My grandmother, probably when I was about 12 or 13 matter of factly said in front of the whole family that I was "smart" and my younger cousin was "pretty."

I think I'd like to watch this (hypothetically, if it shows on the internet since I don't have TV) because I've recently purchased several nice things from thrift stores and ebay, so since I'm kind of just getting started, I think it would be neat to watch.

@jemandtheholograms: I'm a semi-veg (love that phrase so much more than the obnoxious "flexitarian"- basically I eat meat a couple times a week, especially if I'm eating out) and I don't really like fake meat either. I am also lousy at cooking tofu for myself so I'd rather get my protein from beans, nuts, cheese and…

@DreamingSpiresNeverSleep: The side dishes are the best part of thanksgiving dinner anyway!!

SUCH an improvement!

@jumpingpiglet: Among other hints that they were being insistent, at the end she described them as not taking no for an answer.

@jumpingpiglet: I think the difference in the post was that the women giving up the seats were very insistent, thus putting the writer in an awkward position.

@jellynotjam: What is it with the sister's thing? If I'm hanging out with a female friend, regardless of the friend and whether or not she looks anything like me, inevitably someone will ask if we're sisters!

@netfe: I feel your pain. The worst for me is when my coworkers harp on how young I look. It makes me feel like I'll never be taken seriously.

Seriously people- don't even do this to your friends. Once I went to a party wearing a dress that displayed my cleavage to a better advantage than normal and 2 of my close friends asked me if I was pregnant. It made me feel incredibly self conscious and I reacted by guzzling wine- thus calming my nerves and indicating…

I think she's very talented for her age. What I think is interesting however is that a generation or two ago a lot of girls were making their own clothes. My mother tells a story of sewing pleats into all of the skirts she designed for her 6th grade year, going to school and realizing that straight skirts were in that…

@singing_femmebot: Thanks! And I do enjoy them. I'm just always doing things around the house that require me to wash my hands (walking the dogs, feeding the cats, making dinner, etc...) so I automatically take off the jewelry before I start that stuff. :)

@singing_femmebot: Thanks! The rings I wear every day are my engagement ring, which is a diamond set in platinum and a sterling silver ring on the other hand.

@singing_femmebot: what about when you wash your hands in the bathroom at work. I take my ring off and dry under it while holding it on another finger, but am I damaging it with the hand soap?

Ew! I always take my jewelry off as soon as I get home and put it in it's various boxes and don't even wear my engagement ring around the house. I'm sure dead skin cells still build up, but hopefully I'm less rotten than most people.

@Cimorene: Yeah I didn't think poorly of dutch women based on the article. I did find it hard to believe that someone who had lived there for 3 months was an expert on their work habits though!

I've aspired to work part time someday since I met another woman in my office who has done the same thing for really long time. She started doing it when she had kids, and once her kids grew up, she continued to work part time so that she could devote time to painting. She also celebrates a "birthday week." Clearly,…

This morning, actually. I ran the furthest I've ever run (14 miles!) under adverse conditions (stomach ache from a big greasy dinner the night before, and no running buddy or music for the last 7 miles) and I did it even though I didn't have to. I finished my run with a smile on my face and felt incredibly thankful…

@Doddibot: My anecdotal evidence contradicts his anecdotal evidence! :)

I don't think that my experience is the same as his. I think it's more like 50/50 for me. I know some people who have always been "greyhounds or bulldogs" but I also know a significant number of people who were skinny little kids who became overweight adults.