Quasar Microwave 1990-2011 RIP

A moment of silence for a great warrior and comrade, our aged Quaser microwave, who gave up the ghost this morning with a cold bowl of quinoa in its belly. Last night, it heated up the green beans and meatballs for our dinner in its last act of service.

We bought this top-of-the-line, full-size oven from Friedman's, a microwave specialist store, when we moved into our first home in 1990. At the time, it was the best on the market--all touch screen. We had a few dollars to spend and wanted to start out right. It has served us without complaint or problem for 21 years.

It's hard to explain it, but we are sad about our reliable appliance giving up the ghost. It's reasonable to expect an electrical device to last 10 years, but 21 is really pretty heroic. (I do have a clock radio that's still going after 43 years, but that's another story). I doubt if one of today's models will exhibit such longevity.

Actually, the timer still works--I'm using it to time the coffee this morning. It just beeped.

We bought our Quasar when our marriage was young (before our son arrived) and it has seen him through high school. Actually, he may be the most upset, considering the range of quick meals and snacks he runs through it regularly.

We will need to replace our reliable old friend quickly, but, having never shopped for a microwave all these years, we have no idea what's out there--or how much it will cost.

Here's a post from someone else who had a long happy association with their Quasar microwave.

The Alpha and Omega of Car News

The world of cars is truly wide. In my emailbox today I learned of these two important and almost completely unrelated automotive events.

Today, Toyota announced that it has sold the millionth Prius in the United States. That is a lot of high-efficiency cars on the road--and the Prius is the poster child for all alternative vehicles that have come since it's introduction 11 years ago.

On the other extreme, there is a new plan to save the U.S. Economy. It's the 24 Hours of LeMons. This race series pits $500 beaters of all kinds against each other for unusual prizes--and mostly for fun. It has grown tremendously in the last few years. See this "instructional video" produced by the hilarious Jay Lamm, "Chief Perpetrator" of this popular and always hysterically funny event.

Caltranshonda - one of many wild and wonderful wrecks racing in the 24 Hours of LeMons

Take a Mental Break--Visit the Park!

After hours of slaving over a hot laptop, I needed a change of scenery yesterday. So, I went to the beautiful park down the road and spend 90 minutes hiking the paved trails.

I breathed deep and smelled the trees. In a shady canyon, I heard the rippling of a creek, still flowing from the rains we had last week. It was in the high 70's and still. Spring has arrived.

By the time I got back to work, I was in an entirely different frame of mind. I think I'll do it again soon. It's a shame to live a half mile from a major park and not go more often.

California Poppies in bloom. Don't pick them--they're protected (as the state flower).

Beatles Hold Top 5 on 4/4/64 - and Our Hearts Forever

For many baby boomers, spring of 1964 was the beginning of their love for the Beatles. On February 9, they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Zillions watched. Then, on April 4, they held all five of the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100.

Can't Buy Me Love

Twist and Shout

She Loves You

I Want to Hold Your Hand

Please Please Me

On April 11, the Beatles had 14 songs on the Hot 100--a new record (Elvis had the previous record with 9).

On April 3, 2011, several men with graying hair and carrying guitars, a bass and some well-thumbed music books assembled in the Odd Fellows hall to sing and play Beatles songs for three hours. It felt good, as always. This music will live on forever.

A Car a Week x 52 x 19 = LOTS of Cars

Besides blogging daily, I write a weekly automotive column. I've been producing these since my first one on February 8, 1992. Yes, that means more than 19 years.

To the left is a photo taken today of me with my latest ride: the 2011 Dodge Charger. Look below and you'll see me with my first test car: a 1992 Honda Prelude. Believe it or not, I have a photo of myself with every car I've ever tested for the entire 19 years.

These cars come from a manufacturer test fleet--specially set up for journalists to use. Since March of 1992 I've known about this wonderful source of test vehicles. At first, though, I borrowed cars for a few minutes from local dealers and tested them on my own short "test route." Now, I get a week at a time. By the time there's dust on the dashboard I'm ready for a new one.

What does this mean for my consciousness, you may wonder? Well, it's always interesting to drive someplace--just to test the navigation system or the brakes or the power seats or the acceleration. How well does a bass fit in? How do my rear passengers like the legroom? And what kind of fuel economy am I really getting?

It's a great life, but it's not by any means a living. It's just for my own enjoyment and, I hope the pleasure and use of my readers (hope there are lots).

You Say It's My Birthday!

Yes, it is my birthday today. I received many gracious wishes from my friends, colleagues, former colleagues, relatives... the list goes on. I also was congratulated by the place I bought my last pair of shoes, a local FM station and a Mazda forum I visited last year. The electronic age of Facebook and email greetings does make one feel important--although I think those last three weren't very sincere.

I spent the bulk of the day in Palo Alto (California). I had heard about a French Fair there, and I was lured at the prospect of the possibly seeing some French cars and the zero admission price. Well, it turns out there were no cars there, but some beautiful artwork, jewelry, clothing, fascinating people, and a special deal. We purchased a $20 food coupon for just $10 for a meal at Bistro Maxine, in downtown Palo Alto.

We had to wait a while for a seat at the tiny little place (we actually ended up at one of three outside tables--perfect). We enjoyed delicious French fare, a couple of tiny bottles of sparkling wine, and a very leisurely time (see photo). Then, we visited shops along University Avenue, and got into a time warp of amusement at a very fully stocked Borders bookstore that used to be a theater. All the glorious old moldings were intact in what appears to be a survivor of the chain.

My wife suggested a particular excellent bakery for my cake--Dianda's Italian American Bakery. We thought it would be easy to find in "downtown San Mateo" but it turned out to be way out on the edge of town. The navigation system in my Dodge Charger was beautifully displayed but unhelpful in this case, so with a couple of phone calls we barely made it at the last second to pick up the luscious cake that I'll be sampling shortly.

We went out for a Mexican dinner at our local spot--Don Jose's--and it was fine as well. So--French lunch, Mexican dinner, Italian cake. An international birthday. And, as my grandmother would say after a day of overeating--"Tomorrow--one cornflake!"

Good Beer vs. Just Beer

I like good beer. I don't drink large quantities, so it's always been about quality for me. I like dark color, strong flavors, a creamy head--and it's especially fine if it's poured from the tap.

Favorites include Anchor Steam Beer, a San Francisco craft brew, and various products of the Pyramid Breweries in Berkeley, California. Today, I bought a six-pack of their Hefeweizen at Safeway.

We enjoy going to Buffalo Bill's Brewery in Hayward, California, where you can see the tanks in the back while drinking freshly poured steins of their fine brew and eating some of the best burgers anywhere. I especially go for Alimony Ale (bitter--you think they did that on purpose?). I even have a T-shirt with the Alimony Ale design on it (though I'm happily married).

So, what's the deal with Budweiser? I will drink one (or two) at a ballgame or after mowing the lawn on a hot summer afternoon. But there's really so little flavor in it. I think it's a factor of mass advertising and perhaps that many drinkers have never tasted anything with serious flavor.

I have visited the Anchor Brewery in San Francisco--I remember pools full of beer--with giant waves of foam. I also have toured a Budweiser plant. There were some seriously large aluminum tanks there--and it figures. They produce mass quantities.

Why drink a nice, strong craft beer? I guess it's the same urge that motivates someone to have a six-speed manual transmission in their car. You just get more.

Oh, price? My Pyramid Hefeweizen was $8.99. Bud? $6.99. I was expecting it to cost less. Maybe it's a better deal in the 24-bottle case.