I wonder if it's the expectation of reward that jeopardizes my portraitry-- as you can see:

In the words of Steve Albini vis a vis his experience producing Bush's album Razorblade Suitcase, "You can't polish a turd." I've sincerely tried, but I do feel rather like I'm entering a half-breed into the AKC Show.
Diffidence goeth before a solid begging, so here goes: Modcloth, I love this skirt! Can I get some love for my Photoshop finesse?? I mean, it's all tape-y and vintage-y and err-thang! The goldendoodle has bows in its hair for chrissakes!

Not sure if I can properly enjoy anything that comes out of abasing myself, but-- hey, try something new every day, right? We'll see what happens...
Speaking of seeing what happens, Grizzly Bear's video for their beautiful driving-through-the-woods song "Two Weeks" is the ultimate experiment in delayed gratification:
Getting a little grizzly myself,
Elissa.