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From Who (click name) |
Bulletin |
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3/4/2004
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Greg Sands
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Oh, thank God! Now I can prove to my wife and kids that I really DID
once have hair! Great website, kudos to the Committee. I won't be able
to make it this July, but my heart will sure be home.
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6/11/2004
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Greg Sands
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Hi, Chargers! This is Greg Sands with greetings from Philadelphia. I put up the briefest of notes a few months ago, then jumped in today to see what was up, after that epic two-part email from John. Imagine my dismay that nobody I hung out with at Edison has posted on this board! C'mon, Mike Moynagh, Rick Green, Chris Trela (cripes, Chris, you're a WRITER...you of all people!!)
Quick shout out to JD Elmquist: Years ago, I was at an Angels game and, along about the 5th inning or so, the message board flashed on a group WAYY up in the upper deck, with the notice "Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. JD Elmquist, who just got married." SO, though we never really knew each other at EHS, I can honestly say I was at your wedding! As a fellow baseball freak, I can only say that I had my own feeble attempt to match such an audacious feat: On the occasion of my 2nd wedding day, my wife and I left our reception to make sure we got to Veteran's Stadium in time for the game!
Okay, on to a brief history (for the two of you out there who even remember me): I was one of the nerds in school, making student films with Moynagh, Trela, Dori Kagen, Mary Ganiere, Nelson Cominsky (Rest in Peace, my friend), Greg Diamond, and others. If most of the class remembers me at all, they might remember that I was the one who wore those custom-dyed, green and gold Vans until they fell off my feet. I hung out mostly in the English Dept, taking Mass Media classes from Stolte, and History with Shimpock and Stupin. Must have stuck, because my loves still include writing, film and history. I was sort of invisible in the school (though, at the time, I never felt so) and loved my time at Edison.
Today, I live in Collingswood, NJ (just on the other side of the Delaware River from Philadelphia), where I work for AT&T Wireless, in the wonderful world of cellular phones. I'm married for the second time (showing that I have not ONE original bone in my body, both of my wives were named "Linda"), have a beautiful 22-year old daughter from my 1st marriage, a fine 21-year old stepson and an annoying dog named "Truman". I miss California terribly, and I wish I could make it for the reunion, but both of my parents are ill and I can't take the time away from the area.
I have the fondest memories of Free Fare/Shuffle and their goofy skits, the Morning Annoucements, that one cheeseburger in the upper left corner of the rack, in the Snack Bar, that I SWEAR TO GOD was there the whole four years (and is probably there, still), Bachelor Cooking in summer school, the ongoing debate between Steve Scott and Bob Harden, in Mass Media 1, over the 1972 presidential election, my unrequited crush on Kim Sellers, the CHARLIE party, Otto Wolfgang running for class president, the beach, the beach, LORD do I miss the beach! My Dodgers (hooray for MLB/extra innings on cable), In-n-Out, softball games on Sunday afternoons...
Well, I've blathered enough. I wish all of you a great time at the reunion; I will be there in spirit!
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8/5/2004
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Greg Sands
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Wow, sounds like a great time was had by all, and I truly regret not having been able to attend. My mother is suffering from cancer and my father from Parkinson's, and my wife and I are working to get them moved down from rural NE Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia area to help care for them and to likely share my mom's last days near her family. Tough days ahead, but I have lots of strength from my beloved wife and my kids.
I want to leave a note for Steve Scott: I was touched by your wonderful post and even more so that you saw fit to list my name among your friends in school. Sometimes you walk away from a place in your life wondering if you left an impact of any kind, and I'm glad that, in whatever small way, I did. I'm proud of you for overcoming your apprehension that day in 1984. One of the things I tell people on the east coast is that, coming from CA, I am used to dealing with everybody on terms of what they bring to the table rather than from the point of view of "who they are". Comes from living in a melting pot. (Growing up a true liberal in OC, rare though that was, didn't hurt, I guess.) I'm happy you have someone who has shared your life for so long (my wife, Linda and I have been married 7 years, and my one "regret" is that we didn't meet sooner so we could have shared even more of our lives together). I recall watching you working on drawings for an
animated "Masque of the Red Death" while sitting in "Boom-Boom" Stolte's Mass Media 1 class. I saw real talent there.
For Debbie Jacobsohn Kaye: You had me going there, Debbie. I had trouble getting my head around the image of a girl I remember, with the most gorgeous eyes I had ever seen, sitting behind the wheel of a semi, doobie in one hand, a Schlitz in the other, with a tattoo on her shoulder that said "I Don't Brake for Barons". Incidentally, if ANY of that strikes a little close to home, do me a favor and don't tell me. I have to keep my teenage fantasy girls pristine, thank you very much.
For Chedly: It was great communicating with you through emails, Chedly. Your life might just be the most fascinating of any I've come across. Who among us hasn't dreamt of joining the circus and heading off to distant lands? You did it and how very cool is that? Be well, my friend, and always keep 'em guessing.
For all my classmates, friends or faces, nodding acquaintances or ships in the night, who have dealt with illness or tragedy, personal or of those near and dear to you: Your stories are both heartbreaking and inspiring. When I wake up, overweight and tired, with my arthritic knee and my chronically stiff neck, I have to stop and think about the fact I don't really have it so bad, after all, and take a moment to thank my Boss (and no, just cause I live in New Jersey, I don't mean
Springsteen). My best wishes and prayers are with you all.
I hope that we somehow can keep this board going and check in, from time to time. These little trips down Memory Lane (and I can pretty much guarantee that those cheesy 60's real estate magnates in HB/FV might very well have named a side street on one of those cookie-cutter housing tracts "Memory Lane") make me feel like that young, skinny nerd (with a full head of hair, no less) with the silly green and gold shoes, from so long ago.
Meantime, I will wait for the newest iMac to come out, continue to work for John Kerry, root for my Dodgers and wish you all the very best in your lives. Maybe I'll see you all in 10 years at the next big party! God Bless, Chargers!!
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12/9/2004
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Greg Sands
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Edison High Alum Jeff Kent just signed to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers! Go Chargers!
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4/1/2005
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Greg Sands
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1st of all, I love all the pictures from the reunion. It was almost like being there. Of course, the question is: What happened to all the people I went to school with and who are all these old fogies? Of course, then I look in the mirror...I can't believe I'm 49.
Just to let you all know, I had successful gastric bypass surgery in early March. I had ballooned to well over 300 lbs and my health was in danger. Three weeks later, I've already lost 40! My wife wound up having the same surgery this week and we will both move to healthy lives over the next year. I'll never be as skinny as I was at EHS (I was 160 when I graduated) but I'll be under 200 and I can't wait! Heck, just to put on my class ring, one more time, ought to be interesting.
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8/5/2005
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Greg Sands
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Just as an update to my post from 4/1/05: Monday will mark 5 months since I had gastric bypass surgery in Philadelphia and I have lost, to date, 120 lbs! I still have 40-50 lbs to go, but this has been one of the most amazing rides of my entire life. My wife, Linda, had the same surgery March 28 and has, to date, lost 71 lbs and has about 50 to go, as well. Together, we have lost more than I weighed when I graduated from Edison! Feel great and my health has improved dramatically!
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12/25/2005
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Greg Sands
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Merry Christmas to the Class of '74!
Just wanted to say hello to my classmates who frequent this board from time to time. Some time ago, I posted that I had undergone gastric bypass surgery on March 7th. I'm pleased to say that I have now lost 145 lbs, to date, and have dropped under the 200 lb mark for the first time since 1979! My wife, Linda, also underwent WLS surgery, three weeks after me, and has lost 105 lbs!! We're both healthy and feel wonderful (almost feel like I could get on the mound and break off a curve or two--other than the fact my arm would fall
off!)
A particular shoutout to any of my classmates who also graduated from Lamb School, class of 1970. I had Mrs. Trinidad for both 7th and 8th grades.
My most sincere hopes for a healthy, happy and peaceful 2006 for you all! Take care!
Greg Sands
Collingswood, NJ
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3/11/2006
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Greg Sands
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Hi, Jim!
That's partly correct: Mrs. Trinidad switched over to Giesler after I graduated from Lamb in 1970 (not sure exactly when). I remember visiting her a couple of times after that (would have been at least 1972, as I didn't get my driver's license before then (I can't imagine riding a bike over to Giesler.))
Wonder whatever happened to her? She was a memorable teacher.
(by the way, WLS followup: Having just passed my one-year anniversary of the surgery, I have lost 151 lbs (which is more weight LOST than I actually WEIGHED in my freshman year at EHS!) I'm now at 191, and my wife has lost nearly 130 lbs! Anybody interested in my world can check out my new website, www.bigblaster.com!))
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11/19/2006
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Greg Sands
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First, let me wish everybody from the Class of '74 a safe, happy, healthy and wonderful holiday season. I'm now working full-time for the Apple Store in Marlton, NJ, so I don't have as much time to check websites like this, and it'll only get worse over the next six weeks as we hit the retail madness.
Susan Friesen--My thanks for your warm wishes. I am now at an
(unbelievably!) svelte 182 lbs, for a total weight loss of 160 lbs in 20 months! My wife had the same surgery three weeks after I did and has lost 140 lbs! I agree that gastric bypass surgery is a difficult decision, that is extreme and certainly not for everybody, but let me also encourage anyone reading this who might be seriously considering having it done. It is a scary proposition, but the rewards my wife and I have from gained remain worth it. I wouldn't change my mind for anything! I truly feel like I have my life back. Since I plan to live to be 100, I believe that the 2nd half of my life will truly be better than the first!
John Miller--congratulations on the Mt. Whitney attempt. In life, we might not always make the summit, but the climb is what is important and you have an experience you will carry with you forever. You have represented the Green and Gold well.
Also, there is a real possibility that I might just be moving back to SoCal in the next year or so. Under the heading of "taking lemons and making lemonade," my wife Linda is probably going to shelve her plans to get her Master's degree. This will open up the chance for us to get our house in order (literally as well as figuratively) and make the move West. I'd love to spend Christmas, 2007 in Los Angeles, but I'll just be pleased if we are closer to the goal one year from now.
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4/28/2007
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Greg Sands
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John, given I lost 162 lbs (and kept my wife), I suspect yours is going to cost more than mine did. Sorry to hear about it, though. I did laugh over your "subtle" pokes at the not-so-subtle Decider.
Very nice.
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9/22/2007
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Greg Sands
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Yes, Chris Trela did write a history of Newport Beach. He's steadfastly refused to let me read it (which is to say, he won't send me a free copy, the rat!) but he did show me some pics from the book (apparently believing I'm incapable of reading--he clearly remembers high school.)
Congratulations, John, on making the getting to the top of Mt.
Whitney! You done the Class of '74 proud!
My news is getting exciting, though not yet quite fulfilled: I'm moving home! I'm coming back to California next year, and my wife and I have decided to try to move back to Huntington Beach! We were out during the summer (missed the reunion party by a week) and decided that HB was where we want to be.
SO, as a result, we currently have a torn up house, here in Collingswood, NJ. We are completely remodeling it, from top to bottom. Once it is done, we'll spend one last winter in the East, list the house in March and hopefully be back in SoCal by summer. Let the fish tacos flow freely and the bikinis be loosened! (or
somesuch)
The saga of the Great Remodel of 2007 is being chronicled on my website, www.bigblaster.com.
I look forward to actually attending some of these Class of '74 soirees in the near future!
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8/24/2009
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Greg Sands
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Wow, just reviewed the site and has it REALLY been nearly two years since I last posted? Well, in our last exciting installment, we had torn up the house for a complete remodel with plans to move from New Jersey to HB in 2008. The house was done but, two years later, we're still in New Jersey. We're FINALLY about to list the house with intentions to move in October. Long, LONG and, might I add, boring story. Still, we're getting close and it's equal parts scary and exciting. We have to marry off my stepson in October, and then, assuming the house is sold, we'll head West. Sorry we missed the get together this month. Maybe next one.
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11/1/2009
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Greg Sands
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Well, we DID IT! We sold the house, packed up the car and now we live in CA! We arrived yesterday and are now just trying to orient ourselves and find a permanent apartment. We're in Burbank for the moment. We'll wind up in Glendale/Pasadena/Burbank or the west Valley, most likely, as soon as my wife finds work. Thankfully, my
company allowed me to transfer to the west coast (I start Saturday).
Good to be home!
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