Many of my faithful readers (well, one actually) have been wondering what has become of Pete in the last six weeks or so. Apparently, my readers have already figured out the secret code in my last missive and have become bored with all the riches they've subsequently come into after cracking the message, and are now eager for a new report. Okay.

Life in the big city is working out so far. It's definitely quieter here and it's nice to see the stars at night again. We live directly across from a rather large farm field and walnut grove and so our sunsets are quite picturesque (once you mentally remove the large power lines off in the middle distance). Quite a few people use the levees and dirt roads surrounding the fields as walking or biking paths, and we've found a nice 2-3 mile/90 minute stroll is possible. The back end of the field also comes right up to the labyrinth of delta channels (kept behind a 20-foot tall levee) and there are some neat water pumping stations nearby. It's all quite educational to me.

Speaking of levees, you may have heard about the levee break that took place in early June just west of Stockton. The resulting flood created a 12,000 acre lake in an area called the Lower Jones Tract. The water averages about 12 feet in depth and that's apparently enough water to "feed" Sacramento for a year. This is big news when you live on the delta. Anyway, they've repaired the breach and large pumps (10 of them) were trucked in from Florida, and the California DWR estimates the water will be gone by October. Anyway, the whole point of that introduction was to show you some of the pictures I took a few days ago as I went to see what I could see:

Click on the thumbs for larger versions 

 

In other news, we've already gone to a couple of baseball games. There's a Class A minor league team here called the Stockton Ports. I hadn't been to a minor league game in some time and I'd forgotten just how wacky the experience is. The crowds are of course miniscule (maybe 1000 people? Almost as good as the home average the Expos get in Montreal, now that I think about it...), but the in-game entertainment is fun: kids getting to run into huge stuffed bowling pins or race trash cans around a little course (to illustrate the new recycling program in town). The best are the cheesy audio samples played by the P.A. announcer, such as the sound of breaking glass whenever a foul ball goes out in to the parking lot (which happens a lot). Immediately after he plays the sound effect he announces "If that was your car, just call Stockton Auto Glass and they'll take care of it." Very dorky, but very fun. Perhaps the best part of going to a Ports game is the price to sit behind home plate: $7.00. What would be the "blue" seats at Dodger Stadium (the most expensive seats) are $9.00. Of course, watching the Ports is a lot like watching the San Diego Padres: they play great for the first five innings and then blow it. Still, it's a good time. We're hoping to get up to Sacramento soon to see the Sacramento Rivercats (they're a AAA team, one step below the Big Show) with our friend Beth who lives in Davis.

Oh yes, for those of you who haven't heard: we're engaged. The big day is May 29, 2005 (Sunday of Memorial Day weekend) and the festivities will be up here in Stockton, at the UOP chapel.

Fin.