Oooooo! I just rewound my tape of the CBS Early Show and saw Deb's segment. Deb, you were stunning! Was Evangelista as exhausting to be around as it looked on TV?

Afraid I only recognized JZ out of the onlookers though. Did they not show Betsy?

I was there, a peacock-satin-clad sausage next to Hillary (in red).

The earlier talk reminded me of Le Tigre:

Yeah babe, I know I make about twice the money you make, and I'm never called a stupid whore or a flake. And, I don't structure my life around fear of murder dismemberment or rape, but I hardly see what that has to to with our relationship.

Mr. H is a huge teddy bear of a guy, but looks intimidating. He is not one of those who are hyper aware. One of the bars down in Deep Ellum where he used to work was kind of a taco bar that stayed open really late. I was up there visiting, and there really wasn't anyone there except for me and Mr. H. A guy came in, clearly not right, but that's not terribly odd for that part of town. He kept talking like he was really angry with some woman, and kept using "bitch" this and "whore" that. Mr. H didn't understand why I was so freaked out since he clearly wasn't talking to me.

And yeah, of me and my 5 best girlfriends (that's 6 of us) 2 have not been physically sexually molested or assaulted that I know of. I'm sure we've all had men and boys act inappropriately toward us. And with the exception of one of us, we were pretty much all raised middle class white bread suburban children in a mid size city. One girl who used to be in our circle, but is so screwed up it's hard to hang out with her anymore has been assaulted and or raped 3 times that I know of and that's not counting family sexual abuse (not counting because that seems to happen to male children about the same amount).

I just jabbed myself in the thumb hard enough to draw blood AND then broke my glasses.

I think the universe is telling me to crawl into bed with a book.

On being a girl:

I have the keys-in-the-fist, walk purposfully and fast, always be aware of your surroundings routine.

I've known great guys and lots of creeps. The really nice guys are treasures. The creeps come in all degrees.

I'm a large chested girl and got tired of having my chest spoken to by the time I was 22.

On natural disasters:

I drove on 3" of solid ice for 3 months during one winter in Madison, WI. Worth it. Lived through tornado warnings and actual tornados in Minnesota and Iowa. Worth it. Lived through the Loma-Prieta (sp?) earthquake in '89. I did not enjoy the paranoia I developed. I was always acutely aware of the highways overhead when the bus would be at a red light. the idea that" if it happened at this moment, I'd be toast" never really left me until I left San Francisco. Plus I was dirt poor there. Not worth it.

I've been lucky enough to avoid the worst forms of harassment--the worst I ever got was the standard teasing of early bloomers and occasional inappropriate stares/remarks from older boys/men.

I have a car routine--keys protruding from fist, brisk, purposeful walk, etc.--but I don't always use all of it. I save it for when it's really late or something about the setting seems off.

I have noticed that having a baby makes me feel more vulnerable and more dependent on the social contract, because I can't do the full-on self-protection routine with Annabel. In particular, there's no way to get in the car quickly, and when I'm strapping her squirmy little body into her car seat, I don't have any attention to spare for my surroundings. I'm almost never out alone with her late, but short as our winter days are, after dark is inevitable.

Shimmy shimmy co co pop!

Earwormed now

Me too, but I am also eyewormed with Lori's hand gestures, from one conversation I had with her in person about earthquakes.

Also, I am watching the Bachlorette. Somebody help me?

that was a big rock.

In large public parking lots - keys in fist

at work - I have my keys and phone out. And I get in the car ,lock and start the car before I call home ( usual routine since moving out to a place where it was really easy for me to get lost) Mostly, I am just aware.

Oddly - I seem to be mostly invisible to people - I have stood in lines where a guy was begging for money - asked people in front of me and skiped me - to ask the people behind me. But I think it is something I can do in crowds, not standing alone. and it was more effective in NYC than it is in the SF.

DH talks to anybody. Teh older I get - the easier I am about strangers talking to me. - Unless they touch me. The library is pretty much like home - my ground - I'm in charge , I'm in control. Or at least that is my illusion. The other day - a guy touched my shoulder - in a concilliatory way ( another word I can't spell) - and I suddenly knew I wasn't home- because if I was home there would have been more than a murderous sideways look - there would have been volume and more than an escape - more of an exagerated overblown shrug. Or possibley- there would have been less reaction - because I would have felt truely safe.

others (which now seems to include me) will get folks running the second there's enough space.

YAY RUNNING! Also, did you see Sunday's Boondocks. Made me laugh. I can't find a broadcast of it, but it's hysterical.

I think tornado/earthquake/hurricane is one of those personality things. Someone make an internet quiz.

Sarameg, dear god, no.

Shimmy shimmy co co pop!

They played then when we were having breakfast at Bob's yesterday. I think that's why lori posted it.