I think I’m evolving. Last night I saw the silhouette of a roach (my most formidable nemesis) in my sheer, white bedroom curtains. Just sitting there like a prehistoric visitor, waiting for a glass of tea. And instead of emitting a high-pitched squeal, I gagged a little and walked away. This is progress, people.

Of course now I don’t know where my little friend is.  And I may be starting to freak out a bit.  Baby steps.

I need a vacation. Bad. But I don’t have the time or money to take one.

What’s a girl to do when she can’t run off to the Caribbean, or when her loving parents fail to tow her along on their Alaskan adventure? A beer at the Porch Swing just ain’t gonna cut it. I need some beauty…I need some scenic drama. Can I find that in Houston, or within 200 miles of her? Pass on the cheap, secret tips. My sanity depends on it.

As I’m sure you already know, Dr. Randy Pausch - the professor at Carnegie Mellon who gave his famous “Last Lecture” speech - recently succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer.

The other night, Dateline paid tribute in a special episode that highlighted their previous interviews with him, his family and friends.  They also showed clips from his amazing lecture, and, being a single woman, one excerpt screamed out at me.  They were words of advice for his two-year-old daughter.  Words he would be unable to say in person when the appropriate time came…when boys and dating became a reality.

“When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you,” he said, “just ignore everything they say and only pay attention to what they do.”

Brilliant.

Would love for you hot, successful business guys and gals to give me your opinion on something…it’s a tricky one…

Can a good business opportunity come to you from a not-so-great-person? (No, I’m not talking about some creepy investment ploy…I mean the real deal - a new client or a promising project).  And if it does, what should you do?  Ignore it - because the person bringing it sceeves you out?  Or suck it up and give ‘em a call?

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?  I seem to vacillate on that one…depending on the brilliance or horror of the situation.  Take tonight, for example.  I was watching the Miss Universe pageant and witnessed the pageant contestant’s worst nightmare…the ungraceful fall.  From our own Miss USA, no doubt.  After cringing and temporarily burying my head in Bella’s thick fur, I caught my breath and wondered what must be racing through her brain.  Was she thinking - “This was my chance, and I blew it?”  Or - “I wonder how quickly this will end up on YouTube?” Or was she together enough to think - “This too shall pass.”  No way.  She’s in her early 20s.  A time when the crash-and-burn of a three week relationship will knock the wind out of you. 

As you get older, you do realize that many of the most horrible of moments are lessons in disguise or a cheap ploy to extract you from a foolish situation.  Ask Vanessa Williams.  Or your pal who lost that stress-filled job, or yourself…you’ve had those moments, I’m sure.  I mean, c’mon…would it really  have been a good idea to marry your high school boyfriend…the one with the attitude and a penchant for the “funny cigarettes”?

What do you think, is life a series of fateful events, random flops…or a little bit of both?