"I'm a Uniter, Not a Divider"
Most of the dinner preparations have been finished, so we gathered on the porch to sip almost frozen Kangaroo's that Schuyler had made with good vodka and vermouth. Yes, fall is here but we can still sit on the porch and remain quite comfortable. Barry said that he found Bolton revolten. But that he found Bush even more so, since Bush trumpeted to all the world that this term he would listen to foreign leaders more, that he would be more of a team player, and that he recognized how much he needed the United Nations. He even proclaimed that he knew how valuable their assistance could have been in Iraq. And then, like a true Bush, he turned around and defied Congress to get John Bolton, the arch enemy of the United Nations, appointed UN ambassador.

How little of him to have let his Rottweiller Rice whisper that ambassadorship into his pointy little ears. Don't you think there are a few decent men Bush could have chosen from, other than Bolton Revolten? Well, Liz told Barry, no, the Bush's don't consort with decent folk. They wouldn't know one if they ran into one head on. Barry agreed with her, and said that as usual, Bush's actions were like whizzing in the face of all the other world leaders. Taking a whiz in their faces seems to be a trait peculiar to the Bush's, just look at Bush's pathetic comments to Blair as regards gratitude and quid pro quo.

Liz thought both Bolton and Bush could have been slightly better men had they paid attention to what Confucius wrote, as it applies equally to both these little men: "To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue: gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness." Elizabeth said she thought the latter, kindness, is one of the better traits and the one most lacking in Bolton and Bush. Bolton for his contempt for those who work under him, and Bush for the disdain he is showing for Blair's friendship and support, and for his utter disdain for Congress. Lastly, Liz said, that walrus mustache may go over big in the cedar thickets of Crawford, but really, on a diplomat who is the face of the United States?

The World Finds Bush/Bolton Revolten
Everybody was warned, and my saint, Saint Barbara Boxer, warned us. Bolton, poor white trash like his patron, has insulted the entire world. Every country that belongs to the United Nations, has taken affront at his heavy-handed ways and arrogance, and has seriously angered Britain and Blair. If we weren't hated enough before this uliginous appointment, we are now. No doubt about it. Are we safer? Do mushy cow patties smell delicious? No, they're revolten.

A worldwide summit was to take place at the UN between September 14-16, and just a few weeks before the summit, the newly entrenched walrus-mustached Satan is requiring that all delegates agree to, of only 36 pages of a draft for a UN plan, to make 750 changes. Sweet as Bush, that quakebottock.

Max and Charlotte's Dinner
Ah, the dinner gong! It couldn't have come at a better moment. Adults and children both, we were ready to go to the dinner tables. Already waiting for us as we sat down, were little ramekins Charlotte had filled with polenta and a medley of mushrooms. She invariably makes these little dishes that whet our appetite. Our next course was a very satisfying Shrimp and Crab Gumbo we paired with a rich Chardonnay. We served very small bowls of the gumbo, but it could also have been served in such a way as to make up the greater part of our meal. Max is a genius at preparing his part of our dinners over a period of days, so he is always calm and ready when it comes to serving his dishes. Tonight, he served Roasted Free-Range Chicken with Grapes and Chestnuts. Max and Charlotte brought some white Burgundy to serve with the chicken. For the vegetables, Max had prepared Caramelized Glazed Carrots and Roasted Butternut Squash. Together with the chicken and vegetables, Max served some Irish Oatmeal Bread he had just baked. Elizabeth served small dollops of quince sorbet, and then a pasta shell salad with garlic bread crumbs. For the salad, she knew a Pinot Grigio would be the best choice.

Winding Down
We thought we would have our dessert in the great room with the children. It was not a heavy dessert, Chestnut and Cream Purée, which we served with a late harvest Riesling. After some strong decaf after-dinner coffee, the older children who didn't have a lot of homework to finish helped us clean up, and everybody left, fully satisfied with a good dinner. We enjoy sitting with the kids after dinner, and only wish that the large dining room were even bigger so we could all dine together, but for an old farm house, it's still a pretty large room if you consider that we seat 24 people every night!