kate you have six inch shoes! Oh my, I've always thought shoes that high were for lying down. I don't really feel short at 5'7" but I do tend to date guys well above 6 feet so maybe I want to feel short? I also assume most people are going to be shorter. I was surprised so many people were 5'6". Maybe I have a superiority complex ...

Have you tried using a texturizer, pomade or wax? It seems to be the only thing that helps my curly hair hold a curl if that makes any sense.

And I was a blonde until I was 14 and then my hair turned a strange light red-brown color and became . But my mom let me dye my hair blonde with her. She had no idea about curly hair so I straightened it with velcro rulers until college, when I became too drunk to mess with routines and overnight rollers.

hildy, the Newfs are in the working dog class. I love them, but you're right, they do drool a lot. Josh, last night's winner, had some slobber going on during the award ceremony. The write-up in the NYTimes talked about what a sweetheart he was, giving everyone who petted him a big ol' sloppy kiss.

Skating on a beautiful day is always a good choice, Hildy! Makes me want to go buy a pair and hit rink. I wonder if I can even remember how to skate?

Now, on to important subjects:

After karatekate and Hoola's unflattering remarks about short people, I feel that I must chime in. As a truly short person - about five feet two inches with good posture - I must point out that we have many advantages. Never a worry when dancing, everyone is always taller than you. (That seems to be important to young men.) Also, folks love to pick you up - a great boost during parades. It's very pleasant to perch on the shoulders of your over six foot date, you have the best view in the house. Plus, hemming is easier than lengthening. Yes, it's true that I will never be a supermodel - but, Hey! Good things come in small packages!

Enough of this mean talk about the superiority of tall people over short ones! I may be vertically challenged, but I'm big in lots of other ways! (Does working in a tall building count for something?)

Sniff...

Re: Spring is on it's way -- I was talking to someone at work who had been to hs friend's house in Connecticut last weekend and he said he saw three robins in the driveway! Spring is DEFINITELY right around the corner. (And don't anybody burst my bubble, let me have my illusions for awhile.)
AussieGirl I'm so glad you finally got to see Chopper Peachy! Episode two is even better, no Peachy in the chopper, but he's awfully sweet to Rudy. And you're right, Yogi's cookies are the best!!
Yogi, just be glad you don't have a daughter, for some reason the sex talk with girls is much worse. My daughter felt that she had to tell me all about her love life since about the 10th grade. That was definitely a very trying experience. I'm glad she felt like she could confide in me, but.... ignorance is bliss!!

No, that's the thing - it doesn't get frizzy in humidity, just curlier, unless I'm taking off and putting on shirts repeatedly over my head (like when I'm shopping for clothes). It gets frizzy when I brush it, which my mother always used to make me do when I was growing up before we would go out to dinner or something. She had straight hair and never understood how curly hair responds to brushing. I do not use product in my hair when I'm not in the shower, and woe to the hairdresser who attempts it.

I think it's supposed to get cold again this weekend, but it's not supposed to last for long. I hope not at least!

So with all this talk about hair, I'm in the middle of my own hair mishap. Last fall I had my hair thermally reconditioned, which is a multistep process also referred to as Japanese straightening that leaves your hair stick straight for the life of it (you just have to redo the roots every few months as they grow out). It went really well and I loved finally having straight hair, which is what I've always wanted. (It's naturally wavy and poofy and really thick and coarse and just a pain in the ass with a mind of its own.) Had highlights done by the same person...the best I'd ever gotten. Really subtle and natural looking.

Then, this past go-round, he turned into Jeckyll and Hyde! First, the new highlights were a lot lighter and more uneven than the original ones, and when I brought that up, he said it was because I came in on a day when he was too busy. Like I schedule myself. But I figure everyone has a really off day once in awhile. Then the real kicker--I go to have my hair restraightened, and not only does he at first try to get out of cutting my hair afterward, saying I made the appointment too late in the day (which is bullshit--it was for the exact same time as the last time, right after work), but then two days later, my hair is completely damaged, breaking, and falling out! And when I called to complain, he said it was my fault for making the appointment too close to my highlights. Which again--he did the highlights and he's the professional; if that's the case, it was his responsibility to tell me. I let him have it and got most of the money back, but my hair is completely ruined and I have to wear a hat everywhere (except for work; thank God there's no one here I care about impressing).

So I go to make an appointment with my old hair stylist (who I really liked but whose salon didn't do thermal reconditioning) for deep conditioning and cutting the most damaged parts off, and find out she's moved back to Chicago! So I had to make an appointment with the stylist I had before that, who I thought was good, but not great, and overpriced for what he delivered, but hopefully he'll make it look at least a little better. It's tomorrow night, so wish me luck!

But yeah....it all started from hating my hair texture as well. Be careful what you wish for, I guess!

Eh, sometimes I feel like I have the worst of both worlds. I have the torso of someone 5'0", and the legs and arms of someone 6'4" (I've stood by enough tall guys to see that). I am shorter than my 5'7" husband when I sit down, but I still have to look for 36" inseams and have pretty much resigned myself to chilly wrists. I'm so short-waisted that if I were to wear a cummerbund, my husband swears I would look like a snowman. And what's worse is that Marshall Fields has all the cute petite clothes within spitting distance of Women's World: "Oh, how sweet...D'oh!" But usually, since it's Fields, there's a, er, scaled-up analog.

Yeah, I'd do the 100 strokes a night, and my hair would look worse than when I started. My personal defrizz cure is to use L'Oreal Vive serum right after showering if I'm ambitious, or just joke about my "coven leader hair" if I'm not. Thank God I've gotten over the ponytail as a cure - that just turned everything into the aforementioned giant dreadlock.

yogi, how sweet of you to remember my pink bed linens. Unfortunately, that's the only pink park of my grand fake Orientalist concept - I still haven't gotten around to decorating. Still, the pink duvet and the fluffy bed combo (aka "the pink puff") are my haven, if an insidious one - I can't even read in there for 5 minutes without dozing. I think I got Little Nemo's bed by mistake.

Oh, Last Dodo, your poor hair. My scalp is buzzing in sympathy.

Oh my heck, Last Dodo, that is a horrible, horrible story. That sylist is EVIL. There is very little worse than ruining someone's hair. And then to blame it on you??? EVIL. I'm so impressed that you stood by your guns and got your money back. Good for you. But I'm sure you would rather have your hair back. EVIL stylist.

I'm thinking from your post that you're in NYC. I have a lovely, very talented stylist. We've become friends, she's such a darling. She only cuts hair, no straightening, etc. But she give a beautiful hair cut. She cuts my hair and Mr. Yogi's too. If you would like her name, I would be happy to give it to you, but unfortunately she is on the expensive side. If you are interested, drop me an e-mail.



Ugh, Birdlady, I totally understand. Little Yogi tells me nearly everything too. I don't think there has been any activity, but unfortunately I'm privy to every dream and fantasy. Ugh. On the outside I listen pleasantly, while on the inside I'm sort of freaking out that my innocent little boy who I hugged and kissed to sleep only moments ago, is now dreaming about neekid girls. It is a bit difficult to adjust.



What a yummy and happy haven it sounds, suctionprints!

Oh Last Dodo, Good luck! I'm crossing my fingers for you. That's horrible what you went through. I hate unprofessional asshats.



heh. I brush my hair right after I shower and that's it. No more brushing or the frizz would take over my entire space of living and people would think I was a walking, talking dust ball. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating but brushing my hair after it's dry really kills it.

I'm 5'6 and never felt short. My mother and sister are about 5'3 so that might be why. Though my step-father (who raised me) is 6 foot and my step-brother is 6'2. My husband is 5'8 so I never wear heels around him because I already feel huge next to him (Bastard is fit as a fiddle) and if I were taller I would be really uncomfortable.

I've got a question for those with kids...though I think your kids may be too young. Anyhoo, I don't have children (yet) but my 12 year old niece is like a daughter to me. We spend enormous amounts of time together and I was my sister's labor coach when she gave birth. I am the "cool Aunt" who she considers her best friend. She is at the age where she should really learn how to shave under her arms and her legs. But she *refuses* to. She won't even talk about it. My sister and I have both tried discussing it with her and she won't budge. She is driving to FL with us and I asked if she was planning on wearing a bathing suit when there. When she said yes, I asked her about shaving and she got all cranky with me. Then today my sister told me that Emily refused to try on bathing suits yesterday. I think she is very uncomfortable with her body (she is all legs and already has boobs). Does anyone have any suggestions how I can make a little girl feel more comfortable about becoming a woman?

They were actually my prom shoes for junior prom. They cost as much as the dress! They've got a chunk heel and a platform under the balls of the feet, wide straps connected by silver rings. Hmm, they are much cooler than they sound. I wore them to school, work... I just can't wear them to work now b/c they are open toed. Bah.

I've never tried any texturizer, wax, or the like... but I have tried Wash'n'Curl (which smells nice and clean, but that's it), and styling gels before styling. I have tried hot rollers, curling irons, foam rollers, velcro rollers, rollers you put on wet and dry, rollers you sleep on. I have tried the Little House on the Prairie roll and tie rags to sleep on. I have had a beautiful head of curly curly curls... for 15 minutes. Then they start to droop, and by an hour it just looks like tangles. You should see my most unfortunate senior year picture. Or, maybe not. I haven't even let Kate'sBoy see that one.


Oh, I feel misrepresented! I didn't mean to be unflattering; I consider myself short. Just not in the fun way. Shorter = way better for fun swing dance moves. And it's great being a good head shorter than the boy for casual picture purposes. I just got teased soooo mercilessly by my taller family that I longed to be taller. Incidentally, I find people my height to be tall. If I named people my height, I would be naming my friends that are at the 5'1"-5'3" mark. I'm not discriminatory to short, I'm just clearly delusional :-)

ETA: Last Dodo I am so sorry to hear about your hair mishaps. It's bad enough to ruin hair, but to be such a jerk on top of it? What a complete jerk! (I'm trying to tone down language... I need a mild-language thesaurus).

Last Dodo, drop me a line if you need a recommendation on a salon (don't worry if you say I rejected you- it just goes into a maybe folder). I know a great place & each of the people has different specialties.

I'd call around a bit too since now you're going to a person you saw before the damage, right? Or, maybe someplace like Aveda would be a good start? They have to be used to seeing damaged hair --- there's also some big place for the Japanese Straightening I'm trying to think of...maybe they could give you advice because it's uncertain if the highlights or the straightening caused the damage. You poor thing! At least it's still hat weather.

Also, if he's not the manager or salon owner, call him or her. That is totally unprofessional - your hair should suffer if he's being a putz.

caltrask55, I am not an expert, but I do have a few suggestions for you and your neice. My guess is that she isn't ready to take the step into young womanhood, and she is feeling a little pressured. It might take some time, maybe hanging with friends over the summer who have started shaving, for her to be comfortable with the idea. I might suggest getting her a razor, so she could use it when she was ready, but she might see that as nagging. But then it might be hard for her later when she has decided that she is ready to go by the razor, or to ask for it. Its like with little kids, when you try to make seem like their idea. So I am not really being helpful here, am I. Okay my final suggestion is to get her a pair of sporty shorts that match her bathing suit that she can wear over it at the pool. Or surfer top, if she is more uncomfortable with her top half.

karatekateI think yogi was referring to my superiority complex. It's all about me. Cause I'm slightly above average height.

Suctionprints I feel your pain with being short waisted. See - I'm half short too! I can empathize. I have child-sized hands and wear size 9 1/2 shoes. My incredibly short torso kept me from becoming the teen catalouge model that my mom wished me to be. The pain! The disappointment! My best friend is about the same height but when we sit down she towers over me. I have to buy tall pants but then the crotch is always way too huge and they come up to my chest. I know all about tailoring.

My dad was the one who made me brush my curly hair. No one in my family has curly hair at all. And considering that it's supposed to be a dominant trait ....

caltrask, I don't know if my advice will be too good, because I don't have any children and I was the opposite as your neice - obsessed with shaving and the like because I was a late developer. But I would let the shaving slide. Lots of women don't do it and if she starts to feel uncomfortable about her leg or arm hair then she'll probably want to start. Maybe, if she'll let you, buy her a razor and shaving gel set and she can go at it if she wants. There's also Veet, which is like Nair but doesn't smell like chicken grease.

The bathing suit though ... that's tough. Maybe she could catalouge shop. Or maybe look at athletic Speedo style suits, I was a lifeguard and I always felt more comfortable in them. They're also usually cut high in the chest area so they might make her feel more comfortable - because most bathing suits are cleavage displaying. Tankinis, boyshort style bottoms, and board shorts are all good for more coverage and don't look too old.

Wish I knew how to give someone body confidence though.

Last Dodo that hairstylist sounds like a major loser. Hope that you find someone who can undo the damage.

karatekate we're not sure where in Chesterfield we're looking at. We looked at some new homes (via the internet), so we might get a house in a new development. We're trying to work out when we can actually go for a pure househunt trip - it's just that everything is so hectic now!
Mr. Psyche is going to be gone to Richmond by the end of the month, but we get an allowance for temporary housing. Mr. Psyche's company actually has very generous relocation benefits (they pay the agents who sell the old house, they pay the closing costs on the new house, they pack and move us), but I am not looking forward to the actual move (silly me!). I'll be hopping back and forth until my dissertation is done (mid-April, maybe?).


As for shaving, caltrask I agree with those who say, let your neice do what she likes as to shaving. If she doesn't want to, don't push it. It may be that none of her close friends are shaving either, so it's not a big deal. Or she just doesn't think that society should dictate the amount of hair on a woman's body. Just let her know that she can talk to you about anything and you won't be overjudgmental. It might also help to let her know that yeah, there are great things about becoming a woman, but there are also sucky things - don't sugarcoat it - and if she has questions, you'll try to be as honest as possible. I don't have kids, but my last rotation was a year at the Childrens Hospital, so I would hope I have some clue about kids. Plus, I still have a hard time considering myself an adult.

I'm 5'2". Which is tall in my family (my mom is 4'10.5"). But I have the worst time with clothes because I have long legs and no torso. The bottom of my ribcage is only about an inch or two above the top of my pelvis. So most pants ride really high on me, making for unflattering profiles. Otherwise, I suppose I'm okay with my height, but what I wouldn't give for a few more inches of torso!

Caltrask, re your niece, I'd just let her be. She's 12, and maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable with young womanhood not far off. She may just want to remain a child for a bit longer.

As for height, well I'm a shortie. 5' 2". But we have really tall men in our family. My baby brother was 6' 4" when he was 16. And just last week I measured my 11 year old son, and he is now officially taller than me! I couldn't believe it, I always knew that day was coming, but somehow I keep remembering him as a sweet little baby, and that just seems like yesterday. But I don't mind being the height I am. For many years I was very skinny, so if I was taller I'd have been in big trouble. I was 40kgs (that's about 90 lbs in your language! very thin.) till I was 29 and many people used to ask me if I was anorexic etc. I wasn't, I used to eat quite a bit etc, but just found it hard to put on weight. Now I'm about 52 kgs, which is still on the thin side but within the so-called "normal" range for my height.

Hildy skating on your pond sounds just wonderful. Things like what you described there, and Yogi saying the Hudson is frozen etc, I can only imagine what it's like. Here of course, we're still trying to cope with this dreadful, debilitating heat. I used to read lots of books when I was a child, where they'd talk about skating on a frozen pond, and it always sounded so lovely. Here in the sub tropics, it never gets cold enough for anything to freeze over like that.

I have to throw in my two cents! I completely agree with yogi. I'm only 4'10" but I've dated guys mostly in the 6' range. I guess being little, guys always feel the need to pick me up, which I love. I get lots of piggy back rides and such. Being short rocks!

Thank you for all your advice guys! You all rock!

I know it's not my place to help her blossom and my sister *is* an amazing mother but I just wanted to help my baby in anyway I could. Again, thanks so much.

She's so lucky to have you in her life, Cal. I don't know anyone who wouldn't benefit from the kind of love you've expressed. It's hard for all of us to know when to be proactive and when to move out of the way. It starts the moment they start to crawl and never ends. I think you're feeling what everyone who loves a child feels. I'm sure you'll have a great holiday together. For what it's worth, I think you've gotten some great advice.



It's good to know that we're all a little short, and all a little tall. I just happen to be more little-r than tall! But I know I have tallness in me somewhere!

Hey vailfiregirl! It's good to "see" you. If you come back this way, please tell us about your name. I'm hoping your a fireman/woman/girl, not a piromaniac. Or maybe you just like to wear a veil and light candles but you misspelled veil? Anyway, I am intrigued. With birdlady's name too.

And Aussie Girl, I think skating round a pond sounds very idyllic too. I think Hildy sounds like something out of a Louisa May Alcott or Jane Austin novel. And wait until Tracey Bee starts talking about visiting the state fairs with all the exotic food! Makes me want to slap my mama for never teaching me how to fry sugar! It's fun to hear all the different things folks are up to. I like to hear about your hot days sleeping under a wet sarong. That sounds kind of wild too.

Yogi I used to love reading Little Women - it was the first book I read and I used to read it over and over again and wonder about what life was like back then in America.

Believe me, the only thing wild about these boiling hot days here are peoples' tempers! You cannot go outside during the day. A couple of days ago my son told me that they had PE at school in the middle of the day, in the hot sun, on a tennis court, and with no shade anywhere in sight. I couldn't believe it. And they had to sit on the tennis court. A couple of kids complained that they got burnt bums (that's butts to you guys). And this is in the country where they have gone all out to educate people to not go out in the sun without sunscreen etc due to the extremely high skin cancer rate (the highest in the world, where I live). They even have a rule in schools here, no hat, no play. So I am really angry at that and feel so sorry for the kids. I think I'm going to say something to the school about it.

It's been so bloody hot here today and littlest Aussie refused his nap (shades of little Hildy). Can't say I blamed him, to just lie on hot sheets with sweat running down the side of your face, well it's not much fun, even with two fans on full blast. So I'll have to wait till it cools down tonight before I try to get him to sleep.

Like you, Aussie Girl, I read and reread Little Women to many times to count. I used to think, am I more of a Jo (strong and independent?) Meg (sweet and domestic?) Beth (tragic?) or Amy (spoiled and pretentious?) It was a fun activity for a young girl, trying on their personalities and attributes like shopping for a new pair of jeans. Then I read Little Men and Jo's Boys and started to dream of the perfect man for me. Was Dan the tough guy or Emil the sensitive guy more my type? These are the serious issues that I pondered. In the end, I read many of her books more than once; Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom were the most memorable others. Then I moved on to Gone with the Wind. I believe I read that twelve times one summer. Clark Gable became my perfect man when my Grandmother and Mom took me to a special showing of the film.

Happy Thursday!!!

Hell, I still read Little Women on occasion. Ditto to the entire Anne of Green Gables series. I identified very strongly with both Anne and Jo. And I've always wanted to know what a pickled lime tastes like, ever since Amy's run in at school!
Aussiegirl,that heat sounds completely miserable. Now Lord knows I'm not a fan of the air conditioner, but that level of heat seems as though it might merit at least a little window unit.....
I went and checked out that Curly Girl book on Amazon, and I must say, I'm intrigued. However, I think I have very wavy but not quite curly hair, which makes me wonder if it'll work. Also, the idea of washing my hair with conditioner squicks me out a tad.

Happy TARs-day!!!! Oh... wait, no that's not right....

Happy ThurSASday!

*sigh* I love Survivor, but I miss TAR.

Thanks, everyone, for all the hair support! And thanks, yogi and skagirl for the salon offers, although I have to admit this:

lost me a little bit!

I'm going to see how things go tonight and then I may take you up on it.

Actually, what I could use a referral for is if any of you know of a good, reasonable accountant or tax preparer here? Last year was the first time I've been an independent contractor and I have no idea how to go about filing, what I can deduct, etc. etc.

ETA:

Yup. You know, I have never been so thankful for a fashion trend in my life as I am for the current knit hat one. It covers everything!

Whoops! I meant to say my email account might say I'm not accepting your email but it goes into a magic folder that check daily! Not that I reject you or your hair.

And the more I think about it, the more I think you should definitely take it up with his manager (if there is one). That sort of attitude on his will just drive people away -- it's easier to remember "OH, FrooFroo Salon is totally snobby & rushes you & Jacques does not listen, don't go there!" We remember the bad something like 10X over the good, and are more likely to tell people the bad over the good when it comes to service. Like the good straightening place...totally don't remember. And I remember LOTS of bad meals & service, and am always struggling to recall the place where they gave us a free dessert.

That sort of thing happens in Australia, too? I thought being that rude about someone's weight was an American trait.

I love Little Women, it's one of my comfort reads. Anyone else remember the episode of Friends where Joey read LW and became horribly traumatized by it?

yogi, 6 months until the State Fair and the Great Feast of Fried Sugar!

Oh, OK! Because I was like, "Well, yeah, I don't always handle rejection as well as I would like, unfortunately, but I don't remember us ever talking about it..." Hee!


Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot to say that that's who I originally spoke to, and she told me I had to work it out with the stylist personally. In any event, I got most of my money back, and that's what I was mainly concerned about.

Thank you so much for the kind words yogi. *blushes*



Do you mean the New York State Fair? I can get you free passes on all the rides and probably some free Fried Dough! I grew up on a Carnival lot until my parents got divorced then I spent my summers with my dad travelling with the show. My father has been in the business since he was 16 years old. My parents actually met when his carnival was in my mom's town. My parents have long since been divorced but I guess I'll always have Carny blood. (By the way, I hate the stereotype that all carnies are lazy, thieving bums. We can be good people!) Anyhoo, I have been far away from the business since I was a teenager (oh so long ago) but my Dad is still involved as is my brother and there are *many* family friends who work the NY State Fair. I can't remember the last time I paid for Carnival food or Carnival rides!!

Not New York, cal, I'm in Minnesota. We're big on fried cheese curds here. I'm a huge fan of fried dill pickles, but I understand you can get them other places, too. I know people in the south who can get them year-round.

Hi [/B]Cal[B], how cool to grow up around carnies!! I had a neighbor once who ran away from home and stayed with fair people for about a year. When she came home she had the best stories!
I'm from upstate New York, but I've only been to the State Fair once. What a great time!! I might have to go again this year.

I grew up at horse shows, which frequently had carnivals nearby, so I have wonderful memories of all that myself. I haven't been to a state fair or carnival though in my whole adult life. It sounds like so much fun when you all describe it, though I doubt I would want to try a fried dill pickle. I just sounds wrong in so many ways. I might do the fried oreo thing though. Oddly enough, I never eat fried food. Except homemade potato chips on Thursday nights. In honor of Survivor or TAR, don'tcha know!?

I can't recommend a good accountant, Last Dodo, but I will ask around. I have many friends that as yoga teachers are independent contractors.

Off to take Little Yogi to his appointments. Ugh. But soon Survivor. Yes!

Not sure where to post this, but rather than risk the wrath of the moderaters I thought I'd play it safe and put it here. Does anyone know where I can locate the theme song to Survivor? Any season will do.

Thanks in advance.

McDec, try here.

Okay guys! I'm off to Florida at 5:00 tomorrow morning. Even though I'm pretty new to this thread I just want you to know that you've all been so welcoming and I thank you for that. I'll miss you guys and see you again around the 22nd or 23rd! Have fun!

Awww... I love that one. And he had to put it in the freezer because of Beth :( When I watched the 90s movie for LW I was already very much a fan of the book, but in the movie I just felt Kirsten Dunst made Amy so wonderfully insufferable that I really really wished a different sister died. And I got pissed that she ended up with Laurie, just because I hated her hated her hated her and Christian Bale was hot. yeah.

Hi Birdlady - what's your nic? Do you have birds? raise birds? watch birds? I'm a bird-watcher, here in Los Angeles. I was surprised to find so many here, but come to find out LA is on the migratory birdway, so we get tons of them. And my best friend (in San Antonio) raises parrot-type birds.

Dodo - hate to say it, but you make me feel sooooo much better with your hair-raising adventures. I massacred my bangs this morning. I'm in a really bad mood today, and that effing hair got into my eyes for the last effing time! So I got the scissors! Needless to say, my bangs are now about "this" long, or should I say....short. I have an appointment next Thursday, but I know they're not gonna grow out before my hairdresser gets ahold of me. BTW - I'd sure make certain that that guy's boss knew what he did to you. He's a prima-donna menace and needs to be stopped.

And Yogi, I wish that somewhere in my extensive and otherwise pretty complete childhood sex education, someone had thought to mention that sex was so......well......juicy! All I can remember thinking, that momentous First Time, was EEEEewwwwwww!

Hi Skycatcher no I don't have/raise/watch birds, but I do think they're pretty cool. My sister got me a subscription to Birds and Blooms magazine one year for Christmas. There are some incredibly beautiful pictures of birds, butterflies, flowers and landscaping in there. I'm thinking of making a collage with some of them to hang at my desk at work.
Topic upthread: what we look like. I'm short (5'2"), which I've never minded. I have long (middle of my back) dark brown hair (starting to get some pretty silvery grey threads in it), which I never mess with. I just wash it, run a comb through it and go. But Dodo, that sadistic stylist must be stopped!! I just can't understand how people who are supposed to be doing a service for you, and whose jobs depend on customers' good will, will act like such assholes! It boggles the mind!

McDec you might also try the Survivor Sucks forum, I believe someone in there had details of where to locate it.

Ah yes, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, a timeless story. Truly beautiful. Re the movies, I liked one of the first ones made, I think it had Elizabeth Taylor in it, and have seen it a few times, and even now it makes me weep.

Hildy I'd love nothing more than an air conditioner, but we are renting this house, and also they cost a lot. But it is just what we need. This morning my 3 year old just about collapsed, went bright red on the top half of his body and started running a very high temperature. We raced him up to the doctor, but of course after sitting in an air conditioned waiting room by the time the doc saw him, he was okay, his colour was just pink not red, and his temp down. I think it was a mixture of heat exhaustion and teething. He's fine now.

But still we are almost dying here from this intense heat. Just the short walk from the car to the steps of the doctors (about 35 feet) the sun was so fierce that I thought I was going to drop. And if I didn't drop, then certainly droop. All the flowers are drooping.

I'm sorry if this all sounds like complaining, I know you guys have had it hard over there with your winter. But it sounds like your spring is not far away, and all I can say for here is roll on autumn!

Hey! You can fry sugar? Huh?? Please explain yourselves! I've never heard of anyone doing that. Sounds great! Some recipes please....

Hope you all enjoyed your Thursday night Survivor! It's Friday here and we've got another 4 days before Ep 2.

Heh. In the south you can fry anything. Just batter it first.

But seriously, I don't know that there is actual fried sugar crystals, but there are a plethora of sweets that get battered and fried and served up oh so yummily and fatteningly at state fairs.

My personal favorite is the fried Snickers bar. It is a cold Snickers on a stick, dipped in a batter (a lot like funnel cake batter, fried on the stick, and served with a dusting of powdered sugar. It looks a bit like a corn dog with sugar. The outside is crispy golden and the inside is melty chocolate, caramel and peanuts (hee - it's packed with peanuts and really satisfies). Oh, I can't wait for fairs now.

There are also the other members of the fried candy bar club - generally Milky Ways and 3Musketeers- plus fried Oreos (also battered and fried, but I've never had these). In the non-dipped category there are funnel cakes and elephant ears. In the non-sweet deep fried fair food category you have your onion blossoms, corn dogs and pickle chips.

I did a little web search and found this website, which suggests mini-candy bars. Hey! I want to go home and do that now! Maybe I'll deepfry some chocolate for Kate'sBoy for Valentine's Day.

Last Dodo, how did the hair go? I was thinking of you in the shower (and that sounds all kind of wrong, but I'm itching for a visit to the salon, though my hair is fine right now & I'm low on cash).

Hee! Actually, the board ate my post just before I went to lunch! Well, it definitely looks a lot better than it did, and in terms of the cut itself, it was a good one, but I don't know if I'm wild about the style...I guess I just feel like it looks too dated, like I'm a 1994 print model or about to be contacted by Bands Reunited or something. But everyone so far, from the group I hung out with last night to people at work to my friends I've emailed, all seem to like it, so maybe I should just shut up!

Anyway, you can judge for yourself in this self pic I took with my cameraphone--although I HATE the way that thing makes me look, even though it's really convenient...I always feel like I should have a number around my neck and height lines behind me!

I prefer hairstyles more along the lines of, say, this or this (and if anyone can track down the first guy or a clone for me I'd marry him on the spot), but I can probably do something more like that eventually once the back and sides grow back in some. In the meantime, I guess I'll just try to have fun with this as an interim type thing.

And I swear eventually I will talk about something else besides my freaking hair!!!

I think you look great, Last Dodo! I wouldn't mind marring the guy in the photo either, but wait! I'm already married, so he's all yours.

If you would like a product that helps moisturize your hair, try the Fredrick Fekkai Moisturizing Shampoo with Shea Butter or the excellent Moisturizing Conditioner with Shea Butter . I use them every day because I exercise so much that I wash my hair so frequently , but they are paricularly excellent if your hair has been damaged. Frederick may be a complete poo, but he makes some good hair care products.

I can't believe how hungry you just made me, karate kate. Oh my, that sounds delicious!

My toesies are now a lovely shade of red in celebration of Valentine's Day. I have ordered a fabulous pic-i-nic basket and Truly, Madly, Deeply. What a fun weekend ahead!

Birdlady - go here for a beautiful picture of courting herons. Just something I wanted to share.....

Glad the hair worked out - and don't worry about it being too short. Sometimes that will lead to something even more fierce, and it least it will grow out very healthy. And to yogi's excellent suggestions, be sure to take your multivitamins - supposedly it helps hair which is odd as hair is dead, no? Ehh. Whatever.

Your mother would be so proud, skagirl - telling folks to take their vitamins. It's always a good suggestion. Strong hair and nails always speak to good health.

Thanks for sharing the picture, skycatcher. I enjoyed it too.

Fried Oreos are delicious. So are fried Snickerses. I had a fried Twinkie at the State Fair last year, and was disappointed, though - maybe it wasn't adequately fried, or something. Other favorite Fair foods include Pronto Pups (the local version of corn dogs), fried cheese curds, mini-donuts, and the afore-mentioned fried dill pickles.

6 months until the Fair, 6 months until the Fair....

Here in Texas, they fry, of all things, twinkies.Yes, fried twinkies. As if they weren't bad enough for you already.

The thing I wish I had learned in sex ed was what actual male genitalia look like. The first time I saw a guy *ahem* up close and personal, I freaked out. I think I said something along the lines of "you want me to take that and do what with it?!?!"

Mr. Psyche and I aren't sure what to do for V-Day. I bought some lingerie and all, but in our four years of marriage, this will be the first V-day we get to spend together (he had a traveling job). I figure Mr. Psyche better come up with plans - I came up with the after plans plan.

My favorite is the Rena....Ren....oh shoot, wait 'til I get the dictionary. Reading about all that fried sugar has fried my brain!

My favorite is the Renaissance Faires, where they have joints of beef, ale, meat pastys, buttered artichokes.....oh, my! Not to mention all those studmuffins running around in tights - yummy!

Gotta think that maybe his plan and your plan are the same plan..., Psyche.
Or maybe he wants to spend the evening packing cartons?!? Nooooo.

Fried cheese curds - sounds like like a cows internal organ. And yet? They are probably delicious.
I am very fond of funnel cake myself. mmm.

Hello, i am raspberrytea and although I am not new to TWOP i am new to the meet market thread. I have watched Survivor since the beginning and TAR since the beginning. I also watch Scrubs and Arrested Development. Seeing Miss Alli's velvet hammer in action i am very fearful of her.

Thanks for that recipe KarateKate, I have printed it and intend to try it soon. We don't have twinkies here, but I remember my first taste of one back in 1981 in Chicago - heaven! We do have Oreos, thank God! I like them! You guys and your food - what I would give for some potato skins, followed by hot fudge sundae. So hard to get here.

Hi raspberrytea!

I'd give my right arm for some of those yummy ice-lollies, a good Pavlova, milk bar cappucino, a salad sandwich and a bag of fresh-cooked whole prawns by that little stand by Tom Ugly's Bridge in Sydney.

But, I'm sure with a little digging, I can get you some yummy recipes to make at home - would you be up for that AussieGirl. There are a number of cookbooks that show you have to make some of those chain restaurant recipes in your own home. Let me know.