Update 12-23-08

Hi,

I'm going away for a couple of weeks, without my computer, so this update will be a few days early and the next one a few days late.
   
    First, as the sign at one of our local parks says:  "Peace on Earth and Happy Everything."  That should include Christmas and New Year's.  You got Chanukah greetings last week.
   
    Next, from Stu Borman:  When one of my sons was in college, he purchased "How To Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman, and I now have the book in my house.  I just used it two days ago to get basic instructions for cooking chicken.  When I read Eric Hilton's posting, I went to the kitchen to check to see if it was Mark Bittman, as I had noticed only the author's surname when I was using the book.  I picked up the book, which was next to a canister of steel-cut oats.  When I moved the book, the steel-cut oats moved, too.  The canister landed upside down and opened a little, spilling some oats on the floor.  True confession:  I collected the spilled oats because, hey, we wear only socks in the house, I figure the oats are going to be boiled anyway, and they'll probably taste more interesting now.  And the book is indeed written by Mark Bittman.  So thanks, Jerry, for having a relative who helps me in my daily life.  You would think that I would now move the book to a safer spot, but it's still next to the oats.  Maybe I'll move the oats, though, now that I'm thinking of it...
   
    And from Betsy Fels Pottruck:  Loved Eric Hilton's web site.  Having just had two children marry, I looked at lots of photographers' work.  Wish I had seen Eric's work because I would have hired him for my son's wedding in Callifornia.
   
    From Robert Fiveson, two versions of what could be a sexist joke if there weren't two versions:
       An older, white-haired man walks into a jewelry store on a Friday night with a beautiful girl at his side.  He tells the jeweler he’s looking for a special ring for his girlfriend, and the jeweler brings out one that costs $5,000.
        "That’s nice," says the old man.  "But I'd like to see something considerably more special."
        The jeweler goes into his special stock and brings out a ring that costs $40,000.  "This one’s stunning," he says.
        Seeing the ring, the young girl’s eyes sparkle, and her whole body trembles with excitement.   The old guy grins and says, "We'll take it."
        The jeweler asks how payment will be made, and the old guy writes a check.  "I know you need to make sure this is good," he says, "so call my bank on Monday morning, and I'll pick up the ring that afternoon.”
       Monday morning, the jeweler – almost embarrassed –  phones the old man.  "I don’t know how to tell you this, sir,” he begins, “but, unfortunately, there's no money in the account you wrote the check on.”
        '"I know," the old guy laughs.  "But let me tell you about my weekend."
   
          An older, white-haired woman walks into a jewelry store on a Friday night with a young hunk at her side.  She tells the jeweler she’s looking for a special watch for her boyfriend, and the jeweler brings out one that costs $5,000.
        "That’s nice," says the old woman.  "But I'd like to see something considerably more special."
        The jeweler goes into his special stock and brings out a watch that costs $40,000.  "This one’s stunning," he says.
        Seeing the watch, the young man’s eyes sparkle, and his whole body trembles with excitement.  The old woman grins and says, "We'll take it."
        The jeweler asks how payment will be made, and the old woman writes a check.  "I know you need to make sure this is good," she says, "so call my bank on Monday morning, and I'll pick up the watch that afternoon.”
       Monday morning, the jeweler – almost embarrassed –  phones the old woman.  "I don’t know how to tell you this, ma’am,” he begins, “but, unfortunately, there's no money in the account you wrote the check on.”
        '"I know," the old woman laughs.  "But let me tell you about my weekend."
   
    Finally, highlights of the minutes from the October Alumni Association meeting, respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel:
        Present: Roberta Brill Birnel, Paul DeMartino, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Terry Gunderson Kaiser, Frank Lauro, Arlene Ainbinder Lynn, Edie Mandel, Carol Newman, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Cindy Raitano Slater, Eric Spinner, and Irene Sundal.  Regrets:  Dennis Shapiro. 
        To open the meeting, all members present introduced themselves for the benefit of those who were attending for the first time.
      Next, Emily apologized to those members who couldn't attend September's meeting due to the change of date.
        We also all extended condolences to Joan Gunderson Gorczyk on the passing of her husband.
        Homecoming Report:
        Emily had received 25 checks from people expecting to attend.  Several members paid the $5.00 at the meeting.
        Cindy Raitano Slater said that she knows of more people who expect to pay at the door.
        The library will be set up for a reception at 11:00 AM for alumni.  Bagels, cream cheese, coffee, tea,
    juice, and fruit salad will be served.  Terry Gunderson Kaiser has volunteered to do the ordering.
        Terry, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Edie Mandel, Irene Sundal, and Karen Grimm will also provide home-baked cake and cookies.
        Roberta Brill Birnel will contact Newsday about publicizing the day.  Hopefully, it is not too close to the
    event for inclusion in the paper.
        Karen Grimm will check into publicity in two local papers, The Herald and The Observer.
        South's principal Maureen Henry spoke about what the school will provide:
            An area of the bleachers, designated for the alumni.
            Welcoming honors for the alumni, particularly those from the Class of 1958, who will
    also receive carnations.
            Student-conducted tours of the school.
            Members of the Class of 1958 will participate in the presentation ceremony of the Homecoming
    King and Queen.
            An "Alumni Honor Guard" will take part in the pre-game ceremony. Claire Brush Reinhardt
    suggested calling this ceremony, "The past honors the present looking toward the future."
            During the alumni reception, teacher Ross Lipsky will show a DVD about the history of the school, using using music, slides, and interviews.
        New Business:
        Nancy Russo-Rumore -- not present at the meeting -- previously suggested to Emily that the
    Association look into registering with the charities board.
        Acts of Kindness Report:
        Emily met the head of "Island Harvest," who volunteered to come to a meeting to discuss how we can
    coordinate with this group this year.
        Old Business:
        The Alumni Association encourages people to check out our new web site, which is up and running.
        The Scholarship Committee (Eileen Howell, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Irene Sundal, Edie Mandel, Karen
    Grimm, and Roberta Brill Birnel) will meet before our next meeting to work on the rubric and to fine
    tune the application form.
        Events:
        Homecoming -- Saturday, October 18, starting with an alumni reception in the library.
        Reunions for the Classes of 1958 and 1959 will be held in Florida.
        South is already planning Career Day for March 24, 2009.  Please let the school know if you would
    like to participate.
        Thank you to Karen Grimm, for the yummy brownies.
   
    The Alumni Association web site:  www.vsshs-alumni.org/
   
    The South '65 blog:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com
   
    Again, happy holidays.
   
   
    Rich