Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Christmas Blogging, Part 2



Christmas Day this year was spent with the "girls" at Castello Pomidori. The Contessa made a delicious meal of Slow Roasted Pork with Braised Fennel, Pommes Dauphinoise, and Spinach with Garlic, Raisins and Pine Nuts. Sassy brought along some of the best Christmas Cookies I have ever had. One of which was topped with a pear and ginger preserve that Sassy made. Boy were they good. For dessert, I made Tiramisu that, if I do say so myself, was dreamy. Buzzy had to work during the day so he arrived later in the day.

We started the afternoon watching a movie... The Big Eden, starring Ayre Gross. Boy, what a charmer that was. It was a very sweet movie about love delayed and it was just the right movie. I would highly recommend it. I don't want to review it here, but I do think you should see it.

Photos above show the guests and a view from the deck at Castello Pomidori.

All in all, it was a terrific Christmas. I am truly blessed with the best friends a person could have. And that's official!

Bareback Mountain... Not for kids!





It was just a matter of time...


Sunday, December 25, 2005

Christmas Blogging Part 1

We went out to dinner last night with the Contessa di Pomidori to a great restaurant called 902 Main in Yarmouth. Now Buzzy was hesitant saying that we were nuts to go out to dinner on a holiday after the terrible experience that we had on Thanksgiving at The "Regretta". His aprehension was not rewarded as we had a grand dinner there. From start to finish it was marvelous. The restaurant, situated in an odd sort of building that looks like a vacuum cleaner store from the outside, belies an interior that was decorated exrtravigantly for the holidays. Va Va Voom was the on ly way to describe it. It really looked great. The owner came by to seat us at a booth that was beautifully set and was generous with her welcome and best wishes for the holiday.

Dinner was exceptional. That is the only way to describe it. I will not bore you with the whole "he ordered this, and he ordered that" business. I will tell you what I ordered and leave it at that. I started with a Warm Duck Confit Salad that had crispy pancetta and golden beets tossed in field greens with haricost vert and topped with the duck. It had a sherry vinaigrette that was piquant but subtle. Fabulous! That was followed by Pan-seared Day Boat Scallops serveed with Sage and Parmesan Risotto. The scallops had a butternut squash flavored beurre blanc drizzled on them. My goodness... that dinner was great. Buzzy and the Contessa's dinners were equally superb.

I can only say that should I need to suggest a restaurant to a friend for a delicious, expertly prepared and served dinner, I will turn firstg to 902 Main. 10 stars!

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Holiday Trip to Edaville Railroad





Buzzy and I went to Edaville Railroad to see their "Festival of Lights" with my in-laws last night. We rode on rides, had pretzels, popcorn, hot chocolate, rode on the railroad train and said "Howdy-do" to Santa. What a good time we had!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for the wonderful holiday treat.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Words of Wisdom

"Those that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

Enough said.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Bush Orders Covert Surveillance of American Citizens!



"...to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

George Bush has flagrantly ordered questionable and probably illegal covert electronic surveillance of American citizens. The laws uf our country prohibit the NSA (National Security Agency), tasked with intelligence gathering overseas, from spying on citizens in the US or conducting
"electronic surveillance was authorized by and conducted pursuant to a search warrant or court order of a court of competent jurisdiction," according to the law.
The President has admitted to ordering the NSA to do just that. After the Nixon Administration was found to be spying on citizens, laws were written to prevent this outrage from occurring again. The FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court was set up to review these cases quickly and carefully. To date they have had hundreds of requests and denied a few more than 20. It isn't as though the government would have a great deal of trouble getting the warrants necessary, but they bypassed the FISA Courts anyway.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Department of Defense has been spying on Quaker Meeting Houses deeming them a "threat"! This is yet another example of the Bush Administration's disregard for the laws of this land and of the Constitution itself, to which the President swore to uphold. The Bill of Rights contains this passage:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I believe that is clear enough. I also don't think it has been repealed either. When is someone in Congress going to say "enough already" and impeach that vile criminal George W. Bush?

Another Example of The Bush Administration's Duplicity

Here is a transcript from Editor & Publisher of a press conference held by Scott "Assistant Liar in Chief" McClellan who was asked about the President commenting on the ongoing investigation of Tom "Bugman" DeLay. McClellan has repeatedly said that the White House dsoes not comment on on-going investigations. Obviously they do if it will help one of their scumbag friends. The pertinent section is below:

Q Scott, the President told Brit Hume that he thought that Tom DeLay is not guilty, even though the prosecution is obviously ongoing. What does the President feel about Scooter Libby? Does he feel that Mr. Libby --

MR. McCLELLAN: A couple of things. First of all, the President was asked a question and he responded to that question in the interview yesterday, and made very clear what his views were. We don't typically tend to get into discussing legal matters of that nature, but in this instance, the President chose to respond to it. Our policy regarding the Fitzgerald investigation and ongoing legal proceeding is well-known and it remains unchanged. And so I'm just not going to have anything further to say. But we've had a policy in place for a long time regarding the Fitzgerald investigation.

Q Why would that not apply to the same type of prosecution involving Congressman DeLay?

MR. McCLELLAN: I just told you we had a policy in place regarding this investigation, and you've heard me say before that we're not going to talk about it further while it's ongoing.

Q Well, if it's prejudging the Fitzgerald investigation, isn't it prejudging the Texas investigation with regard to Congressman DeLay?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I think I've answered your question.

Q Can I follow up on that"? Is the President at all concerned that his opinion on this being expressed publicly could influence a potential jury pool, could influence public opinion on this in an improper way?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that in this instance he was just responding to a question that was asked about Congressman DeLay, about Leader DeLay, and in terms of the issue that Peter brings up, I think that we've had a policy in place, going back to 2003, and that's a White House policy.

Q But that policy has been based in part, in the leak investigation and other things, on the idea that it is simply wrong for a President to prejudge a criminal matter, particularly when it's under indictment or trial stage. Why would he --

MR. McCLELLAN: And that's one -- this is an ongoing investigation regarding possible administration officials. So I think there are some differences here.

Q There are lots of times when you don't comment on any sort of legal --

MR. McCLELLAN: There are also legal matters that we have commented on, as well. And certainly there are legal matters when it goes to Saddam Hussein.

Q So the President is inconsistent?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, David, we put a policy in place regarding this investigation --

Q But it's hypocritical. You have a policy for some investigations and not others, when it's a political ally who you need to get work done?

MR. McCLELLAN: Call it presidential prerogative; he responded to that question. But the White House established a policy --

Q Doesn't it raise questions about his credibility that he's going to weigh in on some matters and not others, and we're just supposed to sit back and wait for him to decide what he wants to comment on and influence?

MR. McCLELLAN: Congressman DeLay's matter is an ongoing legal proceeding --

Q As is the Fitzgerald investigation --

MR. McCLELLAN: The Fitzgerald investigation is --

Q -- As you've told us ad nauseam from the podium.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's an ongoing investigation, as well.

Q How can you not -- how can you say there's differences between the two, and we're supposed to buy that? There's no differences. The President decided to weigh in on one, and not the other.

MR. McCLELLAN: There are differences.

Q And the public is supposed to accept the fact that he's got no comment on the conduct of senior officials of the White House, but when it's a political ally over on the Hill who's got to help him get work done, then he's happy to try to influence that legal process.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, not at all. Not at all. You can get all dramatic about it, but you know what our policy is.

Go ahead, Paula.

Q I do have a question about White House ethics guidelines --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the American people understand.

Q No, they don't. And the only thing that's dramatic is the inconsistency of the policy and you trying to defend it.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, the policy has been in place since 2003.

Go ahead, Paula.

Q I have a question about White House ethics guidelines which is outside the scope of the Fitzgerald investigation. I'm not talking about criminal offense. Last week, Robert Novak, in a public speech, said that reporters should be asking the President who the anonymous source is because he believes he knows. And my question is, was it ethical to change the grounds of dismissal from "anyone involved" in the disclosure of classified information, to "anyone convicted" in the disclosure of classified information? And if the President did not take action privately, is it ethical for him not to have done anything?

MR. McCLELLAN: As I've indicated, our policy hasn't changed on this matter.

Conservative Christians... Family Values... Bullshit!

Those conservative Christians in Florida and in the so-called Bible Belt love to point fingers at gay and lesbian families saying how twisted they are. It nice to see that they set such a fine example.

Stunning allegations in Polk County


The founder and pastor of the church, 52-year-old Rubin Thankful Thompson Jr., has been charged with five counts of incest for allegedly fathering his own grandchildren with his daughter.

Thompson's daughter told a Lake Wales police about her father fathering her two boys and two girls.

"And she confided in him (police officer) and told him that she had been molested by her father since she was the age of 17," said Lake Wales Police Detective Lynette Townsel.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Top Ten Signs You're A Gay Cowboy

From David Letterman's show:

Top Ten Signs You're A Gay Cowboy
10. "Your saddle is Versace"
9. "Instead of 'Home On The Range', you sing 'It's Raining Men'"
8. "You enjoy ridin', ropin', and redecoratin'"
7. "Sold your livestock to buy tickets to 'Mamma Mia'"
6. "After watching reruns of 'Gunsmoke', you have to take a cold shower"
5. "Native Americans refer to you as 'Dances With Men'"
4. "You've been lassoed more times than most steers"
3. "You're wearing chaps, yet your 'ranch' is in Chelsea"
2. "Instead of a saloon you prefer a salon"
1. "You love riding, but you don't have a horse"

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

A Holiday Video from Stella

Worst Military Blunder in 2000 Years!

I've just read a very interesting article from the Guardian Unlimited which describes how George Bush should be impeached "for misleading the American people, and launching the most foolish war since Emperor Augustus in 9 BC sent his legions into Germany and lost them".

To describe Iraq as the most foolish war of the last 2,014 years is a sweeping statement, but the writer is well qualified to know.

He is Martin van Creveld, a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and one of the world's foremost military historians. Several of his books have influenced modern military theory and he is the only non-American author on the US Army's list of required reading for officers.
You can read the rest of the article here.

When will we be rid of these fools in the White House?

Saturday, November 26, 2005

IKEA Shopping

I went to the new IKEA in Stoughton today with Tobe and the Contessa di Pomidori. It has just opened and we wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. If you are a fan of Scandinavian anything... this is the place for you. They really do have just about everything for the home and at really great prices. We had a terrific time. We got there early and had breakfast at the Cafe. Breakfast for 3 with eggs, potatoes, bacon (for those two... I had only an "english") with coffee and two sparkling apple juice was just over $8! A bargain!

We really took a tour through the whole place and finally had our fill of shopping so we went back to the Cafe for their signature Swedish Meatballs. They are about the size of a quarter so you need to have a few of them, but boy were they tasty. 15 meatballs was $5.99 including steamed new potatoes. The Contessa had the gravlax ( a generous portion) served with greens for $5.99 as did Tobe. Boy the place was full of bargains. It was also full of gay men. I swear... open a store full of home decor and furnishings and do they ever come. It's like the "store of dreams". You build it and they will come!

Go have a look. It's worth the 45 minute drive from Sandwich.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Thanksgiving Dinner at The Regatta



Just got back from having dinner with Tobin and the Contessa di Pomidori at The Regatta of Cotuit. This blog is not (typically) a location where I will review things; films, restaurants, etc., but today I will. We went to the Regatta because it is a beautiful old house in one of the most lovely villages on the Cape. The restaurant also has the reputation of very fine dining and service.

At this point I must, in the interest of full disclosure, say that I used to manage The Regatta (for 3 months) six years ago. At that time the food was delicious, the service top notch. For reasons that I will not go into here I left The Regatta just before the 4th of July holiday. I had had enough of the owner and wanted out.

We also wanted to see Tobin's husband Bob who waits table there. We got there at 5pm for our reservation and were whisked upstairs to a very small dining room with four 4-tops in it, two of which were occupied with a "deuce" and a three. The room was very tired looking with fake Christmas decor all over the place. All of the plastic wreaths had cords dangling from them and not plugged into outlets. There was no special care taken at the tables for the holidays, just the same old shit they have always had since day one. We were told that we would not be having Bob wait on us as we had asked. The other two tables in the room were at the dessert stage of their meals.

We ordered a bottle of wine (a Chassagne Montrachet) which was very nice. Both Tobin and I had decided on the turkey dinner (at $21) while the Contessa ordered the lamb rack (at $36). I ordered Lobster and Corn Chowder for a starter and the "girls" ordered Oysters with a panko crust and some sort of purple chutney.

Let's start here:

The soup was not hot and the crouton that was standing at attention in the bowl tasted as though it was made days ago. It seemed stale and not very appetizing. The boys reported that the oysters had so much coating on them that you could barely taste the oysters and they were not hot. Rolls and flatbread were brought in as well and 1 very small piped rosette of whipped butter which the Contessa remarked was one serving of butter whipped enough to serve it all around the room. The flat breads were tasty and crisp (they are made in-house) and had a wonderful taste of rosemary to them. The miniature corn muffins were as tasteless as the whipped butter was.

Dinner was brought along shortly thereafter. The waiter did not remember who ordered what entree (I wish they would just write it down... who gives a shit about the little pads if they can't remember the orders) was ordered and by whom. Tobin had asked if the yams could be left off of the plate as he doesn't care for root vegetables and that was accomplished. The turkey dinner was supposed to be butter basted fresh turkey with cranberry-cherry compote, yams, sweet sausage stuffing, chive mashed potatoes, haricots vertes, and caramelized onions with a madeira scented gravy. Everything was cold! Let me clarify... it wasn't cold cold, but it wasn't hot. Now being a professional chef in a former life, I am used to eating food that is not hot, but this was ridiculous. The stuffing seemed to be missing any sausage flavor, the turkey seemed not to have been browned as the small amount of skin on the slices of meat was beige. The flavors of the sauce and the onions were very nice, but again... not hot. The mashed potatoes were forgettable too. And there was no cranberry compote on either of our plates. Sal said that the rack was very tasty but nothing special and it too was not hot. Dessert (cold chocolate bourbon pecan tart) was nothing to speak of at all. We asked for our check and split as soon as we could.

For an expensive dinner at a (supposedly) chi-chi restaurant, it was a complete bomb! Not only was the food and the service not good, but by the time we were finished with our dinner our dining room was empty save for us and the rest of the upstairs dining rooms were too. The least they could have done was to put us downstairs where there was some activity and not mausoleum-like stillness. Ugh... I'd have to give the whole experience a 2 out of ten. I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone, for any reason. Oh.. and one note for the Chef... use some goddamn salt for Christ's sake. It isn't going to kill anyone!

I recently ran into someone to whom I was saying that I was looking forward to dinner at the Regatta and she called it "The Regretta". Now I know why!

Good Morning on Turkedy Day


Does that bird know where that's been??

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving!


(Hat tip to Holly for this one)

The season's first snowfall


Today is the day before Thanksgiving and we woke up to a little dusting of overnight snow. Ugh!! Winter is here. :-(

What a great husband I have!


Buzzy NEVER sends me flowers, but surprised me, at the office, with these on Tuesday. How fortunate am I?

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Halloween 2005


Nice tiara Doll!

Not too busy with trick or treaters, but some friends did stop by with their kids. Here's a snap of Buzzy with a cute little pumpkin.

Monday, October 31, 2005

From the folks at Focus on the Family: Pumpkin Carving, WingNut Style

These people are nuts!

The Pumpkin Gospel

What you need:

  • pumpkin
  • newspapers
  • sharp knife
  • spoon
  • large bowl
  • candle
  • matches
  • Bible

What to do:

Prepare a place for your pumpkin carving. Set newspapers on a table and get out the knife, spoon and bowl. Cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin. Have your kids pull out all of the seeds and scrape out the inside of the pumpkin.

What to talk about:

  • How is the stuff we pulled out of the pumpkin like sin in our heart? (They’re both yucky; sin is inside us; it’s sticky and smelly.)
  • How is the way we cleaned out the pumpkin like the way Jesus cleans us out when we confess our sins? (All the yucky stuff is taken away; Jesus scoops out the sin.)

What to do:

Draw a happy face on the pumpkin, then use the sharp knife to carve it out. When you are finished, read aloud 2 Corinthians 5:17 and/or Ephesians 2:10.

What to talk about:

  • How have we made this pumpkin a “new creation”? (It has a face now; it used to be just a pumpkin, but now it’s a jack-o’-lantern.)
  • How do we become a new creation when Jesus comes into our hearts? (We learn to love Him more; we’re no longer filled with yucky stuff; we become God’s children.)

What to share:

When Jesus comes into our hearts, we become new creations, just as our pumpkin became a new creation. Read Matthew 5:14-16. Then light a candle and place it in the pumpkin. Turn off the room lights so everyone can see the candlelight coming through the pumpkin’s face.

What to talk about:

How is the way the candlelight comes through the pumpkin like the way God wants our light to shine? (God wants others to see how much we love Him; God wants our light to be seen by others.)

What to do:

Sing age-appropriate songs such as This Little Light of Mine (younger children) or Shine, Jesus, Shine (older children and teenagers.)

Excerpted from Holidays Family Nights Tool Chest.

Halloween Photos from the Office



The children of one of my bosses came in today for Trick or Treating. Cute costumes, eh? A purple dragon and a turtle (just in case you couldn't make them out). Ah.. to be that young again!

Friday, October 28, 2005

My Sister Finds The Funniest Things

Check out this VERY funny greeting card for Thanksgiving. Turn on your speakers. You're gonna plotz!

Ugh! Friday Morning Free-Associating


I cannot wait to get out of here (the office) today. Even though it is a gloomy day with rain on the way tomorrow, I just want today to be over. Halloween is coming up on Monday. No costume for me but I do have to put out the large, cheap plastic pumpkin with the light inside just to drive Buzzy nuts. He hates that thing.

Holly (my colleague at work) has brought us all Halloween cupcakes in today. Yum. No one I know makes cupcakes any more. (Forgive my free-associating today.)

I'm also on the PlameGate Indictment watch today. Maybe the Times will be wrong and Rove will be indicted today too. If there is any justice, that creature will go to jail along with the rest of those people in Washington responsible for the war in Iraq.

More later.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Nor' Easter Plamegate Blogging


There's a nor' easter being fed by Hurricane Wilma hitting the Cape today. What a nasty day it is. As you can see it's gray, overcast. windy and wet out there. Kinda makes you want to stay home in bed but here I am at the office killing myself.

I'm on the Plamegate Indictment Watch today too. I am really hoping that those filthy bastards in the White House get it royally. The way that they have lied, smeared, cheated, and screwed the American public is a disgraceful example of the perils of a one party hold on the Houses of Congress and the Executive Branch. There is no accountability and since politicians are basically out for themselves anyway, without someone keeping an eye on things and keeping the others on the straight and narrow, we have the mess we have today. It would be the same if it were all Democrats in the same position too. This simply does not work.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Frenchy's House Party's First Soiree in New Location!

The first House Party thrown at Frenchy & Buzzy's new place on the Cape was Saturday night (10/01/05), and quelle soiree it was too! Here are a few items from the party:
  • Betty & Clay were the first to arrive (as well as the last to leave), bringing with them the news that there was a person lurking outside in a car presumably waiting for someone else to arrive before being the first guest themselves. It turned out to be Bradford from Frenchy's office. Betty and Clay are two of my oldest friends on the Cape and lovely people to boot. Betty always has the latest gossip on just about everyone in the area and spills it like water out of a "bubbler". She and Clay brought us a beautiful pottery switchplate cover from Kemp's that went up immediately after the party in the Dining Room. You can see it in the photos in the previous post if you're nutty enough to download the picture and blow it up.
  • The folks from Frenchy's office included HF, a mensch who alternated between mouthfulls of "noshes" and gushes about how fabulous Frenchy and Buzzy are. Always nice to have someone like that around. Bradford, Ron, Eric,wife Rachel and baby Rose, Kevin and his dishy girlfriend Cheryl, Kevin & Leslie, Bob, and Mel and her new beau John were also there. The folks from the office split early to have a couple of "smart ones" at "The Shed" (The Woodshed), a local dive full of townie boozebags and lousy music. All of those folks were a great time. A pleasure to have them with us.
  • Mimi & Kevin (yes there were 3 Kevins at this affair) brought us belated wedding gifts in the form of a lovely creamer & sugar set with bird's eye maple spoon crafted by Kevin at his terrific pottery studio in Barnstable Village named Barnstable Pottery. There was also a pair of coffee mugs with a "dimple" on one to fit snugly into the side of the other. That was such a nice gift from the pair.
  • Bob F brought a huge gift basket of the most delicious things as well as a great big bottle of Dewars (Buzzy's fave). Thanks to Bob for that! In addition lots of bottles of some very nice wines were brought along as well. Everyone was so generous.
  • Food served included a ham with mustards, etc., cheeses, fruits, crudites (I know... yawn), shrimp (now you're talking), and some passed things. Those were Tiny asparagus spears, wrapped in proscuitto with a balsamic vinaigrette and red and yellow pepper "confetti", and "early" new potatoes hollowed and filled with creme fraiche, smoked salmon and dill. Those were a big hit.
  • The party wound up with Buzzy and a couple of guests on the deck having shots of Jagermeister. No wonder a couple of the guests were wobbly on the way out!
All in all, it was a terrific party. The term "fabulous" was certainly thrown around more than once in the party "post-mortem" phone calls. I can't wait for the holiday party we're going to have. It'll have to outdo this last one, but it'll be a pleasure to try.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Just A Few "Snaps" Of The New Place







I thought that since I post photos of most anything, and that some of you folks haven't been to the new place yet, I'd post some "snaps" of the place. Let me know what you think.

Frenchy


Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Cheney Gets Told Off In A Big Way


Vice President and professional scumbag "Dick" Cheney was given a taste of just what people think of him by telling him to "go f*$% himself" during a photo-op using the devestation in Mississippi as a backdrop. You can view the video here.

What did they do... put truth serum in the drinking water?

Thanks to crooksandliars.com for posting this video.


Monday, August 22, 2005

Dinner with Katie & Thomas

My niece Katie and her husband Thomas have come to the Cape for a little visit, albeit at the worst possible time. Not for them, but for me. It is moving time as we are moving to Brewster in less than a week and the packing of the house has begun. The place is in an uproar (even more than usual). They arrived on Saturday afternoon and we took them to dinner at our favorite "chi-chi" restaurant The Red Pheasant in Dennis. I can tell you honestly that our dinner was superb. I won't bore you with the whole menu (except mine of course). I started with Seared Peppered Sirloin that was served cold with a lovely horseradish aioli and "pommes gaufrettes". Very nice. For dinner I had one of their old standards (not to say that it wasn't superb, of course), Sole Meuniere. I have that every now and again when I am not in the mood for their Rack of Lamb which I had had on Thursday night at Enzo. It is always delicious and served with gratineed potatoes and haricots verts (green beans). We enjoyed a bottle of Schramsburg Blanc de Noirs with our dinner and I had a Grand Marnier Creme Brulee for dessert. All told it was a terrific evening. Great to see the kids again (last time was at Buzzy and my wedding). They are here until Wednesday and I sure hope I get to see them again before they go. Buzzy said he would bring them around for lunch Tuesday and take them out for a rousing round of "putt-putt golf". Sorry I have to miss that!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Provincetown Carnival Weekend 2005


Buzzy, Sassy, Tobina and the Contessa Pomidori hit Provincetown for the annual Carnival Parade, this year's theme being "Heroes & Villains". Boy what a good time we had. The parade was terrific! The girls came down during the morning on parade day and we found ourselves a good spot and waited for the fun. You can view the photos here.
We went out to dinner at Enzo on Commercial Street (which we have enjoyed in it's previous incarnation as Esther's). Dinner was a bit disappointing. I will describe only my dinner as I shouldn't review other's taste. I started with Lobster Canneloni with Artichoke Pesto as my anitpasto. What surprised me about this was that it was served cold. The canneloni pasta didn't seem cooked, however it was quite thin. It was filled with ricotta cheese and chopped lobster. The filling was ok, abeit a little bland. I could not taste the lobster at all. The Artichoke Pesto was terrific, however.
For my "primi" I chose to share an order of Linguini Carbonara with Mr. B. Now I happen to adore a good carbonara, but that was not what I got. The eggs in the sauce had congealed and sat on top of the pasta and sauce. There was certainly pancetta in the sauce, but it had very little flavor and not enough salt or pepper. The pasta was cooked perfectly.
For my "secondi" I chose a rack of Lamb with Smoked Mashed Potato and Haricots Verts and a Grapa demi-glaze. That was delicious. All things worked well together and tasted great. A well done for that course.
We opted out of dessert and hit an ice cream parlor on Commercial Street for "afters". We parked ourselves on "The Meatrack" in front of Town Hall for a half-hour or so to watch "the show".
I must say that it was a great time all things considered. We left on Friday morning after stopping at Devon on Commercial Street for breakfast (Eggs Benedict with Applewood Smoked Bacon and Grilled Tomatoes). The food there is great. Buzzy and I have recently met the owners of the Blue Room of Kendall Square for dinner there as well. I must say that they are doing a terrific job there. I'm sure I will visit that restaurant again.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Heading to P-Town today to take some photos

One of the things I do in my job is to take photos of properties that we are going to sell. I am heading to Provincetown today to do just that. Buzzy was kind enough to let me take his Jeep so that I can cruise down there with the top down. It is supposed to be "wicked" hot today and lots of humidity so I may find that my car with the A/C would have been a better idea. The Jeep is equipped with A/C as well, but the sided are off of the car and the A/C would be useless. We'll see.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Ooops! I forgot Sunday the 3rd

I forgot to put in our Sunday as well. On the 3rd we decided to head down to Provincetown to see the sights and have a little lunch. Buzzy kept needling me saying that we had to get going because the traffic was going to be a nightmare. Ugh! What is is with men and traffic? It was a sunny day, 75 degrees, no clouds, top down on the Jeep. Who cares about the traffic. It was just nice being out and about. Much to Buzzy's dismay and my delight (in needling him about the lack of cars), we had a smooth sailing on Route 6. Got to P-Town about 12:30PM. We took the obligatory drive down Commercial Street to see the sights. Too many circuit boys wearing very little, with bodies built like brick hospitals. I don't understand how people can walk about the town half naked. I suppose they are trawling for some action.
We stopped in at the HRC shop and visited with Buzzy's friend Kathy who runs the place. We usually renew our HRC membership there so that we can score some free stuff (this year a ball cap). She told Buzzy that Deborah Messing and Megan Mullaly were in P-Town this weekend. He told Kathy to give him a call whenever the celebs are in town as she seems to know who is in town and where they are staying.. . kinda the Who's Who of P-Town. Left there and headed to Clem & Ursies for some lunch. They have terrific sweet potato fries and Buzzy loves those so we went there. Just as we were sitting down after ordering, Buzzy said "there goes Deborah Messing", and sure enough she got into a car and sped away. I didn't even have time to get out my Elph!
We stopped on the way home to pick up some groceries to make dinner at home. Nothing special. Just some ribs, potato salad and corn on the cob. A quiet evening watching TV followed. We watched National Treasure which was predictable, but entertaining enough.

Independence Day Weekend, Part 3 Monday the 4th

Boy, what a beautiful couple of days we have had for the holiday, and today is no exception. We got up late and decided to go to the parade in Hyannis at 4PM. For the better part of the day we just sat on the patio and read the papers, had coffee and relaxed. Button decided to bring the hammock I bought for him up to the patio and in the shade. I told him that the patio was too small for the hammock and the stand, but he wanted it up there. He set it up and laid down on it. I believe that it must’ve been defective because in no time he was sitting square on the floor of the patio. It really was pretty funny seeing him there with both feet up and unable to move. I did get the “Jamby Cam”, as Button calls my little Canon Elph, and took some photos and video. I have made a little video of the whole mess, but I was told that I would be murdered in my sleep if it made it to my web site. I took that as fair warning.

I called Tobin and asked if he wanted to meet us in Hyannis for the parade and he agreed to. I just bought a couple of folding/collapsible chairs from BJ’s Wholesale club in Hyannis, so we brought those along. Once we got there and set up we found ourselves in a really great spot. Nice people around, a great view… perfect. Tobin found us on Main Street and we waited for the parade to start. I reached for the cooler and heard a huge ripping sound. My butt went right through the netting… just like Button on the hammock. It was such poetic justice. I was in hysterics over the hammock and Button laughed his ass off when I went through the chair bottom. We both decided that night to get serious with the dieting.

The parade was fun, but badly run. Long pauses between the participants made it seem like the parade had ended several times. One very neat item though… A local garden center was handing out seed packages instead of throwing candy at the crowd (which I hate). The seed pack I was handed contained seeds for Bachelor Buttons!! I thought that was a fab coincidence.

Once the parade was over, Button and I went to Mattachese (Matt-a-keese) Wharf on Barnstable Harbor for a cold drink before heading home. Beautiful spot and view of the harbor. We decided to just do pizza instead of fighting crowds at the local eateries.

Not too much traffic going “off Cape” on Monday, but the traffic on Tuesday was a nightmare. Cars backed up on the Mid-Cape Highway for 11 miles! Shocking! It has a lot to do with the new “fly-over” that is replacing the Sagamore Rotary. That project should be done next year, hopefully before the summer season starts again.
Hope you had a great 4th of July too.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Independence Day Weekend, Part 2-Saturday July 2nd

Buzzy (my new nickname for my husband) and I didn’t have too much going on Saturday. The neighbors were having a yard sale and there was a stream of cars in front of our house most of the morning. I sat on the patio reading the papers and watching the show.

The Contessa di Pomidori phoned and asked if we wanted to go to the Wequassett Inn for a lobster salad sandwich (which is by far the best on the planet). The sandwich comes with nice crispy fries and homemade ketchup. They also include cole slaw which I never eat as it’s too dry. I have complained about it but to no avail. I had some yellow tomato gazpacho as a starter and iced tea. The view was as always stunning. The Countess was terribly amusing that day and Sassy was managing while we were there. Antoinette was at another table with her husband Brett and her in-laws the conservative Republicans. Brett visited at our table for a few moments and we had a nice “catch-up” conversation. He’s in Puerto Rico working now and comes home every other weekend to see the missus.

After dropping the Countess off we headed home for an afternoon nap. That was a fabulous idea. It was cool and dry and just a terrific thing to do on a lazy afternoon. I was to meet up with Tobe and the Contessa to see War of the Worlds in Hyannis at 7. Got there at 6:30 just to make sure we got a good seat. The movie was OK. I still think the 50’s version with Gene Barry was better, although Spielberg did a great job. I can’t stand that Tom Cruise anymore. His latest antics have sealed that opinion with me. I liked Minority Report, the Missions Impossible, and of course Interview with a Vampire, but he has really snapped lately. Maybe I should just watch him act and not pay any attention to his personal appearances (like the Today Show debacle).

Headed home after the movie as the “girls” didn’t feel like dinner. A pretty terrific day when all is said and done. How about you

Independence Day Weekend Part 1

Left work early on Friday for the big holiday weekend. The traffic on the Cape was shocking! If only they would close the New Jersey and New York borders on holiday weekends, the Cape would be terrific. Aren’t there beaches in New Jersey?

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Just Back...

Just back from the Regatta in Nantucket. When the clambake settles, I’ll post some thoughts and “snaps”.

 

Frenchy

Tres Amusant

I was directed to an hilarious item written by someone who "Had to go to Target Today" complete with links to additional images to punctuate. Read on...

I had to go to Target today.

Yeah, I know, but they have something there that I find difficult to find elsewhere, so I just hadda go.

Standing in line in front of me was a woman Who Lives In A World Without Mirrors reading a copy of People/Us/Entertainment Weekly/whatever with a cover story about Jessica's New Bikini Body Secrets. This would probably be a good time to mention that the aforementioned woman was sporting an ass that looked like it was hosting a puppy convention that was currently having a dance. Next to her stood one of her spawn, a boy about ten in a sleeveless T who bore an uncanny resemblance to the Michelin Man except for the fact that, instead of being pasty white, he had the reddened face of either a potential high blood pressure victim or JD Hayworth (R-Stroke Anytime Now) or possibly both. Spread out on the checkstand counter before them was a Jonah-sized box of Ding-Dongs and other assorted fatty snacks.

The store muzak was playing: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee.

It was like that God I keep hearing about was showing me what my private hell is going to look like.

The horror. The horror....

The Frenchy's House Party Yacht Crew

Here's the crew "on alert for our arrival on Nantucket.

A Monument to a Gay Person??!!?? A Marvel Indeed

From 365Gay.com...

A bronze statue honoring what is believed to be the first openly gay man in Canada was unveiled Saturday in Toronto's gay village. Alexander Wood moved to Upper Canada, now Ontario, in 1793 from Scotland. He settled in the town of York which became modern day Toronto. His sexuality was never a secret and even in repressive colonial times he was a respected merchant. He was later appointed the growing town's magistrate and in 1826 he purchased 50 acres of land on the northeast corner of Carlton and Yonge streets.

But, Wood was forced to leave Canada after a scandal during a rape trial he was conducting. The woman who made the charge claimed that she had left a scratch on her assailant's penis. When Wood proceeded to inspect the man's organ in the privacy of his office the townsfolk were outraged. The forested area around his homestead was dubbed "Molly Wood's Bush". At the time Molly was a slang expression for a gay man.

Local historians say that despite Wood's hasty departure back to England there has been at least one gay man living in the area ever since. Today that area is Toronto's gay village, the third largest LGBT community in North America, and three streets are named for Wood - Wood Street, Alexander Street, and Alexander Place.

A gay pipe band led dignitaries up Church Street to the unveiling of the statue on the corner of Alexander Street. The memorial cost $200,000 and was paid for by the community business council and the City Of Toronto. The eight-foot solid bronze statue was created by renowned Canadian sculptor Del Newbigging. The Alexander Wood statue is one of just a few significant gay-focused monuments in the world - and is thought to be the only one dedicated to a specific gay hero.

“Alexander Wood’s story is an important part of our city’s history and our gay community’s history. The statue is an important symbol to show our lesbian and gay youth that we have a history. Wood was a great citizen of Toronto. A great, gay citizen active in politics and community,” stated Mr. O’Connor, chair of the Church Wellesley Business Improvement Association.

Memorial Day Weekend Day One

Spent the day “tooting” around with La Contessa Pomidori doing a little shopping. We stopped in at a little thrift shop in Yarmouth and found a great chest of drawers that was very solidly made, dovetailed joints (even on the top of the chest) and 12 drawers. We both thought the same thing… black semi-gloss paint rubbed on the edges, some new hardware and voila! I now have a dining room console that I shopped around on the Internet for, listed at $599-1500 that I just bought for $60! I’ll invest about $120 in paint and hardware. I love thrift store shopping!

Spent the evening watching the tube with Hubby. Sunday we have been invited to go to the VIP Clambake at the Figawi Regatta (the premiere sailing/boating regatta in New England) on Nantucket. We’re flying over in the morning, clambake is at 1:30 and then the 5:00 flight home. Qué glamoroso! I’m taking the “cam” so if I can I’ll get a pic of Teddy Kennedy’s red nose.

Developing….

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Frank Rich is my hero

At the risk of Ronette in AZ saying that "there's nothing new" on my blog, I am going to put a link here to Americablog's review of Frank Rich's column in the New York Times. (There is also a link to the Time's Rich column there.) Mr. Rich describes how the bullshit in Washington over the filibuster is eerily reminiscent of the movie "Advise and Consent" just being re-released on DVD, as well as the emergence of closeted gay people who are mounting (you'll forgive the expression) anti-gay attacks. An interesting quote from the column is below. The link to the Americablog distillation is here, and to the Times column is here. If you don't have time to read the whole column (which I wish you would and pass around) please read the distillation.

That message remains on target now. But in the years since, even as it has ceased to be a crime or necessarily a political career-breaker to be gay, unprincipled gay-baiting has mushroomed into a full-fledged political movement. It's a virulent animosity toward gay people that really unites the leaders of the anti-"activist" judiciary crusade, not any intellectually coherent legal theory (they're for judicial activism when it might benefit them in Florida). Their campaign menaces the country on a grander scale than Drury and Preminger ever could have imagined: it uses gay people as cannon fodder on the way to its greater goal of taking down a branch of government that is crucial to the constitutional checks and balances that "Advise and Consent" so powerfully extols.

Today's judge-bashing firebrands often say that it isn't homosexuality per se that riles them, only the potential legalization of same-sex marriage by the courts. That's a sham. These people have been attacking gay people since well before Massachusetts judges took up the issue of marriage, Vermont legalized civil unions or Gavin Newsom was in grade school. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, characterizes the religious right's anti-gay campaign as a 30-year war, dating back to the late 1970's, when the Miss America runner-up Anita Bryant championed the overturning of an anti-discrimination law protecting gay men and lesbians in Dade County, Fla., and the Rev. Jerry Falwell's newly formed Moral Majority issued a "Declaration of War" against homosexuality. A quarter-century later these views remained so unreconstructed that Mr. Falwell and the Rev. Pat Robertson would go so far as to pin the 9/11 attacks in part on gay men and lesbians - a charge they later withdrew but that Mr. Robertson repositioned just two weeks ago. In response to a question from George Stephanopoulos, he said he now believes that activist judges are a more serious threat than Al Qaeda.


Thanks Mr. Rich and to you too Allen Drury and Otto Preminger.


Thursday, May 05, 2005

Rush Limbaugh-Hypocrite

Take a look at the attached "PDF" file. You will find the "wisdom" of conservative blow-hard Rush Limbaugh countered by statements made by the windbag himself.

The terrific article is here.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Yeah Ann... I'd like to know that too!

Ann Coulter, Conservative skank and biased bitch, was apparently asked a question by a student at a University of Texas guest speaker session. The student was subsequently arrested for asking a lewd question and disorderly conduct. The question was certainly off-color, but it did beg a response. The text of the article is here. The money quote:

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Great News!!

Pill-popping conservative radio gas bag Rush Limbaugh was denied an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. He was appealing the lower court ruling that said that the State of Florida and Palm Beach County had the right to seize his medical records to see if he’d been doctor shopping (going from doctor to doctor to load up on Oxycontin tabs). The scumbag had eaten all of the tabs he could lay his greasy fat fingers on and had coerced his housekeeper into heading down to the local Denny’s parking lot to score some more. What an asshole. I hope they throw the book at the hypocrite.

 

-Frenchy-

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

The White House's Male Whore Update

The Daily Kos and e Pluribus Media report that high profile male whore and part-time phony journalist James/Jeff Guckert/Gannon was apparently at the White House Press Briefings without signing in or out with the Secret Service!

AMAZING!!!

Scotty Mac should be cleaning out his desk about now. Or maybe Mr. Rove. Who has Jim/Jeff been screwing in the White House to get unfettered access to the presidential mansion? That's the $ 64,000 Question!

I'm Gonna Hurl!

I've just read at Americablog.org (a terrific site) that the head of the Family Research Council, those bastions of family values and superior morals, have connections to white supremacists. Imagine! Why am I not surprised? If they want to deny Gay and Lesbian citizens rights now... why wouldn't they support groups that have a history of denying minority citizens their rights? The money quote:

Four years ago, Perkins [Tony Perkins, Head of the Family Research Council] addressed the Louisiana chapter of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), America's premier white supremacist organization, the successor to the White Citizens Councils, which battled integration in the South. In 1996 Perkins paid former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke $82,000 for his mailing list. At the time, Perkins was the campaign manager for a right-wing Republican candidate for the US Senate in Louisiana. The Federal Election Commission fined the campaign Perkins ran $3,000 for attempting to hide the money paid to Duke.


The depths that these people sink to are gargantuan. These are the so-called "Moral Majority". Disgraceful.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Are Americans finally waking up?

Washington Post headline today says that two-thirds of the American public oppose the so-called "nuclear option" plan to end judicial filibusters. The Post has that story here.
But by a 2 to 1 ratio, the public rejected easing Senate rules in a way that would make it harder for Democratic senators to prevent final action on Bush's nominees. Even many Republicans were reluctant to abandon current Senate confirmation procedures: Nearly half opposed any rule changes, joining eight in 10 Democrats and seven in 10 political independents, the poll found.
Will they (the Senate Majority) now see what problems may arise from such tampering? Let's hope so. They didn't pay attention when the American Public said they shouldn't mess around in the Terri Schiavo case. They plugged ahead with that one because of the pressure from the religious whacko minority that they've all been kow-towing to. Please, please, please, let the public's memory retain these ridiculous attempts to transform our democracy into a theocracy when the next election rolls around..

Gallup: 50% of Americans Now Say Bush Deliberately Misled Them on WMDs

Duh-Uh!!

Gannon-Guckert at White House

News today is that Jeff Gannon/James Guckert/BulldogDC has been admitted to the White House Press Room on 196 occasions with only a "day pass". It also seems that while he did sign in, he sometimes didn't sign out. Hmmm.... a little game of "Snake in the Mountains" with our little friend Scotty McClellan after the "pressers"? I couldn't possibly comment on that.

Microsoft

I have to say that I have been a great supporter of Microsoft and their products. Even though they have had troubles over anti-trust claims by other software "houses", I still believe that Microsoft makes some terrific products, and if that Means Bill makes a bundle... so be it.

But this decision by Microsoft to withdraw support for anti-discrimination legislation in Washington State has left me with a very bad taste in my mouth for them. The legislation failed to pass by 1 vote. If Microsoft had supported it openly, there wouldn't be but a handfull of politicos in Olympia that wouldn't have supported it too. And to make matters worse, it seems that the big boys at Microsoft caved under pressure from one right-wing(nut) "pastor" who said that Microsoft would have to pay the consequences for their support. (See this article in the Washington Post)

But Microsoft's decision to withdraw its support for state legislation that would have banned discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and insurance drew sharp criticism yesterday from those who say the company missed an opportunity to make an important public statement. Instead, they say, Microsoft caved in to pressure from religious conservatives who opposed the bill, which failed by one vote last week.

It is disgraceful. Do not their Gay and Lesbian employees deserve the same respect in housing, employment, etc. that their straight employees have? Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer ought to be ashamed of themselves. How can they look their Gay and Lesbian employees in the face?

Horse Shoes?

I was always told that "almost" didn't really count. The Bushies "almost" caught Zarqawi in Iraq. Didn't they "almost" capture Bin Laden at one point? Bin Laden is still out there recruiting. Zarqawi is still inciting violence, murders and kidnappings in Iraq. Perhaps, the government should try a little harder and save the "almost"s for 2008 when they will have had "almost" won the presidential election (if there's any justice).

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Benedict XVI's Former Job and The Catholic "Name Game"

Apparently the former job of Benedict XVI, nee Cardinal Joseph "Joey Ratz" Ratzinger, (thanks Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for that one) was as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I have learned that The Congregation was formerly known as "The Inquisition"!

Great!! Now we have The Grand Inquisitor as a Pope. That's what I call the Dark Ages.

Frank Rich on the So-Called "Justice Sunday" Anti-Gay Propaganda Appearance by Sen. Bill Frist

Mr. Rich takes the appearance by Dr. Frist at the Justice Sunday telecast on TV this evening and makes clear what it is all about. I must say that Mr. Rich has an extraordinarily clear view of politics and society. And... it's not just because I agree with him. The money quote:

The "Justice Sunday" mob is also lying when it claims to despise activist judges as a matter of principle. Only weeks ago it was desperately seeking activist judges who might intervene in the Terri Schiavo case as boldly as Scalia & Co. had in Bush v. Gore. The real "Justice Sunday" agenda lies elsewhere. As Bill Maher summed it up for Jay Leno on the "Tonight" show last week: " 'Activist judges' is a code word for gay." The judges being verbally tarred and feathered are those who have decriminalized gay sex (in a Supreme Court decision written by Justice Kennedy) as they once did abortion and who countenance marriage rights for same-sex couples. This is the animus that dares not speak its name tonight. To paraphrase the "Justice Sunday" flier, now it's the anti-filibuster campaign that is being abused to protect bias, this time against gay people.


The text of the column is here courtesy of the New York Times. If I can hold my dinner down, I will try to watch this vilification of American citizens and attack on our democracy.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Doc says cholesterol is too high

Ugh! It's a fat-free/cholesterol free vegetarian diet for me for the next 3 months. Any suggestions?

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Statement from HRC on Papal Election

From the Human Rights Campaign:

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, April 19, 2005

ELECTION OF POPE BENEDICT XVI PORTENDS FURTHER CONFLICT BETWEEN CHURCH AND GLBT COMMUNITY

‘We hope that Pope Benedict XVI will follow the biblical tradition of expressing love and compassion for all,’ said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign pointed to years of statements by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the newly elected pope, in expressing concern about the Catholic Church’s future treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

“We hope that Pope Benedict XVI will follow the biblical tradition of expressing love and compassion for all,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “In the past, he has made deeply disturbing comments regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, so his selection as the 265th pope is distressing. It’s imperative that there be a positive conversation with the Catholic Church about GLBT people of faith and we welcome that discourse.”

“The selection of a new pope is a time of hope and anticipation,” said John Mattras, member of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan and president of the Scriptorium. “While we welcome the opportunity for open dialogue with the new pope and church leaders, we’re deeply concerned by a pattern of homophobic and uninformed statements and opinions relayed by Pope Benedict XVI that fall wholly outside modern western norms.”

In 1986, as cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger delivered a Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. He said, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil.”

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith website, directed by Cardinal Ratzinger, includes the following statement: “Those who would move from tolerance to the legitimization of specific rights for cohabiting homosexual persons need to be reminded that the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil.”

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.


This begs the question... what is more evil? Two people in love solidifying their relationship in a civil marriage ceremony or a cardinal of the church shuffling pedophiles around the diocese to hush up their abuse and rape of children?

Ratzinger New Pope, Same Old-Same Old

In what to me is a reinforcement of my feelings about the Catholic Church, Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Benedict XVI. Ratzinger has been JPII's henchman and enforcer of reactionary Catholic doctrine for the entirety of JP's reign; a reign that includes the pedophile scandals, the vilification of gays and lesbians, and the shrinking of the priesthood as less and less men choose to go into the church, because of antiquated ideas about women in the priesthood and priestly celibacy. One can only hope that this reign includes an epiphany on the Pope's part regarding his ugly treatment of gays, lesbians in particular, and women and children.

Some words by this "holy" man:

‘It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the church’s pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

‘But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered. When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase (No. 10).

8. "What is at all costs to be avoided is the unfounded and demeaning assumption that the sexual behavior of homosexual persons is always and totally compulsive and therefore inculpable. What is essential is that the fundamental liberty which characterizes the human person and gives him his dignity be recognized as belonging to the homosexual person as well’ (No. 11).
So what Ratzinger is saying is that if we are attacked, abused, and discriminated against, that we should not be surprised. Why should we? We are homos after all. Need I say more?