Here in the New York metro area, the temperature is somewhere in the high 90s today, and the humidity index is at about 70 percent. Every time I step outside, I feel like I've moved to Venus.

I'm nervous about the holiday. According to CNN, there will be Air Force fighter jets patrolling the skies again, just as there were after "that day." I was hoping to get out of town for the holiday, but instead I'll be here, hugging my air conditioner and staying away from the crowds. Here's hoping the only fireworks will be of the Grucci kind.