Staying cool

For as hot as it gets in July and August down here in Florida, air-conditioning is a fact of daily life. It's pretty useful in June, too.

Had it not been for fortuitous timing Saturday, we might not have made it inside a local credit union, where the Tampa Bay Rays' Reid Brignac was putting in an hourlong signing session. At a balmy 90-plus degrees outside, we were, for a moment, soaking up the AC, one step inside the doorway.

After another family showed up, a credit union rep said the line might have to resume outside the door. Customers, you see, had to be directed to the "real" customer line.

In time, the line sorted itself out. In all, we spent about 25 minutes waiting for our turn. After getting these three items, it was time well spent, I'd say.

Brignac joined the work-in-progress Rays team helmet. That's his signature, just to the left of the logo. Pitchers J.P. Howell, left, and James Shields are among the others who've signed.