Altered Images


No, these aren’t mugshots from a Most Wanted campaign, and they aren’t coffee stains on a napkin either. Neither are they the burnt remains on a baking tray that strangely resemble faces*.

They are, in fact, before and after pictures of yours truly.

OK, before and after pictures of a version of yours truly from an alternative dimension where folk have chiselled jawlines and defined cheekbones with funny ears, but – no, wait, that’s this dimension – the jawline is from the other one. But before and after pictures they are, nevertheless.

They have been posted in honour of one thing. The pruning of my wild and flowing locks.

Yes, I’ve finally done it.

No longer can I walk without having to guess where I’m going as the slightest of breezes whips my hair around over my eyes – and keeps it there.

No longer do I need to walk into a supermarket sideways so that my severe flick can fit through the automatic doors.

No longer will I need to get up at 3 o’clock in the morning to ensure that my hair is dry for work.

No longer will I need to buy a tub of extra strength hair gel which is next to useless, and then need to buy another one the very next day.

No longer will I – well, you get the drift.

I’ve had a haircut.

Now all I have to do is think of something else to fill the next forty or so blog posts I need to write. Sigh. There’s always something.

*This is a photo of the burnt on remains on a baking tray that strangely resembles a face. Well, it does to me… maybe it does to you too?:

Actually, there’s a rather sinister face that appears in the above image as well as the cartoony one (who is either whistling or singing, I can’t make up my mind which) – the ‘sinister’ eyes are almost dead centre – just beneath the cartoony nose.

I quite like it when images alter like this… it shows my imagination is still working, which comes in handy when you really need something to write!

20 responses to “Altered Images”

  1. prenin avatar

    Congratulations on the hair cut – was it two bagging and one shearing??? 😉

    I haven’t had a haircut in thirty years, but my hair is so fine now it breaks long before it gets too long so I have no need of a barber!!! 🙂

    Have a great week my friend! 🙂

    Prenin.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      It was a major operation, Prenin. A production line was needed to brush the floor! All done now, though!
      You have a good week yourself, too!

      Like

  2. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

    Did the hair cut hurt? Like physical pain? Did the hair itself feel pain? I imagine hundreds of little follicles screaming ouches?

    A new you, Tom. Looking fab-u-lous!

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I didn’t feel a thing, Tess. Perfectly harmless, and it only took half an hour! I was expecting it to be quite a bit longer, due to the length, but no. In and out!
      And thank you… I’m feeling a lot lighter and better too!

      Like

      1. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

        *grins*
        Glad you feel lighter.

        Like

  3. Andra Watkins avatar

    Did you really get it cut this short?

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I did indeed, Andra!
      Usually, when my hair annoys me to the extent it has done recently, it just has to go. It grows very quickly though, which can be annoying as well… sigh!

      Like

  4. Diane Henders avatar

    Wow, that’s an easy way to lose five pounds! I’ve only cut my hair a couple of times in my life – it seems like a good idea at the time, but my ears get too cold and I grow it back as quickly as possible. 😉

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Ah, yes… the ears do tend to suffer from the cold for a few days after the cut! But cold ears or severe flick… an easy choice to make, Diane – in my case!

      Like

  5. Visionkeeper avatar

    Sporting a new doo huh? That should lighten things up in your life TL…Less hair to weigh you down making ascension so much easier…I think? Have a happy…VK

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Anything that lightens things up is always good, VK! It’s a usual ‘new’ do, that’ll do for now… until it grows out of control again!

      Like

  6. CMStewart avatar

    Congratulations! I like your light-headed look. Last month I donated 14″ of my hair to Locks of Love (minimum donation is 10″). I still look bobble-headed, but I’ve cut my hair care routine from 4 minutes a day to 1 minute a day. Now I spend the extra 3 minutes wondering what I’m going to do with an extra 3 minutes. BTW the last photo looks exactly like [insert religious martyr / saint / guru name here]. You should sell it on eBay. Just think of all the hats you could buy.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Mine wasn’t long enough to do anything like that, CM, but good on you for doing so. And yes, I’m wondering what to do now that my hair dries in an instant.
      And I agree, there is something ‘familiar’ about the burnt baking tray remains. It’s been washed now though. Unfortunately.

      Like

  7. penpusherpen avatar

    ah yes, imagination Sir A, where would we be without it?… I certainly would be in trouble if mine packed up and departed saying it was off on it’s hols. 😉 Haircut sirrah? It’ll grow again, flowing again int’ breeze. and for some reason I see a winking face, with a big bushy beard in your burnt offering, (what was it originally? Food wise? ) I shall now depart before I start a guessing game on food offerings to the gods. xx

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I see that face as well now, Lady P.
      It, or rather they, was (were) originally pigs in blankets, I believe. That was one (two) of them. Sorry, they aren’t very easy to describe… Yummy, though, however they look after!

      Like

  8. lameadventures avatar

    Why were you compelled to prune yourself in winter, Tom? And what are you going to do with what I imagine is your vast array of hair products? They must be feeling so neglected now.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I don’t think about things like winter, LA, when I need to go. It’s only afterwards when I realise that maybe the timing could have been a little better. With short hair, the products last a while longer – but I still need to use them. Even when short my hair has ideas of its own!

      Like

  9. Readers’ Comments | Within The Sphere avatar

    […] comment was left for my recent Phoenix Rising post; oh, if only they’d scanned the next post, Altered Images, and they’d have seen how neatly preferred I am […]

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