The Record

Volume L No. 1

January, 2006

Tom Sandow - Publisher

 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

by Bob Phelan

Hello everyone, and thanks for all the support so far. I'm not good with writing things, so these may be short. The former Presidents did an excellent job with the President's messages, so I hope you won't be too disappointed. Two meetings down and 20 to go....

Tracy did some hard work and we were able to get October 7th to replace our low attendance November date.

Please send anything to me you would like posted to our web page and we can add a link. Currently last years November hoedown is still linked but we can change that. For the Board members, the Board schedule has been posted to the link. Check it out for any ideas or things we can try to add to it. The web page is ( http://free.hostdepartment.com/B/Bobliz/CBWEB.html ).

Thank you to all the officers and committee chairpersons for stepping up to the challenge, and a special thanks to Sue for volunteering for all the ice cream socials so quickly, we didn't have to beg or anything. We could use some volunteers for the Picnic still, please be thinking about it.

I hope you all have a good year and I'll try to write more in the future.

Many Thanks,

By Tom Sandow

To everyone who contributed to make the Christmas party such a fun event. The food was fantastic and plentiful '“ thank you to all of you wonderful chefs. The singing was loud and spirited '&brkbar; and some times on-key '“ thank you to everyone who lifted their voice in celebration.

Special thanks to Bob and his 'dummy' for their wonderful skit; to Gary for his terrific holiday tips; to Martha for her fine piano accompaniment; and to the Walkers for handling the food donations when it finally dawned on me that I didn't have any room in the van for the donations. Speaking of which; please raise your hands high and pat yourselves on the back. We raised $185 and 131 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

 

BIRTHDAYS

        Dorothy Evans                1/18

        Avis Walker/                 1/19

        Tim Moon

        Bob Erwin                    2/1

        Shirlee Birsa                2/5

 

ANNIVERSARIES

None to report

 

Note: Birthday and Anniversary listings run from newsletter date to newsletter date not 1st of month to 1st of month.

 

 

Bowling/Pizza Party

By Avis Walker

 

To help jump start the Social Year of the Clutch Busters, Mary and Milan Gregovich and Avis and John Walker have again agreed to co-host a Bowling/Pizza Party.   Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 22, 2006.

We will have the bowling at Diablo Lanes 1500 Monument Blvd. in Concord .

We will meet at 12:30.   Find Mary and check in and get your lane assignment.   We are scheduled to start bowling at 1 p.m. after a short meeting and 10 minutes of practice. Cost will be $7.50 per person for 2 games and shoe rentals will cost $2.50 per person.   Mary has the signup sheet for the bowling and please prepay her before the 22nd. With their new computerized system she has to turn in the names to the alley by the 20th.   Be sure and sign up for a whole lot of fun. Even if you don't want to bowl come on down anyway.   Cheerleaders are always welcome and we may need some judges and referees to make sure everyone signs on the right bottle for gutter balls and/or strikes.

 

Pizza will again be at Round Table at 85 Chilpancingo Parkway in Pleasant Hill . Avis has a menu and pre-order signup.   In order to keep this a self-sustained club event (we have no budget) we need you to preorder/prepay for as many of the pizzas as possible.   When I pay the pizza parlor they give us a discount on the total and we use that money to pay for prizes.   It helps if I have some idea of how much I will have to spend.   So please make your choices and prepay for your pizza. (Checks made out to Avis Walker).   I give the list to the pizza parlor on Friday the 20th and they will have the pizzas pre-prepped when we arrive.   You will still have to stand in line at the pizza parlor to check in so they can put your pizza in the oven as you arrive and at that time you can order and pay for your drinks and salad bar. If you have ordered a pizza and also want a salad bar; the salad bar is   $1.00 less.   If you will give your receipts for your drinks and salad bar to John Walker they will also give us a cash back on that amount.   John Walker will be at the register with a list of pizzas ordered if you forget what you paid for or if you need any help.   Please be patient with the line, as we will have about 45 people arriving at one time.

 

We always have a lot of fun at this event so we hope you will come join.

Mary and Milan Gregovich   - 934-7161

Avis and John Walker   - 933-3388

 

 

Valentine's Day Potluck

By Dorothy Evans

 

Our Valentine's Day potluck this year will be held on February 16th.   I'll pass around a food sign-up sheet closer to the date, but you might want to start now rummaging through your photos for your favorite picture of when you were married. About three weeks prior to the party, I'll start collecting your wedding pictures to be displayed at the potluck.   Lisa has kindly agreed to help me artfully arrange them.   It should be fun and romantic seeing everyone's special day.

 

Ringing in the New Year

or How We Ate Our Way Through the Holidays By Dorothy Evans

 

John, Tom, Sue and I had made plans to attend the Mike Sikorsky hoedown in Dublin on New Year's Eve.   As I was busily packing for our one night stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Ramon, I must admit I was exuding a great deal of pride in my restraint in not over-doing it.   You may recall my mention in the past of the Dorothy Evans School of Packing where my luggage bulged at the seams.   This time, I kept it down to two suitcases, a suit bag, a travel bag, one ice chest and a carrying case for those pesky miscellaneous items that won't fit into anything else.   John walked in, surveyed the luggage, smiled and admiringly said, 'œYou packed light this time.' It's so nice when one's efforts are appreciated!

 

We arrived at the hotel about 3:30, headed for registration and gave our

name.   The clerk's computer never heard of us.    I gave him my

confirmation number, which, he told us, was for Janice Fitzler's party of four.   After much wrangling, we convinced him that indeed it was Evans and just the two of us.   We completed the paperwork and asked for two keys.

He looked at his computer and said, 'œit says your get four keys.'   Sigh......

 

John was on his third trip down to the car hauling luggage when Tom and Sue came up to our room.   After about an hour of yakking, we decided to go to Marie Callender's for an early dinner.   The menu had a mouth-watering looking picture of their pot roast, so that is what I ordered.   I was quite surprised when it turned out to be half a plate of meat and a mound of potatoes.   I was using my fork to search the enormous pile of meat for the carrots that were in the picture, but after finding only one tiny carrot, my fork met resistance.   I fished around and pulled out a three inch long piece of saran wrap.   I didn't try it, but it was probably less tough than the pot roast.

 

The hoedown, which started at 9:00, was well attended, about 17 to 18 squares.   Mike gave a great performance, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

At midnight, we did the usual silly hats, noise blowers, streamers and champagne and loved every minute of it.   After dancing one more tip, the hoedown was over and the four of us headed back to the hotel where we stayed up until 2:00 yakking some more.

 

I had been looking forward to breakfast (which was included in the price of the room) ever since we decided to stay at the Crowne Plaza several months before.   They have a wonderful buffet packed with all kinds of yummy (if not healthy) treats. Around 10:00 the two of us headed down since Tom and Sue wanted to sleep in.   I piled my plate high with fruit, fried potatoes, bacon and sausage, scarfed it down and went back for seconds.   As I sat there in my satiated stupor, the waitress handed us a bill for $22.   What!!!   This is included in the room!!   I headed back to the front desk to sort it out.   She looked at our registration and asked, 'œFitzler, party of four'?   Sigh......

 

Unbeknown to me, John had planned to continue on to Yosemite for a night's stay.   He secretly packed our heavy coats and long johns, so why not??

Off we went.   You may recall that New Year's Day was pretty gruesome weather-wise.   The wind and rain were rough at times, but by the time we made it to the park around 2:30, there was just a light rain.   We checked into a beautiful room in the Lodge, and then hiked around the valley viewing the overflowing and spectacular waterfalls.   Yosemite is magnificent any time of year, but around Christmas it is even more so because adding to the beauty of the scenery are the sparkling Christmas lights and decorations at the Ahwahnee and the Lodge.

 

We ate dinner at the Mountain Grill, a lovely restaurant with beautiful wood paneling and a wall of two-story high windows.   Just outside the windows was an equally tall pine tree aglow in white Christmas lights.   What a sight!

 

Speaking of sights, while we were eating a waitress glided by with a slice of some chocolate concoction that was easily four inches tall by four inches wide.   My eyes popped, my mouth watered and my stomach cried out, 'œyes, yes, let the gluten free diet be damned'!   I shoveled in the balance of my meal and asked for the dessert menu.   John declined, amazed at how I could eat dessert after such a huge dinner, but I was not to be thwarted.

All I could see in my mind's eye was that huge stack of chocolate. I was considering the cheesecake, but the waitress recommended a warm chocolate cake drizzled with chocolate and raspberry sauce so I told her to bring it on!   She came back minutes later, grandly set it in front of me and smiled.   I looked down and my mouth dropped.   I held back the tears as I viewed four tiny teaspoons' worth of cake with the teeniest bit of drizzle bedecked with a flower.   I looked up at John, who had the nerve to say, in all sincerity, 'œnow that's the perfect size dessert.' Later, as we rose to leave, I looked at the lady at the next table who was eating a 4' x 4' piece of cheesecake.   Sigh....

 

The next morning we arose to a winter wonderland.   Nature was at her most beautiful, with snow drifting down, powdering the mountains, pine trees and ground.   Children romped in the snow, threw snowballs and were having a wonderful time.   The gaiety was catching, and everyone was smiling and enjoying the stunning surroundings. We walked to the cafeteria, which was pretty crowded.   I headed for the grease-packed, cholesterol-packed food line, while John got in the queue for pancakes.   Twenty minutes later as I stood with a plate full of congealing fried potatoes, sausage and biscuits with gravy (well, I cheated the night before so why not go whole gluten-packed hog), John still had not gotten his pancakes. Frustrated, he left that line, put a bowl on his tray for Cheerios and proceeded to the dispenser.   I went to get him some coffee and when I returned, I almost dropped the cup in surprise at what I saw.   John's bowl of dry cereal had a peak on it that would rival Mt. Shasta .   It must have stood three inches above the top of his bowl. In addition, he had hundreds of Cheerios covering his tray!   The dispenser wouldn't quit dispensing, and John was not pleased, especially when I wouldn't stop laughing.   He tried pouring some of it into another bowl, which left him with two full bowls and a tray full of cereal.   When he brought it to the cashier, to her credit she didn't say a word, but just rang it up.   We chose a table close by a couple that were leaving with their two-year-old daughter, Mallory.   As they walked past John's tray, the mother said, 'Mallory, it looks like you ate here'.

 

So, as you can see, we rang in the New Year with good friends, good dancing, good food and lots of laughs.   I hope you were as fortunate.

 

Refreshments

By Diana Lorentzen

 

Please see the assignments for our February 11th hoedown at the end of this newsletter.

 

News from the Alley

By Avis Walker

 

Our bowling group started out the month of December without John and I.

We had taken a couple of days off and took the snow train to Reno with some friends.   It was a NO TAP Tuesday and the biggest competition seemed to be

between Allen Wesdorf and Don Snodgrass.    Don and Allen each rolled

turkeys in the first game and Don did Allen one better by stretching his into 4 in a row.   However, Allen took high score with a 198 to 178 in that game.   Don came back in the second game with 2 separate turkeys but Allen put four together in a row and took high game with a 208 to Don's 195.   In the third game Bob Erwin came to the fore and took high game of the day with a 210.   We were glad to hear that Mary Gregovich was back on her feet and bowling again.   We have really missed her.

 

On Dec. 13th when the NO TAP winners were announced we had no money winners this month.   That's the first time that has happened in a long time.   We were happy to have our friends Paul and Sandy Frey back with us again and started the day by singing 'œHappy Birthday' to Paul as he celebrated his 62nd birthday. High score for the first game went to John Walker with a 162 followed by Avis Walker with a 161. Although John beat Avis by one pin, Sandy managed to beat Paul, and Wynell Snodgrass managed to beat Don so the girls on our lanes had 19 more pins than the guys on the first game.

 

In the second game the high game honors went to Pat Pardee with a 160 while Allen Wesdorf came in with the same score as his first game of 150.

Avis managed to beat John by 21 pins and Sandy beat Paul.   Although Don Snodgrass managed to beat Wynell by 13 pins the girls still came out with

37 pins more than the guys that game.   In the third game John Walker had high score of the day with a 168 beating Avis by 12 pins and although Wynell beat Don by 14, Paul tromped Sandy , and the guys ended up with 9 more pins than the girls. However, Avis Walker had high series of the day with a 461 with John in second place with a 453.

 

Paul Frey strongly recommends going to Tony Roma's for lunch on your birthday.   You receive a yummy hot fudge sundae and they sing you a really snappy birthday song.

 

On Dec. 20th I was unable to join the group, as I was being a loving, caring Grandma to a sick Kaila.   Even so close to the holiday they had 11 bowlers.   Allen Wesdorf took the first game with the high game of the day of 174.   Tyler Pardee was there for the day as he had come from Nashville to visit his folks for the holidays.   He tied with (Mom) Pat the first

game and tied with John Walker at 150 for high game in the second.    Pat

proved that Mom is best when she rolled the high game in the third with a 156.   Wynell Snodgrass had a good day when she rolled over her average in her three games.   Don Lollich rolled the only turkey of the day in the third game tying with Allen for second place at 144.   They all met at Sizzler for lunch.

 

We all tried to chase those 'œafter the holidays let down blues' on December 27.   We had the fun of having our granddaughter Kaila join us for her last Tues of freedom from school. Pat Pardee took the first game with a 155 followed closely by Allen who rolled a turkey for a 151.   John Walker and Don Snodgrass tied and Don Orton beat Bob Erwin by 1 pin 146 to 145.   In the second game Avis Walker took high score with a 156 followed by Ken Wygal who rolled a very nice 152.   Don Orton again beat Bob Erwin

by 1 pin 138 to 137.    We won't mention Allen Wesdorf, John Walker or Don

Snodgrass' scores seeing as between the three of them they only had 314 pins.   In the third game Avis took high score with a 149 followed by Allen with a 147.   Bob Erwin finally beat Don Orton by 2 pins giving them tying series of 415.

Avis Walker took high series of the day with a 441 followed by Pat Pardee with a 421. Allen, John and Don did much better that game.   With the help of Allen's 147 the three of them managed to score 398 pins.   Wynell Snodgrass again bowled over her average for the day.   We all met at J.J.

North's for lunch and to wish each other a 'œHappy New Year' and the same to all of you.

 

If you wish to add some exercise and fun into your new year come join us some Tuesday.

 

 

Sodas

By Jack Strickler

Here is the soda sign-up list from January 5th thru March 30th, 2006:

Jan.   5                 Sandow, Tom

Jan. 12                 Woodard, Tracy

Jan. 19                 Evans, John

Jan.   26                Snodgrass, Don

Feb.   2                 Moon, Tim

Feb.   9                 Turgeon, Ted

Feb. 16                  O'Toole, Kathy

Feb. 23                 Phelan, Bob

Mar.   2                 Erwin, Bob

Mar.   9                 Birsa, Frank

Mar. 16         open

Mar. 23         open

Mar. 30         open

 

Duties include picking up the sodas and soda ice chest along with the empty can pail and the garbage pail on the date you signed up for and then returning them (with ice and remaining sodas in the chest) the following week.

 

Thanks to everyone for signing up!

 

 

 

CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RECORD

Thank you to the following people who contributed their time and effort to the creation of this newsletter.

Editing:

Sue Sandow

Articles:

Bob Phelan

Dorothy Evans

Diana Lorentzen

Avis Walker

Jack Strickler

 

Clutch Busters Hoedown Refreshment Schedule February 11th   8:00 - 11:00 pm Concord United Methodist Church

 

If you are unable to do your assignment, please arrange your own substitute or food exchanges.

Those with * work and bring food.

 

WORK SCHEDULE

7:45-8:00 PM - Set up coffee: Sue Sandow 8:30-9:00 PM - Set up food/supplies: Diana Lorentzen

9:15-9:45 PM - Replenish food/supplies: Carol Giolitti

9:45-10:15 PM - Replenish food/supplies: Kathy O'Toole

10:15-10:45 PM - Replenish & assist in clean up: Diana Lorentzen and Pat Bennett 10:30-11:00 PM - Clean & packup: Diana Lorentzen

 

SANDWICHES (1 loaf cut into quarters)

1. Sandow *   2.Walker   3. Woodard

 

VEGGIE PLATE + DIP

1. Erwin   2. Beutel

 

LARGE FRUIT PLATTER

1. Giolitti *   2. Lollich   3. Zehrung

 

FINGERFOOD (no chips)

1. Bennett *   2. Birsa   3. Evans   4. Gregovich   5. Leonard   6. O'Toole * 7. Pedersen   8. Phelan   9. Snodgrass   10. Strickler   11. Thorne

 

DESSERT

1. Gerhards   2. Lorentzen *   3. Moon   4. Turgeon   5. Williamson *

 

PLEASE ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO GO FIRST BETWEEN 9:00-9:30 PM