OUCH!

Curly Sue got a new position with her employer and they sent her across the country for training for an unknown period of time. She didn't know what she was going to do with her dog. She can't take him with her, and she can't afford to board him for that long. I offered to watch him while she is gone.

He is super cute and likes me, so I didn't think it would be a big deal. She got him from the pound (I went with her to meet him) so no one knows exactly how old he is. The vet thinks he is around a year to a year and a half. He is still full of puppy energy and LOVES to chew on things. No matter how far or long she walks him, he still wants to jump and chew. I have been watching too much "Dog Whisperer" lately and came up with a plan to get rid of the extra energy.

I borrowed a moutain bike from another friend and take Lucca for a run twice a day. I have found a route around my complex that equals 3 miles. He LOVES it. He is a COMPLETELY different dog. He still chews, but not as much and for the most part he just chills when I am home.

Now for some background on my apartment complex: One of my favorite things is that they didn't forget that we are in the desert. So many apartments and townhouse communities put grass EVERYWHERE. It drives me NUTS. This place does have lots of grass, but it has lots of rock as well. There are paths all through the complex, some through the grass, some through the rocks.

Background on me: I am afraid of rocks. Not ones just sitting there, but when you are hiking and have to go over a loose rock bed, or big boulders that are on top of the ground. They are too unpredictable and I am afraid I will slip and get hurt. When I was a kid I knew someone that fell down rocks while hiking and broke her ankle. To make things worse, I actually slipped and fell down some rocks about 6 years ago. I was banged up pretty good.

Now for the story. I had taken Lucca for his morning run and was on the way back to the apartment. I have to weave my way along a path throught the middle of rocks to get to my apartment. I have always been nervous on this path, but had finally been able to manuever it easily, until last week, then it all fell apart and now I can't make the corners again. As I was gearing up to follow it this morning I told myself to calm down, not think about it and just to it. As soon as I hit the first turn, it all went wrong.

The rear tire went off the sidewalk to the right and into the rocks and slid. I tried to catch my self with my left foot. I would have been fine except for that damn forward momentum. I took a header onto the rocks. I have a few cuts on my left palm, a bruise on my left knee and a small cut on the top of my left foot. My right elbow is all scraped up and hurts, and I have bruises all over my chest and stomach. I also lost my left shoe in the fall.

Once I decided I was fine, just in a LOT of pain, I got up, picked up the bike and put on my shoe. Every move HURT. Lucca was fine. Funny thing is that he ISN'T the kind of dog to come over and see if you are okay (ingrate). We walked back to the apartment.

I wish I had it on video, because it has to be HILARIOUS. I am in a lot of pain, but it still had to be funny to watch. I'm not sure if I am happy or not that none of my neighbors saw. If they did, they sure didn't come to see if I was okay.