Herb Benham
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HERB BENHAM: Always a sad day when last Pioneer leaves
My last purchase: One glass rain gauge (a man can dream, can't he?), a 12-ounce sugar pourer, a green garden rake, a pair of extra-grippy ThermaFit gloves and two pairs of premium grain goatskin work gloves (one a gift for my son, because every man should have a soft pair of work gloves).
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HERB BENHAM: Where angels, headless or not, fear to tread
A friend was home alone while his wife was on a 10-day trip across the country to see family, which included the can't-do-anything-wrong grandchildren.
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HERB BENHAM: A glorious day for a glorious sport--unless you're riding
It was hot. Ninety four when we left. Even a frosty cold beverage struggles against 94.Yesterday, we attended the 5th stage of the Amgen Tour of California, an 18.7 mile-long time trial, that started and finished at BC. I have no idea who won. I was too busy eating the sloppy joe's from Moo Creamery, deep pit chicken from Prime Cut, the pita bread and dips from Cafe Med, bread pudding made by the BC Culinary Arts program washed down by ice-cold rose from Imbibe.
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HERB BENHAM: They're reading it; they just don't know why
I learned something about a male friend of mine after he read my column on "Fifty Shades of Grey," the racy novel that is probably outselling the Bible.
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HERB BENHAM: If nothing else, 'mommy porn' shouldn't be dull
By Herb Benham
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HERB BENHAM: Being invited doesn't mean you have to come
Home, lunch, mail time.
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After 30 years, the gumption to make call
It had been 30 years since I had seen him. We were living in L.A. Sue was in law school. I was selling wine. The wine was called Lost Hills. It tasted like it came from Lost Hills, and some of the grapes did.
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Appetite for knowledge rivals hunger for shrimp
Thursday I went back to college. I learned something. I might go again, especially if they figure out how to grow bigger shrimp. This was CSUB and the annual Charles W. Kegley memorial lecture put on by the Kegley Institute of Ethics. I'm outing Christopher Meyers, the director of the institute, right now. Heading this department -- whose mission statement is "Inspired by love and guided by reason" (Bertrand Russell) -- is the best job at the university.
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Bird-watching catches attention of a president
The other day I received a letter from the Kern Audubon Society. My heart skipped a beat. It had the feel of a college acceptance letter. It was from Madi Elsea, president of Kern Audubon. She noted my growing interest in birds. This sentence grabbed my attention:
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HERB BENHAM: At baptism, Dad plunged into unusual place
I forget about the collection plate. I am not in the habit of bringing my wallet to church, because I am not in the habit of going to church.
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She's pedaling to make our country better
It almost has become sport to bash the younger generation because they supposedly lack the sabre-rattling qualities of their elders and, by this thinking, will take a knee in a light headwind.
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White sweater has that Teflon-Don quality
I have a white sweater. It's cotton. I paid a buck for it.I bought it 12 years ago in a thrift shop in San Juan Capistrano. Most of us get one deal like this. A smoking purchase that we had not planned for but in which we are delighted.
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HERB BENHAM: Autism doesn't have to be the end of hope
His story almost sounds too good. Like a piece of fiction. A fantastic tale of man overcoming the impossible.
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HERB BENHAM: Bowling finished, so can I stop grimacing?
We finished our Lent Bowling League last week. I didn't win anything, but I was named "Most Intense," the prize being a framed photo of me with veins popping out of my forehead.
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HERB BENHAM: Bakersfield makes fine impression on La Jolla
Porch painted, kitchen touched up and floor swept and mopped. Flowers throughout the house.
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HERB BENHAM: The doctor is in, but not much longer
I'm happy to report that he doesn't walk on water but after hearing about Don Loos for years and then talking to his staff and fellow doctors, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't sink, either.
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Teach someone about the hummingbirds, bees
I bought a hummingbird feeder. Everybody has one but I wanted mine to be the most attractive so I could poach hummingbirds from my neighbors' yards like some people intercept Internet signals.
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HERB BENHAM: Don't get stuck with the same stick
A good stick is underrated, but not by me.
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HERB BENHAM: The wedding comes to our front porch
Last weekend, I repainted the front porch. The floor was chipped, uneven and warped. We needed fresh paint because company is coming to town.
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HERB BENHAM: Oh, to be youthful and optimistic again
After speaking to students at South High a few weeks ago about writing -- I told them it was hard and I've wanted to surrender many times -- I received a packet of thank-you letters. One was from Alissa Torres. She wrote:
