1954 Football Team Photo - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

I have a football picture of my dad in the "My Life" series. Although it is tagged as 1954, given that he is wearing a different number than this picture, I suspect that the My Life picture is from 1953.

California Aggie, Volume 53, Number 1, 16 September 1954

TOP ROW: Coach Will Lotter, Wayne Sawyer, Bob Maulhardt, Mike Noviss, Tom Parker, Doug Cagle, Tom Pain, Rav Londen, Dave Murry, Dave Dixon, Mike Hill, Duane Damron, Don Donsing, Chuck Synold, Bill Bear, Craig James, Howard Coker, Jim McGinniz, Coach Bill Dutton. MIDDLE ROW: Francis Luskufa, Kermit Tarke, Paul Goiter, Larry Timko, Jerry Myers, Jim eynolds, Ted Johnson, Richard Heringer (#47), Bob Warren, Bill Lleweljyn, Don Turner. BOTTOM ROW: Ken Crandall, Larry Sevison, John Lewis, Mell Voss, Chuck Messick, Walt Titcomb, Lloyd Harris, Steve Bartok, Bob Jones, Paul Clary.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Andor - Season One

Sharon and I finished watching season one of Andor. I think that it has taken us six months to watch all twelve episodes. I am pretty sure that we started watching the series last summer before we went to Africa.

Star Wars: Andor is a series created by Tony Gilroy for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise and a prequel to the anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Sharon, Jack and I watched Rogue One on Chistmas Day of 2016. Rogue One is a prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars film.

Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian Andor from Rogue One. The series also stars Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård [Sentimental Value], Fiona Shaw, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, Ben Mendelsohn, Benjamin Bratt, and Alan Tudyk.

Andor received twenty-two nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards. It won five for its second season in 2025, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the second season's ninth episode: "Welcome to the Rebellion".

I am looking forward to watching season two and then rewatching Rogue One. Hopefully, we can work our way through season two in less than six months.

2025 Pedometer ++

I walked 6.2 million steps with Pedometer++ in 2025. The last three months of the year were difficult.

Oura Ring Six Month Anniversary Data

For Christmas in 2022, Sharon gave me an OURA ring. It is a smart ring used to track sleep and physical activity.

Over the last three years, my superpowers have always been training volume and the timing of my sleep cycle [June 2023, December 2023, June 2024, December 2024, June 2025]. My kryptonite has switched back and forth between recovery index and restfulness.

Debbie and Sharon

Like last year, Debbie took Sharon to lunch to celebrate her birthday. They went to Fabian's. We had dinner there with the Larkins and the Gainsleys in December.

Sharon and Tom's 2026 San Francisco Adventure - Day #3

After breakfast at the lodge, Sharon and Tom hiked through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge. Although they didn't have time to explore, Sharon noted that there is a visitors center and a gift shop.

Packing up the room and checking out, they headed to Sausalito for lunch. They ate at Scoma's [crab louie].

After lunch, they shopped along Bridgeway Street. Sharon and Tom both ended up buying a couple of small original paintings at the Meili Original Art Gallery.

They rolled back to Carmichael just after 5:30 pm.

At William Land Park Golf Course

Teeing off at 10:36, Larkin and I played golf at the William Land Golf Course with the Gainsleys. I had never played this course and suggested it to the group. We all walked the course.

I was pretty discouraged when we finished the round. I felt good hitting balls at Haggin Oaks on Tuesday. Hitting seven or eight shots with every club, the Toptracer groupings were solid. I am having trouble carrying that over to the course.

Going back and looking at the tracked shot in Golfshot Pro, I actually started making pretty consistent contact beginning on the third hole. My two nemeses are continuing to plague me. First, I struggling on the first couple of holes every round and then I settle down. Sharon and I talked about this on the way back from Palm Desert. I don't feel nervous; it just takes me a couple of holes to get on track. Second, my chipping continues to be a huge problem...

On the fourth hole, I was in a bunker pin high just off the green. It took me three shots to get out of the bunker and then I three putted the hole. On the fifth hole, I was on the lip of the bunker and it took me four chips to get the ball on the green.

I was actually pleased with how I played the last four holes. I had a long par putt on the ninth hole. I ended up with an honestly scored 58. I played the round with the same ball...

I really enjoy walking a course. It helps keep me in a more positive frame of mind.

The four of us had lunch at Meet & Eat [spicy turkey burger]. Sharon and I ate there in 2022 with the Gainsley after a round at Bing Maloney.

Sharon and Tom's 2026 San Francisco Adventure - Day #2

This is the first major exhibition dedicated to the artistic exchange between French Impressionists Édouard Manet (1832–1883) and Berthe Morisot (1841–1895). Manet was the era’s great pioneer of modern painting, and Morisot, the only woman to exhibit under her own name in the original Impressionist group. Unfolding over a period of 15 years (1868–1883), this exhibition traces the evolution of a friendship between two groundbreaking artists. The story of their relationship has often been told through Manet’s early portraits of Morisot, with Morisot’s own work treated as an offshoot of Manet’s. Recent scholarship reveals that, by the final years of his life, Manet increasingly followed Morisot’s example — her choice of subjects and colors, and even her rapid, fluttering brushstrokes. Rich in new research, the exhibition recasts this celebrated artistic friendship — and, by extension, the story of modern art — in a fresh light.

Spending the night at the Lodge at the Presidio, Sharon and Tom had breakfast at the hotel.

Their plan for the morning was the Manet and Morisot exhibition at the de Young Legion of Honor. They walked through the exhibit and then did a docent led tour. They had lunch at the museum.

Afterwards, they hiked along the Coastal trail from the Legion of Honor to the Surto Baths and back. Sharon and I covered that section when we did the firt part of the Crosstown trail.

Taking a Waymo to the restaurant, they finished the day with dinner at Capra. Jack joined them. This restaurant is affliated with Ettan in Palo Alto where we have had dinner twice. Sharon said that she thought that the food was better at Ettan.

Dinner Adventure with Clem and Lee

I traveled to Morgan and Daniel's house in Pollack Pines for dinner.

Sharon and Tom's 2026 San Francisco Adventure - Day #1

For the fourth year in a row [October 20, February 23, April 23, 24, 25], Sharon and her brother Tom are off to San Francisco. They rolled from Carmichael just before 1 pm.

They are spending two nights at the Lodge at the Presidio. Sharon and I have stayed there twice [21 and 25].

They took a Waymo to the Holbrook House for a cocktail. From there, they took an Uber to RT Bistro for dinner. Sharon had trout and Tom had Duck. Waymo back to the hotel

The Morning Show - Season Four

Sharon and I finished watching season four of The Morning Show. We watched season one in November of 2023. While we watched season two and three in 2024, I never wrote up any notes about those seasons.

The series is inspired by Brian Stelter's 2013 book Top of the Morning. The show examines the characters and culture behind a network broadcast morning news program.

The series stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup. Season four introduces Marion Cotillard as the antagonist.

The series has received numerous accolades, including 27 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, ten Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and ten Golden Globe Award nominations. Aniston won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in 2020. Crudup won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2020 and 2024.

Although I thought that the ending of season four was good, I am very lukewarm on the season. There are too many subplots; This includes: AI; the Olympics; an athlete who used steroids; an Irain athlete that defects; a host that is detained in Belarus; a massive corporate cover-up involving the EPA and a chemical poisoning scandal; climate change protests; and a Pat McAfee character. The season is overstuffed. It is trying to tackle too many topics at once. Additionally, many of the storylines seem to be dead ends; they don't contribute to the story.

Jack back to the City

Up early, I took Jack to the Amtrak station in downtown Sacramento. He caught a 7:20 am train back to San Francisco. It was nice to have him here for a couple of days. His presence was the best present that he could have gotten Sharon for her birthday.

The Rip

Saturday afternoon, Jack, Sharon and I watched The Rip on Netflix.

The Rip is an action thriller film written and directed by Joe Carnahan. He developed the story with Michael McGrale. The film stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Steven Yeun [Minari], Teyana Taylor [One Battle After Another], Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler appear in supporting roles.

The film is inspired by the true story of Miami-Dade County Sheriff Chris Casiano. The film tells the story of a group of police officers within the narcotics unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department who, during a raid on a hidden cash operation, find their trust broken down as team members suspect each other of trying to steal a large sum of cash.

Jack commented that it would have been nice to see the movie in the theater. The movie is very watchable. My only comment is that the action scenes at the end are more than a little drawn out...

Celebrating Sharon's Birthday

Jack spending the weekend with us was the best birthday present that Sharon could have gotten...

In the late morning, Jack, Sharon and I hiked in Ancil Hoffman Park. We did a loop through the Effie Yeaw Nature Center and around the golf course. We covered 3.6 miles in just over an hour and a half. I really appreciate having the park outside our back door.
We did presents before we went to dinner. I gave Sharon a mocktail book and a pair of soundcore Sport X20 earbuds.


Jack, Sharon and I had dinner at Ella Dining Room and Bar. We started with DEVILED FARM EGGS [Shrimp Salad, Egg Mimosa]. Sharon and Jack split an Apple & Endive Salad [Blue Cheese, Candied Pecan, Dried Cherries, Honey Yogurt Dressing, Apple Butter], while I had a chesnut soup. For entrees, Sharon and Jack shared a 48 OZ TOMAHAWK RIBEYE [Crispy Potatoes, Red Wine Jus] with CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS [Golden Raisin Agrodolce, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds]! I had TRUFFLE SPAGHETTI [Truffle Cream, Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, Fresh Shaved Périgord Truffles]. The three of us split STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING [Dates, Spiced Pecans, Roasted Banana Ice Cream] for desert.

We finished the night watching the third period of the San Jose Sharks versus New York Rangers NHL hockey game. The Sharks beat the Rangers by the score of 3 to 1. I don't really follow hockey. j Jack raved about Macklin Celebrini.

Adventures with Dawson

Sharon and I drove to Orinda and picked Jack up at the BART station. From there, we headed to Drew and Carmen's house. We had a wonderful visit. It is amazing to see the blossoming of Dawson in the last two weeks. We had a nice dinner of Thai food.

On the way to Orinda, we ended up in a giant traffic mess on 24. It took us over three hours to get to Drew and Carmen's house. After dinner, it was an easy hour and forty minute ride home...

2026 Oscar Nominations

Best Picture
    ✔ Bugonia
    ✔ F1
    ✔ Frankenstein
    ✔ Hamnet
    ✔ Marty Supreme
    ✔ One Battle After Another
    The Secret Agent
    ✔ Sentimental Value
    ✔ Sinners
    Train Dreams


Best Actress
    ✔ Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
    Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
    Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
    ✔ Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
    ✔ Emma Stone, Bugonia


Best Actor
    ✔ Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
    ✔ Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
    Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
    ✔ Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
    Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent


Best Supporting Actress
    ✔ Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
    ✔ Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
    Amy Madigan, Weapons
    ✔ Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
    ✔ Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another


Best Supporting Actor
    ✔ Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
    ✔ Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
    ✔ Delroy Lindo, Sinners
    ✔ Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
    ✔ Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value


Best Director
    ✔ Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
    ✔ Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
    ✔ Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
    ✔ Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
    ✔ Ryan Coogler, Sinners


Best Adapted Screenplay
    ✔ Bugonia
    ✔ Frankenstein
    ✔ Hamnet
    ✔ One Battle After Another
    Train Dreams



Best Original Screenplay
    Blue Moon
    It Was Just an Accident
    ✔ Marty Supreme
    ✔ Sentimental Value
    ✔ Sinners


Best International Feature Film
    The Secret Agent
    It Was Just an Accident
    ✔ Sentimental Value
    Sirât
    The Voice of Hind Rajab


Previous Year's Oscar Nominations

Mayfly 2025

Sea Ranch • immunotherapy • Wyoming Roadtrip • South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia • fourth surgery • hospitalized four nights • Carmen's Pregancy • Lee • six weeks radiation therapy • Clem • Feeling Misshapen

You can find my previous Mayfly summaries here!

What is this?

Lunch with Nooter and Snipes

With Nooter staying a few days on the left coast after Julie's funeral, he and I met Snipes for lunch at Polanco Cantina in DOCO. Suffering from the flu, Snipes and Joy weren't able to make it to the funeral.

Afterwards, Nooter headed to our house and spent the night. He, Sharon and I had a leisurely evening having dinner and visting.

[Note to self], I need to get to the east coast to play some golf with Nooter. As I say in the draft of my book, of my oldest friends, I have always said that I enjoyed Nooter’s company intellectually.

Landman - Season Two

Sunday night, Sharon and I finished watching season two of Landman on Paramount+. We finished season one in January of 2025.

Landman is a drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan [Yellowstone, 1923, 1883] and Christian Wallace. It is based on the podcast Boomtown hosted by Wallace.

Episode one of season two aired on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The subsequent episodes of the 10-episode long season were available weekly on Sundays through January 18, 2025.

It stars Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris as a landman for an oil company. The supporting cast includes: Ali Larter (Tommy's ex-wife); Jacob Lofland (Tommy's son); Michelle Randolph (Tommy's daughter); Paulina Chavez (Cooper's love interest); Demi Moore (owner of M-Tex Oil); Andy Garcia (head of the international Gallino drug cartel), and; Sam Elliott (Tommy's father). .

Season 2 follows Tommy Norris (Norton) as he navigates a high-stakes transition from a corporate fixer to an independent operator in the volatile West Texas oil industry. The Norris family faces escalating personal and legal crises that threaten their future, forcing them to make dangerous alliances to survive.

I enjoyed season two. Thorton is very good. The storylines in this season seem less about mechanics of the oil business and more about corporate politics and personal relationships. I was surprised by the addition of Elliott as Thorton's father. Landman has been renewed for season three. The final episode of two season sets up a nice pivot in the plots for season three.

Prayer Card for Julie Tomasin

[ Obiturary | Prayer Card | Pictures | Funeral Mass ]

Funeral Mass for Julie Tomasin

Sharon and I spent the day winding our way to the funeral Mass for Julie Tomasin and back. There was a great group of the Davis Mafia in attendance, including: Rehlich and his wife; Geselbracht and Barb; Lindsey and Maria, Wilson and Karen; Greene and Jeanie; Moore and Patty; Wallen and Jill; Chabrier; Nooter; Gribi; Hunter; and Sharon and I. Drew, Robbie and Gail were also there. I was surprised to see Bob and Jim Wallen and Kyle and Mary Rose.

[ Obiturary | Prayer Card | Pictures | Funeral Mass ]

2026 Palm Desert - Day #3

Up and moving earlier, I did a 10 minute bodyweight Peloton workout.

The plan for the day was golf at the Escena Golf Course. We had a 9:15 am tee time.

The golf course didn't have a driving range; you hit into nets. While I felt like I was striking the ball well into the nets, it didn't translate over the first couple of holes. It has been a pattern lately that I really struggle over the first few holes and then start to settle in.

While I enjoyed the round, I remain frustrated with my inconsistency. I ended up with a liberally scored 109.

We had a late lunch at the restaurant at the grill at the golf course. Sharon split a burger with Holly, while I had a seared ahi tuna salad.

After lunch, we headed to back to the VRBO. Sharon and I showered and packed up our bags. Holly and Van dropped us at the Palm Springs Airport.

We caught a Southwest Flight back to Sacramento. Scheduled to take off at 6:15 pm, it was over half an hour late. Boarding with A4 and A14, we were able to get a very nice two seat exit row on a 737 Max 8.

We were on the ground about 8:15 pm. Collecting our bags and golf clubs, we were home about 9:15 pm.

It was a very nice trip. I wish that we had been able to stay a couple of more days...

2026 Palm Desert - Day #2 [Celebrating my Birthday]

The plan for the day was golf at the PGA West Dunes Course. The four of us teed off at 9:54 am. As usual, I rode with Van and Sharon rode with Holly.

I had a very uneven round. I feel like I am making better contact, but I am still inconsistent. I ended up with a birdie, a par, three bogeys and seven double bogeys, but also an eight, nine and a ten. I had at least five pitches that landed nicely on the greens, but rolled off. The greens were sloped and fast.

I continue to struggle with my emotions. I had a gallery loss around the first green that took me a couple of holes to keep back on track.

I ended up with a very liberally scored 110. I birdied the par three 13th hole with a six iron over the water within four feet of the pin.

With temperatures in the low 80s, the weather was gorgeous.

Jack called to wish me happy birthday as we were driving to a golf superstore after the round.

We finished the day with dinner at Jillians. I had a lobster bisque and the Double Cut Pork Chop [Grilled rib chop of pork stuffed with apples, sausage, and Chef Jorge’s dates, presented with a port wine demi glace]. Sharon split a brussel sprout salad with Holly and had a lobster pasta. Celebrating my birthday, I had Blueberry Cheesecake [Luscious citrus scented cheesecake napped with sweetened creme and fresh blueberries] for desert.

2026 Palm Desert - Day #1

With Holly and Van in Palm Desert fpr the week, we planned to fly down and spend a few days playing golf with them. When Julie's funeral was scheduled for Saturday, we moved everything around and shortened the trip to be back on Saturday.

Sharon and I caught a 3:30 pm Southwest flight to Palm Springs. Boarding with A8 and A10, we were able to get the two seat exit row on an older 737. The flight had 40 to 50 empty seats. We were on the ground just before 5:00 pm.

I was an easy short flight. After we collected our luggage and golf clubs, Holly and Van picked us up at the curb. We are spending two nights at a VRBO in the Desert Falls Country Club Community. Holly and Van are here for the week.

After dropping our luggage, the four of us headed to dinner at the Lavender Bistro in La Qunita. Sharon and I both had WILD MUSHROOM SOUP [Truffle oil, chives] and SOY SAUCE MARINATED CHILEAN SEA-BASS [Japanese white rice sauteed sugar snap peas, unagi beurre blanc, crispy leeks].

Back at the condo, we crashed just before 10:00 pm. We are playing the PGA West Dunes Course tomorrow.

I have only been to Palm Springs once. It was early 1980 [February?] when I was working for California Farm Bureau; 46 years ago. Sharon was here once since we have been married.