Kelli Rocha's Blog

Random thoughts and ramblings…

Zoo April 10, 2010

Filed under: Family,Photo of the Day — Kelli Rocha @ 8:00 pm
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Our last day in Oregon.  Our flight didn’t leave until evening so after sleeping in, a bit of book shopping and lunch at PF Chang’s… we went to the Portland Zoo.  We rented a wheel chair so Leroy really got a workout pushing Steel up and down the hills of the zoo.  Steel has been talking about visiting a zoo for a long time.  He’s particularly fond of the monkeys.  He said that all he could think of was how each animal would taste, and how long he’d be able to survive in the cage with them.

Good flight home.  It’s strange to leave sunny Oregon to return to cloudy California.

 

Oregon April 8, 2010

Filed under: College,Family,Football,Photo of the Day — Kelli Rocha @ 8:00 pm
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We flew to Portland, Oregon with Steel today for a college recruiting visit to Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR.  We were able to board the plane early because of Steel’s crutches and cast.  While on the flight, the attended started a conversation with Steel.  He asked about the injury, the reason for travel and about the school.  He (flight attendant) played college football so he was excited for Steel.  At the end of the flight, he got on the PA and announced Steel’s intention to visit Pacific and asked for a round of applause.

We drove around Portland in search of Bunk Sandwiches.  This is a restaurant that Steel had seen featured on the Food Network.  We found it, only to read the sign that they were closed until Sunday.  Bummer.

We stayed in Hillsboro which is about 15 minutes away from campus.  It is beautiful here and the weather is perfect.  We met all of the coaches and got a tour of the football facilities including the field, locker room, indoor practice field and the physical therapy rooms.  The campus, facilities and town are very impressive.  There were presentations by the coaches, dinner and social time for both the athletes and parents.  A great day overall.

 

Packing April 7, 2010

Filed under: Everyday,Home,Photo of the Day — Kelli Rocha @ 8:00 pm
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I’m a last minute packer.  I used to say that I had to wait until the last minute because of laundry, but that’s not really true.  From FlyLady, I’m learning that it’s always best to be prepared ahead of time so today (for the first time in forever) I have packed the night before.  The best news of all was that I was done by 6:00 pm…not midnight or 30 minutes before our scheduled departure.  I’m sure I still have way more than I really need, but I’m taking baby-steps.

 

March Green March 3, 2010

Filed under: Photo of the Day — Kelli Rocha @ 8:00 pm
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I drove to Sacramento yesterday to spend the evening with Leroy.  He is up there for meetings so I met him at the hotel for dinner and the night.  On my drive back home this afternoon, I came down I-5 and was struck by the sheer beauty all around me.  There were several times I stopped to take a picture or two.  Everything was so green.  This shot is of the hills just outside of Patterson and it doesn’t do justice to the real scene.  I was shooting West into the sun and so the detail and the color is a bit off, but still pretty.

California really is the best state in the union and as I continue to mature, I’m beginning to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the Central Valley as well.  The landscape is continually changing and the agricultural lands are magnificent.  I’m going to appreciate the lush green around me while I can because in a few months, it will be timber dry and golden brown.