Stanley Tucci and the Proper Dessert Wine

I love Stanley Tucci. Finally got to see his older CNN travels in Italy (now streaming on the Discovery Channel).  I loved the YouTube series "Cards on the Table," which was basically a commercial for a card game, but since it included Stanley and three dinner guests eating Italian food and talking, it was fantastic.  We have his books, been a huge fan of his since Big Night.

BUT...

I disagree entirely on having sweet wines for dessert.

My main bias is I've never liked sweet wines or drinks like port.

When Jim and I started going out to nicer restaurants about 20 years ago, I found a glass of champagne or prosecco was a lovely complement to a dessert, especially any dessert with bittersweet chocolate.  I continued this tradition when we got to Italy in 2017, and we even found a prosecco bar in Venice.  We were in France, Germany and Italy last month, where I learned that crement (which basically means "French sparkling wine not from the Champagne region") is a wonderful drink.  Also sekt in Germany.  And, of course, cava in Spain.  People need to try pairing other wines with desserts and try other drinks.

And, yes, red wine with dessert is also OK, especially if you're just having cheese for dessert.  But...I still go with the better sparkling wines (NOT "cold duck" which was only drinkable when we were poverty-stricken) for dessert.

I Will Not "Work Together" with an anti-American Regime to Ruin the America I Love

I can't claim to have written this, but I agee with it and want to help share it as widely as I can. Please share it on your social media or Web site. This version was online in spring 2025.

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I will not be drawn into debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below. I am posting this for all those who may be living in fear in this moment so you know you are not alone.

I want to share this piece in solidarity:

This is where I stand. The 45/47th President, his power hungry cronies taking positions of authority in his Cabinet and administration, and the majority of Republicans in Congress are a real and active threat to me, my way of life, and all or most of the people I love.

Some people are saying that we should give Trump a chance, that we should "work together" with him because he won the election and he is "everyone's president." This is my response:

• I will not forget how badly he and so many others treated former President Barack Obama for 8 years and Biden cleaning up his mess...Lies about his legitimacy and hatred for his principles and his attempts to work within the system.
• I will not "work together" to privatize Medicare, cut Social Security and Medicaid.
• I will not "work together" to subvert the Constitution by illegitimately pushing unfit Cabinet nominees through on recess appointments without the advice and consent of the Senate.
• I will not "work together" to persecute Muslims.
• I will not "work together" to shut out refugees from other countries who seek asylum.
• I will not "work together" to lower taxes on the 1% and increase taxes on the middle class and poor.
• I will not "work together" to help Trump use the Presidency to line his pockets and those of his family and cronies.
• I will not "work together" to weaken and demolish environmental protection.
• I will not "work together" to sell American lands, especially National Parks, to companies which then despoil those lands.
• I will not "work together" to enable the killing of whole species of animals just because they are predators, or inconvenient for a few, or because some people want to get their thrills killing them.
• I will not "work together" to remove civil rights from anyone.
• I will not "work together" to alienate countries that have been our allies for as long as I have been alive.
• I will not "work together" to slash funding for education.
• I will not "work together" to take basic assistance from people who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
• I will not "work together" to get rid of common sense regulations on guns.
• I will not "work together" to eliminate the minimum wage.
• I will not "work together" to support so-called "Right To Work" laws, or undermine, weaken or destroy Unions in any way.
• I will not "work together" to suppress scientific research, be it on climate change, fracking, or any other issue where a majority of scientists agree that Trump and his supporters are wrong on the facts.
• I will not "work together" to criminalize abortion or restrict health care for women.
• I will not "work together" to increase the number of nations that have nuclear weapons.
• I will not "work together" to put even more "big money" into politics.
• I will not "work together" to violate the Geneva Convention.
• I will not "work together" to give the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party and white supremacists a seat at the table, or to normalize their hatred.
• I will not "work together" to deny health care to people who need it.
• I will not "work together" to deny medical coverage to people on the basis of a "pre-existing condition."
• I will not "work together" to increase voter suppression.
• I will not "work together" to normalize tyranny.
• I will not “work together” to eliminate or reduce ethical oversight at any level of government.
• I will not "work together" with anyone who is, or admires, tyrants and dictators.
• I will not support anyone that thinks it's OK to put a pipeline to transport oil on Sacred Ground for Native Americans.
• I will not "work together" to legitimize racism, sexism, and authoritarianism.

This is my line, and I am drawing it:

• I WILL stand for honesty, love, respect for all living beings, and for the beating heart that is the center of Life itself.
• I WILL use my voice and my hands, to reach out to the uninformed, and to anyone who will LISTEN:

That "winning", "being great again", "rich" or even "beautiful" is nothing... When others are sacrificed to glorify its existence.

Signed

Laurie Mann
Selina Lovett
Jonathan M Goldblith
Tom Cantrell
Jim Leach
Robert Sachs
Debi Feinman
Mary Virginia Burks
Kathey Golightly Sanders
Marc Murphy
Ricky L Jones
Ralph de Chabert
Kevin Carter
Carita Weaver Hardy
Ann Christopher
Buddy Luce
Gina Fant-Simon
Shari Fant-Simon
Betsy Pugh
Gwen Longbotham
Linda Dennis
Christine Mortine
Mechteld Mitchin
Stephanie B Sajjadieh
Lance Collier
Melanie Knadler
Fern Wilcox
Ellen Olson
Jeri Rockwell
Jerrianne Hayslett
Dana Bottorff
Ellie Kantrovitz Chella
Susan Green Gotshalk
Jeff Cribbs
Bill Nelson
Joe Borzelleca
Mara Dinsmoor
Anne Barschall
Ellen Flaks
Lenora Eve
Brian Kesselring
Steve Greene
Heather Gray 🦹‍♀️
Mae Wright
Patricia Sikelianos
Livia Zirkel
Tara O’Reilly
John Wullbrandt
Ariel Jones
Ben Bowen
Judy Reed
Jeremy Parker
Randy Caldwell
Kelly Gilmore
Janice Wise
Dr. Christopher Eaton
Kathleen Farrell
Rosa M. Bender
Robert Corsini
Grace Roberts Dyrness
Ruth Padilla DeBorst
Pedro J. Windsor-Garcia
Lori Keller Burns
Kathleen Steele Pautler
Thomas Nemmer
Beth Licata Cooke
Erin Selig
Joseph Fell
Donna Berry
Sandy Hoffman Nelson
Karen Fishlock Miliotto
Craig Wright
Andy Tamarin
Denise Malone
Gloria Konsler
Debbie Pye
Lisa Behm
Alison Donley
Brenda Voshell McNeil
Bunnie Bryant
Bishop Karen Oliveto
Judy Fjell
Karen S Ripley
Cate Larsen
Brinda Arias Moffitt
Charlotte Xanders
Cayce Wallace
Natalie Cortez
Jerry Perry
Lisa Travers
Jonathan Woodward
Linda Carlos
Sally Mitchell
Valerie Richie
Betsy Nickerson
Nancy Nickerson
Wes Melton
Rhys Lovell
Carol Koos
Cristina Ortega
Daniella Barroqueiro
Gilford Moore
Diane Lathrop
Bill Vance
Joanne R. Clayton
Timothy Vantran
Kelcy M. Allwein
Frank J. Stech
Virginia Segal Manczuk
Evelina Kahn
Judi Gardner
Steve Burby
Rich Buley-Neumar
Scott Frazier-Maskiell
Matt Bonham
Maida Belove
Christie Trout
Terri Gherardi
Jo Campbell-Amsler
Kim William Jones
Kevin Anderson
DoctorCindy Anderson
Tom Zimmerman
Shorty Palmer
Chuck Cogliandro
Karen Branan
Nancy Alexander
Lynn Beard Wright
Barbara Clawson
Jean Achtermann
Susan Warrener Smith
Sydney V. ‘Skip’ Jackson
David L Fisk
Brian Timko
Leslie Barroso
Phillip Belfiori
Stevens Loomis
Rosemary Bernardi
Liz Willis
Carol Morando 🙏🏼
Kara Au-Young
Patricia McCarley
Dell Schilleci
Marcus Berardino
Elaine O'Brien
Franklin Mount
Kate Maxwell
Mark Plesent
Cori Thomas
Sibyl Kempson
Eric Dyer
Daniel Kwiatkowski
Abby Lee
Joe Harrell
Chris Benfante
Theresa Benfante
Diane Lesley
Andrea Fiondo
Kathrine Iacofano
Susan Goldberg
Debbie Slavkin
Linda Rosefsky
Rebecca Tortorice
Anna Konya
Karen Redding
Wendy Lemlin
Patricia Rollins Trosclair
Andrea Dora Zysk
George Georgakis
John Christopher
John Bowles
Patrick St.Louis
Carla Patrick
Darnell Bender
Vickie Davis
JMichael Carter
Janice Frazier-Scott
Rev. ELaura James Reid
Jeanette Bouknight
Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey
Gerald Butler
Carolyn McDougle
Vaughn Chatman
Adrienne Brown
Gary Trousdale
Steven E Gordon
Isis Nocturne
Debi Murray
Maureen O. Betita
Mona Enderli
Fernie James Tamblin
Myrna Dodgion
Alan Locklear
Tom Wilmore
Jackie Evans
Donna Endres
Lora Fountain
Roberta Gregory
Heather A Mayhew
Stevo Wehr
Nathan Stivers
Jen RaLee
Joan Holden
Leigh Lutz
Deborah Kirkpatrick
Linda Levy
Tom Rue
Nancy Hoffmann-Allison
Beejay McCabe
Michael James Myers
Edward T. Spire
Rupert Chapman
Dawn R. Dunbar
Robin Wilson
Monique Boutot
Laura Brown 💪🏼
Susan Aptaker
Steve Katz
Bonnie Wolk
Risa Guttman-Kornwitz
Angela Gora
Butch Norman
Sharon Tolman
Sue Zislis
Maurice Hirsch
Satch Dobrey
Jim Krapf
Don Starwalt
Deb Johansen
Daniel Anderson
Diane Kenney
Rebecca Koop
Nancy Shuert
Bill Pryor
Patrick Lamb
Bob Travaglione
Margaret Ragan
Martha Peters
Steve Wilson
Lauren Sullivan
Scott Bevan
Roger Saunden
Susanne Lavelle
Benita Yimsuan
Kathryn Scarano
Kathleen E Neff
Evey G Quines
Debbie Dey
John Dennehy, Jr.
Marsha Vaughn
Adam Sklena
Larry David McGregor Blumenthal
Gustavo Rodriguez
ARJ Alva Freeman
Yvette Ellard
Rory Thayer Wilson
Wayne Booth
Streven King
Phyllis Vlach Adrian
Sandy Miller Castellano
Nick Strippoli
Ben Papapietro
Renae Perry
Isaac Gabaeff
Katherine Anne O'Shea
Brian R. Quattrini
Tammy Long
Jeffrey Murray
Robin Schempp
Laura Schimoler Reed
Kenn Marash
Betsy Joyce
Peg Rees Smith
Skip Bushby.
Nancy Winne
Georgia Cosgrove
Jeff Turley
Mary Ann McDonnell
Jim O,Connor
Johan Vastiau
Wil Tucker
Michael Wright
Chris Keogan
Sean Meyer
Carol Wallack
Jim Senhauser
Sandra D. Marshall
Karen Topin
Joan Pikas
Barbara Engel
Credell Walls
Marla Renee
Michele Jones
Angela Hollis
Charlotte House
Ryan Sims
Joyce Arcala Sims
Diane Dixon-Scott
Audrey Hamilton
Terry Archibald Reed
Joan Barrett
Cookie Hood
Jane Hunt-McCaulla
Jim Henry
Laurie Carmichael
Karen Sieradski
Debi Stella
Dana Daugherty
Bill Vance
Becky Coduto
Jorge L. Morales
Leo Harold Lee Jr (Buddy)

Now it is your turn. Copy, paste, and add your name to the top. This needs to be heard loud and clear.

Will Republican Voters Ever Understand?

I wish there was a way to make Republican voters understand that Republicans in Congress are not fulfilling their oaths of office. All government employees take an oath stating that they are to defend America against all enemies, foreign or domestic.

We currently have hundreds of people in the Executive Branch who are literally domestic terrorists. They are behaving in ways that are contrary to both the Constitution and federal law. They are behaving in ways that will literally kill sick Americans and discourage vaccinations which will kill more people. They are behaving in ways that will send thousands more Americans into the streets. They are behaving in ways that can deny jobs to women and minorities. Some members of the Executive Branch have stood up to the domestic terrorists, refusing to help them and some have resigned.

Some member of the Judicial Branch have stood up to Trump's lawbreaking, but they haven't made him accept any consequences. For example, the funds allocated to USAID were recently ruled that they must be spent as Congress decided they should be spent. And yet - Trump isn't releasing the funds.

A pity Republicans in Congress are so impotent that they won't stand up to obvious domestic terrorists. A pity Democrats in Congress couldn't be more organized in their protests against the Executive Branch.

Be Sure to Write to Your Rep/Senators About the SAVE Act (if you want to vote in the future)

The SAVE Act is "disguised" as a way to help keep non-citizens from voting. In reality, it's a way to deny the right to vote to trans people and most women. If you'd read Project 2025 last year, you'd know Republicans wanted to do anything they could possibly do to restrict many people from voting.

But they are particularly going after women and trans people by requiring the name on your voter registration to match the name on your birth certificate.

My husband and I married in 1977 and we spent much of our engagement year figuring out what last name to take. We had mixed feelings about hyphenated names and even thought about creating a new name. But, after long discussion, I decided to take his last name (but never, ever his first name).

I will return to my birth name in a second (though I know it will take longer than that) if the SAVE Act passes the Senate and is signed by Trump. No regime will deny me my right to vote.

It's already been passed by a House committee, so it's on the way to the House and Senate.

WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE/SENATORS OR NOW!!

Here's what I wrote to Senator McCormick (and a similar letter to Senator Fetterman, but with a different last paragraph):

 

I am disgusted (but not surprised) that the House passed the Save Act which would take away the voting rights of millions of people (especially women since so many married women took their husband's last names).

While I took my husband's last name when we married in 1977 (by choice - we preferred to have a joint family name), he knows I will revert to my birth last name in a second should the Senate also pass the SAVE Act.

Please show that at least one Republican cares about voting rights. I haven't seen one support voting rights in a very long time.

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I'm sorry that my original posting was somewhat incorrect and appreciate that a woman at a local Democratic Committee Meeting gave me a correction that it hadn't passed the House yet. And I will write to my Reprentative, Summer Lee, even though I'm sure she'd never vote for it.