The Tiger Rebuilt: Rebuilding XIII - Confessions Of A Tiger That Can't Swim But Actually

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but the seeds you plant."

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Swimming One Stroke At A Time

I broke a new personal record swimming today. 52 lengths (21 laps) today unassisted, no rest, in 25 minutes 23 seconds. That might not seem like much to a swimmer but I am not a pro swimmer I am me. I am training to be a good swimmer one day but I'm doing it at my own pace.

Speaking of pace by my training calendar I was suppose to be at 20 laps by mid May. This is ground breaking or water breaking however you like to put it. I am very ahead of schedule. Without being able to run very long it gets kind of hard at the gym. Swimming makes up for a lot of it. I have goals that I'm trying to get to. With this big boost today I feel great.

I am thinking about signing up for the next round of Masters swim lessons by an endurance sports clinic down town. The classes should be starting up in early April I think.

My Legs

I'm getting there. My reflexologist is working on me and getting me to where I need to be one bit at a time. As the saying goes Rome wasn't built in a day and neither am I. I am rebuilding, restructuring, reorganizing my brain, my muscles, my brain to muscle connections and my attitude. It will all come in time. Right now a majority of my homework is to facilitate this restructuring and reorganization. I spend about 30 mins a day doing a basic routine of isometric exercises, lifts, dynamic breathing. It's going great.

Team PAWS Fundraiser

I had a great turnout for such an early fundraiser. Together we raised $200! Thank you to everyone who came out. It was my birthday bash and I had a great time. As always, please feel free to donate here.

Josh's Team PAWS Fundraising Page

Why Team PAWS?

I went to Nicaragua on a humanitarian aid trip in 2012. (again in 2013) I met people there. People who needed clean water and that was what I was there to help with. But I saw stray dogs roaming the streets in packs trying to scrape by with scraps of food where they could. The villagers would beat them with sticks to get them away from their ducks. I got mad but it was explained to me that those ducks are the villagers source of food.

(WARNING - THE PHOTO ALBUM LINKED BELOW IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT)

Rural Dogs of Nicaragua

It's understandable for a poor country like Nicaragua where resources are scarce dogs and cats would live like that. But to hear that we as a 1st world nation murder, yes murder, thousands of innocent animals a year because of overpopulation is just sicking and unimaginable. I care more about those who cannot fend for themselves.

I used to believe that neutering and spaying was wrong. I mean sure depriving an animal of their natural ability to reproduce is a bit extreme. The alternative is much worse. 1 dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in 6 years. 1 female cat and her offspring produce have 420,000 kittens. My fundraising goes to providing free/low cost spay neutering. But the funds also goes to the following.

$15 covers the cost of a micro-chip to help reunite lost pets with their families
$25 funds daily laundering of all toys, towels and pet beds
$32 stocks our Kitty City Cat Wing with litter for one day
$35 gives the gift of cleaning supplies for one day
$65 covers the cost of X-rays for an injured dog or cat
$75 provides intravenous fluids for one sick dog or cat for one week
$86 sponsors a spay/neuter surgery to help prevent over pet population
$150 fuels our transport vehicles so we can rescue more animals from the city pound and neighboring shelters
$175 funds medication and care for an upper respiratory for one kitten or puppy
$250 cares for one healthy puppy or kitten from arrival through adoption
$400 funds the treatment of Ring worm
$600 stocks our center with medication
$800 funds the treatment of Heartworm
$1,200 funds critical care to an animal with life-threatening injuries