Blog It Anyway 28/07/2006 I wrote this some time ago as a comment on this blog. It was related to nothing in particular; I just felt like writing it so it went into the comments of some post or other. Now I've found it again and, being short of ideas, I thought I'd upgrade it to a real post. I know, I know, I really must get down to some short story writing...I was just standing in the bathroom, thinking and looking at my face in the mirror. I was thinking: if I ever get published, this is how I'd like my photo to be on the back inside cover. My hair was, for once, looking reasonably well-groomed with just the right amount of disarray at the front where it sweeps across above my forehead. I smoothed a bit at the back that was sticking up slightly, making my head look strangely distorted. It stayed put. My eyes were sunken but deep in thought and the expression was likewise suitably pensive, a slight frown and the mouth set. There was a line down one side of my face, slightly redder than the surrounding skin, probably left by the couch when I fell asleep in front of the television. But somehow this just added to the impression of rugged determination evident in the general expression. I noticed that the jawline was sagging a bit more and that two new lumps of flesh were beginning to fall away from the chin. If I moved my jaw slightly, these grew and shrank accordingly. The effect was not unpleasant; it had not been remarked before, that's all. I am getting old and have no regrets about it. Yes, I thought, this would make a suitable photograph, worn but not defeated, obviously intelligent.Then I noticed that there was a piece of skin flaking off the very tip of my nose. As I scratched it off, leaving a tiny red spot, I thought, who am I kidding? I looked up and smiled at God.Technorati tags: Photos; Faces.
Clive
Way LOL I went while reading your last paragraph. "But where is this evidence, yer Honor? I see no such thing. We cannot continue like this! I move for a mistrial. No way can young, innocent Clive here be convicted on such irresponsible hearsay! Let my client go!" I went and confided to a less-aged friend of mine about my own ensuing avalanche of pesky of nose flakes. They became a bit too concerned, and wanted only to send me packing to see a specialist, when what I really needed was cheap lift tickets. Date Added: 28/07/2006
Way Here, take this misplaced Date Added: 28/07/2006
Gone Away Way, I sometimes wonder if we are the first generation to deal with old age by laughing at it. ;)
Oh, and thanks for the spare br's - a pity they didn't show up. Maybe the postman lost them on the way! Date Added: 28/07/2006
Mad Nah I found 'em, here they are: <br /><br /> Date Added: 28/07/2006
Gone Away .oO(Now how did he get them to show up like that...?) Date Added: 28/07/2006
Madmin View source to figure that out ;) Date Added: 28/07/2006
Gone Away Oh, very clever. :D Date Added: 28/07/2006
Way Those are not mine. My set was...well, invisable. Date Added: 28/07/2006
Carter Very funny post. I always thought my face would be good for the jacket of a horror story, especially after a night of martini and cigars. Cheers, Carter Date Added: 28/07/2006
Gone Away Thanks, Carter. I guess we could all do with a bit of help from the guy with the airbrush when it comes to cover photos. ;) Date Added: 28/07/2006
Way Who is Carter? Date Added: 29/07/2006
Gone Away According to the blurb on his blog, Book Biz, Carter is: "Name:Carter Cowles Location:New York, New York, United States A researcher, analyst and producer at a small Manhattan-based media company. I specialize in publishing deals and spend a ridiculous amount of time researching the business of books. - Oh, and it sounds like 'coals.' "
I do my research, Way. ;) Date Added: 29/07/2006
Fragile Industries A few months ago I realized I had not appeared in a photograph for nearly two years. Not so much as a snapshot, not that I know about, anyway. It's just as well, they weren't years I wanted to preserve. Things are better now, and I'm vain enough that I marched over to a professional photo studio and had a set done up. I told myself it was for my new (and now rejected) career, so it wasn't all vanity. They took bunches, and let me select four as part of the package deal. One was such a classic, even cliche book jacket photo that I had to get it, so I'm prepared if I ever get around to finishing the novel. You know the picture - unsmiling but not too serious head shot, chin resting on knuckles, sort of a Rodin's Thinker with a better hairdo. Fortunately, no visible nose flakes. Probably by the time the novel is finished, I'll need a lot more airbrushing, so it's good to plan ahead. Nice post, glad to know I'm not the only one to think about such things. Date Added: 29/07/2006
Gone Away I am coming to the conclusion that the book jacket photo is something all writers aspire to, Fragile. At least it means you got something published! ;) Date Added: 29/07/2006
Steve Thorn That's funny, Clive. I, personally, have never done the jacket photo fantasy.. of course, I would prefer to be rich in complete anonymity. And of course, doing that most likely would not include being an author.. Ah well, I'll still shoot for being an author and find my riches elsewhere. :) Date Added: 04/08/2006
Gone Away Hah, you're probably right, Steve - "author" and "rich" together is almost an oxymoron. :| Date Added: 04/08/2006
Janus I just hope they don't use my driver's license photo as my book jacket picture. Don't worry about the pose too much, I think they have hair stylists and makeup artists when you get to that level. Date Added: 05/08/2006
Gone Away You mean I, too, can look like John Grisham, Janus? ;) Date Added: 05/08/2006
keeef Stop looking in the mirror and try staring at the keyboard :p Date Added: 07/08/2006
Gone Away Good plan, Keef. I'll try to post something today. :D Date Added: 07/08/2006
keeef you may need to press some of those keys to you know. Unless of course you have been abducted by aliens who inserted, analy of course (why are aliens obsessed with backsides?), some kind of chip that allows you to type with the power of thought. If thats happened then you just carry on staring buddy Date Added: 10/08/2006
keeef it could happen if you think about it Date Added: 10/08/2006
Gone Away Yeah, yeah, Keef - I'll think about it... ;) Date Added: 10/08/2006
Mad Keef has a point you know... Even I've posted more than you lately. :p Date Added: 16/08/2006
Gone Away Okay, okay, I'm working on it. Date Added: 16/08/2006
fragile industries Miss you. I've been a bad blogger too lately, too wrapped up in website and the arcane vagaries of search engine optimization. When it comes right down to it, I don't think there are search entries for what I do. "Madwoman Artist With Delusions Of Grandeur And A Filthy Studio." There's a topic for you. In what Google search would you like to rank first, or last? Write soon or I'm setting the dogs on you. Date Added: 16/08/2006
Gone Away I guess that means I must write! My problem has not been too little blogging but too much of it - I have several blogs with the Syntagma network and they have demanded all of my time lately. I am still pulled to Gone Away by guilt feelings, however, and keep promising myself (and others) that I'll get something done for it soon. Today I have been near the point of doing so and I think you just gave me the shove I needed, Fragile. :) Date Added: 16/08/2006
prying1 I've found a simple solution to slight defects in digital photos. I use Irfanview (free program) for viewing pics and they have an effects button that works well for pixelated pictures. It also works for flakey noses. - It is labeled "blur'. Date Added: 27/09/2006
Gone Away I too have IrfanView, Paul, but I also have Paint Shop Pro. And in PSP I can take out flaky noses without blurring. ;) IrfanView is great for certain tasks but the serious editing requires PSP, I find. Date Added: 27/09/2006
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