Those who remember Washington's cold war culture in the 1980s will recall the shocked reactions to Reagan's intervention. People interested in foreign policy were astonished when in 1985 he met alone at Geneva - alone not a single strategic thinker at his elbow! - with the Soviet Communist master Gorbachev.

And what's more I've got no need for anyone to tell me how to do it. I am not interested. You act how you want to and leave me alone to do my own thing.

I think it's interesting that 'cologne' rhymes with 'alone.'

If I'm alone too long I think too much and I'm not interested in doing that. That won't lead anywhere good I'm sure. If I'm busy I tend to stay out of trouble. An idle mind is the devil's playground.

In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments the governments alone independent of the interests of the people to whom war is always pernicious even when successful.

It's an interesting combination: Having a great fear of being alone and having a desperate need for solitude and the solitary experience. That's always been a tug of war for me.

Time in general has always been a central obsession of mine - what it does to people how it can constitute a plot all on its own. So naturally I am interested in old age.

The crucial task of old age is balance: keeping just well enough just brave enough just gay and interested and starkly honest enough to remain a sentient human being.

I also find it interesting that a lot of people in their 30s are not married and don't have kids. There are a lot of people in this age bracket that are out there dating and trying to find love. And I never thought that at my age I would be.

I've always been intrigued by color and by interesting hair. I was one of those weird little girls doing my own hair at the age of 9. I was like getting weird gels and new brushes and cornrow holders. I would tweak and perm at the age of 13.