At Cold Springs Golf and Country Club

Thursday afternoon, Holly, Van, Sharon and I played the Cold Springs Golf and Country Club. Over the last two and a half years, I have enjoyed playing a lot of different courses with Holly and Van. We teed off at 2:00 pm.

I had a Golftec lesson on Tuesday. I hit at the Ancil Hoffman driving range on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Warming up at Cold Springs, I felt like I was playing real progress with my swing. Unfortunately, I am struggling to translate this to the course.

Starting off ok, I quickly started to struggle. On the third hole, I hit my tee shot down the right side, but couldn't find the ball. I got very frustarted. It carried over on the next couple of holes. Combined with the fact that my left hip started brothering me, it was a long hot day.

I started to play better on the back nine. With a couple of nice one putts, I actually parred the par 4 13th hole and par 5 14th hole.

The four of us finished the day with dinner at the Independent Restaurant in Placerville. I had a Salmon Avocado Burger [6 oz. Fresh Premium Salmon Patty, Avocado, House-made Citrus Honey Dill Aioli, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato], while Sharon had a Classic Independence Burger [House-ground Patty, House-made Aioli, White Cheddar, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato]. For the second night in a row, Sharon was disappointed with her dinner...

Dinner with Carmen, Drew and Jack

In the afternoon, Sharon and I headed to Orinda. We spent some time visiting with Carmen, Drew and Jack at Drew and Carmen's house. Jack had taken BART over after work.

The five of us had an early dinner at the Social Bird Kitchen and Bar in Lafayette. Sharon and I ate there once before with Donna and Kevin in 2023 when we were housesitting for Drew and Carmen while they were on their honeymoon.

For starters, the five of us split oysters, marinated olives, DUROC PORK & VEAL MEATBALLS [Calabrian chile tomato sauce, parmesan, grilled bread] and AVOCADO BRUSCHETTA [Pickled sweet peppers, crispy red onions, sea salt].

For entrees, I had SLOW BRAISED BONELESS BEEF SHORT RIB [Organic polenta, mushroom ragout, green beans, burgundy sauce]. Jack and Drew had SNAKE RIVER FARMS WAGYU BURGER [Challah roll, lettuce, tomato, onion, housemade pickles & hand cut fries]. Carmen had LOCAL DIXON MEDITERRANEAN LAMB SLIDERS [Challah rolls, feta, cucumber yogurt sauce, tomato, arugula, hand cut fries]. Sharon had a halibut fish special. While my entree was good, Sharon said that her fish was dry and lifeless...

We finished the dinner with a couple of desserts: a blueberry-peach crumble tart and a bread pudding.

Sharon and I ended home from the restaurant. We were back in Carmichael a little after 8:30 pm.

It was really nice to spend some time with Carmen, Drew and Jack.

Golftec

With Sharon off hiking with Jeana and Holly at Hidden Falls, I had a Golftec lesson on Tuesday morning. We focused on having me warm up with a very staggered stance (right foot back) to get my right hip moving and to get my swing inside out. I am still swinging too much with my shoulders and not enough with my hips. I ended up htting for almost half an hour in the booth after my lesson was over.

Mustang of the Week - Heringer Harries Humboldt - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 52, Number 4, 8 October 1953

MUSTANG OF THE WEEK - Heringer Harries Humboldt

   Dick Heringer, rugged right guard of the Cal Aggie squad, was selected as Player of the Week in the game against Humboldt State last Saturday night.
   "He was all over the field,” one observer commented, referring to his many key tackles and general all around defensive work. Dick showed the stamina and skill to play "both ways” for nearly the entire game.
   Coming from Clarksburg two years ago, where he established himself as a high school grid star, Dick is now showing evidence of a great potential. He has earned the starting spot at guard.
   Dick is 5’11”, weighs 195 pounds, and displays a love for the rough going of line play. Dick is a junior in the College of Agriculture, majoring in Agronomy. He is affiliated with the Calpha Fraternity.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Apple Watch Purchase History

• Ultra - May 2023
• Series 7 - February 2022
• Series 5 - March 2020
• Series 3 - May 2018
• Apple Watch - June 2016

My iPhone purchase history is here.

Apple Watch Series 10

While I was working to upgrade my iPhone, Sharon upgraded her Apple watch from a Series 7 to a Series 10. After she gave me my first Apple Watch for Father's Day in 2016, I gave her an Apple Watch for Mother's Day in 2017.

We ran into problems getting her watch set up. It kept asking for a password for an email address that she hasn't used in years. I had an epiphany at lunch on Saturday and we were able to finally it it set up.

iPhone 16 Pro

I have been carrying an iPhone 14 Pro since September of 2022. This is the longest that I have used that same phone since I left the Farm Credit Banks in July of 1998, 27 years ago. Like several of the my other iPhones, the Lightning connector stopped working long ago. The battery is failing. It has gotten to point where I have to recharge it a couple of times a day. With the trip to South Africa looming, I felt like it was time to replace it.

I ordered an iPhone 16 Pro online on Saturday morning. After doing some shopping at REI for safari clothes, we popped into the Apple store at the Galleria Mall to pick it up. Doing an iPhone to iPhone transfter on Saturday night, I was surprised how long it took to transfer everything. It took several hours. I was glad that I wasn't in a hurry like I was when I upgraded in September of 2022!

Africa Travelers Dinner

We had Kevin, Donna and Sharon's brother Tom for dinner. God willing, the five of us are going to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia in September. The purpose of the dinner was two fold: a chance for Donna and Kevin to meet Tom, and; to do some trip planning.

Donna and Kevin came early. With the temperature over 102, the four of us spent some time in the pool.

Before dinner, we served a gin and tonic with the Harris gin that Tom and I discovered on the Isle of Skye. We had barbecued chicken, asparagus and a farro salad.

Jurassic World Rebirth

Thursday evening, Sharon and I went to dinner with her brother Tom and nephew Eric at Matteo's Pizza and Bistro. Sharon had a lamb burger, while I had Al Fresco Sesame Seared Wild Ahi Tuna. My salad was not good...

After dinner, the four of us met Sharon's brother Tim and her nephew Kevin at the Cinemark Century Arden 14 and XD. The six of us saw Jurassic World Rebirth.

Jurassic World Rebirth is a science fiction action thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp. A standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion (2022), it is the fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise.

The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali (Green Book, Moonlight) , Jonathan Bailey (Wicked Part One), Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein.

In the movie, a pharmaceutical company recruits a team of experts to an abandoned, dinosaur-infested island to extract vital biomaterial for a new heart disease cure. Their mission becomes a struggle for survival when they encounter dangerous, often mutated, dinosaurs and must contend with a separate civilian family whose boating trip went awry. The group faces off against various prehistoric creatures, including a formidable "Distortus rex," as they attempt to escape the deadly island with the crucial samples.

I saw the first Jurassic Park movie during the summer of 1993. While we were at Lake Almanor, Devan dragged everyone to Susanville to see the movie. I don't think that I have seen any of the subsequent films. While Jurassic World Bebirth was entertaining, both Sharon and I thought it was mediocre. We enjoyed Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning more. Seeing this film doesn't motivate me to see any of the five previous films in the franchise that I missed.

The New Y0rk Times: 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century

100 BEST MOVIES OF THE 21st CENTURY
[work in progress to update the list with the movies that we have seen...]

1. ✔ Parasite (Bong Joon Ho)
2. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch)
3. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson)
4. In the Mood For Love (Wong Kar Wai)
5. ✔ Moonlight (Barry Jenkins)
6. No Country For Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen)
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry)
8. ✔ Get Out (Jordan Peele)
9. Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki)
10. ✔ The Social Network (David Fincher)
11. ✔ Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
12. ✔ The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer)
13. Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron)
14. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
15. City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee)
17. Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee)
18. Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron)
19. Zodiac (David Fincher)
20. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)
21. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson)
22. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson)
23. Boyhood (Richard Linklater)
24. Her (Spike Jonze)
25. Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson)
26. Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet)
27. Adaptation (Spike Jonze)
28. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)
29. Arrival (Denis Villeneuve)
30. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)
31. The Departed (Martin Scorsese)
32. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig)
33. A Separation (Asghar Farhadi)
34. WALL-E Andrew Stanton)
35. A Prophet (Jacques Audiard)
36. A Serious Man (Joel & Ethan Coen)
37. Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino)
38. Portrait of A Lady on Fire (Celine Sciamma)
39. Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)
40. Yi Yi (Edward Yang)
41. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
42. The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson)
43. Oldboy (Park Chan-wook)
44. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino)
45. Moneyball (Bennett Miller)
46. ROMA (Alfonso Cuaron)
47. Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe)
48. The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck)
49. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater)
50. Up! ( Pete Docter)
51. 12 Years A Slave (Steve McQueen)
52. The Favourite (Yorgos Lanthimos)
53. Borat (Larry Charles)
54. Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro)
55. Inception (Christopher Nolan)
56. Punch-Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Anderson)
57. Best in Show (Christopher Guest)
58. Uncut Gems (Josh and Benny Safdie)
59. Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade)
60. Whiplash (Damien Chazelle)
61. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Quentin Tarantino)
62. Memento (Christopher Nolan)
63. Little Miss Sunshine (Dayton & Faris)
64. Gone Girl (David Fincher)
65. Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan)
66. Spotlight (Tom McCarthy)
67. TAR (Todd Field)
68. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)
69. Under The Skin (Jonathan Glazer)
70. Let The Right One In (Tomas Alfredson)
71. Ocean's Eleven (Steven Soderbergh)
72. Carol (Todd Haynes)
73. Ratatouille (Brad Bird)
74. The Florida Project (Sean Baker)
75. Amour (Michael Haneke)
76. O Brother, Where Art Thou (Joel & Ethan Coen)
77. Everything Everywhere All At Once (The Daniels)
78. Aftersun (Charlotte Wells)
79. Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)
80. Volver (Pedro Almodovar)
81. Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky)
82. The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer)
83. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen)
84. Melancholia (Lars Von Trier)
85. Anchorman (Adam McKay)
86. Past Lives (Celine Song)
87. The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson)
88. The Gleaners and I (Agnes Varda)
89. Interstellar (Christopher Nolan)
90. Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach)
91. Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold)
92. Gladiator (Ridley Scott)
93. Michael Clayton (Tony Gilroy)
94. Minority Report (Steven Spielberg)
95. The Worst Person in the World (Joachim Trier)
96. Black Panther (Ryan Coogler)
97. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
98. Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog)
99. Memories of A Murder (Bong Joon-ho)
100. Superbad (Greg Motolla)

Sisters

Saturday night after having dinner with the kids and grandkids, Sharon and I watched Sisters on Hulu. Sharon had seen the movie on a New York Times list recently and wanted to watch it. We had watched it nine years ago...

Sisters is a 2015 comedy film directed by Jason Moore and written by Paula Pell. The film stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler with a supporting cast that includes a number of current and past Saturday Night Live performers plus John Cena and James Brolin.

The film tells the story of two adult sisters, Maura (Poehler) and Kate (Fey) Ellis, who are polar opposites. When their parents decide to sell their childhood home, the sisters are forced to reunite and clean out their old room. In a last ditch effort to relive their glory days, they decide to throw one final, epic house party for their former classmates.

When we watched it the first time, Sharon commented on how much she enjoyed the movie. She was not so enthusiastic this time. I don't recommend the movie.

Golf - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 52, Number 28, 6 May 1954

GOLF
   April 23 Coach Vern Hickey’s golf team bowed to Sacramento State in a duel match by the score of 20-7.
   The best score turned by the Aggies was by Howard Bennet, who turned an 81. Dave Sale shot an 83 for the second best of the day.
   In the singles matches Sacramento stroked to win every one except for one in which Dick Heringer downed Gary Bonnine 2 1/2 - 1/2.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

Baltic Norwegian Cruise

At the Fourth of July Celebration, I had a chance to catch up with Sharon's brother Tom about his Norwegian Cruise from June 14th to the 28th. He was on the Norwegian Dawn. Unlike the Gainsleys' recent Norwegian experience, Tom was fairly upbeat about his trip.

Sushi Adventure with Lee and Clem

Sharon and I had dinner with Lee, Clem, Morgan, Daniel and Drew at Shilla Teriyaki & Sushi Bar in Camino.

We finished the day watching Sisters. Although we had seen the movie before, Sharon saw it on a list and wanted to rewatch it...

2025 Frame Family Fourth of July

After playing golf at Ancil Hoffman, we headed to Sharon's brother Tim's house for a Frame Family 4th of July. The group totaled twenty-one, including: Sharon and I, Tom, Eric, Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia, Tim and Kathy, Will and Eileen, Erin, Cormac and Mave, Cromac's mother and her husband, Brun, Kim and Velta and Jim.

Tim barbecued burgers and hot dogs for dinner. We brought devil eggs.

We finished the night with a selection of fireworks in Kathy and Tim's cul-de-sac.

When we got home, we saw the last part of the second night of the Rancho Cordova fireworks display.

At Ancil Hoffman

Friday morning, Sharon and I played nine holes at Ancil Hoffman with Jim and Debbie. Teeing off at 10:44 am, we walked the course.

After feeling good on the driving range on Thursday afternoon, I was very uneven on the range before the round. I had a rough first hole, but settled down. I feel like I am striking the ball more consistently. Although I was chippintg better after my lesson on Wednesday, I really struggled with my putting. Between the trees and the sand trap, I made a mess of the sixth hole. I ended up using one mulligan off the tee and no gallery losses. I played the whole round with one ball!

I enjoyed the round. I didn't get frustrated. I shot a liberally scored 58. Sharon said that she shot a 54.

Lunch with Larkin

Larkin and I met for lunch at the Fair Oaks Brew Pub.

Golftec

I had a Golftec lesson on Wednesday morning. We spent the session working on chipping. Several times in the last two rounds, I have made two solid shots to end up in the front of green on a par four, but then made an absolute mess with my chipping.

With no lesson after mine, we ended up working for almost hour. I need to keep the back swing short, hands back to the right pocket, my head and shoulders still and a slight sway in hips.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

What is this?

Mustang of the Week Heringer Harries Humboldt	Dick	California Aggie, Volume 52, Number 4, 8 October 1953
Golf	Dick	California Aggie, Volume 52, Number 28, 6 May 1954
Aggie of the Week	Dick	California Aggie, Volume 53, Number 5, 14 October 1954

A new project

For years, one of the projects that I wanted to undertake was to go to the UC Davis library and research the 1951, 1953 and 1954 Aggie football teams. I know that my dad played football for UC Davis in those years, but really don't know much esle.

In the last month, I stumbled on the fact that the California Aggie, the college newspaper, is now on-line. I have started to organize all of the articles that I can find that mention Dick Heringer. It turns out that he is mentioned in articles beyond the football team. Additionally, I have started to find a few articles that mention my mother, Joyce Abbott.

A work in progress index of this project is here.

Aggie of the Week - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 53, Number 5, 14 October 1954

Aggie of the Week

   The Aggie of the Week, this week, is Dick Heringer, veteran Aggie guard, who played an outstanding game, both offensively and defensively, in the Aggie win over Sac State Saturday.
   Dick got down fast under the Aggie punts and kickoffs and was almost always at the bottom of the pile.
   The Aggie of the Week is a 5’ 10”, 210 pound junior from Clarksburg. He has one year of varsity experience behind him and should have a lot of good football left in his big frame. It is a safe bet that Aggie rooters will see a lot more of Dick this season.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

A Psalm for the Wild-Built: A Monk and Robot Book

Looking for something lighter after slogging through the history of the Ottoman Empire, my book for June was A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. I previously read her first four books: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet [July 2017], A Closed and Common Orbit [April 2018] and The Record of a Spaceborn Few [January 2019] and The Galaxy, and the Ground Within [September 2021].

A Psalm for the Wild-Built has received several accolades, including Hugo Award for Best Novella (2022) and the Stonewall Book Award (2022). It was also a finalist for the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 2021 and was long-listed as an NPR Best Book of the Year in 2021.

Dix, a disillusioned tea monk, feels a growing sense of discontent with their seemingly idyllic life, yearning for a purpose beyond serving tea to human settlements. They decide to leave their comfortable existence and venture into the wilderness, hoping to hear the "crickets" – a metaphorical call to a new, fulfilling path. During their journey, Dix unexpectedly encounters Mosscap, a robot, marking the first time humanity and robots have met in centuries. This chance meeting leads to a unique partnership as they embark on a journey together, each seeking to understand their place in a world where nature and technology have long been separated.

I have enjoyed Becky Chambers' books for their characters and world building. While I enjoyed this book, the philosophical amusing towards the end didn't ring true with my current state of mind. There is a sequel. I will probably read it.

Almost Famous

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Almost Famous. It is #47 on the New York Times list of the 100 best films of the 21st century.

Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe. The film is semi-autobiographical, as Crowe himself was a teenage writer for Rolling Stone.

It stars Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Patrick Fugit, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. We have seen a younger Frances McDormand in two movies in the last week; she was in Something's Gotta Give.

Almost Famous tells the story of William Miller (Fugit), a 15-year-old aspiring music journalist in the early 1970s. He lands a dream assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to tour with the up-and-coming rock band Stillwater. During his journey, William navigates the complexities of the rock and roll lifestyle, including the band's internal conflicts and his developing relationships, particularly with the groupie Penny Lane (Hudson). The film is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of innocence lost, finding one's place, and the allure and disillusionment of the music industry.

At the 73rd Academy Awards, the movie won Best Original Screenplay (Cameron Crowe). Both Hudson and McDormand were nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film was nominated for Best Film Editing. At the Golden Globes, the film won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Hudson won Best Supporting Actress. It also won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

I have heard a lot about the film over the years, but had never seen it. Kate Hudson was 20 years old when the movie was filmed. Although she looks very young, Hudson had already done several movies. Both Sharon and I enjoyed Almost Famous. Sharon gave it an "8" out of "10". I recommend it.

2025 Donner Lake - Day #4 - Tahoe Donner Golf Course

The plan for the day was golf at the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. We had a 10:10 am tee time.

I felt good warming up on the range, but I am struggling to translate this to the course. Over the course of the day, I was very inconsistent. I had a number of very solid shots, but I can't seem to string a set of good shots together.

On the par three 7th, I hit my tee shot on to the green, pin high, about 15 feet to the left of the flag. I was pretty proud of myself until Sharon stepped up and hit her tee shot to within 10 inches…


I didn't do as well controlling my frustration as I did on Wednesday. As hitting two very solid shots to the front of the green on eight, I screwed up two chips and lost my cool. My problem of driving the ball to the left as I tire about twelve or thirteen also raised its ugly head.

I ended up with a liberally scored 111. I used one mulligan of the tee, but had fewer gallery losses than Wednesday...

Given how expensive the Tahoe Donner Golf Course is, I am not sure we will ever go back there. It is just not that unique or picturesque.

After golf, we headed back to Holly and Van's condo. We packed up the cars. SHaron and I were on the road about 3:30 pm and back in Carmichael about 5:15 pm.

It was a very nice getaway. We are going to be staying closer to home for the next two months.

2025 Donner Lake - Day #3

After breakfast, Holly, Van, Sharon and I loaded up my SUV with our inflatable kayaks and drove to the condo's private beach. [Note to self], Holly and Van have a very nice two person Advanced Elements inflatable kayak. We spent almost an hour and a half exploring Donner Lake. I particularly enjoyed paddling up Donner Creek and looking at the homes on the Southern shore. The wind started to come up as we were heading back to the dock. In total, we covered just over three miles.


After a light lunch, the four of us headed to Donner Memorial State Park. I had picked out a hike on AllTrails, but when we parked in the day use area, we pivoted to a walk on an interpretive trail along the lake. Using AllTrails, I was able to put together a loop on the fly. We ended up hiking three miles in an hour and a half. It was a nice combination of walking along the lake and through the forest.


Heading to downtown Truckee, we finished the day with dinner at Planeta Ristorante. It was the first Truckee Thursdays of the year. They had several streets closed off. I was shocked at the number of people.

Sharon and I split Winter Caprese [fresh mozzarella, grilled eggplant, roasted sweet red peppers, dry cured olives, pesto & balsamic reduction]. For entrees, I had Grilled Sausage & Tagliatelle [spicy fennel & mild tuscan style sausage, savory marinara sauce], while Sharon had Pasta di Olio [angel hair pasta, garlic & olive oil, trio of mushrooms, tomato, spinach, pine nuts, grated parmesan & fresh basil with prawns].

2025 Donner Lake - Day #2 - Coyote Moon

The plan for the day was golf at the Coyote Moon Golf course. The course has only been open for the summer since last Friday, five days! We had a 10:20 am tee time. When we play with Holly and Van, I always ride with Van.

The course doesn't have a driving range. It has a set of nets where you can hit. Although it is hard to judge hitting into a net, I felt ok on the driving range.

Although I didn't score that well, I enjoyed the day. The course is beautiful. There are several difficult holes. Overall, I feel like I am making some progress with my game.

The greens were difficult and very slow. No one made a long putt. I didn't one putt a single green...

I ended up with a very liberally scored 110. I used one mulligan off the tee and more than a few gallery losses. More importantly, I didn't get frustrated.

Holly, Van, Sharon and I finished the day with dinner at Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats in Truckee. I had elk chops, while Sharon had a hanger steak.

2025 Donner Lake - Day #1

Two years ago, we spent a few days at Holly and Van's family condo at Donner Lake. We are headed back for a couple of days of golfing, hiking and kayaking.

Rolling from Carmichael about 6:30 pm, we got to the condo by 8:00 pm. Afer getting the SUV packed and settled in the condo, we spent some time catching up. We crashed early.

We are playing golf at Coyote Moon on Wednesday. I am really interested in seeing how that goes. I played very well with Sharon and Jack ten days ago, but hitting at the Haggin Oaks driving range today I felt like I had never hit a golf ball before...

Adventures with Lee

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 two and a half years, my superpowers have always been training volume and the timing of my sleep cycle [June 2023, December 2023, June 2024, December 2024]. My kryptonite has switched from recovery index to restfulness and back to recovery index.

Something's Gotta Give

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 23, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. They discuss Nancy Meyers’s Something’s Gotta Give, the 2003 romantic comedy starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, which featured some of the most realized and developed characters of the century. They highlight and celebrate Meyers’s auteurist vision, argue why it’s the last great studio romantic comedy, and remember one of Jack Nicholson’s final performances, which featured an incredible balance of his powerful charisma and uglier, stranger side.

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Something's Gotta Give. We are planning to listen to the podcast about the movie later this week.

Something's Gotta Give is a 2003 romantic comedy drama film written, produced, and directed by Nancy Meyers. It stars Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. Keanu Reeves and Amanda Peet co-star, with Frances McDormand, Paul Michael Glaser, Jon Favreau, and KaDee Strickland playing key supporting roles.

For her performance, Keaton received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. At the 61st Golden Globe Awards, Keaton won Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, while Nicholson received a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

In the movie, Harry Sanborn (Nickolson), a wealthy and aging music mogul with a penchant for younger women, suffers a heart attack at the beach house of his latest girlfriend's mother, Erica Barry. Erica (Keaton), a successful playwright, is initially annoyed by Harry's presence but slowly begins to fall for him as they spend time together. Their budding romance is complicated by the presence of Harry's young girlfriend (Peet) and Erica's charming doctor, Julian Mercer (Reeves). The film explores themes of aging, love, and self-discovery as both Harry and Erica confront their preconceived notions about relationships and happiness.

Looking for something light to watch, Sharon and I enjoyed the movie. Both Keaton and Nicholson's performances are very good. It was a little slow in a couple of spots. I give it a lukewarm thumbs up.

2025 Napa - Day #2

Moving slow after a late night, Marlene, Phil, Sharon and I had breakfast in the M Club. Afterwards, we checked out the bikes. The hotel used to provide bikes and helmets at the front desk. Now, there is a bike rental station behind the spa.

We decide to walk rather than bike. We drove to Yountville and parked in the parking lot of the Vinter's Golf Club. We hiked two miles along the Vine Trail bike path.

Back at the hotel, we checked out and loaded the car. Phil and I dropped Marlene and Sharon at the Outlets to shop at Cabi and Michael Kors, while we looked for a deli. With some false starts, we ended up getting sandwiches at the Genova Delicatessen after we picked up the girls from shopping.

The plan for the afternoon was wine tasting at Bouchine. Sharon and Marlene are both wine club members there. We have been wine club members at Bouchine since 2010. It is a amazing how much the property has changed in the last fifteen years!

We ate our sandwiches in the garden and then had a leisurely tasting on the terrace. The host's name was Mark.

We rolled from the winery a little after 3 pm. It was 2 1/2 hours back to Carmichael. While the traffic was heavy, it was not as bad as it could have been.

2025 Napa - Day #1

Explore Experience

Indulge in an exclusive, in-depth exploration of the wine, land and art of the Donum Estate with this 2-hour private experience—perfect for guests seeking an immersive and personalized adventure. The experience begins with a splash of one of our award-winning wines, followed by a guided all-terrain vehicle tour of our expansive art collection, working farm and surrounding vineyards. After the tour guests will enjoy a private tasting of seasonal, Estate wines, paired with Chef-prepared small plates featuring Estate-grown ingredients.

When we were in Las Vegas visiting Marlene and Phil, we made plans to go to Napa for a couple of days. Marlene and Phil pulled up at our house at 12 pm. After a tour of the new kitchen, we headed out at 12:30 pm. I drove.

It was an easy hour and 45 minute drive to Donum Estate. Sharon and Marlene are both wine club members. The first time that we stopped at Donum was on way to Sea Ranch with Marlene and Phil in 2017.

We did the Explore tasting. Sharon and I have done this tasting twice before. Once with Jack and once with the Tomasins. The property has changed a lot since our last tasting with the additional of several new art pieces.

After the tasting, we headed to the Napa Valley Marriott. Given that I spent most of 2015 and 2016 working out of the Napa Valley and staying at this Marriott, it is always a little odd for me to come back there.

After checking in and getting settled in the room, we had a drink in the bar. We had an interesting set of interactions with the restaurant manager (Bobby). He was born and raised in Harlem.

We took an Uber to A16 for dinner. Sharon and I split a squash blossom antipasti and a Funghi pizza [mixed mushroom, caciocavallo, fior di latte, grana padano, garlic, chili, oregano with sausage added].

Taking an Uber back to the Marriott, we walked in just as they were closing the bar. The four of us ended up sitting in the lobby and sharing a bottle of Donum sparkling wine. It was midnight by the time Sharon and I wandered back to the room and crashed.

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm

Nearly 60 years after The Beatles performed their final concert at Candlestick Park, Beatlemania is back in the Bay. Featuring more than 250 personal photographs by Paul McCartney, along with video clips and archival materials, this exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at the meteoric rise of the world’s most celebrated band. The images capture the period from December 1963 through February 1964 and the band’s journey to superstardom, from local venues in Liverpool to The Ed Sullivan Show and worldwide acclaim. Photographs of screaming crowds and paparazzi show the sheer magnitude of the group’s fame and the cultural change they represented. More intimate images of the band on their days off highlight the humor and individuality of McCartney and bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rediscovered in the artist’s personal archive in 2020, these images offer new perspectives on the band, their fans, and the early 1960s, as seen through the eyes of Paul McCartney.

Sharon and Brun went to the Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm Exhibition at the de Young Museum.

They had a late lunch at Socma's of Sausalito (crab louie).

With Waze winding them along some back roads, it took almost 3 1/2 hours to get back to Sacramento.

Happy Birthday, Carmen Heringer!

My Life 2018

From the late 1990s to 2020, a large group would go to Spring Training every year. We had tickets and hotel reservations in 2020 when Spring Training was suspended just as I was scheduled to fly to Arizona. Unfortuantely, the trip has not been restarted since the pandemic. I am still hoping to go with Sharon in the next couple of years. My Spring Training Game Log is here.

Like the Lake Almanor pictures, it is fitting that the My Life series includes a Spring Training Picture.


All of the My Life Photos can be found here.

Father's Day 2025

A nice Father's Day including:

• Jack and Sharon got bagels for breakfast from Noah's Bagels;
• Sharon and I took Tiber for a neighborhood walk;
• Jack and I went to the Ancil Hoffman driving range and both hit a big bucket of balls;
• I had looked for a morning tee time for the three of us to play nine, but couldn't find anything;
• A Peloton core workout;
• A Peloton 45 minute Just Ride workout on the bike watching the US Open;
• Father's Day presents: a new coffee pot from Sharon and a couple of Peloton shirts and a jacket from Drew and Carmen;
• Facetimed with Drew and Carmen;
• Watched the rainy fourth round of the US Open at Oakmont with JJ Spaun winning;
• Barbecued filet mignons, corn and vegetable kabobs for a nice dinner on the deck;
• Drove Jack back to San Francisco, leaving a litte after 7 pm it took me three hours and forty minutes roundtrip; and,
• It took me three and a half hours just to get home from the city on Thursday afternoon.

Mikuni

After watching the US Open Golf tournamentin the afternoon, Jack, Sharon and I went to dinner at Mikuni.

We finished the day watching the first two episodes of Stick starring Owen Wilson on AppleTV.

Heavy Petty

Friday evening after golf, Jack, Sharon and I went with a large group of our neighbors to the Ancil Hoffman Clubhouse to see the Tom Petty Tribute Band Heavy Petty. With our old neighbors Rod and Kathy in town, the group included Jill and Mike, Judy and Tom, Glen, Jim and Debbie, Greg and Michelle, Ed and Mary Lou, Jack, Sharon and I.

The band and the sound system were not very good.

Sharon and I finished a late night with dessert at Greg and Michelle's house.

At Ancil Hoffman

Friday morning, Jack, Sharon and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman. We teed off at 10:04 am.

This was probably the best round of golf that I have ever played. I parred two holes on the front nine. I had a stretch of eight holes where I bogeyed six holes. I shot a fairly honestly scored 99. I used two mulligans on the front nine and one gallery loss on the back nine. Everyone played well; Jack had a 96 and Sharon shot a 98.

On the sixth, I hit two solid shots to the front of the green, but then ended up chipping back and forth over the green. I got very angry with myself. I used a mulligan off the tee on seven after I hit my worst shot of the day... I was able to settle down and string together the nice run over the next eight holes until I triple bogeyed 15 with the gallery loss.

I really enjoyed the round. It will be interesting to see how I play when we play again...

On the sixth hole at Ancil Hoffman

the world is a parking lot

Sharon and I spent the lion's share of day driving to San Francisco and back to pick up Jack for the Father's Day weekend. Leaving at 12:40 pm, it took two hours and twenty minutes to get into the city.

Meeting Jack at his aparment, we slogged our way home through the traffic. With one stop in Vacaville, it took three and a half hours to cover 99 miles and get home. We were back in Carmichael after 6:30 pm.

While we were driving, I texted Drew that we need a Guest and the Host song titled "The World is a Parking Lot."

Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire

In May, I finished reading Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire by Caroline Finkel. During our trips to the Turkey, Eygpt and the Balkans, I was fascinated by the breath of the Ottoman Empire. I went looking for a book about the history of the empire.

The Book is a comprehensive account of one of the world's longest-lasting empires. The book traces the Ottoman Empire's trajectory from its nomadic origins in the late 13th century (1299) to its dissolution in the early 20th century (1922). The "dream" in the title refers to a foundational myth of Osman I, the empire's founder, who reportedly had a vision of a tree growing from his navel, symbolizing the vast and enduring empire his descendants would establish.

The book is structured chronologically, moving through key periods and events. Finkel explores the empire's rapid expansion under powerful sultans like Mehmed the Conqueror and Suleiman the Magnificent, detailing their military strategies and political innovations. She also delves into the complexities of Ottoman society, examining the roles of the diverse populations within its borders, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Finkel discusses the challenges posed by internal rebellions, external pressures from European powers, and the gradual erosion of central authority. The book culminates with the empire's final struggles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to its collapse after World War I and the rise of modern Turkey.

Just a few key points from the book include:

• The Ottoman Empire conquered Egypt in 1517. Egypt, along with the Levant and the Hejaz (which included the holy cities of Mecca and Medina), were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire as provinces. This significantly shifted the Ottoman Empire's focus and solidified its position as the leading power in the Islamic world.
• The Ottoman Empire was never able to conquer all of Iran and incorporate it into their empire, despite numerous attempts and prolonged wars. The rivalry between the Ottoman Empire (predominantly Sunni Muslim) and the Safavid Empire of Persia (predominantly Shia Muslim) was one of the most enduring geopolitical struggles in Islamic history, spanning centuries.
• In 1529 and 1683, the Ottoman army reached Vienna, but both times the seige failed.
• In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire clashed repeatedly for control of Crimea, a strategically vital peninsula on the Black Sea. This rivalry was a key part of the larger Russo-Turkish Wars.
• The Janissaries were the most famous and impactful of the Ottoman army's factions. Originally an elite infantry corps formed from Christian boys levied through the devshirme system, they were initially fiercely loyal and highly effective. However, over time, their power grew immense, and their discipline and loyalty began to wane. The Janissaries were responsible for overthrowing and murdering several sultans.
• In my ignorance, I didn't realize Jerusalem's significance as a holy city in Islam. At the site of the Temple Mount (where the Dome of the Rock now stands), Muhammad is said to have led a prayer with all the previous prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. From Jerusalem, Muhammad ascended through the seven levels of heaven.

The book is a load. It is a dizzying pile of names and places. While I am glad that I fought my way through it, I don't recommend it.

A footnote, I am very disappointed in myself over the last several months. Dating back to 1991, I have kept a list of the books that I have read. My goal has always been one book a month. I have done a great job accomplishing that goal. I lost momentum this year. My routine for years has been finding someplace quiet to hide and read at lunch. When I retired, I continued that routine; I would eat lunch in the kitchen and read. The kitchen remodel destoryed that rhythm.

Dinner with Holly and Van

Tuesday night, we had Holly and Van over for dinner. Sharon made a great dinner of Peruvian Chicken, Rice and Italian flat beans.

We spent the evening catching up and talking about our trips. Holly and Van spent four weeks in April and May on two Overseas Adventure Travel trips, including Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past and The Azores & Madeira: Portugal's Unspoiled Archipelagos.

249 Jem Road, Oroville, CA

My sister Sharon pointed out that our childhood home is for sale. In 1961, we lived in a mobile home on the property while the house was being built. I can remember playing in the house while it was being built. The house was finished in 1962.

The inside of the house has been updated a lot in the last forty years. There are some major outside changes around the property. The was a giant oak tree in the left front of the house. The driveway in front of the house was added. There was a major irrigation ditch on the east side of the property which has been filled in.

When I was growing up, the house sat in the middle of 1,800 acres of prunes, peaches and pears. The farm was bordered on the east by Highway 70, on the west by the Feather River and on the south by Honcut Creek. There was a dairy to the north.

I have a section in my book about 1991 that talks about what it was like to be raised there.

looking east towards Highway 70 looking west towards the Feather River

Hacks - Season Four

Friday night, Sharon and I finished watching season four of Hacks. In February, we finished binge watching the first three seasons.

The series was created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky. The three creators host an interesting segment after each episode discussing the episode. Hacks stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder (daughter of original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman).

In May 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season. It premiered on April 10, 2025. In May 2025, the series was renewed for a fifth season.

Season four follows Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava Daniels (Einbinder) as they navigate the challenges of getting Deborah's late-night talk show off the ground, leaving her stand-up career behind. The season further explores their complex, often tumultuous, mentor-mentee relationship amidst the high-pressure world of television.

Both Sharon and I really enjoyed the show. I recommend it. We were particularly intrigued by Singapore. Much of the last episode of season four is filmed at a number of interesting locations in Singapore, including the Fullerton Hotel, Gardens by the Bay, Resorts World Sentosa, the Clifford Pier and Victoria Theatre.