Well, at least everyone could actually enjoy their holiday! (unlike, say, my mom.)

My mom got fired the Friday before her birthday.

However, she got the last laugh by getting a job with the high school that's the rival of the one that fired her.

Oh ya forgot Friday was holiday for folks.

Dishes are in the dishwasher. Hopefully that solves the "what's that smell" riddle. Pizza is in the oven.

Congratulations, Seska!

Happy birthday to Emeline! I can't believe how grown up she is. Where's the baby I was snuggling at the NO F2F just a little while ago?

Museum sounds like the right place for that book, Aims.

{{P-C}}

{{Nora's Mom}} because that still sucks a whole lot.

No expensive car surprises for anyone, I so decree.

I am pondering going and cleaning out the Toyota before I hear from the insurance company. I am half-worried that the garage will dismantle it before I officially hear that it's to be totaled and I won't get back my FasTrak thingy and other random bobs and bits floating around in the trunk...

My mom got laid off on Sept. 11. Yes, the Big One, Elizabeth.

We had a big meeting where they—to my surprise—read out the names of the people in our part of the organization who'd been let go, which I really respected.

Then we had a little meeting with our group. The head of our group assured me that my co-worker's health had no part in the decision, and I believe him, especially because he was surprised that my co-worker appeared to kind of expect it, and he didn't understand why. Luckily, she got a very generous severance package, so she'll be okay for now.

I don't quite know how I feel about this:

America's Missing Top Model

Eight beautiful disabled models, seven tough assignments, and one incredible prize; is the modeling world ready for them?

Eight young women compete to break down barriers and overcome prejudices in the exclusive modeling industry. One will win her dream of a photo shoot in Marie Claire magazine. The women will participate in challenges that range from modeling for popular British retailers to mastering the catwalk. Britain’s Missing Top Model sets out to challenge the fashion industry's boundaries and redefine society's concept of the ideal woman.

On the one hand, I think that we should encourage people to widen their ideas of "beauty" and not look for perfection. On the other hand, I feel like it's even more exploitative than "regular" modeling shows.

My first fear about that show would be that it would get into "Even disabled women can be conventionally beautiful!" which would present issues both with the "Even disabled women" part and with the not at all questioning conventional beauty standards.

that's my issue, Hil. That seems to be the focus. If you look at the website, it's women in traditional model/cheescake poses, but just in wheelchairs or coyly hiding a missing limb.

coyly hiding a missing limb.

If we just can't see the entire reason we cast her on this show, she might win!

They need to have the woman who dressed as a real life Cherry Darling from Planet Terror. She wasn't coy about nuthin'.