Cape Bushbuck

We saw the wild dogs eating a bushbuck at the Makanyi. I finally got a chance to get a picture of one while we were walking the trail across from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Mustangs Maul Mather - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

I mentioned earlier that I was shocked to find out that my dad played baseball in college. It looks like he only played in three games in college during spring of his sophomore year; he didn't have a hit. Additionally, he doesn't show up in the 1953 season end statistics. My dad either got cut or, knowing him, got mad and quit. This probably explains a lot about his attitude towards baseball when I was a kid. Spring semesters of his junior and senior year he was on the golf team.

California Aggie, Volume 51, Number 5, 12 March 1953

Mustangs Maul Mather, Nab 2nd Win; Host Travis Nine Today

   By G. W. Billie
   Unleashing a devastating batting attack, the UCD Mustangs took the measure of the Mather Field nine last Saturday on the local diamond by the lopsided score of 20-8. The Mustangs, led by the booming bats of Purcifull, Cebull, Barker, and Bushnell, who collected four hits apiece, amassed a total of 19 hits to the visitors 9 in a game that strongly resembled a trackmeet, rather than the National Pastime.
Early Scoring
   All the Mustang scoring came in the first five innings with the big shows coming in the third and fifth wherein five then six runs were respectively scored. These innings offered a premature ..climax to the game. The lads from Mather, after the first inning in which they bunched three hits to score an equivalent number of runs, never seriously challenged the Mustang lead. Their nine hits were fairly well scattered over the nine innings, and in four frames they were held hitless.
   It was in one of the above, the 8th, that reliefer Rich Ortega accomplished the near perfect feat of sending the three men who came up to face him right back to the dugout via the strikeout route using just ten small pitches. How good can it get?
Experience Needed
   As in their first encounter this season, the Mustangs again demonstrated fine team spirit and a sufficiency of batting power. However, they still seemed a little tight in their fielding, commiting three miscues to the opposition’s one, and showed definite weakness in the pitching dept. These latter difficulties, however, are quite probably factors that will iron themselves out later in the season when the squad has resolved itself into more of a playing unit, as distinguished from early season in'dividual play.
   The Mustangs take on another non-conference foe this week, Travis Air Force Base, in two different games. The first will be played on the local diamond Thursday, March 12, and the second game will be played at the Travis Base Saturday, March 14.

   Mustang Box Score:

             AB  H  R

Veerkamp If   1  1  3 
Percifull c   6  4  4 
Cebull ss     4  4  3 
Barker 3b     4  4  2 
Oehlman cf    3  0  0 
Smith lb      3  0  0 
Bizzini, 2b   3  1  2 
Ortega rf-p   4  1  2 
Bushnell p    5  4  4 
Sheppard If   3  0  0 
Behrendt c    0  0  0 
Rutherford ss 0  0  0 
Wilson lb     1  0  0 
Heringer rf   1  0  0
* Lovelace    1  0  0 
Johnson 2b    0  0  0 
Harrisop cf   1  0  0 
             40 19 20 
             
Mustangs 3353600x—20-19-3 
Mather   30003020--8--9-1 

*Lovelace batted for Smith in the fifth

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Decorating the House for Christmas

For the seventh straight year, [2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024], we have started decorating the house for Christmas before Thanksgiving rather the weekend after. Like last year, we are starting two weeks before Thanksgiving rather than one week.

Sharon spent Wednesday and Thursday taking down the fall decorations. Today, we dragged most of the Christmas boxes from the storage shed to the garage. It is going to take a week to get all of the decorations put up.

Remembering Becky Frame

Sharon's brother Tom's wife passed away ten years ago today. Talking with Tom this week, Sharon pushed the idea of getting a group together at the St. Mary's cemetery for a remembrance. The group ended up including: Eric, Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia, Will and Eileen, Erin and Mave, Kathy, Jim, Tom, Sharon and I.

We ended up spending more than two hours at the grave site remembering Becky. Afterwards, Eric, Tom, Sharon and I made a stop at Sharon and Tom's parents grave.

F1

Friday night, Sharon and I watched F1 on the AppleTV. Sharon originally wanted to see the movie in the theater, but we never got around to it. She had been pushing the idea for the last couple of weeks.

F1 (marketed as F1 the Movie) is a sports drama film. It was directed by Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. Brad Pitt stars with supporting roles by Damson Idris, Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Tobias Menzies (The Crown - Season Three, The Crown - Season Four, Outlander - Season One) and Javier Bardem.

The story follows Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a former Formula One prodigy whose career ended in a devastating crash three decades earlier. He is convinced to return to the sport by his former teammate (Bardem) to help save the struggling underdog APXGP racing team from financial collapse. Sonny reluctantly pairs up with Joshua Pearce (Idris), a talented but arrogant young rookie who views the veteran as a threat to his own career.

Less than 30 minutes into the movie, Sharon said "this is too predictable; it is formulaic." I enjoyed the movie more than she did. In my teens and twenties, I followed Formula One. I went to the Long Beach Grand Prix in March of 1976. I am shocked that The Big Picture podcast talked about F1 sneaking into the Oscar Best Picture race. It is not going to be nominated for Best Picture. With so many other movies to watch, I give it a luke warm thumbs up.

Song for 2025

Carmen and Drew released a song called Through The Door in August. It was written in the midst of their IVF pregnancy journey. They wrote it to summon a little life their way in hopes of growing their family. Their son Dawson is due January 1, 2026.

If you listen closely to the intro and the bridge of the song you can hear his sampled heart beat adding a rhythmic pulse.

My song for 2025 is Through the Door by The Guest and The Host and Neon Meadows.


You can find the work in progress Soundtrack for My Life here!

What is this?

Only Murders in the Building - Season Five

Sharon and I finished watching season five of Only Murders in the Building on Sunday night. It is available on Hulu. We watched season one in January of 2023, season two in February of 2023, season three in November of 2023 and season four in November of 2024.

Only Murders in the Building is a comedy mystery television series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. Season five premiered September 9, 2025. The series has been renewed for a six season. Starring the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, season five includes special guest appearances by Meryl Streep.

The fifth season of Only Murders in the Building sees Charles (Martin), Mabel (Gomez), and Oliver (Short) investigate the death of the Arconia's beloved doorman, Lester, who was found dead in the fountain after Oliver's wedding. Their investigation quickly uncovers that Lester's death is connected to the disappearance of a mobster, Nicky Caccimelio, and a secret casino hidden beneath the building. The trio must navigate a cast of suspects including a trio of eccentric billionaires and the mayor to expose the complex web of murders, secrets, and a severed finger.

I enjoyed the season five, but it is not as good as the first two seasons. Like season four, there are some very good episodes. Unfortunately, storyline gets off track and wanders in some odd pointless directions in the middle of the season. We will definitely watch season six. Apparently, the trio—Charles, Oliver, and Mabel—will be taking their investigation overseas for the first time to London for next season.

The Old Course At St. Andrews at Waymaker Brewing

Donna, Kevin, Sharon and I spent the afternoon at Waymaker Brewing playing the Old Course at St. Andrews on the golf simulator. It is the first time that I have swung a club in seven weeks and only second time in two and a half months. I felt stronger as the round progressed. I actually parred the 12th hole. I made a couple of long putts, but putting is an adventure on the simulator!

Fraternities and Halls - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 50, Number 16, 15 January 1953

CALPHA

   The members of the house held elections for the Spring semester. Bob Anderson was elected President; Davis Ramos, Vice-President; Ralph Gomma, Sgt.-at-Arms; Dick Heringer and Ben Broersma, Rushing Chairman; and Mike Rover, IFC Rep.
   The Calphas will end the semester and begin the New Year with a house party Saturday night.
   Congratulations to Lynn Smart and Bill Ursey, thanks for cigars Bill. Congratulations to Fred Stafford and Ramona Burke now known at Mrs Fred Stafford. Don Jacop will lose his freedom come Feb 7th. Good Luck you poor boy.
   Recruit Jack Fox will be working for his Uncle Sam next semester and John Fifield leaves for Imperial Valley.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

2025-2026 Kings Season

During the 2025-2026 Sacramento Kings season, the Kings
are 1 and 1 in games which I saw in person, including:

REGULAR SEASON

10/24/2025: Kings-105, Jazz-104 - Larkin

11/07/2025: Thunder-132, Kings-101 - Carmen, Drew and Sharon

2025-2026 Season [1-1]
2024-2025 Season [5-4]
2023-2024 Season [6-2]
2022-2023 Season [5-3]
2021-2022 Season [1-5]
2020-2021 Season [1-0]
2019-2020 Season [1-4]
2018-2019 Season [7-4]
2017-2018 Season [5-2]
2016-2107 Season [5-3]
2015-2016 Season [2-2]
2014-2015 Season [1-4]
2013-2014 season [3-2]
2012-2013 Season [1-0]
2011-2012 Season [3-2]
2010-2011 Season [3-6]
2009-2010 Season [4-7]
2008-2009 Season [2-7]
2007-2008 Season [7-7]
2006-2007 Season [5-9]
2005-2006 Season [8-8]
2004-2005 Season [10-4]
2003-2004 season [12-3]

To San Franciso and Back

Sharon and I spent the day winding our way to San Francisco and Back to connect with Jack. Leaving Carmicheal at 9:45 am, it took us almost three hours to fight our way into the city.

We had a late brunch at Ti Piacera. Sharon had a Wild Arugula Salad [Fennel, oranges, beets, roasted almond, feta hazelnut vinaigrette], while I had Veggie Frittata [Baked omelette with, broccoli, mushroom, bell pepper, red onion topped with Feta, arugula, avocado]. Although we had forgotten until we sat down, we had eaten there once before.

We headed home about 2:40 pm. With a stop for gas, it took us about two hours and twenty-five minutes to wind our way home; we were home just after 5:00 pm.

A discouraging and disappointing day.

2025 Sacramento Kings versus Oklahoma Thunder

Carmen, Drew, Sharon and I met for dinner at Echo & Rig in the Sawyer Hotel (Swordfish). Afterwards, we went to the Sacramento Kings versus Oklahoma Thunder NBA basketball game. This is the first game of the NBA Cup Group Play.

It was an ugly game. The Kings lost the game by the score of 132 to 101.

As I said when Larkin and I went to the home opener, the Kings look small. Unfortunately, Domantas Sabonis sat out his second consecutive game with sore ribs making the situation even worse. The Thunder outrebounded the Kings by 52 to 38.

Taking advantage of the Kings' lack of size, Isaiah Hartenstien was the high scorer for the Thunder. Hartenstein had a career-high 33 points on 14 for 17 from the field and 5 for 6 from the free throw line. He had 19 rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 30 points.

Russell Westbrook was the high scorer for the Kings. He had 24 points on 9 for 17 from the field, 5 for 9 from three and 1 for 2 from the free throw line. He added six rebounds and nine assists.

While I am appreciating Westbrook's addition to the team just before the season started a lot more than I thought I would, it is sad that he was the high scorer. The Kings are a collection of misfits toys; the parts don't fit together into an effective team. I feel sorry for coach Doug Christie.

To make matters worse, we were sitting next to a very obnoxious Thunder fan. We had to listen to his running commentary for the whole game.

The Kings have 1 win and 1 loss in games that I have seen in the 2025-2026 season. My goal continues to be to see at least one game a month.

Bots! - A New Children's Musical

Thursday evening, Sharon and I went to the California Montessori Project Capitol Campus to see a production of Bots!. Sharon's great-niece Lydia had a large role.

Lunch with Snipes and Tomasin

Snipes and I drove to Vallejo and met Tomasin for lunch at the Sardine Can. The restaurant was one of Rickey's old haunts. After lunch, we drove by the house that Rickey owned in Vallejo.

Neighborhood Homeowners Association Meeting

On a rainy Wednesday night, Sharon and I went to the neighborhood homeowners association meeting at Tom and Judy's house. The board now includes Brad, Tom and Chuck. The meeting was lightly attended.

I love our neighborhood.

Bugonia

Tuesday afternoon, Sharon and I saw Bugonia at the Century Country Club Cinema. We are continuing our annual journey to see all of the films that might be nominated for an Oscar. As of today, GoldDerby currently has Bugonia with the tenth best odds to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Bugonia is an absurdist black comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan. The film stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. Delbis is autistic. Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos have collaborated on four feature films: The Favourite (2018); Poor Things (2023); Kinds of Kindness (2024), and; Bugonia (2025).

Teddy Gatz (Plemons), a conspiracy-obsessed beekeeper, and his intellectually-disabled cousin, Don (Delbis), kidnap Michelle Fuller (Stone), the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. They are convinced she is an alien disguised as a human. They hold her captive in their basement in a bizarre attempt to save Earth from an extraterrestrial plot.

Plemons and Stone's performances are very good. I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them nominated for an acting Oscar. Primarily due to the ending, I have mixed feelings about the movie. I think that the movie would have been better with a more understated ending. They could have accomplished the same thing without the cartoon characterizations at the end. I think that the movie is on the bubble for a Best Picture Oscar nomination. It will depend on how well a couple of movies released over the next couple months are received (e.g. Avatar - Fire and Ash and Wicked for Good).

"Bugonia" is a Greek word (βουγονία, also spelled "bougonia") that refers to an ancient Mediterranean rite or belief that bees spontaneously generate from the carcasses of dead animals, particularly oxen.

dinner at Holly and Van's

Monday night, we had dinner at Holly and Van's.

On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything

My book for November was On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything by Nate Silver. I read Silver's previous book, the signal and the noise, in May of 2013. I currently follow him on Substack.

The book explores the mindset and strategies of elite risk-takers, whom he collectively terms "The River." Drawing on his background as a professional poker player and statistician, Silver investigates how people like professional gamblers, hedge fund managers, venture capitalists, and AI innovators navigate extreme uncertainty and use probabilistic thinking to their advantage in high-stakes environments. The book contrasts "The River's" analytical, contrarian, and risk-tolerant approach with "The Village," a metaphor for the more cautious, conventional mainstream elites in media, academia, and government. Through anecdotes including a detailed look at the rise and fall of FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried—Silver, Silver reveals the common traits and decision-making processes that enable this influential group to shape the global economy and technology.

Although I don't recommend it, I enjoyed the book. It is a mishmash of engaging stories that I don't think fit together towards the books conclusions. I enjoyed the stories. I just don't see how everything fits into some practical conclusions...

There is a discussion at the end of the book about p(Doom). In AI safety, P(doom) is the probability of existentially catastrophic outcomes (so-called "doomsday scenarios") as a result of artificial intelligence. At one point, Silver notes that the scientists building the current Large Language Model AIs don't understand how some of the answers are generated. I am going to follow up by reading a basic primer on AI technology.

Art Show and Dinner with Greg and Michelle

Saturday night, we went downtown with our neighbors Greg and Michelle. We went to an Open House Art Show by Deborah Rhea and DAniel Schoorl. Greg and Michelle own a number of pieces from these artists.

Afterwards, we wandered next door to Magpie Cafe for dinner. For entrees, I had WESTERN LAMB CHOPS [Baba ghanoush, grilled summer squash, cherry tomato, pickles, fresh herbs. Sumac yogurt], while Sharon had a BURGER [Caramelized onions, heirloom tomato, watercress, Sierra Nevada cheddar cheese, pickles, secret sauce, milk bun. Fries]. We spent the dinner talking about their daugther's wedding and our trip to Africa.

We stopped at our house to watch the end of game seven of the World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 5 to 4 in 11 innings. I hate the Dodgers...

Halloween 2025

Halloween 2024

Halloween 2023

Halloween 2022

Halloween 2021

Halloween 2020

Complete The Guest and Host Apple Music Playlist

Sacramento Women's Golf Club Members/Guest Tournament

Like last year, Sharon played in the played in the Sacramento Women's Golf Club Members/Guest Tournament at Haggin Oaks. Sharon has been a member this year; She took Debbie as her guest. Playing a scramble and using at least three drives from each player in the foursome, they parred every hole.