Author: Kyle Dickerson

Books May 2026

May 30, 2026 2:36 pm

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson — Book 3 of the Stormlight Archive series

This book took up most of my month of reading. Another massive tome in the series primarily covering a continuing series of failures trying to rally the nations to a common cause and solidify a defensive posture against the opposing forces. A shattering revelation about the voidbringers, but a glimmer of new hope before the end.

Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson — Book 3.5 of the Stormlight Archives series

A side-plot novella taking place after the events of book 3 to flesh out some side characters and history.

Leaves us still asking, “What is the Dawnshard?”

Heather’s 8th-grade Promotion

May 28, 2026 10:07 pm

Heather’s school held their 8th-grade promotion ceremony in the evening on the last day of school (May 28). The weather turned out to be just about perfect–blistering hot temperatures are generally more common at the end of May than perfect temperatures. So that saved Heather from coping with overheating in her gown.

Out of her class of ~140 kids, Heather received the “Presidential Award for Academic Excellence” (the pin on her lapel, about 30 students; criteria unspecified), honor roll recognition for maintaining a 4.0 GPA for all 3 years (the medal; middle school here is grades 6-8) and department awards for algebra (3 students), orchestra (2 students), and core (5 students; core includes English & history). Next year she’ll be going to Livermore High School where her class size will grow to ~450 students. For next year, she has already auditioned for and been accepted into the intermediate, honors orchestra.

Heather 8th-grade Spring Orchestra Concert

May 22, 2026 7:08 pm

On May 9 the orchestra competed in “Music in the Parks,” received a “Superior” rating, 1st place in their division, 2nd place overall, and the esprit de corps award. On the same night (May 21) as Corinne’s choir concert was their Spring concert. So as soon as Corinne’s performance was over we booked it over to Junction to watch Heather. They played a “Bella Ciao” (combined with the choir), “Allegro” (from Handel’s Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 1), “Silver Skies Breaking,” “Legends of Glory,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” medley, and “Viking” (combined with beginning orchestra).

Corinne 5th-grade Choir Concert

6:28 pm

The choir director decided to arrange a special concert on May 21 for the schools at which she teaches choir specifically to invite the mayor to attend. I don’t know–I guess it was to get the kids excited about their first concert? It worked for Corinne, she was stoked.

Her school sang a song (“Moon”), then another school sang a song, then they combined for another song (“This is Me”).