Other Castro Valley Blogs

Two other local blogs have come to the attention of Your Boulevardier, and are shared here.

The first is Skeezix's Scratching Post, which bears the subtitle "A daily journal by the ugliest, stinkiest, worst-coiffed cat ever born." Ostensibly written by a cat -- one that shares a Castro Valley veterinarian with the Trusty BoulevarDog and the late Chat du Maison -- this blog must be read out loud to be appreciated. Indeed, at times it must be read out loud to be understood, as the cat "speaks" in a heavy dialect. Skeezix's Scratching Post is heavily trafficked; posts receive dozens of comments, a fact which gives Your Boulevardier fits of melancholia.

The second is a rookie effort, Castro Valley, California to Tokyo, Japan, run by a young man named Dan. An extremely long subtitle explains its purpose: "Hello, my name is Dan. I've never traveled outside of the United States (except for Mexico, though it wasn't much of a trip), and want to go all out for my first trip. I have decided that I'm going to head to Tokyo, Japan, entirely on my own. This will chronicle anything and everything that takes place to lead up to that journey." Dan is strong on ambition and enthusiasm, and is a good storyteller and observer of his own place in the world. (Your Boulevardier means that literally and metaphorically.) For Dan to share publicly his preparations for a journey in 2013 is an act of great faith and confidence. One only wishes there were a way to contribute online to Young Dan's travel fund; alas, visitors can only watch it accumulate. (Total, as of this writing: $36.76; estimated cost for the trip: $7000.)

Your Boulevardier would welcome tips on other local blogs. Especially during times like these, when getting out of the house and into town is made more difficult by the inclement weather.

Nixon Goes to China in Castro Valley

Trinity Lyric Opera, Castro Valley's resident opera company (now there's a phrase that defines cognitive dissonance) will present John Adams' Nixon in China on July 18-27 at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

Nice Orchid, Senator

Your Boulevardier spotted California State Senator Ellen Corbett shopping in the Castro Valley Trader Joe's on Friday. She was accompanied by her teenaged son and purchasing an orchid. Her constituency either did not recognize the Senator or was simply giving her some peace and quiet (inasmuch as such can be found in Trader Joe's on a Friday afternoon).

Creekside Students Do Mail Art

A number of students at Castro Valley's Creekside Middle School have submitted pieces into an international Mail Art show sponsored by the Women's Caucus for Art on the theme "Sustaining Our Environment." Their entries are well worth checking out, and can be found here.

Your Boulevardier's personal favorite is on page 8 of 10: "Can you imagine where this bird would be without a branch?" by Andre.

"Wolf-Like Dog" in Castro Valley?

A frightening news item appeared in the Contra Costa Times:

Sheriff's deputies killed what they believe is a wolf-dog mix this morning after it ripped the heads off two lambs owned by Jim Burns, who lives on Palo Verde Road in Castro Valley, officials said.
During an hours-long hunt in the rain, Animal Control officers shot the dog three times with tranquilizer darts, with no effect, officials said.
When the dog charged a sheriff's deputy, the deputy gunned it down with a shotgun, Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.

The entire story can be found here.

By the bye, Your Boulevardier has been out of town and away from the computer. The biggest of the rainstorms deserve comment, and perhaps an attempt will be made to do so soon. One is interested in how the newly opened creek near the Library construction site behaved in the heavy storm flow.