the roosting hour

So it seems my new habit is waking up at three every morning. or what some people call the "witching hour". (midnight is also called this in some cases.. who knows, i don't make the rules.) all i know is that i spring awake at this time every morning all "emily rose-esque" and cant seem to go back to sleep. what is one to do when they are the only one conscious on the entire planet? this morning I did laundry and watched Gypsy on TCM. After I finished pretending I was a burlesque dancer while folding my delicates, I googled "waking up at 3 am" and was disturbed with my findings. And I'm still completely clueless unless you count spirits trying to contact me and my wooden liver (are you kidding me?!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about Chinese medicine and holistic healing, but I'm going to need some education on that one. So in the meantime I am very thankful for my dogs waking up to hang out with me. It seems whatever wakes me up is waking them up too.
During Duke's belly rub yesterday I noticed he was starting to acquire dog/man/boobs of a sort.

(who would've ever guessed such an active individual could acquire belly fat?)

 So I've decided to start running in the mornings again. (since it is finally a tolerable temperature outside *haaaaaaallelujaaaah!*) I haven't been in the habit of running in the morning since high school. Now that I'm thru with late night study sessions and paper writing, I expect it should be a a little easier to keep a schedule.
 So early Duke and I set off this morning around 5:30. If we leave at this time we get to watch the sunrise on our way back, which makes being up that early totally worth it. While trotting thru one of the surrounding neighborhoods a ROOSTER CROWED. Let me let you in on a little secret about me: I am terrified, TERRIFIED of birds. I won't get into this now, but just understand.. if it came between touching a bird or spider, I might actually hug the spider. So mid stride I have a slight panic attack and Duke may or may have not shadoopied in his pupperoos. I have to ask myself.. WHO in their right mind has a rooster in the middle of an extremely condensed neighborhood? Poor neighbors. My heart goes out to them. If any of my neighbors decide to invest in poultry of any type, we will be having a lovely chat. So I leave you this morning, thankful for my dogs to keep my company thru my insomnia  and that my neighbors don't have any mcnuggets running around their back yards.. what are you thankful for today?