Got no problem with small spaces. I discovered with skating that I get really freaked out by going backwards. And it held me back on a lot of basic turns. I could make myself do it, but not quickly or well, even when I was getting really good on tricky forward footwork. I just go into instant panic mode.

No, you do that when you need a flamethrower to light the nest of tent caterpillars on fire.

Stephen once torched a hornet's nest in our front yard that way. He was so proud of himself. I was just happy he didn't burn down the yard, or the house.

It looks like it has a similar effect to Temple Grandin's squeeze box she invented because being under pressure calmed her autistic hyper-reaction to stimuli.

It makes so much sense. Newborns like swaddling for the same reason -- after all those months curled up in the womb, being exposed and out in the open has to be pretty overwhelming.

The best way to kill spiders is having your husband squish it with a shoe and then flush it down the toilet while you hide in another room.

So you know that comic that has the "Clean all the things" thing called Hyperbole and a Half? Here is a good one that many Buffistas might relate to:

The four levels of social entrapment

My friend Lawrence is like Super Caver Guy. Like, 4 day trips into the belly of the beast, hard-core rappelling, teeny spaces, bat-tracking caver dude.

He is a short, wiry guy, so he can really get into crazy small spaces. But he is BUILT. He had his kids into caves from about 1 year on. He's seen some pretty cool stuff.

I, however, like seeing the pix, but caving is not for me. Open caves are fine, but I've tried wiggling through spaces, and my boobs and my mind are not built for claustro spaces.

Awkward First Day Of School Pictures

A collection of the most uncomfortable, miserable back to school pictures I could find.

I dunno - in some of the pictures the kids were happy. What's up with that? I was promised misery!

I totally zoned out at the burger place today and didn't notice them call my order. Luckily the guy beside me knew what I'd ordered, and gave me a heads up.

Wait, hello? Why do you know what I ordered? Weird much?

Dustin Brown continues to be lovely.

Just bought my books for the fall. Three textbooks, totalling $185. Ugh.

I like small spaces (hiding under a desk has often looked like a very comforting idea) but only if tree is a large space outside. So as a ki I read about these cupboard beds some scandanavian types used to have, and thought it was awesome, but caves would not work.

Sorry to everyone here who just received a spam message from my old hotmail account. Argh.