I second Hec's vote for Helmand and Chow, but not the Citrus Club. Not because the food isn't fabulous, because it so very much is, but it's a wee little place that doesn't take reservations, and trying to get a table for 8-10 on a Saturday evening is just setting yourself up for a load of woe.

But Helmand, especially, is just exquisite, and unique, and mmmm. Also within walking distance of lots of spiffy nightclubs, should you be struck by a sudden urge for pre- or post-dinner drinks and swanky live music.

Thanks for the rec! (and you can ignore the email I sent you, JZ).

I am so glad to be home. Despite having worked from home Thursday and Friday (my car was in the shop) and everyone theoretically having my personal e-mail to send me stuff as it cropped up, I went in to work this morning to find a metric shitload of stuff that had piled up while I was away. Also managed to talk my boss down from Defcon One over a vendor's mistakes (which I should have caught last week) by getting the ball rolling on corrections. I may still have whiplash from the 180° mood reversal, but I'm sure not gonna complain about the outcome.

I am so not-blonde right now! Go ahead, ask me anything. I'll answer non-blondely.

But seriously, folks, this is the darkest my hair has ever been. And I luffit!

And I luffit!

Hurrah! Pictures, please?

PICTURES!

I'm still tempted by dark brown. Maybe next month.

Having spent some time playing with the remote shooting option (wicked geeky cool!) I have come up with a photo or two that I think shows it off (and doesn't make me look too much... you know. like me). But I have nowhere to put said photos!

Oh, wait. Maybe I do. back in a mo.

Okay, I think this should work. Ranging from "this is what I look like at the end of the day" to "Hey, I look like my friend Erin from college! cool!" I have no idea what's wrong with my lips.

(I think it has a login space, but you don't have to log in. Just click on the picture.)

Emily, you are so very pretty.

Very nice pics, Emily!

There has got to be something more to this:

Movie funnyman Gene Wilder has hailed Johnny Depp as a "magical" choice to play Willy Wonka in upcoming film Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - weeks after attacking Depp's casting in the movie remake. Wilder, who played Wonka in the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, recently accused director Tim Burton of remaking the Roald Dahl fantasy for "pointless" financial gain. And despite complaining Depp would not be able to improve upon his portrayal of Wonka, Wilder has now declared Depp is the perfect choice for the film. He says, "If I were going to cast the movie, I would cast Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka because I think he is wonderful. Mysterious - always - and magical."