Bottom line is, I don't mind looking my age, but exhaustion and illness are making me look a lot older than that, and there's nothing says I have to like it.

I've just hit the point where I hadn't realized, even in mirrors (and even with my hyper-critical eye), how way-past-chunky I really am. Pictures, however, especially non-posed ones, have managed to point out to me that perhaps I should lose the hibernating-for-the-winter look.

(This isn't a self-loathing body-image demons post; it's just my observation. I know I can be pretty, no matter what size I am, but I'd like to be less round.)

Didn't even have to click the link, David. Gotta be you carrying her out over your shoulder, right?

Gotta be you carrying her out over your shoulder, right?

It's like the Simpsons episode where Homer goes to the all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant, and they try to throw him out even though he isn't full, and he keeps running back inside -- I really expected one more picture to be of juliana running back inside, determined to continue with the merry-making.

Tep, I'm nodding along here. I know how schizo I sound, but I'm torn between looking at menopausal/MS-ridden/exhausted me in the photos there are and saying whotheFUCKisthat?!?!?, and peering at pictures I remember being there for and not seeing myself, which causes the whole omifrickinGODIreallyamINVISIBLE!?!?!? thing.

I know I can be pretty, no matter what size I am, but I'd like to be less round.

I saw a number of pictures of me that sent the same message. i saw pictures that I liked -but Somewhat less of me would be good.

also ,after looking at pictures of some other peeps - I will say the camera does add 10 lbs. I never really believed that one til I lloked at some of the F2F pictures and I know what they looked like just hours before I saw the pictures

Until Epic posted her pictures from the Winchester House expedition I despaired of seeing a single f2f photo of me that I could stand. Even the one of Tom's that I consciously posed for made me look like someone was inflating me with an unseen air hose. There must have been 5 or 6 cameras on me at all times, each adding their 10 pounds...

You know, I've been thinking about how totally random the pictures I took are. Like, I have tons of some people, and of others (like Tep, for one) I can't believe I have no pictures. Which sucks. It's like when the weekend is over and I realized my complete failure to have conversations with Fay and Deena and Cass and a dozen others. Next time I'ma have a checklist or summat.

And again, I'm the evil opposite of many. I frequently like the way I look in pictures better than RL. Although, since I haven't been dancing or working out at all, the voluptua is a bit more prominent in the dance shots than I would like. Thank heavens class starts up again tomorrow.

the voluptua is a bit more prominent in the dance shots than I would like

::loves smonster's voluptua::

voluptua

You've just brought back a superb memory, 33 or so years old now. I was feeling miserable and body-hating (had just had surgery on ankles and was puffy and compressed and pissed off). I was curled up in bed, not quite in tears, and Nicholas Rev.1 wandered upstairs and just stood there, staring down at me.

I finally got very twitchy and snapped something along the lines of "WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING."

I remember exactly what he said - the entire memory just came back. He said "I'm admiring your pulchritude."

Never heard him use the word before that or anytime after it. Stuck in my head, but I'd forgotten that.

You just made me extremely happy.

I've been thinking about how totally random the pictures I took are. Like, I have tons of some people, and of others (like Tep, for one) I can't believe I have no pictures. Which sucks.

This. So very much this. When I finally uploaded my pics I couldn't believe how much stuff and how many foamy people I failed to take pictures of. And I was apparently stalking Juliana because like half of my pics were of her. (Not that tons of pics of Juliana is a problem -'cause that would obviously be crazy talk!)

Next time I'ma have a checklist or summat.

Good plan. I may adopt it.