The camera adds twenty pounds?

Not this time.

Today was a pretty funny day. I am doing this series of meetings with the Town of Cary, and we have different speakers, go to different locations, and get more "cultured." Lord knows I could use it.

But today's meeting was the coolest. It started off with a gauntlet. This part wasn't cool. This part was, yet again, a table filled with my old friends. Donuts, bagels, and muffins. Cut in half, but let's be honest...when was the last time a normal person ate only half a donut? Please.

I survived the gauntlet. So far, so good. Then, lunch at a Cuban restaurant in downtown Durham. I chose the least appetizing of the options: salad and a grilled chicken breast. Everyone else had tasty sandwiches, chips and salsa, black beans and rice covered with cheese. But I got the salad bar. Didn't even get ranch dressing. In fact, the people at the table even commented "oh, the YMCA girl gets a salad!" It was one of those "I'm joking but sort of judging you at the same time because you are probably looking at my deep fried monte cristo sandwich and feeling sorry for me" comments.

Still, it felt good to be the healthy one at the table. Wow, this is new.

The best part of the day, though, is that we toured a local tv station. And we got to act like a 3rd grade class and take our picture in front of the green screen and at the news anchor desk. These days, I am the first in line to take pictures. Put me front and center! I can't believe how I look. Truly. I can't. This has been a process, and I know it will last a lifetime, but this new body and face is...strange. I get excited to have my picture taken, because sometimes I don't think it's me. I lost two of my chins. Now I'm down to one. I see a waistline, I see my eyes, I see...someone else.

Back to you, Angela.

But the great thing that these pictures prove, is that I haven't lost my sense of humor. That will always, ALWAYS, be large and in charge.

Oh, thank God.

-Liz