Back to Basics

I envisioned this blog as something in between. There is room, I thought, for someone to review and comment upon classical music concerts and the occasional recording from an informed listener's perspective. More than "I liked" or "I didn't like" but less than the technical reviews who excoriate a performance where the "second bassoon misses the quiet back beats that are essential to the architecture..." and so on.

But I noticed that in my recent writing, I was starting to lean towards the latter... and not being a trained musician, was failing miserably.

Thus I am going to head back to what I think I do best, comment on what I heard but from the informed listener's aspect. I know a lot about music, I know what I like. I can tell good from bad, committed from apathetic and when a performer or ensemble communicates their message. That is what made "Puggingham Palace" and now "Pictures on Silence" what it is... whatever that is. It made it fun for me, and being selfish, that is what I am going to do.

Back to basics, and if lean towards the extremes as I mentioned above... call me on it.

How I Feel

Substitute writing for talking and that is sometimes how I feel about "Pictures on Silence". I think I am reasonably good at music writing, not good enough for some people, but better than the hack jobs I have read in some publications. I get a few reads here and more at the actual publication to which I contribute now and then, but I will never make a living at it.

So it is a labor of love, it feels a need I have to express my voice. I should do it more often, I suppose, but I am really a terrible dancer.

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!

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)

In the 1930's everyone coveted a Cadillac V8 Convertible Sedan.

In 1960, you arrived in style in an Eldorado Seville Hardtop

The twin four-barrel carburetors of a 1956 Eldorado:

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.

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 Got the Don't Feel Good, Vapo-Rub, Sarah Palin on TV, Blogging Blues

For the last week, I have felt like... well shit, frankly. The annual cold/bronchitis attack has occurred, although a bit later than normal. I do manage to get out a bit, but that entails a quick return home and an immediate hop in bed. Not conducive to blogging, doing laundry or other routines. My GOD!, even my bed was unmade for 2 days... a world record. But I have managed to keep the TV off; it has not been on this year. And with that ass Sarah Palin now on FUX News, there is even less incentive to turn it on and perhaps accidentally see her silly face or hear her spout lies and nonsense,. That, sadly, is what goes for "news" these dark days.

To add further insult to illness, I found Vick's Vapo-Rub does not smell like it used to. In fact there is no scent at all. Maybe I got a defective jar, but the shit is useless if it doesn't permeate your room with that camphor aroma that reminds me of my mom taking care of me when I was a boy.

And for those looking for my comments on the KC Symphony performance last week, I was really sick then and missed the whole thing. I would not have heard a note anyway, my coughing, hacking and sneezing would have had me evicted post haste!

Anyhoo... I am being lazy, albeit on the mend, and decided that today I would share an incredible blog entry from my friend Megan. She and her mom are on a journey to sample churches big and small all over the KC area. We all used to go to a nice, small church but that has been destroyed by fighting, jealousy and power. Megan and Amy infiltrated one of the more notorious mega-churches in KC and came away with a disturbing report on why the US is so fucked up. People flock by the thousands to hear crap that makes them feel good and superior, gives simple answers to complex questions and entertains them for a while with Hollywood slick productions. No wonder FUX News, Tea Parties, hypocrisy and lying are so popular.

Megan, you and your mom are brave souls! Thanks (in advance) for letting me link your blog!

10 Churches

New Look

Yes, Puggingham Palace has a new look for the new year. Thought it was time to spruce it up a bit, but still a work in progress so stay tuned.

Someone asked me if I was still thinking of shutting down the blog. I have trouble with decisions (ask anyone who ever goes out to dinner with me) and thus I have not decided yet. I go back and forth (yes I am a Pisces through and through), sometimes wishing I would just shut it down and forget about it, then suddenly have a burst of energy to yap on about something.

Won't promise anything, but when I decide, you'll be the first to know.

Dunbar: Heading Home

Reluctantly, I took my leave of Howard and Louise around 4;30 or so; if I had more energy I would have kept it up all night. But I had been up since 4AM, still needed to drive the 2 hours to Decatur, and it had began to rain. I left with a couple of souvenirs; a picture of dad's family taken in 1942 and Howard's autobiography of his WWII adventures and career as a biology teacher. Along with my Grandfather's Illinois Central Railroad watch that I got many years ago, I have a few things to hold on to from a vanishing generation.

Getting behind the wheel of a car again felt strange a bit, yet at the same time comforting. Mobility and freedom were mine again. Although I know now I have to play the game and have Dunbar licensed in Missouri to please the authorities bent on wringing every penny out of us they can.

Dunbar took me south on the somewhat familiar roads, past Peoria, down to Lincoln and then on to Decatur on the more familiar Route 121. It had become even more chilly from the steady fall rain and I had not brought a jacket it still being hung in my storage unit. Thus I infiltrated the blinding bright world of the Lincoln Wal-Mart, bustling at the dinner hour, to buy a cheap "Made in Indonesia" jacket for all of $10. Sadly, I think it is the only place on can buy a jacket in Lincoln, IL at that time of day.

My sister did not have to work Friday night, so immediately upon my arrival, I ordained a trip to "Los Matadores" in the once state of the art Fairview Plaza Shopping Center. What is now "Los Matadores" used to be part of the big Goldblatt's Department Store, closed many ages ago. Always good food, lots of it, good margaritas and sort of a tradition for me.

I stayed little in Decatur, needing to get back to KC, so I left Saturday AM after doing a few errands with my sister. The trip here was totally uneventful and Dunbar proved reliable and comfortable. HM Puggles was thrilled to see me home and enjoyed her first ride in her new limo on Sunday. She thinks it is fabulous, actually. She was out with me when I unloaded a bag of Purina from the trunk, purchased in Decatur when I found it on sale. She is convinced that her limo comes with food as standard equipment.

As I type this, I really wonder why I have taken the time. If you are reading, admit it, you really do not find this totally mundane story fascinating at all. I could be describing a trip to the gas station for all that matters. But it serves a purpose for me. Maybe someday, if all this gets preserved, a member of a future generation of the Clark family will find it and as it was with my Uncle's stories and a gold pocket watch, a bond of understanding will be forged between estranged generations.

Thus I go on.

Change of Plans

Yeah... I am a Pisces, indecisive is my middle name. Just ask friends who dine with me at restaurants. I am the last to order, each choice an agonizing one... instantly regretted.

Thus I am re-thinking my decision to permanently close Puggingham Palace. I do enjoy blogging, it is just that lately I had been facing a dearth of ideas for blogging. I always said I did not want Puggingham Palace to be a "what I did today" blog, but one that is a bit freewheeling, funny, topical and diverse. I think it was not that way any longer.

So, I am going to just take a short rest. Build up a new repertioire of posts, maybe post a few garden pics.. and see where she goes.

777 Down...

223 to go. Then I will hit 1,000 posts in Puggingham Palace. I think then the Palace will shut its doors.

I enjoy blogging, as a long time journal keeper, it is in my blood to set my ramblings, comments, reviews and what-not down on paper, or on screen. But a public journal, like this one, is different than just jotting down what you did during the day or memorializing catty comments about friends and not so friends. First of all, I rarely do anything interesting; if I do you hear about it here. The rare juicy bits of my life are just not for public consumption. If that would be the case, there would be maybe 4-5 entries a year, and that is if I am lucky. I would have more readers if I spiced up the blog with juicy tales, pictures of naked people doing all sorts of imaginable or unimaginable things, but that is not the motive of the Palace. And a public forum means I have to keep some comments and thoughts to myself or I would alienate everyone and attract the attention of too many lawyers.

12,000 some visitors have come to the Palace, according to the site meter. The real number is shrouded in mystery as some can access through RSS feeds and not be detected, and some of those were me before I realized I could block my computer from being registered as a visit. Many are return visits from my small cadre of regulars, David, the NIU gang, Callalilly (who I guess is still around), Zaine and mystery persons from Ohio and KC. I know when I review a KC Symphony performance, several people check in to read my review...including our esteemed Maestro. I think most people stumble in here, although I do find it amazing that some of my posts rocket right to the top of the list when you search Google and other search engines.

Life after the Palace?? I may go to recording daily events in a non public record again, I may just keep it open to review shows and performances, I may just relieve myself of one more responsibility. But you few, you happy few, (apologies to Shakespeare) who read me can rest assured at my current rate, 17.5 posts a month, the Palace will be up and going for a while.

Thanksgiving Break

I have racked my brain this PM thinking of something witty, timely, interesting or funny.

I failed.

So, it is time for a blog break. Pato is going to go home for Thanksgiving this week, back to the shell of a town from which I came, Decatur, Il. I didn't want to go and deal with my sister and her whining, but family is family. So since I am gone from Wednesday through Saturday, I'll just let Puggingham Palace rest a week.

Give thanks this week, be with (or tolerate) family and friends. As the tradition started 385 years ago decrees:

"Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes and garden vegetables and has made the forests to abound with game the sea with fish and clams; and inasmuch as he has protected us, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, do proclaim, that all Pilgrims do gather at the meeting house, on the hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November the 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three, and in the third year since Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock there to listen to the pastor and render thanksgiving for all His blessings."

Governor William Bradford's Thanksgiving Proclamation 1623.

Happy Thanksgiving From D and P at Puggingham Palace

Break Time

Nothing much going on at the Duck Pond, or the Palace for that matter. I am sick of Sara Palin already, dazzle my ass.... she is a moron. Reading prepared remarks and then parroting the tired old right wing babble. YUK.

Raining like hell here in KC, MO. We get the remnants of hurricane Gustav... no wind, just the rain.

I am off to St Louis this weekend for Daniel's wedding, so no posts until at least Tuesday. I should have pics if I remember to take my camera.

Until then.... Pato

Back

Well, it has been a week since I had an entry so I guess it is time to come back. So here is what you missed:

The Palace still stands, and is still filled with insanity.

The garden grows, we have corn and okra, tomatoes are in abundance, but my squash is dead. I think I took too good of care of it and the stems got rotten and killed the plant. Oh well.

We had a primary election and no one cared.

My Dr said I will live, much to many people's regret.

And best of all, Zane sent me this which sums up my feelings 15,000%

Outrage Fatigue

Summer Break

Even ducks take a summer vacation. Although this duck has already taken his vacation, I am going to shut down the blog for a bit and not worry about it. It is the dog days of summer you know.















See you soon! D and P

They Can't Fire ME!

...cause I do it for nothing. I don't even work for them.

On June 16th the KC Star announced it was laying off 120 people, including 20 something in the news room. I guess the stakeholders needed more money, as is usually the case when things like this happen.

One of the casualties was Paul Horsley, the Star's Classical Music and Dance critic. Now, as regular readers know, I review the concerts that I am able to attend. But since I am not rich, nor do I have the time to go to every single show in the city, I miss 80% of the concerts that are presented each year. Horsley went to most of them sometimes 2-3 a weekend. There are no plans, it seems, to fill that gap. I guess I am the one left standing.

I frequently disagreed with Horsley; it was almost predictable that when I loved something, he hated it, and when I had misgivings, he praised it. For example he praised Indra Thomas, the soprano for the Verdi Requiem last month. I thought she was a mess and could not sustain the notes and made no effort to blend with her colleagues. I frequently thought he had to dig too deep to pick on a performance, just as many critics do when they are too familiar with a piece. You know the scene, damning a performance because "the second bassoon did not finesse the arpeggio in measure 6 as X did so well...", or words to that effect. Sometimes, I had to admit, he was spot on in his praise or criticism. One thing for sure, it was clear he loved the arts and enjoyed his craft, writing informative and always entertaining reviews and interviews. Maybe he was too intellectual and too good for the Star?? Could be, seeing some of the drivel that is left.

Sadly, I think there is a bigger issue at large here. The Star and its parent McClatchy have made it clear that classical music is not worth anything. At a time when the local Symphony, Opera, Kansas City Chorale, Kansas City Ballet, Herriman Arts series, etc. are making national names of themselves, the Star refuses to seriously support community arts. What other city of this size has a new state of the art fine arts center under construction, has a Symphony that draws 30,000 to an outdoor concert, dance company touring the country and an opera company that makes headlines with innovative and well attended programming? Yet we have no one on the paper to cover this? KC will deserve the moniker "cowtown" more than ever.

KC is not alone, other cities and papers are cutting back on classical music reviewing and reporting. From New York to LA we are getting the message that arts are not newsworthy.. Paris Hilton is and David Cook, but not Beethoven, the Kansas City Chorale or the East hills Singers.

I guess it is up to me now and others like me who write for the fun and exercise rather than a paycheck. Maybe we are part of the problem... or just the wave of the future?

Critical Issues

Guess I hacked some people off!

On Monday, I posted a 'review" (I am not a professional reviewer and do not claim to be) of the Heartland Men's Chorus' production of Divas! this past weekend. Actually the post was based on a letter I sent to an out of town friend, who because of his situation does not have a computer. I actually liked the show, it was the best drag show I could ever imagine, the chorus in fine form as usual. I guess because I pointed out a couple of issues (both shared by a friend of mine who was there, and yes I did attend the concert) I earned the wrath of some chorus members who felt I should have said this was the concert of the century.

Three comments were left stating in so many words that the posters were glad I was no longer in the chorus. Since they could easily have seen my profile, I assume some know who I am, so I guess I am not welcome there anymore. No big deal, I stick by my comments. Maybe you didn't understand the title, "An Embarrassment of Divas", it is based on the old phrase "an embarrassment of riches".

Criticism is part of the game fellows. I accept the same when I decide to publicly post my blog entries. I have had others disagree with what I have said, sometimes I disagree and sometimes I take their words into consideration. We would all love to hear nothing but "it was better than Cats, I will see it again and again and again", but we don't. If you are going to step out on stage and charge people to see you, you are going to get noticed, good, bad and indifferent.

A Message to Jefferson City

Ok, you State Drones, get to some real work, if you have any.

Us who work and pay our taxes to support you are sick of you using State time and computers to dig up dirt on Jay Nixon. Most of the Missouri Department of Administration seems to have read my blog in the last couple of days according to my site logs. What were they searching for: "Jay Nixon".

Yes, I was critical of him in a recent post. But let me make this straight, I think he is 10 googleplex times better a leader than your silly ass, childish, vindictive, ignorant little prick Mattie Blunt. A trained flea would be a better replacement in my opinion. And I just may write one in on the ballot in November, provided you let me vote.

The level of partisan mudslinging on the part of the Republicans in this state has reached historic proportions. I blame it on a spoiled little brat of a Gov, steeped in Republican arrogance who can not accept the fact he failed and has damaged the state. Like his big bro Bush, he thinks we are the ones that are wrong and only he, a messiah from the right, has all the answers.

Hope for some change in November. But sadly, not likely in this now moribund right wing bastion of "Missery"

Stuffy

It is Spring in full force here, and thus I have the sinus condition from HELL! I have not felt like blogging for a few days. You know when your head is so full you feel like you can't even think straight? That's everyone's favorite Pato right now.

I'll be back, I am sure.

Pato News is now Puggingham Palace

"Pato News" is now "Puggingham Palace". I got so tired of all the hits on the blog looking for news about the soccer star Alexandre Pato. It was fun seeing all the hits from Italy, Slovakia, Poland, et. al. But frankly, they could care less what I had to say.

So new name but same old Pato, ranting on about things and observing this crazy world.

Sorry, No Alexandre Pato News Here

I was thrilled at the sudden increase in readership of my little blog. Average had risen to over 20 a day. I know in most "professional" blogs and the highly popular ones with photos and lots of nonsense, 20 an hour is more like it, but I was satisfied.

The "site meter" service I use tracks each individual visit as to where they are from, their internet service and length of visit, and from where they accessed the blog, ie if they searched for it, got a link in an email or found it searching on a topic. I had noticed a lot of visits from Europe, especially Italy finding my little world by searching for "Pato News". Could it be my fame was spreading throughout the old world? Had they seen my modest work as something of value? Frankly, I was a little concerned, I did not want any fame or notoriety.

I can rest. Seems that there is a new Pato in the pond. I have, through some diligent research, found that the users are looking for news about Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, a Brazilian soccer player now playing for Milan Italy. Born in the Brazilian city of Pato Branco, Brazil in 1989, he is better known as "Alexandre Pato". He is one of the youngest soccer stars to hit that world since his countryman Pele in the late 50's. He was 17 when he played in the last World Cup and became the youngest man to score a goal in the World Cup.

So instead of wanting to hear about life at the palace, Republican nonsense, concerts and my rants, they want to see what their latest soccer star is up to.

I am somewhat relieved; I seek not fame at all. I guess there is room for more than one Pato in the pond.