Because I’m thinking about a lot of things in my cluttered brain, I’m going to attempt to sort through them in an attempt to freshen it up as summer continues its humid hold upon us all.

So, without further ado, here goes:

• If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the course of time, it’s that taking care of things before they get to be a problem, or while the issue is a small one, is the best time to deal with it. I’ve found this out to be true — sometimes the hard way, due to my own negligence, at-the-time blissful ignorance or otherwise not being aware that there was a problem, though usually there’s a sign of one if you look enough.
• I’ve been working in Suffolk just over five months, and in that short time, I’ve met some truly remarkable people. I always try to allow time to simply have a conversation with people outside of the stories I’m reporting. For example, I met several of the women who are the backbone of John C. Holland Enterprises and Hampton Roads Disposal and was able to learn not only about their work but also a little about them.
• As I mentioned in this space last week, I’m a huge soccer fan, and I’ve been enjoying the Women’s World Cup. Though I haven’t gotten to watch much of it live, and I’ve had to live vicariously through the stories, video and social media posts about the games, it’s been a great tournament, and the U.S. game with France did not disappoint. Of course, neither did the U.S. win against England Tuesday. One more win for the U.S. on Sunday, and they’ll return as champions.
• Now that my family no longer has a car payment, and we’re getting a break on childcare with my wife home for the summer, we’re looking forward to that savings to grab some good grub here in Suffolk. I’ve been wanting to get some, as I’ve gotten to sample a few things that co-workers have brought in, but my family budget doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room for discretionary spending. If you have a favorite among them that I should check out, forward it my way, and let me know what I should try. I wish I had gotten the opportunity to try Bunny’s Family Restaurant. With its storied history and comfort food, it seemed like the kind of place I would have appreciated.
• I saw a recent list in a different newspaper that listed a book one should read for every year of life from age 1 to 100. So for my current year, it recommends that I read “Walden,” by Henry David Thoreau. But next year’s choice — “Fifty Shades of Grey” — is one I’m going to pass. I don’t need the number to remind me of my age, and I’m not a big fan of the color grey either.
• That reminds me, I need to turn in library books again.
• It also reminds me I should read some of the books collecting dust on the bookshelves in my apartment.
• Lastly, I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy their 4^th of July. Usually, ours is spent quietly. It’s not that we don’t enjoy seeing a bright sky full of color, but we tend to opt for quiet over crowds when given the choice. Besides, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been getting a regular dosage of fireworks from our neighbors just across the fence from us, which our cat, in particular, does not enjoy.

After all this, I’m not sure the clutter in my brain is entirely cleared out, but I think I freed a little room up there, at least.