Maybe it’s the fact that she’s leaving Washington in less than a month and going back home to California that’s making Condoleezza Rice appear so relaxed.

Usually reserved and stoic, President Bush’s secretary of state had a warm one-on-one with CNN Wednesday night, and talked about how, despite her jet-setting schedule, she does actually have time for fun.

“I’ve never been someone who’s so disciplined that I don’t have fun in life,” Rice, who enjoys football, music and working out, said. “I care about things other than just working – friends and family and taking care of yourself …personal faith …that makes a well rounded person and I think I’m a well-rounded person.”

But there’s no doubt Rice hasn’t had too much fun on the job recently. With Bush’s approval ratings in the tank and much of the world viewing American diplomacy with a skeptical eye, Rice’s job hasn’t been easy.

And about that shoe-throwing incident in Iraq, where Bush was almost pelted in the head, Rice said she was discouraged that the media made it out to seem that all of Iraq would have liked to join in the melee.

“It was one journalist among several who were sitting there respectively,” Rice explained. “I hope it doesn’t obscure the fact that this was the president of the United States standing in Baghdad next to the democratically elected, shia prime minister of a multi-confessional Iraq that has just signed agreements of friendship and coop with the united states in the long term.”

She added: “So many people in and around …told me how embarrassed they were by the fact that that had happened.”

She also has an issue with anyone saying the United States is hated.

“The United States is not loathed. The policies of the United States are sometimes not liked.”

Rice, who used to be national security adviser, also told CNN she takes at least some of the responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, but rightfully points out that the entire national security system had failed.

“Absolutely. I do take responsibility but this is a systemic failure,” she said, noting the big terror attacks that came before Bush, like the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. “The fact of the matter is, that we had not thought of this – we, the administrations before us – had not thought of this as a kind of war against the terrorists that we were going to have to wage.”

While she was candid about the war on terrorism, Rice remained tight-lipped when asked who she voted for in this year’s election. “I know you’re dying to know but the fact is, I didn’t get involved in partisan politics. I think I made clear both Senator McCain and Senator Obama - president elect – conducted themselves in a way that made people proud,” Rice said.

We wonder what job she’ll look for next. NFL commissioner? Whatever it is, Madame Secretary, we know you’ll be great.