My song, “I’ve Been Better and I’ve Been Worse,” was literally written in the Raley’s Benicia parking lot, maybe 2005 or earlier. True story. At the end of a hard working day, a polite, energetic young male checkout clerk greeted me, the next in line with, “How are you?” as he buoyantly began to ring […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Viggo & the New Anthology
The Benicia First Tuesday Poets’ new poetry anthology (the 7th) came out this past Sunday with a group meeting/Release Event at the City library’s Dona Benicia Room. “Light & Shadow” is its title, a collaborative effort between Benicia First Tuesday Poets and Benicia’s literary organization, Benicia Literary Arts. Thirty-seven poets are represented with three or […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Concert at the Naked Oyster
I used to imagine a sell-out crowd at the Majestic Theater on First Street and then in later years it moved to the stage at the Rellik Tavern also on First. It’s good to have an Ace in the Hole card to fuel you through your working day. Just about an hour’s worth of my […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Notes on Design
Notes on Design/The Magic of the Moon I always felt there could be a wedding of the arts and sciences as much as there could be a union of our reason and our passion. So having been schooled in the heat and sweat of a summer-like science, I longed for the fall and the magic […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Exercise Poems
1. I’m Wrong Since high school, that’s when I last did PE exercises, I’m wrong, I could get B’s then but then get the Hell out, Physical Exercise was NOT my middle name. I’m the Yard Guy for our homes for 50 years: I rototill, Weedeat, tote the fence posthole concrete bags, the wheelbarrow, put […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Songwriting and Design
At first observation, these might seem to be strange bedfellows. But bear with me, I progress. To design is to plan, to improve, to make better some current dysfunction or lacking in overall function. To song write is to create a pleasant composition that soothes, entertains, maybe even teaches. Both actions yield benevolent and constructive […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Thursday’s Ramble
Senior Exercise Class Sincerest thanks to long-time Benician, Mary Frances Kelly Poh, she read one of my poems recently on Facebook about the atrophying physical condition of this 75-year old and responded by email, that I should join her exercise class. I did! Wow! Am I outta shape! Later today Wednesday, as I now write […]
The A Cappella Handyman: The Poems of Benicia
This was supposed to be Part 2 of the column, “Pieces of Work” about my ever-evolving employment history, but that’s more of an odyssey than this writer wants to deal with right now, so my apologies for any angst I may have caused. I’d rather share a few recent pieces, scenes about town, much more […]
The A Cappella Handyman: A Little Good News
Last Friday I received a call from the Benicia Herald’s office on First Street that “a piece of U.S. Mail had arrived” for me c/o the Herald, and I could pick it up at my convenience. Hot Damn! What could it be? An offer to be published somewhere or with a second paper? A syndication? […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Pieces of Work
Our two family cats are “pieces of work,” Otto, the all-white, indoor Senior Statesman, who enjoys backyard walks with Jan on a leash, and Joey, the Tuxedo Cat, severely bright and “tough guy,” who adopted us and sleeps in the garage rafters in a box marked “Christmas,” and prefers the adventures of trees and outdoor […]