Bopcha Blog

I remember (off and on) I wanted to send Bopcha this old Mark Twain Jingle. I hope she gets it!!





Conductor, when you receive a fare,

Punch in the presence of the passenjare!

A blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare,

A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare,

A pink trip slip for a three-cent fare,

Punch in the presence of the passenjare!



CHORUS

Punch brothers! Punch with care!

Punch in the presence of the passenjare!





Joe

I miss you!



Joe

The world felt a little emptier, to work today. A cool mixed in with the warm air, its start to late autumn now. I drove the back way, past the farm in the ‘old’ truck - too dangerous for me with no tread - the livestock seemed lined along the fence this morn, real close to the fence at the road – brown cows and cattle, a huge horse stood at the end near the silo. – like they all knew a soul has departed us today - the cows kept eating.



Funny how it goes – I thought, so fast it goes – I wish it could’ve stayed fresh all the time, forever, timeless and happy.



In Hamlin even the cars seemed in procession – all lites on - led by a Marine's truck - as if for a moment, the world knew with me – we all knew.



I hope it clears up soon it’s been awfully rainy and dreary all week......... I feel very sad.

I am looking forward to my trip out west. Its been almost 9 years to the day since I last went to Oregon. If I remember right the green apples should be ready (at least for my taste). We took a walk down to the stream behind the farm, if you remember Bopcha you showed me that spot.



Sid, I hope you have a project of hard labor like last time. I tried to attach some photo's last posting but they did not show up. Here's one of Matt and myself and our new sign.



Best to All

Joe

Sid,

I am digging in your direction, I guess we'll meet in the middle. Glad to see pictures of everyone and especially looking forward to seeing Bopcha. My Itinerary is as follows:



Thu 12-Aug-10

Philadelphia (PHL)

Depart 5:50 pm to Portland (PDX)

Arrive 8:49 pm



Tue 17-Aug-10

Portland (PDX)

Depart 8:30 am to Phoenix (PHX)

Arrive 11:03 am











See you then

Best to All

Joe

And a Happy belated to you too Sidney....................even though you haven't returned my phone calls yet.



Joe and the goldfish

Dear Bopcha,



A most Happy Birthday! Here's to another 90.



Love



Joe Bonamico and Family

I signed on the blog this morning before leaving the mountains for my appointment at Penn Dental. I wanted to check Sid's travel itinerary and to see if I could catch him while I was in town. I was stunned to find out my good friend had been hospitalized. Sid I hope you are taking care. I'm so sorry I missed it on the blog a few weeks ago when I sent the Mothers Day note. I really need to take the time and turn the page.



I hope you are improving and we'll catch up when you and Sandra return. I had no clue of your sufferage. Today, since we both once were soldiers, I opted for no novacaine, in homage to your pain and endurance.



See you soon

Best to Bopcha and all.



Joe

Dear Bopcha and all Mom's reading this.......



Just a quick note to let you know I'm thinking of you on this day. Happy Mothers Day.





Joe Bonamico

Dad was a great man. He loved his family, he was not a rich man, but he had alotta class. He never swore. I never remember him cursing – at least at home . He was powerful, his biography was not accurate in the paper. He served in WWII and Korea (as a drill instructor in the ARMY), he went to Viet Nam to repair helicopters for Boeing. He loved this country. He owned 2 restaurants and a Catering Business. He worked his butt off for his family.



Born in Italy, during Mussolini's reign, he starved. I remember his stories of walking 10 miles for an apple they split among themselves. Coming to America they lived at Valley Forge. They worked in the asbestos quarry and lived in the company provided housing without electricity or running water. He would “dig asbestos out of his nose with a nail”, he would say. Whatta tough guy. He built his own house, dug the foundation and basement by 'hand', and you can huff and puff and the house will still stand.



He loved to have fun. He was not ever depressed. He loved life, he feared God, he loved to gamble (remind you of anyones, Sid?) Once, in the ARMY, he drummed up a penny to over a thousand bucks playing Craps. His friend Bernie, who flew in from California for the services, swears to the story, and has the watch Dad bought him to prove it, so I must believe it to be true.



I am lucky to have been raised by such great parents, and as well to be included in your wonderful family's thoughts. Thank you all so much for your condolences. Especially to Sandra and Sid for their support during the services.

I truly miss him. I thank him for all he taught me as well for the person I am.



Best to all and Happy Holidays.



Love Joe

One of the things I always stress as the joy of life is the fascinating wonderful people you meet along the way. I always stress to my kids that not all is lost, a great relationship can start at any time during life and does not nearly need to begin in childhood.



It was a real pleasure for Sid and Sandra - (definitely she, the more lovely of the two) to come to my family's Labor Day picnic at my brother Ted's home. Curiously the first combative topic with Sidney was Henry the fish, which I had direct involvement at the time of his death in the winter of 2003/04,-- that, I cannot deny, but at most I can I only accept mutual responsibility for his death - Fishslaughter if you will.



Upstate Pennsylvania is starting to show Fall. I am sad to see summer go so soon, but we are diluting it with the hopes of a more active ski season. Joe Jr. is due back from a short deployment in Afghanistan. I am looking forward to seeing him return safe and unharmed. My youngest son Matt, is researching various schools to attend, now that he graduated High School. Fortunately, I convinced him not to attend ITT technical institute, rather Johnson College an accredited school. Boy was ITT really after his money, they telephoned him 6 out of 9 days. Kristy, my daughter is again attending Camden County College, Sid I still have a glimmer of hope she'll strive to get to your desk at Penn.



I really enjoyed all the great pictures posted over the past few months. I hope soon that I'll be getting a digital camera and will be able to share my views with all of you. Especially Colleens newest addition, a Lion Head Rabbit named Echo. It looks just like the Gopher in the old movie Caddyshack:).



Best to all



Joe

Happy Mothers Day Dear Bopcha and all Moms' that are reading this.



Wow, its been some time since I've blogged and I notice we now have spell checkk. I like it, much appreciated to whomever accomplished it. I briefly reviewed what I've been missing, at least about myself. Sandra, great description of the sausage making I will read it to Karl he was a great help-as always. It was definitely grueling, thanks to Sid's 200 lb quota. I hope Sid, you had enough to share, if not I still have at least a bushel or 2 left.



Things have been very busy up here in the Pocono Mtns. Today my son Matt and I planted our garden, we hope to have tomatoes, basil, onions, string beans, corn, lettuce, bell peppers, cucumbers, watermelon and pumpkin. Having a backhoe surely helped in this endeavor. We plan to plant the pumpkin at the wastewater plant, we'll utilize the dried sludge for fertilizer, perhaps we'll make the Guiness Book of World Records .



I finally met my daughter Kristy's new Beau, Jon Reichelderfer, he's a Mt Ephraim NJ. cop. Mt Ephraim is right next to Camden NJ., the highest crime rated area in the country. We went out to eat. He was very nice they call him the "Dog" at the police barracks for his ability to smell marijuana. She tells me he doesn't waste time with petty crimes since there is always so much going on at his beat.



Joe Jr. is due to ship out to Afghanistan in late July. He may be there for 4 to 18 months. May God be with him. Last month he bought a kayak, I liked it so much we got 2 of them thanks to the tax rebate. We plan to cruise down the Delaware River. We've been practicing on the lake and have plotted our first run on the river later this week.



Well, hope all are happy and healthy.



Joe

Alright, mess with me today. I can take it! I just finished a 2 day leak repair in snow* and ice. Dangling on the edge of an 8 foot mudhole in an unknown backhoe, complaining customers and mud and guts everywhere. On top of that, it rained in South America and my soybeanmeal spread widened. I can't wait until the next full moon--- Christmas Eve.



My Dear Bopcha, the pictures of you on the Oregon Coast makes me long for the West. I've told Sid time and time again to create a working project that needs my assistance and I will be there. Colleen even supports it, which makes me suspicious of her. But nontheless

I would have never guessed 88, (incidentally 8 is my lucky number). Your vegetable occupation sounds great are they hiring? I always look forward to poems you wish to share.



Paging through the Blog, I noticed and coincidentally around the same time, "Teeth" caught my attention. My oldest son Joe Jr. a Sergeant in the Air Force, while working (goofing off) at the Air Force base, he and his commarades were shooting an 'Air Gun' at each other ( but wearing saftey goggles) managed to get his front tooth shot out. Fortunately, our tax dollars paid for its repair. I told him not to expect a Purple Heart.



Sandra, I know you won't, but you and your Mom are more than welcome to stop by my parents on Christmas Eve. We have soooooooo many people and about 77 fishes now, ( I remember when it was about 6 persons and KFC on the side, ( I hated fish when I was a kid). 2502 Chestnut Ave. 19403



Sid, the snapshots of you thumb are disgusting. God willing, you'll never get a vasectomy. Heal fast Sir, you are the MVG (Most Valuable Grinder), and we will have 300 + pounds to grind this year.



Best to all and Happy Holidays.



Joe



PS. Sid this is the 2nd time I had to recreate this. Why???????????

Let's see. Its been so long since my last entry, these are my sins..... Hey everyone reading this, the last time I wrote in the journal it got deleted before going to print, so if I miss some edits, like this run-on sentence, and any other unpleasantries, please excuse me. I take that you did not find the glitch yet Sid?



Hello Bopcha and all,

I am up to 9 doves a cooing and 6 qual a crowing now. My gal Colleen made a great deal with a bird dealer who specializes in 'exotic' doves. She bought 6 silky doves for the price of 3. Personally, I think he just wanted to thin out his own flock. He overnighted the little things in the mail. That sent me in a tangent to build the biggest fast bird cage ever, and get them critters downstairs in the basement, so they and I would be happy. It came out really nice, especially for me since I do not know much about building birdcages.





Besides the birds, its been work as usual. Some excitement did take place with an inquiry to operate another wastewater plant. We are also getting inquiry for a new Rite Aid drug store in town and a new school, both projects wishing us to provide public water. I hope all this growth hurries while my back can still hold up.



We're finally getting a few snow flakes up here in the Pocono's, but I hear it will be 60 degrees next week again. The deer are starting to run, its rutt season. My son Matt, got blindsided write in the door of his truck last week. From the size of the dent, I wish that deer played for the Philadelphia Eagles.



Well everyone I hope to write again before Thanksgiving.



Wishing All the Best.



Joe