Saturday, March 31, 2018

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 4

Although I didn't think that it was possible, we slept later on Saturday morning than we did on Friday morning. It was almost 8:30 am before we started to stir. Eventually, I ran across the street and got Starbucks for breakfast.

The plan for the day was seeing the Mets play the Cardinals at Citi Field. Jack has been a Cardinals fan for as long as I can remember. He actually texted me from train on Thursday suggesting that we see one of the games. Last year, we saw the Nationals play the Phillies on Easter.

We walked to the subway station at 57th and 7th. From there, we caught a train to Times Square and then a 7 train towards Queens. Packed with Mets fans, the train made more than a dozen stops before getting to Willets Point stop.

We got there early and had a chance to wander around the stadium. We had some great aisle seats in section 114, row 13, seats 15, 16 and 17.

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 4

The Mets won the game by the score of 6 to 2. deGrom started for the Mets, while Wacha started for the Cardinals. Yoenis Cespedes homered for New York, while Matt Carpenter homered for St. Louis. It was a reasonably entertaining game that slipped away from the Cardinals in the later innings.

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 42018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 4

After the game, we caught an express train back to Manhattan. We got off at Grand Central station and walked back to the hotel.

We had Chinese food for dinner at Phillipe Chow. We finished the night watching Villanova bury Kansas in a barrage of three point shots.

Friday, March 30, 2018

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 3

Although I shouldn't have been surprised, we slept late. It was after 8 am before we started to stir. Getting cleaned up, we had breakfast at Jams. Sharon and I had walked by the restaurant on Thursday morning and it caught Sharon's eye. Jack had a jams omelet, Sharon had maplebrook burrata & soft scramble and I had a smoked tofu & market vegetable scramble.

After breakfast, we walked through Central Park to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was surprised at the number of people. Given that it was the Easter weekend, I probably shouldn't have been. We spent several hours touring the museum. I always look for paintings by the Caravaggio, van Gogh and Picasso. We have been to the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. At some point, I am going to start a list of all of the Caravaggio's that I have seen.

I was surprised to see a room of Thomas Hart Benton murals. I saw a large collection of Thomas Hart Benton work when I toured the Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City last year.

Walking back to the hotel along 5th Avenue, we looked for a rooftop bar, but ended up having a drink in the Parker. Changing for dinner, we walked to Polo Bar Restaurant. We started with OYSTERS [Kumamoto & Beau Soleil], PIGS IN A BLANKET [with Spicy Mustard] and a AVOCADO AND CRAB SALAD [Microgreens, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber & Lime Vinaigrette]. For entrees, Sharon had LOCH DUART SALMON [Romanesco, Sugar Snap Peas & Green Beans with Meyer Lemon Butter Sauce], I had HERB CRUSTED HALIBUT [Roasted Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms, Garlic Parsley Purée & Wilted Spinach] and Jack had a Santa Fe Burger. Sharon was underwhelmed by the food.

From there, we caught a cab to the Richard Rodgers Theatre to see Hamilton! I have been looking forward to this ever since Sharon pulled the trigger on the tickets. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the show tremendously. I was disappointed in the casting of Jefferson.

The play is based on the biography that I read last year. I was surprised by the length of the show. It is two hours and 45 minutes with a 15 minute intermission...

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 3 - Hamilton2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 3 - Hamilton
2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 3 - Hamilton

Sharon and Jack caught a cab back to the hotel while I walked back. It was almost midnight by the time we crashed.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 2

Sharon and I haven't taken a domestic red eye since we went to Charlest0n in March of 2015. Although I am not sure that I ever really slept, the flight went very fast. We were on the ground at JFK before 6:30 am. We collected our luggage and caught a taxi into Manhattan. It was about an hour cab ride.

Getting to the hotel a little after 8 am, we were pleasantly surprised to find that they had a room ready for us. We are spending three nights at the Parker New York. We booked this hotel as part of a jetBlue vacation package.

After getting settled in the room, we asked the concierge for a breakfast recommendation. She steered us to Sarabeth's [GARDEN OMELETTE - peas, zucchini, mushrooms, cheddar and SPINACH & GOAT CHEESE OMELETTE]. We were both underwhelm by the food.

Exploring the area a little, we eventually headed back to the room. We napped for a little bit waiting for Jack to arrive. He caught a 7:50 am train from Union Station in Washington DC. Jack got to Union Station just before 11:00 am. Catching an Uber, he got to the hotel about 11:20 am.

The plan for afternoon was to take the Circle Line Best of New York Cruise. Leaving from Pier 83, this cruise goes all the way around Manhattan Island. We all enjoyed the cruise. We got some great view of the Statue of Liberty. I took this cruise almost twenty years ago when Sharon and I were in New York city in June of 1998. I need to find the pictures from that trip.

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 2

After the cruise, we headed to Buvette in West Village for an early dinner. The restaurant is owned by a girl [Jodi Williams] that Sharon went to high school with. We had a very nice dinner. We started with an assortment of charcuterie. I had a mussels special, Jack had a lobster pot pie and Sharon had a hamburger.

We used Uber to get from the hotel to Pier 83, from the pier to the restaurant and then from the restaurant back to the hotel. After we got back to the hotel, Sharon and Jack crashed. I did a walk-about around Times Square and to the restaurant that we are having dinner on Friday.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

2018 East Coast Easter Trip - Day 1

For the second year in a row, we are traveling to the East Coast for Easter. Last year, we hit both New York City and Washington DC. This year, we are just spending the long weekend in New York City.

Typically, we travel United or Southwest and stay at a Marriott. As we were struggling to plan the trip this year, we ended up booking a jetBlue vacation package that included a nonstop flight from Sacramento to JFK and three nights at the Parker Hotel.

We took off for the airport a little before 8:00 pm. I upgraded us when I checked in in the morning to seats with extra legroom [5A, 5B]. We boarded the flight a little after 9:40 pm. The flight took off on time just after 10:15 pm.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Hiluhe'e Palace

Sharon and I toured the Hulihee Palace when we were on the Big Island for Becky's wedding.

Hulihe'e Palace
National Register of Historic Places #1973000653

See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This marker is located at 75-5718 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The GPS coordinates for this location are 19° 38' 21.7" N 155° 59' 39.1" W.

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

Hulihee Palace

Hulihe’e Palace was built in 1838 by Governor John Adams Kuakini, a companion of Kamehameha I and one of the first chiefs to take up western ways. Built of coral, lava rock and native woods, it was handsomely furnished. Hulihe’e became the Kailua residence of Princess Ruth, Governess of Hawaii. King Kalakaua redecorated it for use as his summer palace and later it belonged Prince Jonah Kalaniana’ole, Hawaiian delegate to Congress. In need of repairs for several years, the palace was restored by the Daughters of Hawaii in 1927 for use as a museum.

Hulihee Palace

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Saturday, March 24, 2018

The Florida Project

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched The Florida Project as a HD rental on the AppleTv. This is still part of our continuing effort to see all of this year's Oscar nominated films.

The Florida Project was chosen by both the National Board of Review and American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of the year. William Dafoe earned Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTA Awards for his role in the film.

The plot follows a six-year-old girl living with her rebellious mother in a motel in Kissimmee, Florida (outside Orlando) as they try to stay out of trouble and make ends meet. The title is derived from the early name for Walt Disney World, located near the setting of the film.

When the movie ended, Sharon said "that was stupid." I didn't enjoy the movie and don't recommend it.

Friday, March 23, 2018

Jesuit High School National Signing Day 2018

Eight Jesuit Student-Athletes to Sign National Letters for Scholarship, Eight others Committed

Jesuit High School announced that eight members of the Class of 2018 signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, to play athletics at the collegiate level next school year. Jesuit High School sponsored a signing ceremony on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. in the Little Theater (next to the Fr. Barry Gymnasium).

Letter of Intent – Scholarship Athletes

Baseball: Joe Hagopian – University of New Mexico, Cody Jensen – Stanford University
Football: Lorenzo Burkes – San Jose State University
Golf: Cooper Hunt – UC Berkeley
Lacrosse: Ryan Hicks – Maryville University, David Zingaro – Maryville University
Soccer: Jack Sauls – Loyola- Marymount University, Jordan Vice – UC Davis

Letter of Intent

Crew: Matt Condrin – University of Washington
Diving: Finlay Thomson – UC San Diego
Football: Jason Gallagher – UC Davis
Rugby: Joe Marchant – St. Mary’s College, Max Sackett - West Point
Soccer: Ayden Burnett – UC Davis
Swimming: Hayden Johnson – UC San Diego, Nathan Sellers – Univ. Cal Lutheran

Jesuit High School National Signing Day 2017

Jesuit High School National Signing Day 2016

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The Path to Power by Robert Caro

My book for March is The Path to Power by Robert Caro. For Christmas, Drew gave me The Passage of Power, the third book in Caro's planned five book biography of Lyndon Johnson. I decided to buy the first book and start at the beginning. This book fits into my long term project to read books about all of the presidents.

This book was released on November 12, 1982. It won the 1982 National Book Critics Circle Award. It was a finalist for the 1983 National Book Award, hardcover autobiography or biography.

In this first volume, The Path to Power, the author traces Johnson's early life growing up in the Texas Hill Country and Washington, D.C.. It covers Johnson's life through his failed 1941 campaign for the United States Senate.

After college, Johnson briefly taught high school. He then served as a congressional secretary and a congressman. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1937 at age 29.

Johnson is not a sympathetic character. He is a scheming opportunist. Seemingly, Johnson would say and do anything to advance his career. He drove himself and others very hard.

I was surprised to find out how close a relationship Johnson had with FDR. He campaigned under FDR's banner when he ran for Congress and the Senate.

Johnson's relationship with Sam Rayburn is also unique. I may have to find a biography on Rayburn at some point.

The book is a load. It does deep dives into a number of areas that are important for context, including Texas Hill country ecology and geography, the building of dams as part of FDR's public works projects, rural electrification and Texas politics.

I enjoyed the book. I gave it a strong "B+."

Monday, March 19, 2018

South Mountain Park - Holbert Trail - Dobbins Lookout

On Sunday morning at Spring Training, Wallen, Vic, Drew and I hiked the Holbert Trail in South Mountain Park. Using Runkeeper on my iPhone, I generated the following map.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

2018 Spring Training - Day 3

2018 Spring Training = Day 3

I rallied Drew, Wallen and Vic and we headed to South Mountain Park. Drew, Jack, Wallen and I ran in this park in 2010. After some initial confusion, we ended up hiking the Holbert Trail to Dobbins Outlook. A map is here.

The hike exceeded my expectations! Dobbins Outlook had a spectacular view of downtown Phoenix and the valley.

Dropping Wallen and Vic at their hotel (Hampton Inn, 1550 52nd street), Drew and I headed to the Residence Inn to clean up and pack.

The baseball game for the day was the Brewers versus the Dodgers at Maryvale. I actually sat and watched more baseball then the previous two days. The Brewers beat the Dodgers by the score of 7 to 3.

A log of spring training games I have seen over the years is here.

It was a much smaller group for Sunday, including Wallen, Jill, Vic, Snipes, Drew and I. It was a lot more intimate. As a result, we ended up having more one on one conversations.

After the game, we headed to the Outback Steakhouse in Tempe (1734 E Southern Ave, Tempe). There is a chance that we have eaten here before... I had a New York Strip. We watched the NCAA tournament in the bar before and after dinner.

Eventually, Drew, Snipes and I headed to the airport. Drew's flight was delayed about 30 minutes and didn't take off until after 9:00 pm. Kurt and I boarded a 9:30 pm Southwest flight back to Sacramento. Boarding with A22, I got a very nice aisle exit row in a newer 737. We were back on the ground in Sacramento just before 11:30 pm. I was home in bed just before 12:30 pm.

It was a great weekend! As Drew said at one point, it was like a family reunion. The Wallens, Tomasins and Snipes are very much like my extended family. I really enjoyed the opportunity to spend a long weekend with Drew.

2018 Spring Training - Day 3


2018 Spring Training - Day 3

Saturday, March 17, 2018

2018 Spring Training - Day 2

2018 Spring Training - Day 2
Rolling out of bed fairly early, I ran for over an hour and 6.10 miles on the treadmill. Getting cleaned up, Drew and I picked up Tomasin and David at the Hampton and headed to Harlow's. Jenny found this restaurant in 2004. It has been a Spring Training tradition ever since. We got a nice table for eight after a very short wait! The Wallens, Kurt and Vic pulled up just as they called our name for the table.

The game for the day was the Cubs versus the Indians at Sloan Field. This is a brand new ballpark in only its second year. The Indians beat the Cubs by the score of 5 to 1. I have to admit that I didn't watch much of the baseball on Friday and Saturday. We spent a lot of time wandering around and visiting. Jill did a great job on Saturday of getting three rows of five on the aisle. This was a great configuration for visiting with the group.

A log of spring training games I have seen over the years is here.

Back at the Hampton after the game, we watched a little of the NCAA basketball tournament in Tomasin's room. Eventually, the group headed to downtown Tempe for dinner. We had dinner at Macayo's Depot Cantina [a combination with a chicken enchilada and chicken burrito].

For the second straight day, we finished the night at Philly's playing pool. Drew and I were back to our a hotel a little before 11 pm.

2018 Spring Training - Day 2

Friday, March 16, 2018

2018 Spring Training - Day 1

2018 Spring Training - Day 1

Up at 4:30 am, I was out of the house at 5:30 am. I caught a 7:30 am Southwest Flight from Sacramento to Phoenix. Snipes made a last minute decision to come to Spring Training and was on the same flight. Boarding with A28, I loaded from the rear on the plane and was able to get an exit row aisle. I saved a seat for Snipes.

We were on the ground about 9:20 am. Drew flew from Burbank and was on the ground in Phoenix a little ahead of us. Connecting up, we caught the bus to the rental car terminal. After a couple of years using Enterprise, I have gone back to Hertz. I love Hertz Gold... We ended up hanging out and waiting for David Tomasin.

I made a small tactical error, with Tomasin's flight running about 30 minutes late, we should have stayed in the main terminal for a while. Eventually, we got the car and scooped Tomasin up at Alaska just before 11 am.

We headed to the Hampton Inn to connect up with the rest of the group. Drew and I are actually staying at the Marriott Residence Inn Phoenix Airport. This is the same place that I stayed last year with Tomasin.

The game for the day was the Reds versus Brewers at Goodyear. It was a wild game. The Brewers outscored the Reds by the score of 16 to 13.

A log of spring training games I have seen over the years is here.

The group was a little smaller this year. It included Wallen and Jill, Tomasin and David, Marcus and two of this friends (Brandon and Aaron), Doug Moore and Bob, Gary and Maria Lindsay, Snipes, Vic, Drew and I. We have had years where the group has been twice as big!

After the game, we had dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill (spaghetti and sausage).

We finished the night playing pool at Philly Sports Bar. Snipes and I were playing as a team. We got a chance to watch most of the Virginia versus UMBC NCAA Basketball Game. UMBC won the game by the score of 74 to 54. It was the first time in tournament history that a #16 seed had beaten a #1 seed. Virginia was actually the overall #1 seed. Drew and I headed to the hotel to check in and crash a little after 11 pm.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

1,510 miles

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 am still trying to figure out a physical challenge for 2017...

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.

For 2016, I am looking forward into 2017. 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.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

I, Tonya

Last Saturday night, Sharon, Jack and I watched I, Tonya on Directv cinema. This is still part of our continuing effort to see all of this year's Oscar nominated films.

The movie follows the life of figure skater Tonya Harding and the 1994 attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. It features interviews with the characters in a mockumentary-style, as well as breaking the fourth wall.

Margot Robbie (who also produced) stars as Harding. Sebastian Stan plays Harding's husband Jeff Gillooly, while Allison Janney plays Harding's mother Latona Golden.

At the 90th Academy Awards, Janney won Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The film also earned nominations for Best Actress for Robbie and Best Editing.

I am pretty familiar with the story. There was a good ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Harding and the Kerrigan attack. The only thing that I don't remember is the physical abuse that the film portrays Tonya taking from her mother and husband.

Overall, I gave the movie a "B-". Janney's performance is very good, but I found the second half of the movie slow.

Monday, March 12, 2018

191,104 steps

Walking the HIMSS18 exhibit hall and back and forth on the Las Vegas strip between the convention center and my hotel, I got 191,104 steps last week!
191,104 steps

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Jack back to school

Home for just over a week for spring break, Jack headed back to Georgetown to finish the spring semester of his sophomore year. Up at 5:45 am, we were out the door at 6:30 am to head to the airport. Jack caught a 8:20 am United flight from Sacramento to Dulles. Landing just after 4:00 pm, Jack caught an Uber at 4:50 pm and was back on campus by 5:30 pm.

Jack had an interesting week, including a Kings versus Jazz NBA game , a trip to San Cruz, a Kings versus Pelicans NBA game, a Sharks versus Blues NHL game, a Jesuit drama performance of Willy Wonka and I, Tonya! It was great to spend a few days with him.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Willy Wonka

Friday night, Sharon, Jack and I went to the opening night Gala performance of Willy Wonka by Jesuit Drama. I was surprised to hear them say that 134 of the 144 people attending opening night were patrons! All of the shows were sold out earlier this week.  We need to keep this in mind for the future...

This is the first time that Jack has been back on campus since he picked up his diploma more than 18 months ago.

Friday, March 09, 2018

back from HIMSS18

I caught an 11:40 am Southwest flight from Las Vegas back to Sacramento. Boarding with A28, I was able to get an aisle seat in the exit row. I am fascinated by the fact that more people don't seem interested in the extra space in the exit row. Instead, they seemed to want to pack the front of the plane... It was another full flight.

Wandering the main exhibit hall at the welcome reception on Monday night, it struck me that it is no wonder that we have trouble managing the spread of applications and technology. There are hundreds and hundreds of vendors aggressively selling to anyone they can find. There were almost 600 exhibitors this years at HIMSS.

Thursday, March 08, 2018

The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil

After attending the opening reception on Monday night, going to the Cerner after-hours event on Tuesday night and meeting with IBM in the late afternoon on Wednesday at HIMMS18, I left Thursday night open. I bought a single ticket [Section 103, Row B, Seat 3] to the Cirque du Soleil The Beatles LOVE show at the Mirage.

I had dinner before the show at the OTORO ROBATA grill and sushi at Mirage. I had miso soup, a California roll [snow crab, avocado, cucumber] and grilled octopus and scallops.

My seat for the show was in the second row. It was a great show. I highly recommend it! Afterwards I wandered back to the Marriott through Caesars and the Bellagio.

Wednesday, March 07, 2018

2018 Kings versus Pelicans

Sharon and Jack went to the Sacramento Kings versus New Orleans Pelicans NBA Basketball game. Sharon got tickets for her company's suite. Trailing by 11 at the end of the first quarter and 19 at half-time, the Kings were never really in the game. The Kings lost by the score of 114 to 101. This was the Pelicans tenth straight win.

Nikola Mitotic was the Pelicans leading scorer. He had 26 points on 10 for 12 from the field, 4 for 6 from three and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Mitotic added 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis left the game in the third quarter with a turned ankle.

The Kings leading scorer was Buddy Hield. He had 20 points on 7 for 18 from the field, 4 for 11 from three and 2 for 2 from the free throw line.

Jack bemoaned how bad the Kings are... This is the fourth Kings game that Jack has seen this season.

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Knipp and Stengel Ranch Barn

I wandered by this building while we were hiking in Sea Ranch.

Knipp and Stengel Ranch Barn
Also known as Sea Ranch Stables

National Register of Historic Places #1987000005

See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This marker is located at the intersection of Highway 1 and Wild Iris, Sea Ranch, California. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 38° 42.990 W 123° 27.392.

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

Knipp and Stengel Ranch Barn

The Knipp and Stengel Ranch Barn (Sea Ranch Stable) is a large wood frame structure utilizing mortise and tenon construction. Built in the mid-1880s, the barn is the major structure remaining on the 4.38-acre remnant of the once-larger ranch. Also within the boundaries are an early (pre-1906) hay barn, a 1920s scale house, and a 1920s equipment building; these wood frame utilitarian structures contribute to the overall character of the property. An early barn (known also as the machine shop), built prior to the 1880s, recently collapsed; it has been removed and no longer contributes to the complex. The main barn has undergone some interior alterations and minor window changes, but remains largely intact.

Knipp and Stengel Ranch Barn

Monday, March 05, 2018

to HIMSS18

HIMSS18
I caught a 9:00 am Southwest flight from Sacramento to Las Vegas. They announced that they were loading the plane from the front and the back. Boarding with A34, I headed out the jetway and around to the back of the plane. When we got there, the door was closed! It took them a couple of minutes to get it opened.

In spite of the confusion, I got an aisle exit row seat. Unfortunately, with the plane completely full, a large man seating ended up seating in the middle seat of the row...

On the ground in Vegas, I got an Uber to the Marriott Grand Chateau. I will be attending the HIMSS [Health Information and Management Systems Society] Conference over the next several days. There are more than 45,000 in Vegas attending HIMSS!

Sunday, March 04, 2018

90th Academy Awards

With Sharon on her way back from a weekend retreat, we didn't organize an Oscar party this year. Sharon, Jack and I watched the show. I barbecued steaks and made baked potatoes and asparagus for dinner.

This year, I ended up picking four of five major categories correctly, including getting best actor, best actress, supporting actor and supporting actress. I missed on best picture. I had a hard time deciding which film to choose. I was frankly surprised that The Shape of Water won...

Saturday, March 03, 2018

2018 Kings versus Jazz

2018 Kings versus Jazz

With Jack home for spring break, he and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Utah Jazz NBA Basketball game. I bought two tickets in section 123, row J [seats 13 and 14]. Sacramento trailed by 18 in the third quarter but pulled to 95-89 following De'Aaron Fox's three-point play with 49.9 seconds left. The Kings lost the game by the score of 98 to 91.

Even though the game was close at the end, the Kings' offense didn't look good. Without Cauley-Stein, they seemed flat. I don't understand why they are not playing Fox and Bogdanovic more minutes.

De'Aaron Fox was the Kings high scorer. He had 17 points in 28 minutes on 7 for 14 from the field, 0 for 2 from three and 3 for 3 from the free throw line. Fox added 3 assists.

The Jazz high scorer was rookie Donovan Mitchell. He had 27 points on 7 for 15 from the field, 3 for 8 from three and 10 for 10 from the free throw line. I saw the Kings play the Jazz in January. Mitchell had 35 points in that game. For the season, he is averaging 19.9 points a game. Mitchell seems like a strong candidate for rookie of the year.

I visited with Snipes at halftime. He and Joy didn't make it to Becky and Tal's wedding; they were missed.

The Kings now have 5 wins and 2 losses in games that I have see in person during the 2017-2018 season. Both losses were to Utah?!? I am trying to see at least one game a month.

Friday, March 02, 2018

Jack is back!

Jack caught an early morning Uber from the Georgetown Campus to Regan National Airport. Originally, he was scheduled to fly home on Thursday, but Sharon slide to Friday. Jack was lucky to get out of town before the Nor'easter hit DC.

Jack took a 7:50 am United flight from Regan to San Francisco. He then caught a 12:55 pm United Express flight from San Francisco to Sacramento. I met him at the airport a little after 2 pm.

Thursday, March 01, 2018

El Retiro San Inigo 2018

Sharon, Janie and Tom are spending the weekend at El Retiro San Inigo, the Jesuit Retreat House of Los Altos. They are attending a silent retreat for members of the legal profession.

In a break with tradition, they took off on Thursday, rather than Friday. They had dinner Thursday night at Dio Deka. Apparently, they all had lamb chops...

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 got back on track in 2014. Sharon has now gone to this retreat twenty-two of the last twenty-five years!