'Been a long time, kids. Let's just jump right into things. Below, relevant elements of CK and their general status.

WORK: Busy, good.
In the past couple of weeks, I've written a few of my favorite stories. I can honestly say my human interest stuff - stories I like to write the most - are getting better, which I'm thrilled about. If any of you are familiar - and you should be - I've been following a local family with a sick son. Well, I got up close and personal recently on an office visit to find out if he's responding to treatment. He is, the family was happy, I wrote it up, and people loved it. I'm not into vanity, but it's nice to know when people enjoy the stuff you work so hard on. (BTW, AG, thx for your awesome email note. For you to call something "touching." Whoa.)

And it's a small, nothing back-pat, but work folks nominated the story for our monthly "honor roll," our little inner-office awards. It's silly, but like they say, it's an honor just to be nominated. (Which is the story I'll definitely stick to if I don't get that $20 the winner gets.)

HOME: Stable.
Still love Mom and Dad. Still counting the days to move out. Still expecting spring. Work and life been so hectic lately that I haven't really been at home much.

*"LOVE": Fair, I hesitate to say busy?...
Catch me a week or two ago, I'd really have nothing to update here. But, well, my life moves fast. Long story short...for months (not joking) my good friend has been telling me a fellow teacher of hers has a son she really wants me to date. Great. Problem - he lives in Tucson. Arizona. (In case you were wondering if there was a Tucson somewhere in southern Indiana. There isn't.) Anyways, weeks ago, a "date" of sorts was agreed upon - I would go with Susan, her friend and her son to lunch. Now, what exactly is "date"y about that, you ask? Not a clue. Aside from the fact that he and I walked into the situation knowing exactly why we were there. Anyways, I walked into lunch annoyingly surprised that a) he was very cute and b) funny/charming. For example: he hates ND (which, actually, if you know me you know I enjoy b/c of the flirty competitive potential) and so he made fun of me when I said a Congressman I knew went there. I believe his exact words were: "What, you want a cookie?" Sarcasm? Amazing. I love you, let's get married. But not really.

Anyway, the lunch ended, and my "sources" told me later that "date" was impressed but upset that his mom essentially stole the show and he and I didn't get to spend enough time together. Awesome. But hey - Tucson. I'm looking at it now as a mere hurdle we have to overcome. A vacation spot for me, if you will.

Oh, and I'm going out with someone from work tomorrow. No real details will be given on that yet, due to the sensitive nature of it a) being something I'm looking forward to and b) being something potentially sticky b/c we work together. Stay tuned.

* I use everyone's favorite Shift symbol to illustrate that, obviously, I wouldn't call this a love life, per se. I'm wary of even calling it a "dating" life. It's, well, just my social happenings. There. Now you know what I know. Pretty much.