Good morning, world. What a world of irony it is. As fellow humans in New Orleans who have had nothing to eat or drink for 3 days cling to rooftops to stay out of filthy flood water, hanging onto life by a thread waiting for a rope of rescue to be dropped to them, here in my safe corner of Western Maryland I have chosen a light, nutritious breakfast and hot coffee prior to driving over dry roads to immerse myself in a pool of clean, chlorinated water. As fellow humans plod and trudge for miles over bridges above the city looking for any kind of safe haven, some with bleeding feet, I make preparations to participate in an athletic event that will have me swimming for miles, bicycling for miles, running or walking for miles, just to see how long I can hold out. For fun.

At least I will be wearing shoes. And I will have had advance warning that I am about to do this, and will have food and fluids with me, and aid tables every few miles in case I need more, or want something different from what I brought.

Nevertheless, I'm about to pack up my swimsuit and head to the pool to become a better amateur recreational athlete. In Western Maryland, life goes on.