I know it's been over 3 months since my last post and I apologize for that.  I've been focusing on getting all my equipment ready for my gym.  I can now say I'm 99% complete on the equipment and I'm now starting to focus on writing my business plan and looking at spaces to lease. I find it really strange how I haven't found the right place for what I do.  The places either have to much office space and not enough warehouse space or doesn't have the outdoor needed area for my sleds, tires, etc. But I am for sure getting closer and when I find the right place, I'm pulling the trigger. It could be as short  as 2 weeks from now or as long as 6 months or so. But it's going happen in the near future for sure!

I also have a few teams and a few groups of athletes that would like me to work with them over the spring/summer.  Plus my "Fit for Duty" camp is getting ready to start up again and will probably be the last one at my outdoor facility.  I'm not sure if I will continue to have the "Fit for Duty" camp when I move into my indoor facility. But I will have a camp that will get the attention of a lot of middle aged men in our area. I'm also thinking about having a camp for you ladies as well.  We'll have to see. 

Anyway, like I said I have 1% more of my equipment to buy and I'll be 100% complete. The only other thing I will have to purchase before moving in is the flooring itself.  I want to wish all of you a "Happy Easter" and if I don't write again before I open my facility, please come by and see me at my new place.  I will keep everyone posted on the main page of my site.

As usual if you have any comments, gripes, etc. shoot them my way. Be Safe and Stay Strong.

Kevin

 

Busy...busy...busy!  I have been extremely busy over the last couple months and I don't think it's going to slow down any. I'm spending most of my time making most of my equipment for my gym. If I'm not doing that, I'm running a camp during the day or night, looking for equipment to purchase off e-bay, Craig's List, etc., at my son's wrestling practice, or just being dad. 

I've looked at numerous places for the gym, but none have jumped out at me yet. I'm not that worried that the right place hasn't surfaced yet. I know the right place will come at the right time.  I just need to wait and let it happen.  I'll probably being heading to Delaware a few times over the next month or so to purchase some equipment. But overall, things are moving forward.

I just had my "Annual Christmas Guy's Day Out" with the boyz @ PF Changs. We had about 17 guys this year and we all had a great time. It was very much needed by all of us.  It started to get a little crazy towards the end of the night...but I didn't expect anything less.  When you get that many firefighters together, you're bound to stir it up a bit.I want to thank my buddy Carl (Owner of PF Changs) for making sure we all had a great time.

Anyway, I'm sure I left out a few things, but I'll catch up on it next time. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Now, you enjoy the holidays, tell your kids you love them, watch the College Bowl Games, and live life to the fullest.

As usual if you have any comments, gripes, etc. shoot them my way. Be Safe and Stay Strong.

Kevin

 

Sorry for the late post, but I've been pretty busy these days.  My "Fit for Duty" Camp is in session now and will probably continue for another month or so until it gets to cold to workout outside. If it was up to me I'd go all the way through January.

So what's going on with my gym? Even though I haven't found the right warehouse yet, I've been buying my equipment for the last month off of Craig's List, E-Bay, etc. It's the best and cheapest way to go. I'm in no hurry to buy equipment from people who don't offer me a great deal. I've learned a long time ago that patience is a virtue. And I have been getting incredible deals going by this philosophy. It is what it is. Anyway, things are coming together nicely and it will happen when the time is right...which hopefully will be within the next nine months or so.

I'm also lining up some athletic camps for the winter months. These will be indoor and I will be teaching "Complete Athletic Development" but mostly speed and agility work for a few different teams.  

The holiday season is approaching us fast and before we know it 2010 will be here on our door step. If I don't post before the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope everyone enjoys their "Turkey Day". Enjoy yourself, eat all you want, and most importantly watch some football.

As usual if you have any comments, gripes, etc. shoot them my way. Be Safe and Stay Strong.

Kevin

 

Wow...all I can say is this has been one of the most difficulty months of my life. As many of you already know due the the tribute video on my main page and my Facebook page, my dog and best friend "Sydney" passed away on September 2 due to cancer.  It started off as what we thought to be a urinary tract infection, crystals, or stones in the bladder. After 2-3 weeks of medications and pain medicine, Sydney was getting worse.  Deep down, I knew something was wrong but I was hoping and praying she would start to get better.

Well, on September 2 around 4:00 pm Sydney was shaking terribly, throwing up, not eating,  and I could see she was in unbelievable pain. She was giving me a look that said "Please help me Daddy". It broke my heart. I had a feeling that this might be the last day this precious gift from God would be with me. I rushed her to the vet hoping that maybe it was just a stone and we could remove it surgically and give her pain medicine to ease her pain.  After more tests and x-rays, the vet advised me that she found a small mass on the x-ray and that she thinks it might be cancer. I was devastated....and my entire body went numb.  As I sat there and held my Baby Girl, all I could think about was not having her in my life. She was a huge part of my life that would never be the same if something was to happen to her.

After talking to the vet about our options and Sydney's age, we decided to do exploratory surgery right then and there. And depending on what we found, we would then make a decision on what to do next. I already knew that if we found cancer, I would do what was right and stop her from suffering. I had a dog about twenty something years ago that I refused to put to sleep because I couldn't let go. Well, that was a very selfish thing on my part and I wasn't going to do that again. Sydney was not going to suffer. I loved her to much and I wanted the hurt to stop.  I said my good byes to her as she went back to the operating room. I watched from the waiting room as I cried my eyes out. I knew I would never be able to walk her, play with her, or take her in my truck ever again.

Just then, the vet came out to the waiting room and told us the bad news. They had found cancer in her bladder and it had spread throughout. It was like someone just ripped my heart out.  I walked back with the vet to the operating room where Sydney was laying on the table.  It was one of the saddest moments in my life.  But I knew that it was time for me to let her go. I gave her a last kiss and told her that I loved her. I remember feeling her warm breath on my hand as I pet her.  I told the vet to go ahead and stop her from suffering. Me and my family just sat there in cried as we heard her last few heart beat sounds on the monitor. The vet turned to me and said     "You did the kindest thing an owner could ever do for their pet". Although, it didn't make me feel any better...I knew she was right and letting her go was the right thing to do.  

I know it's going to be a while before I get over her, if ever. But I want to thank Dr. Hoffman and the staff at Hoffman Animal Hospital for all the support and kindness they gave Sydney all the years they cared for her. They were especially caring at those last few minutes. I also want to thank all of my friends and family for the support you have giving me the last week.  I want to especially thank my friends at the gym who have been very supportive and compassionate during this time of need. I can honestly say that this incredible gift from God brought me more joy then I could have ever imagined.  I will miss my best friend something fierce, but I know she is in a better place.

Friends, life is way to short...live for today.  Forgive and forget.    This is an area of my life that I'm really trying to work on. I'm not perfect, so please bear with me...LOL. 

Well...that's about it. I'm still checking out warehouses for my new gym. Other than that...there is not much to tell.

As usual if you have any comments, gripes, etc. shoot them my way. Be Safe and Stay Strong.

 

Kevin