Thursday, June 30, 2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Tuesday night, Sharon and I watched the last episode of the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was created for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise and stars Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi reprising his role from the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Set ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), the series follows Kenobi as he sets out to rescue the kidnapped Princess Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) from the Galactic Empire, leading to a confrontation with his former apprentice, Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen).

I enjoyed watching Ewan McGregor. Drew noted that he and Carmen were saying how they left the last episode feeling a little underwhelmed because the stakes are so low when you know that everyone is going to survive. It was fortuitous that we watched Revenge of the Sith right before the miniseries started. It will be interesting to see if they do a second season.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

The Untouchables

With Sharon out to dinner with Holly and feeling under the weather, I watched The Untouchables. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards. Sean Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The Untouchables is a 1987 crime film directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Mamet. It is based on the 1957 book of the same name.

The film stars Kevin Costner [Dances with Wolves, Yellowstone], Charles Martin Smith, Andy GarcĂ­a, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery. It follows Eliot Ness (Costner) as he forms the Untouchables team to bring Al Capone (De Niro) to justice during Prohibition.

I recommend the movie. I have always enjoyed Sean Connery and watched the movie primarily because he won an Oscar for his role in the film. I was surprised to see a young Kevin Costner in the lead role.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

In May, Jack got us to watch Revenge of the Sith. The three of us originally saw it in the theater in 2005.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was written and directed by George Lucas. It stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Frank Oz.

The sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002), It is the sixth film in the Star Wars film series and the final installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Anakin Skywalker is tasked by the Council to spy on Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and, secretly, a Sith Lord. Palpatine manipulates Anakin into turning to the dark side of the Force and becoming his apprentice, Darth Vader.

I have always enjoyed the first fifteen minutes of this film. It was the perfect set up for watching the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries on Disney+. We finished watching episode six of Obi-Wan Kenobin on Tuesday night.

Monday, June 27, 2022

2022 Sacramento Kings NBA Draft Grades

The Sacramento Kings pick of Keegan Murray over Jaden Ivey has been almost universally frowned upon. The argument is that they should have either taken Ivey or traded down to team who wanted Ivey. Personally, I didn't want the Kings to draft another guard.

[Note to self], I am going to track Murray versus Ivey over the next couple of years. Hopefully, it won't turn out to be another "one pick away from greatness."

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Dinner at Kim and Brun's

Sunday night, we had dinner at Kim and Brun's in River Park. Their daughters Sarah and Velta joined us. Brun barbecued salmon.

We spent part of the evening looking through old pictures. We finished the night watching a video that Brun et al made in high school that featured Sharon's brother Tim.

Pickleball

Sunday morning, Sharon and I played pickleball with Greg, Michelle, Jim and Debi.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

One Pick Away From Greatness

The Sacramento Kings have always been one pick away from greatness over the past decade.
  • 2011: drafted Jimmer Fredette 10th and Klay Thompson went 11th
  • 2012: drafted Thomas Robinson 5th and Damian Lillard went 6th
  • 2018: drafted Marvin Bagley III 2nd and Luka Doncic went 3rd

Friday, June 24, 2022

Neighborhood Pool Get Together

The Hugo is a slightly alcoholic aperitif, originating in South Tyrol, but widespread in Triveneto, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, based of prosecco, elderflower syrup (or lemon balm syrup), seltzer (or sparkling water) and mint leaves. Stir together over plenty of ice.
Sharon organized get together at the Deterding Ranch neighborhood pool on Friday evening. She made Hugos for everyone.

The group included Mike and Jill, Greg and Michele, Jim and Debi, Sharon and I.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Yellowstone - Season Four

Sharon and I finished watching season four of Yellowstone. We have watched a lot of Yellowstone over the last couple of months... We finished season one in September of 2021, season two in March of 2022 and season three in late May.

Yellowstone was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Season four premiered on November 7, 2021. Much to my regret, the series has been renewed for a fifth season which is set to premiere on November 13, 2022.

Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner [Dances with Wolves], Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham.

The series follows the conflicts along the shared borders of a large cattle ranch, a Native reservation, and land developers. Kevin Costner as John Dutton stars as a sixth-generation patriarch who operates the Yellowstone/Dutton Ranch.

The series has fostered several spin-offs, including 1883 and 6666. To introduce the new series 1883 to Yellowstone viewers, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill reprised their roles as James and Margaret Dutton in flashback scenes during the fourth season of Yellowstone to show what life was like on the Dutton ranch in 1893. Additionally, a subplot involving Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom is set at the 6666 Ranch.

As I have said before, I find about half of the plot unrealistic and outrageous. I don't recommend the show.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Top Gun: Maverick

On Father's Day morning, Jack, Sharon and I went to see Top Gun: Maverick at the Country Club Cinema. We had watched the original 1986 Top Gun on Saturday night.

The sequel stars Tom Cruise as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell reprising his role from the original. It includes Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer. I was surprised to see Jon Hamm with such a large role in the movie.

Set 36 years after its predecessor, it follows Maverick's return to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. Cruise trains a group of younger aviators for a suicide mission, among them the son of Maverick's deceased best friend.

Jack and Sharon both really liked the movie. When it was over, Jack said "that was awesome." Sharon liked it a lot more than the original...

Monday, June 20, 2022

To San Francisco

Jack has moved from Washington DC to San Francisco. He moved out of his apartment in DC in March. Jack and a high school friend Jason got an apartment in the city on Hyde Street in May.

On Monday, they rented a U-Haul truck. They dragged a bunch of their stuff to the new apartment.

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Father's Day 2022

A nice Father's Day.

After watching Top Gun on Saturday night, Jack, Sharon and I went to an early 10 am showing of Top Gun: Maverick at the Country Club Cinema. Buying tickets on Friday night, I was surprised to find only seats available in the first two rows. We sat in B7, B8 and B9 in theater 10.

Over the course of the weekend, Sharon and I watched the US Open from The Country Club in Boston. Sharon was rooting for Will Zalatoris; she had followed him at the PGA Championship. Matt Fitzpatrick won. He beat Zalatoris by a stroke.

After running on the treadmill, I connected with Drew, Lee, Morgan and Daniel on Facetime. It was nice to talk to them. It warms my heart that Lee greeted me chatting Fazha.

Jack, Drew and I played Catan. I thought that I was doing well in the first game, but Jack came out of nowhere to win. Drew won the second game going away.
I barbecued hamburgers for dinner.

Jack, Sharon and I finished the day watching episodes four and five of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Top Gun [plus Paragarys]

We picked Jack up at the Amtrak station and headed to Paragary's for an early dinner. For a starter, we split an order of WOOD OVEN ROASTED MUSSELS [pilsner, garlic, Fresno chiles, toasted bread]. Sharon and I split an ENDIVE & ARUGULA salad [local cherries, Marcona almonds, avocado, ricotta salata, golden balsamic vinaigrette]. For main courses, Sharon and I both had FETTUCCINE & WILD CAUGHT GULF SHRIMP [delta asparagus, garlic, capers, lemon, hot pepper], while Jack had SPINACH & RICOTTA RAVIOLI [lemon butter, toasted walnuts, pea sprouts, parmesan] plus MAC & CHEESE [gruyere, parmesan, truffled pecorino, breadcrumbs]. We split a TARTUFO [chocolate almond shortbread, coffee ice cream bon bon] for dessert.

Planning to see the new Top Gun movie on Sunday morning, we watched the 1986 film as a rental on the AppleTV. It stars Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, with Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt in supporting roles.

Cruise plays Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He and his Radar Intercept Officer, LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Edwards) are given the chance to train at the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California.

"Take My Breath Away" by Berlin won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Sharon and Jack were vocal about how dated the movie looked and how bad it was. I wasn't quite so critical...

In February of 1988, a large group of us went to Mazatlan for Nooter's bachelor party. I can remember walking down the beach and one of the group started singing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers to a young lady. Watching the film, it struck me that he must have done this because of the scene in this movie! I never really understood the genesis of this before.

Friday, June 17, 2022

Ten Lost Days

After testing positive for COVID on June 8, I was under the weather for five days. I tested positive for COVID again on Monday. Working to get back on my feet this week, we continued to isolate and wear masks for another five days. With all kinds of things cancelled, it feels like a lost ten days.

I tested positive for COVID again on Friday morning. At this point, I feel fine, but with a bit of a lingering cough.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Throwback Thursday - Sacramento Capitols - 1982

This picture was on one of the boards at Ricky's Celebration of Life earlier this month. I asked Gail for a copy. Ricky and I are playing for the Sacramento Capitols in early 1982. Tomasin wasn't sure who we were playing.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Rosetta Stone

In the beginning of the book that I am currently reading [River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile], it talks about the French finding the Rosetta Stone during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt. The British subsequently defeated the France army and claimed the stone. It was transported to the British Museum.

I was surprised to see the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum when we were in London in 2019.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Washoe House

Ricky's Celebration of Life was held at the Washoe House.

Washoe House
E Clampus Vitus

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

This marker is located at 2840 Roblar Road, Petaluma, California. The GPS coordinates for this location are 38° 18' 52.9" N 122° 44' 08.8" W.

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

Washoe House
Washoe House
Erected 1859

Located on Spanish grant Roblar de la Miseria. The pioneer hostelry was built by Robert Ayres and served as a stage coach station between Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Bodega during the early days of Sonoma County.

Yerba Buena Chapt. E Clampus Vitus
April 13, 1958

Washoe House

Monday, June 13, 2022

Musing

Telling Nooter a story during dinner on Tuesday night, I repeated something that I have long believed.
No matter how much time you spend with a couple and how well you think that you know them, it is impossible to understand their relationship and know what really goes on when no one else is around...

Sunday, June 12, 2022

A Desolation Called Peace

My book for June was A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. The book was nominated for 2021 Nebula Best Novel award, but didn't win. It is also nominated for 2022 Hugo Best Novel Award.

The novel is a sequel to A Memory Called Empire; I read that book in November of 2020. A Memory Called Empire won the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

The story continues to follow Mahit Dzmare, the ambassador from Lsel Station to the Teixcalaanli Empire. In the aftermat of the political upheaval in the first book, Dzmare is called upon to assist with an alien first contact.

Building on the themes from the first book in the series, the book tackles conquest and colonialism, what constitutes language, and personal connection to culture and institutions. The book also introduces the theme of collective consciousness.

The title alludes to a famous phrase by Tacitus who quotes a Caledonian chieftain describing the policies of the Roman Empire: solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant – "they make a wasteland and call it peace".

I enjoyed the book. I don't think that it is as good as the first novel in the series. It is worth reading if you read the first book.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Downton Abbey: A New Era. This is a sequel to the 2019 Downton Abbey film; we watched the first movie in February of 2021. Both films are based on the television series. We watched the series over a six month period in 2020 and 2021: season one August 2020, season two early September 2020, season three late September 2020, season four October 2020 at Sea Ranch, season five December 2020 and season six January 2021.

Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in May of 2022. Sharon saw it in the theater with Janie when she was in Tulsa.

Set in 1928, the film follows two parallel story lines. First, the Dowager Countess of Grantham reveals that years ago the recently deceased Marquis de Montmirail gave her a villa on the French Riveria. Second, A film production company requests to use Downton for a silent film called The Gambler.

Sharon liked the this movie more than the first movie. I enjoyed and recommend the television series and both movies. Both films were written by Julian Fellowes, the creator and writer of the television series. I also recommend his recent television series The Glided Age.

Friday, June 10, 2022

Golden State Warriors versus Boston Celtics

Feeling under the weather, I watched the Golden State Warriors play the Boston Celtics in game four of the 2022 NBA Finals. With the Celtics leading 94 to 90 with 5:18 left to play, the Warriors went on a 17 to 3 run to win the game by the score of 107 to 97.

Stephen Curry was the leading scorer for the Warriors. He had 43 points on 14 for 26 from the field, 7 for 14 from three and 8 of 9 from the free throw line. He added 10 rebounds.

Steve Kerr's substitutions with Jordan Poole and Draymond Green in the last eight minutes were masterful.

Thursday, June 09, 2022

tested positive

Coming out of the gatherings over the weekend, I tested positive for COVID on Wednesday. A number of people who attended the events also tested positive.

This blows up a week's worth of upcoming events. Nooter and I were talking about going to the Giants game today, Sharon and I planned to have dinner with Kim and Brun on Friday night, Donna's 60th birthday party is Saturday and we were planning to leave with Holly and Van on Sunday for a few days in Truckee.

Snipes picked Nooter up in the afternoon. Nooter is flying to Kansas City on Friday for a wedding.

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Claremont Court Gate and Street Markers

We passed this historical marker during our walk around Berkeley on Sunday morning when we went to visit Drew and Carmen.

Claremont Court Gate and Street Markers
City of Berkeley Landmark

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

This marker is located at the corner of Claremont Boulevard and Russell Street, California. The GPS coordinates for this location are 37° 51.548′ N, 122° 14.714′ W.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.
City of Berkeley Landmark
designated in 2005

Claremont Court Gate and Street Markers
Claremont Boulevard and Russell Street
John Galen Howard, Architect
1906

These entry gates help define one of Berkeley’s most gracious residential areas, Claremont Court, which was designed to attract the growing number of prosperous Bay Area professionals in the early 1900s. Developer Mason-McDuffie engaged Howard, the University’s supervising architect, to design the gateway.

The elegant red brick pillars heighten the formal ambiance of the area. Their moldings of ivory-colored terra-cotta, Ionic capitals, and clusters of acanthus leaves follow the Beaux-Arts aesthetic. The central pillar dividing the street was later removed to ease traffic as cars became popular. Additional entry gates stand on Avalon Avenue, Forest Avenue, and Russell Street.

Berkeley Historical Plaque
2009

Tuesday, June 07, 2022

Nooter

After flying to California for Ricky's celebration of life last Thursday, Nooter is spending the week on the West Coast before he heads to a wedding in Kansas City. After spending a few days with the Snipes and then the Tomasins, I picked him up in at the Snipes' house in Davis. Nooter and I finished the night with dinner at Rey Azteca.

Sharon spent a very long day working a primary election polling place with her brother Tom.

Monday, June 06, 2022

2002 Oscar Nominations

Best Picture
    A Beautiful Mind - winner
   ✔ Gosford Park
    In the Bedroom
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
    Moulin Rouge!

Best Actor
    Denzel Washington – Training Day - winner
    Russell Crowe – A Beautiful Mind
    Sean Penn – I Am Sam
    Will Smith – Ali
    Tom Wilkinson – In the Bedroom

Best Actress
    Halle Berry – Monster's Ball - winner
    Judi Dench – Iris
    Nicole Kidman – Moulin Rouge!
    Sissy Spacek – In the Bedroom
    RenĂ©e Zellweger – Bridget Jones's Diary

Best Supporting Actor
    Jim Broadbent – Iris as John Bayley - winner
    Ethan Hawke – Training Day as Officer Jake Hoyt
    Ben Kingsley – Sexy Beast as Don Logan
    Ian McKellen – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring as Gandalf
    Jon Voight – Ali as Howard Cosell

Best Supporting Actress
    Jennifer Connelly – A Beautiful Mind as Alicia de LardĂ©-Nash - winner
   ✔ Helen Mirren – Gosford Park as Jane Wilson
   ✔ Maggie Smith – Gosford Park as Constance Trentham
    Marisa Tomei – In the Bedroom as Natalie Strout
    Kate Winslet – Iris as Iris Murdoch

Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen/Original Screenplay
   ✔ Gosford Park – Julian Fellowes - winner
    AmĂ©lie – Guillaume Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
    Memento – Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan
    Monster's Ball – Milo Addica and Will Rokos
    The Royal Tenenbaums – Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson

Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published/Adapted Screenplay
    A Beautiful Mind – Akiva Goldsman based on the book by Sylvia Nasar - winner
    Ghost World – Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwigoff based on the comic book by Daniel Clowes
    In the Bedroom – Rob Festinger and Todd Field based on the story "Killings" by Andre Dubus
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien
    Shrek – based on the book by William Steig


The 2022 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2021 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2020 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2019 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2018 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2017 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2016 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2015 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2014 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2013 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2010 Oscar nominations are here.

The 2002 Oscar nominations are here.

The 1988 Oscar nominations are here.

The 1975 Oscar nominations are here.

The 1973 Oscar nominations are here.

Sunday, June 05, 2022

Brunch at the Tomasins

Moving slowly on Sunday morning, Sharon and I checked out of the Hampton Inn and headed to the Tomasins. They hosted a brunch for everyone who had attended Ricky's celebration of life on Saturday. Drew came up from Orinda.

It was very nice to see everyone. We need to figure out a way to get everyone together again in the future without having someone die...

Saturday, June 04, 2022

Ricky's Celebration of Life

Sharon, Drew, Carmen and I attended Ricky's celebration of life at the Washoe House in Petaluma. There was a large contingent from UC Davis, including Snipes, Moore, Chabrier, Geselbracht, Nooter, Gribi, Wallen and Jill, Tomasin and Julie, Hunter and Yuli and Lindsay and Maria. Tomasin got up and did a nice job talking about Ricky.
After the celebration, the group had a late dinner at Rosso Pizzeria in Santa Rosa. Dropping Sharon at the Hampton Inn in Windsor, I wandered over to the Tomasin's house. I eventually wandered back to the hotel and crashed.

Friday, June 03, 2022

Davis Mafia Dinner

With lots of people coming into town for Ricky's celebration of life, we pulled together a dinner at il Fornaio in downtown Sacramento. The group included Hunter, Robbie, Nooter, Geselbracht, Snipes and Joy, Wallen and Jill, Al and Jeanie, Mike and Karen, and Sharon and I. It was a very nice evening. We closed the place down. It was after 11:30 pm by the time Sharon and I got home.

Thursday, June 02, 2022

Throwback Thursday - Puerto Vallarta - December 1992

Gail sent Drew the picture on the left last weekend. I spent a week playing Rugby in Puerto Vallarta in December of 1992. The picture on the right is part of a photo album of My Life; one picture for each of my years. It has Ricky (#7), Tomasin and I on the field during that week. One more picture from that trip is here.

Ricky's Celebration of Life is this weekend. Love you, Ricky, miss you.

Wednesday, June 01, 2022

Yellowstone - Season Three

Monday night, Sharon and I finished watching season three of Yellowstone. We finished season one in September of 2021 and season two in March of 2022.

Yellowstone was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Season three premiered on June 21, 2020. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a fifth season which will be split into two installments of seven episodes each. The fifth season is set to premiere on November 13, 2022.

It stars Kevin Costner [Dances with Wolves], Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, and Gil Birmingham.

The series follows the conflicts along the shared borders of a large cattle ranch, a Native reservation, and land developers. Kevin Costner as John Dutton stars as a sixth-generation patriarch who operates the Yellowstone/Dutton Ranch.

As I have said before, Sharon enjoys the series much more than I do. From my perspective, the show is constantly jumping the shark with an enormous amount of gratuitous violence. I find about half of the plot unrealistic and outrageous. I don't recommend the show. Unfortunately, we are already watching season four...