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Banners are up!

Last year, on November 28, Brenda, BarbaraL and I met a photographer at N Natomas Regional Park for a photo shoot. This was part of the N Natomas Joy project created by Jibe and Councilmember Lisa Kaplan. I received word yesterday that the banners have been installed! I went for a bike ride today to see them. There were 40 submissions. Half of the banners are along N Park Dr, the section that borders the N Natomas Regional Park. Most of the banners are on the park side.

The reverse side:

The rest of the banners are on Natomas Central Dr. These are less elongated.

At Gozo Island Ave, a few familiar faces:

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Flag football

Carson #1 played in the morning:

Charlie kept me company during our lunch break at home.

Avery #23 played in the afternoon.

Thais and Sophia were at an out-of-town volleyball tournament for the weekend, Lenin played golf, and I was thrilled to step in and help out.

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Kickoff meeting

On Wednesday, I went to May is Bike Month kickoff meeting at SMUD Headquarters on S St.

Rob from SABA and Lee from 50 Corridor/Sac TMA. Lee also works for Love to Ride as a Community Engagement Manager and has been training me for the past month. Today we met in person for the first time.

Many community partners attended. It was a lunch meeting with sandwiches from Corti Bros.

After the meeting, we went on a tour of the facilities.

We started on the top floor where all the building systems are located.

Great views of the City to the west:

To the south, Hwy 50 and Rancho Cordova:

In the basement, a carpentry shop

and SMUD’s Office of Emergency Services.

The mural on the outside of the building is an enlargement of “Water City” by Wayne Thiebaud. This art work plus the architecture made SMUD Headquarters an historical landmark.

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Happy Valentine’s Day

from my bike and me:

On Monday, Maria and Tim drove down from Penn Valley and spent the night. We went to Oshima Sushi for dinner.

On Tuesday morning, I drove them to the airport. They are flying to Puerto Vallarta for a golfing vacation.

On Valentine’s Day, I got these cute postcards at a May is Bike Month meeting at SMUD Headquarters (next post).

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Football

Carson played flag football at Jesuit on Saturday.

On Sunday, after a great morning bike ride with Lennore, Brenda, and BarbaraL,

there was the Super Bowl. Two things were excellent: it was a great game, exciting to the end of overtime, no less. And, the snack for my Super Bowl party was delicious. Grilled steak nachos with Gorgonzola cream sauce.

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Leucadendron

Just two pictures this week? It would seem I’m not doing much, but that could not be further from the truth. I went for a couple of bike rides, had delicious margaritas at Terri’s with Steve and Elaine, got my hair cut, and picked up Carson and Avery from school which always includes some hilarious discussion on the way home, and …

I began to learn what it means to be a Community Engagement Manager. Five Zoom meetings, draft/edit/send a multitude of emails, and then respond to emails received and schedule meetings when convenient. I am learning a lot and enjoying this challenge.

Meanwhile, in the back yard, a protea is changing. For its first 3 years in the back yard, this plant didn’t seem to grow or change much. Then it sprouted up, fell over, then thrived after an assistance a metal plant hanger.

Lately there have been colorful changes at the top of two stems.

I had to check with Thais to find out this particular protea is Leucadendron and it looks like it might flower. Happy Super Bowl weekend. How are you going to celebrate? Go Niners.

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Rescue Me

On Sunday, Terri and I had brunch at Cafe Bernardo,

followed by a play at B Street Theater.

In the first act, the only two surviving passengers from a plane crash are stranded and floating on the wing – this play was a comedy.