June 3, 2005, Southern Illinois (home): my best friend Dawn, 5 years out from her bone-marrow transplant, decides to celebrate her health with a big bash. She's also going to get a bit of a makeover- and donate all her hair to Locks of Love. That's all the hair she's grown back since losing it pictured here. 

Are you ready?? That's 5 years of post-chemo hair growth there! Dawn: " I can't wait to feel a breeze on my neck again!" 

Finally in the hot seat! Drum roll, please! 

Dawn's son (and my buddy) Jordan and I wait around for the hair magic to really get going. 

Locks of Love needs the hair in swatches, so Dawn submits to braiding off sections. 

Oh, that "Little House on the Prairie" look is so in right now. 

The first cut! 

Consider this the equivalent of the "Jeopardy" wait-time music. Jordan was bored and wanted to take pictures of my manicure. 

Something to be proud of! 14 inches of pristine hair to go to Locks of Love. Way to go, Dawn! 

Not quite there, but.... 

Wow! What a difference! 

It took me two weeks of wearing her down and threatening to report her to Trinny and Susannah to get Dawn to agree to highlights. Beauty is pain, people; beauty is pain!! 

The finished result. Breathtaking, no? 

Yess'm, we clean up real nice in these har parts. That's my supercool friend Bob with me, escorting me to Dawn's party for the evening. 

Ab fab, sweeetie dahling, yes? 

After the big bash, we went out to a friend's ranch. The main attraction was the Shorthair Curlies, a breed of horse featured here in Mama Star and.... 

...baby foal Lone Star. 

Dr. Jeff, owner and proprietor ( and generally cool guy) throws a stick to one of the" Dooders", his ranch dogs. 

Barney and Surprise play around with Panther, the fearless cat. 

Air Jordan 

Mama cat Nuala with her babies 

Me and Marble, who almost came home with me.