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

Okay, Ashton Kutcher is...well...well...he's happily married to Demi Moore, and that's just weird. Helping raise the kids and having a totally healthy interaction with their father.

His image throws me off balance. More power to him, I guess. I just can't work out who his target audience is, and how his familial situation must affect that.

His camera ad is cute, where he leaves his camera "untended" and all these LA style hotties pick it up and take pictures of themselves of them, and the comes back for it playing ignorant.

I just can't think Demi would take that well.

I want more lemonade. Stomach is vat of acid. :(

IIRC there's a hierarchy of lab coats in a hospital, right? Or a code? Full-fledged doctors wear one length, students another? Which is which?