FABULOUS, JANE! FABULOUS. TINA FEY FOR VP! We could not do any worse for American, in fact, far better.

ENJOY! We need some comic relief, but … it’s all too true. http://tinyurl.com/45xdtz also: http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=be9814b476943 me pit bull!

Ya gotta luvit, you guys. I laughed for the first time today - but have a sore lip.

Diana T ~ thank you! I adore flowers, too. I have Magic Jack that I tote with me, or I’d drop my address herein - ;-) I’m with you all the way on ‘this’ holocaust in America. How many years as little children we learned, correctly or not, about the “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” yet did nothing when they came in as a flock. Americans are afraid of speaking up and out - we must not be. Everyone serves as responsible to the citizens. We, as women, will assure that is done in the future. Women can be real bitches when it comes to saving lives, equity, ethical standards of conduct, and functioning within the parameters of “the box”. We may have been put down, again, but we will not stay there, this time.

I answered “Other” because I was offered a platinum job during my career, and turned it down because it was ludicrous, plus being an NGO they had no right to make such an offer (salary for the position of president). Worse, I realized they wanted me for other reasons; however, I must admit, several of my male colleagues urged me to “take it” adding I could retire within a year “on that money…” Were I invited to run as America’s VP, I would come to the same conclusion - women execs may be naive at times, but we’re not stupid. I would however, present a proposal offering my services to our country, outlining my strengths, as well as my challenge areas. There is no way I would shrink from contributing my experience, abilities, and intellect if I was needed in any way by people. Someone do me a favor: circulate to the nation’s top executives Palin’s vita as a generic document, and request their individual input as to that applicant’s potential for a high-level executive position. That poor soul is missing the seriousness of the mess she is in…and definitely hasn’t a clue that she must serve at the will of the citizens of the United States, not lead us. Any politician who tries anything other than that in the future will be summarily removed (remember what NY state did when they recalled their elected????). We don’t forget, quickly.

Oh please. With all due respect, even those covering the G7 today are aghast that “America” is letting the same criminals that caused this mess fix it! There are no checks and balances. Our nation’s Constitution has been manipulated, fragmented, and abused since 2000, and it wasn’t a mistake. The mistake was all of us who let it happen out of our need for a deity to worship on earth. It’s sick, it’s sad, and it’s just plain wrong. We must not permit irresponsible goverment. Governments, as so aptly put by the G7 journalists, are responsible to their people, and in the U.S. it is apparent that with our serious loss of centricity, we’ve also lost our knowlege that we are owners of our own country…”we the people” not ‘them.’ Once Americans decide to oust those who put party before our country, the implosion will occur. When merely a few in America decide to stop spending, using their phones, TVs, cells, computers, and not working for 24 hours this will stop. We cannot be a market economy with 300,000,000 people. Nor can a democracy exist with more than 50 people… Didn’t Shaw say that long ago? How could we care what we are as long as we are humanists? This whole administration has been preposterous, and it started back with the formation of the Federal Reserve. We’re idiots to have permitted that powerhouse to ever exist, much less let them control interest rates, which in turn totally changed our national defense and safety. Ask yourself this: If we have a national crisis, or are attacked, where is our military? Where is our National Guard? Do you really believe this is coincidental - and it is all just an oversight? Absolute power corrupts absolutely - but it’s also contageous. Palin is not qualified for anything yet. Nothing. The power mongers thought we’d fall for a women being dragged into their game. Well, they don’t know women!

(Susan, oh yes - I just remembered another one - it’s been ‘gone’ like it never happened but I had witnesses!!! I love this little pum’kin, too - thanks and hugs). Here tis - when it came time for the first mammogram on the remaining breast after chemo, I decided to use another radiologist, so armed with my past films I met him after the mammo was done. As he was intensely studying the films, he calmly asked, when the other breast was scheduled. I nearly passed out. Within a few minutes he had contacted my onco and surgeon, and we met that afternoon, within an hour. Sure enough - somehow a continuing enlarging mass had been “missed” arising from behind the sternum (I was concerned about that many months earlier but the first surgeon I met with totally denied bilateral malignancy). My strength held out perfectly, until I left the meeting at that hospital, having promised my oncodoc I’d contact my psychiatrist (who helped me through the first nightmare). Once in my car, I heard myself screaming so loudly my ears couldn’t detect the intensity of my very primal utterance. Once home, my phone was ringing - psych told me I was in a very normal but dangerous state and I needed to be with someone that weekend. Surgery was to be that Monday. I had no one in Austin I felt I could stay with in my state of mind, and told him that (as calls were coming in on the other line and my cell from friends in Dallas to ask how I fared). He insisted, I be with someone or he would come and get me. Sheesh. Anyway, once I told a friend she told me to “get to the airport - just get on the SW flight - we’ll meet you - we’ll find you…” My ticket was waiting but I still have no recollection of getting to the airport that day. Once on the plane, still crying, a very aged, minute black woman sat down beside me - I was by the window and remember thinking oh please don’t ask me to help you … I can’t help anyone now; I was a private pilot and people just seemed to ‘find’ me on flights. Sure enough as we rolled down the tarmack the lady took my hand. Oh no! Turning my head just a tad toward her, I muttered I couldn’t help her … and apologized, as we lifted off. I heard her say, quietly, patting my hand, “It’s going to be all right - I’m here for YOU.” Believe it or not, it didn’t phase me. But, when I deplaned, 3 of my friends were there with a SW employee I knew. Their embraces begin to heal my psyche as I began to sob again. I was “losing it”. The woman, I thought … wanting to apologize to her, so turned to find her. She hadn’t deplaned yet, as one of my friends assurred me she would have noticed a minute, elderly black lady in a minute. We asked the crew as they came out the passengerway, so one dashed back to check the plane, but my flight attendant looked right at me and told us there was no one sitting with me in that row; in fact, she deliberately kept passengers out of those 2 extra seats having noticed I was in such grief. No way! I described her to a “t” but it did no good, no one was on that flight, or in my row, either. On the way to a friend’s home, we dropped off another one who wanted me to see her mother, who was someone I had loved for eons - an elderly black woman who was full of love for everyone. I was told she didn’t know anything “yet …” about my latest news, but it was up to me whether to tell her or not, she didn’t even know I was arriving in Dallas. As soon as we entered her home and she saw me, “Mama Cele” cried out that she’d been worried about me, … “this morning, I sent my angels to be with you—are you all right my sweet one?”

Marjorie, you’re right on. I think that’s part of our frustration, and if you will, anger. From the perspective of many of us, who’ve lives a while and worked hard, witnessing the collapse in ethical conduct, kindness, caring, honesty, and effort in our nation is seriously affecting us. I’ve notice that the “mental health” sector is highly cognizant of the effects lossey-goosey, and simply bad politicans and corporate leaders, is having on everyone. It is wonderful to have a platform by which to “speak up”. Have a great day, please.

Old misery Rove has come out of hiding to speak publicly! They’re desperate. Imagine putting all the aspects of Sarah on to Obama - this entire nation would be screaming and streaming into the streets, saying “it is typical for ‘them’ to have babies in high school,” “they all drink too much - Joe 6-packs, my eye!” “Hockey Moms, get real…they don’t play hockey.” I can hear it now. But, its all fine for Miz Sarah who’s a governor in name only. She works out of her home, which isn’t in the capital city. People in the “lower 48” don’t understand the socio-political milieu in Alaska, but just think about the population there. Their services are on a % par with most of the states (food stamps, ADC, etc.) and they all have blood and need oxygen to live, but their structure, regarding work, law, politics, etc. is vastly different, because of the size and geo-aspects. It’s not ‘here’ you guys. Everyone knows that Rove would have only backed a puppet, again … he’s no fool, he couldn’t put it over on anyone but a puppet. There again, after the infamous boring debate that wasn’t a debate, his guy ran off, seeming to hide. Maybe something was just ‘wearing off’ too early - stress does eat up things faster. I have to admit, every time I McBlame now, I hear “Bomb, bomb, Iran…” yet he’s scared of Michelle Obama. Didja notice how he took off after the debate, after shoving his trophy wife into Obama’s outstretched hand? Such rudeness is preposterous, the likes of which have not been in any election. We are making England’s Parliamet seem like polywogs.

Interestingly, I hit Public Services first; then went to “Other”. But, there’s no way everything, except candy sales (which boom in hard times) cannot be adversely affected. Imagine what our veterans are going through, too. In my area, they’re pleading for people to take jobs, and unemployment is very low; the housing market has held, in comparison, too, but this usually means, delayed reactions. This is going to take some real belt-tightening, and now with holidays approaching, I hope families have the strength to tell one another that this is not the time to spend 1-red-cent. There’s no safety net, “you guys.”

We all need comic relief at times, but to bring up the Spears’ family, any of them, again, is pure bordeom. I admit, I haven’t read these threads, but was very surprised this topic was among those being presented for discussion. Frankly, who cares?

Great contribution, Donna. I’ve often wondered how young mothers, today, cope without the circle of women friends gathering at the park or each others home for any reason, with “the kids playing in the yard” and any place else that was safe, and without the challeges that such discourse provided us - we learned, and for many of us, they were CR groups as well. Methinks “moving” wasn’t the best thing to do, for any of “us.” We always seem proactive, and most of us were so busy we could only jog at the kitchen sinks after the kids were in bed at night. I well-remember when the telephone companies came out with the “extra long” telephone cords!

Remind me to never drink iced tea after 4 PM. And, how did you get our graphic to ‘work’ on this website? It’s soooo slow.

My class “found” me so out of the blue I had telephone messages from “old friends”. They sent me all the back copies of our class newsletters, which really piqued my interest. So, I flew across the country, and attended my 40th reunion. Eight months later, breastcancer ‘hit’ - the support and caring from those who knew me so well was incredible. Many times I have been comforted by comments from those who knew who I was throughout my childhood, into my teen years, and remembered. It’s been a constant source of enjoyment sharing memories, and experiences with my classmates…not many, only some, but somes all right. ;-)) I’ve been constantly amazed at how well some of them know me.

Transparency in government is an oxymoron in the U.S. For now, the banks should become under the non-profit laws, which might jack up the IRS, too. There’s no way we can trust one thing we’re told. Nothing. Here we sit, letting “The Fed” function, still! We’re being swept into the entropic downward sprial that we learned was coming 6 years ago. With the interest rates dropped, it only made matters worse, while “DC” fiddled as “Rome” burned. I’m not impressed with much the last 8 weeks…nothing in fact. I am terribly concerned about the poor, the sick, and the disabled, though - and our children. “Young adults” seem far too unaware to realize the perils that happen with a loss of centrality in government, and that’s just what’s been building up. Where are our experts? They have no power.