2023 Army/Navy Game - Day #3

This was not my favorite venue for a football game; I hope that they don't bring the Army/Navy game back to Gillette Staduim in the future.

After a long day and a late night, we were not moving early. We had a late breakfast at the hotel (more berry pancakes).

I had raised the question for some time asking the group how we were going to get to the game. The stadium is more than 30 miles from downtown Boston.

We ended up getting two UberXLs to take us to the game. I ended up in the second Uber that Nooter ordered with Gribi, Nooter, Larkin, Zach and Max.

Even though it was still almost four hours until the game started, the traffic was horrible. It took us an hour and a half to get close to the stadium. Over the last few miles, everything was at a virtual standstill. Eventually, we got out of the car and walked the last half mile or so to the stadium.

I was surprised how much there is around the stadium. I was under the impression that there wasn't anything nearby. In fact, The stadium is surrounded by Patriot Place, a large entertainment complex with shops, restaurants, a movie theater and other attractions. We caught up the first group at the Wormtown Brewery.

We headed to our seats about an hour before the game. We had pretty good seats this year.

Adding to my dislike of the venue, Tomasin, Larkin and I went down in the middle of the second quarter to get some food. We stood in a line for probably twenty minutes. When we got to the front, they announced that they were out of hot dogs and sausages. Larkin and I ended up at another concession getting a expensive, cold cheeseburger.

Army ended up winning the game by the score of 17 to 11. Navy was driving at the end of the game with a chance to tie the score.

With several people worried about getting out of the stadium and catching an Uber back to the hotel. We ended up leaving during the fourth quarter. We hiked to the ride share lot. We were able to catch an expensive UberXL back to Boston fairly quickly. It was over an hour ride back.

With a fairly dramatic ending to the game, I was disappointed that we left early. We listened to the end of the game in the Uber.

Jim organized a late dinner at Filippo Ristorante. I had Lasagna Lucia [Pasta layered with fresh egg, cheeses and ground veal].

After dinner, everyone wandered back to the hotel bar. With about half the group having early morning flights, a number of people crashed. Even though I headed to bed early, it was almost 11:30 pm.

2023 Army/Navy Game - Day #2

Everyone had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel [berry pancakes]. Max had thrown out the idea of touring the USS Constitution on Thursday night. This is one of the few things that we didn't do when Sharon, Jack and I walked the Freedom Trail in 2015. I helped push the idea.

We walked from The Boxer Hotel across the North Washington Street Bridge to Boston National Historic Park. We toured the USS Constitution and wandered through the museum. The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794.

Wandering into the North End, we took over the bar at the Ristorante Villa Francesca. We had a couple of drinks and some oysters. Making plans for the evening, Nooter and I each bought four tickets to the Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks NBA Basketball Game at the TD Garden.

From there, the group split up. Several of us explored Paul Revere Mall.

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Heading back to the hotel, the group met back up and set up camp at Porters Bar & Grill. With the group expanding to ten and everyone interested in going to the basketball game, I bought two more tickets.

We had a quick dinner at Halftime Pizza. Over the course of the day, I just didn't have enough to eat. This would come back to haunt me.

After dinner, the group headed to the TD Garden for the basketball game. The Celtics won the game by the score of 133 to 123.


Jalen Bruson and Rj Barrett were the high scorers for the Knicks. Bruson had 23 points on 8 for 17 from the field, 0 for five from three and 7 for 9 from the free throw line. Barrett had 23 points on 9 for 16 from the field, 2 for 5 from three and three for four from the free throw line.

Derrick White was the high scorer for the Celtics. He had 30 points on 10 for 16 from the field, 6 for 10 from three and 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Jayson Tatum added 25 points.

Porzingis looked good, scoring Boston’s first eight points with a dunk and consecutive 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown was ejected in the fourth quarter.

By the end of the game, I was a little overserved. The group headed back to the hotel. At one point, Larkin and I wandered back to Porters looking for Nooter and Gribi. I crashed about 12:30 am.

2023 Army/Navy Game - Day #1

For the fourth time in the last five years, I am heading to the Army/Navy football game [2022, 2021, 2019]. We had tickets in 2020 until the game was moved to West Point in response to the COVID pandemic.

Up at 3 am, I headed to the airport at 4:15 am. If I am not checking a bag, my rule of thumb is to leave for the airport about one hour and forty-five minutes ahead of the flight. Larkin and I had a 6 am American Airlines flight from Sacramento to Phoenix.

As an aside, I decided this year to pack very light; I have a small stuff bag, rather than a carry-on roller. In past years, I have thrown in my running shoes and some workout clothes. I have never used them. It is just not realistic.

I also made a decision to upgrade the first leg to first class. I was hoping for some breakfast, but only got a couple of snacks.

Interestingly, the layover in Phoenix was scheduled at only forty minutes. Our flight was on the ground about fifteen minutes early. Although we had to jump from the end of the A concourse to the B concourse, we made it in plenty of time. They were loading the American flight to Boston when we walked up to the gate. The flight took off on time at 9:30 am.

I had a exit row window seat on the flight to Boston. The internet was not working. As a result, I am behind on a couple of blog entries.

We were on the ground in Boston just after 4 pm. With Wallen and Vic about 40 minutes behind us, we decided to wait for them. Connecting with Wallen and Vic, the four of us got starters and beers at Not Your Average Joe's in the airport. We decided to wait for Tomasin.

After Tomasin landed, we jammed the five of us in an Uber. We are staying three nights at The Boxer hotel. We connected with Max, Nooter and Wallen's brother Jim.

With Vic leading the way, we wandered dowh the street. I was surprised to find the TD Garden, the Boston Celtics arena only about two blocks aways. Earlier in the week, Larkin had suggested that we might want to go to the game on Friday night. Walking pass the arena started a longer discussion with the group about going to the game.

We ended up having dinner at Tavern in the Square. I ended up having a salmon bowl. After dinner, the group made one stop at an Irish pub. Larkin and I wandered back to the hotel and crashed about 11:30 pm.

A Thousand Miles up the Nile: A Journey Through Ancient Egypt and Its Timeless Wonders

My book for November was A Thousand Miles up the Nile: A Journey Through Ancient Egypt and Its Timeless Wonders by Amelia B. Edwards. The Egyptian Viking tour guide recommended while we were on our trip in October.

The book is a travelogue that offers a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century Egypt. Edwards, a skilled writer and keen observer, recounts her journey up the Nile River, describing the ancient monuments, landscapes, and people she encounters along the way. The book is rich in historical detail, archaeological insights, and personal anecdotes.

Edwards visited a number of sites that we visited including: the Edfu Temple; Philae; the Kom Ombo Temple; Abel Simbel; the Temple of Ensa; the Valley of the Kings; the Dendera Temple; Karnak; the Luxor Temple; the Sakkara Step Pyramid; the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx. When she visited, many of the places, particularly the smaller temples, were partially covered with sand.

Amelia Edwards's trip up the Nile lasted approximately three to four months. It began in December 1873 and ended sometime in March or April 1874. As result, she visited a lot of more places than we did. I have started a list of some of the more interesting ones. I am not sure that we will ever go back to Egypt, but I can see us taking one or more grandkids to Cairo and Petra. I am still interested in seeing the Grand Egyption Museum when it finally opens.

I enjoyed the book. I found the section of the book exploring the Nile past the first cataract at Aswan particularly interesting. This section of the Nile has been flooded by Lake Nassar. Edwards went as far as the second cataract that existed in North Sudan prior to the Aswan High Dam. It is hard to believe that Lake Nassar is roughly 300 miles long.

It's important to note that Edwards' book is written from a colonialist perspective, reflecting the attitudes and biases of her time. I recommend the book, but only as a supplement to a trip to Egypt and a Nile cruise.

2023 Christmas Tree

2023 Jesuit High School Lessons & Carols

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.

Sharon and I went to Lessons & Carols, an evening of prayer and song presented by the Jesuit High School Chamber Singers, the Concert Choir of St. Francis High School and Jesuit Drama at the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. This is the fourteenth year that Jesuit High School has held the service.

We missed the last three years, but attended in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Sharon's brother Tom went with us in 2018 and 2019. Sharon went by herself in 2015 while I was working in the Napa Valley.

I appreciate that we got a chance to visit Bethlehem during our trip to Israel.

mailing the Christmas Cards

Twenty-five of the last twenty-six years, Sharon and I have sent out a Christmas Card. Dissatisfied with the quality of the photos on commercial cards like Shutterfly, I built my own format and process. Unfortunately, this was a lot of work... Additionally, the number of cards that we send out has exploded in the last fifteen years with the inclusion of people from SEAS, Outlaws, Jesuit High, Sutter Health, Adventist Health and Deterding Ranch.

Four years ago, I decided to go back to a commercially printed greeting card. After moving my database from Outlook into iOS contacts, I printed mailing lablels for the first time last year. Everything has gone a lot quicker!

On Saturday morning, December 2, I mailed 136 Christmas Cards. I dropped three more in the mail this morning. I may drop a couple more in the mail this week.

In 2022, I mailed 127 Christmas Cards on Thursday, December 15. I dropped two more in the mail on Friday, December 16.

In 2021, I mailed 121 Christmas Cards on Wednesday, December 8.

In 2020, I dropped 119 Christmas Cards at the post office on Sunday night, December 6.

In 2019, I dropped 73 Christmas Cards at the post office on Tuesday night, December 17 and 33 more on Wednesday morning, December 18.

In 2018, I dropped 104 cards at the post office on Monday, December 17.

In 2017, I mailed about 70 cards on Sunday afternoon, December 17 and another 30 plus cards on Monday morning, December 18.

Gainsley's Christmas Party

Over the years, it has been hit and miss in making it to the Gainsley's Christmas Party [2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2010, 2001]. We made it this year!

Donna actually started working for me at Sutter Health the day after Jack was born in 1998. We worked together until she and Kevin retired in 2013.

The Wongs attended the party for the first time. They stopped by our house on the way. In a nice surpise, Art who was on the Egypt trip was there. We had a great evening. We stayed longer than we have in the past; by the time we got home and I walked Tiber, it was after 11:30 pm.

Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour

Sharon and her brother Tom spent the afternoon at the Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour. This is the third year that they have done the tour.

They had a late lunch at Casa East Sac. Sharon stopped and talked to Peja Stojaković as they were leaving the restaurant.

Only Murders in the Building - Season Three

In November, Sharon and I finished watching season three of Only Murders in the Building. It is available on Hulu. We watched season one in January and season two in February.

Only Murders in the Building is an comedy mystery television series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. Season three premiered in August 8, 2023. The series has been renewed for a fourth season.

Starring the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, season three adds Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy, a Hollywood actor who is murdered on the opening night of his first Broadway play and Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin, a struggling actress and Oliver's (Short) love interest, who stars in his Broadway show. The plot of season three revolves around Martin Short staging a Broadway murder mystery play called Death Rattle.

While I really enjoyed the first two seasons, I didn't feel like season three was as good. I was frankly surprised that the series was renewed for a fourth season.

Orphan Breakfast House

Taking advantage of being retired, Sharon and I had a leisurely breakfast at the Orphan Breakfast House. I had Breakfast Tamales [house-made sweet corn tamales served with black beans and two eggs made to order, drenched in tomatillo sauce and garnished with jack cheese, sour cream, avocado, roma tomatoes, and cilantro], while Sharon had an Avocado Scramble [three eggs scrambled with avocado, jack cheese, tomatoes & scallions, served withrosemary potatoes and fresh-baked rosemary bread]. The food and the coffee were good.

Drew's 39th Birthday!

Happy 39th Birthday! Drew

The Morning Show - Season One

In early November, Sharon and I finished watching season one of The Morning Show on Apple TV+. Season one premiered on November 19, 2019. We watched the first episode several years ago and restarted watching the series this fall.

The Morning Show is a drama television series starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell. The series is inspired by Brian Stelter's 2013 book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.

The show examines the characters and culture behind a network broadcast morning news program. After allegations of sexual misconduct, the male co-anchor of the program is forced off the show. Aspects of the #MeToo movement are examined from multiple perspectives, as more information comes out regarding said misconduct.

Sharon likes the series more than I did. Like Yellowstone, I found it a little too soap operaish and overwrought. I give it a luke warm recommendation based on the solid performances of the stars.

Watching season one made me think about a number of things. First, Sharon and I both met each other and our ex's at work. I wonder whether that would be possible today. The series paints a picture that consensual relationships are harder in an environment with #MeToo ramifications. Second, although nothing like the events of the show, as a leader, I dealt with sexual harassment incidents. Most of those were in the late 1980s and early 1990s rather than more recently. Third, there is a whole other subplot in our lives that I need to deal with if I ever write a second book...

Jack is off

Sharon and I dropped Jack at the train station in downtown Sacramento early Sunday morning. He wound this way back to the city. It was great to be able to spend some time with him!

Shopping for a Christmas Tree

Early Saturday morning, Sharon and I headed to Roseville to shop for a Christmas Tree. For the sixth year in a row [2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018], we went to Bambi's Christmas Trees at Douglas and South Harding.

In 2018 and 2019, we went to Bambi's on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. In 2020, we went on Friday after Thanksgiving. In 2021, we didn't get around to going until the weekend after the Thanksgiving weekend; the selection of larger trees was not good. Last year, we went on Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.

I was surprised how few people were there. Additionally, they had a good selection of trees. Like last year, although I think that it is more than 10', we picked out a 9' to 10' foot tree. We are having it flocked and delivered on Wednesday.

Ancil Hoffman with Sharon and Jack

Friday afternoon, Sharon, Jack and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman. Teeing off at 1:08 pm, it was a very slow day. The foursome in front of us spent a huge amount of time looking for their balls on every hole. Admittedly, with all of the leaves on the course, seeing the ball even when it was in some of the fairways was difficult, but the amount of time they spent looking for their balls was ridiculous. We ended up only playing thirteen holes in almost four hours before it got too dark to keep playing.

I am continuing to enjoy golf more since I took the Golftec lessons. I had a couple of 240 yard drives on the front nine. I hit into the group in front of us while they were standing around the drink cart on the fourth hole. I didn't card an eight on the front nine, but I am still too inconsistent. I am going to take some more swing lesssons starting in December.

I ended up with a liberally scored 56 on the front nine. I feel like I was hitting the ball better than I scored. As it started to get dark, I lost focus after the turn.

Thanksgiving 2023

After the Run to Feed the Hungry, Sharon, Jack and I headed to Sharon's brother Tom's house for Thanksgiving dinner. The group totaled twenty, including: Tom; Eric and Ashley; Kevin, Leah, Lydia and Amelia; Terry and Steve; Jim; Tim and Kathy; Eileen and Will; Morgan, Daniel and Lee; Sharon, Jack and I.



Sharon made an interesting specialty cocktail for everyone before dinner. She also made a couple of pumpkin pies on Wednesday. Morgan and Daniel brought mash potatoes.


Although he was initially a little shy, Lee warmed up over the course of the afternoon. He had a great time running around in the backyard with Lydia and Amelia.

2023 Run to Feed the Hungry

For the nineteenth time in the last twenty years [2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2004], I ran or walked the Run to Feed the Hungry. We entered in 2007, but I was feeling under the weather and we decided not to run before heading to San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Sharon also missed six years ago when she was feeling under the weather. This year, Sharon decided to do a virtual 5k around Ancil Hoffman Park.

I took off by myself at 7:15 am. I ended up parking on Cadillac Drive; they wouldn't let you turn left off of Fair Oaks Boulevard to get to University Avenue where I have parked for the last ten years.

I had a lot of trepedition about this year's run. I have come to view this run as a referendum on my fitness. After walking the 5k for the first time with the family last year, I wasn't sure how I would do.

I ended up with a chip time of 1:10:07 for a pace of 11:17 minutes per mile. My 5k spilt was 33:36 with a pace of 10:48 minutes per mile. Using RunKeeper, my splits were: Mile 1 - 10:47; Mile 2 - 10:32; Mile 3 - 10:53; Mile 4 - 11:20; Mile 5 - 11:31; and, Mile 6 - 11:56.

I felt good physically during the run; nothing hurt. I am satisfied with the results. I am older and slower, but still running! I actually think with a little more distance training that I could carry a little more speed. I slowed down a lot in the last third of the race.

They changed the 10k course since the last time I ran it. It now goes down a couple of the fabulous 40s streets rather than under Business 80 into midtown.

To San Francisco and Back

About 4:30 pm, I rolled to San Francisco to pick up Jack. It was an easy drive; the traffic was fairly light. Jack got off work at 6:00 pm. I pulled up to his apartment just as he was walking up. The drive took two hours and seven minutes. With a quick stop for some Chick-Fil-A in Fairfield, we were back in Carmichael by 8:45 pm.

Sharon and Laura

Sharon has a tradition of getting together with group of her high school friends on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. This included 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. At some point in the late 90's, they switched from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Wednesday evening while I was driving to pick up Jack, Sharon got together with Laura at Wildwood.

Teal Bend and Dinner with Holly and Van

Sharon and I played Teal Bend with Holly and Van. We teed off at 12:00 pm. It was a beautiful fall day! I rode with Van and Sharon rode with Holly.

I didn't enjoy the round as much as the previous two. With a number of other things going on, I haven't taken a lesson or been to the driving range in the last three weeks. Thinking too much about my swing, I got off track. I settled down a little towards the end and played the last few holes more consistently. I ended up with a very liberally scored 111. It took almost exactly four and a half hours to play.


Afterwards, the four of us had dinner at Mulvaney’s B&L. As a starter and a small plate, Sharon and I split Fall's First Beets with Persimmon & Hummus [J. Marchini Farms Chicory ~ Cumin ~ Coriander ~ Pepitas] and Brown Butter Squash Ravioli with Persimmons [Shaved Brussel Sprouts ~ Toasted Hazelnut ~ Pecorino]. For the entree, we both had Seared Duck Breast with Potato Gratin [Herb Laden Jus ~ Braised Greens ~ Cranberry Compote].

2023 Israel/Egypt/Jordan - Day ## - A Few More Pictures

A few more pictures from our trip to Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Photo Credit Joe and Cindy Larkin!

Decorating the House for Christmas

For the fifth straight year, [2019, 2020, 2021, 2022], we started decorating the house for Christmas before Thanksgiving rather the weekend after. It is nice not to have to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving decorating...

We spent Saturday taking down the fall decorations. Saturday afternoon in the rain, I moved the fall decorations to the storage shed and dragged the Christmas boxes back. There are more than forty Christmas boxes of different shapes and sizes!?!

Sunday, we focused on getting all of the Christmas decorations up inside the house. We are probably about 85% done with the inside.

Monday, I will spend most of the day putting the Christmas lights and other decorations up on the outside of the house. With a busy week planned, we have to figure how when to get a tree.

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

My second book for October was Exit Strategy by Martha Wells. The book is the fourth in a series called The Murderbot Diaries. I read the first book--All Systems Red--and the second book--Artificial Condition--in April and third book--Rogue Protocol--in September.

Exit Strategy was nominated for several awards, including the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novella, the 2019 Nebula Award for Best Novella and the 2019 Locus Award for Best Novella. It didn't win any of these awards.

Having stumbled upon damning evidence of GrayCris Corporation's illegal activities in the third book, Murderbot decides to share this information with Dr. Mensah, the scientist who believed in its potential for autonomy. Before Murderbot can complete its task, it learns that Dr. Mensah has been kidnapped by GrayCris, presumably in an attempt to silence her and bury the truth. Driven by a newfound sense of responsibility and a begrudging attachment to Dr. Mensah, Murderbot sets out to rescue her from the clutches of the corporation.

As I said after finishing the third book, Murderbot's ability to hack any and all systems to work its way out of any situation has gotten to be too much for me. I was going to read the Nebula and Hugo award winning fifth novel, but think that I will be done with the series after that...

Slovenia

Friday night, Sharon and I watched episode eight of Amazing Race season 35. The teams traveled to Ljubljana, Slovenia. The scenery was spectacular.

In September of 2024, we are booked for the Overseas Adventure Travel Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia. The tour is scheduled to visit Ljublajana, Lake Bled and the Postojna Cave!

Throwback Thursday - 1987

Morgan got a set of pictures from her mom, including this one. Morgan texted it to me with the caption "Worst possible way to 'hold' a baby."

The Holdovers

Wednesday afternoon, Sharon and I saw The Holdovers at the Cinemark Century Arden 14 and XD theater. We are continuing our annual trek to see all of the potential Oscar nominated films. The GoldDerby site has the film in the running for best picture, best actor, best supporting actress and best original screenplay nominations.

The film is a comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemmingson. It stars Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dylan Sessa.

Set in 1970, it follows Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a curmudgeonly history teacher at a New England boarding school who is forced to chaperone the handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break. He is joined by Mary Bradshaw (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), the school's cook who is grieving the death of her son in the Vietnam War and Angus (Dylan Sessa), a troubled student who is struggling to cope with his parent's divorce.

At dinner at Original Pete's afterwards, Sharon said "that was lovely." The film does a very good job with the development of all three of the main characters. It will be interesting to see how well the movie does garnering Oscars nominations in a field that includes the heavily promoted Barbie, Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

One footnote. On an early Wednesday afternoon in a deserted theater complex, the small theater showing The Holders was packed with older retired people!?!

The Bridge on the River Kwai

On flight from Istanbul to San Francisco on the way home from our Israel/Egypt/Jordan trip, I watched the Bridge on the River Kwai. I got interested in watching the movie after reading the Oscar Wars book in June.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 epic war film directed by David Lean and based on the 1952 novel written by Pierre Boulle. Although the film uses the historical setting of the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–1943, the plot and characters of Boulle's novel and the screenplay are almost entirely fictional.

The movie and the book deal with the plight of World War II British prisoners of war forced by the Imperial Japanese Army to build a bridge for the "Death Railway." The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway.

The cast includes: William Holden as "Commander" Shears, U.S. Navy (later Brevet Major, Force 316); Jack Hawkins as Major Warden, Force 316; Alec Guinness as Colonel Nicholson, British commander, and; Sessue Hayakawa as Colonel Saito, Japanese commander. Guiness portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy. In the original 1977 film, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards.

It was the highest-grossing film of 1957 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. The film won seven Academy Awards at the 30th Academy Awards, including: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor (Alec Guiness); Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium; Best Cinematography; Best Film Editing, and; Best Original Score. Sessue Hayakawa was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Like Patton, I enjoyed the movie a lot more than I expected. I recommend the film.

Murray guarding Mitchell

Keegan Murray guarded Donovan Mitchell for 59% of his offensive possessions last night.

Mitchell in those possessions:

5 points
2/10 FG
0 fouls drawn

He turned Donovan into Davion.

— SactownBabyGiraffe (@TimMaxwell22) November 14, 2023

2023 Kings versus Cavaliers

Sharon and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game. We had chicken rice bowls for dinner at Star Ginger in the Golden 1 arena. I bought seats 11 and 12 in Row J in section 109; I would buy these seats again.

Leading most of the game, the Kings opened up a twenty point lead in the third quarter. They won the game by the score of 132 to 120.

After missing two weeks with an ankle injury, De'Aaron Fox returned. He was the high scorer for the Kings. In 28 minutes, Fox had 28 points on 11 for 20 from field, 2 for 6 from three and 4 for 7 from the free throw lines.

Three other Kings scored 20 points or more. Murray scored 25 points including 5 for 8 from three. Sabonis had 23 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. Huerter added 20 points including 6 for 9 from three.

The high scorer for the Cavs was Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell had 22 points on 7 for 21 from the field, 4 for 9 from three and 4 for 4 from the free throw line. I was surprised to see Murray guading Mitchell for long stretches of the game.

Although we didn't connect with them, the Ad/ventist Health IT team was in the loft. The group included Jennifer, Patrick, his wife Gina, Tarek, Melissa, Matt Draws and Rob. Bill Evans was also at the game in section 113.

Leveraging last year's Light the Beam theme, the Kings have added a beam inside the arena at the end of winning games. This has created an interesting dynamic of a lot more people staying to the end of games!

The Kings have one win and no losses in games that I have seen in person during the 2023-2024 season.

Lee Overnight

Lee stayed overnight. Morgan and Daniel picked him up about 10:30 am.

Jesus Outside the New Testament by Robert Van Voorst

My first book for October was Jesus Outside the New Testament by Robert Van Voorst. I have been looking for a book that explored life of Jesus from a historical perspective since my RCIA experience. With the trip to Israel and Jerusalem looming, I bought this book in September. I finished the book while we were on the trip.

Chapter two examines the writings of Roman authors such as Tacitus, Suetonius, and Pliny the Younger, who made brief references to Jesus in their works. I was frankly surprised how few Roman references actually exist. The one thing that is clear from the Roman record is that Pontius Pilate crucified Jesus of Nazareth.

Chapter three explores references to Jesus in Jewish writings, including the Mishnah and Talmud. My summary of the Jewish writings is that Mary was impregnated by a Roman Soldier and Jesus went to Egypt and learned magic. Obviously, the Jewish writers were interested in painting Jesus as a false prophet.

Chapter four looks at theories about the origins of the Gospels. One of the most popular is that they are based on earlier documents that have not survived. This theory is known as the documentary hypothesis. This theory proposes that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share a common source, which is known as Q. Q is believed to have been a collection of sayings of Jesus. In addition to Q, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are also thought to have used another source, which is known as M. M is believed to have been a collection of material about the birth and infancy of Jesus.

Chapter five examines Jesus in Christian writings after the New Testament. It includes the full text of the Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. It was discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in December 1945.

Overall, I was surprised by how few Roman contemporary references there were to Jesus. There are references in the surviving documents to other documents that haven't been found. Combined with the discussion about Q and M, it makes me wonder what percent of the writings from two thousand years ago have survived and what else might be discovered in the future. I enjoyed the book as part of our journey walking in the footsteps of Jesus in Israel, but don't recommend it to the causal reader.

Fish Hatchery Adventures with Lee

I picked lee up in Placerville about 9:30 am. Stopping back in Carmicheal to pick up Sharon, the three of us spent the afternoon exploring the Nimbus Fish Hatchery.

Lee spent the night with us. I picked up a couple of pizzas from Serritella's. The three of us finished the night watching a number of National Geographic animal documentaries.

At Super Owl Brewery

With Sharon hosting the Neighborhood Book Club for an afternoon movie, I meet Snipes for a beer.

Neighborhood Book Club Afternoon Movie

Sharon hosted the Neighborhood Book Club for an afternoon movie. The group included Jill, Judy, Michele and Debi. Sharon showed Ordinary People. Sharon and Jack watched the movie a couple of years ago. Sharon, Morgan and I watched in the early 2000s.

Released in September of 1980, Ordinary People marked the directorial debut of actor Robert Redford. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent was based upon the 1976 novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest.

The film received six Academy Awards nominations at the 53rd Academy Awards. It won four Oscars, including: the Academy Award for Best Picture; Best Director for Redford; Adapted Screenplay for Sargent; and Supporting Actor for Hutton. In addition, it won five Golden Globe Awards, including: Best Motion Picture – Drama; Best Director (Redford); Best Actress in a Drama (Tyler Moore); Best Supporting Actor (Hutton); and Best Screenplay (Sargent).

Into the City to visit Jack

After spending a third night housesitting for Drew and Carmen, we headed into the city to visit Jack. We stopped at the Sweetgreen on 2nd street to pick up lunch. We had a nice visit with Jack at his apartment catching up.

The traffic in San Francisco was awful. I was not in the mood to deal with the congestion...

Hello Heringers with Jason, Jack & Emily

A strip from the photo booth at Drew and Carmen's wedding

Tilden Regional Park Hike plus dinner

After spending a second night housesitting for Drew and Carmen, our plan for the day was a hike. Using Alltrails, I picked out a loop in Tilden Regional Park. We ended up hiking more than 4.8 miles in just over two and a half hours.



We stopped lunch along the Seaview Trail with a view of the bay. We had hiked the Seaview Trail last year with Drew as an out and back.

We finished the day with dinner at Casa Orinda. This restaurant has been on this spot for almost 70 years; it is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Contra Costa County. Sharon liked the restaurant more than I did.

We both had green salads. For entrees, I had rack of lamb, while Sharon had Veal Piccata. I was not impressed with the food...

Golf and Dinner with the Gainsleys

A fantastic day playing golf with the Gainsleys at the Tilden Park Golf Course in Berkeley. Since I started taking the lessons, I am enjoying playing golf a lot more. Although the score didn't show it, I am striking the ball better.

After spending Monday night housesitting for Drew and Carmen in Orinda, we met at the Gainsleys at the course about 9:20 am. Unfortunately, the driving range didn't open until noon! We teed off at 10:20 am. The course was pretty hilly with lots of up and downs. I was surprised how close the tee boxes were to a number of the greens. I ended up scoring a liberally scored 114. I scored better on the back nine, but felt like I was striking the ball better on the front nine.

After getting checked in at at Residence Inn in Berkeley near the Cal Stadium, the Gainsleys stopped by Drew and Carmen's house for a glass of wine. The four of us finished the day having dinner at the Social Bird Kitchen in Layafette. The four us split DI STEFANO BURRATA [Grilled bread, Parma Prosciutto, fresh fig jam, balsamic reduction, Arbequina olive oil, maldon salt, micro greens]. I had a DUROC PORK CHOP [Parsnip-potato puree, Hobbs' Applewood smoked bacon- brussel sprouts, pear chutney, rosemary red wine sauce], while Sharon had an ARUGULA salad [Chile flakes, lemon, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan] with King Salmon added. She added a side of squash.

On the second hole at Tilden Park Golf Course

To Orinda

Late Monday afternoon, Sharon and I drove to Orinda. We are housesitting Drew and Carmen's house for the next few days while they are off on their honeymoon in Spain.

2024 Oscar Favorites

Goldderby Oscar Favorites as of October 29, 2023

Best Picture
    ✔ Oppenheimer
    ✔ Killers of the Flower Moon
    ✔ Poor Things
    ✔ Barbie
    ✔ The Holdovers
    ✔ Maestro
    ✔ Past Lives
    The Color Purple
    ✔ American Fiction
    Anatomy of a Fall - French film
    The Zone of Interest - December 8 - commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp


Best Actress
    ✔ Emma Stone - Poor Things
    ✔ Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon
    ✔ Carey Mulligan - Maestro
    Sandra Huller - Anatomy of a Fall
    ✔ Margot Robbie - Barbie
    Fantasia Barrino - The Color Purple


Best Actor
    ✔ Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer
    ✔ Leonardo DiCaprio - Killers of the Flower Moon
    ✔ Bradley Cooper - Maestro
    Colman Domingo - Rustin - November 7 then Netflix November 17.
    ✔ Paul Giamatti- The Holdovers
    ✔ Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction


Best Supporting Actress
    ✔ Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
    ✔ Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple
    Taraji P. Henson - The Color Purple
    ✔ Julianne Moore - May December
    ✔ Jodie Foster - Nyad


Best Supporting Actor
    ✔ Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer
    ✔ Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon
    ✔ Ryan Gosling - Barbie
    ✔ Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things
    ✔ Willem Dafoe - Poor Things
    ✔ Charles Melton - May December


Best Adapted Screenplay
    ✔ Killers of the Flower Moon
    ✔ Oppenheimer
    ✔ Poor Things
    ✔ American Fiction
    The Zone of Interest


Best Original Screenplay
    ✔ The Holdovers
    ✔ Past Lives
    ✔ Barbie
    Anatomy of a Fall
    ✔ Maestro

Davis Mafia Zoom Call

Chabrier organized a Rugby Buddies zoom call for Sunday evening. In addition to Chabrier, the group included Gribi, Rehlich, Greene, Hoffman, Moore, Nooter, Lindsay and Hunter. The call always gets a little chaotic when Hunter joins. It was nice to see everyone. Unfortunately, I dropped after about 30 minutes...

Ruth's Chris Steak House

With me acting as the car service, Sharon had dinner with Janie at the Ruth's Chris Steak House at Pavilions.

A couple more pictures from Drew and Carmen's Wedding

A couple more pictures from Drew and Carmen's Wedding

Traveling and Exploring the World

This is the first Friday night that we have been home in six weeks!?!

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

My second book for September was Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells. The book is the third in a series called The Murderbot Diaries. I read the first book--All Systems Red--and the second book--Artificial Condition--in April.

Rogue Protocol won the Locus Award for Best Novella. It was also a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novella and the Nebula Award for Best Novella.

The science fiction novella follows the story of Murderbot, a SecUnit (security unit) android that has hacked its own governor module. Murderbot decides to go to an abandoned GrayCris terraforming facility in orbit over the planet Milu [planet from the first book] to collect further evidence of the company's past crimes. Once there, Murderbot befriends a humanoid bot named Miki and secretly follows a team of humans sent to assess the facility before a new company takes possession of it.

I am starting to have mixed feelings about this series. One of the key plot points of the series is Murderbot's ability to hack any and all computer systems. It takes control of security systems, camera, drones and automated space ships. It erases itself from the memory of systems and bypasses security scanning. It is starting to seem like a litte much. I started reading the series because the fifth book won both the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the 2020 Nebula Award for Best Novel. I am going to soldier on to the fifth book...

Sharon and Janie to Napa

With Janie on the West Coast, Sharon and Janie spent the day in Napa. They wine tasted at Ram's Gate Winery, shopped at the outlets in Napa and had dinner at Ad Hoc.

The Ad Hoc menu for Thursday evening included: Broccolini Salad [burrata, cremini mushrooms, kalamata olives, red onions, frisée, sherry vinaigrette]; Chicken Piccata [roasted carrots, pappardelle pasta, lemon caper sauce]; Toma Piemontese [maldon flatbread, extra virgin olive oil & balsamic vinegar], and; Spiced Pumpkin Mousse [shortbread crumble, toasted meringue]. Sharon was less than enthusiastic about the dinner; She said "I have had better there."

Golftec

I took a Golftec lesson on Thursday. I continue to work on completely rebuilding my swing...

Although we really haven't settled into a rhythm for retirement yet, I am enjoying being able to focus on a number of other things without the 24/7/365 work distractions.

Lee - Halloween 2023

Lee, Daniel and Morgan went trick-or-treating in downtown Placerville.
Halloween 2022

Halloween 2021

Halloween 2020