You know, Cindy, now would be a good time to take advantage of the fact that you're an active member of a church and get a little help from that community. I'm sure you've done your share of do-gooding. Just having somebody stop by and help with a few things today or tomorrow would probably make a difference.

P-C, it could turn out to be an okay compromise. You can send out the P-Cish biodata after initial contact. It's not the first filter (which would be ideal), but it could be a useful second layer.

Sometimes in profile Matilda looks a lot like Harold of Purple Crayon fame. Sometimes full face she looks a lot like Emmett at this age.

the girl you marry - that matters. How you meet her, doesn't

Deserves to be said over and over again.

Though I'm still an advocate of finding the one person you know that your mother would most disapprove of, and introducing that person to her as your SO. (And I'm sure you'd have little trouble finding someone cooperative that your mother would thoroughly disapprove. Your area ATTRACTS people of whom parents disapprove.) Anyone you'd actually want to marry will seem ideal to her by comparison.

Lee, thank you.

beth jobma and calm~ma to Matt. He so deserves this, and he deserves to enjoy it, too. I will keep the bath idea in mind.

Nora, your weight management plan sounds so sane! I love it.

You know, Cindy, now would be a good time to take advantage of the fact that you're an active member of a church and get a little help from that community. I'm sure you've done your share of do-gooding. Just having somebody stop by and help with a few things today or tomorrow would probably make a difference.

There's really not much to do. I've been basically housebound with sick kids for the past 18 days. My laundry has seldom been in such good shape. I mean I've even been folding and putting away laundry while it's still warm. It's madness!

Hmmm. Maybe I've upset the delicate eco-system of the house.

P-C, it could turn out to be an okay compromise. You can send out the P-Cish biodata after initial contact. It's not the first filter (which would be ideal), but it could be a useful second layer.

This is true, and really, if the girl isn't the first to look at the biodata, the cute, customized P-C biodata might filter out girls you don't want filtered out, just because their relatives don't *get* you.

Job~ma, Matt. And sanity~ma to both Matt and Beth.

Health~ma with a good dose of sanity~ma to Cindy and family.

Loquat Extract is teh bomb for coughs.

Oh Cindy. {{{Family}}} Much get better~ ma and quick recovery ~ ma to youse guys. I'll be thinking of you guys all day.

jobma and calmma~ to Matt. Hey! Company! Go Matt! Choose Matt!

Go Nora with the saneness of the weight loss plan! Where do I sign up?

And P-C, what Cindy said here:

if the girl isn't the first to look at the biodata, the cute, customized P-C biodata might filter out girls you don't want filtered out, just because their relatives don't *get* you.

Does make sense. And, nice compromise. (But your mom really needs a class in diplomacy and niceness to her children. IJS.)

This is true, and really, if the girl isn't the first to look at the biodata, the cute, customized P-C biodata might filter out girls you don't want filtered out, just because their relatives don't *get* you.

Oh, good point. Good point. Cindy is wise.

Not ridiculous, Cindy. You've been through a lot the last few days, as has Ben. I hope you both get some relief soon.

This, exactly. Also yes on the cold bath. It's miserable for the sickee, but also effective.

Oh David?

Her bangs look great - leave them alone!

Yeah ... those pictures were from December. Her bangs are still horrid from the January cut. Jay of the leaving pills around fame said, "It's a good thing mullets are somewhat back in style."

Thanks, guys.

And {{{{Cindy}}}} {{{{{{Ben}}}}}} I hope the little guy gets better posthaste.

Go Nora with the saneness of the weight loss plan! Where do I sign up?

Heh. I have been inspired by 2 books. One, mentioned by beth above, is Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. >[link] It's been incredibly helpful for my mindset. I'm so much less OBSESSED by food and dieting and whatever and more focused on my behavior and habits and perceptions.