blockbuster / strong coffee / running dogs
- At July 19, 2007
- By ken
- In Christ / culture / me
It’s Summer Blockbuster week. What’s that, you ask? It’s NewSpring’s version of vacation Bible school. Each night, we have over 1000 kids (someone comment in with the correct totals if you have them) descending upon NewSpring. They have small group breakouts and activities, then they all pile into our auditorium for a 30 minute live drama that’s hysterical to say the least. Or team provides video and visual support. Ben Thomas is directing for the first major stint, all week, and his entire team is doing a tremendous job. Imagine, following one live speaker is tricky enough (or 7 band members who don’t move around a lot). But following a cast of 2-8 kid’s team members, jumping around and speaking at different time… another level of tricky altogether.
There was a fun blooper onstage last night that we’ll be putting online as video later today (if you were there, you know what I’m talking about). Watch for it.
It’s fun, but the days are long. It has me considering going back to coffee, if only for a few days. And When I DO go back to the bean, I like it strong.
On a sidenote, I’m running again. Late winter, I was on an aggressive exercise kick and dropped 15lb. It’s time to step it up again. I’ve plateaued for too long. My question, how do you deal with dogs when you run? There’s an evil mutt that’s come after me several times. I’m not afraid of dogs, unless they’re chasing me whist snarling. Freaks me out. Any suggestions?
Tim Lemons
out run the dog?
I got bit by a dog while riding a bike when I was a kid. Actually on my bike. He jumped up and bit me right on the leg.
Gizzard
Don’t make eye contact with the beast. If it’s a loud barking dog, it should leave you alone. The ones you need to look out for are the silent stalkers–they WILL try to attack you. Then, you should punch it in the nose being careful not to miss the nose and land in the teeth.
Jamie
One thing that I have tried, and found to be successful personally, is to turn around and confront the dog with arms flailing wildly barking and growling loudly back at him as if you were a bigger dog. It worked the one time I tried it. The dog turned and ran like it had seen a ghost. True Story.
It would have been a funny scene to see from an onlooker’s point of view. Hope it works out.
-joe d
At the national parks out west, there’s always signs warning hikers to Beware of Bears. But should you happen upon an angry bear anyway, Forest Service offers this life-saving advice:
“Make yourself large.”
Chip
Bravo for your return to running….trust me, the older you get, the harder it is to return to a fitness routine and see results of your efforts. So run Forest, run or you may wake up one day in the same shape as me.
Three potential solutions for the dog problem:
1. Throw your steaming hot, STRONG black coffee in the dog’s face. Not only will you discourage it, but you will avoid returning to the bean addiction(My name is Chip and I am addicted to coffee).
or
2. Recruit a running partner that is pleasant company, but markedly slower than you…I’d go into more detail but some of your potential partners may be reading this comment and I wouldn’t want to make your recruiting process any more difficult.
3. Borrow one of my Rottweilers as a running companion. Mine have been trained to be perfectly civil unless they interpret a threat to their human. Of course should a neighborhood dog be so foolish as to persist, your run will be interrupted for a short spell while the offending K9 learns what it means to be subdued (none of my Rotties have ever drawn blood, but they have subdued numerous interlopers).
Actually, Jamie and joe d offer the most practical advice. In a high percentage of situations, projecting a dominant presence is sufficient to discourage most aggressive pack animals. For those few exceptions, I recommend a small stun gun or pepper spray, depending on how close you are willing to allow the beastie before you encourage its retreat….
Charles Cole
Chips idea is ok, but my Dog was addicted to coffee. He’d tackle you for a tasty cup of Java.
And you can’t really run holding a cup of coffee.
I have a simple cheap dog repellent secret I’ll share …It will work.
Carrie
I live in a huge sub-division and a lot of people walk around here. There are many dogs around that run free and most of us just carry a large stick. ‘Nuff said.