Tiny self-brag, if I may:

Yesterday my friend had her 50th birthday party at a photography studio that has like 10 backdrops in different color schemes/themes with tons of props, which was a lot of fun! I wore a dress I've had for a couple of years, and the thing about wearing the same dress across different years to events where you get photographed (weddings, reunions, photo shoot birthday party) — and apparently I always stand in the same pose — is that when I look at 2 pictures taken a year apart, WOW, okay, now I can tell that I've lost 42 pounds.

Like, I could tell a little bit before, especially in my face (we will not speak of my 55-year-old neck and whatever the fuck it thinks it's doing), and I have been taking my measurements, so I know the direction things are going, but even looking in the full-length mirror at home, it's just not super obvious, because I see myself in the mirror every day, and incremental change over time isn't easy to notice. But 2 pictures in the same dress, same pose, 13 months apart, and — yeah, I can see it. That's pretty gratifying.

Anyway, photo shoot party: tons of fun! One of my friends called it "a grown-up princess party without tea," which is pretty accurate, because we all dressed up, wore tiaras, and ate super fancy cupcakes. (And drank a shit ton of water, because it's fucking July and staying hydrated is no joke.)

Sounds like a good time, and congrats, if you want them.(One time I did that, and the person lost weight because she'd been through a medical wringer, so I tend not to congratulate that anymore, but since you brought it up first, I think it's okay.) Does it make me a bad disabled person if I'll be kind of glad that Disability Pride is over soon? It's actually been kind of an humiliating month for me personally--if the collective gets any prouder, maybe I get, like, locusts at my house? Oh, and if all it took was a bunch of people writing #NotGoingBack to stop us from going back, looks like we won already. Unfortunately, don't think that's how it works.

(One time I did that, and the person lost weight because she'd been through a medical wringer, so I tend not to congratulate that anymore, but since you brought it up first, I think it's okay.)

Yeah, I've noticed a shift toward not making unsolicited comments on people's bodies, which I think is generally a good thing (like, if anyone told Tim he was looking slim and trim while he was going through radiation and chemo, I would have punched them on his behalf). I think as long as the person (for example, me) brings it up first, it's totally cool to comment. And (in my opinion), even if the other person brought it up first, it's also totally cool to still not comment on their size, but just say something broadly complimentary, like "You're looking good!"

Bodies are weird, and 50% of the time I feel like a 13-year-old going "DO NOT PERCEIVE ME!" and the other 50% of the time I feel like "Tell me my ass looks good or I will set the dogs on you."

And (in my opinion), even if the other person brought it up first, it's also totally cool to still not comment on their size, but just say something broadly complimentary, like "You're looking good!"

That is generally how people comment on my weight loss: "You look great!"

Also, Tep, I was just talking to someone about your retro pinup photoshoot that you did and how much joy that gave you. So I'm glad to hear you enjoying another studio photo session.

You look great is generally safe. And that is awesome, Teppy!

Also, Tep, I was just talking to someone about your retro pinup photoshoot that you did and how much joy that gave you. So I'm glad to hear you enjoying another studio photo session.

It was fun doing it with friends, because they're an automatic hype machine AND they encourage—and participate in—hilarious bullshit.

Well all the food at the World Cup viewing gathering was awesome, which is more than I can say for the game itself. The games prior to the final were much more exciting.

:: staggers into thread ::

We’re back from 18 days in the UK! I’m jet lagged, but managed to move Miss Erzabet No Biting from my lap long enough to unpack everything. There’s a lot of laundry in my future.

The trip was great, but sadly confirmed a suspicion that Mr. Loomycakes and I had: after a few days of eating food that wasn’t from the US, my inflammation and general pain levels dropped. And it wasn’t like I was eating healthier, because my meals included a lot of black pudding, eggs, and scones with clotted cream and jam.

Rest up from the jet lag. Good to have confirmation of the possible sources of inflammation.

The orange blight once again trying to make it all about him at the World Cup. When will this end?

Bodies are weird, and 50% of the time I feel like a 13-year-old going "DO NOT PERCEIVE ME!" and the other 50% of the time I feel like "Tell me my ass looks good or I will set the dogs on you."

Brilliant as always.

I like to say "I want to be pretty and I don't want it to matter." This is substantially demure in comparison.