I used to listen to "Coast to Coast." Been a long time...I should get back to it...Having interesting conversations with friends make me happy. (Where there is a real "connection" versus people just talking "at" each other!)

When it comes to men and women being friends I think it depends on how well-rounded we are as "people."...Some women love football and work on cars and do remodeling or "fix-it" jobs around the house etc.. So they have more in common with men who partake in these activities too...And some men love to cook and garden and share more interests with women...The key to being friends is having common interests that transcend our specific genders...Men who stick with basic "guy things" and women who stick with basic "female things" most of the time may have trouble relating to the opposite sex as "just friends."

Years ago I came to terms with the fact that I'm just not a "normal person." (Or woman!)...I accepted that I'll never be every man's "dream woman" or "cup of tea" due to the fact that I'm so "different."...So I stopped competing and entering into "races" for "normal guys." (Since I'm not "normal" myself!)...I accepted that it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack to find a man who would be a good "match" for me!...Eventually I found a "non-normal man" who was a great "match" for me. And we had a happy life together and a 24 year marriage. (Until he passed away. Sad!)...One "size" doesn't really "fit" everyone! We don't "say yes" to every salesperson who comes knocking at our door. Most of us are selective when it comes to deciding what we want to buy. (Or not!) And I feel the same way about relationships...I'd rather "hold-out" and "go without" than settle for a "bad fit" or "match!"

Presidents make mistakes at times just like the rest of us do. So-called "intelligence experts" make mistakes too...George W. Bush sent Condie Rice and Colin Powell out to inform the public that Saddam Hussein definitely had WMD's...Based on faulty information and so-called "intelligence" we sent our military in to attack Iraq and basically take over their country...Over time thousands of US soldiers lost their lives or received serious injuries...Who knows how many innocent men, women and children lost their lives in Iraq?...It's sad and tragic when lives are lost due to mistakes made by our presidents and government officials...We can't bring the people back to life. All we can do is try to learn from our mistakes so we don't keep making the same exact mistakes in the future.

Basically talk is cheap. (Until you or someone in your family faces a serious and life-threatening illness.)...Why have we become a nation of cannibals who go after each other?.. The corporations get off "scott free" while we "do battle" with our neighbors and blame them for escalating costs these days...Talk about "scams!" I hope people who defend corporations receive some type of "payola!" Otherwise you're working for free!

My husband and I thought we had a great insurance plan. Plus my husband had Medicare too...But when he developed cancer we were in for a rude awakening concerning our coverage...All the unexpected bills and expenses (that weren't covered) pretty much wiped out our savings...Why has treatment become so expensive? Back in the 60's families could afford to pay for doctor visits and hospital stays and even childbirth out of their own pocket if need be...This was before corporations shipped so many jobs overseas. And before HMO's took over and became so greedy!...People who have lived long lives remember how things used to be back in the old days. (Before the era of non-stop corporate "hustling" and greed.)

P/S...My husband and I were used to being friends with the opposite sex...He didn't spend all his time with "guy friends" and I didn't spend all my time with "girl friends." Mostly we went it alone but when we did socialize it was in mixed gender groups.. And we both had opposite sex friends as well as same-sex friends. It was all normal to both of us!

My husband and I built a strong and solid foundation by being friends first. Our marriage lasted 24 plus years. (Until he passed away.)...To me it's like cooking a soup or stew. It takes a long time to blend and mix and "marry" all the ingredients...If we try to rush things our soup or stew won't have the right flavor or seasonings etc...Being friends in the beginning (with no push for "more") gave my husband and I a chance to see if we really were a good "match." Nobody had to force or pressure anyone into anything...One day we both realized we were in love along with being best-best friends and skyrockets went off in the sky! It was nice and special. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Mc Cain is going to be on the Piers Morgan show on CNN tonight.

Mc Cain missed a Senate hearing on Benghazi yesterday to do his own press conference and "grandstanding" with Sen. Graham...When a reporter asked Mc Cain why he didn't attend the hearing he got upset and pouted and walked away...If Mc Cain wants to act like a bully he deserves to be chastised...I'm waiting for him to "lose it" and go too far on camera...His temper and rantings and ravings are legendary but he usually manages to put on a different face when he's in front of the camera. It all goes on behind the scenes most of the time...If Mc Cain wants to keep creating "boxing matches" I hope Obama "punches back" when need be. (Like he did yesterday.).. Enough already! There are scheduled investigations concerning Benghazi. Obama isn't trying to interfere or stop any of them.

I feel the same way when it comes to logic...Unfortunately politics can stir-up a lot of heated emotions. People rush in and "react" to initial information before they get all the facts. Or before they have a chance to process the information in more well-rounded ways...I don't do well in my own life when I let my emotions get the best of me and "fly off the handle" over every little thing that comes up. (Versus taking a few steps back and letting my logical mind have some input too along with my emotions.) How about you?...I have my eye on John Mc Cain right now because he seems ready to "loose it" over the Benghazi situation and Sec. Rice etc...Some reporters have hinted that Mc Cain can be a "loose canon" behind the scenes at times. I wonder if he is going to show more of his "true colors" (and temper) in front of the cameras this time...My Dad had periodic rage-attacks when I was growing-up so I know the "type." This is why I try not to let my emotions "rule" and "cloud" my thinking. (And affect my actions and choices etc.)

I agree. I'm all for getting to the "meat" of issues and leaving the "fringe elements" out! Save it all for reality shows!

I agree...My husband and I took several years to get to know each other as friends. We ended-up becoming best friends and love came later...I wouldn't continue dating a man who tried to rush everything...It takes time to get to know and trust people. ..I prefer men who know how to be friends with women. (Versus men who automatically "think sex" or even "love" just because they are spending time with a female.)

I plan on sending letters to the chains that are talking about laying-off employees due to Obamacare...It would be hard for me to patronize these establishments now. I don't want to hurt the employees who are left but just "going along" isn't my style either...If I worked for one of these companies right now I'd look for another job. It's always been important for me to have a certain amount of pride and trust in my employer...I'd be willing to pay a little extra for food (too) to secure jobs for the employees with benefits...When morale goes down in a company it spills over to customer service eventually...Some employees turn into "brown-nosers" and near "slaves" in an attempt to try to hold on to their jobs. And other employees become passive-aggressive and walk around in "foul moods." (When their bosses aren't around.)

toodygirl15...Thanks for posting the info...It seems like we live in a "soap opera" or "National Enquirer" type of reality when it comes to the media and our political climate these days...Don't you think? It goes beyond the recent scandals with the generals...It's all about "spreading dirt" about someone on a daily basis! (Tattle-tales!)...It can lead to a "sick society" and nothing but negativity... Who is going to get "nailed to the cross" today? And mocked and ridiculed?...I guess "reality" TV shows just aren't enough. We want to see "dirt" everywhere and "smears" and "lynchings" to satisfy our craving for "daily drama." And exposes!...We need scapegoats! And someone to "hang" and "beat-up" in order to function these days!...How do you feel about it? Sometimes I sure get tired of the "drama" and sensationalism. And "smear campaigns" etc.

These days a lot of people seem caught-up in narcissism when it comes to their views and beliefs...They label anyone who doesn't agree with them "dumb" or "stupid" and get mad because they don't like to be challenged. They want to be the "top dog!"...Are we suppose to be "clones" and "carbon copies" of each other with no "separate minds" of our own?...To me this is Hitler kind of stuff! Hitler wanted to rule his country and the whole world! No diversity allowed!...Some people expect others to automatically fall in line with their views and beliefs or else!...Or else they're going to be tormented and ridiculed and belittled until they do "fall in line" or run-off and hide because they can't stand the "heat" or "abuse."...The truth is we live in a very diverse country with people from varied backgrounds and "walks" of life...Our circumstances and our priorities may be different than our neighbors or people who live in other states...It's unrealistic to expect everyone in the USA to be just "like us!" This is how I feel and look at things anyway.

msharmony...When an election is tight and close I want to hope for the best. But I prepare for a loss too. (To try to soften the "blow" a little bit ahead of time.) How about you?...I always think about the story of the tortoise and the hare. The hare became arrogant and this was his downfall.

Everyone has an agenda. Everyone is after "help" of one kind of another...We tend to vote for candidates who favor our "wants" and "needs" and "pocketbook." And this goes for corporations and the "upper elite" too. (And Evangelicals etc.)...Who promises to "help us?"... Who seems to be on our "side?" Who understands our "needs?"...Who will "fight" for our "causes?".. Who might give us the "shaft?" And "screw us?" Who seems more trustworthy? Or not?...Can we trust the contender more than the incumbent? Who is saying "what?" Are there any inconsistencies or "flip-flopping" on issues?...We vote for candidates with the knowledge that they may not be able to fulfill all their promises due to gridlock and partisan conflicts in Congress.

Personally I had no idea who would win the election in the final outcome. I was braced and prepared for either candidate to win. (Or lose!)...How did you feel about it?