It's a beautiful day in my neighbourhood

Well, well, well. What is that bright glowing orb in the sky? A meteorite? A crashing UFO? Britney Spears' career burning to the ground? Nope, it is, in fact, the sun.

There will be thousands of collective "hip, hip, hooray!" 's coming from my good-sized burg today. After weeks of rain, and wind, and snow, and ice, we have managed somehow to string two sunny days together. Not sure what planets are aligned, or who kissed who's existential butt to make this happen, but really, who the fuck cares? Let's enjoy it while we can!

I, on the other hand, am one of the rare people who really should live in the climate where I do, where we have two seasons - rainy, and damp. I love it when it's cold and soggy and wet and foggy. It's just so moody. Besides, it makes it really easy to snuggle down and nap during the day, which I have to do thanks to the unholy hours I work.

Apparently the sun is here to stay for the week. That's OK, but I prefer the clouds and rain. Besides, now I have to hunt up my batman mask to nap.

The Hair of Many Colours

So, I kind of blasted a co-worker the other day. I'll refer to her as Blondie.

We were doing a story about blonde celebs like Britney, Cameron, et al going brunette in an effort to gain more respect. Um, newsflash ladies, it's not your hair colour that makes people not respect you. But I digress.

Blondie pipes up that she's only ever been various shades of blonde because other colours don't look good on her. Then she remarks that some women haven't seen their natural hair colour in 20 years or more.

So I prairie dog up over the desk - there's a 4 foot wall separating us across the workstations - and give her the raised eyebrow ... "Um, excuse me? What are you saying? Are you making some sort of editorial comment? Are you suggesting there's something wrong with that?" Of course I was saying all this and laughing at the same time, and everyone else was laughing too, but she looked a little startled and taken aback.

Now Blondie herself is a piece of work. One of those always-negative energy-suckers, a black hole of emotional crap. Always a chip on her shoulder. Very defensive - takes every comment as a personal attack. "Wow, Blondie, you look nice today." "What, don't I look nice every day?" You know the type.

I'm sure she didn't quite know what to do with my little performance. Oh well.

I am proud to say my hair colour changes with the seasons, and pretty much always has - at least since I was old enough to reach the drug store counter with the box of dye. From those first disastrous attempts at copper, to the favourite dark brown with blonde streaks, my hair has run the gamut. I joke that I have a winter pelt and a summer pelt. The only time I saw my natural colour for any length of time was when I was pregnant. And guess what? I hated it. A mousey, drab, washed out brown. Now liberally sprinkled with grey at the temples. The two camps have spent a few years amassing at the borders and are now marching around my head, soon to meet in the middle where I'm sure the all-out assault will begin. Bring it on! I'm sure I'll be going to hair-dying parties with my great-granddaughters, so no one will be the wiser.

The other night K was in the bath and we were talking about hair colour - she wanted to know why her friend A's hair was brown and her hair was brown. I told her a lot of people have brown hair, like daddy and mommy. She looked at me and said "but mommy, your hair is orange!" I patted my copper-tinted locks, laughed and said to her "you're right, honey, it is orange."

Guess it's time for another box of dye.

What do you mean, the chocolate is all gone?

Well, happy freakin' new year.

Spent my Christmas sick. And working. Working sick just sucks the big hind tit. Husband was sick. Child - currently sick. Got the first good sleep in a week last night. Note to self - doubling up on pain meds knocks child on ass. Could become regular Friday night routine. "Here's your night-night juice, sweetie - drink up!"

Seriously, though, December was very nice and action-packed but I'm glad it's over. Took K to see "Beauty and the Beast" the play on the 23rd, and she was just enraptured. Must do more of that Kulture thing. Christmas Eve/Day - one big blur of gifts, food and family. New Year's Eve - quiet. Me, martinis and "Lisey's Story." Can't get much better, you ask me.

Gifts - good! Hubby got me some bling - a diamond circle pendant. Woo hoo, now I look like Oprah! Except my pendant cost a couple hundred dollars and hers cost a couple small countries. Still.

Definitely feeling the pain of food withdrawal, however. I basically ate my way through the month of December. Even the week after Christmas, when I thought it would be over, people at work were bringing in their sugary leftovers. And I was eating them. Nonstop. Chocolate ball? Yummy! Square? Delicious! Unidentified, slightly flat treat on the floor with shoe imprint? Finger lickin' good! And I fell off the wine wagon - possibly because I drank a vinyard's worth at my company Christmas party. So it was hard liquor and fruit juice all the way, baby. Nothing says Chrismas like mango cosmos and pomegranate martinis. Mmmm, tastes like another!

No gym time either, thanks to the serial head colds.

So now I'm bloated, perpetually hung over, and can feel my fat cells swelling as we speak. What a great way to ring in the new year!