work

Summer Vacation, Day 58: Emma at Work

/ J. Thorp / 1 Comment

Today was Rose’s day at work with Dad. Sure sign of a great day pending: I start the car just as Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World” medley comes on the radio. Nice.

She spent the day making multicolored paper snowflakes and drawings for the women in my office. We had lunch at Annie’s Parlor in Dinkytown with our good friend Haircut Cate. Emma loves Annie’s fries and chocolate-mint malts, with chunks of the fancy brown and green chocolate mints your sometimes find on your pillow in hotels – so good!

Throughout the day, Emma out-SlugBugged me two to one – she had six to my three before she finally fell asleep on the way home. All in all, a lovely day with our girl …

Summer Vacation, Day 57: Ball and Crosspins

/ J. Thorp / Leave a comment

After I reported on Gabe’s day at the office and described his artwork, he read the report and informed me that the second picture wasn’t the pins being knocked down.

“I put the ball instead of a skull, and then used two pins instead of bones,” he explained.

Asked where he got such an idea, he thought a moment, then said, “Probably bowling. I’ve bowled before!”

Judge the result for yourself. Looks to me like the makings of one bad bowler tattoo …

Summer Vacation, Day 51: Better World

/ J. Thorp / 1 Comment

Brendan, our oldest, came to work with me today. On the way in, we talked about all sorts of stuff – not typical 10-year-old stuff, but grown-up things, like whether people who don’t believe the same as you should still respect your beliefs. Super cool!

Then The Current spun “War!” – “Ughn! Good God, y’all! What is it good for? Absolutely nothin’! Say it again!” – and the boy began to philosophize:

“I wish we could find a better way to deal with problems that wars or the death penalty and stuff. … I wish that there wasn’t all the really bad stuff in the world – but not perfect, because nothing would be funny. If everything were perfect, there would be no laughter. … I wouldn’t want it to be perfect, and I would change the things I’ve done wrong that have gotten me in trouble because how would I learn about right and wrong? … And if we were all perfect, what would we laugh about?”

O wise child! Thy father loves thee!

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.