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.

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 2 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

11/26/2025: Suns-112, Kings-100 - Drew

2025-2026 Season [1-2]
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]