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Ben Stein's Diary
A Perfect Day
Sandpoint can do that to you.
Thursday–August 5, 2010
Up and hard at listening to Mozart while looking at the
lake. It was a windy morning and immense lake waves blew one upon
another. The American flag at the marina was stretched
taut.
I got up eventually and my wife made me bacon, an egg, English muffins (what on earth does Thomas’s put in them that makes them so good ?), Tazo Refresh herbal tea, possibly the single best food on the planet, and orange juice. I ate and went back to bed to listen to more Mozart. The Requiem, over and over again. Then shaving, listening to that brilliant Bolshevik, Jackson Browne, singing one of my favorite songs, “The Boulevard,” about prostitutes on Hollywood Boulevard in the 1970s. I was there then and I don’t recall ever seeing one but my memory may be faulty. I do love Jackson Browne a lot.
Down on the Boulevard,
They take it hard.
They look at life with such disregard.
They say it can’t be won,
The way the game is run,
But if you choose to stay,
You wind up playing anyway….
Then out the door to UPS to buy envelopes, then to the local bookstore, Vanderford’s, to buy the Wall Street Journal, and note cards. Then off to Sandpoint Super Drug to buy baby powder for my wife and Neosporin for me. Then to a little latte cottage to buy more Tazo tea, then to the next door Safeway to buy Fiji water.
As I browsed, I saw a staggeringly shapely and comely young woman. It was my pal Angie, who works at the Edgewater Hotel as a desk clerk. We talked for a few minutes. Wow, is she good looking or what! Then, out to put the water in the trunk.
A stunning young, tall, blond girl was loading empty boxes into her truck. “Are you packing for college?” I asked her.
“Yep,” she said.
“Where?”
“N.I.C.” she said, which is Northern Idaho College, a community college in Coeur d’Alene, about fifty miles south of here. I wished her well and went over to buy my wife a fountain diet Coke at the Shell station. They sell a variety of lottery tickets there. Many years ago, my handsome son and I would trek there in the snows to buy him lottery tickets. He would throw snowballs at me as we walked. Golden days. That gas station was his casino. Autres temps, autres moeurs.
Then back to my black Caddy for a trip to Home Depot to buy an in room air-conditioner. They did not have the sort I wanted so I bought two fans. Everyone there was super-friendly.
Thence a few hundred feet to The Wireless Works to pay my Verizon bill. As I walked through the door, I beheld a young woman of superhuman beauty sitting at the desk.
“Wow,” I said to her. “You are beautiful.”
“Don’t you remember me?” she asked. “I know you.”
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (56) | Leave a comment
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gearjammer| 8.9.10 @ 7:44AM
I am in the middle class did not have a successful good father like you. So I do ok but just now and then want a taste of the good life you have 365 days a year, and we have a president and a congress that believes that is too good for me and my family, and they choose to " flat class" hard working people who manage their affairs properly down closer to the poor. This in their minds is equality. And, that Verizon bill is a tough one for me to pay. Why is it so high ? The tv programing bill is really way too much.Just another way to feed the media conglomerates that include your precious Hollywood and entertainment industry. Why don't you do the middle class a favor and advocate for ala carte cable, and then I could cut out crap like MTV and MSNBC and so much more. No we won't be hearing from you how much of tv and cable is a rip off. A means of creating an endless money stream for a bunch of hollywood A holes to make millions in garbage movies. No doubt commie boy Jackson Brown has found a way to tap into this money stream. Just like that phony enviro b-tch Cheryl Crow playing a tour at Mega wattage consuming casinos. I am sure they are " green" casinos. You people are such frauds.
Miss Alabama| 8.9.10 @ 10:52AM
Too delicious!
For breakfast this morning, I had buttered brioche (flown in from a French bakery on NY City's East Side) along with a rare Chinese tea called Tieguanyin.
The tea is named after the Buddhist deity Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy). It’s an oolong tea, meaning its oxidization is somewhere between that of black and green teas. It's extremely expensive (my dear husband sometimes complains about my insatiable gourmet tastes) but well worth the price.
Sometimes I toast my leftover brioche as an accompaniment to foie gras. Simply divine! Divine, I tell you.
How about you, Ben? Ben, dear, do you like brioche and Tieguanyin and foie gras?
I think we might have a lot in common. If you're ever down here in Montgomery, Alabama . . .
Miss Alabama| 8.9.10 @ 11:12AM
Too grand!
Ben, darling,
I shall mail you my address and phone number.
I want to show you the antebellum home of my ancestors where my husband and I now reside.
You would love it! Antebellum splendor! Drop dead stunning! The driveway is flanked by an allee of ancient live oaks, and the approach to . . .
More to follow, Ben, in a letter. Do hope you don't feel that I am too . . . forward. God forbid.
Howard Haggards| 8.9.10 @ 11:18AM
Miss Alabama, you sho do know how to put on highfalutin airs.
I suspect that your "ancestors" were sharecroppers. And not even respectable, at that. I suspect that you probably descend from a long line of poor Alabama white trash.
Miss Alabama| 8.9.10 @ 11:25AM
Ben, dear,
We shall have to ignore the hateful, spiteful remarks.
The "little people" on this blog can be absolutely toxic in their envy and jealousy.
They see how God has blessed us, and our priviliged lives puts them in a blazing fury. As a devout Episcopalian (high--very high), I shall pray for them.
Otis my man!| 8.9.10 @ 1:20PM
I think Gearjammer has been buttjamming Miss Alabama again.
Mr. Alabama| 8.9.10 @ 1:48PM
My name is Otis, and Miss Alabama's real name is Stella McNutt. She is my wife. We both live in a 35 year trailer in the middle of a trailer park. Stella is fat and uneducated. Most days she wears a MooMoo. But she does like to fantasize a lot. I would too if I was a lard ass who works at a gas station to make ends meet.
I simply stay at home, collect welfare, drink Blatz, and watch re-runs of Happy Daze. Stella sometimes cooks for me. But she can't cook anything but grits and Pop tarts. When my welfare check comes in we splurge on a package of Funions.
Also, she farts in her sleep.
Alec Mc Allister| 8.9.10 @ 2:55PM
I'm afraid "gearjammer, Otis my man! and Mr. Alabama" cannot express themselves without using vulgarities, and their painful attempts at humor are sophomoric.
Time for AmSpec to issue some guidelines for commenters.
DILLON| 8.9.10 @ 5:06PM
I work for a major cable company. we are not the bad guy. do your research on ala carte and you will see why you should be glad we do not offer it.
Angee Woodman| 8.11.10 @ 12:31AM
Youre an idiot..
If you were a continual reader of Ben's column, you would know his father was a success because he worked his ass off! He supported himself and payed for college by working and washing dishes at a place who hated jews.
Get your facts straight
Liberatas| 8.9.10 @ 7:48AM
Ben- Great article.
Gearjammer doesn't get it, doesn't know where he would be in any other society, at any other time, on earth.
I pray for people like him, too, to love America and Liberty.
Theodore Duret| 8.9.10 @ 10:13AM
Ben Stein.
My, my, my. Aren't we special.
David Williams| 8.9.10 @ 7:58AM
I'm not sure this is "great article"--we didn't get to hear about the paint drying on his new picket fence. Gearjammer gets it, and I bet he can pay his Verizon bill without the hardworking help of Kellie, lovely or not.
manatau| 8.12.10 @ 10:17PM
We are all special some us just work harder to enjoy the good life. You can too.
Sam Vaughn| 8.9.10 @ 9:21AM
A lot of different ways to look at an article like this. My first reaction is so....what. While I can't claim to be in Ben Stein's earnings level I that's not the point. Like Ben I am thankful. Life in the U.S. is what you choose to make it. At least that's what it was for me. Now I worry for the first time that our grandchildren will be sold into slavery by this generation of leadership. Know this has put a cloud over my days.
It reminds of the day I woke up, so to speak. I was listening to talk radio, out of work, fretting over why me and jealous of my friends who had it easier. The talk show host said ".....when you allow bitterness to follow your footsteps you are never free, when you decide that happiness is your responsbility you are liberated....." Very simple words, but they woke me up. From that point on I have not relinquished control of my pursuit of life, liberty and happiness to anybody. Despair is what our current leadership is doing their best to instill in the soul of Americans. So desptie the job situation (not good) I wake up everday committed to doing my best. Nobody can take my pride unless I let them. That's what is at stake, we have leadership who for whateever reason is trying to take away our American spirit. I will not let them. Don't, you either.
So, Ben thanks for the reminder that it is the simple things in life that bring joy to lift the spirit.
Angee woodman| 8.11.10 @ 12:36AM
Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed this commment.
Somedays I have bad days but I always try to live this way.
Some people just dont "Get it"
Deb Welch| 8.16.10 @ 10:05AM
Great Comment Sam-I wish more people would wake up and realize that dependency on the government is a form of slavery with less obvious chains. Further, I completely agree that this administration is seeking to break the true American spirit by encouraging our citizens to sit back and wait for the check in the mail. Times are tough, but government is not the answer. God Bless America.
David Glass| 8.9.10 @ 10:02AM
Some folks are missing Ben's point. Ben knows from whence his lifestyle comes, and prays nightly to the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who gives such blessings.
Robert Delford Brown| 8.9.10 @ 10:27AM
"prays nightly to the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who gives such blessings"
So God has chosen Ben Stein to "bless" with material wealth and a bloated ego? God smiles down on the likes of braggart Ben Stein? Yeah, sure. And the cow jumped over the moon.
Ben Stein is a shallow consumerist who enjoys flaunting his oh-so-envious life. Sickening.
Every word he writes makes me reach for my barf bag.
I agree with Theodore (a descendent of the real T. Duret?) that Stein thinks he's a little "special."
Bill| 8.9.10 @ 10:05AM
Crosby, Stills, and Nash or Jefferson Airplane?
Both.
Bill| 8.9.10 @ 10:08AM
Written by Steve Stills, David Crosby, and Paul Kantner.
Byron| 8.9.10 @ 11:09AM
Ben has more stuff than I do, but its not because he took my stuff. He works much harder that I do. To sit by the lake in Sand Point in a cheap folding lawn chair however is all it takes to understand exactly what he is thankful for.
S.L. Toddard| 8.9.10 @ 11:17AM
When will they fire this gasbag? Every piece is either an obituary or a long bragging session about how well Ol' Showbiz Stein has done in Hollywood, concluding with a gratuitous suck-up to the military.
Margie| 8.9.10 @ 11:59AM
Spoken like the true anti-Semitic anti-Military terrorist sympathizing "man" that you are.
JP| 8.9.10 @ 2:02PM
Ben holds advance degrees in economics, as well as a law degree. Perhaps his father had something to do with him getting a position in Nixon's West Wing (along with Pat Buchanan). But, Ben is also a skilled investor (that's where most of his money comes from). Ben's forray into films is just a side thing. Most of his income is derived from the markets.
Dave Williams| 8.9.10 @ 11:38AM
It was both CSN and the Airplane....if memory serves me well, Crosby and Nash were both miffed that Paul Kantner claimed co-writing credit to which they felt he was not entitled. I don't remember if any legal action took place.
On another note, I hope Mr. Stein told his wife she was beautiful that day at least as many times as he noted female beauty in others.
Margie| 8.9.10 @ 12:08PM
Ben is a free man in a free country who sometimes writes a daily diary which I don't mind at all reading. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. I don't begrudge or get jealous over "the rich" being rich because I understand how a fee country and a free market works. I place my contempt where it rightly belongs~ toward those who wish to destroy that freedom. The Leftists and all those who agree with him.
So God bless you, Ben Stein. I'm thankful to the same God right along with you. And I too know and appreciate why we are free and pray for them too. God bless our brave Military men and women, and we all should be praying for them nightly, as you do.
Jack| 8.12.10 @ 1:15AM
Thank You Margie well said! It shows what a small person you are if you look at Ben's article as anything but an homage to our country and God. I enjoy all of Ben's articles and he is like a friend I have never met.
Nancy| 8.12.10 @ 10:51PM
Unfortunately, the negative comments here, made by such small minded people, represent far too many Americans today. I'm grateful I am able to appreciate both my country and my faith.
Vern Crisler| 8.9.10 @ 12:46PM
Ben gets to live the life because he gave people something they regarded as valuable:
"Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?"
Also: "In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the... Anyone? Anyone?... the Great Depression, passed the... Anyone? Anyone? The tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act? Which, anyone? Raised or lowered?... raised tariffs, in an effort to collect more revenue for the federal government. Did it work? Anyone?...."
Can you say "humor"?
Bobothree| 8.9.10 @ 2:29PM
I want pictures of the "Verizon Girl".
WRJonas | 8.9.10 @ 4:00PM
So Ben loves good music, good food, fine machines . good looking girls, good drinks, great skies .cordial people and the blessings of Gods great creation.
I agree with all of his observations and wonder how marvelous paradise will be.
Skydiver| 8.9.10 @ 4:03PM
Great, I'm happy for your success!
Bill C| 8.9.10 @ 5:01PM
I grew up in the NW and life couldn't be much better than up there. It is all Gods country but he spent a lot of extra time up there.
doolittle| 8.9.10 @ 8:30PM
sad that some folks are so jealous of another's good life..I considered Sand Point one time and it's obviously a grand place..but now, Texas is pretty damn good!
fasdf| 8.9.10 @ 9:52PM
fsa
Gaffer| 8.10.10 @ 8:52AM
My wife and I bought a house in southern Idaho last year. The town we live in is not as picturesque as Sandpoint but we don't have to go far to be in the midst of the Teatons. Right now I am in a plywood office on a U.S. military base in Iraq, where I will be working for the next year. I would dearly love to be in Idaho with my family but right now there is important work to be done here. Every night I pray for my family. I also pray that more people in America will develop the wisdom,charity, work ethic, patriotism and all 'round good sense that I see in Ben Stein and the other good people who are my neighbors in Idaho.
Deena| 8.10.10 @ 12:43PM
Ben, how is that I've never even seen you in town? I am with you...I feel SO very blessed everyday that we get to live here, experience these views, this lake, everything. You need to go eat at The Bistro. If you haven't been in yet, it's the best food in town. (I should know as my husband is the Executive Chef!) :)
anon| 8.10.10 @ 2:42PM
Not everybody from Alabama is a stereotypical antebellum socialite nor a stereotypical redneck.
Great vacations can be had at a variety of price ranges. Camping in the great outdoors is an inexpensive and wonderful break from the routine. While I am a tad envious at his glowing report of Sandpoint, I recognize that he has the right to enjoy his money that he earned and I think his message is that we all should enjoy the privileges available to us . . . whether it be a luxury vacation or a weekend camping or a few days at the nearest beach.
Dane| 8.10.10 @ 2:47PM
The article was a very good description of life in North Idaho but I do believe Stein enjoyed way too much the opportunity to mention his Caddy, his expensive boat, his condo, his taste in music, etc... In another comment, the point was made that one can enjoy Sandpoint from a folding chair at the side of the lake. A little cabin (probably the size of his condo but one-tenth the price), a collection of fishing poles and firearms, a canoe and a 4x4 truck are all that is necessary to enjoy North Idaho. And anyone that hunts and fishes will drink plain ol´ black coffee instead of lattes and exotic, snobbish teas.
I will give Ben credit, though; at least he highlighted spareribs which is something that he did not learn about in Hollywood!
I do not understand why the owner of a boat needs a First Mate but that could be due to my twenty-five years of U.S. Navy service. I noted, though, that he did not mention that he has a chauffer for his car.
I would remind Ben, though, (since we´re tossing around musicians´ names) of the last track of the Hotel California album: "if you call someplace paradise, you can kiss it good-bye". Thanks for telling the entire world about Paradise.
Angee Woodman| 8.11.10 @ 12:21AM
I think these statements against Mr.Stein are vindictive and spiteful. It appears to me that you are taking out on him, what you hate about your own life and your own misfortunes.
There are several things I dont agree with Mr. Stein on but overall I think hes a genuine good person. His life is far from easy. Can any of you fathom in your little 9-5 job lifestyle what is like to live you life on airplanes, always having to be doing something? He is 65 for gosh sakes. He should be retired but he still works his butt off to provide a lifestyle for him and his family.And not only that, theres been numerous times where he has given and helped others who were bad off. This was his time to be in a place where he loves, that he probably doesnt get to visit often and enjoy his life. He isnt some snobbish creature talking about what he had in some warped sense of bragging rights. He appreciates the fact that he has the money to enjoy places like Sandpoint.To enjoy the scenery and the people and just live peacefully for the short time his vacation allows him to.
And I have been in the military. How dare you say hes sucking up. If more people valued their freedom and the sacrifices these people give up so we all can be free, more people would be willing to contribute to the cause. There is absolutely nothing wrong in being grateful that we have a country where we dont have to worry about war in our own back yard.
I have nothing. I am living withmy parents so that I can go back to school and make a life for myself but I am grateful for everything I do have. I see my niece laugh or experience a beautiful sunset and think,"Wow I am experiencing this because God was gracious enough to give me life." Maybe if you werent so focused on what you didnt have and more about the little things in life that you DO have, you would understand where Mr. Stein is coming from.
Oh and I totally dont agree with how Mr.Stein treats women. Sometimes I feel his lust of his eyes is more important then a womans value, true beauty or most important, intelligence but he should never have to justify his marriage to anyone. Have you ever thought that how he feels about his wife is best said in the privacy of their own home? I would much rather my husband say to me everyday how beautiful I am then to say it once in written print.
You guys need to grow up. You go here month after month and read his column so it cant be all that bad. Grow up and stop bitchin. Let the man do his job.
Brian John Murphy| 8.11.10 @ 12:36AM
Dear Ben: I am glad that you are enjoying the good life on a northern Idaho lake. You seem to be a nice guy who does a lot to help other people to understand just what a treasure and a blessing we have living in the United States.
And yet...
It seems lately (just a little bit) like you are rubbing your style of living in our faces --at least those of us who cannot afford such a life.
I hasten to admit that I should have studied harder, worked harder, lived healthier and acted more wisely than I did in reaching roughly the same age that you have attained. Still, I would like to be able to spend a week at a lake. Maine would do. Hell, Connecticut would do. I would like to be able to afford to just drop in at our local ribs joint (which is a very good one indeed) and not have to think about the tab too much.
And that's just the money part. I would like to be healthy enough to do all those things...but I am not.
Just the same, I count my blessings: the country I live in, the love of my family and friends, the things that I was able to do with my life before the money and my health both ran out and the perspective serious medical conditions can give you (although that perspective seems to be slipping a bit as I write this...Sorry, Ben).
I don't mean to rain on your parade. Enjoy your life, your homes, your health and your fame. But every so often, could you talk about something else?
Darryl| 8.11.10 @ 5:08AM
What a nice tribute to an obviously favored place, makes me want to visit with my kids. It is nice to hear what is right and good in our country when all around are bashing each other. Keep it up!
The Gibster | 8.12.10 @ 4:01PM
Lake Pend Oreille is beautiful! While trolling alongside the rock cliffs we spotted mountain goats perched on ledges. How did they get THERE?! And I can remember being immediately frightened when my fishing host told me about the submarine testing the navy was able to do on the lake because of the depths. I kept one eye on the water surface looking for any signs of underwater vessels making way!
There used to be a really fine classic automobile museum in town that I would visit every time we motorcycled up from Spokane.
Sandpoint is a great Pacific Northwest gem. You are truly blessed, Ben Stein.
space35| 8.12.10 @ 4:07PM
I guess all posts are full of spitefull people who know nothing but welfare and beer, but life is what they made it.
I worked hard all my life and so did my wife and we had a good life in this beautiful country called the USA. I am proud to be an american but our retirement is anything but easy thanks to one of the greedy companies that robbed many people in this country. I'm talking about ENRON who robbed our retirement and now retirement is not what we planned but we make the most of it thanks to our social security and what little part-time work we can find.
Now, if the Government in their infinite wisdom do not tax us to death we might survive until our day on earth is ended. I still would'nt trade it with any other country in the world...
Alan | 8.12.10 @ 4:15PM
Ben:
I love reading your journal entry. Your are so very magnetic that your words alwaysattract a magnum of comments that range from idiotic to poetry.
I have found that BenStein cannot be devoured for its wonderful content alone, but along with the side dishes, witty or course, as they may be.
Still it is better to Stein with envy, than to Stein alone.
Some Guy| 8.12.10 @ 4:23PM
Ben I envy you! How did you get to be such a Chick Magnet? ;)
Cabby - AZ| 8.12.10 @ 4:24PM
Frankly, Ben, I always enjoy your articles and this was no exception! Actually, because you write so well, I really enter into the events of your life as you have described them for just one day. I found myself visualizing what you are describing and listening to what you are hearing.
I find no room for any comparison with my own circumstances except the part where you are grateful to Almighty God and to our service men and women who protect us. We should all be more thankful for our own unique blessings, and that is what you do in your writings.
Keep up the fantastic work!
Longplay| 8.12.10 @ 5:30PM
Seeing all those beautiful women would only depress me ...
"Beautiful girl, walk a little slower
when you walk by me.
Stars in the sky
make my dream come true
before the night is through
and let the music play
as long as there's a song to sing
and I will stay younger
yes I will stay younger
I will stay younger
than
Spring"
- Gordon Jenkins "This is All I Ask"
S&W M&P| 8.13.10 @ 12:07PM
Hey people, back off Ben. I'm a working class guy and have also been to Sandpoint. It's as Beautiful as Ben describes it. Anyone can go and enjoy a trip to Bottle Bay, or to the top of Schwitzer Mountain for that matter and look down on the wonder Ben writes of. Ben, have you taken the Buck Knife factory tour a little south and west of you in Park Falls? Or had the Sunday breakfast buffet at the Convention Center in Coeur d' Alene? How about Snow Falls a bit North in Hwy 2? A little hard to find, but beautiful too. Your right about the normalcy found there too. I'm going to get back there someday, keep my room at the Edgewater open! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!