I used to be a three-county tinker, but I gave up Alameda County. It was just too far to go. I also gave up those under-the-counter jobs where your head and back are in the cabinet looking up at 30- or 40-year old fixtures and drains or garbage disposals in leaking and desperate need of […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Sprinkler Leaks
Sprinkler Leaks Oh, Lordy, the customer calls, her sprinkler heads are not working up to par, several are fine, but some are just dribbling, can I schedule a look in the next few days? Yes, we agree on a time that suits both of us, and I arrive. She heads for the garage to turn […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Networking 2.0
Some from the 1980s called it “networking,” others call it “word of mouth advertising,” marketing, etc. Some case(s) in point: 1. 1970, Sanitary Engineering Research Lab, Richmond Field Station, UC Berkeley. 4-5 other UC labs were at the Field Station also, so to safeguard for empty spaces in my timecard and workload, I “networked” my […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Special projects
Oh, the Joys of Handymanning, sometimes it’s a riot of creativity. Four recent and not-so-recent projects come to mind: 1. Cat House 2. Ramp for a Senior Dog 3. Lazy Susan 4. Backyard Art Museum 1. Cat House A long-time customer had remarried and his new wife had a cat who was accustomed to the […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Honey-Do Handymanning
Honey-Do Handymanning In this my 15th year of riding in this Handyman saddle, it’s time to move on to the Honey-Do Phase. Just as busy as always, but a tad lighter in tasks than previously. What does that mean “Honey-Do?” That’s the phrase where the wife or spouse or significant other says, “Honey I […]
The A Cappella Handyman: With screaming seagulls overhead
The first time I came to or through Benicia was in 1946 across the train bridge from Martinez, I was three years old. My Mom and I were enroute to Brigham City, Utah to see my Dad who was in a VA hospital for reconstructive surgery for his wounds acquired in World War II Germany. […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Songwriting 2.0.2
It had been a tough day at work, so by the time I rode the BART train out of The City and to Pleasant Hill, then drove home to Benicia, I was ready to turn on the TV and disappear into some mind-numbing TV. I grabbed the remote, sank into my favorite chair and as […]
The A Capella Handyman: Benicia Talent Show 2017
Zoe Goldie, a Benicia High School senior, thought it would be fun to have one last senior event with her friends and classmates before graduation sent them hither and yon into life’s next great adventures, with all proceeds to go to ARF, the Animal Rescue Foundation. So she set forth on her mission: locate a […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Dump run
The day was sufficiently planned, my trailer was loaded: Mom’s leaves from this entire season in large black plastic bags, and a few pieces of other customer’s junk – a 4 x 4 rotted-bottom gate post, scrap metal posts from another job, some chicken wire from a third, and a large cardboard box. The bulk […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Signing off on Trump
I’m signing off on Trump. I chose NOT to watch his address to the joint houses of Congress. The U.S. has no president. It has a faux-Presidente of the caliber of the reality TV show family, the Kardashians. Of cerebral capacity akin to Jerry Springer. I watched him belittle and demean his lackluster Republican fellow […]