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Lizzy wrote:Of course, inclusion in the BL Gallery remains personal choice, but I still wish you would .

So do I, Laurie.

Linda.

Lizz~

Yeah, photos can be very deceiving for how someone looks in person...but let me get this straight, Paula, your intended roommate is standing there and you say, 'What are you doing in my room and what have you done with Paula?' (hahaha) Just kidding, of course.

We Americans are obnoxiously loud (myself included). It becomes very apparent when in Britain, especially in a crowded scenario, like a restaurant; we stand out like barking dogs. I love their quiet, polite reserve.

L

~ Well, a hedge on my side is that it was at Margaret's where we met, prior to our drive to Paula's, so as to catch the plane. Even Paula went home, and another day passed, prior to that ride. Had we met in our, to-be-shared room, well, that's definitely a great scenario and exchange to consider ! "And who is this teenager with you!?!" would need to be added .

LOL ~ "barking dogs" ~ great analogy . Helplessly at that......so true ! Yes, I also love their reserve.....if only I could replicate it [sometimes ]. Meanwhile, I really love Paula's relative 'lack' of it ~ a down-home woman, that one ! [Though a decibel meter might still have me topping out .]

Laurie wrote: we stand out like barking dogs

ha! I had to laugh at that one, too. And, yes, it is true to some degree. Every time I've been in Europe (or any foreign country) the Americans do tend to stand out. Canadians don't have quite the 'quiet reserve' of the British, but at the same time, Canadians don't usually have the obvious 'joie de vie' of the Americans.

Laurie I think you have a beautiful face may be because it is one I am at home with you really do look so much like my sister at that age. If I get my act together and find the photo I will email it to you dobbleganger or what!

Lizzie should I be insulted what is a down-home woman

I really love Paula's relative 'lack' of it

Therein, lies the clue....however, since I guess it could be taken sarcastically, you can't be 'for sure' ~ a "down-home" woman would be one without airs, and no point in putting them on when you're around her ~ she will not be impressed, and is likely to look at you sideways, or respond to you that way [she's not without opinion], if you do; one with whom you can be sure to feel comfortable, due to her lack of airs, as well as an unconditional kind of thing going on, as she accepts you for who you are. I guess it comes from recalling relatives and friends from days gone by......the ones you grew up with, and by implication of that, felt comfortable with [mothers/aunts/grandmothers/sisters/friends/whatever] ~ those from "[back] down home" who knew and accepted you for who you are. Other, more simple terminology might be "natural," "unaffected," or "what you see is what you get" ~ but "down home" carries other, more particular kinds of fibers and implications, as well.

It's a compliment .

Yes, Laurie.....your face couldn't have changed that much! Perhaps, this photo is the equivalent of your sticking your toe in the water ? I hate to say it's, perhaps, because your face is also one I feel comfortable with, but it's true. Even so, objectively, your face is beautiful!

~ Lizzy

'joie de vie' of the Americans.

Well, that's good news, anyway, Linda. For that, you can keep the ring, or the picture, or the statue .

LaurieAK wrote:Lizz~

Yeah, photos can be very deceiving for how someone looks in person...but let me get this straight, Paula, your intended roommate is standing there and you say, 'What are you doing in my room and what have you done with Paula?' (hahaha) Just kidding, of course.

We Americans are obnoxiously loud (myself included). It becomes very apparent when in Britain, especially in a crowded scenario, like a restaurant; we stand out like barking dogs. I love their quiet, polite reserve.

L

Er... we are not as quiet and polite as all that, Laurie. But certainly not as friendly and outgoing as most Americans I ever met.

I have a good American friend who I met when she was working over here in the UK and joined our mountain biking group. We spent a lot of time in each other's company as a group and it really stood out how she would confront people right out with what she had to say, in contrast to the rest of us being more 'diplomatic' or just plain silent when someone had narked us. I thought the difference was very interesting, and for the first time understood how us Brits got our reputation for being 'reserved and polite'.

I don't know why this sticks in my mind, but I also recall that she was quite amused at the British habit of using our forks like a spoon when eating peas. Apparently in America you spear your peas with your fork before conveying them to your mouth? Is that correct? Is that true from coast to coast? How strange

I don't have time to be chasing peas all over a plate ~ and use my fork as a spoon; however, that does not me a Brit make . Likewise, I tend to not bother confronting someone regarding a slight. I don't have time to go that direction, for the most part.

In America sometimes you also eat a chocolate bar with knife and fork from a plate....atleast you do if you've been watching too much Seinfeld.

Part of all this is I think is stereotypy....I knew a Londoner in Texas who was undoubtedly the most talkative and loud person I've come across. He would start talking even more after a few....he was fun at parties. And nobody could understand his Cockney but we'd laugh anyway.
But there was another Brit who was more the usual reserved type.

p.s. Actually I do sometimes spear my peas though not always. You should try it...its fun.

I'm English. I used to get a knife handle cracked on my knuckles for using a fork as a spoon when I was little. So I know HOW to use a fork with peas and such - but only do so in public.

Gimme a spoon anyday - especially if the peas are in the gravy...

Kush - Cockneys are a law unto themselves.

Yes, a spoon is easier yet !

the reason I posted the 30+ year old pic was for a snowball of reasons...in between working these past few days i was goofing around with pictures i already had scanned in and seeing what breaking them down to 6kb would do to them...then i started shuffling my avatar here and there. This pic was one that i had previously scanned and turned down to av size ages ago and it popped up when i was scanning my .jpgs. Then along comes Lakeside and starts making comments aboot my rapidly changing avs (bocelli/owl) and kept referring to 'horns'. Then, I felt i was being demonized beyond what was realistic...so, it seemed fitting to toss this thing up there with the finger-horns. It doesn't even feel like it is me...long and boring explanation. It wasn't any sort revelatory inkling on my part to expose my face at long last. You most definately would never recognize me now from this very olde pic. It is the equivalent of 'false advertising'

Paula~I'm interested to see your sister, so let me know if you find the pic!

First time i was in London with my niece and a friend, we had a punchline; it was: big spoons
All we'd have to do is say it and we'd be spitting with laughter. Thing is, i can't remember why, other than our hotel's restaurant had these HUGE spoons. No small ones to be found. I think at one point we concluded they thought us a bit neanderthal and gave us the 'special' big spoons. I guess you just had to be there....