School is tantalizingly close. It starts five days from now. It’s been a long Summer and the kids are both well into the tail-end boredom phase of it. For full effect, imagine their mouths gaping open like a trophy bass gasping for air while their eyes bulge out of their heads:

Daughter: Dad, can we watch TV now?
Me: No.
[Here. The trophy bass thing.]
Daughter: But there’s nothing to do!
Me: There’s plenty to do. You can read a book, build a fort, go play outside, turn on the Slip and Slide, ride your bike, go swimming…
Daughter: I don’t want to do any of those things.
Me: Sadly, that’s not really my problem.
Son: We can’t go swimming. We don’t have a pool.
Me: I meant in the Slip and Slide. You can play in the water.
Son: But that’s not swimming.
Daughter: When can we watch TV?
Me: In an hour. Until then, no computer, no TV.
Daughter: But, Dad!
Me: Look guys, I’m working.
Daughter & Son: But…
Me: You two need to go play someplace else. You need to go right now.

This was my first Summer working from home and today is one of those difficult days. At the moment I’m on the fence, but if you asked me in a couple of hours (after a beer or two) I’m sure I’d say it was worth it. The Lovely and Talented Wife isn’t here today (or yesterday) because she’s preparing for a tour. Did I mention she’ll be away for most of September? Yep, just me and the kids for 25 days. I’ll probably write something about that soon.