Happy New Year!

Well first things first, Happy New Year 2014 fuckers! I cant believe that it's already a brand new shiny year. Mostly because 2013 was a bit of a blur to be perfectly honest. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing year for many reasons but a learning and trying year as well with life in general.

No matter the new year is upon us and as I write this post I am already 17 minutes into 2014 so I think I have managed to start the year off pretty good and I am happy how it has turned out so far! I mean it seems like just yesterday it was 2013! Yea I know, real funny - I try!

Happy Birthdays

So not only does today start a brand new year but it's also the day that marks both our fuzzy kid Oggy is another year older as well as my sister Kelly who is another year wiser. I learned long ago to not mention a woman's age once they are in their late twenties or so.

Oggy on the other hand is turning the big 8 today and is just as sweet and smart as ever. We do get sad every year that he turns another year older since he is now considered upper middle age which freaks us out to think about. The little guy is so important to us and we never want to lose him. Have to look on the bright side and remember how awesome he is and has been and how many years we have left together.

Plus this coming year Oggy will have some new responsibilities. As a big brother he will be in charge of sniffing and begging for treats once his baby sister shows up in March. I think he will do just fine in his new role and baby will grow to love and appreciate him as he will with her.

Fuckin' Resolutioners

So with the first if the year comes something that I absolutely cannot and have not ever been able to stand - the millions of New Year resolutions that are made but rarely last much in to February or March at best. Sure I sound like an asshole saying this when people are only trying to better themselves but are they? I think they just want something cool or interesting to talk about around the water cooler when they get back to work.

Generally what I have found is that everyone comes up with some brilliant idea to suddenly get into shape, read more books, eat healthier - the list goes on and on. These are all very admirable goals and great things to strive for. My problem is that if you do not plan to make it a part of your everyday life like showering or brushing your teeth then it will never become habitual and more importantly second nature to do. You will only be setting yourself up for failure.

For example; I have been working-out for 18 years and have not missed a single week of my workouts, yea no joke. Through hell or high water I have managed to get in at least a workout or 2 every single week. Most weeks averaging 4 or 5 days minimum. I must be delusional or lying right? Wrong - I have made it a part of my everyday routing. You have no idea how easy it would be to skip a week or lie about it. Why would I? I would only be kidding and hurting myself.

I have had my ups and downs with it that's for sure. Through surgeries, aches and pains or pure laziness there have been very difficult times to go but I always find the energy to get off my ass and go. The bonus comes with the next thing I know I am done and stoked I did not blow it off. I must be a ripped muscle bound thug then right? Actually no I am not. I have actually put on about 10 to 12 pounds in the past 4 to 6 months without even trying - really fucking annoying to be blunt. No I did not start eating fast food morning, noon and night. I am actually almost certain that it's a medicine that is messing with my metabolism because it all started shortly after starting to take it.

So if you want the ultimate mind-fuck step into my shoes for awhile. Workout as hard as I do nearly every single day, watch each and everything you eat and still manage to gain weight. Let's see you stay strong enough to keep your resolution through some of that real life shxt. It's not easy but I will tell you one thing - it will NOT get the best of me that's for sure!

Does this make me better than someone else that quits or gives up a few weeks into the new year? In many ways it sure as hell does but in reality, nah not really. It's human nature to take the easy way out when you are not getting back at least what you put into something. I suppose I am simply more stubborn and want to beat the odds. I don't need a holiday or resolution on the 1st day of the year to dictate my life - neither should you. Do what is right for you and do it for yourself. Otherwise you are only setting yourself up for failure I am sorry to say. That is a fact my friend.

I won't even get into the rant with regards to everyone showing up at the gym with shiny new workout gear and no clue what to do and really only managing to get in every ones way. That is the worst kind of resolutioner in my opinion. The biggies reason this annoys me and other gym rats is because we have to put up with it and we all know that we will not see 95% of you after a couple weeks of you ruining our workouts by hogging machines or getting in the way in general. The other 2 to 4% last a little longer, but usually there seems to average 1% that actually stick with it for what I would consider "long term". It's not magic people, just like eating too much does not "just happen".

Come one come all and workout but do us all a favor and know what you are doing or at least ask someone that does. More importantly stick with it if it means that much to you. I for one could care less what your resolution is, but I would like to hear that you succeeded because it was important to you, not that you failed because the resolution was not well thought out or was too difficult. I don't buy that bullshxt for a moment.

All said though, best of luck to you all and please stay the fuck out of the way if you are new to a gym. Put your weights back where you found them as well as your other equipment like mats, balls and dumbbell's. Most importantly of all PLEASE, if nothing else just do one simple thing - wipe down the equipment when you get done with it. I don't want to sit or lay back in a puddle of your slop when I go to do my routine.

Changes

There will be a lot going on in my life for 2014. Everything from having a baby to new opportunities at work because of our studio splitting into 2 separate studios sometime this month if everything goes as planned and explained to us in the December all-hands meeting we had.

I have no idea of the exact changes or opportunities as of right now or rather I can't rabble about them on here for obvious reasons. Soon enough I should be able to talk more freely about the changes once the dust settles.

I look forward to 2014 with a smile and open arms ready to embrace whatever is thrown my way. I would like to continue the trend of 2013 and not have any surgeries once again this year. As far as I am concerned, all of my surgeries are in the past and I have met my lifetime quota.

I Digress

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you are wise and make the best out of a fresh start to new opportunities and whatever else may come your way in 2014. Stay strong and don't beat yourself up if and when you give up your resolutions. Simply start small next year if a resolution is the only way you can achieve something new. I for one would rather succeed at one or a few smaller things and remain positive than fail at something I was knew was out of reach in the first place.

Photo: Speaking of resolutions like losing weight, eating better and that sort of thing. Here is one way to spoil it right off the bat. Cicely and I went to Staples with her mom on Monday looking for a planner for her.

Well Staples has these MASSIVE jugs of cheese balls that were screaming out at the 3 of us since we had not eaten anything since way early that morning - yea, we enjoyed them until our fingers were orange! Don't fret, there are still PLENTY left to go around.