Biscuit

Welp, this Saturday I came very close to getting a dog. Jenn, A friend of a friend, found this perfectly healthy beagle abandoned at a dog park. This beagle was in his kennel, with a leash, new dog bed, and dog food. Being the good person that she is, Jenn hung out for a while with the dog hoping the owner would return. After a couple hours had passed and no owner in sight, Jenn decided to take the dog home. Once she gets him home she discovers that this dog is completely house broken AND knows a good number of commands. This dog is awesome and its crazy to believe someone abandoned him. Unless, he turns into some sort of scary creature when he comes in contact with water, I don't see a problem with him.

Well Jenn kept this beagle for roughly a week and realized her busy schedule would not permit her to give this precious dog the time and attention he deserves. Therefore, Jenn began searching for someone or some family to take him in. As she searched no one was responding to her request. Jenn then came to Lubbock from Dallas with the beagle. On Saturday, my friend Hilary invited me to go to froyo with her and Jenn. At the time I didn't know Jenn from a hole in the wall but froyo was involved so I gladly accepted the invite. As we're sitting there eating our froyo and talking, Jenn casually ask if I am looking for a dog. I told her I hadn't been looking recently but definitely was not opposed to getting one. Jenn then told me of how she found Biscuit the Beagle! I was instantly intrigued. Next, Jenn offered to take me, and everyone else who was there (my friends Hilary and Mary), to the apartment she was staying at so I could see the dog. The other three arrived before I did so they were already outside playing with Biscuit. When I pulled up at the apartment, I got out my car, and before I knew it little Biscuit was running towards me and jumped into my arms. Needless to say it was an instant connection. Biscuit and I hit it off immediately and proceeded to play together for another hour. As I was leaving Jenn told me she had been talking to this family with three daughters about possibly taking Biscuit. However, if they decided not to take him then he would be mine.

After tossing and turning all night due to anxiety over possibly getting Biscuit, I got out of bed around 8am Sunday morning. In order to keep my racing mind and high anxiety under control I spent the next several hours cleaning my apartment top to bottom. I wanted Biscuit to come into a spotless apartment. I also made sure the entire apartment was "doggy" proofed. After working diligently for hours to get my place to sparkle I still had not heard from Jenn about whether or not I was going to get the dog. Jenn had told me she would make her decision before leaving at 2pm to go back to Dallas. I sat around after cleaning my apartment in nail biting anticipation. Before I knew it 2pm came and went and still no word from Jenn. To help keep my nerves under control I went to see a movie, Toy Story 3, which was a great final installment of such a wonderful franchise. Anyways, I got out of the movie around 7pm and still nothing. I came home, made some dinner, and started watching some of my DVR'd shows to try and pass more time until I heard something about Biscuit and until Entourage came on. Well its now 11pm and finally I get the highly anticipated update. As I opened the text, my heart is racing in excitement and some fear. The text opens and there it is. That family decided to take Biscuit after all. The whole day spent anxiously waiting for a decision and there it was...no Biscuit for me.

Although I didn't get Biscuit, I couldn't be totally upset. The family who got Biscuit has three little girls who I am sure will love to have a young dog they can grow up with over the years. Plus, I think this whole ordeal has showed me that I am probably ready for a dog again. I have been a little hesitant after that last one didn't work out. Not to mention all the money I had to shell out to repair the damage he caused to my apartment. Regardless, I am ready for another dog. I was going to wait until I moved into a house after my lease is up in September but I am ready now. Therefore, when I get back from vacation I will be looking for a great dog to adopt from one of the local shelters. I am actually pretty excited to do this. I am definitely going to do my homework and only get a dog I feel good about adopting.

Anyways, thanks for listening.

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Crossfit

I started at Capstone Crossfit roughly two months ago and honestly it has been one of the best decisions of my life. Thanks to encouragment and advice to start Crossfit from B. Cobian, S. Haines, C. Holder, and T. Jones, I am slowly on my way to the being in great shape. After that "little" hurt back situation, my workouts were nothing compared to what I was use to doing. In fact, I would go days and weeks without working out which is craziness given I was your typical over acheiver in the weightroom who spent all his extra time working out. BUT when the back says it cant go through a workout you better listen! Nevertheless, I am back to working out 5-6 times a week and I LOVE it!

Does it hurt? Yes. Do I hate waking up at 5:30am for my 6am Crossfit session? Yes. Everyday during the workouts do I constantly curse at myself for putting my body through such torture? Definitely!

But after two months, 6% of body fat lost, and 20 pounds lighter, I will gladly endure anything and everything Crossfit throws at me.

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Reading

So I have decided I want to start reading more. I have never been much of a reader in the past. In fact, I never liked reading because, in my opinion, it is boring and gives me a headache. Also, I start to daydream while reading which prevents me from retaining any of the material I just read. Regardless, I am committed to start reading more books. Perhaps I have never tried reading something I am genuinely interested in. Now that I think about it, the only books I have attempted to read were for school. Therefore, I am currently in the market for the book that will change a lifelong dislike for reading. This is a big responsibility to place on the book I choose but it is what it is. Hopefully, I will find this book soon while I still have this unexplained desire to pick up reading as a hobby.

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Workouts

I need tips on how to burn fat. I workout 4-5 times a week for at least 2 hours a day. I have tons of muscle as I am an former D-1 collegiate football player. I played O-line which meant I had to be big and strong. Now I want to drop the football weight because there is no point to having all this extra weight anymore. I suffered a career ending injury that will limit my mobility and flexibility for the rest of my life. At age 24 I have had 3 back surgery's with the last surgery being a two level spinal fusion on my lower back. Therefore, I can only workout for so long before my back has had enough. In my playing days it would be normal to be in the weight room or on the field training for 3-4 hours. Now 2 hours is seriously pushing the limits of my lower back.

I have also cut back on the amount of candy and baked goods I eat. Anyone who knows me knows I am capable of eating large quantities of some type of sweet treat everyday. Monday through Saturday I have been trying to eat no sweets at all (or very very little) and on Sundays I am allowed to get a small fix but nothing crazy. I am eating more veggies and trying to cook more at home instead of eating out. In fact this past week I only ate out once for dinner.


What suggestions do you have for losing my football weight?