This is the Old Town section of Salinas. The restaurant with the blue awning advertises that John Steinbeck ate there.

On Wednesday I needed to drive between Salinas and San Luis Obispo so I decided to take the scenic route along the coast. It was the first time I'd ever taken Hwy. 1 through Big Sur. Absolutely stunning! I stopped off at the gorgeous Ventana Inn for lunch. This was my view of the ocean from my table on the patio.

Driving south I stopped off to look at some Elephant Seals sunning themselves on the beach directly below Hearst Castle. The area is fenced off to keep people from interfering with the critters.

Wednesday night I had dinner at the completely over the top Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. This place is always something to see, but it's the excellent kitchen that keeps bringing me back.

Thursday I had an excellent lunch at the terrific and historic Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe, just a few miles west of Santa Maria.

More Radio Fun

I'll be on KOGO (600 AM) in San Diego tonight (Monday) at 7:30 p.m.  If you want to listen on-line here's the link: http://www.am600kogo.com/main.html

Radio Rescheduling

My appearance this afternoon on Andy Caldwell's show on KUHL-AM has been rescheduled to Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

Be sure to listen in then.

Thirty Minute Quickie

I had a lot of fun Tuesday as a guest on Larry Mantle's show on KPCC-FM debating Proposition 24.

I've been on his show before and Larry is always very fair in moderating debates. And it's still amazing how quickly thirty minutes on the air goes by.

On Friday at 3 p.m. I'll be a guest on Andy Caldwell's show on KUHL-AM (1440) in Santa Maria. If you're not on the Central Coast you can listen in on-line here: http://www.am1440.com/home/onair_schedule/206-Schedule.html

Call and say hello and ask me a question!

This was my first time at KPCC's new studio in Pasadena. For decades they were housed on-campus at Pasadena City College.

Talk to Me!

On Wednesday morning, October 20 at 8:10 a.m. (PT) I'll be debating Proposition 24 on Berkeley's Pacifica radio station -- KPFA - FM.  You can listen in here:
 http://www.kpfa.org/home

And if you missed this morning debate on KPCC-FM (where were you?) you can listen to it here:
 http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2010/10/19/proposition-24/

Radio Alert!

I'm doing a couple of radio shows on Tuesday, October 19.  Please listen in and call in and say hello.

10:30 a.m.
KPCC-FM
89.3
Pasadena
http://www.scpr.org/listen_live/


7:40 p.m.
KMJ-AM
580
Fresno
http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/listenliveplayer580am

Good Recommendation!

A couple of months ago Dana Reed suggested I check out Cafe 222 near the Gaslamp District in San Diego.

I didn't have a chance to go there until last week, but what a great find!

Open primarily for breakfast, Cafe 222 serves terrific food in a bright and sunny location.

Thanks, Dana!

Are You Kidding Me?

I was in the State Capitol last week and, for the first time, had a chance to see the grizzly bear statue Governor Schwarzenegger has installed in front of the doors to his office.

What a hideous piece of tacky trash! Please return it to the Mammoth Lakes souvenir shop where it belongs.

Radio Booking

I'll be on KNWS-FM (94.3) in Palm Springs on Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. discussing Proposition 24. If you're not in the Coachella Valley you can listen via www.KNewsRadio.com.

Getting What You Ask For -- (Watch Until the End)

Letterman Must Be Following My Blog

Everybody's Got a Skill

She Slapped Me!

It's Time for Home Improvements

So You Think You Can Dance

A Guaranteed Good Time

Friday night I went as a guest of Reed & Davidson's to see John Williams conduct at the Hollywood Bowl. The night was a little chillier than I had expected but there's really no way to have a bad time at the Hollywood Bowl -- especially if you're sitting in a box and have valet parking.

I've seen John Williams a few times at the Hollywood Bowl, and frankly, never really enjoyed it. All his music sounds the same to me. I enjoyed this performance much more than the others. The first half was dedicated to other composers and the film clips shown with the music made it much more entertaining.

Lots of people had Light Sabers for the Star Wars portion of the concert. Even Grandpa had his handy.

Please Explain This To Me. High Kicks!

Why We Love Children

1) NUDITY I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'

2) OPINIONS On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'

3) KETCHUP A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'

4) MORE NUDITY A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'

5) POLICE # 1 While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'

6) POLICE # 2 It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'

7) ELDERLY While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'

8) DRESS-UP A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.' 'And why not, darling?' 'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'

9) DEATH While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)

10) SCHOOL A little girl had just finished her first week of school 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'

11) BIBLE A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. 'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out. 'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

Bang Bang Indeed!

Yes, That's Gloria Swanson & Janis Joplin!

I Watch "The Family Guy" Too

Don't Mess With Little Rhodey

Hubbub

I spent the past weekend in San Diego for the California Republican Party Convention.

I arrived at the hotel on Friday at just about the same time as Meg Whitman. I happened to stumble upon the little welcome rally her campaign organized at a side door of the hotel. In this photo you can se her shaking hands while riding an esclator (which doesn't seem terribly safe to me).

I had this ironic thought at the time: The very first California Republican Party Convention I ever attended was in 1978 at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. At the tender age of 15 I was recruited to be part of the crowd welcoming Evelle Younger, the GOP nominee for Governor, to the convention hotel. I can still remember how excited I was to stand on the sidewalk waving a sign. The crowd followed Attorney General Younger and his wife into the hotel lobby where Younger delivered a little speech from a landing above a staircase at the end of the lobby.

The irony is Younger's opponent in the Governor's race was Jerry Brown. Does that mean I get to be 15 again?

The San Diego skyline with its distinctive architecture.

The weather in San Diego was gorgeous and folks were happy to soak up the sunshine. This shot is at the water's edge alongside Seaport Village -- a little tourist trap with souvenir shops.

Before leaving San Diego Sunday I had an excellent lunch at Brian's American Eatery. Huge menu! My food was excellent and looking at the plates as they went to other tables, it all looked good.

A few nights ago I spent the evening with students attending the Junior Statesmen Los Angeles Symposium on Politics and Media at UCLA. The students participated in a campaign simulation that was a lot of fun to observe.

And You Think You Hate Your Job?

I Dare You To Try and Turn Away

Please Don't Let This Guy Ever Move In Above Me

How Do They Do That?

This Old Ride at Disneyland (1961-66) Doesn't Look Safe At All -- I Miss the 60s!

What is Barry Goldwater Doing on the Dais?

Must Turn Off You Tube and Go to Bed

No Confusion

Made my way up to San Francisco today and had dinner at John's Grill. This restaurant was made famous by the Dashiell Hammett book, "The Maltese Falcon." Detective Sam Spade ate lunch here regularly in the book.

I enjoyed dinner in the lively dining room.

Now I need to re-watch the movie. Last time I saw it I couldn't follow the plot.

It was pretty crowded at John's Grill. No line to get it, but nearly every table was full.

I took a few minutes this afternoon to stop by Mitchell's Ice Cream in San Francisco. This place has been around since the 50s and has some pretty loyal fans. It seemed fine to me, but hardly worth going out of the way to visit. I guess between the two my preference is the Bi-Rite Creamery.

Get Down With Your Freaky Self

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Whenever Possible, Take Fountain

It was so thrilling to meet Miss Davis in 1983.  I staffed the dinner at the 20th Century Fox lot honoring Queen Elizabeth.  After the dinner Miss Davis climbed onto her banquet chair to get a better glimpse at the Queen.  I helped her down.

I also met Rod Stewart and Cesar Romero that night.  It was quite the memorable evening.

What You Got for Vittles, Granny?

Baghdad by the Bay

Made my way to San Francisco this afternoon in preparation for a meeting tomorrow morning.

Here's a view of downtown from the 34th floor of my hotel.

I stopped by the Bi-Rite Creamery and Bake Shop across the street from Dolores Park. According to my Internet research this is the ice cream shop of the moment in San Francisco. The line was out the door and snaked around the corner.

I waited twenty minutes and, fortunately, the line seemed to move fairly quickly. The ice cream is excellent, if a little over the top, as one would expect in San Francisco.

I'm not sure it was worth the money or the time, but if you want gourmet almonds from Spain sprinkled on your sundae this is the place for you.

A sunny afternoon in San Francisco and lots of people were hanging out in Dolores Park.

Why Don't They Sell Vel Anymore?

What We Missed Before the Internets

Grandmother Green's Dream Grandchild

Sometimes You Just Feel Like an Ibex

Having a Bad Software Day

Another Round?

On Thursday I was up in Northern California for work and afterwards made my way to Half Moon Bay for the monthly Brews and Views political salon at the Half Moon Bay Brewery.


It's a monthly gathering at the restaurant to hear a political observer and have a beer. The July guest was Mike McCurry. Mike is a great storyteller and (I learned) he even does accents.


The restaurant is co-owned by Lenny Mendonca, a long-time supporter of Junior Statesmen. Mike is the Chair of the Board of Trustees and lots of folks involved in Junior Statesmen were on hand. It was nice seeing them all.

The Half Moon Bay Brewery has a stunning location right across the street from the water and harbor in Half Moon Bay.

Easy Returns -- Peel, Stick, Send