Father's Day Gift Ideas (2020)

1. ThermoPro TP08S Wireless Digital Meat Thermometer - $44.99 Dad's like to grill. It's absolutely 100% proven science. This thermometer is great for the weekend warrior and the pit master alike. Take away his excuse for why the brisket why dry this year.
   

2. The Home Bartender Gift Bundle from Onward Reserve - $50.00 The nest is empty and Dad has plans. The pool, jacuzzi, and full patio bar is a coping mechanism. It's a struggle trying to handle all this new free space and peace and quiet. Show your support, and get him started on the right foot by making sure that bar is fully stocked with the right stuff for when you visit. This kit from Onward Reserve shows you care.
   

3. Cole Haan Gunnison Driver - $79.95 You are the only thing standing in the way from your Dad walking around in casual shoes with his toes casually sticking out. He's worn through another pair. But he says, "it's fine." He promises your Mom not to wear them out in public, but what do you see when you're waiting for your table at Maudie's?! Dad toes. Not cool. Dad needs a resupply on drivers. Maybe get him two pairs...
   

4. Steak Home Pack -Longhorn Meat Market (Austin specific) - $92.00 Dad's like meat. This is another scientifically proven fact that can't be refuted from NASA, the EPA, or your vegan cousin. Send Dad a care package with a little blood in the box. This package from East Austin butcher shop, Longhorn Market, comes with sirloin, ribeye, t-bone, and New York Strip steaks. Better yet, you can get it delivered right to his door.
   

5. Upgrade Dad's Next Round of Golf - $150.00 Dad plays regularly at a nice course close to home. It's a public track and you learned to play there too. But he doesn't stop talking about the time he got to play out at that one course. You know the one. Where they search your bag for beers before you throw them on the carts. Where the guys are waiting at 18 to wash your clubs. Where they bring you wet towels to cool off while ON the course. For my Dad that place is Wolfdancer Golf Club, located in the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. A 20 mile drive from Austin. We play, have a whiskey and cigar on the porch, eat lunch, then go home. You might want to throw in a few sleeves of balls too.
   

6. Turtlebox Speaker - $274.00 "Loud, portable, waterproof and impact resistant." You had Dad at all of the above. He will use this thing everywhere. This thing will support Dad's 80's playlist from the golf course, to the pool, and after a full day of grilling. And it will still be on the same charge. This thing lasts for 50 hours per charge. No brainer.

Find a Mentor

Mentors help make your path to wherever you're going a little easier. They've gone through it already. They've made all of the mistakes you can think of, and a bunch more you would fall into without looking. I suggest you start looking for these men and women to help guide you on whatever is burning up in you right now.

You can have more than one mentor in your life. In fact, I suggest you find more than one. Step back and look at your life. See the areas where you would benefit from a mentor. Then assemble them like a Board of Directors. Each one with a speciality and different view point of the world. One for your faith, career, family, hobbies, etc. Some of them can overlap into multiple categories while others are best for one thing.

Mentors don't have to be older than you. They don't have to be family. My Dad is my biggest mentor when it comes to my character and my daily actions with human beings. His heart is huge and he is generous to a fault. And I try to live like that everyday. But when I wanted to start bird hunting he wasn't the best person to bring me into that world. He would probably be the worst. He doesn't hunt. He doesn't own guns or gun dogs, and he has no interest in any of it. And that's okay. So I reached out to friends who did hunt growing up. And I'm learning from them. And I'm learning from their circle that they've brought me into. They help me out when I make mistakes ( see post on my ticket for not having a plug in my pump shotgun) and are as happy as me when Bella retrieves a shot bird.

You have to reach out to that potential mentor. You have to be direct that you admire what they do or what they've accomplished and that you want to learn from them. But realize this is asking a lot from somebody who might not have the time or resources to take that on. Expect that. When you do find someone, remember their generosity and find ways to give value back to them.

After a while comes my favorite part. When it all comes full circle. You fall under someones wing, you make a few thousand mistakes of your own, avoid some thanks to your mentor, and you grow from it all. You feel like your in a rhythm, but you don't consider yourself an expert. Then someone asks you to learn the ropes. Your not sure if you can offer a lot. But you realize, well, I've made a lot of mistakes, and I can share that. And you pass on the generosity that was given to you.

A Pop of Color

Millicent Tomkins an American artist whose work I adore. I discovered her in a local thrift store (why it was there, I have no idea.) by some miracle. It's pictured below. When I saw it I fell in love. It was like when I saw Wrigley Field or Savile Row, or when Bella retrieved her first bird. You can't really explain it.