No, I tell you, it's a GOOD thing for poor oddly-named-kid that the article was published; that way, in 20-some years he won't have to try to convince his therapist how utterly fucked up his mom is; he can just hand over the article and say "Read this. And then tell me: 50 mg, or 100?"

Thanks, all. I really don't know what else to say - I can't say I'm after the hugs (oh, fuck that - I'm always after the hugs. I mean that I'm not after the attention).

Since I spent most of the day memory-laning, I was in a fairly good mood. Hey, how could I not be? She was such an awesome person, and we had great time. I also spent a lot of time reading her lj. I had a whole thing against blogs and a "if I'm gonna learn something meaningful about your life, missy, it better be coming from you in person or a phone call, not from me lurking your blog" attitude, so it's not the easiest thing on me. I like set boundaries, and not crossing them, especially when it comes to privacy and stepping on others' feet. But I'm drifting.

So I spent a kindda mellow, good memories of her day, and every once in a while there's a "oh, we should totally do this and that next time we'll meet!" thought. And then I remember she's dead. Which strangely enough, doesn't send me rain-forest-killing the next box of tissues, and I can handle that grief easy.

It's the part when the memories are over/fading which hurts the most, and knowing there won't be any new ones to fill that void, and the helplessness that I feel because of it.

She was a white hat, indeed.

Shir, I'm so sorry for the loss and the hurt and the pain, but at the same time, I'm really happy that you have so many good memories of her.

As far as that NYTimes article, ewwwwwww. I mean, I've rarely read such naked, articulated envy. This part:

(I pictured one of them, no doubt a double agent, saying, “Sarvis, do you know what it says in the girls’ bathroom?” and turning her 18-inch hips just so for the very first time, or taking a try at batting her lashes.

Seriously creeped me out. Because while there are a lot of eight year old girls who are overexposed to the rampant sexuality in advertising and culture in general, not all of them are and to be projecting that sort of attitude on to them in one broad stroke is just...

ewwwwww...

(((Shir)))

Hang in there -- and go hang with your friends. It is the good thing to do.

and I had no internet until 1:30. I was going into withdrawal

{{{Shir}}} That sounds so difficult. Hang in there.

How does this never get old? [link] (Lethally cute photo of nephew stuffing birthday cake in his mouth)

Exactly, Barb.

I knew it was only an innocent crush, yet I truly lamented that some little girl was pushing my boy into a vaguely sexual consciousness, ruining his happy indifference to gender, making him grow up an increment.

I don't think it's the little girl whose got sex on the brain when it comes to your child, lady. Ew.

Shir, glad you're hanging in there and seeing some joy along with the grief.

Daniel Radcliffe has done an "Inside the Actors Studio.

Shir, I'm sorry for your loss.

That column had me yelling EEEWWWWWWWWWW. That woman needs some serious therapy before she fucks up her son.

Our furnace quit heating.

No fuses out. The blower blows, the burners just don't fire up.

Fuck.

ION?

Andi and I finally got an Obama yard sign.