@Gazpacho: That's what [Amazon.com] is for!

@100flowers: You'll see downthread plenty of references to how annoying Michael's constant cries of "WAAALT!" became in the first season. It's really no different with Claire and her baaaaybee and Charlie cries— down to the phonetic spelling.

@lodown: Yeah, I'm a bit prone to the yeast infection, and wearing a pantyliner excessively when I may not necessarily need one is just asking for trouble...that stuff has to breathe!

@ms.windupbird: Yes!! I think there were international flags and/or like a gold braiding printed on the front??

@I Believe In Peace, Bitch: Holy crap, I had no idea people did these! I've only seen them for weddings or engagements, and I agree they really are beautiful, but damn I can't believe people do these every year (or TWICE a year!).

@morninggloria: If that's your most awkward stage, count yourself lucky— that's not at *all* bad! I wish I had my freshman year high school (14 years old) pic digitally available, because it is epically bad. I had short, boycut hair (but not in a good way) that was poorly styled, and was wearing a cheesy Express…

@I Believe In Peace, Bitch: I honestly know families from all different socioeconomic backgrounds who do, and don't do these.

@newmakcity: I think it actually says, "Noxia"! Har, har.

@this_charming_one: Last week after trying on about 20 different trench coats at Nordstroms', I found one that fit perfectly. And then I looked at the label and saw it was Jessica Simpson's!

Oh god, the DC area code just made me lose it!!

@LaFemme: I totally agree, though I think the problem with "midget" is the historical derogatory associations with the term, not the term itself (I think much like "retarded").

@Frau Blucher: I believe "little person" is the catch-all term, while dwarfism generally refers to achondroplasia, where the proportions of head and limbs are different than average...

@annebreal: Definitely agree on idget being absolutely out. Though isn't dwarfism a condition that only causes some of the cases of short stature of little persons? i.e. there are little people who conditions other that dwarfism responsible for their height...

@Vivi21: I dunno, the parents of the Dilley Septuplets somehow managed to do it with normal jobs (albeit one less child), and only one Dateline special every few years with Diane Sawyer. And no book deals, speakers circuit, mansion, hair extensions, donated trips and swag, etc.

@bluebears: I'm not gonna lie, you're missing out in my opinion— I love my Wii.

@katedahl: @weetziebat: I *loved* reading (still do), and did it voraciously growing up. But the one thing I absolutely hated was doing a reading journal. They popped up at various points along the way, including jr high, high school, and even freshman year college English, in the mandatory intro writing class U of…

@bbug: WOW, total flashback!! I'm reading your description of this book I never heard of, thinking how inappropriate for fourth graders it kind of sounds, and then when you got to the part about the boy being in a wheelchair because his father backed up over him—zap! I remember this book! I read it pretty young too,…

I'm generally not at all squeamish, but this picture freaks me the heck out!!

@badly drawn girl: My mental picture is of the scene in the Handmaid's Tale where he attempts to impregnate her. I know the analogy doesn't correlate exactly, but the ceremonial aspect of it works and it still makes me shudder.

@mgallagher713: God, that is totally true. And not that I'm for spanking, but it's because of how different kids are that all those "I was spanked and turned out great/I was never spanked and was well-behaved and turned out great" are invalid.