Save that first year’s salary as a down payment and buy a starter house immediately. Put 20% down to avoid mortgage insurance. Get a 30 yr. fixed mortgage. And even if you don’t live in it, and just rent it out, hold onto it. Real estate remains the single most reliable path to security. (as long as you don’t get a nasty adjustable sub prime mortgage) Do it the old fashioned way and you’re golden.

Awesome Diane. I love you for that!

Sadly these same hiring principles seem to hold true in the capitol.

Hillary is a solid midrange pre-C class Mercedes. Well-cared for, always waxed, a steady reliable workhouse of a car, despite the bashed in doors, cracked windshields and the Kick Me bumper sticker placed on the rear by Tim Russert. Obama is a top of the line diesel BMW trophy car with heavily blacked out windows so you don’t really know what’s going on inside and a fake “h” decal strategically placed on the trunk to make it appear like a hip hybrid.

McCain would be a Buick wearing an oversized car cover with ridiculously large bumper pads that make the hood and trunk look all saggy.

Not sure which was more dangerous. Both were bonehead moves though. Flew in a two-seater from Toronto to Buffalo in a raging blizzard with zero visibility when the major airlines were grounded. And hopped on the back of motorcycle with a complete stranger I met at Venice Beach and drove up into the canyons with him. Later found out he was living on the streets.

The problem with refills Edith Ann, is there’s always a little backwash left from the last batch.