THE GUILT HIGHWAY. We have all traveled it at one point in our lives. This time of year, it's especially easy to accidentally be taken for a ride. If you're lucky, you'll recognize the signs.  In my opinion, the hardest one to spot is MANIPULATION AVENUE. It looks like something you want to do or buy for someone else, but just doesn't feel right.  Another biggie is JUSTIFICATION CIRCLE, just off Guilt Highway. You go round and round, and if you don't get out, you go crazy. I have four tried and tested ways to avoid the Guilt Highway. Number One: Put the brakes on anything that doesn't make you smile. Helping others should make you feel good, not crummy. Number Two: If you have to talk yourself into something, don't do it. For example, buying gifts for your second cousin's girlfriend or agreeing to go to the hated neighbor's party. (She's probably invited you out of guilt. And you go every year out of guilt. Just quit already; don't go.) Number Three: Tell people on party committees "No." If you know you don't have time to help decorate or join in the kid-watching circus, SAY SO.

And lastly, the most important thing to make sure you don't get sucked into riding the Guilt Highway this holiday season is Number Four: Go home when you feel like it. You know what's best for you. Say thank-you and good night (be firm) and then split. 

Tuesday, Dec. 14

Yoga yoga yoga. An hour and a half of yoga.  Some days I am amazed that I willingly pay to sweat outrageously and feel nauseous and light-headed. Then I remember that I enjoy the stretching. And I like to encourage people I know to do it, too. Take my friend RYAN LOISELLE, for example. He's been going to 24 Hour Fitness for a while now and wanted to try heated yoga. We went together. It kicked his ass. I was glad. That doesn't make me a bad person, does it? Well, if it does, I made up for it by taking him to a CONSCIENCE-CLEARING DINNER AT PANAMONICA'S and then beers at THE SWISS PUB.  You know, nothing is better than beer after a hard workout (screw flavored water).

Wednesday, Dec. 15

The LADIES ONLY SOIREE this month at JAZZBONES was a bit under attended due to everyone being rushed with Christmas crap and family stuff, but the music was good and the food was awesome. KIMBERLY WAS A GREAT HOSTESS and bartender for the balcony. I have said this before and I will say it again: A smile and fun personality go a lot farther than pristine service.  Post Soiree, I hung out in the GREEN ROOM with JASON "THE MACK" MACKINNON and CHRIS JUSTICE FROM AUDIO JUSTICE SOUND ENGINEERING. BARTENDER TAYLOR joined when her shift was done. I chain smoked and laughed my ass off at those two guys. What killer company!  Taylor and I rarely get to relax together, so that was a bonus.

Thursday, Dec. 16

ROBCAT AND KRISSY at Panamonica's are definitely doing it right.  ARTWALK WAS A BLAST. GOAT BOY and I arrived early to get a good look at all of the art before the place filled up. We made a quick jaunt down to TAM for the "HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL" exhibit.  TAM docent CHERYL KINCAID took us around to almost every painting. I have never had a better time at the museum than that. Kincaid really knew her stuff, too.  Goat Boy and I ran into LINDA HONECK (Rampart Art Gallery co-founder), and I heard myself parroting  Kincaid as I told Linda about the art. I guess those years spent smoking herbal jazz cigarettes didn't totally trash my short-term memory after all. At 9:30 p.m., I had Goat Boy take me home even though I got protests and funny looks as I said my good-byes. Damn, a girl's got to sleep, right?