Enjoyed the writing and wit. Great book cover too. I had to shed a little tear over this “I’ve got a friend who has to fly commercial!” Poor dear. Republican I hope.

A friend of mine with a Harvard MBA, who paid cash for her multi-million dollar on the beach, has had a money manager all her life and put her children through Stanford. Now her stocks and her home are worth 50%, none of her children have jobs, let alone real careers. Two grandchildren have very costly conditions that have created tremendous stress. Some of her relatives are household names, and one in particular who is very ill. I don’t think this crisis has left too many unnerved or untouched.

Happiest of Birthdays to wOw’s beautiful, sexy, saucy, savvy, classy, smartie blonde, and one of Manhattan’s true greats. If they bottled the essence of Liz Smith we’d solve the economic crisis and energize the world, because everyone wishes they could be more like Liz Smith. In all the party photos posted here, the eye goes right to you. A woman who truly knows how to live. All best wishes and many thanks for being a tremendous inspiration. Keep knocking their socks off! Suzanne

I do one hr. speed walk on the water so get fresh air/cardio. And then 30 min to1hr. of a routine with 6.6 lb hand weights for sculpted look and the weight bearing that bones need to stay strong. I never go anywhere without my weights, don’t like gyms/noise etc. I made up my own routine from choosing the most effective moves from a number of exercise videos of Cindy Crawford/Jane Fonda, etc. I aim for ‘stacked exercise’ so work more than one muscle group at a time. Had a boyfriend last year who was a 18-time gold, silver, bronze Olypmic medal winner, and then a coach of Olympic teams after he quit active participation. I demonstrated my routine and he said it was nearly perfect and suggested only slight changes. Fortunately I like exercise, and when don’t feel like doing it just tell myself how good I’ll feel when it’s done. And also remembering the 6 months was in a leg cast and couldn’t exercise and how miserable that was gets me going too. I agree, great thread.

Beautiful…..perfect….heaven. The gorgeous water and sunset, palm trees that look so festive, adorable grandchildren. Looks like lots of fun. Feel as if I just had a little trip. Thank you.

I am self-employed so cutting hours doesn’t impact me, I work whenever. There is a lot of sacrificing by ordinary workers, and not by the people that created this mess. The rich have their taxes cut, their banks bailed out by the taxpayers, while they pass out $18B in bonuses etc. It is obscene. Instead of cutting people’s income when they are already making little and without benefits, etc, collect windfall taxes on the war profitters like Halliburton, Blackhawk, Brown and Root, Exxon. Pass legislation limiting the max salary/perks/bonus levels on banks taking taxpayer handouts. Add to the stimulus package tax cuts for purchase of efficient autos, and green tech remodels to business and homes, and tax incentives for small business. I think the French people had it right when they had picnics in the square while the heads of greedy thieving aristocrats were permanently from their shoulders as they cheered. I used to think that a tad bloodthristy. No more.

I don’t take any drugs not even prescriptions [just my daily ‘reward’ glass of Chardonnay]…but I think it is insane that people are punished for small amounts of personal use pot. So no, a public apology is enough. Athelete’s should be more circumspect because they are role models for kids, but even I knew where I could get pot at 14 in a girl’s priory school. I agree with Dona, it should be legalized.

Christine, Not me and I’m a techie. I’ve started waiting for the second itteration of things too. Cheaper, improved, and other choices in the meantime. Am interested if you use the downloadable reader on IPhone or Sony or any others. Also, read ‘Silicon Valley” and do miss living on Stanford campus and the two Apple stores in the mall and on University, and wonder if you are seeing results of economic downturn in University Ave businesses and restaurants. Cheers.

EKA, Me too. Bush’s phony, illegal Halliburton/Exxon war really paid off. Swept the money in the US from the poor and middle class to the ultra rich and oil/war profiteering corporations. Exxon $45B profits. That’s a lot of lobbying. And today it’s more facile to buy the likes of lying propagandist megaphones like Rush/Coulter than beat the pavement on K Street.

Palin and Blago…twins separated at birth? They both have a super-sized egos and soap-opera genes, mouths that never stop, bad taste in everything, and lots of dark hair.

Let’s see. Football……Beach. Football…….Beach. Hard to decide. Not.

EKA & Maizie I agree. Over the years I was ‘hit on’ by many married doctors, lawyers etc, one in particular very high profile SF man I was attracted to. There is not enough potential goodies in the world coming my way to have an affair with a married man. Especially one with children. Not just that don’t care to add ‘potential homewrecker’ to the resume….but why does anyone want to settle for being second banana.

EKA, Tonight on the Jim Leher News Hour both sides in the stimulus package gave their views, and in other nights, and I agree with the GOP that the bill needs tax incentive/breaks for Green home remodels, and energy efficient new car purchases, plus tax breaks for small business. Without those the package has major holes. If we are going further into debt in a major way we should be getting as much bang for our dollars. So hopefully that will be resolved in the Senate. They also had Obama blasting Wall Street’s irresponsibility for $18B in bonus’s while accepting handouts, and again mentioned Citi’s outrageous plans to take delivery on a $50M corporate jet that were thwarted by the administration. GWB wouldn’t do that…he’d hand them their free billions and then hehehe over the cowboys buying expensive toys with it. “Boys will be boys” would be his attitude. Obama was so articulate and right on. Arriana Huffington gave an interview from Davos on the mood. She said bankers were contrite that they didn’t see it coming. Didn’t see it coming? What short memories they have. During the Davos panel discussions last year a number of panalists commented on the unhinged levels of greed and predicted what was coming including members of either the IMF or World Bank. Helpful ideas and free services for small business [sponsored by Intuit] I liked their salute to small business owners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJHeP37m5Rc&feature=pyv

There is so much need and have my areas of charitable interest where focus efforts. If there are horse lovers who can take in a homeless horse, locals unable to feed them have turned in 16 horses to the Monterey SPCA. They are available for Free to $1000. Here’s more information in this week’s Carmel Pine Cone. Click on the second link: http://www.pineconearchive.com/downloads090130.htm

I’ve never shared a bathroom with a man…..sorry…I like things pristine.