This is KC's address in Nebraska: 10912 156th St. Louisville, NE 68037. Her cell phone number is the same as before: 719 649 740.
Today is a going to be a hot day according to the weather report. It will be almost 90° . It doesn't usually reach that temperature until about 4:00 p.m. Tomorrow will be a little hotter! Then it cools down the next few days.
I go to the Clinic this a.m. to have my finger punched again to see if my blood is too thick or too thin. It has to be a certain balance.
At one of the machines I tried on my own while waiting for my class, I was exhausted after one minute, the next time I tried two minutes and barely got through, and then I thought I would try for three minutes, and I couldn't make it. I tried to figure out why this was so difficult for me. Judi and I figured out it was a machine to build up endurance for CROSS COUNTRY SKIING. In other words, you kept your feet on the 'ground' and just moved them back and forth. I will keep trying for the three minutes and now that I know what the problem is maybe I will succeed. The movements are governed by ones own willingness to move at slow or fast speeds so there is no danger in hurting myself. It just surprised me that it took so much energy!
Thank you Sandra for your encouragement. I looked in the spinning class but I am not
about to try for that. The class for Seniors that I take part in is difficult enough. Hopefully, I am building up some positive assets that I can take with me into the future.
I guess I started work at about age 12, maybe 10. Sunday paper routes, washing dishes, office cleaning, fruit stand, delivery man, repair man, cook, salesman, construction, you name it. My parents worked all the time. In their marriage they owned 2 restaurants, a catering business and always held a full time job. It was inevitable for them to go into business together, since as children, they shared the same outhouse. My Dad loves telling the story of their Honeymoon night, when he tried to blow out the lightbulb in their Florida Sweet 'force of habit'. And like them, with all my jobs, I never stopped dreaming of owning my own business......... Now I do........
I've just spent 3 weeks, 7 days a week, 12 to 14 hour days, hunched in a number of well houses, damp wet and loaded with bugs, retrofitting pipe. The Department of Environmental Protection required our newest company to be modified for compliance and gave us a deadline. At the end of my torcherous experience we passed and exceeded standards. Yahoo! Meanwhile, we had 3 water line breaks, monthly sampling, routine duties, service calls, monthly meter reading and billing, equipment to repair, lawns to mow, truck repairs and meetings to be had. Sometimes I wish I never gave up that paper route. But in retrospect, and for healthy thinking, I always remind myself, and with the help of NPR, of how very fortunate I am not to be suffering like so so many are, at this very moment.
I see it was a pretty busy month in the blog. Sandra, you reminded me I missed my niece's birthday again June 27th, ( she reminds me every year ). Sid, we've conversed in Email and I still think summer sausage would be a great way to hold us over until winter, if not I definitely would like a copy of the psychology paper on trading. Bopcha, I briefly tried to find usuable sheet music online for the ' Johnnycake Man ', since I would like a copy of it to play on my guitar. I'll keep working on it. You know, my late Aunt Catherine was nurse for a woman in Devon PA. who obtained wealth thru show horses, unitl she passed away, ( moved on Diana ). She left most of her fortune to her cats as well. I can't remeber the woman's name. I'll find out. Speaking of cats my ex-dog Daisy is happy as can be and living with Rex, neither are fixed, so if anyone reading this wish for a pure bread toy jack russell terrier it a may be just a matter of time. We've had new animal additions to the house this month, Colleen my girlfriend now has Freido, Sonny, Tom and Vito, button quale's. She wants to have baby quale's, which I will admit are so tiny and cute and I kid her "delicious as well."
Anyway best to all and I hope I am not so busy this August so to write more.
Joe
.............As for all the hubbub about Friday the Thirteenth, I was born on a Friday the Thirteenth and we'll leave it at that
We are just getting ready for the grind again this week, although it should not be so bad as I am trying to catch up on work. It is definitely more pleasant when I don't feel behind in my work load. Although, it doesn't happen very often that I am actually caught up because each time I complete something, three more things appear to replace it. Though I can't complain too much, it's still pretty good.
Diana you will have to post a picture or two of Tory's patio. That does sound really nice and it sounds like Tory is really settling in. I gather she lives right in Seattle? It is such a great city that there are probably lots of good areas to live in.
Bopcha, good work on the exercising. Hope you enjoyed it, and you are a trooper to keep exercising. It takes determination doesn't it? Sid told me about Murray's adventure to India. Will he be there for an extended period of time? I think the trip will provide perspective to his own life in the US that he has never had before, which I think is the case for anyone who goes into a completely different culture. Gaining perspective is never a negative experience.
Hopefully he will take on some of KC's tendency toward taking lots of beautiful pictures.
I am up and about, which means I am going to exercise and wander down to the Farmers Market. There is a cloud cover this morning but it is going to warm up this afternoon. I enjoyed talking to Sid this morning. He is really enthused about Murray going to India. It gave me a whole new view point. Our people love to travel so we shouldn't consider it unusual at all. Anyway I wiish I could attend
Tory's picnic. That would be so much fun! I am off to the races! Love, Bopcha
It is Saturday morning and I'm in my p.j.s sipping my delicious coffee. Bill and I are headed to church this morning to weed and otherwise get the grounds under control. Sadly the grounds are large and have tons of plants around which many weeds are dancing. We have a new minister (a 50 ish woman), and we want to give her some indication of support. Weeding is easier than actually saying anything. Women ministers are not unusual in the Methodist church, but they still have different challenges than do male ministers. Some congregants are just not used to a woman on the pulpit.
We are having a Seattle family get together on Sunday, August 12. Tory is hosting at her new condo's outdoor patio, complete with gas grill. Should be delightful.
The news about Norm Maleng is very sad and it sounds like many have been touched by this tragedy. I can't believe this family also experienced the death of their daughter. Wow, that is a lot to take in one lifetime isn't it. I hope his wife will be okay but she will certainly go through a very rough period.
Bopcha, I'm happy to hear that the chickens are doing their thing. I'm sure they are enjoying the nice sunny days.
Well I'm off to a meeting, so I will check in later.
Noah is at work, but he does not earn enough to get a haircut! Jess took this photo today. Noah works at "A Territory Beyond." It is in the same mall Jess works in.
The title is misleading. Today was routine. I went to Repac and at the end came home with a case for sunglasses, no sunglasses inside, and a package of gumdrops. Then I went to the farm, the wind was cool, the sun was hot, the chickens were doing their thing, Judi left for Tacoma last night. Tomorrow is exercise day, and also a meeting at 6 p.m. with the Siuslaw National Forest people. They are trying to put together a plan for managing the Marys Peak area. Now you know what an exciting life I lead. Lots of love, Bopcha
Bill's boss, Norm Maleng, was truly a giant of a man. Here's a little bit about him and his sudden death on May 24, 2007:
King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng died Thursday night of a heart attack after collapsing at the University of Washington.
Maleng, 68, was attending an event at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture when he collapsed.
He was rushed to the hospital after paramedics were called to the university about 7:20 p.m. While doctors tried to revive him, a number of Seattle and King County officials, including Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, Sheriff Sue Rahr and County Executive Ron Sims, arrived at the hospital.
Family members and personal friends also gathered at the hospital in tears, and a statement was issued just after 10:30 p.m., confirming Maleng's death.
He was pronounced dead at 9:11 p.m., a hospital statement said. "He arrived to Harborview's Emergency Department in full cardiac arrest. He underwent nearly one hour of ongoing CPR and resuscitative efforts," the statement said.
Just before 11 p.m., the Maleng family issued this statement: "Norm Maleng was a loving husband and father, a man who led with integrity and a deep sense of justice. He was a giant of a man."
He had been attending a Nordic Heritage Museum event at the time he collapsed.
Maleng was elected prosecutor in 1978, having risen through the ranks after starting as a deputy prosecuting attorney. He had led the department since, building it into a department with more than 240 deputy prosecutors.
Prominent Seattle defense attorney John Wolfe called Maleng a unique man who "enhanced justice in King County."
"He made his decisions not only with his head, but with his heart," Wolfe said. "Each of his decisions reflected not only his character, but his courage."
King County Council chairman Larry Gossett, who was at the hospital when news of Maleng's death was confirmed, praised Maleng as "the consummate servant of the public" with an enduring passion for the people's business.
"The legacy and shoes of Norm Maleng will never be filled, and his legacy will last forever," Gossett said.
Gossett said Maleng's family members told him the prosecutor had been in good health. His death, Gossett said, came as a complete shock.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels extended condolences to Maleng's wife and son, calling the prosecutor's death "a great loss."
"Norm was unquestionably one of the finest public servants in our state's history," Nickels said in a statement. "His commitment to justice with humanity is unmatched."
Raised on a Whatcom County dairy farm, Maleng graduated from the University of Washington in 1960 with a degree in economics, according to his official biography. He earned a law degree from the UW in 1966.
After graduating, Maleng was selected to serve as staff attorney for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, chaired by Sen. Warren Magnuson.
In the late 1980s, Maleng led a state task force that designed Washington's sex offender notification system.
Maleng and his wife, Judy, have long lived in Magnolia. Their son, Mark, is a graduate of Washington State University, and works in the seafood industry.
Tragedy struck the Maleng family in 1989, when their 12-year-old daughter, Karen, was killed in a sledding accident.
After 29 years at the department's helm, Maleng oversaw the prosecution of some of the most notorious crimes in Washington history.
He directed the prosecution following the 1983 Wah Mee gambling club massacre, the state's worst mass shooting, in which 13 people were killed.
Two years later, Maleng handled the case against David Lewis Rice, the man who killed prominent Seattle attorney Charles Goldmark, his wife and two children on Christmas Eve.
Maleng asked juries to impose the death penalty in roughly a quarter of the county's aggravated murder cases since 1981, but has sought it much less frequently recently. But it was a case in which he didn't seek the death penalty -- that of Green River Killer Gary Ridgway -- that drew both praise and criticism.
Maleng defended his decision to spare Ridgway's life in exchange for a full confession.
"The mercy provided by today's resolution is directed not at Ridgway, but toward the families who have suffered so much, and to the larger community," Maleng said in 2006. "The justice we could achieve was to uncover the truth."
Attorney Todd Gruenhagen, one of Ridgway's attorneys, lauded Maleng for his controversial decision to spare the serial killer's life in exchange for information about the 48 women he'd killed.
"He took an extraordinarily difficult position, and he handled it courageously -- with class and sensitivity," Gruenhagen said. "I think the community recognized that."
Maleng made several unsuccessful runs at other offices. In 1988, he was upset by Rep. Bob Williams, R-Longview, in the Republican primary for governor; in 1992, he was defeated by Democrat Chris Gregoire in the race for state attorney general.
Reached at home Thursday night, former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, a longtime political ally, said he was stunned by the news: "He was a very good friend. I am shocked."
In a recent case with highly charged political consequences, Maleng was drawn into the flap about the King County election department's handling of the 2004 gubernatorial race, which was narrowly won by Democrat Gregoire after two recounts and an unsuccessful court challenge by Maleng's Republican Party.
Republicans maintain a slipshod elections department allows ineligible voters to cast ballots willy-nilly and that illegal votes in King County cost Republican Dino Rossi a victory over Gregoire.
Maleng drew the ire of some in his party for not aggressively pursuing an investigation into the election problems in King County. Maleng urged both sides to tone down the rhetoric. "I hope we can remove the partisan bickering from this debate and see that it is not a Republican or Democrat issue," he said.
As chief of the office's civil division, Maleng negotiated the lease between the Seattle Seahawks football team and the county. Twenty years later, he helped keep football in Seattle by pushing then-Seahawks owner Ken Behring to abandon plans to move the team to California.
Maleng created a special unit in the prosecutor's office to deal with child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. The idea has since been copied by many other prosecutors around the nation.
He played a key role in much of the major crime legislation in the 1980s. Maleng helped craft the state's law targeting sexual predators, and played important roles in the sentencing reform act, a major anti-drug bill and a measure dealing with runaway youths.
State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz called Maleng "an exceptional public servant" who "represented the people of King County with honor."
"People all across King County will feel his loss," Pelz said.
I guess your investigative skills are so effective that now the mystery is solved. He sounds like a nice man, and I imagine that he is glad you asked because he probably gets rather lonely doing the kind of work he does. I'm sure you will be seeing lots of him.
I think Nina will welcome turtle tales because she is now in love with her turtle and says it is the cutest one in the world. Interesting huh??
I can't believe that Bill's former boss died, was it a heart attack or was he having some type of health issue? Baffling isn't it? Another reason to never take anything for granted.
I'm sure it was jolting for Bill and others who work there.
Wow, what a buy, a piece of clothing for $10. You know how to shop
I guess I will get back to the many things I need to do at work.
I did find out about the railroad man. He takes the train load of lumber to Dallas, a town about twenty miles north of here. He picks the lumber up at Philomath, and then takes the train load north. He doesn't go to Monroe because the tracks are not safe. The box cars of lumber is picked up by other trains and go to Eugene or somewhere. He was real pleased that I asked and said he tries to be quiet when he comes in at night about one a.m. Now, you know as much as I know.
Today I start my exercise for this week. Kay is home and said she had a great time at the Sid/Sandra complex.
Well, it was a rather sad tale, but Fred, the box turtle, who had a rather testy personality, did run away -- TWICE!!! The first time he wandered into a neighbor's driveway (a block away -- it must have taken him a week!). When we posted a lost sign, someone told the neighbor and she gladly returned him. The next time he ran away he had a better escape plan and we never saw his mean little face again. We had him for about 3 years, I think. He escaped because we couldn't resist letting him enjoy the outside sunshine. We thought we had him penned in, but he apparently had a decent vertical and managed to jump out.
Bill's new boss (his old one died suddenly a month ago) plays in a rock band. We just went to one of the band's concerts and it was excellent. The new boss is gonna get my vote this November.
Jessica and Noah are fine. They were both working at the mall this Sunday, so after church, Bill and I swung by the mall and saw both of them. It is so satisfying to see them earning money! I bought a blouse on sale at Noah's store, and with his discount, it only cost $10.00! Wow!
Well that story definitely sounds like it is worthy of investigation. I think it will be fun for you to meet him and you just might figure out what he is up to. Is investigating fun?
Diana had a turtle. That is really adorable and I can't believe it ran away. Why would it run away from such a nice and caring pet owner as Diana
Anyway, the humidity has broken a bit and at least right now there is a nice breeze coming in. Something we have not felt in a while.
). She left most of her fortune to her cats as well. I can't remeber the woman's name. I'll find out. Speaking of cats my ex-dog Daisy is happy as can be and living with Rex, neither are fixed, so if anyone reading this wish for a pure bread toy jack russell terrier it a may be just a matter of time. We've had new animal additions to the house this month, Colleen my girlfriend now has Freido, Sonny, Tom and Vito, button quale's. She wants to have baby quale's, which I will admit are so tiny and cute and I kid her "delicious as well." 
