On a Saturday night in February, Carole King and James Taylor’s music was featured as the draw for the audience of 200 at Vallejo’s Empress Theatre. Many of us of the grey hair variety, who actually still remember the words to many of the songs and were sub vocally singing along, showed up. The performances […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Who is the Ugly American?
How can I help myself from chiming in on the President Donald Trump harangue? I can’t. Some of you remember years ago the traveling American who wore Hawaiian shirts, a camera hanging from his neck and a very loud voice. He was symbolic of an American who did not have any interest in the culture […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Why soup in the winter?
Benicians make soup in winter. How do I know? This is the second year in a row that Safeway did not have split peas. They were sold out. If you want to try it out, here’s a recipe: Good old split-pea soup 4 cups water 2 cups chicken stock or broth 2 carrots, chopped 1/2 […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: What was my personal worst in 2016?
On New Year’s Eve, Megan, Bob and I went to see “Manchester by the Sea.” What a way to end a year – on the lowest note imaginable. A theme of the movie is that some things hurt too much to get past, but don’t worry. Nothing that horrible happened to me in 2016. However […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: What might you want to know about hip replacement surgery?
I remember when I was 40, 50 and even 60 years old and visited my mother and father in West Palm Beach, Florida, we would invariably spend part of our day sitting around a swimming pool. The circle we formed was full of conversation about families, activities, and especially about ailments. I was appalled at […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Why am I a disgruntled grandma?
I have noted that as I attend meetings at the Benicia Friendship Group, my knitting group and my book group, among other groups, that I get to feeling left out. I am left out of the conversation titled, “I have the best relationship with my grandchildren.” I am forlorn, upset and in pain, at the […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Why do we give parties?
Over the years my husband, Marshall, and I gave large parties for significant birthdays- 40, 50, 60, 70. Some of these parties were surprise parties and some were not. They all included lots of food, music and conviviality. They all included some level of angst. However, none were as troubling as the latest fiesta hosted […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: Why do we bother to pursue retribution for infractions?
Do you write letters to agencies when they have made mistakes, or do you just get the mistake taken care of and move on? I am writing this to encourage all of us to go further than just reporting an error. I am encouraging you, when you are pissed off to have your say. When […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: What do men really want in a woman?
There is a not-so-funny joke that has been around for too long. When asked what it is that women want, the answer is whatever they want.When asked, what is it that men want it is assumed that they want to be left in their cave watching sports and to be fed occasionally. This view of […]
Mrs. B’s Blather: What clothing might signify in your life
Growing up in New York City and living in a one-bedroom apartment with my sister, mother and father presented some interesting logistical problems such as where to put our clothing. In that there were two closets, remember closets in those days were three feet wide, two feet deep and tall enough for short people. One […]