Posh- excellent write up. The Missus has been looking at the roses and drooling so it might be one of those for my last HURRAH before I go into semi-retirement after surgery.

As a side note for all you people who think this information is useless......

State Dept had a little soiree I was invited to at the New Embassy Complex. Started chatting with an older woman (definite cougar territory here) who obviously had more than a modicum of class. Somewhere between discussing Maliki's devaluation of the dinar to cover graft losses and Jeish al-Mehdi I noticed she had a Damier Azur Speedy under her seat.

I commented on the bag by name and her eyes flat out LIT UP!

Keep in mind I am known amongst State Dept people over here for what I do for a living- field ops.

Her attitude changed dramatically from somewhat frosty (State people generally don't like DoD field ops people- all uncultured and all that) to downright warm.

One thing led to another and I now have an opportunity to get onboard with a major import consortium to be set up here in Baghdad within the next few months. Might help me keep my house out on Long Island now that I am officially (as far as DoD is concerned) in the crap heap.

All because Posh educated me on what LV was, what the styles of bags they make and what pattern is what.

She was, is and always will be an asset here. Her posts have done more to inform me on the female side of fashion and status than anything else I can think of.

So far, her posts are the only ones that have helped me land employment- kind of setting the bar high eh boys?