SIR 34 May 2020 Newsletter
Enduring COVID-19 SIP Orders
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“Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends.”— Unknown\
“What I love most about staying home to self-quarantine is who I share it with.”— Unknown
“What I love most about staying home to self-quarantine is who I share it with.”— Unknown
Big SIR
Bill Staack
Hang in there everyone, this too shall pass. Until then no large SIR gatherings including our monthly meetings, the annual picnic in July and the Christmas Dinner Dance in December. But there is good news, we can once again play golf following all the Social Distancing rules now effect. FORE!
Little SIR
Bill Junge
The May meeting is obviously cancelled, and probably June too. The picnic has been cancelled, as well as the Christmas Party.
My only Little Sir comment would be: This virus has done what every wife wanted to do. Shut down the Bars, Shut down all sporting events and has kept the husbands at home to do “Honey Dos”.
Everyone Stay safe!!
Treasurer's Report
Tom Reif
Not much to report, stayed tuned for an update once the SIP has been lifted and we can meet as a group.
Bill Staack
Hang in there everyone, this too shall pass. Until then no large SIR gatherings including our monthly meetings, the annual picnic in July and the Christmas Dinner Dance in December. But there is good news, we can once again play golf following all the Social Distancing rules now effect. FORE!
Little SIR
Bill Junge
The May meeting is obviously cancelled, and probably June too. The picnic has been cancelled, as well as the Christmas Party.
My only Little Sir comment would be: This virus has done what every wife wanted to do. Shut down the Bars, Shut down all sporting events and has kept the husbands at home to do “Honey Dos”.
Everyone Stay safe!!
Treasurer's Report
Tom Reif
Not much to report, stayed tuned for an update once the SIP has been lifted and we can meet as a group.
New Members
None
For May we have 155 active members.
None
For May we have 155 active members.
May Golf
Hello golfers,
How is everybody going with “shelter insane” oops, I mean shelter in place? Its been six weeks since our last round of golf and it looks like it might be a few more. Golf courses up in the Sacramento area have started to reopen. Most of them are walking only, no carts. I’ve been in contact with many of the courses on our schedule and they have informed me that as soon as they are about to reopen they will let me know. We will still need to wait for the SIR golf guru to give us the okay to go back out to play golf as SIRS. But that doesn’t mean once the courses reopen you can’t go out and play golf and enjoy the beautiful blue California skies. So until we can all get back out to play golf together, stay safe and stay healthy.
Scott
Hello golfers,
How is everybody going with “shelter insane” oops, I mean shelter in place? Its been six weeks since our last round of golf and it looks like it might be a few more. Golf courses up in the Sacramento area have started to reopen. Most of them are walking only, no carts. I’ve been in contact with many of the courses on our schedule and they have informed me that as soon as they are about to reopen they will let me know. We will still need to wait for the SIR golf guru to give us the okay to go back out to play golf as SIRS. But that doesn’t mean once the courses reopen you can’t go out and play golf and enjoy the beautiful blue California skies. So until we can all get back out to play golf together, stay safe and stay healthy.
Scott
COVID-19 and SIP Doings
Zoom activities
The Computer Group, aka Personal Technology User Group, met on Thursday 4/23 using Zoom. 18 people connected for a presentation on using Facebook. The next Zoom meeting is Thursday May 28, email Tom Reif if you like to attend. [email protected] Here is the group:
Don Roberts and the Photography Group will try to have a Photo Group meeting on May 13th at 2PM. It will be held on-line using Zoom. Tom Reif will be sending out emails to everyone on the photo group mailing list explaining how to use Zoom for the meeting. You will be able to show your photos on your PC/smartphone/tablet for everyone to view. Tom will hold a practice Zoom connection on Wednesday May 6th to check out any problems you may have connecting. So let’s give it a try. It might be a disaster, but at least we’ll get to see each other. Watch for the note from Tom, it will be from his [email protected] email address.
The SIR Dinner Group holds Zoom cocktail theme parties here's a photo of our latest Hat Party
Larry Brumm, Phil Stage and Roger Schmidt and occasionally others, have almost daily Zoom calls.
Dick Small has a weekly Zoom meeting with a Men's group, and has Zoomed with other friends and family.
Dick Small has a weekly Zoom meeting with a Men's group, and has Zoomed with other friends and family.
Other SIP Coping Techniques
I've started to write my life story.... When my father was alive, he used to tell me about his youth and his time serving in WWII.... So many interesting stories... I captured some, but wish I had written down more. He passed away last August and many of his life stories are gone forever. I'm using this time to write about my early life, growing up in inner London during the 50's... Playing hide and seek on bombsites and in air raid shelters together with lots of other adventures and memories. It's quite therapeutic and brings back lots of memories. I recommend it... Maybe my kids and grand kids will find it boring..... but then again, my life back then was very different than their lives in the US.... At least it's mid twenteth century history which might interest someone one day... Dave Willmore
My wife and I have been sheltered in place for almost 6 weeks now. One day is pretty much the same as another so it seems like it should still be March and not May. Neither of us has been inside a store all this time, except I had to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy and made one trip to the bank. We have been fairly satisfied with grocery delivery and online shopping. We did get out to the fairgrounds this morning for the COVID-19 testing. The drive-through process was quite simple and efficient once it started. I really feel badly for those living alone. It has to be similar to solitary confinement. Oh! Those pitiful cruise passengers that were stranded aboard the germ ships! I feel lucky having my wife to interact with during these crazy times. Ellen, our dog, and I do get outside for short walks around the neighborhood which is a good depression fighter. Yes! We wear our masks, but Peaches is excused.
I have certainly have had ample reading time. Crosswords, Sudokus, and KenKen are only so good for so long. Scores of TV channels and almost as many not worth watching. Thankful for PBS! Britbox looks very appealing and will probably be our next diversion. A jigsaw puzzle spread over the dining room table is entertaining. Western Garden Nursery has a pickup service which has been handy for obtainng garden needs safely. A phone call usually gets their recorder. They call back and take your order and tell you when it will be ready. At pickup time someone loads your vehicle and you are on your way. They are operating with a reduced staff and are busy. Return calls may take a day or so, but the orders are accurate and the plants are in great condition.
There is an excellent book worth reading, "The Great Influenza" by John Barry. It covers the 1917-'18 influenza pandemic. It is especially poignant now that we are in a similar situation. Lots of parallels. We read the book a few years ago and passed it on. The latest edition is available for Kindle. Barry did his homework!
We have been able to keep well stocked with everything except yeast. Ellen loves to bake but that activity has slowed after she used her last packet of yeast and has found no replacements. (Bill later ventured to Safeway to purchase yeast and bread flour at the Safeway bakery).
Hang in there! We're in this together. Bill Lathlean
My wife is doing a daily COVID-19 Journal it's been very therapeutic for both of us. Also she cut my hair and did a great job. We've used Zoom to connect with family and friends several times. Dick Small
We have used Zoom twice for family birthdays. They live all over CA & Co. I do need a hair cut. Went on line with Total Wine. Drove over & they put everything in the trunk. Have used Meadowlark Dairy more than usual. Have used Take out at a couple of our favorite restaurants. They will bring it out to the car for you. Jack Parker
Ginny and I are staying home. Seems like Bill Murray's Ground Hog Day. I used takeout 3 times. Pork chops 2 per order from Sunshine Saloon and plenty to share. Reuben sandwich from Sidetrack and big enough to share.
Sample plate from Alberto's and big enough to share. Bob's Giant Burgers
I have a zoom meeting every morning with some fellow Veterans.
Church Service at 10 this morning at Valley Bible Church.
Really ready to swing a golf club again.
Hope to see you all soon.
Larry Brumm
Jim Benham reports that the Safeway on Bernal has an ample supply of beer, wine and other adult beverages, Dick Small has made two trips to BevMO in the past 8 weeks, maybe he'll hit Safeway by the end of the month.
I’m sending you a picture of what I have doing since virus has kept us at home. A couple of years ago I saw a bird house the was decorated both top and BOTTOM. I started to work out a plan which was delayed due to new knees and other life interests. So when we were locked up I started to work on the birdhouse and finally finished it a week or so ago and I thought this was a good picture for you request of “WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING STAYING AT HOME”.
Don Roberts
Some of us bridge players have found that we can play bridge with our buddies as well as around the world by playing on line. Here is a photo of me playing online Bridge. For those who don’t know about it, go to “Bridge Basic Online (BBO)”.
Ron Jensen
Ron Jensen
Spending a day once a week on our boat has kept us mentally sound during our stay safe period. Tom Crawford
We had a "social distancing" wine tasting. with the Jensens, Crawfords and Salvases
Jim Benham watches his tomatoes grow!
Every year for the last 20 years, our family has come to our house to celebrate Easter. Every year we took a group picture. So we have pictures of all of the grandchildren at their varying stages of growth. This year COVID-19 put an end to the gathering, but I did mange to still create a group picture.
This picture is a composite of 5 different group or single pictures taken in Pleasanton, Livermore, Brentwood and San Jose. Since I don’t have much to do while we shelter-in-place, I was able to put them together to look like we were still able to celebrate Easter together. Tom Reif
Breakfast Club You can still get Breakfast at Vic’s. They are doing take-out breakfast and lunch. They are open from 7:00-3:00. Hope you get a chance to support them.
For all you bread makers out there (and there are quite a number of you). Safeway has bread flour and yeast, just go to the bakery and ask for flour and yeast.
Joke of the month
The Pastor's wife walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Hunting flies" He responded. "I killed, 3 males, 2 females"
"How can you tell them apart?" She asked
"3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone." He said
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Hunting flies" He responded. "I killed, 3 males, 2 females"
"How can you tell them apart?" She asked
"3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone." He said