POLYESTER U.S. MISSPLOMACY

Acquired Tastes
Now, bear with me. New drinks can be a challenge to your palate, but be brave. A lot of things in your life must have been hard to get used to, but once you did, weren't you glad for the effort? I remember as a child when were given thimbles-full of beer because it was good for our digestion. Oh, nasty stuff. I preferred the cod liver oil that was so popular back then. Fast forward, I was all grown up, and while abroad, introduced to Campari, a delicious liqueur from Italy that can be used in many different drinks. I was introduced to it as a Campari and Soda, and tonight we served Negronis, which are made with Campari and good vermouth. Some people told me at first it tasted like hair tonic, but I promise you, give it a couple of tries and you'll grow to love it. It's kind of like learning to like some politicians. But, and it's a huge but, I never could learn to like politicians who wore double-knits and polyester. Sorry.

Polyester, Double-knit U.S. Diplomacy
Well, good ole Texas girl, Karen Hughes is semi-back on the scene. Oh Lord, why couldn't we have kept Ann Richards? Semi 'cause of she left town and the American Government 'cause her little boy didn't like Washington, so she hopped on the first plane outta' there and returned to Texas. Seems her little friend wants her back awful bad, but rather than hurrying up back to Washington to fix this poor country's image abroad, she's still putting off her return 'cause she's got more pressing priorities in Texas than her little friend's rapidly down-spiraling misadventure and invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. How many Americans are going to die before she deems it's time to take over her "job?" Don't know about you Shoppers, but if I were offered a job I know I sure as hell would have to report to work yesterday, not when the spirit moved me.

Some face Dubya's putting on the U.S.: Revolten Bolton, with that walrus mustache that might look good in Krawford or Uzbekistan , but not at a World body, and not on an ambassador; now, a woman who never saw a polyester outfit at Wal Mart she wasn't convinced was Haute Couture. And she's the woman who's going to convince the world the United States is a civilized nation? Sorry sweetie, but she's probably the one who whispered in the Kaiserette of Krawford's ear that nasty little world that has now killed over 1900 beloved sons, daughters, sisters, nieces, nephews, husbands and wives: Crusade. 'Cause of course, you know, Dubya Kaiserette's a "born-again christian" and values the sanctity of life (that's his and Halliburton's, his dysfunctional family and wicked mother), the Cheney's, etc.

Lord Love Texas
Doesn't take a lot of smarts to know that being a girl on the evening news doesn't necessarily make you ambassadorial material. Kay Bailey Hutchison tried rising up the ranks but hasn't exactly been a remarkable asset for Texas or the country. Seems to us Ann Richards has more smarts in her little finger than Kay does under that bubble-haired do.

Just because you come from Texas and happen to have befriended Dubya doesn't mean you know a dry cow patty from a soggy one, and this girl sure as hell doesn't know the difference between bad advice and horse manure. I will tell you this, and you can confirm it at Texas A&M University, yeah, where G.W. Bush's papers are kept, Texas produces more horse manure than any other state in the country! Guess that's why pasty-white, pigment-free, pushy Dough Boy became Texas' second senator (with the loose, very loose mouth), but that sure don't make him a statesman, and nothing makes La Hughes a stateswoman of the caliber this country deserves and that can make a dent in the hatred the world feels for us right now.

Not A Polyester Ambassadorial Dinner
Far from ordinary or mundane, Alex and Jane tonight had prepared a special dinner, guaranteed to take our minds off tonight's politics. The kids didn't waste any time finding their places at the small dining table, and we trotted merrily off to the larger dining room. Some wore sweaters, meaning that in a few weeks we may be able to light a fire in the fireplaces, both the one in the great room and this one in the large dining room. The fires just add a lot of atmosphere to our dinners.

As soon as we sat down, Alex and Jane served us individual tartlets filled with leeks and cheddar cheese. The dry California sparkling wine they poured was a good pairing for this dish, which very much resembled individual little quiches.

The next course was delectable: a Corn and Crab Bisque. We were so lucky to find such a large dinner service at an amazingly affordable price. The dinner service has almost every imaginable dish you could ever need. Some of the group have benign essential tremor, nothing serious, but with this dinner service, we have regular soup bowls, but also soup cups with two handles, making it easier for some to handle the soup course. We continued to drink the same California sparkling wine with the bisque.

Max helped Alex at the grill, and together they grilled some salmon they served with grilled mushrooms, pearl onions, and a Zinfandel marinade. Perfect with the salmon was the Pinot Noir they poured.

We didn't think we could be so lucky as to have another course of the same caliber, but after serving small dollops of pineapple sorbet, Jane and Alex served a very intricately layered vegetable terrine and Steak Diane. They brought out an excellent Malbec. If we're not careful, we're all going to be speaking with an Argentine accent because we love Argentine food, including their Chimichurri sauce and their wine, Malbec. Some preferred their Steak Diane with a Red Zinfandel, and we brought some up from our limestone wine cellar.

Relaxation with the Children
For dessert and coffee, we went back to the great room to join the "children." Some of them will be going off to college next year, so we have trouble calling them kids or children. They are really young adults who have learned so much from living on the land and off the land, but also from their culinary experiences. There is no doubt in our minds that they will not settle for typical dorm food.