Wanda to Elliott

It's always wonderful to hear from you. Everyone here is just fine. Nicole just moved up to Playa del Rey and Ryan is 1/2 way done with law school! Hard to believe, remember when all our kids where still running around?

BI certainly is different now. If I wasn't so close to retirement and have so many years vested here, I wouldn't still be here. they just did away with service awards, so no more thank you gifts for f,10,15,20,25, etc years of service. They are now calling it a recognition award, which to be is who can play the game the best. Oh, well, it is what it is. I am very glad I am calling on Kaiser though. We are a little bit more insulated because of our sales volume and the fact that not just anyone can get in those accounts and move sales! bob Johnson mentioned at the last meeting that going forward they will be hiring contracted sales people to fill openings in the primary care sales force and only specialty and institutional positions will be filled with current BI people. Although these PC reps will be "Inventiv" employees, they will report to a BI manager. It kind of shows the direction this company is taking. It seems to me that relationships are out the door and no longer looked at as relevant to the job.

That is really exciting news about your vineyards and your books. You must be so proud and having a great time doing something you love.

Hopefully, we will be able to have a reunion of some kind this year. It would be wonderful to see everyone.

Take care and give my regards to Donna,

To Elliot From Daryl Jacobs

Great pictures and stories! I am glad to see that the SF group has maintained their friendship as life takes its different courses. Please pass along my best wishes to the group.
DJ

Elliott and Amy meet in Paris

Elliott and I had a great chance to catch up in Paris, when he received a Gourmand Award- top 100 food or wine books in the world. I usually go to Paris in February to visit my artist friend Anja, as the prices are low. Elliott and I had a great time as I attended the Gourmand Awards with Anja and again later in the week Elliott, my son Jimmy and I went to Anja's house to see her art. On our way home from Anja's we stumbled upon a sing-along in a pub, which was pure magic.

Wanda's World

Hello, I hope you all had a great Christmas. I am trying out my first blogging experience so I hope I don't mess up this site. If I did, I apologize in advance and leave it to the experts to fix it. Wow, what a year 2009 has been. With the nerve racking wait of finding out if you were still employed by BI was quite a roller coaster ride. I must say that I am happy to report that I am still gainfully employed and still calling on Kaiser accounts. The bad news is if the stock market doesn't continue to rebound, I don't know when I will be able to retire. Life is good and I still continue to do volunteer work saving cats. This year I switched to another organization, Safe Cat Foundation, whose philosophy aligns more with what I am interested in doing. This group is truly amazing and trying to save cats is their main goal which is not what all rescue organizations are about, although they profess to be.

Nicole is still living in S CA and working at Sketchers. When she is not visiting us at home, she loves to travel and can be found in New York, Las Vegas or San Diego. She loves the lifestyle of S CA. Ryan is half way through with law school at UCLA. I have never seen this kid study as hard as he is now. I can't wait until he is done.

I wish you all the best and look forward to a fabulous New Year in 2010 and hope we will be able to have another reunion in the near future.

Happy Holidays,

Wanda

Merry Christmas

Hi, alumns,

This is my first blog, another adventure for me. I miss the group. It was the best there's ever been.

It is Christmas eve and everyone is home. Both boys are out of the Air Force, now. Doug is in community college, getting ready for Oregon State next fall. Chris is just out and deciding where he will go to school, Oregon or Colorado. Rebecca is a junior at Seattle Pacific. Everyone is doing well.

I am either temporarily or permanently out of work; am busy remodeling the house and helping friends and neighbors with home improvements and upkeep. Life is good.

Susan has a great job and keeps us fed. She is doing great.

Keep the faith. Vote Republican.

Tom

A Full and Wonderful Year

Hello Everybody,

What a great year this has been with many blessing and an abundance of joy.
Among the many joys of 2009 was meeting a very special lady in January. Maria Cynthia Hearst, who was born in Rome, Italy, is the archetypal Italian woman. She is full of life and joy and cheer and loves to sing. She is the widow of the late William Randolf Hearst, Jr., and stepmother to Patty Hearst. She has had an extraordinary life, and I love hearing her many stories about her incredible and star-studded life with "Randy." We have a very special friendship and have a lot of fun together.
I had many house guests this year. The new guest suite with its 5th bathroom on the third floor have been a great success, with more then 15 house guests using it this year, among them a number of my European friends, including a German family of three friends who stayed 5 days, others from Ireland, Denmark, Italy, and the UK. Six of my 13 godchildren, as well as other friends, cousins and other extended family members. My Cousin, and godson Scotty from New York State, stayed the longest. He arrived, after graduating from Seton Hall Law School in NJ, and stayed for 3 weeks in July to study for the 3-day (longest) California Bar Exam. Being in the "tower," as he calls it, gave him all the privacy and quiet he needed to study nonstop for the Nation's most difficult bar exam. He passed it, by the way, with flying colors, and he and his wife Jennifer have chosen to make California their permanent home. She will be coming from Manhattan, where she is an architect, early in January. They will be settling in the unsurpassed San Francisco Bay Area. I'm very happy to have them close.
I enjoyed two wonderful foreign trips this year, One was a 19-day cruise to South America through the Panama Canal (3rd time) and then to four central American countries and finally the Mexican Riviera. It was one of the best cruises I have ever been on. I had the pleasure of accompanying three of my favorite ladies. My cousin Gloria, and my friend of 45 years George Havach's wife Ellen, whom I know for 35 years, and my friend Chris Margret's wife Dianne, whom I know for 9 years through bringing Chris into Masonry. Neither of the girls husbands wanted to go on the cruise, and so the wives went without them. As the philosophers say, "No marriages are healthier than those that allow spaces in their togetherness." The four of us had a really great and memorable time.
In November I took my 9th annual trip to my beloved Rome, where I have an ever-growing circle of friends, I now have a regular apartment where I have stayed for the past 3 years. The landlord and his family have become my friends, as well and give me an extremely good rate and bottles of wine when I leave.
Nothing beats Rome for food and endless amazing sites to see. The people, with more than 3,000 years of experience, are the most intuitive at instantly recognizing the genuine people from the phonies. I have several favorite restaurants where I eat every year. Every time I go after a year's absence the chefs and waiters all come out to see me, saying, "Luigi is here, Luigi is here!" They give me many complementary dishes and put before me many bottles of cordials and after-dinner drinks, all on the house. It is all like magic. I also attend high-quality concerts every night held in major basilicas and churches of classical performers from around the world. I just love Rome and cannot get enough of it. In fact, I'm looking forward to my 2010 trip. My friend Maria Hearst wants to join me then. She has a large family in and around Rome.
There were many more very special and memorable events that occurred in 2009, but these are the highlights. I bought another motorcycle, a high-tech 1550cc Harley-Davidson, and will likely sell my old one. I was invested as Marshall in San Francisco Lodge 120, one of the four Masonic lodges to which I belong. I was also knighted into the court of honor in the Scottish Rite.
May Christmas and the coming New Year bring blessings in abundance, good health, and prosperity to all of you and your families.

Bev and Cousin Dino

Merrry Christmas from Larry

Dear Family and Friends:
“Highlights of the Andersons.”
For years Beverly has wanted to trace her fathers Homeland in Genoa, Italy to search her heritage. We decided that Bev should start the plans on her own since it would be difficult for Larry to travel that far. Then her friend May Dudley expressed an eager desire to join Bev, another close friend Phillip Pearce said he too was anxious to join them, so the die was cast. Three very close friends.
They left April 29 for Rome to join a tour: “The Flavors of Italy” which included Rome, Florence, Chianti and ending in Venice eating and toasting all the way. Then the exciting part began… three of them alone by train to Genoa, where her father sailed from in 1907 for America, never to return. The task was to trace and visit the remote village where her father migrated from (Sesto Gadano.) Not only did she find her father’s childhood home but a living cousin Dino and many more relatives. Also a complete list of her father’s 10 brothers and sisters complete with birth dates, marriage and death dates. She is in constant communication with Dino and knows another trip is bound to take place at some point. (So do her friend’s)

In August Larry went to see his sons in Oregon. This has become an annual thing and this year he drove; reason being it was better for bringing home the “catch”.
He stayed with son Jeff the first week then the two of them joined son Ron for a 5 day Salmon fishing trip out of Ilwaco, the Washington side close to the mouth of the Columbia River.
The ocean was calm the first two days and fishing was good, accept that most of the fish brought up were natives, which had to be released. Then the weather turned for the other days and so they fished the river; which was spotty at best, accept for the day they goofed off in Astoria.
Larry did come home with three good sized tasty salmon.
The other parts of the year have amounted to gardening, gym for him, and church. It may sound dull, but it has been quite busy and satisfying.
While his ability to get around hasn’t changed much at least it hasn’t gotten worse. It has become an accepted way of life.
Here at home we have the privilege of enjoying our grandchildren any day we want. 

Stay healthy everyone and have a good life.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Beverly and Larry 2009

Amy's Life

Hello to all,

After a long so called Indian Summer, winter has finally settled upon NE Ohio with a slight white dusting the day after Thanksgiving. For the last few days the temps have been hovering around 45 degrees. The fall was magnificent lasting longer than most with a concert of colors seemly turning simultaneously into a majestic bloom of glory. Fall ushered in major changes beyond that of the leaves. I am sure by now all of you know about BI’s slicing and dicing. Yes, I survived the cut but was given a territory with its nearest entry an hour from my home. It seems little has ever made sense after Boehringer West was buried.

I have time to blog because I am taking on a short term disability stent due to a severe bout of cellulites in my left leg which left an ulcer on my ankle. First time in 25 years I have taken such time which is remarkable knowing my medical history.

It is hard to believe that Cheryl and I have been living here in Hudson for over 13 years. She continues to teach English at Arch Bishop Hoban High School. This has been a wonderful blessing as the kids are great and the administration loves her. She also coaches the academic challenge team which won a major TV competition and $10,000 for the school. This was the biggest award won by any extra circular activity in the history of the school. The school focuses on an education that molds the mind, heart, soul and spirit. Even in these tough economic times the Hoban students collected 39,000 cans of food to replenish all the food closets in Akron.

This past summer was a joy. We celebrated our 30 wedding anniversary, Cheryl surprised me with a wonderful 60th birthday party (which some of you wrote wonderful notes). I became the last to receive BI’s bonus for 25 years of service. We went on a trip to San Antonio TX to attend a Renovari’ conference. Attended the wedding reception for Cheryl’s cousin Elise and her husband Joel Bernanke in Great Barrington MA. Buzzed around in “Nephesh” our 2006 Miata MX-5 we bought with only 5600 miles on her. But best of all just enjoying our friends, family and many quiet moments at home on the porch watching the wild life or having bond fires in our back woods sharing fine wine (I think), marshmallows, and great talks.

May this Christmas season bring all of you great joy and continue blessing.
George

IT HAS BEEN A YEAR

A great deal has happened I am sure in the lives of all the San Francisco District BI Alumni.

Hey, it would be great to hear from you-all, get you annual Christmas letter up and running on
the site. With Facebook, You Tube and Twitter, perhaps we are way behind in our technology.

Any ideas, suggestions or news?

Watch for the big new posting from Mrs. Amy Decker, previously Amy Harris.

Christmas 2008

Dear Family and Friends:

Greetings:
Not much has changed for us in 2008, thank heavens. We attended Bev’s grandson’s wedding in Clovis CA last November, which is where this picture was taken. Scott was the last of the grandkids to get married.
Our daily lives are filled locally with the blessings of Bev’s son Patrick, Daughter in-law Diane, teen age grandson Harry, and beautiful 3 year old granddaughter Colette.
Beverly has been very busy this past year with her church work and as President of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese, which has been a full time job; her schedule is kept full. Bev is now very excited about Spring 2009 and her long awaited trip to Italy, she will be going with two of her close friends. After the tour they are extending the stay so that Bev can visit her father’s birthplace near Genoa and do some family research. Larry is staying home this time to take care of our furry child; a trip like this would be a bit much for him travel-wise.
We had a wonderful trip to San Francisco earlier this year, Elliot, Larry’s retired district manager, had a get together of what is now the S.F. district alumni. It was great getting together with many of the people Larry worked with and we socialized with for so many years.
Larry did have a splendid trip to Oregon in July to be with his sons. The oldest, Ron has a nice boat, and the younger son Jeff has a motor home so the three of them took off for the coast to do some fishing. This year they got lucky catching a limit of salmon two days in a row; are they ever delicious.
We are looking forward to 2009 and any surprises that may come our way.

Merry Christmas & Peace, in the New Year.

Larry and Bev

Hello BI Alumni Friends and Merry Christmas:

Oh time is going so fast, I forgot to write the customary Christmas letter. Sometimes regarded as the annual good news and brag sheet. (no one wants to talk about all the bad things that happened in the past year and with the state of our economy, that should fill up the bad news part of any letter.) I never thought we would see another DEPRESSION in our life time and I remember many stories that my parents told me about the big one and how good their lives were since they both had good jobs, bought a new house and car etc.. As my Dad said, well there were 25% unemployed and that meant 75% employed. That was more than half so things weren't so bad for more than half of the population.
Well now there is only 6-7% unemployment and that means that more than 90% are doing ok or better. JUST DON'T LISTEN TO THE NEWS and or look at your 401K or investment portfolio. Before you know it the market will be roaring up and our portfolios will be back to what they were a year ago. (maybe a year or two?)
This was a good year for our family overall. Except the crab season closed early due to the catch being down 85% and the salmon season was closed altogether. My son Matt is trying to make it now with Herring fishing in the bay. Matt's daughter, Malena made honor roll and scored the highest in all of the 4th grade classes in the Math exam. Her little sister Marisol is in Kindergarten and reading at the 4th grade level in both Spanish and English. Son Paul, was just promoted to Captain in the CDF and is staioned in Petaluma, bicycle distance from his home. Jim is still running the WINE HARDWARE chain, developing the web business and now investing in distressed real estate. While Elizabeth just moved back to the City and is an ICU nurse at SF General, engaged to Cooper, a Google engineer. Donna is at the Gym several times a week and looks fabulous, and with the grand daughters at the farm in Sonoma for a couple days per week.
The Vineyard had a very hard time of it this year, with production down 50% due to the very irregular cold Spring followed the the heatwave. But the quality was exceptional and we enjoyed top prices for our grapes from leading Napa wineries. I made only one barrel of Cab Franc for our own cellar. Our vintages from 2004 through 2007 are all exceptional and we are preparing to market early next year. I submitted 3 wines for the first time to a professional competition and received 2 Gold medals and 1 Bronze, (American Wine Society).
Our Publishing company p is going well. We received a Best Professional Wine book Award in London in April for the WINE MARKETING book and the Andre Simon Award for our NAPA WINE HISTORY book in Frankfurt in October.
2009 promises to be a challenging year for all business, so we plan on lots of time at Tahoe for the winter, a cruise to the Baltic in June, NYC Book expo in May, Canada in July and before we know it, will be time to pick grapes in September. Cheers! Elliott and Donna

What I did on vacation this year by: Larry

Hi Gang: Last month (Aug 2nd - 18th) I went to Oregon to see my son's. Jeff, the youngest, lives in Salem. He met me at the airport in Portland which has grown and changed so much I hardly recognized it. We stopped on the way to Salem to see my granddaughter and the three greatgrand children. I could hardly believe how the kids have grown and matured; made me feel old. I spent the first week at Jeff's, working around the house (picture my work). That Wednesday night we went to the down town area that virtually closed off for a food and wine festival. That area has vineyards and wineries all over the place. It wasn't that way when I lived there; of course that was 33 years ago. Hot, it was unbelivable hot, in the high 90's and 100's and the evenings didn't cool off much. Then at the end of the week it cooled off and actually rained one night. It started heating up again and Sunday so Jeff & I headed for the coast in his motorhome. We met my oldest (55) son Ron at Lincoln City. He brought his boat down for a week of fishing in the Ocean. You could still catch coho salmon. Monday we went out of Depoe Bay and caught 5, that afternoon we went to Newport where we planned to stay till Sunday. Tuesday we went out and by 2:00 pm we caught 6 more; all were a good size as you can see from the picture, the biggest ones were mine. The next day they closed the salmon season. The rest of the week we were weathered in so went crabing in the bay and fiddled around; Salem was 105+ degree. Sunday the ocean calmed a little so we headed out for Halibut fishing. Sixteen miles out and two hours of fishing the ocean began to kick up so we headed in. I'll tell you, two hours traveling in those waters, heading for port, I was glad to to reach the calm waters of the bay. All in all It was a great trip and a wonderful time to spend with my son's, see picture, I'm the slim one in the middle.

George Erdman for President

In this election year we have had little choice for President. Now something new has come to light; there is hope after all. Click on the following link and see what I mean. http://www.thelopezfamilyonline.com/play.php?first=George
Larry
PS:At the bottom of the tv screen click on the (>) to start video.

Captain Elliott

Every summer, Donna and I visit her family in Canada. While Donna is doing gin and tonics at the summer cottage with her mom and sisters, I go sailing on Lake Ontario with the boys.
Here is my picture from last year.

Elliott's "Tea Party"

Sunday night July 13 4:00 PM Elliott & Donna's bungalow on the hill: There was a gathering (reunion of sorts) of S.F. District retired and current members. Those present are shown in the picture to the right. Two kinds of "tea" were served, and elegant red and an adorable white. "Tea" cakes (hors d' oeuvre) of delectable varieties were served. We had a great time passing around rare old photos of bygone days with memories reflected as they were passed. Many 'remember when's' were discussed as well as updates on current livess and activities. Lou reflecting on travels and experiences abroad, Wanda up dating us on current life and kids, Bruce introduced Julie to us, quite happy and together I might add. In case you are wondering that's Bruce without the beard. Who would have recognized him otherwise? Then there was Barry to bring us up to date on current B.I. happenings (sad), Linda Ng all the way from Virginia, paid a surprise visit with her two delightful children, and Olga Kelly, Attorney at Law, was there bringing us up to date on her life since B.I.

All in all it was a wonderful time enjoyed by all present, we missed those who couldn't make it and hope to see you next time. Far away out of towners always give us an excuse to meet.

Hope to see you all again soon. Larry