Yet more Benicia

which is all about distractions great and small…as Scott of Scott’s Auto flaked totally on Friday the Tundra had to go to spendy Tuolomne in Vallejo after Monday mornings’ walk, where

it stayed the entire week.  Meanwhile the stresses of Linda’s extreme business busyness led us awhile later to seek solace via Dinner Out at Lucca but unfortunately the surly service left us freezing on the sidewalk by the time our food arrived so stupidly, instead of packing up for Gaby’s, we accepted their offer to dine inside which eloquently reminded us why we never do.  The fish and chips were ok but the cacophony and amplified hysteria were as unbearably assaultive as ever…never again.   Thursday brought the year’s first Farmer’s Market,

a good excuse to run downtown in the ’45 for some very good very young artichokes.

In other news our H Street neighbor finally collected his ’50 five-window from whomever’d been taking forever to fix it; nice to see it around again.   Saturday then went the way of many

of these days, in this case adrift in the distract of Libre meeting online, getting things done but no studio visitations, not a glimpse, as was pretty much the case all week, oh well..

Tuesday, which felt like it should have been the start of the weekend, presented

an opportune time for the annual hood repaint before the truck heads back up the desert…

just another distraction, sure.  Like old times, or endlessly tripping to market to market

while down along the cove Benicia’s latest public art, “Pelican Girl”, aka girl coddling formless

blob, was finally installed, raising the eternal question of how is it some figurative bronzes can be quite engaging while J. Seward Johnson’s, seemingly identical in all aspects, come off as infinitely creepy and not just because of the paint.  This one, fortunately not his, ain’t bad.

At water’s edge Linda’s unlikely friend Ping the Duck persevered, friendless but ever hopeful on what became, suddenly and without warning, yet another Thursday;

Farmers’ Market, artichokes ‘n’ all…the second and most likely last time for us this season.

More on that anon.

8 thoughts on “Yet more Benicia

    1. mikesmoore Post author

      It used to be the annual [or semi-annual] “total camouflage repaint” but since the bargain clearcoat has been peeling off the Tundra I’ve settled for primer on the hood at least…it could have something to do with our “good neighbor” Valero’s air quality control, too. A lot of cars in Benicia seem to be shedding paint.

      Reply
      1. Stephen R Stern

        Yeah…“annual hood repaint” brought me up short too. So it’s from being in Bencia, not the Smoke Creek, right?

        Reply
        1. mikesmoore Post author

          Yes, right here among the refineries; a lot of cars around town have the same problem.

          Reply
  1. Kathy Moore

    I like “Pelican Girl” blob and all, you are being too harsh. I like Ping too but where are Pang and Pong?

    Reply
    1. mikesmoore Post author

      I didn’t say I didn’t like “Pelican Girl”, I was merely marveling as to how similarly wrought work [i.e. J.Seward J.] can be so ungodly creepy. Which she is not.

      Reply
  2. Janet Whitchurch

    Those car distractions like old times….
    In interesting and not so interesting ways, I find “retirement” a lot busier than when I had a job, so I sympathize with Linda.

    Reply
  3. Kirk Moore

    Ah yes, always distractions; including the consistent and never-ending “car season”. I just hope the Valero varnish that seems to be peeling paint off vehicles isn’t affecting your lungs in a similar fashion!
    Save all deep breathing exercises for Wall Spring!
    Looking forward to spring images of the desert!

    Reply

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