Jo accepted it with a smile, for she had never outgrown her liking for lads, and soon found herself involved in the usual labyrinth of love, mystery, and murder, for the story belonged to that class of light literature in which the passions have a holiday, and when the author's invention fails, a grand catastrophe clears the stage of one half the dramatis personae, leaving the other half to exult over their downfall "Prime, isn't it?" asked the boy, as her eye went down the last paragraph of her portion "I think you and I could do as well as that if we tried," returned Jo, amused at his admiration of the trash "I should think I was a pretty lucky chap if I couldShe makes a good living out of such stories, they say And he pointed to the name of MrsNorthbury, under the title of the tale "Do you know her?" asked Jo, with sudden interest "No, but I read all her pieces, and I know a fellow who works in the office where this paper is printed "Do you say she makes a good living out of stories like this?" And Jo looked more respectfully at the agitated group and thickly sprinkled exclamation points that adorned the page "Guess she does! She knows just what folks like, and gets paid well for writing it Here the lecture began, but Jo heard very little of it, for while Professor Sands was prosing away about Belzoni, Cheops, scarabei, and hieroglyphics, she was covertly taking down the address of the paper, and boldly resolving to try for the hundred-dollar prize offered in its columns for a gucci watch bands sensational storyBy the time the lecture ended and the audience awoke, she had built up a splendid fortune for herself (not the first founded on paper), and was already deep in the concoction of her story, being unable to decide whether the duel should come before the elopement or after the murder She said nothing of her plan at home, but fell to work next day, much to the disquiet of her mother, who always looked a little anxious when `genius took to burning'Jo had never tried this style before, contenting herself with very mild romances for THE SPREAD EAGLEHer experience and miscellaneous reading were of service now, for they gave her some idea of dramatic effect, and supplied plot, language, and costumesHer story was as full of desperation and despair as her limited acquaintance with those uncomfortable emotions enabled her to make it, and having located it in Lisbon, she wound up with an earthquake, as a striking and appropriate denouementThe manuscript was privately dispatched, accompanied by a note, modestly saying that if the tale didn't get the prize, which the writer hardly dared expect, she would be very glad to receive any sum it might be considered worth Six weeks is a long time to wait, and a still longer time for a girl to keep a secret, but Jo did both, and was just beginning to give up all hope of ever seeing her manuscript again, when a letter arrived which almost took her breath away, for on opening it, a check for a hundred dollars fell into her lapFor a minute she stared at it as chanel quilted handbag if it had been a snake, then she read her letter and began to cryIf the amiable gentleman who wrote that kindly note could have known what intense happiness he was giving a fellow creature, I think he would devote his leisure hours, if he has any, to that amusement, for Jo valued the letter more than the money, because it was encouraging, and after years of effort it was so pleasant to find that she had learned to do something, though it was only to write a sensation story A prouder young woman was seldom seen than she, when, havingcomposed herself, she electrified the family by appearing before them with the letter in one hand, the check in the other, announcing that she had won the prizeOf course there was a great jubilee, and when the story came everyone read and praised it, though after her father had told her that the language was good, the romance fresh and hearty, and the tragedy quite thrilling, he shook his head, and said in his unworldly way "You can do better than this, JoAim at the highest, and never mind the money "I think the money is the best part of itWhat will you do with such a fortune?" asked Amy, regarding the magic slip of paper with a reverential eye "Send Beth and Mother to the seaside for a month or two," answered Jo promptly To the seaside they went, after much discussion, and though Beth didn't come home as plump and rosy as could be desired, she was much better, while MrsMarch declared she felt ten years youngerSo Jo was satisfied with the investment of her prize miu miu bow bag money, and fell to work with a cheery spirit, bent on earning more of those delightful checksShe did earn several that year, and began to feel herself a power in the house, for by the magic of a pen, her `rubbish' turned into comforts for them allThe Duke's Daughter paid the butcher's bill, A Phantom Hand put down a new carpet, and the Curse of the Coventrys proved the blessing of the Marches in the way of groceries and gowns Wealth is certainly a most desirable thing, but poverty has its sunny side, and one of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand, and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the worldJo enjoyed a taste of this satisfaction, and ceased to envy richer girls, taking great comfort in the knowledge that she could supply her own wants, and need ask no one for a penny Little notice was taken of her stories, but they found a market, and encouraged by this fact, she resolved to make a bold stroke for fame and fortuneHaving copied her novel for the fourth time, read it to all her confidential friends, and submitted it with fear and trembling to three publishers, she at last disposed of it, on condition that she would cut it down one third, and omit all the parts which she particularly admired "Now I must either bundle it back in to my tin kitchen to mold, pay for printing it myself, or chop it up to suit purchasers and get what I can for itFame is a very good thing to have in women's rolex watch the house, but cash is more convenient, so I wish to take the sense of the meeting on this important subject," said Jo, calling a family council "Don't spoil your book, my girl, for there is more in it than you know, and the idea is well worked outLet it wait and ripen," was her father's advice, and he practiced what he preached, having waited patiently thirty years for fruit of his own to ripen, and being in no haste to gather it even now when it was sweet and mellow "It seems to me that Jo will profit more by taking the trial than by waiting," said Mrs"Criticism is the best test of such work, for it will show her both unsuspected merits and faults, and help her to do better next timeWe are too partial, but the praise and blame of outsiders will prove useful, even if she gets but little money "Yes," said Jo, knitting her brows, "that's just itI've been fussing over the thing so long, I really don't know whether it's good, bad, or indifferentIt will be a great help to have cool, impartial persons take a look at it, and tell me what they think of it "I wouldn't leave a word out of itYou'll spoil it if you do, for the interest of the story is more in the minds than in the actions of the people, and it will be all a muddle if you don't explain as you go on," said Meg, who firmly believed that this book was the most remarkable novel ever writtenAllen says, `Leave out the explanations, make it brief and dramatic, and let the characters tell the story'," interrupted Jo, turning to the publisher's fake cartier watches n

I am crushing on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen. Now it's true I'm famous for having a thing for men in power, particularly charismatic leaders of the free world, think Bill Clinton mid-90s, pre-Monica. And who hasn't swooned over President Obama's smooth jump shot and pearly, sensational smile? But this crush is pure military brass, a first for me, because I'm usually not turned on by men with medals and weapons.

But the Admiral had me at "childcare."

It was halfway through my dinner Tuesday night of baked cod at the Families and Work Institute's Legacy Award Gala in New York City honoring an eclectic mix including among others, the legendary 92-year-old pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, when the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took the stage.

"Our military families are stressed," he began. "We have to listen to what our families are asking for -- they need daycare and childcare. We have programs in place but we have to do more."

It's surreal when mommy bloggers surrounded by Secret Service are eating smoked salmon appetizers with U.S. Navy officers and talking about breastfeeding.

But even more shocking was how within five minutes of taking the stage, Admiral Mullen changed work/life balance from a female entitlement -- the way many still perceive the term -- into a case for national security.

"I think we have to put people in the center," Admiral Mullen said. "We are too institutionally focused. Readiness of the U.S. military is directly tied to the readiness of our families."

Admiral Mullen accepted an award from the Families and Work Institute on behalf of the U.S. Armed Forces for his Renaissance-style leadership in shaking up a staid system to improve the lives of our troops. He advocates for an increase in daycare and childcare benefits, extending time between deployments and providing more emotional and psychological counseling. Admiral Mullen also wants to change the paradigm of the linear, rigid military career path. He believes in sabbaticals, time off for family, and not working 24/7.

I am falling in love.

"We have to figure out a way to create opportunities for women [in the military] to start families," he told ABC News' Claire Shipman, who was moderating a post-dinner panel on career and family.

The latest statistics show that about 40 percent of women on active duty have children, compared to 44 percent of men. Women are five times as likely to be in dual military marriages where both partners are eligible for deployment. And 11 percent of military moms are single mothers. Admiral Mullen understands the reality behind these statistics and that thousands of children have been without their moms and dads for extraordinary stretches of time -- multiple times. The toll it takes on parents, families and children is being felt on and off military bases across the country. So the various branches of the military are getting innovative. Right now the Army is working with companies like Care.com to create childcare solutions including cooperative arrangements that give moms much needed time off.

And military families have a fierce champion in First Lady Michelle Obama who has made helping U.S. troops one of her top issues. Last Sunday, Ms. Obama speaking at Camp Pendleton in Southern California to 3,500 troops and their families, challenged all Americans to step up and make life easier for military families. President Obama has proposed millions of dollars in the 2011 budget for support for military families including counseling, childcare and other support services.

If an institution as rigid and uncompromising as the United States military can flex its flexibility and put people and families first, think what that could mean for corporate America and changing the model for how we all work and live. Admiral Mullen said that the regimented military system of advancement has hindered women which is why the retention for women in the military is about half of what it is for men. And he also says that he's listening to his soldiers who want a life and are burnt out.

"Families are doing exactly what we are asking," Admiral Mullen said. "They are the center of gravity for us and our future. We have to put people first because we've been way out of balance."

I am ready to enlist in the military and I think Admiral Mullen should keynote at BlogHer. And yes, the pressed uniform and global power gig are nice extras.

This Navy guy is a total dreamboat.