My parents keep me in the dark for the same reason. They didn’t tell me for a month after my dad was diagnosed with a different cancer years ago - and only did because my dad told his buddy, and they realized his buddy’s son is married to my childhood friend and she might tell me.

I am with you. My dad’s been in the hospital, parents aren’t communicative. Keep telling me not to come home. I worked 19 days in a row. I am almost 8 months pregnant. Found out dad has lung cancer yesterday. At least this time I didn’t our call around to different hospitals looking for him like I have before. Sorry…

I made a farro salad that called for it to be cooked in apple cider. It was really great. Mixed it with some arugula, radish and parm.

I had a good friend in high school who was sexually active - but she went to bible college and got into the purity movement. It was like she was brainwashed. She came home for breaks talking about swatting boys on the butt with towels while they watched basketball practice bcause they weren’t allowed to touch them.…

I think it’s born out of the purity ball/purity ring religious movement, which really got big when I was a teenager. Church youth groups are sort of the big social scene where I grew up, and I went to one with a friend once. Walked in, never met the youth pastor before - we were introduced amen he immediately asked me…

Really? I am from rural America and it’s disgustingly common in the small town churches. I also know a couple of grown women who call any time they spend alone with their father “daddy daughter dates”, which I find so bizarre. Why impose that on your relationship when you could just call it quality time? Or hell,…

I hate it, too. Why add a weird sexualized element to your parent/child relationship when you could simply spend time with your kid doing something they enjoy. Show interest in their interests. Encourage them. Kids don’t need the weirdness. It doesn’t help them understand romantic relationships - it complicates that…

EW. My conservative cousin just posted a video of his “daddy/daughter date.” She is dolled up in a full face of makeup with a clutch purse - she is SIX. Six! The purported idea behind this shit is that she learns “how a man should treat her,” but all it does is perpetuate fucked up mysogynistic ideas about autonomy…

Also, I truly had no idea that the supplies issue was that dire. That is insane. Years ago I started a clothing drive for Dress for Success at various office buildings that gets tons of donations. These same offices have tons of resources to donate post its and Expo markers, plus the women who donate clothes would…

Yes, I am. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thank you. I hadn’t thought of that.

The colored pens are unused but have been opened and removed from original packaging. Is that OK to donate? The other items are unused and in boxes.

I love meringue buttercream! The first time I made it, I didn’t wait long enough for it thicken and thought I had ruined it. I hadn’t! Just have patience when adding the cubes of butter, and suddenly the weird soupiness will become the most delicious icing that you have ever had.

Teachers of Jezebel - I have a bunch of colored pens, markers, etc. that I need to get rid of. Does anyone know of an organization that accepts stuff like that for classrooms?

I love your line about the songs making you laugh. I grew up in a rural area and totally rejected country music until I was in my 30s and ended up at a songswriters roundtable with a couple of Kacey’s co-writers on Follow Your Arrow. One of them, Brandy Clark, writes and performs her own music. Her music is very witty…

I assume it’s booze.

My friend was affected and didn’t even get a letter. She had to call a dedicated phone line and ask. The way this has been handled is abhorrent.

I am so sorry for your loss.

It feels authentic in a way that I haven’t seen on a magazine cover maybe ever? It doesn’t seem like a practiced expression. It feels like a person being captured in a moment where they just happen to look serene and happy and their most beautiful. It’s beauty but it’s so much more attainable than what we are…

They are pretty great, but it’s crazy expensive to buy a volcano to use at home. At home, we just use a vape pen (or I should say my husband does. I am pregnant so I don’t get to do the fun stuff these days!)