I avoid phones like the plague. Don’t answer them; calls go to voicemail. Everyone knows to email me if they need to get in touch with me. As far as I am concerned, phones today have made it far too each to contact someone with an inane question that could easily have been answered had the caller given it a little thought or planning. Been to the supermarket lately. I guess no one makes lists anymore; the caller just calls home and gets the kids to go through the cupboards to see what they need while Mom’s in the store. Silly. As far as phones and brain tumors…….ho hum.

To be an intellectual derelict. That is, to retire to the beach and spend my days reading in the sun.

The “Chipmunk Song/Christmas Don’t Be Late.” No Kidding. “Okay, Simon? -Okay! Okay, Theodore? -Okay! Okay, Alvin? Alvin? ALVIN!!!!!!!!!!! -OKAY!!!” Puts a smile on my face every time.

I watch very, very little television, but Boston Legal is a favorite. I caught this episode of Boston Legal, and like most of the episodes where James Spader gives his oratory, I am in awe; for the writing, the factual accuracy, and the very depth of the argument, often presenting points that I [not an attorney] had not thought of. Brilliant writing. Did you catch the one where “Shirley” [aka WOWOWOW’s Bergen] sued her nephew over his superdelegate votes? That episode said a lot about this country’s election process and should be shown in every high school Civics class.

I can’t swear it’s a direct quote, though I know I’m not far off: On a sports broadcast some years ago Howard Cosell was rambling on and on, to which his co-host, a bored Bryant Gumble, replied, “You have an excellent command of the obvious.”

We’re harder on our own gender. Why? Peggy Sue’s answer gets my vote, in addition to my personal observation that many women are AFRAID of the repercussions when being harder on men [because women perceive men have more power to retailiate].

No one answer will satisfy all situations. But for my part, I am exceedingly tired of having to walk on eggs with a lot of people. Some examples: ~ The other day I went to an electronics store which is primarily staffed by college students. This young man who waited upon me should not have been dealing with customers. He wasn’t knowledgeable, he didn’t want to be bothered with me, and he kept scratching his genitalia. I could have just gone to his supervisor…..but chances are the supervisor was also just as crass. So I stared at his groin when he next scratched himself and said, “You’re not part of civilized sosciety, are you?” He was dumbstruck. I’m wondering if he knew what I meant. Or if he cared. ~ Then there was a big man literally dragging and choking his tongue-hanging miniature dog by a leashed collalr while the man was running for exercise. Not paying attention, the idiot. I yelled after him to stop being an oxymoron and check his near-cardiac arrest dog. To hell with being polite and embarrassing him! Need I go on? I guess this falls under picking and choosing your battles.

“The Last Lecture,” By Dr. Randy Pausch.

I’m not clear on what you’re asking. Are you asking if I have been sexually harrassed? No, I haven’t; they know better than to even try. Or are you asking if I have experienced gender discrimination in the workplace? Sure. What woman hasn’t? How did I handle it? That depended on how well I liked and wanted the job. If it wasn’t all that great, I gave notice and went elsewhere. I learned long ago that the best way to fight gender discrimination is to take myself out of their company because if you stay and fight, in the end there’s usually a hostile work environment to contend with. Better just to be more selective in the next job.

Someone I know was always extremely physically active. She has never gorged on food, short of the once a month pizza when we got together. She was always her normal weight until she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late 40’s. She struggled to get it under control. One weight-bearing joint after another required surgery and while she was recuperating she wasn’t able to be very physically active. Gradually the pounds crept on. Then came the hypertension caused by the added weight and the drugs. Then came the Type II diabetes and hyperlipidemia. No, she’s not eating more; in fact, she only takes in about 900-1100 calories a day. She exercises as much as her arthritis allows, but it’s not enough. So now she’s about 40 pounds overweight. It’s pretty obvious that she’s not lazy or addicted to food. Now tell me why, given her circumstances, she shouldn’t have the surgery. Thank you Lesley for a great piece.

Good old Fruit of the Loom men’s v-necked t-shirts in XL. They’re the greatest!

Not long after my mother passed away, my aunts told me how proud my mom was of me. Always. Even though she rarely said it to me, she bragged about me to everyone. That got me thinking about my life, what I’d done right and what I’d done poorly. Then it sunk in. My mom always was a smart woman and she really knew me better than I probably knew myself back then. And so, for probably the first time in my life - and at age 47, no less - I became proud of myself, too. I came to feel really good about what I’d done and the person I’d become……and comfortable in my own skin.

Why would Candice Bergen want to see B Spears as one of the four figures? Please explain.

I’m still teetering on the edge, trying to decide who will get my vote. Will someone please briefly and concisely identify Obama’s top three priorities as President? Then [and this is most important] tell me HOW he plans to accomplish each objective. Don’t be shy with the details!