(Mars, the planet an average 140 million miles further from the sun than Earth, had the same temperature as Canada this week. Photo: Google Images).

I fell asleep in the brown chair after watching Pacific Rim, a blockbuster special effects extravaganza re-imagining the Godzilla monster flicks of our childhood into something edgy and unsettling. I had been watching the Chiefs demolishing the Colts, and with the boys from Kansas City up by three TDs at the half, decided to try science fiction rather than reality.

Of course, the Colts came back and it was an exciting game after all, but who could know? Perhaps I need more screens to stay on top of everything. Anyway, the images of the Giant Robots fighting monster beasts from the depths of the Pacific stayed with me as I dozed in the chair.

(The Good Guy Robots from the action film Pacific Rim. I realized about halfway through that these are the creatures from the Running Dream I have periodically. Spoiler Alert: In the film, the Good Guys win through the peaceful use of really big nuclear weapons. Image courtesy nuestroscomics).

Awake at two, I downed three melatonin tablets and a shot of Baileys and read for a while before the natural hormone supplement and sweet alcoholic cream had the desired application. When eventually I was released from the arms of Morpheus, it was nearly seven.

This getting old crap is not for sissies, you know?

Anyway, the question at hand is whether to venture out into the freezing rain. A cold front the likes of which has not been seen in 40 years is gripping the midsection of the nation. I would be tempted to play the weather troll this morning, but I am not going to worry about what the Polar Vortex means for the rest of this winter, and besides, weather is not climate.

Still, it is going down to three degrees before we stagger into the new week, and that, along with the moisture on the asphalt, is going to be a challenge for the residents of the National Capitol Region. I thought it was sort of amazing that it is going to be colder here outside than it is in the interior of my freezer, but that is nothing compared to

I am thinking of devoting the day to some organizing- and preparation. I will accordingly issue a call to the readership to supply your favorite “can’t miss” recipes for inclusion in the C&D Cookbook.

The extensive staff here at Socotra Publications LLC has been in touch with former Spooks, Agents (special and other) and the host of trench-coat wearing, HUMINT, IMINT, ELINT and MASINT officials of the National Security State soliciting go-to recipes in case the FSB or one of the other Services in town announce that they are going to Green Light you, and you want to have something simmering besides international relations.

I envision sections for adult beverages, hors d’oeuvres, entrees, and desserts. So far there are dozens of culinary adventures in the ready locker, and they span DIA, CIA and ONI favorites for any circumstance from Cold War deceit to GWOT pre-and-post deployment feasts, indoors and out in The Field.

Have a favorite? Drop me a line and let’s talk!

(Ah, to be back in Hong Kong in 2014, the Year of the Horse).

Copyright 2013 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twitter: @jayare303