Remember the old quote from the 60’s, “fighting for peace is like f—king for virginity”? I must say that voting for Nader in order to get the attention of politicians is much the same to me. That happened before and look what the country got. Not a good idea, or at least I don’t think so. Just imagine how different the entire world might be.

And is *still* going to Iraq, while the Iraqi national piggy bank is bursting at the seams. Can’t think about it too much or my head will explode. Guess I need to hum and distract myself.

My choice in foot adornment is to the extreme. My favourite is a killer pedicure and bare feet, and living in Texas, that’s pretty much a year round option. I also love tall sexy evening shoes that have a rhinestone or twenty on them. Daily life calls for comfort as I am on my feet all day, every day at work. Shoes come off at the door, right before the bra and jewelry. I can’t imagine bringing in the outside world on the bottom of my footwear.

So I’m not the only one with competing voices in my head? Whew! Comfort. I can hold entire debates in my mind and convincingly argue both sides of an issue, with the exception of war and similar idiotic events.

Like Dora, I work with my husband and have for 29 years. We met at work and had a great professional relationship before falling in love and marrying. It’s like two lives ~ professional and personal. My work requires me to be interactive with the public all day. It’s one of those situations where no matter what the heart and spirit feel that day, as soon as someone enters my shop I come through the curtain and am “on”. Because of that and the fact that my husband and I work together, I cherish alone time, rare as it is. I sleep, read, listen to music, take long baths with candles and books on cd. It’s been far too long since I’ve had that time and it is showing in my spirit. The thought of taking a year off sounds like heaven!

My family home is in East Texas (yes, we use capital letters in Texas to describe where we live) and Mother still lives in the house she and Daddy built when I went into third grade. Next door is the house my parents built when I was 1 year old. I lived there til graduating from college and getting married, when we moved our meager belongings and huge dreams to Arlington, Texas, between Fort Worth & Dallas. After a while, we migrated a short distance west to Fort Worth. Now, 35 years later, I live still reside in Fort Worth, but am now facing so many questions about what living really is. Daddy, the love of my heart, passed away one year ago. The house where I grew up was always home base, no matter that I didn’t live there and never will again. It seems so small and sad now with him gone, and knowing that before long, Mother will join him and it will be just a house of brick and wood and shingles. I’m realizing that it wasn’t really home at all, but that my family was/is my home. I live in Fort Worth because that’s where my business is, and it would be next to impossible to begin again in another city. Twenty two years of building a successful business with a great reputation isn’t something I have the energy to repeat. I have a great contemporary house built to replicate the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse dream from my childhood. Oh, it’s not built in a tree, but the back is all glass and high, looking into the arms of a 200+ year old oak that shades and nurtures me. It’s nice, but my soul has always longed to live by the water. I need the water like I need breath, but have never seemed to be able to make that happen. Next time around…I promise myself that.

I have marched and protested since 1967 and will until my last day. I’ve marched for women’s rights, especially right to choose and ERA, marched against Viet Nam and Iraq, civil rights protests, and in support of Mother Earth. I live in Texas, the home of capital punishment, and participated in a candlelight vigil and protest the night Karla Faye Tucker was executed. The most recent gathering I attended was the final weekend at Camp Casey in Crawford. That was an incredible experience! I’m just sad I didn’t get there the night before to hear Joan Baez. Peace

Happy birthday, Peggy Sue!

I, too, waste that precious commodity of time.

Voting for Ralph Nader helped put GWB in the White House before.

I am totally at a loss as to why so many women dislike Hillary Clinton. Tell me she’s the only woman who has dealt with a husband and affairs and stayed with him. She is not! The difference is that her private issues played out in the national media. None of us understand the dynamics of their relationship; with any marriage, only the two actually *in* it know the details and what each gets from the relationship. Hillary Clinton is running for president, and she should stand or fall on her own. All married men who seek the same office have their wives interviewed and discussed, but it’s mostly in regards to superficial things. Certainly the sex lives of these women is not up for dissection, and it would hit the fan if a news story appeared that did. Yes, Bill Clinton was president and his life was under the microscope, but it is not his turn now, it is hers! Frankly, all who know me have heard me say that I’d willingly give Bill a bj on the courthouse steps at noon if the country and world could be as they were when he was in the White House. The offer still stands. As for the debate, I didn’t watch and therefore can’t answer the original question.

Absolutely nothing! Love the freedom and the soft sexy feel of high thread count sheets. I also sleep with a fan 365 nights a year. The air movement is great.

I, also, took my youth for granted and despite knowing better, I imagined that Daddy would always be with me. Now I’m trying very hard not to take Mother for granted and to wrap up in the essence of the beauty and knowledge she’s acquired from 80 years of living. May I say that is truly an honour to be in the presence of so many wise and introspective women. Thank you!

I always tell the truth about my age, but just use creative math. As of last Monday, I’m forty eighteen. My mother has taken it up, as she now proudly says that she’s forty forty.

Not much, really. I limit myself to one magazine subscription, and do others online. If you’ve not tried it, you might be surprised at how wonderful extra virgin olive oil is for removing make-up and as a night moisturizer. A thin layer spritzed with water is awesome!