New Year's Eve 2009

Up very early, I drove to the Carmel Valley to take Morgan to brunch. We ate at the Chatterbox in the Carmel Valley. It was very nice to see her!


By the time I got back to Elk Grove, it was late afternoon. With Sharon extremely under the weather, we had a very quiet New Year's Eve.

As Morgan and I discussed at lunch, New Year's Eve is one of my least favorite holidays. It always seems anti-climatic. Ten years ago, on December 31, 1999, I worked New Year Eve's in a command center that Sutter Health was running as part of the Y2K preparations. Sharon and Jack spent the evening at a party at her brother Tom's house.

2009 Kings versus 76ers

Liz, Jack, Sharon and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Philadelphia 76ers NBA Basketball game. In a game that the Kings probably should have been able to win, they lost by the score of 116 to 106.

With Tyreke Evans out with a sore ankle, the high scorers for the Kings were Omri Casspi and Donte Green. Casspi scored 21 points on 8 for 14 from the field, 2 for 4 from three and 3 for 4 from the free throw line. Green had 21 points 7 for 16 from the field, 1 for 5 from three and 6 for 6 from the free throw line.

The high scorer for the 76ers was point guard Lou Williams with 22 points. Allen Iverson played for the 76ers; he had 20 points in 32 minutes.

In a tight game, the difference down the stretch was the 76ers 3 point shooting. The 76ers went 9 for 16 from 3 point range. Iverson was 2 for 2 from three, while 76ers reserve guard Rodney Carney was 4 for 5.

We were sitting section 111 row T. During the second half, Beno, Casspi and Nocioni got into an argument right in front of us about who should be where on the court when they were running the offense. All of three of them were pointing and gesturing at different spots on the floor. With more than 30 games behind them, this is a clear sign that the Kings have had to make too many changes in the line-up.

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Basia Bulat - Heart Of My Own

The complete list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Avatar

Jack and I went to see Avatar at Esquire IMAX Theatre. When Sharon asked us how we liked it, I said spectacular and Jack said awe inspiring... Avatar is definitely worth seeing. It is also definitely worth the trouble of going to see the film on the giant IMAX screen!

California Historical Landmark #875

Old United States Mint
California State Historical Landmark #875
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This landmark is located at 88 5th Street at Mission Street, San Francisco, California. There are 48 other California State Historical Landmarks in San Francisco County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 37° 46.977 W 122° 24.417.

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



This is San Francisco’s second mint (1869). California’s only such Federal Greek Revival structure. Due to unsurpassed productivity, it became a sub-treasury in 1874. Intact after the 1906 disaster, it served as a clearinghouse bank, thus aiding in the city’s reconstruction. Closed in 1937, it was restored in 1972-1976 by Mint Director Mary Brooks.

2009 San Francisco Day 3

Up late, we packed up the room and then had breakfast at the hotel.

The plan for the day was to see the special exhibition at the de Young titled Tutanhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. We enjoyed the show, but I had expected a few more pieces from King Tut's tomb. About half of the 130 artifacts in the exhibit are from other tombs. I also did not realize that a number of significant items from King Tut's tomb no longer travel outside Egypt. I have visiting Egypt and the pyramids on my list of places to go some day.

Leaving the de Young, Jack wanted to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped briefly at the vista point at the northern end of the bridge before heading home. We were back in Elk Grove in the late afternoon.

California Historical Landmark #974

Heading home from a couple of days in San Francisco, Jack wanted to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge
California State Historical Landmark #974
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located on Highway 101 in San Francisco and Marin Counties in California. There are 48 other California State Historical Landmarks in San Francisco County and 13 other landmarks in Marin County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 37° 48.792 W 122° 28.659.

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



Construction of the bridge started in 1933. Engineer Joseph Strauss and architect Irving Morrow created an extraordinarily beautiful bridge in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. The designs for the Golden Gate Bridge showed the greatest attention to artistic detail, especially on the two streamlined moderne towers. The bridge's 4,200 feet of clear span (from tower to tower) was the longest in the world until 1959. On April 19, 1937, the bridge was completed and the official dedication took place on May 27.

NBA Power Rankings 2009-2010 Week 9

The Kings climbed from 17th to 15th in Marc Stein's weekly power rankings of the 30 NBA teams!

NBA Basketball Power Rankings

Way too soon to think about trading Kevin Martin. Not until the Kings get a longer look at how he plays next to Tyreke ... and not after Ls in OT to the Cavs and Lakers that cried out for an experienced scorer in crunch time.

2009 San Francisco Day 2

Up early, we had room service and then headed to the Catherdal of St. Mary's of the Assumption for Mass. This is the Catherdal for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco covering San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. It is a very modern structure that was designed and built in the late 1960's. The Mass was a Gregorian Chant Mass; something that I had never experienced before.

Back to the hotel, Sharon and I took turns working out in the gym. After a quick bit to eat in the hotel restaurant and a discussion with the concierge about where to have dinner, we walked to the Orpheum Theater to see Wicked. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the show. Typically, I know the plot of a something before I seen it. With Wicked, I had no idea where it was going which made it more interesting. Jack actually gave it a higher rating than Loin King which we saw in New York in June.

After walking back, we had a drink at Bar 888 in the hotel. Our conversation centered around our experiences walking to dinner last night and the theater this afternoon. After having the chance to spend a few days wandering around New York City twice in the last year, I have some observations about walking around San Francisco that I may post in the next month.

We finished the evening having a leisurely dinner at Jardiniere. Sharon had short ribs, I had vension and Jack had rabbit. Sharon and I split a very nice bottle of Westerly Pinot Noir.

Watching Wicked at the Orpheum Theater

At the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

2009 San Francisco Day 1

Taking off in the early afternoon, we headed to San Francisco. We have reservations at the InterContinental Hotel. I was surprised at the amount of traffic, praticularly as we wound our way into city. The hotel staff said that everyone coming to go shopping?!?

After checking in to the hotel and getting settled in, we walked to the finanical district and had dinner at the Tadich Grill. This restaurant claims to be the oldest restaurant in California. The business began as a coffee stand during the 1849 gold rush and claims to be the very first to broil seafood over mesquite charcoal back in the early 1920s. Sharon had sole, I had sea bass and Jack had pasta.

We caught a cab back to the room and called it an early night. Sharon got a junior suite with great views of the city. The room has great ceiling to floor windows all around the room.

Christmas Day 2009

Up a little late after a late night, we had a nice Christmas morning. Although he no longer believes in Santa, Jack is still at an age where he is very excited about Christmas morning. Sharon made a nice breakfast of french toast.

Typically, we have stayed around the house all day on Christmas day while Jack enjoyed his presents. We have not left the house on Christmas day since going to see the Kings play the Mavs in 2003.

This year, we did something different. We met Tommy, Becky, Eric and Kevin and went to see Sherlock Holmes. I am not sure that I have ever read one of the Sherlock Holmes novels; I am going to have to add one to my pile of books to read.

We finished the night with dinner at Bucca di Beppo.

Christmas Eve 2009

After going to the Children's Mass at Good Shepherd, we rushed home to get dinner started.

Donna and Kevin stopped by for a quick drink before everyone arrived.

The group for Christmas Eve this year included the Tom Frame's (Tom, Becky, Kevin and Eric), the Tim Frame's (Tim, Kathy, Erin and Eileen), Jim Dunn, Drew, Jack, Sharon and I.

Sharon made a great dinner of a pear salad, prime rib, baked potato and green beans. For desert, she made a chocolate cake. We did not get the prime ribs in the rotisserie in a timely fashion. Consequently, dinner was little late.

After dinner, we did a gift exchange. For a number of years, we drew names for the adults, but did not do that this year. Consequently, it seemed like there were more gifts than in previous years.

I enjoyed the evening immensely. It has been a treat to enjoy Drew's company for Thankgiving and Christmas Eve this year.

2009 Kings versus Cavs

Jack and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball game. For 48 entertaining minutes, the young Kings stayed right with LeBron James and the rest of the Cavs. The Kings even had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. Ilgauskas hit three 3-pointers in overtime and the Cavs outscored the Kings 13 to 0 in overtime to win by the score of 117 to 104.

LeBron had a triple double. He had 34 points on 14 for 30 from the field, 1 for 4 from three and 5 for 7 from the line. James added 16 rebounds and 10 assists. Evans had 28 points on 11 for 25 from the field, 2 for 7 from three and 4 for 4 from the line. Tyreke added 3 rebounds and 5 assists.

Down the stretch, the Cavs switched LeBron on to Evans. Evans tried to go at LeBron several times, including the last play of the game, and came away with only one basket. Tyreke made one amazing move to get by James but then ended up air balling the shot. Evans went 1 for 8 in the fourth quarter and the overtime.

A couple of random comments...

All five of the Kings starters are 23 years old or younger! Evans is 20, Cassipi is 21, Hawes is 21, Green is 21 and Thompson is 23. All of the starters were selected in the first round of the NBA draft in the last three years.

Shaq towers over everyone on the court; he looks huge. Hawes covered him much of the night and is listed at 7' 1" and 245 pounds. Spencer looked tiny next to Shaq. Unfortunately, Shaq does not look very mobile or agile.

In 30 games this season, Ilgauskas had taken and made one other 3 point shot. He was 3 for 3 from 3 point range in the overtime. WTFO!?!

There was a nice crowd at Arco. The arena holds 17,500 and I would have guessed that the crowd was more than 15,500 fans. The box score shows the attendance was 16,407. Both of the other games that I have gone to this season had crowds of about 10,000. You could really tell the difference in the concourse before the game and during halftime.

Larkin and I saw LeBron James' first NBA game more than six years ago.

We saw Lew Gasper at the game. He was sitting about 10 rows behind us in the same section [with his dad?].

Have I said recently how much I enjoy watching this team?

Christmas Card 2009

After printing our Christmas Cards myself the last six years, I used Snapfish.com this year. I was disappointed with the quality of the photos on the card. I pulled together the photos and built the card shown below to post on-line. At some point, I will probably scan the card that we sent out for historical purposes.


See all of the Christmas Cards since 1997!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Fruit Bats - Primitive Man

The complete list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Fruit Bats - Primitive Man #fb, originally uploaded by heringermr.

2009 Christmas Tree

Nativity Scene

NBA Power Rankings 2009-2010 Week 8

I am enjoying watching this incarnation of the Kings more than any team since the 2003-2004 season. Rather than the mishmash of players that they have fielded since the Weber trade in February of 2005, the Kings have a core of young players with a future.

The Kings climbed from 19th to 17th in Marc Stein's weekly power rankings of NBA teams. They are ranked ahead of the Knicks, Raptors, Pistons, Clippers, Bucks, Bulls, Bobcats, Pacers, 76ers, Wizards, Warriors, Timberwolves and Nets!

NBA Basketball Power Rankings

One of my best Hanukkah presents: Casspi has been so good that it's totally natural to talk about him all the time. Tyreke has been a certifiable stud … but my guy's coming to Dallas for the Rookie Game, too.