Raw clams, Riunite and rain. If the three R’s don’t make it clear enough, let me spell it out for you: my Fourth of July was I-N-S-A-N-E.

And, like a good teacher with a bad hangover, I’m smelling a movie day today (and, unexplainably, like a hickory-smoked Hillshire Farms kielbasa).

So, instead of your regularly scheduled lesson, I thought we’d kick back and read some fan mail.

A retired librarian now living outside the area recently wrote:

“Let me first say, my husband and I really enjoy your column. We don’t always understand what you’re talking about (for example, what’s a “Pabst Beer-amid?” Is that the same thing as a “Piels Pile?”). But you look like a nice enough person, and that’s important. I didn’t mean good-looking, just that you seemed happy – there’s a difference. Wanted to make that clear. Keep up the good work. P.S. You’re right, Old Gold cigarettes taste just like menthols if you eat Girl Scout thin mints first (from the column on 6/20).” – Kinds words and a dash of honest criticism from our seniors never hurt anyone.

This next reader was particularly fond of one of my first columns about antiperspirants.