My Weatherpixie ain't too bright. It is 37 degrees out, and she's wearing a light denim-looking coat that isn't buttoned. She's a slave to fashion who is going to wind up with a cold if she doesn't watch it.

I am already dreading my day - a forced outing with my work colleagues and their families. I do like the people I work with, but I am not overly anxious to hang with their spouses and families. I think only one or two of the single people at the Bank will actually be there. No matter how my boss treats it, this is still not an all-inclusive event. But because my department is responsible for such outings (I do nothing for the planning myself, mind you, but people in my department do), I am expected to attend. And I'll be taking pictures for our Intranet.

The event is at the Chicago Field House, and there will be games and activities for the little families, and a bar for the grown-ups (which is where I'll be, courting my friends Jim and Jack). We are encouraged to wear "sports gear". Now, as cool as that is, it kind of freaks me out. We don't have casual days at our bank. It's all about suits. I feel like although I will be physically comfy in my sweats, (I bought new ones for the event - how neurotic is that? Neither my aerobic wear nor the new yoga clothes seem to be wearable in public), I will be torturing myself because the CEO will be there - and I'm betting he'll have a tie on. I mean, sweats are just so..soo.. unprofessional, right?

Well, so are highballs, billiards, scooter races, spouses and children! Suddenly affecting an air of fake casualness with people you dress up for 5 days a week is so fake! I'll be like Holden Caulfield all day, pointing out the phonies. Basically, for some free food and a hangover, I am being asked to work another day this week. My free time should be long to me, or it really isn't free, is it?