Walking in the Heat

So I got this brilliant idea around 2 PM that we (Bear, Noodles & I) should go for a walk. The loop that I generally walk is 1.4-1.6 miles, depending on if I add a couple extra blocks at the end. After going the 1.6 mile loop, Bear started to fall asleep in the jogging stroller, so I decided to walk the loop again.

Bad idea.

First of all, it's over 95 degrees out with about 50% humidity. Second, I didn't bring any water for me & the dog (Bear doesn't generally drink water & he was well-hydrated). Third, did I mention it's hot?

Almost exactly halfway through the 2nd loop, Noodles decides to lay down on the a nice, shady, grassy knoll & not get up. Usually, if I pull on the leash, he'll eventually follow me, but pulling on his leash only made it so I was dragging him on the grass. After a few minutes of coaxing and a limp Noodles laying in the grass, I began to get concerned. Roy & I used to watch a lot of "Animal Cops" ("Detroit" was our favorite), and I remember that a dog's temperature is actually higher than a human's, so I stuck my finger in his mouth to feel his gums. He was cool, so then I picked him up to make sure he could stand. Yep, he could stand. I contemplated taking the baby out of the stroller and putting the dog in there, but that would mean I'd have to carry the baby home; plus, I couldn't really see Noodles fitting in there. After some more coaxing, Noodles begrudgingly walked home.

I need to remind myself that he almost never drinks water. When we got home from church yesterday, he'd barely touched his water, though it was close to 90 degrees in our house. Even today after we finally got home, he didn't have any water until I reminded him to get some, at which point he drank a bunch, and then kept going back for more drinks. I made myself a green smoothie with apple, grapefruit, banana, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, red chard, swiss chard & what I think was collard greens. Yum!

I've decided to weigh myself every week or two and see if that sits OK with my head (I used to have an eating disorder, so I have to be careful). I have lost 2 more pounds, again without trying. That's cool :) I've also made some progress on the book I'm writing. I figure even if I can only write a few paragraphs a week, I'll be done in a couple of years, and that's fine with me. I'm in no rush :)