It's not zombie, but it is necrophilia: Cold Ethel by Alice Cooper.

Continued activity with the dead gets some points, right?

Allyson--good to hear you're okay! Be extra gentle with your body the next few days.

Damn. It's late already. Need to figure out lunch.

Continued activity with the dead gets some points, right?

True. Um.

The mani pedi thing for kids is a bit weird, but little kids do love to get their nails painted - is that bad? I've painted friend's kid's nails (in kid-friendly colors like light pink or clear with silver glitter) and it's always been fun. Is the ick more in having a party/spending money on it? Also, I was not allowed makeup until 13, and at 13 I could have lipgloss and a tiny bit of blush.

I painted my four year old's toenails last night. But I refused, despite MUCH pleading on her part, to do her fingernails. After a while she said, "When I'm seventeen can I paint my fingernails?" I agreed to that one.

Also, if my son wants his toenails painted, which I think he will as soon as he's better able to communicate, since he seems fascinated with mine, I will paint his too. I have been doing Casper's since she was 2.

Casper also gets her hair cut at the salon - the same guy who does me and mr. flea. He is great with kids and totally undercharges us for her.

She thinks she wears lipstick, but it's actually just chapstick, which is necessary - she's very chappy.

The mani pedi thing for kids is a bit weird, but little kids do love to get their nails painted - is that bad?

no, it's not, but it should be a special thing. They seem to be pushing kids into the Nail Crack at an early age. I didn't get addicted until I was 25! Now, every three weeks, there I am. Actually, I need to make an appointment right now.

makeover slumber parties

I think we started doing this at 9 or 10, just with mom's makeup. Maybe more like 11-12. But heavy makeup was definitely a highlight of slumber parties!

Also, I'm considering getting fake nails (wraps or tips or whatever the cool kids do these days) for professional reasons. I think my bitten down stubs really can't be helping they way I'm percieved. Thoughts pro/con?

Thoughts pro/con?

beware! you'll quickly get addicted to nice nails. On the plus side, if you get fake nails, they are unpleasant to bite on. You will break yourself of the habit and can go back to regular nails in a while.

Jesse, I loved having acrylics. I am not as bad a nail biter as I am a cutilcle picker, and having the acrylics broke me of the habit. I miss them terribly and wish I could justify the expense. It's my goal to have us in a financial position where I can get my darn nails done and eyebrows waxed with regularity.

It's a sad little goal.

I have had phases where I didn't bite, and my nails were still crappy, so it might be worthwhile to do for a long time. I did have tips in college for a while, and I remember how double-crappy the nails underneath were when I took them off, so I know this is kind of a long-term investment.