Happy Halloween

Halloween, 1987 style.

Jon as pirate (who knew you'd be so forward-thinking? Pirates are so big these days!)

Emily as Annie Oakley.

On a side note, I just realized that this picture was taken 20 years ago. I've gone through a lot of Halloween costumes.

Cooper siblings

From left to right -- Gladys, Harold and Dorothy Cooper.

My grandfather was the youngest sibling, but he wasn't yet born when this picture was taken -- the photo's from before 1918, then.

The Coopers lived in Doniphan, Kansas and later moved into Atchison (the "big" town); Doniphan is now just the cemetery, a couple of houses and the Catholic church (with an altar that my great-great grandfather may have built). Atchison is bigger, but it's still a very small town -- It's near St. Joseph, Missouri, but far enough away from St. Joe and Kansas City that they haven't been able to attract any sort of tourism. Not that there's a whole lot to do.

Atchison does have some nice Victorian mansions and a cool train museum, but it's so out of the way that most people don't get to see it.

By the way, I love the giant bow in my Aunt Dorothy's hair.

A final shot for a happy birthday

Happy Birthday, little brother.


I love this shot, because Jon looks so happy with that bottle.

A Portrait series -- Jon X

I'll call this "In profile with clip-on tie"

I particularly like this one.

A portrait series -- Jon IX

Jon looking sporty ... and trying to hide in the hedge.

A portrait series -- Jon VIII

A portrait series -- Jon VII

Grandma's note on the back says "He really is a happy baby."

A portrait series -- Jon VI

Since today is Jon's birthday, I'm going to put up several pictures of him today. In all his little kid adorableness.



Jon in January 1982. Up close and personal.

Warhol on Academic Supercouples, Part 3

Warhol on Academic Supercouples, Part 2

Warhol on Academic Supercouples, Part 1

If you've been anxiously checking this blog for pictures of my side of the family, you've probably been very disappointed lately. You're probably also my mom.

Anyway, even though Emily's the one with all of the stuff going on and work to do, I'm the one who hasn't done his part to keep this blog updated. What can I say? I'm a jerk.

Anyway, I think these next two photos ought to be our authors' photos. What do you think?

A portrait series -- Jon V

This is, quite possibly, the saddest picture ever.

Jon was not quite tall enough to see into the circus display at the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis.

So, a sad portrait today.

I interrupt this photo series ...

... to let you know that Bradley's latest piece "The Ethical Exhibitionist's Agenda" is now out in the latest issue of College English.

We're very excited. If you're extra nice, we might even make a copy for you.

A portrait series -- Jon IV

Not so much an individal portrait, but a family shot. Here we have Carl, Jonathan and Emily at a fountain in downtown Atchison, Kansas. Jon is probably about two-and-a-half in this picture. And in fantastically adorable eighties shorts.

I am also marvelling at the color of the water in the fountain...

A portrait series -- Jon III

This is a rare recent picture of Jon (rare for a couple of reasons ... I don't see Jon all that often these days and Jon generally avoids people with cameras. He prefers to be the one taking the pictures.)

So, I'll call this portrait on an interactive display at the Edo-Tokyo museum.

Note Jon's expression of "I'm humoring you for this picture, but that good humor is going to last about half-a-second longer." This is, I have to point out, a typical expression from Jon when I try to take his picture. On second thought, that expression might come from avoiding pictures taken by his sister, and not pictures in general.

Anyway ... Jon on old bike.

A portrait series -- Jon II

Portrait with a mobile in the background. And great Uncle Chase in the foreground.

(I have no idea what's up with the goofy grin here. It's the same grin as in the Easter portrait. This is not a grin that Jon has anymore).

A portrait series -- Jon I

My brother's birthday is next Monday, so to celebrate, I'm going to share a series of pictures of Jon at a young age.


Here we have a scene from Easter morning with blue footie pajamas and Peter Rabbit casually tossed to the side.

In Kansas, with the antiques

Seated: my great uncle, Frank Leighton. Standing behind him, from left to right, my great aunt Dorothy Leighton, my grandmother Ruthe Cooper and my grandfather Kenneth Cooper.

Uncle Frank died in the 1980s. On his 100th birthday. In my memory, he was always ancient -- particularly since he was always over 90 when I knew him.

Oh, and I'm loving grandma's dress in this picture.

Street signs

Somewhere in
Northern Michigan ...

When concentrating ...

... I have a tendency to stick my tongue out. I did when I was a kid, at least. I'm pretty sure that I still do this, but no one is around to document the long periods of concentration anymore.

This picture does remind me that I need to do more crafts. Especially with tissue paper.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Saturday work ...

edit: I just noticed that there's a kiddie toilet behind me in this picture. What a strange photo

Pictures for a busy Thursday

Things at Casa Brisaacson have been incredibly busy. I think we just realized that we're basically booked until January.

January!

So, for our busy families, I put up several pictures.


Barbara, Emily, Carl and Ruthe


Emily recieving a haircut from Grandma Ruthe


Grandma Ruthe taking Emily on a wagon ride.

I give you these pictures of early childhood because it's a time when I didn't feel completely overwhelmed by all the things that I'm trying to get done. And Bradley's just as busy.

Happy Birthday, a day late

I should have put this up yesterday. In honor of her birthday, her is a picture of my mom on one of her first days home.

Kenneth looks a little startled and excited by the baby Barbara.

Stay Classy, BrIsaacsons

I do not normally drink the champagne directly from the bottle. Really, I don't. I do, however, love champagne.

This was a special occassion -- I was done with the defense. Since we were in a hotel in Columbia, we had limited options as to what to drink the champagne from:


Oh well. We did our best.

Bald Baby, version 2

Smaller Emily, balder too. Same grandma.

Bald Baby, version 1

My hair was so light that I looked bald for the first couple of years ...

(Picture with Ruthe Cooper)

Billy Shakes

Here I am, sitting on Shakespeare's lap. This statue is in Chicago's Lincoln Park -- and it's a bit of a climb to get to the lap. Judging by the haircut, I'm guessing junior or senior year of high school.

Picture thanks to my dad.

Reading time

I thought that since I just finished my last leg of a degree that says I'm an expert reader, I'd put up an early picture of my reading (I've got quite a few ...)

Here I am reading with Grandma Ruthe.

No Photo, but...

You can now call Emily "Dr. Isaacson" if you're so inclined.

We'll be even more absent

Bradley and I are heading to Missouri tomorrow morning.

I'm defending my dissertation Friday at 10 am (central). Think of me!

Anyway, we'll be back on top of things soon. Life should be slightly (only slightly) more under control.

Isaacson family portrait

Or at least some of the Isaacsons. That's my Farfar, Oscar in the rocking chair; L to R behind Oscar, are Carl, Ruth and Emily.