I was in a gifted program when I was in 5th and 6th grade and that was my first real exposure to being around big bunches of smart kids.

My first exposure to a big bunch of smart kids was college. And even there, you had to seek them out (they're in McGill getting McHigh), learn their secret ritual (bring a bong), and then try to talk to them when they weren't high (good luck). YVanderbiltExperienceMV.

I went to Bible camp once, hated it. Went to regular camp once, hated it. Went to some Junior Achievers summer thing once, hated it. There were people around me sometimes as a kid, hated it. I would've *killed* for a Governor's School experience.

I've never seen Steel Magnolias

Me either! Thought it sounds as though I may have lived it.

Plei, my friend Stef is like that, too. I can't mention hair removal around her, or else she punches me, and it's justified -- she spends an hour a day plucking her face. And summertime is an absolute horror for her.

Has she tried this? [link] It's a lifesaver.

I think we could easily do a Buffista version of Steel Magnolias. The only problem would be me and Aims fighting over who gets to be Ouiser and who gets to be Clairee.

We'll switch hit for performances. Or, I'll play Anelle who makes me laugh.

"Miss Truvy? My personal tragedies will not interfere with my ability to do good hair."

And I could always do Truvy:

"Maybe she's praying for Marshall and Drew and Belle. Maybe she's praying for us because we're gossiping. Maybe she's praying because the elastic is shot in her pantyhose! Who knows! She prays a the drop of a hat these days."

I think we could easily do a Buffista version of Steel Magnolias. The only problem would be me and Aims fighting over who gets to be Ouiser and who gets to be Clairee.

I'd fight you for Ouiser. That's one part I've always wanted to play. And, while my middle name is Annelle for real, that wasn't a character that really spoke to me.

Is Israel One Of The World's Most Science Fictional Nations?

Israel has been described as "the birthplace of science fiction." For chariots in the sky, eco-cataclysms, invisible voices, and other paranormality, check out the Torah. Want a hero traveling through space, searching for the secrets of creation? Examine the apocryphal books of Enoch, circa 300 B.C. In contemporary Israel, "political science fiction" dominates the genre, with the vast majority of successful books using the homeland as a setting. A utopian-intended society tottering on the edge of annihilation is obviously ideal for SF. A partial list of important authors would include Pesakh Amnuel, David Avidan, Dan Zalka, Etgar Keret, Orly Castel-Bloom, Gail Hareven, and Addy Zemach.

Is Israel One Of The World's Most Science Fictional Nations?

I don't know, but Brasilia was definitely the most Science Fictional City until Tokyo and HK surpassed it.

I did 30 or so performances of Steel Magnolias. The movie version is better. Or maybe it was that the summer stock production I was a part of sucked.

I did sleep away camp for several years. It was paid for by MDA. It was 3 weeks long. It was a camp for folks with a wide range of disabilities. Then each cabin was by generic type. So you had cabins that was sickle cell and asthma, you had cabins for developmental disabilities, and then cabins for physical impairments. Me being on crutches actually put me ahead of most of my cabin mates, as the bulk of them were in wheelchairs. It was surreal. Just when I was getting too old for the program, MDA dropped it down to a one week camp, so they could afford to send more kids. Makes sense. But boy did that place help me. if nothing else, to realize, no matter how bad it is, someone always has it worse. Also, had my first girlfriend there. Also did a couple summers of daycamp in town that weren't as good.

Hil, maybe the dream is highlighting how your ankle will get better, and you are showing it off? I dunno. I'm not a good dream analysis person.

OK, back to trying to call NY dmv. I think I called during lunch hour before. Ugg.

The movie version is better.

I expect it would be difficult to assemble a cast of local actors that could match the comic chops of the movie cast.

I think the script was a bit better too. But ya, the talent wasn't the best. They spent their cash on getting a real strong Peter Pan. She was awesome!