In my house, we speak Spanglish to the dogs, to the grandchildren, to the kids.

Like most Latinas, I'm not afraid to speak my mind.

On the television planet, where men make up the tribe, the law of the caveman rules. So, for a woman coming from another world, without experience or cunning, to succeed gradually in gaining control over what is to be taped, what goes out over the air, what is said without censorship, is an epic feat.

I want to make sure I'm not a dilettante. Decorating has been a passion all my life. I love it.

People would write me hate letters. How dare I try to represent Hispanics when I was so white? I tried to make them see it was racism.

I have gotten into a lot of trouble in my life for being brutally honest. Sometimes I put both my feet in my mouth. But like Elton John, I'm still standing.

You have to eat right. That does not mean that I don't drink Cuban coffee. That does not mean that I do not have two cigarettes a day - that's what I'm down to. I drink wine - you know, I'm normal. But I do eat well.