On the afternoon of August 13, 2025, I recall something Henry James wrote in his 1911 memoir The Middle Years: “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
Even when teaching a summer writing class at UC Davis, I relish the slower pace of August. On this afternoon, for example, I got to talk with my daughter Geneva during a long walk home from campus. As she is also a teacher, a paraeducator at Patwin Elementary, we love sharing stories about our experiences in the classroom, and the funny things our students say.
I love that Geneva lives in Davis – we get to see her often, and I don’t take that for granted. Eager to be parents, but facing obstacles, my wife Kate and I had completed the international adoption proceedings when we learned of her pregnancy. We were so grateful to be parents late in 1997 that we paid close attention to every blessed moment with our cute and colicky baby. Reflecting on my first night shifts in those early days of parenthood (I did knee bends with the baby in my arms until late into the evening so Kate could slumber), I can think of few times when I was simultaneously so sleepy and so present.
Because of that, part of my cultural memory remains rooted in the era of the late 1990s and early 2000s when I would watch with wonder as my daughter took in a curated media diet of books, music, film, and even TV shows. If you were to ask, I could tell you all about the characters from Dragon Tales, Blue’s Clues, andCaillou, everyone’s favorite bald Canadian (other than Howie Mandel).
Today in my advanced writing class, I was riffing on student essayists’ obsessions and what they reveal. Before I could stop myself, I brought up the late 1990s TV show Teletubbies as an example of an obsession, trying desperately to wrench an insightful thesis from an improbable scenario. I imagined that a collector might someday empty his shelves of Teletubbies collectibles, but place them in storage for the day when he might have children. Then on one day, revealing his gifts for the lucky toddler, he could show as much precious love for this child as the baby in the sun did when shining down on Tinky Winky, LaaLaa, Dipsy, and Po. Seeing a few lifted eyebrows, I’m sure my students wondered what sort of class they had registered for.
With regard to films, I told my students that I believed Shrek was one of the only cultural touchpoints we had in common, Shrek and the MCU movies. Today I taught my students that deploying vulnerability in an essay shows your readers that the author is not an OPMC (overpowered main character). For example, the penultimate Avengers movie teaches us lessons about loss, while Endgame teaches us that, even against difficult odds, we must continue to struggle towards our goal, even when doing so with only half a metaphorical shield.
During our long talk on the phone today, Geneva told me that in 5th grade she once wrote a two-page letter to Santa Claus from the point of view of the Monsters, Inc. villain Randall Boggs, and then shared it with her teacher, Ms. Sandoval. Why? As a way of using all her vocabulary words in a (mostly) functional way.
As I write this, Geneva texted me an image of the entire Santa letter, one where Boggs does not hide his nefarious inclinations. For instance, because one of Geneva’s vocabulary words was “smug,” I learned from this ancient missive that “[Randall Boggs] would like to give that clown Sullivan and that smug little cyclops Wazowski a good kick in the rump.” I wonder if that sort of talk tested the DJUSD anti-bullying ordinances. I can see why we didn’t take three-year old Geneva to that film about hidden monster nightmares when it was released in theaters. Instead, she (and the rest of us) watched it many times on DVD.
Looking through her elementary school effects, Geneva also shared with me that one of her (and everyone’s) favorite teachers, Barbara Neu, responded with written comments on every one of her first-grade diary entries, and then wrote a long comment at the end. Mrs. Neu also delivered our family a home-cooked meal when Geneva’s brother Jukie had ptosis repair surgery in March of 2004. I’m sure the writing work of that devoted teacher and her love of early Pixar classics were eventual reasons why Geneva majored in creative writing in college.
One Emily Dickinson poem proclaims that “There is no Frigate like a Book / To take us Lands away.” When we are ready and especially receptive, favorite films can also transport us back to a time when we experienced an awakening, a revelation, or just a sustained sense of awe. Because of my parents and my Waldorf school, my childhood was full of these qualities. And because of our much-loved Geneva, my wife Kate and I got to revisit such a sense of wonder whenever we (finally) got to sit down on the couch and laugh with our delightful daughter.
Happy mid-August to you! The weather will be cooler than we have grown used to this evening. I invite you to join me outside our favorite brewery tonight, perhaps in the shade, for a grand competition featuring 31 questions on a variety of topics you should know something about. At least one local reporter will join us for the fun tonight.
Because Kate will be out of town visiting family on August 20, a substitute quizmaster will be running the show that night. Thanks for your continued support!
In addition to topics raised above and below, expect questions tonight on the following: time travel, Soviet visitors, insects, African nations, S plays, the function of war, governing bodies, common multiples, American heroes, California geography, fancy shirts, metaphorical bridges, jungles, odd pairings with Alfred Hitchcock, UC Davis, competition with China, camel directions, hits awareness, lists, long lines, western locals, famous problems, coaches, Sacramento exits, platforming decisions, cities that sound German, kindred spirits, halls of fame, outrageous statements, scaly creatures, U.S. states, geography, current events, and Shakespeare.
For more Pub Quiz fun, please subscribe via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/yourquizmaster.
Thanks to all the new players joining us at the live quizzes and to all the patrons who have been enjoying fresh Pub Quiz content. We have over 70 Patreon members now, including the new paid subscribers Esther, James, Damian, Jim, and Meebles! Thanks also to new subscribers Prescott, Bill and Diane, Tamara, Megan, Michael, Janet, Jasmine, Joey, Carly, The X-Ennial Falcons, and The Nevergiveruppers! Every week I check the Patreon to see if there is someone new to thank. Maybe next week it will be you! I also thank The Original Vincibles, Summer Brains, Still Here for the Shakesbeer, The Outside Agitators, John Poirier’s team Quizimodo, Gena Harper, the conversationally entertaining dinner companions and bakers of marvelous and healthy treats, The Mavens, whose players or substitutes keep attending, despite their ambitious travel schedules and the cost of avocado. Thanks in particular to Ellen and to my paid subscribers on Substack. Thanks to everyone who supports the Pub Quiz on Patreon. I would love to add your name or that of your team to the list of pub quiz boosters. Also, I sometimes remember to add an extra hint on Patreon. I appreciate your backing this pub quiz project of mine!
I also want to recognize those who visit my Substack the most often, including Luna, Jean, Ron, Myrna, and Maria, to whom I send sustained compassion. My new paid Substack Subscriber is Anne Da Vigo. Check out her mysteries!
Best,
Dr. Andy
P.S. From last week, three questions on calendars!
- What was the job title of the person who introduced the world to the calendar we use today?
- Who introduced the Julian calendar?
- Co-starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, what 2008 Indiana Jones movie references the Mayan Calendar?