Classes went calmly today. We did first semester evaluations.

Following up on yesterday's police operation, I was asked to check in with the embassy. It's closed today since it is a national holiday in KG. Still the Public Affairs Specialist was kind enough to answer. The embassy is looking at this as a one-off event. They are not contemplating any special warnings or change of travel status, so the State Department in general will not either. I've asked of the local populace, and their opinion can be summarized with, “Wow, what nasty folks. Where shall we go for lunch?” I got my hair cut this morning. The barberess could scarcely summon the energy to comment on it. She was much more interested in how long it had been since my last haircut. In other words, all is calm.

Speaking of hair, back in 2003 I wanted to go to a costume party as Billy Idol. Melissa, whom I knew through yoga, was a hair dresser, and she said she could turn me platinum blond for cheap. I agreed, with the understanding that the day after Halloween she would dye me back to my regular hair color.

She did a great job. The pictures of me as Billy Idol are freaking scary, too scary for me to post here. The next day, though, she said, “Y'know, Don, I bet if we just tone down the hair a bit, you would like it.” What the hell. Why not give it a try? She returned me to the hair color of my mid-20s, which so much more resembled my mental picture of myself that I went with it, and now I have colored my hair for 12 years.

This morning I got it colored and cut again here in KG. It's always dicey getting coloring done in a place that doesn't know you or use the same brand of chemicals. Impossible to say what will happen. Last time I tried it in Kazan, I came back with brown hair. This time I was determined to do it differently, and it worked rather better.

But looking in the mirror, I think it's probably time to stop and simply grow older gracefully. So once I get back to AZ, I think I'll just shave myself down and let the gray or brown or whatever is there finally start coming through without interference.