The 43

Say goodbye to summer. It ended with a lot of heat. We don't get summer humidity too much here in Utah, but the last two days have been somewhat muggy as well as hot. Driving the Corolla with non-working air conditioning today didn't help. Ben had his first swim practice of the new season today, and I jumped into the pool (I brought trunks with) to cool off. Soccer practice was obnoxiously warm, too. And that's how summer concludes, not with a bang, but a swelter. The season was great, but too fast as usual, and almost a blur as we went from event to event to event, starting way back with Michael's basketball tournament on Memorial Day weekend. There was so much "What's up next?" -- not necessarily a bad thing, but the summer never felt so coherent. Our trips were great, and the days, weeks, and months were memorable. Yet after these two blistering days, and knowing fall is imminent, I'm ready for some cooler weather, more predictable routines, and

I've stopped apologizing for the gaps in my blogging. It happens, and at least I'm catching up on, of all days, Labor Day. The last 10 days have been so hot in Salt Lake City. Temperatures have been mid- to high-90s, and almost a month has passed since it last rained. We've spent a few days at the pool in some capacity, including today -- I don't mind baking a little -- but nights have not been cooling off at all. This evening, from my porch, humidity has set in. I never want summer to end, but I'm ready for some cooler weather, even if it's just 80s. Last week was spent trying to get back into a normal routine after the nutty summer, but I might need another week or two. I was also navigating a couple fantasy football drafts and running mock drafts to prepare. We saw Michael's high school finally win a football game Friday -- it was their first victory in almost two years. Today, Ben and I went to the JCC pool and soaked up the last rays and water of su