The triumph of Captain Ahab

For the last year or so, I've been working to get myself in better shape. The first six or seven months went really well, and I dropped about twenty-five pounds without too much trouble. Then, in October of last year, I just hit a plateau.

My goal was to get under 220 by November 1, and by Christmas I could be about the weight I was when I graduated from BYU. Well, it didn't happen. And then with the holidays, I regressed and put some pounds back on. So I've been trying to get under 220 for the last five months or so, and I've come to feel a bit like Ahab chasing his white whale.

So this morning, I harpooned it. That's right. This morning after a little time on the stationary bike, I hit 219.0 pounds. So I am officially out of the 100+ kg club. At a slim, trim 99 kilos, I'm a double-digit midget. Hooray!

Anyway, just thought I'd share the news. Thought it might inspire you, my imaginary readers, to nail your own impossible goals.

(You're welcome.)

--JUAN PENA

(UPDATE - White whale spotted off the Alaska coast!)