I am really late to this thread, but just wanted to say that it's WONDERFUL to meet everybody so close up - especially the ladies who we have not seen before :). A special welcome to you all!

Oh, please feel better soon, Isabel! Whenever you're up to it, we can have fun on the town..and you need to be up and running for NYC!

Note to self: Start wearing turtlenecks immediately.

Wow, THIS is a GREAT thread. I simply LOVE seeing all of these diverse, fabulous faces. I won't bother to post mine, since you all saw me up close and personal not too long ago in my haircut thread, but I just wanted to say that you ladies ROCK.

Marley, I can't see past your ethereal eyes, which are always the first thing I notice about you.

OK, I've been feeling guilty for not partaking in this great thread -- so fun to see you all! -- so I thought I'd have a look through the existing photos on my computer so I could post one. Well, guess what, there is NOT ONE SINGLE PHOTO taken recently that includes only me and not the kids or my honey or anyone else! Because I'm always the one who is BEHIND THE CAMERA! I found one from four or five years ago, where my hair is way blonder than it is now, and is mighty style-less, I must say (I was on a beach holiday), plus a more recent one (last year on holiday in England) where I'm holding one of my sprogs, but he's got his face turned away, so I figure that's OK. And it's not even a fabulous picture of me because I'm wearing a toque. But here goes -- first try posting a couple of photos.

*screaming hoarsely*

Elizabeth! You posted pictures! And you are EXACTLY as I pictured! I think it's because you describe yourself so well. The hat pic makes you look like a model - who are you kidding? Is your hair in a bob now? I love the way it looks in your more recent pic.

We promise we won't tell your husband a thing.

*happy sigh*

Fun thread!

Here is me, right now, with a webcam photo plus hair.

Everyone looks so great!

Oh, nonononooo, I certainly don't look like a model. In that picture my smile is such a fiesta of gums that you can barely see my front teeth... but you're sweet for saying nice things.

My hair's a shaggy, grown-out bob at the moment. I've been wearing a hat pretty much every day for about a month now...time to visit the hairdresser.

OK, now I've just got to be brave and take a photo of how I'm currently DRESSED...which is much scarier.

Jyoti! *waving* My best friend's name is Jyoti also. Loved your bombshell look in the other thread.

*waves back*

It's a rather common name but only to us Indians, huh? xD Thank you for your kind words!

I love this thread! So great to see everyone's smiling faces and put faces to those elusive names. You all see my face all the time so no big surprise here. But here's a recent candid shot of me with DS that I really like.

Okay, here goes. My first pics ever on YLF. I'm only doing this because it's 2 a.m. and Una's post got me in a weak moment as I was on my way to bed. I rarely wear my hair down, but the big reading glasses and no makeup are the usual order of biz.

First pics - Rock it Kate!

Go You, Kate! (PS: Now you've posted a picture there's no going back.... <tee-hee>)

Now..... YOU GO TO BED!!!

I'm not online for 24 hours and this is what happens? I almost missed a great thread. IT great seeing all you lovely ladies.

This is so great seeing al of your faces up close and personal! Elisabeth, finally! A lovely face to put with the name. And I love your Traitors Gate picture.

OMG! Elisabeth! Kate! So exciting to finally "meet" you two! You are both beautiful. =)

Ditto what Diana said. So neat to see some folks for the first time! Elisabeth, for some reason I pictured you as a brunette so I was really surprised and delighted to see your pic! Kate, mine was a 1am pic, too, can't get more candid than that probably lol. Your hair is great, why on earth would you *not* want to wear it down?!

I'm so glad to see people posting what in many cases must be their first pics on YLF! You all are so gorgeous and awesome, fun women!

I know it's not quite the same thing, and I wouldn't disparage anyone who felt uncomfortable with being "public" here, but this thread suddenly made me recall something last night. Last year for a month or so I took drop-in figure drawing classes at the local art school. Obviously, the models are nude. Each time I went, there was a different model (I think one woman and four or five men in the times I attended). The students and models were all cool, and one of the guys was even quite chatty as he posed. But there was one younger man who modeled who would not look our way at all (during the two-hour shift, there is constant pose-changing). He'd look down, to the side, pick poses that had him facing the wall. It was clear--he radiated discomfort at being there. So that I wondered WHY he was there. Yeah, it paid a little better than some other jobs, but WHY was he there? Clearly, he didn't want to be there!

So I'm pleased to see all of us feeling more and more grounded and relaxed here. It's okay even to lurk (without writing)...but whoever does drop by, we are all really glad you're here, and hope you'll become more of a presence in whatever way makes you comfortable. And who knows--your comfort zone may very well expand!

Thanks Mo! You just don't get more candid than 2 am, that's for sure.

I always wear my hair pulled back with a clip, because I hate to have it hanging around my face, particularly when I work. I'd love to have a great short hair style, but my hair is thick, straight and coarse and when it's short, I look like the little boy on the can of Dutch Boy paints (I may be dating myself here!). Not a good look.

My pic last night wouldn't have had my hair down except my clip popped off—they do that sometimes when the pressure of keeping all that hair contained becomes too much, and I couldn't find the dang thing under the desk. I finally gave up battling the dust bunnies and just took a couple of snaps with Photo Booth.

Wow, citygirldc; that's a beautiful photo!

Hehehe Janet, you recognized Traitor's Gate! Clever girl.

I keep coming back to see the beautiful faces here.The ones that are new and the ones that we see more often.
Gorgeous, all of you.

I am too late and at the same time too early to the party. I am not able to post pictures yet. But it was great to see all your lovely faces.

Natalie, you always look so radiantly happy with your kids!

Kate, your HAIR! It's gorgeous - you and Mo are just 1 a.m. wonders.

citygirldc, you KNOW I think you and Rae are secretly sisters...

I <3 this thread.

Love this thread!

This is so fun....just so nice to put personalities to faces and features. With all the little pictures and avatars it is hard to figure out who is who so this is very very helpful,,,,,and downright comfy cozy....to meet you all!

good idea AlaskaGirl...:)

This thread has made me cry. I just love seeing all of you here, especially people whose faces I didn't yet know.

You really are SO beautiful. Truly.

I wish we could have a collage of all the gorgeous faces here. It would be the best expression of this community I can imagine.

Una, thanks for stepping out of your own comfort zone and putting your face on the line, so to speak - encouraging so many others to do so. You ROCK!!