Day one of this crazy journey...

Hi out there!
Yes, I am going to attempt to blog. I have chosen, as of this weekend, to pursue a goal for this coming year. It comes out of a time of great uncertainty and bewilderment about the future, but gives me such promise for what could be!

Confused yet? Let me help ya. My father died of pancreatic cancer almost 7 years ago now. While his death did not spur me onto changing anything in particular about my life, seeing someone very close to me have to deal with their parent having this disease, now makes me think a bit harder on my own life. Wierd how that works sometimes.

While I was talking with this person *whose name and identity shall remain annonymous*, they spoke of some Ragbrai trips that they took with thier son, and how it was amazing. When they said this, I immediately thought, "hey, I could go on Ragbrai in thier place". Better yet, I could go as a tribute to my father and now this man I love too.

In case you don't know what Ragbrai is, it is a bicycle ride across Iowa. It is over the span of a week that you complete this long journey. For me though, this journey will have to start now, as my body is in NOOOOOO shape to be sitting on a bike for hours upon hours.

So in case you haven't had your Wheaties today and can't pick up on the purpose for this blog, it is to announce *ahem*, Angela Eckert is going to ride hundreds of miles across Iowa in 2011 for Ragbrai. I have a lot of weight to lose, and some stamina (lots of it) to build, but I believe I can do it.

My purpose for starting a blog though is this; accountability. The more people know, the more there is to let down. I realize you don't really necessarily care if I do it or not, but in my head at least, if I know others are rooting me on, it spurs me on to not disappoint. Encouragement is one of the keys to success I believe.

I hope to be entertainineg enough in these blogs, but they will be chronicles of my journey in weight-loss, self-discovery, being active, and just overall life-changing events.

So, I'm on my way now to the YMCA for a membership.. let the blogging (and journey) begin!!!!