Aww.....a cute picture with Christina Aguilera trying to get people to Rock the Vote. Apparently it's from a video of her singing America the Beautiful to Max.

When I was a kid, my older sisters were really good at freaking me out. We moved around alot so there were always strange bedrooms to get used to. Once in a hotel they read the fire escape instructions out loud and I couldn't sleep because I was afraid of fire! I was 5!

Later that year they locked me in a closet in the attic of the old victorian we were renting in Schenectady, and I saw the devil walk across the back of the closet - the Underwood Red devil, that is.

When we first moved to San Dimas, CA we were in a one-story with wide windows. They spent the first night speculating about how large a big cat could jump through the window. Was it too small for a tiger? Big enough for a cougar?

Finally, I never slept alone in a room until I was 25 and I had to leave the light on for the first week. I couldn't get used to waking up and not hearing anyone else breathing.

Now I have blackout curtains, wear silicone earplugs, nose strips and if I have to sleep during the day, I put a stretchy hair band for a mask.

Also, maybe Jenna's not a Republican?

The Baltimore Sun is all obsessed about how she and her husband are moving into a house in South Baltimore. And she's *gasp* maybe applying for a position in a public charter school in the city. I've no love lost for her father, but damn. What an awful age to be a presidential kid. At least at teen-and-under, you are expected to be a kid and mostly allotted that space. To be making a go as an adult under that scrutiny? Uhg.

I think I don't like the placebo thing because of the deception regarding something as serious as pain. I know I'm a stoic (I haven't even taken advil for the bleach headache) but I also know I'm kinda fucked up about believing the pills will actually work when they are supposed to (see: nasty ear infections) that I'm reluctant to encourage a belief that they will when they aren't even supposed to and it's just playing mental games. I mean, GREAT if the mental games work. But I kinda don't want to play like that.

I guess the placebo doesn't bother me because I've had enough experience where the real-deal meds are supposed to work and they don't.

But I don't take a lot of meds, zyrtec not withstanding.

So there's a site called Baby Steals, which is a lot like the woot sites, where you get a deal a day. They have the zoobie giraffe for today for half the usual price. And I totally want one, except I bought two zoobie monkeys just a few days ago and can't justify the $20 when I don't have $20.

Maybe I need to stop looking at the interweb.

First clafoutis of the season is in the oven. All is right with the world. Well, almost.

Kathy -- thank you for the book recs! I bookmarked your post.

I purchased and put up a new shower curtain rod. And then I made potato wedges. Oh, my god. Those were some cracktastically tasty potato wedges, you guys.

I think this is the crowd to enjoy this: [link]

I think bandages and kisses are also placebos, just "acceptable" ones.

Totally, but in the case of kisses, they are totally free. That's a plus to me. There are other accepted placebos: name a cure for hiccups that isn't just a placebo?

I also kind of agree with the guy who says you don't want to condition your kid to always think "pill" when they are feeling bad. I know you disagree Kat, but I think toddlers are pretty quick with that conditioning anyway. Or maybe that's just my two kids.

I'm trying to think of the situation where it would be the best choice. A headache? If I suspect there's real pain, I'm reaching for a real painkiller. Upset stomach? Perhaps as there aren't good meds for kids although I've found that Gripe Water seems to actually work (I tried it myself when I was pregnant). Allergy attack maybe?

things like kisses aren't in pill form which is the first place I see the problem.

and while there are studies on the magic of touch, kisses make you feel better not because they heal,but because someone cares