It's travel season! Are you going to those far away places with strange sounding names?

We know that a lot of our friends plan adventurous getaways during this time of the year, and we always look forward to them because we know that when they return they'll do so with wonderful tales of their journeys. We also know fortunate individuals who never leave the comfort of their homes and still go on mind-expanding voyages. That's because they're readers, and when they get a hold of an intriguing tome they're likely to immerse themselves in it only to come out at the end with fascinating details to share.

So when the video above came to our attention the other day, we had to share it. Yes, it's sort of an ad about a sale but it's really much more than that. Mike Slicker owns Lighthouse Books, ABAA, on First Avenue N, and he has been in the book business here in St. Petersburg for 40 years. That's an accomplishment in itself but Mike is also one of the founders of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, and shared some video from the book fair with you back in April.

Anyway, to celebrate his four decades in books, Mike is having a sale on different kinds of book in his store each month. For June, as you'll see in the video, it's travel books -- and related history books about various countries (because when you travel you really want to know something about the country you're going to visit, right?) If you're a reader (and you must be because you've stayed with us so far),  then you owe it to yourself to visit Mike's store, especially now, when some travel books are half off.

All this talk of travel brought to mind a song that has been around a long, long time, and undoubtedly you've heard it before. Frank Sinatra recorded it, and so did Perry Como, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Ray Conniff, Glenn Miller, Dinah Shore, Kate Smith, Lawrence Welk (heck, maybe it would be easier to list singers who didn't record it.) Even Willie Nelson and Sam Cooke recorded it! (Separately, not as a duet.)

One of our favorite recordings was by one of our favorite singers, an English lady who entertained the troops during World War II, doing performances in Egypt, Burma, and India. So popular she was that she earned the appellation "the Forces Sweetheart" and so well thought of in the UK that she is known as Dame Vera Lynn. She celebrated her 100 birthday in March.

Are you going on a trip this summer? If so, tell us about it.