Another day, another trip to the supermarket. A different store this time, as the usual hangout didn't have any Diet Coke. In front of me in the express lane was a little old woman. And when I say "little," I mean I could have picked her up in my hand and crushed her (I didn't). She was a mix of Yoda, Arnold from Happy Days and Dr. Ruth, only smaller, and she didn't flip hamburgers or talk about vibrators. Not at the store, anyway. As I waited for the checkout guy to tally up her groceries (a can of shaving cream, a newspaper, and one onion), I imagined her getting upset over the total, whipping out her light saber, and spinning through the air, putting the smackdown* on Christopher Lee. But she didn't. So I just smiled and paid for my stuff (Diet Coke and Tyson Chicken Fingers).

So I sit here on a Saturday night, alone, face in front of the computer, listening to John Mayer's Room For Squares (an amazing album), gin and tonic to my left, relaxing in the calm between storms. And when I say storms I don't mean rain and thunder, I mean two weeks of ghastly humidity, pushing the temps over 100. The first week ended a couple of days ago, the next one starts Monday. Right now we're in a pocket of low humidity days and cool breezes in the window nights. Beautiful. But that humidity is coming back. I can feel it nibbling at the back of my neck. What's that lemonade commercial, the one that says "summer is a short 68 days this year" or something like that. That's 54 days too many for me. Bring on the fall; I'm ready.

A short Notebook, I know, but they are about to get even shorter. Non-existent as a matter of fact! Well, for the next month anyway. I'm taking a Notebook break. So much to do. The book has to be finished in the next two weeks, I have three other writing assignments to finish, I have to plan a big trip in the fall, and I'm also planning a move. The Notebook returns August 19, and when it does, expect changes, which I explain in the latest newsletter.

The newsletter! This would be a good time to go back to the main page and sign up for the updates. That's it for now. Keep cool for the next month. Check Flak for new stuff. Go Red Sox. See you in August.

*If I ever use this word again, you have my permission to send me a nasty e-mail. Did I even use it right?

Back to Bob Sassone.com