Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Happy Holidays from Frenchy's House Party!

And what better way to say Happy Holidays than to watch a little tour of the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas while enjoying one of his favorite recipes. Both are below. Enjoy!! (The video tour of the Liberace Museum has been removed from You Tube. I have placed another video of "Lee" there instead)





Liberace's Meatball Soup


1/2 pounds ground beef
1/8 pound ground pork
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 cup chopped onion
4 tablespoons flour, divided
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 quarts salted water
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup light cream
8 boiling potatoes
2 slices bread, soaked in milk and squeezed dry

Mix together beef, pork, parsley, half the onion, 1 tablespoon flour, eggs, bread, salt and pepper. Shape into spheres the size of golf balls. Simmer in salted water with bay leaf, allspice and remaining onion for 30 minutes. Thicken broth with additional flour.

Remove 1/2 cup broth and mix with remaining flour until smooth. Return to pan and blend well. Simmer for several minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream.

Serve over boiled potatoes.

Serve with a bowl of crisp salad or coleslaw.

Yield: Serves 8.


Saturday, December 23, 2006

My Aristocratic Title

I have just found out that I have an aristcratic title! It is

Count-Palatine Daniel von Pfalz-Neuburg
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Who knew??!! That, I suppose accounts for my fondness for seafood in sherried cream sauce!

Here's a photo of my exalted ancestor Karl III Phillip


Oh well... it's fun to pretend... check out the link to have a "peculiar" title made for yourself.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Dreamgirls

I remember the night that this scene from Dreamgirls was broadcast on the 1982 Tony Awards. Jennifer Holliday's performance was so volcanic I thought my TV was going to explode. She was magnificent. I hope you enjoy this.




Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Happy 40th Birthday to Buzzy!


Today is Buzzy's 40th Birthday and I had this printed in the Cape Cod Times. The photo was sent by my Mom-in-Law Deb. Thanks to Mom for that, and many happy returns to my honey!

Monday, May 01, 2006

Why Same-Sex Marriage Rights?

A reader of Andrew Sullivan's wrote this:

A fairly obvious point you didn't make in your post: I don't think the comparison can ever be made about marriage rates for gay couples in Massachusetts (or any other state that grants gays the right to marry) unless there is full recognition of such marriages on the federal level. Even if I could marry under state law - the lack of federal recognition means the institution for me is still a second class affair. Important tax and other federal benefits are missing.

In my own case, my partner and I are selling my house here in California - and I will have more than $600,000 in gains. We've been together 4 years. If I gifted him half the house - he would be taxed. A couple who could have married however, would get a $500,000 flat excusion for gains under the tax code. As a single, unmarried man I get only a $250,000 exclusion - meaning that I am paying in just this one instance more than $100,000 penalty in taxes that a married couple would not have.

Very painful to think about. Less rights than any straight person - and a heavier tax burden. So much for the guarantee of equal protection under the law.


It should make every American citizen cringe!

Friday, March 24, 2006

Feliz Cumpleanos!


Last night the "girls", Sassy, Tobe, Sally, Antoinette, and Shantee took me out to Acapulcos Restaurant in Yarmouth for a little pre-birthday dinner. It was absolutely delicious. The food there is terrific. Please go and give it a try.

But one word of warning.... if they find out that it is your birthday, the waitstaff make you wear a sombrero while they serenade you mariachi-style. As you can see it's not a pretty picture.

Thanks to all of the girls for a super time.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Punta Cana Vacation 2006



Buzzy and I just got back from our vacation to Punta Cana. This is our 3rd time visiting the Dominican Republic. Wow! What a great time we had. On previous trips it raind a lot (albeit only a few minutes at a time... then sun), but this time it rained only at night. It was 85 and sunny every day! Just beautiful. Here is just a quick couple of "snaps". More to come, including a St. Patrick's Day celebration, Dominican-style.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Matalin the Maleficent



Several bloggers including Arianna Huffington read Mary Matalin's beads royally after she appeared on Meet The Press this past weekend to defend Dead-Eye Dick Cheney's actions after shooting his friend in the face on a hunting trip. I've read items that remarked about Mary's "unfortunate face-lift", that bizarre magnolia brooch, "jungle red" claws... everything. Arianna has the best take on it here. Please enjoy with my complements.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Stinkin' Snow!

Well, the vacation that Buzzy and I have been planning, which was to include a lovely Valentine's dinner for two on the beach in Punta Can has been delayed due to last Sunday's snowstorm in Boston. Ugh! And boy did I need to vacation. It has been postponed for March now. The tour people had postponed the flight to Monday (from Sunday) at 8:45am and then to 3:45pm. We would have lost about two days of our vacation and Buzzy was going to have to leave on Friday anyway for a job in the western US. All things considered, it was the best thing to do.

We did go to our friend Nicky's restaurant in Boston on Saturday night. The place is called The Blue Room and is located in Kendall Square. We were warmly welcomed to the establishment by Nick and his now fiancee Liz. The restaurant is really quite nice with very eclectic food and a terrific ambiance. Nick started us off with an appetizer of ravioli with a chicken liver in it, seared, in a vinaigrette sauce. Now I am not a big fan of chicken livers, but the vinaigrette was a lovely counterpoint to the flavor of the chicken liver. Buzzy had a grilled quail appetizer while I had a lamb brochette with a cucumber yogurt sauce. For an entree, Buzzy had a grilled Pork Chop with a Bourbon glaze and I had Moroccan-spiced Roasted Chicken. Boy was everything tasty. Nick sent over Delamain Vespers for "afters". All in all, a wonderful dinner and a great visit with Nick and Liz. Please do go visit them when you are in Boston (Cambridge).

Wish us luck on our next try. We both could use this vacation and the resort (Secrets Excellence Punta Cana) is a terrific place to relax.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Chimpy Gets His Beads Read

Last night during the State of the Union speech Chimpy made the mistake of reminding everyone about that idiotic idea about Social Security Retirement Accounts.


Here's what happened next.





Sunday, January 15, 2006

A Sassy 50th Birthday!




Congratulations to Bob on his 50th birthday! No one throws a party like Bob... Lobster Crostini, Tomato & Mozzarella Bruschetti, Prime Rib, Veuvre Cliquot, Chocolate Cake... My word, what a nice evening.

Best Wishes for many more.



Monday, January 09, 2006

Happy Birthday Events II


The Contessa di Pomidori had her birthday as well yesterday. Sassy and Tobina gave her a terrific book that had the funniest graphics and sayings on it. I'll have to scan a couple of pages and post them. Hilarious!

Happy Birthday Sally!

Happy Birthday Events


Sunday the 8th was the birthday of my mother-in-law Deborah and father-in-law Red surprised her with dinner at a restaurant called Benjamin's in Taunton. The place was packed! I am pleased to say that the dinner was terrific, and the company was even better. We had a wonderful time. "Mom" was very surprised with all of us being there and I had a great time chatting with Buzzy's 2 sisters, 1 niece and 1 brother-in-law. I found out that Bob (b-i-l) and I share an interest in science fiction. Great fun chatting with him.

I had the "surf and turf" which was very tasty and unlike the time where we went to that restaurant for a wedding, was served piping hot. Really enjoyable.

"Mom" really enjoyed herself and a good time was had by all.