Bopcha Blog

The article on bugs was very interesting. I would like to know how you transferred that information to the blog site. If I knew how, I would send you pictures of the latest crop circles!



My finger punch was recorded as 2.4. Very good, according to the nurse that did the punching!



This morning I am getting ready to go to the Gleaners. It is SO uplifting. I get hugs and kisses and fresh vegetables and fruit and frozen stuff and freeze dried stuff--all of which makes my contribution so worth while.



It will be a HOT day today, but it doesn't reach its maximum until around 3 p.m. and I will be through at noon.



Love, Bopcha

Today I get my finger punched! It will be this afternoon. The lab also takes my blood pressure and I get weighed. Isn't that exciting? I also get a reading on my blood thickness or thinness. The gadget that punches my finger is limited in size so that only a drop of blood emerges.



Kay left early this morning for California. Love, Bopcha Also, the weather is scheduled for 95º today.

Bug's make methane.

Sandra, I feel terrible that I have to report that I rode my bike from the office home last night and it was significantly easier for me than it was a year ago! I guess those silly 5K runs I have been doing with Bev (an office mate) have really paid off. I was not looking forward to the ride because in the past it has turned my legs to jelly. Not this time! I won't pretend it was easy, but it was better.



I forgot to tell you that we bought a bike for Bopcha's house. The people next to Mrs. Hardie's house had a yard sale, and Kay dragged me down there. Wow! There was a nice Trek bike, barely used! We bought it and a lock. Kay and I tested it and with seat adjustment (super easy on this bike) it worked for both of us. Sandra, I hope your plantar f. (which I understand is supposed to hurt like the dickens) heals so that you can test the new bike. It is to be used by one and all.



Sandra, I have been in jobs where I had to crawl home and stay under the covers in the fetal position. There is nothing good about it. I hope you see your way clear to leave someday. This kind of pressure cannot be good for you. It is so refeshing to have a job I like. You need to find that job, too.



Sid, we are looking forward to your arrival.



Love,

Dee

Leave Wednesday, July 29, 2009



Depart: 6:46am Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia International (PHL)

Arrive: 9:49am San Francisco, CA San Francisco International (SFO)



Change planes. Time between flights: 1hr 21min



Depart: 11:10am San Francisco, CA San Francisco International (SFO)

Arrive: 12:37pm Eugene, OR Eugene (EUG)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Return Monday, August 17, 2009



Depart: 5:54pm Eugene, OR Eugene (EUG)

Arrive: 7:23pm San Francisco, CA San Francisco International (SFO)



Change planes. Time between flights: 2hr 52min



Depart: 10:15pm San Francisco, CA San Francisco International (SFO)

Arrive: 6:23am Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia International (PHL)

Hello Everyone,



I am finally writing something on the blog. My job has taken over my life and I feel like I am just fighting for my survival. I am working like crazy, just to stay afloat. Doesn't anyone feel like hard work doesn't necessarily equate to rewards. Just think I was relieved to find out that I got a 0% salary increase, because it could have been worse. There was the threat that we may have to take a 10% cut (just at the Vet School - not all of Penn). Of course that threat is back on the table. We are living through some interesting times.



Well at a time when I could use a really awesome workout, I can NOT exercise. My heel is bothering me and apparently I have plantar fasciitis. Have any of you had the pleasure of this experience? I've had it for several weeks and I finally decided to just take a break from exercising. I faced reality and stopped living in denial that I have an injury. It is so difficult to be so inactive, especially when you sit in an office for endless hours. I think I will be able to go back to cycling (spinning) soon. Running is totally out of the question. That really hurts and I think I will do even more damage. I love running in the summer but I've completely given up for now.



My goodness that pie looks amazing. Cherries are among my favorite fruits. And a pie made with cherries is just heaven. Jessica is quite the chef. The pie not only looks super tasty but it is beautifully done.



Kay I am glad to hear that Bopcha was able to come to the rescue. Bopcha, it sounds like you saved the day for Kay. It is wonderful to just be a big baby sometimes isn't it? We all deserve a little chance to be "babied." I am trying to convince Sid that I don't mind being treated like a baby, but I am finding that I still have to do things for myself



As you probably all know by now, we went to see "Hurt Locker." The acting was impressive and it definitely kept you very ingrossed throughout the movie. There was a certain rawness about the movie that made it so real. The scenery was so desolate and stark. It was not sensationalized at all - which war movies often are. Sid and I really recommend it. It will be interesting to see what kind of reviews the movie generates.



The Vet School is continuing its severe economic challenges. It has been a rough six months, and as States become more impoverished, our situation becomes more trying. The Vet School, even though it is part of the private institution of Penn, we rely heavily on State funding. There is a projection that Pennsylvania will cut 24% from our budget. Gulp. That will border on tragic for us. Although this does not differ much from what many people are facing. We are not alone that is for sure.



I hope you are all enjoying the summer. The weather in Philly has been excellent. Low humidity and not scorching hot temps. It's been comfortable. Sid is happy about that.



I will try to write a little more often. It's always fun to write but it's even enjoyable to read your entries.



Take care everyone. Feel free to save me a piece of cherry pie. (I am kidding of course).



Love to all,



Sandra

Yes, Sid, the Hurt Locker was a VERY good movie. Bill and I saw it last night. I was so tense throughout the movie that I completely forgot to eat the treat I brought with me to snack on.

I expect the director will be someone we hear from again.

The Hurt Locker

KC called at 4:30 PDT and is 100 miles away from Omaha. She is accompanied by Nitro and Jazz who are going to be entered in a dog show. They will just look pretty and walk around the ring. KC is anxious to get a ribbon for the most beautiful dog; she is confident if they were racing they could win.



I was at Gleaners today. We had lots of lettuce and garlic and some of everything else. I came away with some tasty vegetables==not lettuce (we have our own).



So much good stuff to eat! Love, Bopcha

This weekend is Summer Celebration on Mercer Island. We have music, craft vendors, tasty food booths and lots of milling around in the hot sun. Can't wait!



In the morning, Bill and I hope to hook up with Tory for a jog around Green Lake so that we can earn the right to eat at Summer Celebration.



Saturday evening we have been invited to a Texas Bar B Q put on by my new co-worker, Bev and her family. Yummmmm!!!!



And yes, the pie is gone ... boo hoo!



Love,

Dee

It was incredibly delish!

JB uses a pie crust recipe from Cooks Inc. that has vodka in it, and it is crunchy and tasty. The cherries were just the right tartness (the filling is a Cooks Inc. recipe, too) and were gently held together by corn starch - not the glue you sometimes get in cherry pie.

Bill and I managed to eat just one slice apiece, but only because we exercised an amazing amount of self control.

Love,

Dee

I had lattice work and a gate put on my deck and it looks great. It really gives a feeling of privacy although the latticework only goes a little over 1/2 of the way up. I can now put hanging plants on either side of the gate and on the long side of the deck.



The collar for the dogs seems to be controling their barking a lot. They certainly don't like citronella up their noses.



Next week (the 16th) the dogs and I are off to Ridgecrest and Long Beach to visit the kids. Randy is supposed to close on his house in Sun City around the middle of the month.



Theresa is still waiting on word from the military to see if she has been accepted into OCS. Tiffany is headed to Fresno and then Ridgecrest on the 16th. She is taking some of Theresa's stuff to her and we are going separate routes so won't be traveling together.



Got to visit with Heather and Alanah (I think I spelled that wrong) yesterday. They took Bopcha out for a ride on the Ranger and Bop showed them places of interest on the farm. We then ate one of Judi's great meals and then some of us went berry picking at a U-pick place (Red Barn Farm) on Camp Adair Road. A lot of fun.



I am housebound today because my car is in the shop and running up a huge bill.



Cut myself the other day and Bopcha made an emergecy run to my house to bring me a bandaide. I certainly appreciated it because it was hurting like crazy and I had nothing but paper towels. It was really nice to have mother handy to do that for me - gave me a chance to revert to a big fat baby.

Yesterday for lunch I ate farm eggs and a big lettuce salad from the garden in Corvallis.

For dinner, Bill and I ate Gleaner's hamburger and beans.

For breakfast today I have farm eggs and Jessica is making a cherry pie with Judi's pie cherries (Bill and I pitted them last night).

It is so nice to be fed from the bounty of my mother and sister's efforts!



Love,

Dee



PS Not to mention snacking on Bopcha's sweet cherries (which we shared with Doris and Byron)

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