Happy Birthday, Perkins!

14 isn't even fat, Allyson.

Quite. IMHO, the BMI scales are completely screwy, and that gets added to 'Beauty Myth' stuff* to form one big issue of social control. I am a comfortable size 14 (trying to lose a bit of weight for health reasons, but as always, I will try hard not be too concerned if I can't) and I get really angry when people try to stomp all over the self-esteem of women who are beautiful and should be happy about who they are.

It is, of course, always hardest work applying this to yourself. I have to learn not to look at pictures of myself and think 'fat'. And I swear I look twenty pounds heavier in my wheelchair. Which is very interesting, and says a lot about how women from less-than-standard backgrounds of all kinds are viewed by the rest of society.

*By Naomi Wolf. Who rocks on this subject. Definitely worth reading.

I try not to use the dryer unless I have to. I have a huge drying rack, so I do the wash, and then I hang things to dry, and then... they don't get put away.

Plus, I forget that I have other clothes I could wear that aren't on the drying rack. I was probably better before I got the rack, since then at least then I'd put things on hangers, and it was easy to move them to the closet when they were dry.

I guess I could put the rack in my bedroom, since then it would be in the way and that might motivate me to clear it off so I could put it away. ...But I doubt it.

Stupid laundry. Stupid laziness.

That's a very odd list in a number of ways. I don't like it.

"The best place to eat [ethnic cuisine] is in [the country of origin]." Yawn. I am not globe-hopping for food!

Also, do people really seek out the best tomato juice in the world? Really? I guess I'm glad it is right here for me to have if I am so inclined, but still.

I want to be able to breathe again and feel as if I'm myself.

Barb, this is EXACTLY how I felt about leaving NJ for Charlottesville!

Allyson, I love that tattoo! Also, right now I'd kill to be a size 14 again. That is NOT fat.

Men can be REALLY ANGRY about weight.

No other prejudices are still socially acceptable to have! I sometimes wonder if all the rage that angry people can't openly show towards other races/religions/whathaveyou anymore, has gotten concentrated into a hatred for fat people, especially fat women. Sexism isn't "allowed", but a misogynist can direct his hate towards women who are fat, and disguise it as "disgust at fatness" when it's really hatred of women. Which may be why the definition of "fat" has expanded to smaller and smaller sizes as the other prejudices get driven out of acceptable common conversation. If every woman over a size 6 is "fat", then they get to hate almost all of us!

All the girls in that Mika video are beautiful. Less than 100 years ago, that was the ideal female form. Plumpness meant health and wealth.

msbelle, what's the title of that book you mentioned?

I gave in to my desire to hire a housekeeper - twice a month and it's wonderful. My house is clean and remains so.

Oh, damn, I forgot to put the laundry in the dryer. Since yesterday. Probably have to re-wash. Ergh.

Happy birthday Perkins and Phoenix!

Fred, kitty-ma to Rigatoni!

No other prejudices are still socially acceptable to have! I sometimes wonder if all the rage that angry people can't openly show towards other races/religions/whathaveyou anymore, has gotten concentrated into a hatred for fat people, especially fat women. Sexism isn't "allowed", but a misogynist can direct his hate towards women who are fat, and disguise it as "disgust at fatness" when it's really hatred of women.

Heh, I don't know- prejudices of all kinds seem to still be flourishing like whoa with societal acceptance.

brenda, what bothered you about the list? I have my ish-es with it, wondering what yours are.

It seemed like such a hodge-podge (4. best very specific not all that common dish; 5. best entire national cuisine) and justifications (okay, a quote from an unnamed source who had a good meal there and nothing else, thanks so much for that). And enough inconsistencies (see Megan's note about the "macaroons" to make me think whoever put it together really doesn't know what they're doing.

No other prejudices are still socially acceptable to have!

my brother says prejudice against rednecks is still okay :)

And heavens forfend you point it out, because that makes YOU the real racist/sexist/sizist or what have you.

The 50 best things to eat in the world, and where to eat them

No Chicago? I think I think only place I've been to on that list is the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém. That was some good custard goddamn.