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 […]
Poetry Corner: Peter Bray “Love Poem”
I thought about her beauty like a Bougainvillea with thorns. I thought about her beauty like a matador facing horns. I thought about her beauty and I’ll tell ya this: I’ll deal with all of that after one more kiss. Peter Bray is a member of the First Tuesday Poetry group. This poem was an […]
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 […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Where Old Flies
The best part of getting older is that you accumulate entertaining stories that are worth the retelling over and over again. One of my favorites of this type occurred a few years ago, I won’t tell you in which town, because every town has them, old cottages for rent that are still being maintained and […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Readers Write…
Readers Write… Readers of this column since 2008 have been entertained or informed about backyard squirrels, house cats, “Saving the Lido,” growing up in 1950s Walnut Creek suburbia, corporate life and post-corporate life, “Toilets 101”, songwriting, and how many poems I’ve long ago lost track of. So…I’m more than game to hear their Bucket Lists, […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Tinker
There was a time of old when the tinker, a silversmith of sorts, travelled by buggy or cart from village to village fixing pots and pans. Not all were silver either, maybe they were pewter or cast iron or copper, or inexpensive pot metal, whatever that served the cooking needs of the many on his […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Handyman’s Lore
Handyman Lore Everything man-made has a shelf life to it, concrete or steel or maybe you can see through it. Add the vagaries of time and weather, and an animal skin tanned becomes a coat of leather. Add zippers and buttons and you’re looking pretty cool, ’til age sets in and you’re dulling your tools. […]