Kelly: That’s so outright, totally, funny. Certainly the funniest line I have ever seen on these pages. I call that “honest funny”. I just love it ! Thanks.

Balancing justice. Words fail. O.J. is a killer. Judged innocent. Goes free. What can one say? O.J. is armed robber. Judged guilty. Goes to jail for life. What can one say?

I’m glad someone came up with a name for, “step away from, etc”. I hope she accepts it because I will use it here, as a more or less pet name, i.e. “Steppie”. ( I wasn’t sure how to refer back to her). I have been following all the comments about the fallout from the VP Debate, and I think “Steppie” has echoed the very feelings and thoughts I have experienced. She said it far better than I could have and I want her to know I agree with her conclusions completely. She sure knows how to lay down the bare facts.

Not really meaning to be funny, I would say one of the things I learned was how to read in the dark. I got most of my education in night school, attending evening classes that started after work, from 6 to 10 pm, for nine years. (it took that long and not because I failed any classes). Seriously though, I learned that I really was only starting to learn. Working full time while educating yourself opens a very broad scope of what you need to go through life. The main things I realized were: Be quiet and listen - Look at people when they speak to you - Always be on time - Find some way to utilize the knowledge you accumulated - Work hard - Don’t believe everything you read and… Don’t take “no” for an answer. I’m still trying to learn about so many things.

Lucinda I feel exactly as you do about tatoos. They are terrible, ugly, unsightly and gross. The only thing I also hate that comes anywhere near my hate for tatoos is dog s _ _ t.

To echo Maurice Chevallier’s famous words, “I remember it well”. What I said, on the very day of my fortieth birthday… “Enough of this crap. I’m outa’ here”. (and the rest is history).

J.B. mentioned it before I had a chance to say that I love to be alone in my car. Even for a long trip. It’s about the only place I know of where I can shut the door and get the hell away from where I am, when I want to.

Dear Lauren Bacall : Many Happy Returns Of The Day. It isn’t easy to find something original, or remarkable to say to you, to express the immense appreciation and admiration I have for you…because the outpouring and steady flow of wonderful sentiments aimed towards you from all the fine postings above mine, will surely cover any complimentary effort I would make to tell you what a very special person you are. You are admired by many, and you certainly deserve to be. Happy Birthday.

Annie Muse - I totally,but totally, agree with you about McCain and Palin…and I hope and pray you’re right about Obama.

Does it get better? Can it get any better? I’m not sure if I know the answer yet…but I’m workin’ on it !

A great question ! Over a lifetime I have bought and sold stocks from my personal portfolio. Gradually, because of life’s needs, my stockpile has diminished but I stubbornly and consistently do all I can to prevent the collection from going down to zero. I decided a few years ago not to dig into the pile any further and to hang onto the remainder until I either reach a desperate moment when I absolutely must redeem more certificates to save my life, or perhaps hopefully manage to hang onto them until my loved ones can transfer them to themselves, from my will, when my final day comes. That was my intention. However I have changed my mind. Because of the unstable conditions of recent and current markets, my remaining stockpile has continually lost and gained but eventually it returns to it’s original value. I felt that I should be satisfied with this. But lately, I realize, that over the past few years, by simply letting the reserve ride, because I was always pretty sure that the slump would be temporary and the market would pick up again, I figure I have lost as much money as the original “nut” was worth. Sure, I would end up with my original investment, but along the way, I lost the gains I achieved, several times. So, now, you may be sure that when the market rises back to where my investments are back to their true worth, I will trade in all my certificates and take the money and run. I have no intention of leaving my nest-egg continue to yo-yo, scattering the earnings back and forth uncontrollably. Placing the nest-egg in a safe bank, even at a low interest rate, will at least help me to maintain its true value much more reliably than depending on unreliable fluctuating market conditions. You live and learn.

Anyone remember Rita Gamm?

It had been a long difficult day. Darkness had set in as I left the office, headed for the comfort of my hotel room. I was standing alone, bone tired and it seemed an eternity before the elevator door opened. I was so startled I suddenly forgot my exhausted condition. As the doors swung open, standing alone and looking at me as if to say, “Well say something”, I pulled myself together and simply said, out loud, “Hi Bing”. He just answered, with a lovely, friendly smile, “Lovely evening isn’t it”, and proceeded to disappear into the lobby. I couldn’t believe it, but it was the “Crooner” himself.

President Clinton gave such a great speech to-night, but it’s awfully difficult to appreciate it when you can’t help but suspect the insincerety that lies under the sentiments being expressed with such active enthousiasm. He is undoubtedly an extraordinary orator. I feel he is just as great a liar. As for Mrs. C., I once had a Mother Superior just like her. She had that lovely veneer of a face that camouflaged the true demeanor of the demon under the protective robe she wore as if she had been born in it. (It was just a regular nun’s garb. - not a pant suit). She was a terror who looked like an angel. The open friendly smile was almost always there, but when it wasn’t, the building shook, and so did we. Hillary has that kind of talent. They are both better kept out of the White House.

Hello H.H.- I know I’m kind of late on this subject but I was just meandering on this site to-day, more or less reviewing some of the postings here and there that had interested me. I hadn’t noticed your comments about “Three Cups Of Tea” until now. I simply had to write a reply to tell you how I agree with you that this is one of the most beautiful books one could ever read. What a story, by what must be one of the finest humans on the planet…Mr. Greg Mortenson. I loved the book and even yet I reach for it every now and then just to read a few lines and almost by osmosis, let the words enter my spirit and inspire me into a feeling of appreciation for the magnificently good things some people still do for others in this unpredictable world. As a personal aside,you may be interested to know, I purchased and distributed a couple of dozen copies and sent them out to special friends and relatives whom I knew would appreciate it as much as I did. (Now I’m a hero). It is one of those books you wish that everyone would read. I am so glad to see that you are just as impressed with Mr. Mortenson’s story as I am, and always will be.