I had meant to make this post a couple weeks ago, when it was actually my parents anniversary, but life got in the way and I wasn’t able to find the time to do it.  But now, I feel it needs to be said: my parents are amazing.  Plain and simple.

My parents were married January 11th, 1985 at the courthouse, so they never had their “big wedding”.   When discussions have their 25th anniversary started a couple years ago, a few options were presented.  Kirsten, my lovely wife, brought up the idea of a “renewal of vows” – basically a wedding without the license (since they already have that).  The more the topic was brought up, the more my Mom and Dad loved the idea.  So the plans started in motion – and of course, they started small and grew exponentially from there.  It started with just a few people at an intimate get-together, it grew into a full-blown “wedding” at a chapel with a huge reception afterwards.  In fact, the chapel they ended up going with was the same chapel where Kirsten and I got married (Country Chapel in Appleton – it’s an amazing little place, check it out), so it was fun going back there and reliving all the memories we had almost 4 years ago (yikes!).  My brother and I stood up as best men (I tried to convince my Mom to put “Bestest Man” and “2nd Best Man” on the program, but she shot me down…) and my sister and Kirsten stood up as Maid and Matron of Honor, respectively.  Grace and my cousin Collin (my parent’s godchild) stood up as Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.  We got to ride in a big ass limo to and from the ceremony (and it drove us home – score!)  The ceremony itself was absolutely awesome ceremony.  Everyone ooohed and ahhhed at the cuteness of Gracie and Collin, and of course at how gorgeous my Mom looked (and I am sure a few snickers were had at mine and my brother’s expense, as we were wearing tuxes with pink vests – thanks Mom!)  And then the reception was just a blast, seeing all my the friends and family of our family, some of whom we haven’t seen in a while, just celebrating and partying and having a grand ol’ time.

And why, again, were we there?  Love.  Love was the reason.  The immense love between my Mom and Dad.  25 years of it.  Hell, a lot of people flat out said they weren’t going to make it when they first got together.  But love endures.  Through the first months, through their wedding, through having me (tough enough, I know!), through the hard times, and through the amazing times.  My parents have raised 3 pretty amazing children (if I do say so myself) and now we can get to pass that love on to our significant others and kids.  Kirsten and I have been together for a little over 6 years, and as all couples do, we’ve had our fair share of tough times.  But I always knew – if my parents could do it, then we can too.  I always look up to them as an example of what I want to be, of the type of parent I want to be to my kids.  My parents have always been there for me, no matter what – maybe not giving me handouts and exactly telling me what to do, but showing me the right path and letting me get there on my own.  Sure, I might stumble, but they would help pick me up, dust me off, and keep leading me in the right direction.  That is the parent I want to be.  And I know that the sky is the limit.

I feel like I rambling a little more than I was hoping, but I hope my point wasn’t lost.  This is a simple toast (an e-toast, if you will) to two people I look up to the most in my life.  I love you, Mom and Dad – and here’s to an amazing 25 years together.  And here is also to another 25 more.

Just a note, for those of you asking – I will be posting some pictures and the video that we made for my folks on here shortly.  Just have to get around to doing that, so be patient

I still haven’t come up with a catchy name for my weight loss posts, but seeing as this is only my second one, I still have some time to do that.  Day 2 of working out went pretty good – again, almost didn’t even do it, but I pushed myself to do it and it felt really good.  I definitely was still feeling the effects of Monday’s work out, but that has got to be a good sign, right?  Sure, it means I am definitely out of shape – but the fact that I felt like that and still kept going today is a good sign!  I definitely felt very good though.  I only did 2 sets again, but I pushed myself very hard on each set and fully completed them both (I skimped on a couple on Monday).  I was feeling a good rush of adrenaline afterward, and I almost threw on a long sleeve shirt and went for a run.  But I figured I would wait until it wasn’t 13 degrees out…although I do think I want to add some cardio into the mix soon (I was thinking around week 3).  I know that is a part I can get Kirsten involved in too – although she probably wouldn’t run with me, and I couldn’t get her to walk until it is warmer out (mainly because Grace would have to come with too, and she already says “Brrr!” when I open the front door, haha)

Either way, I felt good today.  I set out to 2 – 3 workouts a week, and my FreeTrainers.com fitness plan did give me a workout for Friday, but seeing as that is bowling night, I probably won’t work out that night.  Possibly Saturday (still giving me that day off before Monday), but we will see.  I had hoped to keep updated track of my weight on here too, but seeing as how our scale is dead, I can’t do that yet (of course, the stupid thing takes one of those little lithium batteries…never have those laying around when you need them!)

I have told a few people about what I doing and already gotten some good support, so I appreciate it guys.  I haven’t a clue how many people actually read this blog, but I do appreciate everyone that does and lends their support.  Lord knows I’d rather be building a website or playing WoW or something else…but I know I need this.  So thanks all  Onward!!

So I have been meaning to update for the past couple of weeks, but every time I sit down to write, something pulls me away and I never get back to it.  I have a draft started for an anniversary post for my parents…but their anniversary was two weeks ago now! (I still might get that one out, heh)  But as I eluded to in a Twitter post last week, I have set out to start working out this week, so I figured that was a good way to get me into blogging again – blog about keeping my fat ass in shape!

I have never been very good at staying in shape.  Well, I shouldn’t say that.  I have typically been in…decent…shape most of my life.  I always tried to stay active throughout high school and college.  I love playing sports when I can, and I love to just be active.  But after 4 years of college, and now 3 years (not counting college years) of a pretty sedentary job, things have caught up to me.  I rarely gained any weight all through high school and even the first year or two of college.  Then it ALL caught up to me.  I suppose (as many would say) that the copious amounts of beer I have consumed over the years could be a key factor to that, but still.  I want to be more in shape.  I weigh around 195 pounds right – maybe not “fat” (whatever that word means), but overweight enough where I feel I can do something about it.  And hell, even if I lose just 5 pounds, I’d love to tone what meat I DO have on my bones.

So here is what I have set out to do.  I don’t really have a long-term goal in mind, but I know I just want to get into SOME kind of habit with working out.  I found a website – www.freetrainers.com – and I set up a profile there.  There were quite a few sites like this that I found, but most had a membership fee attached to them, and I really didn’t want or need that kind of obligation right now.  You might say I want an “easy way out” just in case, but that’s not it.  Really I just wanted a place that gave me a good path for a decent workout that I could do 2 or 3 times a week just to stay active.  And that is what this site does.  It lets you choose a workout type and gives you a plan to fit that – plus it allows you to choose if you are just doing it at home with no equipment or at a gym or whatever (I do have access to a gym at work, but for now I am starting with my free weight set in my house)

So long story short – I started that workout tonight.  I almost didn’t.  I knew Monday was the first night of it, and I almost just wimped out.  I know a lot of people might think I will still wimp out after a week or two (wouldn’t be the first time), but I really feel I can stick with this.  The first workout tonight was 4 sets of 7 different exercises.  I made it through 2 sets before calling it quits – I really don’t want to push myself too hard the first night and make it so I don’t even want to do it anymore.  I can clearly feel that I had worked out – which I am not sure is a good thing or a bad thing.  On one hand, it definitely was working those muscles.  On the other, it was work those muscles don’t do often, haha.  But it definitely felt really good while I was doing it, and my hope is that if I can update my blog at least twice a week with updates, I can see some progress and maybe get some encouragement along the way (depending on who even reads this, haha)

So the long journey begins.  This first workout plan that I have is for 12-weeks.  As I said, I don’t have a real long-term goal at this point, but I will see where this takes me and go from there.  I just want to start getting into a habit – nothing too intense yet – and take you all along for the ride.  If I can do this (which I know I can!!!!), then you can too