Depends on your hair, too--many years ago I bleached chunks amd covered with manic panic red, and so did a friend, in early November. His were gone by thanksgiving. Mine were still bright after the new year, at which point I bleached them again.

Manic Panic on my hair only ever lasted a week or so, even with color safe shampoo. It wouldn't rinse out entirely, just enough to look really faded and crappy. I loves my Special Effects though.

Just out of college, I had a roommate leave early and stick me with both the security deposit and some of her stuff. She had real manic panic that spilled in the beige wall to wall carpeting that I finally got out with nail polish remover and judicious trimming of the carpet. However, when it was in her blonde hair, she would need to renew it every 2 weeks or so.

I was never able to dye my hair fun colors. The most I could do was Manic Panic, which would give my hair a slight tint of whatever color it was, if the light was right. I was never brave enough to try bleaching it first -- I knew that my parents wouldn't get too upset about something that would wash out eventually, but bleach would probably get me in trouble.

I used some weird shellacky type colour and painted it in over the red streaks--either purple or bronze. It's kind of remarkable that my school hadn't thought to ban that, given the control they exercised over our clothing.

My sister was looking for examples of "this is how we bend the rules" to wear what you want with a school uniform in effect. She seemed surprised that I was one of the people skirting rules, but good lord--that's what my first 25-30 years consisted of: "You shoulda been specific..." I can't honestly say I don't still subscribe to that ethos, but if we're only allowed to wear religious symbols you might want to specify currently practised religions, or religions the wearer believes in...just saying. I did wear my ankh all through high school on that poorly worded rule's back.

I am tired, cranky and headachey (it's good this held off until Thursday), but I'm in the last week of the sketching effort and I really don't feel up to drawing today. Or feel right using one of the pictures I drew ahead of time.

Gotta go put on the big girl knickers now.

Or feel right using one of the pictures I drew ahead of time.

That's what they're there for, you goof.

NO THEY ARE CHEATING....

I drew a new one. It was fun. However I had 2 things to do when I wrote that post, and the other one involves my paying job.

And is still undone.

Maybe I should heat up some pot roast for din dins. That will clearly give me the boost I need.

How much more pot roast do you have, ita?

The coroner's office cordoned the street behind the school I teach at. There is an empty lot across the street. In that lot over the past week or so, there had been two white lawn chairs and a charred black cross that looked like it had been burned.

So, today, the coroner's office sent a truck and a cop squad car showed up. They dug up the spot by the lawn chairs. Then they pulled a white-wrapped body-shaped-object out of the hole and filled the hole back in. Then there was dithering. Then they took the white-wrapped body-shaped-object and drove off.

WTF?! Why can I never find info about random ass shit like this and what it means on google? I can't find any mention of this online. I totally want to call the North Hollywood PD and ask them what the hell that was all about. I wish my google fu extended to this area.

Somewhat on topic, I got profiled and approached by a cop tonight. Not scary or anything, more hilarious in that oops way.

So, we've noticed a cop car posted a block over on the main fare- across from my friend's house, actually, for the past week or so. Tonight, I'm walking down Ellerslie@7 from the Y cause the field is too muddy, and as I turn the corner onto 36th, I get a spotlight. I rather ignore it because, hello, we get spotlights from the choppers all the time. I make to cross the street to go home, slowly, as I see the cop start up and turn onto 36th. He pulls up in front of me and rolls down his window and I blurt out UH, I just want to cross the street? "Everything OK?" Um, yeah? Can I help you? "Where you headed?" Uh, home from the pool? [Give my address, to establish I am a local]

At this point, I push my hood back and the scarf down (cause it is fucking COLD AND WINDY but making me identifiable seems prudent) and pull my bag so that my now frozen towel is clearly visible. His demeanor rapidly changes. "We're keeping an eye out for a couple of robbery suspects. They're youths wearing hooded black jackets, boot and blue jeans" Which is what I am wearing, as are a good 50% of the population of Baltimore in winter.

"You being careful?" Sir, I walk back from the Y every night at this time, along with the all these people, but we'll keep an eye out. [ I gesture to several dogwalkers who I know by sight. They wave back.] I will let my neighbors know, we're getting together tonight. We've been wondering about the patrol car.

He mutters something "and have a good evening" and pulls off.

On one hand, I'm glad they're paying attention to an apparent spree. On the other, god, that must be tedious, stopping every black-hood-coated, blue jeansed, booted person IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD SNAP WHERE EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE A NYLON YETI.

Which reminds me, I should send an alert to the neighborhood listserv.

Kat, try searching Twitter. It could be nothing but the same questions you have, but I'll bet people are tweeting about it.

Anyone want a human sized nest? [link]