If you have a sick child, it is very important not to turn a day off from school into a carnival atmosphere. Loads of coloring books, special movies, treats doled out to the sick child can obviously encourage malingering. So to avoid having a child that feigns illness or demands to stay home and the slightest stomach twinge, never, ever take him or her out to the mall to Build A Bear just to kill an hour.

I also think it’s fun, when I have the kids to myself, to prepare “theme meals.” These themes may involve international culinary styles, featured ingredients, or tableside preparation. The theme of last night’s meal “The Color of Obesity is Beige.”
On the Menu:

A mixed grill of corn dogs and chicken fingers
Mac and Cheese (Velveeta)
Cantalope

If my wife doesn’t come home soon, all the kids are going to look like Augustus Gloop.

Ri-ri took a turn for the better, so when Coop presented himself at 11 and said he didn’t feel well I almost lost it. I dosed him with Motrin and quickly put him to bed. When he woke up at 5 and wanted to talk about sharks and whales, I forgave him the moment I touched his nice cool forehead.

Ri-ri also passed the fever test so she was back at school, so, for the first time since mid-December of thereabouts, I headed into the Lab. Elated, ready for adult conversation and creative “me” time, I was greeted with the blaring sounds of Daddy Troy’s Wham Greatest Hits played at maximum volume.