Ferdinand the Bull, you are safe from my teeth more so than Porky Pig would be... except when I have the craving for Beef Stroganoff.
This classic dish has been around forever. Elena Molokhovets' cookbook published in Russia in 1861 gives the first known recipe for "Govjadina po-strogonovski, s gorchitseju" or "Beef à la Stroganov, with mustard" This recipe called for lightly floured and sautéed beef cubes with a sauce of prepared mustard and bouillon, and finished with a small amount of sour cream. It was likely named after an aristocratic Russian family. Later recipes added mushrooms, onions and beef cut into the characteristic strips. Immensely popular (and kind of exotic) in the 1950's, the dish is now served around the world in many variations.
My favorite recipe is a combo of the classic 1961 Craig Claiborne recipe and my own likes and tastes. Claiborne makes a very traditional Stroganoff without mushrooms and onions, so I add those (green onions sometimes) and a splash of Worcestershire sauce, (which no one else seems to add) but with things like cornichons, tarragon and tomato sauce added to some recipes, I am safe.
I made some tonight as I was in a stay-at-home-Greta-Garbo-(I want to be alone)-mood. As I was buying a few things for it that I was lacking, I ran into a friend of mine. She asked what I was buying which led to a discussion of the dish. I told her I was omitting the noodles (it is really designed to be served over noodles or rice) since they were carb packing enemies of mine. She thought I was nuts, and thus given tacit permission, I relented. Such a great dish, easy, elegant when done well and relatively quick.
My recipe: (as usual the amounts are estimated and variable according to taste, I never measure)
Meat:
1 lb beef (sirloin, flank steak, whatever you can find just not that horrible stew meat)
salt/pepper to taste
splash of Worcestershire sauce
1 sm can of button or a handful of sliced fresh mushrooms
2-3 green onions (or handful of chopped white onion)
Sauce:
butter (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
flour (about a tablespoon)
1 can beef consummé (not canned broth, consummé is more intense and richer)
squirt of prepared mustard
splash of wine optional
sour cream, lots
Trim beef into strips, salt and pepper them and splash with the Worcestershire. Let marinate for a hour or so in fridge.
In saucepan melt about 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter and then add about a tablespoon of flour to make a nice light roux. Heat consummé to boiling and add to roux, whisking until roux is dissolved and sauce is nice and thick. Here you can add a splash of wine, red or white, as you desire. Set aside.
Drain beef. In some butter, sauté the beef until browned. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook until beef is done and onion/mushrooms tender.
Reheat the sauce gently and add great gobs of sour cream (I am an addict).
If you are being elegant, put the hot beef on a platter and pour the sauce over. Or just throw it all together and mix the beef in the sauce.
Gotta serve it over plain, lightly buttered noodles.
хороший (Russian for good!)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Lunacy on the Loose
Further proof that the USA has lost is collective mind. I can just see some sun-baked nutcase think that this is the horse of the apocalypse or something Islamic:
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Something Worth Sharing
I happened to catch this today, along with an article in the KC Star that the efforts of the Administration to jump start the economy has worked. But, since the US is now careening perilously towards stupidity, many will not believe it since Rush or Glenn or some other entertainer didn't scream it out.
"Can a nation remain a superpower if its internal politics are incorrigibly stupid?" Writes E. J Donne of the Washington Post. Then there's the structure of our government. Does any other democracy have a powerful legislative branch as undemocratic as the U.S. Senate?
"When our republic was created, the population ratio between the largest and smallest state was 13 to 1. Now, it's 68 to 1. Because of the abuse of the filibuster, 41 senators representing less than 11 percent of the nation's population can, in principle, block action supported by 59 senators representing more than 89 percent of our population. And you wonder why it's so hard to get anything done in Washington?"
Mr Dionne is more optimistic than I am, I think the US is in a steep decline and becoming increasingly irrelevant. But since Rush doesn't think the same... all is well.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Number 1001
In March 2009, I posted that I was going to shut down Puggingham Palace when I hit 1,000 posts. (777 Down). A discussion of doing it right then and there led to cries of "I'll miss you"..."Don't"...
So I kept my word and kept up until my 100th post "The Caddies Come to Town" on July 17th.
But does # 1001 mean Puggingham Palace may live on? Maybe.
I am not abandoning everything, but don't look for a lot of regular updates. No more "Coupl'a Things", recipes, updates on the garden, reports from the Palace and I am certainly leaving the political ranting to the rest of you... you are doing a good enough job anyway.
So, what of the future?
Probably music and concert reviews which I also post at the Classical Music Guide so I will just come here and post the same thing. If there are exciting events, things I just have to say, some things to share... I'll likely post. I am not taking Puggingham Palace down, so it will be here to browse through or for people to find on search engines.
Thus I bid all farewell for a while. Keep checking or do an RSS subscription, friend me on Facebook or email at donaldopato@gmail.com.
We'll be in touch!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Caddies Come to Town (and # 1000)
Is there anything that says it better? (1958 Eldorado Seville)
(You can click on the pictures to make them larger)
The rare and exquisite 1957 Eldorado Brougham. At $13,074 you could buy two De Ville Convertibles and have money left over. Only 400 made.
What was so special about this 57 Brougham was its fabulous interior complete with the set of magnetic silver tumblers, perfume atomizer and other luxuries that are ultra rare these days.
Back in time, a jewel-like 1914 Touring Car:
The 1914 Engine was a work of art. I shudder at having to polish all the brass:
From the 40's a perfect 1947 Convertible. Having overtaken Packard, Cadillac was at the top of its game:
50's Buck Rodgers fins in extremis, 1959 Series 62 4 door Hardtop:
The Series 60 Special of the late 30's -42 was one of the first modern car designs. Note no running boards, the sleek styling and modern window design. This one has been lowered a bit but is representative of its brethren:
The epitome of the 60's 1964 Eldorado Convertible.. red of course... and wire wheels:
Well, for my 1000th post, I can think of nothing better than ending (?) Puggingham Palace with a pictorial survey of the 2010 Cadillac/La Salle Grand National Meet held here in Kansas City this weekend. I motored the intrepid Dunbar The Buick over to the Double Tree Hotel in Overland Park on this hot ass (90+) AM to wander through the collection of some of the Standard of the World's finest.
Once upon a time, a Caddy was the epitome of having "made it". Elegant, huge, impressive, powerful, truly a Standard. Today, it is less of a figure. In the 80's, like Packard did in the 40's, Cadillac handed over the mantel to Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and other foreign makes (even Hyundai with its new Genesis line) and has played catch up ever sense. These were cars when Cadillac meant power and prestige. We'll never see the likes again.
Once upon a time, a Caddy was the epitome of having "made it". Elegant, huge, impressive, powerful, truly a Standard. Today, it is less of a figure. In the 80's, like Packard did in the 40's, Cadillac handed over the mantel to Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and other foreign makes (even Hyundai with its new Genesis line) and has played catch up ever sense. These were cars when Cadillac meant power and prestige. We'll never see the likes again.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Republican Hypocrisy.... again
As Puggingham Palace moves on to its next iteration, whatever that may be, I had to post a slam about my least favorite group in the world, Right Wing Hate Filled Rich Ass Hypocritical... ok blood pressure is up so here it is:
Unemployed 0 Rich 1
Everytime the Tea Drinkers fart, it is front page news. But the conservative controlled media here and the timid liberals keep this from being seen
Just one question? How can you people sleep at night?
Unemployed 0 Rich 1
Everytime the Tea Drinkers fart, it is front page news. But the conservative controlled media here and the timid liberals keep this from being seen
Just one question? How can you people sleep at night?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Rayville Bakery/VanTill Farms
Greg showed me a flyer he picked up at the Kansas City River Market; "we need to check this out sometime." Rayville Baking Co, who sell their delicious fresh made breads at the market, opened a restaurant on their farm in nearby Rayville, MO. Friday night features hand made, wood fired oven gourmet pizzas and their own VanTill Family wines in a bucolic outdoor setting. "Sounds like a fun change of pace", Greg said. You have to know Greg that a "change of pace" for him is akin to a life changing experience for most of us. I eagerly agreed.
So this past Friday, we motored off to tiny Rayville, MO (pop 204, several horses and a post office) to sample the VanTill's offerings. Tagging along for the ride was Greg's neighbor Sue and her friend Marie. Greg even broke out the new Hyundai Tucson he bought a few months ago and never drives. The ride up, along MO highway 210 and then MO 10, is pleasant and scenic, snaking along the Missouri river bottom and skirting the bluffs. On this Friday, the fields were green, the trees full and the traffic light. Watching the darting and diving of a bi-plane crop duster we happened to spy along the way was something us city folk do not often see. Police and ambulance helicopters, yes.. but few crop dusters.
It took an ambling hour to get there and we found it with no problems. Once parked, we entered the building and asked the lady we saw where the restaurant was. She directed us to the restrooms. When we clarified what we wanted she sent us back outside whereupon we were told we had to go back in and order from the front. Since it looked more like their wine and baked goods store, we just assumed... well.. assumed wrong. I would suggest that the management make the ordering process a bit more clear.
Once ordered and directed again in the right place we found a spacious iron table on the patio; one of those large party tents with the sides rolled up. The bar was a table with the selections of the wines and Boulevard beer in the bottle. You could help your self to water and lemonade.
But the night was about the pizza. We ordered several to sample the wares. One was a bacon gorgonzola with balsamic glazed onions, red sauce, garlic, mozzarella and the aforementioned bacon and gorgonzola cheese. Greg selected a rosemary pear pizza with white sauce, chicken, Asiago, mozzarella, rosemary, garlic and bosc pears. The other choice was the Mediterranean with red sauce, chicken, hot Italian sausage, mozzarella, garlic, feta, onions, Kalamata olives and spinach.
The pizzas are baked right in the same room in the hand built brick oven. The crusts are crisp and tasty with just the right thickness. The bacon gorgonzola was wonderful, the strong flavors blending into a bright and unforgettable combination. The rosemary pear was a revelation. I am not always fond of fruit used in odd ways; keep the strawberries, cherries and other fruits out of my salad, soup and pizza and put them where they belong. But, as with the bacon gorgonzola, the unique flavors combined so well. The sweet pears and the lush sauce blended with the chunks of tasty chicken, perfectly accented with just enough rosemary and garlic as not to overwhelm. This is a pizza worthy of any serious pizza restaurant.
The Mediterranean was interesting and flavorful. Although tasty and perfectly baked, it was just a bit too busy with all the ingredients piled on. Damn good pizza however and quite unique.
The pizzas are generous sized and range in price from the basic spinach blanco (white sauce, spinach, cheese and tomatoes) at $13 to the $17 Mediterranean. For an extra $3.50 a generous sized fresh Greenhouse Greens salad is available with a choice of dressing. The greens were grown on the farm and thus freshly picked and mixed with tomatoes, cucumber, onion and olives. Fresh, sweet, crisp and wonderful.
If you are nuts, like we were, you get a dessert too. Everything from vanilla ice cream to some of the best home made strawberry shortcake I have ever had. Not overly sweet, the shortcake was a fresh baked biscuit-like cake, not those nasty twinkie sponge things. The strawberries were grown on location, likely picked that day, and so naturally sweet. The cream on top was fresh and silky. At $4.50 it is a bargain and only available in season.
Greg had a beer, but the ladies and I split a bottle of the VanTill's own wine. We chose a white chardonel. Chardonel grapes, a hybrid chardonnay and seyval, are popular among Missouri wineries. It is a dry white wine with an abundance of fruit. I actually prefer the crispness of the regular chardonnay as opposed to the softer chardonel, but Sue and Marie were captivated by it. A fine bottle of wine, but I think next time, with the pizza, a red would be better.
Charming place, friendly staff, but don't go expecting fine tableware or to be waited upon; everything is ordered (except the wine) and paid for at the front counter. A bit clumsy, but it works once you figure out the system. As with any alfresco dining, the flies can be a problem and remember you are out in the country so they are plentiful. Get extra paper plates (the usual place settings, thankfully there were no plastic forks) to cover your pizza.
A perfect end to the evening is to stroll to the nearby green houses and see where your strawberries, rosemary, salad greens and such were grown. A few grape vines and flower gardens dot the area. Be sure to take home some bread, jam or wine if you want.
So, definitely worth the travel time from the big, bad city and we plan to go again before the summer ends. They do have the restaurant open year round with the patio covered and heated.
But go during strawberry season for the wonderful shortcake.
VanTill Farms/Rayville Baking 13986 Hwy C Rayville, MO
So this past Friday, we motored off to tiny Rayville, MO (pop 204, several horses and a post office) to sample the VanTill's offerings. Tagging along for the ride was Greg's neighbor Sue and her friend Marie. Greg even broke out the new Hyundai Tucson he bought a few months ago and never drives. The ride up, along MO highway 210 and then MO 10, is pleasant and scenic, snaking along the Missouri river bottom and skirting the bluffs. On this Friday, the fields were green, the trees full and the traffic light. Watching the darting and diving of a bi-plane crop duster we happened to spy along the way was something us city folk do not often see. Police and ambulance helicopters, yes.. but few crop dusters.
It took an ambling hour to get there and we found it with no problems. Once parked, we entered the building and asked the lady we saw where the restaurant was. She directed us to the restrooms. When we clarified what we wanted she sent us back outside whereupon we were told we had to go back in and order from the front. Since it looked more like their wine and baked goods store, we just assumed... well.. assumed wrong. I would suggest that the management make the ordering process a bit more clear.
Once ordered and directed again in the right place we found a spacious iron table on the patio; one of those large party tents with the sides rolled up. The bar was a table with the selections of the wines and Boulevard beer in the bottle. You could help your self to water and lemonade.
But the night was about the pizza. We ordered several to sample the wares. One was a bacon gorgonzola with balsamic glazed onions, red sauce, garlic, mozzarella and the aforementioned bacon and gorgonzola cheese. Greg selected a rosemary pear pizza with white sauce, chicken, Asiago, mozzarella, rosemary, garlic and bosc pears. The other choice was the Mediterranean with red sauce, chicken, hot Italian sausage, mozzarella, garlic, feta, onions, Kalamata olives and spinach.
The pizzas are baked right in the same room in the hand built brick oven. The crusts are crisp and tasty with just the right thickness. The bacon gorgonzola was wonderful, the strong flavors blending into a bright and unforgettable combination. The rosemary pear was a revelation. I am not always fond of fruit used in odd ways; keep the strawberries, cherries and other fruits out of my salad, soup and pizza and put them where they belong. But, as with the bacon gorgonzola, the unique flavors combined so well. The sweet pears and the lush sauce blended with the chunks of tasty chicken, perfectly accented with just enough rosemary and garlic as not to overwhelm. This is a pizza worthy of any serious pizza restaurant.
The Mediterranean was interesting and flavorful. Although tasty and perfectly baked, it was just a bit too busy with all the ingredients piled on. Damn good pizza however and quite unique.
The pizzas are generous sized and range in price from the basic spinach blanco (white sauce, spinach, cheese and tomatoes) at $13 to the $17 Mediterranean. For an extra $3.50 a generous sized fresh Greenhouse Greens salad is available with a choice of dressing. The greens were grown on the farm and thus freshly picked and mixed with tomatoes, cucumber, onion and olives. Fresh, sweet, crisp and wonderful.
If you are nuts, like we were, you get a dessert too. Everything from vanilla ice cream to some of the best home made strawberry shortcake I have ever had. Not overly sweet, the shortcake was a fresh baked biscuit-like cake, not those nasty twinkie sponge things. The strawberries were grown on location, likely picked that day, and so naturally sweet. The cream on top was fresh and silky. At $4.50 it is a bargain and only available in season.
Greg had a beer, but the ladies and I split a bottle of the VanTill's own wine. We chose a white chardonel. Chardonel grapes, a hybrid chardonnay and seyval, are popular among Missouri wineries. It is a dry white wine with an abundance of fruit. I actually prefer the crispness of the regular chardonnay as opposed to the softer chardonel, but Sue and Marie were captivated by it. A fine bottle of wine, but I think next time, with the pizza, a red would be better.
Charming place, friendly staff, but don't go expecting fine tableware or to be waited upon; everything is ordered (except the wine) and paid for at the front counter. A bit clumsy, but it works once you figure out the system. As with any alfresco dining, the flies can be a problem and remember you are out in the country so they are plentiful. Get extra paper plates (the usual place settings, thankfully there were no plastic forks) to cover your pizza.
A perfect end to the evening is to stroll to the nearby green houses and see where your strawberries, rosemary, salad greens and such were grown. A few grape vines and flower gardens dot the area. Be sure to take home some bread, jam or wine if you want.
So, definitely worth the travel time from the big, bad city and we plan to go again before the summer ends. They do have the restaurant open year round with the patio covered and heated.
But go during strawberry season for the wonderful shortcake.
VanTill Farms/Rayville Baking 13986 Hwy C Rayville, MO
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
What I am Listening to Today: Hollywood String Quartet
Chamber music does not get much better than this; one of the most remarkable recordings of some of the most incredible chamber works ever written.
The Hollywood String quartet, founded by Felix Slatkin (1st violin) and his wife Eleanor Aller (cello) (parents of conductor Leonard Slatkin) was active from 1939 to 1961, winning awards and achieving celebrity status akin to some of Hollywood's other denizens. Frank Sinatra was a fan and had them collaborate on his Close to You album.
But their forte was the classical quartet, especially Beethoven and Schubert. The Schubert String Quintet D.956 (1828) is an undisputed masterpiece and was one of Schubert's last works. The work, oddly scored with "extra" cello instead of viola, is bold, lyrical and almost symphonic in scope The Hollywoods' performance is sensitive yet powerful. Relish the perfection in ensemble, intonation, and attention to detail. The gutsy, folksy and animated opening of the bouncy scherzo is sheer perfection, not harsh as the other performance in my collection by the Cleveland Quartet. The long, sweet adagio receives a most sublime performance here, never cloying or sentimental.
I could go on, but this wonderful work and performance has to be heard to be appreciated.
On the surface, it seems strange to pair Schubert with the "modern" Arnold Schoenberg. But Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) is not one his acerbic 12 tone pieces, but a lush, almost hyper-romantic tone poem for string sextet. Again the Hollywood Quartet negotiates this tricky and thickly scored piece with such aplomb that I felt I truly heard it for the first time. Schoenberg himself was so taken by the performance that he wrote the liner notes for the recording's first appearance on Angel records in the 1950's.
Testament Records are easily available in the US but frightfully expensive. I got mine from the wonderful folks at MDT in Darby, UK for less than $14 with shipping. Archiv has it on sale for $17 and Amazon wants an outrageous $26. Shop around.. but hear this disc if you love chamber music at all.
The Hollywood String quartet, founded by Felix Slatkin (1st violin) and his wife Eleanor Aller (cello) (parents of conductor Leonard Slatkin) was active from 1939 to 1961, winning awards and achieving celebrity status akin to some of Hollywood's other denizens. Frank Sinatra was a fan and had them collaborate on his Close to You album.
But their forte was the classical quartet, especially Beethoven and Schubert. The Schubert String Quintet D.956 (1828) is an undisputed masterpiece and was one of Schubert's last works. The work, oddly scored with "extra" cello instead of viola, is bold, lyrical and almost symphonic in scope The Hollywoods' performance is sensitive yet powerful. Relish the perfection in ensemble, intonation, and attention to detail. The gutsy, folksy and animated opening of the bouncy scherzo is sheer perfection, not harsh as the other performance in my collection by the Cleveland Quartet. The long, sweet adagio receives a most sublime performance here, never cloying or sentimental.
I could go on, but this wonderful work and performance has to be heard to be appreciated.
On the surface, it seems strange to pair Schubert with the "modern" Arnold Schoenberg. But Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) is not one his acerbic 12 tone pieces, but a lush, almost hyper-romantic tone poem for string sextet. Again the Hollywood Quartet negotiates this tricky and thickly scored piece with such aplomb that I felt I truly heard it for the first time. Schoenberg himself was so taken by the performance that he wrote the liner notes for the recording's first appearance on Angel records in the 1950's.
Testament Records are easily available in the US but frightfully expensive. I got mine from the wonderful folks at MDT in Darby, UK for less than $14 with shipping. Archiv has it on sale for $17 and Amazon wants an outrageous $26. Shop around.. but hear this disc if you love chamber music at all.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Art of the Car
The Kansas City Art Institute held its annual "The Art of the Car" Concours this weekend and as custom for the past three years, I went to browse the cars on display and contribute to the worthy cause. All proceeds from the concours go for scholarships to the Institute. As in past events, a wide variety of cars made it to the show, everything from a 1919 Pierce Arrow that was used by Woodrow Wilson while President to a tiny 1950's King Midget, a very basic kit car that was somewhat popular for a time.
Here are just a few of my favorites:
Wilson's 1919 Pierce Arrow. The picture does no justice to the size of this machine.
French/Russian Coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik was famous for his swoopy bodies on Talbots, Delahayes, Pegasos and even a Cadillac or two. This is a 1950 Talbot-Lago.
The clean, sleek 53-54 Bourke-Loewy Studebaker got all gummed up for 55, but was still light years ahead of the competition.
Studebaker, using the service of Raymond Loewy and his talented staff, kept turning out sleek and moden designs... that just didn't sell. This 1963 Avanti (as the 55 Commander above) still looks modern today.
Nothing says SMILE! like a 1950's Buick!
1940 Cantrell Bodied Packard. The wood on this car is immaculate.
Rare beauty from the golden age of stock car racing. Ford built about 750 of these aerodynamically enhanced Torinos for racing. Most were raced, but at least 500 had to be built for sale to qualify. I had never seen one in person before.
From the smaller end of the spectrum came this 55 Nash Metropolitan. Sentimental favorite for me, as I learned to drive a column shift on one of Chuck Gooden's many Metros. I think the one I drove was yellow and white. There were 3 Metros at the show.
Hotter than hell at the show, but it always is so that was nothing new. 206 some cars were in the show. I didn't stay to hear the best of show winner, chosen as a people's choice award. But I bet the Pierce got it. The KC Star has a few more pics, here.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Reaching Tilt Level
Is anything easy anymore? Does anyone care? Is "service" just a cruel joke to relieve us of our hard earned money? Is business so damn good you can just piss off or ignore your customers at will? And really, is the anniversary of the death of that clown Michael Jackson really more important than the on going gulf oil disaster, the fucked up wars, the continuing nightmare of the US political landscape...???
With frustration levels above the "tilt" level for many, it is no wonder so many Americans are on anti-depressants, beat their families, kick their dogs or go completely Howard Beale and join the Tea Party. I am about at that level, but rest assured, I have no intentions of drinking the tea; more of a coffee guy here anyway.
With the world on edge, it takes little to send one off into rant-and-rave land. Case in point: after 6 years of good service, I am going ballistic over my dry cleaners. They lost one of my favorite and expensive shirts last week. I was going to wear it at a funeral this past weekend, but since it was first, late in getting back and second, lost in laundry purgatory I had to change plans. So do you think they care? On the surface, maybe. I gave them a week and then inquired yesterday. Nothing. I don't think they have even looked. The clerk, who knows me as a regular customer, told me she "has to light a fire under their butts" when something like this happens. It could take months she said. So maybe by the time I need it again, it will reappear. Meanwhile... I am looking for a new cleaners.
This was combined with a second hassle-fest regarding setting up a new Dr apt. My old clinic was so swamped that getting an appointment was as about as likely as winning Powerball. So I was referred to a local Doc who had an office near by only to find out he had closed it and went to online consultative services managed by "HelloHealth".
With a name like that I should have been suspicious but I decided to play along. On Monday AM I registered, set up an appointment and then went on with my morning online routine which involves checking my bank account at UMB. Imagine my chagrin finding that within a few minutes, "HelloHealth" had tied up over $100 in charges on my debit card. I canceled everything and wrote to them to take the charges off. "Oh, don't worry" came the somewhat condescending reply on Tuesday, "these are just pre-authorizations and will go away soon". It took them until Friday and now I am being billed for $25 monthly service fee. MESS! And I never talked to the Dr at all. So here we go for round 2.
Internet, automation, cell phones all that was supposed to make things easy with around the clock instant access. Yeah, that can work just fine until something goes wrong Then you find you are thrust headlong into the virtual reality world of cyberland, whatever that is. Try to reason with a computer or an email service... it will drive you to drink. Well... try to reason with a human anymore... that does about the same.
Maybe I should just join in and do shoddy work, make excuses, ignore people (I am still waiting for a fellow to come out and give me a bid on my roof, I know I will never see him, guess he didn't need the business.... oh yes, my elevator emergency light battery and a call back from the insurance agent too,) and generally not do a thing until someone calls me on it. Seems to work out for a lot of folks.
When all seems frustration and despair, there can be a ray of light. I was perusing the Land's End catalog and noticed again some stylish and colorful summer Madras shirts, now on sale and with free shipping. So I went online to order one. The one I wanted said it was back ordered until June 14th. Since it was June 21st the day I was ordering, I wondered if it was actually available. So I called their number to inquire. Amazingly, a nice lady answered live on the first ring! No "press 1 for English" or "listen carefully as our menu options have changed" a real live person. She checked and sure enough the shirt was still on back order and probably would not be available again this summer. But, she went on, here are the colors immediately available in your size. My second choice was available but in very limited quantities. "Here, let me order it for you know while you are on the line," she offered. And I did. And it is on the way.
See it isn't that hard to do good business. Unlike Plaza Ford Ideal Cleaners and HelloHealth, Land's End has my business. Hopefully for a long time.
With frustration levels above the "tilt" level for many, it is no wonder so many Americans are on anti-depressants, beat their families, kick their dogs or go completely Howard Beale and join the Tea Party. I am about at that level, but rest assured, I have no intentions of drinking the tea; more of a coffee guy here anyway.
With the world on edge, it takes little to send one off into rant-and-rave land. Case in point: after 6 years of good service, I am going ballistic over my dry cleaners. They lost one of my favorite and expensive shirts last week. I was going to wear it at a funeral this past weekend, but since it was first, late in getting back and second, lost in laundry purgatory I had to change plans. So do you think they care? On the surface, maybe. I gave them a week and then inquired yesterday. Nothing. I don't think they have even looked. The clerk, who knows me as a regular customer, told me she "has to light a fire under their butts" when something like this happens. It could take months she said. So maybe by the time I need it again, it will reappear. Meanwhile... I am looking for a new cleaners.
This was combined with a second hassle-fest regarding setting up a new Dr apt. My old clinic was so swamped that getting an appointment was as about as likely as winning Powerball. So I was referred to a local Doc who had an office near by only to find out he had closed it and went to online consultative services managed by "HelloHealth".
With a name like that I should have been suspicious but I decided to play along. On Monday AM I registered, set up an appointment and then went on with my morning online routine which involves checking my bank account at UMB. Imagine my chagrin finding that within a few minutes, "HelloHealth" had tied up over $100 in charges on my debit card. I canceled everything and wrote to them to take the charges off. "Oh, don't worry" came the somewhat condescending reply on Tuesday, "these are just pre-authorizations and will go away soon". It took them until Friday and now I am being billed for $25 monthly service fee. MESS! And I never talked to the Dr at all. So here we go for round 2.
Internet, automation, cell phones all that was supposed to make things easy with around the clock instant access. Yeah, that can work just fine until something goes wrong Then you find you are thrust headlong into the virtual reality world of cyberland, whatever that is. Try to reason with a computer or an email service... it will drive you to drink. Well... try to reason with a human anymore... that does about the same.
Maybe I should just join in and do shoddy work, make excuses, ignore people (I am still waiting for a fellow to come out and give me a bid on my roof, I know I will never see him, guess he didn't need the business.... oh yes, my elevator emergency light battery and a call back from the insurance agent too,) and generally not do a thing until someone calls me on it. Seems to work out for a lot of folks.
When all seems frustration and despair, there can be a ray of light. I was perusing the Land's End catalog and noticed again some stylish and colorful summer Madras shirts, now on sale and with free shipping. So I went online to order one. The one I wanted said it was back ordered until June 14th. Since it was June 21st the day I was ordering, I wondered if it was actually available. So I called their number to inquire. Amazingly, a nice lady answered live on the first ring! No "press 1 for English" or "listen carefully as our menu options have changed" a real live person. She checked and sure enough the shirt was still on back order and probably would not be available again this summer. But, she went on, here are the colors immediately available in your size. My second choice was available but in very limited quantities. "Here, let me order it for you know while you are on the line," she offered. And I did. And it is on the way.
See it isn't that hard to do good business. Unlike Plaza Ford Ideal Cleaners and HelloHealth, Land's End has my business. Hopefully for a long time.
Monday, June 21, 2010
.gif)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Marvin Parker Memorial Garden 2010
The Marvin Parker Memorial Garden is in full bloom this season. Many of the same gardeners returned from last year and some new ones added as well.
This year, Greg and the Parker sisters worked on getting a flower garden started on the slope heading up to the garden proper. The Parker Sisters' flowers are filling up the east slope:
Each gardener has a plot if they want or can help with the chores and take from the community plots. This is a garden of lettuce and broccoli towards the front of the garden. Several gardeners have harvested some early broccoli, some let it go to seed not paying attention.
Sue has a nice stand of bush beans this season!
My string beans are heading up the pole. These were from seeds from last year's beans.
I am trying fennel this year. Growing like a weed, but I know not a thing about it. On the bottom of the picture are my peppers, I have picked 3 already this season. You may see some thin, blade-like plants between the frilly fennel fronds and the eggplant. Those are leeks... I hope.
These are the start of a whole field of eggplants in my plot. I have regular size and some of the Chinese ones as well.
Not pictured are some Italian bush beans, some shallots and a lone Roma tomato plant that came up volunteer from last year.
So far plentiful rain has fallen in between plentiful sunshine so we are hoping for a bountiful year again this season.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Final 10
The countdown has begun. I said a while back that I would do 1000 posts here on Puggingham Palace/Pato News and this one makes 990. So the final 10 are approaching.
I may stop completely, I may go on a long hiatus, who knows? Keeping up the blog is now a chore, not a joy. I stare at the blank page and then get up and go on to do something else. Many of the topics I used to love to rant about do not stir my creativity any more. Politics makes me vomit, church is nothing, the dog does little but sleep and eat, the car sits in the lot, concerts are over for the season, and frankly nothing inspires me. So like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, my favorite TV show ever, I want to quit while I am ahead.
Many years ago, I was inspired to start journaling. Sadly, most of my scribbles dating back to the 70s are unreadable; penmanship was never a strong suit of mine. Some Volumes are lost, I fear, as I have not been able to locate them. Looking back can be fun but looking back can also be depressing if you feel you have not made any progress. Most of the time I revel about how silly I was and how things that looked like disasters were just ripples.
So, few dear readers, look for the final 10. Probably not much earth shattering, just me making my way through it all.
I may stop completely, I may go on a long hiatus, who knows? Keeping up the blog is now a chore, not a joy. I stare at the blank page and then get up and go on to do something else. Many of the topics I used to love to rant about do not stir my creativity any more. Politics makes me vomit, church is nothing, the dog does little but sleep and eat, the car sits in the lot, concerts are over for the season, and frankly nothing inspires me. So like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, my favorite TV show ever, I want to quit while I am ahead.
Many years ago, I was inspired to start journaling. Sadly, most of my scribbles dating back to the 70s are unreadable; penmanship was never a strong suit of mine. Some Volumes are lost, I fear, as I have not been able to locate them. Looking back can be fun but looking back can also be depressing if you feel you have not made any progress. Most of the time I revel about how silly I was and how things that looked like disasters were just ripples.
So, few dear readers, look for the final 10. Probably not much earth shattering, just me making my way through it all.
Friday, June 11, 2010
AHT: "The Dixie Swim Club"
Greg and I are creatures of habit, especially when it comes to the regular American Heartland Theatre productions we have attended for the last few years. Greg picks me up at 6, and off we go to the Crown Center for the evening. We park in almost the same spot right by the theatre level door and head off to the Streetcar Named Desire for dinner. There we both order the pork tenderloin with extra mayo and fries (I get onions he doesn't), scotch and water to drink and sit at the same table with usually the same waitress. Greg always gives me his pickle. A stroll to the theatre upstairs, order scotch and water from our favorite bartender Mark, and wait for whatever we are going to see. Last night was no exception but we were hatching plans to escape at intermission if "The Dixie Swim Club" (billed ominously as the "Next Steel Magnolias") was more than we could handle.
"Chick" plays or "Chick Flicks" usually are crashing bores for almost any member of the male population. Greg and I are hardly the most typical of men, neither of us are big fans of loud, obnoxious, boorish films or whatever and we both say please and thank-you a lot. Nevertheless, we considered if we were going to order an intermission drink in case we fled the show. We decided what the heck and planned for the whole evening.
Danm glad we did.
"The Dixie Swim Club" is a typical AHT play, breezy, light hearted, intimate (the theatre is small and it is easy to feel right on stage with the actors, plus we feel we know most of them through their regular appearances) and well paced. The plot is simple: 5 North Carolina ladies from a college swim club get together each August at a beach house for a reunion.
Sheree (the wonderful Cathy Barnett) is an annoying hyper-organizer who gags her friends each year with inedible health food snacks. Cheryl Weaver is Lexie, a Blanche Du Bois type with a husband-du-jour. Accident prone Vernadette (the fabulous Debra Bluford) lives a trailer-trash life with a no-good husband and a kid with a mile long rap sheet. The irrepressible Missy Koonce plays Dinah, an aggressive, martini drinking lawyer with no time for a social life. Finally there is Jeri Neal (Jennifer Mays), who became a nun but decided a worldly life was more her style completes the group.
The knee slapping one liners and silly situations fly like mosquitoes in the Okefenokee Swamp and frankly a less talented and looser ensemble would soon send "Dixie" into a proverbial comic swamp. But these ladies have impeccable timing, talent to burn from subtle glances and raised eyebrows (Koonce is a master at this, even when she was not speaking, her eyes, posture and gestures spoke volumes) to over the top theatrics (Vernadette's hilarious paean to the biscuit is a show stopper) which elevates the simple material to an outstanding comic production.
As the play takes the ladies from their 40s into their 70s, a bit of drama creeps in as regrets, illness and death take their toll. But thankfully it does not descend too far or get as sticky sweet as a Georgia peach and leaves the audience with a light hearted exploration of friendship.
Keeping the feeling of an intimate, friendly theatre, the actors in each show assemble to greet the audience. Since Greg knew Missy Koonce well and I had met her, we decided to drop in. I guess I made an impression on the cast as I laughed my ass off in my front row seat. I was treated to an impression by Cathy Barnett of my reactions. She was dead on.
A real treat, so we were glad we stayed and recommend "The Dixie Swim Club" for y'all to see, including the menfolk.
Dixie Swim Club through June 27 AHT
"Chick" plays or "Chick Flicks" usually are crashing bores for almost any member of the male population. Greg and I are hardly the most typical of men, neither of us are big fans of loud, obnoxious, boorish films or whatever and we both say please and thank-you a lot. Nevertheless, we considered if we were going to order an intermission drink in case we fled the show. We decided what the heck and planned for the whole evening.
Danm glad we did.
"The Dixie Swim Club" is a typical AHT play, breezy, light hearted, intimate (the theatre is small and it is easy to feel right on stage with the actors, plus we feel we know most of them through their regular appearances) and well paced. The plot is simple: 5 North Carolina ladies from a college swim club get together each August at a beach house for a reunion.
Sheree (the wonderful Cathy Barnett) is an annoying hyper-organizer who gags her friends each year with inedible health food snacks. Cheryl Weaver is Lexie, a Blanche Du Bois type with a husband-du-jour. Accident prone Vernadette (the fabulous Debra Bluford) lives a trailer-trash life with a no-good husband and a kid with a mile long rap sheet. The irrepressible Missy Koonce plays Dinah, an aggressive, martini drinking lawyer with no time for a social life. Finally there is Jeri Neal (Jennifer Mays), who became a nun but decided a worldly life was more her style completes the group.
The knee slapping one liners and silly situations fly like mosquitoes in the Okefenokee Swamp and frankly a less talented and looser ensemble would soon send "Dixie" into a proverbial comic swamp. But these ladies have impeccable timing, talent to burn from subtle glances and raised eyebrows (Koonce is a master at this, even when she was not speaking, her eyes, posture and gestures spoke volumes) to over the top theatrics (Vernadette's hilarious paean to the biscuit is a show stopper) which elevates the simple material to an outstanding comic production.
As the play takes the ladies from their 40s into their 70s, a bit of drama creeps in as regrets, illness and death take their toll. But thankfully it does not descend too far or get as sticky sweet as a Georgia peach and leaves the audience with a light hearted exploration of friendship.
Keeping the feeling of an intimate, friendly theatre, the actors in each show assemble to greet the audience. Since Greg knew Missy Koonce well and I had met her, we decided to drop in. I guess I made an impression on the cast as I laughed my ass off in my front row seat. I was treated to an impression by Cathy Barnett of my reactions. She was dead on.
A real treat, so we were glad we stayed and recommend "The Dixie Swim Club" for y'all to see, including the menfolk.
Dixie Swim Club through June 27 AHT
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Kansas City Symphony: Russian Fireworks
The Kansas City Symphony ended its season with a more conventional program than those of late. Three Russian/Soviet favorites were on tap: for an overture, the witty Colas Bruegnon Overture by Kabalevsky, the ever popular Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1, and the Prokofiev Symphony # 5. Music Director Michael Stern was on the podium, with Vladimir Feltsman piano in the Tchaikovsky.
Of all of Kabalevsky's many works only a few such as the Colas Bruegnon Overture, the Comedians Suite and occasionally one of the concerti are heard today, in contrast to the popularity of his contemporaries Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Of the three, Kabalevsky was certainly the more conventional and managed to stay out of trouble with the authorities. Although he was on Zhdanov's famous list, he escaped with nothing more than a warning.
Colas, a 3 act opera about a year in the life of an irrepressible French wood carver and the characters in his village, is a witty and vigorous piece, a perfect festive opener. Stern and the orchestra gave it a sparkling and enjoyable performance, marred only by some over aggressive brass in spots.
Feltsman certainly has an affinity with the Tchaikovsky, as any Russian pianist should, thus his formidable technique and his love for the music was on full display. Unfortunately, his technique and enthusiasm made Feltsman a bit of a pounder in this performance, something the music needs in some spots (the opening of course) but less of in the middle movement and the more lyrical second theme of the sprawling first movement. The big movement seemed to bog a bit as it went along spinning out theme after theme, but Feltsman and the orchestra whipped up a stunning ending that left the orchestra and audience breathless. They received one of the longest and most enthusiastic mid-work rounds of applause I ever encountered. Feltsman, bemused at first, won the audience over with his encouraging gestures. Stern made sure the audience knew there was more to come.
The sweet second movement was appropriately languid and almost impressionistic in the simple A section and lovingly dance like in the middle. This was the most successful movement as Feltsman demonstrated that his technique and power could also gently rock and sing.The brisk, frolicking finale benefited from Feltsman's power and drive, so much so the orchestra struggled some to keep up. The usually fine KC Symphony winds added some wonderful color throughout, but the strings were feeling a bit underpowered and disengaged, especially as the work progressed. Still the large and appreciative audience gave all a hearty accolade.
The mighty Prokofiev 5th received a brisk, damn the torpedos performance bringing out the underlying tension of this powerful work written in the waining days of WW II. The winds had a field day with Prokofiev's shrieking and motoric writing. Stern milked the brooding and turbulent 3rd movement most effectively, allowing the finale to propel the work to a blaze of fireworks at the conclusion. My only disappointment there was the way too understated, manic "clockwork" passage just before the final cadences. I was told that the orchestra was particularly uncomfortable due to some awful humidity that seemed not to succumb to the theatre air conditioning. Thus they played the Prokofiev without jackets. Perhaps the heat and humidity contributed to a performance that seemed relentlessly rushed in spots and dotted with some rough entrances and ensemble. Nonetheless, it was basically a convincing and powerful performance of this symphonic masterpiece and a fitting end to the season.
I look forward to my usual balcony Row G 7 seat next year for the Martinu 4th, Berlioz Harold in Italy, the US premiere of Avner Dorman's "Frozen In Time" Percussion Concerto (which I got to hear a preview performance courtesy of this most charming and friendly composer, the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn, Jonathan Biss in Brahms and Stefan Jackiw in Bruch, among other great pieces. And foremost, the last full season in the lovely but uncomfortable and acoustically lousy Lyric Theatre.
Of all of Kabalevsky's many works only a few such as the Colas Bruegnon Overture, the Comedians Suite and occasionally one of the concerti are heard today, in contrast to the popularity of his contemporaries Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Of the three, Kabalevsky was certainly the more conventional and managed to stay out of trouble with the authorities. Although he was on Zhdanov's famous list, he escaped with nothing more than a warning.
Colas, a 3 act opera about a year in the life of an irrepressible French wood carver and the characters in his village, is a witty and vigorous piece, a perfect festive opener. Stern and the orchestra gave it a sparkling and enjoyable performance, marred only by some over aggressive brass in spots.
Feltsman certainly has an affinity with the Tchaikovsky, as any Russian pianist should, thus his formidable technique and his love for the music was on full display. Unfortunately, his technique and enthusiasm made Feltsman a bit of a pounder in this performance, something the music needs in some spots (the opening of course) but less of in the middle movement and the more lyrical second theme of the sprawling first movement. The big movement seemed to bog a bit as it went along spinning out theme after theme, but Feltsman and the orchestra whipped up a stunning ending that left the orchestra and audience breathless. They received one of the longest and most enthusiastic mid-work rounds of applause I ever encountered. Feltsman, bemused at first, won the audience over with his encouraging gestures. Stern made sure the audience knew there was more to come.
The sweet second movement was appropriately languid and almost impressionistic in the simple A section and lovingly dance like in the middle. This was the most successful movement as Feltsman demonstrated that his technique and power could also gently rock and sing.The brisk, frolicking finale benefited from Feltsman's power and drive, so much so the orchestra struggled some to keep up. The usually fine KC Symphony winds added some wonderful color throughout, but the strings were feeling a bit underpowered and disengaged, especially as the work progressed. Still the large and appreciative audience gave all a hearty accolade.
The mighty Prokofiev 5th received a brisk, damn the torpedos performance bringing out the underlying tension of this powerful work written in the waining days of WW II. The winds had a field day with Prokofiev's shrieking and motoric writing. Stern milked the brooding and turbulent 3rd movement most effectively, allowing the finale to propel the work to a blaze of fireworks at the conclusion. My only disappointment there was the way too understated, manic "clockwork" passage just before the final cadences. I was told that the orchestra was particularly uncomfortable due to some awful humidity that seemed not to succumb to the theatre air conditioning. Thus they played the Prokofiev without jackets. Perhaps the heat and humidity contributed to a performance that seemed relentlessly rushed in spots and dotted with some rough entrances and ensemble. Nonetheless, it was basically a convincing and powerful performance of this symphonic masterpiece and a fitting end to the season.
I look forward to my usual balcony Row G 7 seat next year for the Martinu 4th, Berlioz Harold in Italy, the US premiere of Avner Dorman's "Frozen In Time" Percussion Concerto (which I got to hear a preview performance courtesy of this most charming and friendly composer, the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn, Jonathan Biss in Brahms and Stefan Jackiw in Bruch, among other great pieces. And foremost, the last full season in the lovely but uncomfortable and acoustically lousy Lyric Theatre.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Sheer Nun-sense
Ah, hypocrisy reins in the Roman Catholic church. An Arizona Bishop has excommunicated a nun who approved an emergency abortion for a woman suffering from pulmonary hypertension. She and the 11 week old fetus would have died. Basically being pregnant was killing her, the baby would not have survived either.
The Bishop, a patsy for the ass kissers in Rome, took his high horse road and excommunicated everyone, pleasing no one but The Pope.
The article asks a very pertinent question. Why was such swift action taken on this when abusive priests were and are permitted to keep all their rights and privileges in the cult?
Damn glad I am not a Catholic.
Nun Excommunicated
The Bishop, a patsy for the ass kissers in Rome, took his high horse road and excommunicated everyone, pleasing no one but The Pope.
The article asks a very pertinent question. Why was such swift action taken on this when abusive priests were and are permitted to keep all their rights and privileges in the cult?
Damn glad I am not a Catholic.
Nun Excommunicated
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Another One
Ford Motor Co. board voted today to end Mercury vehicle production in the fourth quarter. Thus the up and down life of Ford's middle child comes to an end.
The fate of the 72-year-old Mercury brand, born as an upscale Ford in 1939, has recently been in question. Thus this announcement comes as little surprise. Mercury sales peaked in 1978 at more than 580,000 vehicles but have been declining ever since. Ford sold about 92,000 Mercurys last year. That was a good year for a Grand Marquis in the 80s, not counting the other models in the line up.
In the 40s and 50s Mercury was more of a baby Lincoln rather than a Ford. The unique bathtub Mercs of the 50s (think any low slung hot rod you have seen) were more related in style to the Lincoln Cosmopolitans than the Ford Tudor. Same with the late 50s when the Turnpike Cruiser was the most Buck Rodgers thing on the road. In the 60s, Mercury suffered along with many of the mid class rivals and became more upmarket Ford than baby Lincoln. Its best years were the 70s, when the Monterrey model was closer to Ford and the Marquis was a step below a Continental.
The most well known Merc was the Cougar, itself a spin off from Ford's Mustang. Cougars were suave, sexy and luxurious and above all successful. Cougar's cat emblem virtually identified all Mercury autos for a generation, where one could buy one "a the sign of the cat."
Even then one could see the problem that eventually spelled doom for Mercury. None of its cars were unique, none screamed Mercury. Even when there was a unique Merc (that is one not sold by Ford dealers) it was a derivative of some other Ford product. Those include the German "Merker" of the late 80s and the awful Australian Capri. Mercury got a mini van care of Nissan whose "Quest" was re-badged and slightly restyled as the Villager. Thus the badge fought annually for relevance, only the long in the tooth Grand Marquis keeping it afloat.
In the last few years, Mercury became even more irrelevant. All products were nothing but re-badged and disguised Fords, from the Milan (Fusion) sedan to the SUV Mountaineer (Explorer). Those between 75 and death will have to get a-hold of their last available Grand Marquis soon.
I owned one Merc, an exasperating 1986 Grand Marquis with few miles but a nagging engine problem that led it to an early grave. Rode like a dream and was solid otherwise. My friend Steve had an 84 that we took to Cleveland and back in the late 90s. Great car.
So another great name joins the ranks of cars consigned to the dustbin. Times have changed, the old multi-layer marketing plans that relied on a customer being loyal to a brand and moving upscale as they got older and more wealthy just doesn't work anymore. Life has been tough on the middle kids; Olds, Pontiac and now Mercury. Who's next?
Some say Chrysler may drop the Chrysler brand and go to Dodge and the new Fiat made cars.
Tough time to be a car fan.
Mercury 1939-2010
The fate of the 72-year-old Mercury brand, born as an upscale Ford in 1939, has recently been in question. Thus this announcement comes as little surprise. Mercury sales peaked in 1978 at more than 580,000 vehicles but have been declining ever since. Ford sold about 92,000 Mercurys last year. That was a good year for a Grand Marquis in the 80s, not counting the other models in the line up.
In the 40s and 50s Mercury was more of a baby Lincoln rather than a Ford. The unique bathtub Mercs of the 50s (think any low slung hot rod you have seen) were more related in style to the Lincoln Cosmopolitans than the Ford Tudor. Same with the late 50s when the Turnpike Cruiser was the most Buck Rodgers thing on the road. In the 60s, Mercury suffered along with many of the mid class rivals and became more upmarket Ford than baby Lincoln. Its best years were the 70s, when the Monterrey model was closer to Ford and the Marquis was a step below a Continental.
The most well known Merc was the Cougar, itself a spin off from Ford's Mustang. Cougars were suave, sexy and luxurious and above all successful. Cougar's cat emblem virtually identified all Mercury autos for a generation, where one could buy one "a the sign of the cat."
Even then one could see the problem that eventually spelled doom for Mercury. None of its cars were unique, none screamed Mercury. Even when there was a unique Merc (that is one not sold by Ford dealers) it was a derivative of some other Ford product. Those include the German "Merker" of the late 80s and the awful Australian Capri. Mercury got a mini van care of Nissan whose "Quest" was re-badged and slightly restyled as the Villager. Thus the badge fought annually for relevance, only the long in the tooth Grand Marquis keeping it afloat.
In the last few years, Mercury became even more irrelevant. All products were nothing but re-badged and disguised Fords, from the Milan (Fusion) sedan to the SUV Mountaineer (Explorer). Those between 75 and death will have to get a-hold of their last available Grand Marquis soon.
I owned one Merc, an exasperating 1986 Grand Marquis with few miles but a nagging engine problem that led it to an early grave. Rode like a dream and was solid otherwise. My friend Steve had an 84 that we took to Cleveland and back in the late 90s. Great car.
So another great name joins the ranks of cars consigned to the dustbin. Times have changed, the old multi-layer marketing plans that relied on a customer being loyal to a brand and moving upscale as they got older and more wealthy just doesn't work anymore. Life has been tough on the middle kids; Olds, Pontiac and now Mercury. Who's next?
Some say Chrysler may drop the Chrysler brand and go to Dodge and the new Fiat made cars.
Tough time to be a car fan.
Mercury 1939-2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
