Easter’s coming… Hopefully that includes a little bit of a warm-up with regard to the weather.

Dana and I have been running the “weight loss marathon” for about a year now. Together, we’ve lost 92 and a half pounds as of today. I know that both of us are feeling much better, but we are both still striving to be more healthy. While it is still to some extent about weight loss, we are both more concerned about being healthy. You know, all that “Eat right and exercise” mumbo-jumbo that we kind of let fall by the wayside.

As we’ve come to find out, we’re not going to reach our goals overnight. It took a year for us to really overhaul our eating habits, and it will take at least another year (probably 18 months) for us to get to where we want to be. We’ve hit some bumps along the road, but we’re working hard to come back from those bumps stronger and more determined.

For me, my biggest shock came last week when, after about a month’s hiatus due to a sinus infection, I jumped on the treadmill and ran 2 consecutive 12 minute miles. Yea, it’s a little slow, but so am I. But the fact is, had I tried that last year at this time, I would have probably given up or passed out halfway through. Now all I have to do is start lifting more…

I don’t usually mind inclement weather. Driving home yesterday, for instance, didn’t bother me. But there’s something about ice that scares me a bit, so if I can avoid being out in it, I will. Luckily, our company policy provides us with a couple of “inclement weather” days which we can use as time off when it’s too bad to make it to work. Given that the part of the driveway I shoveled is a quarter inch of ice and it’s still snowing out, I think I’m going to wait for a few hours and see if this snow slows down. Otherwise, I may end up using the whole day.

Unfortunately, I feel bad about missing work. Not that there is anything pressing I have to do, and I’m sure I’m not the only one out today because of the weather, but I still feel pretty bad about missing. I’m a borderline workaholic.

So, earlier this year, Dana and I happened to catch the first episode of the new season of 24. Now, Monday’s from 9 to 10 pm are now officially “Jack Bauer Hour.” I haven’t quite put my finger on why I like this show so much, but I have a few ideas.

1. The writing is good, but I’ve heard each season follows the same basic pattern: Jack has to “get back in the game, overcome personal issues, make difficult choices about who’s lives to save, etc.” I put the first season in our Netflix queue, so I’ll have to make that distinction on my own
2. The show seems to be able to sustain a very frantic pace. Could be the writing, could be the “real-time” aspect, I’m not sure. But it’s definitely a very fast paced show.
3. Each season is very much a miniseries. Most shows have story lines that span one, maybe two episodes. Having more time to develop characters and plot makes it a better show, in my opinion

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a huge CSI fan. But Jack Bauer and 24 have gained our attention and our ratings Mondays from 9 to 10.

The weekend is almost upon us, and I can safely reveal that our plans for the weekend are nothing. If we can avoid taking Deuce out of the house, we will. Poor little guy has a pretty bad chest cold. He’s been to the doctor and they’ve ruled out pneumonia, but he’s just coughing a lot and tired because of the lack of sleep. Dana and I are getting over it, but it’s taken a good bit of time (I’ve had it for about a week). The worst part is I haven’t been able to run because of it, so I feel like a fat(ter) slob.

I shouldn’t say that. I’ve been doing pretty well in the weight loss category. I just hope I can keep it up, err, down…