Sunday Salon: Celebrating Dads

 Hey there!  Remember me?  Been a couple weeks since I've been around.  Summer is in full swing, and I've lost all control over my time.  I'm just riding the crazy river at this point.

So before I start talking about stuff, I want to honor all the dad's out there, particularly my husband (who is half-crazy from my kids but is such a dedicated father) and my own.  My dad has worked hard all his life - still does - and I believe has given me a sense of work ethic and tenacity.  He also has a huge heart and makes friends wherever he goes.  Today is all about them.  We are going to go to church and a brunch for my hubby, and then we will see what he wants to do.  He may want to golf, but then again he may want to watch World Cup!  Today he gets his way.

Last week my son and I drove the crappy drive up to Atlanta so he could compete in the National History Bee.  He and two other kids in his class qualified individually at the Regionals, and then they also formed a team for the team competition.  And hey, it was a good experience.  They really didn't do much to prepare...they are just kids that have an interest and learn things on their own.  I'm a little amazed at what my son actually knows.  Up there we saw a whole different breed of kid.  Ones that have been preparing for the last year, with crazy, wild-eyed, intense parents.  Ones that were cramming on AP books in between rounds, while our kids played their Game Boys.  Ha!  Anyway, the hotel charged $20 a day for Internet, which is very annoying, so this is why I didn't post last Sunday.

For that reason, I also wasn't able to immediately dive right in and start watching Orange is the New Black Season 2.  Drove me half insane!  I made up for it once I got home, and finished the season a couple of days ago.  Man I LOVE that series!  That last episode was incredible.  I can't even cope with the idea that I have to wait, what?  Another year for Season 3?  Gah!  Also season finale coming up for Game of Thrones tonight.  I've read this is going to be a humdinger.  After that I guess I have to wait until October for The Walking Dead?  I suppose I will fill my time watching Bates Motel, but it isn't as compelling as these other shows.

So!  Stephen King just released "Mr. Mercedes", which I grabbed on the day it came out, and I'm close to 300 pages in.  (I got temporarily diverted by the trip to Atlanta and OITNB but now I'm back on the case.)  I'm really enjoying it.  Nobody can tell a story quite like Uncle Stevie.  But I hear that this is the first of a trilogy!  I had no idea.  Trilogies annoy the hell out of me, primarily because it is such a money-grabbing trend.  But I can forgive Stevie because this is not his normal move.

I've also been working on "The Last Policeman" and "Countdown City" by Ben Winters on audio.  This is the TRILOGY about a cop solving crimes while the world goes to hell because an asteroid is scheduled to hit Earth in the near future.  Interesting premise.  Not the absolute best stuff around but I find the world-building fascinating.  Plus you just have to know if the thing really hits and what happens!

I've been gearing up for my birthday, which is next weekend.  We went out this past Friday night with friends (the BFF's birthday was June 2), and I'm hoping to get some beach time soon.  Hey, I don't mind getting older.  I'm going to celebrate every year I'm here.

Wishing everyone a great Father's Day and a great Sunday.  Happy World Cup watching, Game of Thrones watching, book reading, and relaxing.