Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco and other California cities make the list of the costliest places to live, but here at home we celebrate the humble margarita, Wood-Dale Market and Juicy Burger

 * ... COSTLIEST CITIES: Would it surprise you that California consistently shows up as one of the costliest places to live in America.?Check out this list from Forbes on the 20 costliest places to

live, starting with the most expensive: Kings County, NY; Marin County; Santa Cruz; San Francisco; Maui; San Luis Obispo; Napa; Monterey, Queens County, NY; Sonoma, San Mateo County; Orange County; Honolulu; Alameda County; New York City; Ventura; Santa Barbara; Los Angeles, El Dorado and San Diego.

* ... TRASH AND THE POST OFFICE: Dan Flores had this to say about the condition of our local post offices: "My recent travels to various city post offices paints a picture of 'we don't care.'
The Stockdale post office should be a gem - and maybe it is after you get past the weeds and trash. This is a public building. Why should it look so shabby and poor? The self image is bad.
The post office on Planz and Larson lane is actually worse. After a time, the  general population might start to believe that this is who we are - just a piece of the great Central Valley SuperGhetto."

 * ... INSECT EXPLOSION: Have you ever seen so many moths, flies, ants and bugs this time of year? We can thank the record wet winter.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I heard you like bad boys, so I brought 11 items to a 10 items or less checkout lane."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Life is short. Summer is shorter. Tan your legs."

 * ... RANDOM FOOD THOUGHTS: The most underrated hamburger in town can be found at Juicy Burger; if there a better margarita than the one sold at Mexicali downtown, somebody needs to tell me about it; and word on the street is that the best butcher shop in town - Wood-Dale Market over on Stine Road - may be looking for a second location.

 * ... WIND WOLVES: The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce nailed it by giving its Chairman's Award during the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards to the Wildlands Conservancy and its spectacular Wind Wolves Preserve. If you haven't visited this 93,000 acre treasure, you need to do so.

 * ... CONSTRUCTION: I would avoid California Avenue between Oak and South H streets this week until city work crews finish repaving that stretch in front of Bakersfield High School. Expect the roadwork to continue for at least another month.

 * ... BAD FORM: Nancy Bryant shared this bit of bad form: "This morning my husband was T-boned by a Dodge pickup while riding his bicycle through the Graces traffic circle. Yes, he was wearing a helmet, neon green cycling shirt, and following the rules of the road. The pickup driver decided to blow through the yield sign after the slightest of hesitation, and plowed into my husband.   My husband said the driver didn't look before he pulled into traffic, and he was unable to stop. He only saw my husband after he bounced off the drivers side of the truck. Luckily, BPD was flagged down, and reports taken.  He just suffered some scrapes, and the bike almost totaled.  I would like to thank the driver of the Dodge truck for stopping.  Now, my question is, what was so important that he had to blow the yield sign?  Clear day, no other traffic, and obviously distracted.  You could have killed or maimed my husband because of your inattention.  I hope next time, you are not distracted, and you pay attention to the rules of the road.  The life you save may be your own."

The group that invented the term "shacking up" - the Baby Boomers - are at it again in their post divorce 50s and 60s, and head to Wire and Pearl for a unique Mother's Day gift

 * ... SHACKING UP: So guess which age group is leading the pack in terms of living together out of wedlock? It turns out it is the same group that invented the term "shacking up," the Baby Boomers. That's according to the New York Times which reports that the number of people over 50 who are

living with a single partner jumped 75 percent from 2007 to 2016, the highest increase of any age group. The reason? "People who've divorced have a more expansive view of what relationships are like," said Deborah Carr, a Rutgers University sociologist. "The whole idea of marriage as the ideal starts to fade, and personal happiness becomes more important."

* ... GOOD FORM: Here's a missive from a reader named Patty Sue that should lift your spirits: "Richard, on Friday had to pull my car over when I had an issue, corner of Merle Haggard Drive and Wings Way. It was 1:30 p.m. and hot, put the hood up, rolled down the windows with lights blinking.
Within about three minutes the cars started stopping and checking with me if I needed help. This kept up until the tow truck arrived. All ages, women and men. Officer Baurer pulled in behind me and protected me from traffic, young men from the airport checked on me and brought me a bottle of cold water.  I don't think it had anything to do with my white hair put just goes to show what kind of people live here."

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "It may look like I’m having really deep thoughts but 99 percent of the time I’m just thinking about what food I’m going to eat later."

 * ... MOTHER'S DAY: Here is a tip for all you men who are waiting until the last minute to purchase that present for Mother's Day: head over to Wire and Pearl on 17th and F streets, a charming little boutique where owner Susan Ruppel makes some of the most unique, beautiful and affordable jewelry you will find anywhere. Make sure you check their Facebook for store hours.

 * ... MYSTERY: A reader wrote: "Who remembers the name of the mountain lion who lived in the penthouse of the Oak Park Towers on Oak and 21st Street?

* ... HIDDEN GEMS: Here is my list of some underrated hidden gems on the local dining scene, places that operate largely under the radar but serve consistently great food with friendly service: Nuestro Mexico on 21st Street, Casa Munoz on Union Avenue, Juicy Burger on 24th and Q streets, Locale Farm to Table (previously known as Union Deli) across from the downtown post office, Red Pepper (an eastside favorite), Little Italy, Village Grill and Centro 18.

* ... MEMORIES: Mike Varela, an East High graduate, remembers going to a place called the Rainbow Gardens that later became the Crystal Inn on Union Avenue. "I saw Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and other groups there... those were good times."

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And finally, thanks to Ralph Dennis for this note: "Listening to the radio the name Cousin Herb was common place. But, I don't remember his name being mentioned without the name of his band, The Ozark Squirrel Shooters. How come? Not politically correct?  I returned to Bakersfield a few years ago and subscribed to the Californian at the four days a week level. I glance over Bakersfield Observed to see if anything catches my eye and was glad to see the names of two restaurants, previously unmentioned, appear. If you wanted to impress or be impressed those were the places, Maison Jaussaud and The Saddle and Sirloin."

Juicy Burger readies to expand to a second location and Californian Radio will host Rep. Shannon Grove to talk about our dysfunctional legislature

 * ... JUICY: One of our community's local success stories is the success enjoyed by the privately run Juicy Burger restaurant on 24th Street, open since November of 2010. It has created a large and loyal following and was awarded the "best burger" and "best new restaurant" by Californian readers its first year in business. The owners, Moe Mathuna and Justin Smith, also run the Dreyer's Ice Cream Parlor in the same complex. Now comes word the owners are expanding and will open a second location for both Juicy Burger and Dreyer's off Hageman and Calloway next month.

 * ... GRAPES: Did you know that California produces 99 percent of all the table grapes grown in the United States? And in California, Kern County is the top producer of table grapes? About a third of the grapes grown here are destined to export, to places like Canada, Mexico, China, Central America and Australia. I spent Sunday driving through the lush vineyards off Famoso Road and it looks like we'll have another rich harvest of the popular red seedless grapes. If you are new to town and have not experienced a leisurely drive through our vineyards, treat yourself to this amazing experience. (photo courtesy of A. Domingo)

 * ... GROVE: Tune into Californian Radio (KERN 1180) Monday at 9 a.m. to weigh in on several hot topic issues. I'll be chatting with Assemblywoman Shannon Grove about the dysfunctional state Legislature and its inability to find common ground. Last week the state Senate voted down a bill that Grove said would have "accelerated the cumbersome process of dismissing teachers that commit horrific actions upon school children." Said Grove:  “It is absolutely appalling that most Democrats are so beholden to the teachers union and their large political donations that they are not willing to make even the most obvious needed reforms in order to protect our children." She will be on the show at 9:15 a.m.

 * ... GUNS: Also for KERN 1180 Monday: What if you ran a sports store and Facebook would not let you advertise because it refuses to run ads featuring guns? That's just the case facing Gene Thome, the owner of Bear Mountain Sports on Weedpatch Highway. Gene will be coming on the radio Monday to share his frustration and talk about dove season and the gun business. (Gene Thome, left, in file photo)

* ... HONOR FLIGHT: The local group behind the "Honor Flights" that send aging veterans to our nation's capital is planning on hitting the streets to raise money on Thursday, Sept. 6. Organizers said they will be seeking donations in the morning at several locations to send more of our veterans to Washington, D.C., to view the war memorials.

* ... TAFT COLLEGE: Taft College is getting ready to celebrate its 90th birthday this week with what it calls a good, old fashioned party. It is all set for Thursday beginning at noon with a 90-inch cake cutting ceremony. Officials from the college, the Taft College Foundation and Cougar alumni and friends are invited. Alumni are asked to Contact Jan Ashley at jgarrattashley@gmail.com for more information.