Oh, Susan, I'm so sorry. Hugs and prayers going out to your whole family.

(((Susan, Askye))). Best wishes to both your dads.

I'm in the "Goth!Teppy is sexy" camp. As for me, I'm not sure if I so much look bad in gothy stuff, but -- like punk stuff -- it makes me feel like I'm trying too hard. So I stick with boring clothes.

Dad's part of some kind of trial now and has this stent that's been coated with medication. He'll go in every 3 months for the next 15 months to get updates.

It's probably a heparin- or Plavix-coated stent, which is cool, because it helps prevent the formation of blood clots.

Ali, if you have any questions about the parental cardiac roller-coaster, or just want to vent/freak out, feel free to e-mail me, okay?

As for me, I'm not sure if I so much look bad in gothy stuff, but -- like punk stuff -- it makes me feel like I'm trying too hard. So I stick with boring clothes.

That's it! I couldn't express it right, but that's exactly it -- I feel like I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not and that it must be glaringly obvious that I'm a big faker.

I feel like I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not and that it must be glaringly obvious that I'm a big faker.

It's all about posing, darling. Everybody's in some kind of drag (as the drag queens like to point out.)

It's all about posing, darling. Everybody's in some kind of drag (as the drag queens like to point out.)

Hrm. You know how I feel about posing. I keep flogging the dead horse of Authenticity.

You know how I feel about posing. I keep flogging the dead horse of Authenticity.

I need to break you of that. And I will. I will break you.

It's all about posing, darling. Everybody's in some kind of drag

Yeah, but there's knowing that intellectually, and then there's knowing that in a way that lets you go to the mall in full Victorian mourning dress. I'm good with the former, the latter NSM.

It's about self-confidence, I think, and that's never been one of my defining qualities. (And actually, I think Stephanie's a little braver than I am -- I've seen her link to stuff on Torrid that I couldn't wear.)

You know how I feel about posing. I keep flogging the dead horse of Authenticity.

I need to break you of that. And I will. I will break you.

Should I have heard that in a Boris Badenov accent? Because I did.

Also -- nevah gonna happen, my friend.

(And actually, I think Stephanie's a little braver than I am -- I've seen her link to stuff on Torrid that I couldn't wear.)

But I don't actually buy/wear everything I link to. Most of what I link to is stuff that I like, but it doesn't always (or doesn't *often*) end up in my closet.

Most of what I link to is stuff that I like, but it doesn't always (or doesn't *often*) end up in my closet.

See, that completely makes sense. I'm not sure why I thought clothes people linked to were clothes they bought (or would buy, was money infinite) but I did.

And now I'm playing on the Torrid site. Most of the Spring stuff is boring, ugly or both, but I do like this blouse and this skirt.

Oooh, Lyra Jane -- I like both of those! (And I agree -- the theme for Spring clothing seems to be Bright and Ugly. Or possibly Ugly and Bright.)