JIM CARREY'S MOST RECENT ROLE hasn't made him millions, but it's snagged the star one heck of a girlfriend: Jenny McCarthy. The actress has dubbed him "the autism whisperer" for the way he connects with her six-year-old son, Evan, who was diagnosed with the disorder at age two. (Her recent bestseller "Louder Than Words" describes his struggle.)
And as an activist duo, McCarthy and Carrey stormed D.C. last Wednesday, leading a march of 8,000 to the Capitol. Their mission: to bring attention to the astonishing rise in autism — the latest figures peg the rate in the U.S. at 1 in 150 children. The pair support the theory that the increase is linked to the barrage of vaccines now recommended for kids.
"This is the most moving day of our lives," said McCarthy after a rally on the West Capitol Lawn, where supporters had greeted her with a chant of "JENN-Y! JENN-Y!"Indeed, many in the crowd teared up during the event as speakers recounted stories of normal, healthy toddlers getting vaccinated, coming down with a fever that night and then never recovering.
But such tales took a backseat to pointing fingers at the building behind them. When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., took to the mic, he declared today's youth "the sickest generation of children in American history." "The treatment of these children is going to far exceed the cost of the Iraq war," he announced.
Like the sea of other parents present, McCarthy and Carrey are angry at a medical community they view as unresponsive to their pleas for "green vaccines" and in bed with greedy drug manufacturers.
The reason vaccines aren't green already? "Mercury is a cheap preservative and they're not going to make as big a profit without it," McCarthy said.
McCarthy and Carrey took great pains, however, to make clear that their beef wasn't with vaccines themselves, but rather the quality, quantity and frequency. The rallying cry on the backs of their green T-shirts: "Too many, too soon."
When asked what advice they have for moms and dads worried about the effect of vaccines on their kids, the celeb couple answered in unison, "Space them out, ask for mercury-free and never vaccinate when they're sick."
Doctors remain divided on whether these fears are valid, but there was one indisputable fact from Wednesday. Evan, who was scampering about the scene, seems to be thriving. McCarthy attributes the progress to his gluten-free, dairy-free diet, but perhaps spending time with "the autism whisperer" is helping, too.
This little number I got at Goodwill for $72. It was a scuffed up brown and was missing some handles. I painted and distressed it with Picket Fence, a Ralph Lauren Color that my sister Jessica turned us all onto.
I got this darling, feminine bed off of Craigslist. It was painted burgundy, but I painted it with oil base paint and distressed the trim with satin blues from Sherwin Williams, I love how it turned out.
Below is a chair that I refinished. I got it for $25 at an antique store and for years I planned on refinishing it. It was pretty haggard. I got the damask fabric on housefabric.com, I LOVE it. It's the same fabric as my dining room curtains.
Although it's a special, sentimental piano, it needed work. It was dark brown but I painted it with white gold and my cute husband put a front on it.
The end result.
Next up, the piano bench.
I LOVE this fabric, let me say that again, I LOVE this fabric.
Together again.
Elizabeth brought Grandpa a toy brush and he brushed her hair with it, she loved it.
Grandma and Caroline during their visit in January, 2008.
Grandpa and Caroline.
