Former congressman provides sharp barb
| Monday, Dec 19 2011 06:47 PM
Last Updated Monday, Dec 19 2011 06:50 PM
I saw Bill Thomas at Sequoia Sandwich the other day. The former congressman was eating lunch with his wife, Sharon. After he ordered, he looked at me and asked when I was going to stop using my high school picture in the paper. I considered asking him if it was that obvious, but given the sharpness of his needle, I demurred.
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After having my back license plate and frame stolen, I went to the DMV for new tags and plates. The visit was pleasant, which may surprise some. The clerks are efficient, the clientele interesting and the experience grass-roots.
Houchin Blood Bank was kind enough to give me two 2-gallon frames in which to anchor the new plates. Afterwards, I consulted John Axt, auto mechanic to the stars, to ask his advice on anchoring the plates so they wouldn't be lifted again. He suggested a visit to Pep Boys, where they sell bolts that screw in but don't screw out.
"Somebody would have to grind those bolts off to take the plates," he said. "Thieves will move on before they spend the time."
John always has an answer to automotive challenges, but there is one problem with permanent bolts: If I lock in the 2-gallon frames and continue to donate, how do I convey to people, who pay attention to such things, that I have strengthened my bloody resume? People might think, "He used to be generous. Now, he's holding on tight."
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Several people called, including former Paul Andre and Assemblyman Trice Harvey, to address the license plate frame issue and their own prowess as far as donating blood.
Trice has given 23 gallons and Paul mentioned twice, in a one-paragraph email, that he was up to 7 gallons. These guys must be talking to Bill Thomas. Bill has probably given 40 gallons.
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I managed to offend a few people in the gluten-free community with my column about a friend who has gone gluten-free and suddenly become a bike rider to be feared.
"Hi Herb,
"When you wrote about your friends going gluten-free, I am sure you were talking about a dietary choice they were making. It would have been nice to have mentioned the many people like me who have had to give up gluten because it makes us sick. It is perceived as a trendy diet, so those of us who have to avoid it are often treated like we are just being difficult. It's incredibly frustrating.
"I love bread, but being GF is not that bad, although I do yearn for Pyrenees bread. It has been worth it to have my asthma mostly go away."
Michelle Beck
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"Herb ... I read with interest your article about 'No gluten' for you ... and since we have been eating gluten-free for more than 30 years ... not a fad ...
"I can tell you firsthand that we eat yummy bread every day ... and if I had a recipe, I could make your favorite ... gluten free." ... Roxana
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Awhile back I wrote about a blender that was being demonstrated at Costco. The price was in the mid $200s and customers were salivating over it. This email is from Becky Scott:
"I hope you didn't end up paying big bucks for that blender you wanted. According to the August issue of Consumer Reports, the $60 Ninja Master Prep was a CR Best Buy and practically as good as the $450 blender."
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It's the month of 100th birthdays. Bill Keough is turning 100 and according to his friend Renita Relerford, Bill still drives, dresses beautifully and loves life.
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Also turning 100 is Mildred (Dixie) Kern, who was born in Athens, Ala. Her husband, Al, was a percussionist with several bands in the '30s. A gig at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel brought them to California. They made their home in Bakersfield during the mid-1930s, and Al played at clubs in Bakersfield. While her husband played in the Army Air Force Band during World War II, Dixie worked at the El Tejon Hotel. Later she worked for Smith's Bakery, retiring at age 80 after 20 years.
Dixie's mantra is "Keep busy and be happy!" Asked about the future, she replied, "I want to be the first one on that bullet train." She enjoys music, attending the Bakersfield Community Concerts and eating out.
