I was always dressed sharp when I worked in the design field—including high heels and Fogal stockings. Now that I work from home my uniform is skinny black slacks, ballet flats, a black boat neck, three-quarter length sleeve top, and a gold and black bangle or a chunky charm bracelet. I bought about ten outfits the same—like a uniform. All I need to run out is a shiny black small quilted clutch and I’m gone. This weird kick started a few years ago when I saw a photo of Marie Brenner photographed in her home years ago dressed the same. She was sitting on the arm of a chair and I think with her daughter. I really admire her and loved her architectural look, so I snipped the photo and stuck it in a large binder of plastic sleeves that I have sectioned in fashion, home and garden, travel, health and beauty. Here’s a more recent photo of her but still in clean lines and black. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.vanityfair.com/images/… Then after having been so invested in anti-war activities and with so many people suffering because of our administration, I don’t feel so self-indulgent when it comes to material things I once embraced. Wearing the same black feels appropriate now. And it gives my son more ‘mom lore’ for when I’m gone. “Mom was a fashion plate until the war….then she’d only wear black.” On January 20th, 2009 I’ll switch back to pale creams and taupe cashmere when Obama is sworn in. I hadn’t planned to do this until moving to Provence and having two light blond Goldens and a champagne MBZ station wagon. Like musicians with tone, designers must always have color coherence.

Many thanks, Adelle, for this. Aung San Suu Kyi was the Prime Minister-elect when the military junta seized power And she might be in power today and the people helped if it were not for Dick Cheney. She is also being threatened right now by the Burma dictators: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSBKK22059220080611 Watch groups like Multinational Monitor have reported for years that Dick Cheney holds responsibility that she, or another democratically elected leader, are not in power because as the CEO of Halliburton Dick Cheney shored up Burma’s military junta with the construction of the notorious Yadana, Yetagun and Yanta gas pipelines. Despite Halliburton shareholders objections, as CEO Cheney continued it’s corporate support of the military dictatorship—realizing the human rights abuses and that the junta traffics in drugs. Halliburton’s pipeline projects will finance the military regime for decades with hundreds of millions in annual revenue even while the construction and operation of the pipelines involved the use of forced relocation and labor, murder, torture and rape. Further, as CEO Cheney opposed sanctions that would restrict US corporations from financially shoring up dictatorships. Cheney said to Larry King, “You have to operate in countries that are governed in a manner that’s not consistent with our principles here in the United States.” How interesting. Yesterday the Senate Intelligence Committee released it’s 200 page report that Bush/Cheney lied us into war with Iraq to remove dictator Saddam. Even though Saddam was also armed, financed and shored up by earlier Reagan-Bush administrations in which Cheney-Rumsfeld were a part, including being sold the gas that he used on his people. And Cheney’s phony war has enriched him by tens of millions as a Halliburton stockholder. So I’m confused. It was OK for Halliburton to contract with Saddam when he was gassing his people, and with Burma when they were murdering, raping and torturing theirs and forcing them into unpaid labor. But we illegally invaded Iraq to remove a dictator? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbR3QPcmxFU And here’s Rumsfeld visting Saddam and he made a return friendly visit the day the UN reported that Iraqi troops had gassed Iraqi people. http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/rumsfeld-saddam.jpg

That’s my impression….she doesn’t seem to be in a great marriage…although she does seem to have a good heart and have no bad feelings for her—he is just definitely not president material. Laura Bush’s response to Michelle Obama’s “proud of my country” gaffe was much better. She said “I think she meant ‘I’ve never been more proud,” adding that in politics you must watch every word, any slip will be blown up and used forever.

He’s fine in the Senate—-not as a president. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Read on Huffingtonpost today —some want to draft him for VP. It seems impossible he’d want that—but that would be a great day if it happened. He’s wooden on TV but very impressive in person. Here’s his new thinking on the Climate Crisis: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/243

“tatoos, Amy Winehouse hair and tongue studs in the shape of a peace sign”—kidding. Not that there’s anything wrong with that and neon purple and green spiked hair.

I hadn’t noticed Martha Stewart much before her stint in Club Fed. But because she was stalwart and handled it with such elan I think she won many more fans. Yes, it was a politic hit, men do far worse and walk. Ms. Lyne and Martha Stewart are super and both share that Alll American Look. Here they are all the Matrix Awards together. Scroll down. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/huffpics-the-matrix-awa… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/huffpics-the-matrix-awa…

Really fascinating—clung to every word. Growing up near Hollywood running into stars at the Brentwood Mart and Farmers market, etc, loved the glamor, films, theatre but never any pull towards the biz so doubly interesting to read as an outsider. Love books written by people in the biz. Moss Hart’s iconic “Act One”, any by Susan Strasberg. So many performances that stay with you forever. Faye Dunaway in ‘Callas’ could not move from the seat after the curtain went down. How does someone do that night after night and matinees too? Beyond stamina— a force of nature. I agree with Lily, Mike Nichols and Elaine May are among the great teams like Kauffman and Hart. And anything written by Elaine May and with Marlo Thomas as the star you know will terrific. Great stuff, thank you.

There was a piece today on Yahoo comparing both wives….who will always be a source of comment while in the public eye. I was a fan of Mrs. Carter and not so much of Mrs. Reagan, then I met both briefly and my opinion changed. Nancy Reagan was actually quite sweet in person. Here’s the piece: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080610/pl_nm/usa_politics_wives_dc

Rachel- “As long as I can get organically grown heirloom tomatoes when they are in season, I’m a happy person!” Great avatar. When lived in Carmel used to drive the coast road back and forth to San Francisco often….about 90 minutes. About twenty minutes outside the city it gets quite rural and a twisty narrow road with the ocean on one side and farm fields backed by large hills on the other. In the summer there’s no better drive with the moon roof open and the radio blasting, smells great. And there are produce stands. Huge bunches of basil, stacks of heirloom tomatoes, a riot of color just great. I never go into ‘supermarkets’ to me it all looks like over processed, unhealthy Frankenfood…and rather support the small organic farmers. In Carmel, there is a large organic farm in the next town, Carmel Valley, and they deliver a huge box of weekly produce for something like $25 to your door. What a bargain.

Every presidential candidate/and his wife get pots shots, if they are in the public eye that’s been the reality since people could speak, and it isn’t going to change. Look was was done to Mrs. Kerry, who like Cindy McCain, has given tremendously to charity (even more in Mrs. Kerry’s case because she’s a billionaire), and on top of it Mrs. Kerry speaks something like 5 languages and has been an environmental activist for years. Some people gravitated to her because of her outspokenness, some loathed her for it. It’s just the way it is.

Serena, with the first post I thought perhaps you’d slipped a cog….but just a word. Much bettah!

HA! I never had Barbies…I became one….until I turned 40 and my gay hairdresser demanded I cut my hair, “Honey, you can’t be Malibu Barbie, forever.” Now I think I’d like a secret Barbie with a wardrobe of dress up clothes that could hide under my stack of, “Wassup, Bitch? magazines. Barbie can say “math is evil’ to me, I’d understand.

Phyllis—I can’t even imagine any man saying that. If some man said that to me his key wouldn’t fit the door when he returned. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sehwbvyaDpU

Loved all the ‘ahhhdorable’ photos Animals can figure out within seconds…this dame can be easily had. They tilt their furry little heads and give you the eye…an the world stops “Oh, you need something….a treat? a brush? a walk? a cuddle? what is it sweetness?’ Julia R you’re wearing my uniform! Skinny black pants, ballet flats, black boat neck 3/4 sleeve top and big bangle bracelet. If any animal lover missed ‘Best in Show’—- hysterical. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o25afKNzOFM&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQKdEdzHnfU&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9jxSOxtYHs&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLTqJMxmTY