Ugh. I've been getting way too people-avoiding lately. Didn't go grocery shopping because I didn't want to deal with the people. Didn't go to synagogue because I didn't want to deal with the people. Didn't go to grad student seminar because -- OK, that one was actually because I forgot.

So now I'm at home, feeling guilty for not going to synagogue, feeling guilty for missing seminar, feeling annoyed at myself for not forcing myself to go places when I don't want to deal with the people like I keep saying I'm going to. And feeling hungry because really, that grocery shopping was neccessary.

(I'm starting to feel a little better now. Maybe I'll head to the grocery store in a little while. After I make some soup or something -- I've got soup mix and egg noodles and some frozen veggies -- that'll tide me over for a bit.)

I love when we have live bands at work. There's a bluegrass band practicing in the lobby right now!

Also, in honor of World AIDS Day you can go to www.lighttounite.org and light a candle for Bristol Myers-Squibb to donate $1 to the World AIDS fund.

Should I repost that in Press?

I think it's the kind of thing that could go there, DJ. We support a lot of charities and that's the place to pimp them. (Does that sound wrong or is it just me? I see charities in purple velvet hats, now.)

I have achieved soup. It's even pretty good soup, even though it's made from nothing fresh. (Sauteed frozen onions and carrots in some olive oil, added water and "soup base," then egg noodles and canellini beans.) Really, soup with egg noodles is like the greatest comfort food ever.

I have cool new anime hair. Bright red highlights, bangs, severely angled bob. Loves it!

I need new hair.

Dear Santa,
I need new dark dark dark brown hair (with a touch of mahogany) and a cool angled bob. Please please please.
Yours til Niagra falls,
The Empress

I'm glad soup was achieved, Hil. There's something very comforting about egg noodles. I hope you get to the store soon.

Dear Santa: Is that where my hair has gone? To give to Aimee? Shame! And it's not even dark brown, nor mahoganyed! You owe me BIG time. I want Glam's hair.

We have had chili, with mac and cheese. It was very tasty and now the rest of me is saying, "Lie down, take a rest. It won't hurt anything. Really."

Edited to fix things.

Lie down, Deena
Lie down, Deena
Lie down, Deena
It's time to take a rest.

Chili with mac and cheese sounds wonderful on a cold evening. It's adult comfort food layered with kiddie comfort food!

I have a haircut scheduled for tomorrow. Yay!

I need new dark dark dark brown hair (with a touch of mahogany) and a cool angled bob. Please please please.

C'mon, Santa!

Incidentally, Sufjan Stevens has a song titled "Get Behind Me, Santa!" - which causes me to smile.

I have a haircut scheduled for tomorrow. Yay!

JZ had a dream about you just having published your memoirs in two volumes titled: These Are The Things That Have Happened.

She reports that you had a very authorial haircut in your back jacket picture.

She also notes that she saw a makeover show where the woman looked like you and they gave her an angled bob and she looked like Laura Shapiro. So she thinks that would be a good go-to look for you.