This is so sad to her like this - I would have never known it was her if Liz had not said so. Bless her heart.

As a child, no doubt it was the Sound of Music. Even though it was made before I was born, I saw it in a movie theatre when I guess I was about 8 or so and it was an experience I have never forgotten. I went to Salzburg, Austria a few years ago and took the Sound of Music tour, which was quite fun thanks to a great guide, but a tad bit kitsch with all the singing on the bus the guide inisted we do - I just wanted to enjoy the scenery in the Alps! Donna W. - go to Salzburg - you’ll love it! There is lots of fabulous shopping too; and if you’re a Mozart fan - Salzburg is the place to be. When I was a freshman in college, over the Christmas holiday, I went to London with my family and saw Phantom of the Opera and became an instant Andrew Lloyd Webber fan. I still get chill bumps everytime I hear the overture!

Mugsy, I don’t know that my life has been so charmed as you assume, but in reaction to Bella Mia, I don’t want to automatically think the worst of people and that they are going to screw up. I guess I am a rare breed who still believes in giving someone a chance and I don’t wait for their flaws to come to the surface - that will happen soon enough. I feel sorry for Bella Mia because she automatically is sizing someone up for failure.

Bella Mia, you really see the dark side of things…

I’ll guess Pearl S. Buck for Judith’s literary pioneer. As for me, a combination of people would make up the historic figure’s life I would like live: the courage and conviction of Sophie Scholl (though I would not want to die in the Nazi’s hands), the faith and kindness of Mother Teresa, the intelligence my mother possessed, and the “who cares what anyone else thinks” attitude of Molly Brown.

Historically, Katherine the Great caught my attention thanks to a detention hall punishment in 7th grade. The DT monitor (usually a very unhappy teacher) would choose something for DT dwellers to read and you had to finish it and write a report on it within a 2 week period! Katherine the Great dragged Russia into the light; and all the men of her choice into the dark! She wasn’t perfect, but she took a backseat to none. Mythically, today I can relate to Medusa. Who knows what I will feel like tomorrow…

Julia, you’re so right about sitting back and passing judgement - it is easy when you’re not the one being judged. You too are very lucky your “Vietnam Boy” did not get the best of you let alone physically hurt you.

The US government getting involved is not the answer unless they regulate these predatory lenders. I don’t feel sorry for the people who did not read the fine print of their mortgage loan agreements and shame on these predatory lenders who make it too easy to get into trouble. My mother always said, “buy more house than you need because it will make money for you.” I no longer believe this as I have 2 mortgages - one in the MS Delta where I have resigned myself to the train of thought “If I break even - I’ll be lucky.” I have another home in Tennessee that would sell tomrrow if I stuck a sign in the yard today. Both my mortgages are fixed rate and am so grateful I am not one of the millions burdened with the impending loss of their home. On the other hand - our country is dumping BILLIONS into a war each month and we still in this country have homeless people, kids not getting a basic education, millions without healthcare coverage and a Social Security system, which will probably never cut me a check because it will be a memory by the time I retire. Though I do feel the economy will bounce back, but at what cost?

I voted for Hiliary a few weeks ago in the Mississippi primary (even though I am a republican) because McCain has his nomination wrapped up. Neither of the above choices is an option for me.

Like Judith, I love sheets and watches. I just recently bought a Cartier watch and a Timex would have done the job just as well, but it makes me happy and feel a bit special. Sheets are truly my weakness. The higher the thread count I can snuggle into at night, the sweeter the dreams I have! Almost forgot - shoes…nuff said.

I have a love/hate relationship with Viagra… It has always bothered me that my health insurance (which is provided by my employer) will pay for Viagra, but not for birth control???!!! Don’t you think the 2 kind of go hand in hand? Who makes the decisions?

My closest friends and several good bottles of wine!