Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

''If you can't convince them, confuse them.''
Harry Truman

If someone is interested in reading the story in our local paper, the link is:

http://www.laruecountyherald.com/content/farmer-closer-dream-returning-work

I've been telling you the word-of-mouth story. Some facts may vary from the published version.

Hi, Everyone!

Great TOPP, Heidi!

Finally feel asleep after 5 am this morning and up at 7:30. I called to let Quartet Strings conductor know I wouldn't make it to class today. Couldn't imagine driving there, 3 hours of class and driving home. (Read on to find out why I would have to drive.) Was able to get about an hour of nap (instead of practicing), but realized I just didn't have the energy for total of 1 1/2 to 2 hours of driving and 1 hour of lesson, so reluctantly called my cello teacher to tell her I wouldn't be able to have my lesson today.

Hubby has added pain below his left knee to the cold and cough. He can barely move it and actually lifts his leg with his hands (to get into bed or get situated in the chair), though we made a quick grocery necessity run this evening and he walked slowly with me. We both THINK we remember him hitting it against the end of the bed a few days ago, but not completely sure on that and no bruise evident. Based on Mr. Google search, I don't think it's related to DVT. All I can say is this getting old is NOT for the weak and infirm.

So nice to see posts from many posting!

Hi, Midge! So glad to see that you have been able to enjoy some time away! Just wish you were feeling better to enjoy it even more!

Enjoy your celebration of Richard's birthday at the pub, Brenda!

Lots from June! (I like the sound of the fairy book and reading it to Laura.)

MizT, great idea to try to educate the other residents about proper 'toileting' of their dogs!

Hooray! Heidi has her new teeth implanted and shrubs planted while IH is away for a couple of days.

Mama, I hope both you and Jazz benefited from his overnight stay! May you both enjoy many more pleasurable experiences!

My apologies to Heidi, MizT and any others with whom I have shared my cold!

Sorry, I don't remember who else posted and would need to go to previous page to refresh my remember. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed reading posts from everyone and hope the rest of you can stay healthy!

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

Mama, of course we can read your posts..no challenge there you beautiful Lady.
Julie, do you still feel like you are wagging school, missing your lesson? I am happy that you had a little time to yourself to at least read and comment with your friends. I missed your cold/flu Julie but my boss was trying to give me hers, that Betadine Gargle seems to have helped.
Heidi, how are the teeth and your body after planting all those bambooish thingys?
Thanks for your kind thoughts June, thought after the funeral I could grieve and move along, not looking that way but am taking it one day at a time and looking after myself.
Midge, sounding you are taking what life offers. Good onya Girl!
Brenda that 'pub' looked rather swisho!
Now have 3 days off and planning on sleeping in, I wish(Bella will never let that happen) I have things I should do but they will be done in my time.
Love and Hugs to you all.

Julie, thankfully it was not me who caught your cold. Hope you are soon over yours, and that you find the cause of hubby's sore knee. If it is bad enough he needs to move it with his hands, perhaps he should see a doc? Make sure it is not something serious and that just rest will make it well again.

Broni, you cannot plan when and how you will grieve. It is different for each person and in same person depending on who you are grieving for. I hope that makes sense. Just manage day by day for now, and be gentle with yourself. When one has to 'be strong' to manage the final details of a loved one, it is then sometimes difficult to get to the grieving part. Huge hugs to you, keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Heidi, it is so wonderful that help is coming for your neighbor. I hope he gets through the therapy and soon has his new legs. He sounds like he will not let this get him down.

We had our second night of below freezing temps, but it is warming now, should get above freezing in another couple of hours. Plants are covered again, I will go down once it warms and uncover, and then take back outside the few I put inside. forecast for the next week is no freezing temps. We might still have blooming summer flowers for Thanksgiving. the pansies are looking good also, a lot of blooms to cheer me, and I can see the pansies from my windows.

coffee is at the ready, time for a cup and then get my day started. I need to go upstairs for the sloshy thing, hate to even think about it, but it is needed. that should take care of my morning.

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

IH has not noticed the 20 new shrubs planted in full view of the front gates. He was here all morning yesterday so had every opportunity. Later today I'll be moving the RV back in the yard alongside the shrubs, blocking his view of most of them.
I am suffering no aftereffects of the planting spree. That's because I took a lot of breaks while planting, to rest the back.

I have to go pick up more seed for my lovebirds, cockatiels, Green Cheeked Conures, Plum Headed Parakeets and Splendid Parakeets. I also need to get grain for Sere. She needs it 'cause she's putting everything into Pandora, still. Pandora is a chunky girl.

Heidi, I imagine nursing mothers of any species benefit from more, better food. When our kitty was nursing 4 kittens, I had to put her back on kitten chow, it is more nutrient dense. Otherwise she could not eat enough regular cat food to keep up with her needs.

Flowers survived the night once again. While out, I talked to one of the residents, one who has a dog but takes him outside to the back grassy area 'except when it is pouring rain, then I let him go in the shade garden. I personally think it is better for a plant to get peed on than for a 74 year old to get soaking wet taking her dog out to pee.' She later asked if I had ever seen any damage to plants from dog urine. She was surprised when I told her yes, and I could show her 2 plants now that were damaged, and one had completely died and is gone, from urine damage. This from someone I thought would be an ally here about the plants, she loves the flowers I have put out. You see what I am up against here with plants and dogs. They do not understand that urine is high nitrogen, and it will burn plants just as too much fertilizer would.

Oh well. I remember reading in an article about notable gardens of Europe, one gardener was quoted as saying: 'The secret to a beautiful garden was to plant faster than things die.' We will just have to replace plants that get damaged in that garden. But what I would love to do is turn on the sprinklers in that garden whenever I see someone taking a dog out there hehehe. Not just being mean to the dog owners because diluting the dog urine would benefit the plants. Honest.

Heidi, I did not expect Gil to notice the new shrubs. He lives in his own world I think.

Well, I've been to town to pick up the bird food and horse food. This is not the town nearest us, but the big town in the next county, Elizabethtown. I don't plan on using the RV for a few days, so it's parked back inside the yard with the Collies. Now I get to go feed Sere and Pandora.

Off to bed. IH is back home and wants me to help him take the rental back in at 9 the morning. To me, that's almost night still.

Hi all,
An 'exciting' couple of days here. Let's see if I can catch up.

Julie, I hope as I read I find you are feeling better. This is when long distance hugs are a good thing (for me, not you, self-interest all the way when it comes to colds and flu). Dana goes out on the balcony to smoke. She can see the kids and the smoke doesn't go near them. She has cut down a lot but her closest friends smoke and I doubt she will be able to quit altogether while she is spending a lot of time with them. Alie was very uncomfortable with her 'fans'. She said it was weird and her face showed she didn't mean in a good way.

June, I just walked out to the lounge room to tell Don your Zooey Deschanel story. Alie's been hearing it for a while now but hadn't looked for any photos of Zooey. This weekend Don showed her one and she said 'I look nothing like her'. We let it go...

The fairy book sounds wonderful!

Brenda, I hope as I go to see more about your trip away. I've seen photos on TOS, but this page seems to encourage more information...

Heidi, just like you to dig holes for shrubs even knowing you would pay later with back pain. I guess it's really the only way to have a life with a chronic condition.

Midge, you have been a busy little beaver. I love your 'say no to nothing' motto. Your trips sound wonderful!! Bushfires in october and snow in November - just proves what a big country this is. I think I know what you mean about walking away from an exhibition. I had a similar experience with a book in my 20's. When I went to school we were taught nothing about the indigenous culture or the history. This book was set somewhere in the outback and talked about segregating the black men and women. I couldn't accept that this had happened, it hurt my heart, and I had to put the book down.

MizT, we don't lost numbers that quickly over here. Alie has gone 2 months without credit and not lost hers. We can even contact her, she just can't contact us. I'm not sure how long that lasts though. I hope it works out with your new doc! That will be a worry gone. 2 hours for a first appointment! I don't think I've heard of that before. What a sensible idea!

Your dog story was horrible! How inconsiderate, thoughtless and just plain gross!

Mamacita, good to hear that you are feeling a little better. Hopefully your surgery will have you feeling well again.. I was going to word that differently but am learning that once you get to a certain age and have had certain problems, that carefree, not a worry in the world health thing is gone forever.

We've been stuck at home a lot because Don has been working on stuff around the house. I think I'm going to suggest we take every other weekend off so we can do something. We're coming into summer so trips to the beach sound like a good idea - as long as it is a beach with shade along the edge.

Up to this page...
Julie, sorry to hear about your lack of sleep. I was glad to hear that you didn't go to lessons in that condition! I hope your husband's knee is better soon. It sounds incredibly painful and restricting.

Broni, a day at a time is the only way to go. I'll be going along fine and then I'll want to ask mum a question or something and I'll be low for a while. Spoiling Broni for 3 days sounds like the perfect plan. I actually find that if I give myself permission to do nothing I often get more done than I would have otherwise. But you have to really mean it when you give yourself permission and then if you do things, do things that you have been wanting to do but haven't because they are lower down the list than the things you have to do.

Up to my anecdotes:
I've worked 3 days this week, all in science. It has been busy. Yesterday after work I took Dana and the kids up town to pick up one of her Xmas laybys, only they couldn't find it. I then delivered her to a friend's place for a BBQ.

The phone rang at 12.30. Tahli had fallen and hit her head and, after a few hours, was now throwing up and holding her neck and saying ow. Don took them to the hospital and stayed until Tahli was admitted for the night. He went instead of me because he is over protective and wanted me to get some sleep before I went to work today. Of course I couldn't sleep until he got home and then some so I might as well have gone myself. Tahli is home now, though she threw up again a half an hour ago so Dana is watching her and will call for another ride to the hospital if she can't keep liquid down. (That is what the hospital told her to do).

Poor little Tahli. I hope she feels better soon. That sounds like a really nasty blow to the head.

IH noticed the shrubs this morning!!! And he loves them.

Yesterday when I was feeding Sere, her daughter Pandora decided to spin and kick me. I now have a near-black bruise on my leg 7'' by 4'', ( 17.8 cm by 10.2 cm) and that knee is on the warpath. I'm having to use a cane to walk. I feel like going back to bed... but I have a few errands to run.

I have now segued from cane to crutches. My leg is not exactly trustworthy right now.

Hi, Everyone! Just a quick visit this evening. Hubby went to the doctor today. I went along, in case he lost his voice while talking. Seems my cold is coming to an end more quickly than his, but then, he is immune-suppressed. I have been able to lie in bed and sleep much of the night the past two nights. His cough didn't seem to get worse at night, so he has been able to sleep in bed every night. He and dr. agreed that it was time to start an antibiotic. His knee is getting better. Sometimes I think he has a tendency to make more of things than they are, but it's really hard to tell for sure.

Broni, take time for yourself! I'm glad you'll be able to have a few days. I like Suzy's advice to give yourself permission to do nothing.

Suzy, I enjoyed your newsy posts. I hope Tahli will feel much better soon. That must be scary for her and for Dana. Things happen so quickly with little ones, even when you're right there with them.

Heidi, I'm glad you didn't suffer for the digging/planting of your new shrubs! Unfortunately, Pandora's kick to your leg sounds very painful (far more painful than my hubby's leg, I'm sure). Please take care of yourself!

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to last. Take care, everyone! Sending , {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing vibes, prayers and positive thoughts to everyone!

The bruise is now 9'' x 5''. And it's added a few more colors.

Gekko my friends.
Heidi, you attract accidents I am sure but sure feel for you and your leg, ouch!
Zusy, how is Dana and the two little ones? Did they ever find her layby?
Julie, it is called 'man flu' whatever the condition, no one has EVER been suffering as much as a man!
Mama, glad you are feeling a little better.
Have posted the Contemplation Pictures of Maz on Youtube if anyone is interested, this was just one of the many stuff ups that never happened on the day. I think they are joyful and sorry Cyn did not cut you out. http://youtu.be/g4ug6kehYRs
Been another rough kinda day, her children are as useless as breasts on a bull, so it is all up to me again.(Thought the other word might get me kicked off hehe!).
Luv and Hugs, my friends. Stay safe and well.

Broni, sorry to hear it isn't over yet. [Heart]

I hope the hail isn't hitting Broni or Cyn

Suzy, I guess Tahli is OK. Little ones with concussion are scary.
We had a storm last night and a blocked gutter. I ended up with water going into the sunroom and also some in the kitchen. Gutter now cleared!
With the rain I have been able to dig down into a front garden bed. I had slowly been removing the bulbs from the onion weed and then the soil was too dry and hard to dig. Still some work to do but it will look much better when it is finished.
I got our my Christmas cards again today but have procrastinated and still have not started them!
I have made three large sago plum puddings and put them away in the freezer for the Bowling club Christmas party next month. Slowly also working on the entertainment. I have a few ideas under way. No one else comes up with any suggestions.
All that is why I am not here as much.

Julie, hope you and hubby are both soon feeling better. Colds are so debilitating.
Heidi, sorry about the kick from the foal. like all youngsters they are still learning. Hope you are soon able to walk again without aids.
Nandinas make a good screen. I have some tall ones but also a small variety which has some nice red leaves.

Sorry Broni but I could not get the Youtube to work. With all you have done for Maz, you certainly do not need more hassles. Please look after yourself.

Morning friends. It is a grey cloudy damp kind of day today, a copy of yesterday but so far, without yesterday's rain. Of course this is not the weather my old bones like, so I am moving slowly today. At the moment meds working nicely, and I would really like to go back to sleep, but need to use the pain free times to get a few chores done. I did visit the sloshy thing room yesterday, finished 2 loads, folded or on hangers, but they have not yet been put away. One chore for today.

Suzy, it was funny that you did not recognize Daniels little squeals and squeaks. He has a vocabulary all his own, eh?

Heidi, I do hope your leg begins to improve. that bruise sounds painful. Be careful on your crutches, and do not let them plus the collies cause another accident. One colorful area of body is enough at a time, please.

Only took Gil 3 days to notice the new shrubs? He is doing pretty good. Nice of him to like them. That's the least he could do after all the work you did getting them in place

Julie, hope you and hubby both get better quickly. It seems most of the colds, upper respiratory infections are hanging on a long time, from what I hear from residents here who have had them. maybe it is because we are all a bit older now, and nothing happens as fast as i8t once did??

June, I had the smaller nandinas like the ones you wrote about. the red leaves sure did add interest.

Looks as if we should h=still have summer flowers in bloom for thanksgiving! the forecast does not have any freezing weather in the 10 day forecast. I do need to get out and put some Pansies that one of the staff bought into pots. she was coming in last weekend for us to get them done, but did not make it. I have not talked to her about putting them into containers, we talked about putting them in the g round out near the alley, a nice sunny spot there, but I cannot do that without help. I can get them into containers, and I have 2 now that are empty of flowers. Coleus did not survive the freeze. I took cuttings to try to overwinter some again this year, in my sunny window. I think today I might put those pansies into the containers, then put the containers where we talked about putting the pansies in the ground. Can always be moved if she wants to later.

OK, coffee is ready, I need some breakfast and to get my day started.

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

I already had some of the smaller Nandinas in front of the house, and a large clump of the bigger ones behind the house next to the fish pond. I think Nandinas are a landscaper's dream. They're interesting to look at year around, and their berries are flamboyant. I once entered a photo I took, of a big clump of Nandina berries after an ice storm, into a photo contest at the State Fair. It didn't win anything, but got a lot of admiration.

The bruise continues to expand, but the color has gotten lighter. It's now a lovely shade of plum with grape speckles. At least I can walk on the leg today.

Broni.... That YouTube was exceptional! You did a great job. The love you have for Maz really shone through, especially with the great choice of music. It really doesn't matter that it wasn't ready in time for the service. The people who care for both of you can see it now.

Today is grey and slightly damp out, but warm enough to wear a Tee shirt. It's supposed to be like this for a few more days, then back to freezing temperatures. I'm gonna enjoy it while I can.

Broni, I did get to see the YouTube. A wonderful tribute to Maz.

Another damp day. my garden is very happy. Ken is playing in a bowls competition this morning so he is hoping there is no heavy rain before lunchtime.

Today I have read 3 articles by researchers, each saying they found the cause of fibro. Now, if one of them would just go one step further and find an effective treatment! Today went downhill for me, I have hurt most of the day, bummer. Meds are just not working today and I am tired of hurting!

I did not get pansies planted. I did get clothes hung, and made some yummy potato salad and put some BBQ sauce on some baked chicken. together they made a tasty lunch. gotta eat, hurting or not, so something easy was the way to go today. Dinner will be a bowl of beef stew and some kind of fruit for desert.

Enough whining, thanks for letting me vent. three and a half weeks till doc appointment with the new doc, hope he has some new tricks. this fibro flare has been like an energizer bunny, it just keeps on going and going and going.

Hugs to each of you, with extras.

I hope you feel better soon, Tricia, and have a comfy wait until your appointment (and after it!)

Only a few days to go, Mama. My fingers are already crossed for you.

We're going to have company for Thanksgiving this year!!! I love cooking for company, even tho' it's only 2 extra people... Don & Barb.

Empty house! For a few minutes at least. Dana and the kids were supposed to leave from our house to go to a 21st up the road but were too ill. Dana threw up all night while Daniel slept beside our bed and Tahli slept on the lounge. Alie was at a friend's house in Sydney. Now Dana and the kids are going home and Alie is being picked up from the train station.

I love my grandkids!

Broni - a lovely tribute to Maz! Such a shame that we couldn't see it on the day.
Heidi - glad you can walk on the leg today despite the colour of the bruising.
Julie - hope you're both feeling better soon.
Suzy - how is Tahli now? I did see a pic of her waiting for Santa yesterday, so assumed she was recovering. (How did she like Santa??)
Big hugs to Mama, MizT, Broni, Julie, Tahli and all who need them

Family dinner at a local Pasta restaurant tonight for Em's birthday. It was on Friday but because it was her weekend to go to her Mum's, we couldn't do it until tonight.
She had her party for her friends last weekend.
I gave her a pair of orange Vans shoes - very popular with tweenies - and expensive. Told her to wear them everywhere before she grows out of them! Tonight I'll give her the rest tonight - a piece of Mod Podge art I did for her in Mauve and silver.

Broni, I watched the video and it was wonderful. What a shame it didn't work on the day. I wanted to say so underneath, but youtube wouldn't let me unless I signed up for Google+.

Heidi, I read your article too. I hope that man is able to keep his farm going and without the chain of heavy debt dragging him down. Glad to hear you are able to walk now. I'm pretty sure running a farm on one leg would be close to impossible!

June, that onion weed just multiplies if you can't get the bulbs out completely. You've reminded me to check ours before the soil dries out again. I suspect nobody comes up with ideas because they are intimidated by how good yours are!

MizT, how frustrating! Wishing you more even weather so your pain levels go down. I keep reading things about MS and it is always that they have discovered something that could revolutionise treatment, and maybe a cure, but it is only ever the first step, the treatment and cure are still years away. Probably too late for my niece. (It feels funny to call he that, I think she is actually a year or two older than me). I've even read of a potential cure for Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Also probably ready for my grandkids, and probably not as good as they hope.

Julie, a bad case of man flu? It is hard to tell with others, but your suspicions are probably right if he is sleeping okay. I'm glad you are feeling a little better.

Tahli is a lot better. A little grumpier than usual and not as steady on her feet, but she had a ball at the Santa event. Not that she cared a whit about Santa, she loved being around the other kids.

Daniel had a bit of trouble with gas after his last feed here. I was holding him and rubbing his back etc as Dana is still sort of sick. After a while I held in more in my arms and just rocked him. He fixed the gas problem - all over me, projectile style! Dana congratulated me on not joining him.

Alie made friends on the way home from Sydney. An old man (probably 60 - and yes, dad gave her a hard time over the 'old') who didn't speak much English. She gave him a Twix so he gave her 2 nougat thingys'. She gave him something else so he gave her a whole bag of muffins! They have raisins in them so I get them all..

Hi, Friends!

Heidi, now THAT's a bruise! I bet you aren't complaining as much as my hubby did about his knee.

Broni, I think you're right. Regardless of the symptoms, it's still man-flu. I know he has a compromised immune system, but as I remember back to early in our marriage when his immune system was 'normal,' it was still man-flu whenever he got a cold, etc.

I just tried Broni's link, and it worked for me, so I'm reposting it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4ug6kehYRs&feature=youtu.be

Broni, it was a very touching group of photos. I just double-checked and realized that the 'address' that came up when I pressed 'Enter' after pasting the address you posted is longer than what you posted. Hopefully it will work for June and any others!

June, you are so organized! Plum puddings made and in the freezer, getting our Christmas cards and planning the entertainment for the bowling club!

Now, as I read further, I see that June and Heidi have seen the youtube posting. Broni, you did such a wonderful job with that. Hopefully it will be appreciated!

MizT, I hope you'll soon feel better - and have no more flares as you wait for the appointment with the new doctor! You got a lot done in spite of feeling poorly!

I have looked at pictures of nandinas and would like to include them somewhere in our yard, but need to do more research. I suspect we get too cold for them here.

MizT, if researchers feel they have identified the cause of fibro, it would seem to be a 'relatively' short time until an effective treatment can be found. Keeping fingers crossed!

Mama, thinking of you and praying that surgery will be a breeze and you will soon be feeling much better!

Heidi, I'm glad you like cooking for guests, and glad you will have such pleasant company for Thanksgiving!

Cyn, your grandies are growing so quickly! I hope Emily loves her new Vans. (I think that's the brand that kids here consider think of as 'skater' shoes - worn by the popular skate boarders.

Suzy, I hope Tahli has completely recovered from her fall! I also hope she, Daniel and Dana all are on the mend from the bug they shared - and hope they didn't share it with the rest of you!

I should be in bed, but wanted to finish here. Hubby and I are both much better. He even told me his leg felt good enough that he could walk up and down stairs normally, instead of one foot at a time/both feet on each step.

I'm sure I have forgotten someone, but am too tired to go back and check. Sending lots of positive and happy thoughts, healing vibes, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and for all!

Thank you all for watching the video and your kind comments, she was my sister and we grew up together. It is hitting me hard but I have to be strong to settle everything and that will take a couple of months. Just so good to come here to vent.
Luv and Hugs my friends.

Bloody Hell, just googled Vans shoes and they are canvas sneakers and the price???.... eeek Cyn!

Happy Sunday Morning here.. I'm feeling much better thankfully...after having lab work done for my surgery prep, I was told to go to my Primary right away and get meds to help with the sinus infection and other respiratory symptoms so that I'd be in good shape for Thursday...and it's working well.Just 4 more sleeps...a bit nervous, but looking forward too.
I had a very special night out Friday...My son and a group of his friends dating back to the start of high school...40 years ago decided to honor their Mothers since many of us have been having health problems recently. They took us to diner in a very posh restaurant, wined and dined us and presented us with plaques, cards and verbal thanks and appreciation for our having raised them, supported their friendship and saw each of them as a son by another mother. Oh I can't begin to tell you the thrill it was to receive those roses while still here to appreciate them. We were very proud moms and most grateful to the great men we call son.
To those who have been sharing ailments with me, I hope you now are sharing feeling better time too. Heidi...stop hurting yourself girl...it hurts me too...lol...glad the leg is better. Julie, yes, most likely man flu...but the guys try to be so strong in other ways I think its okay to spoil them a bit even when we too are under the weather...we know we are the stronger of the two anyway.... .
Broni...the love and emotion of your tribute to Maz was loud and clear...and of course you are dealing with so much right now that you know when you are pass the necessary work involved with death, you will be punched out from it all....We are happy to be your props and to try to help by standing shoulder to shoulder....and as weak as some of us may be...together we are strong and united in helping you find peace within as you need it. I believe that there is a reason and season for everything and when we are in need, as we each have been, we have come together and feel the sunshine and joy that each has been able to bring into this group....We are family in the important ways even though we don't share the blood...but the love is there. Peace all...God walks with us always.