chocolate always tastes good when I am hurting. Chocolate on chocolate cupcakes for later. Was going to share those with Joy, but she has gone out of town for this long weekend, and did not even mention to me. I happened to see a 'we are on our way' face book post, first I knew. I shall freeze part of my cupcakes for later.

Today I am listening for Linda, one of the staff members, to phone me. She plans to come plant some flowers she bought a week ago, I will help her. But now I feel a nap coming on.

Hugs to each of you with extras, i will come back to comment on your posts. I did read, and thought about each of you. Till later.

Hi everyone.
I haven't much time to comment. My last post a few days ago disappeared because I took too long to send.
Thinking of you Broni . And Thank you Cyn for your support you provided on behalf of those that can't be there in person.

June...Scarey time for those near fires. So pleased you are safe.
I have been so busy, helping Paul move house, and now started cleaning out Judys unit.
I didn't have much of a chance before Judy died and then the floods, to clear out her unit. All is being finally sorted where I am organizing family members to come in and take teapots,etc etc.
Greg has been delivering bookcases, boxs of wool,
organizing pick up of wall units that were in the will.
It was only on 5th Nov. that the unit was finally put into my name. BIG dramas as the death cert said she died of a brain tumor and may have not been sane.
OK, better get a move on.
Thinking of you all with love.

Broni - ha, it was too small a world when I realised John was there!! He was the reason we moved house. Waste of good oxygen, that man! Karin and I made a quick escape into the garden - to my parent's memorial! Mum and Dad - always a safe haven!
It was such a shame that your music and reflection time pictures did not work.

Nola - I'm pleased that all has been sorted out and the unit is now in your name. More work for you to do now though!
June - we have bush fires up here too at the moment. Dreamworld was evacuated yesterday afternoon because an uncontrolled fire was threatening the car park and the Big Brother house (oh no!! Haha). It is reopening today. The fire is not out but not threatening the place any more. Late last night I could smell smoke in the air even though we are 30-40kms from Dreamworld. There were fires at Bribie Island on Friday too.

Nola, I share your grief, just remember we are always here for you.

I am home. Anita and I had a great time in the RV, chatting and watching DVDs. We had a lot of free time because the idiots we were meeting were 6 hours late getting there. We had so much fun that neither of us felt the least bit stressed from the wait. One of the horses we picked up had belonged to our dear friend Diane (who retired to Florida and sold her horses... this particular one was her favorite). She thought she had sold him to a really good home, but the woman turned out to be a fruitcake and the horse was afraid of her. Diane was miserable about it, so we got the horse back by trading it for another horse that this woman wanted. The other horse we picked up had belonged to a friend of Anita's. This friend sold it to friend of fruitcake #1. Fruitcake #2, the friend, never paid for it. So we brought it back to Anita's friend. Of course, Fruitcakes #1 and 2, and a friend traveling with them, told us a big lie as to why we were transporting the horse. We're both glad that we'll never see any of them again. Believe it or not, they were driving with a 9 foot long boa constrictor (5 inches in diameter!) loose in the truck with them!!! In freezing temperatures! All 3 women stunk to high heaven of snake.

Heidi - you do have some adventures!!
No mattresses this time??

Believe it or not, not a mattress in sight!

Oh, yeah.... Anita is terrified of snakes. Coming face to face with one that was nearly 3 meters long, and loose, was an unnerving experience.

Well I have done absolutely nothing today apart from dye my hair this morning. Took rain checks on visitors and been snoozing on and off in front of the TV. The soul should be regenerated tomorrow, sometimes you just need time out.
Luv and Hugs my friends.

Hi, Everyone!

Another long day and no time to read or write. Hope all is well! {{{{HUGS}}}}

Good Morning folks... Heidi...So much fun to read of your adventures when traveling...lol. I enjoy the experiences you get to share as much as the tales written for television. Thanks for bringing sunshine to my otherwise cloudy day. Not too much change of my physical condition...there most likely won't be until after the surgery, but I've had a bad night because Jazz had another seizure which has left him very confused,wakeful and walking a lot. I'm watching but not liking what I'm seeing right now. Hope there is a positive change soon.
Broni, I was also very happy to read that you have made a start in regaining you...keep it going.
Susy, and all who enjoy good books, I am reading 'The Almond Tree'. I got it as a free/bargain book...possibly paid $1.99. It is great. If you liked' The Kite Runner', you most likely will enjoy this one. Suzy...its about a youngster who grows up with Albert Einstein as his hero...lots of math equations are presented. It's set in 1955 and during the period of the Israeli/Palestinian uprisings. It delves into the history of the hateful period that preceded the wars that were fought. I don't remember if it's outright fiction or fact based, but it makes one really feel man's inhumanity to man none the less. I'd be interested in hearing others take on this if it is read.Let me know. Okay...going to try to shower now while the dog appears to be resting. Peace.

I slept all morning, then did a few RV related chores. I filled up it's tank with gas (I hate leaving a tank low when cold weather is setting in. It causes condensation in the tank, which changes to water, which damages the engine of the vehicle. If it's going to sit, it's going to sit with a full tummy.) Then I cleaned all of the perishables out of the fridge and freezer, and put them away in the house. Tomorrow I'll give it a thorough cleaning inside. I also stocked up on dog and cat food while I was out getting gas. Tomorrow morning... early... IH is going out of town for 2 days, spending one night here, then leaving for a few more days. It's going to be a fun week.

I thought my adventures on the road would be a distraction from all of the sadness here, Mamacita. I'm not trying to make light of them, and I feel for those being made unhappy, but I don't want to have people avoid this page, either, because of all the sad news. I figured that I needed to share some of the chaos and humor in my surreal life.
I hope the time passes swiftly until your surgery. And I hope the surgery is the complete answer to your problems. Poor Jazz. Problems like that are so hard on dogs. Izzy had a second small stroke, and she's really uncoordinated and confused now. It was on the other side of the brain, so she's no longer walking around with her head hard to one side, but I don't think she's aware of much.

Broni - I'm so glad you took a day to do nothing - it has been a stressful few weeks for you and hopefully that recharged your batteries somewhat. More big hugs for if/when you need them.
Mama - Who wrote 'The Almond Tree'? I've written on my list of books to look for.

Hi all. Just back from my day at Target. I do have fun there. I was training a new person and think I found a new partner in crime. We could be having some fun Dylan is going out tonight. It is the first of his classmates Bar Mitzvah. He has about 9 more coming up within the next year. It will be a busy year. My baby is growing up.

Broni, wish I could have been there for you but you know I was there in spirit.

Cyn, thank you for representing us at the funeral.

I'm glad you found an accomplice, Tami.

Cyn, Sorry to leave out the author's name...Michelle Cohen Corasanti wrote The Almond Tree. I do hope you enjoy it. I'm finding it hard to put down.
Heidi, I like the idea of having light stuff such as your road adventures to look forward to and agree that it helps us all smile more when we hear funny real life stuff.
Tami...watch out now...tt and an accomplice can mean lots of fun...Enjoy!
Jazz is spending the night in the hospital, but his picture looks a lot brighter for now. I hope to get some sleep and will know more tomorrow.

Afternoon all,

Broni, I'm glad you've had 'friend' time and 'me' time. I hope you are starting to feel better.

Good for you going to the movies June. I think you'd need it after all you've been up to. We've finally got some of the promised rain - 38mm.

MizT, I'm glad you were feeling well enough to go down to the show. I hope the rest made your back feel better after all the standing.

Nola, I'm glad things are finally starting to sort themselves out. It will be a huge relief for you when it is all done. ((((Hugs))))

Heidi, the fruitcakes can keep their snake...

Tami, I'm glad you're enjoying Target. If you're going to have to have a second job, and enjoyable one is probably a must if you're going to survive it!

Mamacita, more gentle hugs to you and Jazzy.