You know it’s summer when ...

You know how I know it’s summer? When I’m sitting outside, drink in one hand, book in the other, as the sun goes down.

Let’s break this down, shall we?

OUTSIDE: I have no idea how I’m still living in New Jersey, when the concept of “outside” is only good for what, eight months tops? And when it comes to the simple act of sitting and not being cold what do we have, six months? I love sitting outside on a nice day. I can - and have - done it for 10-12 hours at a clip. And after winter - and even a cool spring - being able to comfortably sit outside, in a T-shirt and shorts, is flippin’ awesome.

DRINK: Well come on. If you don’t know by now that I enjoy a tipple now and again and now, then you don’t know me very well. My general rule of thumb is a drink for every 20 pages. I need to read slow or else I’m in big trouble.

BOOK: Man, before daily fantasy sports and children, all I used to do with my free time was read. Fiction, nonfiction, everything. These day (thanks to daily fantasy sports and children), I don’t read near as much as I used to. In fact, I find I only really read in the warm months, outside, drink in hand, as the sun goes down. The book, as it’s turning out, might be the key here. Anyway, right now, the book I’m reading is non-fiction, “The Traitor and the Spy.” I’m about 75% done, and it’s one of the best spy books ever.

SUN GOES DOWN: Man, is there anything better than the sun going down, the sky turning reddish, indicating another gorgeous day tomorrow? Especially if you’ve got a drink in one hand and a book in another?