If you're using frozen fruit for smoothies, avoid raspberries and blackberries unless you've got a VitaMix or some other really good blender. Otherwise, you end up with a mouthful of seeds.

Did you look at the rare book store? When I was there in April, I was drooling over the window display of the first edition of Helen Keller's My Life autographed by her. I wanted that soooo much, but didn't have a spare $12,000 on me at the time.

Walked by it, but I prefer the Powell's Rare Book Room.

Jessica, was your sister working last Wednesday night? If so, we may have seen her singing. Dark haired female gondolier--very nice. That was after we had our picture taken standing knee deep in one of the fountains outside the casino.

Celina Cass is missing. Is she the only missing child in the US right now? Why is she getting so much press?

Timelies all!

Went out last night for our anniversary dinner.(Our anniversary is actually today, but we have dance practice, so no time for a nice dinner out) Went to a place called Seasons 52, which does dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Also cute little desserts in shot glasses. Yum.

Celina Cass is missing. Is she the only missing child in the US right now? Why is she getting so much press?

11-yo white girl from a Very Small Town, apparently abducted from her bedroom. She's the perfect innocent victim of a salacious crime. The cable channels love perfect innocent victims so they can make you all terrified for your children, and thus keep watching the news to learn what her family did wrong so you won't do that.

Also, I saw the first report about it on Making Light, because one of the mods there is an EMT in the next town over--that blog gets a lot of readership, and that might have encouraged an editor at one of the networks to push the story.

They found a body in the river, according to the tv in our break room.

11-yo white girl from a Very Small Town

They should be fucking ashamed of themselves, although I know they're well past that. If you Google "missing girl" she's the first thing that comes up. I cannot imagine how many horrified bereft parents of other missing children are wondering why they can't get coverage right now. Jesus.

There used to be a web page of information on black missing kids, with a title that was something that implied, "No one else is talking about these kids, so we're going to." I can't remember the name of it, and google found me [link] , which isn't the one I was thinking of but a similar concept.

Jessica, was your sister working last Wednesday night? If so, we may have seen her singing. Dark haired female gondolier--very nice. That was after we had our picture taken standing knee deep in one of the fountains outside the casino.

Not Jessica, but my sister works IT there and is home by 5:00. Being that it's a casino, though, her days off really suck--she only gets Christmas Day as a holiday, and only accumulates one PTO day a month.

For Steph, and anyone else interested in an experimental bellydance troupe's take on pony play (most likely NSFW, though there is no nudity) [link]