My viewing of “Terminator: Salvation” yesterday afternoon was the official psychological beginning of the summer season for me here in Dallas. Despite having read some flaccid reviews I actually loved it, though I wish I hadn’t seen the previews because they gave away a critical piece of information which would have made the movie much better.

We’ve fired up the Weber grill, dug around in closets and found our swimming trunks, purchased buckets of sun screen and insect repellent, and are making plans for a 4th of July trip to Michigan to see my little sister.

Here’s a list of things I’m reading this summer as I finish another few short stories and start on a novel of my own:

• Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned (collection of dark short stories by Wells Tower)
• Little Children (a novel about suburban dystopia by Tom Perotta)
• 2666 (not sure what this is about but I’ve heard rave reviews)
• Glimmertrain Stories (I’ve recently begun submitting stories here and thought I should support the cause)