In normal years, I would be looking forward to two major things at this point in July: NHL Free Agency and Red, White and BOOM!. However, thanks to that nasty virus, neither of those things are going to happen on time (and in the case of Red, White and Boom!: No fireworks this year.) The weather outside sure feels like the dog days of summer, hot and humid. Combine that with my seasonal allergies, and that adds up to me being pretty miserable.

Back when I was younger, I did not do much during the summer, with the exceptions of summer camps. When I was in elementary school, I would spend a week at day camp at either Camp Lazarus or at the Columbus Zoo. As I got older, I would spend my summers running around places like Chief Logan Scout Reservation, or the area surrounding Mohican State Park and Lodge. By the time I reached my early twenties, I stayed closer to home. Save for the occasional trip to visit family in South Dakota, I have stayed close to home for the most part. While I don’t travel as much as I used to as a kid, I still enjoy some summer activities like cooking on the grill, dinner outside, and helping my grandmother with her garden.

Right now, I will admit that I have not kept up with my summer reading as much as I have hoped to. I have been pretty busy with the other projects that have kept me busy this last little while. One of these days, I hope to enjoy a proper summer vacation. Until then…….