Am I first?

Trust me, I live amongst the stick-thin,enhanced and dressed in tiny scraps of clothing -- OC women -- but you are by FAR more beautiful!

I think I need to move back out to Cali and hang out with you. We could be the juicy booty twins knocking all the stick figure girls away with our amazing curves. ;)

Did you have these thoughts before the big D (When these salsa club visits occured?)? I'm glad you're gettting over them, though. Because confidence is totally sexier than fabric scraps.

I need to follow your example the next time I go out. Note to self: do not be responsible for bringing stink waves of unhappy funk to others.

I much rather be the "more-than-size-eight" girl in the room and not have to puke up my meals.... You should club with the girls more often - it's therapy!!!

Salsa clubs are way different in terms of size demographics. There are Latin women and African American women, all shapes all sizes, all feeling good (you can just tell), it's totally different. A completely different crowd.

Prior to my divorce I felt the same way about glitzy los-angeles-ish clubs that I do now.

I'm glad you had fun even if you're not a size 8. If you were that size, you'd probably be wishing you were a size smaller anyway. I'm a size 14 myself.

What? No pictures of the juicybooty jeans?

Also, so glad to see that you are on the way to enlightenment. So glad to hear that you chose to wear the three-inch heels too. You just walk in with your head held high and give everyone that look that dares them to say anything that is not complimentary. I refer to this as my "walk in like you own the place" kind of walk. It's all about confidence because you know what? A lot of those stick-thin girls are pretty insecure and people tend to gravitate toward the confident women. Who cares if that woman is wearing larger than a size 8?

Yay for not spewing emotionally poisoning stink waves! IT's a fine day when us bootylicious babes can have fun wihout obsessing over said booty - personally not sure if I'm there yet - but yay for you! :)

Oh, and Laurie, you are totally right about the salsa clubs -- all shapes and sizes of women. I guess that's why I have found these conversations on size to be so fascinating. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps it was a cultural thing because my people? They think a size 8 is stick-thin.

Looks like a great time!

Dagny, it is a cultural thing, I think I'm much more comfortable in Latin clubs (all that south Texas upbringing) and I know that the men can appreciate a broad spectrum of shape and size, whereas sometimes I feel like these other types of places they have one ideal for "beauty" and it is Paris Hilton. There were a fair amount of Paris Hiltons at this place on Saturday, but also a lot of just really nice, pretty girls who I had a good time talkign to. Seems like if you put the barrier down, you just have a better time.

However, for my birthday next month I am definitely dragging all the girls off to a hip-hop or salsa club. Let the booty shaking commence!

Those Paris Hilton lookalikes made me sad, frankly. It's like they have no originality or personality other than replicating what was in the latest issue of People. Any chance you saw the Oprah show with P!NK and talking about Stupid Girls? They talked about how recently there's been a back-swing into a very narrow definition of what a woman should look like - it's so confining, literally and figuratively.

I agree with the other commentors - confidence is so much more attractive! :)
Glad you had a good time!

So glad you had a good time Laurie! I totally know how it feels to have stink-waves of self-consciousness in a club... Even after losing weight, I still have a hard time shaking it - just feel like I don't fit in. But, if you're with the right friends, it can all melt away in the fun of dancing and all. Good times...

I have a theory that all of these stick-insect women ae actually a product of childhood malnutrition from a generation of eating fast- and processed foods.

Think about it. Once upon a time, there was no size "0," and now every 22-year-old restaurant hostess in the country wears that size. These women aren't merely skinny, they have teeny tiny bones. Their heads are the size of grapes. This is natural? Paris Hilton is *real?* Hah! I scoff at her.

I give you C.S. Lewis, of all people: All humans tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be.

Good on you for pretending to be comfortable, and for being comfortable pretending. (I myself am much more comfortable in my skin than I used to be, perhaps because there is, ahem, more room there nowadays.)

You are so cute! Looks like you all had a great time. Sometimes it is hard not being the super skinny girl but you are right, most of the time, it is mind over matter and you can convince yourself to just have fun anyway. I'm glad you had a fun - you deserve it! :)

Confidence in yourself, yup, anyone with half a brain can see that is sexier/friendlier/overall better than any particular size. A coupla days ago I saw a plus-size woman wearing colorful, stylish, well-fitting casual clothes, nice hair, understated makeup, looking overall damned good. It was a lesson to myself: dark tent-like clothes do not make anyone look good.

And I applaud your knowledge that some clubs are a better arena than others in terms of acceptance.

Me wants to see the boots. And you my darling, look great....look at that picture with the bossom, the sticks at the club bet would love to have them, lol. Glad you had a good time with the girlfriends

Laurie, I'm glad you had a great time out with your friends. That's more important than how any of you looked at the club!

My hubby thinks (and I tend to agree) that sometimes those 3-inch scraps of fabric are donned for the sake of fashion and female competition... or as he calls it "S.O.S." - Style Over Substance.

You need to come and party in the Great White North - Whenever I go out in January I wear a turtlenecks, jeans and boots... then I sit back and laugh at the hoochie mamas heading out the door in their tank tops and parkas. S.O.S, baby, S.O.S.

"and have a come-to-Jesus with myself"

Thank you, thank you, for using that expression. I just love it and I rarely hear/see it. Makes me smile.

I know just what you're talking about, and even at m advanced age, I still have those moments (so sad) but I am working on liking me as me and not comparing myself so much to others. It makes me a much happier person.

Hope we get lots of pics of the salsa/hip hop club gathering!

Are you still coming here in June?

I am so glad to see you out and enjoying yourself in your own skin! And don't you worry about those stick types, all of us would rather be in your company of smart-azz talkin' anyway. Keep your chin up for us!
=:8

Ya know..i just love you! You make me laugh no matter how my day is.~laurie

Growing up tall and thin in the 70's...no one had heard of eating disorders, I was just skinny (6' - 103 lbs) -- 35 years later and 50 lbs heavier, I am amazed at what young women have to go through now. It is all so distorted. I just joined a very well known gym. When they "tested" my bmi, it magically came up 34% (gee, my doctor tells me it is 22% I wonder who is right?!?!) The gym considers me to be borderline obese. How in the world do we get a chance to see how each of us is beautiful because we are healthy and NORMAL if the standard of weight is so messed up!
I am glad you went out and it looks like you had fun! Good for you!!

crystal... I am not coming to visit in June, my boss will be in Italy, so I am here holding down the fort. want to come to LA and go salsa dancing??? :)

You looked like you were having a great time and looked absolutely gorgeous. Confidence and a big smile - go far.

It all about attitude...it matters not what a person looks like. After all the outside changes all the time and not always in a good way.

Excellent weekend!!

Stay Confident! That's what I need to be doing right now. That and riding my bike daily. I am booty prone myself and have yet to embrace the next size up in jeans, I'd rather maintain or reduce... but who's to know.

Keep smiling and having fun!!

Laurie,
I am not a size 8 either, and I can totally relate to your anxiety being out amongst hoochie mamas in hardly any clothing. But, girl, you are SO PRETTY--those beanpoles have nothing on you! Seriosly. So, just keep on keeping on and be confident!

I believe in the idea of "act like you want to feel and eventually you'll really feel that way." It sounds like a fun evening! And the plans to take off to a salsa or hip-hop club next time sound like even more fun!

Laurie, your last few posts have really been speaking to me. I have also been trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm no stick and probably never will be. With that acceptance does come much more self-confidence. It works! I had a first date this weekend and the guy told me how sexy he thinks I am and asked me out for another date the next night! That never happens to me. I can only assume it's because I took the attitude of "this is me - take it or leave it".

Girl, with that brilliant smile, who's gonna notice the stick girls anyway? They're hard enough to see to begin with.

robinv--I have a trainer at a not-so-well-known independent gym, who has worked for the big chains as well--he says their charts are set up so that EVERYONE comes up way high on the BMI. Can we say, sell memberships through high-pressure self-hatred? Like women need help to hate their bodies.
laurie--remember this. Everytime I'm out with men (lunch or whatever) they NEVER think the really skinny women we see are attractive. When I ask them to pick out someone cute, it is always a healthy (or even chubby)woman who looks like she likes herself. I try really hard to remember that when all I can see in my mirror is 50 pounds that don't belong on me.
Strong and sexy beats skinny and frail every day.

You could eclipse every woman in the club with your smile!

Robinv - there is no way in hell that 150 pounds on a 6" frame is obese. I think I'd have slapped that person at the gym. (Or wanted to at least.)

Robinv - I am with Tami. There is not a single BMI chart that I have seen that would call that size obese. In fact I think that is in the "normal" range. That gym so wouldn't be getting my money.

LOL

I grew up "south of the 10" (in Whitter to be exact- talk about well south of the 10). Its not such a scary place to be...

I agree on the salsa clubs- and don't be afraid to dance with the short guys. They are often the best dancers. There is this one couple who does the local salsa circuit and oh my goodness- she is at least a half a foot taller then him, but they sizzle... and I mean sizzle- he is so fly and she is so glam, that people stop and stare and watch whenever they are on the floor. I have danced with several short guys who taught me a thing or two salsa-wise.... just saying the short guys (especially those in the fedoras with the bandanas, fly white shirts and creased black pants) rock. And they seem to like juicy booty too...

Laurie, you have hit it on the nose. I use the "pretend to be [whatever] and see how it feels" approach to so much.

I've gotten over my massive shyness (so much so that people don't believe me when I say I used to be shy), fear of public speaking (sort of) and awkwardness in a lot of situations doing the pretend thing. Eventually I just became accustomed to acting a certain way and it felt good.

Now I need to find me a salsa club!

You look gaw-geous! That whole Margaret Mitchell thing works; self-confidence suits you. I'm so glad you had fun.

Hey Purl - I am glad to see you making peace with your own skin. Unfortunately, all too many women DON'T do that. I agree with the other commentators who believe confidence and attitude is more important than wearing a size 3. I hope you continue to have many fun nights out on the town in fun places! Although I have never been to LA, I don't think I would like the glitzy trendy bars, either. Hope you find all sorts of fun salsa etc clubs in the coming months!

And um, as usual, I am going to go completely off the subject, just in case anyone is interested. there is a really good website, run by one of the trainers at Fair Hill, which is where Barbaro is/was stabled. If you are at all concerned or interested in his progress, check out www.timwoolleyracing.com. Tim Woolley even has a messageboard on his site, in case you want to post a message to Michael Matz or Edgar Prado or the owners. Last I checked, Barbaro is alert today, standing on all fours and even showing an interest in the fillies!

Looks like you had a great time! There is no need to compare yourself to the stickwomen, because they could not possibly compare to you :) Ya’ll look mahvelous. I must admit that I do stick to my comfort zone most of the time. That is, south of the 10, or at least south of Wilshire, and west of Bundy, or maybe as far east as La Cienaga depending on how cool the bar/club/party promises to be. Mostly you will find me at dive pubs with a wide selection of beer on tap, good music, and billiards and/or shufflepuck. It is fun to step outside the zone sometimes though. I end up at the Sunset Strip House of Blues for shows now and again and always have a good time, but I resent the $20 parking.

Years ago I went home with one of my college floormates for Easter. She came from a short Italian family. I was 6 feet tall and weighed in around 180. When her tiny little aunts saw me they said, "So tall! So beautiful! You're too thin. Here, have some bread." I've been eating bread ever since (and no longer weigh 180!)

Off topic - I notice how you have adopted the LA lingo of calling freeways "the", as in "The 10." Here in SF we would only use "the" in a non-numerical freeway name, as in "Take 80 to the Bayshore."

Where I'm from, in between, we would say "Highway" before everything. "Take Highway 99 till you get past the exit for the Ag Show...."

This post reminded me of something Minnie Driver once said; she's the fine and talented actress who is 5-foot-10 and maybe larger than a size eight, I don't know really, but definitely lovely. She said that when you're a large woman, and you walk into a room full of people, you have two choices: you can scrunch down and try to make yourself look smaller than you are, or you can throw your shoulders back and be tall and statuesque and walk into that room being just who you are. And she chooses to throw her shoulders back. :)

I may not be 5-foot-10, exactly, but I choose to throw my shoulders back too. And so do you. I bet you were the most gorgeous woman in that club. Rock on, Laurie!

Also, Laurie? What "aj" said above.

Men I work with were listening to various women in the office say Kat on American Idol was fat, and they were all, "Dude, no straight man on Earth thinks Kat is fat."

I remember a similar conversation about Catherine Zeta Jones.

We need to give men a little more credit here! (At least grown up men.)

I have a couple friends who I think are incredibly beautiful. In fact I often think I wish I could be like them. Here's the thing...they are big girls. (Not that I'm some sort of skinny-mini...I'm not even close.) But what makes them so beautiful I think is their attitude. They just do their "thang" and they don't care that they aren't in single digit clothing. Maybe I just wish I had some of that attitude...that sense of self-assuredness.

That's what makes women beautiful.

Of course a pair of really great shoes doesn't hurt either!

And one more thing :-) Have you ever noticed that those impossibly skinny glam girls (but not Jen, Amber etc) often have really pinched faces? Honestly, so many of them look really unhappy. Not to mention they all seem to look exactly alike with their Bannana Republic clothing and their Jennifer Ainniston hair. I mean really. You are way too cool for that. In fact, from what I can tell, so is everyone else who reads this blog. Somehow, I can't imagine Monkeygurrl ever being like that. Life is too short for that sort of nonsense. I really am glad you are shaking your thang, and having a durn good time doing it!

Marcia: I think your painting with a pretty broad brush about thin women. They don't all look alike. They don't all have pinched faces. They don't all look unhappy. They don't all wear BR clothing. Some women are thin and still have a chubby baby face, wear Wal-Mart clothes and look very happy. To quote Laurie: I'm just sayin'.

Darlin' you ARE Bootilicious!
I agree, it's the "happy with yourself, having a good time" thing that's the most attractive. If any guy I know was given the choice to choose between a skinny chick who nattered on about diets and how she's "sssoooooo FAT" all the time and a round and juicy happy girl who talks about other things and shows a APPETITE ('cuz you KNOW an appetite in one area indicates an appetite elswhere (wink wink). He'd choose to go to the barbecue with Ms. Happy and have some soft curves to fondle later on!
As for "curves vs skinny" Hey- it takes alllll shapes and sizes.
I just think that the movie-camera-centric culture here in LA (as in, you need to be 10 lbs UNDERWEIGHT to look your normal weight on camera) has bled across our country feeding us nightly TV messages that if we women AREN'T ten pounds underweight (like the actresses who are either naturally that way or paid insane amounts of money to ruin their health by staying underweight) we don't deserve to feel desirable.
Just like as a culture we're moving away from the 1950's "Barbie" ideal of beauty, (examples: Iman, Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz vs old-school Doris Day and Annette Funicello- tiny, perky, teeny-waisted and WHITE) I'm hoping that we'll start moving away from the teeny-tiny-skinny-is-best ideal too, and start enjoying the many flavors and shapes of female beauty that are really out there.
Hooray for 'dat Booty!

Darlin' you ARE Bootilicious!
I agree, it's the "happy with yourself, having a good time" thing that's the most attractive. If any guy I know was given the choice to choose between a skinny chick who nattered on about diets and how she's "sssoooooo FAT" all the time and a round and juicy happy girl who talks about other things and shows a APPETITE ('cuz you KNOW an appetite in one area indicates an appetite elswhere (wink wink). He'd choose to go to the barbecue with Ms. Happy and have some soft curves to fondle later on!
As for "curves vs skinny" Hey- it takes alllll shapes and sizes.
I just think that the movie-camera-centric culture here in LA (as in, you need to be 10 lbs UNDERWEIGHT to look your normal weight on camera) has bled across our country feeding us nightly TV messages that if we women AREN'T ten pounds underweight (like the actresses who are either naturally that way or paid insane amounts of money to ruin their health by staying underweight) we don't deserve to feel desirable.
Just like as a culture we're moving away from the 1950's "Barbie" ideal of beauty, (examples: Iman, Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz vs old-school Doris Day and Annette Funicello- tiny, perky, teeny-waisted and WHITE) I'm hoping that we'll start moving away from the teeny-tiny-skinny-is-best ideal too, and start enjoying the many flavors and shapes of female beauty that are really out there.
Hooray for 'dat Booty!

I've come to terms with my very-far-from-size-8 figure and don't usually let it stop me from having fun. That being said, however, I don't often go to clubs (okay never) anymore, mainly because I feel like an old fart -- the music is too loud, I can't hear what people are saying, and I don't drink all that much anymore. I'd rather go to a semi-quiet pub than a noisy club.

So, what's the deal with that guy in that one picture (middle, left) and the weird face he's making?

Anyway -- glad you had fun! Do it more often! I'm guessing there are also clubs north of the 10?

I don't think it matters what size you are, women will (almost) always want to be a size/shape that they are not.

megan ... that's my whole goal for this year, to be happy in my skin no matter what size I'm in. Because it is SO TRUE, you can be unhappy no matter what size you are, no matter what you look like. Better to choose happy, even if you aren't yet totally satisfied, I think. I try. we'll see.

But the question you didn't answer: Did you dance? :)

It's interesting to me that the pressure women feel to conform to the scrawny is cute beauty standard comes from other women. You felt bad becaue there were skinny chicks in little attire, not because you feared the boys wouldn't like you.

Some "feminist" types would have you believe it's evil men that are behind the pressure to be Paris. That's never made sense to me, as I think most men can appreciate a broad spectrum of healthy female forms. And we boys don't like our girls sticky. Fashion models and pin-ups are not the same size.

3 inch heels: Always the right choice. You were hot.

Laurie -- I AM a size 8 and I still think the other girls are stick insects. I definitely do not qualify. I have booty, baby!

"you end up being the comfortable-in-your-skin person you're pretending to be."

Bingo - you don't have to wait until it happens naturally at age 50 :>

Joe -- I did not dance, the place was so packed it was impossible. Also: drunk -- oh excuse me, I mean "crunked" frat boys dancing. Limbs were flailing. Need I say more? LOL

Kenneth -- for me it's not so much about guys and their perceptions (though I will tell you, LA guys are very different in what they want from other guys. They do indeed want sticks. Well, t*ts on a stick, anyway) but! it's mostly about my own feelings of not being thin/pretty/thin/thin enough LOL. That is the part I'm giving up for perpetual Lent. I've never had problems finding men who like what I have to offer. It's more about becoming happy *myself* with what I have to offer.

I myself did not get crunk. Or crunked? Though I tried to use that word in a sentence three times. People nodded. Then I started saying I had to go out and practice my crip walk. I guess it was loud in there 'cause no one even batted an eye. hehehehe

Hah! I like that phrase tits on a stick.
I keep telling myself my plumpness keeps my face from wrinkling. :) You keep going with loving and living with the skin you're in!

Paris Hilton a standard of beauty? That skank? I would much rather look like ME than her! (wouldn't mind her inheritance though)

are you doing any knitting??

As I went from my 20's in a size 8, 30's in a size 12 and 40's in a size 16 I noticed that the stick women all looked great until they hit their mid 30's and then overnight they all looked 10 years older.

Perhaps wrinkles on the face don't fill out without body fat underneath or perhaps the chainsmoking, starving amd cronic excercising that most of them did to stay that thin finally caught up with them.

All I know for sure is most of those stick women my age look ten years older than I do and are trying everything to turn back the clock while I am planning to become Georgia O'Keefe.

As I was driving today, I was thinking about your blog and wondering if Mr. X reads it. Maybe this has been covered, but just wondering if he knows about it.

I love your attitude!

I am a Juicy booty/boobie girl myself. One thing I've started to notice recently, is when you go to a club you'll usually spot a couple of "big" girls out in the middle of the dance floor having a great time shakin' it. Watch how many guys try to dance with those girls. It's amazing, it's all about the attitude! Most guys don't want to hang out with the hungry skinny girl waiting for a guy to buy her a drink. They want to dance with the girl having the most fun (big or small).

I aspire to be the girl having the most fun. Not concerned about how her thighs compare to her friends. It sounds like you are getting there. You inspire me! Thanks

I grew up with mainly guys, I have as much close guy friends as gal friends, so trust me when I tell you this: MEN DON'T LIKE WOMEN WHO ARE STICK THIN.. men like women that are fuller. Besides, you are beautiful and have a lovely personality. "There is somebody for everybody".

Girl, I am the QUEEN of the hermits ... I admire you so much for going out and having fun and going to clubs like I'm totally scared to do!

Hey! Don't let the "externals" define your life! The pounds will come and go (BELIEVE ME!!!) but you can't live life comparing yourself to other women and allowing whatever difference there is between you to dictate how you feel about yourself! It took me 48 years to figure this one out! Wish I'd seen the big picture many years ago. You are a beautiful girl with a life many of us envy!! Now get out there and let us continue living vicariously through your adventures!!!

You know that almost all of those stick figure women have something about their body that they don't like and would like to change. Next time, think of that. Could be their nose, some scar, their hair, whatever - but there's bound to be something. Nobody's perfect, and we're all great at picking out our own imperfections and glossing over those that others have.

Incidentally, about that ole I-10, when my parents moved to Houston from Oregon after my dad was laid off, my mom's only request was that he stick south of I-10 (she's not a fan of the cold weather). So, you see, going south a bit isn't all that bad.

Hey Nancy, and everyone else. Y'know, I realized after I made that post about pinched faces that I was perhaps not as precise as I should have been. So: my apologies to all the slender women out there. Nancy, you are absolutely right. Not all slender women are pinched-faced and unhappy. What I was trying to point out to Laurie is that there is a certain trend (at least here in Bawlmer)of some (stress SOME) women who fit that description. From reading Laurie's post, it sounded like it was that sub-group of women who were at the club. Obviously, Jen and Amber were there too. They are both slender. But they weren't who I was referring to. Its those poor souls who don't appear to be very happy with themselves, and appear to be trying to cram themselves into an ideal. What I was trying to say is that life is too short to make oneself miserable by trying to live up to perhaps un-obtainable ideals. We are all better off by accepting who we are - slender, short, tall, chunky, booty, whatever. Basically, I was just trying to echo and support Laurie's thoughts on accepting herself and being happy about it.

I really hope I am making sense, and not further offending anyone. And for the record, I am both fairly tall and fairly slender in shape. And I don't wear BR clothes either. :-) Gawd, I hope I am making sense. If not, chalk it up to my lack of coffee and way too much work to do.

Marcia: I think I get where you're coming from. I was just rather alarmed to see what I perceive as hostility toward thin women.

My philosophy is - bring the booty, bring the fun. I'm the largest of my friends, but I bring so much more fun and sexiness than their size 2 butts can handle.

Bootylicious.

Nancy, thank you. You were not alone in your perceptions. As one of those naturally slender women, I kind of get sick how everyone says that you shouldn't bash someone because of their size but then these same people turn around and decide that this does not apply this to those of us who are slender. Not all of us have pinched faces, wear Banana Republic, nor do we all have Jennifer Anniston hair. Oh, and some of us still manage to be "glam" without these things.

I am the first to support other women -- but not when they put me down.

ARGH!! Dagny! Please read my response to Nancy!! ARGHH!! I am really sorry I wasn't more precise!! without repeating myself - my response/apology is about three - four posts up from here.

Is that man in the cap doing the 'mashed potato'?

Marcia, I actually read your apology before I wrote my last comment. I had let your original comment pass as I have done many other comments and I shouldn't have. So actually my most recent comment, while directed at you, was actually to all of the folks who read this. I'd just like people to stop and think before writing comments like the one you wrote. If one takes a pause, then there is no reason to go back and apologize later.

What about the buff women who aren't skinny or heavy but muscular and strong? Do men even look at the tough chick or do we scare the hell out of them? Not that I'm that buff, just trying to appreciate my body too.

*cheers* You are now my hero! I get all freaked out about being the only larger than size eight girl myself, so I know that letting it go is major. Good for you, and I am glad you had fun!

I think in order to feel good in our own skins, we have to be able to do it without first putting down someone else.

Yeah, I think it's a fine line where we're like generally trying to be aware of ourselves (which means some comparisons, they happen) and trying to look at our good aspects and so then you end up in a comparison game again. I don't think any harm was meant by any of this, it's hard sometimes on the innernets to post a comment and have it sound like what you want in your head, so I always try to give folks the benefit of the doubt. I know half the time I myself am posting furtively from ... uh, not work of course! ... and so I sound half-stoned and a terrible typist to boot!

Ok, so this is kind of offtopic, but I was thinking last night about all these folks saying guys like a little meat on the bones of a girl, etc. ... and I was thinking about it, because I wonder if any of this at all has to do with men (in my case, at least) and more about just wanting to have this feeling of okayness, a total self-acceptance, completely outside the realm of looking for a man.

Also, more offtopic, would you go out with a 25-year-old cricket player from Jamaica if you were a almost-35-year-old person who feels rather Mrs. Robinson about the whole thing? ;)

heh heh

I do hope no one reads that.

Laurie: Love the "heh heh." Go for it woman!

Nancy, this dating thing is crazy. I do not understand it at all. Factor in the fact that someone is like a whole decade younger than you? It's like the three stooges in spanish. Fun! But weird! And also, weird!

I'm partial to age differences. My husband took a chance on me and I'm 17 yrs his junior. We celebrate 21 yrs of marriage this summer.

I'm not saying you and Mr. Jamaican Soccer Guy will become Mr. & Mrs., but ya might just have some fun. If the "vibe" is there, take a chance. Dinner, movie, or whatever it is that you young people do these days. ;-)

Nancy, congrats on your anniversary, that is AWESOME!!

I have no idea what the crazy kids these days do on a date. Milk and cookies? Go on a drive by? Play X-box? LOL

We'll see. I may hang out with him this weekend. Apparently, though, 'hanging out' and 'dating' are different things. Go figure.

Okay, I PROMISE never to write another post when I am distracted. Which I was yesterday when I made that ill-fated post. Laurie, thanks for understanding, because well, like you, I NEVER do this at er, work or anything. Er, um. And I always feel like I could be more eloquent if I only had the time to slow down and think for a change. And Dagny and Nancy - if either of you ever come to Baltimore I will buy you a beer or three!

And Laurie, younger boys are fun. Trust me. ;-)
And I think you deserve to have some fun in your life!

**fake it till ya make it, babe, fake it till ya make it!**

Hi Laurie, I read your blog all the time, but this one I could really relate to. I am turning 30 in a few weeks, and I know the feeling. But your idea is a great one. Maybe if we start pretending more, it will eventually become a part of our lives. Thanks for the laughs, but this one really hit home. You are a beautiful person inside and out. It's very apparent!

Hi Laurie, I just saw your post about the 25 year old guy. My philosophy is that everyone deserves a first date! Give him a try.

we're going to have lunch on Friday :)

and here's to you...........Jesus loves you more than you will know.....hey hey hey....hey hey hey.... !HAVE FUN!

Why care so much about who is thin or not? Just ignore them. I'm sure they're not judging you, and if they are, who the heck cares. Like you're ever going to see them again.