Thanks to a reward trip earned by Mrs. T for excellent work performance in '07, the Thornes found themselves on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in late June. After succeeding in keeping Thorne Junior under control during the five-hour flight, we made the 40-minute drive from the Honolulu Airport to the Turtle Bay Resort, located right on the beach and very close to Oahu's northernmost point.

Staying that far from the crowded craziness of Honolulu made the trip a real getaway for the Family Thorne. Between peace, quiet, beach, pools and days of buffets, we all managed to have a great time.

But sure, we worried about getting there, checking in, what to do, how it would affect our routine, and more. But, as you'll likely conclude, none of that really matters after spending some time hearing the crashing of the surf on a coral reef at high tide.

Sit back, close your eyes or stare at this photo, and enjoy. And as always, thanks for listening!   ft
 

After an unannounced and unintentional two-month break, Thorne returns to the podwaves and fills some time with this, a hodgepodge of responses to commentary, current activities, summer plans, and at least one plea for help.

No, the schedule woes that have torpedoed Thorne have not abated. Instead, he finds himself swimming in an overbooked calendar, with conflicts ranging from canine noise and home plumbing repair to an unanticipated summer trip coming all too soon.

And while he and family intend to have fun, you, the listeners, can help guarantee that fun by answering Thorne's query: How can one get a preschooler through a four-hour airline flight without resorting to duct tape and tranquilizers?

Submit your suggestions -- and your thoughts -- by clicking the Comments link below. And as always, thanks for listening!   ft
 

They tell any new parent that maintaining a routine is important. After all, a competent routine -- doing the same things at the same time every day -- can keep your child happier by instilling a sense of "knowing what's coming next," all while helping a new parent preserve some semblence of sanity.

But what happens when, years later, the routine goes away? In this episode Thorne tells all, focusing on how one small change can crumble that routine like a house of cards, sending any notion of free time -- as well as what's left of Thorne's at-home-dad social life, perceived competence, self-confidence and sanity -- straight into the shitter.

Any advice for this now-frazzled father? Please share it in Comments. And perhaps now more than ever, thanks for listening!  ft
 

The rain has stopped, the flu has returned, and Thorne -- between chunky-style coughs -- finds himself once again contemplating whatever.

Fat Tuesday came and went, the 2008 celebration apparently bereft of last year's bullet-fueled hijinks. But what's going on with the current uptick in tagging? Did the Fresno Anti-Graffiti Squad take January off?

And with Fat and Super Tuesdays coinciding in 2008, Thorne once again has politics on the brain, discovering with a little help from quizzes at VoteChooser and WQAD that the four positions he took in FTF's recent "Calling for a Reboot" episode can indeed translate into support for specific candidates.

Talk back, leave comments, or even Skype us at ID "farris.thorne". And as always, thanks for listening!   ft