Ore-oh, no.

Drum roll, please.

Okay, that might sound misleading since I've been talking about publishing a book.

What I meant to say was:  I'm excited!  And here's why.  I'm finally getting back into a gym.  When I was in college, I worked out somewhat regularly and maintained a pretty decent physique (not great, not good, but decent).  Did you catch the use of the vague qualifiers there?  Anyways, I am officially the heaviest that I've ever weighed.  Ouch.  It's not really that bad since it's distributed on a fairly tall 5'9" frame, but still.  It's not cool.  I'm not saying that I want to be super skinny or look emaciated or fit into a size 2.  I'd just like to get back into my comfort range.  I know you're probably glaring at me through the screen right now, but it's important to me.  I'm tired of feeling self-conscious.

So what brought on this change in plan?  Several things, but primarily:  July.  July itself isn't bad, it's what takes place in July.  Cookouts, Independence Day, my grandmother's birthday, my birthday, my husband's birthday, my mother-in-law's birthday, my brother's birthday, our anniversary, etc., etc., etc.... To top it off, last night I threw my husband a surprise "Mustache Bash" birthday party.  It worked, and he was definitely surprised (to the borderline of scared, actually).  But the theme was... I'm a little ashamed... milk and cookies.  Milk mustaches, get it?  Even though a lot of people showed up, we were left with oh, only about 52lbs. of cookies.  Chocolate chip cookies (soft AND chewy), caramel cookies, double stuffed oreos, coconut cake, coconut cupcakes, and one lone smores cupcake.  Not to mention the gallon of chocolate milk left in our refrigerator.  (cringe)  For someone who LOVES sugar, this is a problem.  When put in front of a pile of delicious, sugary treats, my self control runs away like my dog from, well, other dogs.  She's special.  But seriously, I'd have major consumer guilt if I just threw them away (not to mention my husband might freak out), so I'm choosing to find pleasure in my long lost love of working out.

Okay, okay, the word "love" might be an overestimation, but... pleasure?  Enjoyment?  Satisfaction.  It's satisfying to exercise, so that's what I'm going to do right now.  God bless the teacher discount, by the way.  I do love that.  So here I go, off to the YMCA in my dusty Nikes.  If you don't hear from me in a few days, just assume that I've pulled my back out again or just keeled over in the middle of the gym.

As for now, enjoy a few Mustache Bash photographs.

Some of our friends.  I love them. 

Brie, my sister-in-law, and her fiancee Derek (along with our spazzy pups).  I love them, too.

My husband and me.  He's beardalicious.