I was sitting in my office feeling that heaviness that the common American worker is apt to feel on Monday mornings. And then long and behold an employee called me to ask me about the mechanics of taking a family medical leave. She told me that this morning her husband was diagnozed with cancer. He had just completed a six week stay in the Hospital for something else. This of course is just one event in the midst of her very chaotic life. When I hung up the phone I thought how ridiculous it would be for me to complain right now about work. Her call put everything back into perspective and I decided to try and enjoy the day as much as I possibly can.
I don't believe that we should continually dismiss our own feelings based on others' tragedies, but the way the events unfolded this morning, I gained a much needed perspective - at least for today
Thanks so much Diana for your tip on Route 101. I appreciate your time. I also want everyone to know that I was not the one to encourage Sid to be the pestering little brother demanding that all his sisters respond to the questions about road trips in CA. Little brothers are great for pestering sisters don't you think. Just ask Nina, she can tell you all about it.
:) Yes,   I go to work out this a.m. We had rain yesterday, but now the sun is out. I think of you walking to work this morning. Working out is really tough. Love, Bopcha I heard from KC yesterday. She is checking out the job in Omaha after she finishes her current assjgnment.
The smiley face was made by you alright, remember you do not see it until you save the message. You can not have a space between the : ) or else you get : ) and not . It was a beautiful day today but still probably not as nice as Oregon
Oh the sad face is just : ( with no space in between
Puzzle--who put the smileyl face on my last transmission. ? It wasn't me. Now, tell me,
Sid, how did you put the sad face on the web? Curious! Bopcha By the way, tell your friend, do not travel early in the morning on either route. That is when all the heavy trucks are rolling and they are less than polite to the unfortunate ordinary vehicles. I mean the really early morning hours, like 4 a.m. Love
You would think that I would know the scenic routs but it seems I have spent the majority of my life ignoring California. The farm computer is slow so Judi gets a pass and our other sister is limited to what she can post. It looks like I will have to direct my wrath at The Other Other sister.. Yes That would be you Kay - Forgotten how to sign on have you?
Bopcha,
Well done on the smiley face and degree sign ° I had all the faith in the world.
Sid. I am not ignoring Sandra's inquiry! Oh ye of little faith! At the time of the first request, I simply figured that two of my sisters who had actually LIVED in California might respond. After the second request, I went on line to see if anything rang a bell with me and then, after figuring out that the only thing I could recommend would be 101, which I'm sure Sandra's friend could easily figure out, and not wanting to insult her intelligence, I emailed Kay and told her to go on the blog so that she could make a recommendation.
The trip Bill and I took to Humboldt State is farther north than Sacramento and Davis, so our two routes would not be helpful. The first cuts over from Grants Pass to Crescent City and then down to Eureka (through the Redwoods) and the second cut over to Redding from Eureka. Both were beautiful drives (going there was better than coming back, however). Neither are in the area Sandra's friend is going to travel.
I think hugging the coast is the best. The inside is pretty much dessert or huge agricultural flatlands as far as I know. The coastal route will be slow as the dickens, but at least it is beautiful.
So, Banana head, there is my much anticipated response.
Bopcha, you asked about the smiley faces. Not difficult to do. All you have to do is type in:
: which is the colon symbol and then type the right parenthesis symbol, which is the )
So : )
or without the space
I separated the two symbols because if you type them next to each other yor get a smiley face automatically when it posts on the blog. While you are typing these two symbols in the entry box, the smiley face will not appear. But it will show up once it gets posted.
Diana, you really are so popular and you have a very interesting life - full of diverse activity.
It really would not be hard to fill up the day with interesting activity if it were not necessary to work. I am sure you all agree.
If you hold down the "Alt" key (It is to the left of the space bar) and type 0176 on the number pad (The number lock has to be on) and then let go of the "Alt" key
You get ° How about that!!
I will let Sandra tell you how she gets the happy faces, I'm sort of interested myself.
I'm looking forward to meeting Meredith.
Love Sid
PS
Does Judi have any suggestions on the drive from Sacramento, LA, San Diego?? Sandra has a friend who will be renting a car and driving alone and is interested in a "scenic route"
Judi and I sprayed Canada Thistle this morning. It is growing very well. We also cut down Scotch Bloom. It is beginning to bloom so can't stay hidden.
Thank you, Sid & Sandra for the pretty card of the flowers and an artist's conception of bees. Which reminds me, where is the degree sign on the keyboard, and where do those happy faces come from?
Kay's son's (Joey - the nurse) daughter, Meredith, is applying to get her master's degree in nursing from Penn! She is graduating this year from John's Hopkins with honors (I can't remember the actual name of the program, but it is medicine related). She got her Batchelors in Florida. What a bright and ambitious young woman!
This week is really busy. For instance, today I have to take a final auction item to Seattle U (a beautiful bowl and spoon made by a local Mercer Island artist), get a manicure and pedicure (Mother's Day gift from JB and Noah), and then do two hours of weeding at the church. Oh, and work on a brief here at work, too.
Tomorrow I have a CLE (continuing legal education) class all day, and then the Seattle U auction that evening.
I watched the National Spelling bee last night, WOW!! Can those kids spell. sheeesh.
Glad to hear the Canadian thistle has been sprayed, it sure is a nuisance. Lamb Kidneys... I don't think I have ever had the pleasure. Diana probably scarffed them down be for I could get to them.. Ahhh well.
Another beautiful day in Philadelphia but they say some storms are rolling on in.
Oh, A Wharton Grad is going to be our next mayor..
The good feelings keep continuing. My neighbor, in the middle apartment, was locked out of her house. So I loaned them my extension ladder at the side of the house, and we extended it to the high windows on the second floor, she popped the screen, and went in head first, and came down the stairs inside and opened the door. She was so relieved. I went to the farm this morning, it was beautiful, and sprayed the Canada Thistle at the bottom of the hill. It is supposed to be effective within 24 hours. Judi made some delicious pate' from some lamb kidneys I had received at the Gleaners where I work. My Mother's Day good feelings continue. Love, Bopcha
