“Summertime, and the living is easy.
Knowing we’ve got six more months of this is making me queasy…
— E.P. Hemingway

One look at the five-day forecast tells you all you need to know – summer has arrived in the Valley of the Sun. The pool is 76 and hurtling towards 80 (that will feel nice – especially when in a month it’ll be over 90!), the air is filled with the romantic sounds of A/C units turning off and on, and the crickets are a’chirpin’.

You know the heat has arrived when you step out on the patio at 7 PM and the cement still feels warm to the feet. That’s OK, it is what it is. I look forward to pool season because it’s the only time of year I get any exercise around here. Back-stroking my way from one end of the pool to the other and playing lifeguard to unfortunate ants and other insects that find their way into Davy Jones’ locker brings me great joy and a sense of relaxation.

So Summer it is. A glass of Pinot Grigio, Caribbean music on the MP3, a pool surrounded by fragrant flowers of every color, a St. Francis statue on one side, a Buddha on the other (just to make sure all my spiritual bases are covered). I mean, how can you beat that?