First comment of the day! Woo hoo!
I do the same thing: turn any conversation into song lyrics. In fact, when I read "Me and Rachael" in your title, I automatically added "Down at the schoolyard" before seeing the next line. It drives the kids nuts. I love it!

Good! Another chance to get myself down to L.A. to say hello. I was bummed about not being able to make it to the Grove on Thursday. It was just a little too far from Palmdale to drag my 4-year old out with me after work and on a school night! A Sunday afternoon is perfect.

Anna, I didn't realize until well after the Grove event had been scheduled that it was also on the final night of Olympic ladies figure skating!! So the fact that even two people would come out was so happy a surprise. I'm glad we're doing this little daytime thing at the Knitter's Studio, I think it will be more relaxed and there will be yarn everywhere! Hope to see you there!

You said "flummoxed" two days in a row. I love you! :-)

You're too funny! If you ever come to Central NY (not anywhere near the city! but like, cow country), I'd be happy to host you. My house is tiny, kinda like your apartment, and I have four people living in it, plus two cats, a rat, a lizard, a turtle, some fish and some chickens. But you'd be very welcome!

You're too funny! If you ever come to Central NY (not anywhere near the city! but like, cow country), I'd be happy to host you. My house is tiny, kinda like your apartment, and I have four people living in it, plus two cats, a rat, a lizard, a turtle, some fish and some chickens. But you'd be very welcome!

Sorry, didn't mean to post twice. The first time it said it didn't go through.

I feel you could try to fit a boom box in a medium-sized bucket and you would do fine.

After reading yesterday's posts, I keep thinking of a lovely (female) friend of my husband's whose job was awful and whose marriage was breaking up, who told us "I'd rather be fat and happy than thin and miserable."

Didn't get to the comments in time yesterday, so here is my two cents. Have you read "The Four Agreements"? That book changed my life, and one line out of it is my mantra: "Nothing others do is because of you." Your skinny friend complaining about her weight had NOTHING to do with you, as you already noted. I'll tell ya, I use that phrase every day when negative thoughts come into my head about the behavior of others. The other mantra that makes my life happier is to ask myself: "Would you rather be right, or happy?" I choose happy and let go of the "right" (which is all subjective anyway!), and it really works!

Thanks for the heads up about the knitter's studio. I am going to keep that day set aside so I can come. I really like MsKnudsen comment and am personally working on alot of issues about myself. Your idea of a monthly check in is a great idea. Need to get to work on creating and keeping my own diary and blog.

You have your head in the right place. My opinion: the size of the clothes has nothing to do with the quality of the person. When I was in 3rd grade my mother joined Weight Watchers....she put the family on it too. I am now 49 and getting ok with being heavier than I want. My life is full of wonderful people who love me for me, not how much I weigh. Keep on the road to health. You keep loads of people smiling.

Have you seen this? Saw it on a SPTimes Blog today and immediately thought of you! - C
http://www.rekn.it/

Ha ha...I agree with Marilyn: FLUMMOXED! Are you reading Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series? That's the only other place I've seen that word used on a regular basis (not that I'm that well-read, mind you). Looking forward to reading your new book. Too bad you won't be touring this time around. I was at your signing for your 1st book at Yarntopia in Katy, just outside of Houston. Good luck, and keep on with your self-improvement quest. Looks like you're on a roll!!!!!!!!!

I rarely comment because I know you're pressed for time and junk and feel like I'm repeating what everyone else is writing, but one thing I've been thinking on lately is the idea that we women are always so competative with each other. There are some ladies who are now doing Weight Watchers and then some ladies who are not, and it's kind of like a mini soap opera everyday when the discussion of weight and weight loss comes up. I suppose it's natural, because of our close proximity, but I don't want to be known as "That Girl Who Lost The Weight". Although, I'm rapidly turning into "The Lady Who Has An Edward Doll In Her Purse and Blogs About It". Alas.

Yay Rachael! And yay you!

Flummoxed is an excellent word. I also like the British poleaxed.

At first I thought you wrote you would "be doing a little reading/talking/SINGING thing" with Rachael Herron, and I got confused because of the whole Happy Birthday thing... :)

OK - you sold me! I just ordered her book. I've already read yours and it's on the lending trail...

@Lucia: "gobsmacked" is another wonderful word from the UK. Sorta like "facepalm"!
Laurie, as soon as I get some discretionary funds I'll have to have your second book! Over the last two evenings I've reread the first one, laughed out loud several times. Thanks for keeping it real.

Hit it!!! Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah, na na na nah...Here comes the hotstepper! You're the lyrical gangster! For real, Laurie! You ARE the lyrical gangster! LOVE IT! Since I missed like 99.9% of what you had to say at the Grove (because the homie that was nice enough to accompany me got stuck in El Trafico on the way over), I'm going to try to make it down to the schoolyard on Sunday! Woohoo!!! Party!!!

today i read yesterday's and had a thought that i didn't see well represented in the comments. humor. humor can take the angst out and make room for a gentle, genuine comment or discussion. someone had said to deliver, straight-faced, "yes, you are definitely morbidly obese"--that could be delivered as a laugh line (depending on the listener?)...but yeah, it's not easy...thanks for your great blog!

One thing I had forgotten when I commented yesterday... my sister 'starts' these weight discussions by talking about CLOTHES.

If she mentions clothes she's gonna talk about weight, you can bet a buck on it.

Enjoy your knitting time with friends!

I never knew there where so many books that have knitting as part of the story. Loved reading Drunk, Divorced ... and am now reading Home is where... love that one too! On the subject of weight I was really happy when my very skinny friend told me she lost 4 pounds. I think I know where it went..right on me. Skinny girls do not understand the battle we face every day.

"Oy if I get that boy I'm gonna stick him in a house of detention"

I love your writing, been reading this blog a long time. Rachel's title just grabbed my heart - what a sweet title. Have a great time at Knitter's Studio.

Listening to skinny people say they're fat: I paid a therapist big bucks to learn how to deal with a complainer (my husband). Basically, she said to simply listen and nod or ahem to let him know that I was listening; I shouldn't try to have a conversation or fix it or straigten him out. That has helped me. And a friend, living with a schizophrenic partner, told me: You can't have a rational conversation with an irrational person. It's difficult for me to shut up, but the conversation is over or moves on more quickly when I'm quiet.

Hope to see you March 21.

Sabrina Nicholls

I met your friend Rachael at her booth at Stitches West last weekend. She was so happy and excited about her first book coming out. I will definately be looking for the book at the bookstore soon.

My copy of Rachael's book came today, and joined yours on the coffee table. I wish the two of them (and me, too, of course) were able to see you both!

I just read your post about the weight conversation...one time I had a lady ask for my advice on how to gain weight. She choose me because I was obviously good at it...Wow. I didn't know what to say. She honestly didn't seem to realize that she completely insulted me and hurt my feelings immensely. Anyway, congrats on the new book and your continued success on becoming a healthier you!

I, too, work lyrics into my conversations. Even worse, as a singer, I frequently make up lyrics to melodies I know. I can always tell when I have mastered whatever new choral piece I'm working on - it's when I catch myself singing it with made-up words about my dog! They get pretty schmaltzy...

I just read your post yesterday about the weight conversation and would like to add a couple cents in. I've seen this from both sides - weighed 85 pounds (eating everything that wasn't nailed down!) when I graduated from high school, but shot up 60 pounds the year I turned 25 and have struggled with maintaining about half that ever since. We all see things from the perspective of what it's like in our own bodies. I still saw myself as a skinny kid who had to eat as much as I could just to maintain my weight for much longer than I needed to, and my health suffered. No, with my size and bone structure, I didn't look "fat", but my blood pressure and cholesterol told a different story. My doc tells me I still could stand to lose ten pounds for health reasons, but if you saw me, you'd think "skinny girl". And, as you so perfectly pointed out, it's really about being healthy and happy, not about the number on the scale. I wish you success in ALL your goals! :-)

Thanks for the hellos everyone, hope to see you on the 21st, comments now closed :)