FRIDAY FIVE / Ja! Who?

Friday, Nov. 07, 2003 - 7:36 a.m.

NOTE: My Diaryland entry for today features links that automatically open a new browser window, while leaving this one up in the background. If this is a problem for anybody, let me know, and I'll re-code.

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I spoke to P@ul Schu!tz yesterday afternoon. He enjoyed receiving mail from the people who wrote to him about the picture I displayed in yesterday's post. He says the women at the meeting were silly and flirting and straining to get a look at him -- I'm like, "Well, duh! You're -gorgeous-! Of COURSE they are!"

When one person holds up a mirror and tries to show you your beauty, you want to believe them. But it's just one person after all, and sometimes you can't be actually certain that their view isn't tinted by their personal feelings about you. And there's always a chance that you're being told something other than the absolute truth; up until now when a woman told Paul they thought he was handsome, that was a signal that they were greasing him up for something.

But when a -whole room full- of people has exactly the same reaction and you look up and around and none of the mirrors seem to be the doofy funhouse ones -- and you -do- finally see what everybody is talking about? That can be overwhelming to somebody who isn't used to it. I think I heard Paul take a deep breath, and realize that the struggle for acceptance by others is not going to be nearly as challenging in the future; he no longer has to have his guard up against people who are size phobic. The beauty on the outside finally comes close to the beautiful person that's inside, and that's a hell of an epiphany.

Face it, my friend. You are handsome -- and anybody who tells you that is stating the simple truth.

In all honesty, as a large economy-sized goddess-shaped woman, I usually feel good about myself, but I rarely feel -pretty-, in the traditional sense of the word. Some parts of me are not half bad, like for instance my eyes, and my singing voice. But as a package deal? I'm lopsided and I'm scarred, and greying, and I'm as ordinary as the day is long, and I still catch myself wondering what people want when they pay me a compliment having anything to do with my appearance.(I mostly mean if a bunch of sugar is slopped from an unfamiliar source. I trust my friends, of course!)

But I think Paul is finally figured out that people are meaning it when they say it.

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Attention. Yahoo! Messenger sucks on ice.

Oh, you knew that, did you?

Yesterday I was YMing back and forth with Todd Thalimer again, and he excused himself and went to lunch. I didn't see his return message, and he didn't see that I was still logged on when he got back. We can't figure out quite what happened, but a few disconnected bits and bytes made it look like we'd abandoned each other. So I got all stupid and worried because he'd mentioned heavy fog as a component of the weather, but he'd been sitting there the rest of the afternoon, safe and sound, wondering where I'd gone.

Sorry, Todd. Mea maxima culpa!

Mumble, mutter. If it weren't for the webcam feature, I'd give it up. But the webcam is fun. :)

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This week's Friday Five: (Questions are boldface, my answers appear beneath.)

What food do you like that most people hate?

A: Okra, chopped, and pan fried in corn meal.

What food do you hate that most people love?

A: I've never understood the concept of sushi.

What famous person, whom many people may find attractive, is most unappealing to you?

A: Ashton Kutcher.

What famous person, whom many people may find unappealing, do you find attractive?

A: Tie: Mark Addy ("The Full Monty"), and Gary Oldman.

What popular trend baffles you?

A: Citrus flavored toothpaste. Ewww.

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Okay. Now, if you wanna play Friday Five, go here.

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