Blend

I wrote this last night:

I met up with a group of Facebook friends from around the Omaha area for brunch today. It was the first time I've been able to eat without worrying about what I'm putting in my mouth for weeks. In a word - it was wonderful. I'll get back to being more disciplined when I'm home again but today was a day to re-balance and that's what I did. And, I don't feel a bit guilty about it. And, it was wonderful to be able to spend some relaxing time with some really cool people. I had a great time....

If all had gone according to plan I'd be landing in Phoenix right about now but as usual things didn't go as planned. After they boarded the plane from Omaha to Denver they announced that it was broken and told us all to get back off and make other arrangements. So, after considerable effort that I don't feel like re-telling in all its painful detail, I've got reservations in the morning and we'll try it again. Thanks again to Meredith for coming back to save the day. This is the 3rd or 4th time this has happened to me in the last year - thankfully I wasn't stuck in some strange city or stuck on a park bench.

We took the scenic route back from the airport and Omaha is actually quite the pretty city. I really enjoy having the opportunity to actually "visit" some of the places that I go these days and the drive back from the airport provided the opportunity to get to see things I wouldn't otherwise have seen. I really enjoyed it.

Today's update:

I'm back home today. And, as they say, there's no place like home. I've spent the better part of the afternoon catching up on things and haven't moved off this couch more than a couple of times. It's nice to have a little time to relax.

I recently learned that my wrestling exploits were featured on a website called "FemaleMuscle.com" (see it here). The website itself shows some pretty interesting muscle pics. I've got a few pics of my triceps from a few weeks before I lost all that weight for Nationals that I'm sure they'd just love. I can't help but smile. And - I actually have no problem with it. As I said in one of my other recent posts I've always been athletic and my body is happier when it's toned and tuned.

I spent some time on the plane today writing out some of my thoughts on recent events. Specifically - what happened over this past weekend and the bigger picture of things. I've said before and I'll say again that writing is probably my own best therapy. It just helps to get things out of your head and into words that you can read and digest and consider. That probably makes no sense to anyone but me but it has helped me for a long, long time and is probably the root of why I wrote what became a book and why I continue to write what I write here on my blog.

While I was on the plane today I also watched the movie Avatar. Again. The entire movie is something I could talk for hours about.....

Blogs seems to be more "interesting" when there is a visual component so I'll share a pic that I took a while ago.

The theme of the photo is about blending in. I can say that because I took the photo so I get to decide the theme. :)

The irony is that there was a time when that was all I ever wanted. I just wanted to blend in - to be just like everyone else. And, I thought that my transition was the best way to achieve that. What I didn't know at the time was that it's not what I really wanted at all. Furthermore, that my transition would eventually do more to help me appreciate being a unique blend than of being any one thing who looks and talks and thinks the same as everyone else. I've got no time for that.

There are a few things on Facebook that are a little "odd" besides some of the people there. For example, on the right hand side of my screen it suggests new "friends" based on shared friends that we have in common, and I've had more than one interesting surprise there. It also recommends that I "connect" with people who are already friends and at least two of my friends have passed away in the last year - but it still recommends them. I need to make sure that somebody removes me from FB when my time comes....

One last thing for tonight. There's an article in this month's GQ (of all places) titled "New Mike, Old Christine". It's a critically important story that has relevance for all of us, but it hasn't been told well yet. Until now. The entire story isn't available online but it's worth going out and buying this month's issue to read.

Asta....baby.