I didn't mention it yesterday but my aunt (mom's sister) died yesterday. I don't know the details but it was apparently a blood infection. I wasn't particularly close to her mainly due to geography since I grew up in southern California and she lived In Ottawa but I always liked her. I'm pretty sure the last time I saw her was more than a decade ago when I made it up to Ottawa for my uncle's funeral (it wasn't her husband, she was unmarried). I do regret not having made it up to see her sometime in the past 13 years. I also know the news will be hard on my mom.

Aw, ND, sorry for your loss. Sending peace~ma out to your mom.

bonny, much financial aid~ma to you.

Looking at kittens cures many ills: [link]

You do have a valid point, Steph. I realize now how it can sound.

But I don't know. It could have been the angle of the camera or what not, but I had a serious doubt about her health - and while I know you can see it in both directions (obese and anorectic), I think there's a line where someone/society should question health. I'm not saying it's always easy or should be easy to recognize a starving person, but if someone is harming himself or herself - I think society has responsibility on that issue.

Ah, the thin line between good Samaritan and the Know-it-all and entitled-person.

Oh, ND. Sorry for you loss. Much ~ma to your family.

When it was safer to make a joke using words like "terrorist" I used to say I could make some nice coin sneaking mad bombers on airplanes while the whole airport screeched to a fucking halt realizing that"Oh, shit, wheelchairs are metal too." Then, they have to find the one female metal-screener, in case I think this is foreplay.(Like the Ring, there is only one.) Also: Please don't try to fold my chair...it doesn't. Thanks. Did I mention my chair's epic non-foldingness? Please don't touch that. I know you've folded things twice the size, but...sigh. I'd love to see Parker on Leverage do that. (They "folded" it and broke things...I think they took my warning as a challenge instead.) Woo hoo...WPITW is back. Apparently the Countdown audience said "Civility? Fuck that."*Not really.

Sometimes you can be shocked at someone's appearance if you haven't seen her for a while, especially in Hollywood.

I agree with you, Steph, so I try not to -- but its hard to be treated as ill and repulsive when super skinny is almost always HAWT no matter how ill it may be.

Much job~ma to Aims. The world needs you as a teacher. Also, clue-sticking all around Seska's university, which I would have thought would have been thoroughly clued years ago.

What Ginger said, on both counts.

Sympathies to you and your family, ND. I am sorry for your loss.

I have a sister that for most of her life was a "feed her a sandwich" body type. naturally very thin. Skinny. so i actually believe that there are a wide range of body types that are natural.

Peace to your mom ND

best of luck Aims