I got home at 10:30 Tuesday night from a professional meeting in a town about 1-1/2 hours away. Back up at 5:00 AM. By the time I got home yesterday I was worn out, and took a short nap before I went to visit #1 daughter in the hospital. She had surgery yesterday morning and was still partway in la-la land.

So we were all sitting around the hospital room staring at each other's navels when someone mentioned that Brandon Backe was signing autographs at a nearby Wal-Mart. Kritter's eyes lit up, as she has a Major Crush on Backe. #1 daughter complained, not fair! I want to go, get an autograph for me. So off Kritter & I went -- first to the wrong Wal-Mart, then to a humongous line at the right one. I realized on the way over that the perfect thing for #1 daughter would be a get-well card from Brandon Backe. I had plenty of time to shop for it! After 2 hours, we made it to the front of the line, where we heard Please have your item or your daughter ready. I think Kritter really considered jumping over the table and grabbing hold of him! She had a picture & I had the card & he was only signing 1 item per person, so I came away autograph-less. But that's okay; I don't know what I'd do with an autograph, anyway. Kritter is going to hang the autographed picture over the autographed baseball she already has. #1 daughter was really pleased -- heck, she even got up and walked!

Don't know if any of you heard about this, but Israeli soldiers accidentally shot a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, who was pronounced brain dead. His parents donated his organs, which saved the lives of six different Israelis. So with all the terrible stuff that's going on, there is a little hope. I am inspired by that kind of charity and forgiveness.