Working Like a Dog

My recent lack of activity aside, Ibis and I are both very athletic and try to get some form of exercise every day, or at the very least several times a week. We enjoy a variety of sports/activities -- volleyball, tennis, rollerblading -- and actually like going to the gym on a regular basis. So it's only fitting that we'd expect the same from our dog, right?

Owen is over four months old now, so we figured there's no time like the present!

First I went over his workout regimen.


Then I got him started on neck and back exercises.


Next up: loosening those teeth! (He lost three more Thursday & Friday)


Survey says: he likes it!


Sure, it only weighs a couple ounces and squeaks, but you have to start someplace.

Exercising With a Puppy

I stopped going to the gym when I went home at the end of August (long story) so now all my exercise is done at home. I still do Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred series, and while I often yell at her during the routine, I now have someone else to yell at too.

Owen.

Seems jumping around is puppy code for LET'S PLAY! LET'S PLAY! BITE ME! LET'S PLAY! It only took one well-timed jumping jack with him between my feet to stop him from getting too close during cardio, but it seems nothing will keep him away when I'm doing sit-ups.

He starts innocently enough. First he meanders over (or pounces, depending on how sleepy he is) then plops onto my belly. This is the preferred position. I can still do sit-ups with him lying on me, and he doesn't weigh much so it doesn't slow me down.

But the belly sitting doesn't last long. After maybe five seconds he scoots forward until we're nose to nose and he snuffles my face. Doesn't matter which part -- whatever's closest works. I, in turn, laugh (read: giggle) which is puppy code for STRANGE NOISE! COMING FROM MAMA! LICK! BITE! SNUFFLE!

At this point I push him off me -- still trying to do my sit-ups (I'm following along with a video here) and he burrows his nose in -- you guessed it -- my armpit. Aside from the gross-factor, it also tickles, which causes more giggles and usually an unintentional elbow to his head. I push him away again and he moves around to...

*cue harps and angels singing*

MY PONYTAIL!

Game over. Have you ever tried doing a sit-up with an animal clinging to your head? It's really not as effective as you might think. Fortunately at this point the video has moved on to the next round of cardio, at which point Owen backs off and regroups until it's time for sit-ups again.

The last time I worked out I finally put him on his leash and tied him to a chair just out of reach, so instead of him attacking me, he talked to me the entire time. At least he was encouraging during the sit-ups. :P

Who me?


Here he is acting all innocent while visiting friends earlier this week.

Working It

Did I tell you that I joined a gym? Ibis found one a couple weeks ago, and last week I decided to start going too. I've been doing pretty well with my workout video (Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred) but the jumping is killing my joints. The gym only has bicycles for cardio, but I can read a book while exercising which means I'm even more likely to do it.

And... I got to break out my fancy exercise gloves. I bought them years ago when I was a regular at Ballys and how can you not take exercise seriously when you look like a bad@ss?

I was really sore after the first day -- of course I had to try every single machine -- but I think my body is slowly remembering how to do this. I'm still doing the video in between but I'm very happy to be able to change things up.

I'm seeing results and my clothes are fitting like they should. I even have a two-pack. But, I think I'm getting old. Every morning I wake up and my body is tired. Is that normal?

Do you work out?

What a Week

This week has been a blur. The couple days (beginning over the weekend) I was working 12-14 hours per day finalizing my family's website, then as soon as it launched, I had to start the design for another project. I love that I'm already using my new skills, but man, I'm not used to having so little time to myself. I've been rather spoiled these past two years.

Fortunately my client loves the design -- I believe his words were "You are absolutely a genius" -- so that will make the rest of the process much easier. Then I have one more to knock out after that.

I finally managed to write 500 words yesterday, for the first time since last Friday. I hate not working on it, but paying projects have to take priority right now. Two pages isn't much, but if I can force myself to write that much each day, I'll get this thing done in a couple weeks. I write fairly quickly once I get to it (that took about an hour) so I just need to force myself.

Yesterday Ibis and I went to the beach for the afternoon, and it was the first time we've gone alone in over three months. It was nice to fall back into our old routine and spend some quiet time together without the distractions of the TV or internet. Of course, his idea of relaxing is play soccer for half and hour, rest in the shade for five minutes, play soccer for half an hour, rest for five minutes, and so on. I managed to extend one of the rest periods to an hour so I could read a bit, but I certainly got a lot of exercise. The best part? My stamina has totally improved. I finished the 30-Day Shred earlier this week and while I haven't lost the weight I wanted, I have better endurance, and I'll take that.

I also went to the dentist yesterday for a cleaning. I was a little nervous going into it, but I keep reading about all these Americans crossing the border for cheap dental care, so I figured it would be all right. Once I sat in the chair, I suddenly panicked about the water situation. Would they have one of those little water squirty things? Would the water be clean? Answer: Nope, and yes. They gave me a cup of water and just had me rinse every few minutes.

He used a drill to clean my teeth, and while I'm going to leave the descriptions to your imaginations, I will tell you that my teeth are clean and he didn't do any damage. He told me I have all kinds of problems that need repaired, for a total of 5000 pesos, but these are all things I've had in the past that no dentist has felt a need to fix. I plan to do a little investigating online, but I know how to monitor them and they should be fine.

Finally, I'm reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and I'm loving it. I found it in the lending library where Ibis works but couldn't motivate myself to start reading. This is one of those books that has received so much hype that I figured it wouldn't live up to the reviews. So far, it is, and it's funnier than I expected. It's certainly not a comedy, but it has it's moments. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. And the only sparkly things are the circus performers' costumes!

Have a great weekend!

I Guess I Can Add Web Designer to My Resume

It's taken a lot of hours over the past couple days, but I'm just about finished with my very first website! If you recall, my dad brought me Dreamweaver: Hands-On-Training at the beginning of January and I've been studying the software ever since.

The site is for my dad's side of the family and will be a place where we can post pictures, news, etc, plus it's a central location for our contact information. Sounds like Facebook, right? But this way not everyone has to join.

The actual designing didn't happen until after I finished the tutorial at the end of February, and then we were waiting to hear back from various family members. After several weeks of not hearing from anyone, we decided to go ahead and hoped the threat of posting very embarassing pictures would urge them along. And let me tell you, I have some embarassing pictures! I also discovered that my cousin Laura and I looked a lot alike when we were toddlers. This is strange because we're not blood related. Hmm...

My deadline is April 1st and because I'm an overachiever, I'll probably try to launch it later today. It looks pretty straightforward on the server end, so we'll soon find out. I'll post a link once it's up.

Needless to say, I haven't touched my wip since Friday. Writing once every three or four days is not helping my productivity, but at least it's for a good cause.

Finally, today is DAY 30 of the 30-Day Shred. I've actually done it every single day! Well, I still have to do it today but I'm not quitting at this point. I'll rest tomorrow. I'm not seeing as much of a change as I hoped for, but my clothes are fitting better and my stamina has improved, so I'm happy.

Progress as Motivation

One thing I've learned about myself over the years is that once I get going on something, it tends to snowball. My biggest challenge is always just getting started, but once I do, I don't have much trouble keeping at it. One could almost I have obsessive tendencies.

*gasp* ME? No...

I've been struggling with an extra ten pounds for the past few months, so two weeks ago I decided I'd had enough and challenged myself to do Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred. Every day. It's only 20 minutes but it's hard (and this is coming from an exercise enthusiast) but I didn't let that stop me and I stuck through the first level. The second level is even more difficult, and I'm slightly terrified to see what she has in store for the third.

But... after just two weeks, I'm seeing progress. My hips and belly are slimming, and yesterday I managed to comfortably wear a pair of shorts that have been banished to the closet for too long. Then last night my jeans just slid right on (how's THAT for a birthday present?). This makes me even more determined to keep at it. If I can see a change in two weeks, imagine the difference in two more!

It's the same with writing. I finished my third draft in the middle of January, then received comments from three betas shortly after. I allowed myself some time to digest the suggestions (some of which I'm still not too sure about) and tried to start writing the fourth draft.

But it wouldn't come. (I believe I whined about this at the time.)

I finally decided to not worry about the rewrites and just focus on the new-writes, and it's been going much better since then. While I haven't written every day, I've added almost 3000 words to my MS and the progress is intoxicating.* I'm excited to break the 70K mark, and even more to reach 80K. Better yet, I'm anxious to get cracking on those rewrites.

Snowball.

It doesn't hurt that my writing friends (you know who you are) have been competing with each other for daily word counts. THAT does more for me than they'll ever know.

How about you? Do you find it's easier once you get started, or do you have another way to motivate yourself?

I'm off to bond with Ms. Michaels again...



*I apologize for the Twilight-y word. I'm almost done with Midnight Sun and will try to get it out of my system after that. Mmm-hmmm.

Sore Muscles and a Snake

Wow. I can barely move. Today is actually better than yesterday, but good god do I hurt.

Now, for those of you who've known me for awhile, you know that I've always been athletic so it always comes as a bit of a surprise when I actually have sore muscles. I'm usually in pretty good shape and only feel sore when I play a new sport (the first tennis game each spring always kills me) or if I injure myself. But since I've been slacking, my body is rebelling.

Right now my abs are the worst. I'm not sure if it was the big-boy push-ups I did or what, but I can't seem to sit up from a lying position. (Very stressful while sitting in a beach chair.) After the running yesterday morning, Ibis and I went to the beach with my dad where we played a bit of soccer, volleyball, and walked another mile or two. Today I'm moving as little as possible. He, of course, also swam several miles and is at the gym again today, crazy boy.

Now for the snake. We were in the ocean hitting the volleyball back and forth, during which time he spiked one in my belly when I wasn't looking. After I got him back, we called it quits and were heading back to shore when I stepped on something smooth and slithery. I screamed and leapt into the air, only to step on it again, and I think I levitated at point until I was safely on dry land.

There was a couple nearby who'd been watching something in the water, and they smiled and told Ibis what I'd stepped on. It took a moment for him to translate, but finally he looked at me and said, "snake."

AHHHHHH!

After a few convulsions, I went back to the safety of my chair and didn't move again for several hours. I'm not sure how soon I'll be going back in the ocean.

Have you ever stepped on something creepy?

Running Again

I stopped running sometime in October, about the time my best friend came to visit and brought me a workout DVD. I'm really not a runner at heart - I've only ever tolerated it when it served a higher purpose, like helping me sprint down the lacrosse field faster or catch a long pass. Running for running's sake has never appealed to me, but my options are fairly limited here and I chose boredom over gaining weight.

Well, the workout video worked well enough, but I got bored with it, too, and for the past month or so I haven't done much at all. I've reached the critical stage where my shorts are clinging in ways I'd rather not discuss, so I decided it's time to crack down.

Ibis stopped running long before I did, but he sprints up and down the 60+ stairs at work all day long, and the weight took a little longer to catch up with him. But catch up it did, and two weeks ago he started running every morning. For three hours... *shakes head*

We've negotiated that every other day will be a "short" day so I can join him, and I'm proud to say I ran a mile and a half today, and walked the rest of two miles. He's been going to the city's public park and I had no idea that it has a track, a gym, and all kinds of exercise apparatus (apparatuses? apparati?)

There were a lot of people there so I think I'll be able to stick with this a little longer, plus we went long before the sun rose and it was still quite cool out. I just need to get our iPod shuffle in working order and I'll be all set!

Race Day!

Zihua doesn't do the best job advertising some of its events, and most of the time we end up finding out about something two days after the fast. Well yesterday was an 8k race - Ibis found out a whopping four days ahead of time. He's a runner (he's run three marathons) but took a break at some point over the summer. About two weeks ago, he started running again in the mornings, and that's when he found out about this race.

The runners started near the entrance to Playa Larga, then ran along the main highway into town, ending at the downtown plaza. I went down to the plaza to wait for him, not really sure what to expect.

First, I couldn't find the finish line. I asked several shop keepers and a woman standing near a cooker full of water, and they all said the "meta" was the finish line. (Notice I finally got a picture of the police with their machine guns.)


I was confused. Do they climb the stairs after running 8k in 90+ degree weather? "It's very disorganized," another woman told me. I guess.

While we waited for the runners to appear, traffic continued passing on the street. I kept waiting for the police to come through and block it off, but they never did. A few people even stopped to look at the spectators, and a couple cab drivers asked me if I was waiting for a ride. *shakes head* Here's one of the first runners (he's wearing black & is between the two cabs):


Here's the stage. I assumed there would be a ceremony there afterwards, but they started taking it down after the first couple runners came through. By the time Ibis got there, the sign was gone and the runners just kind of stopped running in the middle of the crowd of people.


Ibis was around the 17th person to cross the finish line. They only wrote down the top three of each category so they couldn't tell him exactly. We figured out that number by counting sweaty competitors in the crowd. We also don't know his time because 1)they started late, and 2)I forgot to check my watch when he crossed. Here he is:


And once he got some water. Notice the police are dismantling the stage:


There were doctors on hand, and third person to finish needed medical attention (he was fine). Shortly after the race ended, an ambulance cruised by:


They gave away trophies to the winners and running outfits to the second and third place people. He says he probably won't do it again because it was so disorganized, and especially because they didn't block traffic while they were running on the main roads. Scary!

Finally, here's a picture I took while I was waiting for him:

I's Tired

I knew going into this month that it would be a challenge to write 50,000 words. What I forgot is how mentally draining it is. I am wiped out.

I started working out more regularly at the beginning of the month because I figured my body would need the release. It's been going well, and I keep waiting for the burst of energy I normally get, but so far, nothing.

Yesterday I sat down and did more complete character sketches for my main people, including everything that will happen to them for the rest of the story. Then I typed them up and merged them into a more complete outline. The result: an outline that should help me breeze through the rest of the story.

*snicker*

Well maybe not breeze, but at least I shouldn't get hung up on plot points. I was hoping to hit 24K last night, but after three hours of outlining I didn't have much left in me. I still wrote the minimum (1700) and I'm 5500 words ahead of schedule.

How's it going for you? Anyone reading anything good right now?

Books, Books, and More Books

I spent several hours at Barnes & Noble yesterday but shockingly only walked away with four books, one of which is for Ibis (some Steven Hawking thing he loves). I bought my first vampire book so I can finally see what my online friends are always talking about, plus the latest Alice Seybold book and Drowning Ruth. My mom and I also scoured her basement library, and combined with the stack of writing books she bought for me, I think I'll be set for the next six months.

Before the bookstore we stopped in a sporting goods store to look for a collapseable grill (another Ibis thing) but of course I got sidetracked. Aside from trying on sneakers and testing every eliptical machine, I managed to get in a complete arm workout with the 8 pound hand weights. Please tell me I'm not the only person who does that? I didn't buy anything but there are several things I'm mooning over.

Today I'm picking up my new glasses - no more scratches in both lenses - and meeting my best friend's sister-in-law for lunch. AND, I'm meeting my friend's mom to pick up my burned copies of the first four seasons of Alias! I have breakfast plans tomorrow with the minister who married us, but other than that I get to just sit on my butt. My plan is to finally catch up on my blog reading, so expect a slew of tardy comments. ;)


ETA: I just remembered I need to read a book my sister loaned me before heading to Chicago Friday morning, so the blog reading might have to wait a bit longer.

So It's Come to This?

I watched the men's 50k speed walking event last night. An Italian man won and he was so far ahead that he crossed the finish line before the second place walker (*snicker*) even entered the stadium. As soon as he was in the home stretch, his face contorted and he burst into tears.

Which meant I burst into tears.

I can't believe I cried over speed walking! He crossed the finish line, then sought out his coach or father (I'm not sure which it was), and still no sign of the other walkers. When the #2 guy finally appeared, I started worrying that he would think he was in the first place. The real winner was over in the stands celebrating with the Italians and I couldn't help but wondering if #2 KNEW he wasn't the winner. He didn't seem "gold medal" happy, so I suppose he saw the rankings somewhere along the way, but still. Could you imagine not knowing?

Anyways, we leave for Acapulco tomorrow. I'll probably squeak out a post before we leave, but I'm not sure how often I'll make it online while we're there. The car is running - at the moment - so we're hoping we'll be able to drive there.

Have a great week everyone!

These Hips are Made for Walking Really, Really Fast

We've been watching the Olympics every night and I've been as sucked into the drama and emotion as much as everyone else. But last night I discovered an event that brought out a different emotion: giggling like a schoolgirl.

The event: speed walking.


I know, I know. It's a sport. Athletes train just as hard as anyone else. It's a grueling race. But have you watched it? Particularly the men, which is what made me giggle every time the picture-in-picture popped up and showed those swiveling hips.


Ibis said Mexico used to be a powerhouse in speed walking and rattled off all the years they won the gold. To be honest, I tuned him out when he started listing Olympics before I was born. Clearly this is a source of national pride, but I didn't realize this was even a sport in the 60s.

I give the walkers a lot of credit. If I tried walking that fast, I'm sure I'd fall flat on my face. But the whole time we were watching I couldn't get this quote out of my head:

"His legs flail about as if independent from his body!"

Name the speaker for bonus points. :)


Images from SI.com

I Think I've Lost My Marbles

Remember way back yesterday when I said July is hot? Seems I need to take that back. Yes, the air is so heavy you can see the hydrogen and oxygen atoms merging right in front of you, but the temperature is - get this - 74 degrees. In July.

It's been raining for about 24 hours and the clouds have blocked out the scorching sun (and my satellite signal). Last night we slept with the fan on LOW and this morning I actually wore a long sleeved-shirt. It was still sprinkling and my Midwest blood thought the mid-70s felt chilly, so I climbed inside my closet and grabbed a remnant from my old life.

By the time I'd navigated the market and walked home, I'd worked up a bit of a sweat. Before getting in the shower I did a bunch of leglifts and squats, then jogged in place for a couple minutes, because we don't have hot water. When the sun is out the water warms up but with weather like this, the water stays very cold - probably the similar to the cold tap on a normal sink or tub - and it's somewhat bearable if your body temperature is elevated.

By now you're probably wondering where the title of this blog post comes in. Right here: I got in the freezing cold shower and after the first excruciating thirty seconds, I loved it. It woke me up, refreshed me, and calmed my eternal headache. I don't know when exactly I became a person who likes cold showers, but I am. The only drawback is it's too cold to shave. ;)

Fine, I Guess Mexico is Okay

I've been feeling a little guilty that I told the internet I don't like Mexico. It's normal to get cranky now and then and who doesn't take it out on their setting? Right?

Since posting yesterday I've watched for something good, something that I like about living here, something that I could never experience in Chicago. Today it hit me: my morning runs along the ocean.

Aside from the fact that I hate running and more times than not I'm chanting "I hate this I hate this I hate this" in my head, it's a fairly pleasant experience. The path is wide enough to pass people (assuming they move to the side and don't freeze in the center when they hear you approaching) with little decorative stones and a rope fence. It's cut into the rocks and winds along the shore so you never run in a straight line. That might annoy some people, but since I hate running the constant turns distract me from what it is I'm doing there.

The best part is at the end of the path. I've mentioned the large circle where we stretch out and watch the fish as they leap through the air. Some days the waves are big enough that they splash against the wall and onto the landing. I normally stand on the far side so I'm out of the way and don't have my back to anyone, but today I stood right at the edge.

Every few minutes a wave crashed against the wall and water shot straight above me. I'm not sure if it's a genius design, pure luck, or a combination of the two, but the water never hit me. I watched the surf swirl over the rocks, the water rising within two feet of where I was standing. When I leaned over to stretch my legs it was as if the water had surrounded me, and with my back was to the other people I felt enveloped on an island all my own.

I suppose a private island for working out is a good thing about living here. ;)

That's a Lot for a Saturday

I've had a busy day! I got out of bed when the alarm sounded and actually went running before the sun had fully risen. After dropping Ibis off at work, I bought groceries and vented in my journal. I'm feeling a little better now. Then I finished reading The Elements of Style (more on that in a minute) and finished a nagging scene in my wip.

Phew!

Then I researched wedding photo albums for an upcoming freelance project. A good friend of mine is a photographer in LA and needs a fabulous designer to help with the album layouts.

*stretches arms, pats self on shoulder*

While clicking through the various links she sent me, I was getting worried that the designs she wants may be beyond my abilities. I worked on auto ads for so long that soft and fluffy weddings seem like an alien being. Can you shove a close-up of a Hemi in there? Really jazz it up! The voice of my former boss whispered in my ear. But the more I compared her notes with the different sites, I realized she and I share a similar vision. Besides, she can't expect me to nail it on the first try, right? That's was revisions are for.

That's when a passage I'd just read in EoS came to mind and I realized Strunk & White's writing advice can apply to more than just writing:

Revising is part of writing. Few writers are so expert that they can produce what they are after on the first try. Quite often you will discover, on examining the completed work, that there are serious flaws in the arrangement of the material, calling for transpositions... Do not be afraid to experiment with what you have written. Save both the original and the revised versions... Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.

Switch the writing terms with whatever task you're facing - design, cooking, or child-rearing - and this advice applies to most anyone (ok, maybe not that last one). I've always tackled design projects with the idea that it's easier to work on something one the bones are already there. It only makes sense that the same applies to writing. I just hadn't figured that out yet.

New Routine

My migraine is almost gone so this morning Ibis and I drove to the beach for our run. The beach he works at, Playa Madera, is the midway point of the oceanside path so we can get our exercise without any hassle from the locals.

I wanted to run at least the same amount as I do when we leave our place on foot, but after going back and forth a couple times, I think I went even further. Ibis stayed at one end to do weights (rocks) so I joined him after my run and worked out for another half hour. I hate the fact that we drove to exercise but I enjoyed the whole experience so much more than before that I think I'll go more often. I typically aim for every day but now I realize it wasn't the running I dread, it's the people on the streets. Remove them from the equation and I may finally lose some weight!

It's started raining this past week and today has actually been cloudy. Go figure! So far all the rain has come overnight so I didn't give it a second thought when I started laundry this afternoon. Well, now it's raining all over my washer/dryer and the clothes that I hung outside to dry. After a little reorganizing, my house is filled with damp clothes and the laundry is almost finished. It's not raining very hard so the machine should be ok.

Holy Guacamole!

Yesterday I did a very stupid thing. It started with the best intentions but it took a bad turn about an hour in.

You see, I accompanied a friend to the doctor, my doctor, because she needed to go and I speak better Spanish than her. Yes, my doctor thought it was funny that after months of needing Ibis by my side to translate, I'm now the translator. So anyway, we were in the doctor's office when I noticed the scale against the wall.

We don't have a scale at home and while I think that's generally a healthy thing, there comes a time when you do want to know how much you weigh. I knew I'd gained a few pounds over the past few months because while my clothes still fit, they take a little longer to get on. I've been blaming the heat and the fact that I begin sweating five minutes after toweling off from my shower (have you ever tried getting dressed while still wet?) but that little voice kept insisting there was more to the story.

In general I exercise regularly and eat very healthy. My biggest problem is portion control. Last month I decided I needed to crack down on myself and whip my butt back into shape. Literally. It all goes to my hips & rear end. I've been making progress and have started seeing a difference, but I still have a ways to go. Cut to yesterday.

I climbed on the scale and kept pushing the little weight further to the right. Everything here is metric so while I knew the number wasn't good I wasn't sure how much I'd gained until I got home and did the conversion to pounds.

Right now, AFTER losing some weight this past month, I'm STILL ten pounds heavier than I was when we moved here. I'm terrified to know what I weighed a month ago! It probably has a lot to do with the fact that we don't eat dinner until Ibis gets home from work, often close to 9pm. I know that's terrible but I really enjoy sitting down with my husband.

I really hope this isn't my age creeping up on me!

I Suppose I Asked for This

A couple days ago I said I was going to stay inside to avoid all the craziness, and aside from my run yesterday, I haven't left the house. Since Wednesday.

*checks calendar* Yep, it's Friday.

Funny thing happens when you don't leave the house. More accurately, nothing funny happens. Aside from seeing the same stories on CNN a hundred times and emailing every person I know, I don't do anything. The house is clean, the mending is done, I've eaten all the food, and I'm B.O.R.E.D. I bought a workout DVD the other day so I'd like to try that out this afternoon, then there's a going away party for a restaurant owner this evening.

Exciting, eh?

This weekend is a big holiday here in Mexico so I'm sure I'll have more stories for you soon.

Rooster Calisthenics

Staying inside yesterday was a smart move. The most exciting thing that happened was we couldn't cook dinner because we ran out of gas. This morning Ibis had the tank replaced and now we're good for another five months.

Now about this rooster.

While on my run this morning I saw a man carrying a rooster on the beach. Now, roosters are very common in Mexico and while I've seen them in some really odd places, this was my first sighting on the beach. I observed the rooster as the man walked towards an open area and one thing struck me: it wasn't moving. Not a feather. It looked like it had been stuffed. I was actually walking at this point and stared for a couple minutes and he didn't wiggle a toe. There was another rooster in the sand, near where I first saw the man, but that one was clearly alive.

Puzzled, I continued on.

On the way back I passed them again, but this time the rooster was most definitely alive. The man was holding it by the tail while the rooster scraped and clawed at the sand. It looked like he was trying to run. Sand flying, the man held on while the other rooster watched the spectacle.

I told Ibis about it when I got home and he's seen this man before. "He's training the roosters," he said.

"Training? For what?"

"Cockfights."

Great...