Despite the above photo, Thom is happy to be back in his weekly feature because I say so. And he’s happy that I’m back, because the first thing he said to me when I returned Monday evening was, “Ah. It’s good to have you back.” I was wearing purple pants and a blue shirt. So the second thing he said was, “You look like a highlighter that someone stuck the wrong color cap on.”
I laughed and hugged him. It was good to be back.
- Thom is currently on page 619 of Alexander Hamilton. He estimates he should be done by this weekend, though I estimate the middle of next week. For his next book, I think he should dip into something lighter like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, which he ordered on Amazon the same time he bought Alexander Hamilton, but which I read first.
- Thom likes to keep his books pristine. This means none of his books look like they have ever been touched. Most of my books look pristine too, but that’s because I haven’t read most of them. Out of over three hundred books I own (some of which are still in my parents home in Southern California), I have about fifteen non-pristine books. Thom reads very carefully by propping the books on his legs rather than on a table so that they don’t fall open completely and crease the spine. I knew someone like that in school. I didn’t talk to her much.
- Thom hates it when I borrow his books and dog ear them or bend them at the spine. I recently did this to his copy of Ready Player One. I also dripped pool water on it and bent the cover. None of it was on purpose, but Thom was disappointed. “Now it looks like a homeless guy used it as toilet paper,” he said, “The reading experience is ruined.” But I said, “Look on the bright side. It’s still a good story.”
- Another good story is The Martian by Andy Weir, which Thom and I both enjoyed. We are going to watch the movie tonight.
- While I was gone, Thom:
- Stayed up really late just one night during the week. I thought he was out carousing with friends but when he finally texted back said, “Ah, hello. I was watching “BattleBots.”
- Bought exactly one grocery item: S’more Pop Tarts.
- Updated his fall wardrobe. One afternoon he said he was about to leave the apartment in search of orange pants. I was with friends and they had snorted. “Orange pants? What a fashion plate.” I decided not to tell them how at the beginning of summer Thom went on a quest for white pants. When I returned, I found Thom had, in preparation for inevitable rain and snow, bought two new pairs of boots: here and here, and this plaid shirt. I was also informed that the waist of his unisex jeans had loosened somewhat, which was good to know because I had spent a lot of time wondering. And the orange pants? Thom is still looking. Suggestions welcome.
Also: My Dad, K.T. Ho’s Thursday Thoughts, Thom’s Thursday Thoughts on London, and Thom’s Very First Thursday Thoughts.
