It's difficult for the photographer, too, though. It's not that ita doesn't take gorgeous photos, it's that I'm completely unable to appreciate anything about a photo of me, and I figure, when the tears roll down my cheeks in complete self-hate, she'll feel bad.

Polgara is somewhat used to this reaction.

Of all the things about this process that make me nervous, the picture is the worst.

Allyson, on that one, I can't reassure you. I used to take gorgeous pictures and then I hit fifty and my daughter started bogarting the family icebreaker jawline, the little bitch, and gravity decided it worked, and now I take shit pictures.

(passing cookies and kleenex)

I know this will really have no effect on your self-esteem, but for whatever it's worth, Allyson, I've seen pictures of you, and I always think, "She's so cute!" FWIW.

Oh, no, it's totally not about that at all. I'm so aware that small children don't point and scream and run away when i walk by.

It's a total skewed self-image thing that i don't understand myself.

I'm with ya, Allyson. I've only got one picture I really like of me and it was taken when I was drunk. For once, my mouth wasn't flapping.

My mouth is always open in pix. And not in that sexy, pouty way, either.

I'm always horrified by pix, but I just think that to get the true full-on Erin, you gotta get the living, breathing, snarking full-body-slam, smoooth-assed deal.

Plus. double chin in my pix. ALWAYS.

My mouth is always open in pix. And not in that sexy, pouty way, either.

I'm always horrified by pix, but I just think that to get the true full-on Erin, you gotta get the living, breathing, snarking full-body-slam, smoooth-assed deal.

Plus. double chin in my pix. ALWAYS.

I can't stop giggling. One of my nicknames is Pixie/Pix, and I kept thinking Erin was talking about me.

"Hey, I don't have a double chin! Slandering hussy!"

Why don't I take more good photos? Usually bright light squint, I'd have to say.

Photos of me, I always look stoned. Or my face is at just the right angle for my nose to look HUGE.

Hee. I tend to stick my chin out and then I look like Jay Leno. Ewww.