When you look up the word class in the dictionary, Carmen’s name will be next to it. WOW! When I grow up I want to be an Old Woman — just like Carmen. It’s all in the perspective, isn’t it?

I’m one of those women, and my current Significant Other is one of those guys. 32 years ago, we parted at the end of a very wonderful summer of canoe trips, hikes, kisses in the woods, and endless laughs. We were on ski team together for two years before that, and we went to the prom. I went to college, he married one of our classmates, and that was it. In 2007, I got an e-mail that changed my life. He told me why he was prompted to find me and it grew from there. A year later, and half a country from the mountains that used to sustain me, we’re doing pretty good and it’s ever changing and ever joyous. We bought a car together, and now we’re looking for a dog to adopt. That’s enough for the here and now. So I’m here to tell you, it can work and it takes work. So I say, go for it.

The other would be unmitigated greed as noted above by previous commenters. I have the privilege of working with a smart woman who was involved with the deregulation at the SEC which was really supposed to be a consolidation of regulation — instead it became “let’s see how many ways we can get around the regulation” operation starting from the head of the SEC on down. All those folks who don’t think we should go through with the assistance seem to forget that 15 million of their fellow citizens working in financial services would be affected, as would we all. Certainly, a few greedy b******ds at the top should be punished, but the worker bees who are part of our great country’s spirit and soul shouldn’t be penalized by being put of jobs. And the word from many financial planners is that this a microcosm…and essentially smaller banks holding their own, and some are even thriving. What we need to do from the ground up is make it easy and beneficial to all to do the right thing.

Hmmm, can’t trump any presidential encounters but I took Andie McDowell around the town to look at house in my Subaru. And Theodore Roosevelt IV wanted to get me a place on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as he thought I’d make a great trader. He tells a fine dirty joke and is very well-spoken. We talked about books, and cowboys, and the land. Oh yeah, and I met Mark Rypien, the former Redskins quarterback. Very nice guy, and very mild mannered. You would think living in Denver, there’d be a bunch of Elway sightings but I only have one of those to my credit, and one Ed McCaffery sighting. Met a lot of country music folks, Lonestar, Michael Martin Murphy, Hal Ketchum. The Osmonds came to Missoula once — hung out with Jay for a few minutes. Funny brother. Always wanted to meet Jimmy Buffett and would gladly have borne him an illegitimate child. Marcus Allen wanted me to meet in a bar once, but my boyfriend loomed too large. Ooops, I guess this was supposed to be THE most memorable — well, when you live in Montana, any random meeting/sighting is noteworthy. Most OMIGOD moment though was getting my picture with Pamela Huston, the author. WOW!!!!!

Make it a Woo Hoo Day! And believe…

Wise Ass Woman drops body — Assumes new one as Queen of Somewhere Hot Bright and Happy!

I haven’t read it yet but I know it’s going to be The Last Lecture. Other than that, I’m finishing up Sovereign Ladies about the six queens regnant of England. Elizabeth I rules!

As a 40+ woman who doesn’t look her age, I can honestly say it was always very flattering when the hunky IT guy at my company told me I was hot and he loved to date older women. And then there was the BrokeHeart Cowboy whose own mother had been married to a man 11 years her junior. He made sure I know how desirable I was to him. My mother has been with a man several years younger for more years than she was married to my dad. Evidently something stuck enough to cross the social mores and however else anyone wanted to judge them. P.S. She’s never looked or acted her age either. I come by it honestly! A cougar’s a strong animal that takes what it needs when it needs. Not such a bad comparison — there are worse. And there’s something hilariously appealing about the words “Cougar Bait” stretching across a “straight-from-the-gym” buff young guy who appreciates all that we have to offer.

What a deliciously guilty pleasure to Go Back to HGTV during the commercials to see Rachel’s greatest recipe! I’m supposed to be looking for a job but really, isn’t there something to be gained from watching a clutter couple get a Clean House? I was a LOT more ambitious before I got cable. The biggest selling point was all those educational shows — Riiiggghht. A What Not to Wear marathon trumps The Age of Machiavelli every time. Thank goodness for commercials or I’d never get anything done!