Bopcha Blog

Hello all,



As you may know (since I gave some of you a brief OSU band blast), Bill JB Noah and I went to the OSU/Husky game in Seattle on Saturday. My firm's new legal assistant's dad has season tickets and he was gone for the weekend so I got 4 tickets and a parking pass for free! We went to the OSU tailgate function first. They set up a big tent, serve food and drinks, and have the band and the cheerleaders entertain us for a few hours before the game. It is way too much fun. I got a "Bennie for President" button and gave Bennie a high five (it is clear he recognized me!). Anyway, the seats were nice and the sun shone on us for most of the game, so we didn't get chilly until the very end. Of course OSU won.



We head down for the OSU Homecoming game against Arizona State on Nov. 1. That game may be a bit more of a challenge, to say the least.



All is well here.



Sid, Bill checked his investments - they are appropriately conservative. Sandra - Storm seems like a truly nice dog! What fun to be able to babysit him once in awhile. Bill and I love dogs, too - BUT the full time care and feeding is not a choice we are willing to make at the moment, anyway. Babysitting would be fun though.



Love,

Dee

      heh heh

Sid, you are right. I guess the face turns yellow after the 'save'. I couldn't believe it.



Love, Bopcha

I will try again: : )

Looks like you have it Bop.. You even got a wink..



Love Sid

: ) with no space =

That comment above is what set off the giggles in me.



Oh boy, I don't envy Tory's return to the chaos here in the US. It has been so much fun reading about Tory's trip.



I have been making daily trips to the farm since Judi has been gone. She is due to return tomorrow or the next day.



The farm is such a beautiful and relaxing place.



Love, BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPCHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA



Sandra, HOW do you make those smiley faces. Tell me again.

Tori's adventures sure are engaging to read about. I like her recount of the Paris experience. I laughed when I read that the "hotel stranger" seemed as worried about her as she was of him. It sounds like Tori will have a lot to talk about and write about when she returns. It must be an interesting time to be in Europe - just to hear about how they view the American "crisis." Wonder if she had any conversations with anyone about that or the election - the list of topics goes on and on. It sure could make for some good "cafe" talk or better yet "pub" talk.



The most exciting thing going on here is that Sid and I had to babysit Storm (the Parson's dog) last week and the e-mail system is down for the entire University right now and I can't get into e-mail which I need to for work. Oh well, guess all the work will all have to wait



Anyway, Storm had to come to the Vet Hospital last week and so I had to escort him around for a few days. He is so loveable. I can really see how people get so attached to their pets- especially dogs (got to say I favor dogs). Storm was very well-behaved and sweet as can be. It is amazing all the attention he gets when we walk with him. People stare at him, make comments about him being "Lassie" and even stop and ask about him. He is beautiful and sort of unusal looking. He looks a little bit like a wolf. But he sure does have a calm and sweet demeanor. I tell Nina how lucky she is to have such a wonderful dog. She knows it of course. By the way, she has been doing horseback riding lessons and really loves it so far. Now that is one expensive hobby. KC, by the way I love the puppy photos. Those little puppies look absolutely adorable.



Diana, I was wondering how your guitar lessons were going or should I say have you been able to find another class? I know that feeling you described of wanting to cry when you found out that the lessons had been cancelled. Feeling that kind of disappointment is awful.



Bopcha, glad to hear you received the letter from Nina. I think it is really good for her to to sit down and write a letter rather than "texting" etc.... Letter writing is really a lost art (so to speak). And while e-mail is great, nothing replaces getting a letter in the mail.

It truly is rare these days, isn't it? Wow do I sound old-fashioned or what? I guess I am. Well anyway, I hope Nina will keep it up. She of course gets sort of distracted with school, and music lessons, etc....



I will sign off for now.



Love,



Sandra

From: "Diana V Thompson"

Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 12:53:52 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain

Subject: In Paris, at last!



Hey everyone! Thank you so much to Nikole for spreading the word yesterday that I was safe and sound!!



I was battling with a combination of switching from a German speaking Canton to a French speaking Canton in the course of the 2 hour commute between Lenk and Greuyer and the fact it was a Sunday afternoon (everything was closed) and the only internet cafe mentioned in my guidebook was out of business ages ago. Plus, the whole time, I needed to pee like you can't imagine.



Ever have one of those days?



Nikole is very generous in saying that I sounded good -- or even SANE! But I surely do appreciate you spreading the word, Nikole, that I was alive and well. I got a great night's sleep, and the exercise did me good, working off the lunch I had (a cheeseburger, natch) at the cheese factory. I have pics. It wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be, watching curd separate from whey, but what the hey.



This morning I had my noon TGV train to Paris. I arrived at 5 but by 6pm I was still at the train station trying to figure out which of the 3 possible metro / local train routes was the best for reaching my hostel right behind Sacre Creur, a route I thought I had ironed out weeks before I even left! I am not setting any land speed records over here.



I finally reached the hostel to discover they'd lost my reservation. After about half an hour, they were able to put me up in a nearby affiliated 2 Star (with attached hostel rooms) at Hotel LeRegent Montmartre Hotel (www.leregent.com) in room 41 with a total stranger -- a guy, whom I do not know, but who seems nice and somewhat like not an axe murderer or anything. I paid with my credit card and told him that I was emailing my family so if anything happens to me, you can unwind starting with that. The poor guy seems as worried about me as I am about him... But since we would have been in the same dorm room together anyway had the hostel gotten us both in, I suppose we are both okay. However, I did make a separate appeal with the receptionist guy while my roomie was away just to make sure I had someone who had my back. That and I have a wakeup call at 530am for my 11am flight, so this guy is getting a crappy night's sleep, regardless!



But despite the drama, it sure does feel WONDERFUL being back in Paris. It seems like I am only ever here for a few hours at a time and it is such an exciting place! I wish I had time to see the cathedral and to wander around and get lost, but I am tuckered and will have to save it for another time. I will email tomorrow a.m. before my flight and let you know I am safe and secure



Love T

From: "Diana V Thompson"

Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2008 9:03:19 AM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain

Subject: Greetings from Lenk!



Hez everzone!



I am writing from Lenk, which is celebrating its 'AlpCultur' todaz. The weather could not be better--brilliant sunshine and short-sleeves warm. I think everz resident in this mountain town has turned out to celebrate their favorite creatures. There are booths for locallz made cheese, jam, zoghurt, icecream etc, and cow-embrozdered everzthing. There is also traditional Swiss entertainment -- a pair of ladies blowing the big alpine horns, and a bunch of zodelling groups (I couldn't tell one song from the next) and other stuff like that. But the real attraction was the cows.



First and foremost, were the loads of cows just walking through the streets on parade. Thez were completelz decked out with flowers and pine branches, and, of course, BIG, BIG cow bells. Zou have never seen bells for cows as big as these. Thez make an incredible cocophonz of sound, and cows would sometimes go astraz and start walking into the crowds until their herders grabbed them bz the horn or nose and got them pointed the right direction again! But everzone here seems prettz comfortable around cows and no one so far has gotten trampled so far as I can tell. And is it okaz to mention the whole town smells kind of, a little bit, like cow poop? It is not unpleasant, but it is a bit pungent.



And the highlight of the daz was the crowning of the 'Miss Lenk' prettiest title holder cow of the zear. Make no mistake, it was a total beautz contest, and personalitz counted.... (no talent or swimsuit, though .) For a fee of 10 Francs (like 9 bucks) zou got to vote on which cow zou thought should win the top priye. How could I resist being part of the action?? There were like mazbe 20 or 30 cows all lined up right in the center of the square. Their owners were all decked out in traditional clothes, and stood bz combing their fur, and scrubbing their tails when theiz pooped, and making sure thez showed their 'good side' to the thousands of people wandering around admiring them. It was a riot!!



As for mz vote, in honor of the most recent Yoibozy litter, I yeroed in on voting for a redhead to win. Ultimatelz I picked number 56-- she was a petite red with white spots and had what I thought was a reallz sweet disposition. There was another red, big boned with a reallz creamz white nose and with spots, who I was rooting for first, but she blew snot on me so I changed mz vote. Anzwaz, I should have stuck with mz first choice. Mz original redhead came in third, but mz sweet 56 ended up being a wilting flower who lost popularitz points bz crowding her neighbor all daz. The contest grand priye winner was a blond named Juliette with a reallz big udder and pointz teats. Figures



Anzwaz, as far as cow festivals go, this has been a most enjozable afternoon. I thought of us all at the Oregon countz fair from Aunt Diana's birthdaz and couldn't help but miss zou guzs! And I still can't believe I spent the better part of a daz admiring cows! The mountains surrounding this vallez are just amaying and so beautiful. But now I am festivaled out and readz to call it a night. Tomorrow a.m. earlz I am off to the town of Gruzères (like the cheese) where I will hopefullz get to visit a genuine cheese factorz.



Love zou all. Moo!



Love T

From: "Diana V Thompson"

Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 11:41:17 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central

Subject: Off to Lenk, and it's all about the cows



Hez Everzone!!



Such a perfect daz! The weather dawned brilliant and clear and surprisinglz warm -- zou can't plan for this kind of weather, it just happens and zou thank zour luckz stars! I joined some girls from the pension for a hike through the Alps: and we rode the tram to Murren, then a funicular to a higher level and took in a reallz splendid 'wanderweg', across the vallez opposite the famous trio -- Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau -- slowlz losing the elevation until we finallz arrived back at our pension in Gimmelwald. Wow, was it amaying. And now we are all three quite tuckered out: zou know that reallz good kind of tuckered when zou know zou did something reallz, reallz good.



And as to this intrepid hiking trio -- sadlz, all three of us are going our separate wazs tomorrow morning. One is going home to her job in Germanz, the second is returning to her job in the States, via Paris, but I am off first -- mz tram departs at oh-dark-earlz (7am) to catch mz train to Lenk. Though it is onlz about 30 or 40 miles awaz (as the crow flies) the tram-bus-train itinerarz I am scheduled on will take approx 3 hours. Mom remembers that she, Murraz, and I might have visited this tinz town of Lenk (and certainlz nearbz Kandersteg) back when we were kids! I picked this place to check out the 'bringing down the cows' festival, for which I have high hopes of expriencing an up-close look at Swiss culture, and mazbe even commune with the cows or chickens or livestock or something.... I know, it's a bit out of mz normal tourism, but I thought Aunt Kaz would be just thrilled if I bring her home a Swiss mountain goat as a Christmas present, so don't spoil the surprise



Anzwaz, I have had the most extraordinarz time here in Gimmelwald, I think we should all vacation here sometime in the future... some daz... some daz.



Mom & Dad, I was so happz to hear about the red, red, red puppies being born. Zou must be so proud of zour papa(s)! I have seen some great breeds of dogs here, including one genuine Berneye Mountain Dog, native to this region. I have also seen a few other kinds of sight hounds, but no boryois. Everzone else, it seems like zou are all bumping along okaz. I appreciate zour notes, news, and good thoughts to speed me along in mz journez!



Speaking of which, I read on Zahoo/Finance that the American economz is going nowhere-good in wicker (aka hell in a handbasket). I prefer to read no further on that topic. Rather, I will continue to hope blindlz for the best until forced to face realitz, outside of the comfort of cowbells sounding mz wakeup call



Love T

Here's what Sara delivered yesterday, picture by our co-breeder Sherita. Eight puppies, all of them in various shades of red, one had to be delivered C-section because she decided that living by herself in-utero was just fine. Of course, she didn't realize that death would be creeping around the corner without rescue. Now, here she is, the second girl of the bunch. The last born and the first were the only girls, all the other six were boys.



And here's a picture of the puppies with Sara herself, puppies are 1 day old.

I've seen those glass sculptors at work before. It's amazing they don't go up in flames themselves. Hot work for sure, but fascnating to watch. Bopcha's so lucky to get Nina letters. She's really a little sweetheart--of course, so is Alex--and Storm, can't forget him either.

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:12 PM

Subject: Greetings from Gimmelwald!!



Hello everzone!



I am safe and sound in Gimmelwald and sending zou mz Alpine greetings!! The superlatives on the scenerz can not be overstated, but I am completelz fascinated bz the lack of sound. Sure, during the daz zou hear the tzpical cow bells and an farm equipment, but at night -- absolute silence, absolute quiet. It is the most extraordinarz puritz, a lack of pollution, mazbe, I don't know. Anzwaz, I can tell zou I slept like a stone for like 11 hours or so. Dang, I must have been one tired puppz!



The morning dawned and I opened mz ezes to the spectacularz view, and have been enjozing a nice, friendlz, boring, layz daz. I took the tram up to Murren, the town above Gimmelwald, and walked for a few hours throughout the town and around, following the sightline of the mountains. Later in the afternoon I took the tram down to Lauterbrunen to go to the grocerz store (I absolutelz love these grocerz stores) and picked up the ingredients for dinner. I also treated mzself to a small loaf of bread from Esther's kitchen as well, and two chunks of her home made cheese (one from the 2007 vintage and one from the 2006 vintage-- zeah, right, like I am going to be able to tell the difference....but whatever, will be nice to trz). Anzwaz other than that I sat around in the sun, read mz book and took a nap. I could get used to this!!



Unfortunatelz, EVERZTHING in Swityerland is extremelz expensive, that's whz I get to explore the grocerz stores. It would be hard to eat lunch for less than about 15 or 20 dollars, and dinner, zour entree alone will be 20 to 40 dollars, not to mention a drink or even water. But since it is so expensive, everzone is into the grocerz stores and at this place we all have private rooms that open into one main kitchen and have taken to gathering in the kitchen to chit chat, cook and eat dinner, and relax. Its reallz nice



Anzwaz, so no huge adventures todaz, but I send zou mz greetings!! Glad zou liked the pics so far. I will come back with hundreds of pictures of the Alps from everz possible vantage, mz favorite being the one right outside mz bedroom window



Love T