2025 Las Vegas - Day #3

The plan for the morning was a hike. Phil, Sharon and I headed into the Lake Mead National Recreation Park. We hiked the White Owl Canyon trail. We had intended to do a loop, but got to a spot in the slot canyon that would have been difficult for Sharon to get up. I made a tactical error scouting ahead and probably should have pushed us to keep going. We ended up doing an out and back.

The three of us covered 3.4 miles in a little under two hours. It was very different terrain. I was surprised at the number of small shells. The area must have been covered by the lake at some point.

After the hike, we had a late lunch at the Sonrisa Grill (enchiladas and tostada salad) in the Village at Lake Las Vegas. Getting back to their house, we had a lazy afternoon. We talked about kayaking on the lake, but decided to bag. Sharon took a nap. Eventually, we all ended up in the hot tub.

Getting cleaned up, we headed to dinner at Hank’s Fine Steaks & Martinis. The restaurant is part of the Green Valley Ranch resort. I was shocked at the number of people.

We had a nice leisurely dinner. I had a lobster chowder, while Marlene, Phil and Sharon shared some calamari. For entrees, I had a New York strip steak, while Sharon had a filet migon.

The four of us finished the night on their deck exploring our personal histories. It was almost 11 pm by the time I crawled upstairs and crashed.

White Owl Canyon Hike

2025 Las Vegas - Day #2

Marlene, Phil, Sharon and I played the SouthShore Country Club. Marlene and Phil are members.

I felt ok on the driving range. I rode with Phil. Teeing off at 8:50 am, I was happy with how I played the front nine. I didn't embrass myself. Using a mulligan on my tee shot, I actually parred the Par 5 sixth hole.

As I get tired, something happens. I really start to struggle with my tee shots. I have got to figure out a strategy for dealing with this issue. I struggled off the tee on the back nine. I was very intimated by the last three holes.

I ended up with a loosely scored 113. I lost a couple of balls on the holes 16 and 17.

The four of us had lunch at the country club. i had an Ahi Poke Bowl, while Sharon had a Cobb Salad.

After lunch, Phil and I headed to the store to buy groceries for dinner. When we got back to the condo, Phil and I did a walking tour of the Shoreline neighborhood. We walked through the three model homes.

The four of us spent the late afternoon in the spa and pool talking about our life stories. Eventually, we moved to the sky deck for horderves.

We finished the day with a very late dinner of pork chops, potatoes and green beans. It was almost 11:30 by the time I wandered upstairs and crashed.

Par 5 Sixth Hole at SouthShore Country Club

2025 Las Vegas - Day #1

Sharon and I are heading to Las Vegas to stay with Phil anbd Marlene for a few days. They moved from South Carolina to Nevada in December.

Worried about the spring break crowds and parking at the airport, we left the house about 10:45 am for a 1:30 pm flight. Given that we are retired, I am not sure why we are traveling during Spring Break...

Traveling with two suitcases and two sets of golf clubs, I dropped Sharon at the terminal and then went looking for parking. Both the garage and the daily lot were full, I ended up parking in the East Lot. It took me about 20 minutes to park the car and catch a shuttle bus back to the terminal.

There was hardly anyone checking bags. We breezed through security with CLEAR and TSA Pre. We sat and had lunch at Cafeteria 15L (turkey sandwich and burger).

Boarding with A47 and A48, we were able to get the two seat exit row. I am constantly amazed that people don't grab the exit rows. It was a quick easy flight to Vegas.

Phil and Marlene picked us up at the airport. They live about thirty minutes from the airport in the Shoreline neighborhood of Lake Las Vegas.

We spent the late afternoon touring their new house and catching up with a cocktail. Their house has a third floor skydeck with a nice view of the area.

We walked to dinner in the Village at Lake las Vegas at Luna Rossa. I had risotto alla pescatora, while Sharon had piccata al linome.

Back at the house, we contined visiting. When we crashed, it was after 11 pm.

Golftec plus Spyglass

I had a lesson at Golftec in the late morning. I am continuing to work on getting my swing to be more inside out rather than outside in. We worked on a subtle change to start my hands back before I start my hips.

After the lesson, I wandered next door to Waymaker Brewing. After hitting on the range, I started playing Spyglass. I played ten holes. It was a mess...

1923 - Season Two

Sharon and I finished watching season two of 1923. The series is a prequel to the Paramount Network series Yellowstone. We finished watching the first season in March.

Season two of 1923 premiered on February 25, 2025 on Paramount+. It consisted of eight episodes.

In addition to Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, the series stars Brandon Sklenar and Julia Schlaepfer. Sklenar is Spencer Dutton, the younger son of James and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill in 1883). Schlaepfer is Alexandra Dutton, a freethinking woman from the British upper class who encounters Spencer in Africa and later marries him.

The series follows a generation of the Dutton family in in Montana in 1923 and 1924. It follows a generation of the Dutton family as they face challenges including Prohibition, drought, and the early stages of the Great Depression. The series depicts their struggle to maintain their ranch and way of life in the American West amidst these hardships.

As I said after we watched season one, both Sharon and I enjoyed 1923 more than Yellowstone. My objection to Yellowstone was that the plot constantly jumped the shark and the body count was unrealistic. I started to feel that way about 1923 as the series wrapped up. I would guess that the violence and the body count is more realistic for 1920s than it was for the 2010s. Addtionally, I am not sure of the point of some of the plot elements surrounding Timohty Dalton's character.

Overall, I recommend the series. Eventually, we will watch 1883.

Easter 2025

After a loop around Ancil Hoffman Park, Sharon and I took off for Pollack Pines about 1 pm. Morgan and Daniel hosted Easter at their house. As an aside, Erin and Cormac hosted Clan Frame.

The group include Clem, Lee, Morgan, Daniel, Drew, Carmen, my sister Sharon, Sharon and I. We had a wonderful afternoon. Morgan and Daniel have a great yard. Clem and Lee are a fun age.

We had a great meal. Morgan and Daniel had a expansive charcuterie board. They made a prime rib. Carmen and Andrew brought a green salad. We contributed potato salad. My sister Sharon bought a carrot cake.

We headed home about 6 pm and were back in Sacramento by 7 pm.

Sacramento Kings Contracts at the end of the 2024-2025 Season

I don't understand what the Kings are going to do with this roster in the offseason. Isolation basketball as typified by DeRozan and poor three point defense is not going to win basketball games. The Kings had the worst three point defense in the league...

Expires After 2027-28 Season (Contracts end 2028):

• Domantas Sabonis (PF/C): 2028 (Unrestricted Free Agent - UFA)
• Malik Monk (SG): 2028 (Player Option for 2027-28 season)
• Devin Carter (PG/SG): 2028 (Restricted Free Agent - RFA, after Team Options for 2026-27 & 2027-28)

Expires After 2026-27 Season (Contracts end 2027):

• Zach LaVine (SG): 2027 (Player Option for 2026-27 season)
• DeMar DeRozan (SF): 2027 (UFA)
• Jonas Valančiūnas (C): 2027 (UFA)

Expires After 2025-26 Season (Contracts end 2026):

• Keegan Murray (PF): 2026 (RFA, after Team Option for 2025-26)
• Keon Ellis (SG/SF): 2026 (UFA, after Team Option for 2025-26)
• Isaac Jones (PF/C): 2026 (RFA, after Team Option for 2025-26)
• Terence Davis (SG): 2026 (UFA, after Team Option for 2025-26)
• Jake LaRavia (PF/SF): 2026 (RFA, after Team Option for 2025-26)

Expires After 2024-25 Season (Contracts end 2025):

• Trey Lyles (PF): 2025 (UFA)
• Doug McDermott (SF/PF): 2025 (UFA)
• Jae Crowder (SF/PF): 2025 (UFA)
• Markelle Fultz (PG): 2025 (RFA)
• Isaiah Crawford (SF): 2025 (RFA - Two-Way Contract)
• Mason Jones (SG/PG): 2025 (RFA - Two-Way Contract)

Notes:
Expiration Year: This indicates the year the player becomes a free agent after the listed season concludes (e.g., expiring in 2025 means they are a free agent in the 2025 offseason).
UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent): Can sign with any team.
RFA (Restricted Free Agent): Current team can match offers from other teams.
PO (Player Option): Player decides whether to stay for that year or become a free agent.
TO (Team Option): Team decides whether to keep the player for that year or let them become a free agent.

Dinner at Tom's

Sharon's brother Tom invited us for dinner on Good Friday. Sharon's nephew Eric was also there. We had a nice dinner of Good Friday Pasta, salad and bread.

At Darkhorse Golf Club

Holly, Van, Sharon and I played Darkhorse Golf Club. Located near the Lake of the Pines between Auburn and Grass Valley, this is not a course that I have played before.

Interestingly, Darkhorse has a covered Toptracer driving range. Warming up on the driving range, I was having trouble finding consistency. After playing a lot of golf in the last week, my left shoulder feels out of sorts...

Teeing off at 12:10 pm, my struggles on the driving range carried over to the course. I had a few very nice holes, but made an absolute mess on some others. I was working at not getting discouraged like I did at Silverado. I started to play a little better over the closing holes and bogied the Par 5 18th. I ended up with a loosely scored 119.

The four of us finished the day at Restaurant Josephines in Auburn. Sharon and I split a California Aspargus Salad and a couple of osyters. For entrees, Sharon had a steak, while I had halibut.

Par 5 18th Holes at Darkhorse Club Club

2025 Kings versus Mavs - 9/10 Play-in Game

an awful game.

Larkin and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Dallas Mavericks NBA Basketball 9/10 play-in game. We went to the 9/10 play-in game last season.

The Kings committed 10 turnovers in the second quarter!?! They were outscored 44 to 19 in that quarter. The Kings trailed by the score of 71 to 48 at halftime. The Mavs led by 20 points for most of the second half. The Kings lost by the score of 120 to 106.

Anthony Davis was the high scorer for the Mavs. He had 27 points on 9 for 23 from the field, 3 for 6 from three and 6 for 6 from the free throw line. I spent a lot of the game focusing on Davis rather than the ball.

After going 0 for 10 from three for the Warriors in last year's play-in game, Klay Thompson added 23 points for the Mavs. He was 5 for 7 from three. He hit four three pointers during the second quarter.

DeMar DeRozan was the high scorer for the Kings. He had 33 points on 13 for 28 from the field, 2 for 5 from three and 5 for 6 from the free throw line. I really don't like watching DeRozan play basketball; the offense stagnants when he gets the ball and starts dribbling.

I don't understand what the Kings are going to do with this team in the offseason. As currently constructed, it is not a good team.

On the other hand, with Davis, Lively, and Gafford healthy and Thompson hitting shots, the Mavs could be a dangerous team with Kyrie Irving next season. It will be interesting to see how the Mavs do against the Grizzlies on Friday.

The Kings have 5 wins and 4 losses in games that I have seen in the 2024-2025 season.

Kitchen Remodel - Day #76

Over the last week, there has been solid progress with THE KITCHEN REMODEL. The countertops and the sinks were installed. We continue to experience a number of procurement snafus. Hopefully, we have a stove, dishwashers and water in the kitchen by the end of the week.

The initial pictures of the kitchen before the demo started are here.

Par Threes at Mather Golf Course

Although I would like to get a little more distance, I was happy with how I was striking the ball when we played Mather on Friday. My best shot of the day was on the Par 3 third hole. I hit a six iron into the back of the green. Of course, I three putted...

I was around the green on the other three Par 3s. I hit into green side bunkers on holes 11 and 13. The graphics don't show the right clubs; I need to let Golfshot know which club I am actually using.

Third Hole

2025 Kings versus Suns

Sunday afternoon, Larkin and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball Game. The game had a 12:30 tip-off. Traditionally, we have tried to go to the first and last games of the season. The Suns rested their top three players: Bradley Beal; Devin Booker, and; Kevin Durant.

The Kings led from the start. Repeatedly, the Kings would grow the lead to double digits and let the Suns crawl the score back to a couple of points. The Kings won the game by the score of 109 to 98.

Grayson Allen was the top scorer for the Suns. He had 20 points on 8 for 13 from the field and 4 for 7 from three.

Jonas Valanciunas was the top scorer for the Kings. He had 22 points on 10 for 11 from the field and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Valanciunas had 10 rebounds. Domantas Sabonis added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Sabonis was 8 for 10 from the field including 4 for 4 from three.

I don't enjoy watching the Kings offense at this point. It seems like the ball and players don't move. I really don't like watching DeRozan hold the ball and dribble out the clock. Conversely, the Suns players were constantly moving and making the extra pass.

The Kings have 5 wins and 3 losses in games that I have seen in the 2024-2025 season. Larkin and I will be going to the 9/10 play in game on Wednesday.

Dinner at Greg and Michele's

After playing golf with Jack and Drew at Waymaker Brewing, Sharon and I went to dinner at our neighbors Greg and Michele's house. They served a great dinner of linten soup and steak salad. After dinner, we spent some time around the firepit listening to music.

We finished the night playing ping pong! Greg and I beat Sharon and Michele two out of three games.

It was after midnight by the time we wandered home, walked the dog and got to bed.

The Old Course at St. Andrews at Waymaker Brewing

When Sharon and I were staying at Drew and Carmen's house, Drew expressed an interest in playing the golf stimulator. Coordinating with Jack, we made plans to go to the Kings game on Friday game and then to Waymaker Brewing on Saturday.

Jack, Drew, Sharon and I went to Waymaker Brewing on Saturday morning. We played The Old Course at St. Andrews. It took us over five hours to play 18 holes; we were there from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. Jack played extremely well. Given that he has swung a club in two years, I was impressed with how well Drew did. It was a very nice day!

As an added bonus, the Master golf tournament was on a giant screen right behind our bay.

2025 Kings versus Clippers

Fighting my way downtown through the traffic from a round of golf at Mather, I met Jack and Drew at the Foundation Restaurant and Bar for dinner. I had an Italian Cobb Salad [grilled chicken, crisp pepperoni, red onion, tomato, cucumbers, croutons, parmesan, egg pepperoncini & Italian dressing]. Kyle eventually joined us.

After a quick dinner, the four of us went to the Sacramento Kings versus Los Angeles Clippers NBA basketball game. Jack and I sat in Drew and Kyle's seat in the front row of section 218.

The Clippers led comfortably most of the game until the Kings surged in the fourth quarter and got within 100-98 with 1:04 minutes remaining. After Zach LaVine made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left, the Kings stole the inbounds pass. But DeMar DeRozan’s contested 3-point try at the buzzer clanged off the backboard. The Kings lost the game by the score of 101 to 100.

Kawhi Leonard was the high scorer for the Clippers. He had 28 points on 10 for 21 from the field, 2 for 3 from three and 6 for 6 from the free throw line. James Harden added 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Zach LaVine as the high scorer for the Kings. He had 26 points on 9 for 23 from the field, 4 for 12 from three and 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

The Kings have 4 wins and 3 losses in games that I have seen in the 2024-2025 season.

At Mather Golf Course

Friday afternoon, I played golf with Larkin, Alan and Matt at the Mather Golf Course. Alan and Matt worked for Larkin in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Raley's. I know Alan from the Sacramento CIO/CTO Roundtable that I used to attend. He and I played together in the Quest Tech golf tournament at Granite Bay last year.

Larkin and I walked, while Alan and Matt rode. We teed off about 12:10 pm.

I was happy with how I played. On the short course, I ended up with seven bogies and six double bogies. Although I would like to get more distance on my driver and hybrids, I feel like I am striking the ball pretty well. Having a couple of cocktails along the way, it was more of a social round; I wasn't stressing as much about my game. I ended up with a loosely scored 108.

It was a slow round. The round took over five hours. Meeting Jack and Drew for dinner and the Kings game, I dashed to the car and headed downtown when we were finished.

At Ancil Hoffman

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I played the front nine at Ancil Hoffman on Thursday afternoon. After I retired, we started playing with our neighbors Debbie and Jim as often as we could on Thursday afternoon. We teed off at 3:24 pm.

After being completed discouraged last Thursday, I was very happy with how I played. I had a par, three bogeys and two double bogeys. In spite of two nines, I scored an honest 55. I played with the same ball! Although I feel like my chipping is improving, I lost at least five strokes chipping around the sixth and ninth greens.

The four of us plus Murphy finished the day with dinner at the River City Brewing Company. Sharon had a burger and I had a steak salad.

Golfshot Pro Tracked shots from the 4th and 8th Holes

Nature, Rain, Oceans, Rivers - Apple Music

Drew's Instagram Post

Nature, Rain, Oceans, Rivers - Apple Music
Sound Bath Essentials - Apple Music
Sleep Sound Bath - Peaceful Ambient Tones for Restful Nights Sleep - Spotify
Rain, Oceans & Rivers (Natural Water Sounds) - Spotify
Meditation Sound Bath - Spotify

Golftec plus the Old Course at St. Andrews

I had a lesson at Golftec in the morning. I actually feel like I made some progress during the lesson in getting my swing to be more inside out rather than outside in. I am working to get my hands back behind me below my shoulders.

After the lesson, I wandered next door to Waymaker Brewing. After hitting on the range, I started playing the Old Course at St. Andrews. With the auto putt turned on, I played ten holes.

Capitals of Eastern Europe

Sharon's brother Tom spent three plus weeks on the Capitals of Eastern Europe Viking River Cruise. In addition to a pre-tour in Prague and a post-tour in Bucharest, the trip included Austria, Slovakia, Hungry, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. They sailed into the Black Sea. This is definitely on my list of trips!

White Lotus - Season Three - Spoiler Alert

Sunday evening, Sharon and I finished watching season three of The White Lotus. We finished season one in September of 2021 and season two in December 2022.

White Lotus is a satirical comedy-drama anthology television series created, written, and directed by Mike White. Season three premiered on HBO on February 16, 2025. It was filmed in Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui from February to August 2024.

The season features an ensemble cast of Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon [Gilded Age], Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, Sam Rockwell [Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri and Vice], and Scott Glenn. Natasha Rothwell and Jon Gries reprise their roles from prior seasons.

The third season shifts the luxurious, chaotic backdrop to the beautiful landscapes of Thailand, following a new group of wealthy guests checking into a White Lotus resort property there. This installment explores themes centered around death, Eastern religion, and spirituality, examined through the show's signature satirical lens.

My prediction for the finale was wrong. I admit that the conclusion is true to the major thread running through the season: Rick's [Walton Goggins] quest for revenge. I was very glad that the plot veered away from having Jason Isaacs as Timothy Ratliff kill himself and most of his family. I was doubly glad that Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff was not accidentally poisoned... Although the season three is slow in the middle, I enjoyed it and recommend it.

The series has been renewed for season four. There are some rumors that the next season will be set in Europe. It will be interesting to see if any of the characters from the first three seasons of White Lotus recurr in season four.

I have added Ko Samui to my list of places to travel.

Prediction for the Finale of White Lotus Season 3

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At Whitney Oaks

While I weedeated, Sharon and Marlene played Whitney Oaks. They finished the day with dinner at Mia's Kitchen and Bar. They split a caesar salad and a ribeye steak.