Contemplating My Philtrum

Seriously. I've been really busy writing my novel. Really busy. And I was trying to figure out a way to describe a face that sounded cute or something so of course I had to talk about that little cleft about the mouth and below the nose, you know, the one right in the middle of the whole shebang.

That's a philtrum.

Sounds dirty but not sexy-dirty just gross-dirty so the word doesn't exactly lend itself to enticing descriptions. I hate describing faces. I always just want to tell the reader to picture Matt Damon or a young Marlon Brando. I mean, describing faces always feels like such a waste of time. It's not like the person reading the description is a police sketch artist.

I just had a wonderful idea. I'm going to describe Bookgirl, Diosa, and The Dol. Let's see if we're still friends when it's over.

Bookgirl
A study in brown: glossy brown curls that she never even tries to tame, chocolate brown eyes, and skin that bronzes in the slightest hint of sun. Her eyes are too-wide circles set over a small round nose and she has a Cupie doll mouth that never leaves the house without lipstick, even though she can't be bothered with blush or mascara. Her cheeks and lashes don't need the help anyway.

Diosa
One curve on top of another. She's five foot ten inches of woman packed into a five foot four inch package. Her medium brown hair is just long enough to be feminine, just short enough not to be in her way. The widow's peak at the center of her forehead emphasizes her heart-shaped face. She's got big blue eyes that look far more innocent than her smile, which is just a touch wicked and a little too knowing.

The Dol
A decided redhead. Her sleek angled bob belies her naturally wild curls. She's like a wolverine, small and cute from a distance but don't think of messing with her. She's got pale Irish skin and if you look close you can see just the hint of the ghost of freckles past, but only a hint. She looks like a ascetic saint until she smiles and then she's the sister you always wished you had.

I seriously don't see how that really gives anyone any idea of what they look like. Let's go more like this:

Bookgirl
A grown up Shirley Temple with brown hair and brown eyes. But don't let the dimples fool you.

Diosa
Marilyn Monroe from the neck down and a brunette Swiss Miss from the neck up.

The Dol
Kind of a really petite, serious-faced Nicole Kidman with a dark auburn angled bob.

Anyway, Alice has been giving me the "ah-hem," and I take that to mean she wants me to post something. Although I sent her the first hundred or so pages of my book and you'd think that would keep her busy. Apparently not.

And I've been thinking about all the people I'm going to have to acknowledge someday when the time comes and I get a million dollar book deal and Obama remembers that he wanted to make my birthday a national holiday (it's soon, people, in case you forget, which of course you didn't). Anyway. I'm thinking that I'm going to forget to acknowledge people and so I'm going to start making a list but I'll tell you right now, you might not be on it, people, even if you should be because seriously--as The Dol recently indirectly pointed out--I've been drinking diet coke from aluminum cans for decades now and that stuff catches up with a body.

Also, I was pregnant before and as anyone whose ever been pregnant will tell you, you never really get quite right again.

It's a wonder I have any friends at all.

Comments

[The Dol]

You make me sound way hotter and more intriguing than I am in real life. And for that I thank you.

[pandora]

i love when you post blogs.
it's almost as good as thanksgiving.
(it's my favorite because there's lots of food and always near my birthday)
they allow me to procrastinate more.
i'm the world's best.

you know what else is almost as good as thanksgiving?
cancelled classes.
i believe that i've had 9 classes cancelled this semester so far.

ps: nicole kidman doesn't have shit on the dol
pps: i can't get kanye's heartless out of my head

[Alice]

Thats better

[The Dol]

pandora, my brother (aka Cheeky Monkey or The Skipper) was over last night for dinner. i know, shocker. but he did a really hilarious imitation of you. we all enjoyed a hearty laugh. it was actually similar to the imitation he used to do of polly, which involved a lot of fast-talking and very little breathing.

and thank you for the nice compliment. :-)

oh, and polly, the skipper has this notion that he will start his own blog, and do shadow posts of everything you write about. he thinks this is a hilarious idea, but it has not, as yet, come to pass. thought you might get a kick out of that.

pandora is right: your posts are as good as any holiday. you should serve more wine and dessert here, though.

[pandora]

dol, i need to see cousin skipper's lovely imitation of me.
i'm thinking a mass media major.
i'm not sure if the world can handle me or my mouth.

[The Dol]

pandora, dear, you *are* mass media.

[Diosa]

Too funny. You know just how to flatter. You gave me an extra inch. And I like your actual descriptions better than the famous look-a-likes.

[The Model]

:'(

[Polly Poppins]

Model, did you want me to describe you? Is that why you're sad, honey?

[The Model]

*sniffle* So left out...

Clearly, I'm simply indescribable.

[j]

Happy Birthday, Polly!