I'm back... with PICTURES

I never realized how much I needed to stop and do nothing until I actually stopped and did nothing. 

I was sitting there on the lounge chair soaking up the sun and just felt revitalized.

This was, however, not just a vacation where I did nothing.  In fact, I stepped outside my box many, many times.

As I said I was really stressed out about being around other people.  That didn't change much, even though some folks were very nice.  Most folks still kind of kept their distance and I'm not sure if that was so much them or me.  Maybe I put off that kind of keep away vibe, I'm not sure.  Steven and I kept to ourselves most of the time.

We went to Wet & Wild to have our dolphin interactive experience.  I wasn't as far advanced in the water as I thought - you put me waist deep in the ocean and I was flipping out.  I did it, but not everything.  They have a "photo" session where you get to get kissed by the dolphin and shake hands with the dolphin.  I couldn't kiss the dolphin because it required that I walk to the edge of this platform we stood on, lean over the drop off with my hands behind my back.  I couldn't do this yet - not with the waves and what not.  Too scary.

I did get the handshake (or flippershake, in this case), barely... but I did. 

Aside from going onto the beach with hundreds of beautiful women with perfect bodies, that was the hardest thing I had to do once we got to Cancun. 

It took a lot of guts to go out onto the beach but I was glad I did.  In front of me was this beautiful girl who had THE perfect body and I felt so damn intimidated.  I seriously had to talk myself down and say why am I valuing her over myself just because she looks good in a bathing suit?  That's exactly what I bitch and complain about society doing, and here I am perpetuating the myth. 

I didn't eat as much as I thought I would.  My problem - the drinking.  I realized before I left that I drink in social situations because it helps me feel better aboutbeing around people I don't know.  It lowers those inhibitions.  And I don't mean I get sloppy drunk, I just have a few drinks to take the edge off.

I came to the realization that without thinking about it, I've been self medicating for that social anxiety thing.  Maurice Benard who plays Sonny on General Hospital said that he used to drink a lot more before he was put on medication for his manic depression, and that he did it to self medicate.

So even though I didn't get drunk once on this trip, I did drink a lot more than I usually do.  And they were the high calorie mixed drinks too, so even though I didn't overeat, I probably went over my calorie count in a big way.

I didn't get to the gym but I walked A LOT.  I've got the blisters on my feet to prove it. 

I'm sure that I gained a few pounds, but I'm also sure it's mostly water retention and I'll lose them as quickly.  Tomorrow will tell the tale - that's when I have to weigh in after a full night's sleep.  Not looking forward to it but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

The proof that I didn't do too badly - the plane's seat belt fit both ways.  Not only that but I actually didn't crowd the person next to me.  I had to face sitting next to strangers instead of Steven, we ended up in aisle seats both ways.  But that turned out okay, I had nice people to talk to who didn't seem put off in the least having to sit next to me.  Always a concern.

Anyway - so that was the big stuff weight loss journey wise.

We stayed at the Riu Caribe, it's a five star all inclusive hotel there in Cancun - a city I've decided is Vegas if you trade the casinos for the beach.  It's mostly one big strip and a section of downtown, and on the strip the resort hotels are dominant.  The weather was beautiful except for one patch of rain on Saturday, but even that was okay.

We got in Friday night about 8pm or so.  We were whisked away to a chartered bus where they get the party started with a Corona.  We then drive a really long ways to the hotel, in the meantime our Funjet travel coordinator is giving us the rundown on stuff we can do, things we can see, and of course giving us our room keys, and all hotel policies and perks.

By the time we get to the hotel we go up to our room to drop off our things, then we went down to the buffet.  After we got a bite to eat, it's out to the beach we go.  The sand there is white and so fine it feels like silk between your toes.  Walking on that beach alone was a workout.  It felt so nice just to sit there on the beach, feeling the sea breeze and just chill listening to the waves crash onto the shore.  We saw this boat that was all lit up and decided we wanted to find out what that was so we could do it.

It was the Captain Hook party boat, where you get a buffet dinner with either steak or lobster, and a show/party that last for three hours where you interact with pirates.  There are two boats, and toward the end of the cruise you end up getting boarded by the other pirate ship for an exciting sword fight.  We won, which lead to a congratulatory conga in which yours truly danced the night away.  This is huge, I normally don't dance at all.  My friend Jeff will be floored to hear this.

It was so much fun, I have to say.  I almost wanted to go to Senor Frogs, a club down there, afterwards just to keep dancing.

And no, I wasn't drunk.  In fact, for what I was drinking I never even really felt buzzed at all.  All I did feel was the incredible compulsion to do things I never have done before - like get a tattoo.  Or get my hair done in those Bo Derek braids.  Or parasail.

I didn't do any of those things but I wanted to.  Tattoo=too painful.  Braids=not a good idea for any white woman who isn't Bo Derek.  Parasail=too expensive.  That Captain Hook was $65 per person for three hours worth of fun.  Parasailing was $50 per person for a ten minute ride.  So we decided against it.

Next time, however, I will do the braids (simply because my hair frizzed like crazy in the humidity) and I will parasail.

And yes, there will be a next time.

Because it was a lot of fun.  A lot.  I had a great time, I feel so energized and I'm ready to get back to business - including the weight loss.  A getaway was just what I needed.

Enjoy the photos, I took a bunch!