How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
My day so far: After the kids made me scrambled eggs, I crawled back into bed to spend an hour reading The Far Side of the World, the tenth volume in Patrick O'Brian's irresistible series of novels about the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. (Our story so far: Capt. Aubrey and ship's surgeon Maturin have just set sail on the H.M.S. Surprise for Brazil, intending to intercept the American ship, U.S.N. Norfolk.) An hour to read--and not for business, but for pleasure. Very bliss.
Next up: The missus and I will be loading the younger kids into the car to drive up to San Francisco, where we'll be meeting up with our oldest daughter, who turns 21 this very day, to ramble. Maybe we'll go to the zoo, maybe to the marina. I only know for certain that we'll end up for dinner in a Chinese restaurant, where yours truly will be very likely to indulge in a libation like the one pictured here.
That's this father's Father's Day.
Yours?
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Jun '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Waffles and bacon for breakfast. Church. A card from my granddaughter in which she thanked me for sharing gummy bears with her. My kids have quit trying to buy actual gifts, but they gave me an Amazon gift card (which is just fine with me). In a little while, the family will get together to ingest large amounts of calories.
I did spend some time thinking about my own Dad, who died three years ago. I hope I can be a son worthy of him.
Happy Father's Day.
Apr '12
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
My lovely father passed away and my mother has a new husband. I have been debating whether to give him a card or what. He is very kind to my mum. Mr. Indaba is away fishing but home for dinner. I have written a little booklet with "Things My Sons should know about their Dad." We spent dinner last night pretending to write the answers their Dad would give to Questions such as, "What was the best Advice You Ever Got?" Our sons wrote, "Pants on, then shoes." We are surprising him with dinner at a favourite spot and movie at home with popcorn.
Mar '11
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
I'm playing baseball with a spiderman bat and ball and unsuccessfully trying to fly a kite.
Jun '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Day in the life of a stepfather?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWgbmgIzoT8
Feb '11
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Up early to read the Sunday paper (most all of it, particularly the comics, sports and book reviews). Off to church for the early service, then a small snack at a nearby restaurant after. Late Lunch with my family (daughters included) and off to my father-in-law's house with the girls for dessert and a visit (mother-in-law back at home after protracted visits to hospitals). This evening: a nap, some work, and A&E's "Longmire." A very, very good day.
Sep '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Spending the day with my creator - Patrick O'Brian - might have been nice but even better to be in Hilton Head with my sons, wife and her father and his wife. Early morning bike ride, beach with the boys, stiff kettelbell workout on the back porch topped off with some excellent white bordeaux and fresh mahi mahi in front of the US Open on teevee.
Nov '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Went to the conclusion of Marine Week with my son in downtown Cleveland. We saw a police escort of three black vans entering the area around Browns Stadium and wondered if Mitt came down to shake some hands of the fine, very young looking Marines?
Jul '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Had a day shift at the clinic (lots of hand lacs), came home to a cold one and some burgers, watched my Seminoles survive elimination in the CWS, played guitar with my son, will watch an episode of Foyle's War and hit the hay. I'm very blessed today!
May '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
I'm jealous, Small Change. That was plan B today: the mock invasion of Burke Lakefront. Bet it was cool.
Jun '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Only my 2nd father's day, but it was a memorable one. I awoke at 8 am (which is really sleeping in for me!) and we went to 10am mass where, unlike KC, we actually had a glorious homily on how essential fathers are to prosperity both in a Catholic sense and in a national sense.
We then went to a greasy spoon for lunch down on the Illinois river where topics ranged from RV repairs to the 8/10ths of an inch rain we got last night that likely saved the corn and soybean crop in mid-Illinois for the year. One farmer called it a "million dollar rain." The fried catfish wasn't the best...
Then, my wife and I had a date (!) as grandma and grandpa watched the kids. I spent some time staking my tomatoes and drizzling the still moist dirt with the hose for good measure. After this post, some leftovers, 25 minutes on the toilet (catfish), and dishes, I'm off for a 5 mile run followed by beer and bed by 10:30.
Safe to say, it was a good day.
Edited on June 18, 2012 at 4:07amAug '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Up at 0626 - just in time to stop the 0630 alarm. Read Ricochet and my newsfeed. We had breakfast duty for our Sunday School Class - so out to get 2 dozen doughnuts (for them) and quad Grande Latte (courtesy of Starbucks) for me. Home to make a large thermos of coffee.
The missus made BBQ sausage, berries (with sour cream dip) to go with the doughnuts.
My son helped me set up the spread in church, while the missus bundled our youngest to the nursery.
Wonderful service, all the dads were hustled to the front for a rendition of Amazing Grace - no we were not given notice, just the music and it was awesome!
The missus gifted me with a lovely poem. The young ones gave me handmade cards.
I spent the heat of the day playing a Real Time Strategy game with my youngest son online and then I got outside to mow, weed eat, work on the woodpile, fix a few odds and ends before I leave for the week.
My eldest son finally got me on the phone at about 830PM - great conversation!
Now I am packing for a 7am flight.
Edited on June 18, 2012 at 4:13amRe: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Father's Day began a day early with a visit to my daughter and my grandson. Almost three years old, he is hyper-energized and a consummate entertainer.
Today I had the pleasure of attending my Dad's church, where a choir of over 100 voices joined in praise to Our Father. Oh yes,...and we rode in Dad's new wheels. It was a grand day all around.
Nov '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
We missed it! Too long at the luncheon table with Daughter #1 and Potential Fiancee?, Wife, and Son. Did see the Harrier and Hornet fly, the Osprey and an aerial refueling of a huge 7 bladed copter (CH 53 Sea Stallion).
Edited on June 18, 2012 at 4:34amBody of the copter looked as large as the fuselage of the C130 as they flew past. Many thousands of people there - the (first annual?) Marine Week looked to be a success.
Nov '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Awakened at 0630, breakfast, shower, church (where I read lessons), then home for a lovely, quiet morning, a good dinner with my wife and a restful nap. Calls from daughters and grandchildren during the afternoon and supper with my wife, sister, her husband, and one of their sons and his family. How it could be better escapes me.
Jan '12
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
In the morning I struggled with a script I am writing for a Skyrim mod. My son called to tell me he was taking the ferry to Sausalito (instead of to Larkspur). Ugh, the traffic! But nothing will keep the intrepid papa bear from seizing on an opportunity to meet his cherished cub!
We racked his three carboys of Napa Syrah (he has no room for them at his apartment). He gave me a haircut, lavished fond attention on my huge Russian Blue, Hegel, and later, after having solved a problem with my larger "game" computer, cooked a marvelous dinner which we irrigated with a bottle of Rued Dry Creek 2006 Zinfandel.
I took him to the bus-stop so he could return to SF, rent a car, and meet his wife who was arriving later in the evening at the airport. He told me that she had given her father a Hawaiin shirt. Need I say more?
Just this: only in Marin!
P.S.: The picture reminds me that we shared a bottle of Larkspur Landing's IPA Maximus while the Rued was breathing in the decanter.
Edited on June 18, 2012 at 7:37amJan '11
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Ladies and gentlemen, this post has given me a lot of insight into the Members! For myself, I would say that the Fathers' Day of a divorced guy is complicated.....Any others?
Jan '12
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
You will detect no mention of my son's mom in my post. She and I have been divorced for 26 years. I have never been inclined to remarry. The truth is that our son received the best of her and of me, and we each were left with the residue. Once that bit of alchemy was understood, there remained no place for repining or, for me, for desiring replacement.
As for Mom: well, I may not too explicitly betray confidences, but let me say that she has traveled her own, ahem, alternative path. I would admonish her only not to scare the horses. I need scarcely add that she does not consider herself a conservative in any acceptation of the term. But I shall admit that our son has thereby suffered no visible harm.
Edited on June 18, 2012 at 8:24amAug '10
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
@erik larsen My eldest has a the same mom as my younger children, unfortunately he has a different egg donor. No kidding, she had the maternal instincts of a turtle.I was blessed to raise him and we met my wife when he was 10. She has been a wonderful mom to him, despite having to deal with mostly the teenage experience.Fortunately I will probably only have to be in the xsu's presence two more times.(eX Spousal Unit - she was never a wife)
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Got the toolbox out and worked on projects on the house all day.
Better than it sounds. Hate having all that stuff hanging over my head and when I can use a day to finish off some projects it relieves a lot of stress.
Feb '12
Re: How Are You Dads Spending Father's Day?
Day began about 7:30 with wife preparing me a superb Eggs' Benedict breakfast...with a couple "1 ounce" Bloody Marys.
After opening some cards and reading the paper we headed to the river for boating/swimming on the beautiful - but choppy yesterday - Susquehana R.
This was followed by a cookout with 2 other couples and their children - at our house...
HIghlight for this father: watching my 6 year old autistic child pushing his friend on the swing while we parents watched from the patio while enjoying our after dinner drinks.