‘Have you ever lost your luggage?’

Because if you haven’t, I highly recommend it. Once. It’s a good conversation starter.

Last week, I was flying to Las Vegas for a work-in-progress screening of “Beautiful Darling,” a feature-documentary that I edited. I had a connecting flight through Phoenix and would be arriving the day before the screening.

I had decided to check my suitcase and carry on my garment bag with my suit, shirts and jackets, so as not to be left stranded with no clothes to wear if my bag didn’t make it.

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It’s sum-sum-summertime

Be cool. It’s easy to beat the heat in the summer without air-conditioning, especially here in the country. Close your windows during the day, and if you have curtains, draw them closed to keep out the sun. Open the windows at night to let the cooler air in. And if you don’t have sheltering trees around your house, plant some now. For another energy-saving idea…

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