You really should meet my neighbor. She's an ardent Republican. Quite strident as a matter of fact. She's dead against socialized medicine. She's in the hospital right now, because of an exacerbation of her COPD, caused by years of chain smoking. She does believe in the party of "personal responsibility" - unless that means *her* taking personal responsibility. Medicare (socialized medicine) is covering her hospital stay and when I went to visit her yesterday, she was totally excited because she was getting pulled pork on a bun, for dinner.

how Ms. Cheever can take this point of view. Why do we hold someone like Schuler to a lower standard? Because of screaming kids? If she felt that she needed booze and pot to cope, she should've called someone to help her or taken a friend/relative. Those children, regardless of their behavior were her responsibility and she failed. Those left behind are left to grieve her mistake.

I'm not sure I understood the definition of "ignoring" so I write based on my own definition which is that when a problem or dilemma seems inscrutable to me and I've tried to look at it from every angle, considering every option and no solution comes to mind, I acknowledge to myself that I am stumped - wholly and completely and I let the problem just be there in my life. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised because when I am not focused on this problem, a solution appears to me, seemingly out of nowhere. My own homemade theory is that since I operate on a much slower schedule than many people I know, simply pondering the issue is a first step and then it takes time to sink to whatever mysterious levels exist in my psyche. I agree with what Cary has said - we cannot know the inner desires for help, if any, the bio mom of your stepchild might have.

Stay where you are - you love the place where you are, you've made good friends. You have no guarantee that when you come back to the US that you'll find a job, much less a job that is fulfilling. Read yesterday's column about the woman with two degrees, cleaning toilets. Even in "recession proof" Washington, DC, the job market is still really bad. My advice is to find fulfillment outside of work and I agree with the poster who said don't come back until there's universal health care. Given today's awful news about the Dems capitulating on the public option, no doubt the insurance companies are toasting their good fortune.

Have you tried using your spellcheck? Time to put on your big boy underpants and read the actual bill, instead of parroting the stuff spewed by Fox and Co. Go on read the facts instead of the agitprop. You'll feel much better.

the Dems have the cojones to become more assertive and expel people who contribute nothing but disruption and nonsensical spouting. From the beginning of the town hall "debates" (more like shouting matches), I've not understood why there are no ground rules, for example, rules of civility and decency - anyone may ask a question and when the host is answering, anyone who disrupts is escorted out of the meeting forthwith and not allowed back in. We hold ourselves up as a model to the rest of the world - perhaps we could behave as such.

I too grew up in another country, on another continent and came to the US 25 years ago. Your piece brought back so many memories of when I first came to the US and thought that I was the crazy one, the fish out of water, because of how frenetic most Americans are (granted, I live in the DC area). I took naps on weekends (still do), eat a diet that includes fat (the good kind) with no negative consequences, sit in my lush, abundant garden and watch butterflies. As we rely more and more on technology, I surmise that the emptiness within will continue to become more raw and painful.

As a Virginia Democrat, I was mortified that Deeds won the primary. Deeds voted against same sex marriage and when asked his views now, has said that he's "not sure" I live in Northern Virginia and we see very little benefit from our tax dollars - we are about 70% of the tax base in the Commonwealth. Deeds is clueless about the needs (especially transportation) of Northern Virginia and if he became governor, I doubt whether that would change. I can't speak for every Dem in Northern Virginia, but for many of us, Deeds does not resonate. I shall hold my nose and vote for him because I believe that not voting for him is a vote for Luddite McDonnell (don't you love the Republicans who bemoan government but feel the need to dictate that married couples shouldn't use contraception?). Deeds is a poor choice.

Hmmm, LW, are you referring to Glock45?

I think that Cary's comments would be wasted on the f***wad. He's too dim to appreciate the sentiments. My suggestion would be to approach your firm's ethics committee (I know, I know an "ethics committee" at a law firm is like having Bill O'Reilly in charge of a sexual harassment prevention program) and alerting them to the hostile work environment, not only for you, but your concern that the firm might be looking at another employee (Muslim? Gay?) filing a complaint and involving the media. Depending on where your firm is located, your firm might also be subject to anti-discrimination laws.

In the meantime, what I would also suggest is that you microwave odious food - fish is a particularly good one - leave your door open and let it sit on your desk for a while.

Sounds like Marty's working on another book - The Sequel - all about his miraculous his "transformation" and how evolve he is. Who cares? Keep a journal and keep it to yourself.