Why my thigh is bruised

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Svithe: Las Vegas

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Yes, we are still on the road. Svithes suffer when we're on the road.

Last night, we (finally) watched New York Doll with the Fobs.

All the hype is true.

Ultimately, I think the film is about one man's love affair with God, with a whole bunch of other stuff added to create a delicious stone soup.

So for my svithe today, I advertize.

Viva Las Vegas!

Last week's svithe

Love Letters from th'eCasanova

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Instead of replying to comments in comments, I am going to follow this precedent and write a new post instead. In doing so, I am adopting a New Persona: th'eCasanova. Everything th'eCasanova says is said in a cheesy and slightly creepy and wholly indeterminate European accent. To remind you of this fact, I will occasionally spell words "wrong".


BAWB said...

I'm stuck on you too. Aww.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Cicada said...

Th., I was really glad that I went out with you guys to Ottavios because I wouldn't have had much time to chat with you at the party. Then again, if I hadn't met you at Ottavios, I probably would have stayed with the Daltoncrew and talked to you the whole time.

The blog party was fantastic and it was great to put faces to names, but I didn't do a good job of meeting people who I hadn't already met. Something about having had only three hours of sleep, feeling slightly queasy, and knowing that I was going to get to see Viper later that night, which is, indisputably, my favorite activity.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Jessica Benet said...

Hey thanks! Also, I think Lunkwill was in an especially "let's gross people out with PDA stuff" mood. We're not always like that, I promise (and I hope you weren't too grossed out).

It was wonderful to finally meet you and then to get to sit and chat with you for an hour or so!! You're every bit as mysterious and cool as I thought you would be. Lady Steed was a bit quieter than I expected, but at least as pretty as her avatar (if not more so).

Reply of th'eCasanova


Stupidramblings said...

Alas, I am in Atlanta--couldn't make it. Fortunately, there will be other meetings...

Reply of th'eCasanova


daltongirl said...

I went home, went to bed, and dreamed that Lady Steed and I went yard saling together. According to my personal dream interpretation guide, that means we're BFF. Sorry, Cicada, but you have never been yard saling with me. Time to change that if you want your place back.

It was more than delightful to meet you. I hope we didn't keep you from spending time with others, but since 99% of the reason we went was to meet you and Lady Steed, well, we were selfish. Our apologies to all others who didn't get to spend enough time with the th.s because of us.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Master Fob said...

Hurray for blog parties! Let's do it again. Or, if that's too much to ask, let me know when you and Edgy decide to throw your own BFF blog party so I can crash it.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Melyngoch said...

Lunkwill's real name is Zaphod? Goodness, I can't wait to meet him.

Cicada: did you want scare quotes around "see"? Like this:

I was going to get to "SEE" (wink wink nudge nudge high-pitched giggle) Viper later that night . . .

th.: If you come back when I'm there, I'll give you a book!

Reply of th'eCasanova


feather.123. said...

I've ALWAYS wanted to ask you if you all know each other in person...

:)

Reply of th'eCasanova


kirsa said...

Oh, how lovely. I'm at least temporarily indescribable.

I'm glad Vengance came too, as he pushes me out of my comfort zone, which oddly enough usually results in me acting more like myself. He looks familiar to lots of people (but then again, lots of people at the blog party looked very familiar to me, and I can't figure out why...you, for example, reminded me strongly of a guy I know named Luke).

It was a pleasure to meet you and your family. And your hat is awesome. I love hats. I would have worn one, but my room was too messy to be able to find my current favorite.

Reply of th'eCasanova


The Divine Miss A said...

See, perhaps there is some good that can come from not living in the bubble. If you ever make your way to the midwest, though, I'll have to meet you guys. Hope you guys all had fun at the party.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Rachel said...

You have no idea how traumatized I have been the past three days, all because I was not there to meet you. Of course, the doctor had nothing to do with my traumagity (which word I totally just made up).

I echo Mel's sentiments: Come back when I'm in town! I can't guarantee a book, but I can always offer desserts. I make a mean chocolate cake and scrumptious pumpkin cookies. If you're into those.

Reply of th'eCasanova


Absent-minded Secretary said...

I'm sorry that we didn't get to talk more too, and I'm even more sorry that it seems that you can't decide to put me into the confirmed corporeal or unconfirmed corporeal categories on your link sidebar. Unless I just can't see my name anymore.

But, it was lovely to meet both you and Lady Steed, even if it meant that you have threatened my BFF status with Edgy.

Reply of th'eCasanova


editorgirl said...

It really doesn't take much time to uncover repressed mother stories from me. As for the rorschach. . . some other time, I hope.

Reply of th'eCasanova

The Corporeal many-or-Names sell newspapers

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(people i met for the first time this week)

Asmond: A pleasure to meet Asmond, whom I liked very much. I have said more than once that Asmond's blog reminds me of myself, circa 1999. This statement generally comes out implying I think Asmond is a freak. This says more about me than him.Anyway, I'm glad to discover that the gentleman in question is lovely to have around. Good luck with Gemini, my son.

Stupid: Stupid did not come. I really really hoped Stupid would come but Stupid did not come. Stupid Stupid. You freaking broke my heart! Now I still can't decide whether or not you are confirmed!

Absent: Absent didn't stay long and I didn't get to speak to her much or become close, personal, realworld friends with her. But at least she came. (I'm looking at you, Stupid.)

Edgy: I also did not get to speak to Edgy nearly long enough. Of all people! Edgy! Not nearly long enough! Now, over at Master Fob's I read that Edgy and I are now BFFs, which is awesome, but apparently life-threatening. Edgy--let's sup, but do it safely.

The Marchioness: Finally! I now have a complete collection of librarians!

editorgirl: Yes, I did meet editorgirl--twice in fact--but she is also near the top of the People I Did Not Meet Quite Well Enough This Week List. But what did I expect out of five days? That I would get to rorschach her? uncover repressed mother stories?

Brozy: As if I didn't enjoy getting to know Brozy enough already, she gave me a book. Let this be a lesson to the rest of you. (Note that it's the hardcover edition.)

Bawb: I'm stuck on Bawb. I have typed the rest of this post and I just can't find something fully fitting for friend Bawb. So much to say, so few ways to say it. Other people, in situations like this, can resort to a Your Mom joke. Alas, I cannot, I cannot, I cannot.

Cicada: After joining blogdom, Cicada was one of my first fictional friends. Moving her into the corporeal column has been momentous indeed. And poor Lady Steed--she really wanted to talk to her more. If you're ever in the AV, Cicada, stop on by. We'll give you cookies.

Daltongirl & Daltonboy & Lola: I thought there was a good chance Cicada would arrive with Daltongirl and I secretly hoped newly-twelve Lola would also show, but Daltonboy was completely unexpected. The way the evening worked out, even though they weren't there that long, I actually got to speak with them more than nearly anyone else. Time well spent!

Rachel: Oh. Wait. Rachel was in St. George. Watching tv. I see how it is.

JB & Lunkwill: First, thanks guys for refraining from having sex on the fobcouch--we all appreciated that. JB, you're beautiful. Lunkwill, you're named after a Hitchhiker's Guide character. You're obviously a power couple. P'zah!

Kirsa & Vengance: I've been searching for the right adjective for Kirsa. I can come up with many close synonyms, but they will all come across as demeaning and that's completely the wrong direction because I liked her and I'm frustrated that the correct adjective is avoiding me. Annoying adjectives.... And Vengence, her beloved, rudely looked like Stupid and someone else I know but can't quite put my finger on. I'm still glad he came, though.

Thirdmango: Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention please. Reports of 3M's hair have not been exaggerated.

Chuck Norris: Special thanks for finding time in your busy schedule.

Mandi & Miss A & Limon: Thank you for not coming. I am almost out of unconfirmeds. Some other time, perhaps? After I've made some other fictional friends?

Thanks also to old chums Master Fob, Foxy J, Tolkers & Silly Marie for fresh new good times.

Note: I feel I missed some fine new friend. Instruct me if this missing soul is you.

Supped well

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And thank you to the entire luncheon party, viz, Bawb, Brozy, Cicada, the Big O, Lady Steed, and me.

So lovely to confirm your corporeality.

Ottavio's on Provo Center Street

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We will be going to Ottavio's for lunch today, being Tuesday, April 25. We intend to show up at 1:30 pm. We will probably only get bruschetta, although if she can fit it, I can assure you Lady Steed will also be getting some zabaione. And if she does, I, like the parasite I am, will swoop in for some berries.

Join us. I'll try to check my comments before we head over. (We'll be at BYU.)

A total copout svithe on account of we are traveling

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The word of the day is scriptures.

Find yourself some and go read them.

Love you!

Last week's svithe, which I worked a little harder on.

Omens

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In honor of today's Zits, I am writing this post before talking to my darling wife about these events. Besides, she's taking a bath.

So I'm coming home from work. First I buy gas. The cheapest was a full twenty cents higher than my prediction for the end of April.

I was also almost in three accidents.

Pulling into the gas station, an idiot pulled a stunt, nearly hit me, then blasted his horn at me.

While I was pumping, a numbskull backed into the Taurus, sending it lurching back. So I guess I was only almost in two accidents. The third actually happened. We examined the Taurus and all she hit was its license plate so hopefully all is okay. But it crrrrrunched getting out of park. I think it's fine though. I hope.

Yeah, then I was nearly hit by another parking lot maniac. And we're not even in Utah yet!

I think the work I'm looking for is "auspicious."

Major omission

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Sam Hawk! I forgot Sam Hawk! They make the best kimpop I've had in America and I can't stand the thought of missing Sam Hawk while we are there.

Phew! that was a close one!

Utah bound (and what we will do [eat] while we are there)

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Leaving

We are leaving the AV tomorrow afternoon. We have a motel in Cedar City. Sometime Saturday we will arrive in Provo.

Lodging

We will be staying with Brass Clan cousins. Although depending on, for instance, the lateness of blog partying, we may end up taking up the Fobs' offer as well. And, should all else fail, there's always Stupid!

Religion

We're thinking we will attend our old ward in hopes of meeting some lost friends. Given the turnover in Provo wards, this is a shaky goal but one we consider worth our attempts.

Restaurants

Let's face it. Food trumps all. Here are the places we hope to hit while we are in Utah:

Ottavio's: Patriarch of the Brass Clan had a Sicilian grandfather and visiting Ottavio's is like being back listening to the old men swap stories as the women bring in the food. We simply cannot enter the state of Utah without entering Ottavio's also, even if all we find time for is bruschetta.

Gandolfo's: Not on our top tier of must-eats, but we loved the sandwiches when we lived there and wouldn't mind reminding ourselves of their tastiness.

Bombay House: Mmmmm. Indian food. And, frankly, the best Indian food I've ever had. I'm going to have Lamb Saab. I just wish they hadn't done away with their 1 to 10 hotness grading scale. I found it much easier to navigate than mild, medium, hot.

Thai Chili Gardens: We've patronized a few good Utah Valley Thai restaurants in the past, but if we want Thai this time, we'll try here. We always heard it was the best (latest testimonial) and we have always regretted missing it.

Stan's: No question on this one--we're heading to 900 East for shakes and fries. You're certainly welcome to join us. I'm leaning towards pineapple.

That hot dog stand just south of BYU campus in the old cellphone shack: Given the time and inclination for a tasty dog with Vietnamese chili sauce.

Coney's: We went to Coney's exactly once and weren't that impressed. But Lady Steed is impressionable and has heard so many people talk nice about it that she has decided it is a place she misses and that we must go.

Sugar-n-Spice: On the completely other side of this memory equation are the many and strong memories of Lady Steed's where she is eating those famous chocolate mint brownies. She has about a billion of these memories and they're all real.

The best grocery store in the history of humanity: When she was single, Lady Steed et roommates would visit Macey's for chocolate-dipped softserv cones. Now that we've been married five years, she has decided I have earned the right to eat one too.

I wanted, in this post, to give you tentative dates and times to meet us at the above eateries, but we're not that together yet. But you're invited to join us at each, every, any, or all. Do come.

Family

The primary reason for our visit is to see Brother Steed walk at BYU graduation and to visit with him and his charming wife Silly Marie. We also hope to see some of my family while we're there. We should have already told them we'll be in town.... Shoot.

Friends

Besides attending the blog party, we hope to see old friends and meet new friends and maybe, Fob willing, I will even crash my old writing group.

Other

We're going to have to close our credit union account, hit school employees with sticks, find out if Sunfall Festival is playing, go to the temple, see the design BFAs in the HFAC, take the Big O on the Heber Creeper---whatever else we can fit in, basically.

Hope to see you there!

I have a couple of clever titles for this post in mind but had better not use either of them since the inevitable result will be people seeing that title and the following photo and leaping to the unwarranted conclusion that Jack Black is LDS (which is a rumor that will undoubtedly be started soon anyway but which I would rather could not be traced back to me) and besides, then people will not be readied for the surprising and unrelated ending which they nonetheless should be looking forward to

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Jack Black's new movie is also Jared Hess's new movie. This means that not only will this be a movie to keep an eye on, but it will be a movie, the viewing of which must take precedence over the lives of beloved family members.

I was attending BYU the same time as Mr Hess but never knew him. In fact, it wasn't until I graduated that I put the BYU film department's bad reputation aside and began seeing some of the short films they were producing. I saw some really good ones. Prometheus, The Snell Show, Postcards from France, Peluca....

Ah, Peluca. A film by Jared Hess. The Duganators and the Thteeds were huge Peluca fans. We showed it to many people on many occasions. Then the Duganators moved to a mystical land called "Back East" and that was that.

One year, Lady Steed and I went and saw Lucky Break at the Sundance Film Festival. The next year, our son was about two months old and we decided not to attend the festival and we didn't even look at the program. Which was a mistake, because we thus did not see the image that representing some film called "Napoleon Dynamite". Had we seen it, we would immediately have recognized our beloved Seth. And, had we seen it, we would have found a way to see Napoleon Dynamite at Sundance and then I would be more completely idolized by my high school-aged acquaintances.

Anyway, the real point here is that before Jared and Jerusha Hess became the new force in Hollywood comedy, they were bumming around the same college campus I was. I likely passed Napoleon himself many times, as animation majors and graphic design majors shared a building. I probably looked at his storyboards on the wall as Lady Steed spent hours and hours (and hours) silkscreening circus posters.

Imagine if I had sent an email via the school's system to these blokes whose work I admired. Perhaps I would be emailing them still. Not that I require celebrity offal in my life, but hey! networking's all the rage!

Another Hollywood Power Couple-bound pair of BYU grads is Andrew and Anne Black, whose Moving McAllister is supposed to be coming out this year.

When I was bludgeoned into the four things chain, one of the movies I wanted to include was the Blacks' BYU-centered version of Pride & Prejudice.

This movie has been unfairly slandered by high-minded artistic Mormons as crap. It is not crap. It's good. Good enough that if Byuck were to be made into a film, Mr Black would be my first choice for director, and what higher compliment can a writer pay?

Black's The Snell Show was one of my other favorite short films out of BYU's film department and, once again, I could have sent a short email saying Nice Job! and Cool Flick! but I didn't. And now my first-choice director doesn't know me from Adam.

I'm not sure what my point is here, but it might be related to the choice Lady Steed and I are making. The Antelope Valley Independent Film Festival is next week and instead of networking there, we intend to be networking with a different set of people.

Now I will admit we are coming in part because I foolishly entered into a legally binding commitment to attend some party in my honor, but the bigger truth is that we want to come.

I've made my networking decision [cue swells of romantic strings] . . . and that decision is you.


ps: and to the best of my knowledge, jack black is not lds

Hitch & Mr and Mrs Smith

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When I first realized that I would not be the blogger that kept the denizens of Tehachapi up on such things as the groundbreaking for Red Apple Road, I thought I might instead spend a lot of time reviewing movies watched, books read, ets cetered. That has never really happened. The closest I can remember coming was when I plugged Miyazaki. But tonight I am going to make good on that intention and discuss a real kick-in-the-pants flick Lady Steed and I watched last night: Mr and Mrs Smith.

To my shame and disgrace, I have actually seen very few screwball comedies and so it will not be fair of me to say this, but the Mr and Mrs are one of the best of the genre. We laughed, we gasped, we laughed, we enjoyed the repartee and we laughed. A lot.

Alfred Hitchcock directed Mr and Mrs Smith as a favor to Carole Lombard, whose house he was renting when he made the film. And Mr and Mrs Smith is nothing like a "Hitchcock film"--no dead bodies, for instance. Hitch's other great comedy, The Trouble with Harry (a hilarious film and one of my all-time favorites--immeasurably rewatchable), most certainly has a body. Who did you think Harry was?

Anyway, Mr and Mrs Smith:

I haven't seen last year's movie of the same title, but it was imaginable that it could be a remake--I can see Hitchcock making a movie about spouse spies who try to kill one another--but I was not disappointed to be wrong.

(Note: Minor spoilers follow that will give away the film's premise. To read, highlight text with your mouse.)

The Smiths have a deal with each other: part of that deal is never lying to one another. So when one morning, when she asks him if he would marry her all over again, given the chance, he says no. And few sane people could honestly mean yes on that particular morning, even with Carole Lombard's feet up your pants.

By a movie-worthy twist of fate, that morning a gentleman from a town in Nevada (not Idaho--this distinction is important) shows up with embarrassing news.

All these years, the town had thought they were in Idaho and were incorporated according to the laws of that state. Come to find out, they are actually in Nevada. All marriage licenses issued by city hall are thus invalid. Ergo, the Smiths have been living in sin.

Thus follows some wonderfully funny and racy amusements. You like your dramatic irony straight up? This is the movie for you. David Thomson says that the greatest special effect in movie history has always been the camera steady on a human face as it changes its mind. He's probably right. And these two leads have faces that are one charming special effect after another.

If you watch it, and of course you are actively seeking it out now in a second browser window, do us a favor. The best friend looks like Dustin Hoffman, this we know. But we couldn't figure out what current actor Robert Montgomery looks like. If you solve that mystery, let us know.

And my advice: Try to have someone nearby to kiss when the movie ends and the skis cross. You'll be glad if you do. Trust me.

(yawn sounds)

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rrrUnhhhhnggggrrreeehhhlmmphphphaaaaaarrrrrgyu

Ahh!

Moderation in all things ----- Except the bleeding temperature . . . .

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Last Thursday, my drive home was wildly warm--hot even. Since then it has been mostly cold. I'm shivering now in the teacher's lounge.

Spring is probably the best time, temperaturewise, in the AV. Soon it will be broiling, except, some days, between the hours of two and four a.m. Winter was cold, with no snow to suck out the bite--just cold.

On the bright side, I haven't slid on any sand blowing across the road in months. So though discomfort may reign, life seems likely to go on.

And today may yet turn nice.

Floss-related injuries

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With this post, I am starting a petition to have the Surgeon General or the FDA or somebody put warning labels on dental floss.

See, my tongue hurts.

Friday I was caught completely off guard by my floss. There I was, flossing as usual, and the floss caught on the tip of my tongue--perhaps on a taste bud--and pulled the edge of my tongue all the way down between my teeth. A portion of my tongue was gone, turned to blood. Today, three days later, my tongue has a white sore at the site of the trauma. It hurts.

Show your support for public safety by affixing your name to the comments section of this post.

Moonbeams: An Easter Svithe

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"Testimony isn't something you have today,
and you are going to have always.
A testimony is fragile.
It is as hard to hold as a moonbeam.
It is something you have to recapture
every day of your life."
---Harold B Lee

Today is Easter. Why is today Easter and not some other day? I wish I could tell your, but the folks who designed and carry out the Easter-figuring machinery for the Western World only speak Urdu and have never been able to sufficiently explain their methodology to us speakers of Indo-European tongues. But it has something to do with the full moon.

The full moon makes a great symbol for Easter. The moon waxes and wanes, dying and returning to life on a regular schedule to remind us of the death and resurrection of the Savior.

Every halfway worthwhile religion in the history of the world has had a spring festival to remind its followers of the return of life--nothing like bouncing baby goats to get a lad's mind on the really important things in life. Resurrection and fertility is what spring has always been about. Aussies should seriously considereschedulingng their Easter to October. If those Urdu calendar men will let them.

My religion is itself a symbol of death and resurrection. And I don't mean the LDS faith, I mean my own personal inner life of faith. It too, like the moon, waxes and wanes. At times I am a man of faith. Other times I am a spiritual pauper.

But that's to be expected. Like I talked about in my last post, entropy is an inescapable fact of mortality--without the expenditure of energy, things break down. So it is with faith. Without my diligence and effort, my faith breaks down.

Christ's diligence of two thousand years ago, on the other hand, was not a mortal effort and is not subject to entropy. And his gift is not just to raise my body and save my soul, but relying on him also allows me to daily recapture the moonbeam of my own faith. For he is the author and the finisher of my faith. My source of moonbeams.





Last week's svithe

Time. Time. Time. Eating us alive. Time....

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Good old time, dragging us onwards ever onwards to mortality. Now that I'm a whopping twenty-nine, I am regularly reading about people my age dropping dead of heart attacks, brain aneurysm, peculiar cancers, and the like. I would have thought I had at least ten more years before I would feel like the bad news was about my peers. But not so.

I was taught once in a science class that entropy is the only true measure of time. Meaning that death is the only true measurement of life. A pleasant thought.

Immortality isn't easy to come by, and in search of it I won't be one of those people who, in their wills, [request] that their memoirs be bound in their own skins.

But the ticking of a clock surely must be the most morbid thing of all. Which is why, I suppose, I am so infatuated with this clock.
(See more cool stuff by the designer here.)

Since I have to ask, I know I can't afford it, but it is cool.

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Anyway, the clock is ticking now and I have one small task to complete before heading home.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Six (6) items of business

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First: I apologize for not writing much lately. I have many unfinished posts sitting around in draft form. Most of them are about two sentences long. I don't know what creeping terror is preventing my mind from functioning properly, but I suppose I had better find out. Someday.


Second: I'm starting to suspect I may be the victim of passive-aggressive henpecking. (Exhibit A) (Exhibit B)


Third: According to one of my students, George Washington is a historical figure who is important to her because he's on the one-dollar bill and was president like in the Fifties or something.


Fourth: I'm tired. I'm very, very tired.


Fifth: I almost have my svithes-only blog running. In Firefox I have a huge gap between the top of the page and the start of the svithe. In Explorer, the blog text gets on top of the blog title. I'm not html savvy enough to make different browsers see the thing in different ways, but if you have a moment, would you mind taking a look and telling me what your browser is and how the blog looks in it?


Sixth: In a blatant ripoff of Rambli Method Friend Generation, I tapped my expert sources and am now able to share the following gossip: The Olsen twins have adopted the lost grandson of Marilyn Monroe in response to the news that Brad and Angie have adopted all the children of six western Malaysian villages stricken with bird flu; Raven Symone meanwhile is no longer pregnant, being the first known celebrity to use an expensive new surgery that allows the mother to enjoy conception, then pass the fetus on to a surrogate; Lindsay Lohan was arresting for getting Bubbles the Chimp drunk; Paris Hilton stole Phat Girlz' star Mo'Nique's chihuahua's grill; and, finally, Eva Longoria has admitted that she is the true author of both A Million Little Pieces and the Gospel of Judas--James Frey and Judas are said to have nothing left to live for except their expected inclusion on next season's The Surreal Life. Which is why we don't have cable.

Another meaning of the word svithe

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And you can buy frozen sheep's head
from the frozen goods section in any
Icelandic supermarket, except the
Icelanders have a fancy name for it,
it's called "svið" (pron 'svithe')
Half a sheep's head (sawn down the
middle) all wrapped up in cling-wrap
and polysterene, that frozen eye looking
up at you out of the chest freezer.

LDotFMotNYl: Deleted Scenes (6)

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(Note: this is the sixth in a series of deleted letters from the Last Day of the First Month of the New Year Letter. Visit the previous deleted scenes here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.)

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Thteed Family Abandons Traditional Media

Theric left his job at the Tehachapi News; Lady Steed left her groundbreaking work in the business card / menu market; the Big O diversified his boardbook portfolio with Bill Peet, Dr. Seuss, and life-life action Thomas the Tank Engine videos. These changes opened up new opportunities with Theric teaching English at Littlerock High School, Lady Steed working on home-based-pest control (hyphens intentional), and the Big O starring in his own sitcom, the aptly named “More! Choochoo! Go! Train! Broke! More Choochoo! Broke! Boom!”

More information on the Thteed Family’s forays into nontraditional media can be found at lsteed.blogspot.com and thmazing.blogspot.com.


Commentary

You can see why I haven't bothered posting any deleted scenes lately....

Actually, as part of a whole, this isn't too bad--though it doesn't stand alone at all well. The main reason this didn't make the ldotfmot cut was because Lady Steed wasn't sure she wanted her blog address bandied about so readily to the people we know. Which is interesting. It seems the closer in real life someone is to a blogger, the less likely the blogger is to want them to see their blog. Interesting....