To Pollock Pines

With Drew and Carmen spending the night after Jack's birthday dinner, they headed up to Placerville to help Morgan and Daniel finish cleaning up the apartment. From there, they headed to Pollack Pines.

Sharon and I met everyone at Daniel and Morgan's new house. Sharon got a tour of the propery and house from Morgan; she wasn't there last weekend when I helped them move. All of us spend some time hanging out in the new yard with Lee and Clem.

I was disappointed that Jack bagged on the afternoon. I was hoping to get a family picture for the Christmas Card. It is hard to get all of us in one place.

Celebrating Jack's Birthday

Sharon organized a couple of foursomes to play at Ancil Hoffman for Jack's birthday. The group included Sharon, Jack, Larkin, the Gainsleys and the Coffins. Teeing off at 10:28 am, the Gainsleys started with the Coffins. I rode with Larkin, while Sharon rode with Jack. We switched up the foursomes at the 10th. Sharon and Jack went up with the Coffins, while Larkin and I were paired with the Gainsleys.

I had a horrible start with an eleven on the first hole; I have parred this hole the last two times that we have played it! I got very frustrated. I have got to back to the strategies outlined in Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect. While I feel like I am making progress on the driving range, I can't seem to translate that to the course. I ended up shooting 64 on the front nine.

Surprisingly, I settled down and played much better on the back nine. I ended up with a 53. I had an opportunity for par on 18, but just missed a long putt. I continue to work on pulling my hands back and in and keeping my right elbow closer to my side. Based on some feedback over the last couple of rounds, I need to focus on slowing down my swing when I am on the course.

After golf, we jumped in the pool. While we were hanging out at the pool, Drew and Carmen rolled up. They are spending the night.

Everyone stayed for dinner. I barbecued hamburgers for dinner. Sharon made a peach pie and a chocolate cake.
It was a wonderful day!

Picking up Jack

I took off at noon on Thursday to pick up Jack. It was an easy ride into the city. I was there a little early and had to circle Bush and Pine a couple of times before he got off work.

The drive back was a slog; everyone was trying to get a headstart on the holiday weekend. Leaving his apartment about 2:30 pm, it took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to get back to Carmichael.

We had an interesting encounter with a Waymo at my least favorite intersection in San Francisco: Bush and Battery. It was having a difficult time figuring out how to turn right and head across Market. I read an article several years ago about how it is going to be possible to bully driverless cars.

Waze routed us a way that I had never been before. It sent us north on 113 to Woodland, but had us continue on to northbound 5. We got off an exit north of Woodland and looped around to southboud 5.

ugh. There and back, it was almost six hours in the car...

Golftec

I had a Golftec lesson on Wednesday morning. Over the last two weeks, I have been working on keeping my hands inside on the backswing. Based on today's lesson, I am adding working on keeping my right elbow more connected to my chest rather than flying open like a chicken swing.

Zoom Call with our OATS guide

Wednesday morning, Sharon and I did a Zoom Call with our guide for upcoming Overseas Adventure Travel Crossroads of the Adriatic trip.

The Talented Mr. Ripley: Spoiler Alert

Sharon and I watched The Talented Mr. Ripley. Sharon had heard Matt Damon talking about the film on Rob Lowe's podcast and wanted to rewatch it.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a 1999 psychological thriller film written and directed by Anthony Minghella. It is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon. Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also appear in supporting roles.

Set in the 1950s, Tom Ripley (Damon), a charismatic but troubled young man, is sent to Italy to convince Dickie Greenleaf (Law), the spoiled son of a wealthy businessman, to return home. Fascinated by Dickie's glamorous lifestyle, Ripley becomes increasingly obsessed with his target. When Ripley's attempts to befriend Dickie fail, his envy and desperation grow. Ripley kills Greenleaf and assumes his identity.

The film was a critical and commercial success. It received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Law.

I can remember Sharon and I watching the movie when it first came out. In twenty-five years, I had forgotten most of the plot; I thought that movie ended when Ripley killed Greenleaf. Ripley goes on to kill two more people over the course of the movie. Overall, the film holds up better than The Outsiders. Nevertheless, it is not one of my favorite movies.

The Outsiders

Sharon and I watched The Outsiders. After reading Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends, I bought the movie and downloaded it to my iPad. I was intending to watch it on one of our international flights, but never got around to it.

The Outsiders is a 1983 coming-of-age crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton.

The film is noted for its cast of up-and-coming stars, including C. Thomas Howell (who garnered a Young Artist Award), Rob Lowe, in his feature film debut, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane. The film helped spark the Brat Pack genre of the 1980s.

The film's central theme is the divide between the haves and the have-nots. The Greasers, led by the charismatic Ponyboy Curtis (played by C. Thomas Howell), struggle to find their place in a society that often overlooks and dismisses them. Their lives are marked by poverty, violence, and a sense of hopelessness. On the other side, the Socs, enjoy the privileges of wealth and status.

Although it is interesting to see a number of major actors at the very beginning of their careers, the movie feels very dated. Rob Lowe talks in his first book about how they cut most of his big scene from the movie. I only recommend the film as a curiosity.

At Winchester Country Club

Holly, Van, Sharon and I played Winchester on Sunday morning. We teed off at 11:30 am. I have played this course twice before: in 2019 with Sam and Larkin and in 2021 with Sam, Larkin, Sharon, Holly, Van, Donna and Kevin.

It was a very slow day. We were behind a foursome that was taking their time. It took us 5 hours and 5 minutes; the pace of play is supposed to be 4 hours and 5 minutes. For comparison, when Larkin and I played there in 2019, we were done in 3 hours and 45 minutes...

At this point, I am really focusing on keeping my hands inside on my backswing. I feel like I am making some progress converting my woodchopping swing into a more traditional golf swing. I had a number of shots that I was very happy with. Unfortunately, I made a mess around the greens, particularly on the front nine. I had trouble with my chipping and three putted five holes on the front nine.

For the money, the course was disappointing. The fairways were in terrible shape. Texting Sam, he said that the hot weather this summer was really hard on the course.

I ended up with a liberally scored 109. I shot a 108 in 2019 and a 105 in 2021.

The four of us finished the day with an early dinner at the Pub at the country club. I had a Tuna Salad Bowl, while Sharon had a French Dip Sandwich.

Moving Day

I spent a long day helping Morgan and Daniel move from their apartment in Placerville to a house that they bought in Pollack Pines. Sharon and I helped them move into the apartment last July. Leaving the house at 8:15 am, I wasn't back home until 7:15 pm.

The load included an upright piano, a range, a washer, a dryer and a giant toolbox. The upright piano was a beast to move with just Daniel and me!

Friday Afternoon Bike Ride

Zoom Call with Larkin

Friday morning, I had a Zoom call with Larkin to catch up.

Countries Visited

Visited Countries Map by Fla-shop.com

Travels

1. United States
2. Mexico (1966, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2022)
3. Ireland (1991)
4. Wales (1991)
5. England (1991, 2019, 2023)
6. Russia (1995)
7. Germany (1995, 2016, 2024)
8. Italy (1996, 2012)
9. Vatican (1996, 2012)
10. Grand Caymen (1997)
11. Phillipines (2003)
12. France (2006)
13. Canada (2008, 2018)
14. Spain (2010)
15. New Zealand (2011)
16. The Netherlands (2016)
17. Belgium (2016)
18. Luxemboug (2016)
19. Austria (2016)
20. Greece (2022)
21. Turkey (2002)
22. Scotland (2023)
23. Israel (2023)
24. Egypt (2023)
25. Jordan (2023)
26. Norway (2024)
27. Denmark (2024)
28. Poland (2024)
29. Finland (2024)
30. Sweden (2024)

The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams

My book for August was The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams by Adam Lazarus. Snipes recommend the book when I was in Lake County.

Lazarus masterfully weaves together the lives of John Glenn and Ted Williams, revealing the complex individuals behind the public personas. What emerges is a portrait of two men bound by their shared experiences as Marine Corps aviators during the Korean War. The author's meticulous research brings to life the harrowing conditions and intense camaraderie of these young pilots.

Beyond the battlefield, Lazarus delves into the complexities of their post-war lives. While Glenn pursued a career in aviation and politics, Williams grappled with the pressures of fame and the solitude of the baseball diamond. Their paths diverged, yet their friendship endured, a testament to the enduring power of shared experiences.

Although i have read books about Mays, DiMaggio, Mantle and Koufax, I haven’t read a book about Ted Williams. He was kind of an asshole. Additionally, I had forgotten about the freezing of his head and body after he died. I enjoyed the book and recommend it. I am going to have to read a separate biography on Ted Williams.

Sing Sing

Tuesday afternoon, Sharon and I saw Sing Sing at the Tower Theater. This marks the formal kickoff of our effort to see all of the movies that might be nominated for 2025 Oscars. Goldderby currently has Sing Sing with the best odds to win the 2025 Best Picture Oscar.

Sing Sing is a drama film directed by Greg Kwedar. He co-wrote the screenplay with Clint Bentley. Based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film centers on a group of inmates involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows through the program.

The film stars professional actors Colman Domingo and Paul Raci. It includes many real-life formerly incarcerated men who were themselves alumni of the program during their incarceration, including Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin and Sean San José. Colman Domingo received a Best Actor nomination for his role in last year's Rustin.

Walking out of the theater, Sharon said "I give the movie a '10'; it is the movie that I will be measuring all other movies against this year." The film is very good. I recommend it.

Golftec

I had a Golftec lesson on Monday morning. Although I have been debating whether I want to stick with lessons at Golftec or go in a different direction, I decided to buy a large package of lessons. Their approach of visually comparing your swing to a pro's swing works for my brain. The struggle is my swing continues to be too vertical. Intellectually, I know what I am doing wrong. I am just having trouble changing fifty years of muscle memory...

Bouchaine Vineyards Coastal in Carneros

COASTAL IN CARNEROS

August 18, 2024 | 2:00PM - 5:00PM PDT

Spend an unforgettable afternoon immersed in the serene beauty of Olive Hill, our beautiful Carneros olive grove, just a mile from Bouchaine.

• Indulge your senses with nature's delicacies – the briny allure of freshly shucked oysters and the exquisite richness of caviar.
• Sip Bouchaine's top scoring wines and savor small bites crafted by Napa Native Chef Aaron Meneghelli.
• Enjoy a leisurely stroll through our picturesque olive grove, where every step is a moment of tranquility.

Taking off about 11:30 am, Sharon and I headed to Napa for Bouchaine's Coastal in Carneros event. I drove. It was a slog. It was stop and go traffic from West Sacramento all way to Fairfield.

We made a quick stop at the Outlets in Napa. Sharon wanted to go to the Cabi store.

From there, we headed to Bouchaine's Olive Hill property for the event. We have been wine club members at Bouchaine Vineyards since 2010. Bouchaine Vineyards bought the property in 2020; it is the largest olive orchard in Napa County. The property has some gorgeous views of the Napa Valley and the San Pablo Bay.

Although a little windy, it was a nice afternoon with temperatures in the 80s. We both enjoyed the Alsatian white: a blend of Pinot Gris, floral Gewurztraminer, plush Pinot Blanc, and linear Riesling.

We rolled towards home about 4:30 pm. Sharon drove. I was shocked out light the traffic was. With a stop for gas, we were back in Carmichael in less than an hour and a half.

Overnight Adventure with Lee - Day #2

After spending the night with us, I connected with Morgan and Clem at the Target in Placerville to drop Lee off. We had a nice morning walking Tiber, having breakfast on the deck and playing with the Thomas Trains.

Overnight Adventure with Lee - Day #1

I picked Lee up on Friday afternoon in Placerville. He spent the night with us. In addition to walking Tiber, swimming in the pool and playing with the Thomas trains, the three of us had dinner at Mesa Mercado and ice cream at GB Gelato. Lee and Sharon finished the day watching episode one of the AppleTV+ series Big Beasts titled The Grey Whale.

Ancil Hoffman

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman on Thursday afternoon. Teeing off at 3:32 pm, we played the front nine.

For the second time in a row, I parred the first hole. Striking the ball pretty well, I got into trouble in the trees on the second and third holes. With a mulligan on the seventh, I was happy with how I played the last six holes. I had a fairly honestly scored 55. Interestingly, I have carded a 55 each of the last three times that we have played nine at Ancil Hoffman.

Afterwards, the four of us had cocktails on the patio at the Main Event.

Adventist Health IT Visit

To mark my one year of retirement, I reached out to my old boss with a request to come by and say hello. I stopped by the Adventist Health building at lunchtime today just as the IT leadership Meeting was ending. I got a chance to touch base with a number of people. Afterwards, I went to lunch with Bill, Kevin and Tiffany.

I was surprised at how few cars were parked around the building. It seems like there still aren't that many people coming into the office. I wouldn't be who I am today if I spent my career working remotely.

Outlander - Season One

Sharon and I finished watching the first season of Outlander. It has taken us more than six months to work our way through the first season..

Outlander is a historical drama based on the Outlander novel series by Diana Gabaldon. Developed by Ronald D. Moore, the show premiered on August 9, 2014, on Starz. The 16-episode first season of the television series (released as two half-seasons) is based on the first novel in the series, Outlander.

It stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Randall, a former World War II military nurse in Scotland who, in 1945, finds herself transported back in time to 1743. There she encounters, falls in love with and marries a dashing Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Claire becomes embroiled in the Jacobite rising. The supporting cast includes Tobias Menzies as Frank Randall and Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall.

Outlander excels in its historical accuracy and world-building. The attention to detail in costumes, sets, and dialect is impressive. The series is immersed in a world of rugged highlands, clan rivalries and British tyranny.

Sharon's brother Tom described the series as Scottish softcore porn. Having spent two plus weeks in Scotland last year, I enjoyed the scenery. When we were there, we also learned a lot about Jacobite rebellion, including visiting the Culloden Battlefield. I am not a fan of time travel, but I give the first season a lukewarm thumbs up. We have started season two.

Stephen Tomasin Thank Yous

As I have told John on several occasions, Stephen's participation in rugby is really a legacy of his life. Tomasin continued to competitive rugby much, much longer than the rest of us. He played on a Santa Rosa division two national championship team for two years in his late 30s. David, Mikey and Stephen all had a chance to watch Tomasin play when they were teenagers. Watching him play shaped their lives.

The Garage

I love our house, but I don't love the garage. In the twelve plus years that we have lived here, we have never been able to park two cars in the garage. It is a very small garage...

One of my retirement goals was to completely reorganize the garage so that we could park two cars in it. Over the last several months, we have purchased some cabinets, hung the bikes from the ceiling, mounted a couple of racks on the walls and took a number of things to the dump.

As of last Sunday, the project is "finished." Although it is a tight fit, we can park both cars in the garage!

Dinner with Tomasins and Snipes

With Julie attending a baby shower in Fair Oaks on Saturday afternoon, we invited the Tomasins and Snipes for dinner. Sharon served Peruvian Chicken, rice and green beans. For dessert, she made a peach pie.

2025 Oscar Favorites

September 3, 2024 - The Big Picture Podcast
Best Picture

✔ Dune 2
Anora
✔ Sing Sing
Emilia Perez
Conclave
Gladiator II
The Piano Lesson
Saturday Night
A Complete Unknown
Blitz
Challengers
The Brutalist
Joker: Folie à Deux
Wicked Part One
Nosferatu

Gold Derby predictions as of July 18, 2024

BEST PICTURE

1. ✔ Sing Sing
2. ✔ Dune: Part Two
3. Blitz - November 1, 2024
4. Anora — October 18, 2024
5. Conclave- November 1, 2024
6. Emilia Perez - On Netflix on November 13, 2024
7. Joker: Folie à Deux — October 4, 2024
8. Nickel Boys - October 25, 2024
9. Gladiator II - November 22, 2024
10. A Real Pain - October 18, 2024

Predicted Spoilers: The Piano Lesson (December 2024), Hard Truths (October 18, 2024), The Seed of the Sacred Fig (in France on September 18, 2024), Wicked (November 22, 2024), Nightbitch (December 6, 2024)


BEST ACTRESS

1. Amy Adams - Nightbitch - December 6, 2024
2. Mikey Madison - Anora
3. Saoirse Ronan - Blitz
4. Lady Gaga - Joker: Folie à Deux
5. Karla Sofia Gascon - Emilia Perez

Predicted Spoilers: Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Tilda Swinton (“The Room Next Door”), June Squibb (“Thelma”), Saoirse Ronan (“The Outrun”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”)


BEST ACTOR

1. ✔ Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
2. Ralph Fiennes - Conclave
3. Joaquin Phoenix - Joker: Folie à Deux
4. John David Washington - The Piano Lesson
5. Paul Mescal - Gladiator II - November 22, 2024

Predicted Spoilers: Sebastian Stan (“A Different Man”), Nicholas Hoult (“Juror #2”), Jesse Plemons (“Kinds of Kindness”), Andrew Garfield (“We Live in Time”), Ethan Herisse (“Nickel Boys”)


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1. Danielle Deadwyler - The Piano Lesson
2. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Nickel Boys
3. Zoe Saldana - Emilia Perez
4. Isabella Rossellini - Conclave
5. Toni Collette - Juror #2”

Predicted Spoilers: Julianne Moore (“The Room Next Door”), Joan Chen (“Didi”), Selena Gomez (“Emilia Perez”), Carrie Coon (“His Three Daughters”), Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”)


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Samuel L. Jackson - The Piano Lesson
2. ✔ Clarence Maclin - Sing Sing
3. Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
4. Stanley Tucci - Conclave
5. Denzel Washington - Gladiator II

Predicted Spoilers: John Lithgow (“Conclave”), Harris Dickinson (“Blitz”), Paul Raci (“Sing Sing”), Pedro Pascal (“Gladiator II”), Mark Eydelshteyn (“Anora”)


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1. ✔ Sing Sing
2. Conclave
3. Nickel Boys
4. Nightbitch
5. ✔ Dune: Part Two

Predicted Spoilers: “The Piano Lesson,” “Hit Man,” “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “Gladiator II,” “Here”


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1. Anora
2. Blitz
3. A Real Pain
4. Hard Truths
5. Emilia Pere

Predicted Spoilers: “The Room Next Door,” “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” “The Substance,” “Juror #2,” “Challengers”


BEST DIRECTOR

1. Steve McQueen - Blitz
2. Sean Baker - Anora
3. ✔ Denis Villeneuve - Dune: Part Two
4. Edward Berger - Conclave
5. ✔ Greg Kwedar - Sing Sing

Predicted Spoilers: Ridley Scott (“Gladiator II”), Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Perez”), Mohammad Rasoulof (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”), Todd Phillips (“Joker: Folie à Deux”), Marielle Heller (“Nightbitch”)

Sierra View Country Club

Sharon and I had a very nice morning playing golf with Alan and Jeanie at the Sierra View Country Club. We played with them at Ancil Hoffman last September.

Teeing off at 8 am to avoid the heat, I enjoyed the round. Although I didn't score that much better, I was making much better contact with the ball. I was putting really well; I had three or four long putts literally lip out.

I ended up with an honestly scored 108.

After the round, the four of us had lunch in the restaurant at country club. I had a salmon poke bowl, while Sharon had a salmon salad.

Golftec

I had a Golftec lesson on Wednesday morning. I am struggling more than a little trying to figure out how to integrate the feedback.

Presumed Innocent

Sharon and I watched Presumed Innocent on AppleTV+. I read the book sometime in the late 1980s. I can remember that there was a lot of discussion about the book one summer at Lake Almanor (1988?).

Presumed Innocent is a legal thriller television series created by David E. Kelley. It is based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Scott Turow. The series is the first television adaptation of the book, following the 1990 film adaptation starring Harrison Ford and Brian Dennehy.

The show premiered on Apple TV+ on June 12, 2024. It has eight episodes. In July 2024, the series was renewed for a second season.

The series follows successful prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose world implodes when his colleague is found murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. The show boasts a stellar cast with Jake Gyllenhaal delivering a nuanced performance as the accused man. Ruth Negga shines as his stoic and complex wife. Peter Sarsgaard is chilling as the ambitious prosecutor determined to bring Rusty down.

Despite its strengths, the series isn't without flaws. I found the pacing uneven. Certain episodes dragged, while others moved at a breakneck speed. The plot has been updated nicely to reflect current technology. I enjoyed the series and recommend it. I do feel that there should have been more breadcrumbs pointing to the plot twist at the end.

Listening to Bill Simmons and Derek Thompson talk about The Future of Everything on a podcast, they made an interesting point about streaming serial shows. It often seems like there is no editor. The showrunner can make episodes as long as they want. In fact, they were agruing that the streaming want the shows to run longer to hold the audience. A number of times while we were watching Presumed Innocent there were scenes that just didn't seem to add anything to the story. I asked Sharon what was the point of that scene more than a few times.

One Year of Retirement

Monday marked a year since I officially retired. I am really enjoying retirement! My original goals for retirement are here; they still fit.

As Nooter said, it has been a year of lots of miles and lost golf balls. There has been some fantastic trips, including Almanor, Israel/Egypt/Jordan, the Army/Navy Game, a California Road Trip and Scandinavia.

In regards to lost golf balls, I am not satisfied with the progress that I have made in getting more consistent at golf. While I have had a number of great holes in the last month, my game remains very uneven. I am reevaluating whether I want to stick with lessons at Golftec or go in a different direction.

My major disappointment has been progress on my book about 1991. While I have it started in Scrivener, I haven't found a rhythm for working on the book on a regular basis. I am going to try and starting working on the book at least a couple of times a week.

Ending on a positive note, we welcomed a new grandson in the last year!

Camino Ghosts by John Grisham

My book for July was Camino Ghosts by John Grisham. Somewhat unbelievably, this is the 39rd book by John Grisham that I have read in the last thirty-three years. I am not sure that this is something that I should be proud of...

The majority of the book is set on a Florida island from two previous Grisham books: Camino Winds (2020) and Camino Island (2017). Many of the characters from these two books return.

Grisham weaves together two narratives: the present-day life of the island’s inhabitants and the harrowing experiences of Nalla, a young woman shipwrecked on a nearby island a century ago. The plot touches on maroon communities.

Maroon communities are groups of formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants who escaped in the Americas and established self-governing communities. Maroons created their own cultures, governments, trade, and military defenses to protect themselves from European and American oppressors. They lived in remote areas, such as mountains and tropical terrains, to avoid the sight and control of plantation owners and colonial officials.

I enjoyed the book. It marks a departure from the legal thrillers that made him a household name. While the familiar setting of Camino Island remains, the story takes a darker turn. It delves into the neighboring island’s past. I will continue to read Grisham novels as filler between more ambitious books. They serve as a nice mindless break.

A Gentleman in Moscow

Sharon and I watched a Gentleman in Moscow on Paramount+. Sharon had read the book for her neighborhood book club.

A Gentleman in Moscow is a British television limited series consisting of 8 episodes. It is based on the 2016 novel by Amor Towles. Ben Vanstone is writer, executive producer, and showrunner. The series premiered on Paramount+ on March 29, 2024.

The series stars Ewan McGregor in the role of Count Alexander Rostov and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Anna Urbanova. McGregor shines as the charismatic Count Rostov, embodying his character's wit, charm, and unwavering spirit.

The show follows Count Alexander Rostov who is confined to the Metropol Hotel as punishment. What could have been a bleak existence transforms into a rich tapestry of human connection and personal growth. The series masterfully portrays the Count's journey as he navigates the tumultuous changes of Soviet Russia while finding solace and purpose within the hotel's walls.

The mini-series captures the essence of the book, offering viewers a delightful escape into a world of elegance, resilience, and unexpected friendships. McGregor is very good. I recommend the series.

Back from Carmel plus Lunch with Jack

We had talked about doing a walk along the bay in the morning, but didn't get moving early enough. We had a light breakfast at the Airbnb and packed up the room.

The plan for the day was to stop and have lunch with Jack in San Francisco. We rolled from Pacific Grove about 9:45 am. With a stop for gas, we were in the city about 12:30 pm.

The three of us had lunch at the Aliment. I had kabocha squash curry risotto [kabocha squash, red curry, mixed vegetables, risotto]. Sharon had the buttermilk fried chicken [bacon mac and cheese, braised greens]. Jack had a steakhouse burger [bacon jam, cheddar, arugula, onion, tomato, chipotle aioli, house made beer bun, fries]. We spent some time discussing several options for hiking the Nakasendo Trail from Kyoto to Tokyo next year.

We rolled towards home about 2:40 pm. On a Friday afternoon in the summer, it was a slog. It took three hours and twenty minutes. The section from Davis to West Sacramento was shocking slow. I drove...

Pacific Grove Golf Links

Spending the night at an Airbnb in downtown Pacific Grove, Holly, Van, Sharon and I played Pacific Grove Golf Links. We teed off at 11 am.

I felt even better on the driving range than I did on Wednesday. I had a really nice start. I had convinced the four of us to play skins. I won the third and fourth holes. The fifth hole is a 500 yard par five. I had two great shots and was about 160 yards out. At this point, everything went south. I struggled for the rest of day to get on track. I had a particularly hard time teeing off the tee on the back nine. I started to get very frustrated.

I won two more skins at the par three 10th hole with a great shot. At that point, the score was Van with two, Sharon with two, Holly with two and me with four.

Van won all of the rest of the skins on the back nine! The final score was Van with 10, me with 4, Sharon with 2 and Holly with 2. I had a very liberally scored 110.
We finished the day with dinner at Passionfish. Holly and Van's friends Larry and Linda joined us. Sharon and I split a beet salad [whipped gorgonzola dolce, yellow curry, golden chutney, pecans]. For entrees, I had sea scallops [tomato-truffle butter, poached lettuce, savory rice custard], while Sharon had alaskan halibut [sweet white corn, tomato relish, cotija cheese, cilantro aioli].

Sharon stayed up late watching the women's gymnastic all around final.