A former coworker just directed me to a picture he has up on flickr, and I noticed he had a bunch of coworker pictures — he’s always taking pictures, so he catches some interesting moments. So anyway, that got me exploring to see what other pics he had sitting around. I found two from October of last year that he took of me in the office (I kind of remember that, but clearly I was engrossed in conversation) and they made me do a double-take. People, I look SO pissed off in these pictures. And of course, I can’t remember why. I mean I have a vague idea, because I remember some of what was going on at that time, but as far as what specifically made me so mad, I have no clue.
Dude. That is one humorless, pissed off chick.
Two lessons from that:
1 – As much as I loved the people at the former workplace (and I did — and still do — adore them to pieces), the day-to-day work stuff got pretty intense sometimes.
2 – Is my job really worth getting that upset about? You know what I mean? Because, as a passionate person with a solid work ethic, and because at the end of the day I really want to have contributed something worthwhile to a meaningful project, I sometimes get really caught up in the little dramas and minutiae of my work. But seriously, it’s not like I’m curing cancer or defusing bombs. I could probably stand to take my work — and myself — a little more lightly.
You know. More like this.
I don’t think you looked pissed off at all. You just look like Kate – engrossed in dialogue.
Thanks — that’s what Karsten said, too (about me looking engrossed in dialogue, not about the jacket — but thanks for the compliment, too!). But what I see in my face and my gestures is restrained anger. Which is weird, because the person I’m talking to was always really cool. But I can easily imagine that I was annoyed about something else and just talking to him about next steps to get something done.
Anyway, I’m glad it doesn’t look like I’m pissed to you or to Karsten, since both of you have seen me in a lot of different moods. That reassures me that, even though I should still take to heart what I said in the post, maybe most people can’t tell for sure when I’m upset and trying to contain it. Which is the whole point of trying to contain it, so that’s probably for the best. 🙂
carrying a tiny camera around all the time is one of the best decisions i ever made. if only i had documented every phase of my life as effectively as i’m documenting this one.
like everybody else, i don’t see any pissed-off in these photos. not now, and not on the day i shot them. we both know who it is you must have been talking to there, and he seems particularly unlikely to engage in an argument. but i suppose you’re a better judge of your internal moods than anybody else, so we have to take your word for it.
i’m not so sure i’m going to that keg party after all, so maybe i should come over to your neck of the woods sometime to eat somewhere in germantown with you and karsten.
— allen
heehee, I think I saw that look when you were talking to Cory the other day : )
I’m not sure you look pissed in the second picture – more stunned by amazing stupidity.
Come to think of it, in the first picture, you look like someone is doing something horrifying.
So see? Not pissed off at all! 🙂
You’re being too hard on yourself – you’re just doing some serious conversing!
dude, those are cool pictures. you look bad@ss. aside from the negativity of it, you look like you’re taking charge and kicking @ss. 😀 i have to pose and fake it to look that cool!
err. happy easter!
i don’t know – in the first one i guess you look pissed – but in the one on the right, not so much – you look like maybe you’re explaining something, or asking someone else to clarify something for you.
mostly you just remind me of a coworker – you really resemble her in those shots.
You’re so funny — badass? Heh. You make it sound like I’m a Harley biker, not a software analyst. 😉
But you had your back to us the whole time, as far as I could tell… so maybe you just heard that look in my voice. 🙂
The camera is indeed a great idea.
we both know who it is you must have been talking to there, and he seems particularly unlikely to engage in an argument.
I don’t think he and I were arguing; I think I was probably upset about something else that may have just happened and I was trying to discuss something unrelated with him in that picture. I guess it’s a pretty nuanced thing to be able to expect other folks to see, but I can definitely tell.
No keg party? Whyever not? But yeah, come by this area sometime, or — we’re planning to have a party when the porch is finished — plan on attending the next Cat Shack party.
You don’t really looked pissed off to me, just all intense and businessy.
And your words did resonate with me.
I need to take my job less seriously.
P.S. You sorta look like someone I know (which is weird because others have said that as well.)
to quote the name of a band I know nothing about except their name. Pissed off? Naaah. Intenser than dried Elmer’s glue? YUP. Ready to let someone know what the hell is going on? YEP.
This is someone who KNOWs, and if you disagree, STAY AWAY.
I don’t know…I think you look cute in that second one. You know, in a totally “I’m not a lesbian” sort of way.
Do you feel like you look more and more pissed off the older you get? My face is starting to melt a little and I look perpetually pissed, even though I’m not. Usually.
All I can think is “Hot Strict Librarian” so will not be able to participate in any other parts of the discussion.
“I’ll be in my bunk.”
Ohmigosh you are so right. I do think I’m looking more pissed off because of the meltiness of my face. Gah! That’s a horrible thought. In ten more years everyone will think I’m homicidal all the time! (You know, instead of just the ten times a day when I really AM homicidal.) Sheesh. As if aging wasn’t depressing enough when I thought it was only going to make me look old, now I realize I’m going to look pissed off, too. Better start smiling all the freakin’ time and make people wonder what the hell I’m secretly planning.
Not pissed off at all. It looks like that picture was taken seconds before you whip off the glasses and let down your hair.
Of course, there’s also an unaccounted-for breeze blowing your hair around.
Maybe I’ve just seen too many beer commercials.
Way too many frustrated guys on this blog. Maybe you should spend more time reading the books rather than watching marms put them away.