Open Book.
My face shows everything when I’m relaxed or sick. I think my friends sometimes get a lot of comedy value out of it. I know Arwen has laughed at me a few times for the faces I make as I think. My students will ask me, “What, what?”as I read something because I’ve made a face. I never thought much about it, beyond the fact that I should probably never play high-stakes poker.
But today as I was restocking sick girl supplies (Kleenex, drugs, soup) I think I accidentally offended someone.
I walked up to one of the two open 12-items-or-less Express checkouts, only to see that the one customer in the lineup had, like fifty things. A weekly shop’s worth of things. And I felt my lip curl in frustration and derision.
I looked at him and I saw he was looking at me. I probably offended him with my bitch face.
I think I must have accidentally offended other strangers with my transparency. I’d like to apologize, if only I knew who they were.
Some Stuff | Liz February 12, 2009
By Beth, February 12, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
What a joy for your friends to face a face that is easy to read. There are no guessing games about how you feel about something.
This is my one big complaint about my husband -I can never read him. I often think he’s mildly pissed off at me or the world but that’s his neutral face which he wears most of the time. I wish for the transparent face that tells me directly if there is joy or frustration or pissed-offedness. Not being a mind-reader, it would help me out.
By Liz, February 12, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
E has that kind of face when he’s thinking. For the longest time, I thought he was deeply irritated by something and it turned out he was just thinking of a new song or a particular rigging problem.
By Erin, February 12, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
I hit that point too, when I’m sick. I become dangerously honest about how I’m feeling. Which can be a good thing, but sometimes I can let my mouth steal the show when it should really just mind it’s own.
Oddly enough, I like it when other people are that way, though. As Beth said, it takes the guessing games out of things.
By Arwen, February 13, 2009 @ 12:00 am
I only laugh because you’re so CUTE.
By Deb, February 13, 2009 @ 1:19 am
Why are you apologizing to some asshole who wants to ring 50 items through the express check-out? I think a lip-curl was entirely appropriate.
By Liz, February 13, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I guess transparency does make things easier. Easier to laugh at me anyhow! And come to think of it, why would I apologize to him, who was breaking the supermarket rules?
But then again, what if he was in the express line because he had to pick up his wife at the hospital? What if he was suffering from impending explosive diarrhea? Maybe he didn’t deserve my derision.
Hummer drivers, though, do. No matter what their circumstances.
By cheesefairy, February 13, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
I have a grumpy face too. Also it’s crooked. I inherited it from my dad’s side of the family, who all look grumpy and critical unless they’re actively amused. (the baby has this face too)
…maybe the guy in the supermarket drives a hummer. that he left running in the parking lot while he went through the express line with 50 items. there. lip curl justified!
By stephanie, February 13, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
That’s awesome. Your bitch face. Hilarious.
I don’t think I make faces, but people tell me I do. They say my nose flares and I frown. I think, really? I do that? Gross.
By Arwen, February 13, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
I’m not laughing AT you, silly, I’m laughing NEAR you. Because you’re so CUTE.
By Liz, February 13, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
Cheesefairy, I’ve always thought you looked mildly amused, even in repose. Maybe I just never saw you really thinking?
Stephanie, my mom and brother used to laugh at me because of my supposed nose flaring. But when I try it in the mirror, I can’t see it.
Arwen, I’m going to have to take your word for it. I never know exactly what my face is doing, it seems. See above, nose-flaring.