I would caution you about spreading rumors about the president and first lady.  Do you have any facts to support your statements?  I have never seen any FACTS that Michelle Obama was ordered to turn in her law license by court order.  What I have seen is that  she actually does have a law license, it’s just inactive. Many lawyers who no longer practice law inactivate their licenses because you then do not have to meet continuing education requirements, pay dues and renewal fees.  If you have a role that is not as a practicing attorney, as she did when she was working for a hospital system, she had no need for an active law license.

Perhaps we all need to stop trying to find some sinister undercurrent in every thing.  If we can stick to real facts, perhaps we can move the country forward.  Not everything is a conspiracy theory.

Leslie, I’d love to see the before and after pictures of you to check out the make over!

Letter writer #1 - grow up.  None of your business why or how your father in law married so quickly after his wife died.  You really don’t know what the first marriage was like, what his needs are and it sounds like you have never made an effort to know Betty to understand the qualities she has that makes your father in law happy.  What is the big significance in having your child call Betty grandma?  You look spiteful and mean.

Letter writer #2 - Good for you for letting your cousin know she was spreading false information.  If everyone would stick to the facts and try to be constructive, perhaps we could actually revolutionize health care in this country.  I don’t hear any positive suggestions from all the rumor-mongers, only negative comments, shored up by the special interests like insurance companies that think they have something to lose, and the republicans who apparently will do anything to cause the current administration to fail.  If your cousin lets this ruin your relationship, there must not have been much of one to begin with.

I used to read Seventeen religiously when I was growing up.  I was going to subscribe for my daughter, but when I bought a few issues I was really turned off with all the articles about sex and boys and the Britney Spears fashion.  Fortunately, she wasn’t much interested anyway.

I am so glad you included Bella Mia’s comment on thinking styles.  I had missed this the first time around.  What an interesting analysis. I’ll have to read the book.

Sandy, Your choice seems to be go along with the whirl with your husband or stay home by yourself.  Have you suggested to your husband that he spend some time doing what you would like to do (whether it is staying home with the grandchildren or anything else?)  It may not have occurred to him that you would like to have a say in joint activities because you have followed his lead for so long.  There may be an alternative here.  You don’t want him to think you prefer aloneness and start looking around for someone to be a part of what he is doing.  I know you said you are enjoying being alone but you also say you are still happy with your husband.  Perhaps there is an alternative here that blends all of this — some time on his interests, some time on yours, and some being alone. 

sounds stupid but I hired an interior designer.  She looked at the things I had and aspirational pictures I had collected.  She came up with a plan for my entire house, incorporating all of the treasured pieces I have from relatives and travels, coordinated with a few new pieces.  Suggested different paint colors.  Hung my pictures differently.  Arranged my collections.  My house said "Ahhhhh…"  Now I smile whenever I enter. 

I hate getting my hair done.  I read about people who find getting their hair shampooed relaxing and I don’t understand it.  I really don’t like someone fiddling with my head.  So I’ve found someone who cuts it quickly but gives a really good precision cut.  I get highlights about three times a year.  My hairdresser knows me well.  I’ve been going to her for almost 20 years.  We don’t talk.  I think that’s part of what I don’t like, all the chit-chat.  I just close my eyes.  She cuts my hair.  I pay.  We’re done.  Whew.  Don’t have to do that for another six to eight weeks…

No I haven’t been to one of the reopened Sanders parlors, although I, too, have heard about them.  It would be great to be able to recapture that soda fountain ambience.

Sanders ice cream shops in the Detroit area.  I used to get bittersweet chocolate ice cream sundaes.  Also in the same area, Daly’s drive in’s.  The place to be as a teen.  If you were lucky, you got a spot to park at the drive in, ordered from the waitress who came to your car and then the food was perched on a little tray on your window.   You blinked your lights when you were done and wanted the tray removed.  All the other kids who didn’t get the coveted spots drove through in a continuing loop, seeing who was there.  Burgers, fries, milk shakes and all the people watching you could want.

Right now!  I think I keep getting more and more comfortable with me.  I’m the happiest with the way I look now than I have ever been in my life.

For me, it’s not just the impulse shopping.  It’s the fact that I had to pay for the membership.  You know what kind of deals you need to get to justify a $50 or $75 membership?  That’s a lot of bargains you have to find.  If I can find it near the price at Target or some other place, just makes sense to buy it there.  Plus I can put it on my credit card.  In order to use a credit card at Costco you have to use theirs.  I never carry my check book with me and usually little cash.  I like everything showing up on my credit card bill once a month.  I pay it off in full but I can see exactly where my money is going.

I don’t shop very often (my husband does the grocery shopping).  We belonged to Costco for a while but we don’t need the huge quantities of most things.  I did stock up on a bunch of paper products and cleaning supplies.  The only reason I made a special trip to Costco was because they were the only place I could find Ghiradelli brownie mix.  I have a major fixation on them.  But now my regular grocery store carries it so I cancelled my Costco membership.

Sexual fulfillment is way up there, even if I have to do it myself :)

LW2 - you say you are careful to have only couple friendships now.  What’s wrong with a few who are just women?  No need to sever relationships with a couple, though.  Just a firm, loud, "Cut it out" should keep anyone in line.