2 months later...

I have good and bad things to report.

Good:

1. Maddie's 2nd conference was a success. She's reading 5 levels ahead of where she's supposed to be... by the end of the school-year. Essentially, she's reading at a mid 2nd grade level. She's in kindergarten and is starting to memorize her multiplication tables. I can't complain.
2. Maddie's dad has been parenting his daughter for the past month. Well, he has his moments (don't we all), but something has changed. He's not just visiting her, he's "parenting" her. She's happy, I'm happy, and her dad sure seems to be happy. Maybe this is the dawning of something good. Maybe.
3. I'm going to see Duran Duran one month from tonight. I'm ecstatic!
4. St. Pat's is just around the corner. I couldn't be happier. I'm going to the parade in Chicago on the 12th (annual tradition) and can't wait to break out the green duds... and suds.

Bad:

1. A friend from high school is in the hospital and is not expected to live through the day. He has a brain tumor. He and his long-time girlfriend decided to marry one-another this afternoon to make things final... before things are final. It's a day of perspective - where so many other things seem trivial. All the issues, politics, celebrity divorces... lost for a moment. I'm humbled.
2. I've been in contact with a lot of long-lost friends due to the above situation. I think it's a shame that Adam's impending death is the tie we share today. Will we keep in touch? I sincerely hope so.