Coupl'a Things XXXVI

1) RIP Yvonne Loriod, French pianist and wife of the late composer Oliver Messiaen who died Monday, May 17, at the age of 86, after years of poor health.

Loriod was born on 20 January 1924 near Paris. She had piano lessons from childhood, as did her sister Jeanne, four and a half years younger. Jeanne Loriod, who died in 2001, became a leading exponent of the electronic instrument the ondes martenot. Long regarded as a brilliant pianist, Yvonne giving monthly recitals as a young girl and by 14 she knew the whole of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” and all 32 Beethoven sonatas.

Yvonne was Messiaen's second wife. He had fallen in love with her when she was a teenage student of his at the Paris Conservatoire and she was his muse for five decades (they only married in 1961 after the death of Messiaen's first wife, in a sanatorium, after many years of mental illness). Loriod's playing was the inspiration for music from the gigantic cycle Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus, for solo piano, to the piano parts of orchestral pieces in the Turangalila Symphony and Des canyons aux étoiles. She also specialized in modern French piano music, being a leading proponent and performer of the piano works of Pierre Boulez.

2) Happy Birthday to Overland Park, KS! On May17th, 1960 voters in the Mission Urban Township approved the motion to form a city, which was made official on May 20th. Just 50 years ago, this sprawling suburb was mostly farm and field. Now it is the second largest city in Kansas behind Wichita with over 175,000 people. When it officially incorporated as a city, it had less than 29,000. Despite the late blooming, it quickly overtook older suburbs such as Olathe, Prairie Village and Lenexa and passed by state capital Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas in population.

We would sometimes like to, but we could not live without you OPKS? Maybe we could with out many of your drivers who never seem to know how to signal or what "one way" means and some of your politicians as well. You are vital to the area and you know it. So enjoy your birthday. Are they serving cupcakes? (inside joke to KC area people.. we sometimes call OPKS and its county "Cupcake County")

Anyway...many more!

3) Move over Susan Boyle, 80 year old Janey Cutler is this year's sensation from Britain. What is with these spunky Scottish ladies and their singing? Must be the pubs and scotch.

Janey Cutler - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 4 @ Yahoo! Video

Coupl'a Things XXXV

1) I note with now more pity than outrage that The Pope Formerly known as Cardinal Ratslinger calls abortion and same-sex marriage two of the most “insidious and dangerous” threats facing the world today.

Never mind about war, famine, disease, poverty, priests fucking children for sport and that little problem of terrorism. Of course the Catholic Empire can not do anything about the above and in many ways has been the leading cause of much of it throughout history. So the mighty, god ordained Vicar of Christ, picks a couple of issues of which he can not find a shred of evidence that they have caused more harm than war. Really, is same sex marriage all THAT insidious, or are you just pissed, Pope Nazi XVI, that you can't get married to your sweetie, Cardinal Fang?

There are more people in the world than not who feel the Roman Catholic Empire is among the most “insidious and dangerous” threats facing the world today.

Kick this fucker to the curb.

2) On a lighter note, I can only wonder about the chain of errors that occurred within the US Postal Service that resulted in a letter from a business to Chicago addressed to a business in Salem, New Hampshire appearing in my mail box.

3) Bad day for nudity in Missouri. Despite record unemployment, a state budget cutting essential services, a justice system out of control and myriad of other problems, the legislature led by Matt "Needs to Get Laid" Bartle R-La La Land, banned nudity from strip joints and basically makes it so difficult for them to operate that most will shut down. What will all the poor single moms and college slut ladies do now? What will all the married dads, drunk boys and truckers do for entertainment?

4) No wonder I drink too much.

Coupl'a Things XXXIV

1) First photo of my new clean head:

2) Further proof Republicans are loony to the max:

Virginia Governor restores Confederate History, rewrites history by ignoring issue of slavery.

and:

Wisconsin DA wants to criminally charge teachers for teaching sex education, which is required by law

3) Gotta love the Midwest in spring, storms, hail and 80 degrees on Tuesday. Clouds, wind and 40s on Wednesday.

4) My little apt is awash in the aroma of a wonderful sausage, mushroom and onion pasta sauce. Damn the diet, diabetes and all that.. I am going to enjoy this!

5) Finally, although I will be munching Italian, I am listening to Ravi Shankar, the man responsible for bringing Indian classical music to the world on his 90th birthday.

Ravi Shankar at 90

Coupl'a Things XXXIII

1) Sperm Sperm Sperm Sperm SPERM, wonderful SPERM.. Sperm sperm sperm sperm...

I was amused greatly by the Heartland Men's Chorus' concert celebrating British pop music from the Beatles to Susan Boyle this past weekend. One of the best shows they had mounted in a long time; the chorus was in full view, voices in fine tune and with just the right blend of camp and serious musical work.

The ad-hoc reviewer from the KC Star gave a few backhanded accolades laced with a whiff of homophobia. He mentioned an "offensive" song and had to caution that it was not "family friendly", the code for anti-gay hysteria. The offensive song was the classic "Every Sperm is Sacred" from "Monty Python's Meaning of Life." Look it up if you don't know it, it is hilarious... especially so sang by 100 men. :)

The local rag, as do many of the papers in their online editions, allows you to post a comment. So I started to post that the offensive song was the above mentioned ditty. When I clicked to post my comment, it flagged it and asked me to remove a word. Yep.. sperm. Offensive.

Thus goes the USA, the most sexaphobic country in the civilized world for sure. Sex is a bigger crime than killing someone, sex is not to be discussed, shown, or even referenced to. The Puritans strike again.

So I posted my comment, changing sperm to "male seminal reproductive fluid". That convoluted mouthful was ok.

Sperm.

2)Easter and all that is upon us. Since I am sort of annoyed at all things church and religion, it has less meaning than usual this year. No singing, no running around for special services. I guess I will go a service on Sunday with my friends the Highfills and then to a brunch. But the excitement and meaning is gone for this year. We'll see what next year brings.

3)Spring is upon us as well. It is 66 degrees at 10:30ish AM, and the sun is full. The spring bulbs are in bloom, the peonies are popping up, birds are everywhere. I even saw a small moth flitting around.

I have fertilized the vegetable garden and raked the soil. It looks good. I have 3 onions that popped up out of nowhere and other gardeners have some fall vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts and such trying to revive. Leeks are on my plot for this year, along with eggplant, Italian beans and the usual peppers. Maybe a squash or two and some pole beans. I will let the community part provide the tomatoes and such.

4) And now.... sperm.

Coupl'a Things XXXII

1) I have been listening to the wonderful, jazzy, neo-classical, Stravinskian Symphonies and Sinfoniettas of the French-Polish-American composer Alexandre Tansman (1897-1986). I and most others hear lots of influences of Roussel, the neo-classic Stravinsky (think Symphony in C and Symphony in Three Movements)and jazz (Milhaud is an influence too). Some find the works too derivative, and second rate, but I find them fun, colorful, energetic and far from just Stravinsky-Lite. But there is no denying the connection to Stravinsky yet Tansman's own voice shines through, more lyrical and less angularly dry than some of Stravinsky's oeuvre. Chandos has all the Symphonies and orchestral works in a fine set. Well worth exploring for the adventurous 20th century fans. Available from my mail order friends listed in the links section.

2) Just when I took a few minutes last evening to enjoy a warmish sunset, greeted our lawn care man supervising the first application of fertilizer and weed control and spent most of the day outside cleaning out some old junk in our junk pile, we awake to a winter storm watch with 6-8 inches of snow predicted for the weekend. Now these predictions have a way of being a bit inaccurate and the weather people around here tend to catastrophize but it looks as if we are going to get something starting this evening. So, while it is a balmy 50 before sunrise, we will watch the temps and precipitation drop. Now... where did I put the snow shovel??

3) Another harbinger of spring is the annual silliness of Daylight Savings time. I always forget if this is standard time or DST, but regardless, it annoys me. Although I do enjoy the fact that we get a few more hours of light in the evening. My usual 5AM wake up was shifted to past 6AM and even as late as 7 as I struggled to adjust. I do not have a clock in my bedroom (just one less thing to shove the # 13 in my face) so I rely on my usually good internal clock. Finally, today things seem to be back to normal, but only to be screwed up again when they futz with it in the fall.

4) Holy Amnesia, I like that term. Fascinating report showing the Bible is more violent and pro-genocide than the Quran:

HOLY AMNESIA

This will send Glenn Beck's and Pat Robertson's heads spinning!

Coupl'a Things XXXI

1) Leave it to the BBC to have a thoughtful, non screaming, and well reasoned piece on why Americans seem to have a love affair with politicians who do not have their interests in mind.

Why do People Vote Against Their Own Interests?

It reminds me of a story by George Mc Govern who lost the US Senate seat from South Dakota in 1980. He was campaigning, so the story goes, outside a grocery store. A lady came up to him and said she was not going to vote for him any longer as he voted to "give our canal away". That of course was the Panama Canal which is in a sovereign country of course. He noted later that she paid for her food with food stamps, a program he rescued and expanded despite Republican attempts to stop it. He knew he was doomed.

So a stupid electorate, reared on 60 second, feel good sound bites, continues to run a great nation into the ground.

2) Speaking of politics, a person wrote in to the KC Star recently and proposed that since the politicians were now free to solicit corporate sponsorships, they should take a cue from sports figures (the writer used NASCAR drivers, one of the best examples) and wear their corporate sponsor logos on their jackets. Makes perfect sense to me.

3) Since I have dredged up the specter and sleeze of American politics, I think I will go drink now and try to forget that Sarah Palin is out there plotting something.

And maybe fantasize Obama grows some balls.

Coupl'a Things XXX

1) Making headlines across the country is a nut case woman from KCMO who trashed the McDonald's up the street from me because she didn't like her hamburger. Hello honey, it is Micky D's... you are not supposed to really like it, just fill your fat gut with it. Anyway, she got ugly, threw a mop bucket of water across the counter and punched out the 3 computer screens on the counter. It was caught on tape, but of course the "no snitch" policy of urban trash (no matter what color or race mind you) means no one has seen or heard a thing.

A friend of mine was robbed at gun point at the very same location a few weeks ago while renting a movie at one of their movie kiosks. No happy meals at that joint!

2)Speaking of movie kiosks, many of which have sprung up everywhere, these usually red boxes have made a huge dent in the movie rental store business. The local Hollywood video closed as did many across the nation causing great consternation among customers and employees. There used to be 3 Blockbuster videos near by, but I think only one is still around. I haven't rented a movie in years (none were worth it) but from the looks of things, I will order off the net and avoid a long drive or getting shot.

3) We are supposed to get some more snow and cold starting this PM. A new bag of icemelt, shovel at ready and a new down coat and I am prepared. What is annoying me is all the whiners going on about the cold and their persistent threat to go to Florida. I never left anything in Florida and frankly some of the whiners can just go and leave me be. Take Ms Micky D basher with you too.

Really, the snow is not that bad. You bundle up, you slow down, you plan ahead (I think that is the main thing, these whiners are used to going somewhere at a moment's notice and hate to be delayed or inconvenienced)and you be careful. Not that big of a deal.

4) I have been using Google Chrome internet browser lately. I used it earlier for a bit and found it plain and too spartan. But with some improvements and tweaks, it is really quite nice. Faster than Firefox and less prone to freezing up. More features work with Chrome than Firefox. I have both and switch back and forth, but if you are up for a change, give it a whirl.

5) Finally HAPPY TWELFTH NIGHT! The end of Christmas and the start of MARDI GRAS!

Coupl'a Things XXIX

1) Rachel Maddow sets the record straight about the nut-case Republican "teabaggers".

Teabagging: Trouble Entendre!


Wouldn't it be hilarious to see Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh at a Tea Bag Party. Well...maybe not.

2) Last time I did a Puggingham Palace review of a Heartland Men's Chorus concert and didn't say that everything was fabulous-perfect, I got a slew of hate mail. So I am simply saying: I saw the HMC Christmas Concert "Fruitcake" this weekend. Leave it at that.

3) Christmas music is on full time at the Palace. HM enjoys the nice tunes and snores peacefully along. "White Christmas" accompanied by pug snores is a sound to behold, for sure.

One disc that is on frequently is:



Symphonic reworkings of familiar and some not so common carols. Cleverly and actually brilliantly arranged, well performed and several steps above the average symphonic carol arrangements that are more muzak than serious compositions. Naxos 8557099 and it is cheap too!

4) It seems the Episcopals have elected another gay bishop, this time a lesbian in Los Angeles. The conservatives are already screaming doom and the boob of an Archbishop of Canterbury is doing his usual hand wringing and sighing.

I love it.

Coupl'a Things XVIII

1) I know who Tiger Woods is, hell everyone does who reads a paper or surfs on line. Just one of the many high and mighty who use their wealth and prestige to manipulate the world around them. I, for one, relish when the high and mighty get caught with their pants down, or in Tiger's case chased around by his golf club wielding wife at 2AM. Come on, who believes his story? No one. Cops show up and Tiger goes to the hospital. He stonewalls, refuses to talk. Rumors fly, affair, domestic violence, lies told. Now he gets a ticket and the case is closed. He can go back to his own personal Neverland.

He probably screwed around with the cocktail waitress lady or whoever she is, and now wifey knows. She confronted him in the middle of the night and chased him half dressed into his car. Grabbing one of his clubs, she was intent on smashing the shit out of his car. Hey, it happens.

But what burns my butt is that if it were little ol me or even you, we'd be hauled off, charged with all kinds of crap. To be sure, I would be at fault even if it was wifey going after me with a 9 iron.

So, here is some one I cared less about, and now care about even less. I hope this cuts him down a notch or two and shows him, and the rest of the privileged, that they are not above the law.

2) From Zane who sent this in an email to me. Talk about another high and mighty who is starting to look more human and fallible:

War President!
From last night's speech. Even Karl Rove was praising him on Fox afterward.

Obama: 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan

Obama: "We Did Not Ask for This Fight"
Bush: "We Did Not Seek This Conflict"

Obama: "New Attacks are Being Plotted as I Speak"
Bush: "At This Moment ... Terrorists are Planning New Attacks"

Obama: "Our Cause is Just, Our Resolve Unwavering"
Bush: "Our Cause is Just, Our Coalition [is] Determined"

Obama: "This Is No Idle Danger, No Hypothetical Threat"
Bush: "The Enemies of Freedom Are Not Idle"

Obama: "We Have No Interest in Occupying Your Country"
Bush: "I Wouldn't Be Happy if I Were Occupied Either"

All I can say is... oy.

Coupl'a Things XXVII

1) I love my series of "Coupl'a Things" of which this is the 27th entry. It allows me to ramble and to write about what is on my mind without a lot of effort. They are just short snippets of things I am thinking about, reflections on what I have seen or heard or am musing about as I go through life.

2) As I posted on this evening on Facebook, when all else fails make tacos, and be sure to have margaritas a-plenty. One of my favorite childhood evenings was taco night at home. Mom would cook ground beef and onion while the "Old El Paso" taco shells (comes complete with taco seasoning packet!) were warming and crisping to perfection in the oven. A bit of chopped lettuce, salsa, tomato and onion and it was a fiesta! So what if the average Mexican would say it was "basura" or worse "mierda", in Central Illinois it was as close to Mexico as we would get circa 1970.

I was supposed to go out to dinner tonight, but my dinner partner begged off. I lied and said I had something to fix at home. I actually did, but I was sick of the chicken and pork chops I bought in quantity on sale. It was too late to find another dinner date and after much deliberation and hand wringing, it was off in trusty Dunbar to the store to see what inspired me.

Tacos!

They called to me from the Mexican/Chinese/Spices isle at my local Gayfresh: "Estoy aqui!" Seduced me is more like it. I made a mental note: have lettuce and tomato at home, need sour cream (a must), ground beef, taco shells and shredded cheese. And as luck would have it, "Old El Paso" still makes a taco dinner kit, complete with shells, seasoning and a package of salsa! Got it.

Gomer's (despite the name, actually an excellent liquor store) had the Salvador's Margaritas at a good price so all was set.

And I just grabbed my margarita glass thinking it was the computer mouse so I know this was a successful taco nite.

OLE!

3) This is a ship rudder:



I have been thinking of rudders lately. A ship rudder steers the boat in a steady, correct direction and keeps it from tipping over. There are so many organizations that are rudderless lately; my church, the USA, the US Congress, my condo building, my life in many respects.

Where will we find the rudder we need to steer us though the stormy waters?

I have no answer, thus another margarita is in order.... olé!

Coupl'a Things XXVI

1) My friend Presten is reporting that at least 2 Kansas City radio stations have gone to an all Christmas music format as of November 1. There are likely more, but that is all he has reported for now. During my last visit to the hardware store, I noted the workers taking down the garden and patio supplies and putting up Christmas trees and such. Sadly, yours truly has also contributed to this nonsense; a couple of weeks ago I ordered the wreaths and poinsettias for the building. So far I have resisted putting up the Christmas tree.

Ho Ho Ho

2) Since we are planning for Christmas, it will soon be time to get ready for Mardi Gras. They say Halloween is the High Holy Day for gays. I missed that gene and decided Mardi Gras is much more fun. Actually that kind of fits with my penchant for doing things a little different. If everyone goes nuts for Halloween, I just find a more obscure event to celebrate. Makes life a little more interesting.

Mardi Gras is on Feb 16th in 2010, slightly towards the middle of the range of dates which can be from Feb 3 to March 9th. I hope I live 10 more years since Mardi Gras falls on my birthday in 2020. It has never been on my birthday since I was born.

I have my Mardi Gras dinner menu all set up but am still tweaking the guest list (apply here at Puggingham Place, seating is limited), looking for a new feather mask and thinking of getting a better King Cake this year.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

3) There is a little spider crawling on my wall, if he comes any closer.... WHAP! I usually leave insects to themselves or take them out side if I can catch them. Creepy, crawly, biting, ugly monster spiders are an exception.

Coupl'a Things XXV

1) It appears that the Britten KC Symphony recording of music by Benjamin Britten has been released on Reference Recordings. When I get a copy to audition, I will post a review. The concert preceding the recording was quite good and with Reference Recordings' audiophile sound, it should be a treat!

2) My new church Country Club Congregational had a pastoral blow up, just a year after I left my old church after a pastor conflict. Sadly, the man I admired and liked as a pastor and friend is leaving. This time I was on the pastor's side, and like last time, I seem to be on the losing side. Church conflicts are some of the nastiest around. This one seems to be too, but information is sketchy.

3) Halloween is approaching, and I will this year continue my long tradition of staying inside, locking my door and ignoring the mayhem. Halloween means only one thing to me, it is that much closer to Mardi Gras!

Coupl'a Things XXIV

1) I have ESP, or if nothing else an uncanny knack of fantasizing the future. After reading an article yesterday about the impending Nobel Peace Prize announcement, I thought to myself "I bet they give it to Obama...nah... but wouldn't that set the Obama haters on fire." I imagined Rush, Faux News, and all the right wing loons just imploding. It was a momentary chuckle and fantasy as my mind went on to absorb other stimuli.

And I'll be damned it happened.

Now, tell me, why can't my fantasies of winning the mega lottery, finding a rich, handsome boyfriend that adores the ground I walk on or an end to silliness and hate come true?

Oh well, Congrats Mr. President

2) It does not take a Nobel Prize winning scientific mind to note that having a car makes you fat and lazy. The bike sits unused, the walking is less. Trips to Gayfresh are more frequent and those to the Poor People's Market have dwindled. I even took the car to Gomer's for a vodka run (well, it was raining...).

I must do better.

3) Looks like Facebook has had a meltdown this AM.

4) I am cleaning out again. Yesterday I went to my storage unit up the street. In order to have a bit of space to store junk, seasonal items and mementos, I rent a large closet at a storage facility for an increasingly large sum of money each month. Although it is close and convenient, I visit the place only a couple times a year.

Upon entering the facility, I wound my way to my assigned space only to find the lock changed. I went to the lady at the desk who appeared baffled by the whole thing too. She opened it for me and I proceeded to get what I needed. She said she would look into the thing. As I rummaged, a rustle and noise directed my attention to a suitcase, whereupon I discovered Mickey Mouse had set up housekeeping.

Arrrrrgh.

The lady at the office was now a bit more sullen when I arrived. She gleefully pointed out that in April I had paid my bill 7 days late and that necessitated them securing the unit. Questioning why they had to destroy my lock and just not put a second lock on the unit (there is a place to do so) led to the usual "it is policy" answer.

So, one customer lost. Outside of that one indiscretion, I had paid on time for 3 years.

Stuff is being tossed, given away on Freecycle and stuffed into corners. Even I, who prides himself on downsizing, still has more crap than one should have.

5) The pickled okra is looking good in its tight jar. I am resisting temptation.

Coupl'a Things XXIII

1) I am pleased to announce that the Queen Mary is out of prison and is now owned by a nice fellow in Independence. She was sprung yesterday and through a fortuitous situation, she is now in a garage waiting to be licensed and a new battery.

It was hard to let her go, but it was best for me, as I did not have the $ to pay off the horrible city of KCMO. How she got out is a story that I will not tell in public. Suffice to say it skirted legality or violation of this idiot city rules and I want no further trouble from them.

Go forth QM, go on to your new home, actually in the state of your birth... and ride in style.

2) Bigger news is that the QM will be replaced by a 1990 Buick Century from my late aunt Pauline. My Uncle Howard (her brother) has it and does not need it. I am going to Galesburg, Il on 10/2 to pick it up. Only 61,000 miles and a new paint job. Should be a good car. I am still going to bike and walk locally as it is good for me. But will be nice to have wheels to go longer distances.

3) Scotch has reappeared in my liquor cabinet. I am enjoying an early but deserved glass of Bowmore, a fine, mid range Islay scotch. Smooth but with the peat smoke and tang-of-the-sea flavor that makes Islay scotch so damn fine.

4) The garden is still producing, but I will not take pictures as it looks like hell. I got some tomatoes, my beans are going fine, the peppers are plentiful and I got another eggplant.

5) HM's Palace News Report: She is most highly NOT AMUSED. She got a bath (second in 5 days due to her skin allergy) and the evil vacuum cleaner paid a visit. If you see a fluffy fawn pug walking along with a bag containing her food bowl and food bag, please return her.

Coupl'a Things XXII

1) Best headline I have seen in years:

"Octomom Nadya Suleman: 'I screwed myself.'"

I guess that is how you get 8 babies all at once.... but still can't quite picture it in my mind...

2) Saw the fine film "Julie and Julia" last weekend. I recommend it to all. Funny, intelligent, interesting, well paced and insightful. Meryl Streep as Julia Child is amazing, she totally captures the unique voice and manners of Child without being a silly parody. The rest of the cast was excellent as well, standing up to, but of course yielding to Streep's incredible presence.

Also starring was a fabulous and rare 1950 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon. Rare even when new; only 420 ever made.

3) Today's adventure in no wheels: Going to the grocery store. Should be interesting.

Coupl'a Things XXI

1) As the old saying goes, be careful of what you ask for, you might get it. I had been bitching about the cool spring and now it looks like the 90s are here for a while. The AC units are roaring, the towers treasurer is bitching about power bill (but this pathetic twit bitches about birds in the yard so I don't listen to him much), the doors are swelling and sticking, needing constant attention and pugwalks have been suspended until further notice.

Summer be here now!

2) Obama, you are beginning to be a disappointment. Ok, he has at least not been a George Bush and the world still seems to love him. But his scattershot approach to the economy and strange Supreme Court nominee (I don't trust her) has me wondering about him. This "fierce advocate" for gay and lesbian rights, as he called himself in the campaign, has turned out to be a paper tiger. No firm stand on marriage and allowing the Department of Injustice to issue a defence of the "Defence of Marriage Act" (the most hypocritical and laughable piece of "legislation" ever written, future generations will get a kick out of it) that made Rush and Pat Robertson giddy with glee that the administration agreed with them that gay marriage was the same as incestuous marriage, were supposedly tempered by giving a few Gay and Lesbian employees a few benefits, but not full equality and temporary ones at that. Our G/L "leaders" such as the Human Rights Campaign, did little but express regret and muted praise. We need to stop supporting those who can't come to grips with the fact that GLBT people are citizens and deserve equal treatment. Took the USA a war and then a hundred years to figure that out over racial equality.... maybe we need a war?

We wont... all the queers I know are just dreaming of moving to the mythical warm climates where they can party all year long in expensive locales. Dumb asses.

3) Saw a cute semi-staged reading of an old play "The Octette Bridge Club" as a benefit for the Coterie Theature, KC's children's theatre. Bravo ladies!

4) Tried to think of something else... but it is not coming to me... so guess that is it. How's that for a finale?

Coupl'a Things XX

1) It was announced that midtown KC will lose its only auto dealer next week. Conklin Fangman (which Bruce promptly christened "Cocky Fagman") Cadillac, Pontiac, Buick is closing on June 13. They were among the dealers GM is axing in its ill conceived recovery plan. Conklin Fangman took over from Major Cadillac a couple of years ago, remodeling and featuring a busy service department. You see the thing about Caddy owners is they take care of their cars. My neighbor has a 1998 Caddy and it is serviced regularly, on the dot. But GM and its handlers say "screw you" and just because Honda and Toyota have fewer dealers, that must be the key to success. Really, if you can't find a place to buy a GM car, then why do it at all??

We used to have several dealers here in Midtown, Fisher Buick-Chevrolet, Broadway (then Marcus Allen) Ford, and the aforementioned Caddy dealer, who added Buick when Fisher left.

Thankfully, I have the good old Queen Mary still tooling along.

2) A big cheer for the people and legislature of New Hampshire who has joined the 21st century and the ranks of the fair and progressive and legalized same sex marriage. I think Missouri will be among the last, along with Alaska and Arkansas.

3) In the same vein of GM's stupid move, Irish low cost airline Ryanair is considering charging for using on board toilets and has supposedly asked Boeing, who supplies its aircraft, to engineer credit card swipe mechanisms for the loos.

Piss on Ryanair..... I think some may just do that.

4) This is my 18th Coupl'a Things post. It replaced the Pancake Musings since I decided that pancakes were just a strain on my diet...still love the damn things though....

Coupl'a Things XIX

1) Daniel called this week to announce that he and Stephanie are moving to Lincoln, Nebraska. Daniel got his own store with Guitar Centers. He seems thrilled, but a little nervous about it, and to be sure they didn't give him much time. Stephanie, I am not sure about, I didn't talk to her, but she was looking for a job, so maybe Lincoln will give her a better opportunity.

I was about the same age when I drug my young family to Jefferson City, MO from Illinois. Jefferson City was never on the short list of places to which I would have relocated, but there you have it, I did, 2 kids born and grew up there, one buried there. Maybe Lincoln is the Jeff City for Daniel. Hope it turns out a bit better for him than it did for me in JC.

It is amazing, my little D is big enough to run a huge operation, making decisions, hiring, firing, buying, selling, listening to customers and employees bitch. Makes me feel old.

Good luck, kid.

2) Greg suggested I thin my onions out and that the ones I pick would be fine green onions. So I did and now have a crop of great green onions to use. They are quite good.



3) Please... go away Susan Boyle. I am one who is NOT a fan.



It is not because of her background, or her looks, cheeky act or all that... she can't sing.

Coupl'a Things XVIII

1) One thing I like about my new church is that we actually have some young kids in the congregation. Each Sunday a little knot of youngsters come forward and hear a short story or engage in an activity with the pastor. Sometimes it is the highlight of the service (I'll get in trouble for that I am sure!)

Today being Mother's Day, the kids got to do something a bit out of the ordinary; they got to make a mess and spread paper, each of which had a picture printed on it, all over the floor. Rev Howell asked them to look through the strewn paper and bring him a picture of a family. Each munchkin grabbed a piece. "How is that a family"? He asked. "A mom is holding a baby", was the answer. "Why is this a family"?, he asked the next. "Because they are all helping take care of the baby", even though it was a picture of two men a child of about 8 or 9 and a small baby. "They are a family because they all love each other", gleefully chirped another little lady.

What a pleasure, how refreshing. Kids not saying "that is not a family because there is no mom, or there is no dad, or two dads or two moms can't be a "real" family". I guess there is hope for a future where families are judged because they care and love each other, not by some rigid concept that excludes any thing beyond a mom and dad and 2.5 kids.

2) Mother's day is not one of my favorite days. I am not a mom, so no rose or flower for me. My mom died almost 12 years ago, so no calls or Hallmark greetings are needed. My usual lunch buds, Bruce and Greg are lucky enough to be older than me and still have their frail, but still caring mothers and were off with them. Puggles never had pups so even she could not celebrate. Jean, the closest thing I have to a "mom" here, had her real son actually call her and so of course she was off to see him. So off to home alone, some home cooked lunch and a nap. Missing out on all the fun.

3) Ok, since I am bitching... it is May 10th. It is cold, I had to turn on the portable heater I keep in my bedroom as it was chilly. Who is holding all the warm weather?? Give it up... thank you.

Coupl'a Things XVII

1) As in the Great Depression of the 1930's, those out for the evening are flocking to more light hearted, flashy, escapist entertainment. Theatres and performing arts groups are more than happy to oblige; giving the public what it wants reaps box office rewards. Thus I, and if last night's crowd was any indication, many others enjoyed the recent run of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic "The Pirates of Penzance" at the Kansas City Lyric Opera.

"Amusement! Merriment! Glee!", trumpeted the print and radio advertisements.

Bright, cheery, straight forward sets, bright, cheery costumes, and the, breezy, short, never pretentious score and plot of this bright and cheery opera (ok, I made the point) have pleased audiences for years. Even the audience gets to participate, standing and joining the cast in singing "God Save the Queen" at the beginning of the second act. Each night the Queen was played by a "guest Queen". Friday was Katie Horner, local weather lady from KCTV. I know who Sunday's guest Queen will be and it should be a hoot.

2) HM has been totally fêted from around the world on her 10th birthday. Here are a couple of her specially made treats she picked out from her favorite purveyor of Royal Treats, 3 Dog Bakery:





3) It is only 61 degrees today. Hello, this is Spring... bring on the warm!