Thanks for the shopping advice/hairpats.

Clothes shopping ends in tears, so I'm freaking out at having to do this. It's like a scheduled pap smear or something. Nothing but awful misery and that horrible anticipation of inevitable embarassment/humiliation.

Oh dear, paperdol. Is there any way to avoid the shopping? Perhaps you have the pieces to pull together a nice outfit (that skirt was very cute) so instead of shopping for something difficult, like a blouse, you can get a little cardigan to wear over a top you already have, or new earrings, or snazzy stocking or a pair of shoes.

I'm sorry paperdol! I wish I could help but I think I've gone on shopping forays with you and I think I end up pissing you off.

I would offer to go to Torrid with you, but they only have sort of disposable clothes.

Today Noah and Grace are 5 months old. It shocks me.

Today Noah and Grace are 5 months old. It shocks me.

Yoips! How did that happen so fast?

Kat, that reminds me, I put aside a bunch of Franny and Isaac's favorite toys as well as some blankets. The blankets are mostly handmade quilts and really lovely and soft.

You always pick out clothes for me that are 2 sizes or more too small, and I have to say, "Kat, that is 2 sizes too small," over and over, and then it gets more upsetting.

It's not your fault, I own my issues and have named each of them, and take them out back for a whipping every now and again. I hope they never get the vote.

I'd prefer a Pap smear to shopping. I hate shopping, especially clothes shopping, with the heat of a thousand suns. I've thought you looked great in every picture I've seen of you, paperdol, but I know a million people saying that to you won't get rid of those body demons. Think of why you'll be there, though. You've written a great book. It got published. People love it. They're coming to see the person who wrote it and bask in her snarkiness. They will not care how you look.

They will not care how you look.

It's not so much that we don't care as that we can see the beautiful, sexy woman standing there. It makes me sad that paperdol can't see herself the way I see her, but I understand how it is.

I think you could go with something as simple as this,paperdol.

[link]

I like this jacket - leave it open with a balck or white t-shirt underneath

and then I like this too

[link]

I think there are other options - but these are simple and should help make you feel comfortable -

put on some cute black and white shoes - and there you go.

I wish I could help more

I need to make dinner. Something with chicken, but I don't know what.

Unless I finish off that pint of Americone Dream in the freezer for dinner.

So, it's been a sort of upsetting day around here. When we got home, our dog Sebastian was walking around the backyard with a dead kitten. I was hoping that the kitten had somehow fallen in the backyard off the edge and died of natural causes, but I'm not fairly sertain that was not the case because...

Coming in from our walk tonight, the dogs were freaking out in one area of the garage. After putting them inside, we found three very small kittens hiding in a box. I can only assume that the 4th ventured out earlier today through the fence into the backyard and the dogs got him.

Cat people, any advice for me? The kittens look well fed and are rather feisty, although there was no sign of a mother. They are small - heads probably less than two inches in diameter and maybe the length of my hand in body size. I'd like to take them in but the dogs have already killed one. Plus, at some point we will be moving, via plane, and I"m not sure I could handle taking 5 pets back to the States. And they were feral cats to begin with. But, I don't want them to die or get killed by the dogs.

Do they need care or should I leave them alone? They are safe in the garage as long as they don't venture out, but I suppose they need to eat. I'm not sure how they got in there. The fence around the house is 6 feet high and they are so small. (and cute! I totally want one! but I just don't think it will end well)