SUGAR TIME is the perfect book for the beach, the pool, or the hammock, especially for women of a certain age, is just out. Take it with you as a house gift this (it’s available on amazon.com) for every woman you know who’s at that awkward age - between her first copy of Modern Maturity and her first Social Security Check. -are reading it.

As Sugar Kane, the heroine of a new novel, SUGAR TIME, says, "Every woman who’s not independently wealthy - or dependently, which is more often the case - worries about ending up as one of the Times Neediest Cases."  Do you think Ruth Madoff does, too?

As Sugar Kane, the heroine of SUGAR TIME, my new novel, says, "At a certain age you don’t undress for romance, you drape for it."  The same goes for bathing suits.

Life is too short to wear tight shoes. If you really want to punish yourself, put on something with a real waistband.

Even if Obama beat her to the ounch by firing Power, Hilary could still show the gracious, and, dare I say ‘womanly’ side of her that is known to all her close friends by taking Peggy Noonan’s advice ex post facto and issue such a statement. The people who hate her and have demonized her would say that’s pandering, but others might appreciate it. The demonization of the Other the Democrats are engaging in may be what seizes defeat from the jaws of victory in November…we’ve learned from Republicans from Lee Atwater to Karl Grove how to swiftboat candidates, even our own.

If we all sent it to our closest friends, one of them might know a designer who’d offer custom clothes over the web - a few basic pieces in various dressy and casual fabics. You’d give her (or him) your measurements and choices of colors and styles, you’d get a wardrobe of clothes you can accessorize your own way…that fit! Like a basic black dress with sleeves and a choice of necklines, for instance. Happy networking.

The Cliterati, the Glitterati and the Chattering Class, all in one easy to find place - hooray! You’re all here - except, thankfully, the demonizers, like Coulter and Dowd. Since the demise of Lears, Mirabella, and the Hers column in the NYT, it’s not easy to find smart dames with something to say and a place to say it. Here’s looking at you!