Something different for me. Phyl actually knows way more about this sport and the bull riders than I do.
Another bonus, our cousin Cynthia, two grandchildren, and daughter Trina, sat one row ahead of us.
Monthly Archives: January 2015
TRUSD Annual Food Show
Approximately 130 elementary and high school students and their parents were invited to North Ave School today to taste more than 30 new items the district is considering offering next year as part of the school breakfast and lunch programs and providing feedback.
I drove the fire truck – a rather chilly open-air ride by the way. Digger, from the River City Cats:
You can see more pictures at
rlehs.wordpress.com
Broadcasting Golden Poppy seed
Today, I broadcast some poppy seed at the Dry Creek Ranch House. It was fun. The guys had everything ready. You can read more about it at rlehs.wordpress.com.
Favorite moment: We were done and everything was being stored in The Shop. Ralph wanted to make sure everyone signed the Volunteers Hours sheet on the shop clipboard. I told them that’s ok but I keep all my hours on a sheet at home and I’ll put today’s hours there. But no, they all thought I should the clipboard in the shop. I just had to smile, it seemed important. And I wrote my name and hours on The Shop clipboard.
LGA Bike Club meeting
At 3:15, most students head for the gate
but an intrepid few stay after school and go for a quick fun bike ride. Along the way, we stopped for a bit to appreciate the recent improvement to the bike trail on the west side of I-5 just north of W El Camino Ave. L-R: Staff advisor Ms McManus, Xavier, Jack, Andrew.
The skill we practiced several times was entering a roadway safely. We did this as individual drivers and crossed one at a time. I went first, Megan reinforced good choices and crossed as the last rider. This was Xavier and Andrew’s first ride, we were extra careful. Reward! Baskin-Robbins.
Yum!
Time to head back. One last time carefully across 5 lanes of busy traffic. We had a great time!
Auburn Elementary Bike Club
An exciting day, there were many more students who came to this club meeting! 
We are creating a Bicycle Garden. At the next club meeting, there will be 7 more bicycles ready for planting.
Outside, students learned how to make a proper left turn and began practicing. Staff advisor Luke Brownell is great about helping kids with inflating tires, checking on mechanical difficulties, and helping at all the skill stations. Today Calf Roping was an extra activity. Our parent volunteers were also a big help. Brian took pictures of all students who needed a Bicycle Garden picture. Here Cindy organizes the start line
while I provided feedback at the other end.
50 Bikes for 50 Kids
Elle Steele and I were asked by North Natomas Transportation Management Associatian to volunteer as LCIs to provide a new component to this year’s event: a skills course and fun bicycle activities for new bike owners. H Allen Hight School:
About 50 Bikes for 50 Kids: on Monday, January 19, 2015, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the National Day of Service, community volunteers joined forces in North Natomas to help 50 kids transform bike parts into 50 ready-to-ride bicycles. Students were nominated by teachers and other community members for the content of their character. The day was made possible by generous donations from businesses and organizations, as well as volunteers that give their time to mentor local youth.
At 10 am (and again at 1 pm), 25 students arrive, check in, and meet their team members who will help them build their own bike.
Mechanics in red t-shirts (like Bike Mike from Natomas Bike Shop) checked everyone’s bike before leaving the gym for the next a set of stations.
Each student was announced by the DJ and everyone stopped for a moment to clap as they entered the cafeteria.
There were many proud parents and happy students.
At the various stations, students received a new helmet and had it properly fit, received a U-and-cable bike lock and learned how to use it correctly, wrote a thank-you note to their sponsor, registered their bike with the police department, and had their official picture taken.
Finally, the new bicycles and riders came to our bicycle skills stations. Here Elle taught a student about the best position for a strong start. We call it power pedal.
We had a wealth of volunteers to help us and to make our hazards course more colorful.
We also had a Group Riding station and an activity called Calf Roping: throwing a hula hoop over a chair as you ride by.
What a privilege to be a part of this event. Abbey Harding (below in red shirt) of North Natomas Transportation Management Association did a great job of organizing this event.
Sunday Social
At today’s meeting, officers for the next two years were elected and everyone watched a 2014 Year in Review slideshow.
The most fun was a Throwdown: Arlete v Harold Horrell using Blood Oranges. Everyone voted after tasting both and it was a TIE! Harold’s cake was excellent. He named it Bloody Wallbanger because it included a generous amount of Galliano. Yum!
To see and read more, go to:
rlehs.wordpress.com
RLEHS board meeting
Stephanie and son Josh Jr with Barbara Longo. Stephanie and Josh made a delicious thank-you dinner for the Board of Directors. 
I’ve started a new blog for RLEHS where you can see many more pictures:
rlehs.wordpress.com
Foggy days
You can see the end of Justin’s driveway!
Meeting the neighbors
When I walk around the block, at one house a dog always comes along the fence and barks for the entire length. We chat. Today it went something like this,
“Hello there. How are you today? I see you almost everyday and it seems like you should be getting to know me by now. Maybe, if I knew your name, we could be better friends.”
“HAILEY!”
I literally spun around looking for where that voice might have come from. Surely this wasn’t a Mr Ed-like experience.
Ah-ha, behind the very tall spreading evergreen, someone was pruning crape myrtles. Hailey and John:
On Cornelius Road:
Most of the time, flocks of birds will take off when I walk by, but these birds just walked fast. Hundreds of feet swooshing through the water.
Another friendly and entertaining neighbor:
arletelouise 