Deber, Can’t agree with you.  Sanford held himself and his party up as the party of values.  Then gets caught in an affair and lies about it.  What kind of values is that?  Everyone seems to want to say who cares when it is the Repbulican party of values in question.  When it’s a Democrat involved, then the moral outrage ensues. 

I think the story goes: husband is morally outraged at democratic morals, holds up the republican party as the party of "values", THEN, husband has affair, gets publicly outed, etc.  The first part of it is what has a lot of people riled up.  The party that wanted to hold themselves up as having better values than everyone else is now caught with numerous sets of pants down.

I’d like to see Bernie making license plates in prison next to a bunch of murderers and drug dealers.  I’d like to see Ruth left with nothing at all so that she can really understand what they did to others.  Figure out for yourself how you are going to support yourself.  I can’t believe they let her get $2.5M.  She and Bernie were not that kind to the people who trusted them.

Liz, I’m glad you reminisced about the early days.  I am amused by all the adulation now, after he’s been in the press seemingly non-stop the past few years for odd behavior.  Vilified one time for suspected child molestation and now, at death, deified.  The around the clock coverage of this story over the weekend was over the top.  I never cared for him that much any way.  But I really don’t understand the outpouring of emotion from people about some admittedly very talented man with huge problems.

It was the right decision.  Interesting that they used good judgement when it was one of their own.  Too often, our news outlets are so driven by their need to have a scoop that they forego that kind of judgement.  Have you seen a press conference in the past few years that was not preceeded by the leaked information?  The 24/7 news cycle has created some real problems.

My party tips:  Put on some great music (but don’t get stressed over it — just anything you love), do one fun thing (might be as simple as handing each guest a glass of champagne as they walk in the door), and RELAX.  Nothing makes a party greater than a happy and relaxed atmosphere.

I am amused that so many places have picked up the story that her hairdresser will no longer do her every-six-weeks highlights, along with reports of her exact hair color.  If that’s the only fallout from this that she feels, then she got off pretty lightly.  This is the lady who was caught trying to transfer $15M but whose lawyers contend she was unaware.

I really don’t care for the attitude of "starter husband."  Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but I think marriage, husbands and wives and vows are serious and important and meant to last.  It’s sad when we trivialize them with terms like that.  I know all marriages don’t work out but I think we encourage the easy way out by making it sound cute and funny.

I wasn’t born fearless but I found out that if you act fearless, you appear fearless and good things happen for you.

I say absolutely not for me.  It’s not worth the pain and risk of surgery to get a superficial lift.  (But then I think I’m aging pretty darn well.)  What others want to do is just fine by me.  Just don’t ask to have national health insurance pay for cosmetic surgery that is definitely elective.  (I don’t count breast reconstruction after cancer to be elective.  I have friends for whom it has been mental health saving.)

LW#2 - You may have a culture gap.  You assume that everyone will agree that having parents stay over in a very small apartment is an imposition and an impossible situation.  It’s very common for those in most countries outside the US (and those who live in NYC) to live in very small quarters.  It’s also a sign of love and hospitality to have visitors stay with you.  You do not say that your boyfried agrees with you that the parental visits are a problem and he certainly hasn’t spoken up. 

I’d take a different approach.  Are you really trying to love his parents and be a part of their family?  Have you really assimilated into a more European culture where space and privacy are not so common?  If so, then treat their visits with anticipation and creativity.  See how you can find a way to shoehorn all of you into your small space.  Expect to give up a bit of privacy for a short period of time but in exchange expect to learn a lot about the family your boyfriend loves.  Make the parents want to come visit you as much as their son.  Find something to laugh about as you schedule time in the bathroom.  Hug as you scoot past someone in the crowded kitchen.  Tell funny stories as you all sit on the bed because there is nowhere else.

Your boyfriend will love you all the more for making his parents welcome and they will love you for making the visit memorable.

I guess I don’t get it.  Half of these don’t look all that bad.  Some were obviously done for effect, not for every day wear (wrapping your hair around your neck with a fastener in front?)  But I would not count many of these as bad hair.  Most are neat and clean looking, styled in the style of the day.  Why are we making fun of them?  flashback alert…is it high school again?!?!?!

Hilarious article but I’m not there with you.  I loved watching the old Martha Stewart shows.  Not the ones now where it’s all studio audience and celebrity guests, but the ones where she showed how to make very complicated and beautiful things.  I taped and watched every single show.  I love to entertain.  To me the decorations in my house are my friends.  I love to cook and (when I can) I make great meals.  I work full time and travel a lot so not nearly as much time as I’d like for it.  Cooking is very calming to me.  And baking…I just adore it.  Turning out a fancy tart or a beautiful, over-the-top cake.  That’s my definition of fun.  So, Margo, I’d love to have you over.  I don’t care if my friends reciprocate.  Many reciprocate in other ways, whatever they are best at, whether it’s telling a great story or retrieving my kids from school or having us over for an order-in pizza.  We all have our gifts and share them in our own ways.

Suzanne, Sorry you didn’t get to enjoy the fun of the "commercial holiday".  We always had a ball on Father’s Day.  it wasn’t the presents we bought (although we always bought him something), it was doing stuff for him.  My sibs and I would make him a special breakfast, we’d fawn over him all day offering to do things for him, we’d set a special place for him at dinner. 

That’s kind of how we celebrated any holiday or birthday.  It was all about making the honored person feel very special.  Buying gifts wasn’t the point.  The love and attention were and that’s what I remember the most.

The Birds by Daphne DuMaurier

Sydney.  I’ve lived in several of these cities and enjoyed the experience but Sydney wins hands down.  The cheerfulness and friendliness of Australians, the gorgeous weather, a beautiful and vibrant city with beaches very close by…just doesn’t get any better in my book.