Something beautiful I wish to share with the world...

You know, several years ago I worked for a plastic surgeon who did a lot of resconstructive procedures on kids with cleft lips and palates. One of the most common patients I had to deal with was the new parents who had just given birth to a baby with a cleft lip -- the lip doesn't get repaired until three months of age, and the palage at about a year old, so many of these folks were reluctant to have their baby's pictures taken. I always tried to encourage them to do so anyway, because despite the fact that their baby might have a strange looking lip, it's still their kid.

Anyway, right around the time "Gladiator" came out, I had a very young couple come in with their little son, who was about six weeks old, and there for his pre-op consult. The dad was having a really hard time dealing with his son's condition, and asked me -- out of the mother's earshot -- if the kid would ever be "normal looking". His specific worry was "Do you think girls will be scared of the scar on his upper lip? Will he ever have a date?"

I looked at him and said, "You know who Joaquin Phoenix is?"

Dad blinks, says, "Commodus, from Gladiator?"

I nodded. "Yep. Cleft lip repair. Not our work, but a repair nonetheless. You think Joaquin has trouble getting girls?"

The look on this guy's face was priceless. I thought he was going to burst into tears, because he was just so relieved. He smiled the whole rest of the visit.

He does/did have a cleft lip! It's funny, I would never have noticed.

Now all he needs is a good eyebrow pluckers.

I'm sorry, Scarlet, but....

Honestly, Wahkeen is a wonderful actor and all, but he's not that cute.

Like, at all. And it's not because of the cleft lip.

It's because of his everywhere.

Maryn said:

Val Kilmer also appears to have a successfully repaired cleft lip. This surgery has been very well done for a long, long time now.

Hey, how did Ladder 49 end? (Rescued, non rescued?) I watched part of it on TV but got interrupted. I figure ScarletPeaches will know if anyone does.

Maryn, not googly-eyed over Phoenix

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He dies.

Sorry.

They try a rescue. They try everything. But the building is too far gutted, too far gone.

There's a nice funeral at the end for him.

trumancoyote said:

Honestly, Wahkeen is a wonderful actor and all, but he's not that cute.

Like, at all. And it's not because of the cleft lip.

It's because of his everywhere.

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There's something seriously wrong with you. Now shoo, you're ruining it for me.

Hey, hey. You ain't gotta hate at me on accounta' his uglitude.

Bless you, Darling!

*goes to change her undies*

You know, it's strange how much I look like Joaquin. Honest.

I always liked river phoenix so much I never paid attention to this one. and while I give him credit for being a fine actor, he just doesn't do it for me. at all. I agree with Truman.

scarletpeaches said:

Here.

Be warned. Ladies of a nervous disposition will need dry underwear.

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I need to be alone for a while.

A LONG while...

trumancoyote said:

Honestly, Wahkeen is a wonderful actor and all, but he's not that cute.

Like, at all. And it's not because of the cleft lip.

It's because of his everywhere.

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That's ok, you don't have to have him. More for me!!!! (Back off, Scarlet, he's MINE...)

Stew21 said:

I always liked river phoenix so much I never paid attention to this one. and while I give him credit for being a fine actor, he just doesn't do it for me. at all. I agree with Truman.

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Me, too.

I follow Truman's lead in all such issues. I used to think Sandra Bernhard was sexy. Luckily, he set me straight...err--right, I mean.

I keep getting stuck. Looking at his eyes I mean. Damn he gives good stare. Yowzah. I didn't realize was a cleft lip though. Just figured him to be scrappy.

This morning 8.30, from out our kitchen window. I'm sure Taranaki normally has started getting quite a bit of snow on it by this time of year? Photo makes it look a long way away, it's actually very close.

ok I've made an executive decision

Joaquin sitting near kiwiguy's view. Thats a beautiful thing. (things?)

OOOOOH! Nice view, kiwiguy!

I think Mr Phoenix is cute, but my taste runs to the more mature:


(That's my DH at the Peggy Guggenheim Museunm in Venice, Italy behind a Henry Moore sculpture. It's not, as someone once asked, a space-age toilet seat)

grey hair is sexy
WTG kate.

Kate Thornton said:

OOOOOH! Nice view, kiwiguy!

I think Mr Phoenix is cute, but my taste runs to the more mature:


(That's my DH at the Peggy Guggenheim Museunm in Venice, Italy behind a Henry Moore sculpture. It's not, as someone once asked, a space-age toilet seat)

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To each their own. I'd take a piece of Joaquin any day, but my ultimate preference belongs to a slightly YOUNGER crowd...

MY husband, grabbing my ass for the camera:

The husband looks ok, but who's that hottie with him?

Hey... Did your avatar just flounce?

It was like, looking straight ahead, and now it's all looking cock-eyed at me.