El Retiro San Inigo 2026

Sharon and Tom are spending the weekend at the Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos. They are attending the 43rd Annual Retreat for Members of the Legal Profession. It is a silent retreat.

From 1994 to 2011, Sharon went to this retreat 17 out of 18 years, missing only the year after Jack was born. After missing 2012 and 2013, she went from 2014 to 2018.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #9

Up and moving early, the plan was to be on the road by 9 am. We spent the morning packing up and loading the car.

Although we hiked twice and played golf three times, I am disappointed that I didn't get a chance to go out for a run. As I have said repeatedly over the years, this is probably my favorite place in the world to run.

Avoiding the cliff section, we took Timber Cove Road to Seaview Road to Fort Ross Road to Meyers Grade Road. We made a quick stop for gas in Bodega Bay. Waze kept trying to route us away from Valley Ford Road; it thought the road was flooded.

We met Sharon's brother Tom in Cordelia at 11:45 am. Sharon and Tom are spending the weekend at the Jesuit Retreat House in Los Altos.

Hitting some traffic in Davis, I was home about 1:30 pm.

It was a great nine days! This is the fifth time that we have rented Monette. One random comment. I was very pleased that they replaced all of the windows on the south side of the house. The windows were really starting to get clouded and it spoiled some of the experience.

It looks like Drew and Carmen are going to rent the house in July.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #8

The excitement for the morning was that Van had a tick that he picked up while we were golfing yesterday. Sharon and Holly spent some time on the Internet and with the AIs researching what to do. Holly successfully removed it.

Holly and Van ended up leaving a little after 9 am heading towards Sausolito.

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Getting organized, Sharon and I drove to One Eye Jack's and parked. We hiked about 5.8 miles in three hours along the bluffs. The weather was gorgeous. We spotted few whales offshore. The weather was so nice that I didn't even consider suggesting that we hike anywhere except along the bluffs.

In the late afternoon, we went to The Sea Ranch Lodge for a farewell drink at the bar with Trace. Back at the house, we sat on the deck and watched the sunset.


We had leftovers for dinner, including pork loin, brussels sprouts and mash potatoes that we brought home from the Locals dinner last night at The Sea Ranch Lodge. We finished the night watching the first episode of season 50 of Survivor on Paramount+ on the Apple TV.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #7

This is the most golf I have ever played: four times in six days!

Holly, Van, Sharon and I drove to Sea Ranch Golf Links after breakfast. With the heavy rain on Wednesday, they weren't allowing any carts on the course, only walkers. After some hand wringing and debate, Holly and Sharon decided that they wouldn't play. Van and I decided to give it a go.

Van and I ended up playing eigthteen. The weather was very nice; there was no wind. While the course was wet in a number of spots, I swear that I have played the course when it was wetter with the Sanborns.

After two brutal days on Friday and Saturday, I was very happy with how I played. I have been working hard to take Kevin's advice to slow down my swing. I was thrilled to bogey the Par 5 1st hole. I made a mess on the 4th and used a mulligan on the 8th.

The 11th continues to be my nemesis. All three rounds that we played this week, I made two good shots to the front of the marsh that protects the green and then duffed my ball in the marsh.

While I didn't score as well on the back nine, I was striking the ball consistently. Three putting the 14th, 17th and 18th hurt.

I had a fairly honestly scored 111. I didn't lose a ball until the 11th... My chipping is continuing to improve.

While Van and I played golf, Holly and Sharon explored Gualala and then hiked about four miles along the bluffs. The hiked from Monette to the lodge and then from Monette to Sculpture Point.

For dinner, Sharon had made a reservation at The Sea Ranch Lodge. It was the Locals dinner. Takinig place on the fourth Wednesday of each month, we did this family style meal with the Wongs when we were here in April of '24.

The menu included :Winter Panzanella [apple, mandarine fennel, pomegranate, and orange ginger vinaigrette], Roasted Pork Loin [pepper jam]; Roasted Brussels [carmelized onion]; Mashed Potatoes [green garlic]; and Profiteroles [orange cream].

We visited with three local home owners. They lived on Wild Iris. We stayed at Wild Iris at Wavside on Father's day 2021. Sharon got Tommy's contact information.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #6

Over the years, we have had very good luck with the weather at The Sea Ranch in January and February. Only once, in February of 2017, did we get a day of steady rain.

Today turned out to be another exception. It rained very hard all day. I think that it rained a lot hardier than it did in 2017. The weather app showed a precipitation total of 2.5 inches.

After a lazy breakfast, Sharon and I drove in Gualala. We did some shopping at the Surf Market. We checked out a couple of spots for dinner.

In the early afternoon, we watched a couple of Youtube videos about how to play Mahjong. We played three games. Holly, Van and I each won one game. [Note to self], I need to order a Mahjong reference card.

In the late afternoon, I did a 10 minute Peloton bodyweight workout and a 13 minute Peloton Strength+ bodyweight workout that I designed. Afterwards, I took advantage of the hot tub.

Ten years ago, I would have probably tried to go for a run in the rain. With my knee still stiff from slipping on Friday and it raining buckets, I just couldn't talk myself into going out. Van actually hiked to the Lodge and back earlier in the day; he got soaked...

After getting cleaned up, we headed to Cove Azul in Gualala. We ate lunch there once before with the Sanborns in 2014. I had crab cakes, while Sharon had salmon fish and chips.

The four of us finished the night watching MSNow's comments about the State of the Union Address.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #5

Changing of the guard. The Gainsleys packed up and headed home before 9:30 pm.

I did a ten minute Peloton core. Afterwards, I hiked along the bluffs to The Sea Ranch Lodge and back.

Holly and Van rolled up to Monette about 11:30 am. After getting settled in the house, the four of us headed to The Sea Ranch Golf Links. Originally, we had planned to plan on Tuesday, but with heavy rain forecasted for Tuesday, we decided to squeeze in a round on Monday afternoon.

While we were playing on Saturday, Kevin noted that I make a nice easy practice swing and then speed up my swing when I am hitting the ball. This was not the first time someone has told me this. Although slowing down my swing was already part of my swing matra, I decided to really commit to a slow swing.

After warming up on the driving range, we teed off at 12:48 pm. It rained a little on us on the 4th and 5th holes, but didn't rain for the rest of the round.

After two brutal rounds on Friday and Saturday, I was very happy with how I played. Using a couple of mulligans, I ended up with a liberally scored 107. This included four putting the second hole! I feel like my chipping is continuing to improve. I just need to get a better feel for the distance with my chipping.

After golf, we headed back to Monette to get cleaned up. Holly brought a lasagna for dinner. We added a ceasar salad. We had a leisurely dinner.

We finished the night watching Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #4

After two straight days of golf, we had a lazy morning. Eventually, I rallied everyone for a morning hike. I love hiking and running along the bluffs.


The Gainsleys hiked with us as far as Sculpture Point before turning back. Sharon and I ended up hiking 4.2 miles in an hour and fifty minutes. It sprinkled a little on us during the hike, but the wind and the temperature weren't too bad.

The rain moved in after lunch. We spent the afternoon playing Oh Hell. Kevin beat Donna and I in a very close game: Kevin-151; Donna-150; and me-149. Afterwards, the four of us played one game of Azul. Sharon won.


We had an early dinner at The Sea Ranch Lodge. There was a new bartender named Violet. Although younger than Trace, Ren and Josh, she also grew up in Point Arena.

I had carrot coconut soup and Diver Scallops [onion soubise, asian pear, beluga lentils, purple frilly mustard]. Sharon had the TSRL Farm Lettuces Salad [carrot, cucumber, watermelon radish, “Sea” Ranch dressing] and Uni Carbonara [sea urchin].

Back at the house, we finished the night playing another game of Azul. Sharon won...

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #3

Our original plan was to hike on Saturday and play golf on Sunday. Sharon and I prefer not to play golf two days in a row. With the weather looking sketchy for Sunday, we decided to go ahead and play on Saturday.

We had a 9 am tee time at the Sea Ranch Golf Links. After being closed for almost eight momths, the course reopend in October. I rode with Sharon.

Getting a chance to hit on the driving range, I felt pretty good. Although stiff, my knee wasn't brothering me too much. Unfortunately, my inconsisteny from Friday continued. I would hit a good shot and then a bad shot.

We essentially had the course to ourselves. A grumpy old man single bypassed us on the 4th, but we didn't see anyone else for the rest of the day.

On the 8th hole, we played some tees over Salal Creek that I didn't know existed. There was a cart path to them so they obviously existed since the course opened...

My frustration with my inconsistency finally boiled over on the 11th hole. As Marvin the Martian would say "this makes me very angry. Very angry indeed." I had hit nice drive and then a solid second shot laying up in front of the marsh that protects the green. I duffed my third shot into the marsh. I lost my temper.

The wind picked up in the afternoon. We were hitting straight into a 20 plus mile an hour wind on the 14th and 15th holes.

I was really looking forward to playing the course again and was very discouraged with how I played. I ended up with a very liberally scored 118 with several mulligans. The only bright spot was my chipping actually started to improve.

Getting cleaned up, we drove to the Sea Ranch Lodge hoping to get a burger for a late lunch. Unfortunately, they don't start serving food until 5 pm. Rather than trying to drive into Gualala, we decided to head back to the house and have a snack.

We went back to the Lodge at 4 pm and sat at the bar. The bartender that we met four years ago, Trace, was still there. There was also a new bartender named Josh. The four of us had hamburgers for an early dinner.

We finished the night playing Oh Hell. Kevin won. Sharon and I got massacred.

2026 The Sea Ranch - Day #2

Just before 5 am, I started to hear some odd noise in the room near the windows. I thought that it might be a rat. I got up using my phone as a flashlight. As I checked the windows, the noise stopped. As soon as I got back in bed, the noise started again. I got up again without the light. Poking at the shade, something flew by my head.

Turning on a light, there was a fairly large bat flying around the high ceiled room. Sharon started screaming and pulled the covers over her head.

Almost 45 years ago, I had the same thing happen in the East View house. I grabbed a towel thinking that I would swat it out of the air.

Sharon insisted that we leave the room. Pulling on some clothes, we drove to the main lobby. There was a sign on the door sayinng that no one would be there until 7 am. Sharon called the number of the door but no one answered. She left them an obscenity laced message.

Driving back to the room, we sat in the car for awhile. Sharon kept calling every ten minutes, but no one answered. Eventually, I coaxed Sharon back into the bathroom of the room. I turned on all of the lights. At this point, I could see the bat wedged in a corner of the vaulted ceiling. We both took showers. I dragged all of the luggage into the entry way and started packing the car.

Someone finally called from the lobby about 6:45 am. We drove to the lobby, had some coffee and waited for the Gainsleys.

The restaurant for the hotel didn't serve breakfast until 8 am. With the plan for the day to play golf at the Link at Bodega Bay, the four of us decided to drive there and breakfast.

I had made a 9 am tee time. After getting breakfast burritos and hitting a few balls into a net, we ended up teeing off at about 8:30 am. It was a crisp, cold morning with temperatures in the high 30s. Unfortuantely, the course was cart path only. For the first time in all the years that we have played golf with the Gainsleys, I rode with Kevin.

Walking to my tee shot on the first hole, I slipped in the mud walking down the hillside. My bad knee on the leg that I had surgery on in October folded under me in a way that it probably hasn't been able to bend in 20 years. Kevin had to drag me up to my feet.

The rest of the day was brutal. With my knee wrenched, I struggled to find any consistency. Trying to be honest about my score, I took six penalty shots for lost balls. I was in seven bunkers; it took me four strokes to get out of one of them and two strokes to get out of two others. I would hit a good shot and then a bad shot. I couldn't string two shots together. I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 125. Ugly...

It warmed up nicely in the afternoon. It is a beautiful course.


After the round, we stopped at the Tides Market for fish, smoked salmon and oysters. Heading towards The Sea Ranch, Sharon and I took the Meyers Grade Road past the Fort Ross Winery that bypasses the cliff section of Highway 1.

We got to Gualala about 3:30 pm. We picked up the key and did some shopping at the market. We finally got to Monette just before 4 pm.

After getting settled in the house, Kevin barbecuded oysters and ling cod for dinner. We added a caesar salad.

The four of us finished the night watching the Olympics. We crashed early.

This is the fifth time that we have rented Monette since February 2022. We love this spot!

2026 To The Sea Ranch - Day #1

Rolling from the house at 9 am, we started towards the coast. We are heading to Sea Ranch with the Gainsleys. It is going to be interesting to see how the weather plays out. We have had good luck with nice weather in January and February at Sea Ranch for the last fifteen years. Right now, the forecast for the next week doesn't look favorable.

Sharon made a wine tasing appointment for 11:30 am at Autuer Wines. We met the Gainsleys there and had a nice wine tasting with a great view.


From there, we headed to Bodega Bay. Last year, Sharon and I played nine at the Links at Bodega Bay. This year, we decided to play eighteen and stay for the night before heading to Sea Ranch. We rolled up to the Inn at the Tides about 2:30 pm. We were able to get into the room.

The four of us had an earlyl dinner at Rocker Oysterfeller's at the Wharf in Bodega Bay. Sharon and I shared Rocker Oysterfeller [oysters topped with applewood bacon, creamed arugula, garlic butter and toasted cornbread] and Ocean Clam Chowder [ocean clams, fennel, applewood smoked bacon, yukon gold potatoes, dry sherry and a touch of cream]. We both ordered Pan Roasted Local Fish Fillet [house spice blend, andouille sausage jambalaya rice, black eyed pea and green tomato chow-chow with fresh buttered dungeness crabmeat]. The waitress said that the fish was swordfish. Unfortunately, when it came, it was petite sole. Sharon sent her's back and got a crab.

The four of us finished the night visiting in our room at the hotel.

Falling asleep, I never expected what the next day would bring...

Survivor 49

In December, Sharon and I watched the final episode of season 49 of Survivor.

Season 49 of Survivor was filmed in Fiji from April 20 to May 15, 2025. The season premiered on CBS on September 24, 2025 and ran until December 17, 2025. It is the seventeenth consecutive season to be filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji; this has been the show's location since Season 33. The season is part of the "new era" of Survivor, which means it ran for 26 days instead of the 39 days of the first 40 seasons.

Savannah Louie was voted the Sole Survivor, defeating Sophi Balerdi and Sage Ahrens-Nichols in a 5–2–1 vote.

Sharon was enthusiastic that Savannah won. It was the first time in a long time that someone that she was rooting for actually won. As I have said over and over, I just wish that they would film the show in other parts of the world. Additionally, I think that the use of the sanctuary has gotten very repetitive; it just seems like they are being lazy.

With season 50 starting on next week (February 24), Sharon, Jack, Tom, Eric and I are planning to do a snake draft of the contestants after the first two episodes are done.

1,181 Miles

In 2025, I ended up running, hiking and walking 1,181 miles plus covering 1,614 miles on the Peloton bike. While the total mileage is down from the last five years, I actually ran and hiked more than I did in 2024. The difference is my other category. While there were fewer "other" days (57 in 2025 vesus 60 in 2025), I logged 160 fewer miles. The drop is due to walking fewer miles on the Africa trip and spending more than three weeks in October recovering. I did 302 Peloton strength classes last year. This includes upper body and core; it is an average of almost six (5.8) times a week. I played golf 37 times! God willing, my goal is still doing the 490 mile Camino Francés in the September of 2027 when I am 70.

In 2024, in spite of two major trips (Viking Homelands and Crossroads of the Adriatic) and two December surgeries, I ended up running, hiking and walking 1,340 miles plus covering 1,510 miles on the Peloton bike. While the running, hiking and walking mileage was down slightly from 2023, the biking mileage was up. While I covered more than 1,300 miles each of the last five years, I think that it will be difficult to reach this level in 2025. As a rule, I am not running two days in a row at this point. I am alternating between running and biking. I view the Run to Feed the Hungry as a measure of my fitness; I was happy with time this year. I did 303 Peloton strength classes last year. This includes upper body and core; it is an average of almost six (5.8) times a week. I played golf 36 times last year! A little more than twenty years ago, I set a goal of running 50 miles when I turned 50. God willing, my long term goal is doing the 490 mile Camino Francés in the September of 2027 when I am 70.

In 2023, in spite of two major trips and a year-end surgery, I ended up running, hiking and walking 1,375 miles plus covering 1,448 miles on the Peloton bike. Both results are up from 2022. The Hadrian's Wall hike helped boost the mileage. Recognizing that I can't carry the kind of speed and distance running that I did fifteen years ago, I continue to morph my daily running routine. After missing a year, I ran the Run to Feed the Hungry. I did 254 Peloton strength classes last year. This includes upper body and core; it is an average of almost five (4.9) times a week. I am very happy with how I have been able to incorporate strength workouts into my daily routine. I played golf eighteen times last year. My goal for 2024 is to add more stretching and mobility workouts, including yoga.

In 2022, I ended up running, hiking and walking 1,318 miles plus covering 1,418 miles on the Peloton bike. Both results are down from 2020 and 2021. I have finally started to incorporate strength training into regular routine; I did 212 Peloton strength classes last year. This includes upper body and core and is an average of more than four (4.1) days a week. I played golf seventeen times last year. I did 21 Peloton Yoga classes. I wrote a separate post on how my body feels [Not 28 Anymore]. With two major trips planned for 2023, it is going to be very difficult to maintain the running and biking mileage.

I finished 2021 more dinged up than any year in recent memory. My heel has brothered me since the Run to Feed the Hungry, I twisted my knee playing golf and then aggravated my hip trying to work myself back in shape after twisting my knee. Nevertheless, last year, I ended running, hiking and walking 1,358 miles plus covering 1,628 miles on the bike. Both of the results are up slightly from 2020. Building on the rhythm, I did 141 Peloton strength classes; this is up substantially from 2020. Incredibly, I played golf nineteen times. My main two goals for 2022 are even more Peloton strength classes combined with some yoga classes.

In 2020, my training routine changed radically in March when we started working from home. I ended up running, hiking and walking 1,339 miles; this is 25.7 miles a week. The difference was I almost doubled my miles on the Peloton bike. I covered 1,606 miles on the bike. The most miles I ever did on the old bike was 1,092 in 2013. Additionally, I did sixty-one Peleton weight classes; I am finally getting into a rhythm that includes a regular strength workout. My goal for 2021 is to double down on the strength classes and add a few more yoga classes. I only did six yoga classes in 2020. One side note, we played golf twelve times last year. This probably more golf than I have played in any year since the early 1980s when Nooter and Wallen were still living in Sacramento.

In 2019, I ran, hiked and walked 1,285 miles. This is fewest miles that I have logged in more than fifteen years. It is a little deceiving; I added 871 miles on the Peloton Bike. This is the most miles I have done on a bike since 2014. I have been trying to focus on a broader range of activities. To this end, I topped the move goal (900 calories) on my apple watch for 155 straight days in the last half to the year. I also did 761 push-ups and weights as part of the Peloton bike work-out 30 times. I am still struggling to incorporate a strength work-out into my regular routine... My goal for 2020 is to run and cycle more miles and do more push-ups and weight work-outs than 2019!

In 2018, I ran 1,605 miles and cycled 91 miles. My goal for the year was to average 30 miles a week. I ended up averaging 30.8 miles per week. It was the most miles that I have run in a year since 2011. In addition to the mileage goal, I focused on my weekly steps total. My goal was 140,000 steps a week. Essentially, I was running 30 plus miles a week and walking 30 plus miles a week. Finally, I finished the year with a string of more than 70 days meeting the move goal on my Apple watch (900 active calories). Combined all of this kept my weight in a nice range for last half of the year. I am switching my goals for 2019. With the purchase of the Peloton bike as a present for our anniversary, I am going to try to do more 1,000 miles on the bike in 2019. I have also started to do push-ups again; my goal is 3,000 push-ups in 2019.

In 2017, I ran 1,510 miles and cycled 131 miles. My physical challenge for the year was running 200 miles in July! My 2017 Run To Feed The Hungry time was the best since 2014. Unlike 2016, I finished the year feeling strong.

In 2016, I ran 1,340 miles and cycled 474 miles. This is the fewest miles that I have run in a year in at least the last eleven years. I struggled the last couple months of 2016. Between the new job, a couple of minor medical procedures, getting sick, settling Jack in Georgetown and a change in my routine from the last two and a half years, I lost a couple notches in my level of fitness. This was highlighted by embarrassing times during the Run to Feed the Hungry. Like the American River 50 in 2007, I looking for a physical challenge in 2017. I am toying with the idea of a 100 to 120 mile hike along a section of the Pacific Coast Trail in Northern California [Boreal Ridge on Highway 80 to Chester on Highway 36].

In 2015, I ran 1,604 miles and cycled 401 miles. My goal was to work out with weighs 52 times this year; I have failed over the last three years at my strength training goal.

In 2014, I ran 1,583 miles and cycled 886 miles. I averaged 30.4 miles running and 17.0 miles cycling every week! My goal was to restart a sit-up, push-up and light routine that I have done in the past. I failed in this goal.

In 2013, I ran 1,521 miles and cycled 1,092 miles. My goal for 2013 was to best both the running and the cycling totals. I accomplished the running goal. Additionally, I was going to try and lift at least 48 times (4 times a month) at Arden Hills. I failed in this goal.

In 2012, my goal was to start cross-training. I ran and hiked 1,441 miles. This included two full weeks off during the trip to Italy in the summer. Additionally, I cycled 1,133 miles. Most of this cycling was done on a stationary bike. I covered 1,016 miles virtually biking across America.

In 2011, I ran 1,763 miles. This seems impossible in a year that I took almost nine weeks of vacation!

In 2010, I ran 1,700 miles. This included two full weeks off during the trip to Spain in the summer.

In 2009, I ran 1,832 miles.

In 2008, I ran more than 1,925 miles!

In 2007, I ran 1,721 miles. This included successfully completing the American River 50.

In 2006, I ran slightly less than 1,680 miles.

In 2005, I ran slightly less than 1,630 miles.

On our trip to Florida in Summer of 2004, I started to play with the idea of running the American River 50 in April of 2007. I committed myself and started to train.

Before Sunset

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 18, ‘Before Sunset’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Before Sunset, the second installment of Richard Linklater’s beloved romantic trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. They talk about why this film is their favorite of the trilogy and the official selection from Linklater’s career and discuss what its legacy is at large and how its performances helped shape the most romantic, emotionally incisive film of the century.

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Before Sunset. The movie is on the Big Picture Podcast's list of the Top 25 Movies of the 21st Century. It is also on The New York Times list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.

Before Sunset is a 2004 romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater. He co-wrote the screenplay with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The film is a sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and the second installment in the Before trilogy.

Nine years after their first encounter in Vienna, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) reunite in Paris. As they wander through the city's streets and cafes, they engage in a deeply personal conversation, discovering that their brief night together nearly a decade ago left a profound, lasting impact on both their lives.

About twenty minutes into the movie, Sharon said "this is boring." She warmed considerably to the movie by the time it was over. I enjoyed it enough that I would like to see the first film in the trilogy, Before Sunrise. Sharon and I were also interested in the movie because we are talking about going to Paris this fall to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.

The Big Picture Podcast: Top 25 Movies of the 21st Century

The Big Picture Podcast: Top 25 Movies of the 21st Century

1. ✔ The Social Network (2010)
2. There Will Be Blood (2007)
3. ✔ 25th Hour (2002)
4. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
5. ✔ Lady Bird (2017)
6. Mulholland Drive (2001)
7. In the Mood for Love (2000)
8. ✔ Parasite (2019)
9. ✔ Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
10. Marie Antoinette (2006)
11. ✔ The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
12. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
13. ✔ Get Out (2017)
14. ✔ Moneyball (2011)
15. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
16. ✔ Oppenheimer (2023)
17. ✔ Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
18. ✔ Before Sunset (2004)
19. Spirited Away (2001)
20. Melancholia (2011)
21. ✔ Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
22. Children of Men (2006)
23. ✔ Something's Gotta Give (2003)
24. The Handmaiden (2016)
25. ✔ Michael Clayton (2007)

Valentine's Day 2026

Rather than going out to dinner, we decided to stay close to home for Valentine's Day this year. In the morning, we shopped for the ingredients for Caroline Chamber's easy-but-fancy valentine's menu. In the afternoon, we watched the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

We spent some time in the afternoon debating a movie to watch. Originally, we had talked about watching the Social Network. The Big Picture Podcast ranked the Social Network as the best movie of the last 25 years. We decided to pivot to something more romantic. Bouncing the Big Picture list of the 25 movies and the New York Times list of top 100 movies of the last twenty-five years against Chatgpt and Gemini, we ended up settling on Before Sunset. More on the movie in a future post.

We had a nice dinner in the Garden Room of crab cakes, garlicky broccolini and risotto.

After the movie, we had eclairs for desert and exchanged gifts. I got Sharon some new everyday steak knifes, while she got me an original painting that she had bought in Sausalito.

Adventures with Dawson

After our hike in the Newell Open Space Preserve, Sharon and I stopped for a brief visit at Drew and Carmen's.

At Newell Open Space Preserve

Sharon and I hiked at the Newell Open Space Preserve. We covered 5.9 miles in two and a half hours. Climbing steadily in the first half of the hike, we gained 748 feet of elevation.

We hiked up to the Lynch Canyon Open Space where we hiked last March. We took a side trip up the Pairie Ridge Trail in Lynch Canyon. We stopped for a late lunch at the picnic tables at the junction the North and South Loop Trails. Sharon said that she enjoyed hking in Lynch Canyon more...

At Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

There are some advantages to living in California; afternoon golf in February.

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I played nine holes at Ancil Hoffman on Thursday afternoon. We teed off at 2:28 pm. To my surprise, the course was sold out for the afternoon!

I had popped over to the driving range before lunch to hit a medium bucket of balls. Unfortunately, I never felt super comfortable...

I am continuing to struggle over the first couple of holes. I started to make more consistent contact on the fourth hole. Going back and looking at the tracked shots, I was pretty happy with how I played the last six holes. The tracked shots over the last six holes are shown after the jump.

Like the fourth hole at William Land Park, I was in the bunker pin high on the 6th hole and took a 10!?! After the lesson with Jimmy last week, I feel like my chipping is slightly improved.

I scored an honest 61; I counted every stoke. On the bright side, I played the whole round with the same ball. With the course packed, it took us over two and half hours to play nine.

Round Up of • Clubs • Halls • Fraternities • Dick Heringer at UC Davis

Calpha was a college fraternity. More specifically, it was the "Calpha Agricultural Fraternity" founded at the University Farm, which is now UC Davis, in 1912.

It was one of the original eight fraternities at the university. In 1954, it became the California Epsilon Chapter of the national fraternity, Phi Delta Theta.

California Aggie, Volume 51, Number 7, 26 March 1953

ROUND UP of • CLUBS • HALLS • FRATERNITIES •

CALPHA
   Attention Sigma Nu: Little Man has just been attacked by a snow plow. We have now acquired our own tow truck. Our hearts go out to Dave Remos, Ralph Gomma, Dick Heringer, Willie Crites, Bob Isaacson, and Bob Fifield, whose cars were or are on the sick list. Body and fender man wanted. The Reno trips have cost our boys a few dollars, although Bob Isaacson and Les Craggs came home satisfied. Bob Jacobson is finishing his pledge duties at Fort Ord.
   Fred Terza, Don Meyers, and Jack Little, recent alumni, were our guests on Monday. One happy note. Distillers are switching from fifths to quarts, and so are we.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush

My book for January is Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush by Jon Meacham. It fits into my long term project to read books about all of the presidents.

Bush had an interesting path to the Presidency. Rather than going into investment banking with his father and grandfather, he headed to Texas to make his fortune in the oil business. His career and political positions included:

• Navy Naval Aviator: Served during World War II (1942–1945).
• Oil Industry Executive: Co-founded Zapata Petroleum and presided over Zapata Off-Shore Co.
• U.S. Representative: Represented Texas's 7th district (1967–1971).
• U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Appointed by President Nixon (1971–1973).
• Chairman of the Republican National Committee: Served during the Watergate era (1973–1974).
• Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in China: Served as the de facto ambassador (1974–1975).
• Director of Central Intelligence (CIA): Headed the agency from 1976–1977.
• Vice President of the United States: Served two terms under Ronald Reagan (1981–1989).
• 41st President of the United States: Served from 1989–1993.

To secure Bush's confirmation as CIA Director, President Ford had to make a rare concession: he promised in writing that he would not consider Bush as his vice-presidential running mate in the 1976 election. Rumsfield and others thought that by getting him appointed as Director of the CIA it would permanently take him out of the running for the office of the president.

A lot took place for the four years that Bush was president, including: The Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989); Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989); The End of the Cold War; The Gulf War (1990–1991); Invasion of Panama (1989); Tiananmen Square Protests (1989); Savings and Loan Crisis; and the LA Riots (1992). By the end of his term, a mild recession and high unemployment began to overshadow his foreign policy successes. Most of the presidental biographies that I have read covered periods that I wasn't alive. 1990, 1991 and 1992 were a very personally tumultuous period for me. As a result, my recollection of this period is seen through a haze. I probably don't remember these events as clearly as I should.

I was surprised to learn that Bush was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), while he was in office. Additionally, the book paints a picture of Bush being ambivalent about running for reelection. The last part of the book talks a lot about George W Bush's presidency and George H W Bush's relationship with Clinton. I enjoyed the book. Bush was a very decent person.

Two footnotes. For a few hours on July 16, 1980, the Republican National Convention was in a frenzy over rumors that Gerald Ford would join the ticket. When that deal stalled, Reagan called Bush at his hotel to offer him the spot instead. At the time, I was on a fishing trip with my dad in Elko, Nevada on our way to the Ruby Mountains. My dad was extremely excited about the prospect of a Reagan/Ford Republican ticket.

In the fall of 1992, I was visiting the Nooters in Washington, DC. Eating dinner in their backyard with their friends Sara and Barkey, Sara spent the night hammering on me about George H W Bush, particularly in regards to a woman's right to choose. After being more liberal in his earlier years, Bush had leered to the right on abortion; he supported the goal of overturning Roe v. Wade and a national ban on abortion. Partly based on the discussion that evening, I voted for Clinton in November of 1992. It was the first time that I had voted for a Democratic presidential candidate.

Train Dreams

Friday night, Sharon and I watched Train Dreams on Netflix. We are working on filling out our Oscar's dance card. Train Dreams is nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screen Play.

Train Dreams is a period drama film directed by Clint Bentley. He co-wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar,. It is based on the 2011 novella by Denis Johnson.

The film stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything, The Brutalist) , Nathaniel Arcand, Clifton Collins Jr., John Diehl, Paul Schneider, Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), F1), and William H. Macy. It is narrated by Will Patton.

The film recounts the 80 years of the life of Robert Grainier around Bonners Ferry, Idaho. After a sudden, devastating tragedy leaves him alone in the wilderness, Grainier lives a life of profound solitude as he experiences the rugged beauty and shifting myths of a vanishing frontier.

Sharon and I were expecting a depressing movie. It really wasn't. At an hour and forty-five minutes, it is a tight well-told story. With so many movies stretching to 2 1/2 to 3 hours, it was a refreshing change. I told Sharon when it was over that I enjoyed it more than the more widely lauded Sentimental Value. It is not going to win best picture, but I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Super Bowl LX

Sharon and I did a pre-Super Bowl hike around Ancil Hoffman Park and through Effie Yeaw Nature Center. We explored an area in Effie Yeaw along the river that we haven't hiked before. We covered four miles in an hour and forty miles. We feel blessed to have this resource outside our back door.

In the late afternoon, we went to a Super Bowl Party at our neighbors Greg and Michele's house. This is the third straight year that we have gone to their house for the Super Bowl. The group included Greg and Michele, Jim and Debi, Ed and Mary Lou, Brad, Heidi and Clark, Joan and Brett? and Sharon and I.

The Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots by the score of 29 to 13. The Seattle defense sacked Drake Maye six times. Rolling up 135 yards on 27 carries against New England, Kenneth Walker was named Super Bowl MVP.