Here’s Looking At You
On Tuesday night we spoke on a panel about making a living doing what you love (we didn’t get paid, it was just for fun). As usual, we were very chatty and slightly awkward. Contributing to the awkwardness was my instinct to stare intensely at just two or three different people whenever I talked. So much so that afterwards I actually apologized to the girl in the black shirt sitting just right of center in the terrible iPhone pic that we snapped below.
Fortunately she was a good sport about it. And now we’ve kind of bonded over it. Perhaps you could even say that my weird burning-a-hole-in-your-head stare has become “our thing.”
Oh, and here’s a pic of someone I didn’t uncomfortably gaze at during the talk (which was held at a local art gallery, by the way, hence the backdrop). The only reason: she was sitting a bit further back, so my Terminator Stare didn’t reach. Thanks to Christina for sending us the picture! We rarely get to see these and just assume that we were making wonky faces or doing something equally embarrassing.
So yeah, if you ever see us at a local blogging panel/shindig, be warned. I might stare you down in that is-there-something-on-my-face way. But I can assure you there’s nothing on your face. I just have a problem with public speaking.
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I so wanted to come, but I live almost 3 hours away, and couldn’t make the drive down there. Hope it was great!! I’ll have to find another time to come stalk, I mean, meet, you guys ;)
Aw, that’s sweet. I’m sure we’ll bump into you someday!
xo,
s
Wooo Sherry with her hair down! I looks shorter than when its pulled back. Love it!
Ahh, I wish I knew you were speaking! I would have loved to attend…very sad face. Maybe I will make the next one. BTW-Thanks for making Richmond look so cool! People always think that it’s county here. That’s right folks, we got art galleries!!
Oh yeah, coming from NYC we were really impressed with the arts presence and number of galleries here. Love it!
xo,
s
Oh Sherry, I did the same thing in my presentations at school! In fact, I would realize I was staring AS I was talking (oh boy was that hard. Realizing WHILE talking. No wonder I would flub my words.) I’d then avert my eyes to someone else. Public speaking and me will never get along. Ever!
Oops, I meant, Public speaking and I. hee-hee
If I ever have an occasion to hear you speak, feel free to stare at me all you want. I always make a conscious effort to smile and show interest when I’m listening to someone give a presentation, because I know how nervous I get when I’m speaking and would always appreciate seeing a friendly, smiling face in the crowd.
This was a challenge (yet even more important) recently when a dear friend had to give a presentation at work and everybody (myself included) was bored silly by the topic that he had to speak on!
I must say that John is looking a little weirded out in that picture! ha!
Oh no that’s just my normal expression. Haha.
-John
Hilarious!! I used to be a teacher and always felt awkward when my students stared at me the whole time he/she gave a presentation. I would slowly raise two fingers and point them at the other students, to hint that the presenter needed to move his/her eyes around. Perhaps Isabel should have done that for you! :)
Speaking of staring/being stared at. I once went with a friend to hear a senator speak and he totally “picked” me to be the person he was talking to. And, unfortunately, it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences ever- for starters, I couldn’t stand his politics and then there was the whole he’s-staring-at-me-and-won’t-turn-away thing. Really awkward.
BUT… I like you guys and I’m sure it wouldn’t be nearly so weird if you were staring at me… ok, wait, just that sentence is awkward.
Oh nevermind! I’m sure you did great! :)
Eye contact is good! Just spread the love a little. ;)
Haha, seriously. I need to break the gaze and look around a little. It was like a staring contest.
xo,
s
I found Waldo.
Haha, I bet he’s in the back so I couldn’t freak him out with my stare.
xo,
s
Haha no he’s front and center on that man’s shirt! He was hoping for a glance I’m sure ;)
HAHAHA!! Great find!
ha ha! that’s my hubby. he loves that shirt. :)
I’m a grad student and I’m teaching a class this semester (still can’t believe they trust me to do that). I’m definitely doing the whole staring thing – the classroom has a conference table setup going so whoever is at the opposite end is usually my victim.
Oh yes, I can totally relate to the public speaking nervousness :) My face gets all twitchy, I always wonder if it shows… But I guess taking a mirror along to check would be a whole new level of wierdness!! Might help with the nervousness though, haha.. :)
Make an announcement if you ever come to northern virginia to speak. Or advance notice and I will come to Richmond. We are down there all the time visiting my brother’s family in short pump. We all talk about how are we BFF with you guys (in an non-stalker-well-kinda-stalkerish way). Oh, and we went to Caravati’s on our last visit. Love that place.
Aw, it would be so fun to meet you! And yes, Caravatis is so much fun.
xo,
s
I do the same thing Sherry. Only I did it when I was singing. At the end of the year our exam in choir was a solo, and I ended up serenading a guy (who I really didn’t like) sitting in the front row. He never let me live it down.
Haha, too funny!
xo,
s
What you did Sherry was a very natural thing to do. It occurs when specific people seem to be more interested or animated in your presentation and so the presenter will be attracted to the people who seem the most interested.
Our daughters used to have fun testing this out with their teachers. When I was at University in a lecture theatre with hundreds of students, I usually had eye contact with the lecturer. I probably was the only one interested in marketing lectures!
Aw thanks so much for the explanation! The entire time I was completely aware that I was doing it, so my internal monologue was “why am I so creepy? what am I doing? for the love of pete, stop staring already!”
xo,
s
You guys are freaking hilarious. “My Terminator Stare” and “I might stare you down in that is-there-something-on-my-face way” made me laugh out loud. Saying that I live in Phoenix, I don’t think I could’ve made your speaking engagement, but I would have LOVED to!
Thanks for speaking at the AIGA lecture. It was great to meet you two in person and hear some blogging advice at the same time! Love that you all are local and any great deals you snag or fantastic stores you find are up for grabs for me too. Keep up the good work!
I’d love to hear you two speak sometime! I’m so jealous I don’t live in Richmond.
And I used to do the same thing with starting, but worse–I stared at the wall behind the back row in my HS speech class. And two different classmates put “STOP STARING AT THE WALL” on my peer evaluations. I was crushed. :(
So that’s my traumatic high school experience…from 12 years ago.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I’m a children’s librarian now and do public speaking pretty much at least once a week (at storytimes) and often more, so I’ve gotten over much of my nerves. But boy has it been a long road!
Hey guys! I haven’t had a chance to comment lately on all the Rad & Awesome Stuff you guys have been doing: the site redesign (fab), the blogoversary (spelling? anyhoo, love it!) and all the advice and tips you’ve shared recently (so cool!). You guys are so much fun and so sweet and SO talented and that’s why you are where you are! And as a sidenote, ‘The Walking Dead’ show starts up again soon, and I’m terrified at the prospect! it scared the you-know-what out of me! But I can’t NOT watch! :0
Oooh, thanks for the reminder!
-John
Oh, I love this blog! And to think it’s been here several weeks and I didn’t know it! Thank goodness for the link on today’s Young House Love leading me to it :)
Ah, you didn’t say it was an AIGA event! Very cool. Great organization. It’s awesome of you guys to participate in stuff like that.
oh my gosh…i do the same exact thing. the worst is when the person you keep staring at looks away to break the awkwardness when you’re mid-talk and then you realize that you’ve officially made them uncomfortable. haha.
Haha, too funny – that’s the girl with the yummy recipes on Richmond dot com, right?
Yes!
xo,
s
I came over to say I also am now rocking short hair! I cut off 13 inches to donate. But we trimmed it first and then after cutting the pony tail off, trimmed it some more. So I lost more than 13 inches of hair!!! It’s a big change. Are you trying to wear your hair down more now? I know I’m going to try, I might also start wearing headbands again. Anyways. Just wanted to share haha. That seems weird now.
Yes, I’m trying to wear it down more and definitely rocking more headbands too!
xo,
s
Ha! That is hilarious. That probably explains about 90% of the times I’ve felt I was being overtly stared at by a speaker. I think I have a welcoming/comforting look on my face that maybe eases their nerves a bit.
I don’t know about the other 10%, though.
I would be totally honored if you stared a hole in my head. Creepy, I know.
Haha, apparently I’m happy to do it.
xo,
s
Ha ha, cute post. P.s. very ironic title because I just watched Casablanca for the first time the night before you posted this….strange. :)
When I have to make a presentation or something that requires public speaking (or even just have a meeting with someone) I stare at their forehead. They think I’m looking them in the eyes but surprise! I’m not!
Howdy,
This is totally off the post subject…but I need some advice. We are looking to build a house. I really like oil rubbed bronze door knobs, however I want brushed satin knobs in our kitchen and bathrooms. What are your thoughts on being cohesive or changing it up.
HELP!!!
I believe in mixing metals, so you don’t have to keep things cohesive. If they’re going to be in the same room, just make sure they each occur a few times so it looks intentional. For example, oil rubbed bronze current rods and doorknobs can work in a room with brushed nickel cabinet pulls and a silver fruit bowl.
xo,
s
Its too bad that the Life post do not update on my blogger sidebar. But I do make it a point to saunter over here every once in a while.
I was afraid of public speaking but I have had to get over that soon as soon as I become a professor at the University. My trick is to kind of stare above the person’s head – and I go all over the room – so I an not looking at anybody at all- also saves me from having to look at the sleepy faces of bored students.
Haha, I do the same creeper stare when talking to groups, too! Apparently its more common than I though.
And Sherry, you look *just* like Natalie Portman in that picture!
LOL you’re hilarious! Terminator Stare!
Do you mind telling me the name of the art gallery? My husband and I have our eyes open for an oil painting with boats or something water inspired (I’m from a little town near the Chesapeake Bay) and I LOVE the one in the background of this picture!
It’s called Crossroads! We love it there.
xo,
s
Totally random but have you seen this X Factor audition? I swear you could be this girls’ twin!! I immediately thought of you when I saw this. Whatcha think?
Oops no link! I think I now who you’re talking about because someone else emailed it to me! Too funny! I sort of see it…
xo,
s
Thanks so much for joining our AIGA panel! It was fantastic to showcase the talent we have right here in RVA. Great meeting you both!! :)