Have you had that thing where they make you walk into a wee cubicle thingy and then you're suddenly blasted with a mysterious puff of air which identifies whether you've ever thought kindly of Islam, or whatever the hell it does?

I had to go through this once, a few years ago. I was working at a summer program, and the last day, I was assigned to accompany two 13-year-olds to the airport so they could fly home. Since they were under 14, I had to walk to the gate with them and wait there until the planes took off. BWI was testing those machines, and I was one of the ones randomly picked to be screened in it. I told them that I'm not actually getting on a plane, just walking some kids to the gate, but they insisted. Getting to the machine meant walking down this long hallway, away from the kids. One of the kids had, several times over the summer, demonstrated an "I don't need supervision -- I'm old enough to go wherever I want to on my own" mindset. I took several minutes to extract promises from both of them that they would wait RIGHT THERE and not move an inch until I got back before I went to get screened.

so what is this air puffy thing doing

so what is this air puffy thing doing

I think it's testing for explosives residue.

The CN Tower in Toronto has puffy things. It was kind of cool.

The airport in Indianapolis has them as well. They seem to be rolling them out very slowly.

flea, I thought I could recognize practically everyone from my 4 years, but I've never placed your pictures as a familiar face. But then, I didn't recognize a lot of my own classmates at my last reunion. Anyway, Anassa Kata!

Okay, ladies. Let's imagine a scenario. Say you were in NYC for Thanksgiving, but your family was in L.A. You have a few friends in town, but nobody super-close, and decided that arranging a gathering with them was more trouble than it was worth. You are therefore planning to do absolutely nothing to celebrate the holiday, and are slightly (though not terribly) sad about it.

Now imagine that there's this boy who you went on a few dates with a month or so back. A nice boy, who liked you, and who you definitely liked as well - so much so, in fact, that it scared you into breaking things off, because you're currently an emotional mess and not really capable of a serious relationship at the moment. Ever since then, though, you've been wondering if it was the right choice, because you do miss the boy, and the AIM conversations you've been having lately have simply made that more poignant.

Unbeknownst to you, the boy is strongly considering a Bold Romantic Gesture (henceforth referred to as a BRG) tomorrow, Thanksgiving, to make it clear that he still cares. Not a BRG with pressure - the boy has been good about keeping his distance since you asked for it, because, as mentioned, he is very nice. But a BRG that shows true thoughtfulness and continued interest, at least. A BRG that will make the Alone Thanksgiving a good day, rather than a sad one.

What might such a BRG consist of?

A friend gave me a huge Nesco roaster thing

I read this as I was skimming. My brain said "Nibco" and went to a whole new place of alarm.

I have made the cranberry relish and the pumpkin pie. The cranberry relish looks great. I made a fatal pie crust error with my new glass pie plate, however, and the crust looks ridiculous. No one is allowed to make fun of my pie tomorrow. I think it's still going to taste really good. It just looks funny.

Sigh.

Alright, Californians, you have 2 hours and 9 minutes to make fun of Kristin's pie.

GO!