We will not discuss the huge, HUGE issues I have with The Velveteen Rabbit.

Once, while we were in B&N or Borders, Pete found a gorgeously illustrated kid's book with a very cute bunny on the cover. He showed it to me, and then became very alarmed when I started tearing up.

"What?! It's a cute bunny! I thought you'd like to see it."

"It's the Velveteen Rabbit! It's the saddest book in the universe! Haven't you ever read it?"

"No."

I tried to explain the story to him, and he had me stop because I was about to burst into tears.

The Reason You Look Ugly In Photos Is Because You Are Ugly

Oh, I know that one too.

The Reason You Look Ugly In Photos Is Because You Are Ugly

With the chorus What, you didn't know you were that fat?

All Your Friends Think You're A Failure But Are Too Nice To Tell You

Oh, god. That's a BIG one here. BIG.

I have been using "good enough" to get me through my school panic this time around, with the occasional, "not good enough but at least it is done". I will be using "good enough" for dinner tonight, because there is no way it will be perfect.

All Your Friends Think You're A Failure But Are Too Nice To Tell You

Or, in my case, "All Your Friends Think You're Annoying But Are Too Nice To Tell You."

The Reason You Look Ugly In Photos Is Because You Are Ugly

::makes out with Scrappy::

So, back in the land of cognitive therapy. What methods do folks use to turn off their tapes? What scripts do you refer to? What alerts you that you're hearing a tape? How do you get beyond it?

Nice Boy not only likes carrots, TB is doing constant carrot recipe searches to find more things he might like.

I know all those songs, plus, "And what if you don't like this job, either? You'll never be happy in a job, will you?"

Reason #563 why I love my neighborhood:

I just picked up the Fall Cold Special (TM): fresh apple cider at the market, homemade chicken barley soup with bread at the bread shop, and cough syrup with codeine at the pharmacy.

Life is good. Or would be if this code would go away!

So, back in the land of cognitive therapy. What methods do folks use to turn off their tapes?

100 Top Reasons Why This Tape is Wrong lists

What scripts do you refer to?

My safety plan can sometimes be helpful (it includes various life pros/cons lists including: Why You're Still in School; Why You Want To Live; etc.). Sometimes I make myself write down what my therapist (or Emily or the Buffistas) would say if I said what I was thinking outloud. That's probably the most effective.

What alerts you that you're hearing a tape?

Ooooo...that's the tough one. Depends on how far gone I am. If I can catch it early on, much easier.

How do you get beyond it?

Gin? Ativan?

The Reason You Look Ugly In Photos Is Because You Are Ugly

OOH, OOH, this one!

I have taught myself, through long hard trial and much error, to try to look at photos with someone else's eyes. How many times have you seen someone freak about a totally cute picture of themselves? Because their eye goes instantly to the mole, or the bulge, or the way their head looks four sizes to big (in their view), and totally skips over the way that shirt is boobtacular and the color makes their eyes look sexy as all get-out. And it's hard, and I have to consciously avert my eyes from some things, but the important thing is that other people do not see what you do.