Throwback Thursday - San Francisco - April 1995

This is the second of two pictures that popped out when Snipes and I were in Bremerton in May looking at John and Jill's photo albums. Taken at an Italian Restaurant in San Francisco, the group got together to see Phantom of the Opera. I had been dating Sharon for two months. I left a week later to visit the Nooters in Moscow. It was taken almost exactly ten years after the picture that I posted last week.

Pam Coleman

Sharon and I both worked with Pam at Farm Credit. We attended her retirement party in 2004. We are shocked and saddened to hear of Pam passing. She was a beautiful soul.

In Memoriam
Pamela Fae Coleman
January 8, 1948 – July 17, 2025

Pamela Fae Coleman passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, after receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis earlier that month. She accepted her fate with grace and passed on her own terms, surrounded by love and dignity.

Pam was born on January 8, 1948, in Quincy, California, to Raymond Stuart and Lavonne Fae (Bulfinch) Chapman. A proud graduate of Quincy High School, Class of 1966, she went on to build a remarkable 38-year career with Northern California Farm Credit—now known as Golden State Farm Credit. Starting as a clerical assistant, Pam worked diligently and rose through the ranks, ultimately retiring as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer, a testament to her integrity, intellect, and leadership.

Pam had a unique gift for creating and nurturing lifelong friendships. She remained closely connected to her high school classmates, meeting regularly for monthly lunches. Her bond with her colleagues from Farm Credit endured well into retirement. She also found deep camaraderie through her love of golf, forming close-knit “tribes” at both Canyon Oaks Country Club—where she served as Women’s Club Captain in 2012 and 2013—and Bidwell Park Golf Course, where her golf journey began and where she most recently served as Women’s Club Board President in 2024.

Above all else, Pam was deeply proud of her family. She is survived by her son, Steven Forrest Hakala Jr; her daughter, Amy (Andrew) Rohrer; and her cherished grandsons, Benjamin Joseph and Maxwell Andrew Rohrer. She also leaves behind her brother Richard Chapman, sister Penny Thurman, and five nieces and nephews, among whom she shared a special bond with Jodi Hodulik. Pam’s warmth, wit, and spirit of generosity were felt by all who knew her.

She found joy in golfing, traveling, country music, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her friends and family. In recent years, she especially treasured time shared with her “special friend,” Michael Hill.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Enloe Hospice and Rose’s and Ivy Assisted Living Facility for the compassionate care provided during Pam’s final days.

A celebration of life will be held at Canyon Oaks Country Club on September 11th at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valley Contractors Workforce Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding homes for Camp Fire survivors—an organization that held a special place in Pam’s heart. https://www.vcwfonline.com/inmemoryofpamelacoleman.

At Mather Golf Course

With Sharon's brother Tim's semi-retirement, we have been trying to get him out to play golf with us. On Tuesday, we finally got Tim and Brun out to play golf with us at Mather. We had a 8:14 am tee time.

Hitting balls on the range at Ancil on Monday and before the round at Mather, I felt like I am making some solid progress with my swing. After double bogeying the first hole, I proceeded to make a mess of the next couple holes around the green. It took me three shots to get out of the bunker on the second hole. On the third hole, I hit my tee shot in the bunker and then hit out of the bunker over the green.

I settled down and was very happy with how I played on the back nine. I am striking the ball more consistently.

With one gallery loss and one mulligan off the tee, I ended up with an honestly scored 110. I had a 49 on the back nine. Sharon shot a 107. Brun who has played in years said that he shot a 97.

The four of us had lunch at the clubhouse after the round.

Phi Delta Theta - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 55, Number 19, 16 February 1956

Phi Delta Theta

   We are proud to announce the election of Brother John Jesson to the office of I. F. C. President.
   As many of you may know, the Phi Delta Theta was awarded the football trophy for winning the inter-fraternity football championship. The members of the team were also awarded belt buckles for winning the intramural football championship.
   We are pleased to announce that Brother Dick Heringer exchanged vows with the former Joyce Abbott of Corvina. Many of the Brothers were in attendance.
   For the coming week-end. We are planing a party to be held at the El Rancho and She’ll be there.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

2026 Oscar Favorites

Best Picture Power Rankings from
the December 19, 2025 Big Picture Podcast

1. ✔ One Battle After Another
2. ✔ Sinners
3. ✔ Hamnet
4. It Was Just An Accident - 10/15/2025
5. ✔ Marty Supreme
6. ✔ Frankstein
7. ✔ Sentimental Value
8. Train Dreams - Netflix: 11/21/2025
9. The Secret Agent - 11/26/2025
10. Sirât


Best Picture Power Rankings from
the November 24, 2025 Big Picture Podcast

1. ✔ One Battle After Another
2. ✔ Hamnet
3. ✔ Sinners
4. ✔ Marty Supreme
5. ✔ Frankstein
6. ✔ Sentimental Value
7. It Was Just An Accident - 10/15/2025
8. Avatar: Fire and Ash - 12/19/2025
9. Train Dreams - Netflix: 11/21/2025
10. The Secret Agent - 11/26/2025


Best Picture Power Rankings from
the October 31, 2025 Big Picture Podcast

1. ✔ One Battle After Another
2. ✔ Hamnet
3. ✔ Sinners
4. ✔ Sentimental Value
5. ✔ Frankstein
6. ✔ Wicked for Good
7. ✔ Marty Supreme
8. It Was Just An Accident - 10/15/2025
9. Jay Kelly - Netflix: 12/05/2025
10. ✔ Bugonia


Best Picture Power Rankings from
the October 3, 2025 Big Picture Podcast

1. ✔ One Battle After Another
2. ✔ Hamnet
3. ✔ Sinners
4. ✔ Sentimental Value
5. Jay Kelly - Netflix: 12/05/2025
6. ✔ Marty Supreme
7. ✔ Bugonia
8. House of Dynamite - Netflix: 10/24/2025
9. ✔ Frankstein
10. ✔ Wicked for Good


Best Picture Power Rankings from
the September 3, 2025 Big Picture Podcast
1. ✔ Sentimental Value
2. ✔ Hamnet
3. House of Dynamite
4. ✔ Marty Supreme
5. No Other Choice
6. It Was Just An Accident
7. ✔ One Battle After Another
8. ✔ Sinners
9. ✔ Wicked for Good
10. Jay Kelly

Ploymarket Oscars 2026: Best Picture Nominations

Gold Derby predictions as of July 18, 2025

The current Goldderby Predictions are here.

Best Picture
1. ✔ Sinners
2. ✔ Sentimental Value
3. ✔ Wicked For Good
4. ✔ One Battle After Another
5. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
6. Avatar: Fire and Ash
7. ✔ Bugonia
8. Jay Kelly
9. It Was Just an Accident
10. ✔ Marty Supreme

Best Actress
1. ✔ Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value
2. ✔ Cynthia Erivo - Wicked: For Good
3. ✔ Jessie Buckley - Hamnet
4. Julia Roberts - After the Hunt
5. Jennifer Lawrence - Die, My Love
6. ✔ Emma Stone - Bugonia

Best Actor
1. Jeremy Allen White - Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
2. ✔ Michael B. Jordan - Sinners
3. Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme
4. ✔ Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another
5. George Clooney - Jay Kelly
6. ✔ Jesse Plemons - Bugonia
7. Colin Farrell - The Ballad of a Small Player

Best Supporting Actress
1. ✔ Ariana Grande - Wicked: For Good
2. ✔ Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value
3. ✔ Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another
4. ✔ Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners
5. ✔ Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value

Best Supporting Actor
1. ✔ Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value
2. Jeremy Strong - Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
3. ✔ Delroy Lindo - Sinners
4. ✔ Sean Penn - One Battle After Another
5. Adam Sandler - Jay Kelly
6. Mark Hamill - The Life of Chuck
7. Andrew Garfield - After the Hunt

Best Director
1. ✔ Ryan Coogler - Sinners
2. ✔ Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value
3. Jafar Panahi - It Was Just an Accident
4. ✔ Yorgos Lanthimos - Bugonia
5. ✔ Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
6. ✔ Chloe Zhao - Hamnet
7. ✔ Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme
8. ✔ Jon M. Chu - Wicked: For Good
9. James Cameron - Avatar: Fire and Ash
10. Noah Baumbach - Jay Kelly

Adapted screenplay
1. ✔ One Battle After Another
2. ✔ Bugonia
3. Wake Up Dead Man
4. ✔ Hamnet
5. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Best original screenplay
1. ✔ Sinners
2. ✔ Sentimental Value
3. Jay Kelly
4. It Was Just an Accident
5. ✔ Marty Supreme
6. After the Hunt

Neighbors for Dinner

Saturday night, we invited our neighbors Debbie, Jim, Greg and Michelle for dinner. Sharon wanted to show off the finished kitchen. Additionally, Greg and Michelle had us for dinner while we were remodeling our kitchen. They are in the midst of a kitchen remodel.

We served a Caroline Chambers recipe that I had made on Sunday: sheet-pan spiced chicken. Sharon liked it so much that she wanted to serve it for the dinner party. Sharon added Italian flat beans with pancetta and braised garlic.

Goats!

Throwback Thursday - Chico Way, Bremerton - March 1985

When Snipes and I were in Bremerton in May, John and Jill pulled out some old photo albums. I was shocked to come across two pictures I would have bet didn't exist. The first picture is from forty years ago. In March of 1985, Drew, my ex-wife and I traveled to Bremerton to celebrate Becky's first birthday!

My Life 2020

Like the Lake Almanor and Spring Training pictures, it is fitting that the My Life series includes a picture from Sea Ranch. Sharon and I have spent a lot of time there over the last thirty years.

Given the impact of COVID, I was tempted to use a "Work from Home" picture for 2020. There is one from Sea Ranch that I considered...


All of the My Life Photos can be found here.

Claude Monet - The Immersive Experience

Sharon and I spent Monday morning at Monet: The Immersive Experience. I bought the tickets as a "date night."

We took Lee to this venue for Dinos Alive. Sharon and Tom also saw a Van Gogh Immersive show here. If you haven't been to the venue before, park on the south end of Soule Street. Then walk across 15th Street to get to the building.

We both enjoyed the show. While I was familar with Monet's paintings of water lilies, I didn't realize that he had spent time painting in London, Venice and Amsterdam. Although the room is not as big as where Sharon and I saw the Van Gogh immersive show in San Francisco, the 25 minute immersive show at the end is very good.

Afterwards, we had lunch at Camden Spit and Larder. I had a lamb flatbeard special, while Sharon had the THE ENGLISH DIP [roast beef, soft roll, pickled vegetables, grain mustard & horseradish aioli, white cheddar, au jus, house chips].

Lieutenants's Bars Go To Five Aggies - Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 55, Number 17, 2 February 1956

Lieutenants's Bars Go To Five Aggies

   Lieutenant General Robert N. Young, commander of the Sixth Army Area, Tuesday, January 10, pinned Lieutenant’s bars on the shoulders of five cadets winding up their training on the Davis campus of the University of California.
   The students honored at the end -of - semester ceremonies in Recreation Hall were Donald Brittsan, Stockton; Richard Heringer, Clarksburg; Scott Jackson, Sacramento; Richard Tanner, Alhambra; and Harold Yee, Los Angeles. These candidates for mid-year graduation are to receive their commissions in the U. S. Army Reserve upon graduation.
   The general spoke about a strong R.O.T.C. program to provide a maximum number of qualified young officers for reserve components. He pointed out the fact that the R.O.T.C. furnished more than half. of the regular army officers. The group discussed the distinguished military graduates program and the current reserve forces act.

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

1883

Sharon and I finished watching 1883. A prequel to Yellowstone, we watched also watched 1923 earlier this year.

1883 is an Western drama miniseries created by Taylor Sheridan that premiered on December 19, 2021, on Paramount+. The second installment produced in the Yellowstone franchise, the series consists of ten episodes and concluded on February 27, 2022.

The series stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann, Audie Rick, Eric Nelsen, and James Landry Hébert. The story is narrated by Isabel May. Sam Elliott won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie for his role.

The show chronicles the origins of the Dutton family. It follows James (McGraw) and Margaret (Hill) Dutton and their children as they embark on a treacherous journey from Texas to Montana. Led by a tough cowboy named Shea Brennan (Elliot), the wagon train faces immense hardships, including harsh weather, dangerous encounters, and the constant threat of disease and starvation. The series vividly portrays the brutal realities of westward expansion in 19th-century America, showing the sacrifices and resilience required to forge a new life on the frontier. Ultimately, it depicts how the Duttons came to settle the land that would become the Yellowstone Ranch.

I have mixed emotions about this series. I suspect that the hardships of the journey west protrayed are realistic. Nevertheless, I am not in the frame of mind for death and destruction...

The Garage

Last year, I spent a lot of time, effort and money reorganizing the garage. For the first time in the years that we have lived in the house, we were able to park two cars in the garage.

The first week of January, they starting delivering cabinets for the kitchen remodel. At one point, the garage was completely full of boxes and other materials.

I worked over the last couple of days to get the garage back into shape. There are still a lot of remnants from the remodel that we are trying to figure out what to do with. Addtionally, there are several large paintings and pieces of furniture that Sharon wants to get rid of.

I got things reorganized to get one car in the garage. Hopefully, in the next month, I can get it back to the point it was a year ago.

Blackbeard: The Birth of America

My book for July was Blackbeard: The Birth of America by Samuel Marquis. Snipes recommended the book when we were visiting Wallen in May.

The book is a historical fiction book by Samuel Marquis that aims to present a new perspective on the legendary pirate Edward Thache (or Teach), commonly known as Blackbeard. The central premise of the book is to challenge the popular image of Blackbeard as a ruthless, bloodthirsty villain. Instead, it portrays him as a more complex figure, a former British Navy seaman who became a privateer and then a pirate.

While a work of historical fiction, Marquis states he based the book on "reliable historical records and the latest research" to illuminate the true man behind the myth. It aims to separate fact from the "fog of legend, myth and propaganda" that has surrounded Blackbeard for centuries, much of which originated from biased contemporary accounts.

It suggests that he and his crew, many of whom were Jacobites, held anti-British sentiments against King George I and the British establishment. The book posits that pirate ships operated as democracies, and that the colonists in the New World, already developing an "American" identity, viewed pirates as heroic figures challenging British rule.

Initially, I was skeptical of the book. Even though it is historical fiction, I wasn't keen on the idea of so many imagined conversations and first person dialogues. By the end, I warmed to the book. I give it a solid "B" grade.
.
During our trip to England and Scotland, there was lots of discussion about the Jacobites. We visited a number of Jacobite historical sites. Somehow I missed the fact the George I was really a German who spoke little or no English!?! When Queen Anne died without an heir, he became king.

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.