One Look

This is one of the images I spent a fair amount of time sharing this weekend. I like it because I think it's sassy without being particularly mean.

I don't go out much. There's a little bit of social anxiety involved but a lot of the time it's because social activity usually involves food. A couple of the last times I went out with one friend in particular were the ones that basically broke the camel's back. The first time we went out, we were in a weird, artsy-ish mall, and there was really only one place to stop for a drink, coffee for her and whatever for me. The place also served dessert. After we chose a table, I went to the bathroom. When I came out, it was very easy to tell something was bothering my friend. She proceeded to tell me that, while I was in the bathroom, some Nosy Nellies at a nearby table thought it would be appropriate to shame HER for bringing me into an establishment that served cake. I was flabbergasted.

It was a while before we went out again. This time she was on some type of elimination diet and so we ended up in a food court at a more traditional mall, and we chose a restaurant whose menu was full of salads. So we got out salads, sat practically in front of the place, and despite enjoying the meal and each other's company, I managed to look up and catch a couple of passersby staring at our table with looks of disgust on their faces. Again, flabbergasted. I mean seriously, I am out in public, dressed in what I thought was a reasonable manner, and eating what everyone seems to think I should be eating and I still get dirty looks? Plus I felt bad for my friend, especially after she had been such a champion at the cake and coffee place. I get those looks all the time and although I shouldn't, I'm really sure she didn't need that kind of bias heaped on her.

I've been out a couple of times since. But I chose. And if it's out out, then I chose the place. Someplace small, quiet, out of the way, and usually at an off time, like lunch at 1 p.m. or dinner late, like 7 p.m. It keeps the dirty looks down. And sometimes you get to try some interesting food!

That being said, don't come at me regarding this graphic. I will not be nice. You can try telling me you can tell more than that, but I've heard it. You don't know what I'm putting in my mouth on a daily basis. You might stand a fair chance of guessing what I used to eat, but now? No. Stop. You also really can't tell me you know how much I work out. If you're going to keep insisting you can, I'm going to file a report against you for stalking.