In Memoriam: Joe Lawrence, my cousin

I didn't know Joe well...perhaps not as well as I should have. All I really know is that my family has lost a wonderful kid filled with lots of potential. He was definitely a fun kid who knew how to live life. I know that whatever is out there beyond this life, that those who went before are rejoicing to be reunited.
Kim, please show Joe a good time...I know Grandpa and Grandma and Carrie are all there to show him around, but You know how to have fun;)
Here's the obituary that ran in the Tribune today. It's so strange to lose a family member who is so much younger than oneself.


Joseph William Lawrence 4/21/87 ~ 7/17/05 Our beloved Joe has returned home to our Heavenly Father from a tragic boating accident. Born April 21, 1987, the youngest of eight children. His hobbies included mechanics, frisbee golf, four wheeling, snow boarding and spending time with his family at Granny's ranch. His favorite toy was his truck. If anything needed to be fixed or a project needed another hand, Joe was there to help which was a blessing to his family and friends. He loved working with his family at the shop. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joe is survived by his wonderful parents: Kelly and Rita; brothers and sisters: Rae Dawn and Jeff Titcomb; Heath, Aubrey, Asher and Halle; Tyler, Polly and Ethan; Taylor; Travis; Krista and Mike Watts; Robbie; Grandparents: Melvin and Wilma Morrison; Charlene Lawrence; many aunts, uncles and cousins. Joe's family wishes to thank the family and friends for their love, support, time and resources in finding Joe. A heart felt thanks to the Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue and other agencies. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 11 a.m. at the Valley Park 2nd Ward, 5233 South 3200 West. A viewing will be held Friday, 6-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road and Saturday at the church, 10-10:45 a.m. prior to service. Interment, Taylorsville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Utah County Sheriff Search and Rescue, 3075 North Main, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660. You will always be in our hearts. We love you, Boosta! Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 7/21/2005.

128 lbs "stout?" wtf!

In the stars' summer shape-up issue of TV Guide (June 19), cover girl KELLY RIPA weighed in on the subject of how she keeps her glam figure. During the conversation, the "Live with Regis & Kelly" host commented on her high-school weight, and her words have caused an uproar among fans."
TV Guide was surprised that we had such a large reaction from readers," says ALI GAZAN, associate writer for the weekly magazine."Anytime we can fill a whole 'Letters' page on one article, it is a huge response."The exact quote from the magazine is: "But back when she was a big-haired high school cheerleader, the 5-foot-4 blond clocked in at128 pounds. 'That was a fun weigh-in for cheerleading,' Ripa jokes. 'I was stout. I had four legs, including my two upper arms.'"
Since the issue hit the newsstand, TV Guide has been inundated with people writing in to say that 128 pounds is not a bad weight for a woman of Kelly's height and they feel she was promoting a negative image for young girls.
"One reader said that 128 pounds at 5-foot-4 isn't bad at all," Ali explains. "In fact, it is normal, but she also says that Kelly does have a personal chef and that is probably how she keeps her weight down.
"We had another reader who said that even though Kelly felt this way and said she had a great body from pushing around her kids, it had alot to do with good genes, which is also true."
Obviously, this is a hot button issue, and Ali adds that young girls need to keep in mind that while Kelly felt stout at that weight, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are stout if they have the same stats.
"Kelly is in Hollywood and they have different standards than we do,"Ali points out, "There is a little more pressure to feel thin in Hollywood."

And here is my initial response: WTF???????!!!!!
And here is my more thought out response:
WTF???????!!!!!!!! But then again, I believe Regis' wife, Joy wears a size 0. I seem to recall her saying one time years ago that after the holidays one year she actually went all the way up to a size five (gasp!).
The problem with saying "Hollywood had a different standard" (and I believe the show comes from New York) is that the "standard" has bled into mainstream/ small-town America. I got to a point where I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on a fairly regular basis. I discovered that the more I watched it, the worse I felt about me. Whereas the episodes of Xena I watched made me feel good about myself (let's face it, Lucy Lawless had an amazing, strong, muscular body...it wasn't a willowy, whispy thing). She really has an almost anti-Hollywood look.
I hope that it's only a matter of time until the media on both coasts start to realize we want to see women who look like us and share our struggles and passions (i.e. plus sized people aren't always focused on their weight). Of course, perhaps part of the problem lies within ourselves and our community; perhaps because far too many of us tune in to those shows and buy the products that are advertised during those shows we become a part of the silent, approving majority. Someday I hope to see a voluptuous, curvy gal on Desperate Housewives beguiling all their love interests.

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