manrymission.com

It was raining this morning when I got up. But the temperature dropped, and the rain has now turned to snow. The forecast calls for 2-4 inches today. Mugs bought me a new snow shovel yesterday and sleds for the kids. We’re ready!

First Snow of the Season

It’s 1650, and I’m suffering from coffee withdrawal. A few days ago I decided to cut back on my daily consumption of coffee. I haven’t been out of control, but 4-5 cups a day seems to have more of an effect on my 43 year old body than they had on my 33 year old body. My eyes feel completely bloodshot, if bloodshot is actually a feeling. I’m trying to have 1 cup a day in the morning. It’s not going so well!

Why am I cutting back? In addition to aggravating my heartburn, coffee is helping to dehydrate me. Even now, it’s 106F (41C) outside. I’m already drinking 4 liters of water each day, sometimes 5. I feel waterlogged when I go out running and dehydrated when I finish. I really need to switch to running in the mornings instead of the evenings. This morning, sunrise was at 0455 and at 0600, the temperature was 77F (25C). So there is plenty of light to run at 0600, and the temperature is still relatively cool. However, at 1900 tonight, the temperature will be about 101F (39C), and the sun will set around 1913. All of the temperature data is from the Weather Underground.

What was I doing at 0600 this morning? Sleeping. I get up at about 0630 each morning, brush my teeth and shave, watch some news for the headlines, then wander into the office around 0730. I won’t have the luxury of sleeping that late when I’m slugging to the Pentagon. Oh well. I’ll be running this evening. Tommorow, and each Sunday, is my day off from running. I’ll try getting up early on Monday to go for a 0600 run.

Mugs and the kids should be picking up our new puppy right now. I’m sure we’ll have a great post from her soon!

We conducted our quarterly Aegis client training yesterday and today. Our timing couldn’t have been better. Yesterday the temperature got up to 100F (38C), and today it hit 104F (40C). Fortunately, going to a weapons range while deployed to Iraq is not quite the ordeal it is at home station. It also helps that Aegis handles running of the range and even supplies the weapons and ammunition. They also provide the transportation. All USACE has to do is shoot. The “Annie Oakley” award has to go to Liz. She seemed to enjoy the shooting immensely!

Here’s a closeup of her target.