Bow Down to Her Queenly Queenliness
Posted on March 21, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 13 Comments
Athena, practicing the withering squint of derision that will undoubtedly get her through her teenage years. Unless she tries it on her mother, whose paralyzing stare of outrage rather handily trumps this particular look (the best I can manage is the quirky look of amusement, which is not feared by anyone).
And now she’s done practicing and back to her normal self. She does in fact look a lot like me, especially around the eyes. Far cuter, though. And you know, I’m good with that.
My speedreading skills have never been good, so I have an excuse for thinking your caption for the first photo said that Athena was practicing for her book jacket photo.
If she’s writing philosophy for ultra-intellectuals, it will do nicely. “Try to understand my prose. I *dare* you.”
Well, she did just tell me that Being and Nothingness seemed a bit trite to her.
Hi John:
I like your site. I am a struggling SF/Fantasy writer. Born in Ohio, I have migrated to Tampa. Today I called my ex-girlfriend back in Dayton to rub in the 85 degree weather.
I don’t have kids, but I have mostly female friends. I pity you if you are the lone male trapped in the house when the Teenage Daughter vs. Mom Wars start. U think Starship Troopers was scary?
–Scott
the best I can manage is the quirky look of amusement, which is not feared by anyone…
Not even the crawdads in your yard, eh?
I know that look. My second grader has been perfecting hers all year. Unfortunately for me, I’m the mom so I’m the one who has to perfect the ability to paralyze with my gaze alone.
Ahhh, yes – wife eyes. They’re an automatic upgrade most of us XX’rs get when we grow up. guaranteed effective on most children, some reasonably sentient animals and, of course, nearly all malingering husbands. And if you practice a little, you’ll find you can usually clear the room of up to a dozen or so rowdy man-friends in a gratifyingly short period of time, using the wife-eyes pan sweep. Comes in handy at the coffee bar, too, to shortcut unhealthily chipper pre-coffee conversation.
You’re also a very fine photographer!
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your Hugo and Campbell nominations!!
Thanks!
My 2-year-old daughter gives the whithering stare at every opportunity. My wife calls it the “hairy eyeball”. I don’t know where she got that phrase, but it seems to fit.
When my daughter gets haughty we laugh, but in the back of my mind I know I might be in trouble when she hits 14.
Your Majesty,
Queen Athena, I am but a humble servant, and I am here only to serve you and do your bidding.
Your Majesty,
Queen Athena, I am but a humble servant, and I am here only to serve you and execute thy orders.
I missed the wife-eyes upgrade – I was probably reading in the corner when they called my number. My daughter has them already, though. I seem to be immune, but they work wonders on my ex-husband.
The top picture put me in mind of the later Queen Victoria; she who was NOT amused.
The bottom picture, on the other hand, is a pure delight.