mailing the Christmas Cards

Twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight years, Sharon and I have sent out a Christmas Card. Dissatisfied with the quality of the photos on commercial cards like Shutterfly, I built my own format and process. Unfortunately, this was a lot of work... Additionally, the number of cards that we send out has exploded in the last twenty years with the inclusion of people from SEAS, Outlaws, Jesuit High, Sutter Health, Adventist Health and Deterding Ranch.

Five years ago, I decided to go back to a commercially printed greeting card. After moving my database from Outlook into iOS contacts, I printed mailing lablels for the first time three years ago. Everything has gone a lot quicker!

I mailed 148 Christmas cards on Monday, December 8.

In 2024, I mailed 143 Christmas cards on December 3. I mailed three more on Friday, December 6.

In 2023, I mailed 136 Christmas Cards On Saturday, December 2. I dropped three more in the mail the next day.

In 2022, I mailed 127 Christmas Cards on Thursday, December 15. I dropped two more in the mail on Friday, December 16.

In 2021, I mailed 121 Christmas Cards on Wednesday, December 8.

In 2020, I dropped 119 Christmas Cards at the post office on Sunday night, December 6.

In 2019, I dropped 73 Christmas Cards at the post office on Tuesday night, December 17 and 33 more on Wednesday morning, December 18.

In 2018, I dropped 104 cards at the post office on Monday, December 17.

In 2017, I mailed about 70 cards on Sunday afternoon, December 17 and another 30 plus cards on Monday morning, December 18.

2025 Jesuit High School Lessons & Carols

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.

Sharon and I went to Lessons & Carols, an evening of prayer and song presented by the Jesuit High School Chamber Singers, the Concert Choir of St. Francis High School and Jesuit Drama at the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. This is the sixteenth year that Jesuit High School has held the service.

After missing three years, we attended in 2023 and 2024. Prior to that, we attended in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Sharon's brother Tom went with us in 2018 and 2019. Sharon went by herself in 2015 while I was working in the Napa Valley.

At Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

Taking advantage of the street closures blocking access to the course due to the California International Marathon, Sharon and I played nine holes at Ancil Hoffman Gof Course. Teeing off at 9:40 am, we played as a twosome.

I was happy with how I played. Although we haven't been playing as much over the last three months, I have been striking the ball more consistently over my last couple of rounds. I only three putted one green, but my chipping is still a problem. I parred the par three ninth hole coming into the clubhouse. In spite of all the leaves, I didn't lose a ball!

I carded a very honest 52. Sharon ended up wth the same score, but used a number of mulligans off the tee. I used one gallery loss on the eighth, but it turned out my ball was in the middle of the fairway about 20 yards ahead of where we were looking...

We had a very nice relaxed Sunday morning. I really enjoyed having a chance to play as a twosome.

Holiday Get-together

With the house decorated for Christmas, we invited the Gainsleys and Larkins over for a cocktail. The Larkins bought some smoked salmon and crackers.

Afterwards, the six of us went to dinner at Fabians Italian Bistro. Sharon and I split a bland caesar salad. For entrees, I had FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE [ ANGUS BEEF & PORK RAGÚ, PECORINO ROMANO, FRESH BASIL], while Sharon had HALIBUT PUTTANESCA [CAPERS, OLIVES, ANCHOVIES, TOMATOES, CALABRIAN CHILI, GARLIC BREAD].

It was a very nice evening. Sharon and I are regretting that we don't have a trip booked for 2026...

Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour

Sharon and her brother Tom spent the afternoon at the Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour. This is the fifth year that they have done the tour [2024, 2023].

They had a late lunch at Revolution Winery & Kitchen.

Carol Ann (Moline) Abbott

My mother had an older borther, Spencer Abbott, and a younger brother, Roderick Abbott. Carol was Roderick's wife.

Carol Ann (Moline) Abbott
May 14, 1937 - August 23, 2025

Carol passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. A special prayer for her soul was offered by her cousin, Dr. Melvin Morgan. She is survived by her devoted husband, Roderick Abbott, and is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Jana Abbott and Judy Beil.

Jana Abbott is the loving mother of two daughters. Laura, her eldest, is married to Michael Mongon, and together they are the proud parents of Elleanora and Lochlan. Sunny, Jana’s younger daughter, is married to Evgen Gavryushkin.

Judy Beil is married to Jim Beil, and they are the loving parents of two sons, Ryan Beil and Evan Beil.

She is remembered for all things unique as she was, love of learning and adventure and the special way she touched all our lives for what we needed.

After having two daughters, she returned to college and proudly earned her degree from the California State University, Northridge.

Carol embraced every opportunity for adventure. With joy and resilience, she packed up the family and joined Roderick as they moved across several states throughout their marriage, always supporting his career and welcoming each new chapter with an open heart. One of these she and Roderick spent three memorable years living in Scotland, during which they explored Europe together.

Gifted in the art of sewing, she creatively crafted her daughters’ wedding dresses and created quilts for her grandchildren, featuring puzzle and airplane patterns. The airplane design was a heartfelt tribute, matching one made years earlier by Roderick’s grandmother.

Just a few weeks ago, we had the joy and privilege of celebrating Carol and Roderick’s incredible 67th wedding anniversary—a beautiful milestone filled with love, memories, and laughter.

Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whose lives have been deeply enriched by her love, strength, and unwavering presence.

The Widow by John Grisham

My book for December was The Widow by John Grisham. Somewhat unbelievably, this is the 40th book by John Grisham that I have read in the last thirty-four years.

The book centers on Simon Latch, a struggling small-town lawyer drowning in debt and marital problems. Simon's luck seems to change when he takes on Eleanor Barnett, an elderly, secretive widow who claims to possess a secret, multi-million dollar fortune.

This book was a mixed bag for me. I didn't particularly enjoy the first hundred and fifty pages; martial struggles are not one of my favorite topics. I was also bored by the interactions between the lawyer and the widow. Then, the book changes directions completely. I was a lot more engaged. The book shifts direction for a third time in the last 50 pages for an odd, unexpected ending.

I will continue to read Grisham novels as filler between more ambitious books. They serve as a nice mindless break.

25th Hour

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 3, ‘25th Hour’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Spike Lee’s 25th Hour, one of the most present-tense films ever made. They discuss its fascinating legacy as a somewhat under-discussed masterpiece, explain why Lee’s stylistic choices are deeply moving, and identify the impressive fricative tension in all of the movie’s ideas.

Friday night, Jack, Sharon and I watched the 25th Hour. [Note to self], I need to build a blog post of The Big Picture's list of the 25 Best Movies of the Century.

The 25th Hour is a 2002 drama film directed by Spike Lee. It is adapted by David Benioff from his 2001 debut novel The 25th Hour.

The film stars Edward Norton. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Brian Cox [Succession] have a supporting roles.

The film takes place over a single day. It follows Monty Brogan (Norton), a convicted drug dealer who has 24 hours of freedom left before he must report to prison to serve a seven-year sentence.

Terrified of what awaits him in prison and filled with regret, Monty spends his final day saying goodbye to his father (Cox), his girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), and his two best friends: Jacob (Hoffman), a shy high school teacher, and Frank (Barry Pepper), a high-powered Wall Street trader.

It is widely regarded as one of the best films of the 2000s and is particularly famous for capturing the mood of New York City immediately following the September 11 attacks.

Although it is a little slow in a couple of spots, all three of us liked the movie. We listened to the Big Picture Podcast talking about the movie on the way to an early dinner on Saturday. A random note, Jesse Plemons has become Phil Seymour Hoffman; it seems like Plemons is now filling roles that would have been filled by Hoffman twenty years ago.

Round Up of • Clubs • Halls • Fraternities • Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 51, Number 3, 26 February 1953

ROUND UP of • CLUBS • HALLS • FRATERNITIES •

SOUTH HALL
   New hard working officrs recently elected are: Marge Oehlman, President; Eugenia Hoffman, Vice-President; Joyce Abbott, Secretary; Marcia Reed, Vig-Committee Chairman. Toni Gills and Mary Ann Krull are our Contributions to the Interhall Concil.
   Vivianne Elorza, the chairman for our Picnic Day float, is busy at work making plans for the South Hall masterpiece, and wonders if anyone knows of any windproof glue.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Jack

Wednesday night, Jack took a bus and then a train to Sacramento. While I was at the Kings game with Drew, Sharon picked him up at the Amtrak station.

We had a very nice couple of days, including Thanksgiving dinner, shopping for a Christmas tree, a couple of movies (The 25 Hour and Hamnet) and an early dinner at Teleferic Barcelona on Saturday.

Up early on Sunday morning, we dropped him at the Amtrak station. Jack caught a 6:50 am train back to the city.

Hamnet

Before lunch, Jack, Sharon and I saw Hamnet at the Tower Theater. 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 Hamnet with the third best odds to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Hamnet is a historical drama film co-edited and directed by Chloé Zhao. Zhao co-wrote the screenplay with Maggie O'Farrell. The film is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by O'Farrell. It stars Jessie Buckley [Women Talking, The Lost Daughter, Judy] and Paul Mescal [Aftersun]. Emily Watson [Gosford Park] and Joe Alwyn [The Brutalist] appear in supporting roles.

The film is a fictionalized exploration of the life of William Shakespeare (Mescal) and his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Buckley). Set in 16th-century Stratford-upon-Avon, the story focuses heavily on Agnes and their domestic life together. The family is devastated by the tragic death of their only son, 11-year-old Hamnet. The narrative traces this overwhelming grief and how it ultimately serves as the emotional crucible that inspires Shakespeare to write his legendary tragedy, Hamlet.

Sharon and Jack enjoyed the movie more than I did. It is emotionally intense. My Shakespeare knowledge is not strong; I haven't read or seen Hamlet. Watching the movie, I was more than a little unclear of the plot of the play Hamlet. I expect that the movie will get a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Buckley is the heart of the movie. I expect that she will get a Best Actress nomination.

Shopping for a Christmas Tree

Friday morning, Tiber, Jack, Sharon and I headed to Roseville to shop for a Christmas Tree. For the eighth year in a row [2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018], we went to Bambi's Christmas Trees at Douglas and South Harding.

• In 2018 and 2019, we went to Bambi's on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.
• In 2020, we went on Friday after Thanksgiving.
• In 2021, we didn't get around to going until the weekend after the Thanksgiving weekend; the selection of larger trees was not good.
• In 2022, we went on Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.
• In 2023, we went on Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.
• In 2024, we went on Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.

We picked out a very nice 10' to 11' tree; it looks as tall as the 11' to 12' tree that we got last year. For the second year in a row, we decided not to have it flocked this year. We took it home on the top of the Volvo. With Jack's help, we were able to get it into the house and in the stand without any drama.

Thanksgiving 2025

After the Run to Feed the Hungry, Sharon, Jack and I headed to Tom's about 2:00 pm for Thanksgiving dinner. The group totaled twenty four, including: Tom; Eric; Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia; Terry and Steve; Jim; Mary; Tim and Kathy; Eileen and Will; Cormac, Erin and Mave; Clem, Lee, Daniel and Morgan; and, Sharon, Jack and I.

Sharon made pumpkin pies and a green bean casserole for the dinner. Tom served turkey and lamb.

I really enjoyed the afternoon. It was great to spent some extended time with Clem, Lee, Daniel and Morgan! Clem was a handful; he was very active.

2025 Run to Feed the Hungry

For the twenty-first time in the last twenty-two years [2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2004], I ran or walked the Run to Feed the Hungry. We entered in 2007, but I was feeling under the weather and we decided not to run before heading to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Sharon also missed seven years ago when she was feeling under the weather. In 2023, Sharon decided to do a virtual 5k around Ancil Hoffman Park.

I have come to view the Run to Feed the Hungry as a referendum on my fitness. Still recovering, I wasn't ready to run the 10k this year.

Leaving the house just after 8 am, Sharon and I parked along University Avenue just past Howe Avenue. With some effort, we met up with Kim, Laurel, Donna and Kevin. While Art ran the 10k, the five of us walked the 5k. I walked the 5k once before.

The registered number of people has 34,505, up from 31,000 last year. For the first time in 32 years, the event actually sold out.

It took us an hour and thirteen minutes to walk the 5k. The pace was actually not terrible; we averaged 23 minute miles.

I really enjoyed the group that we walked with this year. Nevertheless, hopefully, I will be back to running the 10k next year!

2025 Sacramento Kings versus Phoenix Suns

Drew and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Phoenix Suns NBA basketball game. We sat next to his season tickets: Section 218, Row A, seats 20 and 21. Falling behind by 27 points in the first half, the Kings cut the margin to 8 points in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get any closer. The Suns won the game by the score of 112 to 100.

Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie were the high scorers for the Suns. They both scored 21 points. Williams had 21 points on 9 for 12 from the field and 3 for 5 from the free throw line. He added 16 rebounds. Williams is 7' 1"" and dominated the paint. Gillespie had 21 points on 8 for 15 from the field, 4 for 9 from three and 1 for 1 from the free throw line.

Keegan Murray and Russell Westbrook were the high scorers for the Kings. They both scored 19 points. Murray was 7 for 16 from the field, 2 for 9 from three and 3 for 4 from the free throw line. Westbrook was 8 for 13 from the field and 3 for 5 from three.

While I wasn't a fan of the Westbrook signing, I have to admit that he was played well for the Kings. He is not the problem.

This is not a fun team to watch. On offense, it looks like they aren't running any plays. Everyone stands around. The team is undersized. As I have said repeatedly, the pieces just don't fit together into a coherent team.

The Kings have 1 win and 2 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.

A footnote. With I meet someone at the game, I park at the Memorial Garage at 14th and H Streets. While it is about a 20 minute walk to the game, I can charge my car, get out of the garage quickly and drop on to Highway 160 for a straight shot home. Walking the route tonight, I was surprised at the number of homeless. After the game, I must have passed almost 20 homeless people. Recently, I can remember doing the walk and not seeing any homeless. I am not sure what has changed...

HERE ARE THE GRADUATES - Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

My mom graduated from UC Davis in June of 1954, while my father didn't graduated until December of 1955. They were married in February of 1956. I have some recollection that my mother taught school in Sacramento for a year before they got married.

California Aggie, Volume 52, Number 32, 3 June 1954

HERE ARE THE GRADUATES

The following are names of those who will be receiving certificates and degrees at the commencement exercises on June 16.

Bachelor of Science: Abbott, Joyce;

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

At Empire Ranch Golf Club

After lunch at Scott's Seafood Roundhouse in Folsom, Holly, Van, Sharon and I played Empire Ranch Golf Club. The four of us played there last October.

Teeing off at 2:00 pm, we played nine holes before it got dark. This was the first time that I have been on the driving range and out on a course in almost two months.

I was reasonably happy with how I was striking the ball. My chipping is still a mess. Additionally, I three putted five of the threes. Ugh. I ended up with a very liberally scored 55.

It took us just over two hours and twenty minutes to play nine. We were finishing the ninth hole right into the sunset. It was impossible to track the balls.

I enjoyed the afternoon outing. In spite of my chipping and putting struggles, I didn't get frustrated...

1986 Oscar Nominations

Best Picture
    ✔ Out of Africa (Winner)
   The Color Purple
   Kiss of the Spider Woman
   Prizzi's Honor
   Witness

Best Director
    ✔ Sydney Pollack – Out of Africa (Winner)
   Héctor Babenco – Kiss of the Spider Woman
   John Huston – Prizzi's Honor
   Akira Kurosawa – Ran
   Peter Weir – Witness

Best Actor in a Leading Role
   William Hurt – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Winner)
   Harrison Ford – Witness
   James Garner – Murphy's Romance
   Jack Nicholson – Prizzi's Honor
   Jon Voight – Runaway Train

Best Actress in a Leading Role
   Geraldine Page – The Trip to Bountiful (Winner)
   Anne Bancroft – Agnes of God
   Whoopi Goldberg – The Color Purple
   Jessica Lange – Sweet Dreams
    ✔ Meryl Streep – Out of Africa

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
   Don Ameche – Cocoon (Winner)
   Klaus Maria Brandauer – Out of Africa
   William Hickey – Prizzi's Honor
   Robert Loggia – Jagged Edge
   Eric Roberts – Runaway Train

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
   Anjelica Huston – Prizzi's Honor (Winner)
   Margaret Avery – The Color Purple
   Amy Madigan – Twice in a Lifetime
   Meg Tilly – Agnes of God
   Oprah Winfrey – The Color Purple

Best Original Screenplay
   Witness – Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley, and Pamela Wallace (Winner)
   Back to the Future – Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale
   Brazil – Terry Gilliam, Tom Stoppard, and Charles McKeown
   The Official Story – Luis Puenzo and Aída Bortnik
   The Purple Rose of Cairo – Woody Allen

Best Adapted Screenplay
    ✔ Out of Africa – Kurt Luedtke (Winner)
   The Color Purple – Menno Meyjes
   Kiss of the Spider Woman – Leonard Schrader
   Prizzi's Honor – Richard Condon and Janet Roach
   The Trip to Bountiful – Horton Foote


More Oscar Nominations

Complete The Guest and the Host Spotify Playlist

The Apple Music version of the Complete The Guest and Host Playlist is here.

2025 South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia - Day #B - More Photos

During our trip to Africa, we spent four days and three nights at the M@kanyi Private Game Lodge.  Our guide was Carl and the tracker was Rondy. As I said in my musings about the trip, I really enjoyed this game lodge!

Estate Planning Seminar

Sharon and Tom are giving an estate planning seminar at St. Ignatius this afternoon.

Circle of Days by Ken Follett

My second book for November was Circle of Days by Ken Follett. Carmen's parents-Pam and Mike-gave me the book while I was recovering. I saw the author interviewed about the book on the Today show earlier this year standing in the middle of Stonehenge.

The novel is set in 2500 BC. The entire story is centered on the Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. The people are divided into tribes, each named according to their role: miners, herders, woodlanders, and farmers. The main arc of the story is the conflict between the tribes, particularly the farmers and the herders.

In the background of the conflict between the tribes, there is a sacred site with a wooden structure (the Monument). The people meet each season at the wooden Monument for religious rites and festivities. The rituals are led by priestesses who track the movements of the sun, reflecting the astronomical significance of the site. Over the course of the book, a new, ambitious stone circle (Stonehenge) is planned and built.

Except for a couple of the Doonesbury books, I am not sure when the last time I read a physical book. Over the last ten years, I have switched to reading everything in the Kindle app on my iPad and iPhone. Athough I miss the viseral feel of a physical book, I love always having my current book in my pocket if I get stuck somewhere.

Jack, Sharon and I visited Stonehenge in March of 2019. Although this is not a book that I would have bought for myself, I enjoyed it.