Prep

Taking a vacation: Superb
Taking a family vacation: Potentially less superb
Taking a family vacation with the entire extended family: Borderline not superb
Taking a family vacation with the entire extended family while recovering from an eating disorder: Sub-hazardous
Taking a family vacation with the entire extended family while recovering from an eating disorder to the beach: Sub-poopy

This Friday I will be going to Laguna Beach, California, with my lovely 50+ family members. I'd like you to recognize the sarcasm in the above statements: I'm actually very excited to go. I pride myself in getting along splendidly with even the most difficult of family members and can't wait to get away with the people that I feel safest with. Still, I can't help but be a little nervous. There will be a lot of eating, drinking and general merry-making, as well as less opportunities to work out and escape if I need to. But the thing that I'm most anxious about is being in a bikini so much. I've still got a nice coating of extra jiggle around my middle (please see entry: "I Jiggle when I giggle," for more details). I know most people won't even see it and surely won't judge, but I can't help but wonder if they might pity me. I look so different. It's a ridiculous thought to have; I think if anyone even notices they will probably be observant at a minimum and proud at a maximum. These are the things my eating disorder tricks me into thinking.

So, I've assembled a photo journal to help boost me up for the big vacay. These are just some of the inspirational little pieces that I've been collecting...
(Look very closely at the lovely lady in the America bikini...I'll buy the first person to identify her an ice cream. Extra sprinkles if you forward the picture to a Republican friend).