Esquires on the Porch
It seems like Schuyler is becoming our head drink mixer. Tonight he served us a drink we had several months ago, and we all wanted to try it again. The drink is an Esquire, and Schuyler makes them with good brandy and gin. Everybody involved in preparing tonight's dinner already have everything just about ready to go, so we were all together on the porch as Max started telling us about his disgust with this government. You have to remember that Max was brought up abroad by extremely patriotic American expatriates who always stood ready to defend the United States if anything were ever said against their country.

So, for Max to speak up against the present course of events goes totally against the grain, against what Max was always taught: "My country right or wrong." Max told us, tonight, that some wrongs are just not what this country has always represented and stood for. The hurt and disgust in his voice were shocking. The hatred he expressed for this administration was, to us who know him well, almost too much to bear, but we knew why he was riled up, so close to tears we couldn't think of anything to say to make him feel better.

Max Explodes in Anger
Who, except the very young, can ever forget those horrific pictures coming out of Vietnam of people literally on fire after being hit by napalm? In 1980 the United Nations banned the use of napalm. Forward a few years, and this creep from Crawford takes over the White House and whines to the world that Saddam Hussein is evil, evil, evil because he uses weapons of mass destruction and chemical weapons. Now, it's proven, and under duress, the United States (Bush and the other satans in his administration) have had to admit that they have rained napalm all over Iraq.

Because when the napalm is rained over those people with typical imprecision, it can horribly injure, and of course kill, both military and civilians. And, Max told us, Bush said Saddam was a monster for using such weapons. No injury can be more painful, no death more horrendous, than one caused by being burned alive by napalm. And we are supposed to be a civilized country?

We are the light of the world?

Liz had read what Dr. Robert Musil, director of the organization Physicians for Social Responsibility said: "Most of the world understands that napalm and incendiaries are a horrible, horrible weapon. It takes up an awful lot of medical resources. It creates horrible wounds. Its use fits a pattern of deception by the U.S. administration."

Saddam was the Barbarian?
Frankly, Schuyler and Elizabeth said, Saddam was not the worst barbarian, it is Bush and the horrendous, sleazy people he protects. It's been documented, and we will tell you about that soon, that proportionally speaking, Bush has killed and tortured more people now than Saddam ever did. If the sinister Satan Bush invaded Iraq over the false pretense of biological and chemical weapons, it is Bush and not Saddam who has been stockpiling and using them. We all felt so badly for Max, who by now was beside himself, and we are not used to seeing him like this. He is usually the happiest of our group, the most patriotic, the most organized, the most fulfilled. Tonight broke our hearts. Much as Bush has broken Max's heart, soul, and belief in his beloved country.

Dinner, for a Cheer Me Up?
We felt it was not going to be easy, but we all hoped that a good dinner would help Max cheer up, though we all knew deep inside that until we have regime change here, and become, once again, a truly great country, not just the world's biggest bully, Max, we, the country, won't know joy again.

We went in to the large dinning room, the teenagers went to the dining table in the great room, and immediately Shelley served us minute mushroom quiches she had made with porcini mushrooms and Fontina cheese. She served some good, dry sparkling wine, a Spanish Freixenet to go with the quiches. Regardless of the horrible discussion we had had on the porch, we thought maybe this portended a good, enjoyable dinner.

Jane had wanted to try this soup for a while, and now that the weather has become so much cooler, she served us her Basil and Zucchini soup with which she served with a fruity Chardonnay, from Beringer's Founder's Estate.
Papillotes of Roasted Scallop and Shrimp may sound like a complicated dish, but it really isn't, it's just delicious! Elizabeth served them to us with a Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) from Sonoma.

After a little guava sorbet, Schuyler served Roasted Cornish Game Hens, one of our favorite meals. He spiced them up beautifully, with rosemary, capers and thyme. A large assortment of vegetables from Art and Terry's organic produce farm completed this part of our meal. Schuyler served the hens with a Cabernet Sauvignon from Field Stone in the Alexander Valley. Hopefully looking at Max, we thought he was starting to smile a little. You see? Good food, good wine and good friends can help even when you know the current administration stinks worse than hell does.

Winding Down
We ended dinner on a simple note. Good after-dinner coffee shared with the kids in the great room. A minute to catch up on their day and compare notes on whose foal was up to what. Have you ever seen a foal frolicking in the nippy fall air with its mother? It almost makes you think the country is o.k.

Summary:
Napalm is a horrendous weapon to use on human beings. Bush does not understand that. He also does not understand that the United Nations banned its use in 1980, but he's very good at pointing his obscene finger at Saddam Hussein, accusing him of using chemical and biological weapons. Sorry guys, but who in the hell is letting this guy keep "governing" this country that is so hated around the world?