My best guess is that it's about 11 years old. I was in college and Caleb was visiting at my mom's house. He was young enough that my mom had to tell him how to spell all of the words. The heart was cut out by my mom. The overlapping shape is Caleb's unsuccessful little-boy attempt. Sometimes the simplest things are the most meaningful.
I know what you're thinking...why not watch both! Perhaps I will! But then, who would blog?
Don't get me wrong...the show was great. The music was wonderful and seriously - Ted's still got some major pipes! His voice has definitely changed (I downloaded a couple of songs from the original soundtrack when I got home) and has a rougher edge than it did when he was 30 - but he was still really, really great. On the other hand, I'm not going to lie and say that there weren't a couple of minutes where I didn't think to myself, "Man...Jesus is looking a little old."
Digging
When Mike's in the shower, Furio posts himself outside the door - as a lifeguard, I guess. 
Even more amusing is the fact that Mike keeps trying to explain it to him. I'll be in the living room and I'll hear Mike say, "But that's you, Furio! It's you, Papi!"
What a little doll. I miss her being this small.
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Anyway, as you can imagine - they don't see each other much anymore. But Mike's friend, Camille fixed that today. A bunch of the former Health Dept. met up at her house for brunch and she invited Mike and I. It was great fun!
Here's Mike with Camille. Camille and Mike were inspectors together and I enjoy spending time with her, as does Mike, I'm sure.
To combat the boredom of being laid off, Camille's taken up MaryKay and I went home with a lot more than I went there with. That orange hand stuff is to die for, though. It's a three step process that leaves your hands feeling softer than soft. I was going to say softer than a baby's butt, but that expression has always half-way creeped me out. I mean, what are you doing feeling a baby's butt anyways? Geez.
Tomorrow promises to be straight out of Mike's beer-induced nightmares. We're going shopping. I need to see what I can find in the way of uber-professional wear. And buy some trouser socks. I am running low on socks anyway - but last week I went to work in "Dukes of Hazzard" socks. That's classy and sexy.
This is taken from the north side of the office. Those on this side have a great view of the curve of the river.
The Merchandise Mart is the building on the right side of this picture. The Sun Times building is the one on the left. The Merchandise Mart is so huge that it has its own zip code.
I think I just took this picture to show how little everything looks from where I'm at. There's nothing especially cool to look at here.
Mike's not crazy about the new 'do, but he's doing his best not to be disappointed. He says, (a little sadly), "It's pretty, but you look so different." I've promised to let it grow back out a little bit. I left a little bit in the back in the hopes that it wouldn't be too much of a shock to his system, but he's still not crazy about it. 
I just finished an excellent book! Have you read it, Sara? I enjoyed it very much. It's about Susie, a 14 year old girl who was murdered. She watches Earth from Heaven and narrates about the effect her death had on those left behind. Her family, friends, her killer...
But it made me think about how glad I am that even though my mom's gone, she's with Krammer in Heaven. It's often the little things that make us emotional, I guess.
Opening credits: Saving Grace – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Waking up: Don’t Panic - Coldplay
Average day: No Rain – Blind Melon
First date: All I Want is You – U2
Falling in love: Storybook Love – Willy DeVille
Fight Scene: Bodies – Drowning Pool
Breaking up: Memory - Sugarcult
Revenge: Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Getting back together: Always – Bon Jovi
Secret Love: You Might Think - Cars
Life's okay: Good Life - Jettingham
Mental breakdown: My Name is Jonas - Weezer
Giving praise: Day By Day - the Godspell Soundtrack
Driving: Life is a Highway – either version
Learning a lesson: It’ll All Work Out – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Deep thought: Little Wonders – Rob Thomas/ Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
Flashback: Remember When - Alan Jackson
Partying: Malaguena Salerosa - Chingon
Happy dance: Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin
Regretting: I’ve Got To Get A Message To You – the Bee Gees
Long night alone: Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
Death scene: Softly, As I Leave You – Bobby Darin (Elvis version also acceptable)
Closing credits: You and I Will Meet Again – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I was laying on the bed with Meme when I asked Mike if he'd seen Furio today. He hadn't, but he said that he figured Furman was lying on the other bed. I asked him to check and make sure. A second later, Mike made me come to the door of the spare room. 
We're not sure how Furio gets under the covers without messing anything up, but he's very clever at it. There was just a lump in the covers on the spare bed - which moved when I said, "I wonder where Furio is...I was going to get out the treats."
