I’m surprised she’d be interested, too. Maybe her thinking would be it’s only four years to hold the seat for HRC if she wanted it after SoS. And the country is in crisis.

A man is on a business trip and calls his deadbeat brother who is housitting for him anxious to hear how his beloved prize winning cat, Ms. Fluffy, is doing in his absence. “Oh” his brother responds. “Ms. Fluffy died. The man sobs uncontrollably for many minutes, then finally hiccups, “You—-you—-you don’t just blurt out tragic news like that!!” “Whaddaya mean?” “Well, the first day I called you should have said “Ms. Fluffy is on the roof.” The man blows his nose. “And then the next day you’d say “Ms. Fluffy is still on the roof but the firemen are trying to get her down. He sighs, snivels and continues. “And then the third day you’d report that the firemen did all they could, but unfortunately, our dear Ms. Fluffy has passed on.” “Oh. Yeah. OK.” “Well, you didn’t know. How’s Mom?” Silence. “Umm, ahh, Mom’s on the roof.”

Patrice…..Very funny re the ‘butler’. I’ve never gotten/used GPS as have always thought I’m psychic about direction. Used to travel all overthe US for work and swear when it comes to finding things am aces….too bad that skill doesn’t translate to all the departments where am at a total loss. But you may have sold me on GPS by that voice!

This is an incredible 4 min video for thos who haven’t seen it. Sarah McLachlan’s “World on Fire”. Instead of spending $150K to make a music video, she sat in a guitar and sang the song while animation showed where the $150K was donated instead and all the good it achieved….really impressive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzoNInZ2ClQ

“What’s best and cheapest gifts?” The most successful gifts I’ve given were watercolors I painted and framed for relatives/friends that reflected a aspects of their lives. Illustrated verses wrote/painted for occasions. A book that my brothers and sisters and I did together for our parents. I learned calligraphy in the girl’s school I attended and that has been very helpful too…I collect sayings/expressions and have bought nice blank books for family members and then calligraphied the expressions and painted the borders, etc. Once I hand lettered all the envelopes and invitations for a friend’s wedding….found beautiful shell-pink paper and used light spring green ink I made from watercolors so very fresh and delicate looking. And another time was the ball chair of an event at the Four Seasons Montecito Biltmore….was there in the late afternoon with a few people setting up…and while supervising that hand-lettered 300 placecards. It took longer than had planned and was so late had to rush to dress for the evening and stepped into shoes backwards and danced all night with shoes on the wrong feet. Didn’t notice til went to the ladies room at 11PM and looked down. Worked so hard on that ball, I guess was a little numb and didn’t feel it. But one of the biggest money makers the SB symphony ever had. I also designed and painted the invitations for “Le Bal des Roses”….a bouquet of roses wrapped in a sheet of music with a light-hearted ribbon. Wrote all the PR, and designed the stage backdrop that the head of the UCSB Theatre Arts program had his students paint for free. Here’s one of the PR teasers: “On 9 Avril by the glittering sea when jasmine’s in the air Tout les gens of sylvan grace will fete the debonnaire. In days of old we’ve heard it told about les parties grand But now we know Bal des Roses will be parler partout the land. On that night all alight the Biltmore will rise like Chenonceau on the River Cher. That even Voltaire or Rousseau would exclaim all sparkled with savoire-faire. So slip into all your perfumed charm and into your gossamer gown And come to the ball, the brightest of all, the one of elan and renown.” From memory so may not be correct….but the point is that I think it’s resourcefulness and creativity not resources.

PS: Here’s KST in an interview for “I’ve Loved You So Long”…..and talking about loathes clothes shopping but loves to cook and shop for vegetables. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMFtdUE2Ezc

JJB/KST are two of my favorite women…..both brilliant, beautiful, very individual. So wonderful to have them together in this interview. Agree with FP if something says “KST” I’m immediately interested. Saw her interviewed on French TV…she speaks very good and charming French. Loved her in “Life as a House”…love that film.

I’ve done two simple new things to become more aware of how I am sqandering money/time that could be put to more effective use: -I’m noting every cent I spend on the back of a business size envelope for the month and clip all receipts inside. It’s a simple way of seeing how much I waste out of habit and without thinking….and how it adds up. -Put a notepad by computer and now timing everything I do. Have goofed off for last 6 months and have not done much client work, pulled back from my book, etc, and now starting working in blocks of two hrs. with short breaks for ‘fun’ time. If write it down really start to see where time is going rather than letting it just slip away. I was thinking this AM how used to always have creative projects…it is a crime for someone with my watercolor ability {and love of it} to let that just evaporate. When look back at all my drawings and watercolors feel really happy and should be doing that every week….even if just for myself. -Have cut back on restaurants, have practically eliminated wine altogether as am on a new health kick, don’t get hair and nails done as often, do facials at home instead of salon. I hope the women who are considering giving up their computer connection look for better deals instead….save in another way like cuting cable channels and get movies from the library….a computer gives you access to so much that saves money and time, can find work, learn so much if use it right, etc. In the meantime…plenty of things am not cutting back on: -exercise by walking in beautiful spiritually enhancing places. -fresh flowers, can just pick them from outside. -silly things that make me laugh everyday like this saxophone playing walrus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tkxLNO8Gmw -believes that are helpful like: “Imagination is stronger than knowledge. Myth is more powerful than history. Dreams are more powerful than facts. Hope triumphs over experience. Love is stronger than death.’

Jeannot, If you make dolls in retirement…go to www.etsy.com One of my neighbors made $85,000.00 [no kidding] in 8 months/very part time….selling silk-screened posters there…..everything must be handcrafted. You are such a nice lady….I’d love it if you could make good money there too, you deserve it.

I’ve read that happy flying dreams connote having arrive at a loftier, detached perspective….’rising above it’ and also having a sense of power. When read Candace’s “I am always disappointed to wake up from them” reminded me that once had an incredible dream of having sex with a man I had a huge crush on [but didn’t act on in real life because he is married]. The dream was so fun and I was thinking ….’please don’t wake up.” In a way I was flying…… Boston Legal was cancelled? That’s truly nuts…will miss all of terrific characters….one of the only great shows on TV. Was hoping Alan and Candace would have an affair. Poor Alan will have to be content with the nude photos.

I think this is a terrific idea. Some of my favorite Independant booksellers in San Francisco and Carmel have disappeared…they weren’t just bookstores but a community and way of life. Friends and I would go to author talks, to nearby restaurant to have lunch/dinner discuss and then back to the store to shop. I don’t like the mega store [except ones with real presence like Tatterbook Cover in Denver etc] Really was a loss when Clean and Well Lighted Place for Books disappeared in Opera Plaza SF…and two in Carmel are gone Books, Inc. and a great Indie in Carmel Valley. What I miss on RJ’s site are photos of the store. Went to YouTube and saw video tours of homes for sale in Madison….that would be a cool thing to do a vid tour of the store and link to it….plus it would be free PR…especially if it is outtakes from fun events….just make sure to tag it and put store name and URL…suprising how many don’t do that. Also….Flickr is the #30 most visited site on the Internet, very popular so if take photos and add them there also would bring more people to the site…..and if add a few links that ups Google stats too. ie like Pen…. http://www.pen.org/ and then people get ideas for books there too that RJ can order. That way get more of the ‘felt’ experience and we techies almost don’t need to go to a bookstore. I think that ‘personality’ is how to complete with the big box places like Amazon….much more inclined to go somewhere where there’s real people on the other end that will provide individualized help. Anyway just my opinion….but great idea…and loved her book picks. This might be of interest too—this fellow lives in France and is in my FaceBook friends and his book comes out Jan 19 “Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom”….interesting info on using social media. Very well done short vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubo1asE4l-o There are many Indies on FaceBook too…a real community of tens of thousands of writers/indies/wine people.

Great pix and love her hair. She’s had a terrific ride and will do something else interesting. Hope she saved her money. DV didn’t and aft she left Vogue, she ran low. Jackie suggested that she head the Fashion Institute at MOMA and secretly augmented her salary.

Joan, I just love Nora Ephron films and also Nancy Meyers….did you see her Father of the Bride and Something’s Gotta GIve….so cohesive. Nora Epron is the master of the segue to new scenes. Both so stylish. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks were the best. Loved that Hampton’s beach house in Something’s Gotta Give..perfect decor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSjI-xiH7j0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0YlqnCJslE&feature=related Jan 20th am going to get champagne and park it in front of the TV for inauguration, ball coverage, and then just watch movies.

No question romantic comedy with plenty of action and International scope. The American Rom/Com genre developed from the Depression…and when think of it…it is all about seeing new possibilites for one’s life. Here’s a delightful blog “Living the Romantic Comedy” http://livingromcom.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/10/screwball-comedy-a-new…

I attended a small girl’s Catholic priory school and loved it [mostly] and have too many fond memories, my favorites were: -The chic uniforms that were designed by Oleg Cassini. -My favorite nuns who were so sweet, smart and inspiring. -My friends who were naughty, full of mischief and fun. -The Father-Daughter dance. -Art class/PE/field trips/free dress day/and the three day silent retreats. -The beautiful hillside grounds, gorgeous foyer, library, theatre and salon. -A fundraising evening talent show I was roped into doing with a friend, the dressy audience clapping like mad, and our little bit being chosen as the best. Fun…but would never want to do that for a living. -The nearby boy’s school ;)