Roasted for wanting a roast, and the very chewy roast.

 Oh hi my boy,

Thanks for the call today on Father’s Day, it’s always nice to be remembered by my dear boys. Today was kind of a tired day, probably because we got up so early yesterday for Bear Lake. I got up a little late to try to catch up on my sleep. Mom offered to make me breakfast for the day of fathers but I decided to fast. I have another one of those one-way video interviews tomorrow for a job that I think I may fit very well. So I just wanted to fast so I can make the most of it. I bought myself this cheap little handheld video game device, very similar to an old gameboy, but with hundreds of games pre loaded on it. It was cheap, directly from china, but pretty good. So your brothers discovered it and wore the battery out playing N64 Super Mario. I mostly bought it for Tetris.

Church was good. Brother Blattman gave a beautiful talk about the love God has for us, he mentioned Garrets experience and how love has helped him through. There was an awkward moment after church as they were having nachos for the dads in the ward. I didn’t want to go but I asked mom to go with me. She said it was just for the men, so, as I do, I told her I didn’t want to go in. It was at that point that the Relief Society president came out and loudly encouraged me to go in. Well, let’s just say I don’t always find that person to be…well let’s just not say anything other than I became silently but visibly uncomfortable and awkward. So I just sort of walked away. Joe, I’m closing in on 60 pretty fast and I’m still socially awkward.

We got home and Ben was making the roast. All week he had been roasting me over wanting roast for Father’s Day and insisted on making it. Now we all know that he is a great cook, but maybe not this time. Mom made decent mashed potatoes, not Joe level but not bad. But the roast? Well, it looked extra rare but was very, very chewy. Mom and grandma got nothing to worry about from Ben in terms of cooking a roast.

We hung out until your call. You were there just after mom flipped me off —yup, a genuine middle finger bird. It was her response for me giving your brothers the green like for flipping the bird on Father’s Day. It was nice talking to you and you seemed happy enough. I expect more Joe time tomorrow. I forgot to ask you what you are doing for p-day.

This week we got the news that our hero, the legendary Brian Wilson passed away at the age of 82. When I read the announcement my heart was sad. So in honor of him we watched the bio pic about hide call Love and Mercy. Have you seen that? What a great movie about a literal genius.

After, mom asked me if there was anything else I wanted to do for Father’s Day. I flippantly said go to McDonald’s she said yes, your brothers held her to it. So the sabbath breaking Riveras went on a 10 pm McDonald’s run tonight. It was fun.

Yesterday, as stated, we went to Bear Lake. Mom suggested it almost last minute on Thursday so we decided to get up early and go on Saturday. We got there just after eight and people were just starting to get there. I was able to score a free pass since I only had a card and the girl couldn’t get into the system. It wasn’t as hot as normal but it was a beautiful day. The water was cool but not cold and your beach loving mother wasn’t going to let us get away without getting in. We stayed till about three, by which time your beautiful mother was pretty dang sunburned. We had sunscreen but I think all the swimming washed it of. My head got burnt, but I love a good dose of sun and my face to be tanned. We stopped In Logan for pizza and ice cream from the Aggie creamery, that is great ice cream. We got home about eight, got showered and to bed.

As for other news from the week. Jacob got that job with Ben in his lab. He’s excited about it and even more excited to be leaving his shady job at Vivant. But he is a little worried about money now as he’s only going to be able to work 25 hours a week. He’s thinking about seeing if he can work his old painting job on Friday's. 

The news is getting kinda scary out there. Israel attacked Iran so there is a pretty serious war starting in the Middle East. Trump held a big, expensive military parade in Washington DC and hardly anyone attended. On the other hand there were protests across the country called the No Kings rallies all protesting Donald Trump. 10,000 protested in SLC and there are estimates that two to three hundred thousand people protested all across the country. If we hadn’t gone to bear lake, your dad may have gone to his first protest.

Well, that’s about it for me tonight m I sure love you Joseph,

Pops