Good Monday morning, friends! How were your weekends? Were you celebrating Juneteenth and Father’s Day? We had a busy weekend showering Steve with love and appreciation for all he does for our family. On Saturday, we were out the door early for a favorite hike – Riverbend to Great Falls (for a picnic) and then back. It’s not a particularly demanding hike, but at about four miles it’s quite a distance for the munchkins’ little legs. They were champs, though – especially on the way back, powered as they were by hot dog buns spread liberally with Nutella. (We’re low on groceries.) I spent the rest of Saturday reading – The Vanishing Half, a beautiful new(ish) novel by a Black author, and several articles about Critical Race Theory and the law.

On Sunday, Steve bounced out of bed early for Formula One (I believe it was the French Grand Prix this weekend?) so we gave him his present over breakfast – I had ordered his favorite chicken wings from Duff’s, a Buffalo institution; he hasn’t had them since we moved back to Virginia five years ago now, so to say he was excited would be an understatement. (And surprised. I’ve learned that the trick to keeping a gift a surprise until the appropriate time is not telling the kids anything.) The rest of the morning was slow. Steve and I both got out for runs in the humidity, then fed the kids an early lunch and headed for the river. Steve’s wish for a Father’s Day activity was kayaking at our favorite spot, and I’m happy to oblige that. We wrapped up the weekend with sushi, and I think our resident dad felt very celebrated.

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Reading. A good reading week! After bogging down in Ready Player Two (how? well, the concept is basically the same as Ready Player One, so it doesn’t come across as quite so creative the second time around, and I couldn’t care less about the gang’s mission on the planet of Prince, let alone for seven chapters) I finally finished – and moved on to more library books for most of the week. The Vanishing Half occupied the second half of the week, and it was time very well spent; I don’t know if I loved it as much as The Mothers, but I loved it, it was wonderful. Then I spent Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon over Wintering – an odd seasonal choice, I know, but this is when my number came up at the library, so what can I do? Finally, on Sunday evening, I was able to turn back to my own shelf; I do have one more library book out right now, but British Summer Time Begins was calling to me.

Watching. Not much over the course of the week, but good weekend watching! On Saturday night, Steve generously signed one of his nights of TV choice over to the kids, and they picked Luca, a new Pixar movie that just dropped on Disney+. It was actually adorable, and we all enjoyed it. And then on Sunday, we started Okavango: River of Dreams – Steve’s choice. I’ve had a longtime life goal to kayak the Okavango, and Steve has apparently become obsessed with the idea, too. (No complaints here!) We made it through about a third of the movie before the kids sacked out, so there will be more Okavango to come this week.

Listening. Eh, nothing much new to report here. Same New Pornographers (or “Carl and Neko,” as I call them in mixed company) on repeat.

Making. Nothing much to report here, either – no cooking or baking, although I had big plans to make a paleo peach crisp that will have to wait a bit longer. Infuriatingly, our dishwasher repair techs no-showed for our appointment on Wednesday. We called, and our landlord called, and we were promised a visit on Thursday. And then they no-showed on Thursday, too, and now no one is available until this coming Wednesday (allegedly). We’ve worked out that we have been without a working dishwasher for a quarter of the time we have lived in this house, which – while it doesn’t make the house uninhabitable – is totally unacceptable. I hope to have some paleo peach crisp to show you next week, but honestly? Don’t hold your breath.

Moving. It was a great week of movement! Four runs, a long hike, a tough (current, wind) paddle, and one strength training session. The highlight was running around the Little League ballpark one day last week, after dropping Nugget off at baseball camp. I’m having way too much fun running in my new Hokas. I’ve been a loyal Brooks customer since 2010, and I still love their shoes, but… Hokas, man, they’re just so soft and springy.

Blogging. Big audacious bucket list goals coming atcha on Wednesday, and on Friday… something. I haven’t figured out what yet. We’ll all be surprised!

Loving. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandpas, stepdads, father figures, mentors, and to the Second Gentleman! Steve does so much for us all year, and it was fun to plan a day of spoiling him. He was surprised and delighted by his present – PSA, upstate New Yorkers, you can order Duff’s through Goldbelly, it’s expensive but that look was worth it.

Asking. What are you reading this week?