2004

Many of you are wondering, "What happened to Tony and Gretchen in 2004?"

2004 was a year of surprises and firsts


January
T&G sailed in the Corinthian Boat Race on California Gold. That's Tony hanging out there in thin air. This photo actually made the sailing publication Latitude 38. This was to be Gretchen's last competitive sail for the year. Tony and Gretchen took Linda (Gretchen's Mother) to a Jimmy Buffet concert for her birthday. In true T&G fashion the person sitting right next to them was Linda's old business partner who she hadn't seen for years. T&G played it as if it were all planned and of course everyone had a great time. Kimberly and Jeff came out to help us plaster the living room. We also hung a Bradbury & Bradbury wall border. It looks great.

February
T&G had their annual Ground Hog Day viewing of the movie named as such. This year we focused on the actual moment that Phil (Bill Murray) reaches his moment of Zen. Who'd of thought that a Bill Murray movie could be so intellectual.The day afterwards Gretchen took a pregnancy test and it came up positive. Tony, having already gotten in touch with his zen core, laughed on hearing the news. A new adventure was to begin. This was a good thing, because they were running out of things to do. OK, for those of you for whom this is the first time hearing this news, we'll give you a minute to let that sink in.

For the time being T&G decided to keep the news to themselves and the medical related staff that needed to know. All others, including family, were not be advised until after all the trickier parts of the pregnancy were over. T&G got Burning Man tix, just in case. Gretchen's official due date is September 11-14th. Burning Man is the week before that. Tickets are very easy to pass on, so no worries.

March & April
Another neighborhood garage sale. This year with the finials in place on the completely restored West Manor pillars. The City of Benicia is so impressed by our neighborhood's efforts that they tried to get us to do the same thing for the remaining pillar at the Highlands. Gretchen explains that it was a labor of love for a community, several of times. They still occasionally call.

New living room window is delivered and installed by Tony and Dennis. Gretchen helped some, but left the heavy work to the guys. Something she's not used to doing. Some how the boys did a great job without her and T&G now have a lovely, double paned window in the living room. Better yet the new window will fit an air conditioner that will keep the living room cool during the last few months of Gretchen's term. She is later to be very thankful for this new addition.

T&G sailed again with Tim and Laurie on Tout Suite for Opening Day on the Straights. At the party afterwards Tony wore a large hat that was made for a previous Buffet party and took 3rd place. Tim and Laurie took 1st place as best decorated boat overall. As usual T&G with the help of Linda take partial credit for the win by acting out a scene from Blazing Saddles on deck (... we don't need no stinking badges). Opening Day is always a win when you spend it with friends being silly and having a great time.

Benicia Mardi Gras Parade and Festival. Tony was racing sail boats that day. Gretchen was one of the parade pit bulls, required to keep people on the sidewalk during the parade. She got an up close vision of what today's teens act like in public when their parents are not around. It was not pretty. She had a few moments were she wondered if she and Tony really needed to contribute to the future teenage population.

Gretchen turned 42. A big year for her personally. She had a premonition at about age 12 that her 42nd year would be a turning point. That something big was going to happen that year. Tony took her to Sebastipol at her request for the day. Afterwards T&G had dinner at a local winery with Linda and Glen and told them the news about the baby. No more making glib excuses for not drinking wine. A few weeks later we were able to connect with Tony's parents and then the news was out.