Pre-Ramble:  Yep – you’re in the right place – I’ve just revised the layout of the K. website a little bit to feature the professional angle on my writing for clients and potential clients who want some more details on that.

Never fear though, the blog page will still deliver the same pithy and insightful fare that you’ve come to expect, … and we may even relent and allow Daisy to serve as guest-blogger now and then.

The Take-Away:  Look for a new post soon, and, as always, thanks for checking out the K. blog!

Pre-Ramble: Well, as promised, here is the brand, spanking new profile picture (shown at right) … Stunning – yes?

I am so happy with the outcome, mostly because (and maybe I’m just speaking for myself here), as we discussed in the last blog post, unless you’re a Super Model, a good photo of yourself is super hard to come by.

I’m usually on the business end of any cameras in my world, and the rest of the time I am prepared to rough up anyone who tries to point a loaded Canon in my direction.  Plus, there are so many ways that a simple head shot can go wrong …

• the location can be too cluttered or cheesey …
• your outfit can be too busy or boring …
• you can show up with a bad haircut …
• you freeze in front of the camera and end up with dozens of variations on stupid facial expressions …
• too much light and you’re blown-out and squinting …
• too little, and you’re a shadow puppet …

It’s all about your face. Sounds so simple, right?  And it kind of is. For this shot, for example, we were in an average room … no props, no faux finish backdrop, no gazebos … just the walls and a bank of windows … (good lighting is key).  I was wearing neutral colors and a simple neckline with very little jewelry. My hair was uncomplicated, and I had on just enough make-up to give my face some definition. Took some with glasses on, some with ‘em off.

Full disclosure: (Well, and, ok … the planets were all lined up and there may have been some kind of soft focus filter involved.)

Good photography also requires a good photographer.  The guy I used knew his stuff. He dragged me close to the diffused light from the windows, stood on a chair, and told me to smile …

Say CHEEEESEE!!! (He never said this.)

The Take-Away: A good photograph of yourself can capture your essence at a specific point in time.  Celebrate this moment.  It’s fleeting.

Can of worms. The trouble is, you now have a new gold standard. Right away you’ll want to purge the universe of all other photos of you and replace them with the new and improved one.  Second, you are totally going to have to rethink your personal appearances. It’s not like you can hold up an 8 X 10 of your go-to photo in the grocery store and say, “My hair looks frightening today, but I really look like THIS !” … And, you can’t just scamper off in the middle of a conversation with, “Just one second while I step into this flattering light over here … ” … Or, make friends and colleagues put on special “soft focus” glasses before they can look directly at you …

I guess until we come up with a better plan, I’ll just have to wear a big hat and sunglasses and send everyone to my website.

Pre-Ramble:  Well, you know you’re too busy when you’re even too busy to write a blog about being too busy.

There is so much going on that I want to write about … the oil spill,… the spelling bee,… high school graduations,… Armando Galarraga’s “perfect game” … a cool huge pencil that I made out of a carpet tube …

And plus, I still have to tell you about jewels and apps … and that I’m in the process of revamping the website … (can a revamping of the life be far behind?)

The Take-Away:  Please stay tuned … this flurry of uber-activity will be over soon!

Pre-Ramble: So, let’s see if that link-to-the-email relay mechanism really works … (and if you’re just joining us, I added a new feature to the site that can send a note to your email when I post a new blog. To sign up, just enter your email address into the field in the upper left-hand corner where it says “Enter your email address” … ). 

Theoretically, if you entered your email address into that little block area after my earlier test posting, a note that I just posted this blog entry should pop into your email. Or, if you entered you email address just now, a note will pop into your email the next time I post something.

Phew – this high-tech stuff is complicated! (My kids are currently rolling on the floor laughing at my attempt to describe something so simple that they can do it in their sleep.)

The Take-Away: Well, enough admin housekeeping — stay tuned for my next actual blog … something insightful, informative and/or entertaining … blah … blah.  In the meanwhile, it would really be helpful if you could send me a quick note through the “responses” function below to let me know whether the email feed worked for you or not.