The day went all right, so far. I cleared up many things that had landed on my desk, answered a meaningful phone call, edited a web page. Then I came home, ate some ice cream (a good thing), and helped Mary with algebra, over the phone. It would be much easier if I were in the same room with her, but I think we did well this way. I felt very encouraged. In fact, I feel better about that little tutoring session than about whatever I was doing at work today.

Her dad came to visit at the end of last week. He spent the weekend with Elaine, then stayed last night with Mary and spent part of the day with her today. He intended to leave tomorrow but instead left today, after he and Joey "got into it", according to Mary. I can see how that might happen. Roy has learned nothing about children in all these years. It doesn't matter that he objected to the way I raised our daughters, only to decide later that I had done a good job. He clings to his notions, and peculiar ones they are. He likes to snap his fingers and order little ones around. He shows no real interest in them, only considers them little servants. And little servants who should act like robots, programmed to behave in exactly the right way.

Joey is not a perfect child but he's generally easy to work with. He listens and after a while he accepts when he can't get what he wants. I don't know what the altercation was about this time, but I suspect I will find out.

Rehearsal will be earlier tonight, so I need to leave in a minute. More rehearsals Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I wish my daughters could attend the concert. I be sad about that.