Good morning, Colorado.

You know those days when 1 p.m. hits and a fog washes over you? Your thoughts become a little duller, your focus wanes and your brain basically turns into sludge. I used to regularly combat that afternoon slump with a Mountain Dew Code Red. I’m not proud of it. My previous coworkers in a Florida newsroom ruthlessly mocked me for drinking a liquid that looks like it would make every organ glow in the dark.

I’ve mostly kicked that habit, though I do occasionally pick up a bottle on the way to a school board meeting or when I know it’s going to be a late night of writing. Now I power through the afternoon haze by taking my dog for a quick stroll or by grabbing a Starbucks latte or espresso. Still probably not the best for me, but it does feel like a step up from that

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