We’re not far away from monsoon season here in the Valley of the Sun, and everyone is hopeful that it will be a wet one. The fact that there is already monsoon-ish weather down south of us in Mexico is a hopeful sign. Lord knows we could use some precipitation here because last winter was nearly bone dry, and a borderline El Nino predicted for next winter typically offers more of the same.

R.I.P. Anthony Bourdain. His most famous book, Kitchen Confidential, was a great read and one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read. I didn’t enjoy his TV work as much – all too often I thought he was always trying to be edgy for the sake of being edgy – but there’s no doubt that’s how he lived his life – on the edge, and ultimately the edge caught up with him. I feel bad that he killed himself knowing he was leaving an 11-year old daughter behind. Having had a brother who committed suicide several years ago, I can’t imagine what it would take to drop that kind of weight on your children. But that’s the nature of suicide – it is an act of irrationality that, unless you’ve experienced that kind of darkness (which I never have), you can’t understand.

R.I.P. Danny Kirwin, a Fleetwood Mac before Fleetwood Mac became, well, “Fleetwood Mac”. He was a gifted guitarist, his sounds all over Bare Trees, a classic in my opinion. Kirwin’s lead guitar work is prominent on one of my favorite Christine McVie tunes, her fine “Spare Me A Little Of Your Love”.

R.I.P. Johnny “Pie” McKenzie. Back in the early ’70s when the whole New England area was Bruins-crazy you could recite the line he was on, alongside Fred Stanfield and Johnny Bucyk.

Sad to hear about Charles Krauthammer. I always enjoyed watching him spar with Bill O’Reilly on “The O’Reilly Factor”. Didn’t always agree with him, but I respected him as a writer and an observer of the politics. One can only wish him and his family peace in the short time they have together.

…which is why I try to find something in every day to make it worth living. It might be just a few minutes with a glass of pinot grigio under happy pineapple lights on the back patio listening to palm tree branches rustle in a warm breeze, or watching the mourning doves congregate on our wall to drink from our fountain, or take a warm soak in the tub with a good book, or hit a bucket of balls at the range. There’s always something in every day that you don’t want to take for granted, so live each day as if it were your last!! You never know when that physical exam is going to come back with something unpleasant, or some part of your body that you like having gives out.

I’m pretty agnostic when it comes to the legalization of marijuana, but anything that would tie Democrats and liberals panties in a knot is OK by me. Just another reason why I love this president.

Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up. What’s wrong with beauty pageants? Look, I understand life isn’t always fair. Not everyone is born beauty-pageant pretty. Me? I’d like to think I look at the whole package when it comes to women – I’ve known pretty women I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole and average-looking women whose “whole package” makes them far more attractive than looks alone. But for gawdsakes, there’s nothing wrong with a pretty girl, just as there’s nothing wrong with exploiting guys that are hugely handsome. But that’s liberals for you – they just want to suck the joy out of life. It’s just a damned beauty pageant. Live with it!

Which reminds me: God willing, I’m so looking forward to Vegas in December – this time with no laptop in tow, and no text coming across my phone in the middle of nowhere demanding I be in Pensacola, Florida the next day. I want to replay my year all over again from the moment “The Client Who Shall Remain Nameless” started.

Just another way Donald Trump is changing not just the way the world looks at the U.S.A., but changing the world. Period.