Summer Vacation, Day 41: Birthday Boy!

/ J. Thorp / 2 Comments

Eight years ago yesterday, on her birthday, Jodi had an OB appointment, and the doctor had an announcement – the baby in her belly was bulking up fast and needed to come out. We were a only few days overdue, but all her measurements suggested that whoever was in there seemed content to simply expand. The doctor would induce the next day.

We postponed celebrating her birthday until after Gabe’s birth. He was 11 pounds 11 ounces, dwarfing his big brother’s substantial birth weight of 9-9. (Emma, incidentally, weighed a petite 9-5; Trevor frightened the hospital staff at 12-2.)

He’s eight. I can hardly believe how the time passes. Almost makes me want to run.

Summer Vacation, Day 40: Birthday Girl!

/ J. Thorp / Leave a comment

Rather than wasting time reading this ol’ thing, drop Jodi an email at thorpgang@hotmail.com and wish her a happy birthday. Her birthday was today (Sunday), and she says it was a good one. But I’m sure she’ll like hearing from you.

I’m a lucky fellow. Twelve years married next month – even my dad couldn’t believe it’d been that long already!

A guy I used to work with would ask, “Happily?” Absolutely.

Summer Vacation, Day 39: Non-Stop Fun

/ J. Thorp / 1 Comment

Gabe turns eight on Monday, so last night he hosted a sleep-over birthday party. Bren went to a friend’s house, so it was our Gabe and his friends Gabe A., Jack, and Cole, plus Emma and Trevor. The boys were awake until around 1 a.m., and rose around 7. Ah, to have that youthful energy!

They left around 9:30, Bren came home around 10, and Bren, Gabe and I left at 10:15 for kung-fu class in St. Paul. (This is the first weekend in the last five or six that we’ve made it.) Then home again for lunch, then Emma and I left to get the oil changed in the Golf and finish birthday shopping for Jodi – hers is tomorrow. Returned from that in time to get ready for Bren’s final baseball game. They lost a great game tonight, 10-8. Well done, Radiators – kudos on a great season! Got home around 8 for supper; showers and baths and clean-up until right about now – quarter to 10 p.m.

Tomorrow looks like church, a special brunch for Jodi, gifts, yard work (a ton!), then a cookout at a friends place. Still haven’t gone fishin’. Still having a pretty good time.

Summer Vacation, Day 38: Run!

/ J. Thorp / 2 Comments

Blogger’s Note: The cartoon promoted below contains some adult language, but none I haven’t slipped up and used on occassion …

Mike at Sketch-a-Doodle-Doo has a new cartoon – a bigger/better version of it is viewable here, as is some of his other work. I share this one because Mike’s one cool cat, and because Jodi and various relatives are discussing training for a half marathon.

Running (except when in danger) is not something I generally understand or support – thus as much as I enjoyed the cartoon, the Outkast soundtrack raises it to perfection! Listen to Andre 3000’s lyrics – they sum up my thoughts exactly! “Makes no sense at all …”

Summer Vacation, Day 37: Long Day

/ J. Thorp / 4 Comments

Spent most of today dealing with the fall-out of the boneheaded, hateful, educated-elitist remarks of someone I don’t even know. I used to think I was pretty smart – and used to be pretty self-righteous and sure of myself (maybe still am …) – but I always at least tried to see others’ perspectives and not go out of my way to shove hot pokers in their eyes. Especially knowing that my words and actions reflect on others. Days like this try a guy’s patience. Personal freedom and the First Amendment is a fine thing. Too bad so many people abuse it.

But there’s beer in the fridge (Sam Adams Summer Ale, Blackhook Porter and Murphy’s Stout) and good books on all sides. It’s gonna be okay.