Coffee Klatsch - June 11, 2008

Although we were a little short on attendance this month we were long on conversation, which carried over to lunch in the food court.

The only "newbie", actually an out-of-state visitor, was Ed Torriente. Ed and his wife are living in Utah. Ed said it's a small town between Salt Lake and Provo, near the foothills of Wasatch Mountains. He said they have a beautiful view of the mountains. Ed's another one of those folks that will perpetually look young, if you don't believe me look at his photo. Ed celebrated his birthday by joining us at the Coffee Klatsch. Now for the bad news, Ed suffered a heart attack a few years ago requiring the placement of a few stints. He said he is currently having some more test done as he is experiencing a few problems and is a little concerned the doctors may go to the next level of treatment, open heart surgery. There were several open heart surgery recipients at the CK and we all gave him all the encouragement we could.

Don Mendenhall said he just got back from spending some quality time in Montana. Tom Fox said he is enjoying working (if you want to call it that) part time at a golf course in Mission Viejo. Kirk Antes said he has been keeping busy doing some remodeling on his home as well and trying to finish up the remodel on his mothers house.

Bob Benson said he sees Ira Essoe just about every day. Bob said Ira is always upbeat and positive, making all our gripes about our aches and pains, real or imagined, insignificant and trifling by comparisons. Bob said he and Pat are going to be traveling in the Arizona area and plan on trying to see some of our retirees living over there.

Jan and I are going to be in Arizona, also, at the end of the month and plan on seeing some of the retirees in the valley as well as Prescott & Payson, sure hope they all have good A/C!

I took a few photos of some of the retirees at the CK, including our two senior retirees, Knobby Walsh & Charley Kimbell. My camera was on the table next to me, Tom Fox picked it up and snapped my photo. Tom said "you're always taking every ones photo but no one takes yours!"

Those in attendance this month were Terry Williams, Tony Rojo, Knobby Walsh, Bob Talley, Kirk Antes, Bob Benson, Al Massucci, Howard Mol, Chuck Kimbell, Don Mendenhall, Bill Denton, Lawrence Schram, Don Williams, Ed Torriente and Tom Fox.

 

5-14-08

          Another outstanding turnout at this months gathering! There were no newbie’s but we did have several “out-of-stater’s” and a few infrequent visitors, but a good time was had by all. It was good to see Bill Williams. Bill told us he’s gotten out of the hotelier business, plans to sell his real estate business, turn his homestead into somewhat of a dude ranch, catering to the rich and the famous. But the big news is he is entering into politics! Wow! Bill’s running for city council and I’m sure it will just be a matter of time before we will be calling him “Councilman Bill”, then “Mayor Bill!” And, who knows where that will lead. LOOK OUT ARIZONA!

“My apologies to Bill Miller and all CK readers! It’s Bill Miller in Williams, AZ, not Bill Williams in Miller, AZ!”

Thanks for your understanding,

Gene

 PS: Bill did win the election.

          Charlie Stumph, came in from the metropolis Bullhead City, Arizona, to visit. He said he is still doing lots of traveling and teaching. He said he would be leaving for Jordan in a few days to do some teaching there.

          That’s one of the nice benefits of the CK, if one can’t travel one can vicariously visit almost any place on earth through the travels of others at the CK’s. There’s always someone going or just getting back from a cruise or travel to some exotic place. John Mauger said he just got back from Italy and is getting ready to go on his annual fishing trip to Alaska. Last John went to Spain and believe it or not he participated in the “Running With the Bulls”, including the white trousers, white shirt and red sash. He said none of the red sash was contributed by him.

          It was good to see Harvey Hill! The guy never changes, he looks the same now as when he retired and he’s a man after my own heart! He likes to wear hats!

          Ray Karr said today was his first outing on his own where he could drive since his hip replacement. He said he’s feeling great with minimal pain. I’ve no doubt he’ll be out chasing that little white ball in no time at all. Which reminds me of a good golf story I just received that all you golfers will appreciate:

         Out on the golf course with his wife, the husband says, 'Twenty years ago I had a brief affair.  It meant nothing.  I hope you can forgive me.'

            His wife was hurt but said, 'Dearest, those days are long gone.  What we have now is far more valuable.  I forgive you.' They embraced and kissed.

            On the seventeenth tee, the husband was starting his back swing when the wife blurted out, 'I'm sorry darling, and I’ve been so conscience-stricken since you told me, but since we're being honest with each other, I have something to tell you also.  Fifty-two years ago I had a sex change operation.  I was a man before I met you.  I hope you can forgive me.'

            The husband, froze at the top of his back swing, and then threw a fit!  He slammed the driver into the ground, kicked the ball into the woods, stormed off the tee, pushed the golf   cart over on its side, broke the rest of his clubs one by one, then started on hers.  He screamed and ranted, 'you liar!  You cheat!  You despicable deceiver!  How could you?  I trusted you with all my heart and soul...and all these years you've been playing off the ladies' tees!'   

It is always great to see Ron & Louise Frazier. Louise reminded Mike Brown that he used to drop a Butter Finger bar on her desk every morning and teasingly wanted to know where her Butter Finger bar was. For once, believe it or not, Mike was speechless.

          Those enjoying the camaraderie this month were: Bill Miller, Fred Torromeo, Brian Kleeman, Tony Rojo, Al Massucci, Mike Brown, Harvey Hill, Jim Baker, Carl Fisher, Don Williams, Royal Lord, Bob White, Charlie Stumph, Ray Karr, Ron & Louise Frazier, Howard Mol, Bob Mennes, John Mauger, Tom Fox and Ed Dunacheck.

March 12, 2008, there was an excellent turnout of seventeen old timers. A few of our regulars were missing or our number would have been much greater, but that's the nature of the beast. Guys are busy doing other things, like traveling, hunting, fishing, "honey do" projects and such like.

There were no newbie's this month and only one infrequent visitor, which is understandable since he has to come all the way from San Diego. Dave Madden said he made the drive not only to see old friends but find out first hand what's going on with the once great unsullied Orange County Sheriff's Department that he loved and where he worked for several years before leaving to finish out his law enforcement career with San Diego County DA's Office. It was great to see and visit with him and yes he still has that wonderful sense of humor.

Ed Dunacheck said due to circumstances beyond his control he will be splitting his time between Sun City, Orange County and his place in the desert. Ray Karr said he will not be at next months CK as he will be undergoing surgery for a hip replacement that day. Keep him in your prayers and we wish him a speedy recovery. John Mauger said he will be taking another tour of Italy next month and Chuck Kimbell said he and Sally will be doing another tour of Australia.

Bob Beneson said he sees his new neighbor Ira Essoe quite frequently and his wife Pat and Ramona Essoe go walking together almost everyday. Bob said he can't keep up with them so he sticks to riding his bike; which is no small accomplishment since his lives in the hills of Pacific Island Drive. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the area that is one of the more hilly parts of Laguna Niguel.

Those in attendance were: Dave Madden, Bob Mennes, Ed Dunacheck, Mike Brown, Bob Benson, Don Mendenhall, Royal Lord, Ray Karr, J.D. Green, Bob Talley, Howard Mol, John Mauger, Carl Fisher, Chuck Kimbell, Tom Fox, Terry Williams and Bob White.

February 13, 2008, we had one of our largest turnouts with 20 attendees. There were a couple that could be classified as "newbie's" since I last did a CK article but I think this was their second or third attendance. Kirk Antes and Fred Torromeo are new additions to our group. Kirk has been really busy remodeling his mother's home in Garden Grove and Fred's just been, well, Fred! Ray Mayer and Brian Kleeman were our only two infrequent visitors. Ray said he HAD to get out of that snow in Colorado. Ray said it's the most snow he's seen in his twenty-five years of living in Colorado. He said the snow around his house was fifteen plus feet deep and his snow-blower could not throw the snow high enough to reach the top of the snow channels to his front door and garage. That was enough for him, hooked up his fifth wheel and headed for the sunny climes of Orange County.

I didn't get a chance to visit with Brian so I can't really say what's been going on with him other than he and his wife have been doing some well deserved traveling.
Those in attendance were: Kirk Antes, J.D. Green, Tom Connder, Tony Rojo, Brian Kleeman, Knobby Walsh, Ed Dunacheck, Bob Mennes, Fred Torromeo, Al Massucci, Tom Imboden, Terry Williams, Bob Talley, Carl Fisher, Royal Lord, Don Chaney, Ray Karr, Howard Mol, Dewey Wiles and Ray Mayer.

January 9, 2008, One of our smaller turnouts, which did not diminish the fun of visiting. I asked Fred Torromeo if Ed Torriente was still with his band. Fred said Ed and his family had moved to Utah. Fred said Ed had had some health problems but seemed to be doing okay now.

Those in attendance were: Tony Rojo, Bob Mennes, Tom Imboden, Terry Williams, Bob White, Don Mendenhall, Carl Fisher, Al Massucci, Fred Torromeo, Chuck Kimbell, Ray Karr and Howard Mol.

EFred Torromeo

December 12, 2007, Another great turnout, made doubly great by having Ron and Louise Frazier there. Considering all that Ron has been through for the past two or three years he looked great. They said they are not able to travel as much as they would like but do get away from time to time to enjoy their Airstream. I guess they could now be classified as "infrequent visitors" along with the other infrequent visitors Cheri Siefen and Rich Remmel. Rich just about sets the record for coming the longest distance. He now lives in New York State just a short drive from Niagara Falls.

Those in attendance: Tony Rojo, Ed Dunacheck, Rich Remmel, Knobby Walsh, Bob Mennes, Ron & Louise Frazier, Terry Williams, Cheri Siefen, J.D. Green, Bob White, Carl Fisher, Jack Devereaux, Jim Beisner, Al Massucci, Tom Fox, Don Williams, Howard Mol, Bill Denton and Chuck Kimbell.

November 14, 2007, Our only infrequent visitor was Dick Olson from Idaho. It was good to see and visit Dick. Others in attendance were: Tony Rojo, Kirk Antes, Bob Talley, Mike Brown, J.D. Green, Bob White, Terry Williams, Don Chaney, Howard Mol, Dewey Wiles, Tom Fox, Chuck Kimbell, John Mauger and Carl Fisher.

October 10, 2007, I think this was Kirk Antes first time to be with us, qualifying him as a "Newbie!" Others in attendance were: Tom Conner, Tony Rojo, Ed Dunacheck, Terry Williams, Al Massucci, Don Mendenhall, Tom Fox, Dewey Wiles, Royal Lord, Don Chaney and John Mauger.

Again, my apologies to everyone for not keeping on top of the CK news and plan on doing better in the future.

Gene