Things I Learned in September

So...FYI...September is over tomorrow. What? When? How? EEEEK! Since tomorrow is a Saturday Six day, I'm taking advantage of this fine day to tell you all about the fascinating things I learned in the month of September! It's been a fun month, filled with learning, and maybe you'll find out a little something you didn't know, too! (If you learned something fun, do tell. I'll pretend I learned it in October!)

1. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis is 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. 

I have never seen the Statue of Liberty in person, but in pictures, it looks so much taller! I've seen the Soldiers and Sailors Monument MANY times and have been up in the top of it. While it certainly challenged my fear of heights and claustrophobia, I had no idea it was that close in height to Lady Liberty!

2. Having a dog really is like having a small child.

We ended up having Phoebe one day shy of four weeks (her people were traveling overseas) and I have to say, if you're going to have a dog live with you, Phoebe is the one to have. She's well-behaved, she's fun, and she's a good writer's dog. (She camps out under a desk very well.) But it was definitely interesting to have to revamp our schedule to make accommodations for her, and I noticed myself stopping to put her needs first often. I imagine in some ways, a child is quite different (after all, you can take them to church and the grocery store!) but I do think there are many similarities.

3. Braeya may never recover from a month-long dog-sitting adventure.

Braeya hates dogs. And all animals. And most people. She stayed in our bedroom the entire time Phoebe was at our house. We blocked our bedroom door with an ottoman to try to keep the two of them separate, and for the most part, it worked. But after Phoebe left, Braeya had some serious PPSD and she refused to cross the open threshold. If she did venture forth, it would be to take just a few steps and then she ran right back into the bedroom again.

4. Pepper spray is not pleasant.

I know we all know this, but I got to know it intimately this month. I was visiting with some college students who are studying my Be Still book, and one of them inadvertently triggered her pepper spray. I didn't take a direct hit, but I felt the aftermath, for sure! New goal: never cause someone to intentionally spray me with the stuff. Shiver!

5. I never have to worry about my step count when dog-sitting. 

First day she was gone? Right back to cramming them in. Three cheers for potty walks and all the extra steps they bring!

6. There's a football player named Ha-Ha.

I know, I know. You probably knew that. But I didn't! We were watching a game one Sunday afternoon, and I said to Ryan, "Did he just call that guy Ha-Ha?" He nodded, and I said, "That's his actual NAME? Or is it like a nickname?" We looked it up and apparently his first name is Ha'Sean, but his grandma named him Ha-Ha when he was 3 and it stuck. Who knew?

7. (This is Ryan's.) A coffee carafe is life-changing.

As if we don't have enough coffee pots and gadgets - HA! We borrowed his boss's coffee carafe to have extra coffee for our small group meetings, and now Ryan has one on his Christmas list. He feels it will further revolutionize our coffee-drinking life. I have to say, it's quite convenient to have unlimited hot coffee access at all hours of day and night.(Although we learned firsthand that such a carafe without a level indicator might mean that one day Bekah's cup is only half full when the thing runs out...)

8. Racewalking is an Olympic sport.

Perhaps I should back up and say racewalking is a thing. I was researching (on Pinterest...of course) one night about power walking, because I had heard it can actually burn more calories than running and can also be better for your body. Given my recent knee issues and the fabulous knee genetics I'm prone to, I'm interested in learning about things that will prolong the need for surgery. In the process of learning about power walking (which, by the way, some people actually do for full marathon distances), I learned about racewalking. It's the speed that rests between running and power walking. There's a certain technique to it, and it's actually an Olympic sport. Who. Knew?