Callista Flockhart looks almost chubby-cheeked in her photo. Maybe not working agrees with her.

Halle still doesn't look interesting with no makeup on, but she's never been a look that draws my eye. And Emma Thompson looks perfectly normal.

Hmm. Maybe I will try dinner after all. All told, since I stopped krav, I've dropped about 30lbs and it's nights like this that are the reason. That and I can easily go a day with too much nausea to eat. I suspect there'll be parental friction here.

Kat, I'd be nearer almost everyone if I moved out that way, true. And I do miss folks. But I don't think I'm ready to move yet.

I've been watching some old gymnastics clips on youtube, and I realized that, in the older clips, you couldn't hear all the thumps on the landings and such. They must have some really sensitive mics there now -- there was one pommel horse routine where I could hear his legs brushing against the side of the horse, and every landing now sounds huge.

Part of the landing thunks could be the sprung floors. It's a pretty distinct hollow sound.

The power of makeup, celebs before and after. Halle is gorgeous anyway you cut it.

Emma Thompson looks fine!

There are some serious botox nightmares there. So much bad skin.

The link to Marilyn before and after makeup was interesting - she looked pretty good without makeup. I wouldn't have expected that.

I picked you up a signed copy, ita.

She read your part, and you know, she captured you really well. I couldn't stop laughing because i could HEAR YOU. It was great.

You'd never seen the no-makeup pictures of her?

I swear, they've got one in every bio!

Most of the makeup-less shots are candids, which are almost always less flattering.

Part of the landing thunks could be the sprung floors. It's a pretty distinct hollow sound.

We're still hearing the landings fairly loudly on things like bars, where they're landing on a mat.

The signing was good for my soul. I signed Vampire People for the store while I was there, and Deb talked me up and I was reminded that I'm not really a soulless fucking drone. I'm a writer with a soulless fucking drone job.

There's nothing more rock star than signing your book and seeing the whole, "signed by the author" sticker and boy, is that happy-making.

I'll bet it is. As well it should be.

ION, presumptive /= presumptuous, people! Is this a new thing? I swear I've heard people mix these up like three times this past month.

The power of makeup, celebs before and after.

The Charlize Theron "ugly" photo is from the serial-killer movie. With make-up and dental appliances to make her ugly.

You deserve a taste of rock star, Allyson. Or more than a taste if it works out that way.