Couch to 5K

Eric and I just finished week one of the Couch to 5K Running Plan. It sure gets my heart pumping! I guess that tells you how out of shape I am. I don't know that summer is the best time to start this since it is so stinkin' hot, but I don't think I'd be disciplined enough during the school year. My end goals are to be in better shape, run 3.11 miles without stopping, and ultimately to sign up for a 5K race! We'll see how that goes. :)

I know several of you started the Couch to 5K program, did anyone finish it?

A Good Read

Eric's having to do a LOT of reading for his grad school classes, which means I have to find some way to enertain myself. I can only watch TV and blog stalk for so long. :) Reading would take up time and I LOVE to read, but I need some book recommendations. What have you read recently (or not so recently) that you really enjoyed?

Lucy the Guard Dog

My story of the day:

I was sitting at our dining room table working on the laptop when all of a sudden I heard what sounded like someone yelling angrily as they ran by our house. It startled me, so I peeked out the blinds, but didn't see anyone. As soon as she heard the commotion, Lucy started barking and ran to the front door. I tried unsuccessfully to calm her down before she ran into the backyard and started barking again.

Lucy has a tendency to bark in the backyard because both of our neighbors have dogs, so we didn't think too much of it. Eric was calling her back inside, but she refused to come. He went outside to see what she might be barking at and noticed that on one side of the fence two slats had been knocked out. Eric got a hammer and went back out to fix the fence since not only is Lucy a guard dog, but also an escape artist.

When Eric got back outside he heard a voice from behind the adjacent fence. It was a cop! He asked if we had seen anyone run through our backyard. "Uhh...no." Apparently the cop had been chasing a man, hence the yelling. The man ran into one of our neighbor's backyards, jumped the fence, and ended up in our backyard. The cop heard Lucy barking at the guy, which apparently deterred the man from staying in our yard too long. The guy knocked out the slats on the fence that we share with our next door neighbor and climbed into his yard. Escaping into our neighbor's yard was probably even more scary for the guy because they have a couple of large pit bulls. Haha! I would have loved to have seen his face when he met them!

I don't know why the cop was chasing the man and I don't know if he was ever caught, but I sure am proud of my little guard dog. :)

Snake farm – It just sounds nasty!

Have you heard the song "Snake Farm?"

Today our AP brought his son's snake to school. He had promised the students that if they got so many AR points he would give it a kiss. I am not a fan of snakes. It's not that I have a phobia; I just don't like them too much. In fact, when our AP pulled the snake out of the box I moved to the back of the room.

After he kissed the snake, much to their pleasure, he allowed the students to "pet" it. When almost all of the kids had had their chance to touch the snake, I decided I'd put on my brave face and touch its scaly skin. Then out of nowhere I hear myself asking, "Can I hold the snake?" I didn't have time to regret the question. Suddenly I found myself standing there holding a boa constrictor (if I remember correctly). Once our AP passed the snake over to me, it really wasn't too bad! Take a look; I don't think I look nervous at all!