Ok this may sound weird but since I already clued you in on my food-touching-issue  (See my blog entry Why Does My French Toast Smell Like Bananas?) why not tell you about my potential PJ and slipper issue.

First, I don’t wear PJs or slippers.  Second, I will never wear PJs or slippers.  Third, if I did then that’s something I wouldn’t admit in a public forum anyway.  Oh mom and sisters, don’t put your two cents in on this blog entry.

Ok getting to my latest “issue”.  Each morning when I awake and finally walk outside to drink my coffee or head to the chow hall I find my inner voice yelling “I hope you are not wearing PJs and manly slippers socks”.   Seriously, this has been happening the last few weeks now.

It’s just that since my little piggies are better and found great cushions for my boots too it always feels like I am wearing a new pair of ubber-supper-fantasic-best-acme-zenith-thick socks.

As for the cammies, until about 9AM they always feel light and soft (ahhhhhhhh).  From 9AM  until I crash later that night they of course just suck.  With the nearly 120 degrees they feel water logged (ewwwwwww).

So there you go.  My latest issue.   Ha-ha

Thoughts on a cure??????

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 52% [?]

As I didn’t stop working until 1AM last night I thought it best to get up at 6AM vice 4AM.  Yes that’s sleeping in for me.  I know you’re probably jealous.  After all how many of you are lucky enough to enjoy sleeping in until 6?

Because of a daily Intel briefing I attend I wasn’t able lift until 9AM and didn’t start running till 10:30.  The flag was green which basically meant was already in the 90s but about 10 minutes in the flag went to yellow (low 100s).  Afterwards I found out it was 109 degrees.  With a total disregard for common sense I thought it best to keep running.

Running is never fun for me.  I just loathe it but today really sucked.  Still have no idea why I choose to pay good money to run a half marathon and full marathon each year.

Anyway… I think I was sipping from my camelback every 3 or so minutes and when I finally stopped my once green shirt and shorts now had large streaks of whites and gray.  Amazing how much salt you can sweat out in such a short time.

Sometimes it gets so hot that as you sweat it evaporates nearly immediately.  Your shirt may be moist but not appear or even feel wet.  Today was just that case.  I barely had any noticeable sweat until a few minutes after I stopped running.  Odd, I know.

So did I learn anything today running in 109 degree heat?  Yes run faster to get it over with.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 56% [?]

As I wrote the other day, there is almost no plant life on TQ.  Other then desert plants we need to grow something we would expect to see growing in Pennsylvania.

We have a shaded area and can water them daily but still needs to endure temperatures up to 125 degrees.

So if anyone has any cool ideas of what to grow please write.  We would like you to tell us what plant(s) you think would work as well as links to order seeds and how to grow them.

So please forward this to your “plant” nerds friends.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 57% [?]

I just wanted to once again thank everyone for their generosity by writing and sending care packages.

Birthday cards, books, food, letters from kids, stationary supplies, hygiene gear, the list goes on.

And of course socks, socks, and more socks. Because of the socks my little piggies are now good enough to start running again. I only ran for 30 minutes today as I want to ease into it but plan on being up to 45 within a couple weeks and an hour in a couple weeks.  Of course another reason why I am easing into it is because of the crazy heat.  Despite running at 530AM the mid to high 80s still isnt ideal but oh well.

Speaking of running, my friend Cheryl and I usually run a half and full marathon every year. Last year we helped raised money for Autism and would welcome your help again. The money we raise is for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and Mission for Educating Children with Autism (MECA). OAR is probably the leading nationally recognized group for advancing research and proving information on this infliction and MECA is a phenomenal organization located in my backyard (Chester County, PA) that provides life skills to young adults with Autism.

Please click http://www.firstgiving.com/runningwithscissors and donate whatever you can to this great cause.

Semper Fi,
GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 67% [?]

Looks like we didn’t have to wait few more days as we got our first Black Flag of the year today.  The high is going to be about 116 degrees today (about 42 Celsius).

I am still thinking about what to grow out here before I leave.  This lack of green is just fundamentally wrong.

If anyone has suggestions for what we can grow other then traditional desert plants please write me.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 69% [?]