When I Look At You

So, I just got back from visiting Egypt. Yes, Egypt. Amazing, non? I promise to talk about it soon, but in the meantime, you can check my Twitter page, or the blog of the friends I was staying with for preliminary details.

But first, a little issue I'm dealing with related to my trip. We took a LOT of pictures. Nancy, Andrew, I, and even their 2-year-old Rachel had cameras. Of course, one of us was carrying a pink, plastic toy camera, so there aren't actually photos floating around from it. Those of us with real cameras took pictures of everything we were seeing and of each other.

And, lately, I really don't like pictures of myself. I'm not 100% comfortable with the weight I've gained since college, and, as they say, cameras add 10 additional pounds. Sure, with proper lighting, angles, etc., I can look fantastic in pictures, but it's not usually the case in candid shots.

So between my own photos, the photos the Heisses have taken, and even Eilonwy's wedding graduate post on a nationally popular wedding blog, I've seen a lot of pictures of me lately.

In order to not get totally depressed about it all, I've asked myself a few questions.

Are you still relatively healthy?

Yes.

Are you working out and eating healthy and trying to do something to change what you're not happy about?

Yes.

Are you a supermodel or a movie star who only has to look fabulous for however long their shot is and has an army of photographers/makeup artists/personal trainers/lighting designers/etc. whose sole purpose is to make them look awesome and then have Photoshop artists to fix things that aren't perfect?

No.

Are you wearing loose, somewhat unflattering clothing in order to maintain modesty standards of two major religions AND not die in the Egyptian sun? Also, no makeup because it would have melted off anyway?

Yes.

Do you think you're pretty?

Yes, but with the right makeup and clothes I

Uh-uh. Try again. Do you think you're pretty?

Yes, yes I do.

Did a guy hit on you at Five Guys just yesterday?

Yes.

Do other people say you look good?

Sometimes.

Does anyone say anything about your weight?

No.

So other people probably think you're pretty too, right?

Well, yes.

So you're being ridiculous?

Yes.

Good.

Good.

And then I feel better. Except for the part where I seem to be kind of sick (and very tired) since I returned from my trip, so you may have to wait another day or two before I started posting about it.

So, my trip to Egypt, coming soon to a computer near you!

And you? You're pretty/handsome too. Seriously.