Bill and I were driving back from the airport (me coming back from Kennewick), turned onto 72nd Street and saw two full grown deer ambling about 1 block from our house!!!! We were shocked! Those rascals better not be eating my garden!!
Today Bill and I are going to a seminar called"Mission Centered Ministry." It purports to give "practical tools for alighning ministry and mission." Since my mission is aimed toward keeping my brother from the fires of hell, I will have to pay close attention! Ha! Ha!
I think about you (Bopcha and Sid) every single moment of the day.
Here I am - back in gray Phila. Actually the day I returned, it was cold and rainy and not very welcoming. Luckily, it is sunny today which makes it a bit easier to move about. The day I returned, I got off the plane and had to go straight to our General Counsel's Office to prepare for a hearing, followed by getting up the next morning and heading straight down to Human Relations Commission for the conference/ hearing. It was a little disorienting, but it all went okay.
It was really nice to visit Bopcha, and it was great to see you in such great spirits Bopcha, and the mind certainly is a powerful function so keep up your spirits. I think we are all amazed and the endless days of not eating. It certainly is admirable, and wow does it seem difficult.
Diana, I rode the bike a lot and it was great. It is such a nice bike - very solid. There is so much "bike territory" in Oregon and it is much more enjoyable and calming than riding in Philadelphia. Although there are supposed to be some very good biking areas outside the city - but getting to them means going through the city - not an option for me.
The nice long chats with the sisters were also a lot of fun. I think Sid will tell you that I can sit and chat for hours with my sister. There is something so soothing about just sitting around and talking to sisters. KC and I sat at the Beanery and talked up a storm over coffee one morning. And then Kay joined us and of course we couldn't conclude the conversations at that point so all three of us talked for another hour or so. Just think if Judy and Diana had been there, then we could justify being there all day
What a great family!!!
I will get back to my work for now but hang in there Bopcha and Sid. You are at the home stretch.
The house in Corvallis must seem awfully quiet with Sandra and KC gone! Not that they are noisy, but they both have an amazing presence. I hope you rode the Corvallis bike, Sandra. How did you like it?
I'm at work early. Noah brought me. Jessica's Bellevue store needed warehouse workers today, so she recruited Noah and he had to be in Bellevue early in order to catch a carpool to Sumner. Apparently the group that comes together for the two day warehouse gig consists of a very interesting bunch of people! Can't wait to hear about Noah's experience!
Jess is doing well in Portland. She has had a couple of days off here and there and has managed to walk around the city, getting acquainted. The Bellevue store may steal her back for a week in early June - they have a special event that they need her for. My my, the girl has a work ethic that reminds me of her Aunt KC! It will be nice to see her. I miss her!
Noah said that his basketball team, the Beef Mayos, got blown out badly last night. He said he has never been on the receiving end of such a blow out in his entire life. He said the other team was huge at every position, could shoot, and that everyone on the team had to have played college basketball. Noah is the only guy on his team to have played college ball, and some of his team members didn't even play high school ball. He was laughing about it, so I guess it was a good lesson in humility.
I will not be coming to CVO this coming weekend. I will be down for Memorial Day weekend.
What a beautiful weekend we had! We managed to plant some tomatos, cucumbers, spinich and a few flowers. There is only one spot left to plant - it gets a lot of shade from the grape leaves, so I'm not sure what to plant.
Hope all is well in Corvallis. My thoughts and prayers are with you always.
I love this first cup of coffee. I picture myself sitting in the blue rolling chair at Mother's house, watching the big puddle ripple while Mother sits on the red couch, as we contemplate the day.
Lots of sun in Corvallis, I suppose, and the fun of having KC visit, full of news about little fat puppies. The photo of Tornado and her pups is just fabulous. Tornado is my favorite of KC and Tom's dogs, and she appears to be a fierce and protective mother.
Here on Poverty Rock, I think the whole day will be committed to yard work. I took a break from the job yesterday, went to a nursery and bought 2 tomoato plants and a basil plant. I have killed a couple of basil plants in the past. I hope I can cuddle this one along.
Last night, Bill and I went to the high school lacrosse game (my boss's son plays). Three naked boys ran across the field lengthwise during the game! Poor kids had to scramble over a tall chain link fence to escape. The audience winced as each boy managed to scramble over without injury. Whew! Mercer Island went on to win.
Tomorrow, Bev (from work) and I run in an 8K where you have to get across the Montlake bridge (near the U of W) before it opens! We are very nervous that we won't be fast enough to get there in time! I'll let you know how it goes.
Somedays I weigh 109 # and today I weighed 111#. Must be all the sage tea I drank. Anyway, I am determined to KILL all those unwanted visitors to my pancreas.
I appreciate all the tender loving care I have been receiving. My telephone rings, my house is filled with flowers, the sun has come out of mornings on my front porch. What luxury! I sleep long, do a minimum of work, and rest, rest, rest. Love, Lazy Bopcha
The dogs and I headed up Baker Creek Trail today (near the Sulpher Springs). This time I called Bopcha so that someone would know where I was in case a cougar decided to get me. When done, I called her again to let her know all limbs were intact and I was back home.
My eggs did not hatch so will try again.
We had a thief in the park and he was caught and given 30 days notice to move out. When the people behind me in the 5th wheel moved out I was afraid it was them BUT today I checked with the park manager and it was not them instead it was the man in the motor home up the street from me. My neighbor and I originally thought it was him until the 5th wheel moved out.
Drove to Roseburg to have lunch with Sandy Perkins today. Nice drive and nice lunch but I showed up at the wrong Mexican restaurant. Named something like Los Dos Amigos and there are 2 in Roseburg. I finally called Sandy's cell and she came over to my location. Next time I read her email closer.
The little duck drowned. Apparently he wasn't able to get out of the pool. Judi had been watching them to make sure the could get out and they had but maybe he just got too tired and/or the bigger ducks crowded him into a corner where he couldn't get out. Drowning is pretty common among ducks if they can't get out of the water.
I am headed to Tiller Ranger Station for a potluck picnic on June 5 and hope to see pictures of Bopcha and Daddy in the Station museum. I passed the news along to Sid who will tell Bopcha.
Tomorrow is hatch day for my eggs and I hear no activity. I will give them until Friday and then toss them, buy local and try again.
Here I am among my fasting comrades. I really admire the discipline. I thought I might fast with them for a day or two, but I created lots of reasons in my mind - why I shouldn't do that. I thought one cranky Sid is enough, why have a cranky Sandra visiting as well. Okay I am just kidding - I am not trying to give you a hard time, really Sid.
I have been considerate though as I am not eating in front of Bopcha and Sid - when possible. I have to admit this morning I was kind of hungry and started munching on some rice crackers with peanut butter. But I was trying to discretely munch away and satiate my growling stomach. I felt so guilty though.
We just went out to the farm to see the ducks and chickens. It seems that one of the ducks died. Not sure why. They are going so quickly. They are still pretty cute. It is nice to see such an abundance of chickens. Lots of eggs are on the way I suppose.
Today a harpist came to Bopcha's and played. The performance exceeded our expectations. It was really lovely and she was really good. She played all her own compositions. Interestingly enough, she did not learn to play harp until 45 years of age. She played the acoustic base. Her husband makes harps in Corvallis and he is apparently one of the best harp makers in the country. He sells his harps all over the US. He works in his workshop which is located on his home property. I was thinking what a life. He loves doing it and is very good at it.
She said she will come back upon request, so if any of you want a live harp performance, Bopcha's house is the featured concert hall.
The puppies are beautiful and much fatter than I would have thought with that many in one stomach. When you can tell what you have, let us know how many are male versus female.
Tomorrow I am heading to Roseburg to meet Sandy Perkins for lunch. A quick turnaround trip. I'm headed out to MLK Park to walk the dogs and see if I can find any deer. Yesterday we did Chip Ross Park.
Sandra is getting ready for her morning run. We are listening to her munch away in the kitchen. Sigh! When you have not eaten in a while it is amazing how sensitive you are to sounds and smells. Good Grief! It looks like it is gong to be a beautiful day! We will probably inspect the ducks today to see if they are getting any feathers on their little down covered bodies.
