Thunder Dog

I survived my first MBA prep session yesterday and now know all about navigating the university's library website.  Hooray!  Originally, I had planned to run my first mid-week five miler when I got home yesterday, but the session time was changed last minute from 7:30pm to 5:30pm, and I ended up taking another rest day.  (This is the #1 reason to get your exercise out of the way in the mornings, kids!)

I think having an additional rest day was for the best because my feet definitely need it.  They aren't feeling too hot after a 2 mile run this morning.  I'm hoping to finish out the remaining three miles on the treadmill before and after Body Works class, but we will see how things go.  The last thing I want to do is end up seriously injured and unable to run come October. 

After the library information session, I cooked up an easy pasta dinner and settled in for some reading.  As y'all know, I recently finished three books: The Selection, Gone Girl and Let's Pretend This Never Happened.  I enjoyed each of them in their own way, but would recommend The Selection and Let's Pretend This Never Happened over Gone Girl.  By nature, I'm a genre hopper when it comes to reading.  While I truly adore fantasy (books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc.), I also enjoy dystopian novels, comical memoirs, memoirs about personal growth and discovery, mysteries, almost any genre of novel and even the occasional educational read.

Last night, I started a new book: Thunder Dog. It is the true story of a blind man who successfully made it out of the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 with his seeing-eye dog and along his way helped hundreds of others escape to safety as well.  Touching at any time of the year, but especially now, just a few days after the anniversary of the tragedy.



Snuggled up on the couch with my own little pup, I read last night until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

This book has already stolen my heart.  Though the style in which it is written isn't my favorite, I am truly enjoying the story.  Learning about the world of a blind person through their own words is extremely interesting and of course, the guide-dog side to the story gripped my heart before I even began reading.  I can't wait for the conclusion of this book (I'm currently about 1/3 of the way done) and know it is going to be one of my favorite reads for a while.

A few of my favorite quotes from the book thus far:

"I learned to get beyond the need for eyesight.  How many other four-year-olds can race their pedal cars around the house at high speed in the pitch dark?  Not the light dependent ones." -p. 3 (love, love, LOVE his attitude here! Talk about perspective!)

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings" p.15

"I have always felt that every life experience helps us prepare for what is to follow." -p.46

"As Jack Benny would say, 'Age is strictly a case of mind of matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.'" -p.60

Even though I haven't finished Thunder Dog yet, I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for something new to read.  I found it through Kindle's Daily Deals and am surprised at how wonderful a book that I bought just because it was on sale is turning out to be.

This afternoon, I've got a meeting with my MBA school adviser and I'm really looking forward to picking her brain.  I just hope I remember all the questions I want to ask!  Wish me luck!

Before you head out, tell me:
What is your favorite recent read?