It's never too late to be good! :-)

It’s time again for our annual Golden Gate Breakfast Club Holiday Party!  Master of Ceremonies Pete Ratto has again arranged to deliver a program of all our holiday favorites.  We’ll start off with our own Noah Griffin and since Erich Stratmann is spending the holidays in New York with his family, Rachelle Perry will appear in Erich spot.  Rachelle regularly performs in Erich’s cabaret shows and is a fantastic vocalist.  Richard Evans will accompany both Rachelle and Noah on the piano.  Heather Rogers has more new magical routines and it looks like big Mike Pritchard hasn’t landed a paying job for the Holiday!  We may even have a surprise comedy guest.  And, what’s a Holiday party without Santa Claus who will again park the sleigh on the Marines’ Memorial’s roof and appear for the youngsters.  And those of us who are not so young, but still look forward to a visit from Santa.

So, make sure you get up early and bring your family and friends too.  All of our guests participate in our Christmas drawing and have an opportunity to win one of the fabulous prizes.  Remember, after Santa is finished delivering candy to the kids, he will be presenting the GGBC’s annual contributions to the all the deserving organizations and charities that we support.  This year, since our weekly attendance has improved a bit over last year, we were able to put a little more in each of our charity’s Christmas stockings.   Join all your fellow GGBC members, with their families and special guests for another great time.  The crew from the Marine’s Memorial will be laying out another special breakfast, and we’ll have another great Holiday party.      

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GGBC MEMBER NEWS

By Pete Ratto  (Photos by Bryan Remer, Betty Taisch)

The Marines’ Memorial was not so busy this Wednesday, so we returned to our regular venue, the Commandant’s Room.  Back to eight tables with fifty-nine seats total and we filled about forty-five.  Too bad for those of you that missed the presentation by Charles Gibson, a survivor of the fishing boat sinking in the Sea of Cortez off Baja.  Charles’ story of survival was riveting.  You also missed Chair of the Day Patricia Fripp’s hat.  To which Antonio White wondered if we should address Patricia as “Comrade Fripp”.   

President Bert Hill had a tough time in getting the extraordinarily unruly crowd to sit down.  But Bert didn’t seem too upset, as he is down to his last three meetings.  

We had only three guests this morning.  President Bert hosted soon to be new member Robin Brasso.  Although Robin was introduced by Tony Alfidi.  Les Andersen brought along Leroy Sims and our speaker Charles Gibson had his videographer Art Michel along to, well, record Charles’ presentation. 

Holiday Smiles and Hugs with Past Pres Cathy Scharetg, Mike Hanlon and Photographer Christine Torrington	Our fearless leader, President Bert HIll with our speaker, the riviting Mr. C.C. Gibson	GGBC Bulletin Photog, Bryan Remer caught in front of the camera with Anthony Alfidi in civilian attire

Excuses requested for this week; the tables have turned and Jim Simpson excuses Reg Young.  Possibly, Reg had a late night on Tuesday and is recovering this morning.  

Frank Reed excused Jackson Talbot, still protecting the pointy building.  Asking for an excuse via e-mail, Malik Looper, via Antonio White.

Excuses requested for next week; Will Smith heading to Singapore with his daughter. John Cribbs heading to SFO to pickup his son and family.  

Returning from two weeks in Argentina, John Stewart.

Many of our members have children or grand children involved in sports, which requires a lot of schedule juggling.  Bryan Remer was out at Corpus Christi School watching his five year old grandson play basketball.  Tom Smegal was watching his sixth grade granddaughter’s basketball team emerge victorious last evening.  Although Tom did express disappointment at not having his picture on the front page of the Piedmont Post.  Cathy Scharteg is now in process of making the transition from football mom to basketball mom.  Mike Hanlon is also in transition, as his nine year old granddaughter is moving from soccer to basketball.             

Life member John Cribbs, 1st VP and warm friend, Hugh Tuck with GGBC's CPA and tax reminder-er, Arlan Kertz	HAR-VEY! HAR-VEY! It's a happy birthday, indeed, for speaker chair, Harvey Elam!	Delivering the 411 is Data 911's George Grotz with Eric McGarty and Past President, the Hon. Roy Wonder

While Alex Crichlow didn’t qualify as the GGBC’s Runner of the Year, Alex wants to know if she can qualify as the GGBC Rower of the Year.  Alex just completed a marathon on a rowing machine.    

Christine Torrington reminds us to take a ride down to City Hall in the evening, as the holiday lights are in place.  

All this talk of “holiday” vs “Christmas” prompted Chuck Mills to mention isn’t “holiday” derived from “Holy Day?”  Chuckles also reports that granddaughter Sophie has now broken the three pound mark.  

The membership was in a joke telling mood this morning.  Hugh Tuck related the joke about the first grade teacher in Dallas that asks her class if they are all Cowboy fans.  All the children are, except for one little girl that expresses she is a Forty-niner fan.  The teacher asks why and the little girl responds that her dad and her mom are Forty-niner fans, so she is too.  The teacher responds, “if your dad was a thief and your mom was a prostitute, what would you be then?  The little girl’s answer, “well, that would make me a Raider fan.”      

Horn-blower-er meet Cannon-fire-er, for Bill on Bill debate. Coffee posing champ is Bill Smith or Bill Buchanan?	This life-jacket became C.C. Gibson's best friend during his 16 hour journey.	Panzers Unite! A full front assault of good cheer welcomes all who join us courtesy of Joel and J.J. Panzer.

Back to nautical themed jokes, Will Smith’s was about the sailor that walks into a yacht club without a tie and is told he cannot be admitted without one.  The sailor returns to his boat and wraps a jumper cable around his neck.  Upon arrival back at the maître d’s stand the sailor asks if the jumper cable is acceptable.  The maître d’s response, “I guess so, but just don’t try to start anything”.  

Bill Buchanan’s joke was about the three Marines that died on Christmas day.  Upon arrival at the pearly gates the Marines are asked by St Peter to produce something that symbolizes Christmas.  The first Marine pulls out a lighter, which symbolizes a candle, the second Marine pulls out his keys which symbolize bells, and the third Marine pulls out a pair of woman’s panties, which are….Carol’s.

Not quite four colly birds, but a treat nevertheless, Alfidi, Betty Taisch, Past Pres Hedy Kaveh and Ricky Wilson.	A couple of lookers, the dashing Bill Buchanan and Czarina Patricia Fripp!	Saftey meets finance. Security Ace Frank Reed with GGBC's Treasurer, Ray Siotto catching up on the news

Jim Lazarus totally botched his joke, but fortunately for you, Alan Garber had told this joke to me previously. So, here it is: The teacher asked young Patrick Murphy, "What do you do at Christmas time? Patrick responded “Me and  my twelve brothers and sisters go to midnight mass, we sing hymns, we come home very late, put mince pies by the back door, hang up our stockings and go to bed to wait for Father Christmas to come with all our  toys.”  "Very nice Patrick", she said. "Now Jimmy Brown, what do you do at Christmas?" Jimmy responded, “Me and my sister go to church with Mom and Dad, we sing carols and we get home ever so late. We put cookies and milk by the fireplace, we hang up our stockings and wait for Santa Claus to bring our presents.” Realizing there was a Jewish boy in the class and not wanting to leave him out of the discussion, the teacher asked, "Now, Isaac Cohen, what do you do at Christmas?" Isaac replied, "Well, it's the same thing every year.  Dad comes home from the office, we all pile into the Rolls Royce; drive to Dad's toy factory and go inside and look at all the empty shelves.  Then we sing “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”. After that, we all fly to the Bahamas." 

GGBC 1st Vice President Hugh Tuck and GGBC's senior photographer, and the rugged Mr. Michael Mustacchi	Past President and Attendance Chair Hedy Kaveh with Bulletin photog Betty Taisch	This photo is the same exact photo as the one above, but with one key difference, can you guess what it is?

This prompted Marty Mijalski to tell the joke about the car full of nuns that gets pulled over for driving too slow.  The officer notices the three nuns in the back seat look very nervous, each with wide eyes and a death grip on their purses.  The officer asks the driver, “Why were you driving so slowly”, and the nun responds, “because the speed limit is 22”.  The officer replies, “that’s the route number, the speed limit is actually 35”.  The officer then asks the nuns in the back seat, “why are you so nervous?”  The response, “we just came off Route 119”.          

Still semi-retired; Phil Moscone.  To which Mike Mustacchi asks, “Are the defendants semi-guilty or semi-innocent?

Terry Cowhey goes in for surgery tomorrow (Thursday, December 15^th).  Terry wants President Bert to get the bicycle coalition to stand outside of Kaiser and sing “Happy Trails to You” and “Back in the Saddle Again”. 

San Francisco natives, both, Ed "All-rise" Flowers and GGBC Treasurer Ray Siotto talk green backs, not veggies	Not to be found in the Victoria's Secrets Catalog is Mr. Gibson's bedroom attire	GGBC's Fashion Icon and Membership Chair (Who could refuse her?) Jill Hoffman with Past Pres. Mike Hanlon

What does Les Andersen want for Christmas?  A stump grinder.

No longer under a Presidential decree for minimal banter, J. J. Panzer’s word of the day:

Absquatulate, which means leave abruptly.  The word was well received by the membership and even our speaker incorporated it into his presentation.   

Also, a correction from last week’s bulletin with respect to Steve Shain’s word.  Seems with all the cutting and pasting required to publish this column a couple of sentences were transposed.  The correct paragraph is printed below:  

Chthonian, which has something to do with Greek underground deities.  Steve gave the word and the definition first and then asked for the spelling.  Only I knew the ch is silent and only because Steve told me last week.  But, I was sworn to secrecy.  

Jill Hoffman announced Sausalito’s excellent lighted boat parade took place last Saturday evening right off Bridgeway.  I can vouch for that statement, since I was having dinner at Scoma’s during the parade.  It was wonderful.  Except, when I returned to my car, I had a sixty-six dollar parking ticket as I did not properly decipher the parking regulations posted on the street sign.  Although, I think the poorly worded signage allows Sausalito to reap more parking ticket revenue from unsuspecting tourists.  Ed Flowers says he hasn’t been to Sausalito since Sally Stanford died.  Too bad Sally isn’t still Sausalito’s mayor, because I’m sure I would have gotten a lot more than a parking ticket for my sixty-six bucks!                

President's Choice: Past Presidents all, Phil Moscone with Mike Hanlon and Bill Buchanan on Santa Lookout	Past President and gorgeous smiling gal, Cathy Scharetg with Anthony Alfidi	Speaker of the day, Mr. C.C. Gibson learns about Breakfast club tradition from Chuck "Chuckles" Mills

If you are a donor to the San Mateo Public Library Foundation, like me, you receive the Library Link newsletter.  The Fall/Winter edition prominently featured “Tea with Sidney Mobell”, as one of the library’s most popular events.  Lots of pictures including one of attendee Stan Ellexson, who, given by the big smile on Stan’s face, was having a very good time.     

This morning’s birthdays; Mike Hanlon had only one, Harvey, who was here to wear the hat of his choice.       

One more reminder: our Holiday Party is next Wednesday on December 21^st.  Please make sure you sign up with me no later than Monday the 19^th.  I’m also looking for door prizes, so if you can donate one, I’d appreciate it.  And remember, it’s twenty-five bucks. Cash, check or credit card, no breakfast or gold cards. 

Stan Ellexson also reports that Russ Gorman has been moved into Sunrise Senior Living at 1027 Diablo Road in Danville.  You can visit, and you can even have lunch or dinner with Russ as well.  But, until Russ’ condition improves, he needs to stay within the facility.  

The GGBC had a number of our members, both past and present, in attendance at the funeral mass for our long time member, Bob Begley on Friday, December 9^th.  It was good to see Bob Wilheim, Ed Phipps and Fred Postel.  I only wish it could have been under better circumstances.  Even Mark Shustoff, who can never make it to breakfast, was there.    

Since my last column, we also lost two more long time members.  Harold “Duke” DeLuca, who passed away at the age of ninety-nine on November 30^th.  Funeral services for Duke were this past Monday, December 12^th.   The GGBC was represented by myself and Roy Wonder.  Duke was a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was a generous man who did not seek any credit for his generosity.  For the Harbor Light Center, we could always count on Duke for turkeys for our Thanksgiving meals. And, Alex King announced that Eddie Snow passed away on December 8^th after suffering a massive heart attack.  The always dapper Eddie would regale the membership with stories of growing up in Arkansas and about his various eccentric family members who lived deep in the Ozarks.  As Ricky Wilson commented, stories that were not necessarily true, but were always worth repeating.  Ironically, both Duke and Eddie joined the GGBC in the same year, 1970.  Services for Eddie are still pending. 

Since next week is the Holiday Party, that means an abbreviated column.  So, it looks like all the knuckleheads get their pass extended into 2012.

Pete            

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A View from the Hill

By GGBC President, Bert Hill

The Holiday Season

We have now entered the time period where we all confront the Yin and Yang of our lives.  Our schedules become more complex, as we work at simplifying and enjoying.   We laud the spirit of the season with good will and reflection on the inspiring priorities of life, while on a rapacious course of overeating, overdrinking, overspending, overindulging.  We work to finish our professional commitments for the year, while spending more time serving family and friends. We follow seasonal traditions, while embracing changes in our spending, environmental, and consumption habits.

In the twenty-first century version of King Herrod the Great, our tax advisors expect us to get all of our financial plans in order for the end of the year. Charities depend on our largesse even more than merchants. Property taxes and most insurance renewals come due. 

In the midst of this, we are brought back to the beauty of this season.  My three year-old grandson reminded his mom that last year at this time, he and I made a gingerbread house, gingerbread people, and other decorations.  Yeh Yeh (my Cantonese designation of filial authority) didn’t remember this, but it was indelible in his memory from when he was two.  I will at this time apologize for the delay in getting my byline to the GGBC Bulletin out late last week. The two-day gingerbread engineering/procurement/construction/celebration process suddenly took priority. 

We also need to turn to domestic duties in preparing the house with seasonal decorations, which involves cleaning and fixing from the ‘honey-do’ list.  

We continue to follow the pre-commercial tradition of decorating our tree on Christmas Eve, with the use of a live tree that lives on the back deck during the year. It has replaced the Christmas Ficus in previous years as it began to look more like the tree in the Tim Burton movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. This year we are adding the train set around the tree, as our grandsons are now old enough to just watch it.  

Our youngest grandson has graduated from being more interested in the packaging than the gift, and seems musically inclined by dragging a small guitar around the house. He also makes a beeline for the drum at his preschool, signaling to us a strong musical inclination.  I hope the same seeming obsession over trains, oversized trucks, and hot rod cars will lead to a career in NASCAR.  I know his parents will appreciate the drum he will soon be receiving.

We are now in the ‘party’ phase of the holiday build-up, with our events this weekend ranging from the Ritz-Carleton (a charity affair) to the ‘Gyro King’ in the Tenderloin (Asian labor activists), topped off with a visit with a group of social revolutionaries suspected of being part of a well-known bicycle event and Santacon.  Santa suits were encouraged, with prizes for the most unusual socks. These are only a few of the diversity of celebrations with friends where we find again that there is only one degree of separation in this ‘small town’ cosmopolitan city.

Part of the fun is traveling between these venues via public transportation, bicycling, and riding with friends in cars.  People watching is at its most profound during this season, seeing the many variations of partiers and people occupied with their many endeavors.  It is also a time we become very much aware of the income gap, mental illness, loneliness, and desperation.

We try to show empathy through participation in food drives, cash in the red bucket, and a few coins in a cup, but we know these may sustain life, but not improve opportunity, security, or succor.  The Night Ministry provides a critical service in taking phone calls in early morning hours from the lost and near suicidal, providing trained clergy for personal counseling. This time of year the numbers increase, as more lack the ability to cope with their lives.

At church soon, we will remember those no longer with us and those suffering, while we celebrate a renewed appreciation for our good fortunes in our loving family and the gift of security that comes from those who gave and continue to give their lives to protect us and ensure our freedom.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the Christmas Party for our last celebration this year.

With recognition of the many religions of our members, we offer our best wishes for an enjoyable, peaceful, and meaningful holida

Bert