December, 2004, Volume 6, Issue 8
BALBOA ISLAND CALENDAR
DEC. 15—19 96th ANNUAL NEWPORT HARBOR CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE
Starts at Collins Island at 6:00 pm—ends by the Ferry at 8:30 pm.
www.ChristmasBoatParade.com
JAN. 8—9 Please Volunteer to Take Down the Christmas Decorations Around the Island—Call 949.673.1426
SHOOTING THE BREEZE . . . . . .Carolyn Carr
November was the month of fun and achievement—first the Golf Cart clinic where paperwork for over 30 golf carts was filled out by our Officer David Darling of the Newport Beach Police Department. It turned out to be a fun event with neighbors meeting neighbors, resident Phil Paul buying coffee for participants and even talk of having a progressive golf cart party at some time in the future. Thanks again Officer Darling and Gail from the Sandpiper.
It looked like all the people involved in the Installation of the Holiday Decorations had a wonderful time. Early on I ran into Larry and Pam Kallestad by Collins Island. part of the crew—along with Terry Juskovic, Jean Zprazil, Bob and Eileen Haub, Linda Wood and Beth Mead, just to name a few—who decorated the light poles on the streets and boardwalks. Terry and Jean said people were yelling, “We love love it,” and “Thank You,” from passing cars. What a great job!! It must have been—Larry and Pam went back out in the afternoon for a second round on Little Island.
The decorators were quick to thank Janet Yee, Joan Northrup, Kathy Parks, Shirley Van Pelt, Carol Oats, and Joane Cooper who spent Friday evening from 8 to 5 fluffing up the greenery prior to it going up on the poles.
Jeff Wickett and Dave Gash have been putting the lights on the little Island Bridge for 27 years. “It takes about 2 hours with a crew of 5-6 people,” Jeff said.
The current “Candy Canes” were created in Jeff’s shop out of bent PVC in 1980. To get the red striping, the white poles were originally wrapped in adding machine tape and sprayed red—when the tape came off the striping remained.
This year putting up the lights was a little more challenging—the electrical boxes on the bridge had been recently changed and initially the city forgot to install the plugs for the lights. As you can tell, now all is well—Thanks you guys for what Jeff calls their, “Labor of Love.”
PEOPLE WE SHARE THE ISLAND WITH . . . PATTI JOHN
I always thought I had a lot of energy—and then I met Patti John. Patti has the energy of ten people and then some. Within minutes of meeting her she talked about climbing Mt. Whitney in one day with her husband and another marathon runner; running in the Mudrun with the Marines at Camp Pendleton; hiking ten miles a day across the South of France with her daughter and two friends last year; and her yearly plunge with the Polar Bear Club at the Huntington Beach Pier. What a schedule that is!
Patti works a successful business she has owned with her husband in the Antelope Valley for 25 years from Sunday to Thursday each week. Then on Thursday she comes to Balboa Island and does whatever she wants. That is how she balances her life and recharges her batteries. When Patti is here she says she goes to the gym every day, she runs, she roller blades, she reads, she naps, she listens to classical music and goes to the opera and the theatre. What a great life.
Patti also walks her neighbor’s dogs—Barbara’s dog Ken and Veronica’s dog Porsche. And she swims in the bay. Patti and her husband have swum in Newport Bay every day they have been on Balboa Island since they bought their house here in 1986 and they have never been sick. “So much for those who say the bay is not safe to swim in,” Patti says.
Patti came to the Island, like so many people, because her husband spent his summers here as a child. She fell in love with the house she lives in and the street itself. “We have the best street (Apolena) because everyone is so helpful and friendly.”
Patti has a daughter, Tanya, who is married to Burt Rutan. And for those of you who don’t follow space travel, like your editor, Burt just won the $10 million dollar Ansari X prize for the first privately funded spacecraft to travel in space twice in two weeks. I learned a lot about the X prize and what is to follow in a recent Time Magazine article about Rutan, but as I told Patti what interests the people here on the Island are people who live on the Island and what happens to them, so she gave me a few tidbits of info.
I guess when SpaceShipOne was about to launch, Tanya called her mom and asked for pictures to be taken into space aboard the spacecraft. Besides pictures of Patti, her husband and other family members, Patti gathered pictures of neighbors Ed and Pat Heath and Ken the dog. All the pictures were returned signed by Burt and are treasured by the owners—although I’m not so sure how Ken feels about his—guess we’ll have to ask the Pet Psychic!!
What does Patti have planned for the New Year?—going to Huntington Beach for the Polar Bear Club Plunge. At noon on New Year’s Day, wearing nothing but your bathing suit, you swim out to the end of the Huntington Beach Pier and back again—and you get a Certificate. Patti, knowing I love to swim, asked me to join her—I told her I might—BRRR.
One other thing Patti said she wants to do again is swim with the wild dolphins off Key West. Patti says they like different kinds of music—from classical to Pink Floyd—each dolphin is different, just like people. And the bonus is—the dolphins gave her so much energy when she swam with them—is that her secret—I need a ticket to Key West quick!!!
TIPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Yes, it’s that tipping time again. Each year during the 22 years I was in a service industry, I was asked what was a “normal” Christmas tip—so here goes.
Hairdresser—This person affects how the world views you. Do people complement you on your hair—do you love it? 15-20% of the total bill on a regular basis—at Christmas the price of one cut/color.
Babysitters—These are very capable people or you wouldn’t hire them. Are they dependable—do the children love them? Two nights pay and a gift. For a nanny the range can be $200 to $1000.00 or a gift in that range.
Trash collector—Here on Balboa Island a challenging job to say the least—Try to give them extra on the days when you do your Spring Cleaning. $15-$20 per collector at Christmas time.
Mail Carrier—Does the carrier find the mail slot and not bend your online photograph orders or Netflix? Postal workers are really not allowed to accept cash, but a small gift with a value of under $20.00 and even a small cash tip.
Newspaper Carrier—Does your newspaper stay out of the puddles and do you get it every day? Anywhere from $20.00 and up.
Housekeeper—To me personally, one of the hardest jobs—I used to call it the equivalent of “ditch digging” for women. Only men who dig ditches get to go home, sit down, eat dinner and watch tv. These gals get to go home and do this same job again with no pay. Generally a day’s wages or if full time a week’s wages.
UPS/FED-EX/RPS etc.—These guys are great at getting all your packages delivered. Finding a neighbor or your hiding place if you aren’t home. Christmas is the time to show them you care. A small gift is nice or a tip of $15 to $20.00
BALBOA ISLAND BUSINESSES
With Christmas coming I would like to say a few words about some of my favorite businesses. Starting with my neighbors Colleen and Jody of Let’s Go Shopping, at 114 Agate. You can’t go wrong with their great gifts and cute clothes. I can always count on them for something at the last minute. Last week I dashed in and bought a beautiful scarf for a birthday, a fashionable furry baseball cap and matching gloves and a candle that looks like a lamp. And all at reasonable prices.
We often send flowers from In Bloom, to our clients as thank you gifts. Owner, Missy Harris just had a baby December 1, Haley Harris, but her shop is being well tended by Bonnie Rago until Missy’s return. Call 949.675.9484 or stop by 114 Agate to order your Holiday Bouquets.
Around the corner, Tahiti Nui, 504 South Bayfront, is celebrating 9 years on Balboa Island. Grateful owner, Voytek, is giving away a Tahitian Black Pearl 14k white gold necklace to the customer who accumulates the most points at his store between December 1 and December 29. (You get 1 point for every $1.00 spent). The winner will be announced at 4 pm on December 29. Come see the necklace at the store.
In addition, Voytek has Baltic Amber and silver pieces from Poland ranging in price from $15.00 to $200.00. During the past year Voytek has added other services including watch repair, custom designing of jewelry and restringing of pearls—please see the flyer in this issue of the Island Breeze.
On Marine Avenue I stopped in at the Sandpiper, 213 Marine Avenue, to thank Gail Hammerschmidt for her great idea for the golf cart clinic, and pick up some holiday decorations. Everyone asks me about the 4’ Snowman on my desk—he is so cute—and several people have tried to buy the other decorations I bought right out of my showroom window! Tomorrow I am headed back to the Sandpiper for Christmas Cards, Bows, thank you notes, wrapping paper—and of course scotch tape.
Also on Marine, my hairdresser, MaryAm, has done things to my hair that even Mike has no argument with—and he is very particular in that area—more so than I am!! Ever since MaryAm started cutting my hair on my birthday in September people have been complimenting me on the style—and asking me if I had a permanent. She has managed to take my fine, flyaway hair and find the natural wave and make it look great—even with the minimal time I spend on it. For Christmas she wove in both blond AND red highlights—I love it, and it looks so natural. Thanks MaryAm!!! Call her at 949.723.5727 or stop in at 221 Marine Avenue.
Across the street at the Foot Boutique at 222 Marine Avenue
I got some great sheepskin lined boots by Old Friends to ward off the winter wet and cold—they come in black, brown, pink, blue, leopard, red, off-white and lavender—why not get a pair for every outfit? Owner Dawn also has all kinds of the coziest slippers to keep your feet warm when you come inside. Arriving daily—glitzy holiday sandals to wear to those holiday parties. Finally, check out must have, mid-heel, fashion boots from BCBG. One stop shopping to keep your feet warm and beautiful!!
NEWPORT SPORTS MUSEUM
FREE *****FREE****FREE****FREE
The Newport Sports Museum invites you, your family and friends to visit one of the largest and most comprehensive sports memorabilia collections in the world.
The Museum is a non-profit sports memorabilia and educational center dedicated to mentoring children and preserving the history of sport. Along with housing an impressive sports memorabilia collection, the Museum mentors children about the virtues of athletics and academics and the dangers of drugs and gangs through several outreach programs. Over 100 professional athletes donate their time to the Museum and assist with the outreach programs designed to teach courage, dependability, teamwork and dedication. Last year alone, over 4,100 children participated in these programs and met with an athlete who they recognized, related to, and willingly listened to. So it is truly the youth outreach programs that make the Museum an asset to the community.
The Newport Sports Museum is open to the public, FREE, six days a week and invites you to stop by and see its collection.
The Newport Sports Museum
100 Newport Center Drive
949.721.9333
http://www.NewportSportsMuseum.org
M-F: 9AM—6PM & SAT: 10AM—3PM
TIP OF THE MONTH
This month we are going to have a little fun with our tips:
Everything we read lately tells us that to prevent Alzheimer’s we should learn a new skill, take a new route to work or to the store, do a new kind of puzzle. This creates a new pathway in our brains. So men—when your wife or girlfriend decides to change the furniture around in the house—don’t get angry—she is just trying to create a new pathway in your house and consequently in your brain—be grateful. And women—when your men leave things laying in odd places around the house—don’t get angry—just figure it is a new puzzle to learn—a new pathway being created in your brain—be grateful. If everything was the same way everyday we all would never learn anything new. These are the gifts we give each other every day.
On a more serious note, my second tip has to do with the fact that we all have TOO MUCH STUFF and don’t really need more. If this rings true go to http://www.whatgoesaround.org and sign up. It is like a gift registry, only you pick your favorite charities and when someone wants to give you a gift, she can go to the site, go to your “give list” and make a donation the point-and-click way. I have too much stuff, but homeless women, Literacy Volunteers, SOS, lots of University of Southern California, UCLA and other UC Foundations, the Girl Scouts, etc. don’t have enough money. Any charity you can name can be on your list and your friends can give in your name—a great concept—kind of what this time of year used to be all about. 
Happy Holidays Everyone from Mike, Carolyn, Kathy, and Baxter at Island Flooring!!
