And they wonder why young people leave Iowa....

You know, I am a big booster of Iowa, ala distance. I think it's a great place to come from, and a great place to raise a family. If I'm away from there long enough, I even daydream about what it would be like to go back there to live.

But then I run up against reality, and a good example of why I don't live in Iowa is US Congressman Steve King

This guy is a joke. An embarassment to a state that has an exemplary public education system. A stuffed shirt, strawman, doofus of a representative. And he's from Iowa.

So the next time I get a letter from the University of Iowa's alumni association, asky why young people leave Iowa after getting their education, I shall know what to do. I will refer them to the offices of Congressman King.

Happy Thanksgiving Darlings!

I feel amiss, not having been here for you, in the days and weeks leading up to the "Big Day" to give you hints and tips for a successful Thanksgiving. But I really feel that you are capable of pulling off a Thanksgiving now: After all, TGTC has been around many years now, and as faithful readers you are NO DOUBT printing out each and every post and filing them in a series of tasteful notebooks, so all my previous Thanksgiving posts are right there at your fingertips.

This year is a low-key Thanksgiving: Relatives from the east couldn't make it due to some medical reasons (nothing serious, dears - just a pestering issue) so it is the Colonel and I, and two of the Colonel's contemporaries. The Recipe is simple: Bourbon Glazed Ham, Roast Turkey, Water Chestnut Stuffing, Giblet Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and - just for the campiness - Green Bean Casserole (Thank you, Mrs. Cryer of Madison, Wisconsin, for the inspiration for that)

There will also be Pumpkin Pie and Apple Crisp, of course - with lots of wine.

I've decided to showcase the wooden dining table this year: Bamboo placemats, with the Metlox Navajo, the sterling (of course) and crystal, and the fun little water glasses my mom got as a shower present back in 1952.

Here's a picture of the table, all set for dinner. I hope it gives you both comfort and inspiration during this Uniquely American Holiday.

Noblesse Oblige

Dear Readers, Perhaps I've been remiss for the last few days, but Yours Truly has been truly busy.

First, there was the whole celebration of the return of Good Taste in our nation: A Democratic Congress. While I'm always one to keep a Stiff Upper Lip (not to mention a chin or two), the past twelve years have laid heavy on the shoulders of one so delicate. It has truly been a blessing to know these dreadful people will soon be on the unemployment line.

But very much more to the point: Today's World is undergoing some rather drastic changes, and once again, it is I - the Director of Fashion and Housekeeping - who must step in to fill the void. Our San Francisco office is being relocated to yet another Deluxe Apartment in the Sky, and it is fallen upon my shoulders to journey down there to that Apex of Everything to show some simp how to answer a phone and take a message. Youth, after all, MUST be served!

So tomorow morning, bright and early, the Professor is taking me to the AIRPORT (the things I do for these people!) so that I may make it to the Top Of The Mark in time for Happy Hour. Pray for me, darlings, and I promise to report back to you good and truly.

Meanwhile, the Colonel is jetting across the rails, destination Deleware, and the Greek plies her trade between here and Chicago. But fear not: Brutish people are assuring that Chez Vel-DuRay stays free of molestation. Now I know what happened to Revelutionary Guard!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!!!

Nothing like some baked Republican to really start a girl's day off right!!!

Just about everything came out the way I hoped. I'm too well-bred to gloat, but if I wasn't, I'd be screaming NYAH NYAH NYAH!!!

The Good Taste Chronicle's Election Endorsements

I KNOW that you, dear reader, are looking for some insight and leadership on how to vote. So I am here to help you, as always, make the right choice, which reflects your lifestyle choice of taste and breeding.

For starters, Just vote Democratic. On everything. Until the Republicans get some non-neanderthal candidates (which they won't, since they are the Neanderthal party - which is quite hypocritical of them, considering their stand on evolution) it's not even worth considering them. They do have a rather cute college sophomore running for state office, and while he would certainly brighten up the chambers, he is a self-confessed "conservative", which means he would just embarass us. Besides, there are other chambers that young men like him can be much more productive in. Just ask Pastor Taggard.

Just Remember: If you're like ME, you'll vote "D"!

State Supreme Court: Susan Owens. Trust me on this one.

Now, onto the initiatives. This is all about Washington state, but you non Washingtonians, please take note, because you never know when a similar initiative may pop up in your backyard.

The Estate Tax Repeal: NO. As I said before, hardly anyone even pays that tax, but it adds up to a lot of revenue for the state. If that revenue goes away, the services will stay, and guess who will foot the bill? You and Me, darlings! So the Nordstroms etc, will just have to pay their fair share. After all, it costs money to run a society.

The Property Use Initiative: NO. This is the sort of thing that the GOP uses to rally their base ("base" being a codeword for "collection of morons") What it means to those of us in the reality-based community is this: If you have a nice piece of property out in the country somewhere that you bought specifically because it's in the country, there is no protection for you. You could easily have a lead smelter - or even worse - a megachurch build next to you, and you'd be kept up all night long with the smell and the sounds. (and the lead smelter would be smelly and noisy too) so just say NO

Green Power: YES! The mere fact that the private utilities in the state are against it should tell you something right there, but for those of you who demand facts and figures, just look at ANYTHING scientists are saying about global warming. Let's chip in and do our part.

Seattle Strip Club Initiative: REJECT! Let the boys see the boobies in peace. Let the ladies give them lap dances. I'll even go one further - let the boys have a cocktail while seeing the boobies. I'd just throw out that dumb rule, and let anyplace with a liquor license that doesn't allow minors have strippers if they want. Contrary to what is said in some quarters, this will NOT lead to every bar becoming a strip club. Not every bar is a gay bar, is it? Not every bar is a sports bar, is it? Let the market decide on this issue. BOOBIES FOR EVERYONE!!!!

(Sorry, got a little carried away there....)

The rest of the stuff: Check out what The Stranger is endorsing and vote that way.

Now, I would never presume to tell you how to vote. I'm just telling you how a person of taste and distinction, who holds down a high-powered position (director of fashion and housekeeping) at a well-known fashion magazine would vote. If you want to be like me, vote like me. If not, just give in, buy yourself a double-wide and take yourself to the nearest Wal-Mart.

BUT VOTE!