Last year I started rowing with the Solano Rowing Club and today I lost my virginity, having my first competition in gorgeous Vallejo. I competed with the men’s team. Here is some video footage of us practicing right before the race.
This event on the Napa River is called the Skipper Whipper. After the event, we had lunch together on Mare Island at the Brewery.
Shando captured almost the entire course in this video:
Vallejo, California – Hail while the sun is shining and it is 50 degrees Fahrenheit!
Many events have drawn me to this organization, including the fundraising Trivia Night, the Vallejo Garden Tour, and various symposia. I’m glad to further entrench myself in this community by supporting this amazing institution with a long history here in town.
Shando selfies:
A puppy scratched me at the shelter! I hated to do it, but had to fill out a bunch of paperwork. I’m glad it wasn’t a bite!
Joe selfies without the scratch and showing some weight loss:
Dear friends, husbands Jim Purpura and Steve Albanese, visited us for the first time since Covid. These were taken in the Twin Peaks bar in the Castro.
So cute!
We took our four most ambulatory dogs on a hike on Mare Island.
Previous to the hike we went to the art exhibit on Pintado Street which included very cool work from our friend Manny Furtado, who lives on Mare Island.
We happened to be there right after they had “wreathed” the military cemetery that is along the hike.
While we lived here last year, I regret I was too exhausted from the Photos with Santa in 2021 to participate. This year both Shando and I participated. We were highly impressed with the whole shebang. We intend to be even better prepared next year when there will hopefully not be as much rain. I’m glad we all muddled through though!
In a very poignant gesture, Santa Tom Bilbo put a big pink “Q” at the back of the float, which represented our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who were targeted for being LGBTQ (as all of this float’s participants were in that category or an ally). It is also a symbol against gun violence and assault weapons being available for civilians, to paraphrase Tom when being interviewed for Vallejo Times Herald.
As a Board member and current Board Secretary of the Humane Society of the North Bay, I table a lot of events. This one was well-documented. We had a lot of great volunteers there and it was a well-attended event. It was only the second year, too!
I was honored to be one of the citizens asking a question (in my case on behalf of LGBTQ Minus Tobacco) at the September 28, 2022 Vallejo City Council District 5 Candidate Forum that was put up by Leachman Park Neighborhood Association.
This also happened to be just a few days after the Black Live Matters mural was painted on the road in front of City Hall. I did my best to take it from the conference room that I was in, but the drone shots are of course much better.
Even though this wasn’t my district, I was happy to be there to participate since I’ve been in front of City Council a number of times, and I’ll very likely be in front of whoever wins this seat in the future. I already knew four of the five candidates from one venue or another.
…with Monte & Cappy. We figured these were our three dogs most likely to appreciate it. We have a 17-year-old Pom-chi (Timber) who is a little frail who we bring out sometimes, but the beachhead is a little rough for her. Our other dog is blind and generally uncomfortably nervous whenever he gets in a car for some reason that I suspect has to do with his previous guardians.
Polar’s hair is still growing in, but he minded pretty well and he certainly loves car rides. He’ll be going out with us regularly I’m sure. He’s also not deaf like Monte, so he’s a little easier to communicate with, although Monte minds pretty well regardless.