2022 Lihue - Day 4

The plan for the today was golfing on the Ocean Course at Hokuala. The course is right next to the condo where we are staying.

After hitting the range, we teed off about 10:50 am. The split the group into two threesomes. We sent the girls off in the first threesome. Sharon rode with Holly. I rode with Kevin. A fourth-Tom-from Indiana joined the boys on the first tee.

I really enjoyed the day. I was striking the ball off the tee and in the fairways solidly. I parred two holes on the front nine. I ended up carding a fairly honest 111. The scorecard is here.

It was a beautiful course with a couple of holes along the ocean. The weather was perfect. After raining on us while we walked on Saturday and Sunday morning, it was clear day.

After golf, we all headed back to the pool at the Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club. It was great to cool off after golf.

The six of us finished the day with dinner at the condo. The chef that Sharon had arranged for her birthday had her assistant deliver the meal. The food was solid and there was a lot of it! The menu is here.

2022 Lihue - Day 3 - Celebrating Sharon's Birthday

For the second morning in a row, we did an early long walk with the Gainsleys and the Wongs. We covered about 4.5 miles.

After breakfast at the condo, we wandered over to the Marriott and got guest passes for the week. Sharon wanted to spend her birthday lounging at the pool and on the beach. This is something we never do.

The six of us [Donna, Kevin, Holly, Van, Sharon and I] spent the bulk of day at the pool. Off and on, different combinations would go for a dip in the pool.

At one point, Sharon and I wandered down to the beach and waded out into the ocean. It was a nice relaxing day. I really enjoyed visiting with everyone.

Wandering back to the condo, I watched the end of the Kansas City Chiefs verus Buffalo Bills AFC playoff game. In the last minute and fifty seconds, the teams scored 25 points, including three touchdowns, a two point conversion and a field goal. Mahomes drove the Chiefs 50 yards in the last 13 seconds for a field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. Kansas City won in overtime by the score of 42 to 36.

Sharon had arranged for a chef to serve the group dinner at the condo. At the last minute, the chef called saying that she had food poisoning.

Scrambling to figure out what to do for dinner, we ended up going to Cafe Portfino. I had a pasta special with marlin, shrimp and mussles.

2022 Lihue - Day 2

Donna, Kevin, Holly, Van, Sharon and I started the day with a long morning walk. We walked along The Ocean Course at Hokuala to the Ninini Point Lighthouse. On the way back, we wandered through an old abandoned golf course near the airport. In total, we walked more than five miles. It rained off and on during the walk.

While the Gainsleys walked to the airport to pick up a car, Holly, Van, Sharon and I had a late breakfast at the condo. Afterwards, Sharon and I went shopping at Safeway.

In the early afternoon, the four of us drove to Wailua Falls. The double waterfall is known for rainbows and its place in the "Fantasy Island" opening credits. Sharon, Jack and I visited the falls when we were on Kauai in 2013.

On the way back, we stopped at the Wailua Golf Course and hit balls on the range. I felt good with my short and medium range irons, but not so much with my woods. It is going to be interesting to see how my knee holds up when we play on Monday and Tuesday. I twisted it badly the last time I played golf in December.

We got back to the condo just in time for the start of the San Francisco 49ers versus Green Bay Packers NFC playoff game. It was a very odd game. Essentially on the strength of their special teams play, the 49ers won the game by the score of 13 to 10.

Holly and Van made dinner at the condo for the six of us. It was a great dinner of steaks, ahi poke and vegetables. We all crashed fairly early.

2022 Lihue - Day 1

As part of Sharon's retirement and milestone birthday, we started planning a trip to Kauai last summer. We invited Holly and Van to join us. Additionally, it turns out the Gainsleys are in Kauai at the same time and our VRBO is very near their timeshare.

Sharon and I caught a 7:25 am Hawaiian flight from Sacramento to Honolulu. Sharon made a last minute decision to upgrade to first class. The plane was an Airbus 330 and the first class section was fanastic. There was more room than I have ever experienced in first class.

With a two hours layover in Honolulu, we caught a 1:00 pm flight to Kauai. We almost left Sharon's carryon behind... We were on the ground about 1:45 pm. Exiting the baggage claim, Holly and Van were waiting for us.

I caught the shuttle to Hertz and picked a rental car. With all of the luggage and golf clubs, it took two trips to get everyone to the VRBO.

The VRBO is very nice. Often a rental doesn't do justice to the pictures, this one might actually be nicer than the photos.

Holly and Van made a run to Costco for supplies. After they got back, the Gainsleys wandered down from their time share.

The six of us finished the night with a very late dinner at Dukes. I had the SAUTÉED MAC NUT & HERB CRUSTED FRESH FISH [Mahi-Mahi}.

Mayfly 2021

Last year was marked by several significant milestones.

Chincoteague Island • Mother's Day • Father's Day • SF Crosstown Trail • Adventures with Lee • 25th Wedding Anniversary • Five years as CTO • 21 Months Working from Home

You can find my previous Mayfly summaries here!

What is this?

Farewell and Thank You

From: Sharon
Subject: Farewell and Thank You
Date: January 19, 2022 at 9:29:20 AM PST

As most of you know I am retiring effective February 1, 2022. However, today is technically my last day at F@rm Credit West as I am out on AL beginning tomorrow until the 31st when I return to hand in the keys and turn out the lights. Today caps off nearly 12 years at FCW, and a 35 year career with the Farm Credit System, beginning as a law clerk for the Federal Land and Federal Intermediate Credit Banks of Sacramento in the summer of 1986.

If you are receiving this e-mail it is because you are one of the many people at Farm Credit who has had an impact on my time here, both on a personal and professional level. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and getting to know you. You have helped me grow as a person and as an attorney (every day is like getting a new law school exam fact pattern) and it has been my pleasure to provide you with my counsel and service.

I will truly miss you all and if you are ever inclined to reach out please do. I would love that.

Being the Ricardos

New Year's Eve, Jack, Sharon and I watched Being the Ricardos. This is part of our quest to watch movies that might recieve Oscar nominations. Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball currently has the third best odds on the Goldderby site to win the Best Actress Oscar. For her performance, Kidman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

Being the Ricardos is a biographical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin [Trial of the Chicago Seven]. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The cast includes J. K. Simmons as Fred Mertz and Nina Arianda as Ethel Mertz.

The film examines the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The film is told from three perspectives: interviews with the show's three lead writers: Jess Oppenheimer (who was also the show runner), Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll; flashbacks; and preparations for a live taping in 1953.

I enjoyed the movie enough to recommend it. Sharon liked it more than I did. I would bet that the movie doesn't get nominated for Best Picture and that Kidman doesn't win Best Actress.

Belfast

Sunday night, Sharon and I watched Belfast. We are continuing our quest to watch movies that might recieve Oscar nominations. Belfast currently has the second best odds on the Goldderby site to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Belfast was named one of the best films of 2021 by the National Board of Review. It tied with The Power of the Dog for a leading seven nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

The film is a coming of age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. The film stars Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, and newcomer Jude Hill.

The story centers on a young boy's childhood amidst the tumult of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the 1960s. The director Branagh described it as his "most personal film."

I was a little underwhelmed by the film. Unless you are very familar with the politics of Northern Ireland in the 1960s, it is a little confusing to figure out the different sides of the conflict. Told large from a child point of view, maybe that is part of the point. Sharon liked it even less. Based on some feedback from Sharon's brother Tom, we watched the film with subtitles. This was interesting because their was a lot of background dialogue that we would never have picked up. Although it wouldn't surprise me to see it nominated, I don't think that Belfast is goiing to win the Best Picture Oscar.

2022 San Francisco 49ers versus Dallas Cowboys

I rarely, if ever, sit and watch a whole football game real time. As part of a low-key birthday weekend, Jack, Sharon and I watched the San Francisco 49ers versus Dallas Cowboys National Football League wild card game. During the week, I tried to get Rod to bet me on the game, but was unsuccessful.

The 49ers held on to win the game by the score of 23 to 17. The 49ers won the game with a dominant defense, a strong rushing attack and a myriad Cowboys mistakes.

For the 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo was 16 for 25 for 172 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Elijah Mitchell was the leading rusher with 96 yards on 27 carries. Deebo Samuel added 72 yards on 10 carries! Brandon Aiyuk was the leading receiver with 66 yards on five receptions.

Sharon and I finished the night watching Belfast.

Celebrating My Birthday

After a low-key day, Tom, Jack, Sharon and I went to dinner at Allora to celebrate my birthday.

I had the five course tasting menu including:

• OYSTERS [HOUSE HOT SAUCE, LEMON, MIGNONETTE];
• ZUPPA DI GRANCHIO [DUNGENESS CRAB, POTATO, CAULIFLOWER, LEEK, SHERRY, LAVOSH];
• BUCATINI [DUNGENESS CRAB, UNI GARLIC CREAM, CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS, STEELHEAD ROE];
• PORK OSSO BUCO [RYE SPATZLE, CHESTNUT GREMOLATA, LACINATO KALE]; and,
• SPUMONI BOMBE [PISTACHIO, CHOCOLATE, AMARENA CHERRIES].

I enjoyed the dinner and the company very much.

For presents, Sharon gave me golf shoes and some peloton work out apparel. Tom got me a book on St Ignatuis of Loyola, while Jack and Drew gave me on Caravaggio book. [Note to self], I need to work on my listing of Caravaggio paintings that I have seen! I started this project, but haven't kept it up to date.

We finished the night watching Saturday Night Live hosted by Ariana DeBose [West Side Story] with musical guest the Bleachers.

Jack is back!

After spending the week in SoCal with Drew working on the Sound Bath business plan, Jack flew back to Sacramento. Catching a 6:35 pm Southwest light out of Burbank, he was on the ground in Sacramento at 7:55 pm. Sharon and I scooped him up at the curb.

Work from Home - Day 672 - Twenty-Two Months

Today marks twenty-two (22) months since we vacated our five story, 1,300 employee headquarters and haven’t been back since. What a strange journey it has been.

F@rm Credit West Retirement Lunch

While last year saw several significant milestones (pending Mayfly 2021 post), this year will see some monumentous life changes.

Sharon went into the office today for her annual performance evaluation and to do some turnover. Norma organized a retirement lunch for her.

Mirror Wall Studio

Song for 2021

Drew and Morgan are both accomplished musicians. The Soundtrack for My Life includes several of their songs. During the pandemic, one of Drews projects--Sound Bath--has taken off.

The song for 2021 is 417hz (Removing Negative Energy).

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

What is this?

As a footnote, I have started falling asleep to one of Drew's Nature Sound Bath recordings: Sprinkle (Rain).

Brothers Heringer to SoCal

Drew and Jack took off for Southern California. Jack is going to spend the week with Drew at Mirror Wall Studio. As I have said before, I am really pleased with the way their relationship has blossomed over the last few years.

California Historical Landmark #90

While we were in San Francisco in December, I did a walkabout and found eight different California Historical Markers, including: #90 Fort Gunnybags; #88 NIANTIC HOTEL; #462 SITE OF FIRST JEWISH RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN SAN FRANCISCO; #408 SITE OF THE FIRST MEETING OF FREEMASONS HELD IN CALIFORNIA; #453 LUCAS, TURNER & CO. BANK; #192 EL DORADO, PARKER HOUSE, AND DENNISON'S EXCHANGE; #500 EASTERN TERMINUS OF CLAY STREET HILL RAILROAD; and, #119 PORTSMOUTH PLAZA.

Fort Gunnybags
California State Historical Landmark #90
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located at 243 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, California. There are 48 other California State Historical Landmarks in San Francisco County. The GPS coordinates for this location are 37° 47' 39.8" N 122° 23' 53.9" W.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.


This is the site of the headquarters of the Vigilance Committee of 1856. On June 21, 1856, Judge David S. Terry was arrested and confined in a cell. The committee, fearing that his friends might attempt to rescue him, decided to fortify the building with gunnysacks filled with sand.


The Sacramento Block was built in the 1850's as a warehouse. In 1856, the San Francisco Vigilance Committee made it their headquarters and arsenal and fortified it with gunnysacks.

The Vigilance Committee erected a scaffold in Davis Street near Fort Gunnybags and executed Brace and Heatherington (alternately, Hetherington) on July 29, 1856, for unrelated murders.

The Sacramento Block warehouse was a simple, two-story Classical Revival building built of brick and stucco. The firstd floor had casement doors and the second floor had tall casement windows. Although the Sacramento Block building was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire, surviving warehouses in the nearby Northeast Waterfront Historic District are similar to the lost buidling.

Benham Falls

A map of our hike on the Benham Falls Trail on Day 13 of our 25th Wedding Anniversary Trip.

Christmas Ornament 2021

2021 marked the 27th Christmas that Sharon and I have celebrated together. I have bought Sharon an ornament for the tree every year since that first Christmas.

This year, I bought three ornaments: two ornaments during our trip to Chincoteague Island and one to commemorate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Adventures with Lee plus Catan

Drew and Jack spent the day babysitting Lee.

Afterwards, Drew joined us for dinner [rack of lamb] and spent the night.

Jack, Drew and I finished the day playing Catan. Drew won a close game.

New Year's Day Hike

A map and Relive from our hike on New Year's Day.

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