Kathy Shayna Shocket has the inside scoop on the stories that make headlines.

TChatting with Craig Barrett and Barbara Barrett and Sandra Day O'Connor.

 She’s one of my favorite people – the accomplished attorney with a classy demeanor and sense of adventure. She’s Barbara Barrett, the international business and aviation attorney, and CEO and President of Triple Creek Guest Ranch (an enchanted Montana hideaway).

During the past several years, Barbara's calls from all over the world and Finland, where she was the U.S. Ambassador, would delightfully light up my caller ID. One of those calls came as she was leaving for Russia. She was excited about her newest venture in which she’s most likely to become a modern pioneer. So I won’t be surprised if she calls me to chat one day from outer space. That's because Barbara trained in Russia, 12 hours per day with Space Adventures, Ltd. 

Space Adventures, Ltd., (the only company that provides human space missions to the world marketplace) has chosen Barbara to train as the backup crew member alongside the man who is preparing for a September flight to the international space station (ISS.)

Barbara's now certified as a ‘fully trained cosmonaut’ and will be named to an official space mission crew. It’s a distinction that less than 1,000 people have ever had.

"Training as a backup for the space launch is an adventure -- and education -- of a lifetime," says Barbara. "The space frontier inspires young people today just as it did Galileo and Copernicus centuries ago. Students today who build science and math skills will have access to the thrill of space travel almost routinely in their lifetimes,” adds Barbara whose husband is the distinguished Craig Barrett, the retired Chairman of the board and CEO of Intel.

Above is a photo of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Barbara and Craig Barrett. Justice O’Connor (she and the Barrettes are both Paradise Valley, Arizona residents) administered the oath of office to Barbara when she became the Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Finland.

Chatting with Sandra Day O'Connor..

By the way, the former Supreme Court Justice's schedule is very busy these days. She's dedicated to the misson of her non-profit O'Connor House and is also a successful author, including her latest children’s book, “Finding Susie.” It's about her childhood, growing up on a cattle ranch and yearning for a pet. “You can’t make a pet out of a coyote,” she told me.  She would bring coyotes, and even a bobcat into the house when they were very young,  “but they wouldn't stay house –sized cats forever, she recalls. “And our tortoise, he would just put his head inside his shell when you petting him.” And there was her beloved horse Chico, on which her first children’s book was based. “But you can’t cuddle a horse,” she told me.

As Sandra describes her quest for a cuddly best friend with great detail land appreciation for nature, she so elegantly transports you to the ranch, in the middle of a scene with her family and the animals. And that’s why the book, with her story of eventually finding Susie, a stray dog, will appeal to children and their parents.

Pictured above is Sandra Day with her son Brian O'Connor, his wife Shawn and her sister Michelle. In addition to his business accomplishments Brian has climbed Mt. Everest, and been skydiving all over the world.

  Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, Photographer and TV- Field Producer based in Phoenix, AZ. She's a former TV Reporter who's written for publications such as TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine,The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it