NP, Sheesh….that would drive me beyond insane. Can see why you’d be perplexed….hard position to be in. I haven’t been in the situation except once on a date…and I cut it short and there wasn’t a second one. I’d wait till there is a Dear Margo thread and ask her for advice because family members aren’t a stranger in the street doing something foul. There’s much more at stake, and all families are different of course. I googled to see if there was some good advice and just found a lot of other people saying their in-laws were driving them crazy with the same thing…and they were suffering in silence and didn’t know what to say or do. Only one person had advice ‘earplugs.’ Good luck, hope Margo has a great solution…she seems to know what to do about everything under the sun.

Entrepreneurialism, innovation and can-do spirit started this nation, it’s our ethos. In the early 1950s, Walt Disney was turned down by 300+ banks before he got the loan to clear out Anaheim orange groves and build his ‘crazy’ idea, Disneyland. Imagine all that would have been lost had ‘Uncle Walt’ listened to naysayers, instead of just focusing full-force on his dream. Those of us who cut teeth on “When You Wish Upon A Star” grew up with near magical belief in our abilities. And our generation created the richest civilization in human history. I was the oldest of five, and left home at 17. Nothing gave me any clue that I would ever work, neither my mother nor grandmothers had. I started my first successful business at 21, and then was one of 2% of women nationwide in a man’s field, played every aggressive sport, and in every group I’ve belonged quickly assumed leadership roles. All the men in our family for generations were successful entrepreneurs. I appreciated my mother’s looks, nature and the beautiful environment she created, but from childhood I had a strong sense of self, was competitive with men, and decided what I would do, or not do, independently. I’ve always been enterprising, creative, resourceful and think my assurance that I could do whatever I decided came more from my genes. My drive is to be me, and I belive that fullfilling heoric ventures creates the spirit that lives in enternity.

There is a long list including all of the above. From my upbringing, aesthetic nature, and design school I love beauty, order, peace, immaculate, well styled, healthy, and minimalist everything. I’d never have a mate who wasn’t refined, we’d drive each other crazy. The absolute most revolting thing I’ve seen is when men runners/bike riders hold one nostril and then the other and blow their nose into the air. I used to jog every night from 10-11PM around the long rectangle block of Huntington Park/Pacific Union Club on top of Nob Hill across from the Fairmount, Mark Hopkins, Huntington Hotels where I lived. At night it is beautifully lit and all you hear are doorman whistles and the Cable Car bells. I loved it, did it for years, and was friendly with all the doormen who watched for my safety, especially the ones at the Huntington Hotel because I had dinner there often with friends at the Big Four. A man started jogging nightly at the same time. He’d repeatedly do that horrid blow-nose-in-the-air thing. I did a slow burn for two nights, on the third night I waited until we were both across from the Huntington Hotel. I stopped in front of the man, glanced at the doorman DW and back at him so he got the message. Then stated in a tone that made it clear it wasn’t a request or a conversation. “You get a Kleenex, or stop doing that, or go elsewhere, or I will call the police.” He stopped. If an attractive blond yuppie calls the SFPD whatever unsavory man opposes her is toast. I knew he knew that much.

Great photo and interesting info. Nice to know that Joe has interest in design, and that she and Michelle are really chums. What fun it is to have an administration to admire, be fascinated by and identify with again. For me Obama is the best since JFK, and my all time favorites are Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, JFK, Obama.

Sherrie, the party of Eisnhower was hijacked…and it is truly insane to want more of the same…..Although tonight on Jim Leher…which IS actually fair and balanced and presents well formed intelligent stances from both sides and actually lets people speak [what a concept] some of what the Republicans said, didn’t agree with at all……but I did with giving small business tax breaks to get the economy rolling again. That makes sense to me…..it’s just with all that’s given away and tax breaks….where’s the revenue to run the country? But Boehner [sp] I think it was pointed out less an amount than some minor project that seemed like a good idea but not as important in my mind as small biz tax breaks. He also said when Obama met with them that he doesn’t have any ‘pride of authorship’ in the bill…in other words present their proposals and let’s craft what works best….was a very informative good show tonight.

Thanks Rocky 2. Soon I need to get a digital camera and start taking pictures on walks….went out at sunset on Asilomar which is wild on the most northern tip of Monterey Peninnsula….incredible….like walking in a golden-y painting. There are a lot of deer on the golf course across the way and someone told me that 6 deer have gotten eaten in this area by cougars in the last few months. the mountain lions have a 75 mile range and have been forced down from the Big Sur fires….they said don’t stay out aft dark or early AM without pepper spray… I opened the bathroom window to take a shower [this is in the Del Monte Forest] were deer on the little hill amid the pine trees right at eye level….they just look and go back to eating…so beautiful…and blue jays.

Kermie, It’s a couple rightwingers and it doesn’t impact me one way or the other. We had to fight another civil war to get the Good America back. I watched Jim Leher tonight. Love that show. They had a great piece on John Updike. OBama’s interview with the Middle East journalist. His working with GOP/Congress the get stimulus passed. Very intelligent program…a breath of fresh air. Actual news….the Rush’s etc should be ashamed and anyone who listens to them should too. It isn’t news it is propaganda of the very worst. Obama is completely impressive with what he has done in 7 days. What a difference….intelligent, hard working, sincere, and working with both parties. Even GOP leaders like Chuck Hagel have said that the Rush/Coulter/Savage etc are a big part of the problem with their program of disinformation and stiring up the rabble. ugh.

Cjay, You are fortunate to have a strong drive for your art. Am sure you saw Adrian Brody in ‘The Pianist”…..I read Wladyslaw Szpilman original book, too, and think Roman Polanski did an incredible job as a Director having experience Nazi Poland as a child. Here’s the author’s site. Love the Chopin Nocturne that was the centerpiece of the film and what plays as you open this site is his actual recording: http://www.szpilman.net/ Adrian Brody lost 30 Lbs in 6 weeks to play the part….and he sold everything and gave up his apartment so he was hungry and without things to feel suffering. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2688547.stm

Joan, No, my son went to high school in Aix-en-Provence, college at the University of San Francisco, Jesuit college, and grad school in Paris with degrees in Intl Relations, Foreign Policy, UN Charter Law…he worked at ABC News for the station chief Jim Bitterman. He’s a US-French citizen and speaks French, German, some Italian, Japanese and Dutch. He’s traveled a great deal, and has lived in Paris 1/2 his life, the last 2 in Amsterdam for his job….He’s loved it…but really misses France but isn’t planning to return to Paris…he wants to live in the countryside. He goes to relatives for long visits in Nancy….which is quieter and loves Lake D’Anncy. And he and his girlfriend love Beligium too, they were in Spa, Leige and other towns for Christmas and New Year’s weeks. He was born when I was 17 and we are best buds….a real sweetie…just like his father who died young.

Ms Dee, That must have been one spell-bound audience. G.G. also influenced Rachmaninoff’s music and vice versa. I love musician/theatre autobios. All time fave, Moss Hart’s ‘Act One’ a classic.

Wouldn’t it have been terrific to be part of the Paris ex-pats as he was in the 60s. The truly greats…and they’re all going. Who has that graceful stature and weight? He told The Paris Review in 1967. “The miracle of turning inklings into thoughts and thoughts into words and words into metal and print and ink never palls for me.” The extraordinary view of the everyday is such a gift…close to magical realism.

AFTER receiving bailout funds bank exec receipients have conf call to defeat labor bill. 9 out of 10 bank execs that caused this mess still have THEIR jobs and THEIR multimilion salaries and perks and got rewarded with multi-billions or throwing millions our of work. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/bank-of-america-hosted-an_n_161… The evil GOP execs couldn’t exist w/o their idiot working-class supporters voting against their own best interests; and parroting Fox propaganda….labor bills are bad for you 24/7. They repeatedly vote for phony heartless people who’d fire their own mother, throw her on the streets, repo her house, lose her pension in scams, and cancel her insurance without stopping the meticulous preparation of their breakfast Martini.

Women over 40, acting like women over 40, without thinking about being women over 40. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeNe29TfFl8&feature=related

Sheesh….This thread sounds like the remake of “Eight Women” with Catherine Deneuve and Fanny Ardant. Love that film. Couldn’t find English but they’re talking slow. lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OAFNXMsZg

Well Kermie…glad to say it for you so you don’t have to be ‘The Bitch.” Hope all is going ok with you knee operation…..